Polymers (Basel)
December 2024
Conjugated donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers are widely used in optoelectronic devices due to their influence on the resulting properties. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of the conjugated D-A copolymer constructed with fluorene and di-2-thienyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole units, resulting in Poly[2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5-(4,7-di(2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PFDTBT). The synthesis associated with reaction times of 48 and 24 h, the latter incorporating the phase-transfer catalyst Aliquat 336, was investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sense of coherence (SOC) is a disposition to perceive things as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. Lower SOC is associated with subjective burden and psychological morbidity in family caregivers, including in dementia. However, the evidence-base mainly comprises small-scale or cross-sectional studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical experience shows an increased duration of labor in obese parturient women. It is unclear if this population should receive the same dose of vaginal misoprostol for induction of labor as non-obese parturient women. We investigate the influence of obesity on the pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of the metabolite misoprostol acid in parturient women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This trial analyzes the effects of home-based isometric handgrip training (IHT) and aerobic exercise training (AET) on ambulatory and office blood pressure (BP) in older adults with high normal to established hypertension.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 84 participants (46 women, 71.1 ± 3.
Objective: The quality of the relationship between persons with dementia and family carers influences health and quality-of-life outcomes. Little is known regarding those at higher risk of experiencing a decline in relationship quality, who could potentially benefit the most from interventions. We aimed to identify these risk profiles and explore the underlying factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Systematic reviews (SRs) are time-consuming and labor-intensive to perform. With the growing number of scientific publications, the SR development process becomes even more laborious. This is problematic because timely SR evidence is essential for decision-making in evidence-based healthcare and policymaking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis
August 2024
This study aimed to evaluate the presence and viability of in chickens intended for human consumption in the Pernambuco State, Brazil. Blood and tissue samples were collected from 25 chickens sold in markets in Recife, Pernambuco. Samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect antibodies to .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Kidney transplant recipients face complex perioperative challenges due to comorbidities from chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to assess perioperative complications in kidney transplant recipients and evaluate the association between the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and complication severity using the Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification.
Methods: A prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary hospital in South Brazil from September 2020 to March 2022, including 230 adult kidney transplant recipients.
With the proliferation and growing complexity of healthcare systems emerges the challenge of implementing scalable and interoperable solutions to seamlessly integrate heterogenous data from sources such as wearables, electronic health records, and patient reports that can provide a comprehensive and personalized view of the patient's health. Lack of standardization hinders the coordination between systems and stakeholders, impacting continuity of care and patient outcomes. Common musculoskeletal conditions affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigates the influence of pregnancy on the in vivo activity of the intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and hepatic organic anion transporters polypeptide (OATP/BCRP) using, respectively, fexofenadine and rosuvastatin as probe drugs. Eleven healthy participants were investigated during the third trimester of pregnancy (Phase 1, 28 to 38 weeks of gestation) and in the postpartum period (Phase 2, 8 to 12 weeks postpartum). In both phases, after administration of a single oral dose of fexofenadine (60 mg) and rosuvastatin (5 mg), serial blood samples were collected for up to 24 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile people's involvement in health research is increasingly the encouraged norm in many countries, the involvement of refugees and migrants in research about their health is rare. Here, we call for a paradigm shift in the field of refugee and migrant health to make participatory health research routine, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aims to evaluate the impact of liver fibrosis stages of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the in vivo activity of organic cation transporters (hepatic OCT1 and renal OCT2) using metformin (MET) as a probe drug. Participants allocated in Group 1 ( = 15, mild to moderate liver fibrosis) or 2 ( = 13, advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis) received a single MET 50 mg oral dose before direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug treatment (Phase 1) and 30 days after achieving sustained virologic response (Phase 2). OCT1/2 activity (MET AUC) was found to be reduced by 25% when comparing the two groups in Phase 2 (ratio 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical parasitic disease, is regarded as a major public health problem worldwide. The first-line drugs for leishmaniasis suffer from limitations related to toxicity and the development of resistance in certain parasitic strains. Therefore, the discovery of alternative treatments for leishmaniasis is imperative, and natural products represent a valuable source of potential therapeutic agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the investment in platinum drugs research, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are still the only Pt-based compounds used as first line treatments for several cancers, with a few other compounds being approved for administration in some Asian countries. However, due to the severe and worldwide impact of oncological diseases, there is an urge for improved chemotherapeutic approaches. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical application of platinum complexes is hindered by their inherent toxicity and acquired resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Health literacy among migrants is a matter of public health and social justice. Migrants from diverse backgrounds encounter challenges such as linguistic barriers, cultural disparities, restricted access to health services, and heterogeneous migration statuses. Addressing these challenges requires careful consideration of their unique experiences and needs to promote equitable health outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Despite the increasing knowledge in the past years, only minimal attention has been directed to the neuropsychological aspects and the prevalence of cognitive impairment associated with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS).
Objective: To describe the frequency and expand the understanding of cognitive dysfunction in RCVS.
Methods: The neuropsychological evaluation was performed using a battery consisting of specific neuropsychological instruments that were administered to patients diagnosed with RCVS.
Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by , which can lead to a disabling neurodegenerative condition. preferentially infects skin macrophages and Schwann cells-glial cells of the peripheral nervous system. The infection modifies the host cell lipid metabolism, subverting it in favor of the formation of cholesterol-rich lipid droplets (LD) that are essential for bacterial survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Photochem Photobiol B
August 2024
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacterium, accounts for 7% of all hospital-acquired infections. Despite advances in medicine and antibiotic therapy, P. aeruginosa infection still results in high mortality rates of up to 62% in certain patient groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Oral Investig
June 2024
Objectives: Evaluate the efficacy of denture cleaners on the adhesion of Candida albicans and their effects on the surface, optical, and mechanical properties of resins for conventional, milled, and 3D-printed denture bases.
Materials And Methods: A total of 240 resin samples were made, 120 for testing Candida albicans adhesion, optical stabilities (ΔE), roughness (Ra), hydrophilicity (°), surface free energy (Owens-Wendt) and 120 samples for testing Candida albicans adhesion, surface microhardness (Knoop), flexural strength and modulus of elasticity in a three-point test, in which they were divided into 3 groups of denture resin (n = 40) and subdivided into 5 cleaners of dentures (n = 8). Data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test for multiple comparisons (α = 0.
Background: Addressing informal caregivers' needs is essential for ensuring quality healthcare and promoting citizen-centred care. This systematic review assessed current knowledge about programmes aimed at meeting the needs of informal caregivers of adults who are dependent on others for daily life activities.
Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the electronic databases EBSCOhost Research Platform, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and The Virtual Health Library were searched for randomized experimental studies published between 2012 and 2022 that implemented programmes addressing informal caregivers' needs to improve their experiences, health, and well-being.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
May 2024
Background: Seroepidemiological studies provide estimates of population-level immunity, prevalence/incidence of infections, and evaluation of vaccination programs. We assessed the seroprevalence of protective antibodies against influenza and evaluated the correlation of seroprevalence with the cumulative annual influenza incidence rate.
Methods: We conducted an annual repeated cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey, during June-August, from 2014 to 2019, in Portugal.