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This contribution is a histological and scanning electron microscopy study of major flagellar setae of antennules from the most cultured crustacean species, Penaeus vannamei. Antennule samples were collected from females and males of selected species and processed for histological as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation. The histological and SEM description of major setae from antennules, namely aesthetascs, plumose setae, and male spines are presented in detail. A unique sexually dimorphic structure, male spines on the inner (medial) flagella, is reported for the first time in a penaeid shrimp. These spines are robust structures, short and thick with non-permeable cuticle and no terminal pore, innervated by receptor neuron clusters. This histological organization suggests the spines are sensilla for mechanoreception, possibly involved in courtship mechanoreception, complementing chemosensory information from aesthetascs. Additionally, SEM observations of other antennule setae are presented, including asymmetric setae associated with aesthetascs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-rated health (SRH) is associated with morbidity and mortality in HIV-uninfected populations but is understudied in HIV. Substance use may affect SRH in addition to its deleterious effect on HIV disease. This analysis aimed to estimate SRH and substance use prevalence and evaluate factors associated with poor SRH among individuals in HIV care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A convenience sample of HIV-infected adults completed one item of SRH, the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Logistic regression models identified factors associated with poor SRH. Participants' (n = 1029) median age was 42.9 years, 64.2% were male, and 54.5% were nonwhite. Poor SRH was reported by 19.5% and the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and crack/cocaine by 30.1, 19.5, 3.9, and 3.5%, respectively. Less than high school education (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.20), lack of sexual activity in previous 12 months (aOR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.01-2.30), crack/cocaine use (aOR 3.82, 95% CI: 1.80-8.09), positive PHQ-2 screen (aOR 3.43, 95% CI: 2.09-5.62), and HIV-1 RNA ≥40 c/ml (aOR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.57-4.02) were significantly associated with poor SRH as identified by logistic regression analyses. Alcohol, marijuana, and sedative use were not significantly associated with poor SRH. These results emphasize the need for substance use and mental health screening and treatment in this population. Further research may elucidate the consequences of poor SRH on treatment adherence, morbidity, and mortality in HIV-infected individuals.

BackgroundSubstance use assessment is a challenge in busy clinical settings that may adversely affect HIV-infected persons. This study aimed to evaluate agreement between the medical chart and a standardized substance use screening questionnaire.MethodsOf adults (n=1050) in HIV care in Rio de Janeiro who completed the World Health Organization's Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), we randomly selected 200 participants for medical chart review. Lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine agreement between the medical record and ASSIST was evaluated using Kappa statistics. Sensitivity and specificity of chart information were also calculated.ResultsThe median age was 42.4 years, 60.3% were male and 49.5% were white. Prevalence of lifetime use reported in ASSIST was 55.3% (tobacco), 79.4% (alcohol), 23.1% (marijuana), and 20.7% (cocaine). Any information on lifetime use was found in the medical chart for tobacco (n=180, 90.5%), alcohol (n=183, 92.0%), marijuana (n=143, 71.8%), and cocaine (n=151, 75.9%). The Kappa statistic, sensitivity and specificity of the medical chart accurately identifying lifetime substance users per ASSIST were respectively 0.60, 0.71, and 0.91 for tobacco; 0.22, 0.75, and 0.51 for alcohol; 0.58, 0.51, and 0.98 for marijuana; and 0.73, 0.75, and 0.96 for cocaine.ConclusionConsidering inaccuracies in the medical chart, the implementation of brief, standardized substance use screening is recommended in HIV care settings.

Objective To compare the efficacy of generic direct-acting agents and brand-name medicines for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We searched online databases for studies that reported sustained virological responses 12 weeks after the end of HCV treatment with generic direct-acting agents. We derived pooled proportions of treated patients with a sustained virological response from intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. In addition, we calculated the pooled relative risk (RR) of a sustained virological response brand-name versus generic direct-acting agents using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird) from the data available. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the [I.sup.2] statistic. Findings We identified 19 studies involving a total of 5 7 433 individuals from eight territories or regions. The pooled overall proportions of patients with a sustained virological response were 98% (95% confidence interval, CI: 97-99; 18 studies; [I.sup.2] = 94.1%) in per-protocol analyses and 96% (95% CI: 93-98; 8 studies; [I.sup.2] = 68.1%) in intention-to-treat analyses. The likelihood of a sustained virological response with brand-name medicines was similar to that with generic direct-acting agents (RR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.98-1.02; [I.sup.2] = 0.0%). The likelihood of a sustained virological response was significantly higher in patients without than with cirrhosis (RR:1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; 7 studies) but was not significantly affected by either previous treatment (3 studies) or human immunodeficiency virus coinfection (3 studies). Conclusion Generic direct-acting agents are highly effective for treating hepatitis C. Generic agents should be considered in resource-constrained settings for decreasing the burden of liver disease in HCV-infected patients. Objectif Comparer l'efficacite des antiviraux a action directe generiques et des medicaments de marque pour traiter I'infection par le virus de I'hepatite C (VHC) a I'aide d'une revue systematique et d'une metaanalyse. Methodes Nous avons recherche dans les bases de donnees en ligne des etudes qui decrivaient une reponse virologique soutenue 12 semaines apres la fin du traitement contre le VHC par antiviraux a action directe generiques. Nous avons obtenu les proportions combinees de patients traites presentant une reponse virologique soutenue a partir d'analyses en intention de traiter et per protocole. De plus, nous avons calcule le risque relatif(RR) combine d'une reponse virologique soutenue avec les antiviraux a action directe de marque contre generiques a l'aide d'un modele a effets aleatoires (DerSimonian-Laird) a partir des donnees disponibles. L'heterogeneite entre les etudes a ete evaluee en utilisant la statistique [I.sup.2]. Resultats Nous avons identifie 19 etudes portant sur un total de 57 433 personnes reparties dans huit territoires ou regions. Les proportions totales combinees de patients presentant une reponse virologique soutenue etaient de 98% (intervalle de confiance, IC, a 95%: 97-99; 18 etudes; [I.sup.2] = 94,1%) dans les analyses per protocole et 96% (IC a 95%: 93-98; 8 etudes; [I.sup.2] = 68,1%) dans les analyses en intention de traiter. La probability d'une reponse virologique soutenue avec des medicaments de marque etait similaire a celle obtenue avec des antiviraux a action directe generiques (RR: 1,00; IC a 95%: 0,98-1,02; [I.sup.2] = 0,0%). La probability d'une reponse virologique soutenue etait sensiblement plus elevee chez les patients sans cirrhose que chez ceux ayant une cirrhose (RR: 1,03; IC a 95%: 1,01-1,06; 7 etudes), mais elle n'etait pas significativement affectee par la prise d'un traitement anterieur (3 etudes) ou par une co-infection par le virus de l'immunodeficience humaine (3 etudes). Conclusion Les antiviraux a action directe generiques sont tres efficaces pour traiter l'hepatite C. Les medicaments generiques devraient etre envisages en cas de ressources limitees afin de reduire la charge des affections hepatiques chez les patients infectes par l'hepatite C. Objetivo Comparar la eficacia de los antivirales genericos de accion directa y los medicamentos de marca para el tratamiento de la infeccion por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) mediante la realizacion de una revision sistematica y un metaanalisis. Metodos Se realizaron busquedas en las bases de datos en linea de estudios que notificaron respuestas virologicas sostenidas 12 semanas despues del final del tratamiento contra el VHC con antivirales genericos de accion directa. Se derivaron las proporciones agrupadas de los pacientes tratados con una respuesta virologica sostenida de los analisis por intencion de tratar y por protocolo. Ademas, se calculo el riesgo relativo (RR) agrupado de un medicamento de marca de respuesta virologica sostenida versus antivirales genericos de accion directa mediante un modelo de efectos aleatorios (DerSimonian-Laird) a partir de los datos disponibles. Se evaluo la heterogeneidad entre los estudios mediante la estadistica [I.sup.2]. Resultados Se identificaron 19 estudios con un total de 57.433 individuos de ocho territorios o regiones. Las proporciones generales agrupadas de pacientes con una respuesta virologica sostenida fueron del 98 % (intervalo de confianza del 95 %, IC: 97-99; 18 estudios; [I.sup.2] = 94,1 %) en los analisis por protocolo y del 96 % (IC del 95 %: 93-98; 8 estudios; [I.sup.2] = 68,1 %) en los analisis por intencion de tratar. La probabilidad de una respuesta virologica sostenida con medicamentos de marca fue similar a la de los antivirales genericos de accion directa (RR: 1,00; IC del 95 %: 0,98-1,02; [I.sup.2] = 0,0 %). La probabilidad de una respuesta virologica sostenida fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes sin cirrosis que con cirrosis (RR: 1,03; IC del 95 %: 1,01-1,06; 7 estudios), pero no se vio afectada significativamente por el tratamiento previo (3 estudios) o la coinfeccion por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (3 estudios). Conclusion Los antivirales genericos de accion directa son altamente efectivos para el tratamiento de la hepatitis C. Los antivirales genericos deben ser considerados en entornos con recursos limitados para disminuir la carga de la enfermedad hepatica en pacientes infectados por el VHC., Introduction An estimated 70 million people worldwide are chronically infected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). (1) The clinical presentation of HCV infection can vary from minimal fibrosis to cirrhosis [...]

Hydrolases are the most popular enzymes, and among the most valuable in biotechnological applications. Some hydrolases, such as lipases, esterases, proteases, cellulases and amylases, are used in the food industry and the production of biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, biopolymers and detergents. Of special interest are those obtained from thermophilic microorganisms. Although there is great microbial diversity in extreme environments, the investigations aimed at detecting and isolating enzymes with potential for polyester degradation such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are limited. In this work, we explored the metagenomic library of an oil-enriched soil sample from the "Los Humeros" geothermal field by means of in silico probes in search for enzymes potentially able to degrade polyesters. Using conserved motifs and activity-relevant sites of reported polyester hydrolases, we designed probes that allowed us to identify 6 potential polyester hydrolases in the metagenome. Three-dimensional structure prediction revealed a canonical α/β fold and a cap covering the active site of the enzymes. The catalytic triads were composed of Ser, His and Asp. Structural comparison, substrate binding site analysis and molecular docking suggested their potential as polyester hydrolases, particularly cutinases and PETases. An enzyme, REC98271, was cloned, expressed and characterized, showing thermophilic properties and preference for short-chain substrates. These findings contribute to our understanding of enzyme diversity in "Los Humeros" metagenome and their potential applications in biodegradation and recycling processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by fungi of the genus Sporothrix sp. Phenotypic and genotypic differences have been associated with their geographic distribution, virulence, or clinical manifestation of sporotrichosis. In the past decade, the interest in identifying species of the Sporothrix sp. has been increasing, due to its epidemiological importance and, in consequence, is important to know how to preserve them for future studies, in culture collection. Aims: The purposes of this study were to analyze the global distribution of environmental isolates and/or causal agents of sporotrichosis identified by polyphasic taxonomy, with mandatory use of molecular identification, and to evaluate the percentages and distribution of isolates stored in culture collections. Methods: A systematic review of articles on animal and human sporotrichosis and/or environmental isolation of the fungus, from 2007 to 2023, was done. Results: Our results demonstrated that, S. globosa, S. schenckii, and S. brasiliensis were the most identified species. With respect to the deposit and maintenance of species, we observed that only 17% of the strains of Sporothrix sp. isolated in the world are preserved in a culture collection. Conclusions: This systematic review confirmed a difficulty in obtaining the frequency of Sporothrix species stored in culture collection and insufficient data on the molecular identification mainly of animal sporotrichosis and isolation of Sporothrix sp. in environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]