Knowledge and perception of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers.

In Brazil, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is freely available to individuals at high risk of HIV infection. However, knowledge and perception of PrEP can act as barriers to its access and use. This study evaluated PrEP knowledge and perception among healthcare workers in the Unified Health System in a Brazilian capital.

Early and Long-Term Adverse Outcomes of In Utero Zika Exposure.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and may result in neurodevelopmental alterations in exposed children, with and without CZS. This study aimed to evaluate ZIKV infection during pregnancy as a risk factor for early and long-term adverse outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective-prospective, matched cohort study was conducted in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and incidence of sexually transmitted infections in Brazil, 2018 to 2022: An ecological study of PrEP administration, syphilis, and socioeconomic indicators.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is one of the pillars of a combination prevention strategy for reducing the risk of new infections caused by HIV. The daily use of antiretroviral drugs by individuals who are not infected with HIV is required to prevent infection. Although its efficacy has been well established in the literature, in recent years, the decreased supply of antiretroviral drugs has been associated with an increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and changes in the social determinants of health.

Sensory neurons have an axon initial segment that initiates spontaneous activity in neuropathic pain.

The axon initial segment is a specialized compartment of the proximal axon of CNS neurons where action potentials are initiated. However, it remains unknown whether this domain is assembled in sensory dorsal root ganglion neurons, in which spikes are initiated in the peripheral terminals. Here we investigate whether sensory neurons have an axon initial segment and if it contributes to spontaneous activity in neuropathic pain.

Neurological Development, Epilepsy, and the Pharmacotherapy Approach in Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: Results from a Two-Year Follow-up Study.

Clinical outcomes related to congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) include microcephaly accompanied by specific brain injuries. Among several CZS outcomes that have been described, epilepsy and motor impairments are present in most cases. Pharmacological treatment for seizures resulting from epilepsy is performed with anticonvulsant drugs, which in the long term are related to impairments in the child's neuropsychomotor development.

The intriguing nature of dorsal root ganglion neurons: Linking structure with polarity and function.

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are the first neurons of the sensory pathway. They are activated by a variety of sensory stimuli that are then transmitted to the central nervous system. An important feature of DRG neurons is their unique morphology where a single process -the stem axon- bifurcates into a peripheral and a central axonal branch, with different functions and cellular properties.

Silk-based anisotropical 3D biotextiles for bone regeneration.

Bone loss in the craniofacial complex can been treated using several conventional therapeutic strategies that face many obstacles and limitations. In this work, novel three-dimensional (3D) biotextile architectures were developed as a possible strategy for flat bone regeneration applications. As a fully automated processing route, this strategy as potential to be easily industrialized.