New Epitopes for the Serodiagnosis of Human Borreliosis.

Lyme disease, a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterium , is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected ticks. Its diagnosis primarily relies on serological methods; however, the existing borreliosis techniques have shown a variable sensitivity and specificity. Our study aimed to map IgG epitopes from five outer membrane proteins (Omp) from [Filament flagellar 41kD (PI1089), flagellar hook-associated protein (Q44767), Flagellar hook k2 protein (O51173), Putative Omp BURGA03 (Q44849), and 31 kDa OspA (P0CL66)] lipoprotein to find specific epitopes for the development of accurate diagnosis methods.

Association between osteoprotegerin and RANKL single nucleotide polymorphisms and destructive rhinosinusitis in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Background: Chronic invasive rhinosinusitis with facial bone damage is a common cause of functional and social impairment in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients. To the best of our knowledge, there is no clinical or laboratory biomarker to predict bone damage.

Methods: This case-control study included 90 patients with GPA and 270 health controls (HCs).

Visceral adipose tissue measured by DXA predicts metabolic syndrome in low-income community-dwelling elderly: Insights from the São Paulo Aging & Health (SPAH) study.

While visceral fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is accurate in identifying middle-aged people at increased cardiometabolic risk, consistent data for the elderly are still lacking. We aimed to investigate the association between DXA-derived visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to establish optimal cutoffs for VAT to predict MetS in a low-income elderly Brazilian cohort. A total of 449 women and 258 men (≥65 years) from the community were enrolled in this study.

Polymorphisms of the SERPINA1 gene are associated with higher mortality in a Brazilian cohort of ANCA-associated vasculitis patients.

Background: Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (A1AT) is a protease inhibitor encoded by the SERPINA1 gene. A1AT serves as the primary natural inhibitor of Proteinase 3 (PR3), an enzyme found in neutrophils. PR3 is an antigenic target of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA).

Effect of Urolithin A on Bovine Sperm Capacitation and In Vitro Fertilization.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in the functional competence of sperm cells. Conversely, excessive generation of ROS can impair sperm function, including their fertilization ability. Urolithin A (UA), a gut bacteria-derived metabolite produced from the transformation of ellagitannins, with anti-aging and antioxidant properties, was investigated for the first time in bovine sperm cells in the present study.

Effect of vitamin D on antiphospholipid antibodies in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a single oral dose of 200,000 IU of vitamin D on antiphospholipid antibodies in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Methods: This is a post-hoc, exploratory analysis from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial performed in two centers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D (n = 97) or placebo (n = 97).

Effect of Breed and Season in Buck Semen Cryopreservation: The Portuguese Animal Germplasm Bank.

The aims of this study were to characterize the semen as well as the influence of breed, season, and semen processing on spermatozoa (SPZ) traits of four native Portuguese goat breeds used for the bank of Portuguese animal germplasm (BPAG). A total of 1017 ejaculates from Serrana (n = 30), Bravia (n = 15), Charnequeira (n = 11), and Preta de Montezinho (n = 3) bucks were collected between 2004 and 2020 at (EZN-INIAV; 39° N) during the whole year under natural conditions. All the fresh and cryopreserved (-196 °C) semen was evaluated and stored in the BPAG.

Prognostic Value of New Sarcopenia Screening Tool in the Elderly-SARC-GLOBAL.

Sarcopenia screening tools have a low capacity to predict adverse outcomes that are consequences of sarcopenia in the elderly population. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a new sarcopenia screening tool SARC-GLOBAL to predict negative clinical outcomes in the elderly. A total of 395 individuals were evaluated in a 42-month period.

Association of Sarcopenia and Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope in Male Patients With Heart Failure.

Purpose: Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and function, is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). The skeletal muscle modulates the respiratory response during exercise. However, whether ventilatory behavior is affected by sarcopenia is still unknown.

Transcriptomic signatures of classical monocytes reveal pro-inflammatory modules and heterogeneity in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Introduction: Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) is a childhood-onset autoimmune disease. Immune cells contribute to persistent inflammation observed in pJIA. Despite the crucial role of monocytes in arthritis, the precise involvement of classical monocytes in the pathogenesis of pJIA remains uncertain.

Serum osteoprotegerin and its gene polymorphisms in patients with Takayasu's arteritis: a bicentric cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients are at an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Currently, there are no well-validated biomarkers to assess this risk in this population. Previous research in different cohorts has linked serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its polymorphisms to accelerated atherosclerosis and a marker of poor prognosis in CVD.

Impaired bone mineral density and microarchitecture in female adolescents with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy.

Unlabelled: This study compared the bone parameters of adolescents with persistent cow's milk allergy (CMA) with those of healthy adolescents. Adolescents with CMA had compromised bone parameters (lower bone mineral density, impaired trabecular microarchitecture, and lower bone strength). Partial exclusion diet was associated with better bone parameters than total exclusion diet.

The severity of COVID-19 upon hospital admission is associated with plasma omega-3 fatty acids.

Fatty acids are precursors of inflammatory oxylipins. In the context of COVID-19, an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with disease severity. The objective was to investigate whether the baseline omega 3/omega 6 fatty acids ratio and the oxylipins were associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in unvaccinated patients with COVID-19, classified according to the severity of the disease during hospitalization.

Healing of tumor-induced osteomalacia as assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography is not similar across the skeleton in the first years following complete tumor excision.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia is caused by excessive fibroblast growth factor 23 production mainly from phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors. Surgical excision or tumor ablation are the preferred treatment. Information on bone microarchitecture parameters assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography is limited.

Damaged bone microarchitecture by Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) and low appendicular muscle mass: main risk factors for vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in women with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlabelled: We ascertained the fracture risk factors stratified by vertebral and non-vertebral sites in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) females. Bone/muscle features, but not disease activity, were the main markers for fractures in this long-standing RA population: low trabecular bone score (TBS) for vertebral fracture and decreased appendicular muscle mass for non-vertebral fracture.

Purpose: To assess risk factors for fractures, including clinical, laboratory and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) parameters (bone mass, trabecular bone score-TBS, muscle mass) in women with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Coronary Inflammation by Computed Tomography Pericoronary Fat Attenuation and Increased Cytokines in Young Male Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Users.

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pericoronary fat attenuation (pFA) is a marker of coronary inflammation, which is key in the atherosclerotic process.

Objective: To evaluate pFA and inflammatory profile in AAS users.

Transcriptomic characterization of classical monocytes highlights the involvement of immuno-inflammation in bone erosion in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: Evidence-based data suggest that under inflammatory conditions, classical monocytes are the main source of osteoclasts and might be involved in bone erosion pathophysiology. Here, we analyze the transcriptomic profile of classical monocytes in erosive and non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis patients in order to better understand their contribution to bone erosion.

Methods: Thirty-nine premenopausal RA patients were consecutively enrolled and divided into two groups based on the presence of bone erosions on hand joints.

Respiratory failure in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) can lead to dyspnea and respiratory failure through multiple mechanisms, making a precise diagnosis particularly challenging, especially amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we present a case involving a 26-year-old female who had previously undiagnosed SSc. She experienced acute respiratory failure necessitating orotracheal intubation.

Bone Mineral Density is Related to CD4 T Cell Counts and Muscle Mass is Associated with B Cells in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patients.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by chronic/recurrent respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, autoimmunity, inflammatory, gastrointestinal diseases and malignancies associated with a chronic inflammatory state and increased risk of osteoporosis and muscle loss.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD), body composition and their relationship with lymphocyte subpopulations in CVID patients.

Methods: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed to assess BMD, lean mass, and fat mass in CVID patients.

Bone erosions associated with systemic bone loss on HR-pQCT in women with longstanding polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To analyze longstanding polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) for possible associations between localized bone damage (erosions), and systemic bone loss. Besides, to compare the systemic bone mass of pJIA with healthy controls.

Methods: Thirty-four pJIA women and 99 healthy controls (HC) were included.

High Prevalence of Energy and Nutrients Inadequacy among Brazilian Older Adults.

Poor nutrition increases the risk of diseases and adverse health outcomes in older adults. We evaluated the potential inadequacy of nutrient intake among older adults in Brazil and its association with body anthropometry and composition outcomes. Dietary intake was obtained from 295 community-living older adults (>60 years old), of both genders, using a seven-day food record.

Evaluation of the trabecular bone score in 35 children and adults with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.

Introduction:  The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the trabecular bone scores (TBSs) of 11 children and 24 adults with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) and non-XLH subjects from a tertiary center.

Materials And Methods:  The areal bone mineral density at the lumbar spine (LS-aBMD) and LS-aBMD Z score were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) and LS-aBMD Z score adjusted for height Z score (LS-aBMD-HAZ) were calculated.