Prenatal diagnosis of closed spina bifida: multicenter case series and review of the literature.

Closed spina bifida (CSB) is an abnormality of the posterior arch formation in which the defect is covered by the skin, without protrusion of nervous tissue. The prenatal diagnosis of CSB is very difficult, rarely diagnosed antenatally. We present a multicenter case series of six prenatal diagnosis of CSB using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography complemented with three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The Effects of Acute and Chronic Sprint-Interval Training on Cytokine Responses Are Independent of Prior Caffeine Intake.

We examined the effect of acute and chronic sprint interval training (SIT), with or without prior caffeine intake, on levels of exercise-induced inflammatory plasma cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α]. Twenty physically-active men ingested either a placebo ( = 10) or caffeine ( = 10) 1 h before each SIT session(13-s × 30-s sprint/15 s of rest) during six training sessions (2 weeks). The early (before, immediately after, and 45 min after the exercise) and late (24 and 48 h after the exercise) cytokine and creatine kinase (CK) responses were analyzed for the first and last training sessions.

Validation of the sarcopenia index to assess muscle mass in the critically ill: A novel application of kidney function markers.

Background & Aims: Adverse outcomes for hospitalized patients with sarcopenia are well documented, and identification of patients at risk remains challenging. The sarcopenia index (SI), previously defined as (serum creatinine/serum cystatin C) × 100, could be an inexpensive, readily accessible, objective tool to predict muscle mass and risk for adverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the SI as a predictor of muscle mass.

Synthesis of newly functionalized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives and their effects on wound healing in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Naphthoquinone derivatives have various pharmacological properties. Here, we describe the synthesis of new 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives inspired by lawsone and β-lapachone and their effects on both migration of fibroblasts in vitro and dermal wound healing in diabetic mice. NMR and FTIR spectroscopy aided characterization of chemical composition and demonstrated the molecular variations after the synthesis of four different derivatives, namely 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone (termed derivative S3), 2-N-phenylamino-1,4-naphthoquinone (derivative S5), 2-N-isonicotinoyl-hydrazide-1,4-naphthoquinone (derivative S6), and 1-N-isonicotinoyl-hydrazone-[2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)]-1,4-naphthoquinone (derivative S7).

Innovative Use of Novel Biomarkers to Improve the Safety of Renally Eliminated and Nephrotoxic Medications.

Over the last decade, the discovery of novel renal biomarkers and research on their use to improve medication effectiveness and safety has expanded considerably. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to leverage this new technology for renal assessment to improve medication dosing and monitoring. Serum cystatin C is a relatively new, inexpensive, functional renal biomarker that responds more quickly to changing renal function than creatinine and is not meaningfully affected by age, sex, skeletal muscle mass, dietary intake, or deconditioning.

Partners-based HIV treatment for seroconcordant couples attending antenatal and postnatal care in rural Mozambique: A cluster randomized trial protocol.

Background: In resource-limited rural settings, scale-up of services to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV has not been as effective as in better resourced urban settings. In sub-Saharan Africa, women often require male partner approval to access and remain engaged in HIV care. Our study will evaluate a promising male engagement intervention ("Homens para Saúde Mais" (HoPS+) [Men for Health Plus]) targeting the elimination of mother-to-child transmission in rural Mozambique.

Diabetes Downregulates Allergen-Induced Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Previous studies described that allergic diseases, including asthma, occur less often than expected in patients with type 1 diabetes. Here, we investigated the influence of diabetes on allergic airway inflammation in a model of experimental asthma in mice. Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of alloxan into 12 h-fasted A/J mice, followed by subcutaneous sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)), on days 5 and 19 after diabetes induction.

Residents' Experiences with Mentorship in Academic Medicine.

Objective: Although mentorship is essential for the professional development of physicians, the literature on trainees' mentorship experiences and perceptions of effective mentoring is more limited. This descriptive study examines residents' experiences of mentoring and their perceptions about the impact of mentorship on professional development, comparing experiences in mentoring that is assigned versus self-initiated.

Methods: A web-based self-administered cross-sectional survey of all senior residents (≥PGY-3) at a major urban academic medical center was conducted from March 27 to May 31, 2015.

South American monsoon response to iceberg discharge in the North Atlantic.

Heinrich Stadials significantly affected tropical precipitation through changes in the interhemispheric temperature gradient as a result of abrupt cooling in the North Atlantic. Here, we focus on changes in South American monsoon precipitation during Heinrich Stadials using a suite of speleothem records covering the last 85 ky B.P.

Cerebellar herniation demonstrated by the occipitum-dens line: Ultrasonography assessment of normal fetuses, fetuses with myelomeningocele, and fetuses that underwent antenatal myelomeningocele surgery.

Objective: To establish a method to quantify the position of the cerebellum by ultrasonography in normal fetuses, fetuses with myelomeningocele (MMC), and fetuses that underwent in utero MMC repair.

Methods: Reference points identifiable on ultrasound were established. The basilar portion of the occipital bone and upper portion of the odontoid process were considered as the external and internal limits, respectively, of the level zero of a line that was designated the occipitum-dens line (ODL).

Alcoholic monoterpenes found in essential oil of aromatic spices reduce allergic inflammation by the modulation of inflammatory cytokines.

Allergic inflammation is a response of the body against pathogens by cytokine release and leucocyte recruitment. Recently, there was an increase in morbimortality associated with allergic inflammation, especially asthma. The treatment has many adverse effects, requiring the search for new therapies.

The sarcopenia index: A novel measure of muscle mass in lung transplant candidates.

Background: Frailty, including low muscle mass, is an emerging risk factor for poor outcomes after lung transplant. The sarcopenia index (SI)-(serum creatinine value/cystatin C value) × 100-is a novel blood test to approximate muscle mass. We sought to validate SI among lung transplant patients.

Extracorporeal elimination of butalbital in acute aspirin-butalbital-caffeine-codeine (Fiorinal with Codeine) poisoning.

Background: Butalbital is a small molecule (approximately 220 Da), with 26% protein binding, a 0.8 L/kg volume of distribution, and is eliminated nearly 80% unchanged in the urine. Although hemodialysis has been used to treat overdoses of other barbiturates, the extracorporeal clearance of butalbital is unknown.

Polyphenol profile by UHPLC-MS/MS, anti-glycation, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of several samples of propolis from the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil.

Context: Propolis has promising biological activities. Propolis samples from the Northeast of Bahia, Brazil - sample A from Ribeira do Pombal and B, from Tucano - were investigated, with new information regarding their biological activities.

Objective: This paper describes the chemical profile, antioxidant, anti-glycation and cytotoxic activities of these propolis samples.

Lanthanide-Organic Gels as a Multifunctional Supramolecular Smart Platform.

A multifunctional smart supramolecular platform based on a lanthanide-organic hydrogel is presented. This platform, which provides unique biocompatibility and tunable optical properties, is synthesized by a simple, fast, and reproducible eco-friendly microwave-assisted route. Photoluminescent properties enable the production of coated light-emitting diodes (LED), unique luminescent barcodes dependent on the excitation wavelength and thin-films for use in tamper seals.

A high-resolution history of the South American Monsoon from Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene.

The exact extent, by which the hydrologic cycle in the Neotropics was affected by external forcing during the last deglaciation, remains poorly understood. Here we present a new paleo-rainfall reconstruction based on high-resolution speleothem δO records from the core region of the South American Monsoon System (SAMS), documenting the changing hydrological conditions over tropical South America (SA), in particular during abrupt millennial-scale events. This new record provides the best-resolved and most accurately constrained geochronology of any proxy from South America for this time period, spanning from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the mid-Holocene.

The new supramolecular nano-aggregate curcumin-cucurbit[7]uril: synthesis, photophysical properties and biocompatibility evaluation.

The supramolecular nano-aggregate CUR-CB[7] (CUR = curcumin and CB[7] = cucurbit[7]uril) was efficiently prepared by mixing CUR and CB[7] at a molar ratio of 1 : 1 in ethanol at room temperature. The supramolecular aggregate formation was evidenced by mainly FTIR, H NMR, DOSY and spectroscopy experiments. The supramolecular arrangement promotes the increase in the solubility and stability of CUR without affecting the biological properties of the A549 cells.

Double inverse stochastic resonance with dynamic synapses.

We investigate the behavior of a model neuron that receives a biophysically realistic noisy postsynaptic current based on uncorrelated spiking activity from a large number of afferents. We show that, with static synapses, such noise can give rise to inverse stochastic resonance (ISR) as a function of the presynaptic firing rate. We compare this to the case with dynamic synapses that feature short-term synaptic plasticity and show that the interval of presynaptic firing rate over which ISR exists can be extended or diminished.

IMMEDIATE COMPLICATIONS AFTER 88 HEPATECTOMIES - BRAZILIAN CONSECUTIVE SERIES.

Background: Hepatectomies have been increasingly recommended and performed in Brazil; they present great differences related to immediate complications.

Aim: Assessing the immediate postoperative complications in a series of 88 open liver resections.

Method: Prospective database of patients subjected to consecutive hepatectomies over nine years.

Design, synthesis, molecular docking and biological evaluation of thiophen-2-iminothiazolidine derivatives for use against Trypanosoma cruzi.

In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of thiophen-2-iminothiazolidine derivatives from thiophen-2-thioureic with good anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Several of the final compounds displayed remarkable trypanocidal activity. The ability of the new compounds to inhibit the activity of the enzyme cruzain, the major cysteine protease of T.

Serological evidence of hantavirus infection in an urban area in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

Introduction: In Brazil, Mato Grosso (MT) has the highest number of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome cases. Our study aimed to identify anti-hantavirus antibodies in the sera of patients from Sinop, MT, presenting with acute febrile illness.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data for 198 sera samples assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted.

Involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammasome pathway in molecular mechanisms of fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a basic connective tissue lesion defined by the increase in the fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM) components in tissue or organ. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a major group of proteases known to regulate the turn-over of ECM and so they are suggested to be important in tissue remodelling observed during fibrogenic process associated with chronic inflammation. Tissue remodelling is the result of an imbalance in the equilibrium of the normal processes of synthesis and degradation of ECM components markedly controlled by the MMPs/TIMP imbalance.