Diagnostic accuracy of an uncorrected native T1 mapping sequence for liver fibrosis and inflammation in autoimmune hepatitis: a prospective study using histopathology as reference standard.

Purpose: There is an unmet clinical need for non-invasive imaging biomarkers that could replace liver biopsy in the management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). In this study, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a simple uncorrected, non-contrast T1 mapping for detecting fibrosis and inflammation in AIH patients using histopathology as a reference standard.

Material And Methods: Over 3 years, 33 patients with AIH were prospectively studied using a multiparametric liver MRI protocol which included T1 mapping.

Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Liver Fibrosis and Inflammation in Autoimmune Hepatitis: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare chronic liver disease, associated with a high level of morbidity and high mortality; approximately 40% of patients with severe untreated disease die within 6 months of diagnosis. It should be treated to achieve complete biochemical and histologic resolution of the disease using corticosteroids and immunosuppression to prevent further progression to cirrhosis. The use of invasive liver biopsy is recommended for the staging and assessment of inflammation and fibrosis for treatment decision-making in the face of an unsatisfactory response or clinical remission, including being a determinant for withdrawal of immunosuppression.

Imaging Prognostic Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide with its incidence on the rise globally. This paper provides a comprehensive review of prognostic imaging markers in HCC, emphasizing their role in risk stratification and clinical decision-making. We explore quantitative and qualitative criteria derived from imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can offer valuable insights into the biological behavior of the tumor.

[Bullying victimization and associated factors among schoolchildren in a city in the south of Brazil].

The objective was to assess the prevalence of bullying victimization and associated factors among adolescents in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted with 795 ninth grade students from 25 urban municipal schools linked to the School Health Program. Bullying was assessed using questions that addressed the occurrence, frequency, location, type of violence suffered and how much it bothers the victims.

Adjuvant effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the treatment of experimental periodontitis in rats undergoing chemotherapy.

Surgical procedures, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, individually or in association, are current oncological treatments. Among the most used chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) is an antimetabolite with a broad spectrum of action. This study evaluated the effects of probiotics (PRO) as an adjuvant to the treatment of experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats immunosuppressed with 5FU.

Validation of the NAT Chagas IVD Kit for the Detection and Quantification of in Blood Samples of Patients with Chagas Disease.

In the absence of validated biomarkers to control the cure of Chagas disease, PCR-based diagnosis is being used as the main tool for an early indication of therapeutic failure. However, since it is considered a technique of complex reproducibility, mainly due to difficulties in establishing accurate controls to guarantee the quality of the reaction, the use of PCR for Chagas disease diagnosis is restricted to specialized centers. In an effort to disseminate the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease and its applications, new diagnostic kits based on qPCR have been made available in the market in recent years.

The participation of tumor residing pericytes in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Pericytes are perivascular cells related to vessel structure and angiogenesis that can interact with neoplastic cells, interfering with cancer progression and outcomes. This study focused on the characterization of pericytes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using clinical samples and a transgenic mouse model of oral carcinogenesis. Nestin/NG2 (type-1) and nestin/NG2 (type-2) pericytes were analyzed by direct fluorescence after induction of oral carcinogenesis (4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide).

Efficacy of antiseptics and chemomechanical methods for dentin caries lesions: A systematic review with GRADE approach.

Objectives: Selective caries removal aims to remove carious tissue in deep dentin lesions. However, a discussion stands on the value of antiseptics and chemomechanical adjuvant methods to reduce the bacterial load on residual caries lesions. This systematic review has addressed two main clinical questions to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of available methods using (1) antiseptic or (2) chemomechanical agents before restoring dentin carious lesions.

The effects of on the inflammation and periodontal tissue repair in rats: A pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic (PRO) (DSM17938) as an adjuvant to the treatment of experimental periodontitis (EP).

Material And Methods: Fifty-four male adult Wistar rats were included. EP was induced and maintained for 7 days.

Equisetum hyemale-derived unprecedented bioactive composite for hard and soft tissues engineering.

Although Bioactive Glasses (BGs) have been progressively optimized, their preparation often still involves the use of toxic reagents and high calcination temperatures to remove organic solvents. In the present work, these synthesis related drawbacks were overcome by treating the ashes from the Equisetum hyemale plant in an ethanol/water solution to develop a bioactive composite [glass/carbon (BG-Carb)]. The BG-Carb was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy; and its chemical composition was assessed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy.

Acute hemodynamic responses from low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction in young and older individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-over trials.

Objective: To summarize the existing evidence on the acute response of low-load (LL) resistance exercise (RE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) on hemodynamic parameters.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Scopus), SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science and MedRxiv databases were searched from inception to February 2022.

Review Methods: Cross-over trials investigating the acute effect of LLRE + BFR versus passive (no exercise) and active control methods (LLRE or HLRE) on heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) blood pressure responses.

Interplay between epithelial and mesenchymal cells unveils essential proinflammatory and pro-resolutive mediators modulated by photobiomodulation therapy at 660 nm.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been widely used to promote tissue repair. However, PBMT's critical roles in the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues interactions are still barely known. Herein, we investigated light parameters on challenged keratinocytes (KC)-i.

Vaginal cancer: Why should we care? Anatomy, staging and in-depth imaging-based review of vaginal malignancies focusing on MRI and PET/CT.

Vaginal cancer often poses a challenge for clinical and radiological diagnosis, and its risk factors, progression, and treatment are still poorly established. Although vaginal malignancies are rare, even globally, their rates have increased due to the increased access to healthcare and the evolution of screening measures and diagnostic methods. Because the vaginal cavity is a virtual space, it can harbor lesions that often go unnoticed and, not infrequently, diagnosed belatedly.

Nestin and NG2 transgenes reveal two populations of perivascular cells stimulated by photobiomodulation.

Pericytes and glial cells are known to collaborate in dental pulp tissue repair. Cell-based therapies that stimulate these stromal components may be of therapeutic relevance for partially vital dental pulp conditions. This study aimed to examine the early effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) in pericytes from experimentally injured pulp tissue.

Nestin and Neuron-glial antigen 2 transgenes unveil progenitor units in murine salivary glands.

Objective: Undifferentiated cells play pivotal roles in sustaining tissue homeostasis during physiological turnovers and after tissue impairment. Nestin and Neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2) are markers frequently deployed to distinguish progenitor populations. In the salivary gland scenario, these markers remain largely unknown.

MRI of Penile Prostheses: The Challenge of Diagnosing Postsurgical Complications.

Penile implants are surgically inserted devices used for the treatment of erectile disfunction. Improvements in surgical techniques and in the manufacturing of these implants have reduced the risk of intra- and postoperative complications and increased the popularity and use of this therapeutic option. Routine imaging is not recommended before penile prosthesis surgery.

Autoimmune hepatitis in practice, from diagnosis to complications: What is the role of imaging? A clinicoradiological review.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease of unknown origin that can lead to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplantation or death. The diagnosis is performed upon a multifactorial score. Treatment is based on the combination of immunosuppressants and aims at clinical, laboratory and histological remission, the latter being the most difficult to be achieved and proven.

Mandibular-related bone metabolism in orchiectomized rats treated with sex hormones.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the impact of testosterone and estrogen replacement therapy on mandibular bone density and bone-related markers.

Design: Forty male adult rats were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups (n = 10/group): Sham (Control); Orchiectomy; Orchiectomy plus testosterone replacement; and orchiectomy plus estradiol replacement. Twenty-four days after orchiectomy, the hemi-mandibles were collected and processed for analysis of microhardness in cortical and trabecular bone, radiographic bone density and histomorphometric evaluation.

Photobiomodulation drives pericyte mobilization towards skin regeneration.

Photobiomodulation is being widely applied for improving dermal or mucosal wound healing. However, the underlying cellular and molecular processes that directly contribute to its effects remain poorly understood. Pericytes are relevant cells involved in the wound microenvironment and could be one of the main targets of photobiomodulation due to their plasticity and perivascular localization.

Impact of schooling in the HIV/AIDS prevalence among Brazilian transgender women.

Objective Discrimination and bullying are common conditions among LGBT people. During schooling, these practices compromising education. The aim of this study is to evaluate educational attainment among Brazilian transgender women (TW) and how their education level affects the risk of HIV infection.

Emergency CT of abdominal complications of ingested fish bones: what not to miss.

Fish bones are the most commonly ingested structures and the most common cause of foreign body perforation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Clinical presentation of foreign body GIT perforation is nonspecific, in many cases with clinical signs of acute abdomen, which can mimic appendicitis, diverticulitis, ulcer peptic disease, and other common inflammatory conditions. Besides, patients commonly do not refer that a fish bone was swallowed.

Motivation and difficulties to reduce or quit smoking.

Objective: To understand what factors motivate people to reduce or stop tobacco use and what difficulties they face in this process.

Method: Qualitative, empirical and interpretative research that used a focal group technique for data collection and Discourse Analysis as a theoretical reference for analysis.

Results: The responses centered on the following aspects: motivation for reduction or cessation of smoking, family and community support received during treatment, benefits from cessation of tobacco, difficulties encountered and strategies for overcoming triggers.