Laser-Induced Graphene for Electrochemical Sensing of Antioxidants in Biodiesel.

Synthetic antioxidants are often introduced to biodiesel to increase its oxidative stability, and -butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) has been selected due to its high efficiency for this purpose. The monitoring of antioxidants in biodiesel therefore provides information on the oxidative stability of biodiesels. Herein, a laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrode is introduced as a new sensor for detecting -butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) in biodiesel samples.

Obtaining Microcellulose from Solid Agro-Waste by Ball Mill Assisted by Light Acid Hydrolysis Process.

Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, is biodegradable, nontoxic, and derived from renewable sources. Its properties and applications depend on the extraction methods and sources, making plant waste reuse a sustainable production option. This study aimed to assess the potential of cowpea pod skin () as a source of microcellulose (CPMC) using a chemical-mechanical process involving ball milling combined with acid hydrolysis.

Chemical Functionalization of Cellulose Nanofibrils with 2-Aminoethyl Hydrogen Sulfate.

The chemical functionalization of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) was carried out using 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate as the reagent under various experimental conditions via a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (S2) reaction. The functionalized CNFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance. The results indicate that the chemical modification was successful, as evidenced by the presence of a band at 1540 cm, corresponding to the N-H bond of the amine group.

Access to healthcare: waiting time until the surgical procedure.

Background: Understanding the determinants that limit the population's access to surgical care in health services is highly relevant in order to provide data to support political interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the time between diagnosis and elective surgery in adult patients with the longest waiting lists in Brazil; identify the determinants that interfere with access to the health service to perform surgery; and analyze the quality of life after the indicative diagnosis of surgical intervention.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adult patients treated at three hospitals in the Southeast, North and South regions of Brazil, from October 2020 to October 2022.

Photobiomodulation therapy in diabetes: Benefits for pain relief, quality of life, and wound healing.

Globally, 537 million people suffer from diabetes mellitus (DM), a condition often associated with sensory disturbances, wound development, and chronic pain, which significantly affects the quality of life and imposes a substantial economic burden. This study evaluated the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy on nociceptive and sensory changes in diabetic patients to understand pain manifestations and explore PBM's molecular mechanisms on wound healing. Twenty patients with type 2 DM underwent clinical assessments, completed pain and quality of life questionnaires, and had their pain sensitivity evaluated using the quantitative sensory test (QST).

The Toxicity of Poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene) Microplastics toward Is Associated with Biofragmentation and Oxidative Stress.

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic copolymer commonly used in the electronics, automotive, and construction industries. In the aquatic environment, the formation of microplastics from larger-sized plastic waste occurs naturally, induced by physical, chemical, and biological processes that promote the aging of these particles. Here, we investigated the interactions between the freshwater amphipod and ABS microplastics (10-20 μm) (pristine and after accelerated aging) over 7 days of exposure.

Energized dispersive guided extraction (EDGE): a promising tool for analytical chemistry applications.

Analytical chemistry demands precise sample preparation methods to ensure accurate qualitative and quantitative determinations, especially those capable of clean-up and preconcentration of target analytes. Extraction plays a crucial role in enhancing the selectivity and sensitivity of analytical procedures. Thus, Energized Dispersive Guided Extraction (EDGE) has emerged as an innovative alternative to traditional methods, such as Soxhlet, maceration, and percolation, as well as modern techniques like Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), and Microwave or Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (MAE and UAE).

Periprocedural Skincare for Nonenergy and Nonablative Energy-Based Aesthetic Procedures in Patients With Skin of Color.

Background: Anti-aging facial procedures with nonenergy and nonablative energy devices are increasingly popular among patients with skin of color (SOC). Algorithms have addressed the measures to reduce the side effects related to aesthetic procedures, but few focus on SOC patients and periprocedural integrating skincare.

Methods: Eight dermatologists from Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, and the USA participated in a meeting and an online follow-up to develop an algorithm for periprocedural skincare for nonenergy and nonablative energy-based facial aesthetic procedures in patients with SOC.

Are dry-land measurements and their asymmetries related to swimming performance?

This study aimed to verify the correlations between variables obtained from dry-land tests and swimming performance, in addition to examining the associations between the dry-land asymmetries and swimming performance. Thirty-seven male swimmers performed a test battery, including shoulder isokinetic torque, shoulder range of motion (ROM), vertical jump, anthropometric, and in-water force tests. Additionally, the best official performance in the events of 50 and 200 m front crawl was obtained.

Phenolic Compounds and Bacteriocins: Mechanisms, Interactions, and Applications in Food Preservation and Safety.

Beneficial properties of different natural antimicrobials are topics of scientific curiosity for improving safety and extending the shelf life of food commodities. In this regard, phenolic compounds, natural molecules known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties can be right choice. Moreover, bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides produced by various microorganisms, capable of inhibiting the growth of other bacteria, particularly closely related species can be genuine alternative.

Nutrient Digestibility in Zoo-Kept Tapirs (Tapirus spp) as Compared to Other Herbivores.

Tapirs are hindgut fermenters with a natural diet dominated by browse, with a certain proportion of wild fruit. By contrast, diets fed to tapirs in zoos are often dominated by domestic fruit and other sources of easily digestible carbohydrates, which have been linked to obesity and various health problems. We aimed at better understanding the digestive physiology of tapirs, measuring the digestive efficiency of 13 lowland (Tapirus terrestris) and five Malayan (Tapirus indicus) tapirs from five zoos on various zoo diets by recording intake and total faecal excretion.

Contaminant Suggesting Rotifer in Liquid-Based Cytology of the Cervix.

Rotifers are rare in cytology, particularly in liquid media. We describe a case of rotifer in liquid-based cytology of a 30-year-old nulliparous woman without comorbidities who complained of vaginal discharge and sought a cervical cancer prevention service with no noteworthy findings on gynecological examination.

C-phycocyanin acts as a positive immunomodulator in different primary and secondary organs of mice.

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a photosynthetic pigment with interesting therapeutic properties. However, its effectiveness in modulating the immune system cell populations has not been elucidated. We analyzed the action of C-PC on the modulation of mice immune system.

Efficacy of Using Photobiomodulation Therapy in Allergic Rhinitis: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Recent studies have extensively explored new non-invasive and side-effect-free therapeutic strategies for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) utilizes photons from the red to infrared spectrum to modulate biological processes, exhibiting anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of PBMT in patients with AR.

Predicting doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer: leveraging machine learning with synthetic data.

Doxorubicin (DOXO) is a primary treatment for breast cancer but can cause cardiotoxicity in over 25% of patients within the first year post-chemotherapy. Recognizing at-risk patients before DOXO initiation offers pathways for alternative treatments or early protective actions. We analyzed data from 78 Brazilian breast cancer patients, with 34.

Effects of sunflower cake in lamb diets on meat quality and its fatty acid profile.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sunflower cake (SFC) levels (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28% dry matter) in the diet for feedlot lambs on meat quality and its fatty acid profile. Forty crossbreed non castrated hair lambs were fed with experimental diets through 70 days when they were slaughtered and a Longissimus lumborum section were evaluated for physicochemical quality and fatty acid profile. There were no effects of SFC levels (P > 0.

Synanthropic Rodents as Bioindicator of Human Pathogens in a Tourist Area of Brazil.

The black rat Rattus rattus is an exotic and synanthropic rodent prominent in Brazil and with high adaptation to urban areas. The species have an omnivorous diet feed on human food resources, potentially becoming infected and spreading infectious agents that cause zoonoses such as leptospirosis, leishmaniosis, Chagas disease, and toxoplasmosis, which are significant public health concerns in the country. We analyzed the epidemiologic profile of R.

Cannabis legalization: a call for the integration of main health and crime indicator domains towards comprehensive policy impact assessments.

Several jurisdictions have implemented legalization policies for non-medical cannabis, mainly towards improving public health and reducing illegal cannabis markets and crime. As some legalization initiatives are approaching maturity, conducting policy impact assessments has become timely. Emerging data, however, suggest rather mixed pictures for key outcomes and indicators.

The person-centered medical care in pediatrics: A scoping review.

Introduction And Objectives: The medicine development demonstrates that the traditional bioethical medical care model is not the most adequate. On the other hand, the person-centered clinical method has been winning more space in the medical practice, since it is a humanized method of care that allows best results. In pediatrics, the patient-centered care works a little bit different, since it requires not only the physician-patient relation, but also the integration of the physician-family-patient relation.

Assessment and treatment considerations for patients with colorectal liver metastases: AHPBA consensus guideline and update for surgeons.

Background: Colorectal cancer most commonly metastasizes to the liver. While various treatment strategies have been developed, surgical management of these patients has vital implications on the prognosis and survival of this group of patients. There remains a need for a consensus guideline regarding the surgical evaluation and management of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Upscaling a regional telecardiology service to a nationwide coverage and beyond: the experience of the Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and in Brazil. The provision of quality healthcare faces challenges due to resource scarcity and unequal distribution, particularly affecting rural areas. Telehealth strategies have shown potential to address these challenges by improving access to specialised care.

A multicenter study on enteral autonomy outcome of pediatric intestinal failure patients from a middle-income country.

Background & Aims: To identify predictors of enteral autonomy and survival in pediatric intestinal failure patients followed up at three pediatric intestinal rehabilitation centers from a middle-income country.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluated patients with intestinal failure from three high-volume intestinal rehabilitation centers on long-term parenteral nutrition between 2014 and 2023. The primary outcome was status at the end of the follow-up: parenteral nutrition dependence, enteral autonomy, transplantation, or death.

Impact of WHO-Recommended TB Control Measures on Occupational TB Risk Among Healthcare Workers in a High-Burden Tertiary Hospital in Brazil: A 24-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a higher risk due to prolonged exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed guidelines focusing on administrative interventions, structural interventions, and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage to mitigate this risk.

Evaluating the properties of starch/chitosan films with the incorporation of various nanoclays for use in food packaging.

This study evaluates the properties of starch/chitosan films (SCF) produced via the casting method, incorporating 40 % (w/w) plasticizers (glycerol and sorbitol) and various concentrations (0, 3, 5, and 10 % (w/w)) of nanoclays (Cloisite 20A, Cloisite 30B, and K-10). The effects of each nanofiller on the films were thoroughly investigated. Films containing nanoclays exhibited reduced water solubility and enhanced thermal stability compared to films without nanofillers.