Avaliação dos níveis de BDNF em pacientes hospitalizados por trauma físico em um hospital de emergência de Porto Alegre, sul do Brasil

Objective: To assess the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and acute stress disorder (ASD) in patients who have suffered physical trauma. Methods: Data were collected at an emergency hospital in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Participants were over 18 years of age, victims of physical trauma, and had been hospitalized for a minimum of 48 hours. A total of 117 hospitalized patients who agreed to participate in the research were grouped according to the shift in which blood was collected (38 subjects from the morning shift and 79 from the afternoon shift), had their BDNF levels measured and responded to other questionnaires. Respondents were further grouped by age into three ranges: 18-30, 31-50 and 51-70 years. Results: We found a significant difference in the distribution of BDNF between the two shifts in which blood samples were collected, with the afternoon group having higher BDNF levels (U = 1906.5, p = 0.018). A difference was observed only between the 18-30 group and the 51-70 group in the afternoon shift (Umorning = 1107, pmorning = 0.575; Uafternoon = 7175, pafternoon = 0.028). Conclusions: The population whose blood samples were collected in the afternoon showed significantly higher values of BDNF compared to those of the morning shift. This same population presented lower BDNF levels when associated with ASD subtypes A1, A2, and A. We hypothesize that the lower values of BDNF measured in the morning shift were due to a response to the circadian cycle of cortisol, whose action inhibits the expression of serum neurotrophins.Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre os níveis de fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]) e transtorno de estresse agudo (TEA) em pacientes que sofreram trauma físico. Métodos: Os dados foram coletados em um hospital de emergência de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os participantes eram maiores de 18 anos, vítimas de trauma físico e estavam hospitalizados por um período mínimo de 48 horas. Um total de 117 pacientes hospitalizados que concordaram em participar da pesquisa foram agrupados de acordo com o turno de realização da coleta de sangue (38 sujeitos no turno da manhã e 79 sujeitos no turno da tarde), tiveram seus níveis de BDNF medidos e responderam a outros questionários. Os entrevistados também foram agrupados por idade em três faixas etárias: 18-30, 31-50 e 51-70 anos. Resultados: Encontramos uma diferença significativa na distribuição de BDNF entre os turnos, sendo que o grupo da tarde apresentou níveis maiores de BDNF (U = 1906,5, p = 0,018). Houve diferença entre o grupo de 18-30 anos e o de 51-70 anos no turno da tarde (Umanhã = 1107, pmanhã = 0,575; Utarde = 7175, ptarde = 0,028). Conclusões: A população cuja coleta ocorreu à tarde apresentou valores significativamente maiores de BDNF em relação à coleta do turno da manhã. Esta mesma população apresentou menores níveis dessa neurotrofina quando associada com os subtipos A1, A2 e A de TEA. É possível hipotetizar que os menores valores de BDNF aferidos na coleta do turno da manhã se devam a uma resposta ao ciclo circadiano do cortisol, cuja ação inibe a expressão de neurotrofinas séricas

Reactivation of latent HIV-1 in vitro using an ethanolic extract from Euphorbia umbellata (Euphorbiaceae) latex

Euphorbia umbellata (E. umbellata) belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, popularly known as Janauba, and its latex contains a combination of phorbol esters with biological activities described to different cellular protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Here, we identified deoxi-phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex alcoholic extract that are able to increase HIV transcription and reactivate virus from latency models. This activity is probably mediated by NF-kB activation followed by nuclear translocation and binding to the HIV LTR promoter. In addition, E. umbellata latex extract induced the production of pro inflammatory cytokines in vitro in human PBMC cultures. This latex extract also activates latent virus in human PBMCs isolated from HIV positive patients as well as latent SIV in non-human primate primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that the phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex are promising candidate compounds for future clinical trials for shock and kill therapies to promote HIV cure and eradication.Research and experimental expenses were funded by the grant E26/2015064289 from FAPERJinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gold nanoparticles inhibit steroid-insensitive asthma in mice preserving histone deacetylase 2 and NRF2 pathways

Background: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can inhibit pivotal pathological changes in experimental asthma, but their effect on steroid-insensitive asthma is unclear. The current study assessed the effectiveness of nebulized AuNPs in a murine model of glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant asthma. Methods: A/J mice were sensitized and subjected to intranasal instillations of ovalbumin (OVA) once a week for nine weeks. Two weeks after starting allergen stimulations, mice were subjected to Budesonide or AuNP nebulization 1 h before stimuli. Analyses were carried out 24 h after the last provocation. Results: We found that mice challenged with OVA had airway hyperreactivity, eosinophil, and neutrophil infiltrates in the lung, concomitantly with peribronchiolar fibrosis, mucus production, and pro-inflammatory cytokine generation compared to sham-challenged mice. These changes were inhibited in mice treated with AuNPs, but not Budesonide. In the GCresistant asthmatic mice, oxidative stress was established, marked by a reduction in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) levels and catalase activity, accompanied by elevated values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), phosphoinositide 3-kinases δ (PI3Kδ) expression, as well as a reduction in the nuclear expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in the lung tissue, all of which sensitive to AuNPs but not Budesonide treatment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that AuNPs can improve GC-insensitive asthma by preserving HDAC2 and NRF2

Molecular epidemiological investigation of Mayaro virus in febrile patients from Goiania City, 2017-2018.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) has historically been associated with sylvatic transmission; however, urban outbreaks have been reported in Brazil, including cases of co-detection with dengue virus (DENV). Therefore, we performed a molecular survey to investigate MAYV circulation and cocirculation with DENV within Goiania, a major city in Central-West Brazil. Among 375 subjects with arbovirus-like symptoms, 259 were positive for DENV and 26 for MAYV. Of these, 17 were coinfected with DENV-2, suggesting co-transmission of the viruses. The most common complaints at the time of inclusion were myalgia, headache, fever, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, and skin rash. No specific symptoms were associated with MAYV when either detected alone or co-detected with DENV, compared to that when DENV was detected alone. Most MAYV-infected subjects were women with no recent travel history to rural/sylvatic areas. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the MAYV identified in this study is closely related with a lineage observed in Peru, belonging to genotype D. Our results corroborate the growing circulation of MAYV in urban environments in Brazil and reinforce the need to implement laboratory diagnosis in the Unified Health System, considering that the clinical manifestations of Mayaro fever are similar to those of other arboviruses, particularly dengue. Furthermore, most cases occurred in association with DENV-2. Further phylogenetic studies are needed to evaluate MAYV, which has not been widely examined

Extrato bruto de bactéria Teredinibacter turnera, processo de obtenção do extrato bruto, composição farmacêutica contendo o mesmo e uso no tratamento de distúrbios e desordens proliferativas

ConcedidaA presente invenção se refere ao extrato bruto de bactéria Teredinibacter turnera atuante como agente antiproliferativo e antiviral, empregado em uma composição farmacêutica para o uso em tratamento de distúrbios e desordens proliferativas em mamíferos e infecções celulares e virais

Importation and early local transmission of COVID-19 in Brazil, 2020

We conducted the genome sequencing and analysis of the first confirmed COVID-19 infections in Brazil. Rapid sequencing coupled with phylogenetic analyses in the context of travel history corroborate multiple independent importations from Italy and local spread during the initial stage of COVID-19 transmission in Brazil

Global disparities in SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance

Genomic sequencing is essential to track the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2, optimize molecular tests, treatments, vaccines, and guide public health responses. To investigate the global SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, we used sequences shared via GISAID to estimate the impact of sequencing intensity and turnaround times on variant detection in 189 countries. In the first two years of the pandemic, 78% of high-income countries sequenced >0.5% of their COVID-19 cases, while 42% of low- and middle-income countries reached that mark. Around 25% of the genomes from high income countries were submitted within 21 days, a pattern observed in 5% of the genomes from low- and middle-income countries. We found that sequencing around 0.5% of the cases, with a turnaround time <21 days, could provide a benchmark for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. Socioeconomic inequalities undermine the global pandemic preparedness, and efforts must be made to support low- and middle-income countries improve their local sequencing capacity

Global disparities in SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance

Genomic sequencing is essential to track the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2, optimize molecular tests, treatments, vaccines, and guide public health responses. To investigate the global SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, we used sequences shared via GISAID to estimate the impact of sequencing intensity and turnaround times on variant detection in 189 countries. In the first two years of the pandemic, 78% of high-income countries sequenced >0.5% of their COVID-19 cases, while 42% of low- and middle-income countries reached that mark. Around 25% of the genomes from high income countries were submitted within 21 days, a pattern observed in 5% of the genomes from low- and middle-income countries. We found that sequencing around 0.5% of the cases, with a turnaround time <21 days, could provide a benchmark for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. Socioeconomic inequalities undermine the global pandemic preparedness, and efforts must be made to support low- and middle-income countries improve their local sequencing capacity

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio