Immediate Postintervention Outcomes from a Randomized Trial that Sought to Enhance Access to Live Donor Kidney Transplant for Black and African Americans.

Introduction: Eliminating racial inequities in access to kidney transplantation requires multilevel interventions that target both patients and health systems.

Research Question: The aim of this study was to determine whether adding culturally sensitive, web-based patient education to a transplant center-level intervention was associated with increased knowledge, motivation to pursue living donor kidney transplant, and confidence in the behavioral skills to discuss living donation among Black/African American patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Design: A total of 411 transplant candidates were randomized to intervention (N = 222) or control groups (N = 189) and completed measures at baseline and immediate follow-up during the transplant evaluation visit.

Predictors of Hepatic Fibrosis in Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background/objectives: Approximately 25% of the world's population and more than 60% of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The association between these pathologies is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil and worldwide due to the high frequency of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiologic and clinical-laboratory profile of patients with T2D and MASLD treated at an endocrinology reference service in a state in northeastern Brazil, and to investigate the association of liver fibrosis with anthropometric and laboratory measurements.

The double-edged role of FASII regulator FabT in Streptococcus pyogenes infection.

In Streptococcus pyogenes, the type II fatty acid (FA) synthesis pathway FASII is feedback-controlled by the FabT repressor bound to an acyl-Acyl carrier protein. Although FabT defects confer reduced virulence in animal models, spontaneous fabT mutants arise in vivo. We resolved this paradox by characterizing the conditions and mechanisms requiring FabT activity, and those promoting fabT mutant emergence.

Neuromorphic intermediate representation: A unified instruction set for interoperable brain-inspired computing.

Spiking neural networks and neuromorphic hardware platforms that simulate neuronal dynamics are getting wide attention and are being applied to many relevant problems using Machine Learning. Despite a well-established mathematical foundation for neural dynamics, there exists numerous software and hardware solutions and stacks whose variability makes it difficult to reproduce findings. Here, we establish a common reference frame for computations in digital neuromorphic systems, titled Neuromorphic Intermediate Representation (NIR).

Cepstral Acoustic Measurements: Influence of Speech Task and Degree of Vocal Deviation.

Objective: To analyze whether there are differences in the cepstral measures obtained in different speech tasks, depending on the presence and degree of vocal deviation, and to analyze if there is a correlation between the cepstral measures obtained from different speech tasks and the general degree of vocal deviation.

Method: Analysis of 258 vocal samples of the sustained vowel [a] and connected speech (counting numbers) from a database, including 160 dysphonic and 98 nondysphonic voices. The counting number samples were edited in three different durations: counting from 1 to 10, from 1 to 11, and from 1 to 20.

Impact of the Deletion of Genes of the Nitrogen Metabolism on Triacylglycerol, Cardiolipin and Actinorhodin Biosynthesis in .

Since nitrogen limitation is known to be an important trigger of triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in most microorganisms, we first assessed the global lipid content of 21 strains derived from M145 deleted for genes involved in nitrogen metabolism. Seven of these strains deleted for genes encoding proteins involved in polyamine (GlnA2/SCO2241, GlnA3/SCO6962, GlnA4/SCO1613), or protein (Pup/SCO1646) degradation, in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism (GlnE/SCO2234 and GlnK/SCO5584), or the global regulator DasR/SCO5231 that controls negatively the degradation of N-acetylglucosamine, a constituent of peptidoglycan, had a higher TAG content than the original strain, whereas five of these strains (except the and mutants) had a lower cardiolipin (CL) content. The production of the blue polyketide actinorhodin (ACT) was totally abolished in the mutant in both Pi conditions, whereas the deletion of , , , and was correlated with a significant increase in total ACT production, but mainly in Pi limitation.

Consequences of the deletion of the major specialized metabolite biosynthetic pathways of Streptomyces coelicolor on the metabolome and lipidome of this strain.

Chassis strains, derived from Streptomyces coelicolor M145, deleted for one or more of its four main specialized metabolites biosynthetic pathways (CPK, CDA, RED and ACT), in various combinations, were constructed for the heterologous expression of specialized metabolites biosynthetic pathways of various types and origins. To determine consequences of these deletions on the metabolism of the deleted strains comparative lipidomic and metabolomic analyses of these strains and of the original strain were carried out. These studies unexpectedly revealed that the deletion of the peptidic clusters, RED and/or CDA, in a strain deleted for the ACT cluster, resulted into a great increase in the triacylglycerol (TAG) content, whereas the deletion of polyketide clusters, ACT and CPK had no impact on TAG content.

Selection of allergen extract for immunotherapy in polysensitized allergic rhinitis patients.

To evaluate the criteria used by allergists in selecting an immunotherapy extract (allergen immunotherapy [AIT]-extract) in rhinitis patients with polysensitization. First, a cross-sectional study was carried out by evaluating different factors that influence the medical choice of AIT-extract. Second, a literature review was performed by evaluating the diagnostic performance of atopy tests.

Surrogate gradient learning in spiking networks trained on event-based cytometry dataset.

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are bio-inspired neural networks that - to an extent - mimic the workings of our brains. In a similar fashion, event-based vision sensors try to replicate a biological eye as closely as possible. In this work, we integrate both technologies for the purpose of classifying micro-particles in the context of label-free flow cytometry.

Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy: a puzzle for the final diagnosis.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children has diverse causes. Mitochondrial diseases, a rare aetiology leading to cardiomyopathy in 20-40% of affected children, predominantly present as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Diagnosis is challenging due to inconsistent genotype-phenotype correlation, resulting in various clinical presentations.

Accuracy and Cut-Off Values of Cepstral Measures in the Clinical Evaluation of Brazilian Portuguese Speakers.

Objective: To identify the accuracy and cut-off values of the cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS) obtained from different speech tasks, to identify dysphonic voices in Brazilian Portuguese speakers, and to verify the correlation between these measures and the overall severity of dysphonia (OS).

Method: In a study with 376 subjects-277 with dysphonia and 99 controls-we recorded four speech tasks and assessed OS with a visual analog scale. We extracted CPP and CPPS from these recordings and analyzed them using receiver operating characteristic curves to determine cut-off values and other performance metrics (area under curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios).

Enhancing Drug Delivery Efficacy Through Bilayer Coating of Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks: Sustained Release and Improved Chemical Stability and Cellular Uptake for Cancer Therapy.

The development of nanoparticle (NP)-based drug carriers has presented an exciting opportunity to address challenges in oncology. Among the 100,000 available possibilities, zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates in biomedical applications. Zr-MOFs can be easily synthesized as small-size NPs compatible with intravenous injection, whereas the ease of decorating their external surfaces with functional groups allows for targeted treatment.

All Two-Loop Feynman Integrals for Five-Point One-Mass Scattering.

We compute the complete set of two-loop master integrals for the scattering of four massless particles and a massive one. Our results are ready for phenomenological applications, removing a major obstacle to the computation of complete next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections to processes such as the production of a H/Z/W boson in association with two jets at the LHC. Furthermore, they open the door to new investigations into the structure of quantum-field theories and provide precious analytic data for studying the mathematical properties of Feynman integrals.

COMPARISON OF THREE MIDAZOLAM-BASED SEDATION PROTOCOLS IN BUDGERIGARS () AND BLACK-CHEEKED LOVEBIRDS ().

This randomized, crossover study evaluated three sedation protocols administered subcutaneously in nine budgerigars () and nine black-cheeked lovebirds (). All protocols included midazolam (5 mg/kg), combined with butorphanol (5 mg/kg) (BM), medetomidine (20 lg/kg) (MM), or alfaxalone (13 mg/kg) (AM). Mortalities from suspected cardiorespiratory arrest were observed when AM was used in lovebirds, even after reduction of alfaxalone dosage to 3 mg/kg, and therefore this protocol was excluded from further use in this species.

[Non-Insulin Antidiabetic Agents in the Management of Hyperglycaemia of Non-Critical Hospitalized Patients].

Hyperglycaemia affects more than 30% of adults hospitalized for non-critical illness and is associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Insulin therapy is widely used for its safety and efficacy. However, given the growing availability of new drugs and new classes of antidiabetic agents with benefits beyond glycaemic control, challenges arise regarding their use in the hospital setting.

The SHED Index: A Validation Study to Assess Sustainable HEalthy Diets in Portugal.

This study aims to adapt and validate the Sustainable HEalthy Diet (SHED) Index for the Portuguese adult population, which was developed to assess sustainable and healthy eating patterns. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire administered through interviews with 347 individuals aged between 18 and 65 years old. The SHED Index evaluates 30 items, allowing for the assessment and scoring of sustainable and healthy eating patterns.

Sleep duration and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents: Longitudinal analysis from the LabMed study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate longitudinal associations between sleep duration and cardiorespiratory fitness, in adolescents.

Methods: Sleep duration was self-reported and cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test, both at baseline and follow-up (2-year follow-up). Participants were 734 Northern Portuguese adolescents (349 girls), aged 14.

A Tunneled Catheter Placement Program for Community Hospices.

Context: The symptoms associated with the excessive fluid accumulation of ascites or pleural effusions can be intractable to medical management and can have a significant negative impact on quality of life of hospice patients. Hospice of the Valley, a community-based, nonprofit hospice agency has historically referred patients to outpatient providers for paracentesis, thoracentesis, and placement of tunneled drainage catheters.

Objectives: To describe an in-house pilot program of tunneled catheter placement to provide immediate and longer-term symptom relief for selected hospice patients.

Spectral and cepstral measurements in women with behavioral dysphonia.

Purpose: To investigate whether there are differences in cepstral and spectral acoustic measures between women with behavioral dysphonia with and without laryngeal lesions and verify whether there is a correlation between such measures and the auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice quality.

Methods: The sample comprised 78 women with behavioral dysphonia without laryngeal lesions (BDWOL) and 68 with behavioral dysphonia with laryngeal lesions (vocal nodules) (BDWL). Cepstral peak prominence (CPP), cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS), spectral decrease, and H1-H2 (difference between the amplitude of the first and second harmonics) were extracted.

VoxMore: technological artifact to assist voice acoustic evaluation in the teaching-learning process and clinical practice.

Purpose: to present a technological artifact, the VoxMore plugin, to assist the academic teaching of voice acoustic assessment, as well as to optimize the speech therapy intervention in the practice of vocal clinics.

Methods: this is a multidisciplinary methodological study for the development of a technological artifact, a plugin, to be used in the Praat software. This tool performs vocal acoustic analysis and generates a report, with information and images referring to the domains of time, frequency, time-frequency, and que-frequency, as well as values of acoustic measures related to fundamental frequency (f0), period measures, disturbance measures of the period of f0, f0 amplitude perturbation measurements, spectral measurements, glottal noise measurements and cepstral measurements.

Identification of lactic acid bacteria with anti-listeria activity. Characterization and application of a bacteriocinogenic strain in the control of in cheese.

The purpose of the research paper was firstly to identify bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria characterizing strains with anti-listeria activity and, secondly, to characterize bacteriocin evaluating its in vitro efficiency as a natural preservative and, thirdly, to evaluate the anti-listeria effect of the bacteriocinogenic strain of in cheeses and produce an edible film with anti-listerial effect. Of 355 lactic acid bacteria strains tested, two were able to produce bacteriocin against and were identified as and . A bactericidal effect of strain QS494 () was observed in the first 8 h, with a reduction of 1.

Cross-Classification Analysis of Food Products Based on Nutritional Quality and Degree of Processing.

This study aims to compare the classification of foods available in the Portuguese market using Nutri-Score and NOVA classifications and to analyse their ability to discriminate the fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content of foods. A sample of 2682 food products was collected. The nutritional quality of foods was established using the Nutri-Score, classifying them into five categories (from A to E).

Combination of CNTs with Classical Drugs for Treatment in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (HT-29) Cell Line.

Due to the increase in new types of cancer cells and resistance to drugs, conventional cancer treatments are sometimes insufficient. Therefore, an alternative is to apply nanotechnology to biomedical areas, minimizing side effects and drug resistance and improving treatment efficacy. This work aims to find a promising cancer treatment in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) to minimize the viability of cells (IC) by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) combined with different drugs (5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and two repurposing drugs-tacrine (TAC) and ethionamide (ETA).

Modulation of release and pharmacokinetics from nanoscale lipid prodrugs of dexamethasone with variable linkage chemistry.

In an attempt to tune drug release and subsequent pharmacokinetics once administered intravenously, we have synthesized three lipid-drug conjugates (LDCs) of dexamethasone (DXM) each possessing a different lipid-drug chemical linkage: namely ester, carbamate and carbonate. These LDCs were thoroughly characterized before being turned into nanoscale particles by an emulsion-evaporation process using DSPE-PEG (Distearoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphoethanolamine-N-(methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000) as the only excipient. Spherical nanoparticles (NPs) of about 140-170 nm, with a negative zeta potential, were obtained for each LDC and exhibited good stability upon storage at 4 °C for 45 days with no recrystallization of LDCs observed.