Increasing heterosexual transmission of HIV‐1 subtype C in Inland Central Western Brazil

The molecular epidemiology of HIV‐1 in Brazil is complex and heterogeneous because several subtypes co‐circulate with some important regional differences. This study evaluated HIV‐1 subtypes amongst pregnant women living in the metropolitan area and in the interior cities from central western Brazil. From June 2008 to June 2010, 86.9% of confirmed cases of HIV‐1 infection amongst pregnant women (172 out of 198 cases) were recruited in Goiania/Goias state. The HIV‐1 pol gene was sequenced after nested‐PCR. HIV‐1 subtypes were assigned by REGA, phylogenetic, and bootscan analyses. The median age of participants was 26 years (15–41 years range); 58.7% of participants were diagnosed during prenatal care and 51.7% of participants came from >50 interior cities within Goias state. Amongst the 131 HIV‐1 pol sequences, 64.9% were subtype B, 13.0% were BF1 recombinant, 11.4% were subtype C, 7.6% were subtype F1, and 2.3% were BC recombinant. According to the HIV‐1 diagnosis date (1994–2010), a significant increase in subtype C and a decrease of BF1 mosaics were observed over time. All subtype C patients lived in interior cities where the highest prevalence of subtype C outside southern Brazil was observed (18.4%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple independent introductions of the Brazilian subtype C clade from the southern/southeastern regions of Brazil. The HIV‐1 epidemic in women from central western Brazil infected by the heterosexual route is characterized by an unexpectedly high prevalence of subtype C viruses highly related to those circulating in southern/southeastern Brazil. These findings highlight the importance of molecular surveillance programs outside large metropolitan regions in Brazil. J. Med. Virol. 85:396–404, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Recommendations for Managing Endodontic Emergencies during Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak

IntroductionThe management of endodontic emergencies has been particularly challenging during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak because of the possible generation of airborne particles and aerosols. The aim of this report was to contribute to the practice of endodontics by proposing a general protocol for the management of emergencies showing the rationale for remote diagnosis, clinical procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment and barriers at the dental office during the COVID-19 outbreak.MethodsA review of the literature was conducted up to May 2020 on relevant institutional sites, aiming to retrieve the best updated evidence. The reporting considered the Reporting Tool for Practice Guidelines in Health Care statement.ResultsRecommendations from Cochrane Oral Health, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were included along with the American Association of Endodontists resources and scientific articles that addressed the issue.ConclusionsThe proposed protocol could contribute to the management of endodontic emergencies at the dental office during the COVID-19 outbreak.     

Lateral mobility of an amphipathic apolipoprotein, ApoC-III, bound to phosphatidylcholine bilayers with and without cholesterol

The technique of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was used to investigate the lateral mobility of a fluorescein-labeled amphipathic apolipoprotein, ApoC-III, bound to multibilayers prepared from dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, egg phosphatidylcholine, and a 1:1 (molar ratio) mixture of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. In dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers the lateral diffusion coefficient (D) for the protein is about 2 x 10(-9) cm(2) sec(-1) at 20 degrees C and about 9 x 10(-8) cm(2) sec(-1) at 45 degrees C. Plots of D versus temperature in this system show a transition between about 30 and 35 degrees C. Arrhenius activation energies for the diffusion in this case between 15 and 30 degrees C and between 35 and 45 degrees C are 28.5 and 7.0 kcal mol(-1), respectively (1 calorie = 4.18 joules). In egg phosphatidylcholine bilayers, D is about 3 x 10(-8) cm(2) sec(-1) at 20 degrees C and the Arrhenius activation energy for diffusion is 8.1 kcal mol(-1) between 15 and 35 degrees C in this system. In bilayers prepared from an equimolar mixture of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol D at 20 degrees C is about 1.4 x 10(-9) cm(2) sec(-1) and the Arrhenius activation energy for the diffusion of the protein in this system between 15 and 35 degrees C is 15.1 kcal mol(-1). Light-scattering and fluorescence-polarization results indicate that binding of this protein does not affect the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition of bilayer membranes but does mediate a major, reversible aggregation of the vesicles at about 33 degrees C. These results lend support to the view that ApoC-III resides in the head-group region of the bilayer and suggest that its lateral diffusion coefficient represents an upper bound for integral membrane proteins.     

The Prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder in a Sample of College Students in the North of Portugal

Binge eating disorder (BED) has important associated comorbidities and has been recently considered as a diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition. This study investigates the prevalence of BED in a sample of college students using a two‐stage design. Between October 2008 and July 2009, 805 students attending a public college campus completed the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns – Revised to screen for possible cases. Eighty‐five students meeting key criteria for BED were invited for a second stage interview using the Eating Disorder Examination. At stage 1, 9.6% of the subjects reported binge eating episodes. At stage 2, a prevalence rate of 0.5% for BED was found, and 1% if the criterion for large amount of food was excluded. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.