Publications by authors named "Leal E"

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a devastating complication of diabetes, presenting limited treatment success rates due to their complex pathophysiology. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) confers tissue protective and regenerative functions, but its potential role in diabetic wound healing is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of topical BMP7 treatment in wound healing using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.

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The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in human health, influencing digestion, immunity, and disease prevention. Beneficial gut bacteria such as , , and contribute to metabolic regulation and immune support through bioactive metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Dietary patterns rich in prebiotics, fermented foods, and plant-based bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, promote microbiome diversity and stability.

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Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most devastating complications of diabetes, with high impact on patient's quality of life. In worst scenarios, DFU can lead to severe amputation or even death. DFUs are an easy target for microbial pathogens and their effective healing is hampered by the galloping increase of microbial resistance to antibiotics, including from the most prevalent pathogens in DFU, e.

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Background: Mosquito-borne diseases have a significant public health threat worldwide, with arboviruses accounting for a high proportion of infectious diseases and mortality annually. Brazil, in particular, has been suffering outbreaks of diseases transmitted by mosquito viruses, notably those of the genus, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Against this background, the São Paulo Zoo is an intriguing ecological niche to explore the virome of mosquitoes, potentially shedding light on the dynamics of arbovirus transmission within a confined setting.

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Article Synopsis
  • A CRESS-DNA virus, primarily found in fecal samples from vertebrates, was examined in human vaginal samples for its presence.
  • Viral metagenomics was conducted on samples from 28 healthy women in NYC, with some providing duplicates over a 12-21 day span.
  • The study found that one individual had continuous detection of the CRESS-DNA virus over a twelve-day period, indicating it can persist in the human vagina.
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  • Metagenomic research revealed that mosquito viromes are more diverse than just pathogenic viruses that affect humans, highlighting the complexity of mosquito-borne viruses.* -
  • In a study conducted on 866 female mosquitoes in São Paulo Zoo, a new virus was identified through RNA extraction and next-generation sequencing, showing potential as a new species of iflavirus.* -
  • These findings enhance our understanding of viral diversity in mosquitoes and provide a valuable genomic reference, aiding future research in virology and metagenomics.*
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  • * Out of 29 women studied, 18 tested positive for HPV, showing a significant increase from initial visits to after hormone stimulation.
  • * Analysis identified various HPV types, notably under two genera, with some sequences potentially representing new types.
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The global challenge of water resource availability is exacerbated by anthropogenic influences that promote the emergence of pollutants. Among these pollutants are microbiological agents, including viruses, which are ubiquitous in the biosphere and play a pivotal role in both ecological balance and the occurrence of diseases in animals and plants. Consequently, monitoring viruses in water sources becomes indispensable for the establishment of effective prevention, promotion, and control strategies.

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Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) posing significant treatment challenges due to its aggressive phenotype and resistance to conventional therapies. Recent advancements in nanocarrier technology offer promising solutions for enhancing drug delivery, improving bioavailability, and increasing drug accumulation at tumor sites through targeted approaches. This review delves into the latest innovations in BC detection and treatment, highlighting the role of nanocarriers like polymeric micelles, liposomes, and magnetic nanoparticles in overcoming the limitations of traditional therapies.

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  • The study aimed to determine if selecting oral antiplatelet drugs based on a patient's genotype using a clinical decision support algorithm can lower the rate of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events among Caribbean Hispanic patients following treatment.
  • Conducted as an open-label, multicenter, non-randomized trial across eight hospitals in Puerto Rico, it involved 300 patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention and were divided into standard-of-care and genotype-guided groups.
  • Results indicated that although the genotype-guided group had a lower risk of major adverse events compared to the standard group (8.7% vs 10.7%), the difference was not statistically significant.
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  • The paper presents a budget-friendly system for monitoring and controlling alkaline electrolyzers to boost hydrogen gas production in a lab setting.
  • It introduces two main innovations: a cost-effective method for calibrating an air flow meter for accurate hydrogen gas measurement, and a new cascade control technique for managing gas production in electrolyzers.
  • Experimental results support the effectiveness of the cascade control method, showing stable operation and minimal errors, which lays groundwork for future research on improving electrolytic cell performance.
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  • The Phylum Cressdnaviricota includes various circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS)-DNA viruses, which are found widely in many eukaryotes, but their presence in humans is not well-studied.
  • A study collected vaginal swabs from 28 women aged 29 to 43 at a fertility clinic in NYC to investigate CRESS-DNA viruses' prevalence and genetic diversity.
  • The analysis identified 11 nearly complete viral genomes in 16 women, revealing one sequence classified as Gemycircularvirus and ten as previously unclassified, suggesting that novel CRESS-DNA viruses may exist in the vaginal microbiome with uncertain clinical implications.
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Background: Predictors of the outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain to be fully determined. We evaluated selected viral characteristics and immunological responses that might predict and/or correlate to the clinical outcome of COVID-19.

Methods: For individuals developing divergent clinical outcomes, the magnitude and breadth of T cell-mediated responses were measured within 36 h of symptom onset.

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Objectives: To identify factors associated with poor prognoses in newborns with a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis in eight hospitals in Bogota, Colombia, from 2011 to 2022.

Methods: A multi-center retrospective case-control study was conducted on newborns with gastroschisis in eight hospitals in Bogota, Colombia. Poor prognosis was defined as the presence of sepsis, intestinal complications, or death.

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  • - The study investigates cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) cases in mainland Portugal from 2010 to 2020, identifying 43 CL and 7 ML cases, predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals.
  • - Most cases were autochthonous, with common symptoms including papules/nodules, particularly on the head, and a varied treatment approach noted, mainly using liposomal amphotericin B for ML.
  • - The findings highlight a need for better surveillance, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capabilities for leishmaniasis, advocating a One Health approach to tackle the complexities of the disease in Portugal and globally.
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CRESS-DNA encompasses a broad spectrum of viruses documented across diverse organisms such as animals, plants, diatoms, fungi, and marine invertebrates. Despite this prevalence, the full extent of these viruses' impact on the environment and their respective hosts remains incompletely understood. Furthermore, an increasing number of viruses within this category lack detailed characterization.

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The family of viruses has a unique genome consisting of double-stranded RNA with two open reading frames that encode the capsid protein (Cap) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRpol). Most virions in this family are isometric in shape, approximately 40 nm in diameter, and lack an envelope. There are five genera within this family, including , , , , and .

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Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) methodology serves as an excellent supplement in cases where diagnosis is challenging to establish through conventional laboratory tests, and its usage is increasingly prevalent. Examining the causes of infectious diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) is vital for understanding their spread, managing outbreaks, and effective patient care. In a study conducted in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 500 patients with CNS diseases of indeterminate etiology, collected between 2017 and 2021, were analyzed.

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Temporal signals such as light and temperature cycles profoundly modulate animal physiology and behaviour. Via endogenous timing mechanisms which are regulated by these signals, organisms can anticipate cyclic environmental changes and thereby enhance their fitness. The pineal gland in fish, through the secretion of melatonin, appears to play a critical role in the circadian system, most likely acting as an element of the circadian clock system.

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Background: Logistic regression-based signal detection algorithms have benefits over disproportionality analysis due to their ability to handle potential confounders and masking factors. Feature exploration and developing alternative machine learning algorithms can further strengthen signal detection.

Objectives: Our objective was to compare the signal detection performance of logistic regression, gradient-boosted trees, random forest and support vector machine models utilizing Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system data.

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Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is known to cause financial losses and decreased productivity in the cattle industry worldwide. Currently, there are no available antiviral treatments for effectively controlling BVDV infections in laboratories or farms. The BVDV envelope protein (E2) mediates receptor recognition on the cell surface and is required for fusion of virus and cell membranes after the endocytic uptake of the virus during the entry process.

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Background: After percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), clopidogrel resistant patients are at an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). We aimed to assess whether genotype-guided selection of oral antiplatelet drugs using a clinical decision support (CDS) algorithm reduces the occurrence of these ischemic events and improves outcomes among Caribbean Hispanic patients from Puerto Rico, who are underrepresented in clinical pharmacogenomic (PGx)-guided implementation studies.

Methods: Individual platelet function testing (PRU) measures, *2 and rs662 genotypes, clinical and demographic data from 8 medical facilities were included.

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Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) impairs wound healing. The aim was to determine whether DM influences mitochondrial respiration in wounded skin (WS) and non-wounded skin (NWS), in a pre-clinical wound healing model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.

Methods: Six weeks after diabetes induction, two wounds were created in the back of C57BL/J6 mice.

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Locked-in syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by tetraplegia, mutism, preservation of vertical eye movement, superior eyelid movement, and intact consciousness, making it impossible for the patient to communicate properly. We herein describe a case to analyze the practice of developing a method of communication for a patient with locked-in syndrome. Two communication boards were created, adapted to the Portuguese language, as well as a shortcut to inquire about the physical and emotional patient's well-being.

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