Functional germline variants in DNA damage repair pathways are associated with altered survival in adults with glioma treated with temozolomide.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) treatment has demonstrated, but variable, impact on glioma prognosis. This study examines associations of survival with DNA repair gene germline polymorphisms among glioma patients who did and did not have TMZ treatment. Identifying genetic markers which sensitize tumor cells to TMZ could personalize therapy and improve outcomes.

Erectile dysfunction in men with human immunodeficiency virus: prevalence and associated factors.

Background: Male sexuality plays a crucial role in determining the overall quality of life, and it involves complex interactions between physical systems and psychosocial dimensions. Erectile dysfunction (ED) has a particularly notable impact on men's well-being, especially among those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study's aim was to explore the prevalence of ED and its associated factors in men with HIV.

Functional germline variants in DNA damage repair pathways are associated with altered survival in adults with glioma treated with temozolomide.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) treatment has demonstrated, but variable, impact on glioma prognosis. This study examines associations of survival with DNA repair gene germline polymorphisms among glioma patients who did and did not have TMZ treatment. Identifying genetic markers which sensitize tumor cells to TMZ could personalize therapy and improve outcomes.

Trust in government moderates the association between fear of COVID-19 as well as empathic concern and preventive behaviour.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioural scientists aimed to illuminate reasons why people comply with (or not) large-scale cooperative activities. Here we investigated the motives that underlie support for COVID-19 preventive behaviours in a sample of 12,758 individuals from 34 countries. We hypothesized that the associations of empathic prosocial concern and fear of disease with support towards preventive COVID-19 behaviours would be moderated by trust in the government.

A Krüppel-like factor establishes cellular heterogeneity during schistosome tegumental maintenance.

Schistosomes are blood-dwelling parasitic flatworms that rely on a syncytial surface coat, known as the tegument, for long-term survival and immune evasion in the blood of their human hosts. Previous studies have shown that cells within the tegumental syncytium are perpetually turned over and renewed by somatic stem cells called neoblasts. Yet, little is known about this renewal process on a molecular level.

General and healthcare-related HIV stigma among cisgender Brazilian women: the role of socioeconomic vulnerability.

Background: HIV-related stigma is associated with worse health outcomes and lower adherence to antiretroviral therapy. There is limited data on the stigma faced by Latin American cisgender women, although they are among the populations most affected by HIV. This study aims to provide insight into the Stigma Index Brazil, with the objective of estimating the prevalence of HIV-related stigma among cisgender women in Brazil and to investigate the role of low socioeconomic status in stigma experience.

Horizontal gene transfer of a functional homolog in the human pathogen .

Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, causing devastating morbidity and mortality in the developing world. The parasites are protected by a skin-like tegument, and maintenance of this tegument is controlled by a schistosome ortholog of the tumor suppressor TP53. To understand mechanistically how controls tegument production, we identified a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor homolog () that was co-expressed with .

Binocular luster elicited by isoluminant chromatic stimuli relies on mechanisms similar to those in the achromatic case.

The phenomenon of binocular luster can be evoked by simple dichoptic center-surround stimuli showing a luminance contrast difference between the eyes. Previous findings support the idea that this phenomenon is mediated by a low-level conflict mechanism that integrates the monocular signals from different types of contrast detector cells. Also, isoluminant stimuli with different chromatic contrasts between eyes can trigger sensations of luster.

Sailing on the ark of Scopus: Narra J new journey.

Global health crises such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have highlighted the unique value of scientific research in the realm of public health and related disciplines. Although we have witnessed rapid growth in scientific output in the past years, concerns regarding scientific rigor and research integrity also emerged.

Sociodemographic, behavioral, obstetric, and healthcare factors associated with low weight at birth: a case-control study.

Background: Understanding social determinants is crucial for implementing preventive strategies, especially for low birth weight (LBW)-a public health issue that severely increases the risk of morbimortality in children.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with LBW among newborns, assisted by the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Design And Setting: It analyzed data from newborns and their mothers.

Factors Associated with HPV Knowledge Among Professionals in the City of Francisco Beltrão, Brazil.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting nearly 50% of the world population. HPV can lead to tissue damage and is associated with many types of cancers. Healthcare professionals' knowledge regarding HPV infection are essential in assuring favorable outcomes for those exposed to HPV, either in prevention or in intervention efforts.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Diagnosis Using QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Kit Among Correctional Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Francisco Beltrão-PR, Brazil.

Correctional workers form a high-priority group for tuberculosis control measures because of their high exposure and risk. This cross-sectional study conducted in April and May 2022 included 71 criminal police officers from the State Penitentiary of Francisco Beltrão-PR, Brazil. Their sociodemographic and laboratory data were collected.

Working Conditions and Health of Prison Officers in Paraná (Brazil).

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was carried out to identify the associations between working and health conditions among prison officers at a state prison in Paraná, Brazil.

Material And Method: A proportional and stratified random sample of 125 individuals was used. The participants, who were not identified, completed a self-administered questionnaire.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B virus exposure in the incarcerated population from southern Brazil.

Hepatitis B viral infection (HBV) in prisons poses serious public health challenges because it significantly contributes to the increase in both morbidity and mortality indicators worldwide. Research has shown high HBV prevalence among inmates when compared to the general population. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of HBV exposure and its risk factors among 1,132 inmates detained in high security institutions.

The use of probiotics and prebiotics can enable the ingestion of dairy products by lactose intolerant individuals.

Objective: To investigate, through a systematic review, the efficiency of the clinical application of probiotic and prebiotic supplements in reducing the symptoms of lactose intolerance (LI).

Methods: This systematic review was conducted without limits for publication time and followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The study was registered at the PROSPERO platform (CRD42022295691).

Prevalence of HPV and associated factors in a population of women living in southern Brazil.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HPV and investigate factors associated with the infection in women in the city of Francisco Beltrão, southwest Paraná, attending the public health system.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 324 women, aged between 18 and 65 years, who were attending public health services for routine gynecological consultation. Interviews were conducted to obtain information about socioeconomic, sexual, gynecological, and life habits.

Cross-sectional study for COVID-19-related mortality predictors in a Brazilian state-wide landscape: the role of demographic factors, symptoms and comorbidities.

Objective: The Brazilian state of Paraná has suffered from COVID-19 effects, understanding predictors of increased mortality in health system interventions prevent hospitalisation of patients. We selected the best models to evaluate the association of death with demographic characteristics, symptoms and comorbidities based on three levels of clinical severity for COVID-19: non-hospitalised, hospitalised non-ICU ward and ICU ward.

Design: Cross-sectional survey using binomial mixed models.

Verification of a Novel Minimally Invasive Device for the Isolation of Rare Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) in Cancer Patients' Blood.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) exist in low quantities in the bloodstream in the early stages of cancers. It, therefore, remains a technical challenge to isolate them in large enough quantities for a precise diagnosis and downstream analysis. We introduce the BMProbeâ„¢, a minimally invasive device that isolates CTCs during a 30-minute incubation in the median cubital vein.

Perceived risk of infection and death from COVID-19 among community members of low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study.

Risk perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are considered important as they impact community health behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the perceived risk of infection and death due to COVID-19 and to assess the factors associated with such risk perceptions among community members in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa, Asia, and South America. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 LMICs in Africa, Asia, and South America from February to May 2021.

A simple model of binocular luster.

The dichoptic combination of simple center-surround stimuli showing a contrast difference between eyes can trigger a lustrous impression in the fused percept, particularly when the contrast polarities in the two input images are of opposite sign. Recent developments suggest that the phenomenon of binocular luster results from a neural conflict between ON and OFF visual pathways at an early binocular level. Support for this idea was found in a previous study in which the empirical luster judgments strongly correlated with the predictions of an interocular conflict model which was based on such ON-OFF pairings.

Convergent evolution of a genotoxic stress response in a parasite-specific p53 homolog.

P53 is a widely studied tumor suppressor that plays important roles in cell-cycle regulation, cell death, and DNA damage repair. P53 is found throughout metazoans, even in invertebrates that do not develop malignancies. The prevailing theory for why these invertebrates possess a tumor suppressor is that P53 originally evolved to protect the germline of early metazoans from genotoxic stress such as ultraviolet radiation.

Homeopathic Products as a Complementary Dietary Additive for Pigs in their Growing and Finishing Phases.

Background: Homeopathic products (HP) have been proposed for the prevention of disease and as a complementary dietary additive in pig farming, with resulting improved performance and quality of life of the animals and with benefits for food safety. The aim of this study was to assess the addition of HP to pig feed and its effects on growth performance, dietary protein utilization, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and economic feasibility.

Methods: A total of 80 male pigs, body weight 32.