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A ferromagnetic gold nanoparticle based immune detection assay, exploiting the enhanced signal amplification of inorganic nanozymes, was developed and evaluated for its potential application in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) organisms, and simultaneous identification of Mycobacterium bovis. Ferromagnetic gold nanoparticles (Au-Fe 3 O 4 NPs) were prepared and their intrinsic peroxidase-like activity exploited to catalyse 3,3',5',5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). When the Au-Fe 3 O 4 NPs were functionalised by direct coupling with MTBC-selective antibodies, a nanoparticle based immune detection assay (NPIDA) was developed which could detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and differentiate M. bovis. In the assay, the intrinsic magnetic capability of the functionalised Au-Fe 3 O 4 NPs was used in sample preparation to capture target bacterial cells. These were incorporated into a novel immunoassay which used species selective monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to detect bound target. The formation of a blue TMB oxidation product, with a peak absorbance of 370 nm, indicated successful capture and identification of the target. The detection limit of the NPIDA for both MTB and M. bovis was determined to be comparable to conventional ELISA using the same antibodies. Although limited matrix effects were observed in either assay, the NPIDA offers a reduced time to confirmatory identification. This novel NPIDA was capable of simultaneous sample concentration, purification, immunological detection and speciation. To our knowledge, it represents the first immune-based diagnostic test capable of identifying MTBC organisms and simultaneously differentiating M. bovis., 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 © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to verify the association between socio-economic and demographic characteristics and dietary patterns (DP) of children assisted by the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Bolsa Família Program (BFP)., Design: This is a cross-sectional study. DP were defined using a principal component analysis. The association of the predictive variables and DP was modelled using multilevel linear regression analysis., Setting: This study was conducted in six municipalities from the State of Alagoas, Brazil., Participants: The participants were children aged 6-24 months who were assisted by the BFP., Results: A total of 1604 children were evaluated. Four DP were identified (DP1, DP2, DP3 and DP4). DP1 is composed of traditional Brazilian food. DP2 is formed mostly from ultra-processed foods (UPF). DP3 consists of milk (non-breast) with added sugar, while DP4 consists of fresh and minimally processed foods. Caregivers with higher age and education (β = -0·008; (95 % CI -0·017, -0·000); β = -0·037; (95 % CI -0·056, -0·018), respectively) were negatively associated with DP2. We observed a negative association between households with food insecurity (β = -0·204; (95 % CI -0·331, -0·078)) and DP4 and a positive association between caregivers with higher age and education (β = 0·011; (95 % CI (0·003; 0·019); β = 0·043; (95 % CI 0·025, 0·061), respectively) and DP4., Conclusion: This study identified the association between socio-economic inequities and DP early in life, with an early introduction of UPF, in children assisted by BFP in the State of Alagoas.

Objective: To evaluate the association between Fe deficiency anaemia (IDA) and complementary feeding in children under 2 years old assisted by the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, Bolsa Família (BFP)., Design: Cross-sectional study. Data were obtained through a standardised form, questionnaire to assess the eating habits of children under 2 years of age, capillary Hb (HemoCue®) and the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. Associations were calculated using hierarchical Poisson regression, adjusted at the last level by socio-economic, demographic and environmental variables from previous hierarchical levels., Setting: Six municipalities from the State of Alagoas, Brazil., Participants: Children aged 6-24 months assisted by BFP., Results: A total of 1604 children were evaluated, among whom 58·1 % had anaemia. A higher number of food groups consumed (prevalence ratio (PR) = 0·97; 95 % CI 0·95, 0·99; P = 0·009), the consumption of dairy (PR = 0·86; 95 % CI 0·79, 0·84; P = 0·001) and meat (PR = 0·90; 95 % CI 0·83, 0·99; P = 0·030) in addition to bottle feeding (PR = 0·88; 95 % CI 0·82, 0·96; P = 0·004) were associated with a lower prevalence of IDA., Conclusions: IDA is still a serious public health problem in children under 2 years old assisted by BFP in Alagoas. We highlight the importance of promoting complementary feeding based on a diversified dietary intake, as well strengthening prophylactic supplementation programmes to increase children's adherence in conjunction with the implementation of food and nutrition education to help reduce the prevalence of this condition.

Objective: To evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and the practice of breast-feeding in children under 2 years of age assisted by the conditional cash transfer programme, Bolsa Família Programme (PBF)., Design: A cross-sectional study. The consumption of UPF and the practice of breast-feeding were assessed using a structured 24-h recall. Associations were calculated using hierarchical Poisson regression, adjusted at the last level by socio-economic, demographic and environmental variables from previous hierarchical levels., Setting: Six counties from the state of Alagoas, Brazil., Participants: Children aged 6-24 months, assisted by PBF., Results: A total of 1604 children were evaluated, 11·7% of whom were overweight, and most had consumed UPF (90·6%) in the last 24 h. The most consumed UPF were biscuits, chocolate milk and baby food with 74·8, 66·8 and 24·9%, respectively. Through multivariable analysis, an association was found between lower consumption of UPF in the continuation of breast-feeding until the second year of life (prevalence ratio (PR) 0·91, 95 % CI 0·86, 0·96) and in the first year of life (PR 0·93, 95 % CI 0·88, 0·99)., Conclusions: It was found that the studied population had a high consumption of UPF, which harmed continued breast-feeding. We highlight the importance of strengthening public policies aimed at the promotion, protection and support of breast-feeding and healthy complementary feeding aimed at populations that have difficulties in physical and economic access to a healthy and adequate diet.

Aims: To investigate the effects of a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises and the inverse sequence on the hemodynamic parameters and indicators of arterial stiffness in healthy young adult subjects., Methods: Fifteen subjects were randomized in a crossover procedure according to two experimental conditions: combined aerobic exercise (30 min of treadmill running, 75-80% - peak VO 2 ) followed by resistance exercise (5 exercises, 3 sets - 10 RM) (AR) or vice versa (RA). Data of the hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness were obtained at baseline and after exercise (post-10, post-20, and post-30 min). Two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements was performed with the Newman-Keuls post-hoc. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05., Results: The results of the two-way ANOVA for repeated measures were not statistically significant for brachial and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, or arterial stiffness indicators: reflected wave indicators and pulse wave velocity (P > 0.05). Statistically significant interactions were observed before and after the exercise sessions for heart rate and rate pressure product (P = < 0.001)., Conclusion: The performance order of aerobic exercise followed by resistance exercise (AR) and the reverse order (RA) present similar changes in blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness. However, resistance exercise before aerobic exercise promotes increases in heart rate and rate product pressure., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)