Publications by authors named "Martins P"

Article Synopsis
  • Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia (PH) is a common diagnostic challenge in internal medicine, and this study aimed to establish a consensus threshold for PH based on serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) data from 2016.
  • The researchers analyzed data from over 20,700 SPEs across three hospitals and found that the 95th percentile threshold for PH was 18.9 g/L, noting variations based on geographical regions.
  • The study concludes that while the 19 g/L threshold may be significant, its biological nature requires validation through future prospective studies to determine its clinical relevance.
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A 63-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with an acute history of fever, prostration and dyspnea. She was diagnosed with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome and, despite optimized critical care support, met the indications for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. On day 34, after 7 days of wean sedation with a positive evolution of neurologic status, she presented a limited generalized tonic-clonic seizure not related to hydroelectrolytic or metabolic imbalance, which led to a diagnostic investigation; her brain imaging tests showed a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

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The combined approach of ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) and nanotechnology represents a strategy to mitigate ischemia/reperfusion injury in liver transplantation (LT). We evaluated the uptake, distribution, and efficacy of antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) during normothermic perfusion of discarded human livers. A total of 9 discarded human liver grafts were randomized in 2 groups and underwent 4 h of NMP: 5 grafts were treated with nanoceria conjugated with albumin (Alb-NC; 50 µg/ml) and compared with 4 untreated grafts.

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The construction of shelters on plants by arthropods might influence other organisms via changes in colonization, community richness, species composition, and functionality. Arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, sawflies, spiders, and wasps often interact with host plants via the construction of shelters, building a variety of structures such as leaf ties, tents, rolls, and bags; leaf and stem galls, and hollowed out stems. Such constructs might have both an adaptive value in terms of protection (i.

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Background: Studies that test associations between anthropometric indicators and insulin resistance (IR) need to provide better evidence in the context of the pediatric population (children and adolescents) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as anthropometric indicators present a better explanation of the distribution of body fat.

Objective: To test the associations between anthropometric indicators and insulin resistance (IR) among children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study on 65 children and adolescents (8-15 years) infected with HIV through vertical transmission conducted at the Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, Florianópolis, Brazil.

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Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered the "holy grail" to manage patients by health practitioners (such as physical therapists). However, sometimes, patients are not treated with the best interventions for their condition. Although studies already explored the facilitators and barriers for this issue, they increase in the level of importance if the information gathered are context appropriated.

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Background: The importance of muscular fitness (MF) in the performance of activities of daily living is unequivocal. Additionally, emerging evidence has shown MF can reduce cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine and summarize the evidence regarding the relationship between MF phenotypes (i.

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Organ transplantation is the definitive treatment for end-stage solid organ diseases, yet biological and logistical barriers reduce the rate of successful organ transplants. As such, there is a need for gene therapy and gene modulation strategies in the organ transplantation setting to prevent rejection, expand the donor pool of available organs, and attenuate ischemia-reperfusion damage. As we are entering an era of "precision medicine," the organ transplant field is becoming equipped with the tools necessary to personalize and optimize organs designed specifically to withstand injurious pathways that occur during transplantation, such that the concept of "designer organs" will be a reality in the near future.

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We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing HCV infection rates in haemodialysis patients in Brazil (Prospero CRD #42021275068). We included studies on patients under haemodialysis, comprising both convenience samples and exhaustive information from selected services. Patients underwent HCV serological testing with or without confirmation by HCV RNA PCR.

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Precisely engineered magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely explored for applications including theragnostic platforms, drug delivery systems, biomaterial/device coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, performance-enhanced therapeutic alternatives, and even in SARS-CoV-2 detection strips. Such popularity is due to their unique, challenging, and tailorable physicochemical/magnetic properties. Given the wide biomedical-related potential applications of MNPs, significant achievements have been reached and published (exponentially) in the last five years, both in synthesis and application tailoring.

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This work focuses on the combination of multifunctional photocatalytic and adsorbent materials in a unique polymeric membrane. For this purpose, Au/TiO and Y(CO) nanoparticles were immobilised onto a poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene), (PVDF-HFP) membrane, and the physical-chemical characterisation of these materials was performed, as well as pollutant removal efficiency. An efficient TiO functionalisation with gold nanoparticles was achieved, endowing these particles with the capability to absorb visible radiation absorption.

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Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are key virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria, consequently, they have become important targets for new approaches against these pathogens, especially in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Among these targets of interest YopH (Yersinia outer protein H) from virulent species of Yersinia is an example. PTPs can be reversibly inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) since the oxidative modification of cysteine residues may influence the protein structure and catalytic activity.

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Background: Inflammation plays a crucial role in nutrition status and can be useful in early nutrition risk screening of patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association between systemic inflammatory markers and nutrition risk tools in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19.

Methods: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 and ICU admission were enrolled in a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study.

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A fast method based on reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography using evaporative light scattering detection (RP-UHPLC-ELSD) was developed for monitoring the intermediates and end products of biodiesel production. Gradient elution of water, acetonitrile, and a mixture of acetonitrile:2-propanol:n-hexane was used. With a minimal and easy sample preparation, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), free fatty acids (FFA), monoacylglycerols (MAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), and triacylglycerols (TAG) were successfully separated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lactic fermentation of unripe green tomatoes can provide a sustainable method to utilize excess tomatoes that are not suitable for processing in the food industry.
  • The study analyzed the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in these tomatoes, identifying promising strains that can improve the quality and probiotic benefits of fermented products.
  • Two specific LAB strains showed resilience to solanine and demonstrated strong potential for use as starter cultures in creating probiotic foods from unripe green tomatoes.
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Worldwide, approximately 95% of obese people who follow diets for weight loss fail to maintain their weight loss in the long term. To fill this gap, mindfulness-based interventions, with a focus on mindful eating, are promising therapies to address this challenging public health issue. To verify the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) protocol by exploring quantitative and qualitative data collected from Brazilian women.

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Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) is a rare complication of liver transplantation associated with high morbidity and mortality. Death typically occurs due to complications related to severe infection, shock, and multiorgan failure. The clinical presentation involves dysfunction of multiple organ systems with overlapping symptoms that often results in a diagnostic delay.

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Introduction: Several clinical studies have demonstrated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of machine perfusion in liver transplantation, although its economic outcomes are still underexplored. This review aimed to examine the costs related to machine perfusion and its associated outcomes.

Methods: Expert opinion of several groups representing different machine perfusion modalities.

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To identify ultrasound (US) features associated with the presence of shoulder complaints. This observational, case-control study, compared US findings between participants with and without shoulder complaints, matched for age, sex, and dominancy. Data was collected from February 2018 to June 2020.

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Aims: The existing instruments for assessing heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) require contact area. This is difficult to obtain from specific groups of patients and from those moving. The aim of this study was to validate the use of the HRVCam software for measuring HR and HRV in healthy adults.

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Purpose: The aim of this study was (1) to assess AT through 13 different mathematical approaches and to compare their results; and (2) to understand if AT occurs after moderate WL.

Methods: Ninety-four participants [mean (SD); BMI, 31.1 (4.

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Article Synopsis
  • Evidence suggests that sex plays a significant role in the severity and clinical manifestations of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with male patients experiencing more severe disease and worse survival rates.
  • In a study involving 1054 Portuguese SSc patients, males showed higher rates of complications such as diffuse cutaneous SSc, myositis, and interstitial lung disease compared to females.
  • Survival analysis of the inception cohort revealed that men had significantly lower survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years post-diagnosis compared to women, highlighting the gender disparities in SSc outcomes.
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