Differential phase angle spectrum for liquid detection in functionalized surface roughness polymeric electrode.

The conductive polymeric electrodes using 3D printing are an innovative material development with the advantage of the flexibility of integrating isolated polymers with a higher electrical conductivity of carbon-based materials, generating new possibilities in environmental, healthcare, and food monitoring. Based on the morphology, geometric arrangement, and dielectric properties of the composites, the performance of the electrodes is improved. Structural designs are optimized to enhance functionalities such as adhesion, catalytic activity, and the reduction of interface energy.

Responders COPD patients to two different home-based rehabilitation programs: a blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: To verify the number of patients with COPD responders to two different home-based rehabilitation programs.

Methods: This was a blinded, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. The six-minute step test (6MST), one-minute sit-stand test (1-MSTST), six-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), monitoring of physical activity in daily life, and isometric quadriceps muscle strength were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Demographics, clinical characteristics, and real-world treatment patterns among patients with beta-thalassemia: a retrospective medical record abstraction study.

Background: Beta-thalassemias (BTs) are characterized by deficient or absent synthesis of the beta-globin subunit, leading to anemia. Patient characteristics and treatment patterns in these patients may vary.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluated demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns in patients with transfusion-dependent BT (TDT) and non-transfusion-dependent BT (NTDT).

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Phenyl Indole Analogues of OXi8006 as Colchicine Site Inhibitors of Tubulin Polymerization and Vascular Disrupting Agents.

Inhibitors of tubulin polymerization represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of solid tumors. Molecules that bind to the colchicine site are of interest as they can function with a dual mechanism of action as both potent antiproliferative agents and tumor-selective vascular disrupting agents (VDAs). One such example is a 2-aryl-3-aroyl-indole molecule (OXi8006) from our laboratory that demonstrates potent inhibition of tubulin polymerization and strong antiproliferative activity (cytotoxicity) against a variety of human cancer cell lines.

NOD1 signaling regulates early tissue inflammation during helminth infection.

The role of innate receptors in initiating the early inflammatory response to helminth larval stages in affected tissues during their life cycle within the host remains poorly understood. Given its pivotal role in detecting microbial elements and eliciting immune responses, exploring the NOD1 receptor could offer crucial insights into immune responses to parasitic infections. By using the larval ascariasis model, the acute model for early Ascaris sp.

Immunoinformatic predictions and characterization of Schistosoma mansoni peptides as candidates for immunodiagnostic.

Schistosoma mansoni represents a significant etiological agent of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease with a global distribution. Although the Kato-Katz technique is an effective diagnostic tool in areas with a high prevalence of the disease, it lacks sensitivity in regions with lower prevalence. The objective of this study was to identify and validate novel immunogenic peptide targets derived from the S.

Dose-response effects of multiple Ascaris suum exposures and their impact on lung protection during larval ascariasis.

Background: Human ascariasis is the most prevalent geohelminthiasis worldwide, affecting approximately 446 million individuals. In regions with endemic prevalence, the majority of infected adults are frequently exposed to the parasite and tend to have a low parasite load. Further studies are necessary to provide more evidence on the dynamics of infection and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved in regulating protection, especially during the acute phase, also known as larval ascariasis.

Treatment of periodontal diseases: Latin America and the Caribbean Consensus 2024.

The prevalence of periodontitis in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACC) drew attention to a significant public health issue exacerbated by socio-economic disparities. This consensus report, based on the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) S3 level clinical practice guidelines, proposed a multifaceted approach to periodontal health-care. The report highlighted the critical need for holistic, population-wide health policies and underscored the lack of documented community interventions in contemporary literature.

Arginine-Biofunctionalized Ternary Hydrogel Scaffolds of Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol to Deliver Cell Therapy for Wound Healing.

Wound healing is important for skin after deep injuries or burns, which can lead to hospitalization, long-term morbidity, and mortality. In this field, tissue-engineered skin substitutes have therapy potential to assist in the treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds, where many requirements are still unmet. Hence, in this study, a novel type of biocompatible ternary polymer hybrid hydrogel scaffold was designed and produced through an entirely eco-friendly aqueous process composed of carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol and chemically cross-linked by citric acid, forming three-dimensional (3D) matrices, which were biofunctionalized with L-arginine (L-Arg) to enhance cellular adhesion.

Catatonia as a debut of systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report on a diagnostic challenge.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a wide variety of symptoms, including frequent neurological and psychiatric symptomatology. Psychiatric symptoms encountered in SLE are frequent, between 37 and 95% of SLE patients present them, can appear at any point in the course of the disease and may include almost any type of disorder. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented an SLE debut with catatonic symptoms without previous psychiatric history, representing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge given that the diagnosis was initially wrongly filtered out and required up to three hospital admissions in a row to reach a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Identifying thresholds for meaningful improvements in NTDT-PRO scores to support conclusions about treatment benefit in clinical studies of patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia: analysis of pooled data from a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial.

Objectives: To estimate thresholds for defining meaningful within-patient improvement from baseline to weeks 13-24 and interpreting meaningfulness of between-group difference for the non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia patient-reported outcome (NTDT-PRO) tiredness/weakness (T/W) and shortness of breath (SoB) scores. A secondary objective was to determine the symptom severity threshold for the NTDT-PRO T/W domain to identify patients with symptomatic T/W.

Design: Pooled blinded data from the phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised BEYOND trial in NTDT (NCT03342404) were used.

Phylogeny-aware linear B-cell epitope predictor detects targets associated with immune response to orthopoxviruses.

We introduce a phylogeny-aware framework for predicting linear B-cell epitope (LBCE)-containing regions within proteins. Our approach leverages evolutionary information by using a taxonomic scaffold to build models trained on hierarchically structured data. The resulting models present performance equivalent or superior to generalist methods, despite using simpler features and a fraction of the data volume required by current state-of-the-art predictors.

Screening and validating the optimal panel of housekeeping genes for 4T1 breast carcinoma and metastasis studies in mice.

The 4T1 model is extensively employed in murine studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis of triple-negative breast cancer. Molecular biology serves as a cornerstone in these investigations. However, accurate gene expression analyses necessitate data normalization employing housekeeping genes (HKGs) to avert spurious results.

Probing hidden leptonic scalar portals using the NA64 experiment at CERN.

In this study, we demonstrate the potential of the NA64 experiment at CERN SPS to search for New Physics processes involving transitions after the collision of 100 GeV electrons with target nuclei. A new Dark Sector leptonic portal in which a scalar boson could be produced in the lepton-flavor-changing bremsstrahlung-like reaction, , is used as benchmark process. In this work, we develop a realistic Monte Carlo simulation of the NA64 experimental setup implementing the differential and total production cross-section computed at exact tree-level and applying the Weiszäcker-Williams phase space approximation.

Exploring the biological activities and potential therapeutic applications of agro-industrial waste products through non-clinical studies: A systematic review.

The latent potential of active ingredients derived from agro-industrial waste remains largely untapped and offers a wealth of unexplored resources. While these types of materials have applications in various fields, their ability to benefit human health needs to be further explored and investigated. This systematic review was conducted to systematically evaluate non-clinical studies that have investigated the biological effects of fractions, extracts and bioactive compounds from agro-industrial wastes and their potential therapeutic applications.

Alveolar macrophages and monocyte subpopulations during NK65 experimental malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) and monocytes (MO) are myeloid cells that play a substantial role in the development and establishment of the innate and adaptive immune response. These cells are crucial for host defense against various pathogens, but their role in malaria is poorly understood. Here, we characterize the dynamics of AMs and recruited leukocytes subpopulations in the airways during experimental NK65-NY (PbNK65).

D-Tagatose: A Rare Sugar with Functional Properties and Antimicrobial Potential against Oral Species.

Carbohydrates have a dietary role, but excessive consumption of high-calorie sugars can contribute to an increased incidence of metabolic diseases and dental caries. Recently, carbohydrates with sweetening properties and low caloric value, such as D-tagatose, have been investigated as alternative sugars. D-tagatose is a rare sugar that has nutritional and functional properties of great interest for health.

IgG seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania infantum in leprosy patients: Implications for screening and management of co-infections.

Parasitic co-infections are common in developing countries and can interfere with leprosy treatment, leading to an increased risk of inflammatory leprosy reactions. This study assessed serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels against Toxoplasma gondii and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) antigens in 270 leprosy patients from Brazilian states. Regarding the respective cut-offs, the prevalence of IgG seropositivity for T.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Medical Device-Related Pressure Injury in Hemodynamically Unstable Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and identify potential risk factors for medical device-related pressure injury (MDRPI) in critically ill and hemodynamically unstable adults (patients classified class III or IV on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28; TISS-28).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Subjects And Setting: The target population was critically ill adults who were using one or more medical devices and categorized as class III or IV on the TISS-28.

Mammary neoplasms in female dogs: Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

With the increase in the life expectancy of domestic animals and their increasingly affectionate relationship with their owners, it is possible to observe an increase in cases of neoplasms in these animals. Mammary neoplasia mainly affects older females who have not been castrated, due to hormonal dependence for the development of the tumour. The main form of treatment is surgery.

A recombinant chimeric antigen constructed with B-cell epitopes from Mycobacterium leprae hypothetical proteins is effective for the diagnosis of leprosy.

The diagnosis if leprosy is difficult, as it requires clinical expertise and sensitive laboratory tests. In this study, we develop a serological test for leprosy by using bioinformatics tools to identify specific B-cell epitopes from Mycobacterium leprae hypothetical proteins, which were used to construct a recombinant chimeric protein, M1. The synthetic peptides were obtained and showed good reactivity to detect leprosy patients, although the M1 chimera have showed sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) values higher than 90.

Voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: Identifying voice handicap and voice-related quality of life in patients presenting pulmonary impairment associated with COVID-19 infection, comparing pulmonary parameters between these patients and individuals in the control group, as well as correlating pulmonary parameters to self-assessment questionnaires (IDV-10 and QVV).

Methods: Thirty-five (35) patients presenting pulmonary impairment with COVID-19 infection were herein selected and compared to 35 individuals who were not affected by COVID-19 infection. Two self-assessment questionnaires were applied (vocal handicap index and voice quality of life protocol).