Publications by authors named "Mendonca R"

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a rare malignant tumor, frequently affects pediatric patients, with 35%-40% occurring in the head and neck. This study analyzes the clinicopathologic profile of pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas from Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa.

Methods: We reviewed 44 cases from 10 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology services, conducting immunohistochemical analyses of desmin, myogenin, Myo-D1, and Ki67, with quantification via QuPath software.

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Background:  Spinal muscular atrophy linked to chromosome 5q (SMA-5q) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene.

Objective:  To describe the key demographic, clinical and genetic characteristics, as well as natural history data of patients with SMA-5q.

Methods:  Up to January 2022, 706 patients with confirmed genetic diagnosis of SMA-5q, or their parents, completed a self-reported questionnaire on natural history, genetic characteristics, drug treatments, and multidisciplinary care.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the orthodontic retention protocols used by Brazilian orthodontists.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 693 orthodontists who answered a web-based questionnaire with 22 questions regarding the participants' characteristics, their retainers' prescriptions, follow-up duration, and appliance fabrication.

Results: A 20.

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Brazil has a very large biological variety, which is an almost inexhaustible source of substances of pharmacological and biotechnological interest. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of bioactive peptides in insect hemolymph and their potential use as therapeutic agents. However, few data are available regarding molecules extracted from insects with anti-apoptotic action.

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Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacilli Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. In addition to humans, animals such as nine-banded armadillos and red squirrels are species naturally infected. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of M.

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The awareness of molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) has led to its increased clinical detection, consequently drawing more attention to its associated complications. This text offers an overview of the esthetic management of anterior teeth affected by MIH, a condition characterized by enamel defects that present significant cosmetic challenges. The focus is on the clinical presentation of MIH characteristics, considering the depth of lesions and the clinical aspects, and the treatment protocols available, despite a lack of extensive scientific evidence.

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Article Synopsis
  • HPK1 is a negative regulator of T-cell receptor signaling, and its inhibition can enhance immune responses and work well with immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer models.
  • Researchers have discovered a new series of isoquinoline compounds that effectively inhibit HPK1 and promote T-cell activity through fragment-based screening.
  • The best candidate from these efforts showed strong inhibition of HPK1, excellent selectivity for other kinases, a good safety profile, and favorable pharmacokinetic properties for potential cancer immunotherapy use.
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 This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with poor sleep quality in women in the postpartum period who were assisted in a municipality in central Brazil.  This is a cross-sectional study (  = 400) conducted virtually from 2020 to 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, self-perceived sleep, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed.

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Objectives: To verify the association between the consumption of red and processed meats and the incidence of hypertension in participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health.

Methods: This was a cohort with data from the baseline (2008-2010) and second wave (2012-2014) with 8,089 public workers of both sexes and different racial groups, with mean age of 49 ± 8 years (35-74 years old). Meat consumption (g/d) was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and was divided into consumption tertiles.

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In recent years, significant progress has been made in 5q Spinal Muscular Atrophy therapeutics, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for better clinical outcomes. Characterized by spinal cord motor neuron degeneration, 5q-SMA leads to muscle weakness, swallowing difficulties, respiratory insufficiency, and skeletal deformities. Recognizing the pre-symptomatic phases supported by screening and confirmatory genetic tests is crucial for early diagnosis.

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Background: Gender-affirming mastectomy, performed on transgender men and non-binary individuals, frequently leads to considerable postoperative pain. This pain can significantly affect both patient satisfaction and the overall recovery process. The study examines the efficacy of four analgesic techniques pectoral nerve (PECS) 2 block, erector spinae plane (ESP) block, thoracic wall local anesthesia infiltration (TWI), and systemic multimodal analgesia (SMA) in managing perioperative pain, with special consideration for the effects of chronic testosterone therapy on pain thresholds.

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Background: Anxiety symptoms are factors that directly affect eating habits, but this interference can be heterogeneous depending on the nutritional status of the individuals.

Objectives: To analyze whether the presence of anxiety symptoms at the beginning of the pandemic influenced the change in food consumption according to its purpose and extent of processing during a one-year follow-up and whether this association occurs equally with excess weight and without excess weight university students.

Methods: This longitudinal study was carried out with 583 university students from a public Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Brazil.

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Purpose: Wearable robotic devices are currently being developed to improve upper limb function for individuals with hemiparesis after stroke. Incorporating the views of clinicians during the development of new technologies can help ensure that end products meet clinical needs and can be adopted for patient care.

Methods: In this cross-sectional mixed-methods study, an anonymous online survey was used to gather clinicians' perceptions of a wearable robotic hand orthosis for post-stroke hemiparesis.

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The limited availability of antivirals for new highly pathogenic strains of virus has become a serious public health. Therefore, news products against these pathogens has become an urgent necessity. Among the multiple sources for news antibiotics and antivirals, insect exudates or their products has become an increasingly frequent option.

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This cross-sectional study, carried out between October and December 2020 in two Brazilian cities, aimed to evaluate the joint association of education and sex with habitual and episodic excessive alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Habitual alcohol consumption was defined as drinking any quantity of alcohol at least once per week. Excessive episodic alcohol consumption was defined as the consumption of five or more drinks by men or four or more drinks by women at least once in the last 30 days.

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Article Synopsis
  • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disorder leading to muscle weakness and reduced life expectancy, with onasemnogene abeparvovec being the first approved gene therapy for it.
  • A study involving 41 SMA patients (mostly type 1) showed significant motor function improvement after gene therapy, with nearly half of the type 1 patients gaining the ability to sit independently.
  • Adverse effects were common, including liver enzyme elevation in 70.7% of patients and thrombocytopenia in 31.7%, while the presence of previous nusinersen treatment didn't further enhance motor function post-gene therapy.
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  • Inflammatory myopathy with mitochondrial pathology (IM-Mito) is a rare condition that may be a variant of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), with limited previous radiological studies.
  • This study aimed to compare whole-body muscle MRI features in 14 IM-Mito patients and 10 IBM patients, assessing differences in muscle abnormalities.
  • Findings indicated that both conditions showed similar imaging patterns, but differences, particularly in how the muscles were affected, leave uncertainty about whether IM-Mito and IBM are distinct or related diseases.
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Article Synopsis
  • - NRL (Natural Rubber Latex) is highlighted as an effective and cost-efficient biomaterial for drug delivery, showing beneficial properties for tissue healing and customizable release kinetics.
  • - The review covers NRL's successful uses in various biotechnological fields, including its applications in amblyopia treatment, smart mattresses, and neovaginoplasty while identifying barriers to translating research into clinical settings.
  • - It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to unlock NRL's potential in medical innovations, such as wearable devices and biosensors, enhancing its applications in biomedical fields.
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Composite films of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and chitosan (CS) were prepared by spray deposition method, and the influence of polymers ratio and protonation degree (α) of chitosan was evaluated. Films were characterized using morphological, mechanical, and surface techniques. Higher NFC content increased Young's modulus of film composites and reduced air permeability, while higher CS content increased water contact angle.

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Article Synopsis
  • Non-human primates (NHPs) are facing population declines due to various threats, including diseases caused by parasites, bacteria, and viruses.
  • Strongylid nematodes are common parasitic infections in NHPs, but their diversity is hard to study due to mixed infections not being distinguishable by traditional methods.
  • This study used advanced metagenomics techniques to analyze strongylid infections in NHPs from Malaysia and Japan, finding that the communities in Asian NHPs may be less diverse than those in African NHPs, providing key data for monitoring NHP health.
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Due to specific bacterial microbiota, raw milk cheeses have appreciated sensory properties. However, they may pose a threat to consumer safety due to potential pathogens presence. This study evaluated the microbiological contamination of 98 raw milk cheeses from Beira Baixa, Portugal.

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 To cross-culturally validate the Health Mindset Scale for Brazil, as well as adapt the terms and questionnaires for adequate understanding of Brazilians, using factor analysis as an instrument to validate its reliability.  Cross-cultural validation of the Health Mindset Scale into Brazilian Portuguese using the Beaton method, Cronbach's alpha calculation and factor analysis  The sample consisted of 215 patients aged between 18 and 87 years (M = 41.98; SD = 15.

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