Dysphonia and COVID-19: A Review.

Introduction: Vocal symptoms are frequent in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may occur during or after infection.

Objective: To conduct a descriptive review on the topic "dysphonia and COVID-19" in order to alert specialists to these symptoms associated with the virus and sequelae.

Methodology: A literature review was carried out in the main databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, between April 2020 and April 2024 using descriptors that related COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) to voice disorders.

Acute Ecotoxicity and Bioconcentration Tests for Se(IV) in Nile tilapia ().

Selenium is one of the most important trace element micronutrients for the global biota, mainly due to its role in protecting against oxidative stress. However, this element can become toxic when present at concentrations slightly higher than those needed for metabolic purposes. It can be transferred through the food chain toward higher trophic levels, with bioaccumulation and biomagnification leading to possible toxicity.

Immediate Impact of Vocal Demand, Likelihood of Dysphonia, and Performance Aspects in Amateur Protestant Singers.

Objectives: To analyze the immediate impact of vocal demand, probability of dysphonia, and performance aspects in amateur protestant singers.

Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical study, with 76 amateur singers from a protestant church, 60 women and 16 men. All participants responded to a sociodemographic and performance questionnaire, the Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily for Brazil (EASE-BR), and the Dysphonia Screening Tool (DST-Br).

Impact of cardiac structure and function on exercise intolerance in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Insights from CPET and echocardiography.

Introduction: Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), the most severe clinical condition of Chagas disease, often leads to a reduction in functional capacity and the appearance of symptoms such as fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. However, its determinant factors remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the peak oxygen consumption (VO) in patients with CCC and identify its determining factors.

Occurrence and Environmental Risk Assessment of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Brazilian Surface Waters.

We investigated the occurrence and the environmental risk of eight contaminants of emerging concern (CECs; acetaminophen, naproxen, diclofenac, methylparaben, 17β-estradiol, sulfathiazole, sulfadimethoxine, and sulfamethazine) in three Brazilian water bodies, namely, the Monjolinho River Basin (São Paulo State), the Mogi Guaçu River (São Paulo State), and the Itapecuru River (Maranhão State) in three sampling campaigns. The CECs were only quantified in surface water samples collected at the Monjolinho River Basin. Acetaminophen, naproxen, and methylparaben were detected in the range of <200 to 575.

Ultrasonography of the superficial temporal and axillary arteries in giant cell arteritis diagnosis.

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the main systemic vasculitis in individuals aged ≥ 50 years. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDS) has an established role in GCA diagnosis and management. This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics associated with a positive CDS evaluation and the impact of additional axillary artery examination on diagnostic sensitivity.

Musical Performance Anxiety and Voice Handicap in Amateur Evangelical Singers.

Objective: To compare and correlate musical performance anxiety (MPA) and vocal self-perception among amateur evangelical singers, focusing on the interaction between anxiety and aspects of performance in this sample.

Method: This study employed a cross-sectional and quantitative approach, involving 75 amateur gospel singers from evangelical churches, aged between 18 and 59 years. Data collection included the administration of a sample identification and characterization questionnaire, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI), and the Singing Voice Handicap Index (S-VHI).

Comparative analysis of uninduced and neuronally-induced human dental pulp stromal cells in a 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease.

Background: In recent years, dental pulp stromal cells (DPSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease (PD), owing to their inherent neurogenic potential and the lack of neuroprotective treatments for this condition. However, uncertainties persist regarding the efficacy of these cells in an undifferentiated state versus a neuronally-induced state. This study aims to delineate the distinct therapeutic potential of uninduced and neuronally-induced DPSCs in a rodent model of PD induced by 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).

Cerebral blood flow regulation and cognitive performance in hypertension.

We examined the relation between transcranial Doppler (TCD) markers of cerebral blood flow regulation and cognitive performance in hypertension (HT) patients to evaluate the predictive value of these markers for cognitive decline. We assessed dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), vasoreactivity to carbon dioxide, and neurovascular coupling (NVC) in the middle (MCA) and posterior (PCA) cerebral arteries of 52 patients. Neuropsychological evaluation included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and tests covering attention, executive function, processing speed, and memory.

Self-Perceived Vocal Symptoms and Discomfort in Amateur Church Singers.

Purpose: To analyze self-perceived vocal symptoms and discomfort in amateur church singers and compare them between genders and church types.

Methods: It was a quantitative cross-sectional study involving 99 amateur church singers aged between 18 and 59years. Data collection was carried out through the completion of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS), and the Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS).

Effect of incorporating modified pinhão starch in alginate-based hydrogel beads for encapsulation of bioactive compounds by hydrodynamic electrospray ionization jetting.

Known for its antioxidant properties, Araucaria angustifolia bracts extract was encapsulated using hydrodynamic electrospray ionization jetting within calcium alginate cross-linked hydrogel beads with varying contents of modified pinhão starch. The rheological properties of the dispersions and analysis of the physicochemical and digestive properties of encapsulated beads were studied. The results demonstrated that dispersions containing starch exhibited higher viscosity and reduced compliance values, indicating samples with stronger, more compact, and stable structures that are less susceptible to deformation.

Neurosonology Survey in Europe and Beyond.

 To provide an overview on education, training, practice requirements, and fields of application of neurosonology in Europe and beyond.  National representatives and experts in neurosonology were surveyed regarding neurosonology requirements and practice in their countries. Descriptive statistics were used to report the data.

Assessment of Neurovascular Coupling by Spectral Analysis of Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity With Transcranial Doppler.

Objective: Neurovascular coupling (NVC) represents the increase in regional blood flow associated with neural activity. The aim here was to describe a new approach to non-invasive measurement of NVC by spectral analysis of the cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) with transcranial Doppler.

Methods: In a sample of 20 healthy participants, we monitored systolic CBFV in the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) during off (eyes closed) and on (flickering checkerboard) periods.

Hepatopancreatic metabolic disorders and their implications in the development of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Dementia has been faced with significant public health challenges and economic burdens that urges the need to develop safe and effective interventions. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the relationship between dementia and liver and pancreatic metabolic disorders that result in diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Previous reports have shown that there is a plausible correlation between pathologies caused by hepatopancreatic dysfunctions and dementia.

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Detection of microemboli in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation suggests poor functional outcome.

Introduction: We investigated the burden of microembolic signals (MES) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), assessing their impact on functional outcomes.

Patients And Methods: This multicentre international prospective cohort study involved patients with AIS and either a known or newly diagnosed anticoagulant-naïve AF. All centres utilised the same transcranial Doppler machine for 1-h monitoring with bilateral 2 MHz probes within 24 h of symptom onset.

A Method for Quantifying Back Flexion/Extension from Three Inertial Measurement Units Mounted on a Horse's Withers, Thoracolumbar Region, and Pelvis.

Back mobility is a criterion of well-being in a horse. Veterinarians visually assess the mobility of a horse's back during a locomotor examination. Quantifying it with on-board technology could be a major breakthrough to help them.

Development of a Methodology for Low-Cost 3D Underwater Motion Capture: Application to the Biomechanics of Horse Swimming.

Hydrotherapy has been utilized in horse rehabilitation programs for over four decades. However, a comprehensive description of the swimming cycle of horses is still lacking. One of the challenges in studying this motion is 3D underwater motion capture, which holds potential not only for understanding equine locomotion but also for enhancing human swimming performance.