Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Spatial orientation involves egocentric and allocentric strategies that switch in the brain. Disturbances in switching may indicate Neurocognitive Disorders, which contribute to early detection of Alzheimer's Disease. The "Ego-Allo-Switching Task" (EAST) needs to be adapted for cross-cultural use in Brazil.

Estimation of Genetic Parameters and GWAS on Water Efficiency Traits in the Senepol Cattle.

The need for producing in environmentally resilient system drives new research to achieve sustainable beef production. Water footprint of the beef supply chain is a concern that must be addressed, aiming to improve water use within the production chain. One approach is genetic selection of beef cattle for water efficiency.

Polymorphisms in nanog are associated with oral leukoplakia: case-control study.

To investigate the association of NANOG polymorphisms with oral leukoplakia. In this case-control study, 68 cases of oral leukoplakia, and 21 of normal oral mucosa (control) were submitted to genotyping of tagSNPs polymorphisms: rs877716 and rs10845877 in NANOG, through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's exact statistical tests were used, with a significance of 5%.

Effects of refrigeration and freezing on milk fat globule membrane lipids in stored breast milk: Insights from non-targeted lipidomics.

Breast milk storage provides flexibility for working mothers, though its effects on milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) lipids are not fully understood. This study examined breast milk stored under refrigerated (2 and 4 days) and frozen (7, 14, and 21 days) conditions, finding that these storage durations preserved similar structural characteristics during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The analysis focused on MFGM lipid composition under various storage conditions using non-targeted lipidomics.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio in seropositive women for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) coinfection.

This study aims to investigate the possible association between neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio in women with HIV, undergoing antiretroviral treatment, with HPV coinfection. This is a cross-sectional study with HIV positive women; their biological samples were collected for laboratory tests (complete blood count) and oncotic cytology for detection of HPV DNA, by PCR-Nested (PGMY and GP primers). Viral load and CD4 and CD8 T-cells counts were obtained from medical records.

Self-medication among pregnant women in comparison to the general population: a scoping review of the main characteristics.

Objective: An in-depth evaluation of the published evidence is needed on self-medication, specifically the evidence focusing on vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the differences in self-medication prevalence and study characteristics among different groups, while identifying gaps in the literature.

Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science, including articles published in the last 10 years for the pregnant women group (PWG) and the general population group (GPG).

Current landscape of clinical use of ex vivo expanded natural killer cells for cancer therapy.

Natural Killer cells are immune leukocytes required for responses against tumor cells and virus-infected cells. In the last decade, natural killer cells have emerged as promising tools in cancer therapy, and clinical studies on patients treated with natural killer cells have revealed increased rates of disease-free survival. In this article, we review results from the major clinical trials that have used natural killer cells for cancer treatment, including their global distribution.

Entomological investigation after an outbreak of dengue at the riverside of Rio Doce, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

Background: In 2019, a dengue outbreak involving Aedes albopictus occurred in a rural area of Espírito Santo, Brazil, motivating our study in Sooretama and Linhares.

Methods: We set traps to sample immature mosquito larvae at 40 sites, with weekly inspections from July 2022 to January 2023. Adult specimens were collected monthly at 19 sites, each collection lasting 15 min.

Efficacy and safety of risankizumab versus methotrexate in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from IMMbrace, a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study with an open-label extension period in Brazil.

Background: Psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, requires long-term therapy. Risankizumab is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin 23 by binding to its p19 subunit.

Objective: The authors assessed the efficacy and safety of risankizumab compared with methotrexate in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Analysis of genetic polymorphism and expression of SOX2 in oral leukoplakia: a case-control study.

Purpose: To investigate the association of SOX2 polymorphisms with oral leukoplakia with dysplasia (OLD) and compare it with the immunohistochemical expression of SOX-2.

Methods: The samples comprised 64 patients with oral leukoplakia and 20 with normal oral mucosa who were subjected to SOX2 polymorphism rs77677339 genotyping by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry for SOX-2 (basal epithelium expression, suprabasal and total; nuclear area and intensity). Statistical tests included the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

A neuraminidase-based inactivated influenza virus vaccine significantly reduced virus replication and pathology following homologous challenge in swine.

Influenza A viruses (IAV) of subtypes H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are endemic in US domestic swine populations and contribute to significant economic losses annually and pose a persistent pandemic threat. Adjuvanted, whole-inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines are the primary countermeasure to control IAV in swine. The compositions of these vaccines are matched for hemagglutinin (HA) strain and content, often ignoring the other IAV glycoprotein, the neuraminidase (NA).

Single-Stranded Variable Fragment Gene Libraries Built for Phage Display: An Updated Review of Design, Selection and Application.

The development of the phage display technique has brought practicality and speed when selecting high-affinity molecules. It is used to obtain single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) and has revolutionized several branches of research and industry. These are developed from gene libraries that differ in their construction strategies, which causes a diversity of sequences, specificity and binding strength of the projected molecule to its antigen.

Development and validity of a mobile application prototype for hospital shift handover.

Objective: To develop and validate a mobile application prototype for nursing shift handover in a hospital inpatient unit.

Methods: A methodological study of technological production, carried out from April 2020 to January 2022, for mobile application construction and validity through the Design Thinking methodology. The study involved the stages of prototype development and validity by experts.

phage therapy candidates from Sphae: An automated toolkit for predicting sequencing data.

Motivation: Phage therapy is a viable alternative for treating bacterial infections amidst the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance. However, the therapeutic success of phage therapy depends on selecting safe and effective phage candidates. While experimental methods focus on isolating phages and determining their lifecycle and host range, comprehensive genomic screening is critical to identify markers that indicate potential risks, such as toxins, antimicrobial resistance, or temperate lifecycle traits.

Pectin Edible Films Filled with Concentrate Extract and Its Characterization.

(IP) extract was added to prepare edible films using a central rotational composite design (CCRD) 2 with IP extract and sorbitol concentrations as variables. The IP extract was characterized by color parameters, total phenolic content, caffeine, flavonoids, and chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activity and the edible films were assessed for the same analysis and thickness, water vapor permeability (WVP), solubility in water, fluorescence, photodegradation and UV/Vis light barrier, FT-IR, thermogravimetry, and differential exploratory colorimetry. Sorbitol increased thickness and WVP, while the extract influenced the concentration of phenolic compounds in the films.

Random Forest Analysis of Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditures Associated with Cardiometabolic Diseases, Lifestyle, Lipid Profile, and Genetic Information in São Paulo, Brazil.

There is a lack of empirical studies of out-of-pocket health expenditures associated with dyslipidemias, which are major cardiovascular risk factors, especially in underrepresented admixed populations. The study investigates associations of health costs with lipid traits, GWAS-derived genetic risk scores (GRSs), and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Data from the observational cross-sectional 2015 ISA-Nutrition comprised lifestyle, environmental factors, socioeconomic and demographic variables, and biochemical and genetic markers related to the occurrence of cardiometabolic diseases.

Electrostatic spraying encapsulation of probiotic-loaded W/O/W emulsion in sodium alginate microspheres to enhance probiotic survival stability.

Water-oil-water (W/O/W) double emulsions have been widely studied and applied in probiotic encapsulation. However, challenges remain in enhancing emulsion stability, protecting encapsulated probiotics from adverse environmental conditions, and improving their viability. This study aimed to optimize the functional components of each phase of the W/O/W emulsion to address these issues.

Prospection on the black mulberry (Morus nigra L.): A technological and scientific analysis.

Morus nigra L., commonly known as black mulberry, is a significant plant species in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. It is also considered an Unconventional Food Plant with potential applications in nutrition.

Retrospective epidemiologic and genomic surveillance of arboviruses in 2023 in Brazil reveals high co-circulation of chikungunya and dengue viruses.

Background: The rapid spread and increase of chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV) cases in Brazilian regions in 2023 has raised concerns about the impact of arboviruses on public health. Epidemiological and genomic surveillance was performed to estimate the introduction and spread of CHIKV and DENV in Brazil.

Methods: This study obtained results from the Hermes Pardini (HP), a private medical laboratory, and the Health Department of Minas Gerais state (SES-MG).

Lethal and intentional violent crimes against women in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil: a comparative study before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background: The death of women as a result of violent crime has become a major social and health problem worldwide. Most of these crimes are committed by their partners. The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have amplified the problem, given that measures to contain the spread of the disease have exposed women to more prolonged contact with their aggressors.

Challenges in congenital heart disease in the Amazon region countries: A scoping review.

Introduction: This study aimed to systematically analyze and describe the main challenges of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the countries in the Amazon region.

Methods: The methodology followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist utilizing the Medline, Embase, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases. The inclusion criteria were articles addressing any topic involving CHD in the Amazon region.