Arbovirus exposure and subclinical myocardial dysfunction in an Indigenous population in Northeast Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Human activities, such as urbanization and climate change, have facilitated the spread of arbovirus-carrying vectors, disproportionately affecting vulnerable traditional Indigenous communities.

Objective: To explore the relationships between subclinical myocardial dysfunction, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), and comprehensive arbovirus serology in an Indigenous population, while also describing the serological and epidemiological profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

Methods: This ancillary study is part of the first phase (2016-2017) of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI), a cross-sectional study involving participants from two Indigenous communities with different degrees of urbanization and a highly urbanized city in Northeast Brazil.

Radiomorphometric indices for measuring mandibular bone quality in oncologic patients.

Objective: This retrospective study compared the thickness and degree of resorption of the mandibular cortex in patients with head and neck cancer (AG), patients with cancer at sites other than the head and neck (BG), and patients with no cancer (CG) to describe and compare the changes in the mandible after antineoplastic therapy and their possible clinical implications.

Materials And Methods: A total of 287 panoramic radiographs were examined. The following radiomorphometric indices were analyzed: mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), and mandibular cortical index (MCI).

Exploring the Different Impacts of Ketamine on Neurotrophic Factors and Inflammatory Parameters in a Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Sepsis Model.

Given ketamine's conflicting impacts on the central nervous system, investigating its effects within an inflammatory context becomes crucial. This study aimed to assess the impact of varying ketamine doses on neurotrophin and inflammatory cytokine levels within the brains of rats submitted to the sepsis model. Wistar rats were submitted to the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis.

Impact of nanostructured additives in tooth bleaching agents on enhancing color change and reducing side effects: a scoping review.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether incorporating nanostructured additives into bleaching agents enhances efficacy and reduces side effects while identifying gaps for further investigation.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened articles based on predefined criteria, resolving discrepancies through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer.

Poor muscle quality: A hidden and detrimental health condition in obesity.

Poor muscle quality (MQ) is a hidden health condition in obesity, commonly disregarded and underdiagnosed, associated with poor health-related outcomes. This narrative review provides an in-depth exploration of MQ in obesity, including definitions, available assessment methods and challenges, pathophysiology, association with health outcomes, and potential interventions. MQ is a broad term that can include imaging, histological, functional, or metabolic assessments, evaluating beyond muscle quantity.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Increase Pathological Complete Response in Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Background And Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current standard of care involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical gastrectomy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in comparison to chemotherapy alone for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).

Machine learning validation of the AVAS classification compared to ultrasound mapping in a multicentre study.

The Arteriovenous Access Stage (AVAS) classification simplifies information about suitability of vessels for vascular access (VA). It's been previously validated in a clinical study. Here, AVAS performance was tested against multiple ultrasound mapping measurements using machine learning.

Structural and vascular assessment of the optic nerve head and macula in chronic Chagas disease.

Chagas disease (CD), a parasitic infection, may have ocular repercussions in its cardiologic form, since a history of heart disease of other etiologies already has been established as a risk factor for neuropathies and maculopathies. The aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical structural and vascular optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters in patients with chronic CD. Nineteen patients with CD and 19 healthy subjects were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and Laguna ONhE® software.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

A novel frameshift variant in the gene is associated with recessive oculodentodigital dysplasia.

Background: Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is a rare syndrome that causes a constellation of facial, ophthalmic, dental, and limb abnormalities. Variants in the gap junction alpha-1 () gene have been described in patients with ODDD. Hereby we present the ocular manifestations in a patient with recessive ODDD due to a novel homozygous frameshift variant in .

Instruments for assessing healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding deprescribing: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: To map instruments for assessing healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding deprescribing.

Introduction: Deprescribing is essential for improving patient outcomes by managing polypharmacy, reducing fall risks and decreasing medication costs. However, there is a limited exploration of healthcare professionals' perspectives about deprescribing.

PrEP15-19 Choices: an implementation study protocol of HIV prevention with oral and long-acting injectable cabotegravir PrEP in real-word settings among sexual and gender minority adolescents in Brazil.

Introduction: Long-acting injectable (LAI) cabotegravir is a promising new method for preventing HIV. Safe and effective long-acting agents for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection are needed to increase preventive options among sexual and gender minority adolescents.

Methods And Analysis: This is a multisite, prospective implementation study of three PrEP modalities (LAI-PrEP, event-driven (ED) and daily oral), using a mixed-method design with quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Emulation of ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials in real-world atrial fibrillation patients results in similar efficacy and safety as original landmark trials: insights from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the robustness, reproducibility and representativeness of the landmark Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) (ARISTOTLE) and Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in AF (ROCKET AF) randomised trials through replication in an observational AF patient registry.

Methods And Results: Patients from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD (GARFIELD)-AF registry treated with apixaban, rivaroxaban or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) were assessed for eligibility for the ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials. HRs of apixaban and rivaroxaban versus comparator for stroke/systemic embolism, major bleeding and all-cause mortality within 2 years follow-up were calculated using propensity score overlap-weighted Cox models.

Chemometrics and digital image colorimetry approaches applied to paper-based analytical devices: A review.

Colorimetric paper-based analytical devices (CPADs) are cost-efficient and high-throughput technologies that use readily available materials for point-of-need (PON) applications by leveraging color changes in response to target analytes. However, the complexity of samples can limit the precision and accuracy of CPAD applications. Therefore, CPADs have been combined with chemometric approaches to enhance analytical performance and provide simple solutions to complex systems.

Tuning Aromaticity, Stability and Radicaloid Character of Periacenes by Chemical BN Doping.

In this work, the stability, aromaticity and radical character of pristine and eleven BN-doped armchair 5 and zigzag 5, 6, and 7 periacenes, were chosen for studying the effect of different doping schemes to stabilize the periacene, and to direct the open-shell density into specific regions of the PAH sheets. Ab initio multireference methods and different DFT functionals were used to analyze the singlet triplet (ST) energy. Moreover, a range of descriptors were used to characterize the open-shell character and aromaticity of the different doped structures.

Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 induces acute skeletal muscle damage in human K18-hACE2 transgenic mice.

The pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in over 7 million global fatalities and billions of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Acute and chronic muscle impairment associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection affected a substantial number of patients, leading to the development of symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, and exercise intolerance. Our study introduces an animal model to improve understanding of the pathogenicity caused by SARS-CoV-2 in human skeletal muscle.

Advances in soft nanoparticle-based platforms for human and veterinary trichomoniasis therapy: A scoping review.

This scoping review focuses on drug delivery systems based on soft materials designed for the administration of drugs with anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity. It primarily examines their use in addressing human trichomoniasis, exploring their physicochemical characteristics, in vitro and in vivo evaluation and identifying existing challenges and gaps. Given the economic burden and the One Health approach, formulations developed aiming at treating animal infections - cattle and poultry - were also discussed.

MALDI biotyper - Phenotypic identification test rapid assay (MBT-PITRA): A new method to detect KPC and NDM in Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales are a growing concern in public health. In order to rapidly determine the antimicrobial profile, the MALDI Biotyper - antibiotic susceptibility test rapid assay (MBT-ASTRA) was developed, based on the relative growth of bacteria in the presence of antibiotics. In this study, we added carbapenemase enzymatic inhibitors to the MBT-ASTRA and developed an adapted method named MALDI Biotyper - Phenotypic Identification Test Rapid Assay (MBT-PITRA) in order to perform a rapid and cost-effective phenotypic test to detect Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM), including co-producers, in Enterobacterales.

The impact of obesity on mitochondrial dysfunction during pregnancy.

Mitochondria play a central role in nutrient metabolism, besides being responsible for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main source of cellular energy. However, the ATP production process is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which excessive accumulation can cause mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysfunction, in turn, causes the accumulation of fatty acids in the adipose tissue, triggering a local inflammatory process that can evolve into systemic inflammation.

Simplifying Traditional Approaches for Accessible Analysis of Snake Venom Enzymes.

Snake venoms enzymes affect diverse physiological mechanisms leading to effects such as inflammation, edema, hemolysis, and blood clotting disorders. In this report, we describe modifications to classical assays for assessing the enzymatic activity of snake venom phospholipase A (PLA) and phosphodiesterase (PDE), including the adaptation of the PDE assay to an agar plate. A final staining step, using Stains-all®, was added to the PLA activity assay on an egg yolk-containing agar plate.

Global linear accelerator requirements and personalised country recommendations: a cross-sectional, population-based study.

Background: The Linear Accelerator Shortage Index (LSI) is a practical tool for prioritising the deployment of linear accelerators (LINACs) in various regions within a country. The LSI reflects the ratio of LINAC demand to current availability. The aim of this study was to use the LSI to predict global LINAC needs and classify countries according to the degree of radiotherapy shortage (LINAC shortage grade).

Empowering Health: Innovative Strategies to Successfully Increase Physical Activity Promotion in Brazilian Primary Health Care Settings.

Background: Implementation of physical activity (PA) initiatives within the scope of Primary Health Care (PHC) is still a challenge for the field of public health. It is necessary to consolidate operational processes to promote PA in the daily lives of patients in PHC. The use of implementation science has significant potential for advancing PA initiatives.