Publications by authors named "Amaral F"

Microglia are crucial for brain development and their function can be impacted by postnatal insults, such as early-life allergies. These are characterized by an upregulation of interleukin (IL)-4 levels. Allergies share a strong comorbidity with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

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Background And Purpose: Prolonged survival of neutrophils is essential for determining the progression and severity of inflammatory and immune-mediated disorders, including gouty arthritis. Survivin, an anti-apoptotic molecule, has been described as a regulator of cell survival. This study aims to examine the effects of YM155 treatment, a survivin selective suppressant, in maintaining neutrophil survival in vitro and in vivo experimental settings of neutrophilic inflammation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Equine piroplasmosis, a disease caused by Babesia and Theileria parasites transmitted by ticks, poses significant clinical and economic threats globally, particularly to horses.
  • This research focused on analyzing the heat shock protein 70 kDa (hsp70) gene sequences of Theileria equi from infected horses in Brazil, using methods like PCR and phylogenetic analysis to explore genetic relationships among parasites.
  • Findings revealed two distinct genotypes of T. equi in Brazil, with hsp70 proving to be an effective molecular marker for distinguishing between closely related species and offering insights into the evolutionary history of these parasites.
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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Echinodorus macrophyllus is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Brazil to treat rheumatic diseases. It is listed as a priority species for the development of herbal preparations for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antiedematogenic properties of extracts and fractions from this species, but these preparations were neither standardized nor optimized for anti-arthritis effects.

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Background: Following the conclusion of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA) to optimize the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission cascade in Manica Province, Mozambique, we conducted a natural experiment to test the sustainability of the delivery model with limited financial inputs.

Methods: District nurse supervisors were encouraged to continue to facilitate SAIA cycles in subordinate health facilities and provided phone credit and tablet access to upload implementation data. No additional resources (eg, funds for transport, refreshments, or supplies) were provided.

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Objectives: Investigate whether and which synoviocytes would acquire trained immunity characteristics that could exacerbate joint inflammation following a secondary Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and S. aureus were separately or double injected (21 days of interval) into the tibiofemoral joint cavity of male C57BL/6 mice.

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Toxicological assessments of skin sensitizers have progressed towards a higher reliance on non-animal methods. Current technological trends aim to extend the utility of non-animal methods to accurately characterize skin-sensitizing potency. The GARDskin Dose-Response assay has previously been described; it was shown that its main readout, cDV concentration, is associated with skin-sensitizing potency.

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The removal of the tetra-azo dye Direct Black 22 (DB22) using the microalga was evaluated in the present study, aiming to understand the contribution of different processes (biodegradation, photodegradation, and adsorption) in the removal of this contaminant. The growth and morphological characteristics of were not affected by the presence of the dye in the reaction medium. The efficiency of dye removal was 62.

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Introduction: Industry 4.0 has brought new paradigms to businesses based on high levels of automation and interconnectivity and the use of technologies. This new context has an impact on the work environment and workers.

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Purpose: To evaluate color change in ceramic veneers luted to enamel with light-cured, dual-cured resin luting agents, or heated resin composites, as well as to evaluate microhardness and diametral tensile strength of these luting agents.

Methods: For color analysis, 0.5 mm-thick leucite-reinforced glass ceramic veneers (IPS Empress CAD) were cemented onto 40 bovine dental blocks (n= 10) using RelyX Ultimate (RU) or RelyX Veneer (RV) resin-based luting agents, or Gradia Direct (GD) and Palfique Lx5 (P) heated resin composites.

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Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) represents a dynamic process in which the alveolar bone undergoes resorption at compression sites and deposition at tension sites, orchestrated by osteoclasts and osteoblasts, respectively. This mechanism serves as a valuable model for studying various aspects of bone adaptation, including root resorption and the cellular response to mechanical force stimuli. The protocol outlined here offers a straightforward approach to investigate OTM, establishing 0.

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Background: To evaluate the effect of different finishing and polishing systems on the surface roughness and color changes of bis-acryl (Protemp 4 - 3M ESPE- St. Paul, USA; Structur 3 - Voco, Cuxhaven, Germany) and chemically activated acrylic materials (Duralay - Reliance, SP, Brazil).

Material And Methods: Specimens (10 x 2 mm) thick were prepared for each material.

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eDNA metabarcoding has been increasingly employed in the monitoring of marine invertebrate non-indigenous species (NIS), in particular using filtered seawater. However, comprehensive detection of all NIS may require a diversity of sampling substrates. To assess the effectiveness of 5 sample types (hard and artificial substrates, water, zooplankton) on the recovery of invertebrates' diversity, two marinas were monitored over three time points, using COI and 18S rRNA genes as DNA metabarcoding markers.

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Melatonin is an indolamine secreted to circulation by the pineal gland according to a circadian rhythm. Melatonin levels are higher during nighttime, and the principal function of this hormone is to organize the temporal night and day distribution of physiological adaptive processes. Besides hormonal pineal production, melatonin is synthesized in various organs and tissues like the ovaries or the placenta for local utilization.

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The light/dark cycle is the main external cue to synchronize the human biological clock. Modern lifestyles typically lead to less daylight exposure and blunted 24 h-amplitude. We evaluated the association of outdoor daylight exposure (frequency, duration, regularity and shift) with chronotype estimated by sleep phase, regularity of routines, sleep, well-being (WHO-5), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), in a sample of 1,095 participants (81.

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Over the years, scientific research with fish models has grown at a rapid pace, and issues such as animal welfare are becoming increasingly important in various areas of animal husbandry and experimentation. Here, we evaluated whether behavior is affected by long-term maintenance (75 days) in an enriched environment or a chronic stress (CS) situation. In addition, we evaluated some biochemical parameters related to redox status.

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Diseases of the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavities, and those related to the skull base can be treated with nasal endoscopic surgery. Anatomical references are essential to safely perform these surgeries.  To measure and compare the distance from the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus to the anterior skull base in cadavers and on computed tomography (CT) scans to determine a measurement as an anatomical reference in imaging exams for sinus and anterior skull base surgery.

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Unlabelled: Glass ceramics are widely used to manufacture esthetic veneers, inlays, onlays, and crowns. Although the clinical survival rates ofglass-ceramic restorations arefavorable,fractures or chips are common. Certain cases can be repaired with direct composite.

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Terminalia argentea tree, native to Brazil, is widely used in landscaping, recovering degraded areas, its wood, coal production, and the bark or leaf extracts has medicinal use. Despite of its importance, the arthropod fauna associated to this plant and its interspecific relationships still needs further studies. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the arthropods, their ecological indices and the distribution in the leaf faces on T.

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Galactomannans are polysaccharides obtained from legume seed extraction. They present a chemical structure consisting of D-mannose chains linked by glycosidic bonds and galactose branches. The main focus lies in their use as thickeners in the food industry, aimed at improving the dielectric properties of food during heating processes within the radiofrequency and microwave ranges.

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The evolution of resistance to insecticides poses a significant threat to pest management programs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance is essential to design sustainable pest control and resistance management programs. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is an important insect pest of many crops and has a remarkable ability to evolve resistance to insecticides.

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Introduction: Pulmonary diseases represent a significant burden to patients and the healthcare system and are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, affecting public health, economies, and daily life. While the peak of the crisis has subsided, the global number of reported COVID-19 cases remains significantly high, according to medical agencies around the world.

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Background: There is no updated national data regarding the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delaying diagnosis and treatment among patients with lung, and head, and neck cancers in Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact on cancer diagnosis and clinical outcomes among lung, head, and neck cancer patients assisted in a tertiary cancer center in Southeastern Brazil, as well as to analyze these patients' pretreatment clinical features.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with lung or head and neck cancer assisted in a tertiary cancer center in southeastern Brazil between January/2019 and December/2021.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how genetic variations (SNPs) in the melatonin receptor gene might influence the development of microvascular complications in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
  • It involves examining eight specific SNPs in a cohort of 489 T1D patients, looking at both current complications and long-term kidney function over an average of eight years.
  • Results indicate that individuals with a significant decline in kidney function have a higher frequency of a specific genetic variant (A allele of rs4862705), suggesting a potential link between melatonin genetics and renal health in diabetes.
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Among the public health recommendations for supporting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, many strategies had an impact on biological rhythms, like sleep hygiene, physical exercise and healthy eating habits. Considering the known relationship between circadian organization and mental health, our aim was to test the association between behavioral regularity and mental health, and its interaction with chronotype, in a large sample surveyed in Brazil. We collected longitudinal data using online questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral routines, mental health (PHQ-9, GAD-7, WHO-5 scales), and chronotype estimation based on midpoint of sleep on free days - MSF (μMCTQ), in a sample of 1390 participants (81% females).

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