MTOR gene variants are associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes: A multicenter study.

Background: The worst outcomes linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been attributed to the cytokine storm, which contributes significantly to the immunopathogenesis of the disease. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is essential for orchestrating innate immune cell defense including cytokine production and is dysregulated in severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) individuals. The individual genetic background might play a role in the exacerbated immune response.

Seroprevalence and indexes of IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 infection among People Living With HIV, tuberculosis patients and healthcare workers, in Salvador, Brazil.

Introduction: COVID-19 can trigger different clinical presentations in distinct population groups, some of which are considered at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Little is known about the susceptibility of certain populations to the infection.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH) attending a tertiary public hospital in Salvador, Brazil, patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and Hospital's Healthcare Workers (HCW), and to compare their SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels.

Physiotherapeutic treatment associated with the pain neuroscience education for patients with chronic non-specific low back pain-single-blind randomized pilot clinical trial.

Objectives: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) shows improvement in pain and functional capacity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Therefore, the study aimed to verify if the physiotherapeutic treatment associated with PNE decreases the functional disability of patients with nonspecific CLBP.

Methods: Forty patients were clinically evaluated and answered the following questionnaires: Brief pain inventory, Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, pain catastrophizing scale, Tampa scale of kinesiophobia, hospital anxiety, and depression scale, SF6D quality of life questionnaire and performed quantitative sensory tests (QSTs).

A Simplified Sanger Sequencing Method for Detection of Relevant SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Molecular surveillance of the new coronavirus through new genomic sequencing technologies revealed the circulation of important variants of SARS-CoV-2. Sanger sequencing has been useful in identifying important variants of SARS-CoV-2 without the need for whole-genome sequencing. A sequencing protocol was constructed to cover a region of 1000 base pairs, from a 1120 bp product generated after a two-step RT-PCR assay in samples positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Frequent Infection of Cats With SARS-CoV-2 Irrespective of Pre-Existing Enzootic Coronavirus Immunity, Brazil 2020.

Carnivores such as cats and minks are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Brazil is a global COVID-19 hot spot and several cases of human-to-cat transmission have been documented. We investigated the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by testing 547 domestic cats sampled between July-November 2020 from seven states in southern, southeastern, and northeastern Brazil.

Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduces the salivary viral load of SARS-CoV-2: A randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate on the salivary load of SARS-CoV-2.

Materials And Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 100 participants positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Self-prescribed Ivermectin use is associated with a lower rate of seroconversion in health care workers diagnosed with COVID, in a dose-dependent response.

Background: Over-the-counter use of ivermectin amongst other drugs as SARS-CoV-2 treatment has been increasingly common, despite the lack of evidence on its clinical efficacy.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ivermectin use on production of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers (HCW) diagnosed with COVID-19 and of Th1/Th2 cytokines by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the same cohort (PBMCs).

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated seroconversion and neutralizing antibodies production in HCW at Complexo Hospitalar Universitário Professor Edgard Santos (Salvador, Brazil), diagnosed with COVID-19 from May to July, 2020, as well as in vitro production of antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and Th1/Th2 cytokines.

Candidate Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker miR-483-5p Lowers TAU Phosphorylation by Direct ERK1/2 Repression.

MicroRNAs have been demonstrated as key regulators of gene expression in the etiology of a range of diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, we identified miR-483-5p as the most upregulated miRNA amongst a panel of miRNAs in blood plasma specific to prodromal, early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients. Here, we investigated the functional role of miR-483-5p in AD pathology.

Validation of the GeneXpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay using saliva as biological specimen.

In the pandemic, rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial in controlling the outbreak. Recent studies have shown a high detection rate using saliva/oral fluids as specimens for laboratory detection of the virus. We intended to evaluate the test performance of the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 cartridge assay in comparison to a conventional qRT-PCR testing, using saliva as biological specimen.

Saliva is a reliable, non-invasive specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) of respiratory specimens is the gold standard test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, collecting nasopharyngeal swabs causes discomfort to patients and may represent considerable risk for healthcare workers. The use of saliva as a diagnostic sample has several advantages.

The FOXM1 Inhibitor RCM-1 Decreases Carcinogenesis and Nuclear β-Catenin.

The oncogenic transcription factor FOXM1 has been previously shown to play a critical role in carcinogenesis by inducing cellular proliferation in multiple cancer types. A small-molecule compound, Robert Costa Memorial drug-1 (RCM-1), has been recently identified from high-throughput screen as an inhibitor of FOXM1 and in mouse model of allergen-mediated lung inflammation. In the present study, we examined antitumor activities of RCM-1 using tumor models.

The antitumor efficacy of monomeric disintegrin obtustatin in S-180 sarcoma mouse model.

Obtustatin, isolated from the Levantine Viper snake venom (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa -MLO), is the shortest known monomeric disintegrin shown to specifically inhibit the binding of the α1β1 integrin to collagen IV. Its oncostatic effect is due to the inhibition of angiogenesis, likely through α1β1 integrin inhibition in endothelial cells. To explore the therapeutic potential of obtustatin, we studied its effect in S-180 sarcoma-bearing mice model in vivo as well as in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-D) in vitro, and tested anti-angiogenic activity in vivo using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM assay).

FoxM1 repression during human aging leads to mitotic decline and aneuploidy-driven full senescence.

Aneuploidy, an abnormal chromosome number, has been linked to aging and age-associated diseases, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here we show, through direct live-cell imaging of young, middle-aged, and old-aged primary human dermal fibroblasts, that aneuploidy increases with aging due to general dysfunction of the mitotic machinery. Increased chromosome mis-segregation in elderly mitotic cells correlates with an early senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and repression of Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), the transcription factor that drives G2/M gene expression.

Skin and coeliac disease, a lot to think about: a case series.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease, characterised by a permanent sensitivity to gluten. It is being progressively recognised as a multisystemic disease, with multiple extraintestinal manifestations. Skin conditions (eg, dermatitis herpetiformis) are an example of its manifestations; however, its underlying mechanisms are still not well understood.

Salicylate Intoxication in an Infant: A Case Report.

In children, the most common cause of an elevated anion gap (AG) with ketonemia, ketonuria, hyperglycemia, and glycosuria is diabetic ketoacidosis. However, when the clinical history is not clear, other causes must be considered. A 9-month-old girl was transferred to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) because of severe metabolic acidosis.

High Zika Virus Seroprevalence in Salvador, Northeastern Brazil Limits the Potential for Further Outbreaks.

During 2015 to 2016, Brazil reported more Zika virus (ZIKV) cases than any other country, yet population exposure remains unknown. Serological studies of ZIKV are hampered by cross-reactive immune responses against heterologous viruses. We conducted serosurveys for ZIKV, dengue virus (DENV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 633 individuals prospectively sampled during 2015 to 2016, including microcephaly and non-microcephaly pregnancies, HIV-infected patients, tuberculosis patients, and university staff in Salvador in northeastern Brazil using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and plaque reduction neutralization tests.

Mitotic Dysfunction Associated with Aging Hallmarks.

Aging is a biological process characterized by the progressive deterioration of physiological functions known to be the main risk factor for chronic diseases and declining health. There has been an emerging connection between aging and aneuploidy, an aberrant number of chromosomes, even though the molecular mechanisms behind age-associated aneuploidy remain largely unknown. In recent years, several genetic pathways and biochemical processes controlling the rate of aging have been identified and proposed as aging hallmarks.

Virological suppression in children and adolescents is not influenced by genotyping, but depends on optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the virological outcomes in children and adolescents infected with HIV-1 in Salvador, Bahia according to genotyping results.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the rates of virological suppression of children and adolescents submitted to HIV-1 genotyping test from January/2008 to December/2012. The participants were followed in the two referral centers for pediatric AIDS care, in Salvador, Brazil.

Molecular Characterization of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Women and Their Vertically Infected Children.

Approximately 35 million people worldwide are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) around 3.2 million of whom are children under 15 years. Mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 accounts for 90% of all infections in children.