Pedogeochemical mobility of metals from fluorescent lamp waste and human health risk assessment.

The management of fluorescent lamps wastes is a challenge, and its disposal in soils may cause harmful effects on human health and edaphic biota due to the presence of Hg and other potentially toxic metals. However, the pedogeochemical behavior of metals from fluorescent lamps is still rarely studied in the tropics. An Oxisol sample was contaminated in the laboratory using a dosage of 6.

[Representation and representativeness in health councils: between formalization and participatory legitimacy].

The action of social representatives greatly influences the performance of health councils and the quality of participatory management in the Brazilian Unified National Health System. This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms of representation and forms of representativeness within health councils in municipalities of different population sizes. This multiple case study was carried out in Vitória da Conquista, Guanambi, and Urandi, in Bahia State, Brazil.

A cycle of invisibilisation: a qualitative study of Brazilian health system factors shaping access to long COVID care.

Introduction: Long COVID (LC), an often-debilitating infection-associated chronic condition (IACC), affects millions of people globally. Globally, LC patients struggle to access timely, appropriate care, often experiencing disbelief, misunderstandings or being diverted from healthcare. Few studies have examined health system factors influencing LC healthcare access, especially in the Global South.

Implementation of a Microbiological Surveillance Protocol in a Portuguese Tertiary Care Academic Endoscopy Unit.

Introduction: International societies recommend microbiological surveillance of endoscopes to reduce the incidence of endoscope-associated infections, particularly for duodenoscopes. However, surveillance protocols are not internationally standardized, both regarding sample collection, processing, and culture. This study aims to provide a framework protocol encompassing the experience of a tertiary large volume endoscopy center and the microbiology laboratory for collecting and culturing of endoscope samples for microbiological surveillance.

Comparing Nerve Versus Muscle Wide-Pulse High-Frequency Electrical Stimulation for Maximal and Submaximal Efforts.

Purpose: The effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation hinges on the evoked torque level, which can be attained through either conventional (CONV) or wide-pulse high frequency (WPHF). However, the best electrode placement is still unclear. This study adopted a crossover design to compare the effects of WPHF applied to the tibial nerve trunk (N-WPHF) or muscle (M-WPHF) with CONV in healthy participants.