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Caroline Tianeze de Castro,1 Lisiane Freitas Leal,2 Dandara de Oliveira Ramos,1 Jerusa da Mota Santana,3 Rosa Cândida Cordeiro,3,4 Maria da Conceição Costa Rivemales,3,4 Edna Maria de Araújo,5 Carlos Alberto Lima da Silva,5 Marcos Pereira,1 Djanilson Barbosa dos Santos3– 5 1Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; 2Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Centre de Recherche, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 3Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil; 4Postgraduation Program in Health for the Black and Indigenous Population, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil; 5State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia, BrazilCorrespondence: Caroline Tianeze de Castro, Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Basílio da Gama Street, no number, Canela Campus, Salvador, Bahia, 40.110-040, Brazil, Email carolinetianeze@gmail.comPurpose: This study aimed to evaluate racial disparities in medication use and associated factors among pregnant women receiving prenatal care at Brazilian Unified Health System primary care health units in the northeast region.Patients and Methods: A total of 1058 pregnant women in the NISAMI Cohort were interviewed between June 2012 and February 2014. Medicines used during pregnancy were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and ANVISA pregnancy risk categories. Prevalence ratios (crude and adjusted) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust error variance. All analyses were stratified by race (Asian, black, brown/mixed, Brazilian indigenous, and white).Results: Approximately 84% of the pregnant women used at least one medication, with a lower proportion among white women. The most reported medications were antianemic preparations (71.08%; 95% CI 68.27– 73.72%), analgesics (21.74%; 95% CI 19.36– 24.32%), and drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders (18.81%; 95% CI 16.57– 21.28%). Approximately 29% of women took potentially risky medications during pregnancy, with a higher prevalence among Asian and white women. Factors associated with medication use during pregnancy include a greater number of prenatal consultations, higher education levels, health problems, and smoking. In addition, maternal age above 25 years, smoking status, and two or more previous pregnancies were associated with potentially risky medication use during pregnancy.Conclusion: A high prevalence of medication use during pregnancy was found; however, this prevalence was lower among white women. Nonetheless, black and brown women used antianemic preparations less frequently. This finding suggests that race is a factor of inequity in prenatal care, demanding public policies to mitigate it.Keywords: drug utilization, racial groups, pregnancy, pharmacoepidemiology, cohort studies

Squeezing optical fields into nanometer scale is the key step to perform spatially resolved near-field optics. In scattering-type near-field optical microscopy, this task is accomplished by nanoantennas that convert propagating radiation to local near-fields and vice versa. The usual nanoantenna is composed by an elongated metal structure whose longitudinal dimension is scaled to support dipole modes of localized surface plasmon resonances. However, monopole modes can also be explored if the elongated metal nanoparticle is electrically grounded on a flat metallic plateau that acts like a mirror providing the monopole's image that closes the dipole system. Here, a method for batch production of monopole nanoantennas for scattering-type near-field scanning optical microscopy is presented. The nanoantennas are composed of a micropyramidal body with a nanopyramidal end whose lateral dimension can be scaled to fine-tune localized surface plasmon resonance modes. The monopole character of the nanoantennas is revealed by electron energy loss spectroscopy, and their efficiency and reproducibility are tested in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy experiments performed on single-layer graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes.

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Geoffroea decorticans, commonly known as Chañar, is a native Chilean plant widely used in folk medicine for its expectorant, pain relief, and antinociceptive properties. This study explored the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and protective effects of its ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (EA) seed extracts against oxidative stress induced by copper sulfate, using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the extracts. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) identified significant components such as phytol, alpha-tocopherol, vitexin, and rutin, with the EE being particularly rich in phytol and vitexin. Antioxidant assays-measuring the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, and copper and iron chelation-confirmed their potent antioxidant capabilities. Both extracts were non-cytotoxic and provided protection against CuSO 4 -induced oxidative stress in the 3T3 cell line. Additionally, the use of Tenebrio molitor as an invertebrate model underscored the extracts' antioxidant and protective potentials, especially that of the EE. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant antioxidant and protective properties of Chañar seed extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract, in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi , is an important public health problem, occurring mainly in Latin America. The disease has a major social and economical effect, negatively impacting the life of the infected individuals, and bringing great costs to public health. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential for administration of early treatment. In addition, prognostic tests may aid disease management, decreasing hospitalization costs. However, the serological diagnostic scenario for CD still faces several challenges, making the development of new diagnostic kits a pressing matter. Facing this scenario, several researchers have expanded efforts in developing and testing new antigens, such as recombinant proteins and recombinant multiepitope proteins, with promising results. These recombinant antigens offer several advantages, such as improved sensitivity and specificity, in addition to facilitated scaling. Also, it has been possible to observe a rising number of studies using ELISA and point-of-care platforms, employing these antigens in the past few years. Among them, recombinant proteins were the most applied antigens, demonstrating great capacity to discriminate between positive and negative samples. Although fewer in number, recombinant multiepitope proteins also demonstrated an improved diagnostic performance. Indeed, a great number of studies employing these antigens showed sensitivity and specificity values above 90%, greatly impacting diagnostic accuracy. Nevertheless, despite the good results found, it is still possible to observe some bottlenecks in the development of new antigens, such as the scarcity of tests with sera from the acute phase and the variability of results in different geographic areas. In this sense, aiming to contribute to control and health programs, the continuous search for a more accurate serological diagnosis is essential, both for the acute and chronic phases of the disease., 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 Resende, Ribeiro, Gandra, Silva, Lopes, Barcelos, Couto, de Faria, Pereira, Xavier, Machado, da Paz, Chaves, Coelho, Giunchetti, Chávez-Fumagalli, Dutra, Gonçalves and Galdino.)

Objective: The aim was to identify trajectory patterns of weight and length in children from birth until two years of life and establish associations with maternal and child characteristics., Methods: A mixed-cohort study was conducted in public health services in Colombo-PR, Brazil, between 2018 and 2022. Pregnancy information was gathered through anthropometric data collection and questionnaires. Birth data were extracted from birth record forms, while weight and length data in the first two years of life were obtained from physical and electronic health service records. Weight and length trajectory patterns were identified using a group-based trajectory model. The definition of the number of trajectory patterns to be selected considered the model fit to the type of variable, its practical utility, as well as the probabilities of group membership., Results: Two trajectory patterns of weight and length were identified among the children. The majority exhibited a pattern of weight (67.8%, n  = 382) and length (90.9%, n  = 472) considered high and stable, with a tendency to decelerate from one and a half years of age. The probability of belonging to the lower weight gain group was associated with female sex (41.5%, p  < 0.001), smoking during pregnancy (48.7%, p  = 0.008), prematurity (65.0%, p  = 0.001), cesarean delivery (36.4%, p  = 0.009), small for gestational age (69.0%, p  < 0.001), and twinning (69.2%, p  = 0.002). Similarly, the probability of belonging to the lower length gain group was associated with female sex (11.7%, p  < 0.001), smoking during pregnancy (20.6%, p  = 0.003), cesarean delivery (10.1%, p  = 0.048), born small for gestational age (46.4%, p  < 0.001), and twinning (46.1%, p  < 0.001)., Conclusion: Conditions during pregnancy and childbirth can impact growth patterns in the first two years of life.

Rocky Mountain or Brazilian spotted fever, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii , is a fulminant, seasonal, and neglected disease that occurs in focal points of North America and South America. Its rapid detection is essential for the better prognosis and survival rate of infected individuals. However, disease diagnosis still faces challenges as the accuracy of many of the available laboratory tests fluctuates. This review aimed to analyze methods for antibody or antigen detection, their gaps, and their evolution over time. A search was conducted to find all studies in the Pubmed database that described the antibody or antigen detection of R. rickettsii infections. Initially, a total of 403 articles were screened. Of these articles, only 17 fulfilled the pre-established inclusion criteria and were selected. Among the different methods applied, the IFA technique was the one most frequently found in the studies. However, it presented varied results such as a low specificity when using the indirect method. Other techniques, such as ELISA and immunohistochemistry, were also found, although in smaller numbers and with their own limitations. Although some studies showed promising results, there is a pressing need to find new techniques to develop a rapid and effective diagnosis of R. rickettssi infection.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate racial disparities in medication use and associated factors among pregnant women receiving prenatal care at Brazilian Unified Health System primary care health units in the northeast region., Patients and Methods: A total of 1058 pregnant women in the NISAMI Cohort were interviewed between June 2012 and February 2014. Medicines used during pregnancy were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and ANVISA pregnancy risk categories. Prevalence ratios (crude and adjusted) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust error variance. All analyses were stratified by race (Asian, black, brown/mixed, Brazilian indigenous, and white)., Results: Approximately 84% of the pregnant women used at least one medication, with a lower proportion among white women. The most reported medications were antianemic preparations (71.08%; 95% CI 68.27-73.72%), analgesics (21.74%; 95% CI 19.36-24.32%), and drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders (18.81%; 95% CI 16.57-21.28%). Approximately 29% of women took potentially risky medications during pregnancy, with a higher prevalence among Asian and white women. Factors associated with medication use during pregnancy include a greater number of prenatal consultations, higher education levels, health problems, and smoking. In addition, maternal age above 25 years, smoking status, and two or more previous pregnancies were associated with potentially risky medication use during pregnancy., Conclusion: A high prevalence of medication use during pregnancy was found; however, this prevalence was lower among white women. Nonetheless, black and brown women used antianemic preparations less frequently. This finding suggests that race is a factor of inequity in prenatal care, demanding public policies to mitigate it., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Castro et al.)

The mandibular interforaminal region has been considered safe for surgical procedures; nevertheless, the risk of injury to neurovascular structures, such as the mental foramen (MF) and its related structures (anterior loop [AL] and lingual foramina [LF]) should not be overlooked. The study aimed to evaluate the relative risk of injury to these structures during surgical procedures in the anterior region of the mandible based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. A retrospective cross-sectional and observational study was performed on 250 CBCTs from adults (18-69 years) with dentate jaws. Linear measurements of the MF, AL, and LF were evaluated to estimate the risk of injury to these structures during chin-related surgical procedures. The most frequent distance between the base of the mandible (BM) and MF was 8 mm (30.2%). In addition, 20.4% of the CTs had 6 mm from the vestibular cortical bone to the LF. The commonly found measurement from LF to the apex of the nearest tooth was 7 mm (24.0%); 64.2% of the CTs showed a 2-mm distance between the most distal point of the dental implant site to the most anterior point of the AL. Safety distances for genioplasty techniques (MF to mandible base > 6 mm, 96.6% [CI 95%, 95.0%-98.2%]) were observed. Considering the 5-mm cut-off point between the lower limit of a hypothetical bone graft and the chin, 65.4% (CI 95%, 58.9%-71.9%) of CTs were within this distance. Regarding the safety margin of 8 mm, 85.6% (CI 95%, 80.8%-90.4%) were up to this value. This study found safety margins for genioplasty and chin bone grafting surgical techniques that adopt a 5-mm cut-off point. Further similar studies assessing other surgical methods and employing larger samples from different geographical origins may contribute to this field of investigation.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious public health issue, documented in more than ninety countries, where an estimated 500,000 new cases emerge each year. Regardless of novel methodologies, advancements, and experimental interventions, therapeutic limitations, and drug resistance are still challenging. For this reason, based on previous research, we screened natural products (NP) from Nuclei of Bioassays, Ecophysiology, and Biosynthesis of Natural Products Database (NuBBE DB) , Mexican Compound Database of Natural Products (BIOFACQUIM), and Peruvian Natural Products Database (PeruNPDB) databases, in addition to structural analogs of Miglitol and Acarbose, which have been suggested as treatments for VL and have shown encouraging action against parasite's N-glycan biosynthesis. Using computer-aided drug design (CADD) approaches, the potential inhibitory effect of these NP candidates was evaluated by inhibiting the Mannosyl-oligosaccharide Glucosidase Protein (MOGS) from Leishmania infantum , an enzyme essential for the protein glycosylation process, at various pH to mimic the parasite's changing environment. Also, computational analysis was used to evaluate the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) profile, while molecular dynamic simulations were used to gather information on the interactions between these ligands and the protein target. Our findings indicated that Ocotillone and Subsessiline have potential antileishmanial effects at pH 5 and 7, respectively, due to their high binding affinity to MOGS and interactions in the active center. Furthermore, these compounds were non-toxic and had the potential to be administered orally. This research indicates the promising anti-leishmanial activity of Ocotillone and Subsessiline, suggesting further validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments., 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 Goyzueta-Mamani, Barazorda-Ccahuana, Candia-Puma, Galdino, Machado-de-Avila, Giunchetti, Medina-Franco, Florin-Christensen, Ferraz Coelho and Chávez-Fumagalli.)

Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the species Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn = Leishmania chagasi ) and Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani , which are transmitted by hematophagous insects of the genera Lutzomyia and Phlebotomus . The domestic dog ( Canis familiaris ) is considered the main urban reservoir of the parasite due to the high parasite load on its skin, serving as a source of infection for sandfly vectors and, consequently, perpetuating the disease in the urban environment. Some factors are considered important in the perpetuation and spread of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in urban areas, such as stray dogs, with their errant behavior, and houses that have backyards with trees, shade, and organic materials, creating an attractive environment for sandfly vectors. CVL is found in approximately 50 countries, with the number of infected dogs reaching millions. However, due to the difficulty of controlling and diagnosing the disease, the number of infected animals could be even greater. In the four continents endemic for CVL, there are reports of disease expansion in endemic countries such as Brazil, Italy, Morocco, and Tunisia, as well as in areas where CVL is not endemic, for example, Uruguay. Socio-environmental factors, such as migration, drought, deforestation, and global warming, have been pointed out as reasons for the expansion into areas where it had been absent. Thus, the objective of this review is to address (i) the distribution of CVL in endemic areas, (ii) the role of the dog in the visceral leishmaniasis epidemiology and the factors that influence dog infection and the spread of the disease, and (iii) the challenges faced in the control of CVL.

Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties. The epitopes' high density within the RMPs contributes to a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The RMPs can also sidestep the need for multiple peptide synthesis or multiple recombinant proteins, reducing costs and enhancing the standardization conditions for immunoassays. Methods such as bioinformatics and circular dichroism have been widely applied in the development of new RMPs, helping to guide their construction and better understand their structure. Several RMPs have been expressed, mainly using the Escherichia coli expression system, highlighting the importance of these cells in the biotechnological field. In fact, technological advances in this area, offering a wide range of different strains to be used, make these cells the most widely used expression platform. RMPs have been experimentally used to diagnose a broad range of illnesses in the laboratory, suggesting they could also be useful for accurate diagnoses commercially. On this point, the RMP method offers a tempting substitute for the production of promising antigens used to assemble commercial diagnostic kits., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, continues to be a serious public health problem in Latin America, worsened by the limitations in its detection. Given the importance of developing new diagnostic methods for this disease, the present review aimed to verify the number of publications dedicated to research on peptides that demonstrate their usefulness in serodiagnosis. To this end, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PubMed platform using the keyword "peptide" or "epitope" combined with "Chagas disease" or "Trypanosoma cruzi"; "diagno*" or "serodiagnosis" or "immunodiagnosis", without period restriction. An increasing number of publications on studies employing peptides in ELISA and rapid tests assays was verified, which confirms the expansion of research in this field. It is possible to observe that many of the peptides tested so far originate from proteins widely used in the diagnosis of Chagas, and many of them are part of commercial tests developed. In this sense, as expected, promising results were obtained for several peptides when tested in ELISA, as many of them exhibited sensitivity and specificity values above 90%. Furthermore, some peptides have been tested in several studies, confirming their diagnostic potential. Despite the promising results observed, it is possible to emphasize the need for extensive testing of peptides, using different serological panels, in order to confirm their potential. The importance of producing an effective assay capable of detecting the clinical stages of the disease, as well as new immunogenic antigens that enable new serological diagnostic tools for Chagas disease, is evident., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different 3D dental resins, using a manufacturer recommended printer and a third-party printer, on cellular responses of human gingival cells., Materials and Methods: Three NextDent resins (Denture 3D+, C&B MFH and Crowntec) were used to produce specimens on printers NextDent 5100 (groups ND, NC and NT, respectively) and Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K (groups PD, PC and PT, respectively). Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured and biocompatibility was evaluated on days 1, 3 and 7. IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were evaluated at 3 days using ELISA. Surface roughness was evaluated by a contact profilometer. SEM and fluorescence micrographs were analyzed at days 1 and 7. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and mean differences were tested using ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests ( P < .05)., Results: There was an increase in cellular viability after 7 days in groups PC and PT, when compared to group PD. ND group resulted in higher concentration of IL-6 when compared to PT group. SEM and fluorescence micrographs showed less adhesion and thinner morphology of fibroblasts from group PD. No significant differences were found regarding surface roughness., Conclusion: The use of different printers or resins did not seem to influence surface roughness. NextDent 5100 and Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K produced resins with similar cellular responses in human gingival fibroblasts. However, Denture 3D+ resin resulted in significantly lower biocompatibility, when compared to C&B MFH and Crowntec resins. Further testing is required to support its long-term use, required for complete dentures., (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Prosthodontics.)

Coastal sedimentary systems are affected by continental and marine metal pollutant inputs associated with different hydrodynamic characteristics and geochemical processes. These include the formation of acid-volatile sulfides (AVS) within sediments, which affects metal bioavailability and associated aquatic biota toxicity risks. Physicochemical changes in these environments in the face of extreme natural or man-made environmental influences can dramatically alter metal bioavailability and toxicity through metal binding and immobilization as insoluble sulfides. Surface sediments from Guanabara Bay, river mouths, and two mangrove areas were collected, and AVS and simultaneously extracted metals Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn and ΣSEM were determined to assess sediment quality. A severe eutrophication history favored AVS concentrations exceeding or close to the sum-SEM concentrations, demonstrating that AVS play an important role in making trace metals unavailable for assimilation by living organisms, mitigating the risks of contamination for the local biota. This eutrophication-driven sulfide accumulation may attenuate the sediment toxicity in sites heavily polluted by metals, while some fewer eutrophic sites became more exposed to metals in excess to AVS., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Group I introns are small RNAs (250-500 nt) capable of catalyzing their own splicing from the precursor RNA. They are widely distributed across the tree of life and have intricate relationships with their host genomes. In this work, we review its basic structure, self-splicing and its mechanisms of gene mobility. As they are widely found in unicellular eukaryotes, especially fungi, we gathered information regarding their possible impact on the physiology of fungal cells and the possible application of these introns in medical mycology.

The development of prophylactic vaccines is important in preventing and controlling diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in addition to being an economic measure for public health. Despite the efforts to develop a vaccine against human VL caused by Leishmania infantum , none is available, and the focus has shifted to developing vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Currently, commercially available vaccines are targeted at CVL but are not effective. Different strategies have been applied in developing and improving vaccines, such as using chimeric proteins to expand vaccine coverage. The search for patents can be a way of tracking vaccines that have the potential to be marketed. In this context, the present work presents a summary of immunological aspects relevant to VL vaccine development with a focus on the composition of chimeric protein vaccines for CVL deposited in patent banks as an important approach for biotechnological development. The resulting data could facilitate the screening and selection of antigens to compose vaccine candidates with high performance against VL.

The incidence of premature birth has increased worldwide, unequally distributed by race/ethnicity. Racism generates economic inequalities, educational disparities, and differential access to health care, which increases the risk of preterm birth. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with preterm birth and racial and ethnic disparities in premature birth among pregnant women attending prenatal care at the Brazilian Unified Health System health units in the urban area of Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil. This study used data from 938 pregnant women aged between 18 to 45 years within the NISAMI prospective cohort. Premature birth prevalence was 11.8%, with a higher prevalence among black than non-black women (12.9% versus 6.0%, respectively). Maternal age between 18 and 24 years was the only factor associated with premature birth. A higher risk of premature birth was found among black women than non-black women (RR 3.22; 95%CI 1.42-7.32). These results reveal the existence of racial and social inequalities in the occurrence of premature birth.

The researchers aimed through this cross-sectional study to explore the co-occurrence of health-related behaviors and their association with food insecurity in pregnant women. The investigated behaviors include smoking, alcohol consumption, non-regular consumption of fruit, and physical inactivity among 605 participants. Our findings reveal that women experiencing food insecurity exhibit a higher prevalence of simultaneous engagement in specific health behaviors. Specifically, the co-occurrence of alcohol consumption and non-regular fruit consumption is elevated, as is the co-occurrence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption, regular fruit consumption, and physical inactivity. The implications of these findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing both food insecurity and clustered health behaviors during pregnancy.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) has a high death rate, with 500,000 new cases and 50,000 deaths occurring annually. Despite the development of novel strategies and technologies, there is no adequate treatment for the disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find structural analogs of natural products as potential novel drugs to treat VL. We selected structural analogs from natural products that have shown antileishmanial activities, and that may impede the purine salvage pathway using computer-aided drug-design (CADD) approaches. For these, we started with the vastly studied target in the pathway, the adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT) protein, which alone is non-essential for the survival of the parasite. Keeping this in mind, we search for a substance that can bind to multiple targets throughout the pathway. Computational techniques were used to study the purine salvage pathway from Leishmania infantum , and molecular dynamic simulations were used to gather information on the interactions between ligands and proteins. Because of its low homology to human proteins and its essential role in the purine salvage pathway proteins network interaction, the findings further highlight the significance of adenylosuccinate lyase protein (ADL) as a therapeutic target. An analog of the alkaloid Skimmianine, N,N-diethyl-4-methoxy-1-benzofuran-6-carboxamide, demonstrated a good binding affinity to APRT and ADL targets, no expected toxicity, and potential for oral route administration. This study indicates that the compound may have antileishmanial activity, which was granted in vitro and in vivo experiments to settle this finding in the future.

Improving the diagnostic technology used to detect tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is essential in view of it being a widespread, often neglected tropical disease, with cases reported from the Southern United States to Northern Argentina. Recombinant proteins, recombinant multiepitope proteins, and synthetic peptides have been extensively researched and used in disease diagnosis. One of the benefits of applying these antigens is a measurable increase in sensitivity and specificity, which improves test accuracy. The present review aims to describe the use of these antigens and their diagnostic effectiveness. With that in mind, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PudMed platform using the search terms "tegumentary leishmaniasis" AND "diagno", revealing that recombinant proteins have been described and evaluated for their value in TL diagnosis since the 1990s. However, there was a spike in the number of publications using all of the antigens between 2013 and 2022, confirming an expansion in research efforts to improve diagnosis. Moreover, all of the studies involving different antigens had promising results, including improved sensitivity and specificity. These data recognize the importance of doing research with new technologies focused on developing quick, more effective diagnostic kits as early diagnosis facilitates treatment., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Monkeypox is a global public health issue caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). As of October 28, 2022, a total of 77,115 laboratoryconfirmed cases and 3,610 probable cases, including 36 deaths, were reported, with 9,070 cases reported in Brazil, the second most affected country. The need to develop national technologies for the rapid diagnosis of emerging diseases for mass testing of the population is evident, as observed in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic., Objective: With that in mind, this article provides an overview of current methods, techniques, and their applications in the molecular detection of monkeypox, focusing the search on real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and polymerase chain reaction-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PCRELISA)., Methods: The relevant documents or papers covered in this study were selected by a search in international bibliographic databases. The search terms used in the databases were aimed at summarizing existing knowledge on molecular diagnostic methods, such as monkeypox; MPX, MPXV, qPCR, PCR, PCR-ELISA, diagnosis and detection searched separately or together using the Boolean operator "AND" either in the title or abstract. The searches took place in September 2022, and the corresponding articles were selected between 2012 and 2022., Results: We found 256 documents in total and twelve studies addressing the molecular diagnosis of monkeypox were classified as possible sources for this review., Conclusion: It is evident there is a pressing need to develop national technologies for rapid diagnosis of emerging diseases for mass testing of the population. It is also extremely important to have national detection kits with greater diagnostic capacity to assist in developing effective public policies in countries affected by this disease., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus schistosoma, which affects approximately 240 million people worldwide. the diagnosis of the disease can be performed by parasitological, molecular, and/or immunological methods, however, the development of new diagnostic methods still essential to guide policy decisions, monitor disease trends and assess the effectiveness of interventions., Objective: in this sense, the current work summarizes the findings of a systematic review regarding antigens applied in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which were patented and published over the last ten years., Methods: the literature search strategy used medical subject heading (mesh) terms to define as descriptors. "schistosoma mansoni" was used in arrangement with the descriptors "immunoassay", "enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay", "elisa", and "antigens", using the "and" connector. the patent search was done using keywords, including diagnosis and schistosoma or schistosomiasis or schistosome. several databases were employed for the patent search, such as intellectual property national institute; european patent office; the united states patent and trademark office; patent scope, and google patents., Results: forty-one articles were retrieved, of which only five met the eligibility criteria. seventeen patents were taken from the databases, and a brief description of the most relevant inventions is given here., Conclusion: schistosomiasis is considered the most important helminthic disease in worldwide. therefore, it is important to of searching for and develops diagnostic methods based on serology to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the disease., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hospitalizations for respiratory problems and the regular burning of sugarcane in Pernambuco State, Brazil. This is an ecological time series study corresponding to the period from 2008 to 2018. The rates of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in children aged under 5 years and in adults older than 60 years in sugarcane-producing and non-producing municipalities were compared using nonparametric Mann-Whitney statistical analysis. Together, we observed the monthly distribution of the hot spots occurrences in the case and control municipalities and applied Pearson's correlation to analyze the association between both variables. For both age groups, hospitalization rates are higher in sugarcane-producing municipalities, with a statistically significant difference p < 0.005. The rate of hospitalization in older adults is 28% higher in the case municipalities, and is even higher in children aged under 5 years whose ratio of the medians is 40%. However, the seasonal behavior of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases differs from that observed in the monthly distribution of hot spots, without statistically significant correlation. These findings suggest a possible association with chronic exposure to particulates emitted by biomass burning, compromising the health of vulnerable groups, and endorse the need to replace fires in the monoculture of sugarcane and to structure public policies to protect human and environmental health.

Amid the pandemic of violence against women, it is imperative to identify the contributing factors to lethal forms of violence against them. Femicides are the result of the intersection of variables that increase women's vulnerability. This study seeks to estimate the risk factors associated with death due to femicide in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. We considered sociodemographic variables, employment, exposure to violence, and psychoactive substance use. Our analysis employed conditional logistic regression. Using a case-control study design, we paired femicide cases with female controls from the general population, matching them by age and human development index, with a ratio of four controls per case. We analyzed 24 femicide cases and 96 controls. Women in the femicide group had lower educational attainment and were more likely to originate from outside the state of São Paulo. They predominantly held informal jobs, had experienced physical violence from intimate partners within the last 30 days, and exhibited higher alcohol, crack, and antidepressant consumption. Women in the femicide group reported more exposure to threats compared to those in the control group. Two variables significantly explained the likelihood of being a femicide case: a history of intimate partner violence in the last 30 days (OR 73.3, 95% CI: 8.1 to 661.7) and originating from outside the state of São Paulo (OR 6.5, 95% CI: 1.7 to 25.2). In this text, we discuss the findings and methodological challenges encountered in researching lethal violence against women., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Monica Caicedo-Roa received a doctoral scholarship from CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) with the financial code 001. The data collection were part of the research entitled “Distribuição espacial do risco de acidente do trabalho fatal em Campinas SP-Brasil: um estudo caso-controle espacial” financed by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). No additional financial support was available for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Although mitochondrial dysfunction is known to play an essential role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD), there is a glaring gap in our understanding of how mitochondrial dysfunction can modulate clinical phenotypes. An emerging paradigm suggests mitochondria play an important non-energetic role in adaptation to stress, impacting cellular resilience and acting as a source of systemic allostatic load. Known as mitochondrial allostatic load, this (phenomenon) occurs when mitochondria are unable to recalibrate and maintain cell homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the composite mitochondrial health index (MHI) in BD subjects and non-psychiatry controls. We will also explore whether lower MIH will be related to higher cell-free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA) levels and poor clinical outcomes. In this study, 14 BD-I patients and 16 age- and sex-matched non-psychiatry controls were enrolled. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to measure the enzymatic activities of citrate synthase and complexes I, II, and IV and mtDNA copy number. Ccf-mtDNA was evaluated by qPCR in plasma. Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) proteins were evaluated by western blotting. After adjusting for confounding variables, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status, patients with BD presented lower MHI compared to non-psychiatry controls, as well as higher ccf-mtDNA levels that negatively correlated with MHI. Because the MQC network is essential to maintain mitochondrial health, MHI and ccf-mtDNA were also examined in relation to several MQC-related proteins, such as Fis-1, Opa-1, and LC3. Our results showed that MHI correlated negatively with Fis-1 and positively with Opa-1 and LC3. Accordingly, ccf-mtDNA had a positive correlation with Fis-1 and a negative correlation with Opa-1 and LC3. Furthermore, we found a noteworthy inverse correlation between illness severity and MHI, with lower MHI and higher ccf-mtDNA levels in subjects with a longer illness duration, worse functional status, and higher depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate that mitochondrial allostatic load contributes to BD, suggesting mitochondria represent a potential biological intersection point that could contribute to impaired cellular resilience and increased vulnerability to stress and mood episodes. Ultimately, by linking mitochondrial dysfunction to disease progression and poor outcomes, we might be able to build a predictive marker that explains how mitochondrial function and its regulation contribute to BD development and that may eventually serve as a treatment guide for both old and new therapeutic targets., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Dogs with visceral leishmaniasis play a key role in the transmission cycle of Leishmania infantum to humans in the urban environment. There is a consensus regarding the importance of developing a vaccine to control this disease. Despite many efforts to develop a protective vaccine against CVL, the ones currently available, Leish-tec ® and LetiFend ® , have limited effectiveness. This is due, in part, to the complexity of the immune response of the naturally infected dogs against the parasite and the complexity of the parasite transmission cycle. Thus, strategies, such as the development of a transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) already being applied to other vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, would be an attractive alternative to control leishmaniasis. TBVs induce the production of antibodies in the vertebrate host, which can inhibit parasite development in the vector and/or interfere with aspects of vector biology, leading to an interruption of parasite transmission. To date, there are few TBV studies for CVL and other leishmaniasis forms. However, the few studies that exist show promising results, thus justifying the further development of this approach.

The microbiome is fundamental for understanding bacterial activities in sediments. However, only a limited number of studies have addressed the microbial diversity of Amazonian sediments. Here, we studied the microbiome of sediments from a 13,000-year BP core retrieved in a floodplain lake in Amazonia using metagenomics and biogeochemistry. Our aim was to evaluate the possible environmental influence over a river to a lake transition using a core sample. To this end, we sampled a core in the Airo Lake, a floodplain lake in the Negro River basin. The Negro River is the largest tributary of the Amazon River. The obtained core was divided into three strata: (i) surface, almost complete separation of the Airo Lake from the Negro River when the environment becomes more lentic with greater deposition of organic matter (black-colored sediment); (ii) transitional environment (reddish brown); and (iii) deep, environment with a tendency for greater past influence of the Negro River (brown color). The deepest sample possibly had the greatest influence of the Negro River as it represented the bottom of this river in the past, while the surface sample is the current Airo Lake bottom. In total, six metagenomes were obtained from the three different depth strata (total number of reads: 10.560.701; sequence length: 538 ± 24, mean ± standard deviation). The older (deeper) sediment strata contained a higher abundance of Burkholderia, Chitinophaga, Mucilaginibacter, and Geobacter, which represented ~ 25% of the metagenomic sequences. On the other hand, the more recent sediment strata had mainly Thermococcus, Termophilum, Sulfolobus, Archaeoglobus, and Methanosarcina (in total 11% of the metagenomic sequences). The sequence data were binned into metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). The majority of the obtained MAGs (n = 16) corresponded to unknown taxa, suggesting they may belong to new species. The older strata sediment microbiome was enriched with sulfur cycle genes, TCA cycle, YgfZ, and ATP-dependent proteolysis in bacteria. Meanwhile, serine-glyoxylate cycle, stress response genes, bacterial cell division, cell division-ribosomal stress protein cluster, and oxidative stress increased in the younger strata. Metal resistance and antimicrobial resistance genes were found across the entire core, including genes coding for fluoroquinolones, polymyxin, vancomycin, and multidrug resistance transporters. These findings depict the possible microbial diversity during the depositional past events and provided clues of the past microbial metabolism throughout time., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The blood-sucking mites Dermanyssus gallinae ("red mite"), Ornithonyssus sylviarum ("northern fowl mite"), and Ornithonyssus bursa ("tropical fowl mite") stand out for causing infestations in commercial poultry farms worldwide, resulting in significant economic damage for producers. In addition to changes in production systems that include new concerns for animal welfare, global climate change in recent years has become a major challenge in the spread of ectoparasites around the world. This review includes information regarding the main form of controlling poultry mites through the use of commercially available chemicals. In addition, non-chemical measures against blood-sucking mites were discussed such as extracts and oils from plants and seeds, entomopathogenic fungi, semiochemicals, powder such as diatomaceous earth and silica-based products, and vaccine candidates. The control of poultry mites using chemical methods that are currently used to control or eliminate them are proving to be less effective as mites develop resistance. In contrast, the products based on plant oils and extracts, powders of plant origin, fungi, and new antigens aimed at developing transmission-blocking vaccines against poultry mites provide some encouraging options for the rational control of these ectoparasites.

Medicinal plants, such as Talisia esculenta , are rich in antioxidant biomolecules, which are used in the treatment and prevention of many diseases. The antioxidant potential of T. esculenta extracts obtained from leaves and fruit peels was investigated using biochemical and 3T3 cell line assays as well as in vivo assays using an organism model Tenebrio molitor . Four extracts were tested: hydroethanolic extracts from leaves (HF) and from fruit peels (HC), and infusion extracts from leaves (IF) and from fruit peels (IC). The biochemical assays demonstrated an antioxidant capacity verified by TAC, reducing power, DPPH, and copper chelating assays. None of the extracts exhibited cytotoxicity against 3T3 cells, instead offering a protection against CuSO 4 -induced oxidative stress. The antioxidant activity observed in the extracts, including their role as free radical scavengers, copper chelators, and stress protectors, was further confirmed by T. molitor assays. The CLAE-DAD analysis detected phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, rutin, and quercitrin, as the main constituents of the samples. This study highlights that leaf and fruit peels extracts of T. esculenta could be effective protectors against ROS and copper-induced stress in cellular and invertebrate models, and they should be considered as coadjutants in the treatment and prevention of diseases related to oxidative stress and for the development of natural nutraceutical products.

Objective: To identify gestational weight gain trajectories and their association with demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics., Method: Information of 599 pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in public health units was collected through questionnaires and medical records, resulting in 4,272 measures of body weight. Group-based trajectory models were applied to identify patterns of gestational weight gain., Results: The average gestational weight gain at 40 weeks was 14.1 kg (95%CI: 13.2, 15.0). Three different trajectory groups were identified: low (9.9%), intermediate (66.4%), and high (23.7%). Pregnant women who smoked and those classified above IOM's weight gain recommendations were more likely to be classified in the group with a high weight gain trajectory; while those with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, and with greater parity were more likely to be categorized in the low weight gain trajectory. After adjusting for other variables in the model, parity remained significantly associated with gestational weight gain (β: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.27, 0.73). In the multilevel model, weight gain remained different among the categories of group-based trajectory, even after adjustment for other investigated variables for intermediate (β: 2.94; 95%CI: 2.32, 3.58) and high (β: 5.88; 95%CI: 5.09, 6.66) gestational weight gain trajectory groups., Conclusions: Behavioral, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics determined the belonging to groups with a high or low trajectory of gestational weight gain. The findings contribute to a better understanding of patterns of gestational weight gain in middle-income women groups.

Background: Porteirinha is endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), with intense disease transmission of the disease. We evaluated the impact of canine euthanasia as a single control measure on the incidence of VL in humans and canines., Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was carried out over four years (1998-2002) in 8 of the 12 neighborhoods of the city. The dynamics of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) transmission were evaluated for 2 years, before beginning the screening-culling intervention. The comparative morbidity index (CMI) was used to stratify areas with the greatest risk of CVL, and the spatial distribution of human and canine VL cases was compared using univariate and bivariate K-functions., Results: Human cases conglomerated in three neighborhoods. Spatial clusters were detected for CVL in 1998, 2000, and 2001, but not in 1999, when greater spatial dispersion occurred. The screening and culling intervention reduced the number of human VL cases and decreased the incidence of CVL, mainly in neighborhoods with a high CMI., Conclusions: The systematic euthanasia of seropositive dogs was shown to be an effective control action of the Program for Control of Visceral Leishmaniasis (PCLV) in Brazil. The fundamental role of domestic dogs in the epidemiological chain of VL was reaffirmed.

Forest fragments from Amazon are important long-term carbon (C) reservoirs with an essential role in the global C balance. They are often impacted by understory fires, deforestation, selective logging and livestock. Forest fires convert soil organic matter into pyrogenic carbon (PyC), but little is known about its distribution and accumulation along the soil profile. Thus, the objective of this study is to estimate the refractory carbon stocks derived from PyC accumulated in the soil vertical profile of different seasonal forest fragments in the Amazon. Sixty-nine soil cores (1 m deep) were collected in 12 forest fragments of different sizes considering edge and interior gradients. The mean total organic C (TOC) and PyC contents for the edge and interior gradients were 0.84% and 0.009%, respectively. The PyC/TOC ratio ranged from 0.53% to 1.78%, with an average of 1.32% and increasing in depth, being low when compared with other studies, where the contribution of PyC to TOC ranges from 1 to 9%. PyC stocks on the edge (1.04 ± 0.04 Mg ha -1 ) differed significantly from the interior (1.46 ± 0.03 Mg ha -1 ). The analyzed forest fragments presented a weighted PyC stock of 1.37 ± 0.65 Mg ha -1 . The vertical distribution of PyC declined in depth with 70% of PyC concentrated in the surface soil layers (0-30 cm). These results indicate that the PyC accumulated in the vertical profile of soils in forest fragments in Amazonia are important, and they need to be considered in Brazilian and global reports on carbon stocks and fluxes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recent studies suggest that the association of antigens in microparticles increases the anti- Leishmania vaccine immunogenicity. This study aims to investigate the in situ effect of the adjuvant performance consisting of chitosan-coated poly( D , L -lactic) acid submicrometric particles (SMP) and analyze the inflammatory profile and toxicity. Two formulations were selected, SMP 1 , containing poly( D , L -lactide) (PLA) 1% wt / v and chitosan 1% wt / v ; and SMP 2 , containing PLA 5% wt / v and chitosan 5% wt / v . After a single dose of the unloaded SMP 1 or SMP 2 in mice, the SMPs promoted cell recruitment without tissue damage. In addition, besides the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity having demonstrated similar results among the analyzed groups, a progressive reduction in the levels of N-acetyl- β- D -glucosaminidase (NAG) until 72 h was observed for SMPs. While IL-6 levels were similar among all the analyzed groups along the kinetics, only the SMPs groups had detectable levels of TNF-α. Additionally, the Leishmania braziliensis antigen was encapsulated in SMPs (SMP 1 Ag and SMP 2 Ag), and mice were vaccinated with three doses. The immunogenicity analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated a reduction in NK (CD3 - CD49 + ) cells in all the SMPs groups, in addition to impairment in the T cells subsets (CD3 + CD4 + ) and CD3 + CD8 + ) and B cells (CD19 + ) of the SMP 2 group. The resulting data demonstrate that the chitosan-coated SMP formulations stimulate the early events of an innate immune response, suggesting their ability to increase the immunogenicity of co-administered Leishmania antigens.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder with sex bias in disease onset and symptom severity. Recently, it was observed that females present more severe symptoms in the perimenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. The administration of estrogen also alleviates schizophrenia symptoms. Despite this, little is known about symptom fluctuation over the menstrual cycle and the underlying mechanisms. To address this issue, we worked with the two-hit schizophrenia animal model induced by neonatal exposure to a virus-like particle, Poly I:C, associated with peripubertal unpredictable stress exposure. Prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI) in male and female mice was considered analogous to human schizophrenia-like behavior. Female mice were studied in the proestrus (high-estrogen estrous cycle phase) and diestrus (low-estrogen phase). Additionally, we evaluated the hippocampal mRNA expression of estrogen synthesis proteins; TSPO and aromatase; and estrogen receptors ERα, ERβ, and GPER. We also collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from male and female patients with schizophrenia and converted them to induced microglia-like cells (iMGs) to evaluate the expression of GPER. We observed raised hippocampal expression of GPER in two-hit female mice at the proestrus phase without PPI deficits and higher levels of proteins related to estrogen synthesis, TSPO, and aromatase. In contrast, two-hit adult males with PPI deficits presented lower hippocampal mRNA expression of TSPO, aromatase, and GPER. iMGs from male and female patients with schizophrenia showed lower mRNA expression of GPER than controls. Therefore, our results suggest that GPER alterations constitute an underlying mechanism for sex influence in schizophrenia., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial hypertension are considered serious public health problems. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress is usually related to the onset of DM and hypertension, as well their associated complications. Moreover, the levels of some minerals are closely related to the pathophysiology of these diseases. Thus, in this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of metformin on the redox profile and mineral levels in the serum of patients with DM type 2 and hypertension. We also tested the effect of metformin on the viability and redox profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 24 h. As expected, we found that patients with type 2 DM and hypertension + type 2 DM had higher fasting glucose and triglyceride levels. As groundbreaking research, we found that both patients DM type 2 and Hypertension + DM type 2 had reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. On the other hand, the levels of total thiols (PSH) and vitamin C were increased. There was no statistical significance for the alterations in mineral levels. In addition, metformin treatment had no cytotoxic effect on PBMCs. Similarly, in patients of both groups, MPO activity was reduced and PSH levels were increased in PBMCs. We have shown that metformin is a drug with a protective effect in patients with DM type 2 against oxidative stress by reducing MPO activity and improving the levels of PSH and antioxidant defenders such as vitamin C. The results of in vitro assays support the antioxidant effect of metformin. Furthermore, we suggest studies to assess the biochemical mechanisms of metformin and how it can be used in a pharmacological therapeutic perspective against oxidative damage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The species complexes Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the causative agents of cryptococcosis. Virulence and susceptibility to antifungals may vary within each species according to the fungal genotype. Therefore, specific and easily accessible molecular markers are required to distinguish cryptic species and/or genotypes. Group I introns are potential markers for this purpose because they are polymorphic concerning their presence and sequence. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the presence of group I introns in the mitochondrial genes cob and cox1 in different Cryptococcus isolates. Additionally, the origin, distribution, and evolution of these introns were investigated by phylogenetic analyses, including previously sequenced introns for the mtLSU gene. Approximately 80.5% of the 36 sequenced introns presented homing endonucleases, and phylogenetic analyses revealed that introns occupying the same insertion site form monophyletic clades. This suggests that they likely share a common ancestor that invaded the site prior to species divergence. There was only one case of heterologous invasion, probably through horizontal transfer to C. decagattii (VGIV genotype) from another fungal species. Our results showed that the C. neoformans complex has fewer introns compared to C. gattii. Additionally, there is significant polymorphism in the presence and size of these elements, both among and within genotypes. As a result, it is impossible to differentiate the cryptic species using a single intron. However, it was possible to differentiate among genotypes within each species complex, by combining PCRs of mtLSU and cox1 introns, for C. neoformans species, and mtLSU and cob introns for C. gattii species.

Dredging activities cause sediment resuspension, which can change the bioavailability of nutrients such as phosphorus (P) in aquatic ecosystems due to remobilization. This study evaluated the remobilization of P in the solid and dissolved phase before and after sediment resuspension in the Meriti and Iguaçu River estuaries and the Rio de Janeiro and Niterói harbor in Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Three water and sediment samples were collected at each point. Dissolved phosphorus (DP), total phosphorus (TP), organic phosphorus (OP), and inorganic phosphorus (IP) were analyzed before and after resuspension. Resuspension directly impacted the fine-grained samples, causing the release of P into the water column after resuspension, increasing eutrophication of the estuary and risk to biota. The phosphorus enrichment index (PEI) was calculated in the four areas, and in all areas, the index was above 1, which means high ecological risk. The area with sandy granulometry and a lower percentage of organic matter showed an increase in the index after resuspension. The resuspension may impact the increase of eutrophication in some areas, due to the remobilization of the sediment and the adsorbed contaminants., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this paper, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis that aims to evaluate the reliability of coronavirus disease diagnostic tests in 2019 (COVID-19). This article seeks to describe the scientific discoveries made because of diagnostic tests conducted in recent years during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021, searches for published papers on the COVID-19 diagnostic were made in the PubMed database. Ninety-nine scientific articles that satisfied the requirements were analyzed and included in the meta-analysis, and the specificity and sensitivity of the diagnostic accuracy were assessed. When compared to serological tests such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA), molecular tests such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) performed better in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, the area under the curve restricted to the false-positive rates (AUC FPR ) of 0.984 obtained by the antiviral neutralization bioassay (ANB) diagnostic test revealed significant potential for the identification of COVID-19. It has been established that the various diagnostic tests have been effectively adapted for the detection of SARS-CoV-2; nevertheless, their performance still must be enhanced to contain potential COVID-19 outbreaks, which will also help contain potential infectious agent outbreaks in the future.

Objetive: To estimate risk and protection factors associated with suicide in Campinas, Brazil, in 2019., Methods: This is a populational case-control study analyzing 83 cases of suicide that occurred in 2019 in Campinas, a Brazilian city with about 1.2 million inhabitants. Controls were composed of 716 inhabitants. An adjusted multiple logistic regression was used. Cases and controls were the dichotomous response variables. Sociodemographic and behavioral variables were the predictor variables., Results: The categories which presented higher risk of suicide were: males [OR = 5.26 (p < 0.001)]; people aged 10-29 years [OR = 5.88 (p = 0.002)]; individuals without paid work [OR = 3.06 (p = 0.013)]; individuals presenting problematic use of alcohol [OR = 33.12 (p < 0.001)] and cocaine [14.59 (p < 0.007)]; and people with disabilities [OR = 3.72 (p < 0.001)]. Moreover, the perception of fear was associated with reduced suicide risk [OR = 0.19 (p = 0.015)]. Higher district HDI levels also showed a 4% decrease in risk for each 0.01 increase in district HDI levels [OR = 0.02 (p = 0.008)]., Conclusions: This study evidenced the association between sociodemographic and behavioral variables and suicide. It also emphasized the complexity in the dynamics between personal, social, and economic factors to this external cause of death.

The behaviors related to caloric balance during pregnancy can lead to short- and long-term repercussion over the life course. This study aimed to identify patterns of energy balance-related behavior (EBRB) and its association with food insecurity (FI) in pregnant women. Cross-sectional, with pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in public health units in Colombo, Brazil, in 2018/2019. EBRB patterns were identified by factor analysis, and the scores were compared according to FI levels (mild and moderate/severe (M/S) through quantile regression. Four EBRB patterns were identified among 535 pregnant women: Factor 1- household/caregiving activities, exercise/sport, and physical inactivity; Factor 2 - fruits and vegetables; Factor 3 - paid work and commuting; Factor 4 - soda and sweetened beverage, sweets, and goodies. After adjusted analyses, women with mild FI presented higher scores for Factor 1 and lower scores for Factor 3. Higher scores for Factor 4 (p25) were observed among women with mild FI in simultaneous quantile regression. M/S FI was associated with lower scores for Factor 3 (p75). Mixed patterns with factors negatively and positively associated with energy balance were identified among pregnant women with FI.

Chagas disease remains a neglected disease that is considered to be a public health problem. The early diagnosis of cases is important to improve the prognosis of infected patients and prevent transmission. Serological tests are the method of choice for diagnosis. However, two serological tests are currently recommended to confirm positive cases. In this sense, more sensitive and specific serological tests need to be developed to overcome these current diagnosis problems. This study aimed to develop a new recombinant multiepitope protein for the diagnosis of Chagas disease, hereafter named rTC. The rTC was constructed based on amino acid sequences from different combinations of Trypanosoma cruzi antigens in the same polypeptide and tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect different types of Chagas disease. rTC was able to discriminate between indeterminate (IND) and cardiac (CARD) cases and cross-reactive diseases, as well as healthy samples, with 98.28% sensitivity and 96.67% specificity, respectively. These data suggest that rTC has the potential to be tested in future studies against a larger serological panel for the diagnosis of Chagas disease.

Background: visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a critical public health problem in over ninety countries. The control measures adopted in Brazil have been insufficient when it comes to preventing the spread of this overlooked disease. In this context, a precise diagnosis of VL in dogs and humans could help to reduce the number of cases of this disease. Distinct studies for the diagnosis of VL have used single recombinant proteins in serological assays; however, the results have been variable, mainly in relation to the sensitivity of the antigens. In this context, the development of multiepitope-based proteins could be relevant to solving such problem., Methods: a chimeric protein (rMELEISH) was constructed based on amino acid sequences from kinesin 39 (k39), alpha-tubulin, and heat-shock proteins HSP70 and HSP 83.1, and tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) for the detection of L. infantum infection using canine ( n = 140) and human ( n = 145) sera samples., Results: in the trials, rMELEISH was able to discriminate between VL cases and cross-reactive diseases and healthy samples, with sensitivity and specificity values of 100%, as compared to the use of a soluble Leishmania antigenic extract (SLA)., Conclusions: the preliminary data suggest that rMELEISH has the potential to be tested in future studies against a larger serological panel and in field conditions for the diagnosis of canine and human VL.

Malaria is a parasitic infection that is a great public health concern and is responsible for high mortality rates worldwide. Different strategies have been employed to improve disease control, demonstrating the ineffectiveness of controlling vectors, and parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs requires the development of an effective preventive vaccine. There are countless challenges to the development of such a vaccine directly related to the parasite's complex life cycle. After more than four decades of basic research and clinical trials, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the pre-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum (RTS, S) malaria vaccine for widespread use among children living in malaria-endemic areas. However, there is a consensus that major improvements are needed to develop a vaccine with a greater epidemiological impact in endemic areas. This review discusses novel strategies for malaria vaccine design taking the target stages within the parasite cycle into account. The design of the multi-component vaccine shows considerable potential, especially as it involves transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) that eliminate the parasite's replication towards sporozoite stage parasites during a blood meal of female anopheline mosquitoes. Significant improvements have been made but additional efforts to achieve an efficient vaccine are required to improve control measures. Different strategies have been employed, thus demonstrating the ineffectiveness in controlling vectors, and parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs requires the development of a preventive vaccine. Despite having a vaccine in an advanced stage of development, such as the RTS, S malaria vaccine, the search for an effective vaccine against malaria is far from over. This review discusses novel strategies for malaria vaccine design taking into account the target stages within the parasite's life cycle.