Forensic use of human mitochondrial DNA: A review.

In forensics, genetic human identification is generally achieved by nuclear STR DNA typing. However, forensic samples often yield DNA in exiguous quantity and low quality, impairing the generation of conclusive DNA profiles by STR typing. In such cases, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be used as an alternative solution in forensic human identification.

From the armchair to contemporary cardiac rehabilitation: the remarkable ongoing journey of exercise training in ischemic heart disease.

Exercise is an important physiological activity with several health benefits. In the setting of ischemic heart disease (IHD), the view toward exercise has greatly evolved throughout the years, concurrently to several major advances in the management of this complex entity. Currently, exercise training has broad applications across the IHD continuum as a powerful tool in its overall management, being a core component of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs.

IDIOPATHIC RETINAL VASCULITIS, ANEURYSMS, AND NEURORETINITIS COMPLICATED BY CILIORETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION: MULTIMODAL IMAGING AND 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP.

Purpose: To describe a multimodal imaging and a 5-year follow-up of a case of cilioretinal artery occlusion (CLRAO) in a 40-year-old woman with idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome.

Methods: Fundus photography, indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA), and a literature review of retinal artery occlusions associated with IRVAN syndrome were performed.

Results: Fundus examination revealed bilateral blurred margins of the discs and peri-vascular hard exudates.

Blood mercury concentrations in preschool children and potential risk factors in São Paulo, Brazil.

Environmental exposure of preschool children to mercury can elevate blood mercury levels (BML) and negatively affect their health. This study aimed to determine BML in preschool children from Brazil's largest city and explore potential associated risk factors. Blood samples were collected in 2013 from 2436 children (age 1-5 years) attending 50 daycare centers (DCC) located in São Paulo, Brazil.

Association between cognitive performance and manual dexterity in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition resulting from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Impaired manual dexterity and cognitive impairment are common symptoms and are often associated with recurrent adverse events in this population.

Objective: To verify the association between cognitive performance and manual dexterity in people with PD.

Prolonged use of old dentures: A qualitative study with Brazilian older adults.

Objective: To explore older adults' perceptions, motivations and reasons for using and not replacing old and worn complete dentures over prolonged periods.

Materials And Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Brazilian edentulous older adults who were wearing complete dentures which were at least 20 years old. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants from an existing waiting list of those referred to a hospital clinic for new dentures.

Açai seed biochar improves soil quality and black pepper seedling development in the Amazon region.

Sustainable management of the Amazon rainforest is fundamental for supporting life on earth because of its crucial role in sequestering carbon. One of the species grown in the forest is açaí (Euterpe oleracea), which is an important food and income source for its inhabitant. The acai seed, resulting from the processing of the fruit, is a solid organic residue, which has been an agent of undesirable environmental impacts such as natural landscape modifications, clogging sewers and water courses, eutrophication of surface waters.

Larvicidal activity of coumarin derivatives on Toxocara canis larvae, cytotoxicity analysis, and in silico bioavailability studies.

Human toxocariasis is a neglected anthropozoonosis with global distribution. Treatment is based on the administration of anthelmintics; however, their effectiveness at the tissue level is low to moderate, necessitating the discovery of new drug candidates. Several groups of synthetic compounds, including coumarin derivatives, have demonstrated bioactivity against fungi, bacteria, and even parasites, such as Dactylogyrus intermedius, Leishmania major, and Plasmodium falciparum.

Compliance with the 24-h Movement Guidelines for Portuguese children: differences between boys and girls.

The 24-h Movement Guidelines for children recommend at least 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (PA), ≤ 2 h/day of screen time, and 9-11 h/day of sleep for children. Since little information is available on the 24-h Movement Guidelines in Portuguese children, this research attempts to know the proportion of Portuguese children meeting individual and combinations of these 24-h Movement Guidelines. Another aim of this study is to test sex differences in compliance with 24-h Movement Guidelines.

A 1-Year Parallel-Group Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of a Mandibular Complete Denture vs an Early Loaded Single-Implant Overdenture.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of converting a conventional mandibular denture (CMD) into a single-implant mandibular overdenture (SIMO).

Materials And Methods: Edentulous patients received a new CMD and were randomly assigned to the CMD or SIMO group. For SIMO patients, a midline early-loaded implant was inserted and incorporated into the CMD after 3 weeks.

Impact of nitrogen fertilizer sustainability on corn crop yield: the role of beneficial microbial inoculation interactions.

Background: Considering the challenges posed by nitrogen (N) pollution and its impact on food security and sustainability, it is crucial to develop management techniques that optimize N fertilization in croplands. Our research intended to explore the potential benefits of co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus subtilis combined with N application rates on corn plants. The study focused on evaluating corn photosynthesis-related parameters, oxidative stress assay, and physiological nutrient use parameters.

Corrigendum: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex as a serum biomarker for COVID-19.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.

Progesterone-Related Diabetes Mellitus in the Bitch: Current Knowledge, the Role of Pyometra, and Relevance in Practice.

Progesterone-related diabetes mellitus (PRDM) in dogs is known for its particular potential for diabetes remission. This narrative review aims to provide relevant detailed information on (1) the canine estrus cycle and its impact on canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) etiology and management, (2) the role of pyometra as a further cause of insulin resistance, and (3) useful individual therapeutic and preventive strategies. PRDM is recognized due to diestrus, exogenous progestogen exposure, pregnancy, and P4-production ovarian dysfunction.

Effect of Dancing Interventions on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42023428105) investigated the effect of dancing on depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults. Conducted up to October 2023, the search across seven databases and gray literature yielded 5020 records. Only randomized trials that analyzed dance interventions for depression and/or anxiety in older adults were included.

Lactic Acid Bacteria isolated from traditional and innovative alheiras as potential biocontrol agents.

From a selection of seven traditional and 14 innovative alheiras, 491 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated and tested for their antimicrobial activity against several food-borne pathogens. Among these, six strains revealed antimicrobial activity through potential bacteriocin production against 14 Listeria monocytogenes strains, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Clostridium sporogenes ESB050, and Clostridium perfringens ESB054. Through whole genome sequencing (WGS), these strains were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (2), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (1), and Pediococcus acidilactici (3).

Amblytropidia paranaensis n. sp., a new species of grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) from Paran State, Brazil, including new records, a distribution map and a key to the Brazilians species.

A new species of Amblytropidia Stl, 1873 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae), named Amblytropidia paranaensis n. sp., is delineated from the Trs Barras do Paran municipality, Paran State, Brazil.

Effect of Preoperative Home-Based Exercise Training on Quality of Life After Lung Cancer Surgery: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Preoperative exercise training is recommended for improvement of clinical outcomes after lung cancer (LC) surgery. However, its effectiveness in preventing postoperative decline in quality of life (QoL) remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of preoperative home-based exercise training (PHET) on QoL after LC surgery.

Residual effects of composted sewage sludge on nitrogen cycling and plant metabolism in a no-till common bean-palisade grass-soybean rotation.

Introduction And Aims: In the context of increasing population and decreasing soil fertility, food security is one of humanity's greatest challenges. Large amounts of waste, such as sewage sludge, are produced annually, with their final disposal causing environmental pollution and hazards to human health. Sludge has high amounts of nitrogen (N), and, when safely recycled by applying it into the soil as composted sewage sludge (CSS), its residual effect may provide gradual N release to crops.

Postoperative local interventions for the palate as a gingival graft donor area: a scoping review.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to systematically identify evidence-based interventions to stimulate healing or protect the harvested palate of patients undergoing gingival grafting.

Material And Methods: The study followed guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR (protocol available at osf.io/zhafn).