Tailored Metal-Based Catalysts: A New Platform for Targeted Anticancer Therapies.

Innovative strategies for targeted anticancer therapies have gained significant momentum, with metal complexes emerging as tunable catalysts for more effective and safer treatments. Rational design and engineering of metal complexes enable the development of tailored molecular structures optimized for precision oncology. The strategic incorporation of metal complex catalysts within combinatorial therapies amplifies their anticancer properties.

Recent Advances in the Development of Hybrid Drugs.

In the search for innovative, selective, effective, and safer treatment strategies, hybrid drugs have gained worldwide momentum [...

Mitral Annular Disease at Cardiac MRI: What to Know and Look For.

Accurate evaluation of the mitral valve (MV) apparatus is essential for understanding the mechanisms of MV disease across various clinical scenarios. The mitral annulus (MA) is a complex and crucial structure that supports MV function; however, conventional imaging techniques have limitations in fully capturing the entirety of the MA. Moreover, recognizing annular changes might aid in identifying patients who may benefit from advanced cardiac imaging and interventions.

Analyzing the COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics in Acre, Brazil: An Ecological Study.

The north region of Brazil is characterized by significant vulnerabilities, notably surpassing national poverty indicators. These disparities exacerbated the impact of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to healthcare access. The crisis was further influenced by multiple lineages that emerged as significant virus variants associated with increased transmissibility.

Multispecies and multibiomarker assessment of fish health from Iguaçu River reservoir, Southern Brazil.

This study investigated the impact of micropollutants on fish health from Segredo hydroelectric reservoir (HRS) along the Iguaçu River, Southern Brazil, contaminated by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities. This is the first comprehensive study assessment in the river after the severe drought in the 2020s in three fish species from different trophic levels Astyanax spp. (water column depth/omnivorous), Hypostomus commersoni (demersal/herbivorous), and Pimelodus maculatus (demersal/omnivorous).

Experimental Susceptibility of and (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) to () and () (Trypanosomatidae: Leishmaniinae).

The present work assessed the experimental susceptibility of and to () and (.) . A () - combination was used as a susceptible control.

Dual FGFR-targeting and pH-activatable ruthenium-peptide conjugates for targeted therapy of breast cancer.

Dysregulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs) signaling has been associated with breast cancer, yet employing FGFR-targeted delivery systems to improve the efficacy of cytotoxic agents is still sparsely exploited. Herein, we report four new bi-functional ruthenium-peptide conjugates (RuPCs) with FGFR-targeting and pH-dependent releasing abilities, envisioning the selective delivery of cytotoxic Ru complexes to FGFR(+)-breast cancer cells, and controlled activation at the acidic tumoral microenvironment. The antiproliferative potential of the RuPCs and free Ru complexes was evaluated in four breast cancer cell lines with different FGFR expression levels (SKBR-3, MDA-MB-134-VI, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231) and in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), at pH 6.

Unravelling the structure of CO in silica adsorbents: an NMR and computational perspective.

This comprehensive review describes recent advancements in the use of solid-state NMR-assisted methods and computational modeling strategies to unravel gas adsorption mechanisms and CO speciation in porous CO-adsorbent silica materials at the atomic scale. This work provides new perspectives for the innovative modifications of these materials rendering them more amenable to the use of advanced NMR methods.

Molecular and structural basis of the dual regulation of the polycystin-2 ion channel by small-molecule ligands.

Mutations in the gene, which encodes the polycystin-2 (PC2, also called TRPP2) protein, lead to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). As a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, PC2 functions as a non-selective cation channel. The activation and regulation of the PC2 channel are largely unknown, and direct binding of small-molecule ligands to this channel has not been reported.

Rural communities experience higher radon exposure versus urban areas, potentially due to drilled groundwater well annuli acting as unintended radon gas migration conduits.

Repetitive, long-term inhalation of radioactive radon gas is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, with exposure differences being a function of geographic location, built environment, personal demographics, activity patterns, and decision-making. Here, we examine radon exposure disparities across the urban-to-rural landscape, based on 42,051 Canadian residential properties in 2034 distinct communities. People living in rural, lower population density communities experience as much as 31.

Assessing the pollution and ecotoxicological status of the Iguaçu River, southern Brazil: A review.

The degradation of water resources available for human consumption is increasing with the continuous release of chemicals into aquatic environments and their inefficient removal in wastewater treatment. Several watersheds in Brazil, such as the Iguaçu River, are affected by multiple sources of pollution and lack information about their pollution status. The Iguaçu River basin (IRB) has great socioeconomic and environmental relevance to both the supply of water resources and its considerable hydroelectric potential, as well as for the high rate of endemism of its ichthyofauna.

Pollutant bioaccumulation in sentinel fish chronically exposed in Iguaçu river reservoirs (Southern Brazil) and human health risk of fish consumption.

Bioaccumulation studies in fish mark the initial phase of assessing the risk of chemical exposure to biota and human populations. The Iguaçu River boasting a diverse endemic ichthyofauna, is grappling with the repercussions of human activities. This study delved into the bioaccumulation of micropollutants, the early-warning effects on Rhamdia quelen and Oreochomis niloticus in the Segredo Reservoir (HRS) and the potential risk of human exposure.

Field investigation of the transport and attenuation of fugitive methane in shallow groundwater around an oil and gas well with gas migration.

'Fugitive' or 'stray' gas migration from deeper formations due to well bore integrity failure has prompted concern regarding environmental impacts. Unintended methane (CH) migration can increase greenhouse gas emissions and affect groundwater quality in the critical zone. Although the CH transport in shallow aquifers has been investigated at experimental injection sites, no intensive groundwater studies have been published around an oil and gas well that has been leaking for a significant period of time.

Temporal Analysis of COVID-19 Epidemiological Indicators in a Low-Income Brazilian Context: A Retrospective Analysis in Paraiba State.

Northeast Brazil is a region with great international tourist potential. Among the states that make up this region, Paraíba stands out due to the presence of vulnerable groups and factors that contribute to adverse outcomes of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological data on the incidence, mortality, and case fatality of COVID-19 in Paraíba.

Association of Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms and Their Impact on Active and Latent Tuberculosis in Brazil's Amazon Region.

Some genetic variations in cytokine genes can alter their expression and influence the evolution of (Mtb) infection. This study aimed to investigate the association of polymorphisms in cytokine genes and variability in plasma levels of cytokines with the development of tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Blood samples from 245 patients with TB, 80 with LTBI, and healthy controls (n = 100) were included.

Screening and hospitalization of breast and cervical cancer in Brazil from 2010 to 2022: A time-series study.

In Brazil, during the pandemic caused by COVID-19, screening for breast and cervical cancers was postponed or interrupted due to the prevailing health conditions. These neoplasms, however, are responsible for high morbidity and mortality among women in Brazil and have a major impact on the quality of life of this population and public health. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the epidemiological behavior of hospitalization for cervical and breast cancer in Brazilian women, as well as the trend of screening tests of breast and cervical cancer in the years 2010 to 2022 according to the regions of Brazil.

Primary standardization and Monte Carlo modeling of (Am + Np) by means of a 4π(PC)-γ coincidence counting system.

The procedure followed by the Nuclear Metrology Laboratory (LMN) at the IPEN for the primary standardization of a (Am + Np) solution, in secular equilibrium, is described. The measurement was carried out in a 4π(PC) (α,β)-γ coincidence system. The total activity per unit mass of the solution was determined by the extrapolation technique, using a software coincidence counting systsem.

A quantitative and T-pattern analysis of anxiety-like behavior in male GAERS, NEC, and Wistar rats bred under the same conditions, against a commercially available Wistar control group in the hole board and elevated plus maze tests.

Aim: The Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) are an inbred polygenic model of childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), which, as their non-epileptic control (NEC) rats, are derived from Wistar rats. While the validity of GAERS in reproducing absence seizures is well established, its use as a model for CAE psychiatric comorbidities has been subject to conflicting findings. Differences in colonies, experimental procedures, and the use of diverse controls from different breeders may account for these disparities.

Cognitive comorbidities of experimental absence seizures are independent of anxiety.

Typical absence seizures (ASs) are brief periods of lack of consciousness, associated with 2.5-4 Hz spike-wave discharges (SWDs) in the EEG, which are highly prevalent in children and teenagers. The majority of probands in these young epileptic cohorts show neuropsychological comorbidities, including cognitive, memory and mood impairments, even after the seizures are pharmacologically controlled.

Zinc Status and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, the prevalence of which has increased in children and adolescents over the years. Studies point to deficiency of trace elements as one of the factors involved in the etiology of the disorder, with zinc being one of the main trace elements investigated in individuals with ASD. The aim of this review is to summarize scientific evidence about the relationship between zinc status and ASD in children and adolescents.

Polarization of Melatonin-Modulated Colostrum Macrophages in the Presence of Breast Tumor Cell Lines.

Human colostrum and milk contain diverse cells and soluble components that have the potential to act against tumors. In breast cancer, macrophages play a significant role in immune infiltration and contribute to the progression and spread of tumors. However, studies suggest that these cells can be reprogrammed to act as an antitumor immune response.