Advancing therapeutic frontiers in urothelial carcinoma: targeted strategies and clinical implications.

Urothelial carcinoma poses significant challenges in clinical management due to its aggressive nature and high prevalence. While most diagnoses involve localized disease, advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) often leads to short overall survival (OS). Historically, platinum-based chemotherapy has been the primary treatment for aUC, although its efficacy is limited.

Short and long-term effects of experimental varicocele.

Background: Varicocele is associated with a progressive decrease in male fertile potential, but it has yet to be determined if the duration of varicocele is associated with altered sperm functional quality.

Objectives: This experimental study investigated the time-dependent effects of varicocele on spermatogenesis, sperm parameters, and sperm functional traits.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five mature male Wistar rats (200 ± 25 g) were included.

A Disposable Pipette Extraction-UHPLC-MS/MS Method Based on Removal of Phospholipids to Determine Anandamide, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, Cannabidiol, and Δ-Tetrahydrocannabidiol in Plasma Samples.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main components of Cannabis sativa plants, can interact with specific cell receptors known as cannabinoid receptors (CBs). The endogenous compounds anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are CB agonists, and, alongside enzymes, they constitute the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and take part in neuromodulation. Several LC-MS/MS methods have been developed to quantify these compounds in biological matrixes, but a fast and simple method that can determine these analytes in plasma samples simultaneously is not available.

Educational interventions improve disparities in patient access to kidney transplantation: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Transplantation significantly improves the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite various educational strategies being assessed, the optimal approach to overcome barriers to kidney transplantation remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing educational interventions to improve kidney transplantation access.

Follow-up of immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: The intrauterine device (IUD) inserted immediately after delivery is a safe and effective measure for preventing unplanned pregnancies. Despite exhibiting a higher expulsion rate compared with later insertions, it proves cost-effective due to the high rate of continuity of the method. There is still a gap in the literature regarding the optimal strategy for monitoring these patients, whether it should be through clinical examination, ultrasound or both.

Trends, outcomes and knowledge gaps in mobile apps for reproductive endocrinology and infertility: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Infertility is a complex condition that affects millions worldwide, with significant physical, emotional and social implications. Mobile apps have emerged as potential tools to assist in the management of infertility by offering features such as menstrual cycle tracking, ovulation prediction, fertility education, lifestyle modification guidance and emotional support, thereby promoting reproductive health. Despite promising advancements such as the development of apps with sophisticated algorithms for ovulation prediction and comprehensive platforms offering integrated fertility education and emotional support, there remain gaps in the literature regarding the comprehensive evaluation of mobile apps for reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Association between ultraprocessed foods consumption, eating disorders, food addiction and body image: a systematic review.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between ultraprocessed foods (UPF) consumption, eating disorders (EDs), food addiction and body image concerns.

Design: Systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data Sources: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, LILACS and APA PsycInfo databases, for studies published between 2009 and July 2024.

Effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults with hypertension (HEXA Study): study protocol for a randomised trial.

Introduction: Approximately two-thirds of Brazilian older adults have hypertension. Aerobic training is the first-line non-pharmacological therapy for hypertension. However, the effects of different aerobic training approaches on ambulatory blood pressure in older adults are uncertain.

Epidemiology of Post-craniotomy Hypertension and Its Association With Adverse Outcome(s): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

After intracranial surgery, sympathetic overdrive and increased blood catecholamine levels can contribute to postoperative hypertension, a significant clinical problem. The objective of this review was to summarize, quantify, and assess the epidemiological perspective of post-craniotomy hypertension and its association with adverse outcomes. This PROSPERO-registered systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.

Nurse worry as a trigger for rapid response team activation improving outcomes: a retrospective cohort study in non-critical units.

Background: Patients hospitalized outside of monitored environments may experience sudden clinical worsening requiring transfer to the Intensive Care Unit. Early detection based on the clinical nurse's identification of the risk of clinical deterioration represents an opportunity to prevent serious adverse events. Nurse worry is defined as the use of clinical reasoning combined with intuition that precedes the patient's clinical deterioration.

Understanding and addressing a 'difficult' family in ICU.

Conflicts between ICU staff and patient/relatives are common and are a source of additional stress in an already tense environment. These conflicts vary from disagreements to serious controversies, which may lead to legal process or even violence. Unsuccessful communication is recognised as a common denominator for such disagreements.

Epidemiological trends and age-period-cohort effects on ischemic stroke burden across the BRICS-plus from 1992 to 2021.

Background: Ischemic stroke, accounting for 85% of stroke cases, leads to severe disabilities and increased mortality. Its global incidence rose by 87.55% from 1990 to 2019, posing significant health and economic burdens.

Comparison of the adequacies of the OSCE and vOSCE to assess the competencies required under Brazilian medical curriculum guidelines: a multicenter study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the popularization of information and communication technology in medical education. This study aimed to compare the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and the virtual objective structured clinical examination (vOSCE), based on expert opinion, as tools for assessing the competencies needed under medical curriculum guidelines in Brazil.

Methods: In this multicenter study, the suitability levels of the OSCE and vOSCE for assessing the competencies needed under the Brazilian National Curriculum Guidelines (DCNs) were compared.

The effect of physical activity on markers of oxidative and antioxidant stress in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Prescribing physical exercise as part of the clinical treatment of cancer patients has become an important strategy in the therapeutic arsenal available in the main health centers specialized in neoplastic diseases, but there is still uncertainty regarding the role of regular physical activity in modifying oxidative stress markers and antioxidants, as high levels of oxidative stress can lead to the development of carcinogens. Therefore, we assessed the effect of physical activity versus absence of physical activity on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants in cancer patients.

Methods: We looked for randomized controlled trials that included adult with any type of cancer performing some physical activity and compared them to a control group of cancer patients with no physical activity.

Wildfire ashes: evaluating threats on the Pantanal wetland reserve (Mato Grosso, Brazil) using ecotoxicological tests.

In 2020, the largest continuous wetland area on the planet, the Brazilian Pantanal, experienced an unprecedented fire that affected the entire ecosystem. Our goal was to elucidate the effects of ash presence following the fire events. We quantified the impact of ashes, collected in four Conservation Units, on soil, water, and atmosphere.

Dysregulated autoantibodies targeting AGTR1 are associated with the accumulation of COVID-19 symptoms.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a wide spectrum of symptoms, the causes of which remain poorly understood. This study explored the associations between autoantibodies (AABs), particularly those targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and renin‒angiotensin system (RAS) molecules, and the clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Using a cross-sectional analysis of 244 individuals, we applied multivariate analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and multinomial regression to examine the relationships between AAB levels and key symptoms.

Altered Neural Responses to Punishment Learning in Conduct Disorder.

Objective: Conduct disorder (CD) is associated with deficits in the use of punishment for reinforcement learning (RL) and subsequent decision-making, contributing to reckless, antisocial, and aggressive behaviors. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine whether differences in behavioral learning rates derived from computational modeling, particularly for punishment, are reflected in aberrant neural responses in youths with CD compared to typically-developing controls (TDCs).

Methods: 75 youths with CD and 99 TDCs (9-18 years, 47% girls) performed a probabilistic RL task with punishment, reward, and neutral contingencies.

Exploring high molecular weight components in Tityus serrulatus venom.

Our study identified high-molecular-weight compounds from Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV), and most of them have not yet been well explored. TsV was fractionated using FPLC system with different columns, analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and characterized by MALDI-TOF/TOF. Our study showed that TsV contains several high-molecular-weight compounds, including CRISPs, metalloproteinase and hyaluronidase.

Repair bond strength of composite resin to CAD/CAM glass-ceramic: influence of cleaning methods, surface treatments, and aging.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of different cleaning methods, surface treatments, and aging on the repair bond strength to a CAD/CAM glass-ceramic.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight lithium disilicate CAD/CAM ceramic blocks were fabricated, sintered, and embedded in acrylic resin. After contamination with human saliva, they were divided according to the factors "Cleaning method" (Control-water/air spray, Air-particle abrasion with AlO, Ivoclean cleaning paste), "Surface treatment" (5% Hydrofluoric acid-HF + Silane, Monobond Etch & Prime-MEP), and "Aging" (thermocycling, no thermocycling).