Clinical, histopathological and parasitological follow-up of dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum before and after miltefosine treatment and associated therapies.

In Brazil, Visceral Leishmaniases is caused by Leishmania infantum, and domestic dogs are the main reservoirs in its urban transmission cycle. As an alternative to euthanizing dogs, miltefosine has been used to treat canine visceral leishmaniasis since 2016. In this study, we have assessed the efficacy of miltefosine for treating canine visceral leishmaniasis in a new endemic area through follow-up of naturally infected dogs was evaluated.

Biomarkers.

Background: Utilizing PET amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau for staging Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has demonstrated potential in identifying individuals with varying degrees of disease severity, applicable to both clinical trials and practice. However, the diverse binding characteristics of tau tracers pose challenges to the application of this staging across different ligands. In this study, we evaluate a novel staging framework proposed by the AA working group, employing Aβ PET and either [F]MK6240 or [F]Flortaucipir in individuals participating in a head-to-head study of tau PET tracers.

Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium.

Background: Utilizing PET amyloid-beta (Aß) and tau for staging Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has demonstrated potential in identifying individuals with varying degrees of disease severity, applicable to both clinical trials and practice. However, the diverse binding characteristics of tau tracers pose challenges to the application of this staging across different ligands. In this study, we evaluate a novel staging framework proposed by the AA working group, employing Aß PET and either [18F]MK6240 or [18F]Flortaucipir in individuals participating in a head-to-head study of tau PET tracers.

Sex differences in mitochondrial free-carnitine levels in subjects at-risk and with Alzheimer's disease in two independent study cohorts.

A major challenge in the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the identification of molecular mechanisms linked to specific pathophysiological features of the disease. Importantly AD has a two-fold higher incidence in women than men and a protracted prodromal phase characterized by amnestic mild-cognitive impairment (aMCI) suggesting that biological processes occurring early can initiate vulnerability to AD. Here, we used a sample of 125 subjects from two independent study cohorts to determine the levels in plasma (the most accessible specimen) of two essential mitochondrial markers acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC) and its derivative free-carnitine motivated by a mechanistic model in rodents in which targeting mitochondrial metabolism of LAC leads to the amelioration of cognitive function and boosts epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression.

A Global Collaborative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity Across 15 Laboratories.

Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

Newly Proposed Dose of Daclatasvir to Prevent Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Human Transgenic ACE-2 Mice.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still causes death in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, for whom the sustainability of the vaccine response may be limited. Antiviral treatments, such as remdesivir or molnupiravir, have demonstrated limited clinical efficacy. Nirmatrelvir, an acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) major protease inhibitor, is clinically effective but has been associated with viral rebound and antiviral resistance.

Dysregulated miRNA Expression and Androgen Receptor Loss in Racially Distinct Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Androgen receptor (AR)-negative triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), often termed quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC), disproportionately impacts women of African descent, leading to poorer overall survival (OS). MiRNAs regulate the expression of gene drivers involved in critical signaling pathways in TNBC, such as the gene, and their expression varies across races and breast cancer subtypes. This study investigates whether differentially expressed miRNAs influence AR transcription, potentially contributing to the observed disparities between African American (AA) and European American (EA) QNBC patients.

Prediction of Retention Indices in LC-HRMS for Enhanced Structural Identification of Organic Micropollutants in Water: Selectivity-Based Filtration.

Addressing the global challenge of ensuring access to safe drinking water, especially in developing countries, demands cost-effective, eco-friendly, and readily available technologies. The persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential of organic pollutants arising from various human activities pose substantial hurdles. While high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) is a widely utilized technique for identifying pollutants in water, the multitude of structures for a single elemental composition complicates structural identification.

Effect of coenzyme Q10 on tibial fracture resistance in nicotine-exposed rats.

The study aimed to evaluate the potential protection against fractures of oral Q10 supplementation in the tibias of rats exposed to nicotine. Nicotine is known to negatively impact bone density and increase the risk of fractures, in addition to affecting other systems such as the gastrointestinal system, impairing its absorption capacity, negatively affecting bone health. To investigate this, eighty male rats were divided into four groups (n = 20) receiving either nicotine hemisulfate or saline solution (SS) for 28 days.

First-line immune-based combinations or sunitinib in favorable-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a real-world retrospective comparison from the ARON-1 study.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common types of urogenital cancer. The introduction of immune-based combinations, including dual immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or ICI plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has radically changed the treatment landscape for metastatic RCC, showing varying efficacy across different prognostic groups based on the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) criteria.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multicenter study, part of the ARON-1 project, aimed to evaluate the outcomes of favorable-risk metastatic RCC patients treated with immune-based combinations or sunitinib.

Impact of Exon 1 polymorphism in the MBL2 gene on MBL serum levels and infection susceptibility in acute lymphoid leukemia.

Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene exon 1 can decrease serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), increasing the risk of infection in immunocompromised individuals. This study evaluated the association between the polymorphism in exon 1 of the MBL2 gene, genotypes, serum MBL levels, and infection in 122 patients with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). The MBL*A allele exhibited the highest frequency (0.

The binuclear cyclopalladated complex CP2 is targeting ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase (complex III) of Leishmania amazonensis.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that remains with a limited number of drugs available for chemotherapy and has an increased drug resistance that affects treatment outcomes. Metal-based drugs such as cyclopalladated complex [Pd(dmba)(μ-N)] (CP2), a Leishmania topoisomerase IB inhibitor involved in calcium dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction of the parasite, had been an alternative to outline the appearance of chemoresistance. To identify new molecular targets and point out possible resistance mechanisms, a CP2-resistant Leishmania amazonensis (LaR) was selected by stepwise exposure to increasing drug pressure until a line capable of growth in 13.

Performance of indirect adherence measures for daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV among adolescent men who have sex with men and transgender women in Brazil.

Background: Consistent monitoring of PrEP adherence with accurate measurement tools at point-of-care could greatly contribute to reaching adolescents with poor adherence. We aimed to assess the performance of indirect adherence measures to oral PrEP among adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM) and adolescent transgender women (ATGW).

Methods: PrEP15-19 is a prospective, multicenter, PrEP demonstration cohort study that includes AMSM and ATGW aged 15-19 in three Brazilian cities.

Genomic analysis of global Plasmodium vivax populations reveals insights into the evolution of drug resistance.

Increasing reports of chloroquine resistance (CQR) in Plasmodium vivax endemic regions have led to several countries, including Indonesia, to adopt dihydroarteminsin-piperaquine instead. However, the molecular drivers of CQR remain unclear. Using a genome-wide approach, we perform a genomic analysis of 1534 P.

Complete blood count and systemic inflammation indices in individuals with Alzheimer's disease: A case-control study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by progressive cognitive and functional decline and is associated with aging. Chronic inflammatory processes are also involved in its the etiology, as the consequence or cause of proteinopathy (amyloid and tau load in the brain). This study aimed to investigate the complete blood count and systemic inflammation indices in 61 individuals with AD, compared to 59 cognitively healthy individuals as controls.

Impact of race and ethnicity on glaucoma progression detection by perimetry and optical coherence tomography.

This study assessed the impact of race and ethnicity on longitudinal test variability and time to detect glaucoma progression using standard automated perimetry (SAP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The sample consisted of 47,003 SAP tests from 5402 eyes and 25,480 OCT tests from 4125 eyes, with 20% of participants self-identifying as Black or African American and 80% as White; 29% as Hispanic or Latino and 71% as Not Hispanic or Latino. Variability was measured using standard deviations of residuals from linear regression models for SAP mean deviation (MD) and OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness over time.

Allelic variants in xenobiotic metabolism genes predict susceptibility and worse prognosis of urothelial bladder cancer.

Biomarkers that identify tumors with better/worse prognosis can help reduce treatment costs and contribute to patient survival. In urothelial bladder cancer (UBC), accurate prediction of recurrence and progression is essential to inform therapeutic management. Herein, we explore the role of genetic variants of xenobiotic metabolic pathways in UBC susceptibility and prognosis.

Accessibility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in fishes from the region of the 2019 oil spill on the northeast Brazil coast.

In August 2019, Brazil experienced its largest large oil spill, which impacted extensive areas and significantly affected the northeastern region, particularly Pernambuco. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), major oil components, are critical for assessing fish contamination risks. This study presents two sample pretreatment methods for fish samples - ultrasound-enhanced air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (UE-AA-LLME) for low molar mass PAHs, and matrix solid-phase dispersion for high molar mass PAHs - followed by a Gas-Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) detection.

Degradation of Cylindrospermopsin Spiked in Natural Water (Paranoá Lake, Brasília, Brazil) by Fenton Process: A Bench-Scale Study.

The frequency and intensity of harmful cyanobacterial blooms have increased in the last decades, posing a risk to public health since conventional water treatments do not effectively remove extracellular cyanotoxins. Consequently, advanced technologies such as the Fenton process are required to ensure water safety. The cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) demands special attention, as it is abundant in the extracellular fraction and has a high toxicological potential.

Toward Marker-Assisted Selection in Breeding for Wilt Tropical Race-4 Type Resistant Bananas.

wilt is a soil borne fungal disease that has devastated banana production in plantations around the world. Most Cavendish-type bananas are susceptible to strains of f. sp.

How does the adoption of nutritional plans influence the performance of meat quail during the growth phase in hot environments?

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different nutritional plans on meat quails subjected to heat stress. A total of 324 quails male European quails () were used, with an average initial weight of 121.48 g ± 3.

Building global collaborative research networks in paediatric critical care: a roadmap.

Paediatric critical care units are designed for children at a vulnerable stage of development, yet the evidence base for practice and policy in paediatric critical care remains scarce. In this Health Policy, we present a roadmap providing strategic guidance for international paediatric critical care trials. We convened a multidisciplinary group of 32 paediatric critical care experts from six continents representing paediatric critical care research networks and groups.

Polymorphisms in nanog are associated with oral leukoplakia: case-control study.

To investigate the association of NANOG polymorphisms with oral leukoplakia. In this case-control study, 68 cases of oral leukoplakia, and 21 of normal oral mucosa (control) were submitted to genotyping of tagSNPs polymorphisms: rs877716 and rs10845877 in NANOG, through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pearson's chi-squared and Fisher's exact statistical tests were used, with a significance of 5%.

Discriminatory dose of nitroxynil and albendazole sulfoxide using a modified egg hatch test of Fasciola hepatica.

Fasciolosis is a food-borne anthropozoonotic disease caused by Fasciola spp. that affects multiple hosts, including ruminants and humans. In vitro testing of anthelmintics is of interest to establish the drug's activity without the need for time-consuming and expensive in vivo assays.