Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Gene Polymorphisms and Markers of Hemolysis, Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Brazilian Sickle Cell Anemia Patients.

The impaired bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in sickle cell anemia (SCA) may be influenced by polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS). We compared allelic/genotypic frequencies of the eNOS polymorphisms T-786C, VNTR4a/b and G894T between 89 adult SCA patients and 100 healthy controls, and investigated the relationship between these SNPs and markers of hemolysis [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indirect bilirubin (IB) and reticulocyte counts], inflammation [interleukins IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and endothelial dysfunction (ED) [soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin), von Willebrand Factor (vWF) antigen and D-dimers] in the patients. The frequencies of the mutant -786C allele and -786C/C genotype were significantly higher in patients (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively) but not significantly correlated with the markers. For VNTR4a/b and G894T, the allelic/genotypic frequencies did not statistically differ between patient and control groups. Patients carrying the 4a allele and those with the 894G/G genotype showed a significant decrease in IB (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively), and only patients with the 4a allele exhibited reduced IL-1ß (p = 0.01). The correlation profiles between markers of inflammation and ED significantly differed between patients carrying the mutant alleles and those with wild-type genotypes. This appears to be the first report on the relationship between eNOS gene polymorphisms and markers of hemolysis, inflammation and ED in Brazilian SCA patients. Our results indicate that the SNPs analyzed may influence the phenotypic variability of these patients.

Psychometric properties of the Engaged Teachers Scale (ETS) / Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Engajamento no trabalho de Professores (EEP) / Cualidades psicométricas de la Escala de Engagement Docente (ECD)

Work engagement is an affective-motivational condition that generates willingness, involvement at work and focused effort on the accomplishment of tasks by the employee. This study joined validity evidence for the Engaged Teachers Scale (ETS) in the Brazilian context. The sample consisted of 417 teachers, male and female (62.1% female). The confirmatory factor analyses evidenced that the original model of the instrument, which consists of 16 items distributed in four factors, showed the best fit to the data. The scale revealed invariance for sex, application type (face-to-face or online), age range and teaching experience. The internal consistency rates range between 0.66 and 0.85. Furthermore, the scale showed convergent validity indicators with work engagement and affective organizational commitment. The good psychometric qualities of the scale recommend its future use in research of engagement in teachers.

O engajamento no trabalho caracteriza-se por um estado afetivo-motivacional que gera disposição no empregado, envolvimento com o trabalho e esforço concentrado na realização das tarefas. O estudo reuniu evidências de validade da Escala de Engajamento de Professores (EEP) no contexto brasileiro. A amostra foi composta por 417 professores, de ambos os sexos (62,1% feminino). As análises fatoriais confirmatórias evidenciaram que o modelo original do instrumento, composto por 16 itens, distribuídos em quatro fatores, foi o de melhor ajuste aos dados. A escala apresentou invariância para sexo, tipo de aplicação (presencial ou online), faixa etária e tempo de docência. Os índices de consistência interna dos fatores variaram de 0,66 a 0,85. A escala apresentou, ainda, indicadores de validade convergente com o engajamento no trabalho e o comprometimento organizacional afetivo. As boas qualidades psicométricas da escala recomendam seu uso futuro na pesquisa do engajamento em professores.

El engagement laboral se caracteriza por un estado afectivo-motivacional que genera disposición en el empleado, involucramiento con el trabajo y esfuerzo concentrado en la realización de las tareas. El estudio juntó evidencias de validez de la Escala de Engagement Docente (EED) en el contexto brasileño. La muestra incluyó a 417 profesores, de ambos sexos (62,1% femenino). Los análisis factoriales confirmatorios evidenciaron que el modelo original del instrumento, compuesto por 16 ítems, distribuidos en cuatro factores, fue el de mejor ajuste a los datos. La escala mostró invariancia para sexo, tipo de aplicación (presencial o en línea), rango de edad y tiempo de docencia. Los índices de consistencia interna variaron de 0,66 a 0,85. Además, la escala presentó indicadores de validez convergente con el engagement laboral y el compromiso organizacional afectivo. Las buenas cualidades psicométricas de la escala recomiendan su uso futuro en la investigación del engagement en profesores.

Interleukin-27 and interleukin-37 are elevated in sickle cell anemia patients and inhibit in vitro secretion of interleukin-8 in neutrophils and monocytes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of most complications seen in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients. We aimed to evaluate serum levels of two newly discovered anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-27 and IL-37), and pro-inflammatory cytokines among Brazilian SCA patients that are not on hydroxyurea therapy (HbSS), compared with hydroxyurea-treated patients (HbSSHU) and healthy controls (HbAA). Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of IL-27, IL-37, and heme on in vitro secretions of IL-8 in human neutrophils and monocytes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 82 consenting SCA (35 HbSS and 47 HbSSHU) patients in steady state and 49 HbAA consenting individuals. Clinical details were obtained from interviews and medical records. Serum levels of IL-27, IL-37, TGF-ß, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neutrophils and monocytes were isolated from healthy controls, and cultured separately with or without cytokines (IL-27 and IL-37) and heme. Supernatant IL-8 concentration was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-27, IL-37, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly elevated in HbSS patients compared to HbAA controls. Serum IL-8 levels were significantly higher in HbSS and HbSSHU patients than in controls. IL-27 and IL-37 were positively correlated in both HbSS and HbSSHU patients. In vitro IL-8 production by IL-27 and IL-37 pre-treated neutrophils and monocytes was significantly inhibited even after heme addition. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that IL-27 and IL-37, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines, are elevated in HbSS patients compared with controls, suggesting that the secretion of these anti-inflammatory cytokines is driven by the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This role is probably sufficient in preventing further cellular or tissue damage but not potent enough to prevent inflammation. Therefore, IL-27 and IL-37 may be potential immuno-targets for ameliorating complications associated with elevated heme levels seen in SCA and other hemolytic anemias.

Use of herd information for predicting Salmonella status in pig herds.

Salmonella surveillance-and-control programs in pigs are highly resource demanding, so alternative cost-effective approaches are desirable. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a tool for predicting the Salmonella test status in pig herds based on herd information collected from 108 industrial farrow-to-finish pig herds in Portugal. A questionnaire including known risk factors for Salmonella was used. A factor analysis model was developed to identify relevant factors that were then tested for association with Salmonella status. Three factors were identified and labelled: general biosecurity (factor 1), herd size (factor 2) and sanitary gap implementation (factor 3). Based on the loadings in factor 1 and factor 3, herds were classified according to their biosecurity practices. In total, 59% of the herds had a good level of biosecurity (interpreted as a loading below zero in factor 1) and 37% of the farms had good biosecurity and implemented sanitary gap (loading below zero in factor 1 and loading above zero in factor 3). This implied that they, among other things, implemented preventive measures for visitors and workers entering the herd, controlled biological vectors, had hygiene procedures in place, water quality assessment, and sanitary gap in the fattening and growing sections. In total, 50 herds were tested for Salmonella. Logistic regression analysis showed that factor 1 was significantly associated with Salmonella test status (P = 0.04). Herds with poor biosecurity had a higher probability of testing Salmonella positive compared with herds with good biosecurity. This study shows the potential for using herd information to classify herds according to their Salmonella status in the absence of good testing options. The method might be used as a potentially cost-effective tool for future development of risk-based approaches to surveillance, targeting interventions to high-risk herds or differentiating sampling strategies in herds with different levels of infection.

Serological detection of antibodies against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in dogs with leishmaniasis.

The aim of this study was to detect antibodies against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in dogs seropositive and seronegative for leishmaniasis. Sera from 836 dogs (449 positive and 387 negative to leishmaniasis) were analysed by ELISA and the immunodiffusion test using gp43 and exoantigen, respectively. The analysis of the 836 serum samples by ELISA and the immunodiffusion test showed a positivity of 67.8 % and 7.3%, respectively, for P. brasiliensis infection. The dogs positive to leishmaniasis showed a higher reactivity to gp43 (79.9%) and exoantigen (12.7%) than the negative ones (54.0% and 1.0%, respectively). The higher reactivity to P. brasiliensis antigens may be due to cross-reactivity or a co-infection of dogs by Leishmania and P. brasiliensis. The lower correlation (0.187) observed between reactivity to gp43 and Leishmania antigen reinforces the latter hypothesis.