Publications by authors named "Maciel L"

Swimming is a popular sport with several health benefits, but its effects on bone quality are controversial possibly due to distinct effects on different anatomical regions. Our aim was to investigate the effect of 8-month swimming on bone growth, mass, geometry, trabecular microarchitecture and osteocyte density of the lumbar vertebrae, femur and tibia of male rats. Wistar rat models were assigned to either a swimming (n = 10; 2h/d, 5 d/week) or a physically active control group (n = 10) for 8 months, after which they were sacrificed and their lumbar vertebrae, femur and tibia assessed for bone mass, cortical geometry, trabecular microarchitecture and osteocyte density through µ-CT and histology.

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Individual movements of bats are triggered by their life requirements, limited by their recognition of the environment and risks of moving, and mediated by habitat selection. Mining adds fragmentation and heterogeneity to landscapes, with poorly understood consequences to the life activities of the bats. Cave dwelling bats spend most of their life cycles within caves, and as they constantly forage in external landscapes, their contribution in the input of organic matter to the caves is of paramount importance to the subterranean biodiversity.

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Purpose Of Review: Arboviral infections caused by Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses continue to pose a significant global health threat, particularly in endemic regions. This review is timely because of the increasing prevalence of these infections, driven by factors such as urbanization and climate change. Dermatological manifestations of these viruses are crucial for early diagnosis, especially given the overlap in symptoms, which can complicate differential diagnosis.

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A nephropulmonary fistula is a rare complication of a non-functioning kidney, associated with a history of infection. Medical literature describes it as an adult disease in the pre-antibiotic era, and nowadays, is a rare complication. This study reports the case of a patient with nephrolithiasis who developed a nephropulmonary fistula resulting in the migration of renal coralliform stones to the lung parenchyma.

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This study introduces an alternative strategy for evaluating antiparasitic persistence compounds in cattle hair by Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS). The developed DART-MS method aimed to determine fenthion, chlorpyrifos, and cypermethrin in cattle hair samples. DART-MS analyses were performed in positive ion mode, and parameters related to the DART source were evaluated.

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Objective: The pressure pain threshold is commonly employed to assess pain in various conditions. Despite its widespread use, the measurement of pressure pain thresholds is not consistently described across studies. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically examine the evidence regarding the assessment of pressure pain thresholds in patients with low back pain, including the protocols and body sites employed.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to explore how nurses in northeast Brazil introduce and use Integrative and Complementary Health Practices, focusing on their potential and the challenges they face.
  • - Conducted through online interviews with 15 qualified nurses, the research identified 23 integrative practices, with auriculotherapy being the most common, primarily utilized in primary care and private settings.
  • - Key challenges included a hospital-centered mindset, limited exposure in educational programs, and difficulties in pricing and understanding different medical practices, yet nurses remain committed to enhancing patient care through these integrative methods.
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  • This study explores how hypothyroidism affects the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in male Wistar rats using a monocrotaline to induce PAH and methimazole to induce hypothyroidism.
  • Results showed that hypothyroid rats (MMZ + MCT group) had improved heart function and reduced right ventricular pressure compared to PAH rats (MCT group), while both groups had lower thyroid hormone levels.
  • The conclusion indicates that hypothyroidism may help mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction and slow down the progression of PAH caused by monocrotaline.
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Unlabelled: The World Health Organization developed the "iSupport for Dementia" program for family caregivers of people with dementia.

Objective: To explore studies on adaptation, randomized clinical trial protocols, and preliminary results of iSupport by unpaid caregivers of people living with dementia in different countries.

Methods: Systematic review.

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Previous research has shown a robust association between different childhood and adolescent vulnerabilities and youth offending. However, these investigations have primarily focused on youths from high-income Western countries. Consequently, the generalizability of these findings to better inform global justice policies remains uncertain.

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The present study aimed to determine whether a remotely delivered intervention, based on an individual case management, can reduce falls and their consequences in community-dwelling older people with a history of multiple falls. In this randomized controlled trial, 32 participants were randomized to the intervention group, which comprised a 16-week case management program involving a multidimensional assessment, targeted interventions according to the identified fall risk factors, and development of individualized care plans. The intervention was performed by trained gerontologists, under weekly supervision of professionals with experience in falls.

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Ora-pro-nobis (OPN) is an unconventional food plant with high nutritional value, and its nutritional composition can be altered according to cultivation. Cereal bars are a popular nutrient-poor foods, and OPN could be incorporated to improve the nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and sensory acceptability of cereal bars enriched with OPN flour (OpnF) from different forms of cultivation.

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Resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTHβ) is a rare disease resulting from mutations in the gene, characterized by reduced T3 action in tissues with high thyroid hormone receptor β expression. Thyroid hormones regulate body composition and metabolism in general, and increased or decreased hormone levels are associated with insulin resistance. This study evaluated the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors and insulin sensitivity in patients with RTHβ.

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Hypostomus soniae is a small sized armored catfish endemic to the Tapajos River basin and ranked as one of the most exploited ornamental fish in the Santarem export marketplace. This study aims to evaluate distributional patterns of Hypostomus soniae and contribute to the species conservation in the face of development of the ornamental fish trade in the Amazon region. We compiled data associated with geographic coordinates in public repositories, supplemented with original field records.

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Aims: Ischaemic heart disease remains a significant cause of mortality globally. A pharmacological agent that protects cardiac mitochondria against oxygen deprivation injuries is welcome in therapy against acute myocardial infarction. Here, we evaluate the effect of large-conductance Ca-activated K channels (BKCa) activator, Compound Z, in isolated mitochondria under hypoxia and reoxygenation.

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Supramolecular metallogels combine the rheological properties of gels with the color, magnetism, and other properties of metal ions. Lanthanide ions such as Eu(III) can be valuable components of metallogels due to their fascinating luminescence. In this work, we combine Eu(III) and iminodiacetic acid (IDA) into luminescent hydrogels.

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Article Synopsis
  • Prebiotics like Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) were studied for their effects on gut health and mood by using mice on a high-fat diet (HFD).
  • The study involved groups of mice including a control group and those on HFD, with some receiving prebiotics and others medication, allowing researchers to compare behaviors related to depression and anxiety.
  • Results showed that prebiotic treatment improved mood and reduced neuroinflammation, indicating that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in mental health, particularly in cases of diet-induced obesity.
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Evidence indicates that master athletes have higher concentration of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), lower body fat (BF), and greater activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in comparison to untrained peers. However, no published data have demonstrated possible mediation effect of Sirt1 in the interaction of BF and testosterone in this population. Therefore, this study compared and verified possible associations between Sirt1, BF, fat mass index (FMI), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone/luteinizing hormone (T/LH) ratio in middle-aged master athletes (n = 54; 51.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to assess how eight months of swimming impacts the quality of femurs in growing male rats, comparing it with a control group that had access to a running wheel.
  • - Results indicated that swimming led to lower femur mass, compromised bone growth, and changes in bone structure, but no significant differences in biomechanical properties or certain bone cell densities were observed between swimming and control groups.
  • - Both groups showed a decrease in specific bone markers over time, suggesting reduced bone health, but the swimming group specifically exhibited an unbalanced bone turnover and poorer cortical bone quality.
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Objective: To explore the available knowledge on the application of biopsychosocial model (BPS) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: A scoping review, including 32 papers that used a BPS to manage adult patients with CLBP, published in any language. Six different databases were searched.

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  • Researchers studied the cellular structure of melanoma tumors and their changes when treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) to understand why some patients resist this therapy.
  • They found that a specific cell type with a mesenchymal-like (MES) state, which is associated with resistance to treatment, was more common in patients who did not respond to ICB.
  • The study identified TCF4 as a key regulator that controls this resistance by suppressing other important immune functions, and targeting TCF4 could enhance the effectiveness of both ICB and other therapies in melanoma treatment.
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a swallowing disorder that involves difficulty in safely passing the food bolus from the oral cavity to the stomach. OD is a common problem in children with congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS). In this case series, we describe the clinical and acoustic alterations of swallowing in children exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy in a cohort from Amazonas, Brazil.

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Multiple protocols have been reported to fabricate paper-based analytical devices (PADs). However, some of these techniques must be revised because of the instrumentation required. This paper describes a versatile and globally affordable method to fabricate PADs using office paper as a substrate and a laser printing technique to define hydrophobic barriers on paper surfaces.

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Unlabelled: Unpaid caregivers of people living with dementia tend to suffer mental health problems as a result of the negative effects associated with the care tasks. Thus, psychosocial interventions for this population group are necessary. iSupport is an online support program for caregivers that was created by the World Health Organization.

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