A self-adjuvanted VLPs-based Covid-19 vaccine proven versatile, safe, and highly protective.

Vaccination has played a critical role in mitigating COVID-19. Despite the availability of licensed vaccines, there remains a pressing need for improved vaccine platforms that provide high protection, safety, and versatility, while also reducing vaccine costs. In response to these challenges, our aim is to create a self-adjuvanted vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, utilizing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) as the foundation.

Posterior Cervical Glomus Tumor Mimicking Neurogenic Occipital Pain.

Glomus tumors, typically localized in digits, palms, and soles, rarely occur in the posterior cervical region. This case report describes a unique presentation of an epithelioid glomus tumor in a 49-year-old male with a history of progressive occipital headaches. A 49-year-old male, referred with a five-year history of worsening occipital headaches, presented a palpable lesion in the right suboccipital area.

Effects of the Pesticide Carbofuran on Two Species of Chlorophyceae (Desmodesmus communis and Pseudopediastrum boryanum) and Their Pesticide Bioremediation Ability.

Carbofuran is one of the most toxic broad-spectrum pesticides. We evaluated the effects of carbofuran on two species of microalgae, Pseudopediastrum boryanum and Desmodesmus communis, through measurements of cell viability, biomass, chlorophyll content, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ability of these algae to remove carbofuran dissolved in the media was also determined.

Surgical Strategies for Tuberculous Spondylodiscitis With Severe Osteoporosis: A Case Illustrating the Challenges of Delayed Intervention.

Tuberculous spondylodiscitis (Pott's spine) is a complex extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) that poses significant medical challenges, characterized by vertebral destruction affecting approximately 2% of all TB cases. The management of this condition involves a multidisciplinary approach, with surgical intervention indicated for specific cases, including those with neurological complications, spinal instability, and kyphosis. We report a case of a 49-year-old female with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculous spondylodiscitis who had undergone eight months of tuberculostatic therapy.

SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Based on a New Anti-Nucleocapsid Protein Monoclonal Antibody: Development and Real-Time Validation.

SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests have become an important tool for pandemic control. Among the alternatives for COVID-19 diagnosis, antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) are very convenient and widely used. However, as SARS-CoV-2 variants may continuously emerge, the replacement of tests and reagents may be required to maintain the sensitivity of Ag-RDTs.

Amazonian Plants: A Global Bibliometric Approach to L. Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties.

L. (Phytolaccaceae) holds significant importance in the Amazon region, where it has been traditionally utilized in folk medicine. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using conventional metrics, combined with a critical content review of its pharmacological and toxicological properties, to identify gaps in the existing literature that require further investigation.

Recombinant human TIM-3 ectodomain expressed in bacteria and recovered from inclusion bodies as a stable and active molecule.

Microbial systems, such as , as host recombinant expression is the most versatile and the cheapest system for protein production, however, several obstacles still remain, such as recovery of soluble and functional proteins from inclusion bodies, elimination of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) contamination, incomplete synthesis, degradation by proteases, and the lack of post-translational modifications, which becomes even more complex when comes to membrane proteins, because they are difficult not only to produce but also to keep in solution in its active state. T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) is a type I transmembrane protein that is predominantly expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, playing a role as a negative immune checkpoint receptor. TIM-3 comprises a single ectodomain for interaction with immune system soluble and cellular components, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail, responsible for the binding of signaling and scaffolding molecules.

Global Mentorship in Neurosurgery for Medical Students Study (the GloMNMS Study): a multinational multi-institutional cross-sectional audit.

Objectives: To assess the perception of global mentorship in neurosurgery among medical students across the world. Secondary aim included investigating the factors affecting the availability and benefits of providing global mentorship scheme in neurosurgery at a medical student level.

Setting: The Global Mentorship in Neurosurgery for Medical Students Study was a multinational cross-sectional audit that included medical students currently in the years 1-6 and intercalating programmes.

Automatic classification of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography images using pre-trained networks and bag of features.

Lung cancer has the highest incidence in the world. The standard tests for its diagnostics are medical imaging exams, sputum cytology, and lung biopsy. Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest plays an essential role in the early detection of nodules since it can allow for more treatment options and increases patient survival.

Intrinsic catalytic properties of histone H3 lysine-9 methyltransferases preserve monomethylation levels under low S-adenosylmethionine.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is the methyl donor for site-specific methylation reactions on histone proteins, imparting key epigenetic information. During SAM-depleted conditions that can arise from dietary methionine restriction, lysine di- and tri-methylation are reduced while sites such as Histone-3 lysine-9 (H3K9) are actively maintained, allowing cells to restore higher-state methylation upon metabolic recovery. Here, we investigated if the intrinsic catalytic properties of H3K9 histone methyltransferases (HMTs) contribute to this epigenetic persistence.

Optical switching a photon-avalanche-like mechanism in NdAl(BO) particles excited at 1064 nm by an auxiliary beam at 808 nm.

In recent years, an unconventional excitation of trivalent neodymium ions ( ) at 1064 nm, not resonant with ground-state transitions, has been investigated with the unprecedented demonstration of a photon-avalanche-like (PA-like) mechanism, in which the temperature increase plays a fundamental role. As a proof-of-concept, ( ) particles were used. A consequence of the PA-like mechanism is the absorption enhancement of excitation photons providing light emission at a broad range covering the visible and near-infrared spectra.

Neuroprotective, neurogenic, and anticholinergic evidence of Ganoderma lucidum cognitive effects: Crucial knowledge is still lacking.

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom that has been widely used for centuries in Asian countries for its antiaging properties. It is popularly known as "Ling Zhi," "Reishi," and "Youngzhi," and because of its benefits, it is known as the "immortality mushroom." Pharmacological assays have revealed that G.

Performance of Pantaneira breed cows in precision grazing system.

Use of a grazing system that takes into account the ingestive behavior of animals and the physiological characteristics of plants maximizes land use and promotes positive effects on the environment. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Pantaneira breed cows, kept in rotated grazing in Mombasa grass (Megathyrsus maximum), with different grazing times. Fifty animals were divided into two treatments: Continuous T1: 24 h and T2-Inverted: 12 h.

Identification of Zika Virus NS1-Derived Peptides with Potential Applications in Serological Tests.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne pathogen, is an emerging arbovirus associated with sporadic symptomatic cases of great medical concern, particularly among pregnant women and newborns affected with neurological disorders. Serological diagnosis of ZIKV infection is still an unmet challenge due to the co-circulation of the dengue virus, which shares extensive sequence conservation of structural proteins leading to the generation of cross-reactive antibodies. In this study, we aimed to obtain tools for the development of improved serological tests for the detection of ZIKV infection.

Current landmarks for gingival thickness evaluation in maxillary anterior teeth: a systematic review.

Objectives: To identify and report the current landmarks used for measuring gingival thickness (GT) in healthy maxillary anterior teeth.

Material And Methods: The protocol of this Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020-compliant systematic review was registered in PROSPERO. A literature search was conducted to identify articles that met the eligibility criteria published up to 2022.

The Role of the Adenosine System on Emotional and Cognitive Disturbances Induced by Ethanol Binge Drinking in the Immature Brain and the Beneficial Effects of Caffeine.

Binge drinking intake is the most common pattern of ethanol consumption by adolescents, which elicits emotional disturbances, mainly anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as cognitive alterations. Ethanol exposure may act on the adenosine neuromodulation system by increasing adenosine levels, consequently increasing the activation of adenosine receptors in the brain. The adenosine modulation system is involved in the control of mood and memory behavior.

(Kunth) Mez (Lauraceae) Essential Oil: Effects on Oxidative Stress and Vascular Permeability.

The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of (kunth) Mez (Lauraceae) essential oil (AcEO), exploring its potential for prevention and/or treatment of oxidative stress and associated inflammatory process. With this aim, Wistar rats ( = 6/group) were pre-treated intraperitoneally with saline (0.9%) or AcEO (2 or 5 mg/kg) for 5 days.

Ketamine plus Alcohol: What We Know and What We Can Expect about This.

Drug abuse has become a public health concern. The misuse of ketamine, a psychedelic substance, has increased worldwide. In addition, the co-abuse with alcohol is frequently identified among misusers.

Therapeutic Antibodies Against Shiga Toxins: Trends and Perspectives.

Shiga toxins (Stx) are AB-type toxins, composed of five B subunits which bind to Gb host cell receptors and an active A subunit, whose action on the ribosome leads to protein synthesis suppression. The two Stx types (Stx1 and Stx2) and their subtypes can be produced by Shiga toxin-producing strains and some spp. These bacteria colonize the colon and induce diarrhea that may progress to hemorrhagic colitis and in the most severe cases, to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which could lead to death.

"Between the cross and the sword": Brazilian children face an influenza epidemic while still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels; however, influenza A(H3N2) detections continue to increase in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Most of the activity and rising trend of A(H3N2) detections are recorded in Brazil. A bulletin issued by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) reported significant presence of the influenza A virus, both in children and in the adult population, among cases of SARS-Cov-2.

Methylmercury plus Ethanol Exposure: How Much Does This Combination Affect Emotionality?

Mercury is a heavy metal found in organic and inorganic forms that represents an important toxicant with impact on human health. Mercury can be released in the environment by natural phenoms (i.e.

The Deleterious Effects of Shiga Toxin Type 2 Are Neutralized In Vitro by FabF8:Stx2 Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) associated with Shiga-toxigenic (STEC) infections is the principal cause of acute renal injury in pediatric age groups. Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) has in vitro cytotoxic effects on kidney cells, including human glomerular endothelial (HGEC) and Vero cells. Neither a licensed vaccine nor effective therapy for HUS is available for humans.