Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Its Association with Donepezil Restore Cognitive Impairment, Suppress Oxidative Stress and Pro-inflammatory Responses, and Improve Purinergic Signaling in a Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia Model in Mice.

Purinergic signaling plays a major role in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, which are associated with memory decline. Blackcurrant (BC), an anthocyanin-rich berry, is renowned for its antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. However, evidence on the effects of BC on purinergic signaling is lacking.

Age-related trends in trabecular bone scores and bone mineral density in Chinese men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) typically have an average or higher bone mineral density (BMD) but are at a significantly higher risk of fracture than patients without diabetes. Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a textural index derived from pixel gray-level variations in lumbar spine DXA image, which has been introduced as an indirect measure of bone quality. This study aimed to discuss the trends and annual rates of change in BMD and TBS with age in Chinese men with T2DM and men without diabetes mellitus.

The role of luteinizing hormone activity in spermatogenesis: from physiology to clinical practice.

The production of spermatozoa, a process known as spermatogenesis, is primarily controlled by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)-driven testosterone. LH acts on the Leydig cells, stimulating steroid production, predominantly testosterone, and activating critical inter-related spermatogenesis regulatory pathways. Despite evidence that exogenous gonadotropins containing LH activity can effectively restore spermatogenesis in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, the use of these drugs to treat other forms of male infertility is the subject of an ongoing debate.

Prevalence of self-medication among university students diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) usually affect the stomatognathic system and can be symptomatic. Patients often self-medicate to relieve symptoms, and this can increase the risk of complications such as adverse drug reactions, overdose, physical and psychological dependence, and delay of appropriate treatment. It is important for dentists to know the prevalence of self-medication to investigate this condition in their patients, thus the primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-medication among university students with no TMD, non-painful TMD and painful TMD and the secondary aim was to assess association with independent factors.

Prevalence of orofacial and head pain: an umbrella review of systematic reviews.

Head pain (HP) and orofacial pain (OFP) are the most prevalent types of pain worldwide, encompassing cranial, oral and facial pain. The aim of this umbrella review was to answer the following questions: "What is the overall prevalence of HP/OFP and the different prevalences of HP/OFP conditions in adults and children?". We searched for studies investigating the prevalence of HP/OFP in four major databases and two databases from the grey literature, based on the following PECOS inclusion criteria: (P)opulation: Adults and children; (E)xposure: Orofacial or head pain conditions such as (1) dental, periodontal and gingival, (2) temporomandibular disorders (TMD), (3) neuropathic conditions, (4) headaches, and (5) idiopathic pain conditions; (C)omparison: None; (O)utcome: Prevalence; (S)tudies: Systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses.

Pap smear and colposcopy findings in female inmates of a prison unit in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Pap smear and colposcopy findings in female inmates in a prison unit in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out by analyzing the Pap smear and colposcopy examinations of female inmates in a prison unit. The following socio-demographic data were assessed: age, nationality, level of education, marital status, height, weight, ethnicity, occupation, religion, sexual orientation, and presence of tattoos.

Recent developments on aerial lab-on-a-drone platforms for remote environmental monitoring: A review.

Background: Distinct classes of environmental contaminants - such as microplastics, volatile organic compounds, inorganic gases, hormones, pesticides/herbicides, and heavy metals - have been continuously released into the environment from different sources. Anthropogenic activities with unprecedented consequences have impacted soil, surface waters, and the atmosphere. In this scenario, developing sensing materials and analytical platforms for monitoring water and air quality is essential to supporting worldwide environmental control agencies.

Understanding the work-related challenges of organ and tissue donation coordinators during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-method study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of donation coordinators in Canada and understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their work activities.

Design: A sequential mixed-method design incorporating a cross-sectional survey investigating demographic data, substance use and abuse and perceived stress related to the pandemic and semistructured qualitative interviews to further investigate those.

Setting: Organ donation organisations across Canada.

Cost-utility analysis of MR imaging-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation for the treatment of low- to intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer.

Background: Magnetic resonance-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (MR-TULSA) is a new focal therapy for treating localised prostate cancer that is associated with fewer adverse effects (AEs) compared with established treatments. To support large-scale clinical implementation, information about cost-effectiveness is required.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-utility of MR-TULSA compared with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and active surveillance (AS) for patients with low- to favourable intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer.

Engaging with young professionals in transfusion medicine: Insights from a needs assessment survey targeting an international cohort.

Background And Objectives: Professionals who work or study in transfusion medicine under 40 years of age are considered young professionals (YPs) by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). While the ISBT provides opportunities for YPs, their needs have to be assessed to customize initiatives in a way that could potentially improve their engagement. This survey aimed to assess the needs of YPs in transfusion medicine and understand their perspectives on future ISBT initiatives.

Achieving stable nitrogen removal through mainstream partial nitrification, anammox and denitrification (SNAD) with a hybrid biofilm-granular reactor.

Simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (SNAD) process offers a promising method for the effective removal of carbon and nitrogen from wastewater. However, ensuring stability is a challenge. This study investigated operational parameters such as hydraulic retention time (HRT) and biomass retention to stabilize SNAD operation, transitioning from synthetic to anaerobically pre-treated municipal wastewater (APMW) in an upflow hybrid biofilm-granular reactor (UHR).

RETHINKING LOW TESTOSTERONE IN OLDER MEN: ASSOCIATION WITH OBESITY RATHER THAN AGING.

Background: The decline in testosterone levels among older men remains a subject of debate. While some cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have reported a decrease in testosterone with advancing age, others have not observed this trend. In this study, we aimed to evaluate testosterone levels and identify predictors of low testosterone in an age-stratified cohort of men.

Exploring DiPP (Diisopentyl Phthalate) Neurotoxicity and the Detoxification Process in Zebrafish Larvae - A Silent Contaminant?

Diisopentyl phthalate (DiPP) is present in many consumer goods, but can be absorbed into the human body, and can disrupt the endocrine system affecting reproductive health and fetal development. Studies revealed that biological samples of pregnant women in Brazil contained DiPP, raising even more the concerns about its usage. This study investigated how DiPP concentrations (12.

Chronic fat consumption affects metabolic aspects of murine physiology and influences ovarian follicle atresia.

Saturated fat has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, leading to an increase in polyunsaturated fat consumption. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three fat sources (coconut oil, lard and soybean oil) on metabolic and reproductive parameters in heterogenic mice. Female Swiss mice (5-6 weeks old; n=9/group) were divided into four experimental groups: control (CC), coconut oil (CO), lard (LA), and soybean oil (SO), and were orally given 0.

Growing up without violence (GWV): Study protocol for a cluster randomised trial and process evaluation of a school-based intervention preventing adolescent sexual exploitation in Brazil.

Background: Sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (SECA) is a mostly invisible phenomenon, having negative impacts on adolescents' health and well-being.. There is increasing awarenessof preventative strategies to reduce sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, but limited evidence on their effectiveness and mechanisms.

The Effect of Blood Pressure on Rates of Progression in Focal Ischemic versus Generalized Cup Enlargement Glaucoma Phenotypes.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of blood pressure (BP) on rates of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning in glaucomatous eyes with focal ischemic (FI) versus generalized enlargement (GE) optic disc phenotypes.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Participants: The study included 122 eyes from 101 patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Safety and efficacy of valoctocogene roxaparvovec with prophylactic glucocorticoids: 1-year results from the phase 3b, single-arm, open-label GENEr8-3 study.

Background: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec, an adeno-associated virus vector that transfers a human factor VIII (FVIII) coding sequence to hepatocytes, provides bleeding protection for people with severe hemophilia A (HA).

Objective: Determine the efficacy and safety of valoctocogene roxaparvovec with concomitant prophylactic glucocorticoids in the open-label, single-arm, phase 3b GENEr8-3 trial.

Methods: Participants with severe HA who were using HA prophylaxis received one 6x10 vg/kg infusion of valoctocogene roxaparvovec concomitantly with daily prophylactic glucocorticoids (40 mg prednisolone equivalent/d weeks 0‒8; taper to 5 mg/d weeks 9‒19).

Effects of periodontal disease on the proteomic profile of the periodontal ligament.

Periodontal disease affects over 1 billion people globally. This study investigated how periodontitis affects the protein profile of the periodontal ligament (PDL) in rats. Eight Holtzman rats were divided into the control and experimental periodontitis groups.

The effect of thermal stress on the X-organ/sinus gland proteome of the estuarine blue crab Callinectes sapidus during the intermolt and premolt stages.

Survival of brachyuran crabs is temperature-dependent and thermal stress promotes changes during molting. We aimed to decipher the impact of thermal stresses on the X-organ/sinus gland (XO/SG) complex, a temperature-sensitive neuroendocrine tissue involved in the molting regulation of Callinectes sapidus during the intermolt and premolt phases. We employed a proteogenomic approach using specimens subjected to control (24 °C), cold (19 °C), and heat (29 °C) temperatures.

High-yield soluble production of recombinant β-keratin from Gallus gallus feathers using an experimental design approach.

The search for new non-animal textile materials has increased yearly as environmental awareness and veganism continue to spread, driving the development of greener fabrics. Concurrently, β-keratin, a fibrous, resistant, and insoluble protein shows great potential for producing innovative biomaterials. However, β-keratin is naturally abundant in animal feathers.

Machine Learning Assessment of Dredging Impacts on the Phytoplankton Community on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin: A Multivariate Analysis.

Dredging in estuarine systems significantly impacts phytoplankton communities, with suspended particulate matter (SPM) and dissolved aluminum (Al) serving as indicators of disturbance intensity. This study assessed the effects of dredging in the São Marcos Estuarine Complex (SMEC), Brazil, over three distinct events (2015, 2017, 2020), involving varying sediment volumes and climatic influences. Prolonged dredging operations and increased sediment volumes led to a pronounced 43.

INFLUENCE OF RADIOIODINE THERAPY ON ORAL HEALTH AND SALIVARY PRODUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CARCINOMA.

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics related to oral health and salivary production in patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC) after radioiodine therapy (RIT).

Methods: Cross-sectional study, which included patients with DTC after ablative and/or adjuvant RIT. Patients underwent assessment of oral health conditions, subjective assessment of xerostomia and measurement of salivary flow.

Epicardial Substrate Ablation in Symptomatic Brugada Syndrome Patients: An Updated Systematic Review and Single-arm Meta-analysis.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a genetic heart disease that predisposes individuals to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Although implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and quinidine are primary treatments, recurrent BrS-triggered ventricular arrhythmias can persist. In this setting, epicardial substrate ablation has emerged as a promising alternative for symptomatic patients.

Novel Tryptophyllin Peptides from Physalaemus centralis Inhibit Oxidative Stress-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Rat Aorta Preparation.

Amphibian skin is a rich source of molecules with biotechnological potential, including the tryptophyllin family of peptides. Here, we report the identification and characterization of two tryptophyllin peptides, FPPEWISR and FPWLLS-NH, from the skin of the Central Dwarf Frog, Physalaemus centralis. These peptides were identified through cDNA cloning and sequence comparison.