Do Child-Turcotte-Pugh and nutritional assessments predict survival in cirrhosis: A longitudinal study.

Background: Cirrhotic patients face heightened energy demands, leading to rapid glycogen depletion, protein degradation, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which drive disease progression and complications. These disruptions cause cellular damage and parenchymal changes, resulting in vascular alterations, portal hypertension, and liver dysfunction, significantly affecting patient prognosis.

Aim: To analyze the association between Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores and different nutritional indicators with survival in a 15-year follow-up cohort.

The effects of the use of customized silicone digital orthoses on pre-ulcerative lesions and plantar pressure during walking in people with diabetic neuropathy: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: People with diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) often develop calluses due to toe misalignment and increased plantar pressure. Untreated, these issues can progress into ulcers, making early intervention crucial. This trial protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of customized silicone digital orthoses in preventing ulcers, pre-ulcerative lesions, and peak pressure during gait in people with DPN.

Diet as an epigenetic factor in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has as a main characteristic the exacerbation of the immune system against enterocytes, compromising the individual's intestinal microbiota. This inflammatory cascade causes several nutritional deficiencies, which further compromise immunological functioning and, as a result, worsen the prognosis. This vicious cycle can be interrupted as the patient's dietary pattern meets their needs according to their clinical condition, acting directly on the inflammatory process of IBD through the interaction of food, intestinal microbiota, and epigenome.

Role of the phase angle in the prognosis of the cirrhotic patient: 15 years of follow-up.

Background: In 2019, cirrhosis accounted for 2.4% of global deaths. The projection for 2030 is an increase in this index.

Placental Development and Physiological Changes in Pregnant Ewes in Silvopastoral and Open Pasture Systems during the Summer.

This study aimed to analyze the reproductive and physiological changes in ewes subjected to heat stress during pregnancy at UTFPR-Brazil. Twenty-four pregnant crossbred ewes were kept in a silvopastoral system (SP) or an open pasture system (OP) throughout the final trimester of pregnancy. Both systems were stressful, but the SP system had lower air temperature than the OP system (26.

Relationship between phase angle, steatosis, and liver fibrosis in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus.

Background: Malnutrition, lipodystrophy, and dyslipidemia are prevalent characteristics in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with or without previous treatment. Such a clinical condition can lead to the hypothesis of the presence of hepatic steatosis with possible progression to fibrosis and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Notably, a low phase angle (PA), evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), is an independent prognostic marker of clinical progression and survival in HIV-infected patients.

Main differences between two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies in subclasses of lipoproteins in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Large observational studies have shown that small, dense LDL subfractions are related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study assessed the effects of two highly effective lipid-lowering therapies in the atherogenic subclasses of lipoproteins in subjects with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Patients of both sexes admitted with their first myocardial infarction and submitted to pharmacoinvasive strategy (N = 101) were included and randomized using a central computerized system to receive a daily dose of simvastatin 40 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg or rosuvastatin 20 mg for 30 days.

Esthetic elastomeric ligatures: Quantification of bacterial endotoxin in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo bacterial endotoxin (LPS) adhesion in polyurethane and silicone esthetic elastomeric orthodontic ligatures. The null hypotheses tested were: (1) there is no LPS adhesion in esthetic elastomeric orthodontic ligatures; and (2) there is no difference in the LPS adhesion between different brands of these ligatures.

Methods: For the in vitro study, 4 types of esthetic elastomeric ligatures were used (Sani-Ties and Sili-Ties [Dentsply GAC, Islandia, NY;] and Mini Single Case Ligature Stick and Synergy low-friction ligatures [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo]), contaminated or not with endotoxin solution.

Overburden soil and marine dredging sludge utilization for production of new composites as highly efficient environmental management.

The main objectives of this study were to develop new composites only from industrial wastes: overburden soil (40-60 wt%), dredging sludge from marine port sediments (20-40%) and lime production waste as a binder (15-30%). The axial resistance strength of the developed materials, on the 365th day, was 18.9 MPa and the values of apparent density and dilatation coefficient ranged from 2.

Bilateral Traumatic Testicular Dislocation.

Traumatic testis dislocation is an uncommon condition and usually occurs after direct impact on the scrotum. We present an uncommon case of bilateral testicular dislocation caused by an automotive accident, which is the most frequently associated cause described in literature today. Although the fact that diagnosis can be made either by physical examination or with the use of basic exams such as Doppler ultrasound, it is not uncommon for cases to go undetected and diagnosed late.

Consumers' perceptions toward 3 different fermented dairy products: Insights from focus groups, word association, and projective mapping.

Yogurts, fermented milk beverages, and fermented milks have great similarity and are widely accepted by Brazilian population, but the factors that influence their choice and consumption are unknown. In this sense, the present study aimed to identify the main aspects involved in consumers' perception of 3 different products, comparing the findings by using the 2 fast qualitative methods, word association and projective mapping, and a standard method, focus group. The tasks were performed by different participants through graphic stimuli (word association and projective mapping) and focus interviews (focus group).

Consumer-based product characterization using Pivot Profile, Projective Mapping and Check-all-that-apply (CATA): A comparative case with Greek yogurt samples.

Product characterization has been a primary concern for the food industry, and methodologies based on consumers' perceptions have become popular and widely used by industries to replace classical methods. Although there are several studies on other methods, the potential of reference-based one such as Pivot Profile is still little explored. Therefore, the aims of this study were to characterize Greek yogurt samples according to consumers' perceptions using three different methodologies: Pivot Profile (PP), Check-all-that-apply (CATA), and Projective Mapping (PM), and to assess which method is easier for consumers to describe products.

Novel Babesia and Hepatozoon agents infecting non-volant small mammals in the Brazilian Pantanal, with the first record of the tick Ornithodoros guaporensis in Brazil.

Taking into account the diversity of small terrestrial mammals of the Pantanal, the present study aimed to verify the occurrence of infection by Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp.

Rickettsial infection in ticks from wild birds from Cerrado and the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso, midwestern Brazil.

The involvement of different species of ticks and wild animals, such as birds, play an important role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. Birds may serve as reservoirs for some tick-borne diseases, and may carry and spread hematophagous ectoparasites mechanically. This study aimed to show the diversity of ticks on birds and molecular detection of rickettsial infection in ticks from Pantanal and Cerrado, two similar Brazilian biomes characterized by hydrological seasons.