Immunomodulatory Effects of Pterocarpanquinone LQB-118 in Murine Peritoneal Macrophages.

Background: Phagocytosis is an important function of macrophages. However, when it's dysregulated, it could compromise homeostasis. Thus, this study aimed to assess the inhibitory activity of pterocarpanquinone LQB 118 on murine macrophage phagocytosis.

The Effectiveness of eHealth Interventions in Promoting the Health Literacy of Informal Caregivers: A Systematic Literature Review Protocol.

Background: Digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer significant opportunities to enhance public health, particularly through their strategic use in promoting health literacy.

Objectives: This systematic review protocol aims to outline the methodological steps necessary to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of digital interventions in improving health literacy among informal caregivers.

Methods: This review will include studies involving adult informal caregivers (≥18 years) undergoing a digital health intervention promoting health literacy.

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children Living in Northeastern Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and cardiometabolic, biochemical, and inflammatory risk factors in children in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using baseline data from a community-based controlled trial was carried out with 151 children from public schools in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil aged 7 to 10 years. Dietary consumption was assessed using 24 h food recall, and UPF consumption was estimated using the NOVA classification system.

Monoterpene Hydroxy Lactones Isolated from sp. Microalga and Their Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities.

Two monoterpenoid lactones, loliolide () and -loliolide (), were isolated from the crude dichloromethane extract of a microalga, sp.). The structures of loliolide () and -loliolide () were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analysis, as well as a comparison of their H or/and C NMR data with those reported in the literature.

Food Consumption According to the NOVA Food Classification and Its Relationship with Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Women.

Background/objectives: Depression, anxiety, and stress are highly prevalent mental disorders worldwide, and food consumption can change in individuals with these conditions. We aimed to assess the food consumption of women with depressive symptoms and compare it to a control without symptoms.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 96 women, aged 18-59, allocated into two groups: control = 62) or depressive symptoms ( = 34).

Analysis of heart rate as a predictor of changes in heart rate variability in children.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive validity and cut-off point of heart rate and blood pressure on heart rate variability (HRV) changes in children with and without obesity.

Methods: This study included 125 children, of whom 41 were normal weight and 84 were obese. Anthropometry, blood pressure, heart rate, and HRV were measured using an electronic scale and stadiometer, a sphygmomanometer, and HRV monitor.

A Comparative Overview of the Role of Human Ribonucleases in Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay.

Eukaryotic cells possess surveillance mechanisms that detect and degrade defective transcripts. Aberrant transcripts include mRNAs with a premature termination codon (PTC), targeted by the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway, and mRNAs lacking a termination codon, targeted by the nonstop decay (NSD) pathway. The eukaryotic exosome, a ribonucleolytic complex, plays a crucial role in mRNA processing and turnover through its catalytic subunits PM/Scl100 (Rrp6 in yeast), DIS3 (Rrp44 in yeast), and DIS3L1.

Persulfated Ascorbic Acid Glycoside as a Safe and Stable Derivative of Ascorbic Acid for Skin Care Application.

The pursuit of cosmetic ingredients with proven efficacy and safety that meet consumer needs drives the advancement of new products. Ascorbic acid (AA) is utilized in cosmetic products, predominantly for its potent antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, its instability compromises its efficacy.

The Impact of Rhizospheric and Endophytic Bacteria on the Germination of : A Threatened Rubiaceae of the Amazon Cangas.

(Rubiaceae) is a narrow endemic species from the canga ecosystems of the Carajás National Forest that is facing extinction due to a limited range and habitat disturbance from hydroclimatological changes and mining activities. This study examines the influence of rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria on seed germination to support conservation efforts. Soil samples, both rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric, as well as plant root tissues, were collected.

Navigating Neurotoxicity and Safety Assessment of Nanocarriers for Brain Delivery: Strategies and Insights.

Nanomedicine, an area that uses nanomaterials for theragnostic purposes, is advancing rapidly, particularly in the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The design of nanocarriers can be optimized to enhance drug bioavailability and targeting to specific organs, improving therapeutic outcomes. However, clinical translation hinges on biocompatibility and safety.

Automated Quality Control Solution for Radiographic Imaging of Lung Diseases.

: Radiography is an essential and low-cost diagnostic method in pulmonary medicine that is used for the early detection and monitoring of lung diseases. An adequate and consistent image quality (IQ) is crucial to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective patient management. This pilot study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s remote and automated quality control (QC) methodology, which has been tested in multiple imaging centers.

Nutraceuticals in the management of autonomic function and related disorders: A comprehensive review.

Nutraceuticals have been described as phytocomplexes when derived from foods of plant origin or a pool of secondary metabolites when derived from foods of animal origin, which are concentrated and administered in an appropriate form and can promote beneficial health effects in the prevention/treatment of diseases. Considering that pharmaceutical medications can cause side effects, there is a growing interest in using nutraceuticals as an adjuvant therapeutic tool for several disorders involving autonomic dysfunction, such as obesity, atherosclerosis and other cardiometabolic diseases. This review summarizes and discusses the evidence from the literature on the effects of various nutraceuticals on autonomic control, addressing the gut microbiota modulation, production of secondary metabolites from bioactive compounds, and improvement of physical and chemical properties of cell membranes.

Assessment of Biochemical, Inflammatory Biomarkers and Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Children with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: This study evaluated anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory biomarkers, as well as dietary intake in Brazilian children diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and compared them with their counterparts without SIBO.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 106 children aged 7 to 10 years. A glucose-hydrogen breath test was performed to diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Unlocking the nutraceutical potential of Corylus avellana L. shells: microwave-assisted extraction of phytochemicals with antiradical and anti-diabetic properties.

Background: In recent years, the demand for high-quality natural extracts to be included in nutraceutical formulations has increased sharply. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) shells (HZS) are underrated agricultural by-products that could be exploited as a source of active ingredients with pro-healthy properties.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of α-Alkyl-β-Ketoaldehydes via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution.

The (,)-Teth-TsDPEN-Ru(II) complex promoted the one-pot double C=O reduction of α-alkyl-β-ketoaldehydes through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation/dynamic kinetic resolution (ATH-DKR) under mild conditions. In this process, ten -2-benzyl-1-phenylpropane-1,3-diols (85:15 to 92:8 dr) were obtained in good yields (41-87%) and excellent enantioselectivities (>99% ee for all compounds). Notably, the preferential reduction of the aldehyde moiety led to the in situ formation of 2-benzyl-3-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one intermediates.

Prospective, Randomized Controlled Pivotal Trial of Biodegradable Balloon Rectal Spacer for Prostate Radiation Therapy.

Purpose/objectives: Rectal spacers have been shown to reduce rectal side effects in patients receiving prostate radiation. However, concerns remain regarding precise and reproducible gel injection. We evaluated efficacy and safety of a novel rectoprostatic spacer balloon that allows potential for controlled, adaptable deployment.

TEMPy: a toolkit for the modeling of weighted tissue equivalent material in diagnostic imaging.

Accurate simulation of human tissues is imperative for advancements in diagnostic imaging, particularly in the fields of dosimetry and image quality evaluation. Developing Tissue Equivalent Materials (TEMs) with radiological characteristics akin to those of human tissues is essential for ensuring the reliability and relevance of imaging studies. This study presents the development of a mathematical model and a new toolkit (TEMPy) for obtaining the best composition of materials that mimic the radiological characteristics of human tissues.

International External Validation of Risk Prediction Model of 90-Day Mortality after Gastrectomy for Cancer Using Machine Learning.

Background: Radical gastrectomy remains the main treatment for gastric cancer, despite its high mortality. A clinical predictive model of 90-day mortality (90DM) risk after gastric cancer surgery based on the Spanish EURECCA registry database was developed using a matching learning algorithm. We performed an external validation of this model based on data from an international multicenter cohort of patients.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of microorganism profile identified in bioburden analysis in a biopharmaceutical facility in Brazil: Criteria for classification and management of results.

Microbiological contamination may cause microbial proliferation and consequently additional problems for pharmaceutical companies through production stoppage, product contamination, investigations of process deviations, out-of-specification results and product disposal. This is one of the major concerns of the regulatory health agencies. Microbiological load (bioburden) may represent a potential risk for patients if the sterilization process is not effective and/or due to the production of toxins.

Click Chemistry in Polymersome Technology.

Polymersomes, self-assembled nanoparticles composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, have emerged as promising versatile nanovesicles with various applications, such as drug delivery, medical imaging, and diagnostics. The integration of click chemistry reactions, specifically the copper [I]-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), has greatly expanded the functionalisation and bioconjugation capabilities of polymersomes and new drugs, being this synergistic combination explored in this review. It also provides up-to-date examples of previous incorporations of click-compatible moieties (azide and alkyne functional groups) into polymer building blocks, enabling the "click" attachment of various functional groups and ligands, delving into the diverse range of click reactions that have been reported and employed for polymersome copolymer synthesis and the modification of polymersome surfaces, including ligand conjugation and surface modification.