EPO Use by Brazilian Athletes Since 2000

Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone whose physiologic function is to stimulate the production of red blood cells. This study's aim was to survey Brazilian athletes who have tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) since 2000. This documentary research, carried out during 2012, is based on two website searches from two national Brazilian magazines. Ten Brazilian athletes tested positive for EPO use between 2003 and 2012; most of them were field and track athletes. The study's limitations are noted.     

Acute performance responses during repeated matches in combat sports: A systematic review

ObjectiveInvestigate the acute effects of repeated combat sports matches on vertical jump and handgrip strength performance in grappling and striking modalities.DesignSystematic review.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. The following eligibility criteria for selecting studies were adopted: Population: Combat sports athletes; Intervention: Official or simulated matches; Comparator: Baseline versus after-matches performance; Outcome: Vertical jump and/or handgrip strength performance. PROSPERO: CRD42019129264ResultsThe systematic search resulted in 13 studies, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Greco-Roman, judo, taekwondo, and wrestling (freestyle and Greco-Roman) modalities, and a diverse number of repeated matches (i.e. 1–5). None of the studies adopted a randomized and controlled design and, consequently, none of them was classified as high quality. Brazilian jiu-jitsu and freestyle wrestling athletes presented an earlier onset of fatigue in upper and lower limbs, while judo and Greco Roman wrestling presented a later onset, from the third match. In taekwondo athletes, no fatigue was observed in the lower limbs, while handgrip strength decreased. However, studies have reported unclear data regarding the time-course of lower and upper limbs’ fatigue following repeated matches in taekwondo.ConclusionBoth upper and lower limbs performance were affected after repeated matches in grappling combat sports when assessed by handgrip strength and vertical jump performance. In taekwondo, the studies have shown unclear results concerning the effects of repeated matches on upper and lower limb performance. There is a lack of studies classified as high-quality and investigations into the neuromuscular mechanisms underpinning fatigue after the repeated matches.     

The Spectrum of β-Thalassemia Mutations in a Population from the Brazilian Amazon

The spectrum of β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations was investigated for the first time in a cohort of 33 unrelated patients from the Brazilian Amazon attending the Center for Hemotherapy and Hematology of the Pará Foundation (HEMOPA), in Belém, the state capital of Pará, Northern Brazil. Identification of the β-thal mutations was made by direct genomic sequencing of the β-globin gene. Mutations were identified in all patients, corresponding to a spectrum of 10 different point mutations and a total of 37 alleles studied. HBB: c.92?+?5G?>?A [IVS-I-5 (G?>?A)], was the most common β-thal mutation, followed by HBB: c.118C?>?T [codon 39 (C?>?T)], HBB: c.?138C?>?T [?88 (C>T)], HBB: c.92?+?1G?>?A [IVS-I-1 (G?>?A)] and HBB: c.92?+?6T?>?C [IVS-I-6 (T?>?C)] mutations. These five mutations (four Mediterranean origin and one African origin) accounted for 86.5% of the β-thal alleles. The profile of β-thal mutations found in northern Brazil is different from those described in other regions of the country. In the southeast and south, the nonsense mutation HBB: c.118C?>?T is the most prevalent, followed by HBB: c.93-21G?>?A [IVS-I-110 (G?>?A)], whereas in the northeast, HBB: c.92?+?6T?>?C has been identified as the most common mutation, followed by HBB: c.92?+?1G?>?A. This heterogeneous geographical distribution is certainly related to the ancestry of Brazilian populations because they have similar genetic backgrounds (European, African and Amerindian), although with slightly different admixture proportions. Furthermore, the European contribution in the southeast and south was largely made up of immigrants of other nationalities, such as Italian and Spanish, in addition to Portuguese.     

The Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey: Design and Methods

Purpose: To describe the study design, operational strategies, procedures, and baseline characteristics of the Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey (BARES), a population-based survey of the prevalence and causes of distance and near visual impairment and blindness in older adults residing in the city of Parintins.

Methods: Cluster sampling, based on geographically defined census sectors, was used for cross-sectional random sampling of persons 45 years and older from urban and rural areas. Subjects were enumerated through a door-to-door survey and invited for measurement of uncorrected, presenting and best-corrected visual acuity and an ocular examination.

Results: Of 9931 residents (5878 urban and 4053 rural), 2384 individuals (1410 urban and 974 rural) were eligible and 2041 (1180 urban and 861 rural) had a clinical examination (response rate 85.6%). The majority of participants were female (1041, 51.0%); the average age was 59.9 ± 11.1 years (60.2 ± 11.2 years for urban and 59.4 ± 11.1 years for rural); 1360 (66.6%) had primary schooling or less (58.1% in urban and 78.4% in rural) and 57.8% were resident in urban areas. The age distribution between sexes was similar (p = 0.178). Both sex and age distributions of the sample were comparable to that of the Brazilian Amazon Region population.

Conclusions: The BARES cohort will provide information about the prevalence and causes of near and distance vision in this underprivileged and remote population in Brazil.     

Oral paracoccidioidomycosis: Retrospective analysis of 55 Brazilian patients

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a rare fungal infection in the world, but endemic and acquired exclusively in Latin America, with the highest prevalence in South America and Brazil, particularly. Changes in oral cavity are common and constitute the first clinical manifestation in many patients. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of oral PCM and analyse the profile of the disease and patients. Retrospective research, consisting of information present in the medical records in the period 1998‐2015, whose histopathological diagnosis was oral PCM. Fifty‐five oral PCM cases were confirmed. Of these patients, 90.9% were males and 9.1% were females. The average age was 49.66 years and the most reported occupation was rural workers. The painful symptomatology was present in 61.82% of patients. Erythematous lesions were predominant in 73% of them. In single lesions (22 cases), the most common locations were jugal mucosa and tongue. In multiple involvement (30 cases), the most affected regions were lips, jugal mucosa and alveolar ridge. Epidemiology of PCM, was similar to several other studies, especially in Brazil. This is the most important fungal infection in Latin America and the recognition of oral lesions is extremely important, as is often the first and in many cases the only manifestation of the disease.     

Metabolic and infectious pathologies in Brazilian medical literature: a review

OBJECTIVE:

This review of original reports on metabolic and infectious diseases that were recently published in Brazilian journals is designed to inform the readership of CLINICS about their content.

METHODS:

I conducted a search in PubMed for original research articles (clinical or basic research) recently published (2008–2009) by Brazilian medical and biological periodicals. Papers on metabolic pathologies were retrieved by searching for appropriate keywords such as metabolic syndrome and obesity. Papers on infectious disease were obtained by entering 15 different keywords for the most commonly occurring pathologies. Review articles, editorials, letters to the editor, and case reports were manually excluded. Selected titles were then categorized into appropriate sub-categories.

RESULTS:

This search produced a total of 123 articles, which filtered down to 72 articles after eliminating editorials, review articles, letters to the Editor and case reports. Reviewed periodicals were Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia, Brazilian Journal of Biological and Medical Research, Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, Jornal de Pediatria, Jornal de Pneumologia, Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, and São Paulo Medical Journal. The articles were then briefly summarized.     

The impact of SLCO1B1 polymorphisms on the plasma concentration of lopinavir and ritonavir in HIV-infected men

AIMS

To investigate possible associations between three SLCO1B1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (388A→G, 463C→A, 521T→C) and lopinavir/ritonavir plasma concentrations.

METHODS

The study included 99 human immunodeficiency virus-infected men on stable highly active antiretroviral therapy containing lopinavir/ritonavir. Trough concentrations of lopinavir and ritonavir in plasma were quantified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Genotyping of SLCO1B1388A→G, 463C→A and 521T→C polymorphisms was performed by allelic discrimination using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The trough concentration of lopinavir in plasma is significantly associated with SLCO1B1521T→C genotypes (P= 0.03). There is a significant trend for increasing concentrations of lopinavir from TT to TC to CC genotypes (P= 0.02). Carriers of the 521C allele display significantly higher lopinavir plasma concentrations relative to the wild-type TT genotype (P= 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced uptake of lopinavir by hepatocytes in carriers of the 521C allele may account for these results, but further studies to confirm the clinical importance of SLCO1B1 polymorphisms in lopinavir pharmacokinetics are warranted.     

Effects of Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) Fruit Extract Adsorbed onto PEG Microspheres in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Co-Cultured with Blood Cells

Objective: To evaluate the antitumor effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres with adsorbed Hancorniaspeciosa ethanolic extract (HSEE) on blood mononuclear (MN) cells co-cultured with MCF-7 breast cancer cells.Methods: PEG microspheres were adsorbed with HSEE and examined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.MCF-7 and MN cells obtained from volunteer donors were pre-incubated alone or co-cultured (MN and MCF-7cells) for 24 h with or without HSEE, PEG microspheres or PEG adsorbed with HSEE (PEG-HSEE). Cell viability,superoxide release and superoxide dismutase were determined. Results: Fluorescence microscopy showed that PEGmicrospheres were able to absorb HSEE throughout their surface. Irrespective of the treatment, the viability index ofMN cells, MCF-7 and their co-culture was not affected. Superoxide release increased in co-cultured cells treated withHSEE, adsorbed or not onto PEG microspheres. In co-cultured cells, SOD levels in culture supernatant increased inthe treatment with HSEE, adsorbed onto PEG microspheres or not. Conclusion: HSEE has direct effects on MN cellsco-cultured with MCF-7 cells. The results suggest the benefits of Hancornia speciosa fruit consumption by women atrisk of breast cancer. In addition, because PEG-HSEE maintained oxidative balance in co-cultured cells, it is a promisingalternative for the treatment of tumor cells.     

Variability of the paraoxonase gene (PON1) in Euro- and Afro-Brazilians

The human high-density lipoprotein-associated paraoxonase (EC 3.1.1.2; PON1) plays a role in the hydrolysis of organophosphorus compounds and against the oxidative damage of low-density lipoprotein. In the present study, variants of PON1 (55 and 192) were investigated by PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSCA in Euro- (N = 101) and Afro-Brazilians (N = 70). The PON1*55 and PON1*192 allele frequencies were significantly different in these ethnic groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The genotype frequencies for PON1*55 (LL, LM, and MM) in Euro- and Afro-Brazilians were 33, 56, and 11% and 47, 49, and 4%, respectively. The genotype frequencies for PON1*192 were significantly different in Euro- and Afro-Brazilians (QQ, QR, RR: 48, 42, and 10% and 21, 52, and 27%, respectively; p < 0.001). The haplotype frequency distributions were also significantly different in Euro- (LQ = 30.20%; LR = 30.69%; and MQ = 39.11%) and Afro-Brazilians (LQ = 24.97%; LR = 46.46%; MQ = 22.18%; and MR = 6.39%; p < 0.001). Linkage disequilibrium (D) in relation to the maximum expected value was higher in Euro- (100%) than in Afro-Brazilians (58%). We suggest that the high linkage disequilibrium in Caucasians and Asians characterized by the absence or very low frequency of the MR haplotype is mainly due to genetic drift and possibly also to natural selection favoring the PON1*192Q allele or a variant in linkage disequilibrium with it. This seems to be the first study on the PON1 variability at the DNA level in South American samples and one of the few studies on individuals of mixed African origin.