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A Cultura, enquanto política pública setorial, tem vindo a ocupar um lugar inferior na pirâmide das prioridades políticas em Portugal, sendo esta uma realidade transversal a todos os partidos do arco da governação. É possível, porém, afirmar que a Ideologia está presente na formulação de Políticas Públicas da Cultura? Os fatores exógenos, como a Globalização, a Integração Europeia e a Crise Financeira internacional, influenciaram a formulação de políticas culturais?Para responder a estas questões, a investigação que a seguir se desenvolve parte da análise da literatura, dos programas eleitorais e dos programas de Governo do PS e do PSD, assim como das perceções de elites políticas, através das entrevistas realizadas. Numa perspetiva comparada, esta investigação procura mostrar as principais linhas de orientação dos dois partidos nos últimos vinte anos, em ciclos governativos distintos, e expostos às transformações sociais, políticas e económicas, resultantes dos desafios externos já identificados e que que conduziram a adaptações programáticas e a alterações de discurso.À semelhança de outras políticas setoriais, o desenho de Políticas Públicas culturais obedece a uma referência ideológica que pode ser também comprovada pela descontinuidade das políticas em curso e por um excesso de reformismo. Ao mesmo tempo, existem dois aspetos que ajudam a posicionar a cultura na escala esquerdadireita: a participação privada e o lugar da Cultura na orgânica dos Governos. Contudo, a formulação de políticas culturais é também moldada consoante as transformações sociais, económicas e políticas externas.

Children with obesity have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hypertension, which is associated with the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation and kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) inactivation. Although recent studies have identified several peptide-based biomarkers for obesity, circulating peptides from the RAS and KKS in adolescents with obesity have not been described. The aim of this study was to examine circulating levels of RAS and KKS peptides in adolescents with obesity to investigate the turnover of these peptides and their relationship to metabolic disorders resulting from weight gain. The subjects (n = 104) were divided into normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), obese (OB), and morbidly obese (MO) groups. Anthropometric profiles were created by measuring height, weight, blood pressure, and skinfolds. Plasma levels of Ang I, II, (1–7), BK, and des-Arg9BK were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The levels were as follows: Ang-(1–7)—MO 58.3 ± 50, OB 223.2 ± 150, OW 318.6 ± 190, NW 479.1 ± 160 pmol/mL, and Bradykinin (BK)—MO 367.6 ± 103, OB 253.8 ± 130, OW 484 ± 279, NW 874.9 ± 385 pmol/mL. Ang-(1–7) correlated inversely with weight, body mass index, leptin, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. BK and Ang-(1–7) levels correlated inversely with skinfolds, waist-hip ratio (WHR), leptin, and arm circumference. BK levels correlated with adiponectin and Ang-(1–7) levels. Plasma Ang I levels were higher in the MO and OB groups than in the NW group, but plasma Ang II levels were similar in all groups. We suggest that Ang-(1–7) and des-Arg9BK metabolites are novel biomarkers of childhood obesity that are important for determining treatment strategies.

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the most genetically heterogeneous. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in Brazilian patients with breast cancer (BC) who underwent genetic counseling and genetic testing at a tertiary Oncology Center. We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of Brazilian patients with BC referred to genetic counseling and genetic testing between August 2017 and August 2019. A total of 224 unrelated patients were included in this study. Premenopausal women represented 68.7% of the cohort. The median age at BC diagnosis was 45 years. Multigene panel testing was performed in 219 patients, five patients performed single gene analysis or family variant testing. Forty-eight germline PVs distributed among 13 genes were detected in 20.5% of the patients (46/224). Eighty-five percent of the patients (91/224) fulfilled NCCN hereditary BC testing criteria. Among these patients, 23.5% harbored PVs (45/191). In the group of patients that did not meet NCCN criteria, PV detection rate was 3% (1/33). A total of 61% of the patients (28/46) harbored a PV in a high-penetrance BC gene: 19 (8.5%) BRCA1/2 , 8 (3.5%) TP53 , 1 (0.5%) PALB2 . Moderate penetrance genes ( ATM , CHEK2 ) represented 15.2% (7/46) of the positive results. PVs detection was statistically associated (p<0.05) with BC diagnosis before age 45, high-grade tumors, bilateral BC, history of multiple primary cancers, and family history of pancreatic cancer. According to the current hereditary cancer guidelines, 17.4% (39/224) of the patients had actionable variants. Nine percent of the patients (20/224) had actionable variants in non- BRCA genes, it represented 43.5% of the positive results and 51.2% of the actionable variants. Considering the observed prevalence of PVs in actionable genes beyond BRCA1/2 (9%, 20/224), multigene panel testing may offer an effective first-tier diagnostic approach in this population.

This study presents the chemical profile of the ethanolic extract of Genipa americana L. stem bark and the evaluation of its antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The chemical prospecting consisted of a qualitative analysis and quantification by HPLC-DAD. An antibacterial evaluation was performed using broth microdilution to determine the MIC, while gentamicin and amikacin were used to modify the antimicrobials. The antioxidant tests included the DPPH• method, ABTS•+ radical cation capture, Fe2+ chelation, Fe3+ reduction, and oxidative degradation of deoxyribose. Phytochemical tests identified its flavonoid and alkaloid classes, and an HPLC analysis allowed for caffeic acid quantification in the extract. The results of this study showed satisfactory MICs for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, 256 µg/mL; S. flexneri and P. vulgaris, 512 µg/mL; and S. typhimurium, ≥ 1024 µg/mL. Furthermore, there was a modifying effect on the bacterial strains, except for S. enterica. The antioxidant tests using the DPPH• method showed an IC50 of 298.1 µg.mL−1, with the highest percentage of ABTS•+ radical cation capture occurring at a concentration of 500 µg/mL; regarding Fe2+, chelating activity was not present, and for Fe3+ reduction, the best concentrations were 10 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL. The data obtained can be used to turn G. americana into a viable species as an agent for antibacterial and antioxidant functionalities in foods.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an endemic zoonotic disease in Latin America caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, which is transmitted by sand flies from the genus Lutzomyia. VL occurs in 12 countries of Latin America, with 96% of cases reported in Brazil. Recently, an increase in VL, primarily affecting children and young adults, has been observed in urban areas of Latin America. The area in which this spread of VL is occurring overlaps regions with individuals living with HIV, the number of whom is estimated to be 1.4 million people by the World Health Organization. This overlap is suggested to be a leading cause of the increased number of reported VL-HIV coinfections. The clinical progression of HIV and L. infantum infections are both highly dependent on the specific immune response of an individual. Furthermore, the impact on the immune system caused by either pathogen and by VL-HIV coinfection can contribute to an accelerated progression of the diseases. Clinical presentation of VL in HIV positive patients is similar to patients without HIV, with symptoms characterized by fever, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly, but diarrhea appears to be more common in coinfected patients. In addition, VL relapses are higher in coinfected patients, affecting 10% to 56.5% of cases and with a lethality ranging from 8.7% to 23.5% in Latin America, depending on the study. With regards to the diagnosis of VL, parasitological tests of bone marrow aspirates have proven to be the most sensitive test in HIV-infected patients. Serologic tests have demonstrated a variable sensitivity according to the method and antigens used, with the standard tests used for diagnosing VL in Latin America displaying lower sensitivity. For this review, few articles were identified that related to VL-HIV coinfections and originated from Latin America, highlighting the need for improving research within the regions most greatly affected. We strongly support the formation of a Latin American network for coinfections of Leishmania and HIV to improve the consistency of research on the current situation of VL-HIV coinfections. Such a network would improve the collection of vital data and samples for better understanding of the clinical manifestations and immunopathogenic aspects of VL in immunosuppressed patients. Ultimately, a concerted effort would improve trials for new diagnostic methodologies and therapeutics, which could accelerate the implementation of more specific and effective diagnosis as well as public policies for treatments to reduce the impact of VL-HIV coinfections on the Latin American population.

Pain and inflammation are symptoms of various diseases, and they can be modulated by different pathways, thus highlighting the importance of investigating the therapeutic effects of novel compounds. Previous studies have shown that isatin-thiosemicarbazone exhibits antitumor, antifungal antibacterial and other biological properties. Based on the wide range of biological effects of these compounds, the aim of the present study was to investigate the central nervous system (CNS) performance, and the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of (Z)-2-(5-nitro-2-oxoindolin-3-ilidene)-N-hydroazinecarbothioamide (PA-Int5) in treated mice. Three doses of PA-Int5 were tested orally (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) in the nociceptive and inflammatory animal models. Additionally, the potential sedative effects of PA-Int5 (5 mg/kg, oral gavage) were investigated using an open field and rotarod tests, to exclude any possible unspecific effects of the nociceptive assays. Anti-nociceptive activity was assessed using the acetic acid-induced abdominal contortion and formalin tests, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using a carrageenan-induced paw edema and zymosan-induced air-pouch models. PA-Int5 (5 mg/kg) induced anti-nociceptive activity in the abdominal contortion model. In the formalin test, PA-Int5 (at 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) reduced nociception in the second phase. At the higher dose tested, PA-Int5 did not affect spontaneous locomotion or motor coordination. The data revealed that at all doses tested, the compound significantly reduced paw edema following carrageenan administration. In the zymosan-induced air-pouch model, PA-Int5 potently inhibited leukocyte migration and protein levels at the site of inflammation. When combined, the results revealed, for the first time, that PA-Int5 exhibited anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities, and highlights its potential, as well that of other derivatives, as novel candidates for pain relief.

Of all syphilis-related pregnancy outcomes, fetal death is certainly the most common one, being directly related to the availability, accessibility and quality of prenatal care. The present study aimed to analyze the underreporting of fetal and infant deaths and other maternal factors associated with congenital syphilis (CS) death. This cross-sectional study integrated data of infants that were diagnosed and/or died of CS from the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação-Sinan (Notifiable Diseases Information System) and the Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade-SIM (Mortality Information System) in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brasil to identify unreported cases of congenital syphilis. We assessed data during the period from 2007 to 2013. The underreporting of CS as a cause of fetal or infant death increased from 41 to 415 cases (90.1%) during 2007-2013. Exactly 3,209 cases of CS were identified in Sinan and 6,578 deaths in SIM. After database linkage, we identified 382 cases that were reported in the SIM and SINAN databases consisting of 309 fetal deaths and 73 infant deaths related to CS. From the children notified at Sinan that born alive, 3.0% (78/2,542) died; Out of these, 39 (50.0%) were early and 25 (32.1%) were late neonatal deaths. The proportion of death by CS increased from 0.62 to 5.8 from 2007 to 2013. At logistic regression, the variable that maintained statistical significance with fetal and infant death outcomes was the presence of CS signs and/or symptoms at birth (OR = 3.20; IC 95% 1.54-6.62; p = 0.002). Neonatal and Infant deaths following CS-associated live births are underreported in Northeastern Brazil. Data base linkage identified unreported fetal and neonatal deaths due to CS leading to an increased awareness of fetal/infant mortality due to this infection.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the stability and degradation of NBPT under storage conditions and to quantify urease activity, ammonia losses by volatilization, and agronomic efficiency of urea treated with different urease inhibitors, measured in the field. Experiments included urea treated with 530 mg NBPT kg −1 (UNBPT) in contact with six P-sources (monoammonium phosphate-MAP; single superphosphate; triple superphosphate; P-Agrocote; P-Phusion; P-Policote), with two P-concentrations (30; 70%); the monitoring four N-technologies (SoILC; Limus; Nitrain; Anvol); and the application of conventional urea (U GRAN ) or urea treated with urease inhibitors as topdressing in three maize fields, at three N rates. It is concluded that: the mixture of UNBPT and P-fertilizers is incompatible. When MAP granules were coated to control P-release (P-Agrocote), the degradation of NBPT was moderate (approximately 400 mg kg −1 at the end of the storage test). SoILC and Limus solvent technologies extended the NBPT half-life by up to 3.7 and 4.7 months, respectively. Under field, each inhibition technology reduced urease activity, and lowered the intensity of ammonia emission compared to U GRAN by 50–62%. Our results show that the concentration of NBPT is reduced by up to 53.7% for mixing with phosphates. In addition, even with coatings, the storage of mixtures of urea with NBPT and phosphates should be for a time that does not reduce the efficiency of the inhibitor after application, and this time under laboratory conditions was 168 h. The reduction of NBPT concentration in urea is reduced even in isolated storage, our results showed that the half-life time is variable according to the formulation used, being 4.7, 3.7, 2.8 and 2.7 days for Limus, SoILC, Nitrain and Anvol, respectively. The results of these NBPT formulations in the field showed that the average losses by volatilization in the three areas were: 15%, 16%, 17%, 19% and 39% of the N applied, for SoILC, Anvol, Nitrain, Limus and urea, respectively. The rate of nitrogen application affected all agronomic variables, with varied effects in Ingaí. Even without N, yields were higher than 9200 kg ha −1 of grains. The increase in nitrogen rates resulted in linear increases in production and N removal in Luminárias and Ingaí, but in Lavras, production decreased above 95.6 kg ha −1 of N. The highest production in Lavras (13,772 kg ha −1 of grains) occurred with 100 kg ha −1 of N. The application of Anvol reduced the removal of N in Ingaí.

Aberrant expression of cancer genes and non-canonical RNA species is a hallmark of cancer. However, the mechanisms driving such atypical gene expression programs are incompletely understood. Here, our transcriptional profiling of a cohort of 50 primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) reveals that transcription read-through beyond the termination site is a source of transcriptome diversity in cancer cells. Amongst the genes most frequently mutated in ccRCC, we identified SETD2 inactivation as a potent enhancer of transcription read-through. We further show that invasion of neighbouring genes and generation of RNA chimeras are functional outcomes of transcription read-through. We identified the BCL2 oncogene as one of such invaded genes and detected a novel chimera, the CTSC-RAB38, in 20% of ccRCC samples. Collectively, our data highlight a novel link between transcription read-through and aberrant expression of oncogenes and chimeric transcripts that is prevalent in cancer. Mutations in genes play important roles in many types of cancer. However, mutations alone cannot explain all the biological changes that occur to cancer cells. For example, very few mutations have been linked with a type of kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma (or ccRCC for short). Instead, scientists suspect that this cancer is largely caused by changes in the expression of particular genes so that certain cancer-promoting genes are more highly expressed, while other genes that would prevent tumor growth become less active. One of the few genes that is often mutated in ccRCC is called SETD2 . This gene is involved in processes that alter the structure of DNA, but do not alter the genes themselves. These “epigenetic” changes can alter how the instructions in genes are used to make proteins. The first step in making proteins is to use a section of DNA as a template to make molecules of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in a process called transcription. There are markers within a gene that show where transcription should start and stop to produce the mRNA required to make a particular protein. Epigenetic changes can mask these markers so that the cell produces longer mRNAs that incorporate instructions from neighboring genes. It was not known how often these stop signs are ignored in ccRCC cells. Here, Grosso et al. compared transcription in normal cells and in ccRCC tumor cells from 50 different patients. The experiments show that more stop signs were ignored in many of the cancer cells, especially in cells with mutations in SETD2 . This caused all or parts of neighboring genes to be transcribed along with the target gene and led to changes in the expression levels of these genes. For example, a cancer-promoting gene called BCL2 was more highly expressed in these cells. Furthermore, some of the mRNA molecules produced in these cancer cells may make “fusion” proteins that combine elements from several proteins. These fusion proteins may work differently to normal cell proteins and therefore might also promote the development of tumors. Grosso et al.’s findings reveal a new link between epigenetic changes and cancer.