Blind cavefish evolved higher foraging responses to chemo- and mechanostimuli.

In nature, animals must navigate to forage according to their sensory inputs. Different species use different sensory modalities to locate food efficiently. For teleosts, food emits visual, mechanical, chemical, and/or possibly weak-electrical signals, which can be detected by optic, auditory/lateral line, and olfactory/taste buds sensory systems. However, how fish respond to and use different sensory inputs when locating food, as well as the evolution of these sensory modalities, remain unclear. We examined the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, which is composed of two different morphs: a sighted riverine (surface fish) and a blind cave morph (cavefish). Compared with surface fish, cavefish have enhanced non-visual sensory systems, including the mechanosensory lateral line system, chemical sensors comprising the olfactory system and taste buds, and the auditory system to help navigate toward food sources. We tested how visual, chemical, and mechanical stimuli evoke food-seeking behavior. In contrast to our expectations, both surface fish and cavefish did not follow a gradient of chemical stimulus (food extract) but used it as a cue for the ambient existence of food. Surface fish followed visual cues (red plastic beads and food pellets), but, in the dark, were likely to rely on mechanosensors-the lateral line and/or tactile sensor-as cavefish did. Our results indicate cavefish used a similar sensory modality to surface fish in the dark, while affinity levels to stimuli were higher in cavefish. In addition, cavefish evolved an extended circling strategy to forage, which may yield a higher chance to capture food by swimming-by the food multiple times instead of once through zigzag motion. In summary, we propose that ancestors of cavefish, similar to the modern surface fish, evolved extended food-seeking behaviors, including circling motion, to adapt to the dark.

Síndrome metabólica, consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas adoçadas em adolescentes / Metabolic syndrome, consumption of ultra-processed foods and sweetened beverages in adolescents

A síndrome metabólica é caracterizada pela presença concomitante de alteração na glicemia, dislipidemia, elevação da pressão arterial e adiposidade excessiva, os quais elevam o risco cardiovascular. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os parâmetros da síndrome metabólica e a associação com o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas adoçadas em adolescentes com excesso de peso. Realizou-se um estudo transversal, conduzido com 67 adolescentes com excesso de peso, de um ambulatório pediátrico de um hospital público no município de São Paulo. A avaliação antropométrica consistiu na aferição de peso, estatura e circunferência da cintura. Foram coletados dados de glicose, triglicérides, HDL-c, e pressão arterial, e a síndrome metabólica (SM) analisada de acordo com critérios da Associação Brasileira de Nutrologia. O consumo alimentar foi avaliado pelo questionário de frequência alimentar semiquantitativo. A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi de 56,7%. Os parâmetros mais prevalentes foram redução de HDL-c (71,6%), elevação da pressão arterial sistólica (70,1%) e da glicemia de jejum (64,2%). Observou-se correlação positiva entre a glicemia de jejum e o consumo de alimentos ultra processados e bebidas adoçadas.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the concomitant presence of changes in blood glucose, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure and excessive adiposity, which increase cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to analyze the parameters of metabolic syndrome and the association with the consumption of ultra-processed foods and sweetened beverages in overweight adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 67 overweight adolescents from a pediatric outpatient clinic of a public hospital in the city of São Paulo. The anthropometric assessment consisted of measuring weight, height and waist circumference. Data on glucose, triglycerides, HDL-c, and blood pressure were collected, and metabolic syndrome (MS) was analyzed according to criteria from the Brazilian Association of Nutrology. Food consumption was assessed using the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 56.7%. The most prevalent parameters were a reduction in HDL-c (71.6%), and an increase in systolic blood pressure (70.1%) and fasting blood glucose (64.2%). Blood glucose was positively associated with the sweetened beverage consumption score and BMI. It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents, with glycemia being associated with the consumption of sweetened beverages.

Effect of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Treatment in a Patient with Short Stature Associated with the Ring Chromosome 17 Syndrome.

Background: Ring chromosome 17 syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder whose prevalence is less than 1 : 1.000.000. We present a ten-year-old patient with ring chromosome 17 syndrome who had short stature and was treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Case Report. A ten-year-old male scholar had moderate left conductive deafness, left kidney hypoplasia with hypertension, epilepsy, malformations in hands, feet, and abdomen, and disproportionately short stature. Despite no evidence of growth hormone deficiency, rhGH treatment was indicated as a therapeutic test due to his decelerated growth velocity and severe short stature. As a result, his growth velocity increased by 4.2 cm per year and his stature Z-score increased (from -5.87 to -5.23). Conclusion: The patient's severe short stature may be related to genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors and the positive response to rhGH may indicate abnormalities in the somatotropic axis that were mitigated with the treatment. Although rhGH associated with adequate comorbidities controls improved his growth velocity and height Z-score, its effects in the long term are still unclear.

Blind cavefish evolved food-searching behavior without changing sensory modality compared with sighted conspecies in the dark.

In nature, animals must navigate to forage according to their sensory inputs. Different species use different sensory modalities to locate food efficiently. For teleosts, food emits visual, mechanical, chemical, and/or possibly weak-electrical signals, which can be detected by optic, auditory/lateral line, and olfactory/taste buds sensory systems. However, how fish respond to and use different sensory inputs when locating food, as well as the evolution of these sensory modalities, remain unclear. We examined the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, which is composed of two different morphs: a sighted riverine (surface fish) and a blind cave morph (cavefish). Compared with surface fish, cavefish have enhanced non-visual sensory systems, including the mechanosensory lateral line system, chemical sensors comprising the olfactory system and taste buds, and the auditory system to help navigate toward food sources. We tested how visual, chemical, and mechanical stimuli evoke food-seeking behavior. In contrast to our expectations, both surface fish and cavefish did not follow a gradient of chemical stimulus (food extract) but used it as a cue for the ambient existence of food. Surface fish followed visual cues (red plastic beads and food pellets), but, in the dark, were likely to rely on mechanosensors-the lateral line and/or tactile sensor-as cavefish did. Our results indicate cavefish used similar sensory modality to surface fish in the dark, while adherence levels to stimuli were higher in cavefish. In addition, cavefish evolved an extended circling strategy to capture food, which may yield a higher chance to capture food by swimming-by the food multiple times instead of once through zigzag motion. In summary, we propose ancestors of cavefish similar to surface fish may have needed little modification in food-seeking strategy to adapt to the dark.

Diagnosis of Fibrotic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Is There a Role for Biomarkers?

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a complex interstitial lung syndrome and is associated with significant morbimortality, particularly for fibrotic disease. This condition is characterized by sensitization to a specific antigen, whose early identification is associated with improved outcomes. Biomarkers measure objectively biologic processes and may support clinical decisions. These tools evolved to play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of human diseases. This is not the case, however, with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, where there is still great room for research in the path to find consensual diagnostic biomarkers. Gaps in the current evidence include lack of validation, validation against healthy controls alone, small sampling and heterogeneity in diagnostic and classification criteria. Furthermore, discriminatory accuracy is currently limited by overlapping mechanisms of inflammation, damage and fibrogenesis between ILDs. Still, biomarkers such as BAL lymphocyte counts and specific serum IgGs made their way into clinical guidelines, while others including KL-6, SP-D, YKL-40 and apolipoproteins have shown promising results in leading centers and have potential to translate into daily practice. As research proceeds, it is expected that the emergence of novel categories of biomarkers will offer new and thriving tools that could complement those currently available.

Evolution of left-right asymmetry in the sensory system and foraging behavior during adaptation to food-sparse cave environments.

BACKGROUND: Laterality in relation to behavior and sensory systems is found commonly in a variety of animal taxa. Despite the advantages conferred by laterality (e.g., the startle response and complex motor activities), little is known about the evolution of laterality and its plasticity in response to ecological demands. In the present study, a comparative study model, the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus), composed of two morphotypes, i.e., riverine surface fish and cave-dwelling cavefish, was used to address the relationship between environment and laterality. RESULTS: The use of a machine learning-based fish posture detection system and sensory ablation revealed that the left cranial lateral line significantly supports one type of foraging behavior, i.e., vibration attraction behavior, in one cave population. Additionally, left-right asymmetric approaches toward a vibrating rod became symmetrical after fasting in one cave population but not in the other populations. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, we propose a model explaining how the observed sensory laterality and behavioral shift could help adaptation in terms of the tradeoff in energy gain and loss during foraging according to differences in food availability among caves.

Non-balanced translocation between the short arms of chromosomes 8 and 6 associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

SUMMARY: We describe a rare case of a girl with an initial diagnostic hypothesis of chromosome 8 trisomy based on clinical findings and karyotyping, which identified a structural change in the short arm of chromosome 8 (46,XX,add(8)(p23)). At the age of 7, she developed type 1 diabetes mellitus and started insulin therapy with multiple daily doses, and then she started to use a continuous insulin infusion system (pump) at 10 years of age. At the age of 12, she underwent a molecular study that identified an unbalanced translocation between the short arms of chromosomes 6 and 8 - 46,XX,add(8)(p23).ish der(8)t(6;8)(GS-196I5+;RP-11338B22-). LEARNING POINTS: Patients with an unbalanced translocation between the short arms of chromosomes 6 and 8 - 46,XX,add(8)(p23).ish der(8)t(6;8)(GS-196I5+;RP-11338B22-) may present syndromic features suggestive of chromosome 8 trisomy. Main characteristics are a prominent forehead, ocular and breast hypertelorism, ocular, external ear and palate abnormalities, a short neck, heart defects, and developmental delay. Patients with 46,XX,add(8)(p23).ish der(8)t(6;8)(GS-196I5+;RP-11338B22-) may present autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus. Karyotyping is an essential tool for the diagnosis of chromosomal changes, but it has some limitations. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, array-single nucleotide polymorphism and fluorescence in situ hybridization can help diagnose genetic syndromes in patients with atypical evolution.

Evaluation of sleep characteristics of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus / Avaliação das características do sono em crianças e adolescentes portadores de diabetes melito tipo 1

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate sleep characteristics of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their relationship with glycemic control. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. It included 86 patients with T1DM, aged between 10 and 18 years old, who were on insulin therapy, had performed at least three measurements of capillary blood glucose throughout the day, and had normal thyroid function. The clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data of each patient were evaluated. The Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) were used to assess the sleep characteristics. Results: The mean level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 9.2±2.1%, and it was higher in adolescents than in children. The mean score of PDSS was 13.9±4.7. Patients with HbA1c<7.5% had lower PDSS scores and longer sleep duration on weekdays than patients with HbA1c≥7.5%. HbA1c levels were negatively correlated with chronotype values and sleep duration on weekdays and positively correlated with social jet lag. Patients who had had T1DM for less than three years had a higher prevalence of daytime sleepiness. The regression analysis showed that higher HbA1c (≥7.5%) and shorter time since the diagnosis of T1DM increased the chance of daytime sleepiness, regardless of age and sex. Conclusions: Patients with higher HbA1c had more daytime sleepiness, a morning chronotype, shorter sleep duration on weekdays and a more significant social jet lag. The shorter diagnosis time for T1DM and greater levels of HbA1c increased the chance of daytime sleepiness.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as características do sono em crianças e adolescentes portadores de diabetes melito tipo 1 (DM1) e sua relação com o controle glicêmico. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado em um hospital público de São Paulo. A amostra foi composta de 86 portadores de DM1 entre 10 e 18 anos, aderentes à insulinoterapia, com monitoração mínima de três glicemias capilares ao dia e função tireoidiana normal. Foram avaliados os dados clínicos, antropométricos e laboratoriais de cada paciente. Utilizaram-se a Escala de Sonolência Diurna Pediátrica (ESDP) e o Questionário de Cronotipo de Munique (QCTM). Resultados: A média de hemoglobina glicada (HbA1c) foi 9,2±2,1%, sendo maior em adolescentes. A média do escore da ESDP foi 13,9±4,7. Pacientes com HbA1c<7,5% tiveram menor escore na ESDP e maior duração do sono em dias de semana do que pacientes com HbA1c≥7,5%. Verificaram-se correlações negativas da HbA1c com valores do cronotipo e com duração do sono em dias de semana e correlação positiva da HbA1c com jet lag social. Pacientes com tempo de DM1 menor que três anos tiveram maior prevalência de sonolência diurna. A análise de regressão apontou que, quanto maior a HbA1c e menor o tempo de diagnóstico de DM1, maior a chance de sonolência diurna, independentemente de idade e sexo. Conclusões: Pacientes com HbA1c mais elevada apresentaram mais sonolência diurna, cronotipo matutino, menor duração do sono em dias de semana e maior jet lag social. O menor tempo de diagnóstico de DM1 e HbA1c≥7,5% aumentaram a chance de maior sonolência diurna.

Evaluation of sleep characteristics of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sleep characteristics of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their relationship with glycemic control. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. It included 86 patients with T1DM, aged between 10 and 18 years old, who were on insulin therapy, had performed at least three measurements of capillary blood glucose throughout the day, and had normal thyroid function. The clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data of each patient were evaluated. The Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) were used to assess the sleep characteristics. RESULTS: The mean level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 9.2±2.1%, and it was higher in adolescents than in children. The mean score of PDSS was 13.9±4.7. Patients with HbA1c<7.5% had lower PDSS scores and longer sleep duration on weekdays than patients with HbA1c≥7.5%. HbA1c levels were negatively correlated with chronotype values and sleep duration on weekdays and positively correlated with social jet lag. Patients who had had T1DM for less than three years had a higher prevalence of daytime sleepiness. The regression analysis showed that higher HbA1c (≥7.5%) and shorter time since the diagnosis of T1DM increased the chance of daytime sleepiness, regardless of age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher HbA1c had more daytime sleepiness, a morning chronotype, shorter sleep duration on weekdays and a more significant social jet lag. The shorter diagnosis time for T1DM and greater levels of HbA1c increased the chance of daytime sleepiness.

Characteristics of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome in an admixed population.

OBJECTIVE: People with Down's syndrome (DS) have a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and may have specific clinical features compared to T1D patients without DS. This study evaluated the clinical and laboratory aspects of T1D in children and adolescents with DS in an admixed population. METHODS: A case-control study comparing patients with T1D and DS (T1D+DS) to patients with T1D without DS (T1D controls) from two tertiary academic Hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 9 patients with T1D+DS and 18 T1D age and sex-matched controls. Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies were positive in 7/7 of the 9 T1D+DS patients, confirming the presence of diabetes autoimmunity in this group. Mean age at diagnosis of T1D was 4.9 ± 3.9 years in the T1D+DS group and 6.4 years ± 3 in the T1D control group; early diagnosis (<2 years old) occurred in three T1D+DS patients but only in one T1D control patients, both suggesting lower age of diagnosis in T1D+DS group, although without statistical significance (p = 0.282 and p = 0.093, respectively). The T1D+DS group presented lower total insulin dose (0.7 IU/kg/day ± 0.2) and HbA1c (7.2% ± 0.6) than the control group (1.0 IU/kg/day ± 0.3 and 9.1% ± 0.7, respectively) (p = 0.022 and p = 0.047, respectively). CONCLUSION: We confirmed the autoimmune etiology of diabetes in people with DS in this admixed population. T1D+DS patients developed diabetes earlier and achieved better metabolic control with a lower insulin dose than T1D controls. These findings are in agreement with previous studies in Caucasian populations.

Characteristics of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome in an admixed population

ABSTRACT Objective: People with Down's syndrome (DS) have a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and may have specific clinical features compared to T1D patients without DS. This study evaluated the clinical and laboratory aspects of T1D in children and adolescents with DS in an admixed population. Subjects and methods: A case-control study comparing patients with T1D and DS (T1D+DS) to patients with T1D without DS (T1D controls) from two tertiary academic Hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Results: The sample consisted of 9 patients with T1D+DS and 18 T1D age and sex-matched controls. Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies were positive in 7/7 of the 9 T1D+DS patients, confirming the presence of diabetes autoimmunity in this group. Mean age at diagnosis of T1D was 4.9 ± 3.9 years in the T1D+DS group and 6.4 years ± 3 in the T1D control group; early diagnosis (<2 years old) occurred in three T1D+DS patients but only in one T1D control patients, both suggesting lower age of diagnosis in T1D+DS group, although without statistical significance (p = 0.282 and p = 0.093, respectively). The T1D+DS group presented lower total insulin dose (0.7 IU/kg/day ± 0.2) and HbA1c (7.2% ± 0.6) than the control group (1.0 IU/kg/day ± 0.3 and 9.1% ± 0.7, respectively) (p = 0.022 and p = 0.047, respectively). Conclusion: We confirmed the autoimmune etiology of diabetes in people with DS in this admixed population. T1D+DS patients developed diabetes earlier and achieved better metabolic control with a lower insulin dose than T1D controls. These findings are in agreement with previous studies in Caucasian populations.

ERS International Congress, Madrid, 2019: highlights from the Interstitial Lung Diseases Assembly.

This article discusses a selection of the scientific presentations in the field of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) that took place at the 2019 European Respiratory Society International Congress in Madrid, Spain. There were sessions from all four groups within Assembly 12: group 12.01 "Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias", group 12.02 "ILDs/diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) of known origin", group 12.03 "Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous ILDs/DPLDs" and group 12.04 "Rare ILDs/DPLDs". The presented studies brought cutting-edge developments on several aspects of these conditions, including pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. As many of the ILDs are individually rare, the sharing of experiences and new data that occur during the Congress are very important for physicians interested in ILDs and ILD patients alike.

Chylous ascites: Case report of a rare presentation of blunt abdominal trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Chylous ascites is the accumulation of a milk-like peritoneal fluid rich in triglycerides, due to the presence of intestinal lymph in the abdominal cavity. The most common causes of chylous acites in adults are abdominal malignancy and cirrhosis. Very few cases of chylous ascites associated to blunt abdominal trauma have been published in the literature. CLINICAL CASE: A 27-year-old, female patient was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain due to a deceleration-type traffic accident. During surveillance the patient presented a progressive decrease in hemoglobin levels and an increase in free intra-abdominal fluid detected on computed tomography scan. The patient underwent an exploratory laparoscopy and a milky-looking peritoneal fluid was identified. The diagnosis of chylous ascites was confirmed by the determination of increased triglyceride levels in the peritoneal fluid. A low-fat diet, with a restriction of long-chain triglycerides, was started in the post-operative period and the patient presented a progressive decrease in abdominal drainage. The patient had a favorable clinical and analytical evolution and was discharged on the fifth post-operative day. DISCUSSION: Chylous ascites is an uncommon finding in trauma. Although surgery may be indicated in selected patients, conservative treatment can be effective in most patients, with or without abdominal drainage. A high-protein and low-fat diet, with medium-chain triglycerides, is the indicated dietary regimen to decrease the amount of lymphatic fluid produced. CONCLUSION: Chylous ascites, although rare in trauma patients must be considered in the diferential diagnosis of free peritoneal fluid. Conservative treatment should be considered in the majority of cases reserving invasive treatments for specific situations.

Consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products is associated with aerobic and anaerobic performance in Brazilian athletes - A cross-sectional study / El consumo de carne, huevos y productos lácteos se asocia al rendimiento aeróbico y anaeróbico en los deportistas brasileños: un estudio transversal

Objective: to associate food consumption according to the groups that make up the food pyramid with the aerobic and anaerobic performance of Brazilian athletes. Method: a cross-sectional study of 168 athletes with a mean age and BMI of 20.84 ± 7.74 years and 22.88 ± 3.1 kg/m², respectively. Results: maximum power output was significantly associated with the meat and eggs groups (ß = 0.31; p < 0.05). VO2max exhibited a positive relationship with the fruit group (ß = 0.29; p < 0.05). A significant inverse relation between VO2max and the legumes group was observed (ß = -0.76; p < 0.05). The meat and eggs group and the dairy products group had an inverse and significant association with VO2max (ß = -0.43; p < 0.01). Conclusions: consumption of meat and eggs showed a positive association with anaerobic performance, whereas the same group and the dairy products group had a negative association with aerobic performance

Objectivo: asociar el consumo de alimentos según los grupos que componen la pirámide de alimentos con el rendimiento aeróbico y anaeróbico de deportistas brasileños. Método: estudio transversal de 168 deportistas con una media de edad e IMC de 20,84 ± 7,74 años y 22,88 ± 3,1 kg/m², respectivamente. Resultados: la potencia máxima se asoció significativamente con el consumo de los grupos de carne y huevos (ß = 0,31; p < 0,05). El VO2max mostró una relación positiva con el grupo de la fruta (ß = 0,29; p < 0,05). Se observó una relación inversa significativa entre el VO2max y el grupo de las leguminosas (ß = -0,76; p < 0,05). El grupo de carnes y huevos y el grupo de productos lácteos tuvieron una asociación inversa y significativa con el VO2max (ß = -0,43; p < 0,01). Conclusiones: el consumo de carne y huevos mostró una asociación positiva con el rendimiento anaeróbico, mientras que el mismo grupo y los productos lácteos se asociaron de forma negativa al rendimiento aeróbico

Consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products is associated with aerobic and anaerobic performance in Brazilian athletes - A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: To associate food consumption according to the groups that make up the food pyramid with the aerobic and anaerobic performance of Brazilian athletes. A cross-sectional study of 168 athletes with a mean age and BMI of 20.84 ± 7.74 years and 22.88 ± 3.1 kg/m², respectively. Maximum power output was significantly associated with the meat and eggs groups (ß = 0.31; p < 0.05). VO2max exhibited a positive relationship with the fruit group (ß = 0.29; p < 0.05). A significant inverse relation between VO2max and the legumes group was observed (ß = -0.76; p < 0.05). The meat and eggs group and the dairy products group had an inverse and significant association with VO2max (ß = -0.43; p < 0.01). Consumption of meat and eggs showed a positive association with anaerobic performance, whereas the same group and the dairy products group had a negative association with aerobic performance.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Asociar el consumo de alimentos según los grupos que componen la pirámide de alimentos con el rendimiento aeróbico y anaeróbico de deportistas brasileños. Estudio transversal de 168 deportistas con una media de edad e IMC de 20,84 ± 7,74 años y 22,88 ± 3,1 kg/m², respectivamente. La potencia máxima se asoció significativamente con el consumo de los grupos de carne y huevos (ß = 0,31; p < 0,05). El VO2max mostró una relación positiva con el grupo de la fruta (ß = 0,29; p < 0,05). Se observó una relación inversa significativa entre el VO2max y el grupo de las leguminosas (ß = −0,76; p < 0,05). El grupo de carnes y huevos y el grupo de productos lácteos tuvieron una asociación inversa y significativa con el VO2max (ß = −0,43; p < 0,01). El consumo de carne y huevos mostró una asociación positiva con el rendimiento anaeróbico, mientras que el mismo grupo y los productos lácteos se asociaron de forma negativa al rendimiento aeróbico.

Behavioral Tracking and Neuromast Imaging of Mexican Cavefish.

Cave-dwelling animals have evolved a series of morphological and behavioral traits to adapt to their perpetually dark and food-sparse environments. Among these traits, foraging behavior is one of the useful windows into functional advantages of behavioral trait evolution. Presented herein are updated methods for analyzing vibration attraction behavior (VAB: an adaptive foraging behavior) and imaging of associated mechanosensors of cave-adapted tetra, Astyanax mexicanus. In addition, methods are presented for high-throughput tracking of a series of additional cavefish behaviors including hyperactivity and sleep-loss. Cavefish also show asociality, repetitive behavior and higher anxiety. Therefore, cavefish serve as an animal model for evolved behaviors. These methods use free-software and custom-made scripts that can be applied to other types of behavior. These methods provide practical and cost-effective alternatives to commercially available tracking software.

Evolution of the developmental plasticity and a coupling between left mechanosensory neuromasts and an adaptive foraging behavior.

Many animal species exhibit laterality in sensation and behavioral responses, namely, the preference for using either the left or right side of the sensory system. For example, some fish use their left eye when observing social stimuli, whereas they use their right eye to observe novel objects. However, it is largely unknown whether such laterality in sensory-behavior coupling evolves during rapid adaptation processes. Here, in the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, we investigate the laterality in the relationship between an evolved adaptive behavior, vibration attraction behavior (VAB), and its main sensors, mechanosensory neuromasts. A. mexicanus has a surface-dwelling form and cave-dwelling forms (cavefish), whereby a surface fish ancestor colonized the new environment of a cave, eventually evolving cave-type morphologies such as increased numbers of neuromasts at the cranium. These neuromasts are known to regulate VAB, and it is known that, in teleosts, the budding (increasing) process of neuromasts is accompanied with dermal bone formation. This bone formation is largely regulated by endothelin signaling. To assess the evolutionary relationship between bone formation, neuromast budding, and VAB, we treated 1-3 month old juvenile fish with endothelin receptor antagonists. This treatment significantly increased cranial neuromasts in both surface and cavefish, and the effect was significantly more pronounced in cavefish. Antagonist treatment also increased the size of dermal bones in cavefish, but neuromast enhancement was observed earlier than dermal bone formation, suggesting that endothelin signaling may independently regulate neuromast development and bone formation. In addition, although we did not detect a major change in VAB level under this antagonist treatment, cavefish did show a positive correlation of VAB with the number of neuromasts on their left side but not their right. This laterality in correlation was observed when VAB emerged during cavefish development, but it was not seen in surface fish under any conditions tested, suggesting this laterality emerged through an evolutionary process. Above all, cavefish showed higher developmental plasticity in neuromast number and bone formation, and they showed an asymmetric correlation between the number of left-right neuromasts and VAB.

Severe ketorolac-induced asthma diagnosed by chest computed tomography.

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) affects 15% of severe asthmatics and drug reactions cause 200,000 annual deaths in Europe. A 65-year-old lady presented to emergency for progressive abdominal pain. Her medical history included gallstones, asthma, rhinosinusitis and hypertension. She was regularly medicated with inhaled fluticasone, vilanterol and tiotropium, nasal budesonide, pantoprazole, oxazepam and perindopril. She reported partial asthma control and an exacerbation requiring admission to a respiratory ward 6 weeks before. On examination, there was right upper quadrant tenderness and no other changes. Blood tests were normal, and an ultrasound showed gallbladder stones with normal wall. Intravenous ketorolac led to prompt pain resolution. After 30 minutes she became severely dyspnoeic, with an O2 saturation of 85% on high flow O2. She had no breath sounds on the left lung, and there was no wheezing or prolonged expiration. A chest X-ray showed no pneumothorax and a computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed showing bilateral mucoid impaction and sub-segmental atelectasis. Continuous bronchodilation and systemic steroids led to gradual improving in the following 6 hours. After 9 days of admission on a respiratory ward she was discharged home with no symptoms and normal oxygenation. Importantly, she denied previous allergies to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and had actually taken diclofenac and nimesulid before with no reactions. This report illustrates both an intravenous NSAID causing severe AERD, and how a chest CT may be instrumental for the diagnosis of life-threatening asthma.

Adequacy of energy and macronutrient intake of food supplements for athletes / Suplementos alimentares na adequação do consumo energético e de macronutrientes em atletas

ABSTRACT Objective To assess how much food supplements contribute to the nutritional adequacy of energy and macronutrients in relation those recommended for athletes. Methods This was a cross sectional study was composed of 182 athletes from 19 sports (150 men and 32 women) with a mean age, weight, height and body mass index of 23.8±7.5 years, 73.7±15.6kg, 1.7±0.1m, 24.2±4.0kg/m², respectively. The 24 hours dietary recall was applied to assess intake and the Multiple Source Method to evaluate usual intake. We used the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Analysis of Variance and Kruskal-Wallis for comparative analysis among the diets, gender and types of groups, and the comparison of two-proportion test to assess the diets Food and Food and Supplementation. Results Of the athletes studied, less than half used dietary supplements (39.0%). Energy intake was below the recommended (52.7%) in Food diet, and 45.6% in Food and Supplementation diet. The mean total of carbohydrate inadequacy (g.kg-1.day-1) was high for athletes of both genders and between Food and Food and Supplementation diets. The protein intake was above the recommended levels in Food diet (23.1%) and in Food and Supplementation diet (33.5%). The lipid intake was also above the recommended dietary levels in Food (47.3%) and in Food and Supplementation diets (50.0%). Conclusion The use of supplements did not significantly reduce inadequacies of diet and the athletes' intake of calories and carbohydrates was below the recommended for these groups. However, the protein intake was above the recommended levels for athletes.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a contribuição dos suplementos alimentares para a adequação nutricional de energia e macronutrientes em relação às recomendações propostas para atletas. Métodos Estudo transversal, composto por 182 atletas de 19 modalidades esportivas (150 homens e 32 mulheres), com média de idade, peso, altura e índice de massa corporal de 23,8±7,5 anos, 73,7±15,6kg, 1,7±0,1m, 24,2±4,0kg/m², respectivamente. Foi aplicado recordatório de 24 horas para avaliação do consumo e o Multiple Source Method para avaliação do consumo usual. Foram usados: teste-t, Mann-Whitney, Analises de Variância e Kruskal-Wallis para análise de comparação entre as dietas, por gênero e grupos de modalidades, e teste de comparação entre duas proporções para avaliar as dietas Alimentos e Alimentos e Suplementos. Resultados Menos da metade fazia uso de suplementos alimentares (39,0%). O consumo energético esteve abaixo do recomendado em 52,7% na dieta Alimentos, e 45,6% na dieta Alimentos e Suplementos. A inadequação de carboidrato (g.kg-1.dia-1) foi alta na média total de atletas, para gêneros e entre modalidades nas dietas Alimentos e Alimentos e Suplementos. O consumo proteico esteve acima do recomendado em 23,1% na dieta Alimentos e 33,5% na dieta Alimentos e Suplementos. Já para lipídeos a ingestão esteve acima do recomendado 47,3% na dieta Alimentos e 50,0% na dieta Alimentos e Suplementos. Conclusão O uso de suplementos não auxiliou na diminuição das inadequações de forma expressiva, permanecendo os atletas abaixo das recomendações preconizadas para calorias e glicídios, porém aumentou a quantidade de atletas acima da recomendação de proteína.

A Novel Platform for High-Throughput Gene Synthesis to Maximize Recombinant Expression in Escherichia coli.

Gene synthesis is becoming an important tool in many fields of recombinant DNA technology, including recombinant protein production. De novo gene synthesis is quickly replacing the classical cloning and mutagenesis procedures and allows generating nucleic acids for which no template is available. Here, we describe a high-throughput platform to design and produce multiple synthetic genes (<500 bp) for recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. This pipeline includes an innovative codon optimization algorithm that designs DNA sequences to maximize heterologous protein production in different hosts. The platform is based on a simple gene synthesis method that uses a PCR-based protocol to assemble synthetic DNA from pools of overlapping oligonucleotides. This technology incorporates an accurate, automated and cost-effective ligase-independent cloning step to directly integrate the synthetic genes into an effective E. coli expression vector. High-throughput production of synthetic genes is of increasing relevance to allow exploring the biological function of the extensive genomic and meta-genomic information currently available from various sources.