An Improved Approach for Semantic Segmentation of Fundus Lesions using R2U-Net.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication related to diabetes that affects approximately 33% of individuals with this condition and, if not detected and treated early, can lead to irreversible vision loss. Fundus lesions such as Hard and Soft Exudates, Hemorrhages, and Microaneurysms typically identify DR. The development of computational methods to segment these lesions plays a fundamental role in the early diagnosis of the disease.

antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives.

Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal type of skin cancer, responsible for approximately 60,000 deaths annually. The main strategy for treating melanoma is surgery to completely remove the lesion and its margins. However, for more advanced cases with a high recurrence rate, the preferred approach is to combine chemotherapy with immunotherapy treatments.

High-Efficiency Adsorption Removal of Congo Red Dye from Water Using Magnetic NiFeO Nanofibers: An Efficient Adsorbent.

The pollution caused by organic dyes in water bodies has become a major environmental issue, and removing such pernicious dyes presents an immense challenge for the scientific community and governments. In this study, a sorbent based on nickel ferrite (NiFeO) fibers was fabricated by the solution blow spinning (SBS) method for the adsorptive removal of anionic Cong red (CR) dye. The cubic-spinel structure and the magnetic and porous nature of NiFeO were confirmed by XRD, magnetometry, BET, and SEM analyses.

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Manganese Bromide Monolayers.

This study investigates the electronic and magnetic properties of monolayer and bulk manganese bromide (MnBr) through simulations based on density functional. We computed the lattice parameters, band structures, and projected density of states, shedding light on the intrinsic magnetic behavior of MnBr. Our analysis of atomic magnetic moments indicates that the incomplete 3d orbital of the manganese atom, containing five electrons, drives the material's intrinsic magnetism.

Synergistic Effects of Probiotics and Lifestyle Interventions on Intestinal Microbiota Composition and Clinical Outcomes in Obese Adults.

Background And Objective: Obesity is a growing global epidemic. The composition of the intestinal microbiota can be influenced by several factors. Studies highlight the role of intestinal bacteria in the pathophysiology of obesity.

Determining the Antimycobacterial Action of Rottlerin Against Mycobacterium Species and Toxicity, Antioxidant Properties, and Therapeutic Target Affinity of Rottlerin.

Infections by Mycobacterium spp. are responsible for thousands of deaths every year worldwide. Microbial resistance, toxic effects, and adverse consequences of conventional therapies bring forth the need to search for new therapeutic agents.

Ion release, cytocompatibility and microbial inhibition of a novel varnish containing fluoride-doped bioactive glass ceramics: an in vitro study.

Objectives: The study aimed to develop and evaluate in vitro a varnish containing fluoride-doped glass ceramics capable of inhibiting oral microorganisms, releasing hydroxyapatite-forming ions, and ensuring biocompatibility.

Materials And Methods: For the production of the experimental varnish (VE), composed of hydrogenated rosin, 10% and 20% by weight of glass ceramics with composition S53P4 (CF0) and doped with F- ions (CF5 and CF10) were incorporated. The EVs were characterized by Rheology, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR, ion release (fluoride and calcium ions), cytotoxicity on VERO cells, and antimicrobial effect on S.

Geoclimatic influence on the prevalence of asthma in adolescents: a multilevel analysis.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways presenting high global prevalence. Geoclimatic characteristics, especially relative air humidity, play an important role in its epidemiological profile, despite being still understudied. This study aims to evaluate the influence of individual and environmental geoclimatic factors on the prevalence of asthma in adolescents.

Geographic pattern of asthma prevalence in Brazilian adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the prevalence of asthma in Brazilian adolescents and its geographic pattern carried through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sources: A survey of databases (Pubmed, Chocrane, LILACS, SCIELO and SCOPUS) was carried out, following the PRISMA statement, between the years 2013 and 2023 (PROSPERO-ID-CRD42023427988). Articles that presented a measure relative to the prevalence of asthma in adolescents were included.

Prevalence of Medical Student Syndrome among Medical Students of Nepal.

Background: Medical student syndrome (MSS) entails the development of symptoms of the same disease as the one being studied in medical students. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Medical student syndrome among medical students in Nepal and identify associated factors.

Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted at Lumbini Medical College Palpa, Nepal on medical students.

Human parvovirus B19 infection in a Plasmodium vivax endemic area on the Brazil-French Guiana border.

While human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection is widespread in Brazil, over 99 % of reported malaria cases occur in the Amazon region, mainly by Plasmodium vivax. As B19V infection may contribute to anemia in children living in P. falciparum endemic areas, this study aimed to investigate the impact of B19V/P.

The food environment in favelas is associated with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes in socially vulnerable women.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the food environment in favelas and the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes among women in the context of social vulnerability.

Design: A cross-sectional and partially ecological population-based study was conducted in a Brazilian capital city. The healthiness and availability of ultra-processed foods in the food environment were assessed through retailer audits using the AUDITNOVA instrument.

Evaluation of undergraduate forensic medicine education in Nepal: a critical analysis using Schwab's five commonplaces and Schubert's curriculum images.

Following the establishment of Nepal's first medical college in 1972, forensic medicine was introduced in 1978. To date, 25 medical colleges in the country have included forensic medicine as a compulsory subject in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Although this subject has been introduced into the medical curriculum, the outcome is unsatisfactory, as reflected by the poor medico-legal reports prepared by newly graduated medical students.

A morphometric signature to identify ductal carcinoma in situ with a low risk of progression.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may progress to ipsilateral invasive breast cancer (iIBC), but often never will. Because DCIS is treated as early breast cancer, many women with harmless DCIS face overtreatment. To identify features associated with progression, we developed an artificial intelligence-based DCIS morphometric analysis pipeline (AIDmap) on hematoxylin-eosin-stained (H&E) tissue sections.

Guanidines Conjugated with Cell-Penetrating Peptides: A New Approach for the Development of Antileishmanial Molecules.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania, which has visceral and cutaneous forms. The symptoms of leishmaniasis include high fever and weakness, and the cutaneous infection also causes lesions under the skin. The drugs used to treat leishmaniasis have become less effective due to the resistance mechanisms of the protozoa.

Structure and Morphological Properties of Cobalt-Oxide-Based (CoO) Materials as Electrodes for Supercapacitors: A Brief Review.

Over the past 15 years, there has been a significant increase in the search for environmentally friendly energy sources, and transition-metal-based energy storage devices are leading the way in these new technologies. Supercapacitors are attractive in this regard due to their superior energy storage capabilities. Electrode materials, which are crucial components of supercapacitors, such as cobalt-oxide-based electrodes, have great qualities for achieving high supercapacitor performance.

Human 3D Lung Cancer Tissue Photothermal Therapy Using Zn- and Co-Doped Magnetite Nanoparticles.

Iron oxide-based nanoparticles are promising materials for cancer thermal therapy and immunotherapy. However, several proofs of concept reported data with murine tumor models that might have limitations for clinical translation. Magnetite is nowadays the most popular nanomaterial, but doping with distinct ions can enhance thermal therapy, namely, magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) and photothermal therapy (PTT).

Determinants of variations in sleep patterns across Brazil: Exploring geographic influences.

Objective: To examine the influence of latitude, longitude, sunrise, and daylight, in conjunction with individual and behavioral factors, on sleep duration, wake time, and bedtime in a country with the world's broadest latitude range, yet characterized by homogeneity in language, cultural traits, and consistent time zones.

Methods: Participants (n = 1440; 18-65y) were part of a virtual population-based survey (2021-22). Sleep patterns were spatially represented through maps using Multilevel B-spline Interpolation.

From overgrazed land to forests: assessing soil health in the Caatinga biome.

Overgrazing is the primary human-induced cause of soil degradation in the Caatinga biome, intensely threatening lands vulnerable to desertification. Grazing exclusion, a simple and cost-effective practice, could restore soils' ecological functions. However, comprehensive insights into the effects of overgrazing and grazing exclusion on Caatinga soils' multifunctionality are lacking.

Performance of Culture Using a Semi-Automatic Needle as a Novel Tool for Collecting Lymph Node Samples for the Diagnosis of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by () and dogs are the main domestic reservoir. This study compared the performance of parasitological tests using semi-automatic needle puncture (SANP) for collecting popliteal lymph node samples with samples collected from the same lymph node by fine needle aspiration puncture (FNAP) and by necropsy for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Popliteal lymph node samples were collected from 30 CVL-seropositive dogs from an endemic region in Brazil.

Chrononutrition patterns and their association with body weight: Differences across multiple chronotypes.

Introduction: In recent years, the focus of research on obesity and its management has expanded beyond traditional dietary factors to include the timing of food intake - in relation to the body's circadian rhythms - known as chrononutrition. However, chrononutrition patterns remain largely unexplored in low-medium income countries. Our study aimed to investigate the association between chrononutrition patterns and BMI.

Nutritional evaluation after copper cloud point extraction in spirulina (Arthrospira sp.) samples with determination by digital image colorimetry.

This study presents the development of a procedure based on copper preconcentration at the cloud point of commercial spirulina dietary supplements, with determination by digital image colorimetry. A fractional factorial design 2 and Doehlert matrix were applied in the method optimization. The developed method presented 0.

Brazilian Food Waste as a Substrate for Bioethanol Production.

Food waste (FW) is a common source of contamination, contaminating both soils and water bodies by releasing greenhouse gases. FW holds great potential for biofuel and bioproduct production, which can mitigate its environmental impact and become a valuable addition to the circular bioeconomy. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate the use of food waste as a substrate to produce fermentable sugars and bioethanol.

Anaemia, overweight and abdominal obesity in mothers and children are associated with the food environment in socially vulnerable areas of a northeastern Brazilian capital.

This study aimed to assess the association between community and consumer food environment (FE) measures and anaemia, overweight and abdominal obesity in mother-child dyads living in situations of social vulnerability. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 40 favelas in a capital city in the northeast of Brazil. The sample consisted of 1882 women and 665 children aged under 5 years.