O desafio de diagnosticar a infeccao tuberculosa na crianca

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Departamento de PediatriaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PediatriaSciEL

Etiological profile of bacterial meningitis in children: a transitory reality

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Transmissão vertical do HIV no Brasil em 2000 e 2001: resultados de um estudo multicêntrico

The objective of this study was to assess mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV in Brazil during the years 2000 and 2001, and to identify the maternal and neonatal variables that were associated with this transmission. It was a cross-sectional, observational study with retrospective data obtained from patient medical records. The children were followed at 63 medical sites situated in five geographical macro-regions of the country (20 States and the Federal Capital). Children enrolled were those that were born of HIV-infected mothers and it was necessary for the mothers to present documented proof of HIV-infection before or during pregnancy, at time of delivery or in the first three months after delivery. There were 2,924 children enrolled and mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV were 8.6% (95%CI: 7.2-10.2) for the year 2000 and 7.1% (95%CI: 5.8-8.6) for the year 2001. The following variables were associated with lower mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV: elective cesarean section, diagnosis of mother's infection before or during pregnancy, access to HIV viral load and T CD4+ lymphocyte count during prenatal care, greater birth weight and avoidance of breastfeeding.O objetivo do estudo foi descrever as taxas de transmissão vertical do HIV no Brasil nos anos de 2000 e 2001, e identificar as variáveis maternas e dos recém-nascidos associadas à transmissão. O estudo foi transversal, observacional, com dados retrospectivos obtidos por meio da análise de prontuários médicos em 63 serviços localizados nas cinco macrorregiões geográficas do país (vinte estados e o Distrito Federal). Foram consideradas, para o estudo, crianças nascidas de mães infectadas pelo HIV que apresentaram documentação da infecção pelo vírus antes ou durante a gestação, no momento da admissão para o parto ou nos três primeiros meses após o parto. Foram incluídas 2.924 crianças e a taxa de transmissão vertical do HIV foi: 8,6% em 2000 (IC95%: 7,2-10,2) e 7,1% em 2001 (IC95%: 5,8-8,6). As seguintes variáveis foram associadas com a transmissão vertical do HIV: parto cesárea eletiva, diagnóstico da infecção materna antes ou durante a gestação, acesso a exames de quantificação da carga viral do HIV e contagem de linfócitos-T CD4+ durante a gestação, peso ao nascimento e ausência de aleitamento materno.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PediatriaSociedade Brasileira de Pediatria Departamento de InfectologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PediatriaSciEL

Where Do We Stand?

Funding: Centro de Química Estrutural is a Research Unit funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through projects UIDB/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020. Institute of Molecular Sciences is an Associate Laboratory funded by FCT through project LA/P/0056/2020. A.M. Matos thanks FCT, CQE, and Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa for her CEECInst Junior Researcher Contract, and FCT for funding through the Individual Call for Scientific Employment Stimulus (2022.07037.CEECIND). CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies is a Research Unit funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through projects grants UIDB/04567/2020 and UIDP/04567/2020 to CBIOS. R.M. also thanks FCT and CBIOS for her CEECInst Assistant Researcher Contract (CEEC/04567/CBIOS/2020) and COFAC/ILIND—Cooperativa De Formação e Animação Cultural CRL/Instituto Lusófono de Investigação e Desenvolvimento (grant COFAC/ILIND/CBIOS/2/2021).The type 2 diabetes epidemic is real and hardly coming to an end in the upcoming years. The efforts of the scientific community to develop safer and more effective compounds for type 2 diabetes based on the structure of natural (poly)phenols are remarkable and have indeed proven worthwhile after the introduction of gliflozins in clinical practice. However, low-quality reports on the antidiabetic potential of plant-derived lipophilic (poly)phenols continue to pile up in the literature. Many of these compounds continue to be published as promising functional nutrients and antidiabetic pharmaceutical leads without consideration of their Pan-Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS) profile. This evidence-based opinion article conveys the authors' perspectives on the natural (poly)phenol artillery as a valuable and reliable source of bioactive compounds for diabetes. Ultimately, in light of the already established membrane-perturbing behavior of lipophilic (poly)phenols, together with the multiple benefits that may come with the introduction of a C-glucosyl moiety in bioactive compounds, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of contemplating the shift to (poly)phenol-carbohydrate combinations in the development of functional nutrients, as well as in the early stages of antidiabetic drug discovery.publishersversionpublishe

Oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases and ageing

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Homosexuality as a byproduct of the evolution of pleasure

Homosexual behavior in animal species has been seen as a challenge to the evolution theory. Although a non-reproductive response, homosexuality persists in the species. Several hypotheses on homosexuality s evolutionary advantages have been proposed by many authors but they all contain contrary aspects, at least when human beings are concerned. Current suggestion states that since homosexuality is not genetically determined, no survival value is required. Homosexual behavior pattern would be an evolutionary byproduct of pleasure as an essential consequence of the sexual act to favor reproduction and to maintain links between partners. Although still a preliminary proposal, the statement pinpoints new trends in interpretation and investigation within the relationship between homosexuality and evolutionism.A incidência de comportamento homossexual em diversas espécies tem sido encarada como um desafio à proposta evolucionista, por se configurar como um padrão que se mantém apesar de não propiciar a reprodução. Uma série de hipóteses explicativas de vantagens evolutivas da homossexualidade foi desenvolvida por diversos autores, contudo, em todas se podem encontrar aspectos problemáticos que as contradizem – ao menos no que se refere à espécie humana. A hipótese aqui defendida é que a homossexualidade não seria geneticamente determinada, logo não requereria valor de sobrevivência. Este padrão comportamental seria um subproduto da evolução do prazer enquanto efeito essencial do ato sexual para favorecer a reprodução e a criação de vínculos entre parceiros. Apesar de se caracterizar como uma proposta preliminar, esta hipótese aponta novas direções de interpretação e investigação da relação entre homossexualidade e evolucionismo

Rice Compounds with Impact on Diabetes Control

2020.09555BD UIDB/04551/2020 CEEC/04567/CBIOS/2020 PTDC/BIA-MOL/31104/2017 UIDB/04567/2020 UIDP/04567/2020Rice is one of the most cultivated and consumed cereals worldwide. It is composed of starch, which is an important source of diet energy, hypoallergenic proteins, and other bioactive compounds with known nutritional functionalities. Noteworthy is that the rice bran (outer layer of rice grains), a side-stream product of the rice milling process, has a higher content of bioactive compounds than white rice (polished rice grains). Bran functional ingredients such as γ-oryzanol, phytic acid, ferulic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, tocopherols, and tocotrienols (vitamin E) have been linked to several health benefits. In this study, we reviewed the effects of rice glycemic index, macronutrients, and bioactive compounds on the pathological mechanisms associated with diabetes, identifying the rice compounds potentially exerting protective activities towards disease control. The effects of starch, proteins, and bran bioactive compounds for diabetic control were reviewed and provide important insights about the nutritional quality of rice-based foods.publishersversionpublishe

A Partner in Crime With Aβ in the Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease

We acknowledge iNOVA4Health—UID/Multi/04462/2019, a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. Funding from the INTERFACE Programme, through the Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy Fund (FITEC) is gratefully acknowledged. This study was also supported by FCT via PTDC/BIA-MOL31104/2017 and UID/Multi/04462/2019-SubProj iNOVA4Health 44 to RM and PD/BD/135504/2018 to AR. Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia for the Nuno Castelo-Branco Prize−2016, attributed to RM, was also acknowledged. IM acknowledges FCT-MCTES Program Concurso de Estímulo ao Emprego Científico (CEECIND/01670/2017).Diabetes affects hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Despite the advances in understanding the disease and therapeutic options, it remains a leading cause of death and of comorbidities globally. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or amylin, is a hormone produced by pancreatic β-cells. It contributes to the maintenance of glucose physiological levels namely by inhibiting insulin and glucagon secretion as well as controlling adiposity and satiation. IAPP is a highly amyloidogenic polypeptide forming intracellular aggregates and amyloid structures that are associated with β-cell death. Data also suggest the relevance of unprocessed IAPP forms as seeding for amyloid buildup. Besides the known consequences of hyperamylinemia in the pancreas, evidence has also pointed out that IAPP has a pathological role in cognitive function. More specifically, IAPP was shown to impair the blood–brain barrier; it was also seen to interact and co-deposit with amyloid beta peptide (Aß), and possibly with Tau, within the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, thereby contributing to diabetes-associated dementia. In fact, it has been suggested that AD results from a metabolic dysfunction in the brain, leading to its proposed designation as type 3 diabetes. Here, we have first provided a brief perspective on the IAPP amyloidogenic process and its role in diabetes and AD. We have then discussed the potential interventions for modulating IAPP proteotoxicity that can be explored for therapeutics. Finally, we have proposed the concept of a “diabetes brain phenotype” hypothesis in AD, which may help design future IAPP-centered drug developmentstrategies against AD.publishersversionpublishe