Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014-2019): who's being left behind?

Introduction: HIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.

Methods: We included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals.

Walk or be walked by the dog? The attachment role.

Background: The human-animal bond has been recognized as having positive effects on the health and well-being of both humans and pets. The present study aims to explore the influence of attachment on physical activity (PA), lifestyle, and health outcomes of dog owners (DO), highlighting the mutual benefits resulting from the relationship between DO and dogs.

Methods: Thirty-eight DO and their dogs participated in this study.

The Impact of 8 Weeks of Combined Physical Exercise Training on SIRT3 and mTOR in Lymphocytes, and on Lipid Peroxidation.

The sirtuins (SIRT) protein family and the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) are intracellular molecules that have been involved in the regulation of several biological processes, as well as in various aging-related processes. This pilot study, in small scale, aimed to analyze the effects of an 8-week physical exercise program on SIRT3 and mTOR levels in lymphocytes, as well as on lipid peroxidation in middle aged and older men. A total of 9 participants aged between 56 and 73 years were enrolled in an 8-week physical exercise program comprising cardiovascular and high-intensity interval training.

Optimizing the enzymatic production of biolubricants by the Taguchi method: Esterification of the free fatty acids from castor oil with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol catalyzed by Eversa Transform 2.0.

The solvent-free esterification of the free fatty acids (FFAs) obtained by the hydrolysis of castor oil (a non-edible vegetable oil) with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (a branched fatty alcohol) was catalyzed by different free lipases. Eversa Transform 2.0 (ETL) features surpassed most commercial lipases.

Intestinal Parasites in Populations of the Endemic Abyssinian Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata).

The wattled ibis (Bostrychia carunculata) is a little-known endemic Abyssinian species living in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands. This bird species lives in close contact with humans in several parts of its range. Nothing is known about parasites infecting the wattled ibis and its distribution across populations, with the exception of some lice species.

Pet's influence on humans' daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: The benefits of the human-animal bond on owners' health and quality of life have been the focus of research in recent decades. However, the results are still inconsistent. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether the presence of a pet, compared to a control group, influences daily physical activity levels and mental health using a meta-analytic method.

Muscle abnormalities in patients with liver cirrhosis and its effect on muscle function.

Objectives: The progression of chronic liver disease is associated with metabolic alterations that compromise the patient's body composition and physical function. Muscle wasting often occurs with pathologic fat accumulation in the muscle (myosteatosis). Unfavorable changes in body composition frequently arise in conjunction with a decrease in muscle strength.

Symptoms in healthcare professionals infected with SARS-CoV-2 at a university hospital.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are among the main risk groups for novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19). The identification of respiratory symptoms is important in the clinical assumption of infection, but it may be asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic.

Objectives: To compare the proportion of professionals with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with the proportion of positive asymptomatic professionals with high-risk contact; and to identify respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms of professionals with suspected COVID-19 and the proportion of those who tested positive for SARS CoV-2.

Asphalt Binder "Skincare"? Aging Evaluation of an Asphalt Binder Modified by Nano-TiO.

Aging by oxidation of asphalt roadway material promotes changes in its physical, chemical, and rheological properties, affecting its hardening and accelerating the degradation of its corresponding asphalt mixture. Titanium dioxide (TiO) has been applied in engineering investigations to promote anti-aging and photocatalytic properties. In this study, a commercial binder was modified with nano-TiO (using contents of 0.

HIV-1-Transmitted Drug Resistance and Transmission Clusters in Newly Diagnosed Patients in Portugal Between 2014 and 2019.

Objective: To describe and analyze transmitted drug resistance (TDR) between 2014 and 2019 in newly infected patients with HIV-1 in Portugal and to characterize its transmission networks.

Methods: Clinical, socioepidemiological, and risk behavior data were collected from 820 newly diagnosed patients in Portugal between September 2014 and December 2019. The sequences obtained from drug resistance testing were used for subtyping, TDR determination, and transmission cluster (TC) analyses.

and Identification in Adult Ixodid Ticks from Tapada Nature Reserve, Portugal.

This study, conducted in a nature reserve in southern Portugal, investigated the frequency and diversity of tick-borne piroplasms in six species of adult ixodid ticks removed from 71 fallow deer () and 12 red deer (), collected over the period 2012-2019. The majority of 520 ticks were (78.5%), followed by sensu lato, , and The ticks collected from the deer were clearly exophilic, in contrast to the endophilic species usually associated with dogs.

Khat, a Cultural Chewing Drug: A Toxicokinetic and Toxicodynamic Summary.

Khat () is a recreational, chewed herbal drug that has been used as a psychostimulant for centuries in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, namely in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. However, the growing worldwide availability of khat has produced widespread concern. The plant comprises a large number of active substances, among which cathinone, cathine, and norephedrine are the main constituents, which can be included in the group of sympathomimetics of natural origin.

ELMO, a new helmet interface for CPAP to treat COVID-19-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure outside the ICU: a feasibility study.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using a new helmet interface for CPAP, designated ELMO, to treat COVID-19-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) outside the ICU.

Methods: This was a proof-of-concept study involving patients with moderate to severe AHRF secondary to COVID-19 admitted to the general ward of a public hospital. The intervention consisted of applying CPAP via the ELMO interface integrated with oxygen and compressed air flow meters (30 L/min each) and a PEEP valve (CPAP levels = 8-10 cmH2O), forming the ELMOcpap system.

Microfluidic caging lipase in hyperbranched polyglycerol microcapsules for extracorporeal treatment of enzyme pancreatic insufficiency.

Lipase cartridges are currently the mainstay of treatment to improve fat absorption related to pancreatic insufficiency (PI) in patients receiving enteral nutrition feedings. Enzyme immobilization is an essential prerequisite for designing lipase cartridges systems for efficient enzymatic fat hydrolysis. A microfluidic approach has been adopted to produce lipase (LIP) caged in hyperbranched polyglycerol microcapsules (HPGly).

An updated review on synthetic cathinones.

Cathinone, the main psychoactive compound found in the plant Catha edulis Forsk. (khat), is a β-keto analogue of amphetamine, sharing not only the phenethylamine structure, but also the amphetamine-like stimulant effects. Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring cathinone that largely entered the recreational drug market at the end of 2000s.

Estimation of COVID-19 Under-Reporting in the Brazilian States Through SARI.

Due to its impact, COVID-19 has been stressing the academy to search for curing, mitigating, or controlling it. It is believed that under-reporting is a relevant factor in determining the actual mortality rate and, if not considered, can cause significant misinformation. Therefore, this work aims to estimate the under-reporting of cases and deaths of COVID-19 in Brazilian states using data from the InfoGripe.

Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: Two Different Facets of a Rare Entity.

Unlabelled: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBPO) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by osseous or metaplastic cartilaginous nodules in the submucosa of the tracheobronchial tree. TBPO is easy to misdiagnose due to its non-specific clinical manifestation. We describe two cases of TBPO.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Secondary to Oxaliplatin Treatment: From Rarity to Reality: A Case Study and Literature Review.

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy has been widely used to treat colorectal cancer. Here, we report a case of a 71-year-old man, former smoker (40 pack-years), with no history of relevant exposures such as occupational, environmental or drug exposure. The patient developed acute partial respiratory insufficiency concomitant with the eighth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine for stage IIIA colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Adverse outcome pathways induced by 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells.

Cathinones (β-keto amphetamines), widely abused in recreational settings, have been shown similar or even worse toxicological profile than classical amphetamines. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of two β-keto amphetamines [3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC) and 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC)], was evaluated in differentiated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells in comparison to methamphetamine (METH). MTT reduction and NR uptake assays revealed that both cathinones and METH induced cytotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

L. Leaf Extract Protects HepG2 Cells Against Paraquat-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage.

L. leaf extracts and herbal infusions are used worldwide due to the health benefits that are attributed to its use, including anti-neoplastic, anti-aging, neuro-protection, antioxidant and others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract on HepG2 cell viability, genotoxicity and DNA protection against paraquat-induced oxidative damage.

The Influence of Antiretroviral Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load and Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients: An Observational Study.

Background: The role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for Hepatitis C viral load (HCV-VL) and liver fibrosis is poorly understood. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of ART on HCV-VL and liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients followed at a tertiary university hospital.

Structure-cytotoxicity relationship profile of 13 synthetic cathinones in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells.

Synthetic cathinones also known as β-keto amphetamines are a new group of recreational designer drugs. We aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of thirteen cathinones lacking the methylenedioxy ring and establish a putative structure-toxicity profile using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, as well as to compare their toxicity to that of amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH). Cytotoxicity assays [mitochondrial 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction and lysosomal neutral red (NR) uptake] performed after a 24-h or a 48-h exposure revealed for all tested drugs a concentration-dependent toxicity.

ERADICATION OF FROM TWO CAPTIVE GAZELLE POPULATIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA.

An outbreak of brucellosis occurred in a group of 726 sand gazelles () at the Prince Mohammed Al-Sudairi Gazelle Breeding Center and in a group of 47 putative "Neumann's gazelles" () housed at the King Khalid Wildlife Research Center in Saudi Arabia. Clinical signs of anorexia, poor body condition, enlarged testes, reluctance to walk, swollen carpal joints, and suppurative arthritis were present in 16 sand gazelles and 14 Neumann's gazelles. All clinical cases were evaluated using a card agglutination test, complement fixation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The performance of M and XL probes of FibroScan for the diagnosis of steatosis and fibrosis on a Brazilian nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cohort.

Objectives: Recently, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) was incorporated for XL probe. However, its performance through M and XL probes has been scarcely evaluated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The performance of probes regarding transient elastography by Fibroscan is still under debate.