Melatonin from Plants: Going Beyond Traditional Central Nervous System Targeting-A Comprehensive Review of Its Unusual Health Benefits.

Melatonin is indispensable for the homeostasis of plants and animals. In humans, it can help prevent or be an adjuvant treatment for several diseases mainly related to the immune system, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Moreover, a melatonin-rich diet is linked to several health benefits, such as regulation of circadian rhythm, regulation of the immunological system, epilepsy control, delaying the aging process, and diminishing hormones related to cancer.

Understanding context to plan Antimicrobial Stewardship: a mixed method study in a Brazilian urban primary care.

Background: The Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network Brazil (CAMO-Net Brazil) aims to implement an antimicrobial stewardship program in a municipality with 165,000 inhabitants. This study explores barriers and enablers to its implementation, through understanding the context and beliefs regarding antimicrobial use in this environment.

Procedures: The study occurred in 12 primary healthcare units in São Paulo's metropolitan region, where a convergent parallel mixed-method study was conducted, i.

Mortality in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Despite antifungal treatment, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate rates of mortality and its predictors in CPA.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies in English, reporting mortality in CPA, from database inception to Aug 15, 2023.

Colonisation by multidrug-resistant organisms in health workers in primary care: narrow spectrum oral antimicrobials are a risk factor.

Background: Limited information exists on carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) by health workers (HWs) in primary care settings. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MDRO carriage among HWs in primary care and to identify associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across all 12 primary care units in São Caetano do Sul-SP, Brazil, from October to December 2023.

Non-cell-autonomous regulation of germline proteostasis by insulin/IGF-1 signaling-induced dietary peptide uptake via PEPT-1.

Gametogenesis involves active protein synthesis and is proposed to rely on proteostasis. Our previous work in C. elegans indicates that germline development requires coordinated activities of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) and HSF-1, the central regulator of the heat shock response.

Cardiac Manifestations of Hemochromatosis.

Cardiac hemochromatosis, a consequence of primary or secondary iron-overload conditions, poses a threat to patient health, leading to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This review aims to compile comprehensive information on cardiac hemochromatosis, elucidating its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management strategies. Primary and secondary hemochromatosis, genetic and acquired forms, can result in cardiotoxicity by means of iron dysregulation.

A multicentre study of amphotericin B treatment for histoplasmosis: assessing mortality rates and adverse events.

Background: Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is a significant issue in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, contributing to high mortality rates.

Objectives: Our objectives were to comprehensively describe histoplasmosis treatment with various amphotericin B (AmB) formulations, including mortality rates, adverse effects and risk factors for mortality.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study (January 2014-December 2019) evaluated medical records of patients with proven or probable histoplasmosis treated with at least two doses of AmB in seven tertiary medical centres in Brazil.

Association between neuroimaging and clinical outcomes in individuals with central nervous system cryptococcosis.

Background: The radiological manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) cryptococcosis are diverse and often subtle. There is heterogeneity on how different neuroimaging patterns impact prognosis. This study aims to assess the association between the neuroimaging and clinical outcomes of CNS cryptococcosis.

Analysis of epidemiological and clinical aspects in cases of fungal osteomyelitis caused by non-Candida species.

Osteomyelitis caused by non-Candida species is rare and often neglected, and current recommendations are based on primarily clinical experience and expert opinion. The objective of this study was to describe a case series of non-Candida fungal osteomyelitis. This retrospective study included 10 patients with non-Candida fungal osteomyelitis.

Fatal hepatic mucormycosis in an allogeneic hematopoietic-stem cell transplanted patient: Case report of a rare presentation and review of the literature.

Hepatic mucormycosis is a rare condition. Our objective is to report a case in a HSCT patient and to perform a review of the literature. A 36-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia, performed a haploidentical HSCT.

Paracoccidioidomycosis after eyebrow micropigmentation: Unusual reactivation or a new form of transmission by cutaneous inoculation?

We report a case of unusual paracoccidioidomycosis reactivation after eyebrow micropigmentation in a Brazilian patient. The cutaneous lesion was the only clinical manifestation. Direct cutaneous inoculation in dermal tissues with sp.

Mechanistic insights on the antibacterial action of the kyotorphin peptide derivatives revealed by in vitro studies and Galleria mellonella proteomic analysis.

Objectives: The selected kyotorphin derivatives were tested to improve their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. The antimicrobial screening of the KTP derivatives were ascertained in the representative strains of bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Kyotorphin derivatives, KTP-NH, KTP-NH-DL, IbKTP, IbKTP-NH, MetKTP-DL, MetKTP-LD, were designed and synthesized to improve lipophilicity and resistance to enzymatic degradation.

Clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of central nervous system sporotrichosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The clinical features of central nervous system (CNS) sporotrichosis are derived from case reports and a limited series of cases. Our objective was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of CNS sporotrichosis.

Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and LILACS on 9 September 2023.

Metabolic profiling of Baker plants grown and collected from nature using molecular networking and chemometric analysis.

Brazilian Cerrado is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot due to the presence of endemic species with great biological potential. Particularly, , is a rare species found in the Cerrado region in midwestern Brazil. Efforts have been made for its conservation in the Cerrado, such as the use of micropropagation, demanding a comparative analysis between grown plants and those collected from nature.

The sensitivity and specificity of the WHO's ICOPE screening tool, and the prevalence of loss of intrinsic capacity in older adults: A scoping review.

Background: The World Health Organization has developed the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program, a public health strategy to maintain older adults' functional abilities and promote healthier aging. The approach comprises a 5-step pathway. Step 1 is the screening for impairment in functions, and Step 2 is an in-depth evaluation to confirm the presence and severity of functional impairment.

Itraconazole Serum Trough Concentrations Using Oral Capsules for the Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis: What is the Target?

Background: In regions where there is only itraconazole capsule as a therapeutic option for treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), measuring the serum concentrations becomes even more important for therapeutic success.

Objective: Evaluate the initial itraconazole serum trough concentrations after the administration of oral capsule of itraconazole for the treatment of CPA.

Methods: The measurement was performed at least 7-days after initiation of therapy.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of galactomannan antigen testing in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: defining a cutoff.

Background: A clear cutoff value of galactomannan (GM) has not been established for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) and is frequently extrapolated from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) GM, and to propose a cutoff.

Methods: We extracted from the studies the cutoff of serum or/and BAL GM associated with true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives.

Effects of lipodystrophy and physical exercise on bioimpedance parameters in people living with HIV: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lipodystrophy and physical exercise on the parameters of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) of people living with HIV (PLWHIV).

Methods: Seventy patients were divided into two groups: PLWHIV with lipodystrophy (PLWHIV-L) and PLWHIV without lipodystrophy (PLWHIV-NL). The phase angle (PhA) and the BIVA were determined from the values of resistance and reactance collected by the BIS.

Clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics of central nervous system histoplasmosis: A systematic review of a severe disease.

Background: The knowledge of central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is limited to case reports and series.

Objectives: Our objective was to synthesise clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics of CNS histoplasmosis to improve our understanding of this rare disease.

Methods: We performed a systematic review using Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase and LILACS databases accessed on March 2023 without publication date restrictions.

Orthopedic infections due to Trichosporon species: Case series and literature review.

Reports of orthopedic fungal infections caused by Trichosporon species are extremely scarce, thus we aimed to describe a case series and review the cases published in the literature. Patients were retrospectively included if a previous culture of bone, joint, or soft tissues had resulted positive for Trichosporon species along with a clinical diagnosis of an orthopedic infection. Eight patients were included with diverse orthopedic conditions, most of them cases of osteomyelitis.

Sensitivity of Antigen, Serology, and Microbiology Assays for Diagnosis of the Subtypes of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis at a Teaching Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is divided into five subtypes. The diagnosis of CPA is complicated due to poor sensitivity of the laboratory tests. Diagnostic performance of different antigen, serological, and microbiological methods in subtypes of CPA is unknown.

Challenges, Characteristics, and Outcomes of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A 11-Year Experience in A Middle-Income Country.

Objectives: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a research priority in fungal diseases with a need for new studies to reduce misdiagnosis with more common diseases, discuss improvement in diagnostic methods and better characterize gaps in antifungal and surgical treatments to improve clinical outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with CPA from January 2010 to June 2021 at University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. We evaluated clinical characteristics, radiological findings, serology, treatment, and outcomes.