Identifying the main drivers of transmission in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal.

In this study, we employed a modeling approach to describe how changes in age-specific epidemiological characteristics, such as behaviour, i.e. contact patterns, susceptibility and infectivity, influence the basic reproduction number , while accounting for heterogeneity in transmission.

Pure Acute Subdural Hematoma of Cortical Non-mycotic Microaneurysmatic Etiology: A Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review.

Pure acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is an uncommon clinical presentation of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, and only rarely, the culprit is a cortical microaneurysm.Mortality can be high; thus, appropriate diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Due to its extreme rarity, there are no available guidelines.

Exercise performance effect of central dopamine is mediated by hypothalamic neuronal activation.

Acting centrally, dopamine has been shown to induce ergogenic effects derived from its influence on thermoregulation, motivation, reward, and motor control. Thus, to evaluate the role of the central dopaminergic system in hypothalamic neuronal activation and its relationship with exercise performance, Wistar rats were intracerebroventricularly injected with saline (SAL) or SCH-23390 (SCH, dopamine D1 receptor blocker) at rest and before timed submaximal exercise (∼13 min) or exercise until fatigue. Core body and tail temperatures were recorded throughout the exercise.

Nutritional evaluation of shrimp waste and its inclusion in laying diet for meat-type quails.

The research aimed to evaluate the shrimp waste meal (SWM1) in the diet of European quails in the production phase. A metabolism trial was performed with 96 quails of 28 days of age distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments (reference diet and two test diets in which SWM replaced 20% and 40% of the reference diet) and four replications of eight birds. There was no difference in metabolizable energy values.

Development of a natural rubber latex-based biodevice with mesenchymal stem cells as a potential treatment for skeletal muscle regeneration in gestational diabetes-induced myopathy.

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus show a high risk of developing Gestational Diabetes Induced Myopathy (GDiM). GDiM is characterized by significant pelvic floor skeletal muscle atrophy and urinary incontinence. This study aimed to develop a natural rubber latex (NRL) based biodevice with mesenchymal/stromal stem cells (MSCs) for skeletal muscle regeneration for women with GDiM.

Sheep dietary preferences in targeted grazing: demographic, management, and weather effects in northern mixed-grass prairie.

Diet selection and composition of sheep target grazing plains larkspur ( Greene) in northern mixed-grass prairie were evaluated during a drought year (2022). Thirteen Rambouillet ewes (3-to 6-year-old, body weight (BW) 76 kg ± 2.9), 14 Dorper ewes (3-to 6-year-old, BW 47 kg ± 1.

Association Between SARC-F and Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Diseases Admitted to the Emergency Room: A Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Sarcopenia can be more significant and severe in the presence of cardiovascular diseases. In hospitalized older adults with acute cardiac disease, assessing strength parameters, muscle mass, and physical performance is difficult largely because of bed rest restrictions. In this context, simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia (SARC-F) emerges as a feasible screening tool to identify sarcopenia in an emergency room setting.

Toward low-friction and high-adhesion solutions: Emerging strategies for nanofibrous scaffolds in articular cartilage engineering.

Aging, trauma, pathology, and poor natural tissue regeneration are the leading causes of osteoarthritis (OA), an articular cartilage disease. Electrospun scaffolds have gained attention as potential matrices for the treatment of OA because of their high degree of ECM mimicry, which suits chondrocyte migration, adhesion, and proliferation. However, none of the products recently introduced in the market are nanofiber-based.

Replacing sulfate with hydroxychloride sources of trace minerals modulated the growth performance and plasma indicators of inflammation and energy metabolism in beef heifers during periods of feed restriction and adaptation to a high-starch diet.

This study evaluated the effects of different sources (sulfate vs. hydroxychloride) of Cu, Mn, and Zn during feed restriction and a high-starch diet on heifer growth performance. On day 0, Nelore heifers (n = 40) were stratified by body weight (BW = 238 ± 38 kg) and age (21 ± 1 mo), and individually allocated into 1 of the 40 drylot pens.

Introduction of Chlamydia psittaci into a hospital area by feral pigeons.

Pigeons are associated with zoonotic pathogens such as Chlamydia psittaci, the main causative agent of avian chlamydiosis, and related to psittacosis cases in humans worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of C. psittaci in feral pigeons (Columba livia) and environmental samples from places frequented by pigeons in a Brazilian hospital area.

Sclareolide as Antifungal Strategy Against : Unveiling Its Mechanisms of Action.

Cryptococcal infection commonly begins as an opportunistic infection in humans, however, this can escalate to a systemic or life-threatening form in immunocompromised individuals. Here, we aim to identify novel antifungal molecules from plants resources. Sclareolide, a phytochemical classified as a sesquiterpene lactone, was assessed against H99.

Polyneuropathy in Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: Diagnostic Challenges and Potential for Therapeutic Intervention.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the gene, leading to cholestanol accumulation in various tissues, including peripheral nerves. Polyneuropathy is an underrecognized feature with considerable variability in clinical presentation and neurophysiological findings in CTX. This review assesses the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic methodologies of polyneuropathy in CTX, exploring its underlying mechanisms and potential treatment outcomes.

Y-Balance Test after ACL Reconstruction: The relationship with knee and hip muscle strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and postural stability.

Background: Y-Balance Test (YBT) assesses postural stability. When is applied to patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), it is not clear which variables influence its result.

Objective: To connect YBT and postural stability, quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteus complex muscle strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ADFROM).

Snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil: spatial distribution in the hydrographic grid of the state.

Schistosomiasis mansoni is a parasitic infectious disease of significant epidemiological importance caused by Schistosoma mansoni. The intermediate hosts are snails of the genus Biomphalaria spp. As gastropods are crucial for the spread of the disease, this study aimed to assess the influence of water bodies on the distribution of snails responsible for transmitting S.

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in captive animals at the belo horizonte zoo, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Background: The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has not only affected humans but also raised concerns about its transmission to wild animals, potentially creating natural reservoirs. Understanding these dynamics is critical for preventing future pandemics and developing control strategies. This study aims to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wild mammals at the Belo Horizonte Zoo in Brazil, analyzing the virus's evolution and zoonotic potential.

Altered leukocyte pattern and inflammatory markers in unvaccinated long covid patients: a cross-sectional study.

Long Covid results from the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2, involving the release of cytokines and the continuous activation of immune cells. This cross-sectional study investigates leukocyte and cytokine profiles in Long Covid patients in the Amazon, a region where such studies are limited. Blood samples were analysed for differential leukocyte counts and cytokine levels.

Imbalance of Myoinositol and D-Chiro-Inositol in Saliva of Children With Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Earlier work suggests Myoinositol (MI) and D-chiro- inositol (DCI) imbalance in urine and plasma of diabetic patients, and their potential for monitoring insulin resistance. This study aimed to assess levels of Myoinositol (MI) and D-chiro- inositol (DCI) in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) and controls, to verify if concentrations of MI and DCI are similarly altered in saliva, exploring their potential for monitoring DM-1.

Design, Patients And Measurements: This cross-sectional clinical study enroled 45 patients (DM-1, n = 25; Controls, n = 20).

Physiological quality of seeds of arabic coffee cultivars stored for a period of two years.

The rapid loss of viability, coupled with the difficulties and limitations in conserving coffee seeds, are some of the challenges that nurseries are currently facing. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyze the physiological quality of stored Arabica coffee seeds from cultivars recommended for planting in Brazilian mountainous regions. Seeds from 10 Arabica coffee cultivars were used: Catucaí-785/15, Catucaí-2SL, Catucaí-24/137, Japan, Arara, Acauã, Catuaí IAC-81, Mundo Novo IAC-379/19, Catuaí IAC-62, and Caturra IAC-479.

Consequential life cycle assessment of urban source-separating sanitation systems complementing centralized wastewater treatment in Lund, Sweden.

This study examined various source-separating sanitation systems to evaluate their environmental performance, providing decision-makers with insights for selecting an appropriate system for a newly developed neighborhood in Sweden. A full consequential LCA was conducted to account for resource recovery and substitution. The local wastewater treatment plant WWTP was modeled as a reference.

Growth performance and body composition of feedlot lambs fed refused melon fruit.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing corn grain with refused melon fruit (RMF) in the diet on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, performance, carcass characteristics, and physical-chemical attributes of meat from lambs finished in feedlot. We used 30 male lambs of the Santa Inês breed, not castrated, with 18.3 ± 1.

A multiplex qPCR followed by high-resolution melting analysis for the detection of blood-feeding sources in Culex sp. mosquitoes.

Culex species, such as Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus display a range of feeding habits and act as vectors for pathogens that can cause diseases in both humans and animals. Understanding their feeding habits is pivotal for enhancing disease prevention strategies. The present study introduces the application of two multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) as a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative.

Home care service for children/adolescents with special health care needs: family perception.

Objective: To apprehend the family's perception of the care provided by home care services to children and adolescents with special health needs.

Method: Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study, carried out with 15 family members of children and adolescents with special health needs served by Home Care Services in seven municipalities in Paraíba, in 2021, selected from nine municipalities identified by previous studies. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews carried out remotely through telephone calls.