Ethnic diversity in Chilean blood groups: A comprehensive analysis of genotypes, phenotypes, alleles and the immunogenic potential of antigens in northern, southern and central regions.

Background And Objectives: The available information on blood groups in the Chilean population is derived from studies on aboriginal cohorts and routine serological test results. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of genotypes, phenotypes and blood group alleles in donors from northern, central and southern Chile using molecular methods.

Materials And Methods: Overall, 850 samples from donors in northern, central and southern Chile were genotyped.

Mono- and di-rhamnolipids mixtures from Pseudomonas aeruginosa for use in extreme conditions of pre- and post-salt oil reservoirs compared with synthetic surfactants.

Rhamnolipids are multipurpose molecules known as natural glycolipid biosurfactants that are often biosynthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. They are readily biodegradable, have less impact on the environment and are less toxic than conventional surfactants. They can be applied in ex situ microbial enhanced oil recovery.

Rising trend of dentist-prescribed antibiotics in Brazil: 2011-2021.

Objectives: To describe the trends in antibiotic prescribing by dental practitioners and to investigate the relationship between these trends and some factors of public oral health services in Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil.

Methods: This was a time-series analysis of antibiotics prescribed by dental practitioners between January 2011 and December 2021. The outcome variables were number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD/1000 population/year in a sample of cities in MG.

Determinants of Chromatin Organization in Aging and Cancer-Emerging Opportunities for Epigenetic Therapies and AI Technology.

This review article critically examines the pivotal role of chromatin organization in gene regulation, cellular differentiation, disease progression and aging. It explores the dynamic between the euchromatin and heterochromatin, coded by a complex array of histone modifications that orchestrate essential cellular processes. We discuss the pathological impacts of chromatin state misregulation, particularly in cancer and accelerated aging conditions such as progeroid syndromes, and highlight the innovative role of epigenetic therapies and artificial intelligence (AI) in comprehending and harnessing the histone code toward personalized medicine.

Serologic profiling of D variants in donor routine: unveiling the impact on false-negative results and alloimmunization.

The high number of D variants can lead to the unnecessary use of Rh immune globulin, overuse of D- RBC units, and anti-D allommunization. D variant prevalence varies among ethnic groups, and knowledge of the main variants present in a specific population, their behavior in serologic tests, and their impact on clinical practice is crucial to define the best serologic tests for routine use. The present study aimed to explore the serologic profile of D variants and to determine which variants are most associated with false-negative D typing results and alloimmunization.

A cellulose monolithic stir bar for sorptive extraction of glycerol from biodiesel.

This work presents an eco-friendly approach for determining free glycerol in biodiesel samples, using a cellulose monolith stir bar in the sorptive extraction method with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography and a refractive index detector. The cellulose monolith was produced from cellulose acetate by non-solvent-induced phase separation and subsequent alkaline deacetylation. The cellulose monolith presented a hierarchically porous structure, with 68% porosity and almost total deacetylation, with morphological and polarity characteristics that favor an efficient extraction of free glycerol from biodiesel.

Immunogenicity and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) using two-dose primary protocol in children and adolescents (Immunita-002, Brazil): A phase IV six-month follow up.

Introduction: Vaccines are essential for the prevention and control of several diseases, indeed, monitoring the immune response generated by vaccines is crucial. The immune response generated by vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is not well defined regarding to the intensity and medium to long-term duration of a protective immune response, which may point out the need of booster doses and might support the decisions in public health.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in a two-dose primary protocol in children and adolescent aging from 3 to 17 years old in Brazil.

Divergent preference functions generate directional selection in a jumping spider.

Sexual selection has long been thought to promote speciation, but this possibility still remains a topic of controversy. Many theoretical models have been developed to understand the relationship between sexual selection and speciation, but such relationship seems complex and sexual selection has also been argued to prevent speciation in many scenarios. Here, I model for the first time the tendency of speciation due to sexual selection using realistic model parameters input collected from an existing species, the jumping spider Hasarius adansoni.

Intranasal Liposomal Formulation of Spike Protein Adjuvanted with CpG Protects and Boosts Heterologous Immunity of hACE2 Transgenic Mice to SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Mucosal vaccination appears to be suitable to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we tested an intranasal mucosal vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that consisted of a cationic liposome containing a trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and CpG-ODNs, a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, as an adjuvant. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated the absence of toxicity following the intranasal administration of this vaccine formulation.

Antibody response and soluble mediator profile in the first six months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe global health and economic crisis, with significant consequences for human mortality and morbidity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more studies on the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, both to enhance its effectiveness and prevent its deleterious effects. This study presents the chronology of antibodies during six months after infection in hospitalized patients and the kinetics of serum soluble mediators of the cellular response triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

Dental Pain Medication Prescriptions in Minas Gerais, Brazil (2011-2021): A Time-Series Analysis.

To describe trends of dentist-prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics, from January 2011 to December 2021, as well as to examine the relationship between these trends and characteristics of public oral health services in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this time-series analysis, all drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. Drugs categorized as NSAIDs (M01A), and other analgesics and antipyretics (N02B) were included for analysis.

Effects of prophylactic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion with extended antigen matching on alloimmunization in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

Background: RBC alloimmunization remains a significant problem for many patients with SCD. To reduce alloimmunization some strategies have been implemented to provide limited or extended antigen matched RBC transfusions to patients with SCD who need chronic transfusion support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prophylactic RBC transfusion with extended antigen matching on alloimmunization in patients with SCD.

Genetic diversity of Gerbich alleles in Brazilians reveals an unexpected prevalence of the GE:-2,-3,4 phenotype.

Background And Objectives: Gerbich (GE) blood group system carries high-frequency antigens and the absence of them leads to rare phenotypes: GE:-2,3,4, GE:-2,-3,4 and GE:-2,-3,-4. Their serological differentiation is limited and misclassification of Gerbich phenotypes may occur, but this can be avoided by molecular characterization. This study aimed to characterize the molecular background responsible for rare Gerbich phenotypes in Brazilian population.

High levels of pro-inflammatory SARS-CoV-2-specific biomarkers revealed by in vitro whole blood cytokine release assay (CRA) in recovered and long-COVID-19 patients.

Background: Cytokines induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and hyperinflammatory responses have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, with progression to severe conditions or long-term subacute complications named as long-COVID-19.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate a set of antigen-specific inflammatory cytokines in blood from recovered COVID-19 individuals or who suffered a post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to healthy individuals with no history of COVID-19 exposition or infection. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-17A were quantified by multiplex cytometric bead assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after stimulation of whole blood with recombinant Spike protein from SARS-CoV-2.

variant alleles and risk of alloimmunization in Brazilians.

Variant alleles are found mainly in Afro-descendant individuals, as well as in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The most common variants are related to the allele, which can generate partial e and c antigens. Although variant alleles have been extensively studied, defining their clinical significance is a difficult task.

Conformational stability of SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein spike variants.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 mutations have arisen in the spike, a glycoprotein at the viral envelope and an antigenic candidate for vaccines against COVID-19. Here, we present comparative data of the glycosylated full-length ancestral and D614G spike together with three other transmissible strains classified by the World Health Organization as variants of concern: beta, gamma, and delta.

International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology Report of Basel and three virtual business meetings: Update on blood group systems.

Background And Objectives: Under the ISBT, the Working Party (WP) for Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology is charged with ratifying blood group systems, antigens and alleles. This report presents the outcomes from four WP business meetings, one located in Basel in 2019 and three held as virtual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Materials And Methods: As in previous meetings, matters pertaining to blood group antigen nomenclature were discussed.

From a recombinant key antigen to an accurate, affordable serological test: Lessons learnt from COVID-19 for future pandemics.

Serological tests detect antibodies generated by infection or vaccination, and are indispensable tools along different phases of a pandemic, from early monitoring of pathogen spread up to seroepidemiological studies supporting immunization policies. This work discusses the development of an accurate and affordable COVID-19 antibody test, from production of a recombinant protein antigen up to test validation and economic analysis. We first developed a cost-effective, scalable technology to produce SARS-COV-2 spike protein and then used this antigen to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

From the investigation of RHD-CE hybrid genes to the recognition of RHCE variants and RHD zygosity. Expanding the analysis by QMPSF in Brazilian donors and in patients with sickle cell disease.

Background: Hybrid genes are responsible for the formation of Rh variants and are common in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, it is not usually possible to detect them by conventional molecular protocols. In the present study, hybrid genes were investigated using the Quantitative Multiplex Polymerase chain reaction of Short Fluorescent Fragments (QMPSF), a molecular protocol that quantifies the copy number of RHD and RHCE exons.