Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 enhances the chondrogenesis of trunk neural crest cells: a possible gene regulatory network.

The neural crest (NC) is an embryonic cell population with high migratory capacity. It contributes to forming several organs and tissues, such as the craniofacial skeleton and the peripheral nervous system of vertebrates. Both pre-migratory and post-migratory NC cells are plastic, adopting multiple differentiation paths by responding to different inductive environmental signals.

Genomic insights into the expansion of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae within Portuguese hospitals.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP) are a public health concern, causing infections with a high mortality rate, limited therapeutic options and challenging infection control strategies. In Portugal, the CR-KP rate has increased sharply, but the factors associated with this increase are poorly explored. In order to address this question, phylogenetic and resistome analysis were used to compare the draft genomes of 200 CR-KP isolates collected in 2017-2019 from five hospitals in the Lisbon region, Portugal.

miR-6087 Might Regulate Cell Cycle-Related mRNAs During Cardiomyogenesis of hESCs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that act as negative regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, promoting mRNA degradation or translation repression. Despite the well-described presence of miRNAs in various human tissues, there is still a lack of information about the relationship between miRNAs and the translation regulation in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) during cardiomyogenesis. Here, we investigate RNA-seq data from hESCs, focusing on distinct stages of cardiomyogenesis and searching for polysome-bound miRNAs that could be involved in translational regulation.

Genotypic Diversity of Complex in Invasive Candidiasis at a Pediatric Tertiary Hospital: A 5-Year Retrospective Study.

Invasive candidiasis (IC) contributes to the morbidity and mortality of hospitalized patients and represents a significant burden to the healthcare system. Previous Brazilian studies have reported the presence of endemic sensu stricto genotypes causing candidemia and clonal transmission involving fluconazole-resistant isolates. We performed a 5-year retrospective analysis of IC cases in a Brazilian tertiary pediatric hospital and conducted a molecular investigation of sensu stricto.

Using Whole Genome Sequencing to Investigate a Mock-Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Real-Time.

Introduction: Healthcare associated infections due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) are a major concern in Portuguese hospitals. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) can improve infection control, but this practice is not routinely used by hospital clinical laboratories in Portugal. We simulated the investigation of a CRKP outbreak based on WGS, with the aim of determining, in the minimum possible time, genetic relatedness between CRKP clinical and environmental isolates.

Dysregulation of Transcription Factor Networks Unveils Different Pathways in Human Papillomavirus 16-Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) are the most common histological types of cervical cancer (CC). The worse prognosis of ADC cases highlights the need for better molecular characterization regarding differences between these CC types. RNA-Seq analysis of seven SCC and three ADC human papillomavirus 16-positive samples and the comparison with public data from non-tumoral human papillomavirus-negative cervical tissue samples revealed pathways exclusive to each histological type, such as the epithelial maintenance in SCC and the maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) pathway in ADC.

Consumption of carbonated soft drinks, fruits and vegetables and association with macroeconomic indicators: the analysis of students from seventy-four countries (2003-2015).

This study aimed to compare fruits and vegetables (FV), and carbonated soft drink (CSD) consumption among adolescents from seventy-four countries, according to macroeconomic indicators. This is an ecological study, developed with countries evaluated through the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2003-2014) and the National School Health Survey (PeNSE-Brazil, 2015). The percentages of students in each country who consumed CSD and FV daily and their association with the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Gross National Income per capita (GNIpc) were assessed.

Nucleosome landscape reflects phenotypic differences in Trypanosoma cruzi life forms.

Trypanosoma cruzi alternates between replicative and nonreplicative life forms, accompanied by a shift in global transcription levels and by changes in the nuclear architecture, the chromatin proteome and histone posttranslational modifications. To gain further insights into the epigenetic regulation that accompanies life form changes, we performed genome-wide high-resolution nucleosome mapping using two T. cruzi life forms (epimastigotes and cellular trypomastigotes).

The impact of blood-processing time on the proteome of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are key to several diagnostics assays and basic science research. Blood pre-analytical variations that occur before obtaining the PBMC fraction can significantly impact the assays results, including viability, composition, integrity, and gene expression changes of immune cells. With this as motivation, we performed a quantitative shotgun proteomics analysis using Isobaric Tag for Relative and Absolute Quantitation (iTRAQ 8plex) labeling to compare PBMC obtained from 24 h-stored blood at room temperature versus freshly isolated.

Postnatal HIV transmission in breastfed infants of HIV-infected women on ART: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: To systematically review the literature on mother-to-child transmission in breastfed infants whose mothers received antiretroviral therapy and support the process of updating the World Health Organization infant feeding guidelines in the context of HIV and ART.

Methods: We reviewed experimental and observational studies; exposure was maternal HIV antiretroviral therapy (and duration) and infant feeding modality; outcomes were overall and postnatal HIV transmission rates in the infant at 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. English literature from 2005 to 2015 was systematically searched in multiple electronic databases.

HIV-free survival at 12-24 months in breastfed infants of HIV-infected women on antiretroviral treatment.

Objective: To provide estimates of HIV-free survival at 12-24 months in breastfed children by maternal ART (6 months or lifelong) to inform WHO HIV and Infant Feeding guidelines.

Methods: Eighteen studies published 2005-2015 were included in a systematic literature review (1295 papers identified, 156 abstracts screened, 55 full texts); papers were analysed by narrative synthesis and meta-analysis of HIV-free survival by maternal ART regimen in a random effects model. We also grouped studies by feeding modality.

Nutritional status of urban adolescents: individual, household and neighborhood factors based on data from The BH Health Study.

The increasing prevalence of overweight in young people suggests that adolescent nutritional status is influenced by environmental factors. Using hierarchical modelling, this study aimed to analyse the association between individual, household and neighborhood factors and adolescent nutritional status and well-being. The study used data from a population-based household survey conducted in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2008 and 2009.

Overweight in men and women among urban area residents: individual factors and socioeconomic context.

The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with overweight among adults living in urban areas, with the income of the census tract as a context variable. The survey assessed individuals from two health districts of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Excess weight was determined by body mass index > 25kg/m2.

Ribosome profiling reveals translation control as a key mechanism generating differential gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Background: Due to the absence of transcription initiation regulation of protein coding genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II, posttranscriptional regulation is responsible for the majority of gene expression changes in trypanosomatids. Therefore, cataloging the abundance of mRNAs (transcriptome) and the level of their translation (translatome) is a key step to understand control of gene expression in these organisms.

Results: Here we assess the extent of regulation of the transcriptome and the translatome in the Chagas disease causing agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, in both the non-infective (epimastigote) and infective (metacyclic trypomastigote) insect's life stages using RNA-seq and ribosome profiling.

[Allochthonous cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Paraná, Brazil: epidemiological implications].

The south region is the only area in Brazil that does not present autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), however, in the state of Paraná, dogs and humans have been found showing a VL compatible clinical profile. In view of this problem, the present work aimed at isolating and identifying the parasite and determining the cases autochthony. All animals clinically suspect of VL were clinically evaluated, and had samples of their blood collected for hemoculture (NNN culture medium), serology, PCR and RAPD-PCR, hemogram, and biochemical assays.

Antibody immobilization on magnetic particles.

Magnetic particles (MNPs) offer attractive possibilities in biotechnology. MNPs can get close to a target biological entity, as their controllable sizes range from a few nanometres up to tens of nanometres, and their surface can be modified to add affinity and specificity towards desired molecules. Additionally, they can be manipulated by an external magnetic field gradient.