Exploring Bioinformatics Solutions for Improved Leishmaniasis Diagnostic Tools: A Review.

Significant populations in tropical and sub-tropical locations all over the world are severely impacted by a group of neglected tropical diseases called leishmaniases. This disease is caused by roughly 20 species of the protozoan parasite from the genus. Disease prevention strategies that include early detection, vector control, treatment of affected individuals, and vaccination are all essential.

Single-cell CAR T atlas reveals type 2 function in 8-year leukaemia remission.

Despite a high response rate in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL), approximately 50% of patients relapse within the first year, representing an urgent question to address in the next stage of cellular immunotherapy. Here, to investigate the molecular determinants of ultralong CAR T cell persistence, we obtained a single-cell multi-omics atlas from 695,819 pre-infusion CAR T cells at the basal level or after CAR-specific stimulation from 82 paediatric patients with ALL enrolled in the first two CAR T ALL clinical trials and 6 healthy donors. We identified that elevated type 2 functionality in CAR T infusion products is significantly associated with patients maintaining a median B cell aplasia duration of 8.

In-Home Remote Assessment of the MDS-UPDRS Part III: Multi-Cultural Development and Validation of a Guide for Patients.

Background: The shift toward virtualized care introduces challenges in assessing the motor severity of Parkinson's disease (PD). The Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III, the most used rating scale in PD, lacks validation for synchronous remote administration.

Objective: Our goal was to validate the usability of a patient guide to allow an accurate video-based MDS-UDPRS part III remote examination.

Time to Navigate: A Practical Objective Clinical Measure for Freezing of Gait Severity in People With Parkinson Disease.

Objectives: To provide an easy-to-use measure, as existing objective assessments for freezing of gait (FOG) severity may be unwieldy for routine clinical practice, this study explored time taken to complete the recently validated FOG severity tool and its components.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital.

Leishmania major telomerase RNA knockout: From altered cell proliferation to decreased parasite infectivity.

This study focuses on the biological impacts of deleting the telomerase RNA from Leishmania major (LeishTER), a parasite responsible for causing leishmaniases, for which no effective treatment or prevention is available. TER is a critical player in the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex, containing the template sequence copied by the reverse transcriptase component during telomere elongation. The success of knocking out both LeishTER alleles was confirmed, and no off-targets were detected.

Countercurrent chromatography isolation of green propolis biomarkers: Potential blockers of SARS-COV-2 RBD and ACE2 interaction.

Propolis is a natural resinous mixture produced by honeybees with numerous biological activities. Considering the recently reported potential of propolis as an adjuvant in COVID-19 treatment, a methodology for the fractionation of the hexane extract of Brazilian green propolis (HEGP) was developed for the obtention of prenylated biomarkers by countercurrent chromatography. The inhibition of the interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike and ACE2 receptor was evaluated by the Lumitᵀᴹ immunoassay.

Spray skin protectant versus standard moisturiser in the prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with anal canal and rectal cancer: A randomised clinical trial.

The evidence on products for the prevention of radiodermatitis is limited. The primary objective was to analyse the effectiveness of the spray skin protectant 'non-burning barrier film' in the prevention of radiodermatitis with moist desquamation in patients with the anal canal and rectal cancer followed in nursing consultations compared to a standardised moisturiser based on Calendula officinalis and Aloe barbadensis. Single-blind randomised clinical trial.

Which Patients With Chronic Pain Do The Primary Care Refers to a Tertiary Hospital in a Developing Country? Experience From a University Hospital.

Purpose: The study aimed to profile patients with uncontrolled chronic pain referred from primary care to a tertiary hospital in a developing country, and identify factors associated with pain intensity, interference, and its link with mental health.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Methods: Data from 906 adult patients with nonmalignant chronic pain during their first visit to the multidisciplinary pain center at the State University of Rio de Janeiro in 2019 were used.

Wound fluid sampling methods and analysis of cytokine mRNA expression in ulcers from patients with diabetes mellitus.

The development of diabetic foot ulcers is a common and severe complication of diabetes that can significantly affect quality of life. The physiological healing cascade does not progress tissue repair in diabetic foot ulcerations in a timely manner. Serum markers from foot ulcers have been used to characterize the healing process of the diabetic foot using various collection techniques.

Using design thinking to create and implement a 3D digital library of anatomical specimens.

Design thinking (DT) is a five-stage process (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test) that guides the creation of user-centered solutions to complex problems. DT is in common use outside of science but has rarely been applied to anatomical education. The use of DT in this study identified the need for flexible access to anatomical specimens outside of the anatomy laboratory and guided the creation of a digital library of three-dimensional (3D) anatomical specimens (3D Anatomy Viewer).

Australian physiotherapists attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours towards psychosocial screening tools: a qualitative interpretive description study.

Purpose: Psychosocial factors are a barrier to recovery for people with musculoskeletal pain and psychosocial screening tools are consistently recommended by best practice guidelines to assist in identification. However, many physiotherapists do not use these tools. Presently, the perspectives on psychosocial screening tools of Australian physiotherapists are unknown.

Amazon savannization and climate change are projected to increase dry season length and temperature extremes over Brazil.

Land use change and atmospheric composition, two drivers of climate change, can interact to affect both local and remote climate regimes. Previous works have considered the effects of greenhouse gas buildup in the atmosphere and the effects of Amazon deforestation in atmospheric general circulation models. In this study, we investigate the impacts of the Brazilian Amazon savannization and global warming in a fully coupled ocean-land-sea ice-atmosphere model simulation.

Cafeteria Diet Can Affect Bone Microarchitecture in Sedentary and Trained Male Rats.

Introduction: Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle can impair health. Regular physical activity improves the quality of life and is essential for bone health. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the cafeteria diet on bone quality of sedentary and exercised rats.

Randomized adaptive selection trial of cryotherapy, compression therapy, and placebo to prevent taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating adverse effect of taxane therapy. Small non-randomized studies in patients with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) suggest both cryotherapy and compression therapy may prevent CIPN. It is unknown which is more effective.

Aqueous extract of the bark of Uncaria tomentosa, an amazonian medicinal plant, promotes gastroprotection and accelerates gastric healing in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Importance: Uncaria tomentosa Willd. DC., is used in the Amazonian region of South America, wherein ethnic groups use the plant to treat diseases, including gastric disorders.

Reliability and variability of physiotherapists scoring freezing of gait through video analysis.

Background: The "gold standard" marker for freezing of gait severity is percentage of time spent with freezing observed through video analysis.

Objective: This study examined inter- and intra-rater reliability and variability of physiotherapists rating freezing of gait severity through video analysis and explored the effects of experience.

Methods: Thirty physiotherapists rated 14 videos of Timed Up and Go performance by people with Parkinson's and gait freezing.

Health Science Research at a Regional Level: Insights From South America Comment on "The Roles of Regional Organisations in Strengthening Health Research Systems in Africa: Activities, Gaps, and Future Perspectives".

The article seeks to shed light on the role of regional organizations in strengthening health research systems in Africa, how they operate and how they work, as well as debts and future challenges. As can be observed also in South America, the continued strengthening of health research requires strategic thinking about the roles, comparative advantages, and capacity of regional organizations to facilitate the flourishing of health research systems. Health research is a strategic field for the transformation of socio-health inequalities on the one hand and the reduction of regional asymmetries on the other.

Validity and reliability of a new clinician-rated tool for freezing of gait severity.

Purpose: The Freezing of Gait Severity Tool (FOG Tool) was developed because of limitations in existing assessments. This cross-sectional study investigated its validity and reliability.

Methods: People with Parkinson's disease (PD) were recruited consecutively from clinics.

Process of change for people with knee osteoarthritis undergoing cognitive functional therapy: a replicated single-case experimental design study.

Purpose: To examine the applicability and process of change of Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) in the management of pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis who were offered knee replacement surgery and had risk factors for poor response to surgery.

Methods: Single-case experimental design with a mixed-methods, repeated measures approach was used to investigate the process of change through CFT in four participants. Qualitative interviews investigated beliefs, behaviours and coping responses, and self-reported measures assessed pain, disability, psychological factors, and function at 25 timepoints.

Modeling the Climatic Suitability of COVID-19 Cases in Brazil.

Studies have shown that climate may affect the distribution of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its incidence and fatality rates. Here, we applied an ensemble niche modeling approach to project the climatic suitability of COVID-19 cases in Brazil. We estimated the cumulative incidence, mortality rate, and fatality rate of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity of (Saracura-Mirá): Focus on the Modulation of the Spike-ACE2 Interaction by Chemically Characterized Bark Extracts by LC-DAD-APCI-MS/MS.

Traditional medicine shows several treatment protocols for COVID-19 based on natural products, revealing its potential as a possible source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. is popularly used in the Brazilian Amazon as a fortifier and tonic, and recently, it has been reported to relieve COVID-19 symptoms. This work aimed to investigate the antiviral potential of , focusing on the inhibition of spike and ACE2 receptor interaction, a key step in successful infection.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the therapeutic intervention manual Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST) into brazilian portuguese.

Purpose: To translate and culturally adapt the intervention manual "Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST)" into Brazilian Portuguese (PB).

Methods: The translation and linguistic adaptation process followed the criteria proposed by Beaton and Guillemin: Stage 1 - Translation; Stage 2 - Synthesis of translations; Stage 3 - Back translation; Stage 4 - Expert committee review; Stage 5 - Pilot study; and Stage 6 - Evaluation of records by the researcher and expert committee.

Results: In the adaptation stage, the need to modify terms and instructions translated into Portuguese by the translators for the clinical speech therapy context was shown for terms such as "beats," "sounds," and "smooth," as well as the adequacy of the choice of vowels, since in PB there is no schwa vowel [ə], and there is no possible "equivalence" for Portuguese.

Rating Scales for Medication Adherence in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review for Critique and Recommendations.

Background: Behaviors interfering with medication adherence (MA) are common and often complex in Parkinson's disease (PD), negatively affecting quality of life and undermining the value of clinical trials. The Clinical Outcome Assessments (COA) Scientific Evaluation Committee of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) commissioned the assessment of MA rating scales to recommend the use in PD.

Objective: Critically review the measurement properties of rating scales used to assess MA in PD and to issue recommendations.

Short-term association between ambient air pollution and cardio-respiratory mortality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Several epidemiological studies have reported associations between ambient air pollution and mortality. However, relatively few studies have investigated this relationship in Brazil using individual-level data.

Objectives: To estimate the short-term association between exposure to particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and ozone (O3), and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2012 and 2017.