Publications by authors named "Amanda Souza"

Background: The deposition of β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques is a classical neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently, it is believed that intermediate products of the Aβ fibrillogenesis process, like the β‐amyloid oligomers (AβOs), are the most toxic forms, and are involved in neurodegenerative processes in AD. The evaluation of cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with β‐amyloid plaque deposition using [F]FDG‐PET has been used as a marker of neurodegeneration in AD.

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Objective: The objective of this review will be to evaluate the effect of prior aspiration versus non-aspiration during intramuscular injection on the occurrence of adverse effects in adult patients.

Introduction: Aspiration is a procedure conducted prior to the administration of intramuscular medications that aims to ensure that the needle tip is inserted in the proper place. Although aspiration is a common procedure, questions have been raised about adverse effects.

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Purpose: One of the main causes of chronic wounds is diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. In this context, hydrogels have been used as a promising treatment for stimulating tissue ingrowth and healing in these injuries. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the findings of studies that investigated the effects of injectable hydrogels of various origins on skin wound healing using in vivo experimental models in diabetic rats.

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Skin wounds are extremely frequent injuries related to many etiologies. They are a burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Skin dressings are the most popular therapy, and collagen is the most commonly used biomaterial, although new sources of collagen have been studied, especially spongin-like from marine sponges (SPG), as a promising source due to a similar composition to vertebrates and the ability to function as a cell-matrix adhesion framework.

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Objective: To analyze the relationship between structural empowerment and sociodemographic and professional factors of nurses at a reference hospital providing emergency care.

Method: Analytical, cross-sectional study, with 124 nurses from an emergency hospital, applying the questionnaires: sociodemographic and professional data and the Conditions of Effectiveness at Work II (CET-II) questionnaire. The Spearman or Kruskal Wallis statistical tests were used and the significance level was updated to 5% for the study's statistical analyses.

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In plantations, coppice rotations often yield less than initial rotations. The TECHS project (Tolerance of Clones to Hydric, Thermal and Biotic Stresses) studied short rotation coppicing across a 3000 km gradient. The main objective of this work was to compare the survival, sprouting, and initial growth of clones managed and to examine factors that might influence the productivity of the coppice rotation: climate, genotypes, and stocking.

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Background: Evidence on the harmful effects of diet on serum lipids in adolescence has not been consistent. The present study sought to establish which dietary patterns are associated with biomarkers of dyslipidemia.

Methods: Data from 36,217 Brazilian adolescents participating in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents were evaluated.

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Article Synopsis
  • A CRESS-DNA virus, primarily found in fecal samples from vertebrates, was examined in human vaginal samples for its presence.
  • Viral metagenomics was conducted on samples from 28 healthy women in NYC, with some providing duplicates over a 12-21 day span.
  • The study found that one individual had continuous detection of the CRESS-DNA virus over a twelve-day period, indicating it can persist in the human vagina.
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In this article, the relationship between the properties of different membranes (agar, chitosan, and agar + chitosan) and biodegradability in natural and sterilized soil was investigated. The membranes under investigation exhibited variations in the biodegradation process, a phenomenon closely linked to both the soil microbiota composition and their water affinity. Higher solubility in water and greater swelling tendencies correlated with shorter initiation times for the biodegradation process in soil.

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  • The Iguaçu River basin has a unique fish population but is threatened by chemical pollution, especially from the Jordão River, which drains contaminated agricultural and industrial areas.
  • A study found that while most contaminants were within Brazilian legal limits, cadmium, aluminum, and lead were found at harmful levels in certain locations, affecting fish embryos and larvae.
  • The research demonstrates that even low-level pollutants can increase mortality and deformity rates in aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect local wildlife and maintain ecological health.
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Due to bioactive properties, introducing spongin-like collagen (SPG) into the biosilica (BS) extracted from marine sponges would present an enhanced biological material for improving osteoporotic fracture healing by increasing bone formation rate. Our aim was to characterize the morphology of the BS/SPG scaffolds by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the chemical bonds of the material by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and evaluating the orthotopic in vivo response of BS/SPG scaffolds in tibial defects of osteoporotic fractures in rats (histology, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry) in two experimental periods (15 and 30 days). SEM showed that scaffolds were porous, showing the spicules of BS and fibrous aspect of SPG.

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Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia associated with a lack of insulin production or insulin resistance. In diabetic patients, the capacity for healing is generally decreased, leading to chronic wounds. One of the most common treatments for chronic wounds is skin dressings, which serve as protection from infection, reduce pain levels, and stimulate tissue healing.

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Biosilica (BS) and spongin (SPG) from marine sponges are highlighted for their potential to promote bone regeneration. Moreover, 3D printing is introduced as a technology for producing bone grafts with optimized porous structures, allowing for better cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the BS and BS/SPG 3D printed scaffolds and to evaluate the biological effects in vitro.

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Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties.

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  • Candida albicans is a common fungus that can cause infections, and a specific protein called CaMnt1 helps it grow and build its outer layer.
  • Researchers have developed a new method to produce a high amount of this protein using special yeast and confirmed its structure using advanced technology.
  • Understanding the structure of CaMnt1 is important because it might help create new medicines to fight against fungal infections.
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  • - This study analyzes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Santos Basin, Brazil, focusing on data gathered from research conducted since 2000, primarily in the sediment, which accumulates organic matter and PAHs.
  • - The research utilizes a comprehensive review of existing literature from major scientific journals, highlighting a gap in studies concerning PAH bioavailability in water compared to sediment, as well as fewer investigations in regions like Santa Catarina.
  • - Most studies are concentrated in southeastern Brazil, particularly São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, indicating that areas near public university research centers are prioritized, leaving remote areas under-researched regarding PAH contamination.
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The urgent global health challenge posed by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections demands effective solutions. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising tools of research of new antibacterial agents and LyeTx I mn∆K, a short synthetic peptide based on the spider venom, is a good representative. This study focused on analyzing the antimicrobial activities of LyeTx I mn∆K, including minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, synergy and resensitization assays, lysis activity, the effect on biofilm, and the bacterial death curve in MRSA.

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The present study aims to characterize and to evaluate the biological effects of a skin dressing manufactured with the organic part of the Chondrilla caribensis marine sponge (called spongin-like collagen (SC)) associated or not to photobiomodulation (PBM) on the skin wound healing of rats. Skin dressings were manufactured with SC and it was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a tensile assay. In order to evaluate its biological effects, an experimental model of cutaneous wounds was surgically performed.

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Background And Aims: Recently, new indices combining routine and low-cost anthropometric and biochemical measurements have emerged. Among them, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) are being investigated for the prediction of altered blood pressure (BP) and insulin resistance (IR). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether visceral adiposity index (VAI) and height-corrected lipid accumulation product (HLAP) are predictors of cardiometabolic risk in Brazilian adolescents.

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  • This study analyzed a decade-long change in sweetener use in Brazil, focusing on demographics, diet, and weight status among individuals aged 10 and older, based on data from two national dietary surveys.
  • Results showed an 8% decrease in table sugar use and a nearly threefold increase in individuals opting for no sweetener, while non-caloric sweetener use remained steady.
  • Table sugar users had higher energy, carbohydrate, and added sugar intake but lower micronutrient intake compared to non-caloric sweetener users, highlighting a significant shift in dietary habits.
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This study aimed to investigate the effect of rosuvastatin treatment on anxiety-related behavior and short- and long-term memory impairment in mice infected with acute RH and BRI strains of Toxoplasma gondii. Balb/C mice were infected intraperitoneally and after 2 h, oral treatment with rosuvastatin (40 mg/kg/day) was initiated for 4 days. Behaviors related to anxiety and locomotion were evaluated in the open field (OF), and short- and long-term memory through the novel object recognition test (NOR).

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Dillenia indica (Linn.) has been reported by several biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, antiproliferative, antimutagenic, anticholinesterase, and antimicrobial. In Brazilian traditional medicine, the fruits of D.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and biochemical markers related to diabetes mellitus (DM): glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index from 35 454 Brazilian adolescents 12 to 17 y of age.

Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis by the principal components method. The data originated from the school-based study ERICA (Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents) carried out between 2013 and 2014.

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  • The review examines how Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulate in marine organisms, focusing on the factors that influence this process like physicochemical properties and metabolic reactions.
  • It highlights the risks and toxicity of PAHs in marine life and discusses variances in sediment and water quality guidelines for assessing PAH exposure effects.
  • By investigating these guidelines' criteria and their link to adverse effects data, the review aims to improve our understanding of PAHs' impact on marine ecosystems and enhance environmental management practices.
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The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture has been linked to declines in bee populations worldwide. Imidacloprid is a widely used systemic insecticide that can be found in the pollen and nectar of plants and has the potential to negatively impact the development of bee larvae. We investigated the effects of oral exposure to a realistic field concentration (20.

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