Publications by authors named "Nicacio J"

Background: Human activities, such as urbanization and climate change, have facilitated the spread of arbovirus-carrying vectors, disproportionately affecting vulnerable traditional Indigenous communities.

Objective: To explore the relationships between subclinical myocardial dysfunction, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), and comprehensive arbovirus serology in an Indigenous population, while also describing the serological and epidemiological profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

Methods: This ancillary study is part of the first phase (2016-2017) of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI), a cross-sectional study involving participants from two Indigenous communities with different degrees of urbanization and a highly urbanized city in Northeast Brazil.

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Arthropod-borne viral diseases are acute febrile illnesses, sometimes with chronic effects, that can be debilitating and even fatal worldwide, affecting particularly vulnerable populations. Indigenous communities face not only the burden of these acute febrile illnesses, but also the cardiovascular complications that are worsened by urbanization. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indigenous population in the Northeast Region of Brazil to explore the association between arboviral infections (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) and cardiac biomarkers, including cardiotrophin 1, growth differentiation factor 15, lactate dehydrogenase B, fatty-acid-binding protein 3, myoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, big endothelin 1, and creatine kinase-MB, along with clinical and anthropometric factors.

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Background: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide, especially in developing countries, due to factors such as lifestyle changes and the rise of non-communicable diseases. Populations living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are subject to a higher burden of CKD. However, the burden of CKD on Brazilian Indigenous people, especially those undergoing an advanced urbanisation process, has not yet been described.

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  • Encephaloceles are serious birth defects involving the herniation of brain tissue through the skull, with a significant risk of developmental issues in survivors.
  • This study compared outcomes between patients who had surgery before birth (fetal group) and those who had it after (postnatal group), focusing on neuropsychomotor development and microcephaly reversal.
  • Results showed that fetal surgery led to better developmental scores and a higher chance of reversing microcephaly, indicating that early intervention may offer protective benefits for brain development.
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  • Dengue, a viral infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, hit record levels in Brazil in early 2024 with over 1.3 million probable cases reported.
  • The study utilized time series and spatial analysis to identify trends and high-risk areas, revealing significant increases in cases, particularly in the Northeast and South regions.
  • A detailed analysis pinpointed risk areas, with the highest concentration of cases and relative risk found in Minas Gerais, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.
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Introduction: The literature lacks a concise neurocognitive test for assessing primary cognitive domains in neuro-oncological patients. This study aims to describe and assess the feasibility of the Ohy-Maldaun Fast Track Cognitive Test (OMFTCT), used to pre- and post-operatively evaluate patients undergoing brain tumor surgery in language eloquent areas. The cognitive diagnosis was used to safely guide intraoperative language assessment.

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Introduction: The Neurological Assessment for Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale was elaborated to assess neurologic function in integration with radiological criteria to evaluate neuro-oncological patients in clinical setting and enable the standardization of neurological assessment in clinical trials. The objective of this study is the translation to Brazilian Portuguese and transcultural adaptation of NANO scale in patients with the diagnosis of glioblastoma, brain metastasis and low-grade glioma.

Methods: Patients with diagnosis of glioblastoma, brain metastasis, and low-grade glioma were prospectively evaluated between July 2019 and July 2021.

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Background: Non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) accounts for one third of intracranial GCT. While the germinoma group have an excellent overall survival, the standard of practice for children with NGGCT is still under evaluation.

Aims: Describe the results of the of the Brazilian consortium protocol.

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Species of the genus Anastrepha cause injuries to several fruits and vegetables in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Among these species, many are present in Brazil. In this study, we surveyed the existing Anastrepha species in the Brazilian Chaco Biome.

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Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with olfactory dysfunction in individuals with COVID-19 in the first 2 years of the pandemic in Brazil.

Materials And Methods: This is a prevalent study involving the confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded in the municipality between the years 2020 and 2021. Individuals symptomatic for COVID-19, with a positive laboratory result and aged 12 or older were included in this study.

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  • The study aimed to compile and analyze published cases of intrinsic brainstem epidermoid cysts, focusing on their characteristics and treatment methods, especially in pediatric patients.
  • Researchers reviewed existing literature and presented a case of a 1.5-year-old boy who underwent successful gross total resection of a cyst discovered incidentally.
  • Results showed 21 patients (10 boys, 11 girls) with an average age of 4.85 years, experiencing symptoms like cranial nerve palsy (71.4%) and headache (52.38%), highlighting the need for careful surgical approaches to maximize lesion removal while preserving function.
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  • Fetal neurosurgery is unique in its number of cases and potential for new procedures during pregnancy, requiring specialized medical centers for effective treatment.
  • These centers need to have expert diagnosis in fetal pathologies, complex obstetrics services, and multidisciplinary support for both mothers and infants post-birth.
  • The manuscript aims to highlight the diagnostic options and treatment possibilities for various neurosurgical conditions in fetuses, including hydrocephalus, tumors, occipital encephalocele, and myelomeningocele.
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Background: Stroke is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Renal dysfunction is an important risk factor for stroke. Brazilian studies on stroke knowledge are generally population based.

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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent disease worldwide, with increasing incidence particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Indigenous communities have poorer CKD outcomes due to limited access to healthcare. They are also experiencing a shift toward a sedentary lifestyle and urbanization-related dietary changes, increasing the risk of CKD-related risk factors.

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  • The study explores factors affecting prognosis in pediatric patients with different types of pineal region tumors over a 30-year period at a single institution.
  • It analyzes 151 patients and finds significant survival rate differences across tumor types, with germinoma having the best prognosis and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors leading to rapid mortality.
  • Key prognostic factors include gender, presence of metastasis, treatment approaches, and age, emphasizing the need for tailored, multidisciplinary treatment strategies for affected children.
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Objective: Pineal region tumors account for 2.7%-11% of all CNS tumors in children. In this series, the authors present their surgical results and long-term outcomes from a pediatric pineal region tumor cohort.

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Purpose: This prospective Brazilian single-arm trial was conducted to determine response to chemotherapy and survival after response-based radiotherapy in children with intracranial germinomas, in the setting of a multi-institutional study in a middle-income country (MIC) with significant disparity of subspecialty care.

Patients And Methods: Since 2013, 58 patients with histologic and/or serum and CSF tumor marker evaluations of primary intracranial germ cell tumors were diagnosed; 43 were germinoma with HCGβ levels ≤200 mIU/mL and five between 100 and 200 mIU/mL. The treatment plan consisted of four cycles of carboplatin and etoposide followed by 18 Gy whole-ventricular field irradiation (WVFI) and primary site(s) boost up to 30 Gy; 24 Gy craniospinal was prescribed for disseminated disease.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the degree of urbanization influences the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Brazilian indigenous people.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2016 and 2017 in northeastern Brazil and includes individuals aged between 30 and 70 years from two specific indigenous groups who volunteered to participate in the study: the Fulni-ô people (lowest degree of urbanization) and the Truká group (greater degree of urbanization). Cultural and geographical parameters were used to characterize and measure the magnitude of urbanization.

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  • - Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele can reduce the risk of hydrocephalus by about 50%, prompting the need for training in a new endoscopic repair technique using multi-portals.
  • - The study developed a training model in two stages: first, familiarizing surgeons with 2D endoscopic skills and then applying these skills to simulate myelomeningocele closure using chicken breast and basketball models.
  • - The training involved testing two setups: a three-portal system allowing bimanual maneuvers for more complex procedures, and a two-portal system where the surgeon and assistant work side by side, with limited bi-manual capabilities.
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  • The study investigates whether opening the ventricular system during surgery for brain tumors in children leads to increased postoperative complications, particularly focusing on cases from 2002 to 2020 involving 43 patients.
  • Findings showed that while ventricular opening was linked to a higher rate of subdural hygroma (43% vs. 0%), it did not significantly increase risks for complications like hydrocephalus or infections.
  • Overall, the research suggests that ventricular opening during these surgeries is not associated with severe complications and has comparable survival rates to surgeries without ventricular involvement.
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  • Low-grade gliomas make up 30% of pediatric brain tumors, and the success of treatment relies heavily on how much of the tumor is surgically removed, with sodium fluorescein (Na-Fl) being used to assist in this process.
  • A study of pediatric patients undergoing tumor removal with Na-Fl showed impressive results in identifying tumor cells and achieving complete resection, supported by a review of existing literature.
  • The findings indicate that Na-Fl might be an effective tool for improving surgical outcomes in pediatric low-grade gliomas, but further research, including randomized controlled trials, is needed to confirm its benefits.
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This study aimed to elaborate a sequential sampling plan for C. capitata in commercial orchards of guava. 90 McPhail traps were randomly installed in three guava orchards in a transverse direction for 23 weeks.

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  • - Schistosomiasis, caused by the Schistosoma mansoni parasite, is a common disease in tropical regions like Brazil, with neuroschistosomiasis being a significant form affecting the spine.
  • - Children are particularly vulnerable to infection due to their frequent swimming in contaminated water and their developing immune systems.
  • - Early diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis can lead to effective treatment, allowing for complete recovery from neurological issues.
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Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious and frequent manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. It usually presents in the first years of the disease, which suspicion should be raised in cases of elevated serum creatinine, presence of proteinuria above 500 mg/day or active urinary sediment, in the absence of other apparent causes such as urinary tract infection and use of nephrotoxic drugs. In most cases, it affects the glomerulus, and its presentation is rare in the form of isolated tubulo-interstitial disease.

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Dengue fever, chikungunya, and zika are highly prevalent arboviruses transmitted by hematophagous arthropods, with a widely neglected impact in developing countries. These diseases cause acute illness in diverse populations, as well as potential cardiovascular complications. A systematic review was carried out to investigate the burden of cardiac involvement related to these arboviruses.

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