Safety and efficacy assessment of a synthetic porcine recombinant corticotrophin for the ACTH stimulation test in healthy cats.

Porcine adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) has been considered valid for the ACTH stimulation test (ACTHST) in humans and dogs; however, its safety and efficacy for use in cats are unknown. Also, the equivalence between 5 µg/kg and 125 µg/cat dose of synthetic corticotropin (1-24 ACTH - cosyntropin/tetracosactide) is assumed for ACTHST in cats. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of different porcine recombinant ACTH doses for the ACTHST in healthy cats and its equivalence with tetracosactide.

Applicability of terahertz spectroscopy in dentistry: a scoping review.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the scope, nature, and extent of the applicability of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in dentistry.

Study Design: A scoping review was conducted following the 5-step methodology of Arksey and O'Malley, the PRISMA-ScR checklist, and the Evidence Synthesis Manual of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Electronic literature searches were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases, including full-text articles with no specific publication period.

Bioengineered Abiotic Nanomaterials Through Cell Membrane-Camouflaging: Advancements and Challenges in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates and poor prognosis. Bridging the gap between the chemical and cellular understanding of cell-decorated biomimetic nanocomposites and their clinical translation is crucial for developing effective therapies. Nanocomposites show promise in targeted drug delivery and diagnostics, but their clinical application is hindered by biocompatibility and clearance issues.

Composite MAX phase/MXene/Ni electrodes with a porous 3D structure for hydrogen evolution and energy storage application.

MXenes, a family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, have been discovered as exciting candidates for various energy storage and conversion applications, including green hydrogen production by water splitting. Today, these materials mostly remain interesting objects for in-depth fundamental studies and scientific curiosity due to issues related to their preparation and environmental stability, limiting potential industrial applications. This work proposes a simple and inexpensive concept of composite electrodes composed of molybdenum- and titanium-containing MAX phases and MXene as functional materials.

Phosphorus removal from urban wastewater through adsorption using biogenic calcium carbonate.

Phosphorus (P) removal from urban wastewater is increasingly relevant in the wastewater treatment sector. The present work aims to contribute to the study of the adsorption process as a P removal technology. Biogenic calcium carbonate from industrial eggshell waste prepared by milling and calcination was used as an adsorbent.

Applying children's enuresis treatment with amitriptyline for canine post-spaying urinary incontinence: A pilot estriol-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Urinary incontinence due to urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) affects up to 20% of bitches that undergo spaying surgery. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant whose urinary retention is a reported side effect. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of amitriptyline when compared to estriol orally.

Characterization of biomarkers in blood serum for cancer diagnosis in dogs using Raman spectroscopy.

Biomarkers of cancer in sera of domestic dogs were detected through Raman spectroscopy with 830 nm excitation. Raman spectra of sera from 61 dogs (31 healthy and 30 with cancer, resulting in 154 and 200 spectra, respectively) were submitted to principal component analysis (PCA) for feature extraction and partial least squares (PLS) regression for discrimination between Healthy and Cancer groups. In the PCA, the peaks at 1132, 1342, 1368, and 1453 cm (albumin and phenylalanine) were higher for the Cancer group.

Evaluating the ability of an artificial-intelligence cloud-based platform designed to provide information prior to locoregional therapy for breast cancer in improving patient's satisfaction with therapy: The CINDERELLA trial.

Background: Breast cancer therapy improved significantly, allowing for different surgical approaches for the same disease stage, therefore offering patients different aesthetic outcomes with similar locoregional control. The purpose of the CINDERELLA trial is to evaluate an artificial-intelligence (AI) cloud-based platform (CINDERELLA platform) vs the standard approach for patient education prior to therapy.

Methods: A prospective randomized international multicentre trial comparing two methods for patient education prior to therapy.

Bioengineered exosomal-membrane-camouflaged abiotic nanocarriers: neurodegenerative diseases, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

A bio-inspired strategy has recently been developed for camouflaging nanocarriers with biomembranes, such as natural cell membranes or subcellular structure-derived membranes. This strategy endows cloaked nanomaterials with improved interfacial properties, superior cell targeting, immune evasion potential, and prolonged duration of systemic circulation. Here, we summarize recent advances in the production and application of exosomal membrane-coated nanomaterials.

Recovery of dried samples from the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (CHIOC)/Fiocruz through specimen rehydration technique.

The Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute is the biggest in Latin America and it is among the largest collections at worldwide reference level, with around 40,000 sets of specimens and approximately one million individual specimens. It contains helminths parasites of vertebrate and invertebrate animals that form part of the fauna of Brazil and other countries. The samples comprise holotypes, paratypes and representative specimens of Platyhelminthes, Acanthocephala, Nematoda and other non-helminth phyla, such as Annelida and Arthropoda.

[A Cognitive Behavioural-Based Intervention in Reducing Test Anxiety in High School Students: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial].

Introduction: School-age test anxiety is an important risk factor for school performance. Notwithstanding, few studies seek to identify which strategies are effective in improving test anxiety. The aim of this study was to assess whether a cognitive-behavioural intervention for high school students could significantly reduce test anxiety.

Evaluation of the effects of gabapentin on the physiologic and echocardiographic variables of healthy cats: a prospective, randomized and blinded study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate, using echocardiography, the effects of oral administration of a single dose of gabapentin on the physiologic variables (heart rate [HR], respiratory rate [RR] and systolic blood pressure [SBP]) and systolic and diastolic cardiac function of healthy cats.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized and blinded study with 40 healthy cats aged between 6 months and 2 years. The cats' health status was assessed on the first appointment (T1) when they underwent a physical examination, complete blood count, biochemical profile, assessment of physiologic variables and echocardiogram.

Emerging Role of miR-21-5p in Neuron-Glia Dysregulation and Exosome Transfer Using Multiple Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with neuron-glia dysfunction and dysregulated miRNAs. We previously reported upregulated miR-124/miR-21 in AD neurons and their exosomes. However, their glial distribution, phenotypic alterations and exosomal spread are scarcely documented.

Determination of hormones in urine by hollow fiber microporous membrane liquid-liquid extraction associated with 96-well plate system and HPLC-FLD detection.

In this work, hollow-fiber microporous membrane liquid-liquid extraction (HF-MMLLE) was associated with a 96-well plate system for the determination of estrone, 17-β-estradiol, estriol and 17-α-ethinylestradiol in urine samples. This method exhibited some advantages, such as low cost, easy application, high-throughput and environmentally-friendly aspects. The type of organic solvent to fill the membrane, ionic strength effect, sample dilution, extraction and desorption time, and desorption solvent were examined.

Potential Renal Damage Biomarkers in Alport Syndrome-A Review of the Literature.

Alport syndrome (AS) is the second most common cause of inherited chronic kidney disease. This disorder is caused by genetic variants on , and genes. These genes encode the proteins that constitute collagen type IV of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM).

Macrophage Cell Membrane-Cloaked Nanoplatforms for Biomedical Applications.

Biomimetic approaches utilize natural cell membrane-derived nanovesicles to camouflage nanoparticles to circumvent some limitations of nanoscale materials. This emergent cell membrane-coating technology is inspired by naturally occurring intercellular interactions, to efficiently guide nanostructures to the desired locations, thereby increasing both therapeutic efficacy and safety. In addition, the intrinsic biocompatibility of cell membranes allows the crossing of biological barriers and avoids elimination by the immune system.

Prospects of Using Pseudobrookite as an Iron-Bearing Mineral for the Alkaline Electrolytic Production of Iron.

The alkaline electrolytic production of iron is gaining interest due to the absence of CO emissions and significantly lower electrical energy consumption when compared with traditional steelmaking. The possibility of using an iron-bearing pseudobrookite mineral, FeTiO, is explored for the first time as an alternative feedstock for the electrochemical reduction process. To assess relevant impacts of the presence of titanium, similar electroreduction processes were also performed for FeTiO·FeO and FeO.

Exploiting Nanomaterials for Optical Coherence Tomography and Photoacoustic Imaging in Nanodentistry.

There is already a societal awareness of the growing impact of nanoscience and nanotechnology, with nanomaterials (with at least one dimension less than 100 nm) now incorporated in items as diverse as mobile phones, clothes or dentifrices. In the healthcare area, nanoparticles of biocompatible materials have already been used for cancer treatment or bioimaging enhancement. Nanotechnology in dentistry, or nanodentistry, has already found some developments in dental nanomaterials for caries management, restorative dentistry and orthodontic adhesives.

Identification of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids multiple targets facing periodontopathogens.

The eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play a substantial role in Periodontal Disease (PD) due to their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory actions. However, their antimicrobial mechanism of action against bacteria involved in PD remains unclear. We aimed to estimate the probable targets of EPA and DHA against the seven periodontopathogens.

Beneficial use of lime mud from kraft pulp industry for drying and microbiological decontamination of sewage sludge.

Sewage sludge (SS) is a global environmental, social, and economic problem that requires a sustainable management approach. Still, the production of other industrial wastes, such as lime mud (LM), has recently gained considerable attention to avoid landfilling. This work aims to present a new approach for converting SS and LM into value-added products within the circular economy perspective.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: from early diagnosis to successful kidney transplantation.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is an uncommon but serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. In most cases, the symptoms appear after peritoneal dialysis withdrawal, which hampers its diagnosis. We present the case of a 44-years-old Caucasian male who had been on peritoneal dialysis for 6 years and 3 months and was switched to hemodialysis due to ultrafiltration failure.

Influence of NSAIDs and methotrexate on CD73 expression and glioma cell growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant and deadly brain tumor. GBM cells overexpress the CD73 enzyme, which controls the level of extracellular adenosine, an immunosuppressive molecule. Studies have shown that some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and methotrexate (MTX) have antiproliferative and modulatory effects on CD73 in vitro and in vivo.

Prospects for Electrical Performance Tuning in CaCoO Materials by Metallic Fe and Ni Particles Additions.

This work further explores the possibilities for designing the high-temperature electrical performance of the thermoelectric CaCoO phase, by a composite approach involving separate metallic iron and nickel particles additions, and by employing two different sintering schemes, capable to promote the controlled interactions between the components, encouraged by our recent promising results obtained for similar cobalt additions. Iron and nickel were chosen because of their similarities with cobalt. The maximum power factor value of around 200 μWmK at 925 K was achieved for the composite with the nominal nickel content of 3% vol.

Repeat and Relapsing Peritonitis Microbiological Trends and Outcomes: A 21-Year Single-Center Experience.

Peritonitis is a major peritoneal dialysis complication. Despite a high cure rate, relapsing and repeat peritonitis is associated with Tenckhoff catheter biofilm and multiple episodes of peritoneal damage. In relapsing peritonitis, prompt catheter removal is mandatory; otherwise, in repeat peritonitis, there is not a clear indication for catheter removal.