Exploring Brazilian Immigrant Mothers' Beliefs and Practices Regarding Their Preschool Children's Oral Health: A Qualitative Study Conducted in the United States.

Parents' beliefs and practices significantly shape young children's oral health (OH), particularly during preschool years when these habits are being established. Immigrant parents often face challenges in promoting OH due to cultural, financial, and logistical barriers. This qualitative study explored OH beliefs, practices, and barriers among Brazilian immigrant mothers in the United States (U.

Cost-Effectiveness of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking for Progressive Keratoconus: A Brazilian Unified Health System Perspective.

Keratoconus is a burden to health systems and patients worldwide. Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) treatment has been shown abroad to be cost-effective for treating progressive keratoconus. However, no cost-effectiveness studies have been performed in Brazil.

Multi-Professional Family Support Programme: A Collective Development at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

This study was undertaken to structure and validate a Multi-Professional Family Support Programme that was collectively developed at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This is participative research of the action-research category with a qualitative-quantitative approach conducted at a University Hospital in the southeast of Brazil with the participation of their multi-professional staff. The study was done in four interdependent stages, adapted from the method proposed by Thiollent (2011): organisation, structuring, validation, and diffusion.

Increased Risk of Dentoalveolar Trauma in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remains unclear. Given these discrepancies, an updated review of the evidence on the risk of TDI in patients with ASD is essential. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence of TDI in patients with ASD and compare it to that in neurotypical patients.

Effects of a 12-Week Physical Activity Intervention on Psychological Symptoms in Adolescents.

Participation in regular physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits, including improvement in adolescents' mental health. The current study aimed to assess the effects of a 12-week physical activity intervention on psychological symptoms of adolescents. The sample of this controlled randomized study was composed by 150 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years old.

Effects of Different Detraining Periods on the Physical Fitness of Older Adults with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Objective: To verify the effects of two different detraining periods on the physical fitness of older adults with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods: This observational study encompassed older individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors, who were assessed after two different detraining periods: 1 month (1DT) and 3 months (3DT). Physical fitness was assessed using the 30-s sit to stand test (STS), 30-s arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, back scratch, timed up and go, and 6-min walk test (6MWT).

Changes in Availability and Affordability on the University Food Environment: The Potential Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the eating habits of the general population, among other reasons, because it has affected access to commercial establishments since some of them closed. This study aimed to describe potential changes that occurred between 2019 and 2022 in the availability and affordability of food and beverages in the food environment of a Brazilian public university.

Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at a public university located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Role of Guilt Feelings in the Development of the Burnout Process: The Influence on Psychosomatic Problems.

Burnout is a psychological consequence of prolonged work-related stress. Previous studies have concluded that guilt feelings could explain the development of the burnout process and its relationship with other health disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mediating role of guilt feelings in the relationship between burnout and psychosomatic problems.

Effects of Physical Exercise on the Body Composition and Functionality in Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition with airflow limitation and obstructive characteristics of respiratory function. In addition, musculoskeletal dysfunction and negative changes in body composition, among other comorbidities associated with this disease, result in a low quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), which includes physical exercise, can positively contribute to improving the clinical conditions in individuals with COPD.

Comparing Different Data Partitioning Strategies for Segmenting Areas Affected by COVID-19 in CT Scans.

Background/objectives: According to the World Health Organization, the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 is the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. However, to confirm the diagnosis in patients who have negative results but still show symptoms, imaging tests, especially computed tomography (CT), are used. In this study, using convolutional neural networks, we compared the following topics using manual and automatic lung segmentation methods: (1) the performance of an automatic segmentation of COVID-19 areas using two strategies for data partitioning, CT scans, and slice strategies; (2) the performance of an automatic segmentation method of COVID-19 when there was interobserver agreement between two groups of radiologists; and (3) the performance of the area affected by COVID-19.

Scientific Mapping of Chia Protein Research: State of the Art and Future Trends.

This report is a pioneering bibliometric analysis of chia proteins as well as a review of the current/future themes of chia proteins. Reports were selected from the Scopus database, and networks of co-word occurrence, co-cited references, and the bibliographic coupling of documents were obtained. The health benefits and functional properties of chia proteins/peptides are current themes while the research of chia peptides is an emergent theme.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Murtilla Leaves (.) in Beef Patties: Effects on Quality Parameters and Shelf Life.

Beef patties are highly consumed worldwide. However, its formulations often include synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. Murtilla (.

Beyond the Myths: Brazilian Consumer Perceptions of Functional Food.

The growing consumer interest in functional foods and healthy eating can unfortunately lead to the spread of misinformation and the belief in food-related myths. This study analyzed Brazilian consumers' perceptions and beliefs about facts and myths regarding functional foods, focusing on attitudes, reference groups, and sociocultural factors affecting their perception. A theoretical model was developed, incorporating constructs such as attitudes (reward, trust, necessity, safety), beliefs, and reference groups.

Changes in Human Colonic Microbiota Promoted by Synbiotic Açai Juice Composed of Gluco-Oligosaccharides, Dextran, and NRRL B-41408.

The present study evaluates the effects of açai juice containing gluco-oligosaccharides and dextran, fermented by NRRL B-41408 (synbiotic juice), on the human fecal microbiota. The juice is subjected to simulated digestion and fecal fermentation after production and 42 days of refrigerated storage. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and HPLC are used to identify the bacterial cells and metabolites.

Structural Characterization and In Vitro and In Silico Studies on the Anti--Glucosidase Activity of Anacardic Acids from .

The growing focus on sustainable use of natural resources has brought attention to cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a by-product rich in anacardic acids (AAs) with potential applications in diabetes treatment. In this study, three different AAs from CNSL, monoene (15:1, AAn1), diene (15:2, AAn2), and triene (15:3, AAn3), and a mixture of the three (mix) were evaluated as -glucosidase inhibitors. The samples were characterized by combining 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, along with ESI-MS.

Probiotic Microorganisms in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Live Biotherapeutics as Food.

(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by chronic and complex inflammatory processes of the digestive tract that evolve with frequent relapses and manifest at any age; they predominantly affect young individuals. Diet plays a direct role in maintaining the gut mucosal integrity and immune function. Regarding the diet, the administration of probiotics stands out.

Upcycling of Non-Standard Cakes by Manufacturing Ring-Shaped Cookies.

A creative approach to reducing food waste by reusing industrial cake waste can result in the development of a worldwide favorite snack. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of industrial cake wastes-basic mini cake (BMC), filled mini cake (FMC), and traditional mini cake (TMC)-as sustainable alternatives to wheat flour in producing ring-shaped cookies. After initial screening, FMC was upcycled at 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of wheat flour replacement for ring-shaped cookie processing.

Alternative Non-Destructive Approach for Estimating Morphometric Measurements of Chicken Eggs from Tomographic Images with Computer Vision.

The egg has natural barriers that prevent microbiological contamination and promote food safety. The use of non-destructive methods to obtain morphometric measurements of chicken eggs has the potential to replace traditional invasive techniques, offering greater efficiency and accuracy. This paper aims to demonstrate that estimates derived from non-invasive approaches, such as 3D computed tomography (CT) image analysis, can be comparable to conventional destructive methods.

Brazilian Food Waste as a Substrate for Bioethanol Production.

Food waste (FW) is a common source of contamination, contaminating both soils and water bodies by releasing greenhouse gases. FW holds great potential for biofuel and bioproduct production, which can mitigate its environmental impact and become a valuable addition to the circular bioeconomy. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate the use of food waste as a substrate to produce fermentable sugars and bioethanol.

Production and Optimization of Biosurfactant Properties Using and Licuri Oil ().

Optimizing biosurfactant (BS) production is key for sustainable industrial applications. This study investigated BS synthesis by using licuri oil, a renewable carbon source rich in medium-chain fatty acids. Process optimization was conducted via central composite design (CCD), adjusting concentrations of licuri oil, glucose, NHNO, and yeast extract.

Food Colors' Dietary Exposure in the Brazilian Population Using the 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 POF Food Consumption Databases.

Two out of the four steps of risk assessment for chemical substances in food, i.e., exposure assessment and risk characterization, merit regional evaluation based on current legislation and local food consumption data.

Hidden Places for Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens and Novel Approaches to Control Biofilms in the Meat Industry.

Biofilms are of great concern for the meat industry because, despite the implementation of control plans, they remain important hotspots of contamination by foodborne pathogens, highlighting the need to better understand the ecology of these microecosystems. The objective of this paper was to critically survey the recent scientific literature on microbial biofilms of importance for meat safety and quality, also pointing out the most promising methods to combat them. For this, the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were surveyed in a 10-year time frame (but preferably papers less than 5 years old) using selected keywords relevant for the microbiology of meats, especially considering bacteria that are tolerant to cleaning and sanitization processes.

Evidence for the Transcription of a Satellite DNA Widely Found in Frogs.

Background: The satellite DNA (satDNA) PcP190 has been identified in multiple frog species from seven phylogenetically distant families within Hyloidea, indicating its broad distribution. This satDNA consists of repeats of approximately 190 bp and exhibits a highly conserved region (CR) of 120 bp, which is similar to the transcribed region of 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and a hypervariable region (HR) that varies in size and nucleotide composition among and within species. Here, to improve our understanding of PcP190 satDNA, we searched for evidence of its transcription in the available transcriptomes of (Bufonidae) and (Leptodactylidae), two phylogenetically distantly related species.

Clinical and Cytogenetic Impact of Maternal Balanced Double Translocation: A Familial Case of 15q11.2 Microduplication and Microdeletion Syndromes with Genetic Counselling Implications.

Background: Balanced chromosomal translocations occur in approximately 0.16 to 0.20% of live births.

Can Global DNA Methylation Be Influenced by Polymorphisms in Genes Involved in Epigenetic Mechanisms? A Review.

Background: Global methylation refers to the total methylation in the DNA and can also be inferred from the Line 1 and Alu regions, as these repeats are very abundant in the genome. The main function of DNA methylation is to control gene expression and is associated with both normal and pathological mechanisms. DNA methylation depends on enzymes that generate the methyl radical (e.