Publications by authors named "Maia A"

is a common, waterborne gastrointestinal parasite that causes diarrheal disease worldwide. Currently there are no effective therapeutics to treat cryptosporidiosis in at-risk populations. Since natural products are a known source of anti-parasitic compounds, we screened a library of extracts and pure natural product compounds isolated from bacteria and fungi collected from subterranean environments for activity against .

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Background: Sensory processing difficulties are common in neurodevelopment conditions, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and can significantly impact daily living activities.

Aims: To systematically review the literature to (1) synthesize the characteristics (sections and patterns) of sensory processing alterations in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), (2) compare these characteristics with those of children with typical development or associated comorbidities, and (3) identify which characteristics may be present from early childhood.

Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and was submitted and registered in PROSPERO.

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Background: Breast cancer treatments often cause serious side effects, but physical exercise has shown the potential to improve both the physical and psychological health outcomes of survivors. This review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize and analyze the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of concurrent training on physical, psychological, and biomarkers variables on breast cancer survivors.; Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024571851).

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Mosquito control still relies heavily on synthetic molecules, which can lead to the selection of resistant populations and undesirable environmental problems. This study described the preparation of a nanoparticle of the plant-derived molecule, -myrcene, with chitosan, and the assessment of its toxicity against larvae of the yellow fever mosquito, . By producing fluorescent chitosan nanoparticles, we were able to observe their distribution in the digestive tract of larvae of .

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The respiratory tract hosts a diverse microbial community whose composition varies with anatomical location and throughout life. Rothia mucilaginosa, a common commensal of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity, has recently been recognized for its ability to inhibit bacteria-triggered pro-inflammatory responses. However, its role in modulating the immune response to viral infections such as influenza A virus (IAV) pneumonia, remains unknown.

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Phthalic acid esters, or phthalates, are plasticizers commonly used in the plastics industry and they are known for their endocrine-disrupting effects. Numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of phthalate exposure on thyroid function, both in adults and children. However, there is still considerable debate surrounding this issue.

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Night-blooming cacti, primarily pollinated by bats and hawkmoths, also attract beetles seeking food and safe shelter for mating and brooding their offspring. The influence of flower density on beetle visitation rates remains unclear, with responses varying by species and environmental factors. In the Caatinga Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest, we studied the flower occupancy distribution of two beetle species, Cyclocephala paraguayensis and Nitops aff.

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Hydrophobic compounds present in the cuticular wax layer (CWL) of terrestrial arthropods protect them from dehydration and are also involved in chemical communication. However, the role of CWL compounds in the behavioral ecology of scorpions has been studied less often, with most investigations focusing on their responses to mechanical stimuli. In this study, we aimed to characterize the CWL composition of Tityus pusillus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) and examine the influence of CWL solvent extracts and movement on intraspecific mate and sexual recognition by males of this species.

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Cancer treatment remains a significant challenge, with chemotherapy still being one of the most common therapeutic approaches. Based on our initial studies of symmetric monomethine cyanine dyes, which showed potential against colorectal cancer, this study explored several asymmetric cyanines, aiming to develop more potent and selective antitumor agents, particularly against colorectal cancer. In pursuit of this goal, we have designed, synthesized, and structurally characterized twelve new cyanine dyes.

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This study analyzed recent changes in the utilization of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs) and the survival of HCT recipients ≥60 years of age in Brazil. This retrospective registry study included patients who received a first allogeneic HCT from any donor between 2012 and 2023. Of the 6657 patients, 444 (7%) were 60 years of age or older who received grafts from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related (42%) or unrelated (20%) donors or HLA-haploidentical donors (32%).

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Article Synopsis
  • The Meliponini tribe, consisting of stingless bees, has diverse species that are important for ecological balance and economic activities like meliponiculture, especially in tropical areas.
  • Due to deforestation limiting natural nesting options, meliponaries provide essential habitats for these bees, allowing them to thrive in closer quarters than they typically would in the wild.
  • A study on Melipona scutellaris and Tetragonisca angustula at a meliponary in Pernambuco found that they use different pollen sources and have distinct activity patterns, suggesting there isn’t significant competition for resources despite being in a high-density setting.
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Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) injected during the COVID-19 convalescence period was safe and enhanced recovery from anosmia and dysgeusia in the acute phase.

Objectives: To report the long-term results of the BATTLE trial, BCG vaccine in adults with mild COVID-19.

Methods: Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized (1:1) clinical trial.

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  • - The study explores the use of essential oil (PDEO) from Brazilian Amazon plants as an eco-friendly inhibitor for steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid, showing effective corrosion rates and inhibition efficiency over time.
  • - Different concentrations of PDEO (0.5-4 g/L) were tested, with the optimal results at 2 g/L demonstrating a corrosion rate of 4.31 mm/year and an impressive inhibition efficiency of 98.3% after 7 days.
  • - Analysis revealed that key compounds in PDEO (methyleugenol and eugenol) contribute to corrosion resistance, and the adsorption process follows the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating favorable interaction between PDEO and the steel surface.
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Introduction: Providing widespread access to thyroidectomies while consolidating services in high-volume centers is a significant challenge in healthcare. In this context, from a national perspective, we aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the institutional case volumes of thyroid surgery in Brazil.

Material And Methods: We analyzed retrospective thyroidectomy data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (Datasus), stratifying institutions into low-volume, intermediate-volume, and high-volume centers (<10, 10-100, and >100 thyroidectomies/year, respectively).

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•The negative impact of infectious diseases and their immunoprevention during the different stages of a woman's life requires a broad approach including adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and the postmenopausal phase. •Immunization of pregnant women should be a priority for the protection of the maternal-fetal dyad, especially in regions with high rates of infections preventable by immunization. •Brazil has one of the most comprehensive vaccination programs in the world - the National Immunization Program (, PNI) - that serves all age groups: newborns, children, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and older adults, as well as groups with special needs, such as adolescents, pregnant and older adult women.

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Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) infections are challenging to treat due to high intrinsic drug resistance, comparable to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Treatments are extremely ineffective and based on a multi-drug regimen, resulting in low patient compliance. Consequently, the scientific community is urged to identify new and effective drugs to treat these infections.

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Background: Pneumococcal meningitis (PM) triggers apoptotic neuronal and progenitor cell death in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), resulting in subsequent cognitive impairment. Microglia play a crucial role in PM-induced hippocampal damage. While the lasting effects of neonatal nutrition on health are well documented, the influence of early-life overfeeding on the host response to neuroinfections remains uncertain.

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Objective: The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study was to investigate physicians' preferences for radioiodine (RAI) treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in Brazil and the factors influencing RAI indications.

Materials And Methods: A survey was distributed to physicians potentially involved in DTC care in Brazil to understand the factors influencing RAI indications. The survey collected information on the profiles of the physicians, along with the characteristics of their workplaces and their preferences regarding RAI indications in three hypothetical clinical cases.

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Training is instrumental in identifying and selecting cattle that exhibit greater cooperation with experimental conditions required in flow respirometry assays, like restraint and the use of a valved facial mask. In our study, a tailored training protocol for Nellore cattle facilitated their participation in flow respirometry assays with a valved facial mask. Over 127 days, 30 entire Nellore males, weighing 450 ± 25 kg and averaging 32 ± 2 months, underwent training from May to September 2022.

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  • - The study investigated the correlation between rheumatic fever (RF) history and benzathine penicillin (BP) treatment with extensive macular atrophy with pseudodrusen (EMAP) in Brazilian patients through a retrospective, observational case-control approach.
  • - Out of 77 patients (66.2% women, average age 58.6), a significant majority had a history of RF (90.9%) and BP treatment (94.8% starting at an average age of 7.3 years with an 11.8-year duration).
  • - Results showed that longer BP treatment duration was linked to a decrease in atrophic area, while older age at RF diagnosis influenced the likelihood of subretinal dr
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  • Silicone oil (SO) is commonly used as a vitreous tamponade, but it has known complications, including glaucoma and cataracts, along with increasing cases of unexplained visual loss after SO removal.
  • A literature review highlights the chemical properties of SO, its surgical complications, and issues like SO migration and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
  • Doctors must weigh the severity of retinal diseases and their own experience when choosing SO, while the search for safer vitreous substitutes remains critical.
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  • The study develops a new method to identify genetic variants that increase breast cancer risk by focusing on variants in gene regulatory regions, using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as a basis.
  • Through analysis of microarray data from normal breast tissue, the researchers identified over 54,000 differential allelic expression QTLs (daeQTLs) linked to breast cancer risk, mapping these to relevant genes and loci.
  • The findings highlight the connection between risk-related genetic variants and gene expression regulation, identifying candidate causal variants at the 5q14.1 locus that may influence breast cancer risk through alternative transcription mechanisms.
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Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed numerous loci associated with breast cancer risk, yet the precise causal variants, their impact on molecular mechanisms, and the affected genes often remain elusive. We hypothesised that specific variants exert their influence by affecting cis-regulatory alternative splice elements. An analysis of splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTL) in healthy breast tissue from female individuals identified multiple variants linked to alterations in splicing ratios.

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