The cost burden of adolescent and young adult pregnancy: real-world evidence from the Brazilian public health care system.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, pregnancy in adolescence represents an important public health issue. Rates of early pregnancy have significant social and economic consequences that extend beyond the individual sphere, impacting public/governmental budgets.

Aim: To estimate the cost implications of early pregnancies from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Public Health System.

Alterations in miRNA Expression and Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate, affecting more than half a million women in 2018. Its development is strongly related to high-risk HPV infection. After infection, several cellular molecules are affected, including microRNAs (miRNAs), which are the focus of our study.

The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome from A Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Series of Cases with an ICF-Based Approach.

Unlabelled: The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) can have a significant impact on functionality. The purpose was to describe 22q11.

Investigation of Malocclusion and Associated Factors in Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

This study aims to describe the prevalence of malocclusion and identify associated factors in preschool children. Completed in 2022-2023, this cross-sectional study included 523 children aged 26 to 80 months in municipal schools in Salvador. An oral examination was carried out on the children, and a questionnaire was self-administered by the parents.

Alteration in the Expression of Circular Rnas and its association with the Development and Progression of Osteosarcoma, an Integrative Review with High Sensitivity Research.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, mainly affecting children, young adults, and the elderly. It is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis, exhibiting low survival rates even with standard treatment. Recently, circular RNA molecules capable of influencing gene expression through various functions, with their main role being acting as microRNA sponges and reducing their intracellular expression, have been identified.

Knowledge, practices and barriers to access sexual health of women in the menopausal stages: a cross-sectional study with Brazilian gynecologists.

Background: Sexual health access and care for women in the menopausal stages face significant barriers, presenting deficits in relation to diagnosis and treatment. Although epidemiological data indicate high prevalence of problems related to sexual health in this population, traditionally, the theme is not discussed in health care settings. This study aimed to analyze knowledge, practices and barriers to access sexual health of women in the menopausal stages in the context of women's health care in Brazil.

Intra-urban differences underlying leprosy spatial distribution in central Brazil: geospatial techniques as potential tools for surveillance.

This ecological study identified an aggregation of urban neighbourhoods spatial patterns in the cumulative new case detection rate (NCDR) of leprosy in the municipality of Rondonópolis, central Brazil, as well as intra-urban socioeconomic differences underlying this distribution. Scan statistics of all leprosy cases reported in the area from 2011 to 2017 were used to investigate spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of the disease at the neighbourhood level. The associations between the log of the smoothed NCDR and demographic, socioeconomic, and structural characteristics were explored by comparing multivariate models based on ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, spatial lag, spatial error, and geographically weighted regression (GWR).

Cost Savings and Effectiveness of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) on the Prevention of Pregnancy in Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health issue with profound implications for health and socioeconomic factors. The use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) could be an interesting strategy to reduce the unintended pregnancy rate. However, the cost of LARC is still a barrier to widespread adoption.

The Role of Extracellular Traps in HIV Infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still an important public health problem, which justifies the research of new therapies to combat it. Recent studies show that Extracellular Traps (ETs) are cellular mechanisms useful in the capture and destruction of some viruses, such as the HIV. Here, we show that neutrophils from peripheral blood, genital tissues, and placenta are activated when exposed to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and release Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs).

Integrated control of neglected tropical diseases in Brazil: document review of a national campaign in light of WHO recommendations.

Objective: To describe the results of a national campaign aimed at the integrated control of neglected tropical diseases in Brazil in light of the World Health Organization (WHO) official documentation related to the integration of strategies for the prevention, control, and elimination or eradication of neglected tropical diseases.

Methods: A document review that included official WHO documents published between 2007 and 2020 and campaign results extracted from the official technical report produced by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Results: The integrated control of neglected tropical diseases was gradually incorporated in the WHO documentation over time.

"It's not all about the disease": do treatment and socioeconomic status affect perceived impact and satisfaction of patients treated for cutaneous leishmaniasis?

Background: This cross-sectional study compared the general impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and patient satisfaction with treatment and health services as perceived by those undergoing different therapeutic regimens in an endemic region in South-Eastern Brazil. We also investigated the factors associated with both outcomes (general impact and satisfaction).

Methods: We included 84 patients with CL treated between 2018 and 2019 with intravenous meglumine antimoniate, liposomal amphotericin B, or intralesional meglumine antimoniate therapy.

Epidemiological patterns related to deaths caused by visceral leishmaniasis in the southern Amazon region of Brazil.

Background: We analysed the spatial and spatiotemporal patterns of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) mortality at the municipality level in an endemic state in the southern Amazon region of Brazil. Individual-level factors associated with death due to VL were also investigated.

Methods: All VL cases and deaths reported between 2007 and 2018 were included.

Are the clinical features of leprosy and American tegumentary leishmaniasis worse in patients with both diseases?

This cross-sectional population-based study compared clinical features of leprosy and American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in patients diagnosed with both diseases (n=414) and in those diagnosed with only leprosy (n=27,790) or only ATL (n=24,357) in Mato Grosso State, which is a hyperendemic area for both diseases in Midwest Brazil. All new cases of leprosy and ATL reported in the area from 2008 to 2017 were included. Patients diagnosed with both diseases were identified by a probabilistic linkage procedure applied to leprosy and ATL databases of the national reporting system.

Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting the same individuals: A retrospective cohort analysis in a hyperendemic area in Brazil.

Background: Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting the skin. Their control is challenging but the integration of skin NTDs control programs is recommended to improve timely detection and treatment. However, little is known about the occurrence of leprosy and CL in the same individuals, and what are the characteristics of such patients.

Impact of socioeconomic status on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about visceral leishmaniasis among dog owners.

Introduction: This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of socioeconomic status on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among dog owners from the municipality of Rondonópolis-a highly endemic area for the disease in Central-Western Brazil.

Methodology: Data were collected between 2016 and 2017 during a household survey. A probabilistic sample of 404 dog owners were interviewed assessing sociodemographic characteristics, previous occurrence of VL cases, and KAP about human VL, vector, and canine VL.

Influence of photodynamic therapy and intracanal medication on Martens hardness, elastic modulus and bond strength of glass-fiber posts to endodontically treated root dentin.

Background: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylene blue photosensitizer (PS) and calcium hydroxide intracanal medication on Martens hardness (MH), elastic modulus (Eit) and adhesive bond strength of glass-fiber posts in different thirds of intraradicular dentin.

Methods: Ninety-six bovine teeth were distributed into the following 6 experimental groups: a negative control irrigated with deionized water; a positive control irrigated with deionized water and filled with calcium hydroxide intracanal medication (Ca[OH]); Ca[OH] + methylene blue 50 mg/L without activation; Ca[OH] + methylene blue 100 mg/L without activation; Ca[OH] + methylene blue 50 mg/L activated by red laser; and Ca[OH] + methylene blue 100 mg/L activated by red laser (n = 16). MH and Eit were measured using an ultramicrodurometer under load action of 3 mN (n = 8).

Passive case detection for canine visceral leishmaniasis control in urban Brazil: Determinants of population uptake.

Background: In Brazil, the transmission of Leishmania infantum in urban settings is closely related to infection among dogs, with occasional transmission to humans. Serological screening of dogs for Leishmania spp. infection on requests of their owners (passive case detection) represents a frequent, but little studied, practice within the scope of Brazilian public health.

Basic knowledge about visceral leishmaniasis before and after educational intervention among primary health care professionals in Midwestern Brazil.

Health education and training of primary health care (PHC) professionals are highly recommended to reduce the occurrence and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This study assessed the impact of an educational intervention on the basic knowledge about visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among PHC professionals from the Brazilian municipality of Rondonopolis, an important endemic area for VL. Responses provided by physicians, nurses, nursing technicians and community health agents from 12 PHC facilities were recorded through the application of self-completed and semi-structured questionnaires before (n=92) and after (n=64) an in-person health training course covering various aspects of VL.

Human visceral leishmaniasis in Central-Western Brazil: Spatial patterns and its correlation with socioeconomic aspects, environmental indices and canine infection.

In this ecological study, we investigated spatial patterns of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) incidence, its correlation with socioeconomic aspects, environmental indices (obtained through remote sensing) and canine VL during 2011-2016 in the municipality of Rondonópolis, a relevant endemic area for VL in Central-Western Brazil. Human VL cases were georeferenced and point patterns were analyzed by univariate Ripley's K function and Kernel density estimation (KDE). Poisson-based scan statistics were used to investigate spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of human VL incidence at the neighborhood level.

Balancing the Loudness in Speech Processors and Contralateral Hearing Aids in Users of Unilateral Cochlear Implants.

 The use of cochlear implants and hearing aids (bimodal) has been growing with the expansion of the indication for them, and it is important to ensure protocols so that there is a balance of the loudness regarding the two devices.  To evaluate if the limited complex sounds present in the frequency bands of the current devices enable the balance of the loudness in adult users of bimodal stimulation, and to analyze if speech recognition improves after balancing.  A prospective cross-sectional study with convenience sampling.

Hyperendemicity, heterogeneity and spatial overlap of leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the southern Amazon region of Brazil.

Neglected tropical diseases characterized by skin lesions are highly endemic in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. We analyzed the spatial distribution of leprosy and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and identified the degree of overlap in their distribution. All new cases of leprosy and CL reported between 2008 and 2017 through the national reporting system were included in the study.

Awake bruxism frequency and psychosocial factors in college preparatory students.

Objective: To assess the frequency of reported masticatory muscles activity during wakefulness (i.e., awake bruxism [AB]), levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in college preparatory students.

Combining surface-sensitive microscopies for analysis of biological tissues after neural device implantation.

In order to address the complexity of chemical analysis of biological systems, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and x-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM) were used for combined surface imaging of a biological tissue formed around a surface neural device after implantation on a nonhuman primate brain. Results show patterns on biological tissue based on extracellular matrix (ECM) and phospholipid membrane (PM) molecular fragments, which were contrasted through principal component analysis of ToF-SIMS negative spectrum. This chemical differentiation may indicate severe inflammation on tissue with an early case of necrosis.

Assessment of access to first contact in the perspective of professionals.

Objectives: to evaluate the "access to first contact" attribute, from the perspective of Primary Care Health professionals.

Methods: an evaluative and cross-sectional study, carried out from February to March 2017. The sample consisted of 163 health professionals, of both genders, who worked in the basic care of the Municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará.

Mitochondrial Respiratory Inhibition Promoted by Pyraclostrobin in Fungi is Also Observed in Honey Bees.

There is no use restriction associated with bees for many fungicides used in agriculture; however, this does not always mean that these pesticides are harmless for these nontarget organisms. We investigated whether the fungicide pyraclostrobin, which acts on fungal mitochondria, also negatively affects honey bee mitochondrial bioenergetics. Honey bees were collected from 5 hives and anesthetized at 4 °C.