Publications by authors named "CRUZ A"

Background: Mycorrhizal plants show enhanced resistance to biotic stresses, but few studies have addressed mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against biotic challenges in woody plants, particularly citrus. Here we present a comparative study of two citrus species, Citrus aurantium, which is resistant to Tetranychus urticae, and Citrus reshni, which is highly susceptible to T. urticae.

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As the aging population increases worldwide, the incidence of musculoskeletal diseases and the need for orthopedic implants also arise. One of the most desirable goals in orthopedic reconstructive therapies is de novo bone formation. Yet, reproducible, long-lasting, and cost-effective strategies for implants that strongly induce osteogenesis are still in need.

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Objective: To assess prescription patterns for short-acting b2 agonists (SABAs) and other asthma medications in asthma patients treated by specialists and participating in the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) study in Brazil.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted at five sites in different regions of Brazil. The primary endpoints were to record SABA prescriptions and obtain data on over-the-counter (OTC) SABA purchases at the pharmacy.

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Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidia commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and a wide range of other animals, constituting a major cause of microsporidiosis in humans. Although E. bieneusi has been detected in humans, domestic, and wild animals in Portugal, and its presence in bats has been linked to zoonotic characteristics, its occurrence in bats within the country has not been reported.

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Aims And Objectives: Complications following posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) for ARM are well known. In this article, we present our experience of managing five patients who required major redo surgeries for complications resulting from previous attempts to correct ARM.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed all patients who underwent major redo surgeries in our hospital for complications from previous repairs for ARM, from June 2013 to June 2019.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on enhancing the quality of alpaca textile fiber by reducing objectionable coarse fibers that cause itching.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 3149 alpaca fiber samples to estimate genetic parameters related to different fiber types and their diameters.
  • Findings suggest that targeting non-medullated and fragmented medullated fibers as key selection criteria in breeding programs could improve overall fiber quality by decreasing undesirable fiber types.
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The Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is an encephalitogenic arbovirus ( family) that has a wide geographical distribution in the western hemisphere, especially in the Americas. The negevirus Brejeira (BREV) was isolated for the first time in Brazil in 2005. This study aimed to verify the existence of a possible interfering effect of BREV on the course of SLEV infection and vice versa.

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Article Synopsis
  • Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic disease in Brazil caused by specific parasites, with extracellular vesicles (Leish-EVs) playing a role in how the host immune system responds to the infection.
  • The study found that Leish-EVs are released more when the parasites grow at higher temperatures, and the presence of these vesicles in the host cells can help differentiate between infected and uninfected individuals.
  • THP-1 cells exposed to Leish-EVs showed altered immune responses, producing certain interleukins and microRNAs, indicating that Leish-EVs could contribute to immunosuppression and worsen the disease in infected hosts.
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Background: Excision is routinely recommended for atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) found on core biopsy given cancer upstage rates of near 20%. Identifying a cohort at low-risk for upstage may avoid low-value surgery. Objectives were to elucidate factors predictive of upstage in ADH, specifically near-complete core sampling, to potentially define a group at low upstage risk.

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Despite being one of the main components of anxiety and playing a pivotal role in how an individual perceives and copes with anxiogenic situations or responds to a given treatment, trait anxiety is paradoxically omitted in most animal models of anxiety. This is problematic and particularly more concerning in models that are used to screen drugs and other treatments for specific anxiety disorders and to investigate their neurobiological mechanisms. Our group has been engaged in the search for specific anxiety-related traits in animal models of anxiety.

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A general-purpose photonic processor can be built integrating a silicon photonic programmable core in a technology stack comprising an electronic monitoring and controlling layer and a software layer for resource control and programming. This processor can leverage the unique properties of photonics in terms of ultra-high bandwidth, high-speed operation, and low power consumption while operating in a complementary and synergistic way with electronic processors. These features are key in applications such as next-generation 5/6 G wireless systems where reconfigurable filtering, frequency conversion, arbitrary waveform generation, and beamforming are currently provided by microwave photonic subsystems that cannot be scaled down.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for in-patient care including patient isolation and limitations on hospital visitation. Although communication technology, such as video calling or texting, can reduce social isolation, there are challenges for implementation, particularly for older adults.

Objective/methods: This study used a mixed methodology to understand the challenges faced by in-patients and to explore the perspectives of patients, family members, and health care providers (HCPs) regarding the use of communication technology.

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Background: Exposure to extreme heat impacts millions of people worldwide and outdoor workers are among the populations most affected by high temperatures. Heat stress induces several biological responses in humans, including the production of heat shock proteins (HSP) and antibodies against HSP (anti-HSP) which may play a central role in the body's cellular response to a hot environment.

Objective: This longitudinal study investigated the impact of high temperatures and humidity on the presence of HSP70 and anti-HSP70 and examined relationships with markers of kidney function in an at-risk workforce under conditions of extreme heat and exertion in Guatemala.

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Background: In allergic rhinitis and asthma, adolescents and young adult patients are likely to differ from older patients. We compared adolescents, young adults and adults on symptoms, control levels, and medication adherence.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study (2015-2022), we assessed European users of the MASK-air mHealth app of three age groups: adolescents (13-18 years), young adults (18-26 years), and adults (>26 years).

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In November 2015, the Fundão Dam break released millions of tons of metal-rich tailings into the Doce River Basin (DRB), causing catastrophic damage and potential ecological effects that reached the Atlantic Ocean. This study aimed to evaluate the geochemistry and toxicity of water and sediments collected in the DRB from 2015 to 2019 and to determine the spatial and temporal trends. Water and sediment samples were analyzed for metals and As by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and acute toxicity for Daphnia similis or D.

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Arthritis and periodontitis are inflammatory diseases that share several immunopathogenic features. The expansion in the study of virus-induced arthritis has shed light on how this condition could impact other parts of the human body, including the mouth. Viral arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease caused by several viruses, most notably the alphaviruses Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Sindbis virus (SINV), Ross River virus (RRV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and O'nyong'nyong virus (ONNV).

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Background: There is insufficient evidence to guide the initial evaluation of hypothermic infants. We aimed to evaluate risk factors for serious bacterial infections (SBI) among hypothermic infants presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter case-control study among hypothermic (rectal temperature <36.

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Protists in general comprise about one-third of the parasitic species infecting arthropod vectors, the role of free-living and epibiotic ciliates on mosquitoes have been insufficiently studied either due to their low pathogenicity or facultative parasites. Studies have shown that exposure of Paramecium ciliate protists, like Vorticella species, to first instar Culex nigripalpus Theobald, larvae delayed larval development and reduced biomass of emerged adults due to competition for food sources like bacteria and other microbes essential to mosquito growth and survival. Thus, we report on the capacity of a Vorticella sp.

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Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of social deprivation on the rate of complications, readmissions, and revisions following primary total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), using the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). The SDI is a composite measurement, in percentages, of seven demographic characteristics: living in poverty, with < 12 years of education, single-parent households, living in rented or overcrowded housing, households without a car, and unemployed adults aged < 65 years.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 40 years, who underwent primary TSA between 2011 and 2017, were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 Clinical Modification and ICD-10 procedure codes for TSA in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database.

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Background: The usefulness of tracheostomy has been questioned in patients with COVID-19 and prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Aim: To compare the 90-day mortality rate of patients who underwent a tracheostomy due prolonged IMV with those that did not receive this procedure.

Material And Methods: We studied a historical cohort of 92 patients with COVID-19 and prolonged IMV (> 10 days).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Dengue virus serotype 2, genotype Cosmopolitan (DENV-2-GII), is widely distributed and was newly identified in Brazil, having been present in other regions since 2019.
  • - A study sequenced 237 confirmed DENV-2 cases from March 2021 to March 2023, discovering that DENV-2-GII circulates in all areas of Brazil, having been introduced multiple times between 2020 and 2022.
  • - Despite its presence, DENV-1 dominated the Brazilian dengue epidemic in 2022, suggesting pre-existing immunity from prior DENV-2-GIII infections may limit symptomatic cases of DENV-2-GII, highlighting the need for ongoing
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