Biomimetic and protective effects of bioactive toothpastes on eroded enamel surfaces.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bioactive toothpastes in remineralizing eroded enamel surfaces in vitro. Bovine enamel blocks (n = 48) were obtained and classified into untreated, demineralized, and treated areas. Specimens were randomly classified into six groups (n = 8 each): fluoride-free toothpaste (NCT), Colgate Total 12 (PCT), Sensodyne Repair and Protect (SRP), Sensodyne Pronamel (SPE), Regenerador + Sensitive (RGS), and RGS/calcium booster (RCB).

Effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms among families of patients who die in Intensive Care Units: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms among families of patients who die in intensive care units (ICU).

Introduction: Up to 52% of families of patients who die in ICU may be at risk of experiencing prolonged grief symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: Studies of adult family members (≥18 years) of adult ICU patients (≥18 years) who underwent a treatment withdrawal or withholding decision, and who were exposed to tailored interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms before, during, and/or after the patient's death will be considered for inclusion.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an ACT and compassion-based intervention for women with breast cancer: study protocol of two randomised controlled trials {1}.

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and carries a considerable psychosocial burden. Interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion-based approaches show promise in improving adjustment and quality of life in people with cancer. The Mind programme is an integrative ACT and compassion-based intervention tailored for women with breast cancer, which aims to prepare women for survivorship by promoting psychological flexibility and self-compassion.

Spiritual Care Interventions for Adult Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Caring for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) requires healthcare workers to recognize the importance of a spiritual care approach in these settings. Moving toward a holistic and patient-centered care model that incorporates spiritual care is essential for enhancing patients' healing process. The disease-centered approach of ICU and the perceived deficit of spiritual care highlight the need to add knowledge on integrating spiritual care interventions into daily ICU practices.

Beta diversity of macrophyte life forms: Responses to local, spatial, and land use variables in Amazon aquatic environments.

Aquatic macrophytes encompass a highly diverse group of plants with different strategies, niche requirements, and dispersion capacities. Therefore, macrophyte life forms can respond distinctly to environmental factors. We analyzed whether emergent/amphibious, floating-leaves/rooted submerged, and free-floating/free-submerged macrophytes respond differently to local, spatial, and land use variables in ponds and streams of the Amazon.

Two new species of the shieldtail snake genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae), from the Rakwana and the Knuckles Massifs of Sri Lanka.

Two new species of the uropeltid snake genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 are described from Sri Lanka. Rhinophis martin sp. nov.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis Effusion Index: A Novel Diagnostic Method and Validation of Flow Cytometry-Based Delta Total Nucleated Cells Analysis on the Sysmex XN-1000V.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led the medical and scientific community to explore the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of coronaviruses. In felines, a widespread coronavirus known as feline coronavirus (FCoV) can lead to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a highly fatal disease characterised by severe systemic inflammation. Diagnosing FCoV remains challenging due to the limited accuracy of the available methods.

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.

Dental biofilm acidogenicity induced by pediatric oral medications: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo dental biofilm acidogenicity induced by nine long-term pediatric oral liquid medications (OLMs). A double-blind crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted with 12 individuals aged 18 to 22 years who had good oral hygiene (OSI < 1.1) and a DMFT index of less than 12.

Burden of Disease and Cost of Illness of Overweight and Obesity in Portugal.

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the last decades, posing significant health and economic impacts globally. These conditions are related to several non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and cancer. This study estimated the disease burden and healthcare costs associated with overweight and obesity in the adult population in mainland Portugal, in 2018.

Midwifery theories: A scoping review.

Problem: The identification of midwifery theories will contribute to the identification of a midwifery model of care for women experiencing low-risk pregnancies, and to support its implementation in Portugal.

Background: Previous research has explored the concept of woman-centredness as the core principle underpinning midwifery practice, mapped existing midwifery models of care, synthesized multiple theories and the scope of midwifery to achieve conceptual integration, and identified the aspects of midwifery care that most significantly contribute to the quality of care for women and their babies. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no other review has mapped the theories that underpin midwifery practice.

Effects of Chronic Stress and Comfort Food in Testicular Morphology in Adult Wistar Rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of chronic stress on testicular morphology in adult Wistar rats, as well as the impact of comfort food consumption on these parameters.

Material And Methods: 32 Wistar rats (10 weeks old) were divided into four groups: control (C), stressed (S), control + comfort food (C+CF), and stressed + comfort food (S+CF). Chronic stress was induced by the restraint method during 8 weeks in groups S and S+CF, while groups C and C+CF were maintained under normal conditions.

Comparative Study of Gleason 7 (3+4) and (4+3) Prostatic Adenocarcinomas with Prognostic Criteria and Immunohistochemical Profiles of AMACR, PSA and Ki-67.

Background: To compare Gleason 7 (3+4) and (4+3) prostatic adenocarcinoma (PC) with different prognostic criteria through immunohistochemical analysis with anti-PSA, anti-Ki 67 and anti-AMARC antibodies.

Methods: We analyzed 221 surgical specimens from patients between 40 and 86 years-old (mean=63) with PC. The immunohistochemical study was performed with anti-PSA, anti-Ki 67 and anti-AMARC.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Therapeutic Relationship Assessment Scale-Patient (TRAS-Patient).

The therapeutic relationship plays a crucial role in nursing care for people with mental illness. Adopting a systemic and person-centred approach that considers the individual experiences and needs of the person is paramount. However, no instruments were found in the literature designed to evaluate the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship from the perspective of a person with mental illness.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the 18-Items Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (Form B) in a Portuguese Sample of People Aged 60 and Over.

The aim of the study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the 18-items Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (Form B) in a Portuguese sample of people aged 60 and over. Background: The 18-item Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (Form B) is an instrument for assessing dysfunctional attitudes and can be useful as a predictor of depression for both initial episodes and relapses Methods: This was a one-stage cross-sectional survey of Portuguese-speaking people aged 60 years and over, able to read and write, functionally autonomous, and living in the community in their usual residences. The instrument was evaluated for its psychometric properties.

Cost-effectiveness of proton beam therapy vs. conventional radiotherapy for patients with brain tumors in Sweden: results from a non-randomized prospective multicenter study.

Background: This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of proton beam therapy (PBT) compared to conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for treating patients with brain tumors in Sweden.

Methods: Data from a longitudinal non-randomized study performed between 2015 and 2020 was used, and included adult patients with brain tumors, followed during treatment and through a one-year follow-up. Clinical and demographic data were sourced from the longitudinal study and linked to Swedish national registers to get information on healthcare resource use.

Development of nerves and vessels in the penis during the human fetal period.

Introduction: Although nerves and vessels of the penis play important role in erection, there are few studies on their development in human fetus. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to analyze, quantitatively, in the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum, the development of the nerves and vessels in the fetal penis at different gestational ages.

Material And Methods: Fifty-six fresh, macroscopically normal human fetuses aged from 13 to 36 weeks post-conception (WPC) were used.

Protective Factors of Nurses' Mental Health and Professional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study.

Objective: Using a salutogenic approach, this study aimed to identify similarities in the protective factors of nurses' psychological Quality of Life (QoL) and professional wellbeing (PWB) in four countries and to assess their variability over time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This multicentric study used a longitudinal design with three measurements points: Autumn 2021, spring 2022, and autumn 2022. The study consisted in a self-administered online questionnaire addressed to nurses working in hospitals.

Role of Gubernaculum testis inervation during the process of testicular migration in human fetuses.

The gubernaculum seems to be the most important anatomical structure in the testicular migration process. The objective of this paper is to review current literature regarding the role of gubernaculum testis nerves in testicular migration. We conducted a comprehensive literature review about the gubernaculum testis innervation.

An Unusual Case of Lynch Syndrome.

Lynch syndrome is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer. It usually develops asymptomatically until symptoms related to colorectal carcinoma appear, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits and/or stool characteristics. Oftentime, when these clinical signs and symptoms are not present, the diagnosis becomes challenging.

The Development and Content Validation of a Clinical Screening Scale to Identify Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cases Based on the Gender Perspective: An e-Delphi Study.

Background: Although many studies analyse gender differences in the clinical expression of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prevalence studies show that girls with ADHD are underdiagnosed, there are no instruments that are sensitive to the detection of girls with ADHD.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a self-report early detection instrument for boys and girls with ADHD aged 7 to 16, which includes the gender perspective and is sensitive to the detection of girls with ADHD.

Methods: The scale was developed and the items that comprised it were created from the thematic analysis of ADHD and its evaluation in children based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5-TR.

Impact of right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling has been linked to clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter valve implantation (TAVI). However, the best timing for prognostic assessment remains uncertain. Our aim was to determine the impact of RV longitudinal function parameters and RV-PA coupling on mortality in patients undergoing TAVI.

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Survival After TEER for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation With Right Ventricular Impairment.

Background: Right ventricular impairment is common among patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR). Adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure is poor in these patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of GDMT on long-term survival in this patient cohort.

Sex-based differences and risk of recurrence in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.

Introduction: Studies suggest increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) in women than in men, indicating that sex may be an independent risk factor for recurrence. Nevertheless, the influence of sex on AF recurrence and underlying mechanisms remains unclear.

Methods: Retrospective, single-centre study including patients undergoing AF CA between 2017 and 2021.