Preclinical development of a standardized extract of Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Obesity is a global epidemic often associated with serious medical complications such as diabetes, hypertension and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Considering the multifactorial nature of these diseases, medicinal plants could be a valuable therapeutic strategy as their phytoconstituents interact with multiple and relevant biological targets. In this context, Ilex paraguariensis emerges as a potential alternative to treat obesity and associated metabolic diseases since several studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects.

Efficacy of probiotic adjuvant therapy in women with major depressive disorder: insights from a case series study.

Background: The therapeutic targeting of the intestinal microbiota has gained increasing attention as a promising avenue for addressing mood disorders. This study aimed to assess the potential effect of supplementing standard pharmacological treatment with the probiotic kefir in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Methods: Thirty-eight female participants diagnosed with moderate MDD by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were selected to receive the probiotic kefir in conjunction with antidepressant therapy for 12 weeks.

Retraction notice to "A deep learning approach based on graphs to detect plantation lines" [Heliyon Volume 10, Issue 11, 15 June 2024, e31730].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Anthelmintic Potential of Conjugated Long-Chain Fatty Acids Isolated from the Bioluminescent Mushroom .

With praziquantel being the sole available drug for schistosomiasis, identifying novel anthelmintic agents is imperative. A chemical investigation of the fruiting body of the bioluminescent mushroom Berk. resulted in the isolation of new conjugated long-chain fatty acids (8,10,12,13)-12,13-dihydroxy-7-oxo-octadeca-8,10-dienoic acid () and (7,8,9,11)-7,8-dihydroxy-13-oxo-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid () and three previously described compounds, (7,8,9)-7,8-dihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid (), (2)-dec-2-ene-1,10-dioic acid (), and a ketolactone marasmeno-1,15-dione ().

Measuring social vulnerability in communities and its association with leprosy burden through spatial intelligence in central West Brazil to guide strategic actions.

Background: It is known that leprosy is a socially determined disease, but most studies using spatial analysis have not considered the vulnerabilities present in these territories.

Objectives: To measure the association between social vulnerability and the burden of leprosy in the urban space of Cuiabá.

Methods: Ecological study, carried out in Cuiabá, Brazil.

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.

Resting ECG findings in male Brazilian soccer players of different ethnicities: Results from the B-Pro Foot ECG study.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of training-related ECG findings in white, mixed-race, and black male Brazilian soccer players.

Design: Multicenter observational study.

Methods: This study involved athletes aged 15 to 35 years from 82 professional clubs across Brazil's five regions.

Soluble CTLA-4 - A confounding factor in CTLA-4 based checkpoint immunotherapy in cancer.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is a receptor that inhibits the activity of T cells. The CTLA-4 gene consists of four different exons that enable four different isoforms of CTLA-4 to be generated through alternative splicing. Although sCTLA-4 might impede the therapeutic effect of anti-CTLA-4 treatments, the role of sCTLA-4 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is not well understood.

Higher frequency of interstate over international transmission chains of SARS-CoV-2 virus at the Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil state borders.

Brazil's COVID-19 response has faced challenges due to the continuous emergence of variants of concern (VOCs), emphasizing the need for ongoing genomic surveillance and retrospective analyses of past epidemic waves to reassess and fine tune containment protocols. Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil's southernmost state, has international borders and trades with Argentina and Uruguay, along with significant domestic connections within Brazil. The identification of source and sink transmission chains at national and international scales can identify main hubs and pathways to target future interventions.

Adsorption and flotation in one step: A new method for treating petroleum wastewater.

Developing process intensification technologies to treat Petroleum Wastewater (PW) is crucial to maintaining the economic and environmental safety of the process. Therefore, a one-step combination of adsorption and flotation was tested in this study for the first time to remove organic compounds from PW using a biochar-derived composite. High salinity PW samples from Brazilian oil wells were used to test the efficiency of the new method.

Recurrent Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant IMP-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Impact of Prolonged Patient Colonization.

Background: Infections by carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) have been associated with high morbidity and mortality among solid organ recipients.

Objectives: To delineate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of a recurrent outbreak of imipenem (IMP)-producing P. aeruginosa (CRPA) among kidney transplant (KT) recipient METHODS: We described a recurring CRPA outbreak in a KT ward, divided into two periods: before unit closure (Feb 2019-2020) and after reopening (Aug 2020-Dec 2023).

Caspase-1 Variants and Plasma IL-1β in Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Amazonas.

Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by protozoan spp., exhibits a broad range of clinical manifestations. Host resistance or susceptibility to infections is often influenced by the genetic make-up associated with natural immunity.

Efficacy of dexamethasone or clonidine as adjuvants in interscalene brachial plexus block for preventing rebound pain after shoulder surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Rebound pain is believed to involve both nociceptive pain due to insufficient analgesia and hyperalgesia induced by regional anesthesia. Adjuvant's addition could prevent rebound pain. This study aimed to determine if the addition of dexamethasone or clonidine to local anesthetic when performing interscalene block could prevent rebound pain.

Impacts of blending advanced treated water and traditional groundwater supply on lead and copper concentrations and microbial diversity in premise plumbing.

In response to stresses on water demands, some regions augment conventional drinking water sources with alternative water supplies such as desalinated seawater and reclaimed wastewater. The advanced treatment of wastewater by reverse osmosis, microfiltration, and advanced oxidation processes can produce high quality water for potable uses. However, if not appropriately stabilized, the resulting water can be corrosive to metal-based distribution pipes and plumbing materials.

The end of an entire biome? World's largest wetland, the Pantanal, is menaced by the Hidrovia project which is uncertain to sustainably support large-scale navigation.

The resurgent navigation project known as the Hidrovia Paraguay-Paraná threatens the integrity of the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, which is considered a biome of its own. Intensive barge navigation is intended to transport crops (soybean, sugar, corn) and cement, iron and manganese from areas of production in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia to the oceanic ports of the Plata River. This short communication assembles the information available on the potential impacts of the planned deepening of the natural channel of the Paraguay River in its ~700 km-long upper section.

Alterations in miRNA Expression and Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate, affecting more than half a million women in 2018. Its development is strongly related to high-risk HPV infection. After infection, several cellular molecules are affected, including microRNAs (miRNAs), which are the focus of our study.

High mortality rates among individuals misdiagnosed with tuberculosis: a matched retrospective cohort study of individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis in Brazil.

We conducted a matched retrospective cohort study comparing mortality among individuals receiving a false-positive tuberculosis diagnosis (n=3701) to individuals correctly diagnosed with TB (n=8595) in Brazil from 2007-2016. Over an average 5.4-year follow-up period, we estimated a mortality rate ratio of 1.

METHA-NeP: effectiveness and safety of methadone for neuropathic pain: a controlled randomized trial.

In this randomized, double-blind, parallel placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the efficacy of methadone as an add-on therapy for people with chronic neuropathic pain (NP). Eighty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive methadone or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants achieving at least 30% pain relief from baseline using a 100-mm pain Visual Analogue Scale.

Accuracy and costs of bedside methods for confirming nasoenteral feeding tube position: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Aim: To analyze the accuracy and costs of bedside methods for confirming the position of a nasoenteral feeding tube newly inserted blindly by nurses.

Design: Diagnostic accuracy study of three clinical methods (ultrasound, epigastric auscultation, and pH measurement) compared to radiography. The direct costs of each method used to confirm the positioning of the nasoenteral tube were also measured.

Effect of Photobiomodulation on an Experimental Model of Lower Limb Ischemia.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to be promising for the promotion of angiogenesis. The present study investigated the effects of PBM on vascularization in an animal model of peripheral artery disease. Wistar rats were divided into three groups.