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Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of interventions with physical exercise on cardiac autonomic modulation of overweight and/or obese children and adolescents., Method: The present systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. Searches were performed in the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, SciELO, Scopus, CINAHL, SportDiscus, LILACS, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. A meta-analysis was performed using the standardized mean difference. The quality of evidence was rated by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system., Results: From 1866 records identified, 15 randomized clinical trials were included in the systematic review; however, only 4 randomized clinical trials were pooled in the meta-analysis (69 participants in the experimental group and 71 in the control group). The meta-analysis showed a positive effect on the experimental group for the high-frequency power (%; standardized mean difference = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.46-2.98; P < .01), and low-frequency power (%) was reduced after the intervention (standardized mean difference = -1.66; 95% CI, -2.19 to -1.12; P < .01)., Conclusion: This study showed that interventions had a positive effect on frequency domain variables of cardiac autonomic modulation in overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. However, more studies with lower heterogeneity and higher quality evidence are needed.

The prompt and accurate identification of the etiological agents of viral respiratory infections is a critical measure in mitigating outbreaks. In this study, we developed and clinically evaluated a novel melting-curve-based multiplex real-time PCR (M-m-qPCR) assay targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N of SARS-CoV-2, the Matrix protein 2 of the Influenza A virus, the RdRp domain of the L protein from the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and the polyprotein from Rhinovirus B genes. The analytical performance of the M-m-qPCR underwent assessment using in silico analysis and a panel of reference and clinical strains, encompassing viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, exhibiting 100% specificity. Moreover, the assay showed a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction for all targeted pathogens using the positive controls. To validate its applicability, the assay was further tested in simulated nasal fluid spiked with the viruses mentioned above, followed by validation on nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 811 individuals. Among them, 13.4% (109/811) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 1.1% (9/811) tested positive for Influenza A. Notably, these results showed 100% concordance with those obtained using a commercial kit. Therefore, the M-m-qPCR exhibits great potential for the routine screening of these respiratory viral pathogens.

IgY antibodies are found in the blood and yolk of eggs. Several studies show the feasibility of utilising IgY for immunotherapy and immunodiagnosis. These antibodies have been studied because they fulfil the current needs for reducing, replacing, and improving the use of animals. Affinity and avidity represent the strength of the antigen-antibody interaction and directly influence antibody action. The aim of this review was to examine the factors that influence the affinity and avidity of IgY antibodies and the methodologies used to determine these variables. In birds, there are few studies on the maturation of antibody affinity and avidity, and these studies suggest that the use of an adjuvant-type of antigen, the animal lineage, the number of immunisations, and the time interfered with the affinity and avidity of IgY antibodies. Regarding the methodologies, most studies use chaotropic agents to determine the avidity index. Studies involving the solution phase and equilibrium titration reactions are also described. These results demonstrate the need for the standardisation of methodologies for the determination of affinity and avidity so that further studies can be performed to optimise the production of high avidity IgY antibodies.

Candida albicans is one of the leading pathological agents of mucosal and deep tissue infections. Considering that the variety of antifungals is restricted and that toxicity limits their use, immunotherapies against pathogenic fungi have been viewed as alternatives with reduced adverse effects. In this context, C. albicans has a protein used to capture iron from the environment and the host, known as the high-affinity iron permease Ftr1. This protein may be a new target of action for novel antifungal therapies, as it influences the virulence of this yeast. Thus, the aim of the present study was to produce and conduct the biological characterization of IgY antibodies against C. albicans Ftr1. Immunization of laying hens with an Ftr1-derived peptide resulted in IgY antibodies extracted from egg yolks capable of binding to the antigen with high affinity (avidity index = 66.6 ± 0.3%). These antibodies reduced the growth and even eliminated C. albicans under iron restriction, a favorable condition for the expression of Ftr1. This also occurred with a mutant strain that does not produce Ftr1 in the presence of iron, a circumstance in which the protein analog of iron permease, Ftr2, is expressed. Furthermore, the survival of G. mellonella larvae infected with C. albicans and treated with the antibodies was 90% higher than the control group, which did not receive treatment (p < 0.0001). Therefore, our data suggest that IgY antibodies against Ftr1 from C. albicans can inhibit yeast propagation by blocking iron uptake., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacillus responsible for nosocomial infections. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is a chicken immunoglobulin used for research, immunodiagnosis, and immunotherapy. IgY presents antimicrobial properties and it is under investigation for use as an adjunct to prophylactic therapies. The current study aimed to assess the synergistic action between anti-P aeruginosa IgY and the beta-lactams ceftazidime, imipenem, and meropenem. IgY antibodies were obtained from laying hens immunized with SPM-1 producing P. aeruginosa (Pa48 spm-1+ ) or VIM-2 producing P. aeruginosa (Pa23 vim-2 + ). The antimicrobial activity of IgY antibodies was evaluated by the growth inhibition test, and the synergistic effect was assessed by determination of the fractional inhibitory concentration index. Anti-Pa48 spm-1+ IgY shows antimicrobial activity at 1.25 mg/ml and anti-Pa23 vim-2+ IgY shows antimicrobial activity at 2.5 mg/ml. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of anti-Pa48 spm-1+ IgY and ceftazidime, or imipenem, or meropenem at 72 h of experiment were 0.189, 0.209, and 0.440, respectively. For anti-Pa23 vim-2+ IgY, the fractional inhibitory concentration indices were 0.440 with ceftazidime, 0.453 with imipenem, and 0.441 with meropenem at 72 h. We conclude that there is a synergistic action between anti-P. aeruginosa IgY and the antimicrobials tested. Further studies are necessary to investigate the mechanisms associated with this action., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)