Evaluating changes in body composition, bone mass, and metabolic profile in an animal model undergoing transfeminine hormone therapy and physical exercise.

Background & Aims: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is essential for transgender individuals seeking body modifications. For transfeminine people assigned male at birth, GAHT typically involves a combination of antiandrogens and estrogens. Despite its importance, the scientific literature presents inconsistencies regarding the effects of these hormones on nutritional status, body composition, and biochemical markers.

Conservation gaps for Brazilian bats, limited protection across conservation units and the importance of the indigenous lands.

In Brazil, there is 13% of the world's bat diversity, is the second most diverse group of mammals, playing a crucial role in providing ecosystem services that benefit humans. However, anthropogenic disturbances exacerbate processes of species extinction, shifts in geographic distributions, and phenological changes, despite efforts to safeguard biodiversity through the creation of Conservation Units and Indigenous Lands. Moreover, gaps in taxonomic knowledge and challenges related to species distribution hinder the effective implementation of conservation strategies in protected areas.

Nicorandil antiallodynic activity in a model of neuropathic pain is associated with the activation of ATP-dependent potassium channels and opioidergic pathways, and reduced production of cytokines and neutrophils recruitment in paw, sciatic nerve, and dorsal root ganglia.

Background: Recently, we demonstrated that nicorandil inhibits mechanical allodynia induced by paclitaxel. In the present study, we evaluated the effect induced by nicorandil in a model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) in mice. We also investigated putative mechanisms underlying such an effect.

Neovaginoplasty With Nile Tilapia Skin Graft in A Patient With Gonadal Dysgenesis: A Case Report.

Background: Gonadal dysgenesis, a genetic condition characterized by incomplete of defective formation of the gonads, can present with vaginal agenesis in individuals with 46, XY karyotype.

Case: We report an innovative intervention in the management of vaginal agenesis in a 19-year-old female with gonadal dysgenesis. Despite initial attempts with vaginal dilators, the patient presented unresponsive, leading to the adoption of a neovaginoplasty using Nile Tilapia Fish Skin (NTFS) as graft.

Accuracy of an artificial intelligence algorithm for detecting moderate-to-severe vertebral compression fractures on abdominal and thoracic computed tomography scans.

Objective: To describe the accuracy of HealthVCF, a software product that uses artificial intelligence, in the detection of incidental moderate-to-severe vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) on chest and abdominal computed tomography scans.

Materials And Methods: We included a consecutive sample of 899 chest and abdominal computed tomography scans of patients 51-99 years of age. Scans were retrospectively evaluated by the software and by two specialists in musculoskeletal imaging for the presence of VCFs with vertebral body height loss > 25%.

Evaluation of the effects of the Zika Virus-Immunoglobulin G complex on murine microglial cells.

After the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil, ZIKV infections were linked to damage to the central nervous system (CNS) and congenital anomalies. Due to the virus's ability to cross the placenta and reach brain tissue, its effects become severe, leading to Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) and resulting in neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and secretion of neurotoxic factors. The presence of ZIKV triggers an inadequate fetal immune response, as the fetus only has the protection of maternal antibodies of the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) class, which are the only antibodies capable of crossing the placenta.

Bidirectional activation of stem-like programs between metastatic cancer and alveolar type 2 cells within the niche.

A key step for metastatic outgrowth involves the generation of a deeply altered microenvironment (niche) that supports the malignant behavior of cancer cells. The complexity of the metastatic niche has posed a significant challenge in elucidating the underlying programs driving its origin. Here, by focusing on early stages of breast cancer metastasis to the lung in mice, we describe a cancer-dependent chromatin remodeling and activation of developmental programs in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells within the niche.

A forecasting tool for a hospital to plan inbound transfers of COVID-19 patients from other regions.

Background: In April 2021, the province of Ontario, Canada, was at the peak of its third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity in the Toronto metropolitan area was insufficient to handle local COVID patients. As a result, some patients from the Toronto metropolitan area were transferred to other regions.

Metformin inhibits paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia by activating opioidergic pathways and reducing cytokines production in the dorsal root ganglia and thalamus.

It has been shown that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is involved in the nociceptive processing. This observation has prompted us to investigate the effects of the AMPK activator metformin on the paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia, a well-established model of neuropathic pain. Mechanical allodynia was induced by four intraperitoneal (i.

Evaluation of the healing potential of Nile tilapia skin collagen in traumatic oral ulcers in male rats.

Objective: To evaluate the healing potential of Nile tilapia skin collagen using a rat model with experimentally induced traumatic oral ulcers.

Design: Male Wistar rats were segregated into three experimental groups (n = 8/group/euthanasia day). Ulcers were induced using a dermatological punch on the left buccal mucosa.

A clindamycin acetylated derivative with reduced antibacterial activity inhibits articular hyperalgesia and edema by attenuating neutrophil recruitment, NF-κB activation and tumor necrosis factor-α production.

We recently demonstrated that clindamycin exhibits activities in acute and chronic models of pain and inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of clindamycin and a clindamycin acetylated derivative (CAD) in models of acute joint inflammation and in a microbiological assay. Joint inflammation was induced in mice by intraarticular (i.

Nano-scaled surfaces and sustainable-antibiotic-release from polymeric coating for application on intra-osseous implants and trans-mucosal abutments.

Multifunctional surfaces may display the potential to accelerate and promote the healing process around dental implants. However, the initial cellular biocompatibility, molecular activity, and the release of functionalized molecules from these novel surfaces require extensive investigation for clinical use. Aiming to develop and compare innovative surfaces for application in dental implants, the present study utilized titanium disks, which were treated and divided into four groups: machined (Macro); acid-etched (Micro); anodized-hydrophilic surface (TNTs); and anodized surface coated with a rifampicin-loaded polymeric layer (poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA) (TNTsRIMP).

Forecasting ICU Census by Combining Time Series and Survival Models.

Unlabelled: Capacity planning of ICUs is essential for effective management of health safety, quality of patient care, and the allocation of ICU resources. Whereas ICU length of stay (LOS) may be estimated using patient information such as severity of illness scoring systems, ICU census is impacted by both patient LOS and arrival patterns. We set out to develop and evaluate an ICU census forecasting algorithm using the Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score (MODS) and the Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score (NEMS) for capacity planning purposes.

Chemical characterization, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Lippia lacunosa, a species used by the Bandeirantes.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Lippia lacunosa Mart. & Schauer is an endemic plant from the Serra do Espinhaço mountain range located on the Atlantic plateau, Brazil. It is known as "chá de pedestre" and "rosmaninho" in folk medicine.

Lung adenocarcinoma promotion by air pollutants.

A complete understanding of how exposure to environmental substances promotes cancer formation is lacking. More than 70 years ago, tumorigenesis was proposed to occur in a two-step process: an initiating step that induces mutations in healthy cells, followed by a promoter step that triggers cancer development. Here we propose that environmental particulate matter measuring ≤2.

Synthesis of 2-(2-(4-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiole-5-yl) phenoxy)ethyl)isoindole-1,3-thione, a novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing phthalimide hybrid, and evaluation of its activity in models of inflammatory pain.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gaseous mediator that modulates several physiological and pathological processes. Phthalimide analogues, substances that have the phthalimide ring in the structure, belong to the group of thalidomide analogues. Both HS donors and phthalimide analogues exhibit activities in models of inflammation and pain.

Relative Efficiency of Radiation Treatment Centers: An Application of Data Envelopment Analysis.

This study determines the relative efficiencies of a number of cancer treatment centers in Ontario, taking into account the differences among them so that their performances can be compared against the provincial targets. These differences can be in physical and financial resources, and patient demographics. An analytical framework is developed based on a three-step data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to build efficiency metrics for planning, delivery, and quality of treatment at each center.

Reflected stemness as a potential driver of the tumour microenvironment.

A fundamental requirement for cancer initiation is the activation of developmental programmes by mutant cells. Oncogenic signals often confer an undifferentiated, stem cell-like phenotype that supports the long-term proliferative potential of cancer cells. Although cancer is a genetically driven disease, mutations in cancer-driver genes alone are insufficient for tumour formation, and the proliferation of cells harbouring oncogenic mutations depends on their microenvironment.