Publications by authors named "Moura J"

Introduction: Spinal cord injury is a physiological disruption often caused by trauma, leading to severe physical and psychological effects, including irreversible impairment and disability. Cervical injuries, particularly between C1 and C8, are the most severe, potentially causing diaphragm paralysis and requiring mechanical ventilation. Reduced respiratory muscle strength not only affects respiratory function but also significantly impacts voice, speech, and communication, which are crucial for quality of life.

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Background: Stiff Person Spectrum Disorders (SPSD) are classically defined by the presence of muscle stiffness, spasms and hyperactivity of the central nervous system. There is a notable correlation between neurophysiological features and the clinical hallmark of SPSD, which has greatly encouraged the use of these techniques for diagnostic purposes. Besides, electrophysiological techniques allow for a functional evaluation of the 'hyperactivity of the CNS', thus offering the opportunity to clarify the mechanisms underlying this disorder.

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poses a significant global health threat due to its multidrug-resistance and outbreak potential. In this study, we report its emergence in Minas Gerais, Brazil, supported by genomic surveillance that identified Clade-IV isolates, suggested a potential introduction from Colombia, and detected a missense mutation associated with azole resistance.

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Treatment of complex craniofacial deformities is still a challenge for medicine and dentistry because few approach therapies are available on the market that allow rehabilitation using 3D-printed medical devices. Thus, this study aims to create a scaffold with a morphology that simulates bone tissue, able to create a favorable environment for the development and differentiation of osteogenic cells. Moreover, its association with Plenum Guide, through cell-based tissue engineering (ASCs) for guided bone regeneration in critical rat calvarial defects.

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The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different nutritional plans on meat quails subjected to heat stress. A total of 324 quails male European quails () were used, with an average initial weight of 121.48 g ± 3.

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Leprosy is an infectious disease classified as Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Its diagnosis is challenging, relying on clinical symptoms and invasive procedures. Delays can cause severe physical disability, including hand, foot, and eye impairments.

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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of excessive and episodic consumption of ethanol (EtOH, a high-intensity drinking manner) on induced apical periodontitis in rats. Thirty-two animals were divided into the following four groups: control, EtOH, apical periodontitis, and EtOH + apical periodontitis. Ethanol exposure (3 g/kg 20 % w/v EtOH) was performed by orogastric gavage for 3 consecutive days, followed by 4 days of withdrawal for 4 weeks.

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Article Synopsis
  • COVID-19 led to a global pandemic in 2020, creating a need for efficient decision-making by medical staff with limited resources during healthcare emergencies.
  • The study introduces an automated method that utilizes multimodal data fusion, combining clinical features and deep learning from chest X-ray images, to estimate the risks of hospitalization and mortality for COVID-19 patients.
  • Results indicate high accuracy in risk assessment (AUC-ROC scores of 0.8452 and 0.8285 for hospitalization and mortality, respectively) and show that incorporating imaging features improves hospitalization risk evaluation, while clinical features are more critical for mortality, emphasizing the approach's potential to enhance clinical decision-making across various medical scenarios.
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  • - Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness, and diagnosing it involves measuring retinal layer thickness, which can be complicated in patients with elongated, highly myopic eyes due to distortions in OCT scans.
  • - The study presents a new method for accurately segmenting retinal layers, specifically designed for patients with high myopia, enabling better differentiation of glaucoma from simple myopia.
  • - Findings reveal significant reductions in retinal thickness in specific sectors of glaucoma patients with high myopia compared to those with myopia alone, enhancing understanding of the disease's impact.
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Background: With the advent of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted global strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030. In Europe, people who inject drugs (PWID) account for the majority of new cases, however testing and treatment remain suboptimal. The aim was to monitor progress in HCV policy and cascade-of-care for PWID, led by the civil society organisations (CSO) that provide harm reduction services for PWID across Europe.

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  • Adult-onset leukodystrophies are rare neurological disorders that lead to the degeneration of white matter in the brain, with one case linked to a novel gene variant.
  • A 40-year-old patient presented with chronic headaches and a history of depression, showing significant brain changes on MRI, along with two genetic variants identified through whole-exome sequencing.
  • This case highlights the variable presentations of adult-onset leukodystrophies and suggests that some genetic variants may result in milder symptoms than typically expected.
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The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), Essential tremor (ET), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is increasing alongside the aging population. Recent studies suggest that these disorders can be identified through retinal imaging, allowing for early detection and monitoring via Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans. This study is at the forefront of research, pioneering the application of multi-view OCT and 3D information to the neurological diseases domain.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Anti-GAD65 antibodies are linked to various neurological conditions, and measuring antibody levels can aid in diagnosis and prognosis.
  • - A study of 19 Portuguese patients revealed a mix of conditions like limbic encephalitis, epilepsy, and cerebellar ataxia, with a mean onset age of 56 years and a significant number also having other autoimmune disorders.
  • - Results showed no strong connection between antibody levels and the types of neurological syndromes or patient outcomes, emphasizing that high antibody levels don't rule out other diagnoses.
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Objective: To verify the effect of the educational intervention TIV-Disinfect (Intravenous Therapy-Disinfect) on the knowledge of nursing professionals in pediatric inpatient units.

Method: Quasi-experimental study, with a dependent sample of 65 nursing professionals from pediatric inpatient units. A questionnaire with objective questions regarding the disinfection of venous devices was used, and pre- and post-tests were applied.

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Purpose: Ultracongruent (UC) inserts were designed to overcome potential issues with posterior stabilized (PS) inserts, including bone resection, post-breakage, and patellar clunk syndrome. However, there remains a shortage of high-quality studies directly comparing this insert design to the established PS Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to compare clinical outcomes, range of motion, and complications of UC and PS TKA.

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Direct planting systems offer several benefits to the soil and plants, as reflected in soil organisms. The Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as indicators of soil quality. This study focused on the native diversity of mycorrhizae in the region.

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  • Toxic metal pollution, specifically cadmium and mercury, significantly impacts the Amazon rainforest by degrading water, soil, and air quality, which harms both the environment and human health.
  • The study focuses on the effects of these metals on the bacterial community associated with a newly identified species of millipede, Brachyurodesmus albus, highlighting the diversity of bacteria and their potential metabolic pathways altered by metal contamination.
  • Findings reveal that the presence of cadmium and mercury changes the composition and abundance of bacteria in B. albus, which could provide insights into developing strategies to mitigate metal toxicity in plants.
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Introduction: Early intervention and parental education for preemies are limited in some low-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to assess whether daily tummy time (TT) associated with usual care (UC) enhances motor and cognitive development in preemies from low-income countries. The main and secondary aim was to assess prone head elevation (PHE) and motor and cognitive functions, respectively.

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  • Angiogenesis involves the sprouting of endothelial cells, and in vitro modeling can be enhanced using biomaterials to encourage their migration.
  • A study was conducted using a fibrin scaffold to observe how HULEC cell line spheroids migrate when embedded, focusing on factors like fibrinogen and thrombin concentrations that affect the gel's properties.
  • Results show that higher thrombin concentrations reduce gel rigidity and promote greater cell migration, providing insights into optimizing fibrin gel conditions for studying angiogenic processes.
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Background: High-quality video productions integrating 360° simulations of real-life nursing scenarios, though still emerging and relatively rare, have shown promise in enriching learning experiences and refining students' competencies, attitudes, and knowledge.

Purpose: To develop a 360° video simulation scenario for teaching medication safety in nursing.

Methods: The methodological framework comprised 3 key stages: (1) crafting the script; (2) scrutinizing the script's validity through evaluation by expert judges in medication administration; and (3) developing the set, filming scenes, and refining the video using a 360° camera.

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Cancer therapy is facing increasingly significant challenges, marked by a wide range of techniques and research efforts centered around somatic mutations, precision oncology, and the vast amount of big data. Despite this abundance of information, the quest to cure cancer often seems more elusive, with the "war on cancer" yet to deliver a definitive victory. A particularly pressing issue is the development of tumor treatment resistance, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches.

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There is a growing interest in the food industry in new drying technologies that reduce the time required for dehydration, combined with low energy consumption, low environmental impact, and maintenance of the overall quality of the product. This work investigated convective drying of pumpkin with and without ultrasound-organic (citric or acetic) acid pretreatment for different durations (10, 20, and 30 min). Drying was carried out at 60 °C, and the Wang and Singh model had the best fit for the experimental data.

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  • The study evaluated the impact of different genetic groups and nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) diets on the carcass and meat quality of beef heifers.
  • The research involved 40 heifers (20 A × N and 20 C × N) fed two types of NPN diets (livestock urea and protected urea vs. extruded urea) and assessed various meat characteristics.
  • The results showed that A × N heifers had superior carcass qualities, including higher carcass weights and lower shear forces, while C × N heifers had meat with a better fatty acid profile.
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Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and MOG-associated disease (MOGAD) are an increasingly recognized group of demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. Previous studies suggest that prognosis is predicted by older age at onset, number of relapses, the severity of the first attack and autoantibody status.

Objective: To study prognostic factors associated with disability progression and additional relapses in the 3-year follow-up of a national NMOSD/MOGAD cohort.

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