No Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion (ACE I/D) Gene Polymorphism in the Susceptibility to Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complex and multifactorial pathology encompassing environmental, metabolic, and polygenic influences. Among the genes possibly involved in the development and progression of DR, the Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene stands out, which presents an insertion (I) or deletion (D) polymorphism of a 287 bp Alu repetitive sequence in intron 16. Thus, this study aimed to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to elucidate the relationship between the ACE gene (I/D) polymorphism (rs1799752) and the development and progression of DR in type 2 diabetic patients. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically searched to retrieve articles that investigated the association between ACE gene (I/D) polymorphism in DR patients. Sixteen articles were included in the systematic review. The results describe no significant association between the polymorphism and DR risk (OR = 1.12; CI = 0.96-1.31; and p = 0.1359) for genotypic analysis by the dominant model (II vs. ID+DD). Moreover, we also observed no significant association between the D allele on the allele frequency analysis (I vs. D) and the DR risk (OR = 1.10; CI = 0.98-1.23; and p = 0.1182). Forest plot analysis revealed that the discrepancy between previous studies most likely arose from variations in their sample sizes. In conclusion, I/D polymorphism appears to be not involved in the susceptibility to and progression of the DR in type 2 diabetic patients.

MicroRNAs Associated with the Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review for Building a Panel of miRNAs

miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, play a role in post-transcriptional gene expression. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review of miRNAs associated with GDM to build a panel of miRNAs. A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, selecting observational studies in English without time restriction. The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform (number CRD42021291791). Fifty-five studies were included in this systematic review, and 82 altered miRNAs in GDM were identified. In addition, four miRNAs were most frequently dysregulated in GDM (mir-16-5p, mir-20a-5p, mir-222-3p, and mir-330-3p). The dysregulation of these miRNAs is associated with the mechanisms of cell cycle homeostasis, growth, and proliferation of pancreatic β cells, glucose uptake and metabolism, insulin secretion, and resistance. On the other hand, identifying miRNAs associated with GDM and elucidating its main mechanisms can assist in the characterization and definition of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of GDM.

Production and quality of tropical grasses at different regrowth intervals in the Brazilian semiarid

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and chemical composition of three forage species at different regrowth intervals. A 3 x 4 randomized-block factorial design with three forage species (Andropogon, Buffel, and Massai) and four regrowth intervals (21, 35, 49, and 63 days) was used. There was no interaction (p > 0.05) between forage species and regrowth interval on any of the chemical components evaluated. The crude protein content decreased but the contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and hemicellulose increased with increasing regrowth interval (p > 0.05). Only the contents of crude protein and ether extract were similar (p > 0.05) among grasses. A significant interaction was observed (p < 0.05) between forage species and regrowth interval on forage mass. Andropogon grass had the highest forage mass at 63 days (3,270.1 kg ha-1 DM cut-1) and the highest productivity regardless of the regrowth interval (19.1 t ha-1 DM year-1). Therefore, Andropogon grass was the most productive forage among the tested species. Pastures should be managed with shorter growth intervals due to the highest crude protein level and the lowest contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber.

Influence of GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism on survival in male patients' amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a genetic association study in Brazilian population

BACKGROUND

Glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) enzyme has a major antioxidant effect on the central nervous system (CNS), where it acts against oxidative damage, an established risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism and the survival rate of male ALS patients, which is the gender more affected by the disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A case-control study was performed with 56 male ALS patients and 70 healthy male individuals from Midwestern Brazil, which were age-adjusted. GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism molecular analysis was carried out with restriction fragment length polymorphism. The relationship between ALS patients and GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism was analyzed using cumulative survival rate as the major outcome, where differences in survival were evaluated through the log-rank test. Our results revealed that mutant genotype (G/G) did not influence the cumulative survival rate of male ALS patients regarding the age of diagnosis (p = 0.5) and time from symptom to diagnosis (p = 0.3). On the other hand, mutant carriers exhibited a significant survival of fewer than 25 months compared to A/A and A/G genotypes that survive more than 100 months (p = 7-E10) in comparison with symptom onset to outcome (p = 0.00006).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings revealed that mutant genotype carriers' male patients had a reduced lifetime, which probably may be resulted from oxidative stress exposure in CNS.

No association of GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A case-control study in the Brazilian population

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons and promotes progressive muscle atrophy. It has a multifactorial etiology, where environmental conditions playing a remarkable role through the increase of oxidative stress. Genetic polymorphisms in cell detoxification genes, such as Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1) can contribute to excessive oxidative stress, and therefore may be a risk factor to ALS. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism in ALS susceptibility in different genetic inheritance models and evaluate the association of the genotypes with risk factors, clinical and demographic characteristics of ALS patients from the Brazilian central population. This case-control study was conducted with 101 patients with ALS and 101 healthy controls. GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism genotyping was performed with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical package and SNPStats software. Analysis of genetic inheritance models was performed by logistic regression, which was used to determine the Odds Ratio. The results of this first study in the Brazilian population demonstrated that there was no risk association between the development of ALS and the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism in any genetic inheritance model (codominant, dominant, recessive, overdominant, and logarithmic); and that the polymorphic variants were not associated with the clinical and demographic characteristics of ALS patients. No association of the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism and ALS development in the Brazilian central population was found. These findings may be justified by the multifactorial character of the disease.

The direct and indirect effects of the pneumococcal conjugated vaccine on carriage rates in children aged younger than 5 years in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review

Objective

To demonstrate the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage status in children younger than 5 years in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methods

A systematic literature review was carried out on the direct and indirect effects of pneumococcal vaccine in the carriage status, after implementation in childhood immunization programs. Studies carried out in children younger than 5 years were selected from the PubMed^® and Virtual Health Library databases, and data collected after implementation of pneumococcal vaccine in Latin America and the Caribbean, between 2008 and 2018.

Results

From 1,396 articles identified, 738 were selected based on titles and abstracts. After duplicate removal, 31 studies were eligible for full-text reading, resulting in 6 publications for analysis. All selected publications were observational studies and indicated a decrease in the carriage and vaccine types, and an increase in the circulation of non-vaccine serotypes, such as 6A, 19A, 35B, 21 and 38. We did not identify changes in the antimicrobial resistance after vaccine implementation.

Conclusion

A decrease in the carriage status of vaccine types and non-vaccine types was detected. The continuous monitoring of pneumococcal vaccine effect is fundamental to demonstrate the impact of the carriage status and, consequently, of invasive pneumococcal disease, allowing better targeting approaches in countries that included pneumococcal vaccine in their immunization programs. Our study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero) under number CRD42018096719.

P5329Montreal score and coronary artery calcification in the prediction of cardiovascular event in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Introduction

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by elevated levels of LDL-C and early cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the risk of CVD in HF is variable. The Montreal score was designed to stratify cardiovascular risk in the FH population. Coronary calcium score (CAC) is a tool that can be used to optimize CVD risk assessment in FH.

Purpose

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether CAC is superior to the Montreal score in cardiovascular risk discrimination in FH.

Methods

We Included 206 patients with molecular diagnosis of FH (36.4% men, mean age 45±14 years, mean baseline LDL-C: 269±70 mg/dL). All patients underwent CAC and were treated with maximum tolerated statin therapy. We evaluated cardiovascular risk factors and calculated Montreal score as prior publication. Cox regression analysis was performed to test the association of CAC with the incidence of cardiovascular events. CAC was transformed into LogCAC + 1 to optimize the distribution of the CAC as previously described. Area under the ROC curve was calculated for Montreal score and CAC.

Results

Patients were followed by a median of 3.7 years (interquartile range: 2.7 to 6.8 years). Mean Montreal score was 22±8, median of 22. CAC was positive in 105 individuals (51%) and 15 CVD events (7.2%) had occurred. Montreal score above the median was associated with CAC (OR: 8.36, 95% CI: 4.47–15.62, p<0.001), and there was a gradient of increase in the Montreal score with CAC increase (mean Montreal score for CAC = 0, CAC 1–100, CAC>100: 17±7, 23±7, 30±4, p<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the following variables were associated with CVD occurrence: male gender, family history of early coronary disease, corneal arcus, HDL-c (protective), logCAC + 1 and Montreal score. Multivariate analysis was performed: model 1 with Montreal score and logCAC + 1, only logCAC + 1 was associated with the occurrence of CVD (RR: 3.886; 95% CI: 2.112–7.148, p<0.001). Model 2 with family history of early coronary disease, corneal arcus, logCAC + 1 and Montreal score, only the latter was not associated with the occurrence of CVD. CAC presents greater area under the ROC curve for CVD event discrimination compared to the Montreal score: 0.839 versus 0.685, p=0.0074.

Conclusion

The Montreal score is associated with CAC in FH, however CAC is superior than this clinical score in predicting the occurrence of CVD in FH.

The influence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Some factors have been associated with the etiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), among them the Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in CLL. A case-control study was conducted with 219 individuals from Brazilian central population. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was determined through PCR-RFLP followed by PAGE. The T allele frequence was higher in patients diagnosed with CLL than healthy subjects. However, when stratified by gender, the TT genotype was exclusively found in men diagnosed with CLL (p < 0.05). Adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age was significantly linked to CLL predisposition (odds ratio = 1.08; p < 0.001). Studies evaluating the influence of genetic factors may provide insights on susceptibility for CLL.

Do GST polymorphisms influence in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy?

Diabetic patients often develop Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) despite severe long-lasting hyperglycemia, while others develop DN even under intensive insulin therapy. This indicates that factors other than chronic hyperglycemia may also contribute to the susceptibility to the development of DN. The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the possible role of GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), GSTP1 313 A > G (Ile105Val), in DN susceptibility. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the occurrence of GST polymorphisms in the Central Brazilian population was not associated with increased risk of DN. However, the presence GSTT1 null genotype suggest an increase trend in systolic blood pressure and opposite inference was observed for the GSTP1 genotype (Ile⁄Val or Val⁄Val). On the order hand, other studies may clarify the relationship of these polymorphisms with DN and help in the prevention of this disease.

Clinical data and risk factors for diabetic nephropathy in Brazilian central population

This article describes data set of the profile of patients diagnosed with Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) undergoing hemodialysis and followed-up by Hemodialysis Service in medical centers in Goiânia, Go, Brazil. These data describe specifically the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables of 101 patients. In addition, these data provide detailed clinical associations about the profile of patients diagnosed with DN and which are made publicly available to enable critical or extended analyzes. For further interpretation of the data presented in this article, see the research article: Do GST polymorphisms influence in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy? (Lima et al., 2018).

Education and knowledge in diabetic nephropathy

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The feasibility of molecular markers in animal production

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Deletion of pH Regulator pac-3 Affects Cellulase and Xylanase Activity during Sugarcane Bagasse Degradation by Neurospora crassa

Microorganisms play a vital role in bioethanol production whose usage as fuel energy is increasing worldwide. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa synthesize and secrete the major enzymes involved in plant cell wall deconstruction. The production of cellulases and hemicellulases is known to be affected by the environmental pH; however, the regulatory mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the pH regulator PAC-3 in N. crassa during their growth on sugarcane bagasse at different pH conditions. Our data indicate that secretion of cellulolytic enzymes is reduced in the mutant Δpac-3 at alkaline pH, whereas xylanases are positively regulated by PAC-3 in acidic (pH 5.0), neutral (pH 7.0), and alkaline (pH 10.0) medium. Gene expression profiles, evaluated by real-time qPCR, revealed that genes encoding cellulases and hemicellulases are also subject to PAC-3 control. Moreover, deletion of pac-3 affects the expression of transcription factor-encoding genes. Together, the results suggest that the regulation of holocellulase genes by PAC-3 can occur as directly as in indirect manner. Our study helps improve the understanding of holocellulolytic performance in response to PAC-3 and should thereby contribute to the better use of N. crassa in the biotechnology industry.

In vitro and ex vivo infection models help assess the molecular aspects of the interaction of Trichophyton rubrum with the host milieu

Dermatophytes are fungal pathogens that cause cutaneous infections such as onychomycosis and athlete's foot in both healthy and immunocompromised patients.Trichophyton rubrum is the most prevalent dermatophyte causing human nail and skin infections worldwide, and because of its anthropophilic nature, animal infection models are limited. The purpose of this work was to compare the expression profile of T. rubrum genes encoding putative virulence factors during growth in ex vivo and in vitro infection models. The efficiency of the ex vivo skin infection model was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that the conidia had produced hyphae that penetrated into the epidermis. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of some genes is modulated in response to the infection model used, as compared to that observed in cells grown in glucose-containing media. We concluded that ex vivo infection models help assess the molecular aspects of the interaction of T. rubrum with the host milieu, and thus provide insights into the modulation of genes during infection.

[Human papillomavirus and public health: cervical cancer prevention]

The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of an educational booklet that contained information for the general population about promotion and prevention of infections and neoplasic process caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The study was arranged in two phases. First, the booklet was given to 200 volunteers in the city of Goiânia, Goiás State. The applicability of the booklet was evaluated without the necessity of proving former knowledge. In the second phase, a detailed analysis of the data was made and the booklet revealed applicable. Then, the educational material was published and 2000 copies were distributed in a social event held by the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Góias in the city of Goiânia. In the event, the booklet raised the interest of the general public and gave the volunteers a chance to participate in a study that investigated the presence of the HPV in the genital microbiote. The booklet proved to be applicable and reached its objective to inform and prevent. However, it's necessary to promote and improve campaigns to the population about the HPV and its relations with the neoplasic process.