Analysis of topical conjunctival microbiotic cultures in patients treated with intravitreal injections using antibiotic prophylaxis with 0.3% ofloxacin eye drops.

Background: Intravitreal injections, a relatively recent treatment in ophthalmology, is being adopted rapidly worldwide and becoming one of the most common therapies in the field. Numerous complications are associated with this treatment, ranging from minor inflammatory ailments to endophthalmitis. We analyzed the conjunctival flora of patients treated with intravitreal injections and topical antibiotics.

Atypical Presentation of Choroidal Osteoma: Two Case Reports.

Choroidal osteoma is a rare, benign, osseous choristoma presenting as an orange-yellow, well-defined fundus mass. It presents unilaterally in most cases, has a predilection for the female sex, and favor a juxtapapillary location, becoming clinically manifest when it involves the macula. Almost 60% of eyes with osteoma may suffer significant visual loss.

Downregulation of Tnf-α and Cat Expression in a Wistar Rat Diabetic Model during Diabetes Onset.

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and/or insulin resistance. If left uncontrolled, it can lead to a combination of cardiac and renal alterations known as cardiorenal syndrome. Additionally, oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to tissue damage, thereby reducing the life expectancy of individuals with diabetes.

High Prevalence of a c.5979dupA Variant in the Dysferlin Gene (DYSF) in Individuals from a Semiarid Region of Brazil.

Background: Dysferlinopathies represent a group of limb girdle or distal muscular dystrophies with an autosomal-recessive inheritance pattern resulting from the presence of pathogenic variants in the dysferlin gene (DYSF).

Objective: In this work, we describe a population from a small city in Brazil carrying the c.5979dupA pathogenic variant of DYSF responsible for limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2R and distal muscular dystrophy.

Relationship of irisin expression with metabolic alterations and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a preliminary study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of irisin in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with metabolic alterations and obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted on participants treated at Centro Universitário FMABC between August 2018 and July 2019, by comparing a control group (n=14) with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n=16). The control group consisted of participants aged above 21 years with no chronic diseases, diabetes, smoking, or illicit drug use.

Ophthalmic Manifestations Among Patients Surviving COVID-19.

Background And Aim: To identify ocular findings related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients after the resolution of COVID-19 using complete ocular examinations and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted from May 30 to October 30, 2020, patients who recovered from various stages COVID-19 underwent eye examination and multimodal retinal imaging (Retinographies and Spectral-OCT).

Results: We included 50 patients, 29 (58%) males, median age of 46.

Preclinical Effects Of Melatonin On The Development Of Ehrlich's Tumor: A Biochemical, Cognitive, And Molecular Approach.

Background: It has already been shown that melatonin is an antitumoral molecule that affects malignant cells via some mechanisms. The benefit played by this hormone on cancer is due to its antioxidant effects.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical effects of melatonin in mice with the Ehrlich ascites tumor.

Use of Saliva to Assess the Adherence to Treatment with Oral Hypoglycemic Agents in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: The diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is made by demonstrating the hypoglycemic condition, which involves the determination of plasma glucose, and the follow-up of hypoglycemic treatment is performed by assessing the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the saliva as an alternative sample in assessing the adherence to treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Methods: We selected 68 patients with T2DM, who were subjected to venous blood and saliva collection, in addition to answering a standardized questionnaire on adherence to hypoglycemic treatment.

Quantification of Vitamin D at Different Levels of Clinical Worsening of COVID-19.

Introduction And Aim: Vitamin D is the name given to a group of lipid-soluble steroidal substances of physiological importance in the body, especially in bone metabolism. The active form of vitamin D is believed to have immunomodulatory effects on immune system cells, especially T lymphocytes, as well as on the production and action of several cytokines and on the expression of potent antimicrobial peptides in epithelial cells that line the respiratory tract, playing an important role in protecting the lung from infections. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D levels in patients with COVID-19 in healthcare service and to verify that these levels are adequate to protect the progression of this infection.

Relationship between Lifestyle and Residence Area with 25(OH)D Levels in Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the habitat of older adults living in the urban and rural areas is a contributing factor to altered serum 25(OH)D levels. An analytical, cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach was conducted in the upper backwoods of Paraíba with older adults registered at the Reference Center for Social Assistance (CRAS), addressing residents of both rural area ( = 41) and urban area ( = 43) who were randomly chosen to participate in the study. Data collection took place between January and February 2020.

COVID-19 compromises iron homeostasis: Transferrin as a target of investigation.

Importance: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous metabolic alterations have been observed in individuals with this disease. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 can mimic the action of hepcidin, altering intracellular iron metabolism, but gaps remain in the understanding of possible outcomes in other pathways involved in the iron cycle.

Objective: To profile iron, ferritin and hepcidin levels and transferrin receptor gene expression in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 2020 and September 2020.

Effect of Subchronic Selenium Treatment in the Liver of BALB/C Mice with Transplantable Ehrlich Tumor.

Selenium has an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and possibly antitumoral action. Thus, we hypothesized that this element could be an ally in cancer treatment. We evaluated the effect of chelated selenium treatment of BALB/c mice with Erhlich Tumor on tumor size, histology, and biochemical parameters of the liver.

Impact of the Vaccination Against COVID-19 on Frontline Health Workers.

Introduction: Brazil has been facing the pandemic of COVID-19 since march 2020. More than 540,000 people have died from this disease in the country. Some estimates indicate that the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 represents 1 to 20%.

Biochemical markers and anthropometric profile of children enrolled in public daycare centers.

Objective: The nutritional status resultant from dietary habits along with socioeconomic conditions and the school environment are directly related to the individual's health condition not only in their childhood but also throughout adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of socioeconomic factors on the anthropometric profile and to analyze a probable association between this profile and biochemical markers in children attending public daycare centers.

Methods: It is a transversal study developed in a probability sample of clusters of children from 6 months to 5 years old.

Kidney Diseases: The Age of Molecular Markers.

Kidney diseases are conditions that increase the morbidity and mortality of those afflicted. Diagnosis of these conditions is based on parameters such as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measurement of serum and urinary creatinine levels and equations derived from these measurements (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350-357, 2015).

Diagnostic potential of hypoxia-induced genes in liquid biopsies of breast cancer patients.

In tumor cells, higher expression of glucose transporter proteins (GLUT) and carbonic anhydrases (CAIX) genes is influenced by hypoxia-induced factors (HIF).Thus, we aimed to study the expression profile of these markers in sequential peripheral blood collections performed in breast cancer patients in order to verify their predictive potential in liquid biopsies. Gene expressions were analyzed by qPCR in tumor and blood samples from 125 patients and 25 healthy women.

Liquid biopsy in cancer using the Z-scan technique: a new approach to discover biomarkers in cancer.

Aim: Biomarkers have been broadly studied as a tool for the diagnosis and prognosis for different types of cancer. Z-scan is a kind of measurement technique that generates a nonlinear refractive index (n). Today, Z-scan has been used in oncology to discriminate between solid tumors and to identify tumor circulating cell-free DNA in liquid samples.

Retinal findings in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19.

Aim: To identify retinal findings using dilated eye examination, which are possibly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalised patients with confirmed severe COVID-19.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, hospitalised patients with confirmed severe COVID-19 in a single referral centre for the treatment of COVID-19, in Santo André, São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil, underwent dilated eye examination of both eyes performed by a retina specialist. Findings were recorded using a portable digital fundus camera.

Effects of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) stands out as one of the chronic diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Among the many complications of DM, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the causes of blindness in patients aged between 20 and 64 years. At least 90% of the new cases showed to have the retinal structure and function restored when proper treatment was provided.

The role of Survivin as a biomarker and potential prognostic factor for breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the primary health problems worldwide. As the most common cancer in women in the world and in Brasil, behind only non-melanoma skin cancer, this neoplasm corresponds to approximately 28% of new cases per year in the country. BC also affects men, although the incidence corresponds to only 1% of total cases.

Role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α as a potential biomarker for renal diseases-A systematic review.

Renal cells need oxygen for homeostasis; it is known for adjusting cellular functioning and the energy obtainment have a broad relationship with cellular respiration, through the O bioavailability. O homeostasis regulation in the kidney is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). HIF is divided into three α isoforms, represented by HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and HIF-3α in addition to three paralogs of HIF-1β; these are involved in some metabolic processes, as well as in the pathogenesis of several diseases.

Evaluation of breastfeeding self-efficacy of puerperal women in shared rooming units.

Purpose: To evaluate the perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy in puerperal women and to verify the association between Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Brazilian Version (BSES-VB) scores and sociodemographic and obstetric variables. The practice of breastfeeding is of extreme importance, not only because of its affective value but also because the nutritional composition of human milk is essential nutrients for the adequate growth and development of the newborn.

Design And Methods: This is a quantitative and cross-sectional study.