A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - Part II: Unmet needs and organization of care in Portugal.

In Portugal, a 15.2% prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was recently identified among those aged ≥50 years. HFpEF represents 90% of Portuguese heart failure patients.

The First K-Channel Blocker Described from Venom: The Purification, Molecular Cloning, and Functional Characterization of α-KTx4.9 (Tf5).

Hundreds of toxins, particularly from scorpions of lesser medical significance, remain unknown, especially those from species endemic to specific ecosystems, such as . Their discovery could contribute to the development of new drugs for channelopathies and other diseases. Tf5 is a new peptide that has been identified from the venom of , a scorpion species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado ecosystem.

A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - Part I: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects more than 50% of HF patients worldwide, and more than 70% of HF patients aged over 65. This is a complex syndrome with a clinically heterogeneous presentation and a multifactorial pathophysiology, both of which make its diagnosis and treatment challenging. A Portuguese HF expert panel convened to address HFpEF pathophysiology and therapy, as well as appropriate management within the Portuguese context.

Sperm vitrification : influence of diluent, stored volume and supplementation with sulfated polysaccharides of Nile tilapia () skin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of diluent, stored volume and the cryodiluent medium supplementation with sulfated polysaccharides (SP) extracted from Nile tilapia skin on vitrified sperm. Six pools were diluted in 5% Glucose or Powder Coconut Water (ACP-104), supplemented or not with 0.5 mg/mL of SP, and submitted to vitrification.

Pharmacology, toxicology and homeopathy of Luffa operculata (L.) Cogniaux (Cucurbitaceae): Integrative review.

Scientific evidence on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of Luffa operculata has been produced on a smaller scale, even though the species: (i) is edible; (ii) widely recognized in folk medicine for treating sinusitis and inducing abortion; (iii) and the basis of allopathic and homeopathic medicines. In this sense, the objective of this review is to characterize the pharmacological, toxicological and clinical profile of products based on L. operculata.

Toxicological assessment of citral and geraniol: Efflux pump inhibition in and invertebrate toxicity.

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant strains carrying efflux pumps and assess their toxicity on and models. Microdilution tests in broth were performed to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The efflux pump inhibition was evaluated by analyzing the reduction in antibiotic MIC and Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) MIC when combined with the products.

Correlation between risk factors that influence the development of children's language.

Purpose: To identify the most significant risk factors for child development through the application of two risk protocols, namely, the Protocol for the Identification of Risk Factors for Language and Speech Disorders (PIFRAL) and the Language Development Protocol (PDL).

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out with 194 children aged 0 to 5 years and 11 months who were participants of primary health care (PHC) in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, from 2016 to 2020. The database was thoroughly analyzed using R software, and the most relevant risk factors were correlated through statistical analysis, generating altered and unaltered PDL results.

Predictive model for estimating total acid exposure time in patients with esophageal hypomotility disorders.

The latest Chicago Classification of esophageal motility disorders categorizes esophageal hypomotility disorders (EHD) into absent contractility (AC) and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). While these disorders are commonly associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), they are not pathognomonic. To improve diagnostic accuracy, provocative maneuvers during high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) -such as multiple rapid swallows (MRS) and single solid swallows (SSS) -have been introduced.

Interventions in the Sexuality of Men With Stomas: A Scoping Review.

Aims: To map interventions in the sexuality of men with stomas.

Design: Scoping review, following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to report results.

Methods: Databases consulted were PubMed, via National Library of Medicine, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Brazilian Electronic Library of Thesis and Dissertations, CAPES Catalogue of Thesis and Dissertations and Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal.

Cecal microbial composition and serum concentration of short-chain fatty acids in laying hens fed different fiber sources.

The intestinal microbiota is widely recognized as an integral factor in host health, metabolism, and immunity. In this study, the impact of dietary fiber sources on the intestinal microbiota and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was evaluated in Lohmann White laying hens. The hens were divided into four treatment groups: a control diet without fiber, a diet with wheat bran (mixed fibers), a diet with insoluble fiber (cellulose), and a diet with soluble fiber (pectin), with six replicates of four hens each.

Prospective Evaluation of Opioid Cessation in Patients With Suspected Opioid-Induced Esophageal Dysfunction.

Introduction: The causal relationship between chronic opioid use and esophageal motor dysfunction in symptomatic patients has not been established.

Methods: A prospective before-and-after multicenter study, including chronic active opioid patients referred for esophageal motility tests because of nonobstructive dysphagia.

Results: Thirty-seven patients were evaluated, and 27 (73%) had criteria for opioid-induced esophageal dysfunction.

Analysis of the Antibiotic-Potentiating Activity, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) and the Molecular Docking Properties of Phytol Against Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) Strains.

Phytol is a diterpene from the long-chain unsaturated acyclic alcohols, known for its diverse biological effects, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Present in essential oils, phytol is a promising candidate for various applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and drug-potentiating effects of phytol against multidrug-resistant bacteria and to evaluate its properties: ADME and molecular docking.

Role of exosomes in dental and craniofacial regeneration - A review.

Background: The treatment of congenital deformities, traumatic injuries, infectious diseases, and tumors in the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) region is complex due to the intricate nature of the tissues involved. Conventional treatments such as bone grafts and cell transplantation face limitations, including the need for multiple surgeries, complications, and safety concerns.

Objective: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of exosomes (EXOs) in CMF and dental tissue regeneration and to explore their potential applications in regenerative dental medicine.

Evaluating efflux pump inhibition in Staphylococcus aureus 1199B strain using thiadiazine-derived compounds: In vitro and in silico approaches.

Thiadiazines are heterocyclic compounds known for some pharmacological activities. However, the ability of these compounds and their derivatives to act as antibacterial agents and inhibitors of the efflux system in resistant bacteria remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial and NorA efflux pump inhibitory activities of thiadiazine-derived compounds (IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ17, IJ18, IJ19, and IJ20) against the Staphylococcus aureus 1199B strain.

Thermal Manipulation During the Embryonic Stage and the Post-Hatch Characteristics of Broiler Chickens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of thermal manipulation during incubation on the hatchability, the performance, the carcass characteristics, the intestinal villi, the nutrient metabolizability, and some physiological parameters in broiler chickens. Ross eggs were randomly distributed into four commercial automatic incubators. The treatments were as follows: incubator kept at 37.

Low-calorie and high-protein diet has diverse impacts on the muscle, bone, and bone marrow adipose tissues.

The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of a high-protein diet under conditions of calorie restriction (CR) in the muscle, adipose tissue, bone, and marrow adipose tissue (MAT). It included three groups of 20 female Wistar Hannover rats, fed with the following diets for 8 wk: control group (C) fed with an AIN93M diet, CR group (R) fed with an AIN-93M diet modified to 30% CR, and CR + high-protein group (H) fed with an AIN-93M diet modified to 30% CR with 40% protein. Body composition was determined by DXA.

Association of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with head and neck cancer.

Background And Objectives: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) are often accompanied by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and vice versa. Our study aimed to describe the prevalence of HNSCC in patients with ESCC, the chronology of appearance and the impact on survival.

Methods: A retrospective review was carried out through a computerized database of patients diagnosed with ESCC at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona between January 1999 and June 2019.

Antibacterial and Inhibitory Activity of Nora and Mepa Efflux Pumps of Estragole Complexed to β-Cyclodextrin (ES/β-CD) In Vitro Against Bacteria, Molecular Docking and MPO-Based Pharmacokinetics Prediction.

The work investigates the effect of the estragole complex encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin (ES/β-CD) in modulating bacterial resistance, specifically in strains expressing NorA and MepA efflux pumps. Efflux pumps are mechanisms that bacteria use to resist antibiotics by expelling them from the cell. Methodology: Several compounds and antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the ability of the ES/β-CD complex to reverse resistance.

Randomized trial of BCG in healthcare workers to reduce absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: We tested whether providing BCG vaccine to healthcare workers (HCWs) could reduce non-planned absenteeism and thereby reduce the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in Africa.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, single-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial in Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique between December 2020 and June 2022. Participants were randomized 1:1 to BCG vaccine or placebo (saline) and followed by biweekly telephone calls for 6 mo.

Phytochemical characterization, toxicity and pharmacological profile of the central effects of the fixed fruit pulp oil of Mauritia flexuosa L.F. (buriti).

Anxiety and depression are mental disorders that have been exponentially increasing over the last decades. Psychopharmacology emerged to try to alleviate the symptoms of these disorders; however, the side effects and the time it takes to achieve the desired effect are factors that decrease the search for and adherence to treatment. To remedy this situation, new compounds capable of improving the performance of these medications and reducing their adverse effects have been sought.