DNA methylation differences between stick insect ecotypes.

Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, can influence gene regulation and affect phenotypic variation, raising the possibility that they contribute to ecological adaptation. Beginning to address this issue requires high-resolution sequencing studies of natural populations to pinpoint epigenetic regions of potential ecological and evolutionary significance. However, such studies are still relatively uncommon, especially in insects, and are mainly restricted to a few model organisms.

Identifying biomarkers for tDCS treatment response in Alzheimer's disease patients: a machine learning approach using resting-state EEG classification.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising treatment for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, identifying objective biomarkers that can predict brain stimulation efficacy, remains a challenge. The primary aim of this investigation is to delineate the cerebral regions implicated in AD, taking into account the existing lacuna in comprehension of these regions.

Economic considerations of breeding for polledness versus disbudding in beef cattle.

The domestication of animals has rendered horns less necessary for survival. Moreover, the use of polled and disbudded animals is interesting in order to avoid injuries of animals and handlers, among other advantages. We therefore conducted a comparative economic analysis of different traditional disbudding techniques versus selective breeding for polledness in Nelore cattle, the main beef breed of tropical systems in Brazil.

Effects of Calendula officinalis extract on liver histopathology, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in rats submitted to a diet rich in cholesterol and carbohydrates.

Purpose: To evaluate the modulatory properties of Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) (C. officinalis) extract on cafeteria diet-fed rats.

Assessment of the Implementation of the International Health Regulations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Portugal as a Case Study.

Introduction: The International Health Regulations (IHR) were developed to prepare countries to deal with public health emergencies. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 underlined the need for international coordination, although few attempts were made to evaluate the integrated implementation of the IHR's core capacities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether IHR shortcomings stem from non-compliance or regulatory issues, using Portugal as a European case study due to its size, organization, and previous discrepancies between self-reporting and peer assessment of the IHR's core capacities.

Methodological approaches for the assessment of bisphenol A exposure.

Unlabelled: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor used in food contact materials, by the application of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The main objective of this study is to compare the estimate of daily BPA exposure at 13 years of age and in the adult Portuguese population, using different methodological approaches, and assess the associations between this exposure and sociodemographic characteristics.

Methodology: Cross-sectional data of 13-years follow-up from a population-based birth cohort Generation XXI (GXXI) (n = 2804) and from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015-2016) (n = 3845, ≥18 years old) was used.

Preclinical quality, safety, and efficacy of a human embryonic stem cell-derived product for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, STEM-PD.

Cell replacement therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) based on transplantation of pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons are now entering clinical trials. Here, we present quality, safety, and efficacy data supporting the first-in-human STEM-PD phase I/IIa clinical trial along with the trial design. The STEM-PD product was manufactured under GMP and quality tested in vitro and in vivo to meet regulatory requirements.

Balance and Gait: Associations With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Individuals With Down Syndrome.

Background: Atypical aging in Down syndrome (DS) is associated with neuropathological characteristics consistent with Alzheimer disease. Gait abnormalities have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of dementia for the general population. The aim of this study was to determine whether gait disorders are associated with worse cognitive performance and dementia in adults with DS.

Sublobar resection versus lobectomy for stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Surgical resection is the first-line treatment for early-stage lung cancer, with lobectomy being the standard choice since the 1960s. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown controversies about whether sublobar resection or lobectomy is the optimal surgical approach today. In this sense, this meta-analysis aims to compare these techniques.

Acyltransferase families that act on thioesters: Sequences, structures, and mechanisms.

Acyltransferases (AT) are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of acyl group to a receptor molecule. This review focuses on ATs that act on thioester-containing substrates. Although many ATs can recognize a wide variety of substrates, sequence similarity analysis allowed us to classify the ATs into fifteen distinct families.

Integrative assessment of cerebral blood regulation in COPD patients.

Cerebrovascular responses were compared between COPD and non-COPD participants. The association between COPD severity and cognitive function was also investigated. Cerebral blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery, blood pressure, and end-tidal CO were recorded at rest, followed by a brain activation paradigm, and an inhaled gas mixture (5% CO) to assess cerebral autoregulation (CA), neurovascular coupling (NVC) and cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CVR), respectively.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Management of Pulmonary Oligometastases in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Perspective.

In pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal cancer (POM-CRC), metastasectomy is the primarily recommended treatment. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been suggested as a viable alternative therapy. SBRT efficacy for POM-CRC is poorly delineated compared to selected non-CRC primaries.

Environmental neurodevelopment toxicity from the perspective of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model: a case study of toxic metals.

A growing body of literature reports the need for an integrated approach to study the effects of the physical environment on the neurodevelopment of children. Assessment of the true neurotoxicity of pollutants cannot be performed separately from the ecological and multidimensional contexts in which they act. In this study, from the perspective of the Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, a conceptual model was developed that encompasses the social and biological characteristics of children from the gestational period to childhood, considering exposure to toxic metals.

Inequities in hypertension management: observational cross-sectional study in North East London using electronic health records.

Background: Hypertension is a key modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death in the UK. Good blood pressure (BP) control reduces mortality. However, health inequities may lead to variability in hypertension monitoring and control.

Trace element bioaccumulation in the hepatic tissue of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) stranded along the Campos and Espírito Santo basins, southeastern Brazil.

This study analyzed the concentrations of 15 (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) toxicologically important trace elements in the livers of 110 green turtles stranded in two areas of the Brazilian coast. These areas are essential for the refuge, feeding, and reproduction of the species, and the information obtained is intended to support the development of conservation strategies. Higher concentrations were observed in the Região dos Lagos, RJ in almost all elements, except for Al, Mo, Pb, and V.

Prolactin does not seem to mediate the improvement on insulin resistance markers and blood glucose levels related to breastfeeding.

Introduction: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. Strategies to decrease this risk should be strongly encouraged. Lactation has been associated, for the mother, with reduction in future T2DM risk in several studies.

Consumption of Extruded Sorghum SC319 Improved Gut Microbiota at Genus Level and Reduced Anthropometric Markers in Men with Overweight: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Sorghum is a cereal source of energy, carbohydrates, resistant starch, proanthocyanidins, and 3-deoxyanthocyanins; it promotes satiety by slowing digestion and benefits intestinal health.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of extruded sorghum SC319 consumption on intestinal health, weight loss, and inflammatory markers in men with overweight.

Methods: This was a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

Evaluation of the Physical, Chemical, Technological, and Sensorial Properties of Extrudates and Cookies from Composite Sorghum and Cowpea Flours.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for gluten-free and functional products, driven by consumer preferences for healthier and more diverse food choices. Therefore, there is a need to explore new ingredients that can be used as alternatives to traditional gluten-containing grains. Thus, this work evaluated the physical, chemical, technological, and sensorial properties of extrudates and cookies from composite tannin sorghum (rich in resistant starch) and white cowpea flours.

The earliest evidence of deep-sea vertebrates.

Vertebrate macroevolution has been punctuated by fundamental habitat transitions from shallow marine origins to terrestrial, freshwater, and aerial environments. Invasion of the deep sea is a less well-known ecological shift because of low fossilization potential and continual loss of abyssal fossil record by ocean floor subduction. Therefore, there has been a lack of convincing evidence of bottom-living vertebrates from pre-Paleogene deep seas.

Identifying the Characteristics of Responders and Nonresponders in a Behavioral Intervention to Increase Physical Activity Among Patients With Moderate to Severe Asthma: Protocol for a Prospective Pragmatic Study.

Background: Previous research has suggested that most adults improve their asthma control after a short-term behavioral intervention program to increase physical activity in daily life (PADL). However, the characteristics of individuals who respond and do not respond to this intervention and the medium-term response remain unknown.

Objective: This study aims to (1) identify the characteristics of adult responders and nonresponders with asthma to a behavioral intervention to increase physical activity and (2) evaluate the functional and clinical benefits in the medium term.

The Influence of Pregestational Body Mass Index and Physical Activity Patterns on Maternal, Delivery, and Newborn Outcomes in a Sample of Portuguese Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: There is a linear association between pregestational body mass index (BMI) and almost all adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy is "a window of opportunities" in terms of changing behavior and improving awareness of healthy living. The proper assessment of physical activity levels, during pregnancy, determines trends, health benefits, and their effects over time.

Biocatalysis of Steroids by Mycobacterium sp. in Aqueous and Organic Media.

Mycobacterium sp. can convert steroids such as β-sitosterol, campesterol, and cholesterol, by selective side-chain cleavage and oxidation of the C3 hydroxyl group to a ketone, into key intermediates that can be easily functionalized to yield commercially interesting pharmaceutical products. In aqueous systems, the biocatalysis is limited by the low solubility of the steroids in water.