Ultrasound evaluation in the postoperative period for surgical treatment of thoracic infectious and inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the role of TUSG in the postoperative period and the detection of early complications after surgical treatment, pulmonary resection, or decortication for infectious and inflammatory thoracic diseases, comparing with the standard method (Chest Radiography ‒ CXR). METHODS: Prospective non-randomized self-controlled study. Twenty-one patients over 16 years of age have undergone surgical treatment of inflammatory and infectious lung diseases. These patients were followed up with CXR and TUSG (performed on the 1st and 3rd postoperative days and/or after the chest tube removal). RESULTS: Both exams demonstrated similar results regarding their ability to safely predict the adequate moment for chest drain removal. TUSG allowed chest drain removal in 30% of cases and CXR in 34%. Statistical analysis demonstrates that both exams have similar capabilities in detecting postoperative changes in the pleural space. However, the authors report that TUSG is statistically more accurate in detecting subcutaneous emphysema than CXR (p = 0.037, Kappa [κ = 0.3068]). The analysis of other parameters showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that TUSG in trained hands is equivalent to CXR in searching for postoperative complications regarding the surgical treatment of infectious and inflammatory thoracic diseases and can be used as a complement, and not a substitute, to CXR, when CCT is not feasible, or a more urgent diagnosis is needed.

Three picorna-like viruses found associated with the spider mite, Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Herbivorous arthropods, such as mites and insects, host a variety of microorganisms that significantly influence their ecology and evolution. While insect viruses have been extensively studied, our understanding of the diversity and composition of mite viromes and the interactions with mite hosts remains limited. The Asian spider mite, Tetranychus truncatus Ehara (Acari: Tetranychidae), a major agricultural pest, has not yet been reported to harbor any viruses. Here, using publicly available RNA-Seq data, we identified and characterized three picorna-like viruses associated with T. truncatus: Tetranychus truncatus-associated iflavirus 1 (TtAIV-1), Tetranychus truncatus-associated picorna-like virus 1 (TtAV-1), and Tetranychus truncatus-associated picorna-like virus 2 (TtAV-2). TtAIV-1 has a typical Iflaviridae genome structure with a single ORF, representing the first iflavirus associated with the Tetranychus genus. TtAV-1 and TtAV-2 exhibit bicistronic arrangements similar to dicistroviruses and other picorna-like viruses, with complex secondary structures in their non-coding regions. Phylogenetic analysis places TtAIV-1 within Iflaviridae, possibly as a new species, while TtAV-1 and TtAV-2 form distinct clades within unclassified picorna-like viruses, suggesting new families within Picornavirales. We analyzed in silico the presence and abundance of these viruses in T. truncatus across four bioproject SRAs, mostly finding them co-associated, with viral reads reaching up to 30% of total reads. Their presence and abundance varied by mite treatment and origin, with no significant impact from Wolbachia infection or abamectin exposure, although TtAV-2 was absent in abamectin-treated mites. Temperature influenced virus abundance, and variations were observed among Chinese mite populations based on geography and host plant association. Our findings offer insights into picorna-like virus diversity and dynamics in T. truncatus, revealing potential roles in mite biology and suggesting applications for mite population control, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity and food security.

Ten years of the Citizen's Electronic Health Record e-SUS Primary Healthcare: in search of an electronic Unified Health System.

OBJECTIVE: Contextualize the adherence to the Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão (PEC - Citizen's Electronic Health Record) by Brazilian municipalities and the evolution of the electronic strategy of the Unified Health System (e-SUS) for Primary Healthcare (PHC) during its 10 years. METHODS: This descriptive study added information on adherence to the use of medical records extracted from the database of the Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde (SAPS- Primary Healthcare Secretary) of the Federal Government between 2017 and 2022. We analized the number of computerized basic healthcare units that used some electronic medical records, the number of those that used simplified data collection (SDC), and those that implemented the citizen's electronic health record (PEC) in the same period. A descriptive synthesis of the functionalities and modules implemented in the system during its 10 years of development was also carried out. RESULTS: The adherence of Brazilian municipalities to the PEC has grown exponentially in the last five years, going from 8,930 healthcare units in 2017 to 26,091 in 2022. As expected, while the main functionalities and improvements developed in this decade sought to implement new flows and modules of administrative, clinical care, and care management processes and health service administration, improving aspects of usability and technological infrastructure of the application architecture was also crucial for the success of the system. CONCLUSIONS: In 2023, the milestone of a decade will be celebrated since the beginning of health records implementation by Brazilian municipalities, marked by technological and infrastructure challenges and improvements and new functionalities that highlight the technological evolution of the e-SUS PHC system and strategy. Despite many other tools, the PEC is arguably Brazil's leading electronic medical record today, as it has always invested in evolution, updating itself in technological and usability opportunities.

ENSO effects on the relationship between aerosols and evapotranspiration in the south of the Amazon biome.

The effects of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have local, regional, and global consequences for water regimes, causing floods or extreme drought events. Tropical forests are strongly affected by ENSO, and in the case of the Amazon, its territorial extension allows for a wide variation of these effects. The prolongation of drought events in the Amazon basin contributes to an increase in gas and aerosol particle emissions mainly caused by biomass burning, which in turn alter radiative fluxes and evapotranspiration rates, cyclically interfering with the hydrological regime. The ENSO effects on the interactions between aerosol particles and evapotranspiration is a critical aspect to be systematically investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the ENSO effect on a site located on the southern portion of the Amazonian region. In addition to quantifying and testing possible differences between aerosols and evapotranspiration under different ENSO classes (El Niño, La Niña and Neutrality), this study also evaluated possible variations in evapotranspiration as a function of the aerosol load. A highly significant difference was found for air temperature, relative humidity and aerosol load between the El Niño and La Niña classes. For evapotranspiration, significant differences were found for the El Niño and La Niña classes and for El Niño and Neutrality classes. Under the Neutrality class, the aerosol load correlated significantly with evapotranspiration, explaining 20% of the phenomenon. Under the El Niño and La Niña classes, no significant linear correlation was found between aerosol load and evapotranspiration. However, the results showed that for the total data set, there is a positive and significant correlation between aerosol and evapotranspiration. It increases with a quadratic fit, i.e., the aerosol favors evapotranspiration rates up to a certain concentration threshold. The results obtained in this study can help to understand the effects of ENSO events on atmospheric conditions in the southern Amazon basin, in addition to elucidating the role of aerosols in feedback to the water cycle in the region.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of circulating endothelial cells in sickle cell stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most impairing complications of sickle cell anemia (SCA), responsible for 20% of mortality in patients. Rheological alterations, adhesive properties of sickle reticulocytes, leukocyte adhesion, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are related to the vasculopathy observed prior to ischemic events. The role of the vascular endothelium in this complex cascade of mechanisms is emphasized, as well as in the process of ischemia-induced repair and neovascularization. The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative transcriptomic analysis of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) from SCA patients with and without IS. Next, to gain further insights of the biological relevance of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network (PPI) construction and in silico prediction of regulatory factors were performed. Among the 2469 DEGs, genes related to cell proliferation (AKT1, E2F1, CDCA5, EGFL7), migration (AKT1, HRAS), angiogenesis (AKT1, EGFL7) and defense response pathways (HRAS, IRF3, TGFB1), important endothelial cell molecular mechanisms in post ischemia repair were identified. Despite the severity of IS in SCA, widely accepted molecular targets are still lacking, especially related to stroke outcome. The comparative analysis of the gene expression profile of ECFCs from IS patients versus controls seems to indicate that there is a persistent angiogenic process even after a long time this complication has occurred. Thus, this is an original study which may lead to new insights into the molecular basis of SCA stroke and contribute to a better understanding of the role of endothelial cells in stroke recovery.

Usefulness, Reliability, Quality, and Content of Portuguese Language YouTube Videos on COVID-19

Abstract Objective: To investigate the usefulness, reliability, quality, and content of Portuguese-language YouTube videos on COVID-19. Material and Methods: Three keywords selected on Google Trends were searched on YouTube, and the 60 first videos listed with each term were analyzed. Two calibrated researchers evaluated the reliability (DISCERN Modified Scale), the quality (Global Quality Score - GQS), and the usefulness of videos for the users (COVID-19 Specific Score - CSS). The number of views, likes, and engagement were also analyzed. The data were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation (α=5%). Results: 59 videos were included. The average scores of quality, reliability, and usefulness were 3.0 (±1.1), 3.2 (± 0.8), and 1.5 (± 0.9), respectively. Two-thirds of the videos (64.4%) had low/moderate quality, and the majority (76.2%) were about signs and symptoms. The numbers of views (p=0.005), likes (p=0.006), and engagement (p=0.014) were significantly higher in moderate/good quality videos. The number of comments (p=0.007), duration of videos (p=0.004), and the DISCERN score (p<0.001) were significantly higher in videos made by health professionals. The general quality of the videos was positively correlated to the CSS scores, number of views, likes, and engagement (p<0.05). Conclusion: Most videos had moderate quality and reliability and low usefulness for the users.

Ten years of the Citizen's Electronic Health Record e-SUS Primary Healthcare: in search of an electronic Unified Health System / Dez anos do Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão e-SUS APS: em busca de um Sistema Único de Saúde eletrônico

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Contextualize the adherence to the Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão (PEC - Citizen's Electronic Health Record) by Brazilian municipalities and the evolution of the electronic strategy of the Unified Health System (e-SUS) for Primary Healthcare (PHC) during its 10 years. METHODS: This descriptive study added information on adherence to the use of medical records extracted from the database of the Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde (SAPS- Primary Healthcare Secretary) of the Federal Government between 2017 and 2022. We analized the number of computerized basic healthcare units that used some electronic medical records, the number of those that used simplified data collection (SDC), and those that implemented the citizen's electronic health record (PEC) in the same period. A descriptive synthesis of the functionalities and modules implemented in the system during its 10 years of development was also carried out. RESULTS: The adherence of Brazilian municipalities to the PEC has grown exponentially in the last five years, going from 8,930 healthcare units in 2017 to 26,091 in 2022. As expected, while the main functionalities and improvements developed in this decade sought to implement new flows and modules of administrative, clinical care, and care management processes and health service administration, improving aspects of usability and technological infrastructure of the application architecture was also crucial for the success of the system. CONCLUSIONS: In 2023, the milestone of a decade will be celebrated since the beginning of health records implementation by Brazilian municipalities, marked by technological and infrastructure challenges and improvements and new functionalities that highlight the technological evolution of the e-SUS PHC system and strategy. Despite many other tools, the PEC is arguably Brazil's leading electronic medical record today, as it has always invested in evolution, updating itself in technological and usability opportunities.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Contextualizar a adesão ao Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão (PEC) pelos municípios brasileiros e a evolução da estratégia eletrônica do Sistema Único de Saúde (e-SUS) da Atenção Primária (APS) durante seus 10 anos. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de cunho descritivo, que agregou informações de adesão ao uso do prontuário, extraídas da base de dados da Secretaria de Atenção Primária à Saúde (SAPS) do Governo Federal, entre os anos de 2017 e 2022. Foram analisados o quantitativo de unidades básicas de saúde informatizadas que utilizavam algum prontuário eletrônico e o número das que utilizavam a Coleta de Dados Simplificada (CDS) e das que implementaram o Prontuário Eletrônico do Cidadão (PEC), no mesmo período. Também foi realizada uma síntese descritiva das funcionalidades e módulos que foram implementados no sistema durante seus 10 anos de desenvolvimento. RESULTADOS: A adesão dos municípios brasileiros ao PEC cresceu exponencialmente nos últimos cinco anos, passando de 8.930 unidades de saúde em 2017 para 26.091 em 2022. Como era de se esperar, as principais funcionalidades e melhorias desenvolvidas nessa década buscaram implementar novos fluxos e módulos de processos administrativos, de atendimento clínico e de gestão do cuidado e administração do serviço de saúde, mas também foram importantes para o sucesso do sistema aprimorar aspectos de usabilidade e de infraestrutura tecnológica da arquitetura da aplicação. CONCLUSÕES: Em 2023, celebra-se o marco de uma década do início da implantação do prontuário pelos municípios brasileiros, marcado por desafios de ordem tecnológica e de infraestrutura, bem como de melhorias e novas funcionalidades que evidenciaram a evolução tecnológica do sistema e da estratégia e-SUS APS. Mesmo que muitas outras existam, pode-se dizer que o PEC é hoje a principal ferramenta de prontuário eletrônico no Brasil, pois sempre investiu em evolução, vindo a se atualizar nas oportunidades tecnológicas e de usabilidade.

Prejudice impairing quality of life in sickle cell disease patients in a developing country: faces of suffering

ABSTRACT Introduction: The perception of prejudice against, and stigmatization of, sickle cell disease (SCD) leads the patient to perceive a different treatment, due to the disease stigma and maybe related to a worse quality of life (QoL). Objectives: Describe and evaluate the perception of the prejudice against the disease and its impact on the quality of life of patients with sickle cell disease. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between March 2019 and February 2020, with patients diagnosed with SCD. Patients were questioned about the perception of prejudice in any kind of situation, choosing between "Yes" or "No", not differentiating situations related to prejudice. To assess the QoL and impact of the disease, the volunteers answered a version of the SF-36 questionnaire translated and validated into Brazilian Portuguese. Results: In this study, 113 patients with SCD were followed up, 92% were classified as HbSS and the rest, divided between HbSC and HbS-β-0. Regarding the SF-36, the worst scores were in the summary of the physical components (mean 48.19 ± 21.51) and the physical aspect had the lowest mean (30.75 ± €42.65). When questioned if they had already perceived any kind of prejudice, including the SCD, 32.74% answered "Yes". For this comparison, there was a significant difference in the summary of the physical and mental components, with worse QoL for those who had already suffered prejudice. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with SCD who reported perception of prejudice had statistically significant worse QoL, revealing the negative impact, that might lead to sadness and social isolation.

Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke.

BACKGROUND: Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. METHODS: Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. RESULTS: We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

ANTECEDENTES: O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. MéTODOS: Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. RESULTADOS: Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42­68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6­77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08­195,59) horas. CONCLUSãO: O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of endothelial progenitor cells of HbSS patients with and without proliferative retinopathy.

Among sickle cell anemia (SCA) complications, proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSCR) is one of the most important, being responsible for visual impairment in 10-20% of affected eyes. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) present in pathways that may be implicated in the pathophysiology of PSCR from the transcriptome profile analysis of endothelial progenitor cells. RNA-Seq was used to compare gene expression profile of circulating endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) from HbSS patients with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were performed to gain further insights into biological functions. The differential expression analysis identified 501 DEGs, when comparing the groups with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed associations of the DEGs in 200 biological processes. Among these, regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity, positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and positive regulation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) receptor signaling pathway were observed. These pathways are associated with angiogenesis, cell migration, adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation, important processes involved in PSCR pathophysiology. Moreover, our results showed an over-expression of VEGFC (vascular endothelial growth factor-C) and FLT1 (Fms-Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1) genes, when comparing HbSS patients with and without PSCR. These results may indicate a possible association between VEGFC and FLT1 receptor, which may activate signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK and contribute to the mechanisms implicated in neovascularization. Thus, our findings contain preliminary results that may guide future studies in the field, since the molecular mechanisms of PSCR are still poorly understood.

Time course of hemispheric cerebral volume after decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery stroke / Evolução temporal do volume hemisférico cerebral após craniectomia descompressiva em infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média

Abstract Background Brain edema is the leading cause of death in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Midline shift (MLS) has been used as a monohemispheric brain edema marker in several studies; however, it does not precisely measure brain edema. It is now possible to directly measure hemisphere brain volume. Knowledge about the time course of brain edema after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction may contribute to the condition's management. Objective Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the course of brain edema in patients with malignant MCA infarction treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC) using hemispheric volumetric measurements. Methods Patients were selected consecutively from a single tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2019. All patients were diagnosed with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and underwent a decompressive craniectomy (DC) to treat the ischemic event. All computed tomography (CT) exams performed during the clinical care of these patients were analyzed, and the whole ischemic hemisphere volume was calculated for each CT scan. Results We analyzed 43 patients (197 CT exams). Patients' mean age at DC was 51.72 [range: 42-68] years. The mean time between the ischemic ictus and DC was 41.88 (range: 6-77) hours. The mean time between the ischemic event and the peak of hemisphere volume was 168.84 (95% confidence interval [142.08, 195.59]) hours. Conclusion In conclusion, the peak of cerebral edema in malignant MCA infarction after DC occurred on the 7th day (168.84 h) after stroke symptoms onset. Further studies evaluating therapies for brain edema even after DC should be investigated.

Resumo Antecedentes O edema cerebral é a principal causa de morte em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média. O desvio da linha média tem sido utilizado como marcador de edema cerebral mono-hemisférico em alguns estudos; porém, ele não mede de forma precisa o edema cerebral. Atualmente é possível mensurar diretamente o volume do hemisfério cerebral. O conhecimento sobre a evolução temporal do edema cerebral após infartos malignos da artéria cerebral média pode contribuir para o cuidado clínico desta condição. Objetivo Nosso objetivo é avaliar o edema hemisférico ao longo do tempo, em pacientes com infarto maligno da artéria cerebral média, tratados com craniectomia descompressiva. Métodos Os pacientes foram selecionados de forma consecutiva, em um hospital terciário, entre 2013 e 2019. Todos os pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico de infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média e foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva. Todas as tomografias computadorizadas de crânio destes pacientes foram analizadas, e o volume do hemisfério cerebral infartado foi mensurado. Resultados Analisamos 43 pacientes (197 tomografias de crânio). A idade média dos pacientes na craniectomia descompressiva foi 51,72 (42-68) anos. O tempo médio entre o ictus e a craniectomia descompressiva foi 41,88 (6-77) horas. O tempo médio entre o ictus e o pico do volume hemisférico foi 168,84 (142,08-195,59) horas. Conclusão O pico do volume cerebral em pacientes com infarto maligno de artéria cerebral média submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva ocorreu no 7o dia (168,84 horas) após o infarto. Mais estudos avaliando terapêuticas direcionadas ao edema cerebral seriam úteis neste contexto.

Case report: Successful anterior temporal lobectomy in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy associated with Sotos syndrome.

The Sotos syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by haploinsufficiency of NSD1 gene, with some individuals affected by epilepsy and, rarely, drug-resistant seizures. A 47-years-old female patient with Sotos syndrome was diagnosed with focal-onset seizures in left temporal lobe, left-side hippocampal atrophy, and neuropsychological testing with decreased performance in several cognitive domains. Patient was treated with left-side temporal lobe resection and developed complete awake seizure control in 3-years of follow-up, with marked improvement in quality-of-life. In selected, clinically concordant patients, resective surgeries may play a significant role in improving patient's quality of life and seizure control.

Association of variants in the ATXN2 (rs7137828), FOXC1 (rs2745572) and TXNRD2 (rs35934224) genes as risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma development in a Brazilian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the world's main cause of irreversible blindness, is an asymptomatic and neurodegenerative disease of multifactorial etiology with ethnic and geographic disparities. Multiethnic genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in ATXN2, FOXC1, and TXNRD2 loci as risk factors for POAG pathophysiology and/or endophenotypes. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association of the variants rs7137828 (ATXN2), rs2745572 (FOXC1), and rs35934224 (TXNRD2), as risk factors for POAG development, additionally to rs7137828 association with glaucoma clinical parameters in a Brazilian cohort from the Southeast and South regions. METHODS: This investigation comprised 506 cases and 501 controls. Variants rs2745572 and rs35934224 were genotyped through TaqMan® assays and validated by Sanger sequencing. Variant rs7137828 was genotyped exclusively by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The primary research outcome revealed that the variant rs7137828 (ATXN2) was associated with an increased risk for the development of POAG in the presence of the TT genotype compared to the CC genotype (p = 0.006; Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.717; Confidence Interval [CI] 95% = 1.169-2.535). There was no significant association of rs2745572 and rs35934224 genotypes with POAG. The CT genotype of the rs7137828 was associated with the vertical cup-to-disk ratio (VCDR) (p = .023) but not with the age at diagnosis or the mean deviation. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate the rs7137828 associated with increased risk for the development of POAG and VCDR in a Brazilian cohort. If validated in additional populations, these findings may enable the development of relevant strategies for early diagnosis of glaucoma in the future.

Assessment of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Rat Blood.

Redox status assessments are time-consuming, require a large volume of samples and great reagent amounts, and are not adequately described for methodological reproducibility. Here, the objective was to standardize redox balance determination, based on previously described spectrophotometric tests in pregnant rats, to improve precision, time dispensed, and the volume of samples and reagents, while maintaining accuracy and adequate cost benefits. This protocol summarizes oxidative stress markers, which focus on spectrophotometric tests for the assessment of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, reduced thiol groups, and hydrogen peroxide, as well as the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in washed erythrocyte and serum samples from full-term pregnant rats. For non-pregnant rats and other species, it is necessary to standardize these determinations, especially the sample volume. All measurements were normalized by the estimated protein concentrations in each sample. To establish optimum conditions for the reproducibility of the proposed methods, we describe all changes made in each assay's steps based on the reference method reassessed for the new standardizations. Furthermore, the calculations of the concentrations or activities of each marker are presented. Thus, we demonstrate that the analysis of serum samples is easier and faster, but it is impossible to detect catalase activity. Furthermore, the proposed methods can be applied for redox balance determination, especially using smaller reagent amounts and lower sample volumes in lesser time without losing accuracy, as is required in obtaining samples during rat pregnancy.

Prejudice impairing quality of life in sickle cell disease patients in a developing country: faces of suffering.

INTRODUCTION: The perception of prejudice against, and stigmatization of, sickle cell disease (SCD) leads the patient to perceive a different treatment, due to the disease stigma and may be related to a worse quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: Describe and evaluate the perception of the prejudice against the disease and its impact on the quality of life of patients with sickle cell disease. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between March 2019 and February 2020, with patients diagnosed with SCD. Patients were questioned about the perception of prejudice in any kind of situation, choosing between "Yes" or "No", not differentiating situations related to prejudice. To assess the QoL and impact of the disease, the volunteers answered a version of the SF-36 questionnaire translated and validated into Brazilian Portuguese. RESULTS: In this study, 113 patients with SCD were followed up, 92% were classified as HbSS and the rest, divided between HbSC and HbS-ß-0. Regarding the SF-36, the worst scores were in the summary of the physical components (mean 48.19 ± 21.51) and the physical aspect had the lowest mean (30.75 ±€42.65). When questioned if they had already perceived any kind of prejudice, including the SCD, 32.74% answered "Yes". For this comparison, there was a significant difference in the summary of the physical and mental components, with worse QoL for those who had already suffered prejudice. CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with SCD who reported perception of prejudice had statistically significant worse QoL, revealing the negative impact, that might lead to sadness and social isolation.

First generation of multifunctional peptides derived from latarcin-3a from Lachesana tarabaevi spider toxin.

The need for discovering new compounds that can act selectively on pathogens is becoming increasingly evident, given the number of deaths worldwide due to bacterial infections or tumor cells. New multifunctional biotechnological tools are being sought, including compounds present in spider venoms, which have high biotechnological potential. The present work aims to perform the rational design and functional evaluation of synthetic peptides derived from Lachesana tarabaevi spider toxin, known as latarcin-3a. The antimicrobial activity was tested against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) between 4 and 128 µg.ml-1. Anti-biofilm tests were then performed to obtain MICs, where the peptides demonstrated activity from 4 to 128 µg.ml-1. In vitro cell cytotoxicity assays were carried out from tumor cell lines, lineages C1498, Kasumi-1, K-562, Jurkat, MOLT4, and Raji. Erythrocyte integrity was evaluated in the presence of synthetic peptides analog, which did not promote hemolysis at 128 µg.ml-1. The peptide that showed the best antibacterial activity was Lt-MAP3 and the best antitumor was Lt-MAP2. In conclusion, rational design of multifunctional antimicrobial peptides may be promising alternative tools in the treatment of emerging diseases such as bacterial infections and tumor cells.

Is There a Difference in Fear-Avoidance, Beliefs, Anxiety and Depression Between Post-Surgery and Non-Surgical Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Patients?

Introduction: Patients with post-surgery persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) or non-surgical PSPS might be affected by sustained fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB), anxiety and depression. In this scenario, this study aimed to describe those aspects in patients with post-surgery PSPS and non-surgical PSPS. Methods: This study included patients with PSPS, and non-surgical PSPS, over 18 years, with quarterly evaluations at the Chronic Pain Clinic. After evaluation, demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. The Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Douleur neuropathique 4 questions, Visual Analog Pain Scale, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Brazilian Version (FABQ-Brazil) were used to evaluate psychological aspects. Results: Forty-six patients were included, 23 patients with post-surgery PSPS and 23 with non-surgical PSPS. Both groups had high scores in the physical and work domains of the FABQ, high rates of absenteeism and most patients in these groups had moderate-to-severe neuropathic pain and some degree of anxiety and/or depression. The groups showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) when comparing all questionnaires. Discussion: This is one of the first studies to evaluate FAB and other associated psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, in patients with post-surgery PSPS in a follow-up several years after surgery and compare with patients diagnosed with non-surgical PSPS. In this study, most patients in both groups had high scores in the FABQ domains, not having statistically relevant difference between groups. Conclusion: Even though there was no statistically relevant difference between the PSPS patient with or without surgical history in terms of the assessed outcome measures, the described scores for fear-avoidance beliefs, pain, anxiety and depression were high, showing an interference in the daily life activities of those patients.