Diet quality components and gut microbiota of patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between the quality of the diet and its components and microbial diversity and composition in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Design And Methods: This crossectional study included PD patients for at least 3 months, aged 18-75 years and clinically stable. The Diet Quality Index (DQI), validated for the Brazilian population, is based on the energy density of 11 components ("sugar and sweets"; "beef, pork and processed meat"; "refined grains and breads"; "animal fat"; "poultry, fish and eggs"; "whole cereals, tubers and roots"; "fruits"; "non-starch vegetables"; "legumes and nuts"; "milk and dairy products"; "vegetable oil").

Handheld dynamometry testing during dialysis: intra and inter-rater reliability study.

Objective: The aim was to assess the intra and inter-rater reliability of the handheld dynamometry testing of lower limb muscles during hemodialysis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including subjects undertaking hemodialysis for at least 3 months. Handheld dynamometer measurements of hip and ankle muscle strength (N) were registered on 4 different occasions, 2 trials by raters A and 2 by raters B, to evaluate the intra and inter-rater reliability.

'Neither here nor there'? Meiofauna as an effective tool to evaluate the impacts of the 2019 mysterious oil spill in a Northeast Brazil coral reef.

During the last half of 2019, the Northeast coast of Brazil suffered from an extensive oil spill of unknown origin, and marine organisms in those areas were subjected to significant impacts. In situations like this, the contaminant effects can persist for varying periods. Oil contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), generally reduce taxa's abundance and diversity in benthic communities in areas with greater exposure to chemical components.

Comparison between the fluid-structure interaction approach and the finite element method approach to analyze the leaflet flutter in bioprosthetic aortic valve.

The low durability of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV), between 10-15 years, is associated with the development of leaflets flutter. Despite increasing calcification and structural damage of the BHV, leaflets flutter is an understudied condition. Therefore, the objective of this study is compare the oscillation characteristics of BHV leaflets obtained by the finite element method (FEM) technique and by the fluid-structural interaction (FSI) technique.

Knowledge and attitude of deaf women in relation to contraceptive methods: A systematic review.

Background: Communication barriers make it difficult for deaf women to access information about contraceptive methods, making them vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies.

Objective: To identify knowledge and attitudes of deaf women in relation to contraceptive methods.

Method: The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature, PROSPERO registry (CRD42021277635), conducted from August 2021 to April 2024.

Evaluation of corneal incision in femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and quality of healing of main corneal incisions in femtosecond laser procedures in cataract surgery.

Methods: It was a prospective, non-randomized, investigator-masked study. A total of 37 eyes of 37 patients with indication for cataract surgery were separated into two groups in this prospective, nonrandomized study: Femto group, with incisions automated by femtosecond laser (18 eyes), and Phaco group, with incisions made using a keratome (19 eyes).

OSVE or multiple-choice test: Is that a relevant question?

Introduction: The OSCE has been a robust tool for assessing clinical skills in medical education, adaptable across various clinical domains and stages. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, posed significant challenges to traditional assessment methods. This led to the development of the OSVE as an alternative.

Phylogeography of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages detected in asymptomatic blood donors during third epidemiological wave in Mato Grosso, Midwestern Brazil.

Emerging infectious disease agents represent pathogens that may evade current screening protocols while posing significant transfusion transmission risks regionally. This study investigated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses among 633 blood donors at the MT-Hemocentro from November 2021 to February 2023. Nucleic acid obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs were tested by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, FLU-A, and FLU-B.

Ascorbic acid on the induction of salt stress tolerance in guava in the seedling formation phase.

Guava is a fruit crop widely exploited in the Northeast region of Brazil. However, its exploitation is limited by water scarcity and, in many cases, producers are forced to use water with high levels of salts in irrigation. Thus, it is necessary to develop techniques to induce plant tolerance to salt stress, and the foliar application of a non-enzymatic compound such as ascorbic acid is a promising alternative to mitigate the deleterious effects on plants.

Mastering rectal cancer MRI: From foundational concepts to optimal staging.

MRI plays a critical role in the local staging, restaging, surveillance, and risk stratification of patients, ensuring they receive the most tailored therapy. As such, radiologists must be familiar not only with the key MRI findings that influence management decisions but also with the appropriate MRI protocols and structured reporting. Given the complexity of selecting the optimal therapy for each patient-which often requires multidisciplinary discussions-radiologists should be well-versed in relevant treatment strategies and surgical terms, understanding their significance in guiding patient care.

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC-LC-HRMS): An approach to study natural peptides in Viperidae snake venom.

Although proteins in snake venoms have been extensively studied and characterized, low-mass molecules remain relatively unexplored, mainly due to their low abundance, secondary role in envenomation, and some analytical technique limitations. However, these small molecules can provide new important data related to venom toxins' molecular structure, functions, and evolutionary relationships. This research aimed to characterize molecules below 10 kDa in the venoms of snakes from the Viperidae families (Bothrops, Agkistrodon, and Bitis) and compare two chromatographic approaches: reverse-phase chromatography (RP), a classic technique, and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), an alternative technique, both coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

Assessing diapocynin's different effects on osteosarcoma and breast cancer cells: An in vitro study.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer, accounting for approximately 5 % of new cancer cases globally. In contrast, breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Given the limitations of current therapies, novel treatment strategies are urgently needed.

Resilience in adversity: Exploring adaptive changes in cancer cells under stress.

Objective: Cancer cells undergo adaptive processes that favor their survival and proliferation when subjected to different types of cellular stress. These changes are linked to oncogenic processes such as genetic instability, tumor proliferation, therapy resistance, and invasion. Therefore, this study aimed to review studies that discuss possible morphological and genetic changes acquired by neoplastic cells under stressful conditions.

Nitrogen removal from multi-electrolyte saline wastewater via mainstream anammox in warm climate conditions.

High salts concentrations in wastewater hinder its biological treatment. Recent research has investigated the inhibitory effect of salinity on the anammox process, mainly focusing on NaCl. Thus, the inhibition caused by multi-electrolytes salinity on freshwater anammox bacteria remains unclear.

Development and characterization of farnesol complexed in β- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and their antibacterial activity.

Farnesol (FAR) belongs to terpenes group and is a sesquiterpene alcohol and a hydrophobic compound, which can be extracted from natural sources or obtained by organic chemical or biological synthesis. Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology allow the drawbacks of low drug solubility, which can improve the drug therapeutic index. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare the FAR inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) through freeze-drying method, proposing their physicochemical characterization, comparing their toxicity, and evaluating their in vitro antibacterial activity.

Grading systems and perineural invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma - a disease-specific survival analysis.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive cancer, with prognosis influenced by clinical variables as well grading systems and perineural invasion (PNI), which are associated to poorer outcomes, including higher rates of recurrence and metastasis. This study aims to evaluate OSCC using three grading systems and assess the impact of PNI and clinicopathologic parameters on patient survival.

Material And Methods: Eighty-one primary OSCC samples were analyzed.

Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoexpression in oral paracoccidioidomycosis.

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic and limited to Latin America. Brazil is responsible for more than 80% of diagnosed cases in the world. Since PCM is not a notifiable disease, there are still no accurate data on its incidence in Brazil.

The influence of Dexmedetomidine as an additive to local anesthetics in dental procedures: A systematic review.

Background: This review aimed to assess if the use of dexmedetomidine as an additive to local anesthetics promotes greater safety and efficacy than local anesthetics alone in dental procedures.

Material And Methods: the systematic review was structured according to the PICO strategy and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Studies were included based on the eligibility criteria, and data from the included studies were collected by one author.

Teaching oral and maxillofacial pathology and oral medicine in undergraduate and postgraduate in Latin America.

Background: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (OP) and Oral Medicine (OM) are specialties in dentistry responsible for diagnosis and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions, and to best of our knowledge no information about teaching of OP and OM in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Latin America have been described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate dimensions related to the teaching of OP and OM in South America and Mexico.

Material And Methods: A structured questionnaire was elaborated and sent to 10 countries, with a professional in each country responsible for answering it.

Does oral hygiene prevents nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oral hygiene (OH) with chlorhexidine (CHX) on the evolution of nosocomial infections (NI).

Material And Methods: Electronic searches were carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, VHL, and Grey Literature databases. Randomized clinical trials were included.

Emerging trends in pharmacological treatment of inferior alveolar nerve sensory disorders: a scoping review.

Background: Sensory disorders of the inferior alveolar nerve, often arising from dental procedures, markedly impact the quality of life of patients. This article proposes a scoping review to analyze emerging trends in pharmacological treatment for these disorders, addressing scientific gaps and clinical practices.

Material And Methods: The review followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol, conducting data searches across various databases, including PubMed and Cochrane, until March 2024.

Barriers and facilitators of bystander intervention in response to racism in Colombia.

Racial discrimination is a pervasive global problem. Bystanders who observe racism can intervene to support the targets of racism, but they often fail to do so due to several context-specific barriers. There is currently little research on bystander behaviour in racism outside of English-speaking countries.

Potential roles of mitochondrial carrier proteins in plant responses to abiotic stress.

The transport of metabolites across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) is crucial for maintaining energy balance and efficient distribution of metabolic intermediates between cellular compartments. Under abiotic stress, mitochondrial function becomes particularly critical, activating complex signaling pathways essential for plant stress responses. These pathways modulate stress-responsive gene expression, influencing key physiological processes such as cell respiration and senescence, helping plants adapt to stress.

Cardiotoxicity Associated With a Low Doses of 5-FU Promotes Morphoquantitative Changes in the Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic that is used to treat solid tumors. However, 5-FU is associated with several side effects, including cardiotoxicity. Considering the importance of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS) for the heart and that little is known about effects of 5-FU on this nervous system plexus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate effects 5-FU at a low dose on the ICNS and oxidative and inflammatory effects in the heart in Wistar rats.

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference.

In 2017, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) published a Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD). Since then, new lines of evidence have been published related to evaluating disordered mineral metabolism and bone quality and turnover, identifying and inhibiting vascular calcification, targeting vitamin D levels, and regulating parathyroid hormone. For an in-depth consideration of the new insights, in October 2023, KDIGO held a Controversies Conference on CKD-MBD: Progress and Knowledge Gaps Toward Personalizing Care.