Airborne particulate matter exposure in male sugarcane workers at risk for chronic kidney disease in Guatemala.

Background: There is an international epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) in agricultural working populations. Particulate air pollution is a likely contributing factor in populations at risk for CKDu, but there is little personal breathing zone data for these workers.

Methods: We collected 1 to 3 personal breathing zone particulate matter <5 microns (PM5) gravimetric measurements in 143 male sugarcane harvesters over 2 seasons and concurrent ambient samples using personal sampling pumps and cyclone inlets as a sampling train.

Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications.

Oral drug administration is the preferred route for pharmaceuticals, accounting for ~90% of the global pharmaceutical market due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a comprehensive scientific and technological analysis of the latest advances in oral dosage forms for colon-targeted drug delivery. Utilizing scientific and patent databases, along with a bibliometric analysis and bibliographical review, we compared the oral dosage forms (technology) with the specific application of the technology (colon delivery) using four search equations.

Hypometabolism and atrophy patterns associated with Niemann-Pick type C.

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare genetic lysosomal lipid storage disorder characterized by progressive neurological impairment. Early diagnosis is critical for initiating treatment with miglustat, which can decelerate disease progression. In this study, we evaluated a cohort of 22 NP-C patients who underwent MRI, [F]FDG PET, and clinical assessment at baseline.

Prevalence of Adverse Events Reported Following the First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccines in Bahia State, Brazil, from 2021 to 2022.

: Despite adverse events following immunization (AEFI) being well described in vaccine trials, there is a need to produce more real-world data on events supposedly attributed to vaccination against COVID-19. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of AEFI in the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines in the state of Brazil and to verify whether such events differ among the types of vaccines offered in this country. : A population-based study using linked administrative data on vaccine registry and adverse events following immunization in 2021 and 2022.

Is parasitic infection a buffer against metal pollution?

Metal pollution is a major global issue in aquatic environments, affecting environmental quality and potentially altering host-parasite dynamics. This study evaluates the buffering role of a larval trematode sp. under experimental conditions to test the effect of copper (Cu) exposure on the survival of the marine snail Snails were collected from intertidal rocky pools over a two-month period from Coloso (23°45'S, 70°28'W), northern Chile, and identified as parasitized or unparasitized.