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Background and Hypothesis: When occurring in adolescence, psychotic experiences (PE), subclinical psychotic symptoms, can be an early marker of mental illnesses. Studies with high-risk populations for psychosis show that anxiety symptoms often precede the onset of psychosis. Although anxiety symptoms are frequently experienced across the continuum of psychosis, no previous study has analyzed this association using a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) longitudinally to identify if anxiety can be a predictor of PE over time or vice versa. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether one symptom domain predicts the other over time. Study Design: 2194 children from the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort (BHRC) were evaluated at baseline (T 0), and 76.5% completed a 3-year follow-up (T 1) interview. Childhood anxiety symptoms and PE were assessed using a standardized self-report questionnaire at both time points. Cross-lagged panel models evaluated time-lagged associations between PE and anxiety longitudinally. Study Results: Higher levels of anxiety in childhood predicted an increase in PE levels in adolescence. The cross-lagged effect of anxiety scores at T 0 on PE scores at T 1 was significant (ß = .03, SE = 0.01, P ≤ .001) and PE in childhood did not increase levels of anxiety in adolescence, when controlling for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Conclusions: Our findings reinforce that anxiety may represent an early marker of psychosis proneness, not a consequence of already presenting PE, which can help to develop better screening approaches. Therefore, future studies should focus on identifying biological or other clinical markers to increase prediction accuracy.

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The rapid identification of microorganisms that cause bacteremia and their possible resistance markers are extremely important for the timely initiation of effective antibiotic therapy. The FilmArray® panel BCID2 (an automated rapid multiplex PCR assay) detects microorganisms and resistance genes from positive blood cultures within one hour. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained from the FilmArray® Panel BCID2 and conventional culture in pediatric patients, as well as the reporting times of both methods. Sixty (60) FilmArray® results were included in the analysis. BCID2 showed high agreement with culture in the identification of microorganisms in monomicrobial bacteremias. However, in polymicrobial blood cultures, BCID2 detected a greater number of microorganisms compared to conventional culture, specifically,1 Staphylococcus aureus, 3 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 Enterococcus faecium, 2 Klebsiella oxytoca, 1 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex, 1 Bacteroides fragilis and 1 Haemophilus influenzae. Furthermore, 88.3% (95%CI: 78.7-94.8) of the FilmArray® results coincided with conventional culture, while in polymicrobial bacteremias, BCID2 detected a greater number of microorganisms with respect to conventional culture [70% (95%CI: 39.3-91.5)]. The agreement of resistance genes was good with a few exceptions (one ESBL was not detected by FilmArray® and one S. aureus strain was characterized as methicillin-resistant by BCID2 and methicillin-sensitive by culture). When comparing the time elapsing since the blood culture was reported as positive up to the results were obtained, BCID2 had a median of 2h 50min (IQR of 1 h 58min to 9h 27min) while the conventional culture had a median of 45h 20min (IQR of 24h 57min to 63h 50min).

Asunto(s)

Bacteriemia , Cultivo de Sangre , Hospitales Pediátricos , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa Multiplex , Humanos , Cultivo de Sangre/métodos , Bacteriemia/microbiología , Bacteriemia/diagnóstico , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa Multiplex/métodos , Niño , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Preescolar , Genes Bacterianos , Lactante , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Bacterias/genética

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This study reexamines the causal nexus among electricity consumption (EC) and economic growth (EG) for a panel of 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean between 1980 and 2021. We find that there are statistically significant feedback impacts among the research variables in the long run. A 1 percent augment in EC raises EG by 0.5 percent and a 1 percent augment in EG produces a 1.54 percent increase in EC which reflects the nature of the latter as a luxury good and implies a tradeoff between economy and environment, since although greater electrical infrastructure drives EG, the latter also increases the EC whose use in a non-responsible manner could lead to environmental degradation through higher CO2 emissions. Therefore, the main policy implication is that, it is necessary to promote EG based on infrastructure focused on sustainable development, ensuring the well-being of present and future generations.

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INTRODUCTION: Food intake biomarkers are used to estimate dietary exposure; however, selecting a single biomarker to evaluate a specific dietary component is difficult due to the overlap of diverse compounds from different foods. Therefore, combining two or more biomarkers can increase the sensitivity and specificity of food intake estimates. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of metabolite panels to distinguish between self-reported fruit consumers and non-consumers among participants in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 93 healthy adults of both sexes were selected from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. A 24-h dietary recall was obtained using the computer-assisted 24-h food recall GloboDiet software, and 24-h urine samples were collected from each participant. Metabolites were identified in urine using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry by comparing their exact mass and fragmentation patterns using free-access databases. Multivariate receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to verify the ability of the metabolite combination to classify daily and non-daily fruit consumers. Fruit intake was identified using a 24 h dietary recall (24 h-DR). RESULTS: Bananas, grapes, and oranges are included in the summary. The panel of biomarkers exhibited an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.6 (Orange AUC = 0.665; Grape AUC = 0.622; Bananas AUC = 0.602; All fruits AUC = 0.679; Citrus AUC = 0.693) and variable importance projection score > 1.0, and these were useful for assessing the sensitivity and predictability of food intake in our population. CONCLUSION: A panel of metabolites was able to classify self-reported fruit consumers with strong predictive power and high specificity and sensitivity values except for banana and total fruit intake.

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Biomarcadores , Frutas , Metabolómica , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Biomarcadores/orina , Frutas/metabolismo , Frutas/química , Metabolómica/métodos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Estudios Longitudinales , Brasil , Dieta , Anciano , Cromatografía Liquida/métodos

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PURPOSE: To define the spectrum of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) and copy number variant (CNV) in cancer susceptibility genes to the burden of breast and ovarian cancer (BC, OvC) in high-risk Brazilians in Minas Gerais with health insurance, southeast Brazil, undergoing multigene panel testing (MGPT). METHODS: Genotyping eligible individuals with health insurance in the Brazilian healthcare system for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome to undergo molecular testing for 44 or 141-gene panels, a decision that was insurance driven. RESULTS: Overall, 701 individuals clinically defined as high BC/OvC risk, underwent MGPT from 1/2021 to 10/2022, with ~ 50% genotyped with a 44-gene panel and the rest with a 141-gene panel. Overall, 16.4% and 22.6% of genotyped individuals harbored PVs using 44-gene and the 141 gene panel, respectively. The most frequently mutated genes were: BRCA2 (3.7%); BRCA1 (3.6%) and monoallelic MUTYH (3.1%). CONCLUSION: The rate of PVs detected in high-risk individuals in this study was twice the 10% threshold used in Brazilian health guidelines. MGPT doubled the detection rate of PVs in cancer susceptibility genes in high-risk individuals compared with BRCA1/BRCA2 genotyping alone. The spectrum of PVs in Southern Brazil is diverse, with few recurring variants such as TP53 (0.6%), suggesting regional founder effects. The use of MGPT in hereditary cancer in Minas Gerais significantly increased the detection rate of P/LPVs compared to existing guidelines and should be considered as the primary genotyping modality in assessing hereditary cancer risk in Brazil.

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Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Pruebas Genéticas , Mutación de Línea Germinal , Humanos , Femenino , Brasil/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Pruebas Genéticas/métodos , Síndrome de Cáncer de Mama y Ovario Hereditario/genética , Síndrome de Cáncer de Mama y Ovario Hereditario/epidemiología , Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/epidemiología , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Anciano , Proteína BRCA2/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Genotipo , Proteína BRCA1/genética , ADN Glicosilasas

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The MHC class I region contains crucial genes for the innate and adaptive immune response, playing a key role in susceptibility to many autoimmune and infectious diseases. Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous disease-associated SNPs within this region. However, these associations do not fully capture the immune-biological relevance of specific HLA alleles. HLA imputation techniques may leverage available SNP arrays by predicting allele genotypes based on the linkage disequilibrium between SNPs and specific HLA alleles. Successful imputation requires diverse and large reference panels, especially for admixed populations. This study employed a bioinformatics approach to call SNPs and HLA alleles in multi-ethnic samples from the 1000 genomes (1KG) dataset and admixed individuals from Brazil (SABE), utilising 30X whole-genome sequencing data. Using HIBAG, we created three reference panels: 1KG (n = 2504), SABE (n = 1171), and the full model (n = 3675) encompassing all samples. In extensive cross-validation of these reference panels, the multi-ethnic 1KG reference exhibited overall superior performance than the reference with only Brazilian samples. However, the best results were achieved with the full model. Additionally, we expanded the scope of imputation by developing reference panels for non-classical, MICA, MICB and HLA-H genes, previously unavailable for multi-ethnic populations. Validation in an independent Brazilian dataset showcased the superiority of our reference panels over the Michigan Imputation Server, particularly in predicting HLA-B alleles among Brazilians. Our investigations underscored the need to enhance or adapt reference panels to encompass the target population's genetic diversity, emphasising the significance of multiethnic references for accurate imputation across different populations.

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Alelos , Etnicidad , Frecuencia de los Genes , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Humanos , Brasil , Etnicidad/genética , Antígenos HLA/genética , Desequilibrio de Ligamiento , Estudio de Asociación del Genoma Completo/métodos , Genotipo , Genética de Población/métodos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/genética , Biología Computacional/métodos

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This study utilized Bayesian inference in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic markers associated with traits relevant to the adaptation of Hereford and Braford cattle breeds. We focused on eye pigmentation (EP), weaning hair coat (WHC), yearling hair coat (YHC), and breeding standard (BS). Our dataset comprised 126,290 animals in the pedigree. Out of these, 233 sires were genotyped using high-density (HD) chips, and 3750 animals with medium-density (50 K) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips. Employing the Bayes B method with a prior probability of π = 0.99, we identified and tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (Tag SNPs), ranging from 18 to 117 SNPs depending on the trait. These Tag SNPs facilitated the construction of reduced SNP panels. We then evaluated the predictive accuracy of these panels in comparison to traditional medium-density SNP chips. The accuracy of genomic predictions using these reduced panels varied significantly depending on the clustering method, ranging from 0.13 to 0.65. Additionally, we conducted functional enrichment analysis that found genes associated with the most informative SNP markers in the current study, thereby providing biological insights into the genomic basis of these traits.

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Particleboards have gained attention in the global market. Understanding their physical-mechanical behavior in the current technological context is essential due to adhesive polymerization, which depends on variables such as pressing time and temperature. Today, the use of nanoparticles has become a plausible option for improving the properties of polymers used in wood-based composites. This study evaluates the influences of the addition of non-commercial 0.5% aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and aluminum oxide copper (CuO) nanoparticles using a greener route with a lower environmental impact obtaining a urea-formaldehyde (UF)-based polymeric adhesive to manufacture particle composites of Eucalyptus urophylla var. grandis wood. Regarding characterizations, the resin properties analyzed were viscosity, gel time, and pH, as well as panel properties, including density, moisture content, thickness swelling, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and thermal conductivity. The results were compared with scientific publications and standards. The addition of nanoparticles interfered with viscosity, and all treatments indicated a basic pH. It was not possible to determine the gel time after 10 min. Nanoparticles added to the polymers in the internal layer did not cause an improvement in the swelling properties in terms of thickness, with no significant statistical difference for density and moisture content. The increase from 150 °C to 180 °C may have caused an improvement in all physical-mechanical properties, indicating that the higher temperature positively influenced the polymerization of the formaldehyde-based adhesive. Therefore, the additions of both nanoparticles (0.5% in each condition) led to a limitation in the material influence with respect to physical-mechanical performance.

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Introduction: Bone and Joint Infections (BJI) have high morbidity. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased. Culture-based diagnosis has difficult to recovering fastidious bacteria and detecting polymicrobial infections, molecular methods offer a promising improvement for the diagnosis of BJI with reduced time to result. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between culture results and the Biofire joint infection panel (BJIP) in a cohort of pediatric patients with BJI. Materials and methods: Descriptive study. Patients admitted with probable o confirmed BJI between July 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 at HOMI. Blood cultures, synovial and bone fluid samples were taken. Samples were kept at -70 °C. On September 2022, the panel was performed. Results: 32 patients were included. The average age was 83m (RIQ: 32-145). 23 (71.8%) patients had a positive culture. The most frequent microorganism were S. aureus 19 (83%), 11/19 (57.9%) Staphylococci isolates were MRSA. 24/32 (75%) were positive by panel, 20 positive detections were concordant with culture, there were 6 additional isolates by panel (2 S. aureus, 2 S. pyogenes, 1 K. kingae and 1 C. albicans), three microorganisms were isolated in culture but not in the panel. (2 S. aureus and 1 S. agalactiae). Two patients with coinfection were detected. All MRSA were detected by culture and panel. In 26 (81.3%) patients the etiology was documented by any method. Conclusion: These results showed a moderate level of agreement between BJIP and culture (κ = 0.47). The panel allowed the detection of fastidious bacteria including K. kingae and polymicrobial samples. There was a very good level of agreement between the panel and culture for the MRSA detection (κ = 1).

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This database consists of the Peruvian media diet in a post-pandemic context. Specifically, it examines how Peruvians define and utilise media to create environments for information, learning, and entertainment. Since the pandemic, the relationship that users have developed with the media has intensified and changed, fostering new uses and interactions. However, our data demonstrates that the Peruvian public maintains a critical role towards mass media (broadcasting model) [1], which motivates them to seek out media and platforms that cater to their interests and expectations. In this regard, we compare three axes of analysis (information, education, and entertainment), taking socio demographic variables, to produce a baseline that is useful for specific research projects. Through a quantitative approach we explored the expectations, decisions, forms of interaction, and satisfactions that users obtain in their relationship with the media, offering new theoretical insights based on emerging data, such as the level of planning in content consumption or the role that traditional media play in different age and socioeconomic groups.

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The majority of the world's natural rubber comes from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). As a key enzyme for synthesizing phenylpropanoid compounds, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) has a critical role in plant satisfactory growth and environmental adaptation. To clarify the characteristics of rubber tree PAL family genes, a genome-wide characterization of rubber tree PALs was conducted in this study. Eight PAL genes (HbPAL1-HbPAL8), which spread over chromosomes 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18, were found to be present in the genome of H. brasiliensis. Phylogenetic analysis classified HbPALs into groups I and II, and the group I HbPALs (HbPAL1-HbPAL6) displayed similar conserved motif compositions and gene architectures. Tissue expression patterns of HbPALs quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) proved that distinct HbPALs exhibited varying tissue expression patterns. The HbPAL promoters contained a plethora of cis-acting elements that responded to hormones and stress, and the qPCR analysis demonstrated that abiotic stressors like cold, drought, salt, and H2O2-induced oxidative stress, as well as hormones like salicylic acid, abscisic acid, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate, controlled the expression of HbPALs. The majority of HbPALs were also regulated by powdery mildew, anthracnose, and Corynespora leaf fall disease infection. In addition, HbPAL1, HbPAL4, and HbPAL7 were significantly up-regulated in the bark of tapping panel dryness rubber trees relative to that of healthy trees. Our results provide a thorough comprehension of the characteristics of HbPAL genes and set the groundwork for further investigation of the biological functions of HbPALs in rubber trees.

Asunto(s)

Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Hevea , Familia de Multigenes , Fenilanina Amoníaco-Liasa , Proteínas de Plantas , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Genoma de Planta , Hevea/genética , Hevea/enzimología , Hevea/metabolismo , Fenilanina Amoníaco-Liasa/genética , Fenilanina Amoníaco-Liasa/metabolismo , Filogenia , Enfermedades de las Plantas/genética , Enfermedades de las Plantas/microbiología , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Estrés Fisiológico/genética

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The BRICS countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-are committed to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13, which focuses on mitigating climate change. To attain this goal, it is crucial to emphasize the significance of ICT, renewable energy sources, industrialization, and institutional quality. This study contributes to the literature by examining the potential role of these factors in environmental sustainability in the BRICS economies from 2000 to 2021, utilizing cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimation and other novel econometric techniques. Accordingly, the study suggests that BRICS governments and policymakers prioritize the use of ICT in the industrial and institutional sectors to achieve faster environmental sustainability in the short-run, as per the CS-ARDL results. However, the study advises caution in the long-term as the interaction between ICT and renewable energy sources, industrialization, and institutional quality may not favour environmental quality. Although the renewable energy sources interaction with ICT may not yield immediate progress, strong measures need to be taken to ensure that short-term gains are not nullified. In conclusion, the study highlights the potential of ICT, renewable energy sources, industrialization, and institutional quality in achieving environmental sustainability in the BRICS countries, while recommending cautious measures in the long run to safeguard the progress made.

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Desarrollo Industrial , Energía Renovable , China , India , Brasil , Federación de Rusia , Desarrollo Sostenible , Sudáfrica , Cambio Climático , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales

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Introduction: Rett syndrome (RTT, MIM #312750) is a rare genetic disorder that leads to developmental regression and severe disability and is caused by pathogenic variants in the MECP2 gene. The diagnosis of RTT is based on clinical features and, depending on resources and access, on molecular confirmation. There is scarce information on molecular diagnosis from patients in Latin America, mostly due to limited availability and coverage of genomic testing. This pilot study aimed to implement genomic testing and characterize clinical and molecular findings in a group of Chilean patients with a clinical diagnosis of RTT. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with suspected RTT underwent characterization of phenotypic manifestations and molecular testing using Clinical Exome SolutionTM CES_V2 by SOPHiA Genetics. Data was analyzed using the commercial bioinformatics platform, SOPHiA DDMTM. A virtual panel of 34 genes, including MECP2 and other genes that are in the differential diagnosis of RTT, was used to prioritize initial analyses, followed by evaluation of the complete exome sequence data. Results: Twelve patients (42.8% of participants) had variants in MECP2, of which 11 (39.2%) were interpreted as pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP), thus confirming the diagnosis of RTT in them. Eight additional patients (28.5%) harbored ten variants in nine other genes. Four of these variants were interpreted as P/LP (14.2%) (GRIN2B, MADD, TRPM3 and ZEB2) resulting in alternative neurodevelopmental diagnoses, and six were considered of uncertain significance. No evident candidate variant was found for eight patients. Discussion: This study allowed to reach a diagnosis in half of the participants. The diagnosis of RTT was confirmed in over a third of them, while others were found to have alternative neurodevelopmental disorders. Further evaluation is needed to identify the cause in those with negative or uncertain results. This information is useful for the patients, families, and clinicians to guide clinical management, even more so since the development of novel therapies for RTT. We also show the feasibility of implementing a step-wide approach to genomic testing in a setting with limited resources.

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The health crisis caused by COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and the confinement measures that were subsequently implemented had unprecedented effects on the mental health of older adults, leading to the emergence and exacerbation of different comorbid symptoms including depression and anxiety. This study examined and compared depression and anxiety symptom networks in two specific quarantine periods (June-July and November-December) in the older adult population in the United Kingdom. We used the database of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging COVID-19 Substudy, consisting of 5797 participants in the first stage (54% women) and 6512 participants in the second stage (56% women), all over 50 years of age. The symptoms with the highest centrality in both times were: "Nervousness (A1)" and "Inability to relax (A4)" in expected influence and predictability, and "depressed mood (D1"; bridging expected influence). The latter measure along with "Irritability (A6)" overlapped in both depression and anxiety clusters in both networks. In addition, a the cross-lagged panel network model was examined in which a more significant influence on the direction of the symptom "Nervousness (A1)" by the depressive symptoms of "Anhedonia (D6)", "Hopelessness (D7)", and "Sleep problems (D3)" was observed; the latter measure has the highest predictive capability of the network. The results report which symptoms had a higher degree of centrality and transdiagnostic overlap in the cross-sectional networks (invariants) and the cross-lagged panel network model of anxious and depressive symptomatology.

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COVID-19 , Depresión , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Masculino , Depresión/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Estudios Longitudinales , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiología , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Reino Unido/epidemiología

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OBJECTIVE: To carry out a preliminary analysis on the Treg lymphocyte counts present in the peripheral blood of allergic asthmatic children from the city of Cartagena, Colombia, compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We compared cytometry counts of ten asthmatic patients (age 7-16 years) and seven healthy controls (6-12 years), recruited in the city of Cartagena. Peripheral blood samples were stained using Cytek's 14-color cFluor Immunoprofiling kit (Cytek® cFluor® Immunoprofiling Kit 14 Color RUO kit), and analyzed on a Northern Lights™ spectral cytometer (Cytek® Biosciences, Fremont, CA, USA), to read 50.000 events per sample. The data obtained were analyzed in SpectroFlo® and FlowJo. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Cartagena (SGR, Grant BPIN2020000100405). RESULTS: The frequency of CD3+, CD4+, CD25+, CD127- Tregs was 11% of all CD4+ T cells, with a range of minimum 8,1% and maximum 17,7%. There was no significant difference in the proportion of Tregs between allergic asthmatic patients and healthy controls (P = 0,2). CONCLUSIONS: With this preliminary sample size, no significant differences were found in the Treg lymphocyte population between allergic asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The 14-color multiplexed panel is a useful tool not only to count CD3+ and CD4+ populations, but also to obtain the percentage of regulatory T cells using cell surface markers.

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OBJETIVO: Realizar un análisis preliminar sobre los conteos de linfocitos Tregs presentes en sangre periférica de niños asmáticos alérgicos de la ciudad de Cartagena, comparado con controles sanos. MÉTODOS: Se compararon los conteos de citometría de diez pacientes asmáticos (entre 7 y16 años) y siete controles sanos (entre 6 y12 años), reclutados en la ciudad de Cartagena. La muestra de sangre periférica fue teñida empleando el kit de inmunofenotipo multiplexado de 14 colores de Cytek (Cytek® cFluor® Immunoprofiling Kit 14 Color), y analizada en un citómetro espectral Northern Lights™ (Cytek® Biosciences, Fremont, CA, USA), a lectura de 50.000 eventos por muestra. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados en SpectroFlo® y FlowJo. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de la Universidad de Cartagena. RESULTADOS: El panel de tinción funcionó apropiadamente y dentro de los parámetros apropiados. Se obtuvo un promedio de células Tregs CD3+, CD4+, CD25+ y CD127- del 11% de todos los CD4+ en las muestras estudiadas, con un rango de mínimo de 8,1% y un máximo de 17,7%. No hubo diferencias significativas en la proporción de linfocitos Tregs entre los pacientes asmáticos alérgicos y los controles sanos (P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONES: Con este tamaño de muestra preliminar, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la población de linfocitos Tregs entre los pacientes asmáticos alérgicos y los controles sanos. El panel multiplexado de 14 colores es una herramienta útil no solo para derivar las poblaciones CD3+ y CD4+, sino también para obtener el porcentaje de células T reguladoras empleando marcadores de superficie celular.

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Asma , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-2 , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-7 , Linfocitos T Reguladores , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Asma/sangre , Asma/inmunología , Antígenos CD4/análisis , Antígenos CD4/sangre , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-2/sangre , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-2/análisis , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-7/análisis , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-7/sangre , Recuento de Linfocitos , Linfocitos T Reguladores/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología

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OBJECTIVE: To delineate quantitatively the allergen sensitization patterns in a large pediatric cohort and inform the selection of a region-specific panel of allergen tests for timely and cost-effective in vitro atopy screening. STUDY DESIGN: IgE levels for specific allergens from patients in the Texas Children's Health System were analyzed retrospectively. Statistical and network analyses were conducted to reveal sensitization patterns. RESULTS: Network analysis of 114 distinct allergens among 12 065 patients identified 2 main groups of allergens: environmental and food. Approximately 67.5% of patients were sensitized to environmental allergens, 47.2% to food allergens, and 7.3% to at least 1 allergen from both groups. We identified a novel panel of 13 allergens that could detect sensitization in 95% of patients, whereas panels of 7 allergens within each category effectively identified sensitization in 95% of patients with specific sensitivities. This data-driven approach is estimated to reduce overall testing costs by 52%. In agreement with literature, we observed correlations among allergens within specific categories, such as pollen, shellfish, nuts, and dairy allergens. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into allergen sensitization patterns informing an algorithmic testing approach tailored for primary care settings. The use of a region and population-specific test panel can efficiently identify atopy, leading to more targeted testing. This strategy has the potential to refine laboratory testing, reduce costs, and improve the appropriateness of referrals to allergy specialists, ultimately enhancing diagnostic accuracy and resource allocation.

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Alérgenos , Inmunoglobulina E , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Masculino , Alérgenos/inmunología , Texas , Inmunoglobulina E/sangre , Inmunoglobulina E/inmunología , Lactante , Adolescente , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/economía , Hipersensibilidad/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidad/inmunología

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Latinos have high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) yet are characterized as having health-promoting social networks. The impacts of COVID-19 on personal networks were complex, especially in urban areas with high proportion of immigrants such as the Bronx in NYC. Our objective was to test the extent to which network characteristics increase vulnerability or resiliency for glycemic control based on data gathered from Mexican-origin Bronx dwellers. We used two-wave panel study analyzing self-reported personal social networks (n=30participants; 600network members) and HbA1c levels via dried blood spots in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, a time after initial lockdowns and when the pandemic was still ravaging the community of study. Regression models adjusted for individual-level variables including sociodemographic and health indicators (i.e., physical health including COVID-19 and mental health). We found that an increase in the proportion of network members with diabetes predicted an increase in participant's HbA1c levels from 2019 to 2021 (ß=0.044, p < 0.05). Also, a greater proportion of network members consuming "an American diet" in 2019 predicted a decrease in participant's HbA1c levels (ß=-0.028, p < 0.01), while a greater proportion of network members that encouraged participants' health in 2019 predicted an increase in participant's HbA1c levels (ß=0.033, p < 0.05). Our study sheds light on specific social network characteristics relevant to individual diabetes outcomes, including potential longitudinal mechanistic effects that played out at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis.

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COVID-19 , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Resiliencia Psicológica , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiología , Hemoglobina Glucada , Pandemias , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles

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BACKGROUND: Brazil ranks second in the absolute number of transplants. However, the supply remains insufficient to meet the demands, resulting in a lengthy waitlist. This study aimed to analyze whether the frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the value of calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) would influence the waiting time for kidney transplantation. METHODS: The HLA-A, B, and -DRB1 frequencies and the cPRA value were analyzed in 11,186 kidney transplant candidates included in the waitlist from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS: The most frequent alleles were HLA-A*02, HLA-B*35, and HLA-DRB1*13. The overall mean length of stay on the list was 986 ± 1001 days. The mean waiting time for the three most frequent alleles of the HLA-A and B loci showed no significant difference when compared with the least frequent alleles; however, for the HLA-DRB1 locus, the most frequent alleles showed a shorter waiting time. In the association between HLA and PRA, the average length of stay on the list increased according to the candidate's degree of sensitization, regardless of the analyzed HLA frequency. CONCLUSION: The length of stay on the waitlist is influenced by the frequency of the HLA alleles of the DRB1 locus and the degree of sensitization.

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Trasplante de Riñón , Humanos , Cadenas HLA-DRB1/genética , Brasil , Listas de Espera , Antígenos HLA-A/genética , Antígenos HLA , Alelos , Anticuerpos , Frecuencia de los Genes

RESUMEN

The cattle sector plays a pivotal role in the economies of numerous Latin American and Caribbean countries. However, it also exerts a significant impact on environmental degradation, including substantial contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (accounting for 23.5 % of global livestock emissions) and deforestation (70 % attributed to livestock in South America). This article aims to investigate the complex, long-term, and short-term relationships between population growth, pastureland expansion, deforestation, and the cattle sector in 15 countries across the region, focusing on their effects on greenhouse gas emissions as well as beef and dairy production. Utilizing data from FAOSTAT spanning the period from 1990 to 2019, a cointegrated panel model was developed using the Pooled Mean Group technique, resulting in the estimation of six models. The aggregate-level results for the region reveal the presence of relatively stable long-term relationships. This implies that over time, the influence of population growth, pastureland expansion, and deforestation on greenhouse gas emissions from cattle production tends to diminish in significance. This long-term behavior may be particularly pronounced in countries with more developed cattle sectors, where efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of cattle production, such as promoting improved forage technologies, silvo-pastoral systems, grazing management practices, and the implementation of policies, regulatory frameworks, and incentives, have gained traction. These progressive countries can serve as regional benchmarks, and the lessons they have learned hold valuable insights for the sustainable intensification of cattle production in countries with less-developed cattle sectors.

RESUMEN

High-intensity ultrasound (HIU) can modify muscle structure, leading to improvements in tenderness. However, factors such as packing type and muscle complexity may attenuate the acoustic cavitation. In this research, the effect of packing thickness (40.6-70 µm) on the quality of bovine Gluteus medius and Biceps femoris treated with HIU (37 kHz, 90 W/cm2, 40 min) was evaluated. The hardness of G. medius decreased significantly as the thickness of the packing bag decreased. The wide interfibrillar and intermyofibrillar spaces corroborated the tenderizing effect. These effects are related to damage of cell structure and changes in the collagen content (3.37 ± 0.1 µg/mL). In addition, the HIU decrease the variability in the water holding capacity of the muscle produced by the use of low thickness bags during storage. The trained sensory panel described the sonicated samples in 50.8 µm bags as less hard and juicier. Contrarily, in B. femoris no significant effects were reported in the variables evaluated. B. femoris is a white muscle, with a high amount of collagen (3.59 ± 0.1 µg/mL) and little intramuscular fat. Consequently, the effect of the HIU on muscle quality is associated with the composition of the muscle fibers and the thickness of the packing bag. HIU application is recommended to improve the quality of leg muscles whenever low-thickness bags (50.8 µm or less) are used.

Asunto(s)

Fibras Musculares Esqueléticas , Músculo Esquelético , Bovinos , Animales , Músculo Esquelético/química , Fenómenos Químicos , Agua/análisis , Colágeno , Carne/análisis