Search

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept explores the link between exposure to adverse conditions during fetal and early childhood development and the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as prostate cancer (PCa). Changes in epigenetics that control gene expression have been identified as potential contributors to the developmental origin of PCa. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), for example, control transposable elements (TEs) and maintain genome integrity in germ cells. However, stress-induced deregulation of TEs warrants investigating the role of piRNAs in the prostate gland from the DOHaD perspective, which remains underexplored. This study aimed to detect and characterize piRNA expression in the ventral prostate (VP) of Sprague Dawley rat offspring at 21 postnatal days (PND21) and PND540. The rats were subjected to maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation to understand its impact on prostate development and aging. Histological analyses showed that the gestational and lactation low-protein diet (GLLP) group experienced a delay in prostate gland development, with increased stromal and epithelial compartments and decreased luminal compartments during early life. Aging in this group resulted in decreased luminal compartments and increased stromal areas. Epithelial atrophy was observed in both groups, with an increased incidence of carcinoma in situ in the GLLP group. Small RNA sequencing from control and restricted groups (at PND21 and PND540) identified piRNA clusters in both young and aged animals. We also detected the expression of PIWI genes (Riwi, Rili, Rili2) in the prostate. Our data highlight the key role of maternal malnutrition in modulating piRNA expression in the offspring's VP, with the potential to influence prostate developmental biology and the risk of prostatic disorders with aging., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study investigated the impact of maternal protein restriction (MPR) and early postnatal sugar consumption (SUG) on the liver health of adult male descendant rats. Male offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (NPD) or a low protein diet (LPD) were divided into four groups: Control (CTR), Sugar Control (CTR + SUG), LPD during gestation and lactation (GLLP), and LPD with sugar (GLLP + SUG). Sugar consumption (10% glucose diluted in water) began after weaning on day 21 (PND 21), and at 90 days (PND 90), rats were sacrificed for analysis. Sugar intake reduced food intake and increased water consumption in CTR + SUG and GLLP + SUG compared to CTR and GLLP. GLLP and GLLP + SUG groups showed lower body weight and total and retroperitoneal fat compared to CTR and CTR + SUG. CTR + SUG and GLLP + SUG groups exhibited hepatocyte vacuolization associated with increased hepatic glycogen content compared to CTR and GLLP. Hepatic catalase activity increased in GLLP compared to CTR. Proteomic analysis identified 223 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among experimental groups. While in the GLLP group, the DEPs enriched molecular pathways related to cellular stress, glycogen metabolic pathways were enriched in the GLLP + SUG and CTR + SUG groups. The association of sugar consumption amplifies the effects of MPR, deregulating molecular mechanisms related to metabolism and the antioxidant system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The developmental origins of healthy and disease (DOHaD) concept has demonstrated a higher rate of chronic diseases in the adult population of individuals whose mothers experienced severe maternal protein restriction (MPR). Using proteomic and in silico analyses, we investigated the lung proteomic profile of young and aged rats exposed to MPR during pregnancy and lactation. Our results demonstrated that MPR lead to structural and immune system pathways changes, and this outcome is coupled with a rise in the PI3k-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, with increased MMP-2 activity, and CD8 expression in the early life, with long-term effects with aging. This led to the identification of commonly or inversely differentially expressed targets in early life and aging, revealing dysregulated pathways related to the immune system, stress, muscle contraction, tight junctions, and hemostasis. We identified three miRNAs (miR-378a-3p, miR-378a-5p, let-7a-5p) that regulate four proteins (ACTN4, PPIA, HSPA5, CALM1) as probable epigenetic lung marks generated by MPR. In conclusion, MPR impacts the lungs early in life, increasing the possibility of long-lasting negative outcomes for respiratory disorders in the offspring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Over the last few years, during the pandemic, the Brazilian population has suffered several problems, ranging from health to socioeconomic impacts. When we consider Brazilian science, there has been an undeniable scientific delay generated by the pandemic, especially in areas that are not related to the coronavirus. In this context, with the aim of fostering collaboration among researchers in the field of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) and enhancing the potential for implementing public health strategies to prevent noncommunicable chronic diseases, the Brazilian Association of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD Brazil) was established in 2020. In this narrative, we explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, focusing on its impacts on scientific research conducted in universities. Additionally, we underscore the significance of the DOHaD Brazil Association, particularly from the perspective of young researchers engaged in DOHaD research in Brazil.

To assess changes in middle ear pressures following adenotonsillectomies in children, and to evaluate the possibility of performing tympanoplasty at the same surgical time. Prospective study in which tube function was assessed using tympanometry on the first postoperative day and on the seventh postoperative day after adenotonsillectomies. A total of 39 children aged 6.8 ± 2.6 years were evaluated. On the first postoperative day, 79.5% presented with changes in middle ear pressure. On the seventh postoperative day, only 12.8% maintained this change. Tube dysfunction following adenotonsillectomy is transient and would not preclude an associated tympanoplasty from being performed, thereby reducing costs and risks related to the surgical procedure., Competing Interests: Competing InterestsNot applicable., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Purpose: This study aimed to assess texture analysis (TA) of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images as a quantitative tool for the differential diagnosis of odontogenic and non-odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OS and NOS, respectively)., Materials and Methods: CBCT images of 40 patients diagnosed with OS (N=20) and NOS (N=20) were evaluated. The gray level co-occurrence (GLCM) matrix parameters, and gray level run length matrix texture (GLRLM) parameters were extracted using manually placed regions of interest on lesion images. Seven texture parameters were calculated using GLCM and 4 parameters using GLRLM. The Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons between the groups, and the Levene test was performed to confirm the homogeneity of variance (α=5%)., Results: The results showed statistically significant differences ( P <0.05) between the OS and NOS patients regarding 3 TA parameters. NOS patients presented higher values for contrast, while OS patients presented higher values for correlation and inverse difference moment. Greater textural homogeneity was observed in the OS patients than in the NOS patients, with statistically significant differences in standard deviations between the groups for correlation, sum of squares, sum of entropy, and entropy., Conclusion: TA enabled quantitative differentiation between OS and NOS on CBCT images by using the parameters of contrast, correlation, and inverse difference moment., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None, (Copyright © 2023 by Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.)

Introduction: Acquired middle ear cholesteatoma can be classified as primary or secondary. Although both can result in hearing loss, it is still controversial whether there is an association between the type of cholesteatoma and the degree of hearing loss., Objective: To analyze the association between hearing loss and the type of acquired cholesteatoma, and the status of the ossicular chain., Methods: This was a cross-sectional historical cohort study involving patients diagnosed with acquired cholesteatoma who were surgically treated. Air and bone conduction thresholds, air-bone gaps and the status of the ossicular chain were analyzed for both types of cholesteatoma., Results: Eighty patients aged 5-57 were included in the study. Fifty-one patients had primary cholesteatoma and 29 had secondary cholesteatoma. Both types of cholesteatoma determined greater air-bone gaps at 0.5kHz. Secondary cholesteatoma determined greater hearing loss in all analyzed frequencies and higher air conduction and air-bone gap means., Conclusion: There was association between hearing loss and the type of cholesteatoma. Secondary cholesteatoma resulted in greater hearing impairment., (Copyright © 2015 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)