Diagnostic accuracy of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha cytokine levels in patients with mild cognitive impairment: systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is growing evidence suggesting an association between neurodegeneration and inflammation playing a role in the pathogenesis of age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to verify evidence on the diagnostic accuracy parameters of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Methods: A search of Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Web of Science and Science Direct databases was performed and nine observational studies associated with peripheral inflammatory biomarkers in MCI were identified. Mean (±standard deviation - SD) concentrations of these biomarkers and values of true positives, true negatives, false positives and false negatives for MCI and healthy controls (HC) were extracted from these studies. Results: Significantly higher levels of IL-10 were observed in subjects in the MCI group and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were lower compared to HC. For the other investigations, no differences were found between the groups. Our meta-analysis for the TNF-α biomarker revealed high heterogeneity between studies in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: These findings do not support the involvement of inflammatory biomarkers for detection of MCI, although significant heterogeneity was observed. More studies are needed to evaluate the role of these cytokines in MCI, as well as in other stages of cognitive decline and all-cause dementias.

Há evidências crescentes que sugerem uma associação entre a neurodegeneração e a inflamação, desempenhando um papel na patogênese de doenças associadas à idade, incluindo a doença de Alzheimer (DA) e o comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL). Objetivo: Uma revisão sistemática e metanálise foram realizadas para verificar evidências relativas aos parâmetros de acurácia diagnóstica das citocinas inflamatórias interleucina-6 (IL-6), interleucina-10 (IL-10) e fator de necrose tumoral (TNF-α). Métodos: Foi realizada uma busca nas bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Web of Science e Science Direct, e foram identificados nove estudos observacionais associados a biomarcadores inflamatórios periféricos no CCL. As concentrações médias (desvio padrão ­ ±DP) desses biomarcadores e valores de verdadeiros positivos, verdadeiros negativos, falsos positivos e falsos negativos para CCL e controles saudáveis (CS) foram extraídos desses estudos. Resultados: Níveis significativamente mais elevados de IL-10 foram observados em indivíduos do grupo CCL e os escores do Miniexame do Estado Mental foram mais baixos em comparação com o CS. Para as demais investigações não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos. Nossa metanálise para o biomarcador TNF-α revelou alta heterogeneidade entre os estudos em termos de sensibilidade e especificidade. Conclusão: Esses achados não apoiam o envolvimento de biomarcadores inflamatórios na detecção do CCL, embora tenha sido observada heterogeneidade significativa. Mais estudos são necessários para avaliar o papel dessas citocinas no CCL, bem como em outros estágios de declínio cognitivo e demências de todas as causas.

Factor analysis and cronbach's alpha for studying the knowledge of adolescents on HIV/AIDS: a construct validation study

To analyze the efficacy and psychometric properties of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Questionnaire when applied to adolescents. It was a cross-sectional construct validation study. Ten questions on the knowledge of HIV/AIDS were selected from the questionnaire for further data analysis and applied to 623 adolescents attending high school. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25.0™ and Stata 14.0 software processed the data. Cronbach's Alpha verified the reliability of items, and the mean of each value ranged from 0.198 to 0.379. Factor analysis assessed the structure of correlations between variables. The resulting factors were lifestyle/habits, preventive actions, and endogenous and exogenous transmission. The scale was reliable for the studied population, ensuring the quality of the instrument.

Risk factors for breast cancer and their association with molecular subtypes in a population of Northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for breast cancer (BC) among women in Brazilian populations are poorly understood. To date, few Brazilian studies have addressed the potential association between risk factors and molecular BC subtypes. This case-control study aimed to identify risk factors for BC in a population of Northeast Brazil. METHODS: Data from 313 patients with invasive BC and 321 healthy controls were obtained from medical records from two cancer treatment centres and personal interviews. Of the 313 BC patients, 224 (71.6%) had reached menopause. The following distribution of subtypes was found among 301 patients: (1) Luminal A: 54 (17.9%); (2) Luminal B: 175 (58.1%); (3) HER2/neu: 29 (9.7%); and (4) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): 43 (14.3%). Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using regression analysis. RESULTS: Regression modelling indicated that family history, obesity (≥ 30.0 kg/m2), alcohol consumption and contraceptive use increased the overall risk of BC 1.78 (95% CI: 1.22-2.59), 1.69 (95% CI: 1.08-2.63), 2.21 (95% CI: 1.44-3.39) and 2.99 (95% CI: 2.09-4.28) times, respectively. After stratification for menopausal status, alcohol consumption increased the risk of BC 4.15 (95% CI: 2.13-8.11) times, and obesity, as a single variable, increased the risk of BC 2.02 (95% CI: 1.22-3.37) times, only among postmenopausal women. In a case-control analysis, the risk of TNBC and Luminal B breast cancer were 4.06 (95% CI: 1.58-10.42) and 1.87 times (95% CI: 1.13-3.11) higher, respectively, in obese women than in non-obese women. Furthermore, alcohol consumption increased the risk of Luminal A and B subtypes 7.08 (3.40-14.73) and 1.77 (1.07-2.92) times, respectively. CONCLUSION: Family history, contraceptive use, obesity and alcohol consumption increased the risk of BC. Obesity and alcohol consumption differentially increased risk of TNBC and Luminal molecular subtypes.