Ion torrent-based nasopharyngeal swab metatranscriptomics in COVID-19.

Herein, we describe the detection of a SARS-CoV-2 genome through metatranscriptome next-generation sequencing directly from the nasopharyngeal swab of a suspected case of local transmission of Covid-19, in Brazil. Depletion of human ribosomal RNA and use of an optimized in-house developed bioinformatics strategy contributed to successful detection of the virus.

Generation and characterization of transgenic mouse mesenchymal stem cell lines expressing hIGF-1 or hG-CSF.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are promising tools in the fields of cell therapy and regenerative medicine. In addition to their differentiation potential, MSC have the ability to secrete bioactive molecules that stimulate tissue regeneration. Thus, the overexpression of cytokines and growth factors may enhance the therapeutic effects of MSC. Here we generated and characterized mouse bone marrow MSC lines overexpressing hG-CSF or hIGF-1. MSC lines overexpressing hG-CSF or hIGF-1 were generated through lentiviral vector mediated gene transfer. The expression of hG-CSF or hIGF-1 genes in the clones produced was quantified by qRT-PCR, and the proteins were detected in the cell supernatants by ELISA. The cell lines displayed cell surface markers and differentiation potential into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes similar to the control MSC cell lines, indicating the conservation of their phenotype even after genetic modification. IGF-1 and G-CSF transgenic cells maintained immunosuppressive activity. Finally, we performed a comparative gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR array in the cell lines expressing hIGF-1 and hG-CSF when compared to the control cells. Our results demonstrate that the cell lines generated may be useful tools for cell therapy and are suitable for testing in disease models.

Clinical and laboratory evidence of Haff disease - case series from an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil, December 2016 to April 2017.

We describe a series of 15 Haff disease cases from an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil, starting early December 2016. Eleven cases were grouped in four family clusters of two to four individuals, four were isolated cases. All but one patient consumed cooked fish; 11 within 24h before symptoms onset. Cases consumed 'Olho de Boi' (Seriola spp.) and 'Badejo' (Mycteroperca spp.). A total of 67 cases were detected, the last case was reported on 5 April 2017.

The metabolic syndrome in Spanish migrants to Brazil: unexpected results.

A cross-sectional study was performed involving epidemiological and clinical features of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in Spanish migrants to Brazil and their descendants. This included 479 subjects: Group A (Spanish migrants): n=215; Group B (descendants born in Brazil of Spanish parents): n=126, Group C (mixed descendants born in Brazil with either father or mother born in Spain): n=138. MS was defined according to the original NCEP/ATP III criteria and by the revised NCEP/ATP definition (glucose>or=100mg/dl). Overall prevalence of MS according to NCEP/ATP III criteria was 26.3%. Age/sex-adjusted prevalence was 27.4%. When the revised NCEP criteria were considered, overall prevalence was 30.1% (age/sex-adjusted 31.3%). The differences between the two criteria were 3.8% and 3.9% (CI -1.9-9.4%). When stratified by groups the MS was more prevalent in Group A (37.2%) and Group B (20.6%) than in Group C (10.9%). Environmental factors may have influenced the development of MS. Reason for the apparently protective role of genetic features due to admixture between populations in the mixed descendants needs to be explored.