Background: Endogenous phospholipase A 2 inhibitors from snake blood (sbPLIs) have been isolated from several species around the world, with the primary function of selfprotection against the action of toxic phospholipases A 2. In American snakes, sbPLIs were solely described in pit vipers, in which the natural protection role is justified. In this study, we described a sbPLI in Boa constrictor (popularly known as jiboia), a nonvenomous snake species from America. Methods: PLA 2 inhibitory activity was tested in the blood plasma of B. constrictor using C. d. terrificus venom as the enzyme source. Antibodies developed against CNF, a sbγPLI from Crotalus durissus terrificus, were used to investigate the presence of homologues in the blood plasma of B. constrictor. A CNF-like molecule with a PLA 2 inhibitory activity was purified by column chromatography. The encoding gene for the inhibitor was cloned from B. constrictor liver tissue. The DNA fragment was cloned, purified and sequenced. The deduced primary sequence of interest was aligned with known sbγPLIs from the literature. Results: The blood plasma of B. constrictor displayed PLA 2 inhibitory activity. A CNFlike molecule (named BcNF) was identified and purified from the blood plasma of B. constrictor. Basic properties such as molecular mass, composing amino acids, and pI were comparable, but BcNF displayed reduced specific activity in PLA 2 inhibition. BcNF showed highest identity scores (ISs) with sbγPLIs from pit vipers from Latin America (90-100%), followed by gamma inhibitors from Asian viperid (80-90%). ISs below 70% were obtained for BcNF and non-venomous species from Asia. Conclusion: A functional sbγPLI (BcNF) was described in the blood plasma of B. constrictor. BcNF displayed higher primary identity with sbγPLIs from Viperidae than to sbγPLIs from non-venomous species from Asia. The physiological role played by sbγPLIs in non-venomous snake species remains to be understood. Further investigation is needed.

Background Waste pickers are considered a vulnerable population at risk for potential health damage. Taking into account the risk of hepatitis B or C infection in this population, the aim of this study was to show the prevalence of these diseases in waste pickers from South America, through a systematic review. Methods The search covered publications until February 2020, accessed through Google Scholar database. Epidemiological studies on hepatitis B or C focused on waste pickers in South America were included. All selected papers were evaluated for quality. Results Six studies composed this systematic review, all conducted in Brazil and using cross-sectional study. The prevalence of all makers (HBsAg or anti-HBc) for hepatitis B varied from 4.3 to 33.4% while for hepatitis C varied from 1.6 to 12.4%. Conclusion The lack of results showed the requirement for more research about hepatitis including this informal workers group. High prevalences of hepatitis B and C in waste pickers highlighted the need of increase preventive health protection as vaccination against hepatitis B; training on working conditions; and the use of individual protection.

Over time, a growing increase in human pollutants in the aquatic environment has been observed. The global presence of residues in water bodies reinforces the need to develop improved methods to detect them and evaluate their ecotoxicological effects in the aquatic environment. Thus, this study aimed to present the main assays using B. glabrata as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies. We performed a systematic literature review with data published up to June 2022 in the Science Direct, PubMed, and SciELO databases. Twenty-six studies were selected for this review after screening. B. glabrata has been studied as an ecotoxicological model for different substances through toxicity, embryotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and bioaccumulation assays. Studies evaluating the impact of Biomphalaria glabrata exposure to several substances have reported toxic effects, behavioral and reproductive effects, and effects on their offspring. This review presents various assays using Biomphalaria glabrata as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies. The increasing number of studies conducted with the snail provides a preview of the snail's potential as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies.

As terapias antirretrovirais são utilizadas como forma de melhorar a expectativa de vida das pessoas vivendo com HIV. Com a redução dos efeitos adversos, a terapia dupla com dolutegravir (DTG) mais lamivudina (3TC) vêm se mostrando uma opção viável. No entanto, mesmo apresentando uma eficácia similar à terapia tripla, ainda há a ausência de enfoque nas taxas de descontinuação do tratamento. Por este motivo, o objetivo com esse trabalho foi avaliar a taxa de descontinuação da terapia antirretroviral dupla com DTG mais 3TC em pessoas vivendo com HIV. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática nas bases de dados PubMed, SciElo e Scopus, a partir da seleção de estudos de coorte que relataram a taxa de descontinuação com uso da terapia dupla com DTG mais 3TC. Foram selecionados 14 artigos, oito estudos retrospectivos e seis estudos prospectivos. A população foi composta por 2.666 indivíduos, com idade média de 50,4 anos, sendo 75,2% do sexo masculino. A taxa de descontinuação da terapia dupla com DTG mais 3TC descrita nos estudos variou de 0,0% a 22,4%. Um total de 364 indivíduos descontinuaram a terapia dupla com DTG mais 3TC, sendo a taxa de descontinuação observada de 13,7% (IC95% 13,0-14,4%). Os principais motivos para descontinuação foram eventos neuropsiquiátricos (19,5%), falha virológica (10,7%) e toxicidade gastrointestinal (8,8%). Mesmo com os benefícios fornecidos pela terapia dupla, alguns fatores ainda contribuem para a descontinuação do tratamento, sendo possível observar ainda uma alta taxa de descontinuação do tratamento utilizando a terapia dupla de DTG mais 3TC. Incluir o resumo.

No abstract

Over time, a growing increase in human pollutants in the aquatic environment has been observed. The global presence of residues in water bodies reinforces the need to develop improved methods to detect them and evaluate their ecotoxicological effects in the aquatic environment. Thus, this study aimed to present the main assays using B. glabrata as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies. We performed a systematic literature review with data published up to June 2022 in the Science Direct, PubMed, and SciELO databases. Twenty-six studies were selected for this review after screening. B. glabrata has been studied as an ecotoxicological model for different substances through toxicity, embryotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and bioaccumulation assays. Studies evaluating the impact of Biomphalaria glabrata exposure to several substances have reported toxic effects, behavioral and reproductive effects, and effects on their offspring. This review presents various assays using Biomphalaria glabrata as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies. The increasing number of studies conducted with the snail provides a preview of the snail’s potential as a biological model for ecotoxicological studies.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of alcohol on the metabolism of the acetyl-Coenzyme A synthetase pathway. Methods: For this meta-analysis, articles published up to December 2019 were searched and the levels of phosphorylated adenosine, acetate, acetyl-CoA, acetoacetate and acetyl-CoA activity were evaluated. The standardized mean difference and the weighted mean from the meta-analysis were compared using the random model. Results: Alcohol promoted an increase in the levels of adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate and inorganic phosphate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42, 2 .10; p = 0.003). In addition, the levels of acetate, acetoacetate and acetyl-CoA increased due to alcohol (OR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.07, 3.04; p < 0.0001), however, with high heterogeneity (I² = 77%). Acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACSS2) activity increased after alcohol administration (OR = 2.07; 95% CI, 0.16, 3.97; p = 0.03), with high heterogeneity (I² = 88%). Final considerations: Alcohol has a supplementary effect on this metabolic pathway, but in a restricted way. Furthermore, ACSS2 activity increased after exposure to alcohol. However, these effects of alcohol were time dependent.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the hepatitis B prevalence in Brazilian waste pickers. METHODS: We performed a literature search in the SciELO, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), PubMed and Web of Science databases using the descriptors: “hepatitis B” AND (“informal recycling” OR “waste picker” OR “recyclable waste collectors” OR “solid waste segregator”) AND (“recyclable waste” OR “solid waste”) AND Brazil. Epidemiological studies on HBV in Brazilian waste pickers published prior to February 2020 were included and evaluated for quality and bias using a funnel plot. RESULTS: This meta-analysis consisted of five articles. Prevalence of HBV surface antigen seropositivity was 14% (95%CI: 6%–22%) in Brazilian waste pickers. CONCLUSION: HBV prevalence in Brazilian waste pickers remains high. There should be more campaigns showing the importance of vaccination and personal protective equipment use.