Lung auscultation using smartphone built-in microphone versus digital stethoscope: a comparative early feasibility study.

Background: Lung auscultation using a smartphone built-in microphone is promising for home monitoring of pediatric respiratory diseases. Our aim was to compare respiratory sounds recorded by a smartphone and a digital stethoscope by assessing the proportion of quality recordings and adventitious sounds detected by each device.

Methods: A comparative early feasibility study with children from a public school in Northern Portugal was conducted.

Surface electromyography: A pilot study in canine spinal muscles.

In veterinary practice, rehabilitation modalities are often used to help in the recovery of animals affected by InterVertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), a condition frequently observed in chondrodystrophic dog breeds and can lead to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), resulting in pain, motor impairments and neurological deficits, but there is a lack of objective assessment tools for patient evolution. In this work, an innovative approach using surface ElectroMyoGraphy (sEMG) is proposed to be applied in the field of veterinary medicine rehabilitation. The observed results are thought to be a direct result of nerve compression, leading to unusual patterns of muscle activation; this phenomenon can be attributed to muscle denervation, where the loss of Motor Units (MU) is the primary cause.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior as screening tools for dynapenic abdominal obesity and dynapenic obesity in older adults: A cross-sectional investigation.

Objective: To investigate the discriminatory capacity of habitual physical activity (HPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) when screening for dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) and dynapenic obesity (DO) in older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional population epidemiological investigation was conducted with 207 older adults. Obesity was diagnosed by high waist circumference and body mass index.

Sorption thermodynamic and kinetic study of Cu(II) onto modified plant stem bark.

In this study, four types of "Juá" stem barks (Ziziphus joazeiro) were investigated for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The tested samples included natural coarse barks, and barks washed with water, ethanol-water, and NaOH solutions. The solvent-modified materials simulated the waste of the industrial extraction of saponins from bark.

Informed Consent in Clinical Training: Perspectives from Medical Students and Faculty in Portugal.

The student-patient relationship represents the cornerstone of medical education, shaping future doctors' knowledge, skills and attitudes. While most patients allow student involvement in their care, some may express discomfort. Thus, obtaining explicit consent is essential to respect patients' right of autonomy.

The Gastroscopy RAte of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) Scale: an international reliability and validation study.

Background:  Mucosal visualization during upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy can be impaired by the presence of foam, bubbles, and mucus. Some UGI endoscopy visibility scales have been proposed but have not undergone multicenter validation. This study aimed to develop and validate the Gastroscopy RAte of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) scale.

Evaluation of oxalic acid extraction and quantification methods in the different purslane ( L.) matrices and spinach ().

Purslane () and spinach () are species with elevated levels of oxalic acid, an antinutrient that interferes in the bioaccessibility of minerals such as calcium and iron. Evaluating methods to determine oxalic acid content with reduced matrix interference, such as employing Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS), can enhance the specificity of determinations. The different matrices of purslane (whole plant, leaves, and juice) and spinach (whole plant) were tested using three extraction methods (M1, M2, and M3).

Endothelial c-Myc knockout disrupts metabolic homeostasis and triggers the development of obesity.

Obesity is a major risk factor associated with multiple pathological conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction is an early predictor of obesity. However, little is known regarding how early endothelial changes trigger obesity.

Oenothein B from Eugenia uniflora leaves exerts pro-angiogenic effects by increasing VEGF and TNF-α levels.

Oenothein B (OeB), a dimeric ellagitannin with a macrocyclic structure, is reported to have beneficial effects, including antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, and antimutagenic effects, on human health. Despite the remarkable properties of OeB, its role in neovascularization process has not yet been evaluated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the angiogenic activity of OeB using a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay at different concentrations (6.

Central Venous Catheter Misplacement Into Pleural Cavity Causing Hypertensive Pleural Effusion: A Case Report.

Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion is a routine procedure in the management of critically ill patients. We report a clinical case of inadvertent placement of an internal jugular vein CVC into the right pleural cavity, despite employing clinical and imaging-based techniques to ensure proper catheter positioning. Infusion of fluids and vasopressors through this misplaced catheter led to hypertensive pleural effusion and subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest.

Screen Time and Hours of Sleep Influence the Estimate Risk of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome in Healthy Young Males.

Screen time (ST) has shown negative effects on physical and mental health, with an increase in the prevalence of overweight, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and obesity. The time spent in front of the screens was also associated with higher odds of selecting indicators of cardiometabolic disease in adulthood. In view of this, the aim of this study was to identify the risk of MetS and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in healthy young males and relate it to ST and sleep time.

Effects of photobiomodulation applied at different times on functional performance and ergogenic response of rugby athletes: Randomized clinical trial.

Background: Photobiomodulation (PBM) is indicated to accelerate the recovery of athletes and reduce muscle damage caused by physical exercise. The objective of this study was to establish the best time to apply photobiomodulation to increase the functional performance and ergogenic response of rugby athletes.

Methods: Randomized crossover clinical trial with 18 rugby athletes of both sexes.

A2 milk: Bioaccessibility of essential minerals and the release of amino groups under static in vitro digestion conditions.

Alternative milk products such as A2 milk are gaining popular stand within consumer market, for their healthy profile and expected greater digestibility characteristics. However, total mineral content and its bioaccessible profile have lacked in studies through the years, even more because of their relevance in public health. The present study aimed to evaluate the mineral profile of commercial A2 bovine milk (AT) and estimate the bioaccessibility of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium using the INFOGEST protocol.

Nutritional quality of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, and new front-of-package labeling (FOPL) in Brazil.

Unlabelled: The nutritional quality of 132 plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) and 242 plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs) in the Brazilian market was evaluated for nutritional content reported in the labeling. Added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium limits were also observed according to the new Brazilian front-of-pack labeling (FOPL). In general, PBMAs have a considerable content of protein, dietary fiber and reduced content of saturated fat and sodium, while PBDAs have a low Na content, a high content of total and saturated fat, but are poor in protein and dietary fiber.

Multivariate Machine Learning Models of Nanoscale Porosity from Ultrafast NMR Relaxometry.

Nanoporous materials are of great interest in many applications, such as catalysis, separation, and energy storage. The performance of these materials is closely related to their pore sizes, which are inefficient to determine through the conventional measurement of gas adsorption isotherms. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry has emerged as a technique highly sensitive to porosity in such materials.

Assessment of the ecological quality status of the Sepetiba Bay (SE Brazil): When metabarcoding meets morphology on foraminifera.

In recent years, the region surrounding Sepetiba Bay (SB; SE Brazil) has become a hub of intense urban expansion and economic exploitation in response to ore transport and industrial and port activities. As a result, contaminants have been introduced into the bay, leading to an overall worsening of the environmental quality. The present work applies for the first time a foraminiferal morphology-based approach (M) and eDNA-based metabarcoding sequencing (G), along with geochemical data to assess the ecological quality status (EcoQS) in the SB.

Tellimagrandin-I and camptothin a exhibit chemopreventive effects in serovar Typhimurium strains and human lymphocytes.

Tellimagrandin-I (TL) and camptothin A (CA) are ellagitannins widely found in diverse plant species. Numerous studies demonstrated their significant biological activities, which include antitumor, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. Despite this protective profile, the effects of TL and CA on DNA have not been comprehensively investigated.

Novel Gold Nanorods@Thiolated Pectin on the Killing of HeLa Cells by Photothermal Ablation.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have attracted attention in the field of biomedicine, particularly for their potential as photothermal agents capable of killing tumor cells by photothermic ablation. In this study, the synthesis of novel AuNRs stabilized with thiolated pectin (AuNR@SH-PEC) is reported. To achieve this, thiolated pectin (SH-PEC) was obtained by chemically binding cysteamine motifs to the pectin backbone.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs for forcibly displaced adolescent girls and young women (10-24 years old) in humanitarian settings: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Globally, there are 42 million women and girls estimated to be forcibly displaced. Adolescent girls and young women in humanitarian settings have their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) neglected. This systematic review aimed to describe SRH obstacles that adolescent girls and young women (10-24 years old) face in humanitarian settings in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Severe Hypercholesterolemia Mediated by Lipoprotein X in an Immunosuppressed Patient: A Case Report.

Cholestatic liver diseases may be associated with increased plasmatic cholesterol due to an abnormal lipoprotein - lipoprotein X (LpX). Correcting the underlying cause of cholestasis is the critical treatment of LpX-associated hypercholesterolemia without any proven benefit from conventional lipid-lowering agents. In some situations, plasma exchange may apply to prevent associated complications, such as hyperviscosity syndrome.