Comparative Analysis of Tunicate vs. Plant-Based Cellulose in Chitosan Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration.

A novel hydrogel scaffold for bone regeneration based on chitosan, selected for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties, was covalently functionalized with a bioactive peptide from bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) to guide osteoblast growth and proliferation. This study evaluates the impact of incorporating different concentrations (8, 16, or 24% /) of plant-based micro-fibrillated cellulose or tunicate nanocellulose to improve the mechanical and biological properties of peptide-grafted chitosan hydrogel matrices. While the mechanical properties of the matrices increase with increasing cellulose content, regardless of its source, the behavior of human osteoblasts used in biological tests discriminates between the two types of cellulose and shows better results (proliferation at 2 and 7 days, and mineralization) for the enrichment with tunicate cellulose.

Deprescribing strategies in older patients with heart failure.

Older patients with heart failure are particularly vulnerable due to a wide range of associated comorbidities, disability, and frailty. This population often receives multiple prescriptions, increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions, non-adherence, and drug interactions. Deprescribing, which involves reducing the number of medications to the lowest clinically reasonable limit, has the potential to decrease the risk of drug interactions and enhance patients' quality of life.

Peruvian fava beans for health and food innovation: physicochemical, morphological, nutritional, and techno-functional characterization.

Peruvian fava beans (PFB) are used in traditional cuisine as a nutrient-rich, flavorful, and textural ingredient; however, little is known about their industrial properties. This study evaluated the physicochemical, nutritional, and techno-functional characteristics of PFB varieties: Verde, Quelcao, and Peruanita. PFB exhibited distinct physical characteristics, quality parameters, and morphology.

Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Interpreting Vaccination Strategies in a Nationwide Demographic Study.

Objective: Brazil was strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its continental dimension and socio-demographic characteristics pose challenges to distribution and accessibility, making vaccination programs challenging. The objectives of the study were to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of the general population vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 2021 and analyze the strategies implemented during the vaccination program.

Syncope in the Emergency Department: A Practical Approach.

Syncope is a common condition encountered in the emergency department (ED), accounting for about 0.6-3% of all ED visits. Despite its high frequency, a widely accepted management strategy for patients with syncope in the ED is still missing.

Methodological quality and clinical recommendations of guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias for cardiovascular disease risk reduction: a systematic review and an appraisal through AGREE II and AGREE REX tools.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are statements to assist practitioners and stakeholders in decisions about healthcare. Low methodological quality guidelines may prejudice decision-making and negatively affect clinical outcomes in non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases worsted by poor lipid management. We appraised the quality of CPGs on dyslipidemia management and synthesized the most updated pharmacological recommendations.

Data-driven coaching to improve statewide outcomes in CABG: before and after interventional study.

Background: The impact of quality improvement initiatives program (QIP) on coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) remains scarce, despite improved outcomes in other surgical areas. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a package of QIP on mortality rates among patients undergoing CABG.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study utilized data from the multicenter database Registro Paulista de Cirurgia Cardiovascular II (REPLICCAR II), spanning from July 2017 to June 2019.

Inequalities in adiposity trends between 1979 and 1999 in Guatemalan children.

Background: Guatemala suffered from civil war and high levels of inequality and childhood stunting in the second half of the 20th century, but little is known about inequalities in secular trends in adiposity.

Objectives: To investigate differences in childhood body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness trajectories from 1979 to 1999 between three groups of children: High socioeconomic position (SEP) Ladino, Low SEP Ladino, and Low SEP Indigenous Maya.

Methods: The sample comprised 19 346 children aged 7-17 years with 54 638 observations.

How to recognize pulmonary embolism in syncope patients: A simple rule.

Background: Syncope can be the presenting symptom of Pulmonary Embolism (PE). It is not known wether using a standardized algorithm to rule-out PE in all patients with syncope admitted to the Emergency Departments (ED) is of value or can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Methods: We tested if simple anamnestic and clinical parameters could be used as a rule to identify patients with syncope and PE in a multicenter observational study.

Transcatheter Valve Replacement in Patients with Aortic Valve Stenosis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis with Different Populations.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies have compared the efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objectives: Compare TAVR and SAVR in patients with different surgical risks, population characteristics, and different transcatheter prosthetic valves.

Methods: An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) was conducted following a structured protocol.

Social Isolation: A Narrative Review on the Dangerous Liaison between the Autonomic Nervous System and Inflammation.

Social isolation and feelings of loneliness are related to higher mortality and morbidity. Evidence from studies conducted during space missions, in space analogs, and during the COVID-19 pandemic underline the possible role of the autonomic nervous system in mediating this relation. Indeed, the activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system enhances the cardiovascular response and activates the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes, which leads to a stimulation of inflammatory activation.

The Effect of Lure Position and Vegetation on the Performance of YATLORf Traps in the Monitoring of Click Beetles ( spp., Coleoptera: Elateridae).

Low-cost monitoring tools are needed to implement IPM in arable crops. YATLORf (Yf) traps baited with respective synthetic pheromone lures have proven to be a reliable tool for monitoring spp., Europe's most harmful soil pests.

Cardiac autonomic control in Rett syndrome: Insights from heart rate variability analysis.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare and severe neurological disorder mainly affecting females, usually linked to methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene mutations. Manifestations of RTT typically include loss of purposeful hand skills, gait and motor abnormalities, loss of spoken language, stereotypic hand movements, epilepsy, and autonomic dysfunction. Patients with RTT have a higher incidence of sudden death than the general population.

Robotic-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To compare the effects of 2 types of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) devices that have been used in stroke rehabilitation.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Rehabilitation hospital.

The environmental cost of unwarranted variation in the use of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans.

Background: Pollution is a major threat to global health, and there is growing interest on strategies to reduce emissions caused by health care systems. Unwarranted clinical variation, i.e.

Remdesivir-induced bradycardia in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection: a possible vagally-mediated mechanism.

Recently, case series studies on patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection reported an association between remdesivir (RDV) administration and incidental bradycardia. However, the phenomenon has not yet been described in detail. We conducted a retrospective case-control study to evaluate the occurrence of RDV-related bradycardia in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV2 pneumoniae.

A Semi-Analytical Method for Channel and Pipe Flows for the Linear Phan-Thien-Tanner Fluid Model with a Solvent Contribution.

This work presents a semi-analytical method for laminar steady-state channel and pipe flows of viscoelastic fluids using the Linear Phan-Thien-Tanner (LPTT) constitutive equation, with solvent viscosity contribution. For the semi-analytical method validation, it compares its results and two analytical solutions: the Oldroyd-B model and the simplified LPTT model (without solvent viscosity contribution). The results adopted different values of the dimensionless parameters, showing their influence on the viscoelastic fluid flow.

Applying process mining in health technology assessment.

Objective: Propose a process mining-based method for Health Technology Assessment.

Methods: Articles dealing with prior studies in Health Technology Assessment using Process Mining were identified. Five research questions were defined to investigate these studies and present important points and desirable characteristics to be addressed in a proposal.