The Influence of Structural Brain Changes on Cognition in the Context of Healthy Aging: Exploring Mediation Effects Through gBAT-The Graphical Brain Association Tool.

The contribution of age-related structural brain changes to the well-established link between aging and cognitive decline is not fully defined. While both age-related regional brain atrophy and cognitive decline have been extensively studied, the specific mediating role of age-related regional brain atrophy on cognitive functions is unclear. This study introduces an open-source software tool with a graphical user interface that streamlines advanced whole-brain mediation analyses, enabling researchers to systematically explore how the brain acts as a mediator in relationships between various behavioral and health outcomes.

Investigating the Reduction/Oxidation Reversibility of Graphene Oxide for Photocatalytic Applications.

The aim of the study was to analyze the reversibility of the cycle of graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, and GO obtained by consecutive reoxidation of reduced GO. Accordingly, GO was heated in three different atmospheres (oxidizing, inert, and reducing, i.e.

Nanoplastics causes extensive congenital malformations during embryonic development by passively targeting neural crest cells.

Nanomaterials are widespread in the human environment as pollutants, and are being actively developed for use in human medicine. We have investigated how the size and dose of polystyrene nanoparticles affects malformations in chicken embryos, and have characterized the mechanisms by which they interfere with normal development. We find that nanoplastics can cross the embryonic gut wall.

The impact of Emotion-focused training for emotion couching delivered as mobile app on self-compassion and self-criticism.

Introduction: Being self-compassionate is considered a beneficial emotion regulation strategy. Therefore, the acquisition of emotional skills can raise self-compassion levels and consequently reduce self-criticism.

Methods: Hence, the goal of the current study was to develop a mobile app based on the empirically proven group version of Emotion-Focused Training for Emotional Coaching (EFT-EC) and test its effectiveness in reducing self-criticism and raising self-compassion and self-protection.

Emotion-Focused Mobile App for Promoting Self-Compassion, Self-Protection, and Self-Criticism.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives and restricted access to traditional psychological interventions. Hence there is an immediate and growing demand for accessible and scalable mental health solutions. Emotion-focused training for self-compassion and self-protection was developed and distributed using mobile phone technologies, and its effectiveness was tested.

Dermoscopic Aspects of Traumatized Nevi After Dermabrasion.

Background: Melanocytic nevi submitted to trauma can undergo clinical, dermoscopic, and even histological changes, making it difficult to differentiate them from a melanoma.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the dermoscopic changes of traumatized nevi after dermabrasion.

Methods: Dermoscopic images of acquired melanocytic nevi were compared before and 4 weeks after half of their area had undergone dermabrasion.

Electric and Photocatalytic Properties of Graphene Oxide Depending on the Degree of Its Reduction.

When graphene oxide is reduced, the functional groups are released and the structure becomes more ordered. The degree of reduction might be tunable with the process parameters. In our work, graphene oxide is prepared and the effect of thermal and chemical reduction is investigated.

Skin pigmentation polymorphisms associated with increased risk of melanoma in a case-control sample from southern Brazil.

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and is associated with environmental and genetic risk factors. It originates in melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pigmentation genes have been described in melanoma risk modulation, but knowledge in the field is still limited.

Photocatalytic and Gas Sensitive Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/TiO-ZnO and ZnO-TiO Composites Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition.

TiO and ZnO single and multilayers were deposited on hydroxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes using atomic layer deposition. The bare carbon nanotubes and the resulting heterostructures were characterized by TG/DTA, Raman, XRD, SEM-EDX, XPS, TEM-EELS-SAED and low temperature nitrogen adsorption techniques, and their photocatalytic and gas sensing activities were also studied. The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were uniformly covered with anatase TiO and wurtzite ZnO layers and with their combinations.

Decoration of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes with Semiconductor Nanoparticles Using Atomic Layer Deposition.

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs or "CNT forest") were decorated with semiconductor particles (TiO₂ and ZnO) by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Both the structure and morphology of the components were systematically studied using scanning (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Characterization results revealed that the decoration was successful in the whole bulk of VACNTs.

Unexpected Sequential NH/HO Solid/Gas Phase Ligand Exchange and Quasi-Intramolecular Self-Protonation Yield [NHCu(OH)MoO], a Photocatalyst Misidentified before as (NH)Cu(MoO).

[NHCu(OH)MoO] as active photocatalyst in the decomposition of Congo Red when irradiated by UV or visible light has been prepared in an unusual ammonia/water ligand exchange reaction of [tetraamminecopper(II)] molybdate, [Cu(NH)]MoO. [Cu(NH)]MoO was subjected to moisture of open air at room temperature. Light blue orthorhombic [Cu(NH)(HO)]MoO was formed in 2 days as a result of an unexpected solid/gas phase ammonia-water ligand exchange reaction.

Photocatalytic hollow TiO and ZnO nanospheres prepared by atomic layer deposition.

Carbon nanospheres (CNSs) were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, and coated with TiO and ZnO nanofilms by atomic layer deposition. Subsequently, through burning out the carbon core templates hollow metal oxide nanospheres were obtained. The substrates, the carbon-metal oxide composites and the hollow nanospheres were characterized with TG/DTA-MS, FTIR, Raman, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM-SAED and their photocatalytic activity was also investigated.

Occupational Exposure to Pesticides With Occupational Sun Exposure Increases the Risk for Cutaneous Melanoma.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and cutaneous melanoma, controlling for all possible confounders.

Methods: A pooled analysis of two case-control studies was conducted in two different geographic areas (Italy and Brazil). Detailed pesticides exposure histories were obtained.

Prevalence of dermatoses in dermatologic evaluation requests from patients admitted to a tertiary hospital for 10 years.

Skin diseases are common in hospitalized patients. However, there is a lack of data concerning their frequency. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dermatological diagnoses in hospitalized patients after consultation requested by non-dermatologist physicians to the Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre period of 10 years.

Residential and occupational exposure to pesticides may increase risk for cutaneous melanoma: a case-control study conducted in the south of Brazil.

Background: Incidences of primary cutaneous melanoma (CM) have risen over the last few decades, mainly among populations of White European extraction. Some risk factors for melanoma have been clearly established, but other potential risk factors, such as exposure to pesticides, are currently under study.

Methods: A case-control study on melanoma was conducted during 2012 and 2013 at three dermatological reference centers in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Correlation between Breslow thickness and Technetium-99m-sestamibi uptake in cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Technetium-99m-sestamibi (MIBI) is a radiopharmaceutical that has well-known tumor-seeking properties. We evaluated the correlation between Breslow thickness and MIBI uptake by cutaneous melanoma (CM).

Material And Methods: Patients with suspicious melanocytic lesions received intravenous injections of 740-1,110 Mbq of MIBI.

A melanoma risk score in a Brazilian population.

Background: Important risk factors for cutaneous melanoma (CM) are recognized, but standardized scores for individual assessment must still be developed.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a risk score of CM for a Brazilian sample.

Methods: To verify the estimates of the main risk factors for melanoma, derived from a meta-analysis (Italian-based study), and externally validate them in a population in southern Brazil by means of a case-control study.

P16 protein expression in primary cutaneous melanoma with positive and negative lymph node biopsies: Particular aspects of a study performed at the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma dermal invasion, identified through measurement of maximum tumour thickness and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, is important to establish melanoma prognosis and progression. P16 protein expression has been shown to be a predictive factor for melanoma evolution and prognosis.

Objective: To investigate p16 protein expression in cutaneous melanomas with and without SLN metastasis.

The CDKN2A p.A148T variant is associated with cutaneous melanoma in Southern Brazil.

Several germline mutations and sequence variants in cancer predisposition genes have been described. Among these, the CDKN2A p.A148T variant appears to be frequent in patients with melanoma, at least in certain ethnic groups.

Predictors of quality of life in patients with skin melanoma at the dermatology department of the Porto Alegre Teaching Hospital.

Backgrounds: Some symptoms present in melanoma patients are directly related to psychological stress, which emphasizes the need to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in these patients at all the stages of their disease.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of life in a sample of patients diagnosed with melanoma, using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire.

Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted between July and December, 2006 with all patients with skin melanoma receiving follow-up care at the Department of Dermatology of the Porto Alegre Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Dermabrasion in acquired melanocytic nevi: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Introduction: When subjected to trauma, acquired melanocytic nevi may present atypical histological features similar to alterations that occur after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. These persist for up to 3 weeks. To date, no study has evaluated the alterations that occur after dermabrasion in acquired melanocytic nevi.

Identifying individuals at high risk of melanoma: a simple tool.

Simple and reliable tools for identifying patients at high risk for melanoma with preventive measures have important public health implications. An individual risk score for cutaneous melanoma was constructed and externally validated. With the summary coefficients of the risk factors for cutaneous melanoma, derived from a meta-analysis, a melanoma risk score was tested in an Italian population and externally validated in a Brazilian population.