Search

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is principally derived from vagal neural crest cells that migrate caudally along the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract, giving rise to neurons and glial cells in two ganglionated plexuses. Incomplete migration of enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCDC) leads to Hirschsprung disease, a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia along variable lengths of the colorectum. Our previous work strongly supported the essential role of the avian ceca, present at the junction of the midgut and hindgut, in hindgut ENS development, since ablation of the cecal buds led to incomplete ENCDC colonization of the hindgut. In situ hybridization shows bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) is highly expressed in the cecal mesenchyme, leading us to hypothesize that cecal BMP4 is required for hindgut ENS development. To test this, we modulated BMP4 activity using embryonic intestinal organ culture techniques and retroviral infection. We show that overexpression or inhibition of BMP4 in the ceca disrupts hindgut ENS development, with GDNF playing an important regulatory role. Our results suggest that these two important signaling pathways are required for normal ENCDC migration and enteric ganglion formation in the developing hindgut ENS.

Abstract Background Intestinal microbial composition not only affects the health of the gut but also influences centrally mediated systems involved in mood, through the “gut-brain” axis, a bidirectional communication between gut microbiota and the brain. In this context, the modulation of intestinal microbiota and its metabolites through the administration of probiotics seems to represent a very promising approach in the treatment of the central nervous system alterations. Early postnatal life is a critical period during which the brain undergoes profound and essential modulations in terms of maturation and plasticity. Maternal separation (MS), i.e., the disruption of the mother–pup interaction, represents a pivotal paradigm in the study of stress-related mood disorders, by inducing persistent changes in the immune system, inflammatory processes, and emotional behavior in adult mammals. Results We conducted experiments to investigate whether sustained consumption of a multi-strain probiotic formulation by adult male mice could mitigate the effects of maternal separation. Our data demonstrated that the treatment with probiotics was able to totally reverse the anxiety- and depressive-like behavior; normalize the neuro-inflammatory state, by restoring the resting state of microglia; and finally induce a proneurogenic effect. Mice subjected to maternal separation showed changes in microbiota composition compared to the control group that resulted in permissive colonization by the administered multi-strain probiotic product. As a consequence, the probiotic treatment also significantly affected the production of SCFA and in particular the level of butyrate. Conclusion Gut microbiota and its metabolites mediate the therapeutic action of the probiotic mix on MS-induced brain dysfunctions. Our findings extend the knowledge on the use of probiotics as a therapeutic tool in the presence of alterations of the emotional sphere that significantly impact on gut microbiota composition. Video Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the environmental education (EE) and communication intervention for the valorization of migratory fish resources in an estuary of northern Portugal. The EE component intervention was implemented among Middle School pupils of that region. Students' knowledge was quantitatively evaluated with an experimental approach of pre-testing and post-testing, on the ocean and estuarine literacy (OEL) and biology of migratory species, such as sea lamprey. This study also analyzes the communication component developed via social media. Results of the EE component show an evident increment of OEL (p < 0.05). It is also highlighted that students had previous knowledge on issues that are not covered in the curriculum. Social media has shown to be an effective communication tool mostly among the scientific community (e.g., Ethnobiology). The research has various implications to OEL since it brings a new perspective towards the integration of ocean literacy in formal education; as well as the valorization of Students' local ecological knowledge and of inter-generational dynamics. This study contributed to promoting local biodiversity, OEL, and participatory local governance of these ecosystems.

ABSTRACT Objective to analyze the vaccine effectiveness in preventing deaths attributed to severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 (SARS/COVID-19) in adults and the elderly, in Blumenau, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2021. this was a population-based study conducted among individuals aged 20 years and older hospitalized with SARS/COVID-19; each death due to SARS/COVID-19 was considered a “case”, and every survivor was considered a “control”; the association between vaccination status and the outcome of “death” was estimated using logistic regression, and vaccine effectiveness was estimated as (1-OR)*100. The study included 1,756 cases of SARS/COVID-19 (59.2% male, mean age of 56 years, 50.4% with elementary education, 68.4% with comorbidities and 39.1% in intensive care), of whom 398 died (cases) and 1,358 survived (controls); vaccine effectiveness was 74% and 85% (20-59 years old) and 72% and 75% (≥ 60 years old), respectively, for those who were partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated. Conclusion vaccines proved to be effective in reducing case fatality ratio due to SARS/COVID-19 in individuals ≥ 20 years old.

ABSTRACTCitizens lack knowledge about the impact of gut microbiota on health and how lifestyle and dietary choices can influence it, leading to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and affecting overall well-being. Participatory action research (PAR) is a promising approach to enhance communication and encourage individuals to adopt healthier behaviors and improve their health. In this study, we explored the feasibility of integrating the photovoice method with citizen science approaches to assess the impact of social and environmental factors on gut microbiota health. In this context, citizen science approaches entailed the involvement of participants in the collection of samples for subsequent analysis, specifically gut microbiome assessment via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We recruited 70 volunteers and organized six photovoice groups based on age and educational background. Participants selected 64 photographs that represented the influence of daily habits on gut microbiota health and created four photovoice themes. Analysis of the gut microbiome using 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 474 taxa, and in-depth microbial analysis revealed three clusters of people based on gut microbiome diversity and body mass index (BMI). Our findings indicate that participants enhanced their knowledge of gut microbiome health through PAR activities, and we found a correlation between lower microbial diversity, higher BMI, and better achievement of learning outcomes. Using PAR as a methodology is an effective way to increase citizens’ awareness and engagement in self-care, maintain healthy gut microbiota, and prevent NCD development. These interventions are particularly beneficial for individuals at higher risk of developing NCDs.

Background: Despite growing scientific knowledge of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, questions remain regarding ZIKV infection in pregnancy and congenital ZIKV syndrome (CZS). Methods: The ZIKAction Paediatric Registry is an international registry of children with documented ZIKV exposure in utero and/or with confirmed or suspected CZS. Its aim is to characterize these children (i.e., clinical, radiological, neurodevelopmental features) and describe outcomes, longer-term sequelae and management through retrospective case note review. This analysis described the maternal and perinatal characteristics of children in the Registry’s Bahia arm, assessed their neuroimaging, ophthalmic, hearing and electroencephalography abnormalities by microcephaly classification and reported on hospitalisations. Children born in 2015-2018 and enrolled 2020-2021 in three public health facilities in Salvador were included. Results: Of 129 (57% female) children, 15 (11·6%) had laboratory-confirmed congenital ZIKV infection and 114 (88·4%) suspected CZS. At delivery, 15 (11·6%) were normocephalic, 30 (23·3%) moderately microcephalic, and 84 (65·1%) severely microcephalic. Median birth head circumference z-score was -3·51 [IQR, -4·69,-2·73]. During follow-up, all children had abnormal neuroimaging, 80·3% (94/117) abnormal electroencephalogram, 62·2% (77/120) ophthalmic abnormalities, and 27·4% (34/124) hearing impairment. Microcephaly classification was significantly associated with gestational age, and ophthalmological and electroencephalography abnormalities. Of 125 children with hospitalisation data, 52 (41·6%) had been hospitalised by most recent follow-up, at median age of 15·8 [4·0, 34·4] months; infections were the leading cause. Conclusion: Congenital ZIKV infection is an emerging disease with a varied and incompletely understood spectrum. Continued long-term follow-up is essential to understand longer-term prognosis and to inform future health and educational needs.

The human microbiome has become an area of intense research due to its potential impact on human health. However, the analysis and interpretation of this data have proven to be challenging due to its complexity and high dimensionality. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can process vast amounts of data to uncover informative patterns and relationships within the data, even with limited prior knowledge. Therefore, there has been a rapid growth in the development of software specifically designed for the analysis and interpretation of microbiome data using ML techniques. These software incorporate a wide range of ML algorithms for clustering, classification, regression, or feature selection, to identify microbial patterns and relationships within the data and generate predictive models. This rapid development with a constant need for new developments and integration of new features require efforts into compile, catalog and classify these tools to create infrastructures and services with easy, transparent, and trustable standards. Here we review the state-of-the-art for ML tools applied in human microbiome studies, performed as part of the COST Action ML4Microbiome activities. This scoping review focuses on ML based software and framework resources currently available for the analysis of microbiome data in humans. The aim is to support microbiologists and biomedical scientists to go deeper into specialized resources that integrate ML techniques and facilitate future benchmarking to create standards for the analysis of microbiome data. The software resources are organized based on the type of analysis they were developed for and the ML techniques they implement. A description of each software with examples of usage is provided including comments about pitfalls and lacks in the usage of software based on ML methods in relation to microbiome data that need to be considered by developers and users. This review represents an extensive compilation to date, offering valuable insights and guidance for researchers interested in leveraging ML approaches for microbiome analysis.

A considerable number of pediatric patients treated with beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics develop delayed onset of skin rashes during the course of treatment. Although the most frequent cause of these symptoms is infectious, many cases are labeled as allergic reactions to these drugs. BL allergy labels could have a negative impact, as they imply avoidance of this group of drugs and the use of second-line antibiotics, leading to a potential increase in adverse effects and the utilization of less effective therapies. This constitutes a major public health concern and economic burden, as the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can result in multidrug-resistant organisms and prolonged hospital stays. Therefore, it is crucial to delabel patients during childhood to avoid false labeling in adult life. Although the label of BL allergy is among the most frequent causes of allergy referral, its management remains controversial, and new diagnostic perspectives are changing the paradigm of managing BL allergies in children. Traditionally, drug provocation testing (DPT) was exclusively performed in patients who had previously obtained negative results from skin tests (STs). However, the sensitivity of STs is low, and the role of in vitro testing in the pediatric population is not well defined. Recent studies have demonstrated the safety of direct DPT without prior ST or serum tests for pediatric patients who report a low-risk reaction to BLs, which is cost-effective. However, there is still a debate on the optimal allergic workup to be performed in children with a benign immediate reaction and the management of children with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. In this review, we will discuss the impact of the label of BL allergy and the role of the different tools currently available to efficiently address BL allergy delabeling in children.

Bipartite medial cuneiform is a rare variant of the tarsal bones. The condition can be a potential source for non-traumatic midfoot pain and a possible misdiagnosis cause of several foot disorders, such as the anterior and posterior tibialis tendon disorder. We present the case of a patient with midfoot pain with signs and symptoms suggestive of tibialis anterior tendinopathy. Imaging tests, however, elucidated a bipartite medial cuneiform. The conservative treatment using a removable boot for six weeks effectively relieved symptoms, temporarily promoting pain and limp-free gait, but symptoms relapsed were observed at the last visit.

The rapid development of machine learning (ML) techniques has opened up the data-dense field of microbiome research for novel therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic applications targeting a wide range of disorders, which could substantially improve healthcare practices in the era of precision medicine. However, several challenges must be addressed to exploit the benefits of ML in this field fully. In particular, there is a need to establish “gold standard” protocols for conducting ML analysis experiments and improve interactions between microbiome researchers and ML experts. The Machine Learning Techniques in Human Microbiome Studies (ML4Microbiome) COST Action CA18131 is a European network established in 2019 to promote collaboration between discovery-oriented microbiome researchers and data-driven ML experts to optimize and standardize ML approaches for microbiome analysis. This perspective paper presents the key achievements of ML4Microbiome, which include identifying predictive and discriminatory ‘omics’ features, improving repeatability and comparability, developing automation procedures, and defining priority areas for the novel development of ML methods targeting the microbiome. The insights gained from ML4Microbiome will help to maximize the potential of ML in microbiome research and pave the way for new and improved healthcare practices.

Este trabajo incluye una reflexión sobre el valor que tiene la actividad de investigación en el marco de la planificación museística a partir de un estudio de caso centrado en diez casas museo dedicadas a personajes destacados de la historia de Canarias. Dicho estudio, a su vez, supone la antesala de un proyecto de musealización sobre un corsario tinerfeño de la Edad Moderna, Amaro Pargo, al tiempo que permite poner de relieve la necesidad de concebir la atención que el museo presta al público como una actividad propiamente de investigación, en pie de igualdad con la que concierne a las colecciones y legados que custodia la institución.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Weight regain in the postoperative period after bariatric surgery is directly related to the relapse of preoperative comorbidities and a negative impact on the patients’ biochemical profile. AIMS: To assess the metabolic impact of weight regain on preoperative comorbidities and on patients’ biochemical profiles, in order to show the impact of the complications on the metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out with 75 women in the late postoperative period of bariatric surgery who presented pathological weight regain (≥20% of the maximum weight loss). Data of interest consisted of glycemic, lipid, and inflammatory profile measurements at three different moments of evaluation: preoperative period, at the weight nadir (minimum weight), and after weight regain. A multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mean age was 46.39±12.09 years. Preoperative body mass index was 40.10±4.11 kg/m2. There was an overall increase of 3.36 points in the mean body mass index between the nadir and after regain: from 26.30±3.9 kg/m2 to 29.66±4.66 kg/m2. The mean time to reach the nadir was 18±7.6 months, with an average percentage of excess weight loss of 91.08±11.8%. The median time for pathological weight regain was 48 months, and the mean regain amongst the sample was 8.85±5.65 kg. There was a significant correlation between pathological weight regain and levels of insulin (r=0.351; p

Objective: Aging, physical inactivity, and chronic disease can decrease strength and muscle mass and affect mobility and autonomy in older adults. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and associated factors of low physical functional performance among older adults in the city of Pomerode, in southern Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study with data on 733 older adults from the Study of Health in Pomerode – SHIP-Brazil. Low functional physical performance was defined as handgrip strength ≤ 32 kg for men or ≤ 20 kg for women and/or a Timed Up and Go test ≥ 11 seconds for men or ≥ 13 seconds for women. Associations were analysed by multiple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of low physical functional performance was 43.7% (42.2% among women and 45.5% among men). Low physical functional performance was associated with the 70-79 years age group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07) and insufficient physical activity (OR = 2.73) in men, and with the 70-79 years age group (OR = 2.09) and multimorbidity (OR = 1.87) in women. In general, older age, insufficient physical activity, and multimorbidity were associated with low physical functional performance in older adults. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that while insufficient physical activity is crucial for physical functional performance in older men, multimorbidity appears to be crucial for older women.