Efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation in decreasing depression symptoms during the peripartum period: A systematic review.

Background: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have been suggested as alternative treatments to decrease depression symptoms during the perinatal period. These include brain stimulation techniques that do not require surgery and that are nonpharmacological and non-psychotherapeutic. NIBS with evidence of antidepressant effects include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial electric stimulation (TES) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Starch chemical modifications applied to drug delivery systems: From fundamentals to FDA-approved raw materials.

Starch derivatives are versatile compounds that are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the advances in the research on hydrophilic and hydrophobic starch derivatives used to develop drug delivery systems over the last ten years, specifically microparticles, nanoparticles, nanocrystals, hydrogels, and scaffolds using these materials. The fundamentals of drug delivery systems, regulatory aspects, and chemical modifications are also discussed, along with the synthesis of starch derivatives via oxidation, etherification, acid hydrolysis, esterification, and cross-linking.

Diversity of Bivalve Mollusks Associated with Macroalgae on the Continental Shelf in the States of Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.

The phytal environment is a complex system that involves the association between marine organisms and macroalgae. In this paper, we investigate the diversity of bivalves associated with macroalgae on the continental shelf between the states of Alagoas and Bahia, including Sergipe, in northeastern Brazil. Macroalgae and associated fauna were collected during two sampling campaigns under the MARSEAL project (February and July 2011 [dry and rainy seasons, respectively]), covering 24 stations and three isobaths (10, 25 and 50 m).

Subjective Well-Being of Adolescents in Luxembourg, Germany, and Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: This study explores adolescent well-being during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in two high-income countries from Europe and one middle-income country from South America. The aim is to investigate the correlates of different dimensions of subjective well-being in 10- to 16-year-olds from different cultural contexts.

Methods: An online, self-report questionnaire was completed by 1,613 adolescents in Luxembourg, Germany, and Brazil between May and July 2020.

Oxytocin induces anti-catabolic and anabolic effects on protein metabolism in the female rat oxidative skeletal muscle.

Aims: Although it is well established that skeletal muscle contains oxytocin (OT) receptors and OT-knockout mice show premature development of sarcopenia, the role of OT in controlling skeletal muscle mass is still unknown. Therefore, the present work aimed to determine OT's effects on skeletal muscle protein metabolism.

Main Methods: Total proteolysis, proteolytic system activities and protein synthesis were assessed in isolated soleus muscle from prepubertal female rats.

Maternal sensitivity and infant neural response to touch: an fNIRS study.

The mother's attunement to her infant's emotional needs influences her use of touching behaviors during mother-infant interactions. Moreover, maternal touch appears to modulate infants' physiological responses to affective touch. However, little is known about the impact of maternal sensitivity on infants' touch processing at a brain level.

MicroRNA Levels in Cervical Cancer Samples and Relationship with Lesion Grade and HPV Infection.

Background: miR-21, miR-214 and miR-let-7a are three validated and well-known miRNAs. miR-21 is described as an "oncomir" while miR-214 and miR-let-7a are described mainly as tumor suppressors. The role of these miRNAs remains unclear in cervical cancer, an important malignancy among women worldwide and responsible for many deaths every year.

Curcumin-Loaded Micelles Dispersed in Ureasil-Polyether Materials for a Novel Sustained-Release Formulation.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a vulvar/vaginal infection that affects approximately 75% of women worldwide. The current treatment consists of antimicrobials with hepatotoxic properties and high drug interaction probabilities. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new treatment to VVC based on micelles containing curcumin (CUR) dispersed in a ureasil-polyether (U-PEO) hybrid.

Nanostructural Arrangements and Surface Morphology on Ureasil-Polyether Films Loaded with Dexamethasone Acetate.

Ureasil-Poly(ethylene oxide) (ureasil-PEO500) and ureasil-Poly(propylene oxide) (u-PPO400) films, unloaded and loaded with dexamethasone acetate (DMA), have been investigated by carrying out atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM), contact-angle, and drug release experiments. In addition, X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering, and infrared spectroscopy have provided essential information to understand the films' structural organization. Our results reveal that while in u-PEO500 DMA occupies sites near the ether oxygen and remains absent from the film surface, in u-PPO400 new crystalline phases are formed when DMA is loaded, which show up as ~30-100 nm in diameter rounded clusters aligned along a well-defined direction, presumably related to the one defined by the characteristic polymer ropes distinguished on the surface of the unloaded u-POP film; occasionally, larger needle-shaped DMA crystals are also observed.

Comparative analysis of different PCR-based strategies for HPV detection and genotyping from cervical samples.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques are associated with accurate results with respect to HPV detection and genotyping, being able to identify viral DNA at low levels. However, differences in primer design influence their sensibility and specificity, depending on the HPV type assessed.

Dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies post-COVID-19 in a Brazilian Amazon population.

Background: In this study, the prevalence and persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus) IgG was evaluated in volunteers 90 days after COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) diagnosis by correlating response dynamics with clinical conditions, epidemiological characteristics, and disease severity.

Methods: The study recruited 200 volunteers aged 18 years or older of both sexes diagnosed with COVID-19. Of the 200 volunteers initially selected, the 135 individuals who underwent serological testing for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on the first visit to the laboratory, were invited to return, after 90 days, and provide a new blood sample for a second assessment of the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody.

PERSPECTIVE: Pollen Cryopreservation for Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources Conservation.

Pollen conservation is an important tool for the maintenance of plant genetic resources and can promote improved efficiency in breeding programs and germplasm conservation and exchange. This review aims to understand the importance of pollen cryopreservation and how to use it for distinct species in order to encourage the use of this methodology in germplasm banks and plant breeding programs. Pollen from many plant species have already been successfully cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen.

Sociodemographic, Behavioral and Oral Health Factors in Maternal and Child Health: An Interventional and Associative Study from the Network Perspective.

Oral healthcare during pregnancy needs to be part of the assistance routine given to pregnant women by health professionals as a way to encourage self-care and strengthen the general health of the mother and the baby. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated oral healthcare intervention for pregnant women and to analyze the association of sociodemographic, behavioral, oral health and general maternal and child health factors in prenatal care at usual risk in primary care in a city in the northeast of Brazil, in 2018-2019. A controlled, randomized, single-blinded community trial was conducted.

HIV Infections and Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Women from Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

There are few studies on the occurrence of food insecurity (FI) in pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS (PrWLWHA). Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity among PrWLWHA and to analyse the association between HIV and FI. For this we searched eight databases.

Evaluation of the toxic potential of the aqueous extract from Mangifera indica Linn. (Anacardiaceae) in rats submitted to experimental models of acute and subacute oral toxicity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The population has traditionally used the Mangifera indica plant leaves to treat diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus and alleviate signs and symptoms such as inflammation, diarrhea, and dysentery. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the flavonoids present in the aqueous extract from M. indica leaves (EAMI) exhibited a potent hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats, promoting the widespread use of the plant by the population and highlighting the importance of investigating its oral toxicity.

Non-specific effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on autistic spectrum disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched seven databases and found 13 eligible controlled trials that use omega-3 supplementation in children and adolescents with ASD. We collected details on study design, intervention time, supplement dosage, and the autism assessment scale. Meta-analyses and subgroup analysis were conducted according to the autism symptoms.

Evaluation of different skin regions derived from a postmortem jaguar, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), after vitrification for development of cryobanks from captive animals.

Biological resource banks represent valuable tools for the conservation of species vulnerable to extinction, such as the jaguar. Cryobanks of skins have the potential to safeguard rare genotypes, allowing the potential exploitation of biological samples in animal multiplication technologies and the study of genetic variability. Determination of the most suitable skin regions for tissue conservation can help increase the efficiency of cryobanks and the storage of biological samples.

Modulation of the Serotonergic Receptosome in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression: A Narrative Review of the Experimental Evidence.

Serotonin (5-HT) receptors are found throughout central and peripheral nervous systems, mainly in brain regions involved in the neurobiology of anxiety and depression. 5-HT receptors are currently promising targets for discovering new drugs for treating disorders ranging from migraine to neuropsychiatric upsets, such as anxiety and depression. It is well described in the current literature that the brain expresses seven types of 5-HT receptors comprising eighteen distinct subtypes.

Presence of molar-incisor hypomineralization is associated with dental caries in Brazilian schoolchildren.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in schoolchildren and its association with dental caries experience. This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 471 children aged 8 to 10 years. Data were collected via a sociodemographic questionnaire.

The Design and Development of a Personalized Leisure Time Physical Activity Application Based on Behavior Change Theories, End-User Perceptions, and Principles From Empirical Data Mining.

Many adults do not reach the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines, which can lead to serious health problems. A promising method to increase PA is the use of smartphone PA applications. However, despite the development and evaluation of multiple PA apps, it remains unclear how to develop and design engaging and effective PA apps.

Insights Into the Ecological Role of spp. in an Ant-plant Symbiosis.

In the myrmecophytic mutualistic relationship between a ants and plants both species receive protection and exchange nutrients. The presence of microorganisms in this symbiotic system has been reported, and the symbiotic role of some fungi involved in the myrmecophytic interactions has been described. In this work we focus on bacteria within this mutualism, conducting isolations and screening for antimicrobial activities, genome sequencing, and biochemical characterization.

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health (Riseup-PPD-COVID-19): protocol for an international prospective cohort study.

Background: Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new pandemic, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which could have negative consequences for pregnant and postpartum women. The scarce evidence published to date suggests that perinatal mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the few studies published so far have some limitations, such as a cross-sectional design and the omission of important factors for the understanding of perinatal mental health, including governmental restriction measures and healthcare practices implemented at the maternity hospitals.