siRNA lipid nanoparticles for CXCL12 silencing modulate brain immune response during Zika infection.

CXCL12 is a key chemokine implicated in neuroinflammation, particularly during Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Specifically, CXCL12 is upregulated in circulating cells of ZIKV infected patients. Here, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) to deliver siRNA in vivo to assess the impact of CXCL12 silencing in the context of ZIKV infection.

Deep learning networks in the segmentation of the left atrial appendage in 2D ultrasound: A comparative analysis.

Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the major source of thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Currently, LAA occlusion can be offered as a treatment for these patients, obstructing the LAA through a percutaneously delivered device. Nevertheless, correct device sizing is a complex task, requiring manual analysis of medical images.

Soft glassy materials with tunable extensibility.

Extensibility is beyond the paradigm of classical soft glassy materials, and more broadly, yield-stress fluids. Recently, model yield-stress fluids with significant extensibility have been designed by adding polymeric phases to classically viscoplastic dispersions [Nelson , , 2018, , 357; Nelson , , 2019, , 100758; Dekker , , 2022, , 104938]. However, fundamental questions remain about the design of and coupling between the shear and extensional rheology of such systems.

Lichen planus after COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

Background: Lichen planus is one of the common adverse reactions after COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Despite it being reported in several case reports, the literature including a large sample of the studied population is lacking. The current study was performed to assess the risk of LP after COVID-19 infection as well as COVID-19 vaccination.

Conservatively Treated Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis in a 48-Year-Old Obese Female: A Case Report.

Mesenteric vein thrombosis (MVT) is a rare pathological entity that results in compromised venous return from the intestine due to involvement, in most cases, of the superior mesenteric vein. Its diagnosis is not straightforward, since the findings on physical examination are often disproportionate to the patient's pain complaints, leading to it being undervalued by clinicians. The patient is a 48-year-old female with a medical history of essential arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, class II obesity, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Parkia from Cerrado: phytochemical bioprospection, toxicity and in vitro bioactivities of bark and flower extracts.

Parkia platycephala is the only species of the genus Parkia that is endemic to the brazilian Cerrado and the tree symbol of the state of Tocantins, but there are still few studies regarding its bioprospecting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, toxicity and bioactivities of the bark and flower of Parkia platycephala. Hot sequential extractions (Soxhlet) were performed using methanol and hydroethanolic solution (70%), after degreasing the sample (hexane).

Label-free multimodal analysis of copper ions at below permissible exposure limit in the aqueous medium.

An anthraimidazoledione based amphiphilic dye molecule was synthesized that shows formation of tuneable charge-transfer state in solution, susceptible to change in pH, polarity and hydrogen bonding ability of the medium. The compound also showed formation of nanoscopic self-assembled structure in water medium. The probe molecule can achieve multimodal detection (colorimetric, fluorimetric and electrochemical) of copper ions as low as 0.

Chiral Pool Meets Chiral Catalysis: Eight-Step Convergent Total Synthesis of Anticancer Natural Lipid Mycalol.

An exemplary blend of chiral pool with chiral catalysis is exhibited in an eight-step (longest) convergent asymmetric total synthesis of mycalol, which is a promising anticancer natural lipid from a marine source. The polyhydroxy lipid is constructed by using four blocks, and two of which are derived from the chiral pool (d-mannitol and d-gluconolactone) and the other two by chiral catalysis (Sharpless epoxidation and Keck allylation). Alkylation and metathesis were used to knit the blocks in an excellent display of a modular convergent eight-step synthesis.

High Levels of NfL, GFAP, TAU, and UCH-L1 as Potential Predictor Biomarkers of Severity and Lethality in Acute COVID-19.

Few studies showed that neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), total tubulin-associated unit (TAU), and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) may be related to neurological manifestations and severity during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The objective of this work was to investigate the relationship among nervous system biomarkers (NfL, TAU, GFAP, and UCH-L1), biochemical parameters, and viral loads with heterogeneous outcomes in a cohort of severe COVID-19 patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a university hospital. For that, 108 subjects were recruited within the first 5 days at ICU.

Cost-Utility Model of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in Brazil: Analysis of a Vaccinated Population.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to conduct a cost-utility analysis of the use of the antiviral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, applied to a vaccinated Brazilian population against COVID-19, from the perspective of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS).

Methods: A microsimulation model was created with individual-level data and daily cycles, with a 1-year time horizon, to compare the current scenario of standard care with a scenario in which nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is offered to the population. Adults of any age group that received ≥2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine formed the investigated population.

Comparison of the outcomes of split thickness skin graft versus thickness skin graft for closure of the radial forearm free flap donor site: A systematic review.

Background: Radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor site closure is traditionally performed with split thickness skin grafts (STSG), which can be associated with poor aesthetics, wrist stiffness, paresthesia, reduced strength, and tendon exposure. Full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) are potentially beneficial as they provide a more durable coverage, and the skin graft donor site can be closed primarily, which is more aesthetic. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the outcomes of STSG versus FTSG for closure of the RFFF donor site.

Biophysical characterization of the tennis serve: A systematic scoping review with evidence gap map.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the available evidence on the biophysics of the tennis serve, mapping the populations, interventions, contexts and other relevant information to highlight what is already known and to identify gaps in the literature.

Design: Systematic scoping review with evidence gap map.

Methods: The protocol was designed according to PRISMA 2020, Prisma-ScR guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook.

Deep learning framework for epidemiological forecasting: A study on COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Amazon state of Pará, Brazil.

Modeling time series has been a particularly challenging aspect due to the need for constant adjustments in a rapidly changing environment, data uncertainty, dependencies between variables, volatile fluctuations, and the need to identify ideal hyperparameters. The present study presents a Framework capable of making projections from time series related to cases and deaths by COVID-19 in the Amazonian state of Pará, in Brazil. For the first time, deep learning models such as TCN, TRANSFORMER, TFT, N-BEATS, and N-HiTS were assessed for this purpose.

Mathematical Modeling of Vessel Geometry and Circumference in Microvascular Surgery.

Introduction: Microvascular anastomosis has traditionally been executed with a perpendicular transection through the vessel at the widest diameter to increase circumference and thus increase blood flow while decreasing resistance. In Chen's 2015 article, it was suggested that an "open Y" would improve vessel size match, and Wei and Mardini discuss angled transections of the vessels. This project aims to explore the geometric configurations feasible at the anastomotic transection and mathematically model the resulting hypothetical increases in circumference.

Pretreatment antithrombotic strategies in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes in contemporaneous clinical practice.

Background: Pretreatment antithrombotic strategies in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) during hospitalization is still a matter of contention within the cardiology community. Our aim was to analyze in-hospital and one-year follow-up outcomes of patients with NSTE-ACS pretreated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) versus single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT).

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out with NSTE-ACS patients who planned to undergo an invasive strategy and were included in the Portuguese Registry of ACS between 2018 and 2021.

The journey of stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer patients in the Brazilian private healthcare system: a retrospective study.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still diagnosed at late stages in Brazil. The availability of newer treatment options has changed patient management, however, few real-world data have been published since then. This is a population-based retrospective cohort study that aims to evaluate the characteristics of stage III/IV NSCLC patients and their journey in the Brazilian private healthcare system.

Undiagnosed Primary Sjögren's Syndrome With Pleural Involvement.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in the dryness of the eyes and mouth. However, Sjögren's syndrome is not limited to glandular involvement, as it can also affect various other organ systems, leading to a wide range of extraglandular manifestations and delaying the diagnosis. In this scenario, a high level of suspicion is required.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome: prevalence, main characteristics, and outcomes in a Brazilian center.

Background: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) - immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been rarely described in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of PML-IRIS among PLWHA with PML and its main features in a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study.

Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes Differentially Express Gluconeogenic Rate-Limiting Enzymes-Obesity as a Crucial Player.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity, where different molecular subtypes (MS) exhibit distinct prognostic and therapeutic responses. A series of 62 breast cancer samples stratified by MS was obtained from the tumor biobank of IPO-Porto. The expression of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis-regulating enzymes was investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Mental disorders in judicial workers: analysis of sickness absence in a cohort study.

Objective: To analyze risk factors for sickness absence due to mental disorders among judicial workers in Bahia, Brazil.

Methods: Retrospective cohort with follow-up from 2011 to 2016 with 2,660 workers of a judicial sector in Bahia, Brazil. The main outcome measures were survival curves estimated for the independent variables using the Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator and risk factors for the first episode of sickness absence calculated based on the Cox regression model.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of adolescents and their parents: a specific analysis by sex and socioeconomic status.

Background: The association of lifestyle habits of parents and of their children has been widely investigated as an important determinant for healthy habits in youth. Although parental sociodemographic characteristics are potential confounding factors in parent-child physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB), it is still unclear whether these factors have a moderating role in this association. This study aimed to analyze the association of parent-child PA and SB according to parental sex and economic level in adolescents.

Surgical technique for removal of high-density silicone oil (Oxane HD).

The main drawback for the use of heavy silicone oil (HSO) Oxane HD is the difficulties it presents during removal. It differs from conventional silicone oil removal because it progressively concentrates in the posterior pole during the removal because of its heavier than water density. We describe a technique to facilitate proper HSO Oxane HD removal and minimize residual posterior bubbles and intraoperative complications.