Part II. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Creatine monohydrate supplementation (CrM) is a safe and effective intervention for improving certain aspects of sport, exercise performance, and health across the lifespan. Despite its evidence-based pedigree, several questions and misconceptions about CrM remain. To initially address some of these concerns, our group published a narrative review in 2021 discussing the scientific evidence as to whether CrM leads to water retention and fat accumulation, is a steroid, causes hair loss, dehydration or muscle cramping, adversely affects renal and liver function, and if CrM is safe and/or effective for children, adolescents, biological females, and older adults.

Strangers in a strange land: how diversity professionals navigate their marginal leadership identity.

The purpose of the present study was to understand how executives responsible for Diversity and Inclusion construct their identities while occupying positions of "Marginal Leadership," and how they deal with threats to such identities. We conducted qualitative and inductive research with Brazilian executives in 66 organizations, focusing on their experiences as leaders. In our resulting model, we theorized that leaders in positions of Marginal Leadership demonstrate little role clarity, resources, and confidence for the exercise of their activities, suffering threats to their identities, which are not observed in executives occupying positions in more traditional functions such as Finance, Production, and Marketing.

Early warning systems for identifying severe maternal outcomes: findings from the WHO global maternal sepsis study.

Background: Infections and sepsis are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period. Using data from the 2017 WHO Global Maternal Sepsis Study, we explored the use of early warning systems (EWS) in women at risk of sepsis-related severe maternal outcomes.

Methods: On April 27, 2023, we searched the literature for EWS in clinical use or research in obstetric populations.

One interesting and elusive two-coupled oscillator problem.

Chronobiology experiments often reveal intriguing non-linear phenomena, which require mathematical models and computer simulations for their interpretation. One example is shown here, where the two circadian oscillators located in the eyes of the mollusk were isolated and measured . By maintaining one eye under control conditions and manipulating the period of the second eye, Page and Nalovic (1992) obtained a diversity of results, including synchronized and desynchronized eyes, associated to weak coupling and period differences.

Repair with suture tape augmentation vs. reconstruction for ACL tears: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Interest in repairing ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) has resurged, with suture tape augmentation (internal brace, ACL-IB) emerging as a prominent technique. However, the efficacy of ACL-IB compared to ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to address this gap.

Emerging cancer therapies: targeting physiological networks and cellular bioelectrical differences with non-thermal systemic electromagnetic fields in the human body - a comprehensive review.

A steadily increasing number of publications support the concept of physiological networks, and how cellular bioelectrical properties drive cell proliferation and cell synchronization. All cells, especially cancer cells, are known to possess characteristic electrical properties critical for physiological behavior, with major differences between normal and cancer cell counterparts. This opportunity can be explored as a novel treatment modality in Oncology.

Electrolyte Effects on Electrochemical CO Reduction Reaction at Sn Metallic Electrode.

Understanding the electrolyte factors governing the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) is fundamental for selecting the optimized electrolyte conditions for practical applications. While noble metals are frequently studied, the electrolyte effects on the CORR on Sn catalysts are not well explored. Here, we studied the electrolyte effect on Sn metallic electrodes, investigating the impact of electrolyte concentration, cation identity, and anion properties, and how it shapes the CORR activity and selectivity.

Indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cause-of-death analysis of life expectancy changes in 24 countries, 2015 to 2022.

Worldwide, mortality was strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both directly through COVID-19 deaths and indirectly through changes in other causes of death. Here, we examine the impact of the pandemic on COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 mortality in 24 countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England and Wales, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Using demographic decomposition methods, we compare age- and cause-specific contributions to changes in female and male life expectancy at birth in 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 with those before the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-2019).

Comparing and assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for different populations with and without chronic conditions and/or disabilities: a systematic review protocol.

Physical activity guidelines targeting different populations with and without chronic diseases or disabilities are required to meet the diverse functional and physiological needs experienced by different subgroups of people to achieve optimal health benefits. As the importance of physical activity guidelines in promoting optimal health and well-being becomes increasingly recognised, there is a critical need for their systematic evaluation to ensure they remain effective, applicable and aligned with evolving health needs and scientific insights. This study aims to systematically review, critically evaluate, and compare global physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines on frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise for adults, pregnant and postpartum women, and people living with chronic conditions and/or disabilities.

Ischemic Stroke Prevention in Patients Atrial Fibrillation and a Recent Ischemic Stroke, TIA, or Intracranial Hemorrhage; a World Stroke Organisation (WSO) Scientific Statement.

Background: Secondary stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the fastest growing areas in the field of cerebrovascular diseases. This Scientific statement from the World Stroke Organization Brain & Heart Task Force provides a critical analysis of the strength of current evidence this topic, highlights areas of current controversy, identifies knowledge gaps, and proposes priorities for future research.

Methods: We select topics with the highest clinical relevance and perform a systematic search to answer specific practical questions.

Impact of cholesterol supplementation on Pantaneiro bovine semen cryopreservation: Insights into in vitro embryo production.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cholesterol supplementation at various concentrations in cryopreserved Pantaneiro bovine semen on in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Grade I and II cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from ovaries retrieved from a commercial slaughterhouse and matured in vitro for 24 h. The matured COCs were divided into four groups based on the concentration of cholesterol -loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) during semen cryopreservation from a Pantaneiro breed bull: Control (C) - 0 mg/mL CLC, T1 - 0.

Gut colonization of semi-aquatic turtles inhabiting the Brazilian Amazon by international clones of CTX-M-8-producing Escherichia coli.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli poses a significant threat to public health due to its ability to confer resistance to broad-spectrum antimicrobials, especially third-generation cephalosporins. Herein, we report gut colonization by international clones of CTX-M-8-producing E. coli in scorpion mud turtles (Kinosternon scorpioides) from a captive breeding program in the Brazilian Amazon.

Current status of toxicological research on stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini): Important pollinators neglected by pesticides' regulations.

Stingless bees (tribe Meliponini), comprising over 600 known species within the largest group of eusocial bees, play a critical role in ecosystem functioning through their pollination services. They contribute to the reproduction of numerous plant species, including many economically important crops such as cacao, coffee, and various fruits. Beyond their ecological significance, stingless bees hold cultural and economic importance for many native and rural communities, where they are managed for their honey, pollen, and propolis for nutritional and health purposes.

On the parameterized complexity of the median and closest problems under some permutation metrics.

Genome rearrangements are events where large blocks of DNA exchange places during evolution. The analysis of these events is a promising tool for understanding evolutionary genomics, providing data for phylogenetic reconstruction based on genome rearrangement measures. Many pairwise rearrangement distances have been proposed, based on finding the minimum number of rearrangement events to transform one genome into the other, using some predefined operation.

Childhood early oral ageing syndrome: prevalence and association with possible aetiological factors and consequences for the vertical dimension of occlusion: protocol for a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Childhood early oral ageing syndrome (CEOAS) is a condition involving oral abnormalities resulting from systemic diseases of different origins that are related to the current lifestyle of the paediatric population. Enamel defects associated with intrinsic and extrinsic factors promote the early loss of tooth structure at an accelerated pace, with negative impacts on function, aesthetics and quality of life. The aim of the study is to identify the prevalence of early tooth wear in childhood and its severity using the CEOAS index, which is a tool for the diagnosis of the condition and for epidemiological surveys, involving the investigation of abnormalities of the oral cavity in the paediatric population and possible factors associated with the severity of the condition.

Study of the synergistic properties of copaiba oil co-electrospun with poly(L-co-D,L lactic acid) and natural rubber latex for application in bioactive wound dressings.

Wound healing is a complex process involving a sequence of factors that can be disrupted, negatively impacting the quality of life for patients and overburdening healthcare systems. Advanced dressings obtained by electrospinning are highlighted by the optimization of this process, allowing air exchange and protection against microorganisms. Aiming to develop bioactive dressings, this study investigated the physicochemical, mechanical, microbiological, and in vitro biological properties of membranes containing 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 90 % copaiba oil (CO) co-electrospun with poly(L-co-D,L-lactic acid) (PLDLA) and natural rubber latex (NR).

Previous strength training attenuates ouabain-induced bipolar disorder-related behaviors and memory deficits in rats: involvement of hippocampal ERK/CREB and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a central nervous system condition that is typified by fluctuations in mood, oscillating between depressive and manic, and/or hypomanic episodes. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that strength training may act as a potent protector against behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by BD. A strength training protocol was performed with adult male Wistar rats, and seven days following the conclusion of training, a single ouabain injection was administered.

Presentation and Analysis of the Online Evidence Gap Map, "Clinical Effectiveness of Homeopathy".

Introduction And Objective:  This study presents and analyzes the content of an online Evidence Gap Map (EGM), "", which graphically represents evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) of human clinical trials in homeopathy that were published from 1991 to 2021. The EGM was built according to the guidelines of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), adapted for complex interventions, to represent visually relevant evidence and research gaps.

Presentation Of Evidence Gap Map Content:  The interventions, classified as rows, are characterized in the EGM not only by the homeopathic therapeutic strategy but also by individual medicines and potencies.

Pesticides and human health.

Objectives: to review scientific evidence on the impacts of pesticides on child health, addressing prenatal and postnatal exposures, acute and chronic effects.

Data Source: narrative literature review, using databases such as PubMed, SciELO and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria involved studies published between 2000 and 2023 that analyzed the relationship between pesticides and child health, including systematic reviews, cohort studies, case-control studies and clinical trials.

How does air quality affect the health of children and adolescents?

Objectives: To assess how air quality and pollutants affect the health of children and adolescents.

Source Of Data: A narrative review of recent literature was conducted using PubMed databases, focusing on studies published between 2015 and 2023. The keywords included "air pollution", "child health", "adolescents", "respiratory diseases" and "cognitive development".

Honey from Different Species of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) is Effective Against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Stingless bee honey is a natural product consisting of sugars, organic acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Due to its healing properties, honey is often used in phytotherapy and for homemade syrups. The search for natural therapeutic alternatives has been an increasing trend in recent years, mainly due to the side effects of artificial drugs and increasing antibiotic resistance.