On the inter- and intra-subject variability of the electromyographic signal in isometric contractions

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the variability of the surface EMG signal of the same muscle in healthy subjects, because of lack of reproducibility of the EMG signal for the same subject and muscle in different trials of maximal isometric voluntary contraction. The results showed an EMG coefficient of variability of 21.61%, indicating that this variability must be considered in experiments with an inappropriate condition for normalization procedures, such as EMG biofeedback in rehabilitation sessions, or normalization procedures by the maximal isometric voluntary contraction.     

Characterization of a bovine collagen-hydroxyapatite composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Different biomaterials have been used as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Here we characterize a biomaterial composed of sintered (1100 degrees C) and powdered hydroxyapatite (HA) and type I collagen (Coll), both of bovine origin, designed for osteoconductive and osteoinductive scaffolds. Coll/HA proportions were 1/2.6 and 1/1 (wet weight), and particles sizes varied from 200 to 400 microm. Vv (volume density) and Sv (surface to volume density) for the HA particles in the composite ranged from 0.48 +/- 0.06 to 0.55 +/- 0.02 and 5.090 +/- 0.545 to 6.366 +/- 0.289 microm(-1), respectively. Due to the relatively small changes in Vv and Sv, a macroporosity could be characterized for the biocomposite. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy showed that the sintered bone was composed essentially of HA with minimum additional groups such as surface calcium hydroxide, surface and crystal water, free carbon dioxide and possibly brushite. Mass spectrometry detected carbonates at A and B sites of HA, and weakly bound to the structure. Human osteoblasts adhered and spread on both the HA particle surface and the collagen fibers, which seemed to guide cells between adjacent particles. The biocomposite studied has several characteristics considered as ideal for its use as a scaffold for osteoconduction and osteoinduction.     

Fluconazole induces genotoxicity in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells via immunomodulation of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10: new challenges for safe therapeutic regimens

Context: Fluconazole (FNZ) is a drug used in antifungal therapy. However, the minimum FNZ dose to interfering with immune responses or inducing DNA damage is still unknown.

Objective: This study investigated the toxicological profile of FNZ on cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with different concentrations of this azole.

Materials and methods: Cultured PBMCs were exposed to FNZ (6, 12, 30, 60 and 120?μg/mL) and the toxicological profile was assessed by the following parameters: cytotoxic and nuclear division index (necrotic, apoptotic and viable cells), DNA damage (alkaline comet test), mutagenic potential (micronucleus test), cytokine modulation (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ), and predictive toxicity (Osiris^® and LAZAR^® programs).

Results: Our results demonstrated that FNZ induced cellular DNA damage and mutagenicity at concentrations above the plasma peak (>30?μg/mL) and 6?μg/mL, respectively, which was associated with increased TNF-α, and decrease IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. These effects may be related to increased apoptosis and cytotoxic nuclear division index in the cultured PBMCs. In silico results indicated potential mutagenic, tumorigenic, irritant, and carcinogenic effects, which were partially confirmed by the above assays.

Discussion and conclusions: Together, these findings suggest the need to rationalize the use of FNZ, especially if it is used for long periods or with concomitant pathologies requiring azole therapy that may increase FNZ's plasma concentration.     

Risk factors for asthma among children in Maputo (Mozambique)

BACKGROUND: Few studies have looked at risk factors for asthma in African children. We aimed to identify the risk factors associated with childhood asthma in Maputo (Mozambique). METHODS: This case-control study included 199 age-matched children (100 asthmatic and 99 nonasthmatic) who attended Maputo Central Hospital between January 1999 and July 2000. We collected information concerning their familial history of atopy, birth weight, environment and breast-feeding. Detailed information about morbidity and treatment was obtained for each asthmatic child. RESULTS: The children were aged between 18 months and 8 years; 60% were male. The asthmatic children were hospitalized more frequently than the nonasthmatic children (P < 0.0001). Most of the asthmatic children lived in the urban area of Maputo [odd ratio (OR) = 6.73, CI = 3.1-14.0, P < 0.0001], had a parental history of asthma (OR = 26.8, CI = 10.8-68.2, P < 0.0001) or rhinitis (OR = 4, CI = 1.2-13.3, P = 0.005), had at least parent who smoked and were weaned earlier than the nonasthmatic children (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.3-4.4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Childhood asthma was strongly associated with a family history of asthma and rhinitis, the place of residence, having smokers as parents and early weaning from maternal breast milk. These results highlight the need to reassess the management of asthmatic children in Maputo.     

A second locus (GLC3B) for primary congenital glaucoma (Buphthalmos) maps to the 1p36 region

Primary congenital glaucoma (gene symbol: GLC3) is an ocular disorder that occurs for 0.01-0.04% of blind people. In the majority of familial cases reported so far, this condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. We have recently used a group of 17 GLC3 families with a minimum of two affected offspring and consanguinity in most of the parental generation and mapped the first GLC3 locus (GLC3A) to the 2p21 region. Six families did not show any linkage to the GLC3A locus and thus provided evidence for genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. A total of eight families unlinked to the 2p21 region were used to search for the chromosomal location of the second GLC3 locus. Herein, we describe mapping of a new locus (designated GLC3B) for primary congenital glaucoma to the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p36.2-36.1) that is situated centromeric to the neuroblastoma and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A (CMT2A) loci. A total of 17 DNA markers were genotyped from this region of chromosome 1. Four families showed no recombination with the two markers D1S2834 and D1S402 with a maximum lod score of 4.510 and 4.157 respectively. Pairwise and multipoint linkage analysis and inspection of the haplotypes revealed that the remaining four families are not linked to this part of chromosome 1, thus providing further evidence that at least one more locus for the autosomal recessive form of GLC3 must exist in the genome. Based on the recombination events, the overall linkage map of this region is: tel-D1S1192-D1S1635-D1S1193 - (D1S1597/-D1S489/D1S228)- [GLC3B/D1S2834/D1S402] - (D1S1176/D1S507/D1S407) - D1S2728-(MFAP2/D1S170) - D1S1368 - D1S436- D1S1592-cen.      

Acute respiratory infection by human metapneumovirus in children in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been described as an etiologic agent of acute respiratory infections (ARI), mainly in pediatric patients. Viral isolation is difficult and has low sensitivity, and consequently RT-PCR assays are currently used for detection. OBJECTIVES: Detect hMPV in ARI in hospitalized children in Southern Brazil; standardize a RT-PCR for routine hMPV diagnosis; validate a positive control for molecular tests; and perform phylogenetics analyses. STUDY DESIGN: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from 156 hospitalized children were studied. A conserved region of the nucleoprotein gene was cloned, characterized and used to standardize an RT-PCR assay. Phylogenetic analyses were performed. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: hMPV was detected in 6.4% of the samples. Dyspnea and wheezing were frequently reported symptoms and the most common diagnoses were bronchiolitis, acute respiratory insufficiency or laryngotracheobronchitis. Nucleotide sequence alignment revealed 97.7% identity with genotype A1 of hMPV. The detection limit of hMPV genomes by RT-PCR in clinical samples was 180 copies/microL. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the detection and genetic characterization of hMPV infections in children with lower ARI in Southern Brazil.     

Striated intramural gallbladder lucencies on US studies: predictors of acute cholecystitis

Ultrasound scans of 51 consecutive patients with gallbladder wall thickening were reviewed, and specific sonographic features were correlated with surgical and clinical follow-up. Two patterns of thickening were identified as specific indicators of the presence or absence of acute cholecystitis. "Striated" wall thickening, consisting of several alternating, irregular, discontinuous, lucent and echogenic bands, was seen in eight of 13 patients (62%) with acute cholecystitis. This pattern was not encountered in any of the patients who did not have acute cholecystitis. Conversely, "three-layer" thickening, consisting of a single circumferential lucent zone between two relatively uniform echogenic layers, was seen in only one of 13 patients (8%) with acute cholecystitis but in 11 of 38 patients (29%) with other diagnoses. Other abnormalities, including the presence of intramural echogenic foci and wall irregularities, were more frequently seen in patients with acute cholecystitis but were not as helpful. Use of these features may suggest or help exclude a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in those patients in whom the cause of gallbladder wall thickening is otherwise not apparent.     

Effects of Anthocyanin on Intestinal Health: A Systematic Review

Intestinal health relies on the association between the mucosal immune system, intestinal barrier and gut microbiota. Bioactive components that affect the gut microbiota composition, epithelial physical barrier and intestinal morphology were previously studied. The current systematic review evaluated evidence of anthocyanin effects and the ability to improve gut microbiota composition, their metabolites and parameters of the physical barrier; this was conducted in order to answer the question: “Does food source or extract of anthocyanin promote changes on intestinal parameters?”. The data analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines with the search performed at PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases for experimental studies, and the risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE tool. Twenty-seven studies performed in animal models were included, and evaluated for limitations in heterogeneity, methodologies, absence of information regarding allocation process and investigators’ blinding. The data were analyzed, and the anthocyanin supplementation demonstrated positive effects on intestinal health. The main results identified were an increase of Bacteroidetes and a decrease of Firmicutes, an increase of short chain fatty acids production, a decrease of intestinal pH and intestinal permeability, an increase of the number of goblet cells and tight junction proteins and villi improvement in length or height. Thus, the anthocyanin supplementation has a potential effect to improve the intestinal health. PROSPERO (CRD42020204835).     

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty as an alternative to nephrectomy in adults with poorly functioning kidneys due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction

International Urology and Nephrology - To evaluate outcomes of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in adults with poorly functioning kidney due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). A...