Catalytic degradation of kraft lignin to determine its antioxidant potential for industrial purposes.

The lignin fraction of the lignocellulosic biomass corresponds to 15-30 % wt. This is largely obtained as a by-product of wood pulping to produce cellulose and paper, with the kraft process being the most used by industry. The chemical composition of lignin makes an excellent raw material for obtaining various chemical compounds with industrial applications, such as phenolic resins, biofuels and fine chemical products.

Bioactivity of dressings based on platelet-rich plasma and Platelet-rich fibrin for tissue regeneration in animal model.

Background: Skin wounds are common injuries that affect quality of life and incur high costs. A considerable portion of healthcare resources in Western countries is allocated to wound treatment, mainly using mechanical, biological, or artificial dressings. Biological and artificial dressings, such as hydrogels, are preferred for their biocompatibility.

Nasal irrigation solution is less cytotoxic to nasal epithelial cells than nasal spray.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that corticosteroid delivered by nasal irrigation is superior to nasal spray in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients who have undergone sinus surgery. However, the local cytotoxicity of both delivery methods has not been previously evaluated. In this study we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of corticosteroid prepared nasal irrigation solution and commercially available corticosteroid nasal spray.

Different factors modulate visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation in adults: a single-center study in Brazil.

Background: Abdominal adipose tissue consists of visceral and subcutaneous fat deposits, each with unique metabolic and functional properties. Identifying the characteristics that influence different obesity phenotypes can support targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Objective: To identify predictive factors associated with visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue accumulation.

Reassessing the role of the p.(Arg304Gln) missense AIP variant in pituitary tumorigenesis.

Objective: Heterozygous germline loss-of-function variants in AIP are associated with young-onset growth hormone and/or prolactin-secreting pituitary tumours. However, the pathogenic role of the c.911G>A; p.

Adherence to Nutritional Counselling Goals Among Pregnant Women With Overweight and Its Effect on Perinatal Health Outcomes.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the adherence to nutritional counselling goals among pregnant women with overweight and its effect on perinatal outcomes.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial was conducted in 350 adult pregnant women with overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m).

Caspase-1/11 controls Zika virus replication in astrocytes by inhibiting glycolytic metabolism.

Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a significant threat due to its association with severe neurological complications, particularly during pregnancy. Although viruses exhibit tropism for neural cells, including astrocytes, the role of these cells in controlling ZIKV replication remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that ZIKV induces caspase-1 activation in primary astrocytes despite the absence of classical signs of inflammasome activation.

Rational design of Chim3, a multifunctional peptide carrying a formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonist module released by bacterial signal peptidase I (Spase I).

Membrane-active peptides are useful tools in the design of multifunctional molecules. For example, peptide chimeras may release, after proteolysis of membrane-adsorbed molecules, pharmacologically active fragments. In previous work, Chim2, an antimicrobial peptide composed of a membrane-active module, an enzymatic hydrolysis site, and an agonist moiety for type 2 formyl peptide receptors (FPR2), was conceptualized.

Mannich Bases: Promising Scaffolds for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Mannich bases, synthesized through the reaction of an aldehyde, a primary or secondary amine, and a compound bearing an acidic hydrogen atom, represent a versatile class of scaffolds in medicinal chemistry. This review explores their broad spectrum of biological activities, emphasizing their potential in combating infectious diseases. With demonstrated efficacy against bacteria, fungi, and parasites, Mannich bases stand out as promising candidates for the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Obesity and Childhood Leukemia in Brazil: Biological, Regional, and Environmental Insights.

This mini-review aimed to present an outlook on childhood obesity and leukemia in different regions of Brazil and explore a possible association between biological aspects related to adipose tissue and childhood cancer. We emphasized environmental factors that may influence cancer development and obesity and present studies showing different prevalences of these diseases in Brazilian regions. However, future studies are required to determine how environmental factors in these regions contribute to leukemia and obesity development in childhood and adolescence.

Improving microbiological safety and quality of apple juice through lactic acid sanitization and biopreservation.

This study investigates lactic acid as a sustainable alternative to sodium hypochlorite for apple sanitization in juice production, along with the addition of as a biopreservative. Lactic acid showed superior effectiveness in reducing microbial contamination, achieving reductions of 2.64 log CFU/mL for mesophilic aerobes, 2.

Impact of COVID-19 on key populations and people living with HIV: recommendations and sociopolitical responses from the EPIC community research program in Latin America.

Background: Health inequality in Latin America is particularly severe for individuals living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations, such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, people who use drugs, and sex workers. Despite regional programs aimed at reducing health inequalities, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018-2030, the COVID-19 health crisis has exposed significant shortcomings in national healthcare systems for PLHIV and key populations. The multi-country, community-based research program, EPIC, was developed by Coalition PLUS within an network of community-based organizations engaged in the response to HIV and viral hepatitis.

Bioactives derived from Brazilian native flora with antimicrobial and anticancer activity.

Background: The development of new drugs that act against multidrug-resistant microorganisms and malignant tumors is necessary owing to the limited therapeutic options and high mortality rates associated with these pathologies. In this study, we evaluated the phytochemical groups present in seven plants from the Brazilian Cerrado even as their antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities.

Methods: The extracts were obtained by the maceration technique and secondary metabolites were determined by phytochemical analysis.

Does mask usage correlate with excess mortality? Findings from 24 European countries.

Background: Several nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as masking, were mandated or recommended during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study's primary objective is to investigate the relationship between population-level mask usage and excess mortality across Europe.

Methods: We collected data on mask usage and other relevant variables from 24 European countries during 2020-2021, a period in which mask policies varied widely across nations, providing an ideal basis for a natural experiment.

Autosomal Recessive Ataxias in Northeast Brazil: A Regional Multicenter Case Series.

Unlabelled: Hereditary cerebellar ataxias are a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive cerebellar dysfunction and possible multisystemic involvement. While significant advancements have been made in understanding autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs), autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) remain less extensively investigated than autosomal dominant ataxias, particularly in regions with high consanguinity. This study aimed to characterize 57 patients with ARCAs in Ceará, northeast Brazil.

Subdermal implants vs. levonorgestrel intrauterine devices outcomes in reproductive-aged women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of subdermal implants and levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in reproductive-aged women.

Methods: In April 2024, we searched Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane trials using the search terms: "etonogestrel", "levonorgestrel" and "randomized controlled trials". We identified 2862 results comparing the LNG-IUS to subdermal implants.

FAPI radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear oncology and theranostics of solid tumours: are we nearer to surrounding the hallmarks of cancer?

[F]FDG PET/CT is the most widely used PET radiopharmaceutical in oncology, but it is not exempt of diagnostic limitations. FAPI have emerged as a great tool in the management of several different solid tumours in which [F]FDG is not able to provide enough information. The aim of this work was to evaluate the available evidence on diagnostic and therapeutic applications of PET/CT with FAPI radiopharmaceuticals.

Changes in land uses caused by deforestation determine the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community composition in tropical environments.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts that help plants cope with biotic and abiotic stresses in soil ecosystems. However, AMF communities are highly sensitive to land use changes. In this study, we sampled soils from three environments (natural ecosystem, pasture, and deforested site) to characterize the AMF community (spores' abundance, richness, Shannon's diversity, and Simpson's dominance) and soil chemical properties (soil pH, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen).

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for postoperative pain management after ventral hernia repair: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative pain remains a common concern following ventral hernia repair (VHR), especially for open procedures. We aim to assess the effectiveness of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block for the management of postoperative pain following VHR.

Methods: Cochrane, EMBASE, and PubMED, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies comprising adults undergoing VHR with preoperative TAP block, compared to placebo and epidural analgesia.

Geographic inequalities and factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in diabetes-tuberculosis and diabetes-covid comorbidities in Brazil.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 have overwhelmed health systems, especially in the care of chronic disease such as tuberculosis and diabetes. The objective of the study was to analyze the magnitude and relevance of tuberculosis-diabetes and diabetes-COVID-19 comorbidities in spatial risk areas and their factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in the Brazilian population between 2020 and 2022. An ecological study was carried out in Brazilian municipalities.

Sample observed effects: enumeration, randomization and generalization.

We study generalization of intervention effects across several simulated and real-world samples. We start by formulating the concept of the 'background' of a sample effect observation. We then formulate conditions for effect generalization based on a sample's set of (observed and unobserved) backgrounds.

Videolaryngoscope designs for tracheal intubation in adults: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Introduction: Videolaryngoscopy improves tracheal intubation outcomes compared with direct laryngoscopy in various scenarios. However, the range of videolaryngoscope designs makes it challenging to identify the most effective device. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare different laryngoscope designs when used for tracheal intubation of adults under general anaesthesia.

Effect of print layer thickness and finishing and polishing protocols on the flexural strength, cell adhesion, and surface properties of a 3D printed resin.

Statement Of Problem: Evidence regarding standardization of finishing and polishing protocols for 3-dimensionally (3D) printed interim resins is sparse.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of print layer thickness and aging on the flexural strength, cell adhesion, and surface roughness of a 3D printed resin for interim crowns submitted to different finishing and polishing protocols.

Material And Methods: A total of 150 bars were printed (Flash Forge Foto 6.