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In the dataset presented in this article, 168 rice samples comprising sixteen rice varieties (including Indica and Japonica sub species) from a Portuguese Rice Breeding Program obtained from three different sites along four seasons, and 11 standard rice varieties from International Rice Research Institute were characterised. The amylose concentration was evaluated based on iodine method, and the near infrared (NIR) spectra were determined. To assess the advantage of Near infrared spectroscopy, different rice varieties and specific algorithms based on Matlab software such as Standard Normal Variate (SNV), Multiple Scatter Calibration (MSC) and Savitzky-Golay filter were used for NIR spectra pre-processing. Keywords: Amylose, Chemometrics, Near-infrared, PLS, Rice

Abstract Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) overexpression is closely associated with the malignant potential of breast cancers. Here, we showed for the first the antitumoral effects of γCdcPLI, a PLA2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus via PI3K/Akt pathway on MDA-MB-231 cell. Firstly, γCdcPLI was more cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells than other cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa, PC3 and A549) and did not affect the viability of non-tumorigenic breast cell (MCF 10A). In addition, γCdcPLI induced modulation of important mediators of apoptosis pathways such as p53, MAPK-ERK, BIRC5 and MDM2. γCdcPLI decreased MDA-MB-231 adhesion, migration and invasion. Interestingly, the γCdcPLI also inhibited the adhesion and migration of endothelial cells and blocked angiogenesis by inhibiting tube formation by HUVECs in vitro and sprouting elongation on aortic ring assay ex vivo. Furthermore, γCdcPLI reduced the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). γCdcPLI was also able to decrease PGE2 levels in MDA-MB-231 and inhibited gene and protein expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In conclusion, γCdcPLI showed in vitro antitumoral, antimestatatic and anti-angiogenic potential effects and could be an attractive approach for futures studies in cancer therapy.

This study reviewed the use of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-symptoms and Normal-behaviors (SWAN) rating scale in diagnostic and evolutive approaches to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and in correlational studies of the disorder. A review of articles published in indexed journals from electronic databases was conducted and 61 articles on the SWAN scale were analyzed. From these, 27 were selected to a) examine use of SWAN in research on attention disorders and b) verify evidence of its usefulness in the areas of genetics, neuropsychology, diagnostics, psychiatric comorbidities, neuroimaging, pharmacotherapy, and to examine its statistical reliability and validity in studies of diverse populations. This review of articles indicated a growing use of the SWAN scale for diagnostic purposes, for therapy, and in research on areas other than ADHD, especially when compared with other reliable scales. Use of the scale in ADHD diagnosis requires further statistical testing to define its psychometric properties.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV-1-HTLV-1 coinfected patients, in Bahia, Brazil. Methods: Retrospective, comparative study. Results: Among a total of 123 consecutive HIV infected patients, 20 men (20.6%) and 6 women (23.1%) had detectable antibodies against HTLV-I/II. The major risk factor associated with coinfection by HTLV was intravenous drug use (57.7% of coinfected patient versus 9.2% of HTLV seronegative patients, p < 0.0001). Coinfected patients had higher absolute lymphocyte counts (1,921 + 762 versus 1,587 + 951, p = 0.03). Both groups of patients had similar means of CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts. However, among patients with AIDS CD4+ cell counts were significantly higher among those coinfected with HTLV-I/II (292 ± 92 cells/mm3, versus 140 ± 177cells/mm3, p = 0.36). The frequency and type of opportunistic infections were similar for both groups, but strongyloidiasis and encephalopathy were more frequently diagnosed in coinfected patients (p < 0.05). On the other hand, patients coinfected with HTLV-I/II received significantly less antiretroviral therapy than singly infected by HIV-1 Conclusion: Coinfection by HTLV-I/II is associated with an increased risk of strongyloidiasis for HIV patients. Higher CD4 count may lead to underestimation of immunodeficiency, and delay to initiate antiretroviral therapy. Keywords: HIV, HTLV-I/II, coinfection Strongyloidiasis, CD4/CD8

This study defined the normal variation range for different subsets of T-lymphocyte cells count in two different Brazilian regions. We analysed the T-lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in blood donors of two Brazilian cities, located in North (Belem, capital state of Para, indian background) and Northeast (Salvador, capital state od Bahia, African background) regions of Brazil. Results were compared according to gender, stress level (sleep time lower than 8 hours/day), smoking, and alcohol intake. Lymphocytes subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Five hundred twenty-six blood donors from two Brazilians cities participated in the study: 450 samples from Bahia and 76 samples from Pará. Most (60%) were men, 59% reported alcohol intake, 12% were smokers, and 80% slept at least 8 h/day. Donors from Bahia presented with significantly higher counts for all parameters, compared with Para. Women had higher lymphocytes levels, in both states, but only CD4+ cells count was significantly higher than men's values. Smokers had higher CD4+ counts, but sleep time had effect on lymphocytes levels only for Para's donors (higher CD3+ and CD4+ counts). That state had also, a higher proportion of donors reporting sleep time

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV-1-HTLV-1 coinfected patients, in Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: Retrospective, comparative study. RESULTS: Among a total of 123 consecutive HIV infected patients, 20 men (20.6%) and 6 women (23.1%) had detectable antibodies against HTLV-I/II. The major risk factor associated with coinfection by HTLV was intravenous drug use (57.7% of coinfected patient versus 9.2% of HTLV seronegative patients, p < 0.0001). Coinfected patients had higher absolute lymphocyte counts (1,921 + 762 versus 1,587 + 951, p = 0.03). Both groups of patients had similar means of CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts. However, among patients with AIDS CD4+ cell counts were significantly higher among those coinfected with HTLV-I/II (292 ± 92 cells/mm³, versus 140 ± 177cells/mm³, p = 0.36). The frequency and type of opportunistic infections were similar for both groups, but strongyloidiasis and encephalopathy were more frequently diagnosed in coinfected patients (p < 0.05). On the other hand, patients coinfected with HTLV-I/II received significantly less antiretroviral therapy than singly infected by HIV-1. CONCLUSION: Coinfection by HTLV-I/II is associated with an increased risk of strongyloidiasis for HIV patients. Higher CD4 count may lead to underestimation of immunodeficiency, and delay to initiate antiretroviral therapy.

Since late 2021, Omicron variants have dominated the epidemiological scenario as the most successful severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sublineages, driving new and breakthrough infections globally over the past two years. In this study, we investigated for the first time the host salivary response of COVID-19 patients infected with Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5) by using an untargeted four-dimensional data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA)-based proteomics approach. We identified 137 proteins whose abundance levels differed between the COVID-19 positive and negative groups. Salivary signatures were mainly enriched in ribosomal proteins, linked to mRNAviral translation, protein synthesis and processing, immune innate, and antiapoptotic signaling. The higher abundance of 14-3-3 proteins (YWHAG, YWHAQ, YWHAE, and SFN) in saliva, first reported here, may be associated with increased infectivity and improved viral replicative fitness. We also identified seven proteins (ACTN1, H2AC2, GSN, NDKA, CD109, GGH, and PCYOX) that yielded comprehension into Omicron infection and performed outstandingly in screening patients with COVID-19 in a hospital setting. This panel also presented an enhanced anti-COVID-19 and anti-inflammatory signature, providing insights into disease severity, supported by comparisons with other proteome data sets. The salivary signature provided valuable insights into the host's response to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection, shedding light on the pathophysiology of COVID-19, particularly in cases associated with mild disease. It also underscores the potential clinical applications of saliva for disease screening in hospital settings. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD054133.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Human T Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection may lead to disease progression or worsen its clinical presentation. Viral coinfections screening during blood donation is critical. To identify risk factors for coinfection among blood donors, we assessed the blood donations at the Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia da Bahia, from 2008 to 2017. We compared serological/molecular evidence of single infection versus two or more viral blood-borne infections-BBI). A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to evaluate independent associations between characteristics of donors with single infection and multiple infection using "non-infection" category as reference. Among 777,446 collected blood donations, 27 358 (3.5%) were reactive, most (n = 26 677, 97.6%) for a single infection and 681 (2.4%) for coinfection. The most frequent coinfections were HBV-HIV (30.6%), HBV-HCV (30.4%), and HBV-HTLV (24.4%). Male sex, lower education, being single, and being a first-time donor were independently associated with both single and coinfections. Nevertheless, the adjusted odds for risk factors of coinfections were much higher than those for single infection. Donors with single and coinfection for BBI shared identical risks, but they were significantly higher for coinfection. Preventive strategies addressing the identified risks can decrease transmission of viral BBI by blood transfusion., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) facilitate communication between patients and providers, enhancing patient-centered care. We report PROs for virologically suppressed people living with HIV-1 who switched to dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) or continued their 3- or 4-drug current antiretroviral regimen (CAR) in the phase 3 SALSA study. Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (status version; HIVTSQs) and HIV Symptom Distress Module (HIV-SDM) at Weeks 4, 24, and 48. A post hoc analysis assessed change in HIVTSQs and HIV-SDM by age (≥ 50 and < 50 years). Higher HIVTSQs scores represent greater treatment satisfaction (range, 0-60); lower HIV-SDM scores indicate less symptom bother (range, 0-80). Participants in the DTG/3TC (n = 246) and CAR (n = 247) groups reported comparable baseline HIVTSQs total scores (mean [SD], 55.2 [6.5] and 55.8 [5.5], respectively). Beginning at Week 4, mean HIVTSQs scores in the DTG/3TC group further increased vs. CAR and were sustained through Week 48. Baseline mean (SD) HIV-SDM symptom bother scores were comparable between the DTG/3TC (9.0 [9.9]) and CAR (7.9 [9.3]) groups. Small improvements in HIV-SDM scores favoring DTG/3TC were observed at Weeks 4 and 24 and sustained through Week 48 (though not significant between groups). Participants aged ≥ 50 and < 50 years who switched to DTG/3TC reported higher satisfaction and less symptom distress vs. CAR; these results were generally comparable between age groups. Participants who switched to DTG/3TC reported rapid and sustained improvements in treatment satisfaction compared with those who continued CAR, reinforcing the benefits of DTG/3TC beyond virologic suppression (NCT04021290; registration date, 7/11/2019)., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical Approval: This study was designed in agreement with the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practice and adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Study documents were reviewed and approved by national, regional, or investigational center ethics committees or institutional review boards. Consent to Participate: Written informed consent was obtained before participant screening. Consent to Publish: Not applicable. Competing Interests: PK has received grants from Gilead, Merck, Theratechnologies, and ViiV Healthcare/GSK (paid to institution); has received consulting fees from and participated in data safety monitoring/advisory boards for Gilead, Merck, and ViiV Healthcare/GSK; and holds stock/stock options in Gilead, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, and Pfizer. AEC has received grants from Gilead, GSK, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare (paid to institution); speaker fees from MSD; travel/meeting support from Gilead and ViiV Healthcare; and has participated in advisory boards for MSD, Theratechnologies, and ViiV Healthcare. CJ-O has received consulting fees from GSK and ViiV Healthcare; honoraria from AbbVie, CCO, Gilead, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, and ViiV Healthcare; payment for expert testimony from GSK and ViiV Healthcare; travel/meeting support from CCO, Gilead, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare; has participated in data safety monitoring/advisory boards for Gilead, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare; and holds a leadership role with BAGNAE. MGD has received grants and honoraria from and participated in data safety monitoring/advisory boards for AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare; has received meeting/travel support from Gilead and Janssen; and has received equipment/materials from Gilead. SDG has no competing interests. CB has received research grants from GSK and Pfizer and received speaker fees from and participated in advisory boards for Gilead, GSK, and Merck. LH has received honoraria and meeting/travel support from Gilead, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare. P-LL has no competing interests. JO, AO, BW, BJ, LAE, DF, MK, and JP are employees of GSK or ViiV Healthcare and may own stock in GSK., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite the critical importance of humanized healthcare for transgender individuals, no existing measures specifically assess care humanization for this population. The Transgender Health Care Humanization Scale (THcH Scale) was developed to address this gap, yet it initially lacked confirmatory validation. This study validates the Transgender THcH scale for evaluating healthcare providers' sensitivity towards transgender patients., Methods: This study involved 443 healthcare professionals and students from a public university and associated hospital. Participants were divided randomly into two groups for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity, EFA confirmed data suitability for factor analysis. Factors were identified using parallel analysis with an oblique Promax rotation to allow for inter-factor correlations. The internal consistency of the factors was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. CFA was performed using Maximum Likelihood estimation, with goodness-of-fit evaluated by multiple indices. The THcH Scale's divergent validity was assessed through Spearman's correlation analysis with the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL)., Results: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed the scale's two-factor structure with excellent psychometric properties, including high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.8) and good fit indices (χ²/df = 1.74, CFI = 0.972, TLI = 0.964, GFI = 0.989, RMSEA = 0.069, SRMR = 0.043). Divergent validity was established through moderate correlations with the DUREL index., Conclusions: The THcH scale is a reliable and valid tool for promoting sensitivity and awareness among healthcare professionals, thereby enhancing healthcare access and quality for the transgender population. Further research should expand its application to primary care and diverse populations and settings., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Ethics Board of Climério de Oliveira University Hospital in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, under number 5.637.846. All respondents agreed to participate in the study and signed a consent form. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chikungunya (CHIKV), o'nyong-nyong (ONNV), and Mayaro (MAYV) viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and known to cause a debilitating arthritogenic syndrome. These alphaviruses have emerged and re-emerged, leading to outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South America, and Africa. Despite their prevalence, there persists a critical gap in the availability of sensitive and virus-specific point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Traditional immunoglobulin-based tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) often yield cross-reactive results due to the close genetic relationship between these viruses. Molecular diagnostics such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offer high sensitivity but are limited by the need for specialized laboratory equipment. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), an isothermal amplification method, is a promising alternative to qPCR, providing rapid results with minimal equipment requirements. Here, we report the development and validation of three virus-specific RT-RPA-based rapid tests for CHIKV, ONNV, and MAYV. These tests demonstrated both speed and sensitivity, capable of detecting 10-100 viral copies within 20 min of amplification, without exhibiting cross-reactivity. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical potential of these tests using serum and tissue samples from CHIKV, ONNV, and MAYV-infected mice, as well as CHIKV-infected human patients. We demonstrate that the RPA amplicons derived from the patient samples can be sequenced, enabling cost-effective molecular epidemiological studies. Our findings highlight the significance of these rapid and specific diagnostics in improving the early detection and management of these arboviral infections, particularly in resource-limited settings., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: BBH is a co-founder of Mir Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on T cell-based diagnostics and vaccines for infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmunity. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In the past few decades, several emerging/re-emerging mosquito-borne flaviviruses have resulted in disease outbreaks of public health concern in the tropics and subtropics. Due to cross-reactivities of antibodies recognizing the envelope protein of different flaviviruses, serosurveillance remains a challenge. Previously we reported that anti-premembrane (prM) antibody can discriminate between three flavivirus infections by Western blot analysis. In this study, we aimed to develop a serological assay that can discriminate infection or exposure with flaviviruses from four serocomplexes, including dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), West Nile (WNV) and yellow fever (YFV) viruses, and explore its application for serosurveillance in flavivirus-endemic countries. We employed Western blot analysis including antigens of six flaviviruses (DENV1, 2 and 4, WNV, ZIKV and YFV) from four serocomplexes. We tested serum samples from YF-17D vaccinees, and from DENV, ZIKV and WNV panels that had been confirmed by RT-PCR or by neutralization assays. The overall sensitivity/specificity of anti-prM antibodies for DENV, ZIKV, WNV, and YFV infections/exposure were 91.7%/96.4%, 91.7%/99.2%, 88.9%/98.3%, and 91.3%/92.5%, respectively. When testing 48 samples from Brazil, we identified multiple flavivirus infections/exposure including DENV and ZIKV, DENV and YFV, and DENV, ZIKV and YFV. When testing 50 samples from the Philippines, we detected DENV, ZIKV, and DENV and ZIKV infections with a ZIKV seroprevalence rate of 10%, which was consistent with reports of low-level circulation of ZIKV in Asia. Together, these findings suggest that anti-prM antibody is a flavivirus serocomplex-specific marker and can be employed to delineate four flavivirus infections/exposure in regions where multiple flaviviruses co-circulate.

HIV/AIDS-Targeted Quality of Life (HAT-QOL) is an instrument for evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). This has been adapted into Brazilian Portuguese, but its dimensional structure has not been analyzed. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the HAT-QOL, using a sample of 319 PLWHIV in Salvador, Brazil. The study performed Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to assess the HAT-QOL dimensional structure. The analysis used a polychoric correlation matrix, Robust Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (RDWLS) as an extraction method, Parallel Analysis for factor retention, robust promin as oblique rotation, and Generalized H-index (G-H) for construct replicability of each factor. Model adequacy was assessed using the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI). Concurrent validity was evaluated with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2 (SF-36v2). EFA identified a HAT-QOL six-factor solution: Financial Worries, Sexual Function, Medication Concerns, Life Satisfaction, Health Worries, and Overall Function. This solution showed high G-H indexes, concurrent validity, and satisfactory adequacy indexes (X 2  = 231.345, df = 291, p < 0,001; RMSEA = 0.001, CFI = 0.999, TLI = 1.028). HIV Mastery, Disclosure Worries, and Provider Trust domains were not retained in EFA and did not have evidence of concurrent validity. This study proposed a HAT-QOL six-factor model for measuring HRQOL in the Brazilian PLWHIV. Future research could help identify another latent construct from not-included domains., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical Approval: This study is part of the Brazilian Cohort on HIV/AIDS (CoBRA) project, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine of the Federal University of Bahia (protocol number 1.035.826). It adheres to the ethical standards outlined in Resolution 466 of 2012 of the Brazilian National Health Council. Consent to Participate: All the individual participants signed an informed consent form. Consent for Publication: Not applicable. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy driven by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Although patients from the Western hemisphere (Afro-Caribbean and South American) face worse prognoses, our understanding of ATLL molecular drivers derives mostly from Japanese studies. We performed multi-omic analyses to elucidate the genomic landscape of ATLL in Western cohorts. Recurrent deletions and/or damaging mutations involving FOXO3, ANKRD11, DGKZ, and PTPN6 implicate these genes as potential tumor suppressors. RNA-sequencing, published functional data and in vitro assays support the roles of ANKRD11 and FOXO3 as regulators of T-cell proliferation and apoptosis in ATLL, respectively. Survival data suggest that ANKRD11 mutation may confer a worse prognosis. Japanese and Western cohorts, in addition to acute and lymphomatous subtypes, demonstrated distinct molecular patterns. GATA3 deletion was associated with chronic cases with unfavorable outcomes. IRF4 and CARD11 mutations frequently emerged in relapses after interferon therapy. Our findings reveal novel putative ATLL driver genes and clinically relevant differences between Japanese and Western ATLL patients.

Background: Twice-yearly subcutaneous lenacapavir has been shown to be efficacious for prevention of HIV infection in cisgender women. The efficacy of lenacapavir for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in cisgender men, transgender women, transgender men, and gender-nonbinary persons is unclear., Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial, we randomly assigned participants in a 2:1 ratio to receive subcutaneous lenacapavir every 26 weeks or daily oral emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF). The primary efficacy analysis compared the incidence of HIV infection in the lenacapavir group with the background HIV incidence in the screened population. The secondary efficacy analysis compared the incidence of HIV infection in the lenacapavir group with that in the F/TDF group., Results: Among 3265 participants who were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, HIV infections occurred in 2 participants in the lenacapavir group (0.10 per 100 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 to 0.37) and in 9 participants in the F/TDF group (0.93 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.77). The background HIV incidence in the screened population (4634 participants) was 2.37 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.65 to 3.42). The incidence of HIV infection in the lenacapavir group was significantly lower than both the background incidence (incidence rate ratio, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.18; P<0.001) and the incidence in the F/TDF group (incidence rate ratio, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.51; P = 0.002). No safety concerns were identified. A total of 26 of 2183 participants (1.2%) in the lenacapavir group and 3 of 1088 (0.3%) in the F/TDF group discontinued the trial regimen because of injection-site reactions., Conclusions: The HIV incidence with twice-yearly lenacapavir was significantly lower than the background incidence and the incidence with F/TDF. (Funded by Gilead Sciences; PURPOSE 2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04925752.)., (Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Background: The prevention of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission depends on the safe and effective use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Simplifying treatment reduces drug exposure for both mother and child. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) for antiretroviral-naive pregnant women with HIV., Methods: This proof-of-concept trial enrolled ART-naive pregnant women ≥15 years old with HIV infection and a gestational age between 14 and 28 weeks. Participants received a fixed-dose combination of DTG/3TC. Baseline HIV genotyping was performed. Participants were monitored at baseline, every 4 weeks, and at delivery. Infants were assessed at birth, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks of age. Outcomes included the proportion of women achieving an undetectable HIV type 1 plasma viral load (<50 copies/mL) at delivery, therapy modification frequency, perinatal HIV transmission rate, and adverse events., Results: Between January 2019 and March 2021, 20 women were enrolled. At baseline, the median CD4 cell count was 401.6 ± 113.6 cells/μL, increasing to 690.2 ± 266 cells/μL at delivery. Median viral load was 9514 copies/mL. All women achieved an undetectable viral load after an average of 40 days. No cases of perinatal HIV transmission were detected. No therapy modifications were necessary during the study, and no adverse events were related to the ART., Conclusions: In this pilot trial, DTG/3TC demonstrated safety and efficacy, with all participants achieving viral suppression before delivery. There were no cases of perinatal HIV transmission and no drug-related adverse events. DTG/3TC can be an option for initial treatment of drug-naive pregnant women with HIV., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. C. B. has served as speaker or board member and/or received research funding from Merck, Janssen, GSK, Gilead, and Pfizer. R. Z., A. d. R., and B. J. are ViiV/GSK employees. All other authors report no potential conflicts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Omics approaches were extensively applied during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to understand the disease, identify biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic value, and discover new molecular targets for medications. COVID-19 continues to challenge the healthcare system as the virus mutates, becoming more transmissible or adept at evading the immune system, causing resurgent epidemic waves over the last few years. In this study, we used saliva from volunteers who were negative and positive for COVID-19 when Omicron and its variants became dominant. We applied a direct solid-phase extraction approach followed by non-target metabolomics analysis to identify potential salivary signatures of hospital-recruited volunteers to establish a model for COVID-19 screening. Our model, which aimed to differentiate COVID-19-positive individuals from controls in a hospital setting, was based on 39 compounds and achieved high sensitivity (85%/100%), specificity (82%/84%), and accuracy (84%/92%) in training and validation sets, respectively. The salivary diagnostic signatures were mainly composed of amino acids and lipids and were related to a heightened innate immune antiviral response and an attenuated inflammatory profile. The higher abundance of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the COVID-19 positive group highlighted the endocrine imbalance in low-severity disease, as first reported here, underscoring the need for further studies in this area.

A method was validated to determine 121 pesticide residues (carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorines, and pyrethroids) in rice samples, following the guidance document SANTE/11312/2021v2. QuEChERS method was selected for pesticide extraction, and the extract was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. The methodology demonstrated precision and accuracy, with recovery rates ranging from 70 % to 119 %. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the effects of washing on residue levels of 121 pesticides in contaminated long-grain rice samples. Subsequently, the rice underwent washing, and the pesticide residues were determined in the samples to evaluate the retention factor. The results suggest that the washing process can enhance the elimination of pesticide residues in rice, around 40 % of pesticides have reduced between 40 and 60 %, and 10 % of pesticides reduced by more than 60 %. This research contributes with valuable insights for improving food safety measures in the context of pesticide-contaminated cereals., Chemical Compounds: (Azoxystrobin) PubChem CID: 3034285(Cadusafos) PubChem CID: 91752(Diazinon) PubChem CID: 3017(Epoxiconazole) PubChem CID: 107901(Fenamidone) PubChem CID: 10403199(Fenpropimorph) PubChem CID: 93365(Mepanipyrim) PubChem CID: 86296(Pirimiphos-methyl) PubChem CID: 34526(Propiconazole) PubChem CID: 43234(Spiroxamine) PubChem CID: 86160., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: The COVID-19, triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has varied clinical manifestations, ranging from mild cases to severe forms such as fatal pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Disease severity is influenced by an exacerbated immune response, characterized by high pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Inhibition of AKT can potentially suppress pathological inflammation, cytokine storm and platelet activation associated with COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to investigate the rs2494746 and rs1130214 variants in the AKT1 gene associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes., Methods: Peripheral blood samples and sociodemographic data from 508 individuals with COVID-19, measuring plasma cytokine concentrations using ELISA and genotyped the AKT1 variants., Results: The rs2494746-C allele was associated with severity, ICU admission, and death from COVID-19. The C allele at rs1130214 was linked to increased TNF and D-dimer levels. Moreover, both variants exhibited an increased cumulative risk of disease severity, ICU admission, and mortality caused by COVID-19. In the predictive analysis, the rs2494746 obtained an accuracy of 71%, suggesting a high probability of the test determining the severity of the disease., Discussion: Our findings contribute to understanding the influence of the AKT1 gene variants on the immunological damage in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 de Almeida, Tosta, Pena, Silva, Reis-Goes, Silva, Cruz, Silva, de Araújo, Rodrigues, Oliveira, Figueiredo, Vaz, Montaño-Castellón, Santana, Torres, Beltrão, Carneiro, Campos, Brites, Fortuna, Figueiredo, Trindade, Ramos and Costa.)

Introduction: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is endemic to Brazil, and there is still no specific treatment for these patients. The literature shows that few studies have described the cognitive impairment associated with an HTLV-1 infection, with none of them examining the population of Salvador, where there are approximately forty thousand people infected with the virus., Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment among individuals with HTLV-1. In addition, investigate whether sociodemographic aspects, time since the diagnosis of infection, and the diagnosis of HTLV-Associated Myelopatia/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) or depression are associated with cognitive impairment in this population., Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study that consisted of consecutively approaching 100 HTLV-1 patients during outpatient care at a referral center followed by the administration of three questionnaires- the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Beck's Depression Inventory., Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment found was 71% using the MMSE and 82% using the MoCA. There was a statistically significant association between the cognitive dysfunction and the variables of age and education according to the MoCA analysis but not the MMSE data. Diagnosis of HAM/TSP was correlated with cognitive impairment using the MMSE but not the MoCA. The prevalence of depression was 20%, and there was no association between cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in these patients., Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate a correlation between cognitive dysfunction and HTVL-1 infection, with a more evident involvement of executive functions and memory. Larger studies are needed to clarify the association between cognitive dysfunction, age, education, and the diagnosis of HAM/TSP.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infections in Brazil are predominantly caused by two subtypes, B and C., Objectives: Here we present the characterisation of a novel HIV-1 recombinant form, indicating a new Brazilian CRF&#95;BC, named CRF146&#95;BC., Methods: RDP, JphMM and Simplot recombination tools were used to evaluate the mosaic pattern., Findings: In this work, we identified three HIV-1 nucleotide sequences previously classified as unique recombinant forms (URFs), plus one new partial genome sharing the same BC recombination pattern. The mosaic genome is almost entirely represented by the subtype C sequence, with a small subtype B recombination region in the pol gene, at the Integrase level. The phylogenetic analyses strongly indicate a common origin between the strains, which were isolated in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia states., Main Conclusions: Thus, the new HIV-1 CRF146&#95;BC is circulating in three different Brazilian regions: South, Southeast and Northeast.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection affects over ten million people worldwide, but there is no effective treatment so far. This review describes the virological, immunological, and clinical outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people with HTLV infection. This systematic review followed PRISMA reporting guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO: CRD42022350076. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, adapted for cross-sectional studies, and Rob-2 were used to assess the methodological quality of these studies. Systematic searches were conducted in the Medline (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) databases. We retrieved data from eight methodologically diverse articles on treatment of patients infected by HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 alone, or coinfected by HIV-1, who received Raltegravir, Tenofovir, Lamivudine, or Zidovudine. The proviral load decreased in three out of seven studies over 4 to 48 weeks of antiretroviral use. Cellular immune response (CD4, CD8, CD25, CD69, and CD71 cells) was evaluated in six studies. While no significant clinical improvement was observed, all studies reported clinical stability during treatment. Despite the demonstrated antiviral activity of ART, in vitro, clinical improvement was not proven. Most studies showed disease stability during ART use, suggesting potential clinical benefits. There is a need of larger, well-controlled trials to define the role of ART in the treatment of HTLV infection.

Design thinking (DT) has been a subject of extensive debate and application across diverse knowledge domains, including the realm of food; nonetheless, its precise definition remains unclear. This systematic review comprised two components. Firstly, it examined the evolving understanding of DT by aggregating pertinent studies selected based on their representativeness, determined by the volume of citations. This process was deployed using citation mapping software, complemented by an analysis of the most pertinent reviews within this domain. Secondly, it investigated the Food Design Thinking (FDT) approach. The review encompassed a total of 22 references and reviews in the first segment and 27 studies in the second segment. In Part 1, the results revealed the emergence of two principal areas of investigation, namely education and management, stemming from the foundational DT theory. Furthermore, the findings highlighted that DT has assimilated the knowledge gathered from these domains. In Part 2, the outcomes illustrated the utilisation of FDT to address a multitude of food-related issues, including education, sustainability, health and wellbeing, and the development of food products. From this analysis, it is notable that this approach presents contextual variations while emphasising the notion of integration of the consumers throughout the FDT process.

Background: Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) have an increased prevalence of high-risk HPV infection (HR-HPV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and a greater risk of cervical cancer despite access to a new generation of antiretroviral therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the concentrations of different cytokines involved in the local immune response in WLHA, which is fundamental for understanding the pathogenesis of HPV-related cancer in this population., Methods: IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IP-10, GM-CSF, and MIP-1α were investigated in the cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) of 106 WLHA attending at Hospital Universitario Professor Edgard Santos in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during the period December 2019 to April 2023 by Luminex ® . All participants were also tested for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and underwent colposcopy, Pap smear, and Nugent score. HIV plasma viral load (VL) and CD4 cell count were performed for all WLHA., Results: In this study, 22.6% (24/106) of WLHA were infected with HR-HPV. A higher proportion of patients with HR-HPV (66.7%) had detectable levels of IL-10 than those negative ones (40.2%, p = 0.02). More premenopausal women had either IL-6 (51.4%) or IP-10 (58.3%) than those in menopausal status (26.5% for IL-6 and 32.4% for IP-10, p = 0.013 and p = 0.011, respectively). Vaginosis was negatively associated with detection of IP-10 (24.2% vs. 61.4%, p < 0.001) and INF-γ (39.4% vs. 68.6%, p = 0.005). A positive association was detected for IL-1β (66.7 vs. 37.1%, p = 0.005) and IL-10 (63.6% vs. 37.1%, p = 0.01). VL and CD4 were not associated with the studied cytokines., Conclusion: We demonstrated a positive association between IL-10 and HPV infection in CVL, suggesting the predominance of the Th2 response in HIV/HPV co-infected patients. However, further studies with longer follow-up will be needed to evaluate the association of IL-10 with HPV infection, CIN, and cervical cancer in WLHA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Schindler, Netto, Deminco, Figueiredo, de Andrade, Alves and Brites.)

Maize ( Zea mays L.) stands as a vital staple food globally, holding significant nutritional and economic value. However, its susceptibility to mycotoxin contamination under stressful environmental conditions poses a considerable concern. This study aimed to assess the quality and pasting characteristics of maize varieties across two distinct regions and examine the occurrence of mycotoxins influenced by climatic factors. Five maize varieties were cultivated in triplicate in the Golegã and Coruche regions. The nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, ash, starch, and lutein), pasting properties, and mycotoxin levels were evaluated. A statistical analysis revealed notable differences in the nutritional profiles of the maize varieties between the two regions, particularly in the protein and lutein content. The peak viscosity ranged from 6430 to 8599 cP and from 4548 to 8178 cP in the maize varieties from the Coruche and Golegã regions, respectively. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between the climatic conditions and the grain nutritional quality components ( p < 0.05). The M variety showed the highest ash content, protein content, final viscosity, and setback viscosity and the lowest peak viscosity. The Y variety revealed the lowest fat, fiber, and lutein content and the maximum peak viscosity. The incidence of mycotoxins was notably higher in the varieties from Coruche, which was potentially attributable to higher temperatures and lower precipitation levels leading to more frequent drought conditions. Fumonisin B1 was detected in 58% of the varieties from Coruche and 33% of the samples from Golegã, while deoxynivalenol was found in 87% and 80% of the varieties from Coruche and Golegã, respectively. The H variety, which was harvested in Coruche, exhibited the highest number of fumonisins and higher amounts of protein, lutein, and fat, while fumonisins were not detected in the Golegã region, which was potentially influenced by the precipitation levels. The K variety revealed higher protein and lutein contents, a lower amount of fat, excellent pasting properties (a higher peak viscosity and holding strength and a lower peak time), and no fumonisins B1 or B2. This variety may be considered well adapted to higher temperatures and drier conditions, as verified in the Coruche region. In conclusion, our study underscored the profound impact of environmental factors on the quality and occurrence of mycotoxins in maize varieties.

Chikungunya (CHIKV), o'nyong-nyong (ONNV), and Mayaro (MAYV) viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and known to cause a debilitating arthritogenic syndrome. These alphaviruses have emerged and re-emerged, leading to outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, South America, and Africa. Despite their prevalence, there persists a critical gap in the availability of sensitive and virus-specific point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Traditional immunoglobulin-based tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs) often yield cross-reactive results due to the close genetic relationship between these viruses. Molecular diagnostics such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offer high sensitivity but are limited by the need for specialized laboratory equipment. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), an isothermal amplification method, is a promising alternative to qPCR, providing rapid results with minimal equipment requirements. Here, we report the development and validation of three virus-specific RPA-based POC tests for CHIKV, ONNV, and MAYV. These tests demonstrated both speed and sensitivity, capable of detecting 10 viral copies within 20 minutes of amplification, without exhibiting cross-reactivity. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical potential of these tests using serum and tissue samples from CHIKV, ONNV, and MAYV-infected mice, as well as CHIKV-infected human patients. We demonstrate that the RPA amplicons derived from the patient samples can be sequenced, enabling cost-effective molecular epidemiological studies. Our findings highlight the significance of these rapid and specific POC diagnostics in improving the early detection and management of these arboviral infections.