Antibody response to Plasmodium vivax in the context of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) co-infection: A 14-year follow-up study in the Amazon rainforest.

Background: To develop an effective vaccine against Plasmodium vivax, the most widely dispersed human malaria parasite, it is critical to understand how coinfections with other pathogens could impact malaria-specific immune response. A recent conceptual study proposed that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a highly prevalent human herpesvirus that establishes lifelong persistent infection, may influence P. vivax antibody responses.

O-GlcNAcylation regulates tyrosine hydroxylase serine 40 phosphorylation and L-DOPA levels.

O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification characterized by the covalent attachment of a single moiety of GlcNAc on serine/threonine residues in proteins. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting step enzyme in the catecholamine synthesis pathway and responsible for production of the dopamine precursor, L-DOPA, has its activity regulated by phosphorylation. Here, we show an inverse feedback mechanism between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of TH at serine 40 (TH pSer40).

The influence of age on brief motivational intervention for unhealthy alcohol use.

Introduction: The influence of age on brief motivational interventions (BMI) effects remains unknown. In the present study, we explored whether change in alcohol consumption after BMI differs across age groups and whether these differences are reflected in motivational interviewing (MI) counsellor skills.

Method: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial among emergency room (ER) patients screened for unhealthy alcohol consumption.

Developing and testing the feasibility of a theory-based brief counseling intervention to promote physical activity in breast cancer survivors enrolled in the PAC-WOMAN trial.

Background: Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA), cancer survivors report engagement barriers, and existing interventions often lack comprehensive solutions. Theory-based interventions using evidence-based behavior change techniques (BCTs) have been shown to be effective in promoting PA for breast cancer survivors, although their feasibility and acceptability lack evidence. The PAC-WOMAN trial is a three-arm randomized controlled trial aimed at promoting short- and long-term PA and improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

Innovative Approaches in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Bone Marrow-Derived Products.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic articular disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of cartilage and bone tissue, leading to the appearance of subchondral cysts, osteophyte formation, and synovial inflammation. Conventional treatments consist of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, and glucocorticoids. However, the prolonged use of these drugs causes adverse effects.

New low-dose curcumin derivative with therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease: Results from an in vitro and in vivo study in mice.

Curcumin has been proposed as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its ability to inhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide aggregates and to destabilise pre-formed ones. Derivative 27 was synthesized to improve low-dose efficacy in the context of AD. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-amyloidogenic activities were evaluated in chemico, in vitro using AD and neuroinflammation cell models, and in vivo using the double-transgenic APP/PS1 mice.

Discovery of Non-Covalent Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 PLpro: Integrating Virtual Screening, Synthesis, and Experimental Validation.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly challenged global public health, highlighting the need for effective therapeutic options. This study focuses on the papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2, which is a critical enzyme for viral polyprotein processing, maturation, and immune evasion. We employed a combined approach that began with computational models in a virtual screening campaign, prioritizing compounds from our in-house chemical library against PLpro.

Aged mice show a reduction in 5-HT neurons and decreased cellular activation in the dentate gyrus when exposed to acute running.

Serotonin (5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter for cognition and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG), which occurs via movement stimulation such as physical activity. Brain 5-HT function changes secondary to aging require further investigation. We evaluated whether aged animals would present changes in the number of 5-HT neurons in regions such as the dorsal (DRN) and median (MRN) raphe nuclei and possible changes in the rate of cellular activation in the DG in response to acute running, as a reduction in 5-HT neurons could contribute to a decline in neuronal activation in the DG in response to physical activity in aged mice.

Silver-Catalyzed Aqueous Electrochemical Valorization of Soda Lignin into Aliphatics and Phenolics.

Transitioning from crude oil to renewable sources of carbon-based chemicals is critical for advancing sustainable development. Lignin, a wood-derived biomacromolecule, holds great potential as a renewable feedstock, but efficient depolymerization and dearomatization methods are required to fully unlock its potential. In this investigation, we present a silver-catalyzed aqueous electrocatalytic method for the selective depolymerization and partial dearomatization of soda lignin under mild, ambient conditions.

Involvement of platelet signaling pathways in colorectal cancer and new therapeutic targets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most widespread tumor types, and it stands as the second leading cause of disease-related mortality globally. Due to its adverse effects, which lead to low patient adherence, new alternatives to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments are being studied. Since, in most cases, platelets are positively involved in the persistence and progression of CRC, several elements of the platelet signaling pathway have been considered possible therapeutic targets.

Computational and experimental insights into pharmacological potential: Synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and molecular docking analysis of bioactive urea and thiourea derivatives.

This study delves into the synthesis, in vitro assessment, and molecular docking analysis of bioactive urea and thiourea derivatives, which have garnered significant attention in pharmaceutical chemistry due to their versatile chemical reactivity and potential therapeutic applications One pot synthetic approach was utilized to develop a diverse class of these compounds. Subsequent biological assessments, including antimicrobial assays, demonstrated their pharmacological potential by inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms. Molecular docking analysis offered computational insights into the interactions between these compounds and specific biomolecules, shedding light on their potential mechanisms of action.

Description of the female of P. pauferrense Rodrigues, Cizauskas & Rheims, 2018 and three new species of Paracymbiomma Rodrigues, Cizauskas & Rheims, 2018 (Araneae: Prodidomidae) from Brazil.

In this paper, we describe three new species of Paracymbiomma Rodrigues, Cizauskas & Rheims, 2018 and the female of P. pauferrense Rodrigues, Cizauskas & Rheims, 2018. Two species are restricted to the iron caves of the Carajás Speleological Unit, in the state of Pará, Brazil: Paracymbiomma pepita sp.

Sand Fly Fauna in Urban Parks in the Brazilian Western Amazon: Potential Areas for American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Transmission.

Sand flies are a group of insects (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in which some species may transmit agents of leishmaniasis. This study aimed to analyze the sand fly fauna in urban parks in Rio Branco, capital of Acre state, addressing its diversity, infection by Leishmania, and food sources in sand fly females. The sand flies were collected with CDC-type automatic light traps installed in three urban parks in Rio Branco: Captain Ciríaco, Horto Florestal and Chico Mendes.

Optimizing Treatment Outcomes in Crohn's Disease: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Regenerative Therapies with Emphasis on Platelet-Rich Plasma.

Background/objectives: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that significantly affects patients' quality of life; conventional treatments often provide limited relief.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the potential of regenerative therapies, particularly platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as an adjunctive treatment for CD. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024576683), and a comprehensive search was conducted across major databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Nationwide, Couple-Based Genetic Carrier Screening.

Background: Genomic sequencing technology allows for identification of reproductive couples with an increased chance, as compared with that in the general population, of having a child with an autosomal recessive or X-linked genetic condition.

Methods: We investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a nationwide, couple-based genetic carrier screening program in Australia as part of the Mackenzie's Mission project. Health care providers offered screening to persons before pregnancy or early in pregnancy.

Neuroprotection for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: A review of novel therapies evaluated in clinical studies.

Therapeutic hypothermia is an effective therapy for moderate-to-severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in infants born at term or near-term in high-resource settings. Yet there remains a substantial proportion of infants who do not benefit or who will have significant disability despite therapeutic hypothermia. Novel investigational therapies that may confer additional neuroprotection by targeting known pathogenic mechanisms of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury are under development.

Exploring the Role of Prefrontal Cortex tDCS in Hypertension: A Mini-Review.

Arterial Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, which, in turn, are the primary cause of mortality worldwide. The success rates in Blood Pressure (BP) control among the general population remain unacceptably low. HTN etiology is multifactorial, but ample evidence has shown an essential role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction in its physiopathology.

The resolvin D2 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid as a new possible therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are idiopathic disorders characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation. Given conventional therapies' adverse effects and clinical failures, novel approaches are being investigated. Recent studies have highlighted the role of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) in the active resolution of chronic inflammation.

Optimizing corncob pretreatment with eco-friendly deep eutectic solvents to enhance lignin extraction and cellulose-to-glucose conversion.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are an eco-friendly, cost-effective alternative to traditional ionic liquids for biomass pretreatment, with unique characteristics encompassed by hydrogen bond donor (HBD), the molar ratio of hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) to HBD, temperature, and time affecting efficiency. Despite its potential, a comprehensive study exploring the interplay of these factors is limited. This study explores the optimization of pretreatment variables using choline chloride/lactic acid (1:5) via the response surface method (RSM).

Hidden diversity in anthropophilic sand flies of the Monticola Series (Diptera, Psychodidae).

The Monticola series comprises two anthropophilic and widely distributed species in Brazil: Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) monticola (Costa Lima, 1932) and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) misionensis (Castro, 1959). They mainly occur in the Atlantic Rainforest, and it is known that Pi. monticola comprises at least two well-structured genetic lineages regarding a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene.

Integrity matters in oncology: AORTIC takes a stand against research misconduct.

Oncology is a rapidly evolving field globally, with a growing need to maintain research integrity. The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) has initiated a comprehensive training program to enhance research quality and integrity in African oncology. This program covers topics such as predatory publishing, data manipulation, plagiarism, “paper mills,” gender equity, and the critical appraisal of clinical trials and meta-analyses beyond statistical significance.