Viral Metagenomics in Patients Who Underwent Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT): A Brazilian Experience.

Viral infections are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Immunosuppression may lead to the reactivation of latent viruses or the acquisition of new infections, resulting in severe clinical outcomes. The early detection of viral reactivations is crucial for effective patient management and post-transplant care.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants During the First Year of the Pandemic Highlight the Earlier Emergence of the Zeta Variant of Interest in Brazil.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 caused an alarming number of cases and deaths worldwide. Brazil was severely affected from late 2020 onward, especially after the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs). Although much is known about the dynamics and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 VOIs and VOCs in the country, information is still lacking on how the cocirculation of several SARS-CoV-2 lineages, along with the lack of vaccination and low adherence to social isolation measures, shaped the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Tailoring Genomic Selection for : A Comprehensive Review of SNP Arrays and Reference Genomes.

Background: Advances in SNP arrays and reference genome assemblies have significantly transformed cattle genomics, particularly for (Zebu cattle). Many commercial SNP arrays were originally designed for , leading to ascertainment bias and the exclusion of crucial SNPs specific to Zebu populations. This review assesses progress in SNP array and reference genome development, with a focus on efforts tailored to Zebu populations and their impact on genomic selection and breeding efficiency.

Exploring Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle: From Data Collection to Genetic and Nutritional Modeling.

Increasing feed efficiency in beef cattle is critical for meeting the growing global demand for beef while managing rising feed costs and environmental impacts. Challenges in recording feed intake and combining genomic and nutritional models hinder improvements in feed efficiency for sustainable beef production. This review examines the progression from traditional data collection methods to modern genetic and nutritional approaches that enhance feed efficiency.

Does living in a food desert impact weight loss after bariatric surgery?

Background: Lower access to fresh foods and lower income level are associated with greater obesity rates.

Objectives: We aim to study if weight loss 1 year after bariatric surgery is associated with living in areas defined as food deserts, that is, low access to foods and lower income.

Setting: Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital System, Richmond, VA; Academic Center.

Facial palsy after orthognathic surgery: An integrative analysis of literature reports and an illustrative case.

Background: To describe a case of a patient with PFP after orthognathic surgery and discuss cases reports on temporary or permanent facial paralysis, factors that trigger injury, and treatment for facial paralysis associated with orthognathic surgery.

Material And Methods: This study has two parts: a report of the case of a 20- year-old man who underwent orthognathic surgery for facial paralysis, and an integrative literature review on postoperative facial paralysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statements and performed survival analyses of all cases reported to date.

Results: The analysis was composed of 33 patients; 54,5% were male (mean age, 25 years).

Fast Analysis of Biobank-Size Data and Meta-Analysis using the BGLR R-package.

Analyzing human genomic data from biobanks and large-scale genetic evaluations often requires fitting models with a sample size exceeding the number of DNA markers used (n > p). For instance, developing Polygenic Scores (PGS) for humans and genomic prediction for genetic evaluations of agricultural species may require fitting models involving a few thousand SNPs using data with hundreds of thousands of samples. In such cases, computations based on sufficient statistics are more efficient than those based on individual genotype-phenotype data.

Mapping the relative accuracy of cross-ancestry prediction.

The overwhelming majority of participants in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have European (EUR) ancestry, and polygenic scores (PGS) derived from EURs often perform poorly in non-EURs. Previous studies suggest that between-ancestry differences in allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium are significant contributors to the poor portability of PGS in cross-ancestry prediction. We hypothesize that the portability of (local) PGS varies significantly over the genome.

Anxiolytic-like effects of Prolistarina: A bioinspired peptide from the venom of social wasps.

Pathological anxiety is among the most common psychiatric disorders. Despite advancements, predominant pharmacological treatments can lead to physical, chemical, and psychological dependence. Venoms of arthropods are important sources of neuroactive peptides with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of neurological disorders.

A Complete Functional Characterization of Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis in Need of Total Knee Replacement.

Background/objectives: The current literature lacks objective criteria to correctly identify patients in need of a total knee replacement. Surgery indication can be challenging for orthopedic surgeons, which may lead to high levels of patient dissatisfaction. The objective of this study is to describe a complete set of functional characteristics to identify patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis in need of a total knee replacement, correlating data from strength and performance tests with pain, function, and quality of life questionnaires.

Dengue and SARS-CoV-2 co-circulation and overlapping infections in hospitalized patients.

Since its emergence in 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread worldwide and consumed public health resources. However, the world still has to address the burdens of other infectious diseases that continue to thrive. Countries in the tropics and neotropics, including Brazil, are affected by annual, cyclic dengue epidemics.

Global Genotype by Environment Prediction Competition Reveals That Diverse Modeling Strategies Can Deliver Satisfactory Maize Yield Estimates.

Predicting phenotypes from a combination of genetic and environmental factors is a grand challenge of modern biology. Slight improvements in this area have the potential to save lives, improve food and fuel security, permit better care of the planet, and create other positive outcomes. In 2022 and 2023 the first open-to-the-public Genomes to Fields (G2F) initiative Genotype by Environment (GxE) prediction competition was held using a large dataset including genomic variation, phenotype and weather measurements and field management notes, gathered by the project over nine years.

Bayesian hierarchical hypothesis testing in large-scale genome-wide association analysis.

Variable selection and large-scale hypothesis testing are techniques commonly used to analyze high-dimensional genomic data. Despite recent advances in theory and methodology, variable selection and inference with highly collinear features remain challenging. For instance, collinearity poses a great challenge in genome-wide association studies involving millions of variants, many of which may be in high linkage disequilibrium.

Longitudinal analyses of infants' microbiome and metabolome reveal microbes and metabolites with seemingly coordinated dynamics.

Population studies have shown that the infant's microbiome and metabolome undergo significant changes in early childhood. However, no previous study has investigated how diverse these changes are across subjects and whether the subject-specific dynamics of some microbes correlate with the over-time dynamics of specific metabolites. Using mixed-effects models, and data from the ABC study, we investigated the early childhood dynamics of fecal microbiome and metabolome and identified 83 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 753 metabolites with seemingly coordinated trajectories.

Nanoformulated fenbendazole as an attractive approach for treating neurocysticercosis: and studies.

Purpose: This work aimed to develop fenbendazole nanocrystals to evaluate their effects on the energetic metabolism of cysticerci, following an intracranial inoculation in mice.

Methods: Fenbendazole was nanoformulated by the antisolvent method using poloxamers 188 and 407 as stabilizers. The nanosuspensions were lyophilized without cryoprotectants and the nanocrystals were characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, and dissolution performance.

The Role of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Meat Products, Not Just as Starter Cultures.

Lactic acid bacteria (LABs) are microorganisms of significant scientific and industrial importance and have great potential for application in meat and meat products. This comprehensive review addresses the main characteristics of LABs, their nutritional, functional, and technological benefits, and especially their importance not only as starter cultures. LABs produce several metabolites during their fermentation process, which include bioactive compounds, such as peptides with antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory properties.

Role of WISP1 in Stellate Cell Migration and Liver Fibrosis.

The mechanisms underlying the remarkable capacity of the liver to regenerate are still not completely understood. Particularly, the cross-talk between cytokines and cellular components of the process is of utmost importance because they represent potential avenues for diagnostics and therapeutics. WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) is a cytokine member of the CCN family, a family of proteins that play many different roles in liver pathophysiology.

Gamma-Decanolactone Increases Stress Resistance and Improves Toxicity Parameters on the Caenorhabditis elegans Alternative Model.

Gamma-decanolactone (GD) is a monoterpene compound with anticonvulsant, antiparkinsonian, and neuroprotective effects in preclinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and antioxidant profile of GD in silico and in the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) experimental model.

Capsaicin Improves Systemic Inflammation, Atherosclerosis, and Macrophage-Derived Foam Cells by Stimulating PPAR Gamma and TRPV1 Receptors.

Background: Capsaicin, a bioactive compound found in peppers, is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-lipidemic properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of capsaicin on atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: Apolipoprotein E knockout mice and their C57BL/6 controls were utilized to assess blood lipid profile, inflammatory status, and atherosclerotic lesions.

Genetic Foundations of Nellore Traits: A Gene Prioritization and Functional Analyses of Genome-Wide Association Study Results.

The main goal of this study was to pinpoint functional candidate genes associated with multiple economically important traits in Nellore cattle. After quality control, 1830 genomic regions sourced from 52 scientific peer-reviewed publications were used in this study. From these, a total of 8569 positional candidate genes were annotated for reproduction, 11,195 for carcass, 5239 for growth, and 3483 for morphological traits, and used in an over-representation analysis.

Selection indexes for residual feed intake derived from milk spectra.

Improving production efficiency and minimizing the environmental impact of dairy farming are 2 important goals of the dairy industry. Achieving these objectives requires improving the feed-to-milk conversion efficiency. One way to achieve this goal is through genetic selection.