Publications by authors named "Vale L"

Psychedelic substances such as psilocybin have recently gained attention for their potential therapeutic benefits in treating depression and other mental health problems. However, individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) have been excluded from most clinical trials due to concerns about manic switches or psychosis. This study aimed to systematically examine the effects of recreational psychedelic use in individuals with BD.

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There is limited evidence to support optimal patient-centered management for compromised first permanent molars (cFPM) in children. Based on an online discrete choice experiment (DCE), this study elicits UK adult general population preferences and calculates willingness to pay (WTP) for pathways to manage cFPM. The DCE was designed with information from semistructured interviews and literature reviews, as well as focus groups with an expert panel of dentists, citizens, and policy makers.

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We present a method of creating high-density superconducting flexible wiring on flexible thin silicon substrates. The flexible wiring, called , is created by depositing superconducting wiring on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, selectively etching away the thicker silicon section layer, and bending the thinner silicon layer. We show measurements of superconducting transition temperature and critical current for Mo, Nb, and Al on SOI flex.

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Aims: To assess the outcomes of robotic surgery for patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions (NLUTD).

Materials And Methods: Studies evaluating the outcomes (efficacy and safety) of robot-assisted ileal conduit creation or artificial urinary sphincter (R-AUS) implantation or augmentation cystoplasty or continent urinary diversion creation in patients with NLUTD were included. The search strategy and studies selection were performed on Medline, Embase and Cochrane using the PICOS method according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022333157).

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The spectrum of enzymes required for complete lignocellulosic waste hydrolysis is too diverse to be secreted by a single organism. An alternative is to employ fungal co-cultures to obtain more diverse and complete enzymatic cocktails without the need to mix enzymes during downstream processing. This study evaluated the co-cultivation of and RUT-C30 in different conditions using sugarcane bagasse as the carbon source.

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Objective: Tools for classifying adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have not yet been validated in the context of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study aims to investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Hartwig tool and the Liverpool avoidability assessment tool (LAAT) in assessing the severity and avoidability of ADR cases in hospitalized neonates.

Methods: An observational and prospective study was conducted in the NICU of a maternity hospital in Natal, Brazil.

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Background: Surgical intervention for thoracic aortic aneurysms is high risk. Understanding changes in health-related quality of life before and after endovascular stent grafting and open surgical repair can aid treatment decision-making.

Methods: The Effective Treatments for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms ('ETTAA') study (ISRCTN04044627) was a longitudinal, observational study.

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Background: Increased polyp detection during colonoscopy is associated with decreased post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. The COLO-DETECT trial aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of the GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module for polyp detection, comparing colonoscopy assisted by GI Genius (computer-aided detection [CADe]-assisted colonoscopy) with standard colonoscopy in routine practice.

Methods: We did a multicentre, open-label, parallel-arm, pragmatic randomised controlled trial in 12 National Health Service (NHS) hospitals (ten NHS Trusts) in England, among adults (aged ≥18 years) undergoing planned colonoscopy for gastrointestinal symptoms or for surveillance due to personal or family history (ie, symptomatic indications), or colorectal cancer screening.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on diagnosing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) using various imaging techniques, assessing their accuracy in clinical practice.
  • It involves 1,067 participants with nAMD symptoms, comparing non-invasive methods like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) against invasive methods like Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) and Indocyanine-Green Angiography (ICGA).
  • The research aims to determine which combination of imaging techniques is more effective in detecting nAMD, with ethics approval already secured for the study.
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X-ray nanotomography is a powerful tool for the characterization of nanoscale materials and structures, but it is difficult to implement due to the competing requirements of X-ray flux and spot size. Due to this constraint, state-of-the-art nanotomography is predominantly performed at large synchrotron facilities. We present a laboratory-scale nanotomography instrument that achieves nanoscale spatial resolution while addressing the limitations of conventional tomography tools.

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  • Lung transplantation often leads to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), causing immune-related damage and limited long-term survival compared to other organ transplants.
  • The E-CLAD UK trial aims to assess if extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) combined with standard care can better stabilize lung function in CLAD patients than standard care alone.
  • This Phase II clinical trial will involve 90 lung transplant patients, with outcomes including lung function changes, exercise capacity, and patient experiences, over a 24-week follow-up period.
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  • * Results indicated that severe fibrosis correlated with increased fatigue and lower HRQoL, with significant predictors of HRQoL including body mass index (BMI) and gender for both cohorts.
  • * UK participants experienced worse HRQoL compared to Spanish participants, influenced more strongly by gender-related factors, suggesting the need for tailored interventions in multinational studies on NAFLD.
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Objectives: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of methenamine hippurate compared with antibiotic prophylaxis in the management of recurrent urinary tract infections.

Design: Multicentre, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Setting: Eight centres in the UK, recruiting from June 2016 to June 2018.

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Depression and anxiety disorders have their pathophysiologies linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. In this context, celecoxib (CLX) and etoricoxib (ETR) inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), an enzyme expressed by cells involved in the inflammatory process and found in the brain. Studies have been using CLX as a possible drug in the treatment of depression, although its mechanisms at the central nervous system level are not fully elucidated.

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Trichoderma harzianum is a filamentous fungus that can act as a mycoparasite, saprophyte, or a plant symbiotic. It is widely used as a biological control agent against phytopathogenic fungi and can also be used for plant growth promotion and biofortification. Interaction between T.

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Purpose: The effect of overactive bladder (OAB) on sexual health has been evaluated extensively for women but much less for men. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between OAB and men's sexual activity and the effect of OAB on erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) in a large representative cohort of men at the population level.

Methods: This study was based on computer-assisted web interviews that used validated questionnaires.

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Purpose: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) commonly causes detrusor overactivity (DO). In this study, a post hoc analysis of previous obtained data, we investigate if DO occurring in initial phases of BOO is associated with changes in urinary adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels.

Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were submitted to partial BOO (pBOO) or to sham obstruction.

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Background/aims: Advanced primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a lifelong condition. The aim of this study is to compare medical treatment against trabeculectomy for patients presenting with advanced POAG using an economic evaluation decision model.

Methods: A Markov model was used to compare the two treatments, medical treatment versus trabeculectomy for the management of advanced POAG, in terms of costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

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Background: Partial vascular occlusion (PVO) can increase muscle strength and hypertrophy without joint overload. However, PVO could increase the possibility of imbalances and injuries during physical activity.

Objectives: To identify changes in strength, muscle activation, and postural control during the use of PVO in young women.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Conducted across 27 NHS hospitals in Great Britain, the trial randomly assigned 453 participants to either undergo tonsillectomy or receive conservative care, focusing on tracking various outcomes related to sore throat symptoms.
  • * Key objectives included measuring total sore throat days over 24 months, assessing the severity and impact of episodes on daily life, and analyzing economic factors like cost per sore throat day avoided and quality-adjusted life years gained.
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Purpose: To determine whether primary trabeculectomy or medical treatment produces better outcomes in terms of quality of life (QoL), clinical effectiveness, and safety in patients with advanced glaucoma.

Design: Multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Participants: Between June 3, 2014, and May 31, 2017, 453 adults with newly diagnosed advanced open-angle glaucoma in at least 1 eye (Hodapp classification) were recruited from 27 secondary care glaucoma departments in the United Kingdom.

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High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a relatively recent therapy that has been used to treat respiratory failure. Until now, the criterion for failure requiring escalation to other forms of ventilatory support has remained unclear. This study evaluated how the ROX index predicts the success or failure of HFNC in infants with bronchiolitis.

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