Evaluation of the impact of binocular versus monocular cataract surgery using Catquest-9SF: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This prospective, randomized, unmasked, clinical trial aimed to report the visual outcomes of cataract surgery on both eyes versus cataract surgery on one eye in Brazilian patients.

Methods: This study included patients with bilateral cataracts and binocular visual acuity worse than or equal to 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution.

Fenestrating vs reconstituting laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed procedures by general surgeons. Strategies for minimizing bile duct injuries including use of the critical view of safety method, as outlined by the SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program, are not always possible. Subtotal cholecystectomy has emerged as a safe "bail-out" maneuver to avoid iatrogenic bile duct injury in these difficult cases.

Social determinants of gastrointestinal malformation mortality in Brazil: a national study.

Introduction: In Brazil, approximately 5% are born with a congenital disorder, potentially fatal without surgery. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between gastrointestinal congenital malformation (GICM) mortality, health indicators, and socioeconomic factors in Brazil.

Methods: GICM admissions (Q39-Q45) between 2012 and 2019 were collected using national databases.

Opposing diet, microbiome, and metabolite mechanisms regulate inflammatory bowel disease in a genetically susceptible host.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic conditions characterized by periods of spontaneous intestinal inflammation and are increasing in industrialized populations. Combined with host genetics, diet and gut bacteria are thought to contribute prominently to IBDs, but mechanisms are still emerging. In mice lacking the IBD-associated cytokine, interleukin-10, we show that a fiber-deprived gut microbiota promotes the deterioration of colonic mucus, leading to lethal colitis.

Do surgical drains reduce the postoperative surgical complications following incisional hernia repair? A systematic meta-analysis.

Purpose: Abdominal surgeries are common surgical procedures worldwide. Incisional hernias commonly develop after abdominal wall surgery. Surgery is the definite treatment for most incisional hernias but carries a higher rate of complications.

Fused Filament Fabricated Poly(lactic acid) Parts Reinforced with Short Carbon Fiber and Graphene Nanoparticles with Improved Tribological Properties.

This study investigated the mechanical and tribological properties of 3D-printed Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites reinforced with different concentrations of carbon fibers (SCF) and graphene nanoparticles (GNP) (0.5 to 5 wt.% of each filler).

The Role of Radiomics in Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: Radiomics is a promising method for advancing imaging assessment in rectal cancer. This review aims to describe the emerging role of radiomics in the imaging assessment of rectal cancer, including various applications of radiomics based on CT, MRI, or PET/CT.

Methods: We conducted a literature review to highlight the progress of radiomic research to date and the challenges that need to be addressed before radiomics can be implemented clinically.

Unravelling specific diet and gut microbial contributions to inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized by periods of spontaneous intestinal inflammation and is increasing in industrialized populations. Combined with host genetic predisposition, diet and gut bacteria are thought to be prominent features contributing to IBD, but little is known about the precise mechanisms involved. Here, we show that low dietary fiber promotes bacterial erosion of protective colonic mucus, leading to lethal colitis in mice lacking the IBD-associated cytokine, interleukin-10.

A Comparative Study of Different Poly (Lactic Acid) Bio-Composites Produced by Mechanical Alloying and Casting for Tribological Applications.

The aim of this study was to fabricate different self-lubricating poly (lactic acid)-based bio-composites reinforced with mono- and multi-fillers of carbon fibers, graphene nanoparticles, and a soft Sn-based brazing alloy (Sn89-Zn8-Bi3) using a two-step process consisting of mechanical alloying followed by casting. The results showed that the incorporation of the different fillers on the PLA surface by mechanical alloying was quite homogenous. The volume ratio between the PLA and the fillers was 1:0.

Influence of Laser Parameters on the Texturing of 420 Stainless Steel.

AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel is widely used in the mould industry due to its high tensile strength, hardness, and corrosion properties. Another requirement concerning any material used for this type of application is high thermal conductivity to minimise the time between consecutive injection cycles. The surfaces of some parts of the mould may be textured and reinforced with a material with higher thermal conductivity to achieve this aim.

The Induction of Hypothyroidism during Gestation Decreases Outer Hair Cell Motility in Rat Offspring.

 Perinatal hypothyroidism has a negative repercussion on the development and maturation of auditory system function. However, its long-term effect on auditory function remains unsettled.  To evaluate the effect of prenatal hypothyroidism on the auditory function of adult offspring in rats.

A steamed broccoli sprout diet preparation that reduces colitis via the gut microbiota.

Sulforaphane is a bioactive metabolite with anti-inflammatory activity and is derived from the glucosinolate glucoraphanin, which is highly abundant in broccoli sprouts. However, due to its inherent instability its use as a therapeutic against inflammatory diseases has been limited. There are few studies to investigate a whole food approach to increase sulforaphane levels with therapeutic effect and reduce inflammation.

Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty for primary graft failure after penetrating keratoplasty.

Primary graft failure (PGF) is a known complication following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). The usual approach to treat this complication is to repeat a penetrating keratoplasty. Here, we report a case of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for the treatment of PGF after PKP.

My thoughts: Global surgery during a pandemic, a lower and middle-income country student perspective.

•Technology can mitigate the lack of surgical exposure.•We should continue to offer online opportunities for LMIC students.•Online opportunities allowed the enhancement of knowledge.

Catquest-9SF questionnaire: validation of the Portuguese version using the Rasch analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate the Portuguese version of Catquest-9SF through its application in a native Brazilian population with cataracts and to determine the correlation of the questionnaire scores with preoperative visual acuity.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted to validate the Catquest-9SF questionnaire, which was translated and back-translated, generating a final version in Portuguese. A total of 120 Brazilian patients awaiting cataract surgery were recruited to answer the questionnaire and to document their preoperative data and visual acuity.

COVID-19 outbreak: Should dental and medical practices consider uv-c technology to enhance disinfection on surfaces? - A systematic review.

Aims: During the COVID-19 pandemic the search for complementary methods to enhance manual disinfection in dental and medical practices raised relevance. We sought evidence for the addition of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection to manual cleaning protocols -and whether it improves the logarithmic (log) reduction of surface pathogen colonies.

Methods: This review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the number CRD420200193961.

Cytomegalovirus as a possibly overlooked agent of hypertensive anterior uveitis and endotheliitis in immunocompetent patients in Brazil.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family, including viruses that are well-known agents of keratitis, anterior uveitis, scleritis and retinitis. CMV is usually associated with ocular diseases in immunosuppressed individuals, with a notable exception of hypertensive anterior uveitis with distinctive clinical features in immunocompetent patients. This syndrome was characterized in the last two decades in Europe and Southeast Asia, and then documented in the rest of world.

The cholesterol metabolite 25-hydroxycholesterol restrains the transcriptional regulator SREBP2 and limits intestinal IgA plasma cell differentiation.

Diets high in cholesterol alter intestinal immunity. Here, we examined how the cholesterol metabolite 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) impacts the intestinal B cell response. Mice lacking cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H), the enzyme generating 25-HC, had higher frequencies of immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting antigen-specific B cells upon immunization or infection.

Impact of HIV co-infection on immunological biomarker profile of HTLV-1 infected patients.

The impact of HIV co-infection on the plasma immunological biomarker profile of HTLV-1 infected patients was evaluated. The plasma levels of leukotrienes and chemokines/cytokines were quantified by ELISA and Cytometric Bead Array. A total of 138 volunteers were enrolled and divided into two subgroups ("HTLV-1(+)HIV(-)" and "HTLV-1(+)(HIV(+)"), which were categorized according to the HTLV-1-associated neurological disease (AS, pHAM and HAM).

Toric IOL in Combined DMEK and Cataract Surgery.

Introduction: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is the current gold standard surgical procedure to treat Fuchs endothelial keratoplasty. Cataract removal and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation can be safely combined with this corneal procedure. This paper presents a case series in which a toric intraocular lens (IOL) was used in combined DMEK and cataract surgery to correct corneal astigmatism.

Machine Learning Improves the Identification of Individuals With Higher Morbidity and Avoidable Health Costs After Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Objectives: Traditional risk scores improved the definition of the initial therapeutic strategy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but they were not designed for predicting long-term individual risks and costs. In parallel, attempts to directly predict costs from clinical variables in ACS had limited success. Thus, novel approaches to predict cardiovascular risk and health expenditure are urgently needed.

Bilateral implantation of a supplementary intraocular pinhole.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bilateral implantation of a supplementary small-aperture device to treat irregular corneal astigmatism.

Setting: Private practice.

Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.