Matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic sclerosis

The major pathological hallmark of the systemic sclerosis (SSc) is skin and internal organ fibrosis, which results from normal tissue architecture alterations and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein deposition. ECM components are degraded by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Promoter region polymorphisms in MMP genes may influence gene expression, resulting in an imbalance between ECM protein production and degradation. Here, we analyzed MMP1 -1607 1G/2G (rs1799750), MMP3 -1171 5A/6A (rs3025058), and MMP9 -1562 C/T (rs3918242) polymorphisms in relation to susceptibility to SSc and its clinical features. The patient group included 98 individuals with longstanding or recently diagnosed disease, meeting the American College of Rheumatology or LeRoy and Medsger criteria for SSc; the control group included 100 healthy blood donors. All participants were of European descent. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion. Genotype and allele frequencies of MMP polymorphisms were similar between the two groups. In secondary analyses, significantly higher frequency of 1G/2G genotype from MMP1 polymorphism was observed for patients testing positive for antinuclear autoantibodies (P = 0.007), while 1G/1G genotype was associated with interstitial lung disease development (P = 0.018). The 6A/6A genotype from MMP3 polymorphism was absent in patients with calcinosis (P = 0.011), while the MMP3 5A/5A genotype correlated with the presence of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (P = 0.009) and reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (P = 0.024). These results suggest that MMP polymorphisms are not associated with SSc susceptibility, although MMP1 and MMP3 variants are associated with specific SSc clinical and laboratory features

Atividade física no lazer: fatores associados e interação com gosto e preferência pela prática em adolescentes

Os objetivos do estudo foram analisar os fatores sociodemográficos e psicossociais associados à prática de atividade física no tempo de lazer (AFTL), e testar a interação entre o gosto e a preferência por atividade física (AF) sobre a prática de AFTL, de acordo com o sexo. Trata-se de um estudo transversal (projeto CompAC 2011) e representativo dos estudantes (15 a 19 anos de idade) do ensino médio das escolas estaduais de Santa Catarina, Brasil (n= 6.529). A variável desfecho foi a realização de alguma AFTL, definida por autorrelato (sim/não). As variáveis de exposição foram fatores sociodemográficos (idade, área de residência, arranjo familiar, turno de estudo, situação ocupacional, renda familiar e escolaridade materna) e psicossociais (gosto e preferência pela prática de AF). Regressão logística binária e o teste de interação de fatores foram realizados. A AFTL esteve associada com o turno de estudo (ORnoturno= 0,59) e a escolaridade materna nos rapazes (ORensino médio= 1,64; ORensino superior= 1,55) e, nas moças, com a idade (OR17 anos= 0,70; OR18 anos= 0,42), o turno de estudo (ORnoturno= 0,57) e a renda familiar (OR≥ 6 salários mínimos= 1,42). O gosto e a preferência também influenciam positivamente a realização da AF em ambos os sexos (rapazes: ORgosta= 4,46; ORprefere= 5,70 e moças: ORgosta= 4,04; ORprefere= 3,10). Por fim, observou-se um efeito sinergista entre os fatores psicossociais, indicando que aumentar essas percepções pode promover maior engajamento em AFTL nessa população. Pode-se concluir que alguns fatores sociodemográficos parecem ter maior relação com a prática de AFTL que outros, e que o gosto e a preferência por AF apresentam associação e interação positiva com a AFTL

German federal-state-wide seroprevalence study of 1st SARS-CoV-2 pandemic wave shows importance of long-term antibody test performance

Background Reliable data on the adult SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate in Germany are still scarce. We performed a federal state-wide cross-sectional seroprevalence study named SaarCoPS, that is representative for the adult population including elderly individuals and nursing home residents in the Saarland. Methods Serum was collected from 2940 adults via stationary or mobile teams during the 1st pandemic wave steady state period. We selected an antibody test system with maximal specificity, also excluding seroreversion effects due to a high longitudinal test performance. For the calculations of infection and fatality rates, we accounted for the delays of seroconversion and death after infection. Results Using a highly specific total antibody test detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 responses over more than 180 days, we estimate an adult infection rate of 1.02% (95% CI: [0.64; 1.44]), an underreporting rate of 2.68-fold (95% CI: [1.68; 3.79]) and infection fatality rates of 2.09% (95% CI: (1.48; 3.32]) or 0.36% (95% CI: [0.25; 0.59]) in all adults including elderly individuals, or adults younger than 70 years, respectively. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of study design and test performance for seroprevalence studies, particularly when seroprevalences are low. Our results provide a valuable baseline for evaluation of future pandemic dynamics and impact of public health measures on virus spread and human health in comparison to neighbouring countries such as Luxembourg or France

Space-qualified laser system for the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter

The space-qualified design of a miniaturized laser for pulsed operation at a wavelength of 1064 nm and at repetition rates up to 10 Hz is presented. This laser consists of a pair of diode-laser pumped, actively q-switched Nd:YAG rod oscillators hermetically sealed and encapsulated in an environment of dry synthetic air. The system delivers at least 300 million laser pulses with 50 mJ energy and 5 ns pulse width (FWHM). It will be launched in 2017 aboard European Space Agency’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter as part of the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter, which, after a 6-years cruise, will start recording topographic data from orbital altitudes between 400 and 1500 km above Mercury’s surface

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics' resources: focus on curated databases

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (www.isb-sib.ch) provides world-class bioinformatics databases, software tools, services and training to the international life science community in academia and industry. These solutions allow life scientists to turn the exponentially growing amount of data into knowledge. Here, we provide an overview of SIB's resources and competence areas, with a strong focus on curated databases and SIB's most popular and widely used resources. In particular, SIB's Bioinformatics resource portal ExPASy features over 150 resources, including UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot, ENZYME, PROSITE, neXtProt, STRING, UniCarbKB, SugarBindDB, SwissRegulon, EPD, arrayMap, Bgee, SWISS-MODEL Repository, OMA, OrthoDB and other databases, which are briefly described in this article

Ökologische Transformation und duale Ausbildung in Bremen: Anaylse des Fachkräftebedarfs und -angebots

Das Land Bremen muss klimaneutral werden. Seit dem Frühjahr 2020 befasst sich deshalb eine von der Bürgerschaft eingesetzte Enquetekommission damit, eine passende Klimaschutzstrategie zu entwickeln und in Maßnahmen zu konkretisieren. Wenig beachtet wird in diesem Zusammenhang, dass die erfolgreiche Umsetzung davon abhängt, ob genügend und passend qualifizierte Fachkräfte zur Verfügung stehen. Die Arbeitnehmerkammer hat daher das Institut Prognos beauftragt, die für den nötigen Umbau der Wirtschaft relevanten Ausbildungsberufe zu identifizieren, den für die Transformation benötigten Fachkräftebedarf abzuschätzen und zu untersuchen, ob die Ausbildungsaktivitäten vor Ort ausreichen, um ihn decken zu können. Das Ergebnis: Die Fachkräfteengpässe in klimarelevanten Berufen sind so gravierend, dass die geplanten Klimaschmutzmaßnahmen gefährdet sein könnten. Die Studie zeigt deshalb sechs Handlungsfelder zum Gegensteuern auf. Die Ergebnisse wurden der Enquetekommission zur Verfügung gestellt

Corporate Information Network (CoIN): Experience Management at IESE

Experience Management (EM) is an area that is increasingly gaining importance. Its roots lie in Experimental Software Engineering, in Artificial Intelligence, and in Knowledge Management. In this paper, we will present the Corporate Information Network (CoIN) initiative, which is responsible for the build-up and operation of Experience Management at IESE. Three aspects of CoIN are detailed: (1) representation of business process descriptions, (2) representation of Lessons Learned, and (3) maintenance of CoIN

The Fraunhofer IESE Experience Management System

Abstract: Experience Management (EM) is an area that is increasingly gaining importance. Its roots lie i

Ativação, agregação e adesão plaquetária induzida pelo veneno da taturana Lonomia obliqua

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Ativação, agregação e adesão plaquetária induzida pelo veneno da taturana Lonomia obliqua

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