P2Y12 inhibitors plus aspirin versus aspirin alone in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular events: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The efficacy and safety of P2Y12 inhibitors (P2Y12i) with aspirin in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic cerebrovascular events remains a topic of ongoing debate. Therefore, we conducted an updated meta-analysis to compare these drugs with aspirin alone.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the two treatment regimens in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH), distinguished by a persistent elevation of blood pressure, emerges as a risk factor for stroke and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Additionally, recent evidence suggests that stroke may adversely affect memory, potentially playing a role in the development of AD. This study aimed to investigate the influence of permanent focal ischemic stroke on memory, as well as on sensorimotor function (asymmetry of the front paws) and cerebral infarct size in adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), compared to normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Chronic Primary Pelvic Pain Syndromes in Women: A Comprehensive Review.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a multifactorial and complex condition. It often remains undiagnosed or inadequately treated. Despite its high prevalence, CPP continues to be a taboo subject, leading to delays in seeking medical care.

The time-course changes in postural control variability between neck pain and asymptomatic dental students.

Changes in postural control associated with clinical practice or specific conditions such as the presence of neck pain remain unexplored in dental students. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the time-course changes in postural control complexity among dental students enrolled in clinical practice, comparing those with and without neck pain. We used an online Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for group allocation and center of pressure (CoP) oscillations with a tri-axial Bertec force plate.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to robustly estimate differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms between children and adolescents with and without neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Method: Systematic literature searches were conducted in Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest in September 2022 with a supplemental search conducted in Google Scholar in February 2023. The searches identified 2153 unique articles.

Health-related quality of life after rehabilitation from knee surgery in rural and urban settings: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Injury to the knee joint is associated with physical disability, stiffness, pain, restriction of movement and impairment of the person's quality of life, with a few treatment options, including surgery and rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a rehabilitation program on the quality of life reported by patients living in rural and urban areas after knee surgery, using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: This quasi-experimental study with two groups of participants undergoing primary knee surgery was carried out in two rehabilitation centers, one in an urban area and another in a rural one.

Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis.

In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention owing to its ability to permeate various ecosystems, including soil. These particles can infiltrate the environment, either directly or through the degradation of larger plastic items. Despite growing concerns, standardized methods for quantification are still lacking.

Unravelling the potential of natural chelating agents in the control of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

Iron is essential for the formation, maturation and dispersal of bacterial biofilms, playing a crucial role in the physiological and metabolic functions of bacteria as well as in the regulation of virulence. Limited availability of iron can impair the formation of robust biofilms by altering cellular motility, hydrophobicity and protein composition of the bacterial surface. In this study, the antibiofilm activity of two natural iron chelating agents, kojic acid (5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4H-pyran-4-one) and maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone), were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Narratives of sex workers: intimate partner violence and coping strategies.

Objectives: to understand the narratives of sex workers about violence suffered by intimate partners and their coping strategies.

Methods: qualitative research, focused on thematic oral history, carried out with six sex workers in southern Brazil, who responded to in-depth interviews using a flexible script. Thematic content analysis was used.

Bioactive Compounds from Banana Leaf Extracts: Influence of Extraction Methodologies and Their Integration into Knitted Hemp Fabrics.

This study explores the bioactive potential of banana leaf extracts and their innovative integration into knitted hemp fabrics. To obtain the extracts, distinct extraction methodologies were employed, namely conventional extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and pressurized-liquid extraction. Aqueous and hydroethanolic solvents, namely 20% (/) and 50% (/), were employed during the extraction process.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Person-Centered Therapeutic Relationship in Physiotherapy Scale to European Portuguese.

Background/objectives: Implementing a person-centered practice is considered a priority in healthcare, and the development of a solid and positive therapeutic relationship is a fundamental element. This study conducted a cross-cultural adaptation of the Person-Centered Therapeutic Relationship in Physiotherapy Scale to European Portuguese and contributed to its validation through the study of its structural validity and internal consistency.

Methods: This study was conducted from October 2021 to July 2023 and included two phases: a methodological study of cross-cultural adaptation (phase 1) and a transversal study to assess the psychometric properties (phase 2).

Losartan attenuates sex-dependent hypertension, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in the aging male sprague-dawley rat.

The prevalence of hypertension increases with age and is the leading modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. At present, the neural mechanisms promoting hypertension across the lifespan are incompletely understood. Using the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat as a model of normal aging, we hypothesized (1) blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuroinflammation in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus enhances sympathetic tone and contributes to age-dependent hypertension, (2) age-dependent hypertension is associated with cognitive impairment, and (3) lowering blood pressure in aged rats with established hypertension improves cognitive function.

Tea Quality: An Overview of the Analytical Methods and Sensory Analyses Used in the Most Recent Studies.

Tea, one of the world's most consumed beverages, has a rich variety of sensory qualities such as appearance, aroma, mouthfeel and flavor. This review paper summarizes the chemical and volatile compositions and sensory qualities of different tea infusions including black, green, oolong, dark, yellow, and white teas based on published data over the past 4 years (between 2021 and 2024), largely focusing on the methodologies. This review highlights the relationships among the different processing methods of tea and their resulting chemical and sensory profiles.

Baseline Raman Spectral Fingerprints of Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae.

As a highly sensitive vibrational technique, Raman spectroscopy (RS) can provide valuable chemical and molecular data useful to characterise animal cell types, tissues and organs. As a label-free, rapid detection method, RS has been considered a valuable asset in forensics, biology and medicine. The technique has been applied to zebrafish for various purposes, including physiological, biochemical or bioaccumulation analyses.

The use of hypoglycemic drugs in Parkinson's disease: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated an association between hypoglycemic medications and neuroprotective action in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, in this meta-analysis, our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of these medications, compared to placebo, as disease-modifying therapy in patients with PD.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for studies comparing the use of hypoglycemic drugs and placebo in patients with PD.

COVID-19 pandemic and the neurodevelopment of Brazilian infants: Analysis of predictors according to the Nurturing Care Framework.

Introduction: Concerns have been raised about the potential negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on child development; this issue can be analyzed using the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF).

Objective: To analyze the predictors of neurodevelopment at 12 months in infants born during the pandemic in Brazil, according to the NCF.

Methods: It is a longitudinal case-control study involving 284 infants born between April and August 2021.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Objective: We aimed to assess the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), as an adjuvant treatment, on treatment adherence (primary outcome), in peripheral biomarkers and clinical improvement (secondary outcomes) in alcohol use disorders (AUD) patients.

Methods: A 9-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) was conducted on 53 (n=25 NAC, n=28 placebo) inpatients with AUD. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, and hepatic parameters were analyzed in three-time moments.

Metabolic Versatility of acetogens in syngas Fermentation: Responding to varying CO availability.

Syngas fermentation using acetogenic bacteria offers a promising route for sustainable chemical production. However, gas-liquid mass transfer limitations and efficient co-utilization of CO and H pose significant challenges. This study investigated the kinetics of syngas conversion to acetate by Acetobacterium wieringae and Clostridium species in batch conditions under varying initial CO partial pressures (19 - 110 kPa).

Investigating multiple vegetable oils and recycled variant for microplastics extraction from water, integrated with Raman spectroscopy.

The global production and disposal of plastics have led to pervasive contamination of natural environments, representing considerable risks to human health and ecosystems. This study introduces a novel oil-based method for extracting microplastics (MPs) from water samples, with a focus on optimizing extraction conditions and improving the quality of MPs identification using Raman spectroscopy. Various parameters including the type of oil, salinity, temperature, air incorporation, and washing solvent were investigated to enhance extraction efficiency and spectroscopic identification accuracy.

Preparing for the Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Within the Brazilian Public Health System (ImPrEP CAB Brasil): Qualitative Study.

Background: Although long-acting, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacious for HIV prevention in clinical trials, research is needed to guide effective implementation in real-world settings. Formative work with community members and health care providers (HCPs) is important to provide insight into the needs and contexts of specific populations and reveal potential barriers and facilitators for implementation projects.

Objective: We aimed to describe the results from formative work to develop an implementation package for CAB-LA PrEP within the ImPrEP CAB Brasil study.