Cultivating Excellence: Development and Validation of a Bilingual Competency Self-Assessment Tool for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners.

Background: The study aimed at developing and validating a bilingual competency self-assessment tool for infection prevention and control practitioners based on the core competencies proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: The study was conducted from December/2021 to June/2023. The bilingual tool (Brazilian Portuguese and English versions) was developed according to four stages: 1) conceptual framework establishment and item generation; 2) content validity; 3) response process validity; and 4) internal structure validity.

From Traditional to Cutting-Edge: Transforming Pulmonary Valve Assessment With Advanced Echocardiography Techniques.

The pulmonary valve (PV), although often less emphasized than other heart valves, is crucial for cardiac function and hemodynamics. Historically, the PV has been underrepresented in echocardiographic assessments due to its rare involvement in pathological conditions, particularly in adults. Additionally, the anatomical position of the PV makes it one of the most challenging valves to visualize using conventional echocardiography.

Adjuvant hormone therapy and overall survival among low-grade and apparent early-stage endometrial stromal sarcoma patients.

Objective: Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS). While adjuvant hormone therapy is recommended for patients with advanced/recurrent disease, no consensus regarding its use among early-stage patients exists. We aimed to identify correlates of adjuvant hormone therapy use and associations of adjuvant hormone therapy and overall survival (OS) in stage I LG-ESS patients.

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, an intriguing polysaccharide from sea cucumber: past, present, and future.

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS) is a unique polysaccharide, first described nearly four decades ago, and found exclusively in sea cucumbers. It is a component of the extracellular matrix, possibly associated with peculiar properties of the invertebrate tissue. The carbohydrate features a chondroitin sulfate core with branches of sulfated α-Fuc linked to position 3 of the β-GlcA.

Systems Immunology Approaches to Understanding Immune Responses in Acute Infection of Yellow Fever Patients.

In the 2018 yellow fever (YF) outbreak in Brazil, we generated new transcriptomic data and combined it with clinical and immunological data to decode the pathogenesis of YF. Analyzing 79 patients, we found distinct gene expression patterns between acute YF, other viral infections, and the milder YF-17D vaccine infection. We identified a critical role for low-density, immature neutrophils in severe outcomes, marked by the downregulation of genes essential for neutrophil migration and maturation, such as PADI4, CSF3R, and ICAM1, in deceased patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation for Fontan Circulation Patients: A Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis.

: Despite advances in the surgical management of patients with Fontan circulation, their exercise capacity and quality of life remain significantly impaired. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) offers promising improvements in these areas, but the implementation and adherence to these programmes are often inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and optimal exercise modalities for Fontan patients.

Lifetime clinical presentation of Still's disease in the Afro-descendant population of the French West Indies.

Introduction: The continuum in Still's disease has never been addressed in Afro-descendant (AD) populations. The aim of this study was to compare the features of Still's disease between children and adults in the AD population of French West Indies (FWI).

Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study from January 2000-2022.

Clinical trial enrollment during first course of gynecologic cancer treatment and survival.

Objective: Among gynecologic cancer patients, it is unclear whether participation in clinical trials impacts survival outcomes. In addition, given the known racial and ethnic disparities in gynecologic cancer trial enrollment, it is important to assess whether clinical trial enrollment is similarly related to overall survival among racial and ethnic minorities. Therefore, we examined associations between clinical trial enrollment and overall survival and potential effect modification by race/ethnicity and cancer site among gynecologic cancer patients.

Changes in anthropometry, adiposity, and inflammation in Black and White women engaged in intentional weight loss.

Objective: We examined associations among changes in anthropometry, regional adiposity, and inflammatory markers in Black and White women participating in intentional weight loss.

Methods: A total of 104 women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m self-selected bariatric surgery (n = 66) or a diet and exercise program (n = 38). Anthropometric, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-quantified regional adiposity, and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], soluble TNF receptor I [sTNFRI], sTNFRII, interleukin [IL]-6, and soluble IL-1 receptor antagonist) were measured at baseline and 6 months.

Presence and extent of lymphovascular invasion in surgical stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix: a comprehensive, international, multicentre, retrospective clinicopathological study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence and extent of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is prognostic in surgical stage I cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All available tumour slides and/or paraffin blocks from 426 patients with stage I cervical SCC treated surgically with curative intent were collected from 18 institutions and retrospectively analysed. Presence and extent of LVI (focal <5 spaces, extensive ≥5 spaces) were assessed on scanning magnification in large haematoxylin and eosin slide sets in 366 cases.

The Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Paediatric Fontan Circulation Patients: A Prospective Intervention Study.

The Fontan procedure, a palliative surgery for univentricular heart physiology, often reduces exercise capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on improving outcomes in Fontan patients to inform evidence-based care. Fontan patients aged 8-30 participated in a structured CR program for at least three months.

A Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Advances in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) pose significant clinical challenges due to their complex healing processes and the often incomplete functional recovery. This review and bibliometric analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of advancements in peripheral nerve regeneration research, focusing on trends, influential studies, and emerging areas. By analyzing 2921 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection, key themes such as nerve regeneration, repair, and the critical role of Schwann cells were identified.

AFTER-CA: Autonomic Function Transformation and Evaluation Following Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation.

Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its effects on autonomic function and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated autonomic and haemodynamic changes following CA and explored their potential implications for patient outcomes.

Filling the gaps on parasites of : Helminth community structure of (Anura: Hylidae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

is an arboreal anuran widely distributed in South America. However, there are no parasitological studies conducted on the species, resulting in a parasite fauna completely unknown. Thus, this study aims to characterize the parasitic community structure of in the municipality of Pedra Branca do Amapari, Amapá state, Amazon region, Brazil.

Two names, one species: redescription and phylogenetic position of Freitas, 1959 provides new insights into the evolutionary history of the Cosmocercidae.

are gastrointestinal parasites of anurans, distributed throughout Central and South America. and are some of the most commonly reported species parasitising anurans from Brazil, and the morphological differences between them are unclear. In the present study, we redescribed based on a re-examination of type series and newly collected material from the frog in the state of Amapá, Brazil.

Generation of humanized mouse models to support therapeutic development for SYNGAP1 and STXBP1 disorders.

Heterozygous variants in and lead to distinct neurodevelopmental disorders caused by haploinsufficient levels of post-synaptic SYNGAP1 and pre-synaptic STXBP1, which are critical for normal synaptic function. While several gene-targeted therapeutic approaches have proven efficacious , these often target regions of the human gene that are not conserved in rodents, hindering the pre-clinical development of these compounds and their transition to the clinic. To overcome this limitation, here we generate and characterize and humanized mouse models in which we replaced the mouse and gene, respectively, with the human counterpart, including regulatory and non-coding regions.

IOC consensus statement on elite youth athletes competing at the Olympic Games: essentials to a healthy, safe and sustainable paradigm.

With the pronounced ongoing growth of global youth sports, opportunities for and participation of youth athletes on the world sports stage, including the Olympic Games, are expected to escalate. Yet, adolescence is a vulnerable period of development and inherently dynamic, with non-linear and asynchronous progression of physical, physiological, psychological and social attributes. These non-concurrent changes within and between individuals are accompanied by irregular and unpredictable threats and impediments.

Developing a consensus-based motivational care pathway for individuals with lower limb fractures: a Delphi protocol.

Older adults with lower limb fractures often harbor concerns about losing their mobility, fearing a loss of independence. It is vital to develop strategies that foster their active engagement in the rehabilitation process. The present protocol aims to create a care pathway tailored to motivate individuals with lower limb fractures to adhere to rehabilitation.