The role of inequality in explaining the secular stagnation hypothesis

This paper focuses on one of the factors that have been put forward in the literature within the secular stagnation view: Rising inequality. In a two-step procedure, this research first applies the Laubach and Williams (2003) methodology to jointly estimate the natural rate of interest (NRI), potential output and its growth rate for the G7 and we find that the NRI has been decreasing in all countries, which is in accordance with the secular stagnation hypothesis. In a second step, a fixed effects regression for a panel of 7 countries is used to estimate the effect of inequality on the natural rate of interest from 1980 to 2016. We find evidence that rising inequality has contributed to the decline of the time-varying natural rate of interest

Low-dose aspirin does not affect the renal function of microalbuminuric type 2 Diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Low-grade inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, and anti-inflammatory drugs could be potentially useful as a therapeutic tool. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of low-dose aspirin (300 mg/d) on urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels of microalbuminuric type 2 DM patients.METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, 18 microalbuminuric (UAE=30-300 mg/24 h) type 2 DM patients received aspirin (300 mg/d) or identical placebo for 8 weeks, with a 6-week washout period. The patients were aged 56±9 years, had a diabetes duration of 16±7.5 years; 11 (61%) were female, and they were all using enalapril 10 mg bid. GFR was measured by 51Cr-EDTA single-injection method and UAE by immunoturbidimetry. The sample-size calculation showed that 17 patients were needed to detect a 30% change in UAE (α= 0.05 and β= 0.20).RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, there were no significant differences between placebo and aspirin, respectively, regarding UAE [57.7 (8.9-420.0) vs. 63 (8.2-272.0) mg/24 h; P=0.45] and GFR (108±34 vs. 111±47 ml/min/1.73 m2; P=0.90). C-reactive protein levels [2.72 (0.34-10.3) vs. 2.03 (0.25-10.3) μg/l; P=0.21] were comparable after placebo and aspirin, respectively. There were no period (P=0.41) or carry-over effects (P=0.49).CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin did not affect GFR and UAE levels of microalbuminuric type 2 DM. It seems that the putative low-grade inflammation of diabetic nephropathy does not respond to these low doses of the drug

Homologous recombination in pestiviruses: Identification of three putative novel events between different subtypes/genogroups

AbstractViruses from the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae have a non-segmented, single-stranded RNA genome and can cause diseases in animals from the order Artiodactyla. Homologous recombination is rarely reported in this virus family. To detect possible recombination events, all complete pestivirus genomes that are available in GenBank were screened using distinct algorithms to detect genetic conversions and incongruent phylogenies. Three putative recombinant viruses derived from recombination from different pestivirus subtypes/genogroups were detected: Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1) strain 3156, BVDV-2 strain JZ05-1 and Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain IND/UK/LAL-290. The present study demonstrated that the pestivirus classification cannot be based only on the analysis of one fragment of the genome because genetic conversions can lead to errors. The designation of the recombinant forms (RF) provides a more informative structure for the nomenclature of the genetic variant. The present work reinforces that homologous recombination occurs in pestivirus populations under natural replication and describes the first evidence of recombination in BVDV-2

EFEITOS DA CINESIOTERAPIA EM IDOSOS COM OSTEOARTRITE DE JOELHO NA AVALIAÇÃO DA CAPACIDADE FUNCIONAL E NO TORQUE ISOMÉTRICO

A fisioterapia tem um papel fundamental na reabilitação de idosos com osteoartrite. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da cinesioterapia para idosos com osteoartrite de joelho. Métodos: Participaram 13 indivíduos com diagnóstico médico de osteoartrite de joelho, que realizaram avaliação da capacidade funcional pelo questionário de Lequesne e avaliação do torque dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho pelo dinamômetro isocinético Biodex System 3. A pesquisa foi dividida em fases A, B e C. Na fase A ocorreu a primeira avaliação, seguida de 6 semanas sem tratamento. Na fase B foi realizada a segunda avaliação e início do protocolo de tratamento de 6 semanas. A fase C foi constituída pela reavaliação dos pacientes após a intervenção. O protocolo de cinesioterapia foi elaborado com exercícios de mobilização, fortalecimento e alongamento dos membros inferiores. Resultados: Houve melhora da capacidade funcional após a intervenção. A avaliação do torque apresentou diferença significativa entre as fases, sendo que houve aumento do torque isométrico extensor após o tratamento. Conclusão: O programa de reabilitação cinesioterapêutica proposto neste estudo foi eficaz, pois proporcionou aumento da força muscular extensora da articulação do joelho, melhora das atividades de vida diária e a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos

Bovine leukemia viral DNA found on human breast tissue is genetically related to the cattle virus

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection is widespread in cattle and associated with B cell lymphoma. In a previousstudy we demonstrated that bovine leukemia viral DNA was detected in human breast tissues and significantly associated with breast cancer. Our current study aimed to determine whether BLV DNA found in humans and cattle at the same geographical region were genetically related. DNA was extracted from the breast tissue of healthy (n = 32) or cancerous women patients (n = 27) and from the blood (n = 30) of cattle naturally infected with BLV, followed by PCR-amplification and partial nucleotide sequencing of the BLV env gene. We found that the nucleotide sequence identity between BLV env gene fragments obtained from human breast tissue and cattle blood ranged from 97.8 to 99.7% and grouped into genotype 1. Thus, our results further support the hypothesis that this virus might cause a zoonotic infection

Fratura de fêmur em idosos: relato de experiência

Objetivo: Analisar a incidência e as características das fraturas de fêmur em pacientes idosos, destacando sua relevância como problema de saúde pública. Além disso, pretende-se relatar um caso clínico específico de fratura de fêmur, exemplificando as manifestações clínicas e o processo diagnóstico envolvido nessa condição. Metodologia: As informações apresentadas foram obtidas por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática em bases de dados científicas, como SciELO e Google Acadêmico, utilizando termos relacionados às fraturas de fêmur em idosos. Além disso, foi realizado um estudo de caso com base em dados clínicos reais de uma paciente atendida em um hospital de média complexidade em João Monlevade-MG, com fratura de fêmur decorrente de queda de própria altura. Resultados e Discussão: Os resultados revelaram que as fraturas de fêmur em idosos representam um desafio significativo para a saúde pública, devido à sua alta incidência e às consequências graves em termos de morbidade e mortalidade. O diagnóstico precoce e preciso é fundamental para orientar o tratamento adequado, que pode variar de acordo com a localização e a gravidade da lesão. Considerações Finais: A implementação de medidas preventivas, como programas de exercícios físicos e orientações sobre segurança domiciliar, aliada ao tratamento adequado da osteoporose, pode contribuir significativamente para reduzir o ônus associado a essa condição e melhorar os desfechos clínicos dos pacientes idosos. Além disso, são necessárias mais pesquisas e investimentos na área para desenvolver abordagens terapêuticas inovadoras e enfrentar esse desafio crescente na saúde pública

Prevalência de depressão entre estudantes de Medicina em universidade de Goiás

RESUMO Introdução: Depressão é uma designação sindrômica que pode compreender um amplo espectro de quadros clínicos, mas que tem despertado interesse acadêmico tanto por sua prevalência quanto pelo investimento em dispositivos terapêuticos. O Brasil lidera, na América Latina, o ranking de pessoas com depressão em termos absolutos e relativos, e, no mundo, está entre as nações com a maior prevalência de condições clínicas designadas como depressão (5,9% do total ou cerca de 11,5 milhões de pessoas). Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência de depressão e condições associadas entre estudantes dos cursos de Medicina da Universidade de Rio Verde, no estado de Goiás. Métodos: Trata-se de um Estudo transversal realizado na Universidade de Rio Verde com estudantes de Medicina. Realizou a coleta de dados mediante instrumento autoaplicável, cujo desfecho foi o diagnóstico médico referido de depressão. Realizaram-se análises bruta e ajustada por meio da regressão de Poisson. Resultado: Dos 1.609 participantes do estudo, 334 (20,8%; IC95% 18,8; 22,7) apresentaram depressão. Na análise ajustada, permaneceram associados sexo feminino, idades acima de 20 anos, baixo apoio social, fumantes e autopercepção de saúde classificada como razoável e ruim. Conclusão: A prevalência de depressão foi elevada, apontando para o sofrimento mental entre estudantes dos cursos de Medicina, sendo importante que as escolas conheçam essa realidade. A variável associada ao desfecho passível de modificação foi apoio social, indicando a importância da implantação de estratégias que minimizem o problema e a elaboração de políticas com aconselhamento educacional e apoio psicológico para os alunos

Tissue culture applied to carnivorous species

The purpose of the review is to comment on available data on the application of plant tissue culture to carnivorous plants. Thus, the review encompassed publications from 1979 to 2017 along in vitro germination studies and micropropagation techniques, such as somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, which emphasized the responses of plant materials to the stimuli offered during in vitro culture. Tissue culture in carnivorous plants is presented as a tool to promote the increase of the population of these plants either for scientific and commercial purposes or for the conservation and reintroduction in their natural habitat, in order to ensure a sustainable exploitation of this nutritional pattern of plants. In general terms, the studies carried out were limited to the following aspects: cultivation technique, explant source, exogenously applied substances and culture medium. The review also revealed the absence of defined protocols for in vitro multiplication of large-scale carnivorous plants

Biofortified Diets Containing Algae and Selenised Yeast: Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Tissue Composition of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

Efforts have been made to find natural, highly nutritious alternatives to replace fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO), which can simultaneously promote fish health and improve the nutritional quality of filets for human consumption. This study evaluated the impact of biofortified diets containing microalgae (as replacement for FM and FO), macroalgae (as natural source of iodine) and selenised yeast (organic source of selenium) on gilthead seabream growth, nutrient utilization, tissue composition and gene expression. A control diet (CTRL) with 15% FM and 5.5% FO was compared with three experimental diets (AD1, AD2, and AD3), where a microalgae blend (Chlorella sp., Tetraselmis sp., and DHA-rich Schizochytrium sp.) replaced 33% of FM. Diet AD1 contained 20% less FO. Diets were supplemented with Laminaria digitata (0.4% AD1 and AD2; 0.8% AD3) and selenised yeast (0.02% AD1 and AD2; 0.04% AD3). After feeding the experimental diets for 12 weeks, growth was similar in fish fed AD1, AD2, and CTRL, indicating that microalgae meal can partially replace both FM and FO in diets for seabream. But AD3 suppressed fish growth, suggesting that L. digitata and selenised yeast supplementation should be kept under 0.8 and 0.04%, respectively. Despite lower lipid intake and decreased PUFAs bioavailability in fish fed AD3, compared to CTRL, hepatic elovl5 was upregulated resulting in a significant increase of muscle EPA + DHA. Indeed, filets of fish fed AD2 and AD3 provided the highest EPA + DHA contents (0.7 g 100 g–1), that are well above the minimum recommended values for human consumption. Fish consuming the AD diets had a higher retention and gain of selenium, while iodine gain remained similar among diets. Upregulation of selenoproteins (gpx1, selk, and dio2) was observed in liver of fish fed AD1, but diets had limited impact on fish antioxidant status. Overall, results indicate that the tested microalgae are good sources of protein and lipids, with their LC-PUFAs being effectively accumulated in seabream muscle. Selenised yeast is a good fortification vehicle to increase selenium levels in fish, but efforts should be placed to find new strategies to fortify fish in iodineThis work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programe under Grant Agreement No. 773400 (SEAFOODTOMORROW) and from the project ATLANTIDA (ref. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000040), supported by the Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement and through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work received financial support from REQUIMTE/LAQV national funds (FCT) through project UID/QUI/50006/2019. LV acknowledges national funds provided by FCT to CIIMAR (UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020), PP-F acknowledges MAR2020 national funds provided to IPMA (DIVERISAQUA project - 16-02-01-FEAM-66) and MF acknowledges FCT for the grant SFRH/BD/144843/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio