Denture biofilm increases respiratory diseases in the elderly. A mini-review.

Purpose: This mini-review discusses the clinical implication of respiratory pathogens in the biofilm on acrylic resin removable dentures in the elderly.

Methods: A search was conducted using the keywords: "dentures", " acrylic resin", "biofilm", "pneumonia", "elderly", "respiratory pathogens", and "respiratory diseases" in databases PubMed/Medline, Lilacs, SciELO and textbooks between 1999 and 2024.

Results: The elderly are more susceptible to chronic diseases and/or life-threatening infections because of senescence itself and functional and degenerative alterations.

Combining Photochemical Oxyfunctionalization and Enzymatic Catalysis for the Synthesis of Chiral Pyrrolidines and Azepanes.

Chiral heterocyclic alcohols and amines are frequently used building blocks in the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report a one-pot photoenzymatic synthesis route for -Boc-3-amino/hydroxy-pyrrolidine and -Boc-4-amino/hydroxy-azepane with up to 90% conversions and >99% enantiomeric excess. The transformation combines a photochemical oxyfunctionalization favored for distal C-H positions with a stereoselective enzymatic transamination or carbonyl reduction step.

Engineering Protein Dynamics through Mutational Energy Landscape Traps.

Protein dynamics is essential for various biological processes, influencing functions such as enzyme activity, molecular recognition, and signal transduction. However, traditional protein engineering methods often focus on static structures, lacking tools to precisely manipulate dynamic behaviors. Here, we developed Mutational Energy Landscape Trap (MELT), a novel method designed to control protein dynamics by combining Normal Mode Analysis (NMA) and mutagenesis.

Metabolic reprogramming of macrophages by PKM2 promotes IL-10 production via adenosine.

Macrophages play a crucial role in immune responses and undergo metabolic reprogramming to fulfill their functions. The tetramerization of the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) induces the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 in vivo, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that PKM2 activation with the pharmacological agent TEPP-46 increases IL-10 production in LPS-activated macrophages by metabolic reprogramming, leading to the production and release of ATP from glycolysis.

Identification of spp. From the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pet Parrots and Subsequent Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles.

Psittaciformes kept as pets can serve as reservoirs of various microorganisms, many of which have zoonotic potential, including spp. In this study, the antifungal susceptibility profiles of 16 spp. isolated from the oral and cloacal cavities of 20 pet parrots were evaluated.

Effect of Aromatherapy for Postoperative Pain Management in the Postanesthesia Recovery Room: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To analyze available evidence in the literature on the effect of aromatherapy for the management of postoperative pain in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

Design: Systematic review according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) model and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

Methods: The search was carried out in August 2023, using descriptors and keywords, in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Excerpta Medica Database, PUBMED, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, Google Scholar, CAPES, BDTD, and ProQuest portals of theses and dissertations, with no language restrictions or time limit.

Preserved Finger Flexion in Brachial Plexus Total Lesion: A Study of 16 Cases Among 989 Surgical Patients.

Purpose: Brachial plexus traction injuries have conventionally been categorized as involving the C5-C6, C5-C7, C5-T1, and C8-T1 roots. In this article, we report a distinct clinical presentation of brachial plexus injury characterized by intact finger flexion with signs of complete brachial plexus injury.

Methods: From 2010 to 2022, 989 patients who sustained brachial plexus injuries were examined and underwent surgery.

Soybean2035: A decadal vision for soybean functional genomics and breeding.

Soybean, the fourth most important crop in the world, uniquely serves as a source of both plant oil and plant protein for the world's food and animal feed. Although soybean production has increased approximately 13-fold over the past 60 years, the continually growing global population necessitates further increases in soybean production. In the past, especially in the last decade, significant progress has been made in both functional genomics and molecular breeding.

Postural Abnormalities in Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome-Related Neurological and Visual Impairment.

Deformities, body asymmetries, and muscle contractures are common consequences of atypical postural patterns in children with c ongenital Zika syndrome (CZS). This study aimed to evaluate the posture of children with CZS, considering their neurological and visual impairments. Ophthalmological assessment included binocular best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using Teller Acuity Cards II (TAC II) and an ocular motility evaluation.

Tracing the Dispersal Pathway of HIV-1 Subtype C to Bahia: Phylogenetic Connections to Southern Brazil.

The HIV-1 epidemic in Brazil is predominantly characterized by subtype B, except in the southern states, where subtype C (HIV-1C) is more prevalent. Continuous monitoring of this profile is essential to maintain an accurate understanding of the molecular landscape of the HIV epidemic in Brazil. In this study, we isolated and sequenced seven new HIV-1C strains from the state of Bahia, located in the Northeast region of Brazil.

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.

Cardiac Biomarkers in a Brazilian Indigenous Population Exposed to Arboviruses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Arthropod-borne viral diseases are acute febrile illnesses, sometimes with chronic effects, that can be debilitating and even fatal worldwide, affecting particularly vulnerable populations. Indigenous communities face not only the burden of these acute febrile illnesses, but also the cardiovascular complications that are worsened by urbanization. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indigenous population in the Northeast Region of Brazil to explore the association between arboviral infections (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) and cardiac biomarkers, including cardiotrophin 1, growth differentiation factor 15, lactate dehydrogenase B, fatty-acid-binding protein 3, myoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, big endothelin 1, and creatine kinase-MB, along with clinical and anthropometric factors.

Beyond Poliomyelitis: A 21-Year Study of Non-Polio Enterovirus Genotyping and Its Relevance in Acute Flaccid Paralysis in São Paulo, Brazil.

In the context of the near-global eradication of wild poliovirus, the significance of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) in causing acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and their impact on public health has gained increased attention. This research, conducted from 2001 to 2021, examined stool samples from 1597 children under 15 years in São Paulo, Brazil, through the AFP/Poliomyelitis Surveillance Program, detecting NPEVs in 6.9% of cases.

Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold for the Diagnosis of Infection in HTLV-1-Infected Patients.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) test for the diagnosis of (MTB) infection in HTLV-1-infected individuals. HTLV-1-infected participants were divided into four groups: HTLV-1-infected individuals with a history of tuberculosis (HTLV/TB), individuals with positive HTLV and tuberculin skin tests (HTLV/TST+) or negative TST (HTLV/TST-), and HTLV-1-negative individuals with positive TST results (HN/TST+).

Wolbachia-Based Approaches to Controlling Mosquito-Borne Viral Threats: Innovations, AI Integration, and Future Directions in the Context of Climate Change.

Wolbachia-based mosquito control strategies have gained significant attention as a sustainable approach to reduce the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. These endosymbiotic bacteria can limit the ability of mosquitoes to transmit pathogens, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemical-based interventions. With the growing impact of climate change on mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission, Wolbachia interventions represent an adaptable and resilient strategy for mitigating the public health burden of vector-borne diseases.

Investigation of RNA Viruses in Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a Mining Complex in the Southeastern Region of the Brazilian Amazon.

The biting midges Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is highly relevant to epidemiology and public health, as it includes species that are potential vectors of human and animal arboviruses. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of RNA viruses in species of the genus collected in the Carajás mining complex in the state of Pará. The biting midges were collected in the municipalities of Canaã dos Carajás, Curionópolis and Marabá and morphologically identified.

Serological Evidence of Hantavirus in Bats from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: An Investigation of Seroreactivity and Cross-Reactivity of Neotropical Bat Samples Using Nucleoproteins of Rodent- and Bat-Borne Hantaviruses.

Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens associated with severe human diseases such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Despite the extensive study of rodent-borne hantaviruses, research on bat-associated hantaviruses remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence and cross-reactivity of neotropical bat samples with rodent- and bat-associated recombinant hantavirus nucleoproteins (rNPs) to improve hantavirus surveillance in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

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.

The Laboratory Opossum () Is a Unique Model for Research on Zika Virus: Robust Immune Response, Widespread Dissemination, and Long-Term Persistence.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic elicited a rapid commitment to the development of animal models for ZIKV research. Non-human primates (NHPs) and mice have made significant contributions to this research, but NHPs are expensive, have a long gestation period, and are available only in small numbers; non-genetically modified mice are resistant to infection. To address these deficiencies, we have established the laboratory opossum, , as a small animal model that complements the mouse and monkey models.

The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described.

Vaccination Coverage at Birth in Brazil: Spatial and Temporal Trends in the Impact of COVID-19 on Uptake of BCG and Hepatitis B Vaccines.

Introduction: Vaccines are a significant public health achievement, which are crucial for child survival and disease control globally. In Brazil, the National Immunization Program (PNI) manages vaccination schedules, including essential vaccines like BCG and Hepatitis B, administered at birth. Despite achieving over 95% coverage for years, vaccination rates have declined since 2016, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Derived β-Glucan Capsules as a Delivery System for DNA Vaccines.

Background/objectives: DNA vaccines are rapidly produced and adaptable to different pathogens, but they face considerable challenges regarding stability and delivery to the cellular target. Thus, effective delivery methods are essential for the success of these vaccines. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of capsules derived from the cell wall of the yeast as a delivery system for DNA vaccines.

Immunogenicity and Safety According to Immunosuppressive Drugs and Different COVID-19 Vaccine Platforms in Immune-Mediated Disease: Data from SAFER Cohort.

Background/objectives: The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) depends on the underlying disease, immunosuppression degree and the vaccine regimens. We evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of different COVID-19 vaccine schedules.

Methods: The SAFER study: "Safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Rheumatic Disease", is a Brazilian multicentric prospective observational phase IV study in the real-life.

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy: A Systematic Review.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease whose prevention is significantly aided by vaccination, which reduces both case severity and mortality. Despite the safety and efficacy of vaccines, acceptance is not universal, and understanding of the factors influencing vaccination decisions and hesitancy remains limited. This review aims to identify and analyze studies addressing two key questions: what influences the decision to vaccinate and what factors are associated with vaccine hesitancy.

Epidemiology of Pertussis After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Factors Involved in the Resurgence of the Disease in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease of the respiratory tract that can be prevented by vaccination. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccine coverage rate for the third dose of a DPT-containing vaccine was 86%, with large disparities among countries. Since 2022, many high-income countries have reported a resurgence of pertussis, especially in the European region, but the disease has also caused outbreaks in middle- and low-income countries, despite their less extensive disease surveillance capacities.