Metabolomics perspectives of the ecotoxicological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A scoping review.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent persistent environmental pollutants ubiquitously distributed in the environment. Their presence alongside various other contaminants gives rise to intricate interactions, culminating in profound deleterious consequences. The combination effects of different PAH mixtures on biota remains a relatively unexplored domain. Recent studies have harnessed the exceptional sensitivity of metabolomic techniques to unveil the significant ecotoxicological perils of PAH pollution confronting both human populations and ecosystems. This article furnishes a comprehensive overview of current literature focused on the metabolic repercussions stemming from exposure to complex mixtures of PAHs or PAH-pollution sources using metabolomics approaches. These insights are obtained through a wide range of models, including in vitro assessments, animal studies, investigations on human subjects, botanical specimens, and soil environments. The findings underscore that PAH mixtures induce cellular stress responses and systemic effects, leading to metabolic dysregulations in amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and other key metabolites (e.g., organic acids, purines), with specific variations observed based on the organism and PAH compounds involved. Additionally, the ecological consequences of PAH pollutants on plant and soil microbial responses are emphasized, revealing significant changes in stress-related metabolites and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems. The complex interplay of various PAHs and their metabolic effects on several models, as elucidated through metabolomics, highlight the urgency of further research and the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the risks posed by these widespread environmental pollutants.

Helios expressing regulatory T cells are correlated with decreased IL-2 producing CD8 T cells and antibody diversity in Mozambican individuals living chronically with HIV-1.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes impairment of T and B cell responses, which begins during the acute phase of infection and is not completely restored by antiretroviral treatment. Regulatory T cell (Tregs) can improve overall disease outcome by controlling chronic inflammation but may also suppress beneficial HIV-1 specific immune responses. We aimed to analyze the profile of Tregs and their correlation with the status of T cells activation, the expression of IL-2 and IFNγ and the profile of HIV-1 specific antibodies response in Mozambican people living chronically with HIV-1 (PLWH-C). RESULTS: In PLWH-C, the proportion of total Tregs was positively correlated with the proportion of IL-2+CD4 T cells (r = 0.647; p = 0.032) and IL-2+IFNγ+CD8 T cells (r = 0.551; p = 0.014), while the proportions of Helios+Tregs correlated inversely with levels of IL-2+CD8 T cells (r = - 0.541; p = 0.017). Overall, PLWH-C, with (82%) or without virologic suppression (64%), were seronegative for at least HIV-1 p31, gp160 or p24, and the breadth of antibody responses was positively correlated with proportions of CD38+HLA-DR+CD8 T cells (r = 0.620; p = 0.012), viral load (r = 0.452; p = 0.040) and inversely with absolute CD4 T cells count (r = - 0.481; p = 0.027). Analysis of all individuals living HIV-1 showed that the breadth of HIV-1 antibody responses was inversely correlated with the proportion of Helios+Tregs (r = - 0.45; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Among Mozambican people living with HIV-1, seronegativity to some HIV-1 proteins is common, particularly in virologically suppressed individuals. Furthermore, lower diversity of HIV-specific antibodies is correlated to lower immune activation, lower viral replication and higher CD4 counts, in PLWH-C. Elevation in the proportion of Helios+Tregs is related to a reduction of CD8 T expressing intracellular IL-2, in PLWH-C, but may contribute to impairment of B cell function.

Fatores de risco para a saúde mental infanto-juvenil: conhecimentos dos agentes educativos / Factores de riesgo para la salud mental infanto-juvenil: conocimientos de los agentes educativos / Risk factors for mental health in children and young people: knowledge of education agents

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o nível de conhecimentos dos agentes educativos sobre os fatores de risco para a saúde mental de crianças e adolescentes e analisar a sua associação com variáveis sociodemográficas. Métodos Estudo quantitativo, com recurso a uma amostra não probabilística de 136 agentes educativos (62,5% professores, 32,4% enfermeiros e 5,1% polícias), na sua maioria mulheres (70,6%) e média de idades de 48,34 anos. A colheita de dados, com recurso a um questionário de auto-preenchimento, realizou-se no ano lectivo de 2018 em quatro escolas do concelho de Viseu - Região centro de Portugal. Testes estatísticos utilizados: Qui-Quadrado e Análise de Regressão Múltipla. Resultados Na generalidade os agentes educativos revelaram possuir conhecimentos sobre os fatores de risco para a saúde mental, destacando-se 39,71% que chegam mesmo a evidenciar excelentes conhecimentos. Em termos comparativos, os enfermeiros são os que evidenciam melhores níveis de conhecimentos ( x̄ =15,546), seguindo-se os professores ( x̄ =13,318) e, por fim, os polícias ( x̄ =8,571), diferenças estas significativas (x2=14,725; p= 0,004). O estudo multivariado inferiu ser o género a única variável a se revelar preditora do nível de conhecimentos, explicando 11,5% da sua variabilidade (p=0,002), evidenciando as mulheres maior nível de conhecimentos. Já o efeito preditivo da variável categoria profissional (p=0,051) e tempo de experiência profissional (p=0,0179) não se revelou significativo. Conclusão O facto do género ter sido a única variável que se revelou preditiva do nível de conhecimentos, faz-nos ponderar da necessidade de se adoptarem estratégias diferenciadas em programas de formação, onde as características e vulnerabilidade dos dois sexos sejam salvaguardadas.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar el nivel de conocimiento de los agentes educativos sobre los factores de riesgo para la salud mental de niños y adolescentes y analizar su relación con variables sociodemográficas. Métodos Estudio cuantitativo, con un muestreo no probabilístico de 136 agentes educativos (62,5% profesores, 32,4% enfermeros y 5,1% policías), en su mayoría mujeres (70,6%) y con un promedio de edad de 48,34 años. La recolección de datos se realizó mediante un cuestionario autocompletado, en el año lectivo 2018, en cuatro escuelas del concejo de Viseu, en la región centro de Portugal. Las pruebas estadísticas utilizadas fueron: prueba χ2 de Pearson y Análisis de Regresión Múltiple. Resultados En general, los agentes educativos revelaron tener conocimientos sobre los factores de riesgo para la salud mental, con un 39,71% que logró demostrar excelentes conocimientos. En términos comparativos, los enfermeros son los que demuestran mejores niveles de conocimiento ( x̄ =15,546), seguidos de los profesores ( x̄ =13,318) y por último los policías ( x̄ =8,571), diferencias estas significativas (x2=14,725; p= 0,004). Con el estudio multivariado se reveló que el género es la única variable que se mostró predictiva del nivel de conocimiento, que explica el 11,5% de su variabilidad (p=0,002) y demuestra mayor nivel de conocimiento en mujeres. Por otro lado, el efecto predictivo de la variable categoría profesional (p=0,051) y tiempo de experiencia profesional (p=0,0179) no demostró ser significativo. Conclusión El hecho de que el género haya sido la única variable que demostró ser predictiva del nivel de conocimiento nos hace considerar la necesidad de adoptar estrategias diferenciadas en programas de capacitación, en los que las características y vulnerabilidad de los dos sexos sean resguardadas.

Abstract Objective To assess the level of knowledge of education agents about risk factors for mental health in children and adolescents, and to analyze these factors connection with sociodemographic variables. Methods This was a quantitative study that used non-probabilistic sample of 136 education agents (62.5% professors, 32.4% nurses and 5.1% police officers). Most of participants were women (70.6%) with mean age of 48.34 years old. Data collection was performed through a self-completion questionnaire during 2018 academic year in four schools of the municipality of Viseu, Central Portugal. Statistical tests used were chi-square and multiple regression analysis. Results In general, education agents showed to have knowledge about risk factors for mental health, highlighting that 39.71% of them had excellent knowledge. In comparative terms, nurses showed better level of knowledge ( x̄ =15.546), followed by professors ( x̄ =13.318) and, police officers ( x̄ =8.571). Differences between participants were significant (x2=14.725; p= 0.004). The multivariate study demonstrated that gender was the only variable to prove to be a predictor of the level of knowledge, explaining the 11.5% of variability (p=0.002), and showing that women had a greater level of knowledge. The predictive effect of the variable professional category (p=0.051) and years of professional experience (p=0.0179) was not significant. Conclusion The fact that gender was the only variable that proved to be predictive of the level of knowledge led us consider the need of adopting differentiated strategies for training programs, in which the characteristics and vulnerability of both sexes should be protected.

Effect of eicosapentaenoic/docosahexaenoic fatty acids and soluble fibers on blood lipids of individuals classified into different levels of lipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of a formulation containing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid combined with soluble fibers (beta-glucan and guar gum) on fasting blood lipids used as coronary heart disease biomarkers of individuals classified into different levels of lipidemia by multivariate techniques. METHODS: Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, plasma glucose concentrations, body mass index, age, and waist circumference were determined in 99 healthy volunteers. Three clusters or subgroups were identified according to coronary heart disease risk levels. Within each cluster, individuals were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups, with each group receiving samples of a functional formulation containing 460 mg of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or 580 mg of soluble fibers, and placebo to be consumed in one bottle per day (200 mL) for 6 wk. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed for triacylglycerol (P = 0.281) and total cholesterol (P = 0.082) concentrations across the three subgroups. Soluble dietary fibers improved the sensory quality of the formulation containing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The efficiency of cluster analysis to discriminate individuals in subgroups was confirmed by one-way analysis of variance (P < 0.003). CONCLUSION: The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation equivalent to fish consumed 2.5 to 3 times per week by a functional food-containing soluble dietary fiber showed no beneficial result in terms of changes in blood lipids in individuals classified according to different levels of lipidemia. Small numbers of patients in each cluster and possibly the low dose of fish oil and soluble dietary fibers used in this study may have also contributed to the lack of these differences. Multivariate techniques proved to be a very efficient tool to solve the heterogeneity problem usually observed in human designs and to evaluate the results within subgroups categorized by n variables extracted from the same population.