APAtizer: a tool for alternative polyadenylation analysis of RNA-Seq data.

Summary: APAtizer is a tool designed to analyze alternative polyadenylation events on RNA-sequencing data. The tool handles different file formats, including BAM, htseq, and DaPars bedGraph files. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to generate informative visualizations, including Volcano plots, heatmaps, and gene lists.

Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines on Regenerative Medicine Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Consensus Report from a Multispecialty Working Group.

Purpose: Injectable biologics have not only been described and developed to treat dermal wounds, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, but have also been reported to treat chronic pain conditions. Despite emerging evidence supporting regenerative medicine therapy for pain, many aspects remain controversial.

Methods: The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) identified the educational need for an evidence-based guideline on regenerative medicine therapy for chronic pain.

Electrical neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic pain: derivation of the intrinsic barriers, outcomes and considerations of the sustainability of implantable spinal cord stimulation therapies.

Introduction: For over 60 years, spinal cord stimulation has endured as a therapy through innovation and novel developments. Current practice of neuromodulation requires proper patient selection, risk mitigation and use of innovation. However, there are tangible and intangible challenges in physiology, clinical science and within society.

Awareness of the diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus in Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the proportions of awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Brazilian adult population.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study, with data from a representative sample of the Brazilian population, taken from the National Health Survey(PNS 2014/2015). Outcomes were defined based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements, self-reported DM diagnosis, and use of hypoglycemic agents or insulin.

Investigation of cancer incidence in ELSA-Brasil.

Low- and middle-income countries have high cancer-related mortality rates, and Brazil has one of the highest incidences of all cancers in South America. Since 2008, the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) follows up 15,105 civil adult servants of college education and research institutions in six Brazilian capitals, collecting relevant information on risk factors for the incidence of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. This study aimed to describe the methodology for surveillance and investigation of the incidence of primary cancers in ELSA-Brasil.

Pro-inflammatory polarization and colorectal cancer modulate alternative and intronic polyadenylation in primary human macrophages.

Introduction: Macrophages are essential cells of the immune system that alter their inflammatory profile depending on their microenvironment. Alternative polyadenylation in the 3'UTR (3'UTR-APA) and intronic polyadenylation (IPA) are mechanisms that modulate gene expression, particularly in cancer and activated immune cells. Yet, how polarization and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells affect 3'UTR-APA and IPA in primary human macrophages was unclear.

Arterial hypertension and associated factors: National Health Survey, 2019.

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with self-reported arterial hypertension, as well as its prevalence in the Brazilian adult population.

Methods: Data from 88,531 individuals aged 18 years or older who responded to the 2019 National Health Survey were analyzed. The outcome studied was self-reported arterial hypertension.

Prevalence and factors associated with self-reported diagnosis of high cholesterol in the Brazilian adult population: National Health Survey 2019.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported high cholesterol diagnosis and to analyze the factors associated with the prevalence in the Brazilian adult population.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, using data from the 2019 National Health Survey. The diagnosis of high cholesterol was self-reported.

MCL1 alternative polyadenylation is essential for cell survival and mitochondria morphology.

Alternative polyadenylation in the 3' UTR (3' UTR-APA) is a mode of gene expression regulation, fundamental for mRNA stability, translation and localization. In the immune system, it was shown that upon T cell activation, there is an increase in the relative expression of mRNA isoforms with short 3' UTRs resulting from 3' UTR-APA. However, the functional significance of 3' UTR-APA remains largely unknown.

Accommodative and binocular vision dysfunctions in a Portuguese clinical population.

Background: Several studies have suggested that accommodative and non-strabismic binocular dysfunctions are commonly encountered in optometric practice. This study aims to verify whether these findings apply to a Portuguese clinical population.

Methods: This study included consecutive nonpresbyopic subjects that came to two Portuguese optometric clinics over a period of six months.

Elaboration and validation of an e-book with the laws about diabetes in schools.

Objectives: to elaborate an e-book about children and adolescents' rights and duties concerning diabetes in schools.

Methods: we developed this methodological study in nine steps: Creation process definition, bibliographic survey, e-book elaboration, readability and apprehensibility examination, illustration, committee of judges and targeted audience validation (students' moms with diabetes and school staff), experts' meetings and final discussion. We have considered acceptable the Content Validity Coefficient minimum of 0.

Consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages: ELSA-Brasil results.

The study aims to describe the consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages according to sociodemographic, health and location variables. Cross-sectional study with ELSA-Brasil data (2008-2010). A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, food, health data and anthropometry.

Simultaneous studies of gene expression and alternative polyadenylation in primary human immune cells.

Transcription termination in eukaryotic cells involves the recognition of polyadenylation signals (PAS) that signal the site of pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Most eukaryotic genes contain multiple PAS that are used by alternative polyadenylation (APA), a co-transcriptional process that increases transcriptomic diversity and modulates the fate of the mRNA and protein produced. However, current tools to pinpoint the relationship between mRNAs in different subcellular fractions and the gene expression outcome are lacking, particularly in primary human immune cells, which, due to their nature, are challenging to study.

Association of self-reported sleep disturbances with ideal cardiovascular health in Brazilian adults: A cross-sectional population-based study.

Objective: To examine the association between sleep disturbances and cardiovascular health in Brazilian adults.

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a nationally representative sample of 36,480 Brazilian adults ages 18 and over. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to assess the association between sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, frequent interruptions in sleep, or sleeping more than usual) and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) cardiovascular health (CVH) scores through consideration of four behaviors (smoking, physical activity, body mass index, and diet) and three biological factors (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes).

Estimates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus prevalence according to Health Vulnerability Index in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalences of hypertension and diabetes for small areas in Belo Horizonte, according to the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI).

Methods: Ecological study with data from the Surveillance of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) conducted in Belo Horizonte, from 2006 to 2013. The self-reported diagnosis of diabetes and hypertension were evaluated.

Fruit and vegetable consumption, leisure-time physical activity and binge drinking in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, according to the Health Vulnerability Index.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption, practice of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and binge drinking for small areas of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

Methods: Ecological study conducted with data from the Surveillance System for Risk and Protection Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases by Telephone Survey (Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico - Vigitel). The prevalence of risk and protection factors from 2006 to 2013 were estimated and the 95% confidence intervals calculated.

On the function and relevance of alternative 3'-UTRs in gene expression regulation.

Messanger RNA (mRNA) isoforms with alternative 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) are produced by alternative polyadenylation (APA), which occurs during transcription in most eukaryotic genes. APA fine-tunes gene expression in a cell-type- and cellular state-dependent manner. Selection of an APA site entails the binding of core cleavage and polyadenylation factors to a particular polyadenylation site localized in the pre-mRNA and is controlled by multiple regulatory determinants, including transcription, pre-mRNA cis-regulatory sequences, and protein factors.

Association between Adiposity Indexes and Kidney Disease: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Elsa-Brazil).

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem and it is associated with a high risk of mortality. Overweight and obesity are known as independent risk factors for CKD.

Objective: To investigate the association between adiposity indexes and kidney disease.

Cardiovascular health and validation of the self-reported score in Brazil: analysis of the National Health Survey.

This paper aims to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular health and the validity of the Brazilian population's self-reported score. This is a cross-sectional, methodological study with 8,943 individual adults and laboratory data from the 2013 National Health Survey. We employed behavioral (body mass index, tobacco use, diet, physical activity, ideal if ≥ 3 ideal factors), biological (tobacco use, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, ideal if ≥ 3 ideal factors), and cardiovascular health scores (all factors, ideal if ≥ 4 ideal factors).

Factors associated with normal and cesarean delivery in public and private maternity hospitals: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: to investigate the factors associated with the mode of delivery in pregnant women in the city of Belo Horizonte.

Methods: cross-sectional study developed with data from the study "Being born in Belo Horizonte: survey on childbirth and birth" carried out in seven maternity hospitals in Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais. The final sample consisted of 1088 pregnant/postpartum women.

Elaboration and validation of a booklet on diabetes for Community Health Workers.

Objectives: to develop and validate a diabetes booklet for Community Health Workers.

Methods: methodological study developed in seven steps: Bibliographic review; Development of the booklet; Calculation of readability and comprehensibility scores; Validation of the booklet by the committee of judges; Discussion between experts; Validation of the booklet by the target audience; and Final discussion between experts. Validation was performed by 10 judges via e-Surv and on a face-to-face test with 5 Community Health Workers, considering the minimum Content Validity Coefficient of 0.