Multiple introductions and sustained local transmission of in Southern Brazil between 2022-2023.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the (MPXV). Human cases have been mainly restricted to the African continent until the worldwide multi-country outbreak unfolded in 2022. We reconstructed epidemiological links of 53 MPXV infections using genomic epidemiology in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, during 2022 and 2023.

[Experience of setting up a state pharmacovigilance committee during the COVID-19 pandemicExperiencia de la puesta en marcha de un comité estatal de farmacovigilancia durante la pandemia de COVID-19].

Objective: To describe the implementation and pioneering work of a vaccine pharmacovigilance committee in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, for the analysis of events supposedly attributable to vaccination or immunization (ESAVI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a retrospective, mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) case study focusing on the work carried out by the pharmacovigilance committee in the years 2021 and 2022. The minutes of committee meetings were used to describe how the committee operates.

Measuring multifidus muscles atrophy after midline lumbar fusion with cortical bone trajectory screws due to spinal instability and spondylolisthesis: a retrospective case series.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the impact of midline lumbar fusion with cortical bone trajectory screws (MIDLF/CBT) on the multifidus muscles, focusing on the evaluation of their postoperative atrophy.

Clinical Rationale For The Study: MIDLF/CBT is a relatively new technique increasingly used to treat spinal instability. Despite its reduced invasiveness compared to traditional posterior lumbar interbody fusion with traditional pedicle screws (PLIF/TP), concerns remain about potential damage to the multifidus muscles that are crucial for spinal stability.

Multispectral Images for Drought Stress Evaluation of Arabica Coffee Genotypes Under Different Irrigation Regimes.

The advancement of digital agriculture combined with computational tools and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has opened the way to large-scale data collection for the calculation of vegetation indices (VIs). These vegetation indexes (VIs) are useful for agricultural monitoring, as they highlight the inherent characteristics of vegetation and optimize the spatial and temporal evaluation of different crops. The experiment tested three coffee genotypes (Catuaí 62, E237 and Iapar 59) under five water regimes: (1) FI 100 (year-round irrigation with 100% replacement of evapotranspiration), (2) FI 50 (year-round irrigation with 50% evapotranspiration replacement), (3) WD 100 (no irrigation from June to September (dry season) and, thereafter, 100% evapotranspiration replacement), (4) WD 50 (no irrigation from June to September (water stress) and, thereafter, 50% evapotranspiration replacement) and (5) rainfed (no irrigation during the year).

Generation of the CTRL EiPS J9 mR6F-8 iPSC line derived from healthy human outgrowth blood endothelial cells (BOECs) using mRNA reprogramming methodology.

mRNA reprogramming is a technology for generating iPSCs with high efficiency and safety. However, it is not suitable for reprogramming non-adherent cells, the primary cell type in blood. An alternative is to obtain adherent cells from blood for this technology.

Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Excess Body Fat Exhibit Atypical Sympathetic Autonomic Modulation That is Partially Reversed by Aerobic Physical Training.

Objective: The aetiology of impairments in autonomic modulation of heart rate variability (HRV) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unclear, as does the impact of aerobic physical training (APT) on controlling endocrine-metabolic disorders and HRV. This is because these women often present excess body fat. Therefore, we assessed whether the dysregulation in autonomic modulation of HRV in women with PCOS is due to endocrine-metabolic disorders and whether the combination of excess body fat with endocrine-metabolic disorders amplifies cardiovascular autonomic deficits.

The activity of hydrolytic enzymes and antibiotics against biofilms of bacteria isolated from industrial-scale cooling towers.

Background: Cooling towers (CTs) are crucial to myriad industrial processes, supporting thermal exchange between fluids in heat exchangers using water from lakes and rivers as coolant. However, CT water can sometimes introduce microbial contaminants that adhere to and colonize various surfaces within the CT system. These microorganisms can form biofilms, significantly hindering the system's thermal exchange efficiency.

Chronic acetylcholinesterase inhibition reduces the effects of physical training on ventricular contractility and coronary bed reactivity in hypertensive rats.

Systemic arterial hypertension is accompanied by autonomic impairments that, if not contained, promotes cardiac functional and morphological damages. Pyridostigmine bromide (PYR) treatment results in positive effects on autonomic control and beneficial cardiac remodeling. These findings were also observed after aerobic physical training (APT).

Safety and immunogenicity of a live-attenuated chikungunya virus vaccine in endemic areas of Brazil: interim results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in adolescents.

Background: Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported in Brazil since 2014. Adolescents are a sensitive population who would benefit from a prophylactic vaccine. This study assessed the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine VLA1553 in adolescents in Brazil.

Effects of antimicrobials over sessile and planktonic microbiota associated with an industrial cooling water system.

The bacterial community from a cooling water system was investigated through culture-dependent and independent strategies, and the responses of planktonic and sessile bacteria (grown in glass slides and stainless-steel coupons) to antimicrobials of industrial and clinical use were assessed. The morphotypes with higher biofilm-forming potential were sp., sp.

Streamlining Skin Regeneration: A Ready-To-Use Silk Bilayer Wound Dressing.

Silk proteins have been highlighted in the past decade for tissue engineering (TE) and skin regeneration due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and exceptional mechanical properties. While silk fibroin (SF) has high structural and mechanical stability with high potential as an external protective layer, traditionally discarded sericin (SS) has shown great potential as a natural-based hydrogel, promoting cell-cell interactions, making it an ideal material for direct wound contact. In this context, the present study proposes a new wound dressing approach by developing an SS/SF bilayer construct for full-thickness exudative wounds.

Expanding the boundaries of silk sericin biomaterials in biomedical applications.

Silk sericin (SS) has a long history as a by-product of the textile industry. SS has emerged as a sustainable material for biomedical engineering due to its material properties including water solubility, diverse impact on biological activities including antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and ability to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. This review addresses the origin, structure, properties, extraction, and underlying functions of this protein.

Development of a low-cost robotized 3D-prototype for automated optical microscopy diagnosis: An open-source system.

In a clinical context, conventional optical microscopy is commonly used for the visualization of biological samples for diagnosis. However, the availability of molecular techniques and rapid diagnostic tests are reducing the use of conventional microscopy, and consequently the number of experienced professionals starts to decrease. Moreover, the continuous visualization during long periods of time through an optical microscope could affect the final diagnosis results due to induced human errors and fatigue.

Assessing Different Histological Preparations for Reconstruction of Astrocyte Tridimensional Structure.

Astrocytes are ubiquitous in the brain and spinal cord and display a complex morphology important for the local interactions with neighboring cells, resulting in the modulation of circuit function. Thus, studies focusing on astrocyte physiology in the healthy and diseased brain generally present analyses of astrocytic structure. The labeling method used to visualize the astrocytic structure defines the morphological level to observe and may vary depending on the anatomical sub-regions.

Quality of Arabica coffee grown in Brazilian Savannah and impact of potassium sources.

Located in Brazil's Central Plateau, the Cerrado Savannah is an emerging coffee-growing region with significant potential for the national coffee market. This study investigated the impact of potassium fertilization on Arabica coffee quality in the Cerrado, using three potassium sources (KSO, KCl, and KNO) and five cultivars (Arara, Aranãs, IPR103, Catiguá and Topázio) across two consecutive harvests. We focused on productivity, granulometry, chemical composition, and sensory characteristics.

What do we know about the role of menopause in cardiovascular autonomic regulation in hypertensive women?

Objective: We investigated the systemic arterial hypertension effects on cardiovascular autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in women with or without preserved ovarian function.

Methods: A total of 120 women were allocated into two groups: middle-aged premenopausal women (42 ± 3 y old; n = 60) and postmenopausal women (57 ± 4 y old; n = 60). Each group was also divided into two smaller groups (n = 30): normotensive and hypertensive.

Sustainable Silk-Based Particulate Systems for the Controlled Release of Pharmaceuticals and Bioactive Agents in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration.

The increasing demand for innovative approaches in wound healing and skin regeneration has prompted extensive research into advanced biomaterials. This review focuses on showcasing the unique properties of sustainable silk-based particulate systems in promoting the controlled release of pharmaceuticals and bioactive agents in the context of wound healing and skin regeneration. Silk fibroin and sericin are derived from well-established silkworm production and constitute a unique biocompatible and biodegradable protein platform for the development of drug delivery systems.

Anti-leishmanial activity of Herb. and predictions of isoeleutherin and its analogues.

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus , classified as tegumentary and visceral. The disease treatment is still a serious problem, due to the toxic effects of available drugs, the costly treatment and reports of parasitic resistance, making the search for therapeutic alternatives urgent. This study assessed the anti-leishmanial potential of the extract, fractions, and isoeleutherin from , as well as the interactions of isoeleutherin and its analogs with Trypanothione Reductase (TR), in addition to predicting pharmacokinetic parameters.

Resurgence of human respiratory syncytial virus during COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Brazil.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory infection in humans. Severe cases are common in children ≤2 years old, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. In 2020, RSV infection reduced in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil; however, in 2021 resurgence of RSV was observed.

Physical exercise is essential for increasing ventricular contractility in hypertensive rats treated with losartan.

The treatment of hypertensive patients with losartan is very common. Despite the reduction in blood pressure, its effects on cardiac contractility and sympathetic autonomic drive are still controversial. In turn, aerobic physical training (APT) also presents an important therapeutic option, providing significant improvements in cardiovascular autonomic control, however little is known about its effects on cardiac contractility, especially when associated with losartan.

Blastocysts from partial compaction morulae are not defined by their early mistakes.

Research Question: Is partial compaction during morula formation associated with an embryo's developmental ability and implantation potential?

Design: Retrospective analysis of data from 196 preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) cycles. Embryos starting compaction were grouped according to the inclusion or not of all the blastomeres in the forming morula (full compaction or partial compaction). The possible effect of maternal age and ovarian response on compaction was analysed.

Incomplete recovery of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio is associated with the late introduction of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV infection.

Despite being subject to lower AIDS-related mortality rates and having a higher life expectancy, patients with HIV are more prone to develop non-AIDS events. A low CD4+/CD8+ ratio during antiretroviral therapy identifies people with heightened immune senescence and increased risk of mortality. In clinical practice, finding determinants of a low CD4+/CD8+ ratio may be useful for identifying patients who require close monitoring due to an increased risk of comorbidities and death.

Machine learning in predicting severe acute respiratory infection outbreaks.

Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) outbreaks occur annually, with seasonal peaks varying among geographic regions. Case notification is important to prepare healthcare networks for patient attendance and hospitalization. Thus, health managers need adequate resource planning tools for SARI seasons.