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The measurement of antibody levels is a common test for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in research. However, the quality of antibody response, reflected by avidity, has not been adequately evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the role of avidity of IgG against eight pneumococcal proteins in etiologic diagnosis. Eight pneumococcal proteins (Ply, CbpA, PspA1 and 2, PcpA, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N) were used to develop a multiplex bead-based avidity immunoassay. The assay was tested for effects of the chaotropic agent, multiplexing, and repeatability. The developed assay was applied to paired samples from children with or without pneumococcal disease ( n = 38 for each group), determined by either serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or blood culture. We found a good correlation between singleplex and multiplex assays, with r ≥ 0.94.The assay was reproducible, with mean inter-assay variation ≤ 9% and intra-assay variation < 6%. Children with pneumococcal disease had lower median avidity indexes in the acute phase of disease for PspA1 and 2 ( p = 0.042), PcpA ( p = 0.002), PhtD ( p = 0.014), and StkP-C ( p < 0.001). When the use of IgG avidity as a diagnostic tool for pneumococcal infection was evaluated, the highest discriminative power was found for StkP-C, followed by PcpA (area under the curve [95% confidence interval, CI]: 0.868 [0.759-0.977] and 0.743 [0.607-879], respectively). The developed assay was robust and had no deleterious influence from multiplexing. Children with pneumococcal disease had lower median avidity against five pneumococcal proteins in the acute phase of disease compared to children without disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of general, specific and combined warm-up (WU) on explosive performance. Healthy male (n = 10) subjects participated in six WU protocols in a crossover randomized study design. Protocols were: passive rest (PR; 15 min of passive rest), running (Run; 5 min of running at 70% of maximum heart rate), stretching (STR; 5 min of static stretching exercise), jumping [Jump; 5 min of jumping exercises - 3x8 countermovement jumps (CMJ) and 3x8 drop jumps from 60 cm (DJ60)], and combined (COM; protocols Run + STR + Jump combined). Immediately before and after each WU, subjects were assessed for explosive concentric-only (i.e. squat jump - SJ), slow stretch-shortening cycle (i.e. CMJ), fast stretch-shortening cycle (i.e. DJ60) and contact time (CT) muscle performance. PR significantly reduced SJ performance (p =0.007). Run increased SJ (p =0.0001) and CMJ (p =0.002). STR increased CMJ (p =0.048). Specific WU (i.e. Jump) increased SJ (p =0.001), CMJ (p =0.028) and DJ60 (p =0.006) performance. COM increased CMJ performance (p =0.006). Jump was superior in SJ performance vs. PR (p =0.001). Jump reduced (p =0.03) CT in DJ60. In conclusion, general, specific and combined WU increase slow stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) muscle performance, but only specific WU increases fast SSC muscle performance. Therefore, to increase fast SSC performance, specific fast SSC muscle actions must be included during the WU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidimensional nature of challenges delivered by the increasing loss of natural capital imposes the need for innovative strategies to ensure a continuous and sustainable flow of human prosperity. Such strategies, however, will only be successful if they are based on a solid knowledge backbone on the determinants of human well-being and their interfaces with humanity's natural wealth. Due to the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of phenomena such as climate change, biodiversity loss and persistent poverty, what are the strategies available to facilitate the understanding of the dynamics interactions between natural and socioeconomic systems? On one hand, this paper advocates that the approach of ecosystem services can provide important analytical and conceptual contributions to build an interdisciplinary research agenda in which the interdependence between natural capital and human prosperity is explicitly recognized. This is because ecosystem services are known as the basic interface between natural capital and human welfare. On the other hand, it is argued that the mutual interactions between society and nature can be better understood by adopting some operational tools such as the ecological-economic modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pain in inflammatory myelopathies is frequent but has not been clinically characterized. It is an appropriate model to assess pain mechanisms after spinal cord inflammatory lesions since there are no brain lesions that could bias pain assessment, cognition and mood assessment. It has been suggested that the prevalence and severity of pain syndromes among patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) are greater in comparison to those with multiple sclerosis. It is not clear whether higher scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) could influence pain and health-related quality of life scores. This study aimed to characterize disability, pain syndromes, and quality of life in this population. Materials and Methods: Patients with spinal cord-restricted demyelinating disease (last relapse at least 12 months prior to evaluation) and complaint of pain underwent a full physical examination and filled out a DN-4 questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and SF-12 Health Survey. Disability was assessed using the EDSS. Spasticity was measured using the Ashworth Scale. Patients were classified as at-level and below-level pain. Results: Twenty patients were included (15 female, 45.3±9.8 yr).Twelve (60%) were diagnosed as NMO, the remaining as LETM. At-level pain was present in 9 (45%) and below-level in 10 (50%). Thirteen (65%) patients had more than one pain syndrome. Results refer to the main pain syndrome. The median scores of the BPI (VAS) was 21.9±7.2; BPI interference 24.9±15.3; Mental Component Summary Scale of the SF12 49.5 ± 10.7; Physical Component Summary 33.0±10.3; NPSI 23.3±15.4; and MPQ 8.5±2.5. The median EDSS was 4.8±2.4 and Ashworth spasticity scale 1.35±1.1. The DN4 detected neuropathic pain (NeP) in 18 patients. Low back pain was a major pain complaint in 6 (30%) patients. Discussion and Conclusion: NeP is frequent in patients with inflammatory myelopathies. Low back pain was noted as the main pain syndrome in a significant proportion of patients. Mixed pain syndromes are the rule in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of a six-week of concurrent training using high-intensity interval plus resistance training on flow-mediated dilation and pulse wave velocity in hypertensive, elevated blood pressure, or normotensive. A secondary goal was to analyze the inter-individual variability., Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was executed with 60 adult participants distributed across six groups: three control groups of hypertensive, elevated blood pressure, or normotensive and other three experimental hypertensive, elevated blood pressure, and normotensive groups, each comprising n=10 individuals. Participants underwent a six-week intervention of concurrent exercise using high-intensity interval plus resistance training three-weekly. Flow mediated dilation and pulse wave velocity and secondary vascular assessments were conducted before and after the intervention., Results: The hypertensive exercise group exhibited a significant increase in flow mediated dilation (Δ+7.7%; p=0.003) and a reduction in pulse wave velocity (Δ-1.2ms -1 ; p<0.0001). The normotensive exercise group also showed a significant increase in flow mediated dilation (Δ+8.4%, p=0.002)., Conclusion: The six-week concurrent exercise using high-intensity interval plus resistance training protocol, characterized by its clinical time-efficiency, was effective in improving endothelial function, as demonstrated by increased flow mediated dilation, and in reducing arterial stiffness, indicated by decreased pulse wave velocity., (Copyright © 2024 SEH-LELHA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: nociceptive pain from joint damage caused by autoimmune inflammatory disease is expected in rheumatoid arthritis. However, neuropathic pain also occurs and persists even with the disease under control. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with neuropathic pain in rheumatoid arthritis by considering sociodemographic and behavioral data as well as lifestyle and clinical aspects in a self-referenced afro-descendant ethnicity sample., Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the Douleur Neuropathique 4, Health Assessment Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and sociodemographic characteristics were used. Additionally, a Bivariate analysis was performed, followed by hierarchical multiple logistic regression, with results expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals., Results: the frequency of NP was at a proximal level consisting of clinical characteristics related to anxiety (p=0.03) and depression (p=0.04). When a hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, an independent association was identified between neuropathic pain and black race. At the third and fourth stages, when the clinical variables were adjusted by race, an association was found with moderate functionality (p=0.04) and anxiety (p=0.04)., Conclusion: neuropathic pain in rheumatoid arthritis is related to the Afro-descendant ethnicity that affects functionality and anxiety levels.

Aim: In this study, the effects of postnatal overfeeding on heart energy homoeostasis and cardiac haemodynamics in adult male Swiss mice were examined., Methods and Results: During the suckling period, the mice were divided into four groups of control or overfed pups in combination with baseline or ischaemia/reperfusion treatments (control group baseline, CGBL; overfed group baseline, OGBL; control group ischaemia/reperfusion, CGIR; and overfed group ischaemia/reperfusion, OGIR). End diastolic pressure (EDP), heart contraction speed (Max dP/dt), relaxation speed (Min dP/dt), isovolumetric relaxation time (Tau) and frequency by beats per minute (BPM) were measured. During baseline and ischaemia/reperfusion, key proteins such as AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, pAKT, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), pAMPK, insulin receptor beta (IRβ), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), fatty acid binding protein (FABP), CD36, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) were studied. The expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) was studied as a marker of cardiac hypertrophy and energetic metabolism. Cardiac fibrosis was analyzed by quantifying collagen deposition, which is increased in the OGBL and OGIR groups compared with the control groups., Conclusions: The OGBL group showed reduced EDP compared with the CGBL group and high Max dP/dt compared with the OGBL group. Ischaemia/reperfusion increased EDP and Min dP/dt in the intragroup comparison. By contrast, Tau and frequency were not significantly different among groups. The OGIR mice showed significant alterations in heart metabolism proteins, including AKT2, pAKT/AKT1, pAKT/AKT2, AMPK, pAMPK/AMPK, PTP1B, IRS1, FABP and CD36. Furthermore, alterations in ANP, BNP, CPT1 and UCP3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression indicated hypertrophy and reduction in their efficiency, such that exclusive overnutrition in childhood induces a long-term effect on haemodynamics, metabolism and heart remodelling., (Copyright © 2015 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed at investigating the effects of intestinal cleansers on fecal contamination during labor and delivery amongst women assisted in a university hospital. The subjects were 90 pregnant women (43 normal births, 27 forceps and 20 caesarean sections). The population was divided in two randomized groups: with and without the use of intestinal cleansers. It was possible to conclude that intestinal cleansers did not provide faster labor and did not reduce fecal contamination. However, the women who had used an intestinal cleanser tended to regard it as positive.

Systematized study was made in 56 esophagi of chronic chagasics (17 with and 39 without megas) aiming to: 1) to evaluate the esophageal caliber and thickness ranges; 2) analyse qualitative and quantitatively, the myenteric plexuses, trying to evaluate the relation of their lesions and the development of megaesophagus (ME); 3) study the lesions of the muscularis propria to verify if they contribute or not to the beginning of the process; 4) search for T. cruzi and its eventual relationship with the inflammation; 5) identify the principal mucosal alterations. It was confirmed that the severest lesions were found in the muscularis propria and in the plexures of Auerbach ganglia. In the former, the main alterations were myositis and fibrosis. The myentric plexuses showed inflammation and neuronal depopulation when compared with non-mega chagasic esophagi and even more when compared with the controls. On the other hand, there were normal caliber esophagi with severe denervation. It is possible that several factors may lead to the esophagopathy, especially to the ME. The search for T. cruzi was found positive in four out of eight esophagi with mega and in none of eight chagasic esophagi without mega. Mucosal and submucosal lesions were unremarkable and do not seem to be involved with the development of the process.