Publications by authors named "Maria Nascimento"

Background: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains alarming, especially among young people and college students, highlighting the vulnerability of this population. In the academic context, it is worth investigating whether medical students, despite their access to information, also engage in risky sexual behaviors.

Objective: The present study aims to describe the sexual behavior of Brazilian medical students, analyzing their level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other STIs, as well as examining potential correlations between this knowledge and risky behaviors.

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Background: Prenatal depression threatens maternal and child well-being and interferes with issues prioritized by the 2030 agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive disorders during pregnancy using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional study using a sample of pregnant Brazilian women, representative of Brazil as a whole.

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Background: Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems utilize phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) to remove phosphorus from wastewater since excessive phosphorus in water bodies can lead to eutrophication. This study aimed to characterize a newly isolated PAO strain for its potential application in EBPR systems and to screen for additional biotechnological potential. Here, sequencing allowed for genomic analysis, identifying the genes and molecules involved, and exploring other potentials.

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Watermelon (), it's an important fruit in Brazil, producing 1.9 million ton/year, occupies the fifth place in the world, (FAO, 2022), but post-harvest diseases are a major limitation, leading to losses of up to 15% (Balasubramaniam et al. 2023).

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Objective: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are abundantly expressed in various biofluids, making them promising candidates for cancer biomarkers. This review aims to present current evidence on the use of miRNA as biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Methods: A systematic literature review, using the Medline database, was performed in July 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in outdoor air, specifically comparing crowded versus empty outdoor settings in Valladolid, Spain, during winter 2021.
  • Using air samples collected from nine locations in the city, the researchers utilized a Coriolis® air sampler and subsequent RNA extraction techniques to detect the virus.
  • Results showed that 6 out of 20 samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, all from crowded areas, indicating that the virus can still be present in outdoor environments, especially when mitigation measures are relaxed.
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  • Astyanax bimaculatus, or piabas/lambaris, is a small fish species complex with 18 different species, including some that are hard to distinguish.
  • The study used DNA barcoding to analyze A. bimaculatus populations specifically in Maranhão, comparing genetic diversity to other Brazilian basins and found 32 unique haplotypes.
  • Results showed Maranhão populations are genetically distinct from others, contributing valuable insights into the species' systematics and highlighting significant genetic variation in the region.
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Hydroxyurea (HU) exerts unique and diverse biological effects as an anti-leukemic agent, irradiation sensitizer, and HbS inducer in patients with sickle cell anemia. Herein, we assessed the potential toxicogenic and/or oxidant effects of hydroxyurea associated with ascorbic acid by examinations in and human cancer cells and systemically on mice tissues. Growing roots and HCT-116 colorectal tumor cells were examined after HU and HU plus ascorbic acid exposure.

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Introduction: Various non-pharmacological interventions to prevent coronavirus dissemination were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including school closures. The effect of these interventions on particular aspects of people's lives such as sexual and reproductive health outcomes has not been adequately discussed. The objective of the study was to compare the monthly hospital admission rates due to abortion before and during school closure.

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Background: A-mode ultrasound (US) is a potential method for directly measuring muscle thickness in patients with cancer, but its utility remains underexplored. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using A-mode US to assess muscle thickness, compare it with computed tomography (CT)-derived results, and assess its ability to diagnose sarcopenia.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with hospitalized patients with cancer.

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Purpose: Illicit cosmetic injections remain highly prevalent and can cause serious complications, including death. We aimed to explore existing literature regarding the use of illicit cosmetic injections globally.

Methods: We searched six databases with no language restriction from inception to 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to explore how different components of the SARC-F questionnaire relate to muscle parameters in cancer patients, particularly focusing on muscle functionality and composition using CT scans.
  • The research involved 128 cancer patients, analyzing skeletal muscle characteristics at various anatomical landmarks, revealing that higher SARC-F scores (indicating poorer muscle status) corresponded with lower muscle radiodensity measurements.
  • Results indicated significant associations between specific difficulties (like walking and climbing stairs) and lower muscle quality, suggesting that poor muscle composition increases the risk of sarcopenia among these individuals.
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  • Many studies on metabolic changes in soccer focus on male athletes and single matches, highlighting a need for more research on female players throughout a season.
  • The study aimed to analyze the metabolomics profile of elite female soccer players in Brazil, observing changes in their urine samples before and after three games.
  • Results showed a significant separation in metabolite profiles across the games, indicating that factors like fatigue impacted energy and protein metabolism among players over the tournament.
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Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is currently recognized as an emerging problem and a growing concern for public health in developed countries, with HEV infections mainly attributable to foodborne transmission of HEV-3. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 infects a wide range of mammalian hosts, with swine considered as the primary host. This study investigates the occurrence of HEV among small ruminants in Portugal.

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  • * A physical examination revealed a firm, adhered testicle measuring 16 cm x 8 cm, and an ultrasound showed heterogeneous texture without visible mediastinum, leading to a bilateral orchiectomy.
  • * Post-surgery, a firm tumor mass replaced the seminiferous tubules, characterized by multilobulated and invasive features, with positive immunolabelling for OCT4 and C-KIT during immunohistochemical examination, confirming the diagnosis.
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Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are recognized as public health problems which are related to overweight and cardiometabolic factors. The aim of this study was to develop a model to predict MS in people with CKD.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of patients from a reference center in São Luís, MA, Brazil.

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Toxicological studies are important to investigate the genotoxic effects of various substances. Allium cepa can be used as test model for this purpose. This review summarizes the scope and applications for this A.

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Purpose: Bacterial cellulose (BC) has shown high capacity for the treatment of wounds and burns, providing a moisty environment. Calcium alginate can be associated with BC to create gels that aid in wound debridement and contribute to appropriate wound healing. This study is aimed at characterizing and evaluating the use of bacterial cellulose/alginate gel in skin burns in rats.

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Objectives: Given the innovative nature of the method, our study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of body mass index (BMI)-adjusted calf circumference (CC) in older patients who are hospitalized.

Methods: This was a unique analysis as part of other cohorts comprising general hospitalized patients aged 60 years or older of both sexes. Only patients with excess weight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m) were included.

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Fever elicited by bacterial lypopolyssacharide (LPS) is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, which activate central mediators and regulate the hypothalamic temperature setpoint. This response is often accompanied by morphological changes involving the extracellular matrix, neurons and glial cells, with significant health impacts. The NK1 receptor is involved in the febrile response induced by LPS but its effects over the extracellular matrix in the context of neuroinflammation remain unknown.

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Hepatitis E virus (HEV), species Paslahepevirus balayani, poses a global public health threat, especially in developing countries, by causing acute enterically transmitted hepatitis. HEV infects various mammalian hosts and belongs to the genus Paslahepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. While swine are recognized as the main hosts of HEV, rabbits, which can also be affected by swine HEV-3 related strains, serve as the primary reservoir for the distinct emerging and zoonotic HEV-3ra subtype.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, provide significant health benefits, and research focused on enhancing these acids in fish oil through low-cost methods involving lipase enzymes.
  • - A specific lipase, Lipase F2, derived from the fungus F. solani, was produced using submerged fermentation and demonstrated strong enzyme activity, stability at pH 8.0, and resilience to various conditions.
  • - Lipase F2 effectively enriched fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids, achieving high concentrations of DHA and EPA, making it a cost-effective alternative to commercial enzymes for potential use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
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This study explores a nanoemulsion formulated with açaí seed oil, known for its rich fatty acid composition and diverse biological activities. This study aimed to characterise a nanoemulsion formulated with açaí seed oil and explore its cytotoxic effects on HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines, alongside assessing its antioxidant and toxicity properties both in vitro and in vivo. Extracted from fruits sourced in Brazil, the oil underwent thorough chemical characterization using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

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Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the frequency of positive scores using unadjusted SARC-CalF with the scores derived from SARC-CalF after adjusting calf circumference (CC) for body mass index (BMI). The secondary aim was to assess the prognostic value of SARC-CalF after BMI adjustment, for length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, included both outpatients and inpatients of an oncology unit hospital in Brazil.

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