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.

Sacubitril-Valsartan in Cancer Therapy-Induced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional and Hemodynamic Parameters.

Background: Cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CTRCD), in the form of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), is being increasingly recognized. However, the potential benefits of sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) in managing HFrEF secondary to CTRCD remain unclear.

Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of S/V in preventing cardiotoxicity.

Xenographic lenticule implantation followed by riboflavin and UV treatment: A promising alternative for corneal ectasias management.

The cornea is the primary refracting surface of the eye, requiring precise curvature to ensure optimal vision. Any distortion in its shape may result in significant visual impairment. Corneal ectasias, such as keratoconus (KC), is characterized by gradual thinning and protrusion of the thinned area, due to biomechanical weakening of the tissue, leading to astigmatism and vision loss.

Phytoceutical Isoquercitrin and Ethanolic Extracts from Pequi (Caryocar coriaceum Wittm) Reverse Alcohol Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Pharmacotherapy in Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS), which is a mental disorder, generally involves benzodiazepines due to their action via GABA, but their side effects, such as excessive sedation, mental confusion and risk of dependence, are considerable. It is important to investigate the anxiolytic potential of plants such as Caryocar coriaceum, due to the presence of secondary metabolic compounds, such as isoquercitrin, capable of promoting the reduction of anxiety during AWS. We evaluated the anxiolytic-like potential of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (EEPL) and pulp (EEPP) of C.

New species of Ellipsomyxa (Bivalvulida: Ceratomyxidae) parasitizing the gallbladder of Ageneiosus ucayalensis (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) in the Brazilian Amazon region.

The present study describes a new myxozoan species, Ellipsomyxa matosi n. sp. infecting the gallbladder of the catfish Ageneiosus ucayalensis, on Jutuba Island, municipality of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil.

A voltammetric method for determining N-nitrosodimethylamine in losartan and olmesartan drugs.

Recently, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) of Brazil recalled several lots of sartan drugs due to the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). NDMA is a highly potent carcinogenic contaminant that harms human health; therefore, the presence of NDMA in sartan drugs must be checked through appropriate analytical methods. This work successfully developed a new analytical method for determining NDMA without chemical pretreatment of losartan and olmesartan drug samples.

A conceptual framework to assess the health, socioeconomic and environmental burden of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health challenge that affects patients, caregivers, healthcare systems, the environment and national economies. Despite its far-reaching impact, there is no framework to systematically evaluate national CKD prevention and management programmes or evaluate the societal burden of disease. This paper has two objectives: first, to introduce a comprehensive framework to assess national programmes, which recognises gaps and weaknesses and identifies feasible policy interventions to reduce overall CKD burden; second, to present some key challenges and success stories in delivering CKD services delivered in eight different country settings.

Influence of core material and occlusal contact pattern on fatigue behavior of different monolithic ceramic crowns.

This study evaluated the effect of substrate core materials and occlusal contact patterns on the fatigue mechanical behavior and stress distribution of single-unit ceramic crowns. One hundred and twenty monolithic crowns were fabricated from zirconia (YZ - IPS e.max ZirCAD, Ivoclar), lithium disilicate (LD - IPS e.

Strategic use of estrus intensity to combine timed artificial insemination and embryo transfer in large-scale cattle reproduction programs.

This study compared the reproductive performance of three different programs using conventional fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI), fixed-time embryo transfer (FTET), and their combined use, considering estrus intensity as a criterion for the reproductive program. Brangus multiparous cows (n = 1.100), 40-50 days postpartum, 4-8 years old, and body condition scores 2.

Antimicrobial efficacy of alternative root canal disinfection strategies: An evaluation on multiple working models.

Researching disinfection strategies is pivotal because effectively eliminating bacteria and their byproducts during root canal treatment (RCT) remains a challenge. This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of natural antimicrobial compounds, propolis (PRO) and copaiba oil-resin (COR), compared to conventional agents in Endodontics. Antimicrobials were tested against endodontic pathogens via macrodilution with standardized inoculums to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).

The interplay of edentulism, smoking, microbiota, oral rehabilitation on cytokineprofile and different conditions of hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of edentulism, smoking, microbiota, and oral rehabilitation on the cytokine profile in healthy and hypertensive edentulous individuals using complete dentures.

Design: This case-control study was divided into four groups: normotensives (control group - NH), controlled hypertensives (case group 1 - CH), unreported hypertensives (case group 2 - UnrH), and uncontrolled hypertensives (case group 3 - UncH). The participants were characterized by sociodemographic data, clinical and behavioral information, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Infant birth weight in Brazil: A cross-sectional historical approach.

In 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery. Historians have outlined the racialized health disparities of people of African descent in the post-abolition period. Epidemiologists have shown that twenty-first-century health disparities continue to mirror patterns from over a century ago.

Epilepsy, compulsion and oxytocin: Insights from behavioral sequences, using neuroethology and complexity systems approaches.

Epilepsies are complex neurological entities usually co-existing with neuropsychiatric comorbidities. We already demonstrated that microinjection of oxytocin (OT) into the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) induces hypergrooming in Wistar rats, a model of compulsion. Furthermore, the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) strain is a genetic model of generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Fad diets for non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients: Can "the miracle diet" be a threat?

In the pursuit of an effortless "miracle cure", there has been a significant increase in the proliferation of fad diets. These diets generally exclude a food group or macronutrients and may also restrict energy intake; they become popular quickly but often lack substantial scientific evidence to support their efficacy and safety. They only show short-term results rather than promoting a lifestyle change.

Terrestrial nanoparticles and geospatial optics: Implications for environmental impact from anthropogenic contaminants in the Caribbean region.

Atmospheric contaminants from natural processes and anthropogenic activities pose a major problem to the environment. Here we analyze the dynamics of atmospheric and terrestrial contaminant concentrations in sediments containing chemical elements, such as nanoparticles (NPs) and ultrafine particles in hydrological sources of the Caribbean region of Colombia. Terrestrial sediments were collected from 2022 to 2024, and quantified for major chemical elements in the form of NPs and ultrafine particles in runoff receiving areas along the banks of Colombia's Ciénaga Grande in Santa Marta Bay, on the Isla de Salamanca.

The use of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms in drug development and clinical trials: A scoping review.

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming drug development and clinical trials, helping researchers find new treatments faster and personalize care for patients. By automating tasks like molecule screening and predicting treatment outcomes, AI addresses critical challenges in modern medicine.

Objectives: This review explores how AI is being used in drug development and clinical trials, focusing on its benefits, limitations, and potential to improve healthcare outcomes.

Patterns of drug combinations used by men who have sex with men in Brazil.

Background: The practice of using drugs to modulate experiences is a well-documented phenomenon worldwide, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to describe patterns of drug combinations used by Brazilian MSM, embracing a detailed examination of the Brazilian context, which may inspire research elsewhere while enriching the global panorama on MSM drug use. By focusing on Brazilian MSM, the study sheds light on specific drug use combinations, which may help in the development of effective, culturally sensitive public health strategies.