Nerve Ultrasound Detects Nerve Atrophy in Patients With Ataxia-Telangiectasia: A Pilot Study.

Introduction/aims: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a genetic multisystem neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, extrapyramidal involvement, peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, immunodeficiency, pulmonary disease, and an increased risk of malignancy that ultimately determines the shortened lifespan in many patients. A-T nerve ultrasonographic characteristics remain underexplored. This pilot study aimed to characterize the ultrasonographic morphology of peripheral nerves in patients with A-T.

Enhancing Passion Fruit Resilience: The Role of Hariman in Mitigating Viral Damage and Boosting Productivity in Organic Farming Systems.

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms by which Hariman mitigates damage and productivity losses caused by Cucumber Aphid-Borne Mosaic Virus (CABMV) in the passion fruit genotypes 'FB300' and 'H09-110/111' under greenhouse and field conditions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hariman treatment induced the upregulation of key defense genes and phytohormones in response to CABMV infection, enabling treated plants to counteract virus-induced developmental impairments effectively. The relative accumulation of CABMV and disease severity were significantly reduced, with treated plants showing no decline in growth parameters such as height, leaf count, flower production, or fruit set.

Cardiac damage after polytrauma: the role of systematic transthoracic echocardiography - a pilot study.

Background: Heart injuries following polytrauma (PT) are identified as a predictor of poor outcome. The diagnostic algorithm of cardiac damage after trauma consists of the systemic measurement of cardiac damage markers, a 3-channel ECG and if there are any suspicious findings, the conduction of a transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The aim of this study was to implement a systematic analysis of cardiac function using TTE in PT-patients.

Autosomal Recessive Ataxias in Northeast Brazil: A Regional Multicenter Case Series.

Unlabelled: Hereditary cerebellar ataxias are a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive cerebellar dysfunction and possible multisystemic involvement. While significant advancements have been made in understanding autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs), autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) remain less extensively investigated than autosomal dominant ataxias, particularly in regions with high consanguinity. This study aimed to characterize 57 patients with ARCAs in Ceará, northeast Brazil.

Risk Factors for Functional Decline and Relationship With Quality of Life.

Certain aspects of intensive care unit admission and care, including patient acuity and treatments to manage acute critical illnesses, can intensify loss of functionality and decrease quality of life after hospital discharge. We sought to identify the risk factors associated with functional decline following critical illness and explore its impact on health-related quality of life in a post hoc analysis of a prospective multi-center cohort study. The study involved 1,301 critically ill subjects who were assessed 3 months after their discharge from the ICU.

Conversion during Minimally Invasive Left Pancreatectomy: A Nationwide Study of Causes and Consequences.

Objectives: To identify risk factors for conversion, develop a predictive Conversion Risk Score (CRS), and assess the association between conversion and severe postoperative complications.

Background: Conversion occurs in 15-30% of minimally invasive left pancreatectomies (MILP). Risk factors and potential negative impacts on postoperative outcomes are poorly described.

Perception of Risk for Developing Severe Illness or Complications from COVID-19 in Brazil: Focus on Factors Linked to Socially Vulnerable Populations, 2020-2023.

In this study, the aim was to comparatively examine the perception of risk for developing severe illness or complications due to COVID-19 among the general population and socially vulnerable populations in Brazil, focusing on uncovering the associated factors that disproportionately impacted people experiencing homelessness and slum dwellers. This study is part of the project "Social Thermometer-COVID-19 in Brazil", which employed a hybrid approach, combining a national online survey with field research in state capitals and the Federal District. Data collection took place from August 2020 to October 2023, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Dual Roles of Plasma miRNAs in Myocardial Injuries After Polytrauma: miR-122-5p and miR-885-5p Reflect Inflammatory Response, While miR-499a-5p and miR-194-5p Contribute to Cardiomyocyte Damage.

Cardiac injury after severe trauma is associated with higher mortality in polytrauma patients. Recent evidence suggests that miRNAs play a key role in cardiac pathophysiology and could serve as potential markers of cardiac damage after polytrauma. To explore this hypothesis, plasma miRNA profiles from polytrauma patients (ISS ≥ 16) with and without cardiac injury, stratified by troponin T levels (TnT, > 50 pg/mL vs.

Effect of MisMatch repair deficiency on metastasis occurrence in a syngeneic mouse model.

Mismatch repair deficiency leads to high mutation rates and microsatellite instability (MSI-H), associated with immune infiltration and responsiveness to immunotherapies. In early stages, MSI-H tumors generally have a better prognosis and lower metastatic potential than microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors, especially in colorectal cancer. However, in advanced stages, MSI-H tumors lose this survival advantage for reasons that remain unclear.

Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Family-Centered Care for Adult ICUs: 2024.

Rationale: For staff in adult ICUs, providing family-centered care is an essential skill that affects important outcomes for both patients and families. The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented strain on care of ICU families, and practices for family engagement and support are still adjusting.

Objectives: To review updated evidence for family support in adult ICUs, provide clear recommendations, and spotlight optimal family-centered care practices post-pandemic.

Revolutionizing Severe Malaria Management: The Role of CytoSorb® Hemoadsorption in Treating Malaria-Induced Liver Dysfunction.

Malaria, caused by (PF), can lead to severe liver dysfunction and hyperbilirubinemia, worsening the prognosis. A 53-year-old male patient with malaria-related liver dysfunction and severe hyperbilirubinemia was treated with extracorporeal hemoadsorption (EHA) with the CytoSorb filter (CytoSorbents, Monmouth Junction, NJ), marking a turning point in his treatment. This filter, by removing inflammatory mediators and bilirubin, significantly reduced bilirubin levels and improved the patient's clinical condition.

Corrigendum to Association between vaccination and persistent COVID-19-related symptoms among patients with mild Omicron infection: A prospective cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.

Hot and toxic: Accumulation dynamics and ecotoxicological responses of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to marine biotoxins during a marine heatwave.

Climate change is increasing marine heatwaves (MHWs) frequency and severity worldwide. These extreme events often cause bivalves' mass mortality and facilitate the growth, proliferation and dispersion of toxin-producing microalgae blooms associated with threats to seafood safety. Yet, the interactive effects between MHW and uptake of marine biotoxins by biota are a novel topic still lacking thorough research, from both the ecotoxicological and seafood safety standpoints.

Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy With Periportal and Puncture Capsulotomy Demonstrate Favorable Outcomes at Short-Term Follow-Up: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To evaluate whether patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with periportal or puncture capsulotomy demonstrate improved patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at minimum 2-year follow-up when compared with preoperative PROs.

Methods: A systematic review was performed and registered in PROSPERO under ID: CRD42023466053. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Modelling the seasonal dynamics of Aedes albopictus populations using a spatio-temporal stacked machine learning model.

Various modelling techniques are available to understand the temporal and spatial variations of the phenology of species. Scientists often rely on correlative models, which establish a statistical relationship between a response variable (such as species abundance or presence-absence) and a set of predominantly abiotic covariates. The choice of the modeling approach, i.

A paradigm in panfacial fracture treatment to improved dental occlusion.

Introduction: The prevalence of maxillofacial fractures is rising due to increased road traffic accidents, necessitating prompt and effective management, especially in cases of panfacial fractures. The primary objective in treating such fractures is to restore occlusion and stabilize midface buttresses and pillars.

Case Report: This article presents the case of a 56-year-old male who sustained panfacial fractures following a road accident, exhibiting symptoms including facial pain and nosebleeds.

Comparative Analysis of 4NQO- and Ethanol-Induced Oral Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Male and Female Mice: Association With Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Markers.

Background: Considering that peripheral blood biomarkers are prognostic predictors for several human tumors, this study aimed to comparatively analyze the association of hematological alterations with the incidence of epithelial dysplasia (ED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in male and female mice treated with 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) and ethanol (EtOH).

Methods: 120 C57Bl/6J mice (60 males and 60 females) were allocated to four groups (n = 15). They were treated firstly either with 5 mg/mL propylene glycol (PPG) or 100 μg/mL 4NQO in the drinking water for 10 weeks, followed by sterilized water (HO) or 8% EtOH (v/v) for 15 weeks, as follows: PPG/HO, PPG/EtOH, 4NQO/HO, and 4NQO/EtOH (CEUA-UFU, #020/21).

Impact and evaluation of potential implications of coastal plains on soil greenhouse gas emissions: Insights from the Sibari Coastal Plain (Calabria, Southern Italy).

The work aims to estimate natural greenhouse gas emissions from soils in the Sibari Coastal Plain (Southern Italy), to understand (i) the contribution in terms of the total amount of CO and CH emitted in non-volcanic areas, (ii) the relationship among emitted gas, land use, organic matter and tectonic structures, and (iii) their potential environmental implications. Data were elaborated with statistical and geostatistical methods to separate the different populations and obtain prediction and probability maps. Methane fluxes had values consistently below the detection limit (0.

Can nCD64 and mCD169 biomarkers improve the diagnosis of viral and bacterial respiratory syndromes in the emergency department? A prospective cohort pilot study.

Purpose: Differentiating infectious from non-infectious respiratory syndromes is critical in emergency settings. This study aimed to assess whether nCD64 and mCD169 exhibit specific distributions in patients with respiratory infections (viral, bacterial, or co-infections) and to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy compared to non-infectious conditions.

Methods: A prospective cohort study enrolled 443 consecutive emergency department patients with respiratory syndromes, categorized into four groups: no infection group (NOIG), bacterial infection group (BIG), viral infection group (VIG), and co-infection group (COING).

Quantifying West Nile virus circulation in the avian host population in Northern Italy.

West Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most threatening mosquito-borne pathogens in Italy where hundreds of human cases were recorded during the last decade. Here, we estimated the WNV incidence in the avian population in the Emilia-Romagna region through a modelling framework which enabled us to eventually assess the fraction of birds that present anti-WNV antibodies at the end of each epidemiological season. We fitted an SIR model to ornithological data, consisting of 18,989 specimens belonging to Corvidae species collected between 2013 and 2022: every year from May to November birds are captured or shot and tested for WNV genome presence.

Real-world tafamidis experience in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with peripheral neuropathy in Brazil.

Background:  Tafamidis is a kinetic stabilizer that binds to the transthyretin (TTR) gene, inhibiting its dissociation. It is the only disease-modifying treatment for hereditary TTR amyloidosis with peripheral neuropathy (ATTRv-PN) available in the National Therapeutic Form (Formulário Terapêutico Nacional, FTN, in Portuguese) of the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS, in Portuguese).

Objective:  To assess if the efficacy and safety of tafamidis in the Brazilian real-world experience are comparable to the results of clinical trials.

A Case Series Report on the Effect of Tofacitinib on Joint Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Composition in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Naive to Biologic Agents.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex condition within the Spondyloarthritis (SpA) group. Recent studies have focused on the important role of the intestinal microbiota in maintaining immunological homeostasis, highlighting how intestinal dysbiosis may act as a trigger for autoimmune diseases. Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAK-i) with proven efficacy for the treatment of both rheumatoid arthritis and PsA.

Probing SARS-CoV-2 membrane binding peptide via single-molecule AFM-based force spectroscopy.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's membrane-binding domain bridges the viral and host cell membrane, a critical step in triggering membrane fusion. Here, we investigate how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with host cell membranes, focusing on a membrane-binding peptide (MBP) located near the TMPRSS2 cleavage site. Through in vitro and computational studies, we examine both primed (TMPRSS2-cleaved) and unprimed versions of the MBP, as well as the influence of its conserved disulfide bridge on membrane binding.