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Zika virus (ZIKV) is an RNA flavivirus (Flaviviridae family) endemic in tropical and subtropical regions that is transmitted to humans by Aedes (Stegomyia) species mosquitoes. The two main urban vectors of ZIKV are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which can be found throughout Brazil. This study investigated ZIKV infection in mosquito species sampled from urban forest fragments in Manaus (Brazilian Amazon). A total of 905 non-engorged female Ae. aegypti (22 specimens) and Ae. albopictus (883 specimens) were collected using BG-Sentinel traps, entomological hand nets, and Prokopack aspirators during the rainy and dry seasons between 2018 and 2021. All pools were macerated and used to inoculate C6/36 culture cells. Overall, 3/20 (15%) Ae. aegypti and 5/241 (2%) Ae. albopictus pools screened using RT-qPCR were positive for ZIKV. No supernatants from Ae. aegypti were positive for ZIKV (0%), and 15 out of 241 (6.2%) Ae. albopictus pools were positive. In this study, we provide the first-ever evidence of Ae. albopictus naturally infected with ZIKV in the Amazon region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients on haemodialysis (HD) present a significant inflammatory status, which has a pronounced negative impact on their outcomes. Propolis is a natural resin with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. We assessed the safety and impact of a standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) on the inflammatory status in patients under conventional HD. Methods. Patients were assigned to receive 200 mg/day of EPP-AF® for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks without the drug, and changes in plasma levels of interleukins (ILs), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivityc-reactive protein (HsCRP) were measured. A heatmap was used to illustrate trends in data variation. Results. In total, 37 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients presented an exacerbated inflammatory state at baseline. During EPP-AF® use, there was a significant reduction in IFN-γ (p = 0.005), IL-13 (p = 0.04 2), IL-17 (p = 0.039), IL-1ra (p = 0.008), IL-8 (p = 0.009), and TNF-α (p < 0.001) levels compared to baseline, and significant changes were found in Hs-CRP levels. The heatmap demonstrated a pattern of pronounced proinflammatory status at baseline, especially in patients with primary glomerulopathies, and a clear reduction in this pattern during the use of EPP-AF®. There was a tendency to maintain this reduction after suspension of EPP-AF®. No significant side effects were observed. Conclusion. Patients under haemodialysis presented a pronounced inflammatory status, and EPP-AF® was demonstrated to be safe and associated with a significant and maintained reduction in proinflammatory cytokines in this population. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04072341. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of young soccer players’ maturation level throughout puberty is crucial to verify the influence of aspects that interfere on sport performance, such as body height and physical capacities. The aim of the present study was to verify the differences in physical performance of young soccer players in maturation stages before and after peak height velocity. This study comprised 49 soccer players (14.49 ± 1.00 yrs) belonging to the youth teams of a club in the city of Fortaleza. Body weight, height and trunk-cephalic height were measured. Somatic maturation was estimated using distance in years from peak height velocity (DPHV). 10 Meters Sprint and 20 Meter Flying Sprint, Modified Illinois, Jump Height (CMJ), RAST and Yo Yo IRT 1 tests were applied. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) and Confidence Intervals (CI = 90%) were used to compare the study variables (PRE-PHV vs POST-PHV). Our findings showed that POST-PHV group showed higher values in CMJ (3/3/97, Very likely) and RAST (peak, average, minimum power) and lower in the 20 Meter Flying Sprint (100/0/0, Most Likely) when compared to the PRE-PHV group. We concluded that young soccer players with somatic maturation after peak height velocity presented better capacity of lower limb strength, anaerobic power and speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The cell wall of wild-type (WT) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), an etiologic agent of tuberculosis (TB) and a Mtb strain disrupted in a 13-gene operon mce1 (Δmce1) varies by more than 400 lipid species. Here, we examined Mtb lipid-induced response in murine macrophage, as well as in human T-cell subpopulations in order to gain an insight into how changes in cell wall lipid composition may modulate host immune response. Relative to WT Mtb cell wall lipids, the non-polar lipid extracts from Δmce1 enhanced the mRNA expression of lipid-sense nuclear receptors TR4 and PPAR-γ and dampened the macrophage expression of genes encoding TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Relative to untreated control, WT lipid-pre-stimulated macrophages from healthy individuals induced a higher level of CD4−CD8− double negative T-cells (DN T-cells) producing TNF-α. Conversely, compared to WT, stimulation with Δmce1 lipids induced higher mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in IL-10-producing DN T cells. Mononuclear cells from TB patients stimulated with WT Mtb lipids induced an increased production of TNF-α by CD8+ lymphocytes. Taken together, these observations suggest that changes in mce1 operon expression during a course of infection may serve as a strategy by Mtb to evade the host pro-inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a worldwide emerging disease that affects broilers. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and aetiology of VO in broilers in a highly productive broiler region. For this, 608 broilers with locomotory problems were analysed from 18 farms. Clinical signs were recorded, necropsy was performed and samples were collected from vertebral bodies with gross changes for molecular and histopathological analysis and for bacterial isolation. From broilers with locomotory changes, 5.1% (31/608) had VO and, of these, 93.5% were 40 days old or older and 89.7% were males. The birds with VO presented varying degrees of limited mobility and this was related to the level of compression to the spinal cord. Bacterial species of the genusEnterococcus(DNA detected in 53.6%) were the aetiological agents involved in most VO cases.Enterococcus faecaliswas detected most frequently (35.7%), butEnterococcus hiraewas also present in some lesions (7.1%).Escherichia coliwas detected in 35.7% of vertebral lesions and co-infection withE. faecaliswas confirmed in 7.1% cases.Staphylococcus aureuswas involved in 14.3% of the cases, being 7.1% in co-infection withEnterococcusspp. orE. hirae. Our study has indicated that, in Brazil, VO in broilers may not be caused by a single infectious agent and has a lower frequency than recently reported in other countries. This study suggests that there are geographical differences between Brazil and other countries concerning the frequency and aetiology of VO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heat stress negatively affects poultry performance. • High crude protein favored broiler's performance in thermoneutrality or stress. • Reduction of protein (220–160 g/kg CP) resulted in increased heat production. • The higher oil content in more protein diets has improved nutrient digestibility. • The diet containing the most protein had higher net energy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of reduced dietary protein levels on metabolism and performance in growing-finishing broilers under thermoneutral temperature or thermal stress. Two experiments were performed using male Cobb 500™ broilers (n = 720) aged, 22–42 d. For both experiments, the experimental design involved four treatments (220, 200, 180 and 160 g/kg CP), with six replicates of 15 birds each in a climate-controlled room; Experiment 1: 21–25 °C; 58–62 % relative humidity during 24 h/day and Experiment 2: 30–34 °C; 58–62 % relative humidity during 8 h/day and 16 h of thermoneutrality, (21–25 °C/ 58–62 % relative humidity). The diets were isocaloric (13.18 MJ/kg), following amino acid corrections. The analyzed variables were: protein digestibility; ether extract; dry matter; apparent metabolizable energy; nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy; net energy and excreted nitrogen. In addition, performance and economic parameters were analyzed: relative body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversation ratio, viability, European index of production and production costs. For both experiments, reduction from 220 to 160 g/kg CP impaired digestibility of protein and ether extract, decreasing the availability of net energy/bird. The amino acid correction used with 160 g/kg crude protein did not achieve the results for birds receiving 220 g/kg protein. However, the level of 200 g/kg crude protein in the diet is ideal for maximizing broiler performance in thermoneutral temperature and cyclic heat stress, besides providing lower nitrogen excretion in the excreta in relation to the diet of 220 g/kg CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:  Population aging and the consequences of social distancing after the COVID-19 pandemic make it relevant to investigate the feasibility of remote interventions and their potential effects on averting functional decline., Objective:  (1) To investigate the feasibility, safety, and adherence of a remote protocol involving physical and cognitive exercises for older women with normal cognition; (2) to examine its effects on cognitive and well-being variables., Methods:  Twenty-nine women (age ≥ 60 years old) were randomized into experimental group (EG; n  = 15) and control group (CG; n  = 14). The EG performed a 40-minute session of cognitive and physical exercises, and CG performed a 20-minute stretching session. Both groups performed 20 sessions via videoconference and 20 on YouTube twice a week. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span (direct an inverse order), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Well-being Index (WHO-5) were applied in pre- and post-interventions by phone., Results:  Overall adherence was 82.25% in EG and 74.29% in CG. The occurrence of adverse events (mild muscle pain) was 33.3% in EG and 21.4% in CG. The EG improved verbal fluency and attention ( p ≤ 0.05); both groups had improved depressive symptoms., Conclusion:  The present study met the pre-established criteria for feasibility, safety, and adherence to the remote exercise protocol among older women. The results suggest that a combined protocol has more significant potential to improve cognitive function. Both interventions were beneficial in improving the subjective perception of well-being., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest to declare., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Objective: To evaluate the association between psychological resilience and oral health related to quality of life through a hierarchical approach based on a conceptual theoretical model in a cohort of elderly residents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study in 2008. We evaluated 498 elderly residents in Carlos Barbosa, Rio Grande do Sul. The measures included sociodemographic questionnaire, health behavior, quality of life related to oral health (OHRQOL), measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Resilience Scale, and DMFT. The association between resilience and potential impacts on perceptions of oral health-related quality of life was assessed through negative binomial regression. Mean ratios (MR) are presented with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)., Results: Higher means of OHIP were found in women 6.7 ± 6.3; p = 0.011), in rural dwellers (7.3 ± 6.7; p = 0.004) and singles (8.0 ± 6.3; p = 0.032). The final model of multivariate analysis showed that being a rural dweller (MR = 1.32; 95%CI 1.06 - 1.65) and being married (MR = 1.36; 95%CI 1.07 - 1.72) were independently associated with OHRQOL. There was no association between resilience and OHRQOL., Conclusion: The results suggest that factors such as sociodemographic variables are associated with OHRQOL. The hypothesis that resilience might play a role in the outcome has not been confirmed.