Brazilian Group Research Articles

The Heralds of the Gospel: Catholic anti-modernity as new right utopia in Brazil

ABSTRACT The ‘Heralds of the Gospel’ are a Brazilian ultra-Catholic group with a long history of far-right lobbying and activism. Recognized in 2001 by the Vatican as ‘International Private Association of Christ’s Faithfull’, they are also ‘of Pontifical right’ and since 2005 allowed to ordinate their own priests. As ”soldiers of Christ” they are inspired by the Templars and pursue a utopian mission to subvert, transform and ultimately overturn the modern, secular state through their apostolate. The Heralds have also created an international education network and media imperium, underpinned by a robust business model, and are starting to reach out to the US and Europe. The article argues that this kind of exotic, Catholic far-right utopianism matters if we are to understand the diversity of the global new right today, in particular because the Brazilian tradition, which the Heralds refer to, anticipated some of the by now recurrent elements of this strand of the right such as metapolitics and antimodernism. The article explores the century long (neo)integrist tradition that the Heralds grow out of and through their own publications, PR and leaked evidence, show how this tradition is brought to life in the 21st century as communitarian practices and material artifacts.

8728 Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation in Thyroid Microcarcinomas: Experience of the Brazilian Group with 143 Cases

Abstract Disclosure: L.G. Amato: None. P.H. Carani: None. L.D. Volpi: None. A. Rahal: None. E.M. Volpi: None. Introduction: Thyroid nodules are quite prevalent worldwide, with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) being the most common histological subtype of thyroid malignant neoplasm, accounting for approximately 85% of thyroid cancers. When this carcinoma is less than 10 mm in its longest axis, it is defined as papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (mPTCs) which has had an increasing proportion of thyroid cancers and with a disease-specific survival of patients having this diagnosis more than 99% after 10 years of follow-up. Most guidelines concerning thyroid cancer care recommend a lobectomy as the first-line treatment strategy for low-risk unifocal mPTC but often results in aggressive overtreatment. Thyroid surgery comes with significant costs and morbidity rates caused by iatrogenic hypothyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, resulting in poor quality of life, justifying the growing search for minimally invasive and effective methods in the treatment of mPTC and in this context Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA), a minimally invasive treatment that preserves thyroid function have been proposed for patients with low-risk mPTC. Clinical case: From April 2018 to January 2024, 143 patients with mPTC, were submitted to RFA and patient's follow-up were dated 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after the procedure. During the follow-up we observed 3 (2%), complications, 1 case of permanent paralysis unilateral vocal cord, 1 Horner Syndromes and 1 case of transient paralysis, with total reversal. In all cases there was a reduction in the volume of the node after 6 months of the procedure. Conclusion: The reported incidence rate of postoperative hypothyroidism in patients underwent hemithyroidectomy is 10.9-48.8%, therefore, risks of complications with radioablation in our series were lower than those previously described during hemithyroidectomy. Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment that preserves thyroid function with a lower incidence of complications compared to thyroidectomy or lobectomy, and and should be considered the selection procedure for low-risk thyroid microcarcinomas. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Recurrence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and De Novo Cholangiocarcinoma After Liver Transplantation: Results From the Brazilian Cholestasis Consortium.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) has been shown to recur after liver transplantation (LT). Some studies have identified certain clinical and laboratory variables associated with an increased risk for recurrent PSC (rPSC) in Caucasians. Furthermore, de novo cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has been reported anecdotally in patients with rPSC. This study aims to assess the prevalence of rPSC, identify its associated risk factors, and investigate the occurrence of de novo CCA in a highly admixed population from Brazil. All patients submitted to LT for PSC enrolled in the Brazilian Cholestasis Study Group database were retrospectively reviewed for the occurrence of rPSC and de novo CCA. Ninety-six (58 males, mean age 32 ± 13 years) patients with PSC underwent LT. After 90 (39-154) months of follow-up (FU), rPSC was observed in 29 (30%) subjects. There were no significant associations between rPSC and age, gender, concurrent or de novo inflammatory bowel disease, MELD score at the time of LT or allograft rejection. The only factor associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence was time after LT. Although survival was decreased in patients who developed rPSC, this difference was not significant. Only one female patient developed de novo CCA after rPSC, 11 years after LT. Recurrent PSC was observed in one-third of PSC LT patients in Brazil and was associated with longer time after LT. Despite its frequency, rPSC was not associated with a higher risk of graft loss or a significant reduction in posttransplant survival.

Anticipating Leucovorin Rescue Therapy in Patients with Osteosarcoma through Methotrexate Population Pharmacokinetic Model.

Methotrexate (MTX), which presents high inter-individual variability, is part of the Brazilian Osteosarcoma Treatment Group (BOTG) protocol. This work aimed to develop a MTX population pharmacokinetic model (POPPK) for Brazilian children with osteosarcoma (OS) following the BOTG protocol to guide rescue therapy and avoid toxicity. The model was developed in NONMEM 7.4 (Icon®) using retrospective sparse data from MTX therapeutic drug monitoring of children attending a southern Brazilian public reference hospital. Data were described by a two-compartment model using 216 MTX cycles from 32 patients (5-18 y.o.) with OS who received 12 g/m2 dose/cycle. To explain inter-individual and inter-occasion variability in clearance and peripheral volume, covariates from demographic and biochemical data were evaluated. Serum creatinine was a significant covariate of MTX clearance (14.8 L/h), and the body surface area (BSA) was significant for central compartment volume (82.5 L). Inter-compartmental clearance and volume of peripheral compartment were 0.178 L/h and 5.72 L, respectively. The model adequately describes MTX exposure in Brazilian children with OS. Successful simulations were performed to predict MTX concentrations in pediatric patients above five years old with acute kidney injury and anticipate rescue therapy adjustments.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma epidemiology at diagnosis: A description of public and private health care systems in Brazil regarding tumor location, staging and risk factors

ObjectivesThere is a limited number of updated epidemiological Brazilian data on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of HNSCC patients from Brazilian public and private systems. MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study that included patients diagnosed with HNSCC from Brazilian public and private settings from 2016 to 2018. As for the public scenario, data were drawn from the public hospital national cancer registry database. As for the private sector, the data were extracted from medical records of patients from Oncoclinicas, a large Brazilian oncology group. ResultsA total of 37,121 patients were included in the study, with 36,914 from the public and 207 from the private system. Patients in the public sector were younger than those in the private sector, with medians ages of 61.2 and 66.9 years, respectively. In both cohorts, a predominance of men with a history of tobacco and alcohol consumption and an advanced locoregional stage at diagnosis was observed. The main site of the primary tumor was the oropharynx in the private sector and oral cavity in the public sector. Among patients with oropharyngeal cancer, only those in the private sector were tested for HPV, with the majority being positive. ConclusionsThis real-world data study provides epidemiologic characteristics of patients with HNSCC in two different Brazilian healthcare settings, presenting relevant insights into possible opportunities for improvements in the patient's journey with HNSCC.

Alkaline phosphatase and liver fibrosis at diagnosis are associated with deep response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis

ObjectivePrimary biliary cholangitis is a chronic and progressive autoimmune liver disease, whose prognosis can be improved by normalizing alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. While ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is first line standard of care, approximately 40 % of patients exhibit incomplete response. We aimed to identify prognostic markers for deep response to UDCA therapy at presentation. Patient and methodsData from the Brazilian Cholestasis Study Group cohort were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were assessed for deep response, defined as normal alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin, after 1 year of UDCA treatment. Additionally, the performance of the UDCA response score in predicting deep response was evaluated. ResultsA total of 297 patients were analyzed, with 57.2 % achieving an adequate response according to the Toronto criteria, while 22.9 % reached deep response. Cirrhosis (OR 0.460; 95 % CI 0.225–0.942; p = 0.034) and elevated baseline alkaline phosphatase levels (OR 0.629; 95 % CI 0.513–0.770; p < 0.001) were associated with reduced odds of deep response. The UDCA response score exhibited moderate discrimination power (AUROC = 0.769) but lacked calibration. ConclusionsBaseline ALP and liver fibrosis emerge as the most important prognostic factors to predict normalization of alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin after UDCA. The UDCA response score was inadequate for predicting deep response in the Brazilian PBC population.

Impacts of Technological Innovation on Product and Service Quality and Sustainable Financial, Environmental and Social Results in the Aeronautics Sector: A Brazilian Case Study

As a result of technological advances and the increase in the quantity and diversity of companies operating in the market, an increasingly competitive scenario emerges in which innovative approaches have become important for the survival and visibility of companies in the market. Furthermore, technological innovation can be considered a source of creation of positive or negative financial results and environmental and social impacts, which requires verification. Thus, in this article, results are presented on the impacts of innovation on quality; results are also given in relation to aspects related to financial, environmental and social impacts. The research is a qualitative analysis based on a case study methodology: the focus comprises different companies and areas of a large Brazilian group in the aeronautical industry, which operates in different countries around the world. Professionals involved with technological innovations in these companies were interviewed and the results obtained were utilized to validate and corroborate the research. After conducting the survey, it can be seen that innovation can help in adaptation, meeting the new demands and opportunities of the market, while impacting aspects of quality: conformity to the requirements of the market where the company operates; product, service and/or process performance; customer satisfaction and loyalty. The meaning of quality may vary according to the business objectives of a given company.

Increasing Health Behaviors and Psychological Measures with an Adapted Version of the ACCELERATION Program.

Recent evidence highlights the importance of interventions tackling physical inactivity and unhealthy eating in lower-income countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Canadian ACCELERATION lifestyle program adapted to Brazilians. The main outcomes of the study were changes in the engagement in weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and in the daily consumption of fruits/vegetables. The adapted intervention consisted of a 12-week quasi-randomized controlled trial delivered through email. The data from the original Canadian experimental group (CE, n = 194) and the two groups of Portuguese-speaking Brazilians living in Canada in the adapted program - Brazilian experimental (BE, n = 41) and Brazilian control (BC, n = 35) - were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The data of the 270 participants were analyzed using two-way repeated measures factorial ANCOVA (group x time) for ratio variables and Chi-square and McNemar tests for the categorical variables. The BE group had a significant increase in MVPA (mean difference, 95% CI: 86.3, 38.1-134.4min/week) and fruits/vegetables intake (3.2, 1.4-5.1 servings/day) after the intervention (both p < 0.001). The proportion of participants engaging in ≥ 150min of MVPA increased from 4.9% to 73.2%, while adoption of a healthy diet increased from 4.9% to 53.7% in the BE group (both p < 0.001). The CE group also improved on these variables (p < 0.05) with no difference vs the BE group (p > 0.05), whereas BC did not show changes (p > 0.05). The Brazilian version of the ACCELERATION program effectively promoted positive health behavior changes in its participants and has the potential to contribute to the fight against risk factors for chronic diseases in Brazilians.

Abstract 3661: Non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer

Abstract Introduction: Screening programs proven to reduce lung cancer deaths in high-income countries. Biomarkers detection in body fluids may guide more precise selection of high-risk subjects but this approach has not been currently employed for lung cancer screening. Aims: To identify ncRNA-based signatures for early detection of lung cancer in liquid biopsies. Methods: This is a case-control prospective study, conducted at the Barretos Cancer Hospital Screening Program. We analyzed miRNAs in plasma and sputum samples from high-risk subjects (n=51), and patients (n=44) diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no metastatic, at Barretos Cancer Hospital (Brazil). We analyzed circRNAs in plasma samples from high-risk subjects (n=100), and patients (n=86) with NSCLC at Hospital Universitari Quiron Dexeus (Spain). Samples were subjected to RNA isolation followed expression analysis, for miRNA expression was used nCounter Human V3 microRNA painel, and for circRNA expression was use a nCounter customized painel (NanoString). Counts were normalized by housekeeping, and differentially expressed miRNAs were filtered out according to fold-change (≥|1.5|), p-value (≤0.05). Results: All cancer patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (n=68), squamous cell carcinoma (n=41) and others/no information (n=36). No differences were observed related to age, sex, and tobacco exposure between high-risk and cancer groups (p&amp;gt;0.05). For Brazilian group, we observed six differentially expressed miRNAs in plasma able to distinguish cancer from non-cancer samples - three miRNAs upregulated, and three miRNAs downregulated -, and three of them presented with high accuracy (AUC = 0.70). For sputum, we observed four differentially expressed miRNAs able to distinguish cancer from non-cancer samples, and the 4-miRNA signature present with high accuracy (AUC = 0.73). None of miRNAs were shared between plasma and sputum. In both sample types we have miRNAs associated with zinc finger (ZNF99 and ZNF268), that predicted to be involved in regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. In Spanish cohort, we observed 4-circRNA signature with high accuracy (AUC = 0.745). These four circRNAs are associated with insulin resistance and proto-oncogenes. Conclusion: We identified ncRNA-based biomarkers in biofluids potentially to be employed in lung cancer screening programs to better guide selection of high-risk subjects for early detection of lung cancer. Citation Format: Giovanna Maria Stanfoca Casagrande, Alessandro Pascon Filho, Alexia Polo Siqueira, Rodrigo Sampaio Chiarantano, Fabiana de Lima Vazquez, Miguel Angel Molina, Carlos Pedraz-Valdunciel, Ana Gimenez-Capitán, Rui Manuel Reis, Leticia Ferro Leal. Non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3661.

Spiritism in Germany: A Resource of Integration for Brazilian Migrants?

This account of qualitative anthropological field research in Brazil and Germany explores the importance of translocal Spiritist/Kardecist networks as resources for Brazilian migrants in Germany. It focuses on aspects of integration with the host society and conflicts arising from divergent expectations and habits. It introduces the author’s multi-sited investigation within the DFG-funded research project “Diversification of Mental Health: Therapeutic Spaces of Brazilian Spiritism” (implemented by Prof. Dr. Helene Basu 2015–2018) and elaborates on the approach of “translocal relations” as crucial for the theoretical discussion before introducing relevant literature reviews and original research data. Case studies confirm the supportive functions of Brazilian Spiritist centers in Germany for migrants but also illustrate that they serve integration only to a marginal degree. Brazilians use Spiritist centers as a resource for not having to integrate and instead staying among themselves. Being aware that this habit contradicts adaptation to new environments and serves critical political approaches, a small group of Brazilians and Germans establish contested integrative practices. In conclusion, this contribution discusses conflicts emerging from Brazilian migration to Germany in religious-spiritual contexts and illustrates that integration is a multi-directional task.

High Ratio of Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Transmission and Prevalence of Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1-Associated Diseases in Brazilian Family Groups Followed Up by the GIPH Cohort.

A silent spread of human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been occurring for thousands of years, with a high prevalence in some regions due to the sexual and vertical transmission and formation of family clusters. The time from HTLV-1 infection until the onset of virus-associated diseases is extremely long, approximately one to three decades. In this study, we evaluated intrafamilial HTLV-1 transmission and associated diseases in 1,204 individuals enrolled and followed up by the GIPH cohort between 1997 and 2017. The family groups (n = 43) were composed of 279 individuals who were tested for HTLV-1/human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2) and were classified as two groups according to the index case: blood donor (blood donors referred to the GIPH cohort) and nondonor (individuals referred to the GIPH cohort by other health services). The observed rates of HTLV-1 transmission and associated diseases among the relatives were high. Of 236 family members and sexual partners tested for HTLV, 104 (44.1%) were confirmed as having HTLV infection, with 36.7% of relatives whose index case was blood donors and 56.9% of relatives with nondonor index cases. At least one case of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy was observed in 42.9% of the families with intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1. Brazil is an endemic area for HTLV-1/2 and has implemented mandatory universal screening of blood donors for HTLV-1/2 since 1993. However, the lack of public health services offer diagnosis for HTLV to the general population and pregnant women in the country makes it difficult to identify infected people, and contributes to the silent spread of the virus.

Daily Cashew and Brazil Nut Consumption Modifies Intestinal Health in Overweight Women on Energy-Restricted Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Brazilian Nuts Study)

BackgroundIncreased intestinal permeability and dysbiosis are related to obesity. Nuts can provide nutrients and bioactive compounds that modulate gut microbiota and inflammation, enhancing the beneficial effects of weight loss. ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of consuming cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale L.) and Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K) on intestinal permeability and microbiota, fecal SCFAs and pH, inflammation, and weight loss in energy restriction condition. MethodsIn this 8-week randomized controlled trial, 40 women with overweight or obesity were assigned to energy-restricted groups (−500 kcal/d): control group (free of nuts) or Brazilian nuts group (BN: 30 g of cashew nuts and 15 g of Brazil nuts per day). Permeability was analyzed by the lactulose/mannitol test and the microbiota by sequencing the 16S gene in the V3-V4 regions. Plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, IL-17A) and C-reactive protein were analyzed. ResultsIn total, 25 women completed the intervention. Both groups lost weight without statistical differences. Lactulose excretion increased only in the control group (P < 0.05). The BN consumption increased fecal propionic acid and potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Ruminococcus, Roseburia, strains NK4A214 and UCG-002 from the Ruminococcaceae family, but also Lachnospiraceae family, Bacteroides, and Lachnoclostridium, when compared to the control group. Changes in intestinal permeability were correlated to a greater reduction in body fat (kg), and IL-8, and increases in Ruminococcus abundance. ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a positive impact of BN consumption within an energy-restricted context, linked to the augmentation of potentially beneficial bacteria and pathways associated with body fat reduction. Besides, BN consumption mitigated increased intestinal permeability, although its capacity to diminish permeability or enhance weight loss proved limited.This trial was registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials as ReBEC (ID: RBR-3ntxrm).

‘Whose Place of Speech?’ Brazil’s Afro- and Queer-Centric YouTube Channels and the Decentralization of TV Globo’s Telenovela Discourse

For several decades, Brazil’s Grupo Globo, which controls radio, TV, and newspaper, served as the hegemonic voice controlling the audio, visual, and narrative dimensions of social phenomena that formed and informed social, political, and cultural attitudes among Brazilians. Of all their divisions, none has been more influential than the TV Globo network. Lately, with the popularization of free access to digital media, such as those offered by YouTube, TV Globo’s viewership has substantially declined. This paper discusses the concept of controlling images to analyze examples of TV Globo’s constructed visual image of the hypersexualized Afro-Brazilian female body in the network’s soap operas. It also analyzes cases of TV Globo’s constructed narrative over another subaltern Brazilian group: the LGBTQIA+ community. Recently, Afro-Brazilian and Queer-centric YouTube channels have attracted subscribers by emphasizing content centered on negritude, gender politics, and place of speech while deconstructing and de-normalizing Eurocentric and patriarchal controlling images. Against examples of TV Globo’s normative discourse of the past decades, the YouTube channels discussed in this paper represent alternative mediums for agency, visibility, and unbiased representations of gender and racial identities in Brazil.

Solidarity and cannibalism: anthropophagic actions as a devising process in contemporary dance training

ABSTRACT In this article, I argue for the importance of an anthropophagical action (an act of cannibalism) within contemporary dance training. I draw on Brazilian poet Oswald de Andrade’s (1928) proposal of a movement for Brazilian artists to perform an act of cannibalism, consuming other cultures but also acknowledging Brazilian culture when creating their works. I apply ‘anthropophagy’ to the training of contemporary dancers, in which students navigate a multitude of styles and experiences to assimilate or create new knowledge. Through a process of self-cannibalism, students encounter what I call their homebody, which embraces different forms that have shaped their bodies. This is demonstrated through my choreographic work (I’m)print (2021), in which UK-based dance students created a dialogue with Brazilian group Os Fabullosos, and found ways to explore each other’s cultural and embodied differences. I encouraged anthropophagical actions to facilitate a sense of solidarity, which enabled us to recognise that we inhabit the same territory. This helped identify the potential for a mode of consensual cannibalism, whereby the presumed violence of the act could be used as a dialogic tool, enabling solidarity and empathy to appear.

Psychiatric Level 1A evidence pharmacogenomics in a Brazilian admixed cohort and global populations.

Purpose: To compare minor allele frequencies (MAFs) of psychiatric drug responsevariants in a Brazilian admixed cohortwith global populations and other Brazilian groups. Methods: PharmGKB MAFs were gathered from publicly available genetic datasets for Brazil and worldwide. Results: Among 146 variants in CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, 41 were present in Brazil, mostly rare (MAF <1%). 11variants showed significant MAF differences with large effect sizes compared with global populations. CYP2C19*3 (rs4986893), CYP2C19*17 (rs12248560), CYP2D6*17 (rs28371706-A) and CYP2D6*29 (rs61736512) exhibited higher frequencies in Brazil, with the latter three also differing from other Brazilian groups. Conclusion: This study highlights significant pharmacogenomic diversity in Brazil and globally, underscoring the need for more research in personalized psychiatric drug therapy.

Clinical screening for GCK-MODY in 2,989 patients from the Brazilian Monogenic Diabetes Study Group (BRASMOD) and the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group (BrazDiab1SG).

To evaluate the accuracy of routinely available parameters in screening for GCK maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), leveraging data from two large cohorts - one of patients with GCK-MODY and the other of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study included 2,687 patients with T1D, 202 patients with clinical features of MODY but without associated genetic variants (NoVar), and 100 patients with GCK-MODY (GCK). Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) analyses were used to assess the performance of each parameter - both alone and incorporated into regression models - in discriminating between groups. The best parameter discriminating between GCK-MODY and T1D was a multivariable model comprising glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, age at diagnosis, hypertension, microvascular complications, previous diabetic ketoacidosis, and family history of diabetes. This model had a ROC-AUC value of 0.980 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.974-0.985) and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of 43.74% and 100%, respectively. The best model discriminating between GCK and NoVar included HbA1c, age at diagnosis, hypertension, and triglycerides and had a ROC-AUC value of 0.850 (95% CI 0.783-0.916), PPV of 88.36%, and NPV of 97.7%; however, this model was not significantly different from the others. A novel GCK variant was also described in one individual with MODY (7-44192948-T-C, p.Ser54Gly), which showed evidence of pathogenicity on in silico prediction tools. This study identified a highly accurate (98%) composite model for differentiating GCK-MODY and T1D. This model may help clinicians select patients for genetic evaluation of monogenic diabetes, enabling them to implement correct treatment without overusing limited resources.

Patterns of infectious disease in ancient Brazilian groups: The role of different environments and demographic parameters

In the last 200ka, humans have explored and adapted to a changing world. Environmental challenges faced by humans today, like emergent pathogens and overpopulation, are not that different from the ones in the past. This article aims to discuss the patterns of disease observed in ancient human populations from southeastern and southern Brazil (hunter-gatherer groups associated to riverine and coastal shellmounds and agriculturalists associated to the Tupiguarani archaeological Tradition). The role of new pathogens and high demographic density will be discussed, as well as the interpretations regarding the frequencies of chronic infectious diseases that affect bones. We will also present the importance of understanding patterns of health and disease in past human populations in order to address present day scenarios related to climate change, vulnerable populations, and disease. Warning: This article discusses and presents images of ancient human remains. While we acknowledge that this can be a sensitive topic, we would like to stress the importance of studying and generating knowledge about past human populations which otherwise would be completely unknown and forgotten.

ACE gene polymorphisms (rs4340) II and DI are more responsive to the ergogenic effect of caffeine than DD on aerobic power, heart rate, and perceived exertion in a homogeneous Brazilian group of adolescent athletes.

The purpose of this study was to verify the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotypes DD, DI, and II and caffeine (CAF) ingestion on endurance performance, heart rate, ratio of perceived exertion (RPE), and habitual caffeine intake (HCI) of adolescent athletes. Seventy-four male adolescent athletes (age: DD=16±1.7; DI=16±2.0; II=15±1.7 years) ingested CAF (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PLA) one hour before performing the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test. No difference was found among groups for HCI. However, CAF increased the maximal distance covered and VO2max in DI and II genotype carriers compared to PLA (DD: Δ=31 m and 0.3 mL·kg-1·min-1; DI: Δ=286 m and 1.1 mL·kg-1·min-1; II: Δ=160 m and 1.4 mL·kg-1·min-1). Heart rate of DI and II genotype carriers increased with CAF compared to PLA, while RPE was higher in the II and lower in the DD genotypes. The correlations between HCI and maximal distance covered or VO2max were significant in the II genotype carriers with CAF. CAF increased endurance capacity, heart rate, and RPE in adolescent athletes with allele I, while endurance performance and aerobic power had a positive correlation to HCI in the II genotype group. These findings suggested that DD genotype were less responsive to CAF and that genetic variations should be taken into account when using CAF supplementation to enhance exercise performance.

Evaluation of genomic factors and early childhood stimulation on intelligence in children from a Brazilian birth cohort: The primary role of independent factors

BackgroundChildhood cognitive abilities are a predictor of health outcomes and adult income potential. Identifying factors associated with childhood intelligence and their interactions is essential in behavioral research. We assessed the impact of genetic variants and early child stimulation (ECS) on child intelligence and examined their possible interaction as potential modifiers of IQ in a population-based longitudinal study. MethodsParticipants of the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort study (N = 4231) underwent intelligent quotient (IQ) by WISC-III assessment at 6 years of age. At 24 and 48-months, mothers answered five ECS marker questions, whose sum was used to create a score. The polygenic score for intelligence (IQ-PGS) was constructed from the GWAS-weighted estimate of cognition. Association was assessed using multiple linear regression models adjusted for maternal, family, and child confounding variables. To explore the possible influence of skin color and ethnoracial classification, the regression models were stratified according to the skin color variable, as a sensitivity analysis. ResultsIn the adjusted analysis, IQ-PGS (β = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.26;1.31) as well as ECS (β = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.76;2.92) were associated with IQ in this sample. The association between IQ-PGS and IQ was significant only in the white Brazilian group in the sensitivity analysis. However, there was no interaction between IQ-PGS and ECS on IQ (p(IQ-PGS x ECS) = 0.46). ConclusionsECS did not modify the impact of genetic potential on intellectual development during childhood, suggesting that genetic factors and ECS exert independent effects on the IQ levels of children.

ÂNIMA HUB: New Research to Business Model for the Development of Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Universities in Partnership With Companies

Many efforts have been made to create a mutually beneficial environment for the development of innovation with interactions between universities, industry and government, for innovation. But there's still a lack of methodologies that design a journey for university students. This paper presents a proposal of a Research to Business (R2B) model called ÂNIMA HUB. A case study was developed with the Brazilian education group Ânima Educação (26 higher education institutions throughout Brazil). ÂNIMA HUB has been applied in these institutions, and it has been able to create 247 interdisciplinary research groups with more than 209 professors and 3500 students. The results show the scalability of the model and its ability to present a well-defined methodology that helps an idea to become a project, be published and become a business plan. In addition, 35 papers have been published and projects have been linked to companies for investment prospects and new business.