Glutamatergic Medications for Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) encompass various neuropsychiatric conditions that cause significant distress and impair daily functioning. Although standard treatments are often effective, approximately 60% of patients may not respond adequately, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches.

Objective: To evaluate improvement in OCRD symptoms associated with glutamatergic medications as monotherapy or as augmentation to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, with a focus on double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Beyond the virus: ecotoxicological and reproductive impacts of SARS-CoV-2 lysate protein in C57Bl/6j female mice.

Since the establishment of the COVID-19 pandemic, a range of studies have been developed to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccine development, and therapeutic testing. However, the possible impacts that these viruses can have on non-target organisms have been explored little, and our knowledge of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for biota is still very limited. Thus, the current study aimed to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the possible impacts of oral exposure of C57Bl/6 J female mice to SARS-CoV-2 lysate protein (at 20 µg/L) for 30 days, using multiple methods, including behavioral assessments, biochemical analyses, and histopathological examinations.

Resistance training protects the hippocampus and precuneus against atrophy and benefits white matter integrity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to cognitive alterations with preservation of functionality. Individuals with this diagnosis have a higher risk of developing dementia. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, are beneficial for the cognition of this population.

Exploring Hox Genes and Their Temporal Expression in an Embryonic Model of Freshwater Crustaceans.

Hox genes have been investigated in various Arthropod species, resulting in the identification of ten Hox genes, organized in a colinear arrangement within the genome. Among arthropods, crustaceans exhibit a remarkable diversity of body shapes, which are associated with a variety of egg types, embryonic development patterns, and importantly, with the modulation of Hox genes to specify the identity of body segments along the antero-posterior axis of the embryo. Although there are more than 52,000 species of crustaceans described, their genomic resources are relatively limited, making it challenging to employ several molecular tools for studying embryonic development.

Women's preferences regarding the use of chaperones during proctological examinations conducted by male physicians: a randomised clinical trial.

Purpose: The presence of chaperones during intimate physical examinations is a matter of ongoing debate. While most guidelines recommend the use of chaperones in all cases, there are no clinical trials specifically investigating intimate exams performed on women by male physicians. We aimed to evaluate female patients' perceptions regarding the presence or absence of chaperones during proctological examinations conducted by male physicians.

Malnutrition/exercise interaction in the rat mother-pup dyad: a behavioral and electrophysiological analysis.

Objectives: Maternal protein malnutrition alters brain functioning, impairing fetal development. Physical exercise during gestation benefits the fetal organism from maternal adaptive changes that may be neuroprotective. This study evaluated the effect of a low-protein diet associated with maternal voluntary physical activity (VPA) on rats' behavioral and brain electrophysiological parameters in the mother-pup dyad.

Combining digital imaging and quantum dots for analytical purposes.

This review provides a critical assessment of the most recent advances in digital imaging (DI) methods, applied for the development of analytical methodologies combining quantum dots (QDs). The state-of-the-art, treatment of data, instrumental considerations, software, sensing approaches, and optimization of the resulting methods are reported. Applications of the technology for the analysis of food and beverages, biomedically relevant analytes, drugs, environmental samples and forensic samples are also discussed.

On the Role of a Polymer Matrix in Enhancing Energy Transfer Efficiency Using Coumarin 6 and Rhodamine B as Donor and Acceptor Pairs.

This study investigates the critical role of polymer matrices in optimizing luminescence and energy transfer, utilizing the commercial dyes Coumarin 6 (C6) and Rhodamine B (RhB) as a donor-acceptor pair. Solution-phase experiments revealed a dependence of energy transfer efficiency on solvent dielectric constant. Furthermore, embedding the dyes within Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) matrices significantly enhance energy transfer due to increased molecular proximity.

Short-term effects of follicle stimulating hormone on immune function, lipid, and vitamin metabolism in transiently castrated men.

Background: Prostate cancer therapy with surgical or chemical castration with GnRH agonists has been linked to elevated FSH levels, which may contribute to secondary health disorders, including atherosclerosis and diabetes. Although recent findings suggest a role for FSH beyond the reproductive system, its metabolic impact remains unclear and difficult to disentangle from that of androgens. In this study, we examined the metabolic changes induced by FSH and distinguished them from those caused by testosterone.

Metagenome-assembled genomes from irradiated human dental plaque.

We provide 309 quality-controlled bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes recovered from supragingival plaque metagenomes. Samples were collected from head and neck cancer patients following radiotherapy, so the recovered genomes can be useful to investigate the effects of oral cavity irradiation on oral microbiome members.

Provocation test on stairs: a new accessible method to cholinergic urticaria diagnosis.

Cholinergic urticaria (CholU) is characterized by itching and/or stinging, painful micro wheals due to systemic heating. There are two standardized protocols to diagnose CholU using an exercise bike with heart rate or warming passive. The objective is to provide an affordable, new, low-tech test to assist the diagnostic.

Is Platelet-rich Plasma Effective in Treating Achilles Tendinopathy? A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Background: Several meta-analyses have evaluated the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. Although they generally did not find PRP to be effective, an updated meta-analysis containing all the available, high-quality randomized trial evidence that addresses the methodological shortcomings identified in earlier meta-analyses needs to be performed.

Question/purposes: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PRP in improving (1) pain and function as assessed using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment and (2) VAS pain scores 3 months after treatment in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy.

Preparation of novel lithiated high-entropy spinel-type oxyhalides and their electrochemical performance in Li-ion batteries.

Compositionally complex doping of spinel oxides toward high-entropy oxides is expected to enhance their electrochemical performance substantially. We successfully prepared high-entropy compounds, the oxide (ZnMgCoCu)FeO (HEOFe), lithiated oxyfluoride Li(ZnMgCoCu)FeOF (LiHEOFeF), and lithiated oxychloride Li(ZnMgCoCu)FeOCl (LiHEOFeCl) with a spinel-based cubic structure by ball milling and subsequent heat treatment. The products exhibit particles with sizes from 50 to 200 nm with a homogeneous atomic distribution.

Quality indicators for urine sample contamination: can squamous epithelial cells and bacteria count be used to identify properly collected samples?

Objectives: To evaluate urinalysis parameters useful for identifying mixed cultures in urine culture using an automated urinary particle analyzer to assess quality indicators (QIs) for urine sample contamination.

Methods: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 2,527 urine samples from patients of a quaternary hospital in Brazil. Urine samples were processed simultaneously in Sysmex UF-5000 flow cytometry analyzer (urinalysis) and MALDI-TOF (culture).

Unlocking breast cancer in Brazilian public health system: Using tissue microarray for accurate immunohistochemical evaluation with limitations in subtyping.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to diagnosis and treatment is challenging.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and cost using tissue microarray (TMA) instead of traditional immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), and the proliferation marker Ki-67 and BC subtyping within the Brazilian public health system.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing TMA slides with traditional whole-slide evaluation for IHC markers in 242 BC cases.

Melatonin improves adverse vascular remodelling and redox homeostasis in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This study explored the effects of melatonin on cardiac and vascular function, and redox homeostasis in model PAH. Male Wistar rats were divided into: control (CTR), monocrotaline [MCT (60 mg/kg, single dose i.p)], monocrotaline + sildenafil [MCT + SIL (50 mg/kg/day)], and monocrotaline + melatonin [MCT + MEL (10 mg/kg/day)].

Effects of epigallocatechin gallate on the development of matrix-rich biofilm.

In this study, we evaluated the impact of Epigalocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on biofilm development for 24 and 46 h using high-resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy. EGCG treatment led to the formation of interspaced exopolysaccharide (EPS)-microcolony complexes unevenly distributed on the surface of hydroxyapatite disc, forming a thinner and less complex biofilm structure with significantly reduced biomass, matrix volume, and thickness compared to the NaCl treated group (negative control). At 46 h, the biofilm of the EGCG-treatment group failed to form the bacterial-EPS superstructures which is characteristic of the biofilm in the negative control group.

Multiple introductions and sustained local transmission of in Southern Brazil between 2022-2023.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the (MPXV). Human cases have been mainly restricted to the African continent until the worldwide multi-country outbreak unfolded in 2022. We reconstructed epidemiological links of 53 MPXV infections using genomic epidemiology in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, during 2022 and 2023.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the deep-sea methanotrophic sponges and : leveraging 'waste' in metagenomic data.

A significant proportion of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data ends up not being used since they comprise information out-of-scope of the primary studies. This 'waste' of potential can be harnessed to explore organellar genomes, such as the mitochondrial DNA, and be used for evolutionary, conservation and biodiversity research. We present the complete mitochondrial genomes of the deep-sea methanotrophic sponges and (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) retrieved from previously published whole metagenome sequencing data.

Emergence of synchronization-induced patterns in two-dimensional magnetic rod systems under rotating magnetic fields.

We investigate the dynamics of two-dimensional assemblies of rod-shaped magnetic colloids under the influence of an external rotating magnetic field. Using molecular dynamics, we simulate the formation of patterns that emerge based on the synchronization degree between the magnetic rods and the rotating field. We then explore the structural and dynamic characteristics of the resulting steady states, examining their evolution as a function of changes in the rods' aspect ratio, the strength of the external magnetic field, and its rotation frequency.

Artificial intelligence in triage of COVID-19 patients.

In 2019, COVID-19 began one of the greatest public health challenges in history, reaching pandemic status the following year. Systems capable of predicting individuals at higher risk of progressing to severe forms of the disease could optimize the allocation and direction of resources. In this work, we evaluated the performance of different Machine Learning algorithms when predicting clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, using clinical data from hospital admission alone.

Gut microbiome and orthopaedic health: Bridging the divide between digestion and bone integrity.

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms in the digestive tract, has emerged as a critical factor in human health, influencing metabolic, immune, and neurological functions. This review explores the connection between the gut microbiome and orthopedic health, examining how gut microbes impact bone density, joint integrity, and skeletal health. It highlights mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to inflammation in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, suggesting microbiome modulation as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Unraveling the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein long-term effect on neuro-PASC.

The persistence or emergence of long-term symptoms following resolution of primary SARS-CoV-2 infection is referred to as long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). PASC predominantly affects the cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and immune systems. Among these, the central nervous system (CNS) is significantly impacted, leading to a spectrum of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, brain fog, cognitive impairment, anosmia, hypogeusia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy (neuro-PASC).

SARS-CoV-2 strains and clinical profiles of COVID-19 patients in a Southern Brazil hospital.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a widespread global impact and presented numerous challenges. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has changed transmission rates and immune evasion, possibly impacting the severity. This study aims to investigate the impact of variants on clinical outcomes in southern Brazil.

The landscape of chemokine and cytokine is associated with the distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts.

Introduction: Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, is closely linked to the host immune response. According to the WHO, leprosy patients (L) and household contacts (HHC) are classified into subgroups: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), witch reflect the degree of infection in patients and the level of exposure of their contacts. The main goal of this study was to: i) establish a comprehensive overview of soluble mediator signatures of PBMCs upon antigen-specific stimuli and ii) identify whether the chemokine (CH) and cytokine (CY) signatures were associated with distinct clinical manifestations in (L) and immune response profiles in (HHC).