Surgical Treatment Intensity at the End of Life in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To synthesize evidence of surgical treatment intensity, defined as a measure of the quantity of invasive procedures, received by patients in patients with cancer within a defined time period around the 'end of life' (EoL).

Background: Concern regarding overly 'aggressive' care or high health care utilization at the EoL, particularly in cancer, is growing. The contribution surgery makes to the quality and cost of EoL care in cancer has not yet been quantified.

Effect of physical therapy on the isokinetic performance of knee flexors and extensors and functional balance in older adults with Parkinson's disease, according to severity.

Objective: To analyze the effects of a physical therapy intervention on the muscle strength and power of the knee flexors and extensors and functional balance in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD), according to its clinical severity.

Methods: Forty older adults diagnosed with PD were evaluated before and after 48-week of a basic exercise program (two 20-min sessions a week) to improve functional balance and quadriceps strength. The variables analyzed were: motor aspects of PD, assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS); functional mobility; peak torque (PT) and mean power (MP) at the knee flexors and extensors, evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (CYBEX®) on both legs at 60°/s (PT) and 240°/s (P); Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; and Tinetti Index.

Antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antivirulence potential of the main diterpenes from Copaifera spp. oleoresins against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

To evaluate the antibacterial, antibiofilm and antivirulence potential of the main diterpenes from Copaifera spp. oleoresins against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Antimicrobial assays included determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Biofilm (MICB), as well as synergistic and antivirulence assays for eight diterpenes against MDR.

Developmental iron exposure induces locomotor alterations in Drosophila: Exploring potential association with oxidative stress.

Prenatal iron (Fe) exposure has been associated with learning and cognitive impairments, which may be linked to oxidative stress resulting from elevated Fe levels and harm to the vulnerable brain. Drosophila melanogaster has contributed to our understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in neurological conditions. This study aims to explore Fe toxicity during D.

Hosts and Heterologous Expression Strategies of Recombinant Toxins for Therapeutic Purposes.

The production of therapeutic recombinant toxins requires careful host cell selection. Bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells are common choices, but no universal solution exists. Achieving the delicate balance in toxin production is crucial due to potential self-intoxication.

Exposure to Mancozeb results in increased MAPK phosphorylation and locomotor deficits in zebrafish larvae.

Mancozeb is a widely used fungicide whose toxicity has been reported in non-target organisms, being considered to have high or very high acute toxicity to aquatic organisms. However, the toxicity of this compound is not well characterized in the developmental stages of fish. In this study, Danio rerio with 4-, 5-, and 6-days post fertilization (dpf) was exposed to MZ at non-lethal concentrations for 24, 48, or 72 h and subsequently, behavioral alterations, oxidative stress parameters and ERK, p38, and Akt phosphorylation were analyzed.

Early Aptian marine incursions in the interior of northeastern Brazil following the Gondwana breakup.

This study reports a set of primeval marine incursions identified in two drill cores, 1PS-06-CE, and 1PS-10-CE, which recovered the Barbalha Formation, Araripe Basin, Brazil. Based on a multi-proxy approach involving stratigraphy, microbiofacies, ichnofossils, and microfossils, three short-lived marine incursions were identified, designated Araripe Marine Incursions (AMI) 1-3. AMI-1 and AMI-2, which occur within the shales of the Batateira Beds (lower part of the Barbalha Formation), were identified by the occurrence of benthonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils, dinocysts, and a mass mortality event of non-marine ostracods.

Assessment of alcohol-induced aggressive behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio): A practical class.

Ethanol (EtOH) is among the most consumed drugs in the world. The behavior of humans after ingestion of this drug is characteristic: At low doses it may be excitatory and at higher doses, it may induce depressant/sedative effects. Similar effects are observed in the zebrafish experimental model (Danio rerio), which has about 70% genetic similarity with humans and has been widely used in numerous research.

Stress distribution on implant- supported zirconia crown of maxillary first molar: effect of oblique load on natural and antagonist tooth.

This study evaluated the stress distribution on an implant-supported zirconia crown of a mandibular first molar subjected to oblique loading by occlusal contact with the natural maxillary first molar by using the 3D finite element method. Two virtual models were made to simulate the following situations: (1) occlusion between maxillary and mandibular natural first molars; (2) occlusion between zirconia implant-supported ceramic crown on a mandibular first molar and maxillary natural first molar. The models were designed virtually in a modeling program or CAD (Computer Aided Design) (Rhinoceros).

Bio-Tailored Sensing at the Nanoscale: Biochemical Aspects and Applications.

The demonstration of the first enzyme-based electrode to detect glucose, published in 1967 by S. J. Updike and G.

Truncating variants in the penultimate exon of TGFBR1 escaping nonsense-mediated mRNA decay cause Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

Pathogenic variants in TGFBR1 are a common cause of Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) characterized by life-threatening aortic and arterial disease. Generally, these are missense changes in highly conserved amino acids in the serine-threonine kinase domain. Conversely, nonsense, frameshift, or specific missense changes in the ligand-binding extracellular domain cause multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma (MSSE) lacking the cardiovascular phenotype.

Guiding STEM graduate students to better speaking skills.

Training to enhance the effectiveness of oral presentations is often neglected in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. In this article, we summarize our experience of teaching a semester-long class in speaking skills to STEM graduate students and advocate for the critical importance of these skills to professional success.

Brazilian Red Propolis Presents Promising Anti- Activity in In Vitro and In Vivo Assays with the Ability to Modulate the Immune Response.

is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, curved-rod, flagellated bacterium commonly found in the stomach mucosa and associated with different gastrointestinal diseases. With high levels of prevalence worldwide, it has developed resistance to the antibiotics used in its therapy. Brazilian red propolis has been studied due to its biological properties, and in the literature, it has shown promising antibacterial activities.

Phylogenetic Review of () and the Homoplasic Nature of Its Ornamentations.

The genus has undergone many updates since it was first described; however, there are some missing pieces in the phylogenetic relationships among species. The present review aimed to: (i) understand the evolutionary meaning of their different spore wall ornamentations; (ii) define the best molecular marker for phylogenetic inferences, (iii) address some specific issues concerning the polyphyletic nature of and , and the inclusion of species; and (iv) update the global geographical distribution of species. As such, the wall ornamentation of previously described species was reviewed and phylogenetic analyses were carried out based on ITS and SSU-ITS-LSU (nrDNA).

Time of Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome Foliar Symptom Onset Influences Final Disease Intensity, Yield, and Yield Components.

Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by , causes substantial yield losses in soybean. However, relationships between soybean yield and components of disease progress, including time of disease onset, are poorly understood. Individual soybean plants (2018) and quadrats (2016 to 2018) were monitored in commercial fields and experimental plots in Iowa to quantify the impact of SDS foliar symptom onset on final SDS intensity, soybean yield components, and yield.

Purcell Effect and Beaming of Emission in Hybrid AlGaAs Nanowires with GaAs Quantum Dots.

Control of directionality of emissions is an important task for the realization of novel nanophotonic devices based on nanowires. Most of the existing approaches providing high directionality of the light emitted from nanowires are based on the utilization of the tapered shape of nanowires, serving as nanoantenna coupling with the light waveguided in nanowire and the directional output beam. Here we report the beaming of the emitted light with wavelength near 800 nm by naturally formed core-shell AlGaAs NW with multiply GaAs quantum dots (QDs) diameter 30 nm and height 10 nm, while the diameter of NW 130 nm, what does not support efficient emission into waveguided modes, including the mode HE.

Characterization and Evaluation of Layered BiWO Nanosheets as a New Antibacterial Agent.

: Pathogenic microorganisms are causing increasing cases of mortality and morbidity, along with alarming rates of ineffectiveness as a result of acquired antimicrobial resistance. BiWO showed good potential to be used as an antibacterial substance when exposed to visible light. This study demonstrates for the first time the dimension-dependent antibacterial activity of layered BiWO nanosheets.

Probing the Surface of a Parasite Drug Target Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase Using Small Molecule Fragments.

Fragment screening is a powerful drug discovery approach particularly useful for enzymes difficult to inhibit selectively, such as the thiol/selenol-dependent thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs), which are essential and druggable in several infectious diseases. Several known inhibitors are reactive electrophiles targeting the selenocysteine-containing C-terminus and thus often suffering from off-target reactivity . The lack of structural information on the interaction modalities of the C-terminus-targeting inhibitors, due to the high mobility of this domain and the lack of alternative druggable sites, prevents the development of selective inhibitors for TrxRs.

, a typical species of the Brazilian cerrado, attenuates DNA damage, preneoplastic lesions and oxidative stress in experimental rat colon carcinogenesis.

Pohl, a typical species from the Brazilian cerrado, commonly known as "benjoeiro", is used to treat gastroduodenal diseases. In previous studies carried out by our research group, hydroalcoholic extract of stems (SCHE) exhibited antigenotoxic and antiproliferative effects. For a comparative analysis of the chemopreventive effect of SCHE, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of SCHE against carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced DNA damage and pre-neoplastic lesions in Wistar rat colon.

Systemic corticosteroid use in UK Uveitis practice: results from the ocular inflammation steroid toxicity risk (OSTRICH) study.

Objectives: To ascertain adherence to an international consensus target of ≤7.5 mg/day of prednisolone for maintenance systemic corticosteroid (CS) prescribing in uveitis and report the frequency of courses of high-dose systemic CS in the UK.

Methods: We conducted a national, multicentre audit of systemic CS prescribing for uveitis at 11 UK sites between November 2018 and March 2019.

Taking Advantage of the Morpheein Behavior of Peroxiredoxin in Bionanotechnology.

Morpheeins are proteins that reversibly assemble into different oligomers, whose architectures are governed by conformational changes of the subunits. This property could be utilized in bionanotechnology where the building of nanometric and new high-ordered structures is required. By capitalizing on the adaptability of morpheeins to create patterned structures and exploiting their inborn affinity toward inorganic and living matter, "bottom-up" creation of nanostructures could be achieved using a single protein building block, which may be useful as such or as scaffolds for more complex materials.

All-optical charging and charge transport in quantum dots.

Optically active quantum dots are one of the promising candidates for fundamental building blocks in quantum technology. Many practical applications would comprise of multiple coupled quantum dots, each of which must be individually chargeable. However, the most advanced demonstrations are limited to devices with only a single dot, and individual charging has neither been demonstrated nor proposed for an array of optically active quantum dots.