Tuberculous pleural effusion: diagnosis & management.

: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's leading cause of death from infectious disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized 6.3 million new TB cases in 2017, 16% corresponding to extrapulmonary forms; pleural tuberculosis (PT) is the most common extrapulmonary form in adults.

Duke Activity Status Index cut-off scores for assessing functional capacity after stroke.

Purpose: To determine the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) cut-off scores and verify if they would be able to discriminate between chronic stroke individuals, who had poor, from those who had good functional capacity (FC).

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional study, where 92 individuals with chronic stroke had their FC measured by DASI scores and were classified into community and non-community walkers. Both the receiver operating characteristic and the area under the curve were used to determine the best DASI cut-off values that could discriminate between individuals, who had poor, from those who had good FC.

Production of Galactose Oxidase Inside the Fusarium fujikuroi Species Complex and Recombinant Expression and Characterization of the Galactose Oxidase GaoA Protein from Fusarium subglutinans.

Galactose oxidase catalyzes a two-electron oxidation, mainly from the C6 hydroxyl group of D-galactose, with the concomitant reduction of water to hydrogen peroxide. This enzyme is secreted by Fusarium species and has several biotechnological applications. In this study, a screening of galactose oxidase production among species of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex demonstrated Fusarium subglutinans to be the main producer.

Strategies of anaerobic sludge granulation in an EGSB reactor.

Anaerobic sludge granulation was evaluated in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor based on the increases in the specific organic loading rate (SOLR). The effect of precursor substances (calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and tannin) on the development of granular sludge was also investigated in batch reactors. The reactors were fed with synthetic sewage and operated in mesophilic conditions.

Introgressive hybridization in a Spiny-Tailed Iguana, , and its implications for taxonomy and conservation.

Introgression, the transmission of genetic material of one taxon into another through hybridization, can have various evolutionary outcomes. Previous studies have detected signs of introgression between western populations of the Mexican endemic and threatened spiny-tailed iguana, . However, the extent of this phenomenon along the geographic distribution of the species is unknown.

A spatial stream-network approach assists in managing the remnant genetic diversity of riparian forests.

Quantifying the genetic diversity of riparian trees is essential to understand their chances to survive hydroclimatic alterations and to maintain their role as foundation species modulating fluvial ecosystem processes. However, the application of suitable models that account for the specific dendritic structure of hydrographic networks is still incipient in the literature. We investigate the roles of ecological and spatial factors in driving the genetic diversity of Salix salviifolia, an Iberian endemic riparian tree, across the species latitudinal range.

[Alcohol consumption and lipid profile in participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-BRASIL)].

Introduction: dyslipidemias are commonly defined by low levels of HDL-c and high levels of triglycerides and LDL-c as an alteration in the functioning of lipoproteins. Several factors are related to this pathogenesis, and one of them is the consumption of alcohol, presenting divergences between the amount and the type of alcoholic drink that must be consumed to find effects of association with the lipid parameters. Objective: to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and the type of alcoholic beverage with HDL-c and triglycerides in participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil).

Measurement properties of self-report physical activity assessment tools for patients with stroke: a systematic review.

Background: Individuals with stroke demonstrate low levels of physical activity. Self-report measures of physical activity are frequently used and the choice of the best one to use for each purpose and context should take into account the measurement properties of these instruments.

Objective: To summarize the measurement properties and clinical utility of self-report measures of physical activity of post-stroke subjects and to evaluate both the methodological quality of the studies and the quality of the measurement properties.

The combined polymorphisms of interleukin-6-174GG genotype and interleukin-10 ATA haplotype are associated with a poor quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Purpose: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with a decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). More recent studies have pointed toward a genetic basis of patient-reported quality of life outcomes. Taking into account that the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the HRQOL of CHC patients has not been studied, we investigated the combined IL10-1082G/A, - 819C/T, and - 592C/A SNPs, and IL6-174G/C SNP.

The Emerging Role of Estrogens in Thyroid Redox Homeostasis and Carcinogenesis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the most critical class of free radicals or reactive metabolites produced by all living organisms. ROS regulate several cellular functions through redox-dependent mechanisms, including proliferation, differentiation, hormone synthesis, and stress defense response. However, ROS overproduction or lack of appropriate detoxification is harmful to cells and can be linked to the development of several diseases, such as cancer.

Deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs in adolescents: a study in a tertiary hospital.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) - which includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) - has been increasingly recognized in the pediatric population. The estimated incidence is 0.07-0.

Activity Monitor Placed at the Nonparetic Ankle Is Accurate in Measuring Step Counts During Community Walking in Poststroke Individuals: A Validation Study.

Background: Different environmental factors may affect the accuracy of step-count activity monitors (AM). However, the validation conditions for AM accuracy largely differ from ecological environments.

Objectives: To assess and compare the accuracy of AM in counting steps among poststroke individuals: during different locomotor tasks, with AM placed at the nonparetic ankle or hip, and when walking in a laboratory or inside a mall.

IMP regulates Kuzbanian to control the timing of Notch signalling in follicle cells.

The timing of egg chamber development is controlled by a germline Delta signal that activates Notch in the follicle cells to induce them to cease proliferation and differentiate. Here, we report that follicle cells lacking the RNA-binding protein IMP go through one extra division owing to a delay in the Delta-dependent S2 cleavage of Notch. The timing of Notch activation has previously been shown to be controlled by cis-inhibition by Delta in the follicle cells, which is relieved when the miRNA pathway represses Delta expression.

PAI-1 inhibition by simvastatin as a positive adjuvant in cell therapy.

Cell therapy (CT) can be briefly described as the use of cells or cell components in the treatment of diseases. One of the main challenges in establishing new cell types for therapy is the low survival rates of homing cells. Glycoprotein plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) is a key regulator of the plasminogen activation system, and also an essential mediator of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) post-transplant survival rate in the target tissue.

Walking speed best explains perceived locomotion ability in ambulatory people with chronic stroke, assessed by the ABILOCO questionnaire.

Background: The identification of the predictors of locomotion ability could help professionals select variables to be considered during clinical evaluations and interventions.

Objective: To investigate which impairment measures would best predict locomotion ability in people with chronic stroke.

Methods: Individuals (n=115) with a chronic stroke were assessed.

BRAF V600E mutation and 9p21: CDKN2A/B and MTAP co-deletions - Markers in the clinical stratification of pediatric gliomas.

Background: Genetic alterations in pediatric primary brain tumors can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers and are the basis for the development of new target therapies that, ideally, would be associated with lower mortality and morbidity. This study evaluates the incidence and interplay of the presence of BRAF V600E mutation and chromosomal 9p21 deletions in a series of 100 pediatric gliomas, aiming to determine the role of these alterations in recurrence and malignant transformation, and to verify if they could be used in the clinical set for stratifying patients for tailored therapies and surveillance.

Methods: Sanger sequencing was used for the assessment of BRAF mutations at exon 15 and Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) with BAC: RP11-14192 for the detection of 9p21 alterations.

Genetic association between different criteria to define sexual precocious heifers with growth, carcass, reproductive and feed efficiency indicator traits in Nellore cattle using genomic information.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for different precocious calving criteria and their relationship with reproductive, growth, carcass and feed efficiency in Nellore cattle using the single-step genomic BLUP. The reproductive traits used were probability of precocious calving (PPC) at 24 (PPC24), 26 (PPC26), 28 (PPC28) and 30 (PPC30) months of age, stayability (STAY) and scrotal circumference at 455 days of age (SC455). Growth traits such as weights at 240 (W240) and 455 (W455) days of age and adult weight (AW) were used.

Efficacy of interventions aimed at improving physical activity in individuals with stroke: a systematic review.

To identify interventions employed to increase post-stroke physical activity, evaluate their efficacy, and identify the gaps in literature. Randomized controlled trials published until March 2018 were searched in MEDLINE, PEDro, EMBASE, LILACS, and SCIELO databases. The quality of each study and overall quality of evidence were assessed using the PEDro and the GRADE scales.

Production of mannosylglycerate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by metabolic engineering and bioprocess optimization.

Background: Mannosylglycerate (MG) is one of the most widespread compatible solutes among marine microorganisms adapted to hot environments. This ionic solute holds excellent ability to protect proteins against thermal denaturation, hence a large number of biotechnological and clinical applications have been put forward. However, the current prohibitive production costs impose severe constraints towards large-scale applications.

Risk behaviors in adolescence - a study in a Portuguese health unit.

Introduction: Adolescence is a time of social and self-affirmation, search of autonomy and pleasure. An early sexual debut and substance use are still public health problems.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of illicit drug use and sexual behavior of adolescents, ages 15- 17, followed in a Portuguese Family Health Unit.

[Venous Thromboembolism in Pediatric Age: A 15 Year Retrospective Review].

Introduction: Pulmonary thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis occur in pediatric age, with unknown incidence, morbidity and mortality. Our aim is to review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, complementary diagnostic tests and prognosis of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis.

Material And Methods: Retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of pediatric patients admitted to a Level II hospital for pulmonary thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis, between 2000 and 2014.