A Qualitative Study of Postpartum Women's Lived Experiences During COVID-19.

Introduction: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Florida became the epicenter of the COVID-19 delta variant during the summer of 2021. There is limited knowledge on how the pandemic impacted postpartum women's lived experiences in the United States. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of postpartum women living in South Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic and their responses.

Sensory Characteristics and Volatile Organic Compound Profile of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Patagonia, Argentina.

The Andean-Patagonian forests of South America offer a great variety of wild edible mushrooms, many with ancestral use and others linked to new mycogastronomic offers. However, their sensory properties and detailed characterizations have not yet been deeply explored and described, nor have their alterations due to cold storage. The aims of this work were to perform a sensory characterization through a trained panel evaluation, perform target volatile compounds analysis and evaluate post-harvest preservation methods effects on nine species of wild edible mushrooms with different trophic habits (, , , , , , , , and ).

Discovery of Highly Selective Inhibitors of Microtubule-Associated Serine/Threonine Kinase-like (MASTL).

By virtue of its role in cellular proliferation, microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL) represents a novel target and a first-in-class (FIC) opportunity to provide a new impactful therapeutic agent to oncology patients. Herein, we describe a hit-to-lead optimization effort that resulted in the delivery of two highly selective MASTL inhibitors. Key strategies leveraged to enable this work included structure-based drug design (SBDD), analysis of lipophilic efficiency (LipE) and novel synthesis.

Advancements in supervised deep learning for metal artifact reduction in computed tomography: A systematic review.

Background: Metallic artefacts caused by metal implants, are a common problem in computed tomography (CT) imaging, degrading image quality and diagnostic accuracy. With advancements in artificial intelligence, novel deep learning (DL)-based metal artefact reduction (MAR) algorithms are entering clinical practice.

Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of the performance of the current supervised DL-based MAR algorithms for CT, focusing on three different domains: sinogram, image, and dual domain.

Development and external validation of a model to predict multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: With the increasing rate of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), selecting appropriate empiric antibiotics has become challenging. We aimed to develop and externally validate a model for predicting the risk of MDRO infections in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: We included patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections from two prospective studies: a transcontinental study was used for model development and internal validation (n = 1302), and a study from Argentina and Uruguay was used for external validation (n = 472).

Visual and Refractive Outcomes After Bi-aspheric Trifocal Toric Diffractive Intraocular Lens Implantation.

Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes after cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of a new bi-aspheric diffractive intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: Thirty patients underwent bilateral implantation of the Asqelio Trifocal Toric IOL (AST Products, Inc) and were evaluated 3 months postoperatively. Main outcomes included refractive error, photopic monocular and binocular uncorrected and corrected distance (UDVA, CDVA), intermediate (UIVA, CDIVA) at 60 cm, and near (UNVA, CDNVA) at 40 cm visual acuities.

Neurochemistry and circuit organization of the lateral spiriform nucleus of birds: A uniquely nonmammalian direct pathway component of the basal ganglia.

We used diverse methods to characterize the role of avian lateral spiriform nucleus (SpL) in basal ganglia motor function. Connectivity analysis showed that SpL receives input from globus pallidus (GP), and the intrapeduncular nucleus (INP) located ventromedial to GP, whose neurons express numerous striatal markers. SpL-projecting GP neurons were large and aspiny, while SpL-projecting INP neurons were medium sized and spiny.

Comparative Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses across Global and Lesser-Studied Vaccines.

Few data are available on antibody response for some SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and there is a lack of ability to compare vaccine responses in the same population. This cross-sectional study conducted in Nicaragua examines the SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in individuals, previously exposed to high infection rates who have received various vaccines. The vaccines under comparison include well-known ones like Pfizer (BNT162b2) and AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S), alongside less-studied vaccines including Soberana (Soberana 02), Abdala (CIGB-66), and Sputnik V/Sputnik Light.

EVALUATING LACTOFERRIN AND CALPROTECTIN AS MARKERS OF INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION INCHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

Background: The treatment of chronic pancreatitis does not consistently solve intestinal abnormalities, and despite the implementation of various therapeutic measures, patients often continue to experience persistent diarrhea. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize that diarrhea may stem from factors beyond pancreatic insufficiency, and intestinal inflammation emerges as a potential contributing factor.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess fecal lactoferrin and calprotectin levels as indicators of intestinal inflammation in patients with chronic pancreatitis experiencing persistent diarrhea.

Zika virus infection impairs synaptogenesis, induces neuroinflammation, and could be an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorder outcome.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first associated with Central Nervous System (CNS) infections in Brazil in 2015, correlated with an increased number of newborns with microcephaly, which ended up characterizing the Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Here, we investigated the impact of ZIKV infection on the functionality of iPSC-derived astrocytes. Besides, we extrapolated our findings to a Brazilian cohort of 136 CZS children and validated our results using a mouse model.

Hypoxic peripheral chemoreflex stimulation-dependent cardiorespiratory coupling is decreased in swimmer athletes.

Swimmer athletes showed a decreased ventilatory response and reduced sympathetic activation during peripheral hypoxic chemoreflex stimulation. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that swimmers develop a diminished cardiorespiratory coupling due to their decreased hypoxic peripheral response. To resolve this hypothesis, we conducted a study using coherence time-varying analysis to assess the cardiorespiratory coupling in swimmer athletes.

Clinical Outcomes of a Bi-Aspheric Trifocal Diffractive Intraocular Lens.

Purpose: To assess refractive and visual outcomes post-cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of a bi-aspheric diffractive trifocal intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: A total of 24 patients who underwent bilateral implantation with the Asqelio Trifocal IOL TFLIO130C were evaluated at the 6 months postoperative mark. Key outcome measures included refractive error, photopic monocular and binocular uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA, CDVA), uncorrected and corrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA, CDIVA) at 60 cm, and uncorrected and corrected near visual acuity (UNVA, CDNVA) at 40 cm.

Superoxide dismutase 2 deficiency is associated with enhanced central chemoreception in mice: Implications for breathing regulation.

Aims: In mammals, central chemoreception plays a crucial role in the regulation of breathing function in both health and disease conditions. Recently, a correlation between high levels of superoxide anion (O) in the Retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a main brain chemoreceptor area, and enhanced central chemoreception has been found in rodents. Interestingly, deficiency in superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression, a pivotal antioxidant enzyme, has been linked to the development/progression of several diseases.

(Infectious Love): Development and Acceptability of a Telenovela/Soap Opera Intervention for HIV Prevention For Latinas.

Latinas continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. Effective interventions to address HIV-related disparities among Latinas are available; however, they have not achieved widespread dissemination due to implementation challenges for real-world settings. A culturally tailored intervention that increases access to HIV prevention is urgently needed.

Determinants of clinical response to empirical antibiotic treatment in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial and fungal infections-Results from the ICA "Global Study" (EABCIR-Global Study).

Background: The administration of an appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment is essential in cirrhosis and severe bacterial infections. We aimed to investigate the predictors of clinical response of empirical antibiotic treatment in a prospective cohort of patients with cirrhosis and bacterial and fungal infections included in the International Club of Ascites "Global Study."

Methods: Patients hospitalized with cirrhosis and bacterial/fungal infection were prospectively enrolled at 46 centers.

ANALYSIS OF THE TRACKING INITIATIVES OF COLORECTAL CANCER IN BRAZIL.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important public health problem, as it represents the world's third most diagnosed neoplasm and the fourth cause of mortality. Its prevention can be divided into primary, secondary, demonstrated by tracking techniques, and tertiary, which consists of cancer diagnosis in symptomatic patients. Despite presenting a high incidence, the mortality rates decreased in the past two decades in developed countries, while the opposite happened in underdeveloped countries.

The hospital Israelita Albert Einstein standards for constitutional sequence variants classification: version 2023.

Background: Next-generation sequencing has had a significant impact on genetic disease diagnosis, but the interpretation of the vast amount of genomic data it generates can be challenging. To address this, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology have established guidelines for standardized variant interpretation. In this manuscript, we present the updated Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein Standards for Constitutional Sequence Variants Classification, incorporating modifications from leading genetics societies and the ClinGen initiative.

Chemogenetic inhibition of NTS astrocytes normalizes cardiac autonomic control and ameliorate hypertension during chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), which has been linked to the development of sympathoexcitation and hypertension. Furthermore, it has been shown that CIH induced inflammation and neuronal hyperactivation in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), a key brainstem region involved in sympathetic and cardiovascular regulation. Since several studies have proposed that NTS astrocytes may mediate neuroinflammation, we aimed to determine the potential contribution of NTS-astrocytes on the pathogenesis of CIH-induced hypertension.

Molecular diagnostic approaches for SARS-CoV-2 detection and pathophysiological consequences.

SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus within the Coronaviridae family, is the causative agent behind the respiratory ailment referred to as COVID-19. Operating on a global scale, COVID-19 has led to a substantial number of fatalities, exerting profound effects on both public health and the global economy. The most frequently reported symptoms encompass fever, cough, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, headaches, and fatigue.

HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B virus infection and male circumcision in five Sub-Saharan African countries: Findings from the Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys, 2015-2019.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has primarily been promoted for HIV prevention. Evidence also supports that male circumcision offers protection against other sexually transmitted infections. This analysis assessed the effect of circumcision on syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and HIV.

Preventing HIV Among Adolescent Boys and Young Men Through PEPFAR-Supported Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in 15 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2018-2021.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is an HIV prevention intervention that has predominantly targeted adolescent and young men, aged 10-24 years. In 2020, the age eligibility for VMMC shifted from 10 to 15 years of age. This report describes the VMMC client age distribution from 2018 to 2021, at the site, national, and regional levels, among 15 countries in southern and eastern Africa.

Carotid Body-Mediated Chemoreflex Function in Aging and the Role of Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase.

Ventilatory impairment during aging has been linked to carotid body (CB) dysfunction. Anatomical/morphological studies evidenced CB degeneration and reductions in the number of CB chemoreceptor cells during aging. The mechanism(s) related to CB degeneration in aging remains elusive.