Functional analysis of SRY variants in individuals with 46,XY differences of sex development.

In mammals, male sexual development is initiated by the expression of the Sex-determining-Region-Y (SRY) gene. SRY contains a highly conserved high mobility group (HMG) box essential for DNA binding and activity. Variants in SRY cause Differences of Sex Development (DSD), accounting for 10-15% of 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis cases.

Immediate Effects of Distinct Intensities of Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation on Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to assess the immediate effects of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on pain outcomes, measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure pain thresholds in a cohort of 55 participants experiencing chronic pain using a controlled, randomized trial with 55 participants allocated into 2 groups: 2 mA and 0.5 mA of tsDCS for 20 min. Anodal stimulation was applied on the 12th thoracic vertebra, with the cathode positioned on the 7th cervical vertebra.

Potential of quartzite and Hevea brasiliensis wood in the production of cement-wood panels.

The incorporation of residues in cement matrices is a viable alternative for obtaining new products for civil construction and a sustainable solution for the disposal of materials discarded by industries. In this context, the objective of the study was to evaluate the potential use of quartzite and particles of Hevea brasiliensis in the production of cement-wood panels. Quartzite residues and Hevea brasiliensis wood particles were obtained and characterized.

Do Progressive Intensities of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation with and Without 40 Hz Binaural Beats Change Pre-Frontal Cortex Hemodynamics? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is often reported to have positive effects on brain hemodynamics as well as cognitive performance. Binaural beats (BBs) have also shown the potential to improve cognitive performance. However, we could not find any studies assessing prefrontal hemodynamics using a combination of these techniques or assessing the effects on hemodynamic response at different intensity levels of tDCS (two and three mA).

Eccentric Force and Regional Biceps Femoris Muscle Excitation During Conventional and 80° Hip-Flexed Nordic Curl.

Context: Hamstring injuries are prevalent in high-intensity sports. The lesion often occurs with concomitant knee extension and hip flexion. The Nordic curl has been suggested to prevent such injury, mainly due to its eccentric hamstring activation.

Purification and characterization of a protease produced by submerged fermentation: Ultrasound-enhanced collagenolytic protease from Streptomyces parvulus.

Proteases are a large group of enzymes in high demand due to their wide and different biotechnological applications mainly in the biomedical field. Ultrasound (US) has been used successfully in several Bioprocesses in biotechnology, such as in the upregulation of enzymatic hydrolysis (biocatalysis). The objective of this work was to purify an enzyme from Streptomyces parvulus and to characterize it through physic-chemical applications including ultrasound effect.

Repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic on the work of psychosocial care centers for alcohol and other drugs.

Objective: to analyze the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work of Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and other Drugs.

Method: qualitative, descriptive - exploratory study, with 60 health workers from Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and other Drugs in Porto Alegre/ Rio Grande do Sul, from January to December 2021. Collection was carried out using a questionnaire sent by email or in person and the analysis of the content of the responses was of the thematic type of the open question.

The Role of Inhaled Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, largely due to the limited efficacy of anticancer drugs, which is primarily attributed to insufficient doses reaching the lungs. Additionally, patients undergoing treatment experience severe systemic adverse effects due to the distribution of anticancer drugs to non-targeted sites. In light of these challenges, there has been a growing interest in pulmonary administration of drugs for the treatment of lung cancer.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Hematophagous Bat-Mediated Rabies Outbreaks in Remote Amazon Communities: Lessons from a Pilot for Public Health Policy.

In 2018, an outbreak of human rabies caused by the hematophagous bat hit the Brazilian Amazon Basin community of Melgaço, Brazil, resulting in the death of 10 people, 9 of them children. The incidence of rabies has been on the rise among populations in conditions of vulnerability in this ecosystem due to human expansion into sylvatic environments and limited access to public health services. To address this issue, in September 2019, a collaborative effort from national, local, and international institutions promoted and executed a pilot for pre-exposure prophylaxis of a population in high-risk areas for hematophagous bat-mediated rabies.

The out-of-pocket cost of living with obesity: Results from a survey in Spain, South Korea, Brazil, India, Italy, and Japan.

Objectives: In many countries, obesity treatments are not fully reimbursed by healthcare systems. People living with obesity (PwO) often pay out-of-pocket (OOP) for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, placing them in a position of financial risk to manage their condition. This study sought to understand the OOP expenditures and non-financial costs incurred by PwO to manage weight.

Commonalities and differences in injured patient experiences of accessing and receiving quality injury care: a qualitative study in three sub-Saharan African countries.

Objectives: To understand commonalities and differences in injured patient experiences of accessing and receiving quality injury care across three lower-income and middle-income countries.

Design: A qualitative interview study. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.

Investigating a new approach for magnetic ionic liquids: Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to pyrolysis gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine flame retardants in sewage sludge samples.

This study addresses the analysis of emerging contaminants, often using chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry. However, sample preparation is often required prior to instrumental analysis, and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) is a viable strategy in this context. DLLME stands out for its ability to reduce sample and solvent volumes.

Quantification of natural rubber blends by reflection/reflectance infrared and confocal Raman spectroscopy: a comparison of statistical methods.

The blend of butadiene and acrylonitrile copolymer (NBR) with natural poly-cis-isoprene (NR) shows increased resistance to swelling in solvents in comparison to the individual components. In aerospace, NBR rubber is used as thermal protection for rockets and shall not contain other polymers, even in low contents, otherwise, it can affect the protection performance and rocket safety by causing detachment of the elastomer/propellant interface; therefore, this investigation presents methodologies to determine the NR/NBR contents. This study explores different analytical techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, in the mid-infrared (MIR) by reflection and in the near-infrared by reflectance (NIRA) modes, Furthermore, quantification strategies by univariate, bivariate and multivariate (chemometric) models are evaluated and compared.

Assessment of Brief Online Approaches for Teaching Neuroscience in Psychiatry.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess an online collection of brief educational resources (videos, case studies, articles) for teaching a broad range of concepts relating to neuroscience in psychiatry.

Methods: A national sample of 52 psychiatrists enrolled in the study. Forty (77%) completed an assessment before and after having access to the educational resources for 4 weeks.

Prevalence of orofacial pain in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review investigated the prevalence of orofacial pain in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

Materials And Methods: The search was conducted in five databases (Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus and LILACS), in three grey literature sources and in included articles' reference lists. Three independent reviewers performed study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction.

Treating myofascial pain with dry needling: a systematic review for the best evidence-based practices in low back pain.

Background:  Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common source of pain in primary care or pain clinics. There are many different ways to manage and treat MPS, such as physical exercise, trigger points massage, and dry needling.

Objective:  The objective of this overview is to highlight and discuss the evidence-based treatment of myofascial pain by dry needling in patients with low back pain.

First Record of the African Species Leptodelphax maculigera (Stål, 1859) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Brazil.

This study reports the first occurrence of Leptodelphax maculigera (Stål, 1859) in Brazil and the Americas. Until now, this species has not been reported outside of Africa. The notification occurred in the State of Goiás in species of agronomic importance, as corn, Brachiaria, elephant grass, cultivar BRS Capiaçu and beans.

Ru(II) based dual nitric oxide donors: electrochemical and photochemical reactivities and vasorelaxant effect with no cytotoxicity.

The synthesized complexes, -[Ru(NO)(NO)(phen)](PF) (NONO2P) and -[Ru(NO)(NO)(bpy)](PF) (NONO2B), were characterized by using elemental analysis, voltammetry and electronic and vibrational spectroscopy. Under electrochemical and photochemical stimulation in an aqueous medium, there are indications of the formation of complexes, which suggests that the nitro and nitrosyl groups are converted into nitric oxide. Both compounds do not show cytotoxic activity against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Quantitative validation of Monte Carlo SPECT simulation: application to a Mediso AnyScan GATE simulation.

Background: Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are used in nuclear medicine imaging as they provide unparalleled insight into processes that are not directly experimentally measurable, such as scatter and attenuation in an acquisition. Whilst MC is often used to provide a 'ground-truth', this is only the case if the simulation is fully validated against experimental data. This work presents a quantitative validation for a MC simulation of a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system.

Chronic Unilateral Headache Related to Scar Neuromas.

Postcraniotomy and posttraumatic headaches can result in scars generating local pain or referred pain following a neuropathic pattern. One hypothesis is that the pain can be caused and maintained by scar neuromas, developed after the nerve injury during the surgical process or trauma. This study reports two patients with chronic unilateral headaches: the first one with a posttraumatic scar in the parietal region and the other with a postsurgical scar in the mastoid region.

Nurses' professional competencies in urgency and emergency units: A mixed-methods study.

to describe the professional competencies of nurses working in urgency and emergency services and to understand their perception of the essential competencies for professional performance and updating. a sequential, mixed-methods and explanatory study, conducted with emergency nurses. To obtain the quantitative data, a questionnaire with 78 items was used, answered by 39 nurses and analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests.

Triple modality image reconstruction of PET data using SPECT, PET, CT information increases lesion uptake in images of patients treated with radioembolization with [Formula: see text] micro-spheres.

Purpose: Nuclear medicine imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT), single photon emission CT (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are employed in the field of theranostics to estimate and plan the dose delivered to tumors and the surrounding tissues and to monitor the effect of the therapy. However, therapeutic radionuclides often provide poor images, which translate to inaccurate treatment planning and inadequate monitoring images. Multimodality information can be exploited in the reconstruction to enhance image quality.