The differential virulence of Fusarium strains causing corneal infections and plant diseases is associated with accessory chromosome composition.

Fusarium oxysporum is a cross-kingdom pathogen. While some strains cause disseminated fusariosis and blinding corneal infections in humans, others are responsible for devastating vascular wilt diseases in plants. To better understand the distinct adaptations of F. oxysporum to animal or plant hosts, we conducted a comparative phenotypic and genetic analysis of two strains: MRL8996 (isolated from a keratitis patient) and Fol4287 (isolated from a wilted tomato [Solanum lycopersicum]). In vivo infection of mouse corneas and tomato plants revealed that, while both strains cause symptoms in both hosts, MRL8996 caused more severe corneal ulceration and perforation in mice, whereas Fol4287 induced more pronounced wilting symptoms in tomato. In vitro assays using abiotic stress treatments revealed that the human pathogen MRL8996 was better adapted to elevated temperatures, whereas the plant pathogen Fol4287 was more tolerant of osmotic and cell wall stresses. Both strains displayed broad resistance to antifungal treatment, with MRL8996 exhibiting the paradoxical effect of increased tolerance to higher concentrations of the antifungal caspofungin. We identified a set of accessory chromosomes (ACs) and protein-encoding genes with distinct transposon profiles and functions, respectively, between MRL8996 and Fol4287. Interestingly, ACs from both genomes also encode proteins with shared functions, such as chromatin remodeling and post-translational protein modifications. Our phenotypic assays and comparative genomics analyses lay the foundation for future studies correlating genotype with phenotype and for developing targeted antifungals for agricultural and clinical uses.

Effects of Carbohydrate Intake on Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles deaneorum Fitness under Lab-Reared Conditions.

The maintenance of a highly productive colony of anopheline mosquitoes requires standardized methods in order to obtain a sufficient number of homogeneous individuals for malaria research. In this context, nutritional status may affect survival, fecundity, and the capacity to support pathogen development. Here we assess the effects of carbohydrate sources on fecundity, survival, and susceptibility to Plasmodium vivax infection in colonies of Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles deaneorum mosquitoes. Newly emerged females from each species were fed either 10% sugar or 15% honey solutions until the end of each experiment. The type of carbohydrate meal did not impact any entomological parameters for An. deaneorum, except for survival. For both species, honey meal significantly increased median survival post-emergence by three to four days, probably due to its nutritional value. For An. darlingi fed with honey, a higher mean frequency in stage 5 was observed at 48 h post-blood-meal, which could indicate a delay in the digestion process. However, no effects on fecundity parameters were observed. Regarding susceptibility, An. darlingi fed with sugar exhibited a low intensity of sporozoites, although any negative effects of sucrose on sporozoites invasions in the salivary glands are unknown. Based on the increase in mosquito survival, a carbohydrate source composed of 15% honey solution could be better for maintaining An. darlingi and An. deaneorum in the lab-rearing context.

Association between Sleep Problems and Psychopathologies among Preschoolers: A Brazilian Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sleep problems and psychopathologies in Brazilian preschool children. Materials and Methods The present is a cross-sectional study with162 children: 81 with sleep problems referred for treatment (mean age: 3.67 years), matched by gender/age with 81 participants without sleep problems. Sleep problems were identified through a clinical interview with a specialist. Psychopathologies were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/1.5-5). Results Having sleep problems was a predictor of all forms of psychopathologies on the CBCL scales, except for the withdrawn scale. Aggressive behavior, depression/anxiety, affective problems, and oppositional defiant disorder were associated with presence of sleep problems. Conclusion Given the probable bidirectionality of the association between sleep problems and psychopathologies in children, it is suggested that regular assessments of both phenomena should be performed in children referred for treatment of sleep problems and mental health problems in general.

Tapirira guianensis is Selectively Cytotoxic, Induces Apoptosis to the Glioblastoma and Decreases Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in vivo.

Glioblastoma is the most frequent primary malignant brain tumor without effective treatment, which makes this work extremely relevant. The study of the bioactive compounds from medicinal plants plays an important role in the discovery of new drugs.This research investigated the constituents of Tapirira guianensis and its antitumor potential (in vitro and in vivo) in glioblastoma. The T. guianensis extracts were characterized by mass spectrometry. The ethyl acetate partition (01ID) and its fractions 01ID-F2 and 01ID-F4 from T. guianensis showed potential antitumor treatment evidenced by selective cytotoxicity for GAMG with IC50 14.1 µg/mL, 83.07 µg/mL, 59.27 µg/mL and U251 with IC50 25.92 µg/mL, 37.3 µg/mL and 18.84 µg/mL. Fractions 01ID-F2 and 01ID-F4 were 10 times more selective when compared to TMZ and 01ID for the two evaluated cell lines. T. guianensis also reduced matrix metalloproteinases 2 - 01ID-F2 (21.84%), 01ID-F4 (29.6%) and 9 - 01ID-F4 (73.42%), ID-F4 (53.84%) activities, and induced apoptosis mainly through the extrinsic pathway. Furthermore, all treatments significantly reduced tumor size (01ID p < 0,01, 01ID-F2 p < 0,01 and 01ID-F4 p < 0,0001) and caused blood vessels to shrink in vivo. The present findings highlight that T. guianensis exhibits considerable antitumor potential in preclinical studies of glioblastoma. This ability may be related to the phenolic compounds and sesquiterpene derivatives identified in the extracts. This study deserves further in vivo research, followed by clinical investigation.

Electronic media use during COVID-19 pandemic: effects on the behavioral/emotional functioning of Brazilian children / Uso de mídia eletrônica durante a pandemia de COVID-19: efeitos no funcionamento comportamental/emocional de crianças brasileiras / Uso de medios electrónicos durante la pandemia COVID-19: efectos sobre el funcionamiento conductual/emocional de niños brasileños

During COVID-19 pandemic an increase electronic media (e-media) usage time was reported correlated to behavioral problems. This study verified the associations between e-media and behavioral/emotional problems in children in the context of the pandemic. Sample: Parents of 277 children aged 7-11 years old. Instruments: socioeconomic questionnaire; MAF-P and CBCL/6-18. Spearman's correlation analyses showed positive associations between the MAF-P and CBCL/6-18 scales. Adult games were correlated with 12 scales; websites for information/entertainment were associated with 6 scales, gambling online with one scale; electronic games and watching YouTube videos were associated with all 17 scales. In conclusion, overall, the results indicate the need of supervising children's e-media access considering the number and frequency of use and the elevated number of emotional and behavioral problems found among the evaluated group

Durante a pandemia da COVID-19 verificou-se aumento no tempo de uso de mídias eletrônicas (e-media) relacionado a problemas comportamentais. Este trabalho avaliou associações entre tempo de uso de e-media e problemas comportamentais/emocionais em crianças no contexto da pandemia. Contou com uma amostra de 277 responsáveis por crianças de 7-11 anos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram questionário socioeconômico, MAF-P e CBCL/6-18. As análises de correlação de Spearman apontaram associações positivas entre as e-media na MAF-P e escalas do CBCL/6-18. Os jogos adultos correlacionaram-se a 12 escalas; sites para informação/diversão foram associados a seis; apostar na internet a um; e jogos eletrônicos e ver vídeos no YouTube associaram-se a 17 escalas. Conclui-se, de modo geral, que os resultados indicam a necessidade de supervisão para acesso a e-media por crianças, considerando o número, a frequência de uso e o elevado número de problemas emocionais e comportamentais verificados no grupo estudado

Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, hubo un aumento en el tiempo dedicado al uso de medios electrónicos (e-media) relacionados con problemas de comportamiento. Este trabajo evaluó las asociaciones entre el tiempo de uso de los medios electrónicos y los problemas conductuales/emocionales en niños en el contexto de la pandemia. Muestra: 277 tutores de niños de 7 a 11 años. Instrumentos: socioeconómico, MAF-P y CBCL/6-18. Los análisis de correlación de Spearman mostraron asociaciones positivas entre los medios electrónicos en las escalas MAF-P y CBCL/6-18. Juegos para adultos correlacionados con 12 escalas; sitios de información/diversión asociados a 6; apostar en internet a las 1; los juegos electrónicos y ver videos en YouTube se asociaron con 17 escalas. Se concluye, en general, que los resultados indican la necesidad de supervisión para el acceso a e-media por parte de los niños, considerando el número y la frecuencia de uso y el elevado número de problemas emocionales y conductuales verificados en el grupo estudiado

Maternidade distante do país de origem: "aqui a gente não tem uma aldeia" / Maternity far from the country of origin: "here we do not have a village" / Maternidad lejos del país de origen: "aquí no tenemos pueblo"

O presente estudo é um recorte de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre a experiência da maternidade de mulheres brasileiras migrantes. Ele tem como objetivo investigar o apoio recebido por elas no processo de tornar-se mãe. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa na qual foram realizadas, em 2022, sete entrevistas com mulheres brasileiras que vivenciaram gestação, parto e primeiro ano de vida do filho (a) em Portugal, Reino Unido, Itália, Espanha e França. Os resultados apontam para a relevância da presença de pessoas que compartilham da mesma cultura de origem na construção da maternidade e na rede de apoio durante a perinatalidade. Conclui-se que o distanciamento da rede familiar, de amigos e de referenciais da cultura de origem da mulher migrante gerou o aumento das sobrecargas psíquica e física inerentes à maternidade. Ao mesmo tempo, de acordo com as participantes, o distanciamento da família e da cultura de origem proporcionou maior liberdade e abertura para a construção da maternidade, provendo novas representações culturais que contribuíram para a construção de sua forma de ser mãe.(AU)

This study is a segment of a broader research project on the maternity experience of Brazilian migrant women. It aims to investigate the support received by these women in the process of becoming mothers. It encompasses a qualitative research study involving seven interviews conducted in 2022 with Brazilian women who experienced pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of their child's life in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France. The findings highlight the importance of having individuals sharing the same cultural background in the construction of motherhood and in the support network during the perinatal period. The distance from the family network, friends, and references of the migrant woman's culture of origin generated an increase in the psychic and physical burdens inherent to motherhood. Simultaneously, according to the participants, distancing from family and their cultural origins provided greater freedom and openness in constructing motherhood, offering new cultural representations that contributed to shaping their way of being mothers. (AU)

El presente estudio es parte de una investigación más amplia acerca de la experiencia de la maternidad de las mujeres migrantes brasileñas. Tiene como objetivo investigar el soporte recibido por ellas en el proceso de convertirse en madre. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa en la que, en 2022, se realizaron siete entrevistas con mujeres brasileñas que vivieron el embarazo, el parto y el primer año de vida de su hijo en Portugal, Reino Unido, Italia, España y Francia. Los resultados apuntan para la relevancia de la presencia de personas que comparten la misma cultura de origen en la construcción de la maternidad y en la red de apoyo durante la perinatalidad. Se concluye que el alejamiento de la red familiar, amigos y puntos de referencia de su cultura de origen de la mujer migrante ha generado un aumento de las sobrecargas psíquicas y físicas inherentes a la maternidad. Al mismo tiempo, según las participantes, el alejamiento de la familia y de la cultura de origen les ha proporcionado una mayor libertad y apertura para la construcción de la maternidad, brindando nuevas representaciones culturales que contribuyeron para la construcción de su forma de ser madre. (AU)

Relação entre a condição bucal de gestantes internadas e desfechos adversos na gestação / Relationship between the oral condition of hospitalized pregnant women and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Objetivo: avaliar se a condição bucal favoreceu a presença de desfechos adversos da gestação (DAG) em mulheres internadas e acompanhadas em um hospital escola. Métodos: um estudo de coorte retrospectiva com mulheres grávidas que foram internadas entre setembro de 2019 e início de março de 2020 e que continuaram o acompanhamento obstétrico. Resultados: Das 65 gestantes que seguiram acompanhamento, 27 (41,5%) dos bebês nasceram pré-termo e 20 (30,8%) com baixo peso, sendo que as duas condições estavam presentes em 15 crianças (23,1%), sendo significantemente relacionadas com a menor semana gestacional na internação. Ao relacionar diferentes fatores com o desfecho pré-termo, houve diferença significante em gestantes com a ocupação "do lar" e com o tempo de internação igual ou maior que 10 dias e com a presença de baixo peso ao nascer. Não foi observada relação dos dados avaliados da condição bucal das gestantes na internação com o parto pré-termo. Conclusões: Gestantes que necessitam de internação hospitalar durante a gravidez, independente da condição bucal, aumentam a possibilidade de apresentarem DAG, sendo fundamental a realização do correto acompanhamento pré-natal.(AU)

Objective: to assess whether the oral condition favored the presence of adverse effects during pregnancy in pregnant women hospitalized and followed up at a teaching hospital. Methods: a retrospective cohort study with mothers who were hospitalized during pregnancy between September 2019 and early March 2020 and who continued obstetric follow-up. Results: 83 pregnant women were interviewed and 65 were followed up Of the 65 pregnant women who followed up, 27 (41.5%) of the babies were born preterm and 20 (30.8%) with low birth weight, and both conditions were present in 15 children (23.1%), being significantly related to the shortest gestational week at admission. When relating different factors with the preterm outcome, there was a significant difference in pregnant women with the occupation "housewife" and with the length of hospital stay equal to or greater than 10 days and with the presence of low birth weight. There was no relationship between the evaluated data on the oral condition of pregnant women during hospitalization and preterm delivery. Conclusions: Pregnant women who require hospitalization during pregnancy, regardless of oral condition, increase the possibility of having negative pregnancy outcomes, and correct prenatal care is essential. (AU)

A internação da gestante pode afetar a condição bucal do filho no terceiro ano de vida? / Can a pregnant woman's hospitalization affect the child's oral condition in the third year of life?

Objetivo: Avaliar se a hospitalização na gestação pode influenciar na condição bucal do filho no terceiro ano de vida. Métodos: Estudo longitudinal com bebês de gestantes internadas e acompanhadas no setor da Obstetrícia de um Hospital Escola em Pelotas, RS, Brasil. Os dados referentes a hospitalização e ao parto foram coletados do prontuário hospitalar e no terceiro de vida do filho (a) de um questionário aplicado a mãe e do exame bucal da criança. Cada agravo bucal foi avaliado com critérios específicos, por uma examinadora calibrada e analisado no programa IBM SPSS Statistics com 5% de nível de significância. Resultados: Participaram 20 díades mãe-filho (a). Alterações da oclusão acometeram 95% das crianças, sendo a mordida aberta anterior (MAA) a principal. Ainda, 25% das crianças apresentaram opacidades demarcas e/ou hipoplasia do esmalte, sendo significativamente maior em filhos de mães mais jovens e 20% tinham cárie da primeira infância (CPI), estando relacionada à ausência de creme dental fluoretado e à qualidade da higiene bucal. Conclusão: O reflexo mais evidente da hospitalização na gestação na saúde bucal no terceiro ano de vida do filho (a) foi a oclusão alterada, especialmente a MAA.(AU)

Objective: To assess whether hospitalization during pregnancy can influence the child's oral condition in the third year of life. Methods: Longitudinal study with babies of pregnant women hospitalized and followed up in the Obstetrics sector of a Teaching Hospital in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Data referring to hospitalization and childbirth were collected from the hospital records and in the child's third of life through a questionnaire applied to the mother and the child's oral examination. Each oral condition was evaluated with specific criteria, by a calibrated examiner and analyzed in the IBM SPSS Statistics program with a 5% minimum significance level. Results: 20 mother-child participated. Occlusion alterations affected 95% of the children, with anterior open bite (AOB) being the main. Still, 25% of the children had opacities and/or enamel hypoplasia, which was significantly higher in children of younger mothers, and 20% had early childhood caries, which is related to the absence of fluoride toothpaste and the quality of oral hygiene. Conclusion: The clearest reflection of hospitalization during pregnancy on oral health in the third year of the child's life was altered occlusion, especially the AOB.(AU)

Quantitative Chemical Composition, Anti-Oxidant Activity, and Inhibition of TNF Release by THP-1 Cells Induced by Extracts of Echinodorus macrophyllus and Echinodorus grandiflorus.

This study investigated the similarities between Echinodorus macrophyllus and Echinodorus grandiflorus, plant species that are traditionally used in Brazil to treat rheumatism and arthritis, whose anti-inflammatory effects are supported by scientific evidence. The contents of cis- and trans-aconitic acid, homoorientin, chicoric acid, swertisin, caffeoyl-feruloyl-tartaric acid, and di-feruloyl-tartaric acid were quantified by UPLC-DAD in various hydroethanolic extracts from the leaves, whereas their anti-oxidant activity and their effect on TNF release by LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells were assessed to evaluate potential anti-inflammatory effects. The 50% and 70% ethanol extracts showed higher concentrations of the analyzed markers in two commercial samples and a cultivated specimen of E. macrophyllus, as well as in a commercial lot of E. grandiflorus. However, distinguishing between the species based on marker concentrations was not feasible. The 50% and 70% ethanol extracts also exhibited higher biological activity, yet they did not allow differentiation between the species, indicating similar chemical composition and biological effects. Principal component analysis highlighted comparable chemical composition and biological activity among the commercial samples of E. macrophyllus, while successfully distinguishing the cultivated specimen from the commercial lots. In summary, no differences were observed between the two species in terms of the evaluated chemical markers and biological activities.

Mídias eletrônicas e sintomas de desatenção/hiperatividade entre crianças e adolescentes durante a pandemia Covid-19 / Medios electrónicos y síntomas de inatención/hiperactividad en niños/adolescentes durante la pandemia Covid-19 / Electronic media and symptoms of inattention/hyperactivity among children/ adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic

The correlation between inattention and hyperactivity symptoms/behavior manifestations and screen time was evaluated among Brazilian children and adolescents (7-18 years old) who were socially isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 517 legal guardians completed questionnaires about electronic media use (MAF-P) and emotional/behavioral problems (CBCL/6-18). The results showed that texting was correlated to less inattention/hyperactivity symptoms; listening to music, the use of social media and electronics for school purposes were negatively correlated to attention problems and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms and playing videos games and online videos were associated to more attention problems and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms. The results contribute to the understanding of the relationship between inattention/hyperactivity symptoms and screen time in a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents during the pandemic.

Se evaluó la correlación entre síntomas/manifestaciones conductuales de inatención e hiperactividad y tiempo de uso de medios electrónicos entre niños y adolescentes brasileños (7-18 años) en aislamiento social por la pandemia de COVID-19. Los participantes fueron 517 tutores que completaron inventarios de uso de medios (MAF-P) y problemas emocionales/conductuales (CBCL/6-18), entre junio y agosto de 2020. Los resultados indican que más tiempo dedicado a la comunicación de mensajes se correlacionó con menos informes de síntomas de inatención/hiperactividad; Escuchar música durante más tiempo, usar redes sociales y dispositivos electrónicos para la escuela/el trabajo se asoció con menos síntomas inatención/hiperactividad y problemas de atención. Finalmente, jugar más videojuegos y ver videos en línea se asoció con más síntomas de falta de atención/hiperactividad y problemas de atención. Los resultados contribuyen a comprender que existen asociaciones entre la frecuencia de síntomas de inatención/hiperactividad y el tiempo de uso de medios electrónicos en una muestra de niños y adolescentes brasileños durante la pandemia.

Avaliou-se a correlação entre sintomas/manifestações comportamentais de desatenção e hiperatividade e tempo de uso de mídias eletrônicas entre crianças e adolescentes (7-18 anos) brasileiras em isolamento social devido a pandemia da COVID-19. Participaram 517 responsáveis que preencheram inventários de uso de mídias (MAF-P) e de problemas emocionais/comportamentais (CBCL/6-18), entre junho-agosto de 2020. Resultados indicam que mais tempo em comunicação por mensagens correlacionou-se a menos relatos de sintomas de desatenção/hiperatividade; já mais tempo ouvindo música, usando redes sociais e eletrônicos para escola/trabalho associaram-se com menor número de sintomas de desatenção/hiperatividade e de problemas atencionais. Por fim, maior em videogames e assistindo vídeos online associaram-se a mais sintomas de desatenção/hiperatividade e problemas atencionais. Os resultados contribuem para entender que existem associações entre frequência de sintomas de desatenção/hiperatividade e tempo de uso de mídias eletrônicas em uma amostra de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros durante a pandemia.

Cultural contributions to adults' self-rated mental health problems and strengths: 7 culture clusters, 28 societies, 16 906 adults.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown how much variation in adult mental health problems is associated with differences between societal/cultural groups, over and above differences between individuals. METHODS: To test these relative contributions, a consortium of indigenous researchers collected Adult Self-Report (ASR) ratings from 16 906 18- to 59-year-olds in 28 societies that represented seven culture clusters identified in the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavioral Effectiveness study (e.g. Confucian, Anglo). The ASR is scored on 17 problem scales, plus a personal strengths scale. Hierarchical linear modeling estimated variance accounted for by individual differences (including measurement error), society, and culture cluster. Multi-level analyses of covariance tested age and gender effects. RESULTS: Across the 17 problem scales, the variance accounted for by individual differences ranged from 80.3% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems to 95.2% for DSM-oriented avoidant personality (mean = 90.7%); by society: 3.2% for DSM-oriented somatic problems to 8.0% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems (mean = 6.3%); and by culture cluster: 0.0% for DSM-oriented avoidant personality to 11.6% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems (mean = 3.0%). For strengths, individual differences accounted for 80.8% of variance, societal differences 10.5%, and cultural differences 8.7%. Age and gender had very small effects. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, adults' self-ratings of mental health problems and strengths were associated much more with individual differences than societal/cultural differences, although this varied across scales. These findings support cross-cultural use of standardized measures to assess mental health problems, but urge caution in assessment of personal strengths.

The Heat Shock Transcription Factor HsfA Plays a Role in Membrane Lipids Biosynthesis Connecting Thermotolerance and Unsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus.

Thermotolerance is a remarkable virulence attribute of Aspergillus fumigatus, but the consequences of heat shock (HS) to the cell membrane of this fungus are unknown, although this structure is one of the first to detect changes in ambient temperature that imposes on the cell a prompt adaptative response. Under high-temperature stress, fungi trigger the HS response controlled by heat shock transcription factors, such as HsfA, which regulates the expression of heat shock proteins. In yeast, smaller amounts of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid (FA) chains are synthesized in response to HS, directly affecting plasma membrane composition. The addition of double bonds in saturated FA is catalyzed by Δ9-fatty acid desaturases, whose expression is temperature-modulated. However, the relationship between HS and saturated/unsaturated FA balance in membrane lipids of A. fumigatus in response to HS has not been investigated. Here, we found that HsfA responds to plasma membrane stress and has a role in sphingolipid and phospholipid unsaturated biosynthesis. In addition, we studied the A. fumigatus Δ9-fatty acid desaturase sdeA and discovered that this gene is essential and required for unsaturated FA biosynthesis, although it did not directly affect the total levels of phospholipids and sphingolipids. sdeA depletion significantly sensitizes mature A. fumigatus biofilms to caspofungin. Also, we demonstrate that hsfA controls sdeA expression, while SdeA and Hsp90 physically interact. Our results suggest that HsfA is required for the adaptation of the fungal plasma membrane to HS and point out a sharp relationship between thermotolerance and FA metabolism in A. fumigatus. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a life-threatening infection accounting for high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. The ability of this organism to grow at elevated temperatures is long recognized as an essential attribute for this mold to cause disease. A. fumigatus responds to heat stress by activating heat shock transcription factors and chaperones to orchestrate cellular responses that protect the fungus against damage caused by heat. Concomitantly, the cell membrane must adapt to heat and maintain physical and chemical properties such as the balance between saturated/unsaturated fatty acids. However, how A. fumigatus connects these two physiological responses is unclear. Here, we explain that HsfA affects the synthesis of complex membrane lipids such as phospholipids and sphingolipids and controls the enzyme SdeA, which produces monounsaturated fatty acids, raw material for membrane lipids. These findings suggest that forced dysregulation of saturated/unsaturated fatty acid balance might represent novel strategies for antifungal therapy.

Ouratea spectabilis and its Biflavanone Ouratein D Exert Potent Anti-inflammatory Activity in MSU Crystal-induced Gout in Mice.

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory arthritis triggered by the deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals, causing pain, inflammation, and joint damage. Several drugs are currently employed to manage acute flares of GA, but they either have limited effectiveness or induce severe adverse reactions. Ouratea spectabilis is traditionally used in Brazil to treat gastric ulcers and rheumatism. The ethanolic extract of O. spectabilis stems (OSpC) and four biflavanones (ouratein A - D) isolated thereof were evaluated in a murine model of GA induced by the injection of MSU crystals. The underlying mechanism of action of ouratein D was investigated in vitro in cell cultures by measurement of IL-1ß levels by ELISA and Western blot analysis. The administration of OSpC (10, 30 or 100 mg/Kg, p. o.) reduced the migration of total inflammatory cells, monocytes, and neutrophils and diminished the levels of IL-1ß and CXCL1 in the synovial tissue. Among the tested compounds, only ouratein D (1 mg/Kg) reduced the migration of the inflammatory cells and it was shown to be active up to 0.01 mg/Kg (equivalent to 0.34 nM/Kg, p. o.). Treatment of pre-stimulated THP-1 cells (differentiated into macrophages) or BMDMs with ouratein D reduced the release of IL-1ß in both macrophage lines. This biflavanone reduced the activation of caspase-1 (showed by the increase in the cleaved form) in supernatants of cultured BMDMs, evidencing its action in modulating the inflammasome pathway. The obtained results demonstrate the anti-gout properties of O. spectabilis and point out ouratein D as the bioactive component of the assayed extract.

Repressive epigenetic mechanisms, such as the H3K27me3 histone modification, were predicted to affect muscle gene expression and its mineral content in Nelore cattle.

Epigenetic repression has been linked to the regulation of different cell states. In this study, we focus on the influence of this repression, mainly by H3K27me3, over gene expression in muscle cells, which may affect mineral content, a phenotype that is relevant to muscle function and beef quality. Based on the inverse relationship between H3K27me3 and gene expression (i.e., epigenetic repression) and on contrasting sample groups, we computationally predicted regulatory genes that affect muscle mineral content. To this end, we applied the TRIAGE predictive method followed by a rank product analysis. This methodology can predict regulatory genes that might be affected by repressive epigenetic regulation related to mineral concentration. Annotation of orthologous genes, between human and bovine, enabled our investigation of gene expression in the Longissimus thoracis muscle of Bos indicus cattle. The animals under study had a contrasting mineral content in their muscle cells. We identified candidate regulatory genes influenced by repressive epigenetic mechanisms, linking histone modification to mineral content in beef samples. The discovered candidate genes take part in multiple biological pathways, i.e., impulse transmission, cell signalling, immunological, and developmental pathways. Some of these genes were previously associated with mineral content or regulatory mechanisms. Our findings indicate that epigenetic repression can partially explain the gene expression profiles observed in muscle samples with contrasting mineral content through the candidate regulators here identified.

Do Higher Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Doses Lead to Greater Gains in Upper Limb Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients?

Objective: To investigate whether a higher number of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sessions results in a greater improvement in upper limb function in chronic post-stroke patients. Materials and methods: A randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 57 chronic post-stroke patients (≥ 3 months after their injuries). The patients were allocated to receive sessions of tDCS combined with physiotherapy and divided into three groups (anodal, cathodal, and sham). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) was used to assess the sensorimotor impairment of the patients' upper limbs before (baseline) and after five and ten sessions. The percentage of patients who achieved a clinically significant improvement (> five points on the FMA-UE) was also analyzed. Results: The FMA-UE score increased after five and ten sessions in both the anodal and cathodal tDCS groups, respectively, compared to the baseline. However, in the sham group, the FMA-UE score increased only after ten sessions. When compared to the sham group, the mean difference from the baseline after five sessions was higher in the anodal tDCS group. The percentage of individuals who achieved greater clinical improvement was higher in the stimulation groups than in the sham group and after ten sessions when compared to five sessions. Conclusions: Our results suggest that five tDCS sessions are sufficient to augment the effect of standard physiotherapy on upper limb function recovery in chronic post-stroke patients, and ten sessions resulted in greater gains.

Sodium Valproate Modulates the Methylation Status of Lysine Residues 4, 9 and 27 in Histone H3 of HeLa Cells.

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid/sodium valproate (VPA), a well-known anti-epileptic agent, inhibits histone deacetylases, induces histone hyperacetylation, promotes DNA demethylation, and affects the histone methylation status in some cell models. Histone methylation profiles have been described as potential markers for cervical cancer prognosis. However, histone methylation markers that can be studied in a cervical cancer cell line, like HeLa cells, have not been investigated following treatment with VPA. METHODS: In this study, the effect of 0.5 mM and 2.0 mM VPA for 24 h on H3K4me2/me3, H3K9me/me2 and H3K27me/me3 signals as well as on KMT2D, EZH2, and KDM3A gene expression was investigated using confocal microscopy, Western blotting, and RT-PCR. Histone methylation changes were also investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). RESULTS: We found that VPA induces increased levels of H3K4me2/me3 and H3K9me, which are indicative of chromatin activation. Particularly, H3K4me2 markers appeared intensified close to the nuclear periphery, which may suggest their implication in increased transcriptional memory. The abundance of H3K4me2/me3 in the presence of VPA was associated with increased methyltransferase KMT2D gene expression. VPA induced hypomethylation of H3K9me2, which is associated with gene silencing, and concomitant with the demethylase KDM3A, it increased gene expression. Although VPA induces increased H3K27me/me3 levels, it is suggested that the role of the methyltransferase EZH2 in this context could be affected by interactions with this drug. CONCLUSION: Histone FTIR spectra were not affected by VPA under present experimental conditions. Whether our epigenetic results are consistent with VPA affecting the aggressive tumorous state of HeLa cells, further investigation is required.

Bivariate GWAS reveals pleiotropic regions among feed efficiency and beef quality-related traits in Nelore cattle.

Feed-efficient cattle selection is among the most leading solutions to reduce cost for beef cattle production. However, technical difficulties in measuring feed efficiency traits had limited the application in livestock. Here, we performed a Bivariate Genome-Wide Association Study (Bi-GWAS) and presented candidate biological mechanisms underlying the association between feed efficiency and meat quality traits in a half-sibling design with 353 Nelore steers derived from 34 unrelated sires. A total of 13 Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) were found explaining part of the phenotypic variations. An important transcription factor of adipogenesis in cattle, the TAL1 (rs133408775) gene located on BTA3 was associated with intramuscular fat and average daily gain (IMF-ADG), and a region located on BTA20, close to CD180 and MAST4 genes, both related to fat accumulation. We observed a low positive genetic correlation between IMF-ADG (r = 0.30 ± 0.0686), indicating that it may respond to selection in the same direction. Our findings contributed to clarifying the pleiotropic modulation of the complex traits, indicating new QTLs for bovine genetic improvement.

Identification, cloning, and characterization of a novel chitinase from leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens: An enzyme with antifungal and insecticidal activity.

Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of insects, fungi, yeast, and internal structures of other vertebrates. Although chitinases isolated from bacteria, fungi and plants have been reported to have antifungal or insecticide activities, chitinases from insects with these activities have been seldomly reported. In this study, a leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens DNA fragment containing 1623 base pairs was amplified and cloned into a vector to express the protein (AsChtII-C4B1) in Pichia pastoris. AsChtII-C4B1, which contains one catalytic domain and one carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), was secreted to the extracellular medium and purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by nickel column chromatography. AsChtII-C4B1 showed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and 55 °C when tested against colloidal chitin substrate and maintained >60% of its maximal activity in different temperatures during 48 h. AsChtII-C4B1 decreased the survival of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae fed with an artificial diet that contained AsChtII-C4B1. Our results have indicated that AsChtII-C4B1 has a higher effect on larva-pupa than larva-larva molts. AsChtII-C4B1 activity targets more specifically the growth of filamentous fungus than yeast. This work describes, for the first time, the obtaining a recombinant chitinase from ants and the characterization of its insecticidal and antifungal activities.

The influence of siblings with typical development on the burden and quality of life of parents of adolescents with Down syndrome / A influência de irmãos com desenvolvimento típico na sobrecarga e qualidade de vida de pais de adolescentes com síndrome de Down

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the presence of siblings with normal development on the burden and quality of life of parents of adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: Cross sectional and correlational study with 25 caregivers divided in two groups: parents who had only children with Down syndrome and parents with other children with normal development. The caregivers were selected from a convenient sample and answered the World Health Organization Quality of Life, Zarit Burden Interview and Brazil's Economic Classification Criteria. Results: It was found that both groups experienced moderate burden and regular quality of life for most families, with no significant difference. Conclusion: It was concluded that the presence of siblings with normal development was not a factor influencing the burden and quality of life of parents of adolescents with Down syndrome.

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da presença de irmãos com desenvolvimento típico na sobrecarga e na qualidade de vida de pais de adolescentes com síndrome de Down. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal e correlacional, com 25 cuidadores divididos em dois grupos: pais com filhos únicos com síndrome de Down e pais com outros filhos com desenvolvimento típico. Os cuidadores foram selecionados a partir de uma amostragem de conveniência e responderam ao World Health Organization Quality of Life, ao Zarit Burden Interview e ao Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil. Resultados: Verificou-se que ambos os grupos apresentaram sobrecarga moderada e qualidade de vida regular para a maioria das famílias, não havendo diferença significativa. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a presença de irmãos com desenvolvimento típico não foi fator de influência na sobrecarga e na qualidade de vida de pais de adolescentes com síndrome de Down.

Perceptions of Siblings of People with Trisomy 21 on Family Relationships / Percepções de Irmãos de Pessoas com Trissomia 21 sobre as Relações Familiares

ABSTRACT: The birth of a child with a disability brings implications, changes in the environment and family dynamics. The family goes through a process of overcoming until the child acceptance with disability and the establishment of a suitable family environment that includes and meets his/her needs. Trisomy 21 (T21) is the most frequent genetic anomaly among those diagnosed. This study aimed to identify the perception of a sibling group of people with T21 regarding their family and social relationships. The sample consisted of 18 adolescents aged between 11 and 16 years, siblings of people with T21, and 17 guardians. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews conducted by video calls, with an average duration of 10 to 15 minutes. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed qualitatively based on the creation of thematic nuclei and categories. The results reinforce the importance of family relationships as a security factor and acceptance of the siblings' needs.

RESUMO: O nascimento de uma criança com deficiência traz implicações, mudanças no ambiente e na dinâmica familiar como um todo. A família passa por um processo de superação até a aceitação da criança com deficiência e a instalação de um ambiente familiar propício que a inclua e atenda às suas necessidades. A trissomia 21 (T21) é a anomalia genética mais frequente dentre as diagnosticadas. Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a percepção de um grupo de irmãos de pessoas com T21 quanto às suas relações familiares e sociais. A amostra foi composta por 18 adolescentes com idades entre 11 e 16 anos, irmãos de pessoas com T21 e 17 responsáveis. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista semiestruturada realizadas por meio de chamada de vídeo, com duração média de dez a 15 minutos. As entrevistas foram gravadas, transcritas e analisadas qualitativamente a partir da criação de núcleos temáticos e categorias. Os resultados reforçam a importância das relações familiares como um fator segurança e acolhimento das necessidades dos irmãos.