Normal bone density and trabecular bone score, but high serum sclerostin in congenital generalized lipodystrophy.

Context: Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by a difficulty in storing lipids in adipocytes, low body fat mass, hypoleptinemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Sclerostin is a product of SOST gene that blocks the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, decreasing bone formation and enhancing adipogenesis. There are no data about sclerostin in people with BSCL.

Aberration control in adaptive optics: a numerical study of arbitrarily deformable liquid lenses.

By means of numerical simulations, using a computational fluid dynamics software together with an optical ray tracing analysis platform, we show that we can tune various optical aberrations by electrically manipulating the shape of liquid lenses using one hundred individually addressable electrodes. To demonstrate the flexibility of our design, we define electrode patterns based on specific Zernike modes and show that aspherical, cylindrical and decentered shapes of liquid lenses can be produced. Using different voltages, we evaluate the tuning range of spherical aberration (Z11), astigmatism (Z5 and Z6) and coma (Z7), while a hydrostatic pressure is applied to control the average curvature of a microlens with a diameter of 1mm.

Requalification of a Brazilian Trichoderma Collection and Screening of Its Capability to Decolourise Real Textile Effluent.

Water contamination with large amounts of industrial textile coloured effluents is an environmental concern. For the treatment of textile effluents, white-rot fungi have received extensive attention due to their powerful capability to produce oxidative (e.g.

Microbiology Managers: Managerial Training in the RItrain Project.

Leaders of research infrastructures (RIs) in Europe who are scientists require competencies in management. RItrain has addressed this issue by identifying skills required, locating relevant courses and finding gaps, whilst establishing a Master of Management programme. We describe how one contributing microbiology RI determined the most relevant skills.

Body Mass Index and Its Relationship with Disability, Chronic Diseases and Frailty in Older People: A Comparison of the Lipschitz and Who Classifications.

Background: Anthropometric parameters are closely associated with the pathophysiology of frailty and with clinic and functional parameters assessed for its diagnosis.

Objective: To evaluate the possible association of the nutritional status of older people as assessed by Body Mass Index (BMI) and functional disability, self-reported chronic diseases and frailty, comparing the use of two different classifications of BMI.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Determinant Variables, Enteric Pathogen Burden, Gut Function and Immune-related Inflammatory Biomarkers Associated With Childhood Malnutrition: A Prospective Case-Control Study in Northeastern Brazil.

Malnutrition results in serious consequences for growth and cognitive development in children. We studied select child and maternal biologic factors, socioeconomic factors, enteric pathogenic burden and gut function biomarkers in 402 children 6-24 months of age in Northeastern Brazil. In this prospective case-control study, not being fed colostrum [odds ratio (OR): 3.

Thermophilic Fungi to Dominate Aflatoxigenic/Mycotoxigenic Fungi on Food under Global Warming.

Certain filamentous fungi produce mycotoxins that contaminate food. Mycotoxin contamination of crops is highly influenced by environmental conditions and is already affected by global warming, where there is a succession of mycotoxigenic fungi towards those that have higher optimal growth temperatures. Aflatoxigenic fungi are at the highest limit of temperature although predicted increases in temperature are beyond that constraint.

Survey of Penicillia associated with Italian grana cheese.

The present work aimed to contribute information on the mycobiota associated with ripening grana cheese, with focus on the genus Penicillium as potential mycotoxin producers. Eighteen wheels of grana cheese, aged in different storehouses situated in Northern Italy, were sampled to isolate associated fungi. Penicillium spp.

Mental health and public policies implemented in the Northeast of Brazil: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Introduction: Studies about mental disorders are very rare in the Northeast of Brazil, especially when psychopathologies in children and adolescents are considered. The consequence is a small availability of data and an absence of a real epidemiological profile.

Methods: This is a systematic review with meta-analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol, in the period from 2003 to 2015, using the databases LILACS, SciELO and BVS.

Assessment of the integration between oncology and palliative care in advanced stage cancer patients.

Purpose: Chemotherapy is indicated for patients with metastatic malignancy in order to improve quality of life and in some cases to increase survival. However, the greatest difficulty regarding the choice of treatment is to evaluate the clinical benefit and intrinsic toxicity of each procedure. The best strategy is the integration between oncology and palliative care, which is still mostly insufficient.

Superior Multiplexing Capacity of PlexPrimers Enables Sensitive and Specific Detection of SNPs and Clustered Mutations in qPCR.

Background: Whilst qPCR provides an extremely powerful tool for genetic analysis, some applications such as multiplexing variant alleles (eg SNPs, point mutations or deletions), remain challenging using current primer/probe systems. The novel design features of PlexPrimers allow sensitive, multiplexed analysis of variant alleles even when these are tightly clustered.

Method: PlexPrimers were combined with PlexZymes in qPCR assays for the detection of SNPs in human absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) genes; clustered mutations in the 23S rRNA gene which confer antibiotic resistance to Mycoplasma genitalium; and deletions within the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene.

Animal models of obesity in rodents. An integrative review.

Purpose:: To perform an integrative review of the main animal disease models in rodents used for obesity.

Methods:: Research was conducted in the CAPES Portal database using the following keywords "obesity animal models, diet and rodents", published between the years 2010 to 2016. We found 108 articles, of which 19 were selected and analyzed in full for this study.

World data centre for microorganisms: an information infrastructure to explore and utilize preserved microbial strains worldwide.

The World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM) was established 50 years ago as the data center of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC)-Microbial Resource Center (MIRCEN). WDCM aims to provide integrated information services using big data technology for microbial resource centers and microbiologists all over the world. Here, we provide an overview of WDCM including all of its integrated services.

Association between postpartum depression and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months of life.

Objective: To investigate the association between postpartum depression and the occurrence of exclusive breastfeeding.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the states of the Northeast region, during the vaccination campaign in 2010. The sample consisted of 2583 mother-child pairs, with children aged from 15 days to 3 months.

Reactive Case Detection for Plasmodium vivax Malaria Elimination in Rural Amazonia.

Background: Malaria burden in Brazil has reached its lowest levels in 35 years and Plasmodium vivax now accounts for 84% of cases countrywide. Targeting residual malaria transmission entrenched in the Amazon is the next major challenge for ongoing elimination efforts. Better strategies are urgently needed to address the vast reservoir of asymptomatic P.

A human microprotein that interacts with the mRNA decapping complex.

Proteomic detection of non-annotated microproteins indicates the translation of hundreds of small open reading frames (smORFs) in human cells, but whether these microproteins are functional or not is unknown. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of a 7-kDa human microprotein we named non-annotated P-body dissociating polypeptide (NoBody). NoBody interacts with mRNA decapping proteins, which remove the 5' cap from mRNAs to promote 5'-to-3' decay.

Bone Density in Patients With Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Lipodystrophy Is Higher in Trabecular Sites and in Type 2 Patients.

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by a difficulty storing lipid in adipocytes, low body fat, hypoleptinemia, and hyperinsulinemia. We report here laboratory, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content findings of 21 patients (24.1 ± 8.

[Prevalence and worm burden of Schistosomiasis mansoni before and after collective treatment in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, Brazil].

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of collective treatment for Schistosomiasis mansoni in two endemic localities in Jaboatão dos Guararapes-PE.

Methods: we described the prevalence of Schistosomiasis mansoni and the average parasite load before and after collective treatment in the period 2011-2013; data from the Schistosomiasis mansoni Information System and completion of sample surveys reports were used.

Results: there is a reduction in 8.

Maternal mortality in Brazil from 2001 to 2012: time trends and regional differences.

Objective:: To assess time trends in maternal mortality in Brazil and its five geographical regions from 2001 to 2012, as well as to describe its main causes.

Methods:: This is a time series analysis, from data obtained in the Mortality Information System (SIM) and in the Live Births Information System (SINASC). Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and causes of maternal death were described according to the categories of the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, in the years 2001, 2006, and 2011.

STOP-Bang questionnaire: translation to Portuguese and cross-cultural adaptation for use in Brazil.

Objective:: To translate and perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, Body mass index, Age, Neck circumference, and Gender (STOP-Bang) questionnaire so that it can be used as a screening tool for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in Brazil.

Methods:: Based on the principles of good practice for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of such instruments, the protocol included the following steps: acquisition of authorization from the lead author of the original questionnaire; translation of the instrument to Brazilian Portuguese, carried out by two translators; reconciliation; back-translation to English, carried out by two English teachers who are fluent in Portuguese; review of the back-translation; harmonization; review and approval of the questionnaire by the original author; cognitive debriefing involving 14 patients who completed the questionnaire; analysis of the results; and review and preparation of the final version of the instrument approved by the review committee.

Results:: The final version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire for use in Brazil showed a clarity score > 9 (on a scale of 1-10) for all of the questions.

Effect of different types of exercise on sleep quality of elderly subjects.

Objective/background: There are still many gaps in research concerning the effect of different physical training modalities on sleep quality in the elderly population. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the quality of sleep of hypertensive elderly subjects submitted to two types of training (ie, aerobic exercise alone or combined aerobic and resistance training).

Patients/methods: Participants aged 60-75 years were randomized to three groups: aerobic group (AG), combined aerobic and resistance group (ARG), and control untrained group (CG).

Immobilization of the white-rot fungus Anthracophyllum discolor to degrade the herbicide atrazine.

Herbicides cause environmental concerns because they are toxic and accumulate in the environment, food products and water supplies. There is a need to develop safe, efficient and economical methods to remove them from the environment, often by biodegradation. Atrazine is such herbicide.

Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract.

Introduction:: Malaria and leishmaniasis are prevalent in tropical regions, which have environmental characteristics that are highly favorable to protozoa and vectors of these diseases; the transmission of these infections in sub-tropical regions, although recognized, represents only a small fraction of cases. Plants are constantly being used in the search for and acquisition of new drugs, and many compounds derived from them have been used to combat various diseases. In this study, we evaluated the action of the dichloromethanolic extract of Myrciaria dubia leaves against the protozoa Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania braziliensis, and Leishmania chagasi through bioassays.

Complete Genome Sequence of the MRSA Isolate HC1335 from ST239 Lineage Displaying a Truncated AgrC Histidine Kinase Receptor.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is still one of the most important hospital pathogen globally. The multiresistant isolates of the ST239-SCCmecIII lineage are spread over large geographic regions, colonizing and infecting hospital patients in virtually all continents. The balance between fitness (adaptability) and virulence potential is likely to represent an important issue in the clonal shift dynamics leading the success of some specific MRSA clones over another.