Publications by authors named "Larissa Sousa"

We identified seven distinct coronaviruses (CoVs) in bats from Brazil, classified into 229E-related (Alpha-CoV), Nobecovirus, Sarbecovirus, and Merbecovirus (Beta-CoV), including one closely related to MERS-like CoV with 82.8% genome coverage. To accomplish this, we screened 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 different bat species using molecular assays, RNA sequencing, and evolutionary analysis.

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Background: Rabies, a lethal viral zoonotic disease, remains a significant global public health concern. In northeastern Brazil, in particular, its epidemiology is complex and dynamic, characterized by the presence of several reservoirs associated with human rabies infection.

Methods: This study, conducted from June 2022 to July 2023, was part of a passive epidemiological surveillance initiative under Brazil's National Rabies Surveillance Program.

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We detected an emerging human-associated gemykibivirus-2 (HuGkV-2) in rectal swab sample from Molossus molossus bat from Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed well-supported relationships between our sequence and those associated with human infections. This study underscores the necessity of ongoing monitoring of HuGkV-2 to elucidate potential spillback events, its role in human infections, and its public health implications.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicates mitral stenosis (MS), and this study investigates the role of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and right atrial pressure (RAP) in predicting outcomes for patients with rheumatic MS undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV).
  • The study included 58 patients, dividing them based on PVR levels, and assessed outcomes like death and the need for further interventions during follow-up.
  • Results indicated that RAP was a significant independent predictor of adverse outcomes, while PVR did not demonstrate the expected prognostic significance, suggesting that RAP is more critical in monitoring these patients.
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Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct an integrative review, addressing the key findings, biological functions, and clinical significance of these biomolecules in solid tumors.

Methods: This document analyzes the main data on the involvement of snoRNAs in solid tumors. For this, Pubmed and Science direct were used, with keywords.

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  • Human rabies is a deadly disease caused by lyssaviruses, and there has been an increase in cases following the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A case from Ceará, Brazil in 2023 involved a patient bitten by a marmoset who was also co-infected with SARS-CoV-2, diagnosed using minimally invasive autopsy (MIA).
  • MIA is beneficial for its biosafety and efficiency, reducing body disfigurement and enhancing rabies diagnostics and family cooperation in tracking the disease.
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Introduction: Evidence indicates that senescence can affect essential dental pulp functions, such as defense capacity and repair, consequently affecting the successes of conservative endodontic treatments. This study aims to evaluate the effects of senescence on the morphology, migration, proliferation, and immune response of human dental pulp cells.

Methods: Cells were treated with doxorubicin to induce senescence, confirmed by β-galactosidase staining.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the capacity of American Thyroid Association and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System developed by the American College of Radiology in predicting malignancy risk of thyroid nodules and to verify which one is better at avoiding unnecessary fine needle aspiration.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 565 thyroid nodules, followed at a tertiary care hospital, in an iodine-replete area. Those were classified as American Thyroid Association and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System developed by the American College of Radiology systems and stratified according to the Bethesda classification of fine needle aspiration.

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Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis caused by rabies virus (RABV). RABV infects the central nervous system and triggers acute encephalomyelitis in both humans and animals. Endemic in the Brazilian Northeast region, RABV emergence in distinct wildlife species has been identified as a source of human rabies infection and as such, constitutes a public health concern.

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Non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing emerged from the discovery of embryonic DNA in spent embryo culture medium. Considering that such methodology would be an important advance in assisted reproduction, this study aimed to evaluate the current scientific evidence, based on the reliability of non-invasive chromosome screening, through a literature review. We analyzed 14 original research papers in PubMed and SciELO, in English and Portuguese, published between 2016 and 2021 related to the topic.

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This study aimed to describe the transmission of T. gondii in naturally infected goats in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, through evaluating the serological status of these animals from one to 12 months of age. Seven goat farms were selected.

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Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animals. Currently, studies assessing the viability of cysts present in sheep meat are still scarce, especially in the northeastern region of Brazil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, isolate the parasite from tissue samples, and determine factors associated with infection of sheep intended for human consumption in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Factors such as the municipalities of Patos and Sousa were identified as having a higher risk for T. gondii infection in goats, which suggests environmental or management influences on infection rates.
  • * Bioassays from tissue samples showed a 50% isolation rate of protozoan strains from seropositive goats, but the isolated strains demonstrated low virulence, raising concerns about public health risks associated with consuming infected goats.
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Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the main etiological agent of acute and sporadic encephalitis. Proteins of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family have shown to regulate the inflammation during HSV-1 infection in the brain. However, the effects of SOCS2 and SOCS3 in viral encephalitis remain unclear.

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Background.: Evidence-based approaches to improve function in individuals with cerebral palsy are needed.

Purpose.

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Background: Zika virus is an emerging arbovirus of global importance. ZIKV infection is associated with a range of neurological complications such as the Congenital Zika Syndrome and Guillain Barré Syndrome. Despite the magnitude of recent outbreaks, there is no specific therapy to prevent or to alleviate disease pathology.

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Amino acid cysteine has been used as reducing mediator with the aim of improving dye degradation by homogeneous Fenton processes (Fe/HO and Fe/HO). Through its known Fe-reducing activity, this amino acid can enhance the production of reactive oxygen species as HO (hydroxyl radical) and its pro-oxidant properties have been verified while decolorizing diverse dyes in the present work. Its presence enhanced decolorization of Methyl Orange, Phenol Red, Safranin T, Rhodamine B, Reactive Black 5 and Reactive Yellow 2, mainly in reactions initially containing Fe as a catalyst (Fe-reactions).

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Objective: To analyze workers' cases of work leave caused by mental and behavioral disorders.

Method: A cross-sectional census study conducted between June and July 2017 in which data were used from the National Social Security Institute database, with all workers' records. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and inferential tests.

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Introduction: In Brazil, the plague is established in several foci located mainly in the northeastern part of the country, where it alternates between active and quiescent periods. These foci in the State of Ceará have high epidemiological importance. In addition to other plague detection activities, plague areas can be monitored through serological surveys of dogs and cats (domestic carnivores), which, following feeding on plague-infected rodents, can develop mild to severe forms of the disease and produce long-lasting antibodies.

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Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways affecting over 300 million people worldwide. As in the autoimmune diseases, it is well described that women are the most affected by asthma. The higher number of women presenting this pathology suggests the involvement of female sex hormones in the construction of the allergic immune response.

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The present study aimed to investigate behavioral changes and neuroinflammatory process following left unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO), a model of cerebral ischemia. Post-ischemic behavioral changes following 15 min UCCAO were recorded 24 hours after reperfusion. The novel object recognition task was used to assess learning and memory.

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The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unknown, and the immune system has been appointed to play an important role. The interleukin 33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1, may act as an alarmin. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of IL-33, sST2, and IL-1β in 30 patients with ASD in comparison with 18 controls matched by gender, age and maternal age at childbirth.

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Objectives: Evaluate the levels of a neurotrophic factor and some neurotrophins in the plasma of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Design: This study enrolled 30 children with ASD and 19 healthy children. Plasma levels of the neurotrophins BDNF, NGF, NT3, NT4 and of the neurotrophic factor GDNF were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

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Background And Objective: The etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is largely unknown, but it seems to involve dysfunction in several biological systems. Among many possible biological pathways, the immune system has emerged as potentially involved. Recent studies have shown association between cytokines (molecules that mediate immune cell interaction) and ASD.

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This study evaluated the efficacy of the application of the essential oils of Origanum vulgare L. (OVEO) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (ROEO) alone and in combination to inhibit Aspergillus flavus URM 4540 and Aspergillus niger URM 5842 in fungal growth media and on Vitis labrusca L.

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