Incorporating Resource Constraints in Health Economic Evaluations: Overview and Methodological Considerations.

It is well known that healthcare resource constraints influence the capacity to deliver care, affecting both the costs and outcomes of medical interventions. If these constraints are not adequately accounted for in economic evaluations, there may be a lack of understanding regarding the full impact of implementing health technologies, leading to decisions being made with suboptimal information. This paper offers an overview of the types of healthcare resource constraints and their potential effects, and introduces a framework grounded in operations research and health economics principles, outlining the methodological considerations for incorporating resource constraints into economic evaluations.

Lignin-Furanic Rigid Foams: Enhanced Methylene Blue Removal Capacity, Recyclability, and Flame Retardancy.

Worldwide, populations face issues related to water and energy consumption. Water scarcity has intensified globally, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Projections indicate that by 2030, global water demand will rise by 50%, leading to critical shortages, further intensified by the impacts of climate change.

Insights into rare earth element speciation: unraveling sulfate and hydrolysis complexes through DFT calculations.

Context: Rare earth elements (REE) are indispensable in numerous green technologies owing to their exceptional physical and chemical attributes. Separating REE is a pivotal process to meet the increasing demands of the high-tech industry. Understanding the hydrolysis of REE in aqueous environments marks the initial stride in comprehending their separation mechanisms.

On the Valorization of Olive Oil Pomace: A Sustainable Approach for Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Media.

Currently, industrial water pollution represents a significant global challenge, with the potential to adversely impact human health and the integrity of ecosystems. The continuous increase in global consumption has resulted in an exponential rise in the use of dyes, which have become one of the major water pollutants, causing significant environmental impacts. In order to address these concerns, a number of wastewater treatment methods have been developed, with a particular focus on physicochemical approaches, such as adsorption.

Exploring the electrochemical properties and lithium insertion mechanisms in akaganeite (β-FeOOH) - a combined DFT/experimental study.

Akaganeite (β-FeOOH) has been intensely investigated to be used in different electrochemical applications as a cathode material in Li-ion batteries owing to its unique structural characteristics, including channels capable of accommodating and reversibly extracting charged species such as lithium or sodium ions. We revisited the synthesis, and its electrochemical properties based on a combined experimental/theoretical approach aiming to understand the mechanism of the electron transfer in this material. Electrochemical investigations, employing LiSO aqueous electrolyte, unveiled notable alterations in the charge/discharge profiles.

Comparative study between high-fidelity simulation and medium-fidelity simulation in decision-making of nursing students: experimental study.

Objective: to compare the decision-making of Nursing students, before and after theoretical training on basic life support, using the practice of high-fidelity simulation and medium-fidelity simulation.

Method: an experimental study was developed, pre- and post-test type, with quantitative, descriptive and inferential analysis, with theoretical training on basic life support and clinical simulation practices, and with evaluation of knowledge and decision-making of Nursing students, at three different moments - before the simulation scenario (T0), after the simulation scenario (T1) and after clinical teaching (T2).

Results: 51 students participated in the research, with an average age of 20.

Predisposing Factors to Medication Errors by Nurses and Prevention Strategies: A Scoping Review of Recent Literature.

Medication errors have serious consequences and high costs for the patient and the system. The treatment process and the care required for critically ill patients are complex, and these patients are more vulnerable to errors and potential consequences. A scoping review using the JBI methodology was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE databases and reported by the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to explore strategies that can mitigate medication errors by nurses.

Advancements in Detection and Mitigation Strategies for Petroleum-Derived Contaminants in Aquatic Environments: A Comprehensive Review.

The exponential increase in the production and transportation of petroleum-derived products observed in recent years has been driven by the escalating demand for energy, textiles, plastic-based materials, and other goods derived from petroleum. Consequently, there has been a corresponding rise in spills of these petroleum derivatives, particularly in water sources utilized for transportation or, occasionally, illegally utilized for tank cleaning or industrial equipment maintenance. Numerous researchers have proposed highly effective techniques for detecting these products, aiming to facilitate their cleanup or containment and thereby minimize environmental pollution.

Clinical and anthropometric evolution of individuals with cystic fibrosis during COVID-19 pandemic: A 24-month cohort study.

Objectives: To analyze the evolution of clinical and anthropometric characteristics of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) over 24 months, including the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A longitudinal study with data collection from May 2018 to November 2020 in physical and electronic records from a pediatric reference center, including individuals with CF aged up to 18 years.

Results: The sample encompassed 72 individuals.

The Influence of Pericardial Fat on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function.

Background: Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; left ventricular diastolic dysfunction plays a leading role in this clinical context. Diastolic dysfunction may be predisposed by increased abdominal fat and, consequently, increased pericardial and epicardial adiposity. This study aimed to determine whether pericardial fat (PF) and epicardial fat (EF) are associated with left ventricular diastolic function.

HER2 and PD-L1 Expression in Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: Insights for Combinatorial Targeting Approaches.

Gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas (GA/GEJA) are associated with a poor prognosis, primarily due to late disease diagnosis. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression are important biomarkers for treatment selection in locally advanced unresectable and metastatic GA/GEJA, and there is increasing interest in their role in earlier stages of disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate HER2 and PD-L1 expression in a curative-intent GA/GEJA cohort to describe their expression patterns and analyze the association between HER2 expression and clinicopathological features.

Diagnosis change in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: This study aims to characterize pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who change diagnosis and describe the characteristics of that change.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric IBD patients from the ImproveCareNow (ICN) multicenter international cohort from 2007 to January 2019. Primary outcome was change in diagnosis after the first four visits.

Effects of upper limbs' neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) superimposed to voluntary contraction added to a protocol of intradialytic leg cycle ergometer exercise, in muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life of adult patients with CKD: a randomized clinical trial protocol.

Objective: To investigate the effects of unilateral upper limbs' (ULM) neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) superimposed on a voluntary contraction added to a protocol of intradialytic leg cycle ergometer exercise on muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life of adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial will be carried out at a Brazilian University Hospital. The patients will be evaluated and randomly allocated to an intervention group (i.

Exploring Professional Practice Environments and Organisational Context Factors Affecting Nurses' Adoption of Evidence-Based Practice: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review, conducted within the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework, analysed the recent literature (January 2018 to March 2023) addressing factors inherent to professional practice environments and organisational contexts influencing nurses' adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP). This review included studies involving nurses regardless of sector, practice setting, and scope of practice. A systematic search was undertaken across the PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and MEDLINE databases, as well as the EThOS, OATD, and RCAAP platforms.

Plant-derived Durvalumab variants show efficient PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and therapeutically favourable FcR binding.

Immune checkpoint blocking therapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory signalling pathway has produced encouraging results in the treatment of a variety of cancers. Durvalumab (Imfinzi) targeting PD-L1 is currently used for immunotherapy of several tumour malignancies. The Fc region of this IgG1 antibody has been engineered to reduce FcγR interactions with the aim of enhancing blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions without the depletion of PD-L1-expressing immune cells.

Efficacy, Toxicity, and Prognostic Factors of Re-treatment With [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in Patients With Progressing Neuroendocrine Tumors: The Experience of a Single Center.

Purpose: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective and safe treatment of unresectable or metastatic, progressive neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). However, if progression occurs after the initial PRRT, treatment options remain limited. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a repeat Lutetium-[DOTA°,Tyr]octreotate ([Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE) PRRT course in patients with progressive NET after the first [Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy first treatment (PRRT1)).

Brazilian physiotherapist anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

This study investigated the prevalence and the potential risk factors for anxiety and depression among physiotherapists during the pandemic. Physiotherapists answered a web-based questionnaire including 1) sociodemographic, professional and clinical information; 2) psychosocial demands; and 3) two validated questionnaires to measure anxiety and depression. Binary logistic regression identified the risk factors by means of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Candida albicans chitinase 3 with potential as a vaccine antigen: production, purification, and characterisation.

Chitinases are widely studied enzymes that have already found widespread application. Their continued development and valorisation will be driven by the identification of new and improved variants and/or novel applications bringing benefits to industry and society. We previously identified a novel application for chitinases wherein the Candida albicans cell wall surface chitinase 3 (Cht3) was shown to have potential in vaccine applications as a subunit antigen against fungal infections.

On the Valorization of L. Pomace: Polyphenol Extraction and Development of Novel Functional Cookies.

The fruits of L. have a crimson colour and are enriched with remarkable concentrations of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and polyphenols. These fruits are commonly used in the production of a Portuguese Protected Geographical Indication distillate called "Aguardente de Medronho".

Sustainable extraction of polyphenols from vine shoots using deep eutectic solvents: Influence of the solvent, Vitis sp., and extraction technique.

Vine shoots are the main by-products of grapevine pruning with no added value. In the present study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used as alternatives to traditional chemical solvents, for the extraction of phytochemicals from grapevine shoots. Three levulinic acid-based DESs were tested for the first time, and their performance was compared to methanol (a standard chemical solvent) regarding the extraction of phenolic compounds from thirteen Vitis sp.

Social Robots and Brain-Computer Interface Video Games for Dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that affects a large number of young people in the world. The current treatments for children living with ADHD combine different approaches, such as pharmacological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychological treatment. However, the computer science research community has been working on developing non-pharmacological treatments based on novel technologies for dealing with ADHD.

Interventions to Minimize Medication Error by Nurses in Intensive Care: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Medication errors represent a concern for healthcare organizations due to their negative consequences. In the nursing context, these errors represent a threat to the quality of care and patient safety. Many factors have been identified as potential causes for these errors in intensive care units.

Engineering novel phenolic foams with lignin extracted from pine wood residues via a new levulinic-acid assisted process.

Phenolic foams are typically produced from phenolic resins, using phenol and formaldehyde precursors. Therefore, common phenolic foams are non-sustainable, comprising growing environmental, health, and economic concerns. In this work, lignin extracted from pine wood residues using a "green" levulinic acid-based solvent, was used to partially substitute non-sustainable phenol.

Does it fit in your pocket? economic burden of PD-1 inhibitors' toxicity in the supplementary health system: evidence from Brazil.

Background: A full understanding of the economic burden associated with treatment-related adverse events (AEs) can aid estimates of the incremental costs associated with incorporating new technologies and support cost-effective economic modeling in Brazil. In this context, the main objective of this work was to evaluate in a real-life database: (i) the direct medical cost of monitoring the occurrence of AEs (CMO); (ii) the direct medical cost of managing an identified AE (CMN); and (iii) the total direct medical cost of monitoring and managing AEs (TMC), in quarterly periods from 0 to 24 months of the monitoring of cancer patients who used a PD-1 inhibitor from the perspective of the supplementary health system in Brazil.

Methods: This study was conducted from the supplementary health system (SSS) perspective and followed the methodological guidelines related to cost-of-illness studies.