Perceived fear of COVID-19 infection according to sex, age and occupational risk using the Brazilian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale.

We investigated the fear of COVID-19 infection after proper translation and cultural adaptation of the "Fear of COVID-19 Scale" to the Brazilian Portuguese language. A sample of 1,743 Brazilian participants were included. The scale showed excellent psychometric characteristics. Women showed higher anxiety levels. Fear of COVID-19 scores were lower in males with occupational risk of contamination. On the other hand, women and younger individuals showed higher fear of COVID-19 infection scores. The Brazilian Fear of COVID-19 Scale proved to be a reliable tool with excellent psychometric properties for identifying fear of COVID-19 infection in the Brazilian population.

Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (BP-OCS) using a large University Sample in Brazil.

We aimed to validate a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (BP-OCS) using a large sample of university students in Brazil (N = 1454). The scale showed solid psychometric characteristics in terms of internal consistency (α = .78), test-retest reliability (ICC = .86), factorial validity (PAF and CFA support), and construct validity. Additionally, BP-OCS scores were found to be higher among females, participants with diagnosed depression, anxiety, and self-reported anxiety. These findings suggest that the BP-OCS is a reliable and valid measure of persistent and disturbed thinking about COVID-19 for Brazilian university students.

Can Resveratrol Treatment Control the Progression of Induced Periodontal Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies.

Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory compound found in several foods. Periodontal disease (PD) is associated to other systemic diseases, and inflammation may be responsible for the association. Consequently, controlling inflammation not only may benefit oral health but also may assist with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions. We aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol administration on PD control in preclinical studies. A systematic search was performed for scientific articles using both electronic databases and a manual search using combinations of the following keywords: "resveratrol" OR "3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene" AND "periodontal disease" OR "periodontitis" OR "gingivitis". Only in vivo original studies investigating resveratrol treatment on experimental animal models of PD were selected. A quality assessment of the studies was performed using the Animal Research Reporting In Vivo Experiment (ARRIVE) guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Syrcle tool. The search returned 570 articles, and 11 matched the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis showed that resveratrol treatment attenuated alveolar bone loss (τ2 = 0.0041; 95% CI: -0.14; -0.04). The ARRIVE criteria reported a good quality of studies in general (mean score 28.5 ± 2.5). However, five Syrcle domains indicated a high risk of bias or did not present information clearly. We concluded that, in preclinical studies, resveratrol treatment prevented PD progression.

Mechanisms Involved in Glycemic Control Promoted by Exercise in Diabetics.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by high glycemic levels for long periods. This disease has a high prevalence in the world population, being currently observed an increase in its incidence. This fact is mainly due to the sedentary lifestyle and hypercaloric diets. Non-pharmacological interventions for glycemic control include exercise, which promotes changes in skeletal muscle and adipocytes. Thus, increased glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and decreased insulin resistance through modulating adipocytes are the main factors that improve glycemic control against diabetes. CONCLUSION: It was sought to elucidate mechanisms involved in the improvement of glycemic control in diabetics in front of the exercise.

Physical Exercise Improves Glycemic and Inflammatory Profile and Attenuates Progression of Periodontitis in Diabetic Rats (HFD/STZ).

The authors aimed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on the metabolism and progression of periodontal disease (PD), induced by ligature in diabetic rats induced by high fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD/STZ). Diabetes Mellitus (DM) was induced by four weeks of a hyperlipidic diet associated with a single low-dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg/animal). The exercise groups swam for 60 min/day for eight weeks (five times/week). In the last two weeks of exercise, a ligature was placed around the right and left mandibular first molars. The authors determined alveolar bone loss by morphometry. Blood biochemical profile and serum levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were evaluated by colorimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), respectively. The diabetic animals subjected to exercise showed decreased alveolar bone loss, lower glycemia, triacylglycerols and glycosylated hemoglobin levels than the controls. Total cholesterol and its fractions (High density lipoprotein-HDL-c, Low density lipoprotein-LDL-c and Very low density lipoprotein-VLDL-c) remained similar among the groups. Animals with PD showed higher levels of TNF-α and lower levels of IL-10, when compared to animals without PD. In diabetic animals with PD, physical exercise decreased TNF-α levels and increased IL-10 levels as well as the IL10/TNF-α ratio. In conclusion, eight weeks of physical exercise improved glycemic control and systemic inflammatory profile, and attenuated alveolar bone loss in rats with DM and PD.

Exercise and Beta-Glucan Consumption (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Improve the Metabolic Profile and Reduce the Atherogenic Index in Type 2 Diabetic Rats (HFD/STZ).

Physical activity and the ingestion of dietary fiber are non-drug alternatives commonly used as adjuvants to glycemic control in diabetic individuals. Among these fibers, we can highlight beta-glucans. However, few studies have compared isolated and synergic effects of physical exercise and beta-glucan ingestion, especially in type 2 diabetic rats. Therefore, we evaluated the effects beta-glucan (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) consumption, associated or not to exercise, on metabolic parameters of diabetic Wistar rats. The diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) associated with a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ-35 mg/kg). Trained groups were submitted to eight weeks of exercise in aquatic environment. In the last 28 days of experiment, animals received 30 mg/kg/day of beta-glucan by gavage. Isolated use of beta-glucan decreased glucose levels in fasting, Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), the atherogenic index of plasma. Exercise alone also decreased blood glucose levels, HbA1c, and renal lesions. An additive effect for reducing the atherogenic index of plasma and renal lesions was observed when both treatments were combined. It was concluded that both beta-glucan and exercise improved metabolic parameters in type 2 (HFD/STZ) diabetic rats.

Metabolic effects of B-glucans (Saccharomyces cerevisae) per os administration in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes / Efectos metabólicos de los β-glucanos (saccharomyces cerevisiae) a través de la administración oral en ratas con diabetes inducida por estreptozotocina

Introduction: beta-glucans (BG) derived from plant tissues are reported to show metabolic effects. In contrast, those fibers isolated from yeast seem to be more related to immune response modulation. Since diabetic individuals are more susceptible to exacerbation of inflammatory signs, the ingestion of fibers that could conjugate both metabolic and immune effects would be of great importance. Objective: we investigated the effect of BG - Saccharomyses cerevisae - ingestion on glycemic and lipoprotein profile of diabetic rats. Design: twenty-four adult Wistar rats were used, distributed into 4 groups in a design of entirely casualized delineation with a 2 x2 factorial model (with and without diabetes; with and without BG). Diabetes Mellitus was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg of strepzotocin. Thus, animals with fasting glycemia of over 250mg/dl were considered diabetic. Forty-eight hours after induction, the rats received daily doses of 30 mg/kg of BG or saline solution by gavage during 28 days. Results and discussion: the Groups with DM presented a higher glycemic index and lower C peptide levels than the control groups, in addition to lower weight gain and higher ration consumption, water ingestion and urinary volume. Total cholesterol levels (CT), LDL-C + VLDL-C, plasma triacylglycerides (TAG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also higher in the diabetic animals (p<0.05). No histopathological hepatic alterations were observed in any of the groups. Furthermore, the diabetic animals present increase in villous:crypt ratio (V:C) in the duodenum, without interference of BG. No alterations in the carcass were observed between the groups. Conclusion: it was concluded that the use of BG significantly reduced the glycemic, TAG and ALT levels, showing its therapeutic potential (AU)

Introdución: los beta-glucanos (BG) derivados de tejidos vegetales se ha informado que muestran efectos metabólicos. Por el contrario, esas fibras aisladas de levadura parecen estar más relacionadas con la modulación de la respuesta inmune. Dado que los individuos con diabetes son más susceptibles a la exacerbación de los signos inflamatorios, la ingestión de fibras sí podría conjugar ambos efectos metabólicos e inmunológicos, lo cual sería de gran importancia. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos de la ingestión de los BG —Saccharomyses cerevisiae— en el perfil glucémico y la lipoproteína de ratas diabéticas. Metodos: en el diseño de delineación, totalmente precario, fueron utilizadas 24 ratas Wistar macho adultas distribuidas en cuatro grupos, con un modelo factorial 2x2 (con y sin diabetes, con y sin BG). La diabetes mellitus fue inducida por la inyección intraperitoneal de un 80 mg/kg de estrepzotocina. Por lo tanto, los animales con glucemia en ayunas de más de 250 mg/dl fueron considerados diabéticos. Cuarenta y ocho horas después de la inducción, las ratas recibieron dosis diarias de 30 mg/kg de BG o solución salina mediante alimentación forzada durante 28 días. Resultados y discusión: los grupos con DM presentó el mayor índice glucémico y menores niveles de péptido C que los grupos de control, además de reducir el aumento de peso y un mayor consumo de la ración, la ingestión de agua y el volumen urinario. Los niveles de colesterol total (CT), LDL-C + VLDL-C, triacilglicéridos plasmáticos (TAG) y alanina aminotransferasa (ALT) también fueron más altos en los animales diabéticos (p<0,05), y había alteraciones en los niveles de HDL-C. La ingestión de BG redujo las concentraciones de glucosa en sangre (30%), TAG (32%) y ALT (41%) (p<0.05). No se observaron alteraciones hepáticas en ninguno de los grupos. Además, los animales diabéticos presentaron un aumento de la relación cripta:vellosidades (V:C) en el duodeno, sin interferencia de BG. No se observaron alteraciones en la carcasa entre los grupos. Conclusión: se concluyó que el uso de BG redujo significativamente la glucemia, los niveles de TAG Y ALT, mostrando su potencial terapéutico (AU)

Adaptation to physical training in rats orally supplemented with glycerol.

We evaluated training adaptation and physical performance parameters in rats orally supplemented with glycerol, glucose, or saline, and submitted to moderate aerobic exercise. Thirty male rats were trained for 6 weeks and administered the supplements during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized factorial 2 × 3 design (with or without exercise and 3 substrates). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were compared using the Student-Newmann-Keuls test at 5%. Among the trained animals, none of the substances caused differences in the percentages of protein, fat, or water content in the carcass. Compared with the sedentary animals, the trained animals supplemented with saline and glucose showed a higher protein percentage in the carcass. The relative mass of the heart and adrenal glands was higher in the trained animals. Glycerol improved the protein content in non-trained animals and increased the relative adrenal mass in both groups. Glycerol reduced the variation in levels of lactate and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during the last exercise session. There was no difference between groups regarding the relative mass of the thymus and gastrocnemius or with the diameter of muscle fibers or the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Supplementation with glycerol was efficient at attenuating variation in AST and lactate levels during exercise.

Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the inflammatory and glial cells in the central nervous system of goat fetuses and adult male goats naturally infected with Neospora caninum.

BACKGROUND: Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan that is considered one of the main agents responsible for abortion in ruminants. The lesions found in the central nervous system (CNS) of aborted fetuses show multifocal necrosis, gliosis, and perivascular cuffs of mononuclear cells, but the inflammatory and glial cells have not been immunophenotypically characterized. The lesions in the CNS of infected adult animals have rarely been described. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the lesions, the immunophenotypes of the inflammatory and glial cells and the expression of MHC-II and PCNA in the CNS of goats infected with N. caninum. The CNS of eight aborted fetuses and six adult male goats naturally infected with N. caninum were analyzed with lectin histochemistry (RCA1) and immunohistochemistry (with anti-CD3, -CD79α, -GFAP, -MHC-II, and -PCNA antibodies). All animals were the offspring of dams naturally infected with N. caninum. RESULTS: The microscopic lesions in the CNS of the aborted fetuses consisted of perivascular cuffs composed mainly of macrophages (RCA1(+)), rare T lymphocytes (CD3(+)), and rare B lymphocytes (CD79α(+)). Multifocal necrosis surrounded by astrocytes (GFAP(+)), gliosis composed predominantly of monocytic-lineage cells (macrophages and microglia, RCA1(+)), and the cysts of N. caninum, related (or not) to the lesions were present. Similar lesions were found in four of the six male goats, and multinucleate giant cells related to focal gliosis were also found in three adult goats. Anti-GFAP immunostaining showed astrocytes characterizing areas of glial scarring. Cysts of N. caninum were found in three adult male goats. The presence of N. caninum was evaluated with histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and PCR. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated anti-PCNA labeling of macrophages and microglia in the perivascular cuffs and the expression of MHC-II by microglia and endothelial cells in the CNS of the aborted fetuses and adult male goats. CONCLUSIONS: Macrophages and microglia were the predominant inflammatory cells in the CNS of aborted fetuses and healthy adult male goats infected with N. caninum. Activated astrocytes were mainly associated with inflamed areas, suggesting that astrocytes were involved in the resolution of the lesions.

Caracterização morfológica e imuno-histoquímica de lesões em casos de aborto bovino bacteriano e viral no sul de Minas Gerais / Morphological and immunohistochemical characterization of the lesions in cases of bacterial and viral bovine abortion in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil

O presente estudo avaliou a participação de agentes bacterianos e virais em abortos em bovinos de propriedades rurais do sul de Minas Gerais. Foi realizada análise histopatológica e imuno-histoquímica dos casos de aborto recebidos pelo Setor de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Lavras no período de 1999 a 2013. De 60 fetos analisados, em 30 (50%) foram observadas lesões microscópicas. Destes, oito apresentavam lesões compatíveis com infecção por agentes bacterianos e três apresentaram lesões sugestivas de agentes virais. Dos abortos bacterianos, um feto tinha lesões compatíveis com leptospirose, caracterizadas por icterícia e colestase, nefrite intersticial linfoplasmocítica e nefrose tubular. Sete fetos apresentaram pneumonia ou broncopneumonia purulenta; num deles havia também pleurite e peritonite fibrinosas; e em dois desses fetos houve imunomarcação para Brucella abortus. Dos três fetos com lesões sugestivas de aborto viral ocorreu imunomarcação anti-Herpesvírus bovino em um. Os resultados demonstram a ocorrência de abortos de origem bacteriana e viral na Região do estudo e que medidas profiláticas devem ser adotadas nas propriedades. O trabalho demonstra também que a imuno-histoquímica (IHQ); associada à histopatologia; é uma ferramenta útil e viável para o diagnóstico, especialmente quando provas microbiológicas e/ou sorológicas não estão disponíveis.

The paper evaluates the participation of bacterial and viral agents in bovine abortions in farms of southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis was performed in aborted fetuses of cattle received by the Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, from 1999 to 2013. From 60 fetuses studied, 30 (50%) had microscopic lesions. From these, eight had lesions consistent with bacterial agents and three had lesions suggestive of viral agents. In the bacterial abortions, one fetus presented lesions compatible with leptospirosis, characterized by jaundice, cholestasis, lymphoplasmacytic intersticial nephritis, and tubular nephrosis. Seven fetuses had purulent pneumonia or bronchopneumonia and one of them had also fibrinous pleuritis and peritonitis; two of them presented positive immunostaining for Brucella abortus. One of the three fetuses with lesions of viral infection revealed positive imunostaining for bovine herpesvirus. The results showed that abortions of bacterial and viral origin occur in the Region of this study and prophylactic measures should be adopted on the farms. This study also demonstrates that immunohistochemistry associated with histopathology is a useful and viable tool for the diagnosis, especially when microbiological and/or serological tests are not available.

Metabolic effects of glycerol supplementation and aerobic physical training on Wistar rats.

We evaluated the effects of oral glycerol supplementation on trained rats fed a normal diet. Wistar rats were distributed among 6 groups in a completely randomized 2 × 3 factorial design. The animals were subjected to 6 weeks of aerobic training. In the last 4 weeks, the animals' diet was supplemented with saline, glucose, or glycerol. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Student-Newmann-Keuls test, with values for P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. The change in body mass was lower in the trained groups, and their food and water consumption were higher. Glycerol supplementation resulted in an increase in the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) and total cholesterol, as well as in the area and diameter of adipocytes. When associated with training, these parameters were similar to those of other trained groups. Levels of low-density lipoprotein + very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in the trained animals that received glycerol compared with the non-trained ones. Glycerol consumption caused a reduction in food intake and increased the villous:crypt (V:C) ratio. No changes in glycemia, high density lipoproteins, or density of adipocytes were observed. Supplementation with glycerol together with aerobic physical training promoted beneficial metabolic effects. However, in non-trained rats glycerol increased the diameter and area of adipocytes, as well as the levels of TAG and total cholesterol.

Occurrences of Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy calves in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with infection by Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes in 356 calves on 20 dairy farms located in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ten species of Eimeria spp. were identified, of which E. bovis (37.6%) and E. zuernii (17.9%) were the most frequent. From fecal cultures, four genera of gastrointestinal nematodes were recovered, of which Cooperia spp. (74.6%) and Haemonchus (19.4%) were the most frequent. Variables relating to higher levels of technology used on dairy farms showed a significant association (p < 0.05) with higher OPG and EPG counts, and are discussed in this study.

Occurrences of Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy calves in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil / Ocorrência de Eimeria spp. e nematódeos gastrintestinais em bezerros no sul de Minas Gerais, Brasil

The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with infection by Eimeria spp. and gastrointestinal nematodes in 356 calves on 20 dairy farms located in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ten species of Eimeria spp. were identified, of which E. bovis (37.6%) and E. zuernii (17.9%) were the most frequent. From fecal cultures, four genera of gastrointestinal nematodes were recovered, of which Cooperia spp. (74.6%) and Haemonchus (19.4%) were the most frequent. Variables relating to higher levels of technology used on dairy farms showed a significant association (p < 0.05) with higher OPG and EPG counts, and are discussed in this study.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência e os fatores associados à infecção por Eimeria spp. e nematódeos gastrintestinais, em 356 bezerras provenientes de 20 rebanhos leiteiros, localizados no sul de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram identificadas dez espécies de Eimeria spp., sendo E. bovis (37,6%) e E. zuernii (17,9%) as mais frequentes. Nas coproculturas, foram recuperados quatro gêneros de nematódeos gastrintestinais, sendo os mais frequentes Cooperia spp. (74,6%) e Haemonchus spp. (19,4%).Variáveis relacionadas a um maior nível de tecnificação das propriedades leiteiras apresentaram associação significativa (p < 0,05), com maiores contagens de OoPG e OPG, e são discutidas neste estudo.