Imunoterapia em doenças alérgicas respiratórias/ Immunotherapy in alergic respiratory diseases

A alta prevalência de doenças respiratórias gera custos financeiros e sociais. Entre elas, a asma e a rinite ocupam posição de destaque e, por isso, seu tratamento e prevenção tem grande relevância. A imunoterapia surge como uma alternativa para o tratamento dessas patologias. Foi realizada uma consulta de mídia na literatura por meio de algumas bases de dados, norteando-se por trabalhos que se relacionavam com a imunoterapia para alergias respiratórias. As alterações imunológicas provocadas pela imunoterapia baseiam-se, primordialmente, na indução de células regulatórias. No que se refere as enfermidades tratadas, a imunoterapia demonstra muita eficiência em casos de rinite alérgica e asma. Por ser um recurso terapêutico de valor elevado comparado aos fármacos, é prescrito apenas para pacientes que já passaram por todos os protocolos tradicionais de tratamento e não apresentaram melhora. Quanto as vias de administração a imunoterapia pode ser administrada pelas vias sublingual ou subcutânea. Como resultado, sugere-se que o tratamento de alergias respiratórias pela imunoterapia é de grande importância

Immunological signatures unveiled by integrative systems vaccinology characterization of dengue vaccination trials and natural infection

Introduction: Dengue virus infection is a global health problem lacking specific therapy, requiring an improved understanding of DENV immunity and vaccine responses. Considering the recent emerging of new dengue vaccines, here we performed an integrative systems vaccinology characterization of molecular signatures triggered by the natural DENV infection (NDI) and attenuated dengue virus infection models (DVTs). Methods and results: We analyzed 955 samples of transcriptomic datasets of patients with NDI and attenuated dengue virus infection trials (DVT1, DVT2, and DVT3) using a systems vaccinology approach. Differential expression analysis identified 237 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DVTs and NDI. Among them, 28 and 60 DEGs were up or downregulated by dengue vaccination during DVT2 and DVT3, respectively, with 20 DEGs intersecting across all three DVTs. Enriched biological processes of these genes included type I/II interferon signaling, cytokine regulation, apoptosis, and T-cell differentiation. Principal component analysis based on 20 common DEGs (overlapping between DVTs and our NDI validation dataset) distinguished dengue patients by disease severity, particularly in the late acute phase. Machine learning analysis ranked the ten most critical predictors of disease severity in NDI, crucial for the anti-viral immune response. Conclusion: This work provides insights into the NDI and vaccine-induced overlapping immune response and suggests molecular markers (e.g., IFIT5, ISG15, and HERC5) for anti-dengue-specific therapies and effective vaccination development

Avaliação da qualidade do sono de estudantes de medicina do Centro Universitário UNIFACIG por meio do índice de qualidade do sono de Pittsburgh (PSQUI)

O sono ideal é marcado por vários estágios e pode contribuir com a fixação da memória, processos imunológicos e hormonais. Nesse sentido, entende-se que noites mal dormidas podem ter efeitos negativos, prejudicando o desempenho de algumas funções. O objetivo da pesquisa é avaliar a percepção subjetiva da qualidade do sono dos estudantes do curso de Medicina por meio do Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh (PSQUI). Trata-se de um estudo analítico transversal envolvendo estudantes de Medicina de todos os períodos do Centro Universitário da cidade de Manhuaçu (MG) que foram convidados para responder um questionário online relativo ao PSQUI. Dos 92 alunos estudados, 77,17% apresentaram padrão de sono ao final do PSQUI com distúrbio ou ruim, esses parâmetros se mostraram mais elevados no sexo feminino, na faixa etária de 18 a 24 anos e durante o ciclo básico. Não houve interferência significativa da prática de exercício físico e alimentação no padrão de sono.  Quanto aos componentes do PSQUI: não se obteve alterações significativas na latência, eficiência, percepção subjetiva da qualidade do sono e no uso de medicações para dormir. Em relação a duração do sono, somente 28,26% dormiam mais de 7 horas por noite, 91,30% apresentaram disfunção diurna e 95, 65% apresentaram algum tipo de distúrbio relacionado ao sono. Portanto, fazem-se necessárias medidas de promoção à saúde que visem o bem estar físico e mental dos estudantes contribuindo, assim, para uma melhor qualidade do sono

Earth architecture as cultural heritage: the impact of the collapse of the Fundão dam

Earthen architecture appeared frequently in Brazil’s colonial period. Several earthen constructions have survived in Minas Gerais, representing the Brazilian construction tradition from the 16th to the 19th centuries. However, these buildings face constant threats of disappearance due to a lack of appreciation and protection, and mining is an example of how extractive activities can affect buildings and landscapes. Because of the rupture of the Fundão Dam in 2015, several environmental and human impacts occurred along the Doce River basin, emphasizing the Mariana and Barra Longa municipalities. The article, therefore, intends to discuss how the rupture of the Fundão Dam accelerated a process, already underway, of the loss of a constructive tradition on land in this region and to question the reason for the existence of a gap concerning this fact when it comes to deals with the material losses caused by the disaster. The region’s constructive memory was already compromised before the Fundão dam rupture and that the documental gap, also evident, can have several causes and directly affects the smaller villages.A arquitetura de terra apareceu com frequência no período colonial do Brasil. Em Minas Gerais, diversas construções em terra sobreviveram ao tempo e representam a tradição construtiva brasileira dos séculos XVI ao XIX. Entretanto, estas edificações passam por constantes ameaças de desaparecimento devido à falta de valorização e de proteção, e a mineração é um exemplo de como as atividades extrativas podem afetar as edificações e as paisagens. Como consequência ao rompimento da Barragem de Fundão, no ano de 2015, diversos impactos ambientais e humanos ocorreram ao longo da bacia do Rio Doce, com destaque para os municípios de Mariana e Barra Longa. O artigo pretende, portanto, discutir de que forma o rompimento da Barragem de Fundão acelerou um processo, já em curso, da perda de uma tradição construtiva em terra nessa região e questionar o motivo da existência de uma lacuna em relação a este fato quando se trata das perdas materiais provocadas pelo desastre. Pode-se constatar que a memória construtiva da região já estava comprometida antes do rompimento da Barragem de Fundão e que a lacuna documental, também evidenciada, pode ter diversas causas e afeta diretamente os povoados menores

Table_1_Immunological signatures unveiled by integrative systems vaccinology characterization of dengue vaccination trials and natural infection.xlsx

IntroductionDengue virus infection is a global health problem lacking specific therapy, requiring an improved understanding of DENV immunity and vaccine responses. Considering the recent emerging of new dengue vaccines, here we performed an integrative systems vaccinology characterization of molecular signatures triggered by the natural DENV infection (NDI) and attenuated dengue virus infection models (DVTs).Methods and resultsWe analyzed 955 samples of transcriptomic datasets of patients with NDI and attenuated dengue virus infection trials (DVT1, DVT2, and DVT3) using a systems vaccinology approach. Differential expression analysis identified 237 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DVTs and NDI. Among them, 28 and 60 DEGs were up or downregulated by dengue vaccination during DVT2 and DVT3, respectively, with 20 DEGs intersecting across all three DVTs. Enriched biological processes of these genes included type I/II interferon signaling, cytokine regulation, apoptosis, and T-cell differentiation. Principal component analysis based on 20 common DEGs (overlapping between DVTs and our NDI validation dataset) distinguished dengue patients by disease severity, particularly in the late acute phase. Machine learning analysis ranked the ten most critical predictors of disease severity in NDI, crucial for the anti-viral immune response. ConclusionThis work provides insights into the NDI and vaccine-induced overlapping immune response and suggests molecular markers (e.g., IFIT5, ISG15, and HERC5) for anti-dengue-specific therapies and effective vaccination development. </p

Image_1_Immunological signatures unveiled by integrative systems vaccinology characterization of dengue vaccination trials and natural infection.pdf

IntroductionDengue virus infection is a global health problem lacking specific therapy, requiring an improved understanding of DENV immunity and vaccine responses. Considering the recent emerging of new dengue vaccines, here we performed an integrative systems vaccinology characterization of molecular signatures triggered by the natural DENV infection (NDI) and attenuated dengue virus infection models (DVTs).Methods and resultsWe analyzed 955 samples of transcriptomic datasets of patients with NDI and attenuated dengue virus infection trials (DVT1, DVT2, and DVT3) using a systems vaccinology approach. Differential expression analysis identified 237 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DVTs and NDI. Among them, 28 and 60 DEGs were up or downregulated by dengue vaccination during DVT2 and DVT3, respectively, with 20 DEGs intersecting across all three DVTs. Enriched biological processes of these genes included type I/II interferon signaling, cytokine regulation, apoptosis, and T-cell differentiation. Principal component analysis based on 20 common DEGs (overlapping between DVTs and our NDI validation dataset) distinguished dengue patients by disease severity, particularly in the late acute phase. Machine learning analysis ranked the ten most critical predictors of disease severity in NDI, crucial for the anti-viral immune response. ConclusionThis work provides insights into the NDI and vaccine-induced overlapping immune response and suggests molecular markers (e.g., IFIT5, ISG15, and HERC5) for anti-dengue-specific therapies and effective vaccination development. </p

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora