Influence of a handheld X-ray unit in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions using different digital systems.

Objectives: To assess the influence of a handheld X-ray unit in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions using different digital systems by comparing with a wall-mounted unit.

Methods: Radiographs of 40 human teeth were acquired using the Eagle X-ray handheld unit (Alliage, São Paulo, Brazil) set at 2.5 mA, 60 kVp and an exposure time of 0.

Structural and vascular assessment of the optic nerve head and macula in chronic Chagas disease.

Chagas disease (CD), a parasitic infection, may have ocular repercussions in its cardiologic form, since a history of heart disease of other etiologies already has been established as a risk factor for neuropathies and maculopathies. The aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical structural and vascular optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters in patients with chronic CD. Nineteen patients with CD and 19 healthy subjects were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and Laguna ONhE® software.

Chitosan/γ-PGA nanoparticles and IFN-γ immunotherapy: A dual approach for triple-negative breast cancer treatment.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a key mediator in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy responses, yet its clinical application remains restricted to chronic granulomatous disease and malignant osteopetrosis. IFN-γ effectiveness as a standalone treatment has shown limited success in clinical trials and its potential for synergistic effects when combined with immunotherapies is under clinical exploration. A particularly compelling combination is that of IFN-γ with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists that holds significant promise for cancer treatment.

The impact of obesity on mitochondrial dysfunction during pregnancy.

Mitochondria play a central role in nutrient metabolism, besides being responsible for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main source of cellular energy. However, the ATP production process is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which excessive accumulation can cause mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysfunction, in turn, causes the accumulation of fatty acids in the adipose tissue, triggering a local inflammatory process that can evolve into systemic inflammation.

In silico, in vitro and in vivo characterisation of thiamin binding proteins from plant seeds.

Thiamin, an essential micronutrient, is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the central carbon metabolism and amino acids pathways. Despite efforts to enhance thiamin content in rice by incorporating thiamin biosynthetic genes, increasing thiamin content in endosperm remains challenging, possibly due to a lack of thiamin stability and/or a local sink. The introduction of storage proteins has been successful in biofortification strategies and similar efforts targeting thiamin led to a 3-4-fold increase in white rice.