From overgrazed land to forests: assessing soil health in the Caatinga biome.

Overgrazing is the primary human-induced cause of soil degradation in the Caatinga biome, intensely threatening lands vulnerable to desertification. Grazing exclusion, a simple and cost-effective practice, could restore soils' ecological functions. However, comprehensive insights into the effects of overgrazing and grazing exclusion on Caatinga soils' multifunctionality are lacking.

Dairy Cattle and the Iconic Autochthonous Cattle in Northern Portugal Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant .

Animals destined for human consumption play a key role in potentially transmitting bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. However, there is limited knowledge about the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in native breeds. We aimed to characterize the phenotypic profiles and antibiotic resistance genes in isolated from bovines, including three native Portuguese bovine breeds.

The healthy human gut can take it all: vancomycin-variable, linezolid-resistant strains and specific bacteriocin-species interplay in spp.

spp. are opportunistic human pathogens colonizing the human gut and a significant reservoir for the continuous adaptation of hospital clones. However, studies on the features of enterococci species co-colonizing healthy individuals are scarce.

Endothelial Dysfunction with Aging: Does Sex Matter?

Oxidative stress and inflammation accompany endothelial dysfunction that results from the excessive or uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in older adults. This study was designed to assess the usefulness of serum oxi-inflammatory component combinations in vascular disease prediction and prevention with regard to sex. Women ( = 145) and men ( = 50) aged 72.

Iota-Carrageenan from Marine Alga Prevents Naproxen-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury via Its Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in therapy due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, their clinical use is often associated with gastrointestinal complications. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the protective effect of a sulfated iota-carrageenan isolated from the marine alga (IC-Sf) against naproxen-induced gastrointestinal injury.

Diverse genomic and epidemiological landscapes of redundant pbp5 genes in Enterococcus spp.: Insights into plasmid mobilization, ampicillin susceptibility, and environmental interactions.

Genetic redundancy in bacteria plays a crucial role in enhancing adaptability and accelerating evolution in response to selective pressures, particularly those associated with rapid environmental changes. Aminopenicillins like ampicillin are important therapeutic options for Enterococcus infections in both humans and animals, with resistance mostly associated with pbp5 gene mutations or overexpression. While the occurrence of redundant pbp5 genes has been occasionally reported, the advantages for the host bacteria have not been explored in detail.

Proteomic identification of potential biomarkers for heat tolerance in Caracu beef cattle using high and low thermotolerant groups.

Background: Heat stress has deleterious effects on physiological and performance traits in livestock. Within this context, using tropically adapted cattle breeds in pure herds or terminal crossbreeding schemes to explore heterosis is attractive for increasing animal production in warmer climate regions. This study aimed to identify biological processes, pathways, and potential biomarkers related to thermotolerance in Caracu, a tropically adapted beef cattle breed, by proteomic analysis of blood plasma.

Efficiency of infrared pyrometer and infrared thermography for assessing body surface temperature in hair sheep.

The objectives of this study were: (i) to verify and compare the coat surface temperature (CST) of regions of interest (ROI) measured through infrared pyrometer (IRP) and thermography (IRT) under two environmental conditions, to evaluate (ii) reliability and (iii) sensitivity of the two infrared equipments to the environmental effect. Twenty hair ewes (Ovis aries), multiparous, non-lactating, non-pregnant, with body weight 59.38 ± 6.

Challenges in Lung Isolation in a Tracheostomized Patient: A Case Report.

Tracheostomized patients who require one-lung ventilation represent a unique challenge for the anaesthesiologist: on the one hand, the need to protect the airway safely and, on the other, provide optimal lung isolation for surgery. A 65-year-old tracheostomized patient scheduled for an esophagectomy requiring one-lung ventilation raised a challenge in lung isolation using a bronchial blocker. The authors describe the strategies applied to overcome the obstacle and review lung isolation techniques in this type of patient.

Bacteriocin distribution patterns in and : bioinformatic analysis using a tailored genomics framework.

Unlabelled: Multidrug-resistant strains represent a major concern due to their ability to thrive in diverse environments and cause life-threatening infections. While antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms have been extensively studied, the contribution of bacteriocins to 's adaptability remains poorly explored. , within the Bacillota phylum, is a prominent bacteriocin producer.

IST Nurse®: development and validity evidence of a mobile application as a support for the clinical management of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Objective: to develop and evaluate the validity evidence of a mobile application to support nurses in the clinical management of sexually transmitted infections.

Method: methodological study conducted in four steps: analysis and definition of requirements; content definition; computational representation with system design; and coding with testing and refinement. In the first steps, nurses with expertise in the subject participated, and in the last, professionals with education in information and communication technology.

Biofunctional Textiles: Antioxidant and Antibacterial Finishings of Cotton with Propolis and Honey.

The growing activity in the textile industry has been demanding the search for new and innovative technologies to meet consumers' needs regarding more sustainable and ecological processes, with functionality receiving more attention. Bee products are known for their wide spectra of properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Propolis and honey are the most popular and used since ancient times for the most diverse applications due to their health benefits.

EV-miRNAs from breast cancer patients of plasma as potential prognostic biomarkers of disease recurrence.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs), ubiquitously released by blood cells, facilitate intercellular communication. In cancer, tumor-derived EVs profoundly affect the microenvironment, promoting tumor progression and raising the risk of recurrence. These EVs contain miRNAs (EV-miRNAs), promising cancer biomarkers.

Fuzzy Logic: vulnerability of women who have sex with women to sexually transmitted infections.

Objective: To describe the possibility of applying Fuzzy Logic in analyzing the vulnerability of Women Who Have Sex with Women to Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS.

Methods: We developed a Fuzzy Logic system with 17 input variables and one output variable, using data related to vulnerability in a municipality located in the Midwest region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Results: The factor with the greatest positive impact was the confirmation that a low understanding of Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS is associated with higher vulnerability.

Current insights into the effects of cationic biocides exposure on spp.

Cationic biocides (CBs), such as quaternary ammonium compounds and biguanides, are critical for controlling the spread of bacterial pathogens like spp., a leading cause of multidrug-resistant healthcare-associated infections. The widespread use of CBs in recent decades has prompted concerns about the potential emergence of spp.

Further Insights on Honey and Propolis from Gerês (Portugal) and Their Bioactivities: Unraveling the Impact of Beehive Relocation.

Propolis, a bee product, is known for its variability of chemical and bioactive profiles. However, Portuguese propolis from Gerês, normally obtained by mixing propolis from three places-Bugalho, Felgueiras and Toutelo-has shown similar chemical and biological profiles over the years. Recently, a new propolis place-Roca-was added to the apiary to replace Bugalho, lost to the 2017 wildfires, hence questioning the previously claimed constancy of Gerês propolis.

Interactions between commensal and and clinical isolates of .

() is a versatile pathogen, responsible for multidrug-resistant infections, especially in hospitalized immunocompromised patients. Its population structure has been characterized by diverse clades (A1, A2, and B (reclassified as ()), adapted to different environments, and distinguished by their resistomes and virulomes. These features only partially explain the predominance of clade A1 strains in nosocomial infections.

Influence of idiopathic epilepsy on blood pressure and electrocardiography in dogs treated with phenobarbital.

Background And Aim: Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) experience a shortened lifespan, neurobehavioral changes, and an increased risk of comorbidities during the interictal period. There have been several reports of sudden death in humans with epilepsy, suggesting changes in cardiac rhythm secondary to seizures. In veterinary medicine, there are still no such conclusive studies.

FRAIL scale as a screening tool and a predictor of mortality in non-dialysis dependent patients.

Background: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic yield of the FRAIL scale with respect to the physical frailty phenotype measure and their association with mortality in non-dialysis-dependent patients.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, non-dialysis dependent patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3b-5 seen in the nephrology outpatient clinics of two university hospitals were included. The presence of frailty was evaluated by physical frailty phenotype measure and the FRAIL scale.

Antarctic fungi produce pigment with antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities.

Natural pigments have received special attention from the market and industry as they could overcome the harm to health and the environmental issues caused by synthetic pigments. These pigments are commonly extracted from a wide range of organisms, and when added to products they can alter/add new physical-chemical or biological properties to them. Fungi from extreme environments showed to be a promising source in the search for biomolecules with antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential.

[Persistent Polyclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis (PPBL): An Entity That Is Not What it Seems].

Persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis is a rare disease with chronic lymphocytosis of polyclonal origin, which is more frequent in mostly asymptomatic middle-aged female smokers. The hallmark of this entity is the presence of bilobed/binucleated B lymphocytes, which are polyclonal as demonstrated by immunophenotyping; an elevated IgM level is common. This disease shows, in most cases, an indolent course over many years and, although controversial, it may rarely convert to malignant lymphoma.

Late-onset neonatal sepsis was not associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcome: Results from the EPICE/SHIPS-PT cohort.

Aim: To assess the impact of late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) on the cognitive and motor development of five-year-old children who were born very preterm (VPT).

Methods: This study included 327 VPT children from the Portuguese EPICE/SHIPS cohort who attended the neurodevelopment assessment. Neuropsychological tests such as WPPSI-R, MABC-2 and NEPSY-II (language domain) were used to assess the children's cognitive and motor development.