Burnout and Professional Quality of Life Assessment in Portuguese Healthcare Professionals Working in Oncology and Palliative Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction/background: Burnout is a three-dimensional syndrome characterized by exhaustion that appears when the professional is constantly exposed to a stressful work environment, as well as depersonalization and lower personal accomplishment. Professional quality of life at work can be defined as the satisfaction degree that a person feels when being or going to their workplace.

Objective: To evaluate burnout and professional quality of life in healthcare professionals working in oncology and palliative care.

Evaluation of Emotional Distress in Oncology Palliative Patients: Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Palliative Outcome Scale (POS)-A Portuguese Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Cancer patients in palliative care frequently experience psychological distress, encompassing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dimensions. This distress can significantly affect their capacity to accept the inevitability of death. Commonly, such distress manifests as sadness, depression, anxiety, and fear, which may culminate in an existential crisis.

Exploring the Potential of Nitrofurantoin for Infection Control in Regenerative Endodontics: In Vitro Study.

Introduction: This study assessed a new antimicrobial paste formulation containing nitrofurantoin for regenerative endodontics against multispecies biofilms.

Methods: Four groups of 11 single-root teeth each were tested: Negative control group (brain-heart infusion broth + micro-organisms); Hoshino 1 conventional tri-antibiotic paste group (1:1:1 ratio); Hoshino 5 group (5:5:5 ratio); Experimental group with nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of each antimicrobial were determined.

Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in children, as diagnosed through instrumental evaluation, and to identify associated risk factors.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six databases (Embase, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science), as well as gray literature sources (ASHA, Google Scholar, and ProQuest). Studies involving children (under 12 years of age), diagnosed using instrumental methods such as videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), were included.

Effects of wildfire ash on the fatty acid and sugar profiles of bivalves - A comparative study of a freshwater and a marine species.

Wildfires can impact both freshwater and marine ecosystems through post-fire runoff, but its effects on bivalves, particularly those living in marine habitats, remain largely overlooked. While evidence exists that wildfire ash can alter the fatty acid (FA) and sugar profiles of aquatic biota, its influence on the biochemical profiles of bivalves have not been addressed to date. This study aimed to assess the effects of ash exposure on the FA and sugar profiles of two bivalve species used for human consumption: a freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) and a marine bivalve (Cerastoderma edule), additionally evaluating potential effects on their nutritional value.

Much More Than a Stroke: Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 Revealed by Ischemic Stroke.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy type 2 (EDMD2) is a rare autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder caused by LMNA gene mutations and characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and significant cardiac involvement. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with sudden-onset, left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Initial imaging was unremarkable, and symptoms transiently improved, suggesting a transient ischemic attack.

Impact of Symptom Distress on the Quality of Life of Oncology Palliative Care Patients: A Portuguese Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Uncontrolled symptoms are widely recognized as one of the main challenges in oncology palliative care patients. The central aim of palliative care is to improve the patient's quality of life. In recent years, there has been a growing use of patient-reported outcome measures in palliative care, particularly to evaluate symptoms, quality of care, and well-being.

Aggressive Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Rib With Early Skeletal Metastases: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a rare, aggressive subtype of chondrosarcoma characterized by biphasic histology, often misdiagnosed due to its rarity and histological resemblance to other small round cell tumors. It predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. We report a 27-year-old male presenting with a progressively enlarging, painless mass in the right inframammary region, initially attributed to muscular strain.

A Rare and Aggressive Case of Malignant Insulinoma.

Insulinomas are rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) characterized by autonomous insulin secretion leading to hypoglycemia. Malignant insulinomas are defined by the presence of metastases and present significant therapeutic challenges due to limited treatment options. We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with a two-month history of neuroglycopenic symptoms, including morning headaches, blurred vision, palpitations, and sweating, which were alleviated by sugar intake.

Stay Away From the Cold: An Unusual Case of Cold Agglutinin Disease Presenting as Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks.

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by cold-reactive IgM antibodies leading to complement-mediated hemolysis. While CAD-associated venous thromboembolism is recognized, its role in arterial thromboembolic events, particularly ischemic stroke, is poorly defined. We report an 84-year-old woman who developed acute onset upper left extremity weakness following exposure to sub-zero temperatures.

Standards for Quality Improvement Registries on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Delphi Consensus Report From VASCUNET and International Consortium of Vascular Registries.

Objective: Outcome registries in vascular surgery are increasingly used to drive quality improvement by vascular societies. The VASCUNET collaboration, within the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS), and the International Consortium of Vascular Registries (ICVR) developed a set of variables for quality improvement registries on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair as a registry standard.

Methods: Representatives from international vascular registries within VASCUNET, ICVR, and other nations with established registries were invited to provide the variables.

Exergames for rehabilitation in stroke survivors: Umbrella review of meta-analyses.

Background: It is essential to explore alternative methods to motivate stroke survivors throughout their lengthy rehabilitation journey. Exergames have emerged as promising tools for rehabilitating this demographic.

Objective: We aimed to synthesize the combined evidence from meta-analyses that assessed the effects of exergames in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

Anxiety modulators elicit different behavioral outcomes in adult zebrafish: Emphasis on homebase-related parameters and spatio-temporal exploration.

Anxiety is an emotion that represents a crucial anticipatory reaction of aversive stimuli, with clinical relevance in cases of disproportional and severe occurrences. Although distinct animal models have contributed to elucidate anxiety-related mechanisms, the influence of anxiogenic and anxiolytic modulations on both locomotion and exploration-related parameters in the open field test (OFT) is not fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to assess the influence of anxiogenic and anxiolytic manipulations on the exploratory dynamics of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) focusing on homebase-related behaviors.

Artificial intelligence model for predicting sexual dimorphism through the hyoid bone in adult patients.

The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model using supervised machine learning to determine sex based on the dimensions of the hyoid bone. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 495 patients were analyzed, collecting the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the hyoid bone, as well as the distance from the hyoid to the mandible. The following algorithms were trained: Logistic Regression, Gradient Boosting Classifier, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multilayer Perceptron Classifier (MLP), Decision Tree, AdaBoost Classifier, and Random Forest Classifier.

The effect of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Exergames, which combine digital games and physical exercise, have become increasingly popular for rehabilitation in the health domain. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of exergame rehabilitation on the quality of life of cancer patients who had undergone abdominal surgery.

FT-IR Spectroelectrochemistry Reveals Mechanistic Insights into Nitric Oxide Release from Ruthenium(II) Nitrosyl Complexes.

Ruthenium(II) tetraamine nitrosyl complexes with N-heterocyclic ligands are known for their potential as nitric oxide (NO) donors, capable of releasing NO through either direct photodissociation or one-electron reduction of the Ru(II)NO center. This study delivers a novel insight into the one-electron reduction mechanism for the model complex -[Ru(NO)(NH)(py)] (RuNOpy, py = pyridine) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4).

SGLT2i and GLP1-RA exert additive cardiorenal protection with a RAS blocker in uninephrectomized db/db mice.

Introduction: Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is the main cause of end-stage renal disease in the developed world. The current treatment of the DKD with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade does not totally halt the progression to end stage kidney disease. Currently, several drugs have shown to delay DKD progression such as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA).

Biofilm modulation and demineralization reduction after treatment with a new toothpaste formulation containing fluoride, casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, and sodium trimetaphosphate: In situ study.

Objective: This in situ study aimed to evaluate a new toothpaste formulation containing fluoride (F), casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on the process of dental demineralization and biofilm composition.

Methods: This crossover double-blind study consisted of five phases, in which 10 volunteers wore intraoral appliances containing four bovine enamel specimens. The cariogenic challenge was performed using 30 % sucrose solution.

Assessment of extracellular polymeric substances production and antioxidant defences in periphytic communities exposed to effluent contaminants.

Periphyton is frequently used in the evaluation of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems using diatoms as a proxy. However, periphyton has a particularity, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which might play a protective role against exposure to harmful environmental contaminants. Effluents originating in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constitute some of the most complex mixtures of contaminants, to which aquatic ecosystems are frequently exposed, often containing tens to hundreds of different chemicals.

Effects of Salicylic Acid on Physiological Responses of Pepper Plants Pre-Subjected to Drought under Rehydration Conditions.

L. has worldwide distribution, but drought has limited its production. There is a lack of research to better understand how this species copes with drought stress, whether it is reversible, and the effects of mitigating agents such as salicylic acid (SA).