Publications by authors named "Luana Alves"

Neuroacanthocytosis syndromes are rare inherited neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the presence of acanthocytes. Among them, Choreoacanthocytosis and McLeod syndrome stand out, sharing similarities with Huntington's disease, including choreic movement disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive decline. The case described involves a 36-year-old patient with cognitive deficits, involuntary movements, and ataxic gait.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Compare different behavioural, environmental and socioeconomic factors for caries with transversal data to decompose the direct and indirect effects of body mass index (BMI) in relation to coronal and root caries.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a representative sample of 1002 individuals aged ≥ 35 years living in Porto Alegre. Questionnaires recorded age, sex, educational level, tooth brushing frequency and access to dental services.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The first interactions among the embryo, endometrium, and corpus luteum are essential for pregnancy success. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are part of these interactions. We previously demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles from in vivo- or in vitro-produced bovine embryos contain different miRNA cargos.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation (TS) tests assess pain inhibition and pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), but their clinical relevance is debated.
  • A study reviewed nine trials involving 484 participants and analyzed the relationship between changes in CPM/TS tests and clinical improvements in FMS after various treatments.
  • Results indicated that while overall changes in TS and CPM were not significant due to conflicting effects from different interventions, non-pharmacological treatments particularly helped normalize CPM/TS levels, suggesting these tests could serve as biomarkers for effective FMS management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to investigate the association between bullying at school and tooth loss in southern Brazilian adolescents. This population-based cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 15-19-year-old students attending high schools in Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Data on sociodemographic and behavioral variables were collected through questionnaires.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study explored the migration of follicular fluid (FF)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) of the uterine environment to the bloodstream and their interaction with neutrophils and . For the experiment, six Nellore heifers () received an intrauterine infusion seven days after ovulation with 1X PBS only (sham group; n=1), 1X PBS stained with lipophilic dye PKH26 (control group; n=2), or FF-derived EVs stained with PKH26 (treated group; n=3). Plasma was collected at 0, 10, 30, 60-, 180-, 360-, 720-, and 1440-min post-infusion to obtained EVs for analysis by nano flow cytometry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a product derived from tryptophan that has protective properties for cells and neurons, but there are still many unknowns about how it is transported and functions in the body due to its low serum levels compared to its tissue concentrations.
  • - The production of KYNA is influenced by the addition of L-tryptophan or L-kynurenine, but this also generates other metabolites that could be harmful, highlighting the complexity of its metabolic pathways.
  • - Despite its low presence in foods other than chestnut honey, KYNA is relatively bioavailable and shows potential as a nutraceutical, warranting further research into its health benefits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

During oocyte meiosis resumption, a coordinated program of transcript translation and decay machinery promotes a remodeling of mRNA stores, which determines the success of the acquisition of competence and early embryo development. We investigated levels of two genes related to mRNA translation ( and ) and two related to mRNA degradation ( and ) machinery and found downregulated in -matured bovine oocytes compared to counterparts. Thereafter, we tested the effects of a pre-IVM step with NPPC and a modified IVM with AREG on the modulation of members of mRNA translation and degradation pathways in cumulus cells and oocytes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to assess the association between underlying dentin shadows (UDS) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among 15-19-year-old adolescents from southern Brazil. This population-based cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 1,197 15-19-year-old adolescents attending 31 public and private schools from Santa Maria, Brazil. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was used to evaluate the OHRQoL, and clinical examinations were performed by two calibrated examiners (intra/interexaminer kappa values for caries examination ≥ 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: Diet quality is directly related to glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The use of dietary indices can provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between diet quality and clinical outcomes.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the relationship between diet quality, measured using dietary indices, and its impact on improving glycemic control in individuals with T2DM through health interventions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: This randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of composite resin restorations placed after selective caries removal to soft dentin (SCRSD) or stepwise excavation (SW) over an 18-month period.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were patients with permanent molars and/or premolars presenting deep caries lesions (≥50 % of the dentin thickness). Teeth were submitted to SCRSD (n = 76) or SW (n = 76).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The multifaceted nature of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) symptoms has been explored through clusters analysis.

Objective: To synthesize the cluster research on FM (variables, methods, patient subgroups, and evaluation metrics).

Methods: We performed a systematic review following the PRISMA recommendations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: This cross-sectional study assessed the association between sense of coherence (SoC) and caries activity (number of active caries lesions) and caries experience (DMFT index) among 18-19-year-old male adolescents who joined the Brazilian Army as draftees for mandatory military service (n = 507).

Methods: Data collection included a questionnaire (level of education, family income, and tooth brushing frequency), the Brazilian short version of the SoC scale (SOC-13), and clinical caries examination (noncavitated/cavitated, inactive/active). The main predictor variable was SoC, categorized as low, moderate, or high.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This cohort study assessed the association between toothbrushing frequency and the increment of dental caries and tooth loss in a population-based sample of southern Brazilian adolescents, to investigate whether there is any additional benefit in performing a third daily brushing. At baseline, 1,528 12-year-old schoolchildren attending 42 schools were examined for gingivitis and dental caries, and answered a questionnaire. After a mean period of 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review observational studies assessing the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in permanent dentition.

Methods: Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, COCHANE Library and ScoINDEX databases for articles published up to February 2023. Two independent reviewers performed the search and critical appraisal of the studies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study evaluated the association between sense of coherence (SoC) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among conscripts of the Brazilian Army, in two cities of southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study included all 18-19-year-old adolescents who joined the Brazilian Army as draftees for mandatory military service in the cities of Itaqui, RS, and Santiago, RS (n = 505). Data collection was conducted from 2019 to 2021, and included the application of questionnaires and a clinical oral examination to record gingivitis, malocclusion, and dental caries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 in the acute phase is RT-qPCR. However, this molecular technique can yield false-negative results when nasopharyngeal swab collection is not conducted during viremia. To mitigate this challenge, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) identifies anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies in the initial weeks after symptom onset, facilitating early COVID-19 diagnosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To identify the risk of dysphagia and its association with signs suggestive of sarcopenia, nutritional status and frequency of oral hygiene in the hospitalized elderly.

Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study with the participation of 52 elderly patients admitted to a medical clinic at a public hospital in the Federal District, Brazil. The Eating Assessment Tool, Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls + Calf Circumference and the Mini Nutritional Assessment shortform were applied, in addition to the collection of sociodemographic data and health conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of two treatments for deep caries lesions in permanent molars - selective caries removal (SCR) to soft dentin with restoration in a single visit, and stepwise excavation (SW) - regarding pulp vitality for a 5-year follow-up period. The present study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of these treatments. Treatments were conducted in two Brazilian cities (Brasília and Porto Alegre).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the radiographic progression of underlying dentin shadows (UDS) on the occlusal surfaces of permanent posterior teeth of adolescents and young adults over 1-2 years and to identify possible risk factors. A total of 149 UDS lesions (from 101 individuals) were included at baseline. Each participant had to present at least one UDS to be considered eligible for the study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although the discussion about the amount of carious dentin to be removed during cavity preparation is quite old, concepts for caries removal have evolved and changed considerably over the last decades. The antiquate understanding that it was necessary to eliminate the microbial contamination of a cavity before placing the restoration was replaced by the current knowledge that maintaining contaminated dentin beneath restorations is inevitable and is not associated with treatment failure. This chapter brings together the body of evidence behind carious dentin removal to indicate a conservative treatment, aiming to preserve both tooth vitality and structure.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Malnutrition is recognized as one of the main public health problems in hospitals. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) has established a global consensus on the criteria for diagnosing malnutrition in adults in hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the GLIM criteria as a tool to identify malnutrition in hospital settings and to compare the prevalence of malnutrition identified by GLIM criteria with that identified by other screening and/or nutrition assessment methods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Innovations in obtaining products from lignocellulosic biomass have been largely based on the improvement of microorganisms and enzymes capable of degrading these materials. To complete the whole process, microorganisms must be able to ferment the resulting sugars and tolerate high concentrations of product, osmotic pressure, ion toxicity, temperature, toxic compounds from lignocellulose pretreatment, low pH, and oxidative stress. In this work, we engineered laboratory and industrial strains by combining a gene () recovered from a metagenomic approach with different native and synthetic promoters to obtain improved acid and oxidative stress resistance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This 2.5-year cohort study investigated whether patient's caries activity is independently associated with caries increment among adolescents, regardless of previous caries experience, in a sample of 801 adolescents from South Brazil. Caries examination was performed at baseline (12 y) and at follow-up (14-15 y).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF