Measurement instruments play an important role in research, clinical practice and health assessment. Studies on the quality of these instruments provide evidence of how the measurement properties were assessed, helping the researcher choose the best tool to use. Reliability and validity are considered the main measurement properties of such instruments. Reliability is the ability to reproduce a result consistently in time and space. Validity refers to the property of an instrument to measure exactly what it proposes. In this article, the main criteria and statistical tests used in the assessment of reliability (stability, internal consistency and equivalence) and validity (content, criterion and construct) of instruments are presented, discussed and exemplified. The assessment of instruments measurement properties is useful to subsidize the selection of valid and reliable tools, in order to ensure the quality of the results of studies.

Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants <2 years-old. Here we describe that high-fiber diet protects mice from RSV infection. This effect was dependent on intestinal microbiota and production of acetate. Oral administration of acetate mediated interferon-β (IFN-β) response by increasing expression of interferon-stimulated genes in the lung. These effects were associated with reduction of viral load and pulmonary inflammation in RSV-infected mice. Type 1 IFN signaling via the IFN-1 receptor (IFNAR) was essential for acetate antiviral activity in pulmonary epithelial cell lines and for the acetate protective effect in RSV-infected mice. Activation of Gpr43 in pulmonary epithelial cells reduced virus-induced cytotoxicity and promoted antiviral effects through IFN-β response. The effect of acetate on RSV infection was abolished in Gpr43 − / − mice. Our findings reveal antiviral effects of acetate involving IFN-β in lung epithelial cells and engagement of GPR43 and IFNAR.

BackgroundSand flies deliver Leishmania parasites to a host alongside salivary molecules that affect infection outcomes. Though some proteins are immunogenic and have potential as markers of vector exposure, their identity and vector specificity remain elusive.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe screened human, dog, and fox sera from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis to identify potential markers of specific exposure to saliva of Lutzomyia longipalpis. Human and dog sera were further tested against additional sand fly species. Recombinant proteins of nine transcripts encoding secreted salivary molecules of Lu. longipalpis were produced, purified, and tested for antigenicity and specificity. Use of recombinant proteins corresponding to immunogenic molecules in Lu. longipalpis saliva identified LJM17 and LJM11 as potential markers of exposure. LJM17 was recognized by human, dog, and fox sera; LJM11 by humans and dogs. Notably, LJM17 and LJM11 were specifically recognized by humans exposed to Lu. longipalpis but not by individuals exposed to Lu. intermedia.Conclusions/SignificanceSalivary recombinant proteins are of value as markers of vector exposure. In humans, LJM17 and LJM11 emerged as potential markers of specific exposure to Lu. longipalpis, the vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi in Latin America. In dogs, LJM17, LJM11, LJL13, LJL23, and LJL143 emerged as potential markers of sand fly exposure. Testing these recombinant proteins in large scale studies will validate their usefulness as specific markers of Lu. longipalpis exposure in humans and of sand fly exposure in dogs.

In apparently otherwise healthy patients, periodontal disease is associated with increased circulating concentrations of IL-6 and hs-CRP, which decreased 3 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy. With regard to the CD40 ligand, MCP-1, sP-selectin, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1, no changes were seen in the periodontal disease group between baseline and 3 months after therapy.

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We conclude that inflammation in the oral mucosa might lead to changes in the DNA methylation status of the IL8 gene in epithelial oral cells.

Respiratory viral coinfection did not increase severity in all outcomes assessed. Further studies are necessary to confirm this finding, especially regarding role of specific viral interactions.

O cachorro-do-mato-de-orelhas-curtas (Atelocynus microtis) é uma das espécies mais raras de Canídeos Sul-americanos. Com o objetivo de descrever a morfologia deste animal e engrandecer o estudo da neuroanatomia comparada, estudou-se a composição anatômica do plexo braquial de um exemplar, fêmea, proveniente de Paragominas-PA doado após morte por atropelamento ao Laboratório de Pesquisa Morfológica Animal (LaPMA), da Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA). O animal foi fixado em solução aquosa de formaldeído 10% e posteriormente realizou-se dissecação bilateral da origem do plexo braquial. No A. microtis o plexo braquial é derivado dos ramos ventrais dos três últimos nervos espinhais cervicais e do primeiro nervo espinhal torácico (C6-T1). Os nervos derivados do plexo braquial com suas respectivas origens foram: n. supraescapular (C6 e C7), n. subescapular (C6), n. musculocutâneo (C6 e C7), n. axilar (C6 e C7), n. radial (C7 e C8), n. mediano (C7, C8 e T1), n. ulnar (C8 e T1), n. toracodorsal (C8 e T1), nn. peitorais craniais (C7, C8 e T1) e peitorais caudais (C8 e T1). O plexo braquial do A. microtis assemelhou-se ao descrito para o cão doméstico em relação à origem do segmento inicial e final, apresentando diferenças quanto à composição de alguns nervos.