Cell–fibronectin interactions and actomyosin contractility regulate the segmentation clock and spatio-temporal somite cleft formation during chick embryo somitogenesis

Fibronectin is essential for somite formation in the vertebrate embryo. Fibronectin matrix assembly starts as cells emerge from the primitive streak and ingress in the unsegmented presomitic mesoderm (PSM). PSM cells undergo cyclic waves of segmentation clock gene expression, followed by Notch-dependent upregulation of meso1 in the rostral PSM which induces somite cleft formation. However, the relevance of the fibronectin matrix for these molecular processes remains unknown. Here, we assessed the role of the PSM fibronectin matrix in the spatio-temporal regulation of chick embryo somitogenesis by perturbing (1) extracellular fibronectin matrix assembly, (2) integrin–fibronectin binding, (3) Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) activity and (4) non-muscle myosin II (NM II) function. We found that integrin–fibronectin engagement and NM II activity are required for cell polarization in the nascent somite. All treatments resulted in defective somitic clefts and significantly perturbed meso1 and segmentation clock gene expression in the PSM. Importantly, inhibition of actomyosin-mediated contractility increased the period of hairy1/hes4 oscillations from 90 to 120 min. Together, our work strongly suggests that the fibronectin–integrin–ROCK–NM II axis regulates segmentation clock dynamics and dictates the spatio-temporal localization of somitic clefts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desempenho reprodutivo da inseminação artificial em tempo fixo em suínos e fatores para o sucesso da tecnologia

Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) is a reproductive technology that aids in obtaining an appropriate time to perform single artificial insemination (AI), thus reducing the number of inseminations per sow bred. FTAI protocols can either be based on estrus detection or day of weaning, aiming to synchronize ovulation using ovulation inducers. The protocols involving estrus detection usually employ porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) as an inducer and, in general, satisfactory reproductive performance is observed. For protocols based on weaning day, the main hormone used is analog of gonadotropin-releasing hormone such as triptorelin and buserelin. Regardless of the protocol, the number of piglets born is usually not affected by FTAI. However, a possible compromise in the farrowing rate should be considered. The FTAI in gilts requires progestogen treatment for estrus synchronization, increasing the labor requirement and cost of protocol. Some of the benefits of FTAI are a reduced number of semen doses required, advantage of planning the breeding time and; consequently, optimizing labor involved. However, the limitations include a slight reduction in the fertility index due to the compromised farrowing rate in some cases, costs incurred by following the protocol, and difficulty in measuring all the conceptual benefits under commercial conditions. The aim of this review is to approach the reproductive performance of the current protocols of FTAI, considering the benefits and limitations of this technology in swine production.A inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) surge como uma biotecnologia para definir o melhor momento para realizar uma única IA, reduzindo o número de células espermáticas por fêmea inseminada. Os protocolos de IATF podem se basear na detecção do estro ou na data de desmame e têm como objetivo sincronizar a ovulação a partir do uso de indutores da ovulação. Protocolos baseados na detecção de estro comumente utilizam o hormônio luteinizante suíno (pLH) como indutor e, de maneira geral, resultados satisfatórios têm sido observados quanto à performance reprodutiva. No caso dos protocolos baseados na data de desmame, os principais hormônios utilizados são os análogos do hormônio liberador de gonadotrofina: triptorelina e buserelina. Independentemente do protocolo, o número de nascidos totais normalmente não é afetado pelo uso da IATF. Porém, um possível comprometimento na taxa de parto deve ser considerado. Já a aplicação da IATF em leitoas requer o fornecimento de um progestágeno, para sincronização do estro, aumentando o manejo e o custo do protocolo. A IATF pode proporcionar diversos benefícios para a indústria suinícola, uma vez que é possível reduzir o número de doses de sêmen produzidas, melhorar o planejamento de coberturas e, consequentemente, otimizar a mão de obra. No entanto, essa biotecnologia apresenta limitações devendo ser considerado a redução nos dados de fertilidade, uma vez que a taxa de parto pode ser comprometida em alguns casos e, o custo do protocolo e a dificuldade de estimar todos os benefícios conceituais da IATF quando aplicada sob condições comerciais. O objetivo dessa revisão é abordar o desempenho reprodutivo dos mais recentes protocolos de IATF, considerando os benefícios e as limitações dessa tecnologia na produção de suínos

Unveiling the impact of STEC infecting phages on the colon microbiota using an in vitro fermentation model

(Bacterio)phages are considered safe for humans consumption, being regard as excellent biocontrol tools to prevent foodborne pathogens spread. Phages major advantage is their inherent specificity towards a bacterial species, yet some reports have shown phages ability to evolve to infect different hosts when transiting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). And so, it is of extreme importance to understand the safety outcome of using phages as biocontrol agents in food, with particular interest in the ones that target species from Enterobacteriaceae family, commonly found in the human GIT microbiota. In this study, the impact of a phage infecting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), named E. coli phage vB_EcoS_Ace (Ace), towards the colon microbiota was investigated. An in vitro batch fermentation model was used, and the inoculum was the fecal material of three healthy donors. Fermentations metabolome was analyzed through GC and HPLC, and the concentration of both phage Ace and STEC strain were monitored along time (up to 24h). The interference with the gut microbiota composition and functional potential was assessed by shot gun metagenomics. We observed an increase in phage titre only when the host was present, suggesting that there was no other suitable host within the different microbiotas used. Also, the microbiotas composition did not alter when phage Ace was added. Nevertheless, the attenuated version of STEC strain did indeed create some perturbation in the microbiota, which led to different functional potential. This was corroborated by the differences observed for both gas and short chain fatty acid acids dynamics. The microbiotas individuality was an important factor for the observed perturbations. Moreover, phage Ace revealed to be a safe phage when intended to be used as a biocontrol agent for food products. Also, we concluded that the in vitro fermentation model is a reliable, easy, and nonexpensive safety screening methodology for phages.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An in vitro fermentation model to study the impact of bacteriophages targeting shiga toxin-encoding escherichia coli on the colonic microbiota

Lytic bacteriophages are considered safe for human consumption as biocontrol agents against foodborne pathogens, in particular in ready-to-eat foodstuffs. Phages could, however, evolve to infect different hosts when passing through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This underlines the importance of understanding the impact of phages towards colonic microbiota, particularly towards bacterial families usually found in the colon such as the Enterobacteriaceae. Here we propose in vitro batch fermentation as model for initial safety screening of lytic phages targeting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). As inoculum we used faecal material of three healthy donors. To assess phage safety, we monitored fermentation parameters, including short chain fatty acid production and gas production/intake by colonic microbiota. We performed shotgun metagenomic analysis to evaluate the outcome of phage interference with colonic microbiota composition and functional potential. During the 24h incubation, concentrations of phage and its host were also evaluated. We found the phage used in this study, named E. coli phage vB_EcoS_Ace (Ace), to be safe towards human colonic microbiota, independently of the donors faecal content used. This suggests that individuality of donor faecal microbiota did not interfere with phage effect on the fermentations. However, the model revealed that the attenuated STEC strain used as phage host perturbed the faecal microbiota as based on metagenomic analysis, with potential differences in metabolic output. We conclude that the in vitro batch fermentation model used in this study is a reliable safety screening for lytic phages intended to be used as biocontrol agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish by-products: Innovative extraction and application in food and feed

Omega -3 fatty acids (O3FA) are essential nutrients that play a crucial role in maintaining human and animal health. They are known for their numerous health claims, including cardiovascular benefits, contributing to both the prevention and treatment of immunological, neurological, reproductive, and cardiovascular complications, and supporting overall well-being. Fish, especially oily fish, comprise rich source of O3FA. In the fish industry, significant amounts of by-products and waste are generated during processing which are often discarded or used for lower -value applications. However, there is recognition of the potential value of extracting O3FA from these by-products. Various extraction techniques can be used, but the goal is to efficiently extract and concentrate the O3FA while minimizing the loss of nutritional value. To prevent oxidation and maintain the stability of O3FA, natural antioxidants can be added. Antioxidants like polyphenolic compounds and plant extracts help to protect the O3FA from degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, light, and heat. By stabilizing the O3FA, the shelf life and nutritional value of the extracted product can be extended. In summary, this work presents a forwardlooking strategy for transforming fish by-products into high -quality oils, which hold great potential for application in food and feed.This work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020) and REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020, DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/50006/2020; and UIDP/50006/2020, DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/50006/2020); CBQF, UIDB/50016/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/ UIDB/50016/2020). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, with DOI 10.54499/UIDB/04469/2020, and by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020.This work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI), within the framework of the Corporate R&D project in Co-promotion HealthyPETFOOD: PetFood Formulations to promote health and quality of life (POCI-01-0247 -FEDER-047073) M.R.G. Maia acknowledges FCT through program DL 57/2016 – Norma transit´oria (SFRH/BPD/70176/2010). Raquel F. S. Gonçalves acknowledge the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for her fellowship (SFRH/BD/140182/2018).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish by-products: innovative extraction and application in food and feed

Omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) are essential nutrients that play a crucial role in maintaining human and animal health. They are known for their numerous health claims, including cardiovascular benefits, contributing to both the prevention and treatment of immunological, neurological, reproductive, and cardiovascular complications, and supporting overall well-being. Fish, especially oily fish, comprise rich source of O3FA. In the fish industry, significant amounts of by-products and waste are generated during processing which are often discarded or used for lower-value applications. However, there is recognition of the potential value of extracting O3FA from these by-products. Various extraction techniques can be used, but the goal is to efficiently extract and concentrate the O3FA while minimizing the loss of nutritional value. To prevent oxidation and maintain the stability of O3FA, natural antioxidants can be added. Antioxidants like polyphenolic compounds and plant extracts help to protect the O3FA from degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, light, and heat. By stabilizing the O3FA, the shelf life and nutritional value of the extracted product can be extended. In summary, this work presents a forward-looking strategy for transforming fish by-products into high-quality oils, which hold great potential for application in food and feed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clinical and epidemiological features of hospitalized and ambulatory patients with human monkeypox infection: a retrospective observational study in Portugal

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Monkeypox, a neglected and re-emergent zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection, has been endemic in Central and Western Africa for decades. More recently, an outbreak has spread to a global level, occurring in sites with no previous reported cases and being clustered among men who have sex with men, suggesting new modes of transmission. There is an urgent need for research for a better understanding of the genomic evolution and changing epidemiology of the Orthopoxvirus group. Our work aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological features of a cohort of patients with MPXV infection in a Portuguese hospital, admitted between 5 May and 26 July 2022. In this retrospective observational study, aggregate data of a case series on the presentation, clinical course, and outcomes of confirmed MPXV infections are reported. The study included 40 men and 1 woman, with a mean age of 37.2 years old; 92.7% identified as men who have sex with men, 90.2% had unprotected sex or sex with multiple or anonymous partners in the previous month, and 39.0% reported to have had sex with an MPXV-confirmed case; 59.5% had previously known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, all of whom were under antiretroviral therapy, and no patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) criteria. About a quarter of patients were observed only a week after symptom onset. All patients had skin or mucosal lesions and the anogenital region was the most frequent lesion site. There were no statistically significant clinical differences between HIV-positive and negative individuals. Four patients were admitted to the inpatient clinic, two of whom had proctitis with difficult-to-manage anal pain. There were no reported deaths. Our findings suggest the sexual route as a relevant mode of transmission of MPXV and confirm the mostly benign presentation of this disease.The writing of this manuscript received the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, grant numbers UIDB/04295/2020 and UIDP/04295/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictors of cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Copyright © 2023 Bandeira, Dourado, Melo, Martins, Fraga, Ferraro, Saraiva, Sousa, Parente, Soares, Correia, Almeida, Dinis, Pinto, Oliveira Pinheiro, Rato, Beirão, Samões, Santos, Mazeda, Chícharo, Faria, Neto, Lourenço, Brites, Rodrigues, Silva-Dinis, Dias, Araújo, Martins, Couto, Valido, Santos, Barreira, Fonseca and Campanilho-Marques. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare disorders that can affect the heart. This work aimed to find predictors of cardiac involvement in IIM. Methods: Multicenter, open cohort study, including patients registered in the IIM module of the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt/Myositis) until January 2022. Patients without cardiac involvement information were excluded. Myo(peri)carditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, conduction abnormalities, and/or premature coronary artery disease were considered. Results: 230 patients were included, 163 (70.9%) of whom were females. Thirteen patients (5.7%) had cardiac involvement. Compared with IIM patients without cardiac involvement, these patients had a lower bilateral manual muscle testing score (MMT) at the peak of muscle weakness [108.0 ± 55.0 vs 147.5 ± 22.0, p=0.008] and more frequently had oesophageal [6/12 (50.0%) vs 33/207 (15.9%), p=0.009] and lung [10/13 (76.9%) vs 68/216 (31.5%), p=0.001] involvements. Anti-SRP antibodies were more commonly identified in patients with cardiac involvement [3/11 (27.3%) vs 9/174 (5.2%), p=0.026]. In the multivariate analysis, positivity for anti-SRP antibodies (OR 104.3, 95% CI: 2.5-4277.8, p=0.014) was a predictor of cardiac involvement, regardless of sex, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and lung involvement. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Conclusion: Anti-SRP antibodies were predictors of cardiac involvement in our cohort of IIM patients, irrespective of demographical characteristics and lung involvement. We suggest considering frequent screening for heart involvement in anti-SRP-positive IIM patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pelas Cidades: apoio à elaboração de plano local de habitação de interesse social de Pequeri, Minas Gerais, Brasil

O trabalho expõe o processo desencadeado para a elaboração do Plano Habitacional para Pequeri através de convênio estabelecido entre a Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora e a Prefeitura Municipal de Pequeri/MG. Este projeto se insere nas atividades de ensino, pesquisa e extensão dos Núcleos GEPUR (Grandes Projetos Urbanos) e URBANISMOMG (Urbanismo em Minas Gerais) da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. O projeto encontra?se em desenvolvimento de maneira multidisciplinar envolvendo docentes e discentes da UFJF, bem como servidores públicos e a própria comunidade de Pequeri/MG. O projeto visa o apoio à elaboração do Plano Local de Habitação de Interesse Social ? PLHIS no Município de Pequeri/MG, tendo em vista que o mesmo garante a adesão da cidade ao Sistema Nacional de Habitação de Interesse Social ? SNHIS. Esta iniciativa tem como objetivo compreender a situação habitacional do município, que apresenta aproximadamente 3 mil habitantes, com enfoque na questão da Habitação de Interesse Social. Através desta compreensão por meio de leituras técnicas e comunitárias serão definidas para o planejamento habitacional nas áreas urbana e rural. Serão feitos levantamentos de dados e informações técnicas obtidas com a colaboração dos setores públicos, privados, associativos, sindicais e acadêmicos relacionados ao setor urbano. Durante as etapas, estão previstas audiências públicas, para a mobilização da comunidade e a divulgação por meio digital e impresso

Pelas Cidades: apoio à elaboração de plano local de habitação de interesse social de Pequeri, Minas Gerais, Brasil

O trabalho expõe o processo desencadeado para a elaboração do Plano Habitacional para Pequeri através de convênio estabelecido entre a Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora e a Prefeitura Municipal de Pequeri/MG. Este projeto se insere nas atividades de ensino, pesquisa e extensão dos Núcleos GEPUR (Grandes Projetos Urbanos) e URBANISMOMG (Urbanismo em Minas Gerais) da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. O projeto encontra?se em desenvolvimento de maneira multidisciplinar envolvendo docentes e discentes da UFJF, bem como servidores públicos e a própria comunidade de Pequeri/MG. O projeto visa o apoio à elaboração do Plano Local de Habitação de Interesse Social ? PLHIS no Município de Pequeri/MG, tendo em vista que o mesmo garante a adesão da cidade ao Sistema Nacional de Habitação de Interesse Social ? SNHIS. Esta iniciativa tem como objetivo compreender a situação habitacional do município, que apresenta aproximadamente 3 mil habitantes, com enfoque na questão da Habitação de Interesse Social. Através desta compreensão por meio de leituras técnicas e comunitárias serão definidas para o planejamento habitacional nas áreas urbana e rural. Serão feitos levantamentos de dados e informações técnicas obtidas com a colaboração dos setores públicos, privados, associativos, sindicais e acadêmicos relacionados ao setor urbano. Durante as etapas, estão previstas audiências públicas, para a mobilização da comunidade e a divulgação por meio digital e impresso