Addressing pandemic-wide systematic errors in the SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny.

The SARS-CoV-2 genome occupies a unique place in infection biology - it is the most highly sequenced genome on earth (making up over 20% of public sequencing datasets) with fine scale information on sampling date and geography, and has been subject to unprecedented intense analysis. As a result, these phylogenetic data are an incredibly valuable resource for science and public health. However, the vast majority of the data was sequenced by tiling amplicons across the full genome, with amplicon schemes that changed over the pandemic as mutations in the viral genome interacted with primer binding sites.

Blood count changes in malaria patients according to blood groups (ABO/Rh) and sickle cell trait.

Introduction: Introduction: Malaria continues to be the leading cause of hospitalization and death in Angola, a country in sub- Saharan Africa. In 2023, in the first quarter, 2,744,682 cases were registered, and of these 2,673 patients died due to malaria disease. Previous studies have shown that the ABO blood group can affect the progression of malaria to severe conditions after P.

Assessment of the yellow fever outbreak in Angola from December 2015 through December 2016: A retrospective study.

Background And Aims: The acute tropical infectious disease known as yellow fever (YF) is caused by an arbovirus and is characterized by fever, jaundice, hemorrhage, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Angola experienced a yellow fever virus (YFV) outbreak that was documented in December 2015. However, little is known about the outcome of this outbreak.

Insights into SARS-CoV-2 in Angola during the COVID-19 peak: Molecular epidemiology and genome surveillance.

Background: In Angola, COVID-19 cases have been reported in all provinces, resulting in >105,000 cases and >1900 deaths. However, no detailed genomic surveillance into the introduction and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been conducted in Angola. We aimed to investigate the emergence and epidemic progression during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Angola.

Blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola: A retrospective study.

Background And Aims: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a public health concern. Several aspects related to the pattern of infection remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola, a sub-Saharan African country.

Demographic characteristics and risk factors related to high blood pressure among healthy blood donors from Luanda, Angola: A retrospective study.

Background And Aims: Hypertension is a public health concern, mainly in resource-limited countries. We investigated the characteristics and risk factors related to high blood pressure in healthy blood donors from, Luanda, the capital city of Angola.

Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 343 healthy donors from December 2019 to September 2020.

Epidemiology of measles in Angola: Results from routine surveillance from 2015 to 2021.

Background: Measles, an acute infectious disease of extremely contagious viral aetiology, has been eliminated in some parts of the world. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study on the epidemiological pattern of the measles virus in Angola, and it was carried out through a review of 7 years of observational retrospective data from the national measles laboratory surveillance programme.

Methods: A retrospective study using national databases on the laboratory surveillance of measles was performed.

Evaluation of mutations in advanced ER+/HER2-breast cancer in Portugal - U-PIK Project.

Around 40% of ER+/HER2-breast carcinomas (BC) present mutations in the gene. Assessment of mutational status is required to identify patients eligible for treatment with PI3Kα inhibitors, with alpelisib currently the only approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor in this setting. U-PIK project aimed to conduct a ring trial to validate and implement the mutation testing in several Portuguese centers, decentralizing it and optimizing its quality at national level.

Immune profile of healthcare professionals six months after vaccination or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Angola.

Background And Aims: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a public health concern. Until 2021, more than 2 million cumulative deaths were reported worldwide. Herein, we investigated the immune profile of healthcare professionals 6 months after vaccination or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Angola.

Molecular and genomic investigation of an urban outbreak of dengue virus serotype 2 in Angola, 2017-2019.

Background: The transmission patterns and genetic diversity of dengue virus (DENV) circulating in Africa remain poorly understood. Circulation of the DENV serotype 1 (DENV1) in Angola was detected in 2013, while DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) was detected in 2018. Here, we report results from molecular and genomic investigations conducted at the Ministry of Health national reference laboratory (INIS) in Angola on suspected dengue cases detected between January 2017 and February 2019.

Early Evidence of Circulating SARS-CoV-2 in Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Measles Patients, September 2019-February 2020.

Background: The global emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged healthcare and rapidly spread over the globe. Early detection of new infections is crucial in the control of emerging diseases. Evidence of early recorded COVID-19 cases outside China has been documented in various countries.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Risk Factors Related to Drug-resistant Tuberculosis in Luanda, Angola.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of illness and public health concern, especially in resource-limited countries. This study analyzed the characteristics related to anti-TB drug resistance. Moreover, we examined the evidence-based indications for the treatment of active TB in Angola.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among healthy blood donors in Luanda, Angola.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China and spread throughout the world due to its rapid transmission. The exposure rate in the healthy population is unknown, mainly in resource-limited countries. Herein, we estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among blood donors in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.

Coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and vector-borne diseases in Luanda, Angola.

Co-epidemics happening simultaneously can generate a burden on healthcare systems. The co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 with vector-borne diseases (VBD), such as malaria and dengue in resource-limited settings represents an additional challenge to the healthcare systems. Herein, we assessed the coinfection rate between SARS-CoV-2 and VBD to highlight the need to carry out an accurate diagnosis and promote timely measures for these infections in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.

Incidental Finding of Extreme Elevation of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in Pregnancy.

Increased levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) should alert us to changes in the liver, kidney, bone and malignancy. However, there is a physiological increase in pregnancy up to twice the upper limit. There has been a paucity of cases reporting extreme elevations of ALP in pregnancy.

Life-threatening complications of Ludwig's angina: a series of cases in a developed country.

Ludwig's angina is a deep neck space infection defined as a rapidly progressive bilateral cellulitis of the submandibular space. In spite of being an uncommon entity in developed countries and the reduction of mortality and morbidity due to modern era of antibiotics, improved imaging and airway management, it is still an important and potentially life-threatening condition. The authors present 3 cases of Ludwig's angina that occurred in a developed country, and that required admission in intensive care unit and extensive surgical and medical treatment.

Low Back Pain: A Pain That May Not Be Harmless.

Unlabelled: Abdominal aortic aneurysms are defined as vascular dilatations greater than 50% of the normal proximal segment or those that have a maximum diameter above 3 cm. Risk factors include male gender, age over 75 years, history of vascular pathology, hypertension and arteriosclerosis. The Authors describe a case of a 74-year-old man, evaluated in an emergency setting for right lumbar pain lasting 4 days.

Cyanidin-3-glucoside suppresses cytokine-induced inflammatory response in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid.

The potential use of polyphenols in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases has been extensively investigated although the mechanisms involved in cellular signaling need to be further elucidated. Cyanidin-3-glucoside is a typical anthocyanin of many pigmented fruits and vegetables widespread in the human diet. In the present study, the protection afforded by cyanidin-3-glucoside against cytokine-triggered inflammatory response was evaluated in the human intestinal HT-29 cell line, in comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid, a well-established anti-inflammatory drug, used in inflammatory bowel disease.

The combination of the antiestrogen endoxifen with all-trans-retinoic acid has anti-proliferative and anti-migration effects on melanoma cells without inducing significant toxicity in non-neoplasic cells.

Melanoma incidence is dramatically increasing and the available treatments beyond partial efficacy have severe side effects. Retinoids are promising anticancer agents, but their clinical use has been limited by their toxicity, although a combination with other agents can possibly generate a therapeutic action at lower dosage. Thus, we investigated the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid combined with the antiestrogen endoxifen on melanoma cell proliferation and the effects were compared with its pro-drug tamoxifen.

Malvidin-3-glucoside protects endothelial cells up-regulating endothelial NO synthase and inhibiting peroxynitrite-induced NF-kB activation.

Anthocyanins are the most abundant flavonoid constituents of fruits and vegetables and several epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of these compounds protect against several diseases, including vascular disorders. Previously, we have reported that anthocyanins are able to counteract peroxynitrite-induced apoptotic effects in endothelial cells through inhibition of several crucial signaling cascades, upstream and downstream of mitochondria. Following these studies, here we investigated possible effects of malvidin-3-glucoside, one of the main dietary anthocyanins, on NO bioavailability and on peroxynitrite-induced NF-kB activation in the same cell model.

Protective role of malvidin-3-glucoside on peroxynitrite-induced damage in endothelial cells by counteracting reactive species formation and apoptotic mitochondrial pathway.

The health-promoted benefits of anthocyanins, including vascular protective effects and antiatherogenic properties, have now been recognized, but the involved molecular mechanisms have not been well elucidated. Following our previous work on cytoprotective mechanisms of some anthocyanins against apoptosis triggered by peroxynitrite in endothelial cells, here we investigated the protective role of malvidin-3-glucoside, a major dietary anthocyanin, on such deleterious process, by exploring the interference on cellular reactive species formation and on apoptotic mitochondrial pathway. Preincubation of cells with 25 μM malvidin-3-glucoside protected efficiently endothelial cells from peroxynitrite-promoted apoptotic death, an effect which may be partially mediated by its ability to decrease the formation of reactive species after cell aggression, as assessed by the dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay and by carbonyl groups formation.

Dietary anthocyanins protect endothelial cells against peroxynitrite-induced mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and Bax nuclear translocation: an in vitro approach.

Anthocyanins have received increasing attention because of their relatively high intake in humans and wide range of potential health-promoting effects, including anti-atherogenic properties. Evidences support their vascular protective effects but the involved molecular mechanisms have not been well clarified. The endothelium seems to have a central role in atherogenesis and apoptosis is emerging as a crucial event in this disease progression.

Integrated assessment of mangrove sediments in the Camamu Bay (Bahia, Brazil).

Camamu Bay, an Environmentally Protected Area, may be affected by the pressures of tourism and oil exploration in the adjacent continental platform. The current quality of the mangrove sediments was evaluated by porewater bioassays using embryos of Crassostrea rhizophorae and by an analysis of benthic macrofauna and its relationships with organic compounds, trace metals and bioavailability. Porewater toxicity varied from low to moderate in the majority of the samples, and polychaetes dominated the benthos.