Identification and evaluation of the microbiome in the female and male reproductive tracts.

Background: The existence of an extensive microbiome in and on the human body has increasingly dominated the scientific literature during the last decade. A shift from culture-dependent to culture-independent identification of microbes has occurred since the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, whole genome shotgun and metagenomic sequencing. These sequencing analyses have revealed the presence of a rich diversity of microbes in most exposed surfaces of the human body, such as throughout the reproductive tract.

Factors associated with nutritional status of the elderly in two regions of Brazil.

Objective: To verify the association of nutritional status with sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, and health status in elderly individuals from two cities in different regions of Brazil.

Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological home-based study, involving 477 and 316 elderly individuals (≥ 60 years) from the towns of Antônio Carlos (AC-SC) and Lafaiete Coutinho (LC-BA), respectively. Nutritional status was verified using the body mass index (BMI).