COVID-19 on patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease: a comparative study of disease activity, fatigue, and psychological distress over six months.

Objectives: To compare the impact of COVID-19 on the clinical status and psychological distress of patients with immune-mediated rheumatic disease (IMRD) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection with that of noninfected IMRD controls during a 6-month follow-up period.

Methods: The ReumaCoV Brazil is a longitudinal study designed to follow IMRD patients for 6 months after COVID-19 (patients) compared with IMRD patients without COVID-19 (controls). Clinical data, disease activity measurements and current treatments regarding IMRD and COVID-19 outcomes were evaluated in all patients.

Hydrodynamic characterization of the FtsZ protein from Escherichia coli demonstrates the presence of linear and lateral trimers.

FtsZ is a bacterial protein that plays a crucial role in cytokinesis by forming the Z-ring. This ring acts as a scaffold to recruit other division proteins and guide the synthesis of septal peptidoglycan, which leads to cell constriction. In its native state, the FtsZ protein from Escherichia coli (EcFtsZ) is a multi-oligomer comprising dimers, trimers, tetramers, and hexamers in a dynamic self-association equilibrium depending on its concentration.

Purification, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity Against Candida parapsilosis and Staphylococcus aureus of a Highly Stable Type-1 Cystatin from Terminalia catappa L. Seeds.

Introduction: Clinic infections caused by various microorganisms are a public health concern. The rise of new strains resistant to traditional antibiotics has exacerbated the problem. Thus, the search for new antimicrobial molecules remains highly relevant.

Evaluation of inhibition and eradication of bacterial biofilm by solasodin.

Biofilms are complex microbial structures that have a significant impact on human health, industry and the environment. These complex structures represent one of the main mechanisms of microbial resistance, and their development constitutes a serious health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the potential for inhibition and eradication of bacterial biofilm by salosodine, which is a steroidal alkaloid sapogenin found in plants of the Solanum genus.

Core Competences of School Nurses for the Development of Anti-Bullying Strategies: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: School nurses are capable of fostering safe and healthy school environments that are favorable to quality learning and social interactions. To this end, it is essential that they acquire a set of skills needed to implement bullying intervention programs. This article describes the protocol for a scoping review to identify and map the core competences for school nurses to develop anti-bullying strategies.

Quality of information on fertility clinic websites accredited by the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction.

Objective: To access to reproductive health information on the Internet helps patients understand their infertility journey and make decisions about their treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of fertility clinic websites accredited by the Latin American Network for Assisted Reproduction (REDLARA) using the QUality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST).

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, and online study evaluated the clinic websites registered as accredited centers on the REDLARA website.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm: New Insights Into Its Origin and Nomenclatures.

Background: Mucinous cells can be detected sporadically or may constitute the primary tumor component in salivary gland tumors, as observed in the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). This low-grade tumor is composed of mucinous columnar cells organized into papillary cystic structures. The present study aimed to compare the mucous cells in IPMN with mucous cells present in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and papillary cystadenoma (PC).

Sodium nitrite induces tolerance in the mouse aorta: Involvement of the renin-angiotensin system, nitric oxide synthase, and reactive oxygen species.

Nitrites have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases, alongside nitrates. While chronic use of organic nitrates is well recognized to lead to vascular tolerance, the tolerance associated with nitrite therapy remains incompletely understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate vascular tolerance to sodium nitrite and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Perception and barriers to access Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS (PrEP) among the MSM (men who have sex with men) Brazilian Amazon: A qualitative study.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention strategy that consists in the use of antiretroviral drugs by seronegative people at risk of HIV. Negative perceptions, inadequate understanding, and access barriers have been associated with decreased medication adherence. Manaus is the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon, where the incidence of HIV/AIDS is high, and the rates of adherence to the antiretroviral treatment for HIV and PrEP are low.

The Tumor Suppressor Par-4 Regulates Adipogenesis by Transcriptional Repression of PPARγ.

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4, also known as PAWR) is a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor protein that induces apoptosis selectively in cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unaffected. Our previous studies indicated that genetic loss of Par-4 promoted hepatic steatosis, adiposity, and insulin-resistance in chow-fed mice. Moreover, low plasma levels of Par-4 are associated with obesity in human subjects.

Exploring cell-derived extracellular vesicles in peripheral blood and bone marrow of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia pediatric patients: proof-of-concept study.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are heterogeneous, phospholipid membrane enclosed particles that are secreted by healthy and cancerous cells. EVs are present in diverse biological fluids and have been associated with the severity of diseases, which indicates their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and as therapeutic targets. This study investigated the phenotypic characteristics of EVs derived from peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) in pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) during different treatment stages.

Repercussions of perineal repair using surgical glue or suture thread on postpartum outcomes: A controlled randomized clinical trial in São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: The type of perineal repair can have significant long-term effects on various functions in a woman's postpartum life. The aim was to compare urinary incontinence (UI), women's satisfaction, pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), and sexual function according to the type of perineal repair (surgical glue or suture thread) during the first eight months after normal childbirth.

Methods: A controlled randomized clinical trial of 133 primiparous women undergoing perineal repair during birth with surgical glue or sutures, evaluated during labor and monitored up to 8 months postpartum, from March 2017 to September 2018, in the city in São Paulo, Bazil.

cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessment of methanolic extracts of vanillas from Brazilian biodiversity with commercial potential.

The genus is crucial for global production in food, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries. However, exploitation threatens some species, leading to extinction. Traditional communities use vanilla for medicinal purposes, and there are species like Klotzsch and Hoehne with potential to occupy the market.

End-to-side neurorrhaphy in the reconstruction of peripheral segmental neural loss: an experimental study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects on peripheral neural regeneration of the end-to-side embracing repair technique compared to the autograft repair technique in Wistar rats.

Methods: Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups with five animals each: denervated group (GD), autograft group (GA), and embracing group (EG). For the evaluation, the grasping test, electroneuromyography (ENMG), and muscle weight assessment were used.

Influence of the frequency on undulatory swimming speed in granular media.

Sand is a highly dissipative system, where the local spatial arrangements and densities depend strongly on the applied forces, resulting in fluid-like or solid-like behaviour. This makes sand swimming challenging and intriguing, raising questions about the nature of the motion and how to optimize the design of artificial swimmers able to swim in sand. Recent experiments suggest that lateral undulatory motion enables efficient locomotion, with a non-monotonic dependence of the swimming speed on the undulatory frequency and the height of the sediment bed.

Performance of immunological assays for universal and differential diagnosis of HTLV-1/2 infection in candidates for blood donations from the Brazilian Amazon.

The present study compares the ability of distinct immunological assays (chemiluminescence immunoassay-CLIA, western blot-WB and flow cytometry-FC-Simplex and Duplex) to detect anti-HTLV (human T-lymphotropic virus) antibodies in candidates for blood donations at the Amazonas State Blood Center (Brazil) between January 2018 and December 2022. Overall, 257,942 samples from candidates for blood donations were screened using CLIA, which led to 0.15% seropositivity for HTLV (409 samples).

Exploring the Effects of Freeze-Dried Sourdoughs with 129 and 139 on the Quality of Long-Fermentation Bread.

Sourdough production is a complex fermentation process. Natural sourdough fermentation without standardization causes great variability in microbial communities and derived products. Starter cultures have emerged as alternatives to natural fermentation processes, which could improve bakery quality and produce bioactive compounds.

Detection of Integrons and Their Relationship with Resistance Phenotype of Isolates from a Brazilian Pork Production Chain.

The pork production chain is an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This study identified and characterized integrons in isolates from a Brazilian pork production chain and associate them with their antibiotic resistance pattern. A total of 41 whole-genome sequencing data of nontyphoidal were analyzed using PlasmidSPAdes and IntegronFinder software.