Search Results (40)

Background/Objectives: Automation improves efficiency in laboratory workflow but may fail to detect clinically relevant abnormalities in patients with nephropathy. This study aimed to identify dipstick parameters associated with nephropathy-related sediment findings and to propose practical criteria to guide manual microscopy review based on these associations. Methods: Urine samples from in- and outpatients, primarily from the nephrology unit, were collected at a university hospital from July 2022 to September 2023. Samples were analyzed within two hours using LabUMat 2 and UriSed 3 analyzers. Manual microscopy was performed on all specimens by two experienced technicians. Sediments were classified as suggestive or not of nephropathy based on hematuria with dysmorphism, hyaline and pathological casts, lipiduria, or renal tubular epithelial cells. Results: Of 503 samples, 146 (29%) showed sediment findings indicative of nephropathy, which were significantly associated with dipstick positivity for protein and blood. Among nephropathy samples, 71.2% had protein ≥1+ or blood ≥2+. Using this combination as a criterion for manual sediment review yielded a sensitivity of 71.2%, a specificity of 73.9%, and a 3.84-fold increased relative risk of detecting nephropathy-related elements (p < 0.001). The criteria performed best among nephrology outpatients, with sensitivity of 79.5%, specificity of 63.9%, and relative risk of 3.91 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Dipstick protein ≥1+ or blood ≥2+ helps identify patients who may benefit from manual sediment review, supporting diagnostic accuracy in nephropathy. Each institution should define its criteria based on patient profile, analytical methods, and workflow. Full article

Background: Fermented foods rich in bioactive compounds have been proposed as potential strategy to combat non-communicable diseases. Among them is kombucha, a beverage fermented from sugared Camellia sinensis tea by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). Recently, there has been an increased focus on assessing the actual effect of this beverage on human health. In this manner, this systematic review aimed to gather clinical evidence on the impact of kombucha consumption on human health. Methods: The databases Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Embase^® were searched, and the risk of bias tool used was the Critical Appraisal Tools outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024599464). Results: Eight clinical trials were included (two pre- and post-interventions and six randomized controlled trials) with durations ranging from 10 days to 10 weeks. Two studies reported beneficial effects of kombucha on gastrointestinal symptoms, such as reduced intensity of constipation-related complaints. Two trials observed changes in gut microbiota composition, including increased abundance in Bacteroidota, Akkermansiaceae, Saccharomyces, and Weizmannia coagulans, alongside reductions in Ruminococcus, Dorea, and Rhodotorula. Moreover, five clinical trials evaluated glucose metabolism, evidencing inconsistent results, and other studies identified improvements in salivary microbiota composition and serum metabolomic profile. Conclusion: These findings suggest that kombucha consumption may provide health benefits, particularly in alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, and demonstrates a modest capacity for modulating gut and salivary microbiota, as well as metabolomic profiles. Although the results are promising, the heterogeneity of the studies and the limited number of available clinical trials highlight the need for further robust research to confirm these effects. Full article

Background: Obesity is a growing global health concern associated with numerous comorbidities and high medication burden. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of low- and very-low-calorie diets (LCD/VLCD), combined with intensive lifestyle changes, on comorbidities and medication use in hospitalized patients with class II and III obesity. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records of patients hospitalized for 3–6 months at a specialized obesity hospital in Brazil. Prescription data for antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering drugs were compared at admission, 3, and 6 months. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and t-tests were used to compare medication use and weight change over time. Results: Among 246 patients, the proportion of those using antihypertensives decreased from 74.4% at admission to 44.7% at 6 months (p < 0.02), with significant reductions also observed at 3 months (p < 0.001). Hypoglycemic prescriptions also declined at 3 months (p = 0.01), but not significantly at 6 months. Lipid-lowering medication use showed no significant changes. Average weight loss was 11% at 3 months and 21.3% at 6 months. Conclusions: Hospitalization with LCD/VLCD and lifestyle therapy was associated with a short-term reduction in medication burden, especially antihypertensives, supporting the potential of inpatient multidisciplinary strategies for severe obesity management. Full article

This study explores a circular economy approach in charcoal production, utilizing combustion gases from the process itself to optimize efficiency and quality, minimizing waste and reducing emissions. The research investigates the pre-drying of Eucalyptus sp. wood with these gases before carbonization, through an innovative system that directs gases from the carbonizing furnace to a separate drying furnace. Wood samples were dried at 120 °C and 150 °C for 15, 22.5, and 30 h before carbonization. The analysis included the gravimetric yield of charcoal, semi-carbonized wood, and fines, in addition to evaluating key charcoal properties. Results demonstrated that drying with combustion gases at 150 °C increased the charcoal yield by 7%, regardless of drying time. Furthermore, this pre-drying improved charcoal quality, raising fixed carbon content from 74.68% to over 81% and reducing volatile matter from 24.40% to below 18%. These findings highlight that the utilization of combustion gases for wood drying not only significantly enhances the efficiency and quality of charcoal production but also contributes to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative compared to conventional methods. Full article

Forest operations consume a large amount of fossil fuels. Storing wood in the field reduces the weight of the wood, optimizing transportation and reducing fuel consumption. However, there are few studies linking these variables. The objective was to evaluate the drying of logs with different diameters and assess the fossil fuel consumption considering the mass of dry wood transported. Eucalyptus logs were divided into two diameter classes: 6 ≤ D1 ≤ 11 cm and 11.1 ≤ D2 ≤ 14 cm. These logs were arranged in a stack, divided into base, intermediate, and top positions, and subjected to drying. The wood moisture values were correlated with the amount of transported dry wood, fuel consumption, and costs. These calculations were based on a vehicle with a load capacity of 41.6 Mg, a fuel consumption rate of 1.82 L/km, and a road cost of 0.51 R$·Mg⁻¹·km⁻¹. The moisture content was lower in smaller-diameter logs located at the top of the storage stack and higher in larger-diameter logs in the intermediate position and in both diameter classes at the bottom position after 365 days of drying. Storage for 365 days, on average, increased the dry wood transport capacity by 90%, resulting in similar gains in fuel economy and the final cost of transportation. Storing wood outdoors has proven effective in reducing its moisture content, resulting in lower fossil fuel consumption during forestry operations, reducing environmental impact, and generating economic gains. Full article

Green tea kombucha (GTK) has emerged as a promising probiotic fermented beverage. Few studies have investigated its effect on human health, mainly focusing on intestinal health, microbiota composition, and metabolomics. The present study is a pioneer in investigating the effect of GTK consumption in individuals with excess body weight. This is a randomized controlled trial, lasting ten weeks, with two groups placed under an energy-restricted diet: control (CG, n = 29), kombucha (KG, n = 30; 200 mL/d). Biological samples and questionnaires were collected before and after the intervention. Microbiota analysis used an amplification of the V4 region of 16S rRNA. Serum untargeted metabolomics used HPLC-TOF mass spectrometry. Intestinal permeability considered the urine excretion of lactulose and mannitol, plasma zonulin, and LPS-binding protein. After the intervention, no differences related to intestinal permeability and microbiota were found between groups, but only the CG had increased fecal pH, lactulose/mannitol ratio, and zonulin. In addition to this, the KG reported lower gastrointestinal symptoms related to motility compared to the CG, and discriminant metabolites (e.g., diethyl malonate) were found strictly in the KG. GTK did not significantly improve gut microbiota and intestinal permeability. However, GTK ameliorated gastrointestinal symptoms and positively influenced the serum metabolome, which may contribute to enhancing the metabolic health of individuals with excess body weight. Full article

Background: Green tea kombucha (GTK) is a fermented beverage with promising health benefits, but few studies proved its impact on human health. Thus, we aimed to investigate the impact of GTK on weight loss, inflammation, and salivary microbiota in individuals with excess body weight. Methods: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial that lasted 10 weeks with two groups of individuals with excess body weight: control (CG; n = 29; caloric restriction) and kombucha (KG; n = 30; caloric restriction + 200 mL GTK). Body composition, anthropometry, saliva, and blood collection were performed in the beginning and end of the intervention. Plasma interleukins were determined by flow cytometry. Salivary microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Both groups decreased weight, BMI, and body fat (p < 0.001) after the intervention, but there were no differences between groups. The KG reduced lipid accumulation product (LAP) (p = 0.029). Both groups decreased IL-1β and IL-8, but IL-6 increased in the CG (p = 0.023) compared to the kombucha group. Alpha and beta diversity of salivary microbiota increased in the KG. Moreover, the KG presented lower Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio (p = 0.028), and BMI was positively associated with the Bacillota phylum. Conclusions: GTK did not enhance weight loss, but it decreased the LAP. GTK helped in the inflammatory profile and induced positive changes in oral microbiota composition. Full article

The extractivism of Dimorphandra mollis Benth., which is a native tree from the Brazilian Cerrado biome, popularly known as fava d’anta, combined with the reduction in native vegetation area in the country over the years may result in a decrease in the specie’s natural populations. The objective of this study was to estimate the quantitative genetic parameters in nursery, hardening, and field phases, based on a progeny test. The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks (six blocks for the nursery and hardening phases, and four blocks for the field phase with 5 plants/plot and 72 mother trees), with evaluations of the collar diameter and seedling height at 30, 90, 150, 480, and 570 days after sowing, between the production and planting phases. Among the coefficients of variance, the phenotypic and additive ones showed the highest values. Heritabilities for height ranged from moderate to high (0.15 to 0.43), indicating good genetic control of the traits, high potential for selection, and possibility of genetic gains. The genetic divergence of the progenies resulted in division into five groups, confirming the existence of genetic variability among the evaluated progenies and the potential for conservation and breeding programs. Full article

Resistant hypertension (RHTN) prevalence ranges from 4 to 19% in Africa. There is a paucity of data on the role of genetic variation on RHTN among Africans. We set out to investigate the role of polymorphisms in ABCB1, ADRB1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, NEDD4L, and NR3C2, on RHTN susceptibility among South Africans. Using a retrospective matched case–control study, 190 RHTN patients (cases: blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg on ≥3 anti-hypertensives or BP < 140/90 mmHg on >3 anti-hypertensives) and 189 non-RHTN patients (controls: <3 anti-hypertensives, BP < 140/90 or ≥140/90 mmHg), 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), quantitative PCR and Sanger sequencing. Genetic association analyses were conducted using the additive model and multivariable logistic regression. Homozygosity for CYP3A5 rs776746C/C genotype (p = 0.02; OR: 0.44; CI: 0.22–0.89) was associated with reduced risk for RHTN. Homozygous ADRB1 rs1801252G/G (p = 0.02; OR: 3.30; CI: 1.17–10.03) and NEDD4L rs4149601A/A genotypes (p = 0.001; OR: 3.82; CI: 1.67–9.07) were associated with increased risk for RHTN. Carriers of the of ADRB1 rs1801252—rs1801253 G–C haplotype had 2.83-fold odds of presenting with RHTN (p = 0.04; OR: 2.83; CI: 1.05–8.20). These variants that are associated with RHTN may have clinical utility in the selection of antihypertensive drugs in our population. Full article

Children born from pregnancy complications are at higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Identifying which children born from a complicated pregnancy are likely to suffer from later chronic disease is important in order to intervene to prevent or delay the onset of disease. This study examined the associations between the major pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, small- and large for gestational age, and preterm birth) and child telomere length, a biomarker of chronic disease risk. This was a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The primary outcome is telomere length, measured in 11–12-year-old children. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length, adjusting for a range of a priori confounders. Data from 841 families were used. One in four pregnancies (27.1%) featured a pregnancy complication. In the adjusted analysis, there was no association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length (high blood pressure: mean difference (95% CI): 0.00 (−0.12, 0.12); gestational diabetes (0.05 (−0.10, 0.19)); small for gestational age (0.07 (−0.04, 0.19)); large for gestational age (−0.06 (−0.15, 0.03)); and preterm birth (−0.10 (−0.21, 0.01)). Our results do not support the notion that telomere length is shorter in children born to mothers after a pregnancy complication. Methodological considerations should be rigorous to improve the reproducibility of findings. Full article

Pharmacogenomics may improve patient care by guiding drug selection and dosing; however, this requires prior knowledge of the pharmacogenomics of drugs commonly used in a specific setting. The aim of this study was to identify a preliminary set of pharmacogenetic variants important in Southern Africa. We describe comorbidities in 3997 patients from Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. These patient cohorts were included in pharmacogenomic studies of anticoagulation, dyslipidemia, hypertension, HIV and breast cancer. The 20 topmost prescribed drugs in this population were identified. Using the literature, a list of pharmacogenes vital in the response to the top 20 drugs was constructed leading to drug–gene pairs potentially informative in translation of pharmacogenomics. The most reported morbidity was hypertension (58.4%), making antihypertensives the most prescribed drugs, particularly amlodipine. Dyslipidemia occurred in 31.5% of the participants, and statins were the most frequently prescribed as cholesterol-lowering drugs. HIV was reported in 20.3% of the study participants, with lamivudine/stavudine/efavirenz being the most prescribed antiretroviral combination. Based on these data, pharmacogenes of immediate interest in Southern African populations include ABCB1, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, SLC22A1, SLCO1B1 and UGT1A1. Variants in these genes are a good starting point for pharmacogenomic translation programs in Southern Africa. Full article

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a ubiquitous member of the body and is key to the maintenance of tissue and organ integrity. Initially thought to be a bystander in many cellular processes, the extracellular matrix has been shown to have diverse components that regulate and activate many cellular processes and ultimately influence cell phenotype. Importantly, the ECM’s composition, architecture, and stiffness/elasticity influence cellular phenotypes. Under normal conditions and during development, the synthesized ECM constantly undergoes degradation and remodeling processes via the action of matrix proteases that maintain tissue homeostasis. In many pathological conditions including fibrosis and cancer, ECM synthesis, remodeling, and degradation is dysregulated, causing its integrity to be altered. Both physical and chemical cues from the ECM are sensed via receptors including integrins and play key roles in driving cellular proliferation and differentiation and in the progression of various diseases such as cancers. Advances in ‘omics’ technologies have seen an increase in studies focusing on bidirectional cell–matrix interactions, and here, we highlight the emerging knowledge on the role played by the ECM during normal development and in pathological conditions. This review summarizes current ECM-targeted therapies that can modify ECM tumors to overcome drug resistance and better cancer treatment. Full article

Tumorigenesis is a complex and dynamic process involving cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions that allow tumor cell growth, drug resistance and metastasis. This review provides an updated summary of the role played by the tumor microenvironment (TME) components and hypoxia in tumorigenesis, and highlight various ways through which tumor cells reprogram normal cells into phenotypes that are pro-tumorigenic, including cancer associated- fibroblasts, -macrophages and -endothelial cells. Tumor cells secrete numerous factors leading to the transformation of a previously anti-tumorigenic environment into a pro-tumorigenic environment. Once formed, solid tumors continue to interact with various stromal cells, including local and infiltrating fibroblasts, macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, and secreted factors and the ECM within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is key to tumorigenesis, drug response and treatment outcome. Importantly, stromal cells and secreted factors can initially be anti-tumorigenic, but over time promote tumorigenesis and induce therapy resistance. To counter hypoxia, increased angiogenesis leads to the formation of new vascular networks in order to actively promote and sustain tumor growth via the supply of oxygen and nutrients, whilst removing metabolic waste. Angiogenic vascular network formation aid in tumor cell metastatic dissemination. Successful tumor treatment and novel drug development require the identification and therapeutic targeting of pro-tumorigenic components of the TME including cancer-associated- fibroblasts (CAFs) and -macrophages (CAMs), hypoxia, blocking ECM-receptor interactions, in addition to the targeting of tumor cells. The reprogramming of stromal cells and the immune response to be anti-tumorigenic is key to therapeutic success. Lastly, this review highlights potential TME- and hypoxia-centered therapies under investigation. Full article

Tackling cancer is a major challenge right on the global level. Europe is only the tip of an iceberg of cancer around the world. Prosperous developed countries share the same problems besetting Europe–and the countries and regions with fewer resources and less propitious conditions are in many cases struggling often heroically against a growing tide of disease. This paper offers a view on these geographically wider, but essentially similar, challenges, and on the prospects for and barriers to better results in this ceaseless battle. A series of panels have been organized by the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) to identify different aspects of cancer care around the globe. There is significant diversity in key issues such as NGS, RWE, molecular diagnostics, and reimbursement in different regions. In all, it leads to disparities in access and diagnostics, patients’ engagement, and efforts for a better understanding of cancer. Full article

Background: Increasing age is a strong risk factor for infertility, and there is accumulating evidence of the importance of a healthier diet for fertility. Whether a healthier diet modifies the association between increasing age and infertility has not been investigated. This study aimed to (i) examine if better diet quality could help reduce age-related infertility; and (ii) assess whether changes in diet quality over time are associated with fertility problems. Methods: Data were from Surveys 3 and 5 of the 1973–1978 birth cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Cross-sectional analysis with multivariable generalized linear models were used to examine the association between age and fertility status, adjusted for various confounders. Multiplicative and additive effect modification by diet quality was assessed, with additive effect modification evaluated with the relative risk for interaction (RERI). Results: In total, 3387 women were included from Survey 3 (age range 24–31 years) and 5614 women from Survey 5 (age range 30–38 years); 588 (17.4%) and 1321 (23.4%) self-reported to have fertility problems in the respective surveys. In Survey 3, compared to younger women with a good-quality diet, older women with a poor-quality diet had a 43% increased risk for fertility problems, with risk increasing after further adjustment for BMI (RR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.37) and PCOS (RR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.62). In Survey 5 in younger women (<33.9 years), there was no association between diet quality and risk for infertility problems. The RERI (across different adjusted models) was between −0.08 (−0.70, 0.55) to −0.39 (−1.40, 0.62) in survey 3 and 0.07 (−0.17, 0.31) to 0.08 (−0.17, 0.32) in Survey 5. Conclusions: There is little evidence to suggest effect modification on the effect of age and fertility problems with diet quality. Full article