The role of serological testing in the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

Antibody tests for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2, have been developed both as rapid diagnostic assays and for high-throughput formal serology platforms. Although these tests may be a useful adjunct to a diagnostic strategy, they have a number of limitations. Because of the antibody and viral dynamics of the coronavirus, their sensitivity can be variable, especially at early time points after symptom onset. Additional data are required on the performance of the tests in the South African population, especially with regard to development and persistence of antibody responses and whether antibodies are protective against reinfection. These tests may, however, be useful in guiding the public health response, providing data for research (including seroprevalence surveys and vaccine initiatives) and development of therapeutic strategies

Impact of the promotora model on the improvement of oral health knowledge of caregivers / Impacto del modelo promotora en el mejoramiento del conocimiento sobre salud oral de los cuidadores

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the impact of the Promotora Model (PM) as an educational strategy to increase oral health knowledge in parents/caregivers of children aged 2-5 years at high risk for dental caries. Materials and Methods Sixty-three caregivers who provided informed consent were included in the study. A structured 37-item survey was administered prior to conducting the Promotora educational intervention (PEI) that covered oral health topics and behaviors. Three (3) months after the PEI session, during their child's next dental visit, the same instrument was administered to 46 of the parents/caregivers that had completed the first instrument. Results Most caregivers were Hispanic (73.9%) and 50% reported completing high school. Before PEI, 56.5% of participants scored as having "good" general knowledge. Three months after PEI, 82.6% achieved that score (paired sample T-test, p< 0.00001). Conclusion Based on the results, it was concluded that the PM significantly increased caregivers' oral health knowledge.(AU)

RESUMEN Objetivo El propósito de este estudio cuasi-experimental fue determinar el impacto del Modelo Promotora (MP) como estrategia educacional para mejorar el conocimiento sobre salud oral de los padres y/o cuidadores de niños con edades comprendidas entre 2-5 años con alto riesgo de sufrir caries dental. Métodos Sesenta y tres padres y/o cuidadores quienes dieron el consentimiento fueron incluidos en el estudio. Se administró un cuestionario estructurado de 37 preguntas antes de la intervención educativa (IE) con el Modelo Promotora (IEP) el cual cubría tópicos sobre salud oral y conductas. Tres (3) meses después de la sesión de IEP, en la próxima visita dental del niño, el mismo cuestionario fue administrado a 46 padres y/o cuidadores que habían completado el primer cuestionario. Resultados La mayoría de los padres y/o cuidadores eran Hispanos (73,9%) y 50% reporto tener bachillerato completo. Antes del IEP, 56,5% de los participantes presentó un nivel general de conocimiento "Bueno." Tres meses después de la aplicación del IEP, 82,6% obtuvieron el mismo nivel de conocimiento (T-test, p<0.00001). Conclusión Se concluye que el MP mejora considerablemente el conocimiento sobre salud bucal de los padres y/o cuidadores.(AU)

Women's sense of coherence and its association with early weaning / Senso de coerência da mulher e sua associação com o desmame precoce

Abstract Objective: To investigate whether there is an association between sense of coherence levels and early weaning. Method: This study had a quantitative nature and a cross-sectional design. Factors associated with early weaning (interruption of maternal breastfeeding) were investigated in a sample of 425 women older than 18 years, mothers of children up to 36 months of age who were not twins, with no sensory or motor deficiencies, without distinction of ethnicity or social class. The chi-squared test, with a significance level of 5%, was used to evaluate the association between the dependent variable (early weaning) and the independent variables (socioeconomic, demographic factors and sense of coherence level). Variables with p ≤ 0.20 were tested by the multiple logistic regression model. Odds ratio and the respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated. All statistical tests were performed using the SAS 9.2 software. Results: The results showed that mothers with greater sense of coherence were 1.82 times more likely to maintain breastfeeding for longer periods (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The identification of mothers with low sense of coherence allows the early intervention of health professionals, contributing to decrease the rates of early weaning in the population.

Resumo Objetivo: Investigar se há associação entre níveis de senso de coerência e desmame precoce. Método: O presente estudo tem natureza quantitativa e delineamento transversal. Foram investigados fatores associados ao desmame precoce (interrupção da oferta do leite materno à criança) em uma amostra de 425 mulheres com idade superior a 18 anos, sem distinção de etnia ou classe social, mães de crianças com até 36 meses, que não fossem gêmeos ou apresentassem deficiências sensoriais ou motoras. Foi feito o teste de qui-quadrado, com nível de significância de 5%, para testar a associação entre a variável dependente (desmame precoce) e as variáveis independentes (socioeconômicas, demográficas e nível de senso de coerência). As variáveis que apresentaram p ≤ 0,20 foram testadas no modelo de regressão logística múltipla. Os odds ratio e os respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança foram estimados. Todos os testes estatísticos foram feitos com o programa SAS 9.2. Resultados: Os resultados apontaram que mães com maior senso de coerência possuem 1,82 vez mais chance de manter o aleitamento por mais tempo (p = 0,02). Conclusões: A identificação de mães com baixo senso de coerência permite a intervenção precoce dos profissionais de saúde, contribui para diminuir as taxas de desmame precoce na população.

Associação entre o tipo de aleitamento na alta hospitalar do recém-nascido e aos seis meses de vida / Association between type of breastfeeding of newborns at hospital discharge and at six months of age

Resumo Introdução Os índices de aleitamento materno no Brasil permanecem muito abaixo dos considerados ideais, fazendo-se necessário o entendimento das variáveis envolvidas na fragmentação do aleitamento ao longo dos meses de vida da criança. Objetivo Objetivou-se, neste estudo, verificar a associação entre o tipo de aleitamento no momento da alta hospitalar do recém-nascido e a prática da amamentação aos seis meses de vida. Método Estudo transversal, com dados coletados do prontuário clínico de 301 crianças participantes de um programa de incentivo ao aleitamento materno. Foram considerados os fatores de risco e de proteção ao aleitamento, tais como: idade dos pais, presença do companheiro, paridade, renda familiar, permanência em alojamento conjunto, tempo decorrido do nascimento até a primeira mamada, tempo de hospitalização, tipo de amamentação na alta hospitalar e uso de chupeta ao longo dos seis meses de vida. Resultados Os resultados mostraram haver associação significativa entre aleitamento materno exclusivo na alta hospitalar e aos seis meses de idade (p=0,0205). Conclusão A observação desses dados permite concluir que é importante que, ao deixar a maternidade, o bebê esteja em amamentação exclusiva, pois, dessa forma, terá 2,5 vezes mais chances de manter esse tipo de aleitamento até os seis meses de vida.

Abstract Introduction Breastfeeding rates in Brazil remain far below those considered ideal, making it necessary understanding the variables involved in the fragmentation of this process over the months of a child's life. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the association between type of breastfeeding of newborns at hospital discharge and at six months of age. Method A cross-sectional study with data collected from the medical records of 301 children participating in a program to encourage exclusive breastfeeding. The study considered risk and protection factors to breastfeeding such as age of parents, presence of mate, parity, family income, stay in room, time elapsed from birth to first breastfeeding, hospitalization time, type of breastfeeding at hospital discharge, and use of pacifier until the age of six months. Results The results revealed significant correlation between exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge and at six months of age (p=0.0205). Conclusion Observation of data enabled the following conclusion: it is important that newborns undergo exclusive breastfeeding after hospital discharge because, this way, they will be 2.5 times more likely to maintain this type of feeding until the age of six months.

Integrin alpha 11 in the regulation of the myofibroblast phenotype: implications for fibrotic diseases

Tissue fibrosis, characterized by excessive accumulation of aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by myofibroblasts, is a growing cause of mortality worldwide. Understanding the factors that induce myofibroblastic differentiation is paramount to prevent or reverse the fibrogenic process. Integrin-mediated interaction between the ECM and cytoskeleton promotes myofibroblast differentiation. In the present study, we explored the significance of integrin alpha 11 (ITGA11), the integrin alpha subunit that selectively binds to type I collagen during tissue fibrosis in the liver, lungs and kidneys. We showed that ITGA11 was co-localized with α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts and was correlatively induced with increasing fibrogenesis in mouse models and human fibrotic organs. Furthermore, transcriptome and protein expression analysis revealed that ITGA11 knockdown in hepatic stellate cells (liver-specific myofibroblasts) markedly reduced transforming growth factor β-induced differentiation and fibrotic parameters. Moreover, ITGA11 knockdown dramatically altered the myofibroblast phenotype, as indicated by the loss of protrusions, attenuated adhesion and migration, and impaired contractility of collagen I matrices. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ITGA11 was regulated by the hedgehog signaling pathway, and inhibition of the hedgehog pathway reduced ITGA11 expression and fibrotic parameters in human hepatic stellate cells in vitro, in liver fibrosis mouse model in vivo and in human liver slices ex vivo. Therefore, we speculated that ITGA11 might be involved in fibrogenic signaling and might act downstream of the hedgehog signaling pathway. These findings highlight the significance of the ITGA11 receptor as a highly promising therapeutic target in organ fibrosis.

Why do we need alternative tools to control mosquito-borne diseases in Latin America?

In this opinion paper, we discuss the potential and challenges of using the symbiont Wolbachia to block mosquito transmitted diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya in Latin America.

Polymorphism of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme inhibitor 1 gene is associated with liver cirrhosis in Chinese hepatitis B patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

A cirrhosis risk score (CRS) comprised of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes that predicts the risk of cirrhosis in Caucasian hepatitis C has been reported. The present study was to evaluate the association of 11 separate but related SNPs and the CRS with cirrhosis risk in Chinese hepatitis B patients. A total of 563 Chinese subjects with persistent HBV infection (349 with evident liver cirrhosis and 214 without cirrhosis clinically or pathologically) were studied. The candidate SNPs were detected with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method. The allele frequency and genotype distribution of each polymorphism as well as the CRS value within the cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis subjects were compared. The rs2679757 polymorphism of the antizyme inhibitor 1 (AZIN1) gene was associated with the risk of cirrhosis (x2 = 6.79, P = 0.03, odds ratio for GG+AG versus AA = 1.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-2.35). A gene variant (rs886277) in the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M, member 5 gene (TRPM5) was associated with liver cirrhosis, but did not reach statistical significance (x2 = 5.77, P = 0.06). Two SNPs (rs4986791, rs62522600) are not polymorphic in Chinese. Genotype frequencies of other SNPs were not different between the cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis groups. The overall CRS values were not different between the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic groups (median value 0.57 versus 0.62, Z = -1.05, P = 0.29). SNP rs2679757 in the AZIN1 gene is associated with the risk of HBV-related liver cirrhosis in Chinese. The CRS for Caucasian population has limited applicability for predicting liver cirrhosis in Chinese hepatitis B patients. SNPs associated with cirrhosis prognosis in hepatitis B patients and liver diseases with other etiologies warrant further clinical validation.

Assessing key safety concerns of a Wolbachia-based strategy to control dengue transmission by Aedes mosquitoes

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya or malaria affect millions of people each year and control solutions are urgently needed. An international research program is currently being developed that relies on the introduction of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis into Aedes aegypti to control dengue transmission. In order to prepare for open-field testing releases of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, an intensive social research and community engagement program was undertaken in Cairns, Northern Australia. The most common concern expressed by the diverse range of community members and stakeholders surveyed was the necessity of assuring the safety of the proposed approach for humans, animals and the environment. To address these concerns a series of safety experiments were undertaken. We report in this paper on the experimental data obtained, discuss the limitations of experimental risk assessment and focus on the necessity of including community concerns in scientific research.

Diferenças fenomenológicas surgidas com comportamentos repetitivos no transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e na síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette / Phenomenological differences appearing with repetitive behaviours in obsessive-compulsive disorder and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

Retrospectiva. O transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) é heterogênio, com algumas formas relacionadas à Síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette (SGT). Este é um estudo fenomenológico destinado a investigar a natureza desses possíveis subtipos de TOC e a relaçäo entre TOC e SGT. Método. Avaliamos 20 pacientes adultos ambulatoriais com TOC, 21 com SGT, e 20 com TOC + SGT, utilizando uma entrevista semi-estruturada para avaliar os fenômenos cognitivos, sensoriais e autonômicos, precedentes aos comportamentos repetitivos. Resultados. Foram relatados mais fenômenos cognitivos e ansiedade autonômica e menos fenômenos sensoriais no TOC que na SGT. Assim como no grupo de SGT, também no grupo de TOC e SGT foram relatados mais fenômenos sensoriais e menos cogniçöes que no grupo TOC. Conclusöes. A presença ou ausência de fenômenos cognitivos, fenômenos sensoriais e ansiedade autonômica distinguem os comportamentos repetitivos em pacientes com TOC daqueles com TOC + SGT, e SGT. Essas experiências subjetivas podem ser úteis em subclassificar o TOC e podem representar preditores válidos de prognóstico e resposta ao tratamento