Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with liver cirrhosis - a propensity-matched analysis from a multicentric Brazilian cohort.

Background: Cirrhosis has been pointed out as a clinical entity that leads to worse clinical prognosis in COVID-19 patients. However, this concept is controversial in the literature. We aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes by comparing patients with cirrhosis to those without cirrhosis in a Brazilian cohort.

Trends in pH-triggered strategies for dental resins aiming to assist in preventing demineralization: A scoping review.

Objectives: To identify and map the literature on the current state of pH-triggered strategies for resin-based materials used in direct restorative dentistry, focusing on innovative compounds, their incorporation and evaluation methods, and the main outcomes.

Data And Sources: Through a search across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar, this review identified studies pertinent to pH-responsive dental materials, excluding resin-modified glass ionomer cements.

Study Selection: From the 981 records identified, 19 in vitro studies were included, concentrating on resin-based composite resins (50 %), dentin adhesives (25 %), and sealants (25 %).

[Individual, family, and community factors associated with the use of emergency contraception by Brazilian adolescent students].

This study aimed to estimate the proportion of use of emergency contraception at least once in life among Brazilian adolescent students, as well as the association of individual, family, and community factors with use. A cross-sectional study was carried out, including 38,779 Brazilian adolescent students, aged 13 to 17 years, participating in the Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE) in 2019, who declared sexual initiation. The proportion of emergency contraception use at least once in life and the form of access to the method were estimated.

A New Natural Language Processing-Inspired Methodology (Detection, Initial Characterization, and Semantic Characterization) to Investigate Temporal Shifts (Drifts) in Health Care Data: Quantitative Study.

Background: Proper analysis and interpretation of health care data can significantly improve patient outcomes by enhancing services and revealing the impacts of new technologies and treatments. Understanding the substantial impact of temporal shifts in these data is crucial. For example, COVID-19 vaccination initially lowered the mean age of at-risk patients and later changed the characteristics of those who died.

On preserving anatomical detail in statistical shape analysis for clustering: focus on left atrial appendage morphology.

Introduction: Statistical shape analysis (SSA) with clustering is often used to objectively define and categorise anatomical shape variations. However, studies until now have often focused on simplified anatomical reconstructions, despite the complexity of studied anatomies. This work aims to provide insights on the anatomical detail preservation required for SSA of highly diverse and complex anatomies, with particular focus on the left atrial appendage (LAA).

Optimising remote health workforce retention: protocol for a program of research.

Background: Nowhere is optimising healthcare staff retention more important than in primary health care (PHC) settings in remote Australia, where there are unacceptably high rates of staff burnout and turnover. Ensuing consequences for the remote health services and the community are acute - staffing shortfalls in clinics; organisational instability; excessive costs associated with frequent staff recruitment and orientation; diminished access to PHC for patients in need; and lack of continuity of patient care; all of which further entrench poor health outcomes for the community. Optimising remote healthcare staff retention is critical in order to provide high quality and continued PHC.

In vitro safety profile and phyto-ecotoxicity assessment of the eco-friendly calcium oxide nanoparticles.

The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity of the green calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NPs) from golden linseed extract (Linum usitatissimum L.) by phytotoxicity in seeds (Daucus carota, Beet shankar, Lactuca sativa and Brassica oleracea), in vitro safety profile and soil toxicity for CaO-NPs solutions from 12.5 to 100 μg mL.

Photoluminescence modal splitting strong coupling in hybrid Au/WS/GaP nanoparticle-on-mirror cavities.

By integrating dielectric and metallic components, hybrid nanophotonic devices present promising opportunities for manipulating nanoscale light-matter interactions. Here, we investigate hybrid nanoparticle-on-mirror optical cavities, where semiconductor WS monolayers are positioned between gallium phosphide (GaP) nanoantennas and a gold mirror, thereby establishing extreme confinement of optical fields. Prior to integration of the mirror, we observe an intermediate coupling regime from GaP nanoantennas covered with WS monolayers.

Effect of printing technology and orientation on the accuracy of three-dimensional printed retainers.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of printer technology and print orientation on the accuracy of directly printed retainers.

Materials And Methods: Digital retainers were printed with two different printing technologies: digital light processing (DLP) and stereolithography (SLA), using two different orientations: 0° and 90°. After printing, the retainers (n = 40) were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography.

MISMARPE protocol: minimally invasive surgical and miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to present the MISMARPE technique, a new minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat maxillary transverse atresia in adult patients under local anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.

Technique Description: The technique consists of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) associated with a minimally invasive approach using maxillary osteotomies, latency and activation periods until the desired expansion is achieved. The present MISMARPE technique was performed in 25 consecutive cases with a success rate of 96%, yielding good skeletal outcomes with minimal trauma.

Mandible development under gestational protein restriction: cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Insufficient evidence regarding how maternal undernutrition affects craniofacial bone development persists. With its unique focus on the impact of gestational protein restriction on calvaria and mandible osteogenesis, this study aims to fill, at least in part, this gap. Female mice were mated and randomized into NP (normal protein) or LP (low protein) groups.

A Multipurpose Metallophore and Its Copper Complexes with Diverse Catalytic Antioxidant Properties to Deal with Metal and Oxidative Stress Disorders: A Combined Experimental, Theoretical, and Study.

We report the discovery that the molecule 1-(pyridin-2-ylmethylamino)propan-2-ol (HL) can reduce oxidative stress in neuronal C6 glioma cells exposed to reactive oxygen species (O, HO, and OH) and metal (Cu) stress conditions. Furthermore, its association with Cu generates [Cu(HL)Cl] () and [Cu(HL)](ClO) () complexes that also exhibit antioxidant properties. Potentiometric titration data show that HL can coordinate to Cu in 1:1 and 1:2 Cu:ligand ratios, which was confirmed by monocrystal X-ray studies.

Psycho-physio-neurological correlates of qualitative attention, emotion and flow experiences in a close-to-real-life extreme sports situation: low- and high-altitude slackline walking.

It has been indicated that extreme sport activities result in a highly rewarding experience, despite also providing fear, stress and anxiety. Studies have related this experience to the concept of flow, a positive feeling that individuals undergo when they are completely immersed in an activity. However, little is known about the exact nature of these experiences, and, there are still no empirical results to characterize the brain dynamics during extreme sport practice.

Unveiling Tst3, a Multi-Target Gating Modifier Scorpion α Toxin from Venom of Northeast Brazil: Evaluation and Comparison with Well-Studied Ts3 Toxin of .

Studies on the interaction sites of peptide toxins and ion channels typically involve site-directed mutations in toxins. However, natural mutant toxins exist among them, offering insights into how the evolutionary process has conserved crucial sequences for activities and molecular target selection. In this study, we present a comparative investigation using electrophysiological approaches and computational analysis between two alpha toxins from evolutionarily close scorpion species of the genus , namely, Tst3 and Ts3 from and , respectively.

Regional Distribution of Extracellular Volume Quantified by Cardiac CT in Aortic Stenosis: Insights Into Disease Mechanisms and Impact on Outcomes.

Background: Extracellular volume fraction (ECV) is a marker for myocardial fibrosis and infiltration, can be quantified using cardiac computed tomography (ECV), and has prognostic utility in several diseases. This study aims to map out regional differences in ECV to obtain greater insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of ECV expansion and its clinical implications.

Methods: Three prospective cohorts were included: patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and coexisting AS and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis were referred for a transcatheter aortic valve replacement and had ECG-gated CT angiography and Technetium-99m-labelled 3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid scintigraphy to differentiate between the 2 cohorts.

Changes in Astroglial Water Flow in the Pre-amyloid Phase of the STZ Model of AD Dementia.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that is typically sporadic and has a high social and economic cost. We utilized the intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ), an established preclinical model for sporadic AD, to investigate hippocampal astroglial changes during the first 4 weeks post-STZ, a period during which amyloid deposition has yet to occur. Astroglial proteins aquaporin 4 (AQP-4) and connexin-43 (Cx-43) were evaluated, as well as claudins, which are tight junction (TJ) proteins in brain barriers, to try to identify changes in the glymphatic system and brain barrier during the pre-amyloid phase.

Factors associated with the impact of fixed appliance orthodontic treatment on the oral health-related quality of life of adolescents: Assessment using a condition-specific instrument.

Background: Oral outcomes may have an impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with the impact of fixed appliance orthodontic treatment on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of adolescents.

Material And Methods: Individuals aged 10 to 18 years undergoing orthodontic treatment were included.

Synthesis and Transport Properties of ZnSnPAs Chalcopyrite Solid Solutions.

This work focuses on the synthesis and properties of quaternary ZnSnPAs chalcopyrite solid solutions. Full miscibility of the solid solution is achieved using ball milling followed by hot press sintering. The measured electrical conductivity increases substantially with As substitution from 0.

Effect of printing technology, layer height, and orientation on assessment of 3D-printed models.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies have become popular in orthodontics. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of printing technology, orientation, and layer height on the accuracy of 3D-printed dental models.

Methods: The maxillary arch of a post-treatment patient was scanned and printed at different orientations (0°, 90°) and layer thicknesses (25 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm, and 175 µm) using two different printing technologies (digital light processing and stereolithography).

Effects of minimally invasive surgical and miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MISMARPE) on the nasal cavity and upper airway: a comparative cohort study.

This study was performed to evaluate the impact on the upper airway and nasal cavity of a new minimally invasive surgical and miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MISMARPE) technique for the treatment of adult patients with transverse maxillary deficiency, in comparison to surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE). Computed tomography scans of 21 MISMARPE and 16 SARPE patients were obtained preoperatively (T0) and at the end of the activation period (T1) and analysed. Linear and volumetric measurements were performed in the dental, alveolar, nasal cavity, and oropharynx regions.

Modelling spatiotemporal variation in under-five malaria risk in Ghana in 2016-2021.

Background: Ghana is among the top 10 highest malaria burden countries, with about 20,000 children dying annually, 25% of which were under five years. This study aimed to produce interactive web-based disease spatial maps and identify the high-burden malaria districts in Ghana.

Methods: The study used 2016-2021 data extracted from the routine health service nationally representative and comprehensive District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) implemented by the Ghana Health Service.