The association of origin and environmental conditions with performance in professional IRONMAN triathletes.

We have (i) little knowledge about where the fastest professional IRONMAN triathletes originate from and where the fastest races take place and (ii) we have no knowledge of the optimal weather conditions for an IRONMAN triathlon. The aims of the present study were, therefore, (i) to investigate the origin and the fastest IRONMAN race courses for professional triathletes and (ii) to evaluate the best environmental conditions (i.e.

Tailoring a lignocellulosic biomass to simultaneously enhance N-doping and textural properties of porous carbons designed for effective environmental remediation.

Transforming lignocellulosic biomass waste into value-added materials like porous carbons offers a sustainable and increasingly important solution for its efficient management within a circular economy framework. Although the heteroatom-doping process enhances oxygen- or nitrogen-containing functionalities on porous carbons, it often leads to losses in structural integrity and other key functionalities. This study presents a novel protocol to produce N-doped porous carbons that efficiently introduces nitrogen groups while improving surface area, microporosity definition and the concentration of oxygen-containing functionalities.

Symptom assessment related to the menstrual cycle to predict endometriosis and adenomyosis in university students.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis among university students and identify potential predictors of these diseases among these symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in northeastern Brazil. The students were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire using a Google Form link.

Intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) findings over time: ultrasound and ultra-widefield fundus photography.

Background: Ozurdex® (Allergan®, AbbVie Company, North Chicago, Illinois, EUA), is composed of 0.7 mg of dexamethasone, fused in a solid biodegradable PLGA polymer, whose degradation occurs naturally in the vitreous cavity, usually in six months after its application.

Methods: In this study, we included patients aged ≥ 18 years with one or two eyes who had an indication for Ozurdex implants.

Structural and vascular assessment of the optic nerve head and macula in chronic Chagas disease.

Chagas disease (CD), a parasitic infection, may have ocular repercussions in its cardiologic form, since a history of heart disease of other etiologies already has been established as a risk factor for neuropathies and maculopathies. The aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical structural and vascular optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters in patients with chronic CD. Nineteen patients with CD and 19 healthy subjects were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and Laguna ONhE® software.

De novo and inherited dominant variants in U4 and U6 snRNAs cause retinitis pigmentosa.

The U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms a duplex with the U6 snRNA and, together with U5 and ~30 proteins, is part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex, located at the core of the major spliceosome. Recently, recurrent variants in the U4 RNA, transcribed from the gene, and in at least two other genes were discovered to cause neurodevelopmental disorder.

Cannabis legalization: a call for the integration of main health and crime indicator domains towards comprehensive policy impact assessments.

Several jurisdictions have implemented legalization policies for non-medical cannabis, mainly towards improving public health and reducing illegal cannabis markets and crime. As some legalization initiatives are approaching maturity, conducting policy impact assessments has become timely. Emerging data, however, suggest rather mixed pictures for key outcomes and indicators.

Adaptation and validation of a tool for the quality assessment of genetic counseling in Brazil: perspectives from clinical geneticists.

In 2018, Portuguese researchers proposed the "Tool for Quality Assessment of Genetic Counseling," a 5-point Likert scale comprising 50 items across five dimensions, designed to assess genetic counseling from the professional's perspective. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to adapt this tool to Brazilian Portuguese, validate it among Brazilian clinical geneticists, and conduct a preliminary assessment of the quality of genetic counseling in Brazil. The adaptation process involved expert-driven content validation and calculation of the Content Validity Index (CVI) to ensure equivalence between the original and adapted versions.

Coronavirus Cryptic Landscape and Draft Genome of a Novel CoV Clade Related to MERS From Bats Circulating in Northeastern Brazil.

We identified seven distinct coronaviruses (CoVs) in bats from Brazil, classified into 229E-related (Alpha-CoV), Nobecovirus, Sarbecovirus, and Merbecovirus (Beta-CoV), including one closely related to MERS-like CoV with 82.8% genome coverage. To accomplish this, we screened 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 different bat species using molecular assays, RNA sequencing, and evolutionary analysis.

The Impact of Genetic Polymorphisms on Genotoxicity (DNA Damage) Induced by Cigarette Smoke in Humans: A Systematic Review.

The present systematic review aims to put together human population studies that include some relationship between genetic polymorphisms and genotoxicity as well as to evaluate the quality of the published studies induced by cigarette smoke exposure in vivo. The present systematic review was built according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. Different genotoxicity assays were used by different authors, although the major goal was the genotoxicity assessment by means of micronucleus, comet, sister chromatid exchange, and chromosomal aberration assays.

Maternal exposure to nicotine causes oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in the ovaries of rats' adult offspring.

Nicotine is one of the most toxic substances found in cigarettes, but also found in chewing tobacco gum, patches and vaping products (electronic cigarettes). In addition to being a highly addictive chemical, it is capable of reducing fertility in men and women. In the ovaries, it can induce morphological changes and impair the formation of follicles, being a possible cause of changes in the reproductive cycle and anticipation of menopause in women whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.

Antifungal susceptibility, clinical findings, and biofilm resistance of Fusarium species causing keratitis: a challenge for disease control.

Fusarium keratitis (FK) is an important clinical condition that can lead to blindness and eye loss, and is most commonly caused by the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). This study evaluated the susceptibility of planktonic cells and biofilms of FSSC (n = 7) and non-FSSC (n = 7) isolates obtained from patients with keratitis from a semi-arid tropical region to amphotericin B (AMB), natamycin (NAT), voriconazole (VRZ), efinaconazole (EFZ), and luliconazole (LCZ). Analysis of clinical data showed that trauma was the most common risk factor for FK patients.

Enhancing quality of life in individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physiotherapy interventions.

Purpose: This systematic review examined studies that addressed physiotherapy intervention approaches to the Quality of Life (QoL) of people with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search strategy in five databases (PEDro, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar) until 12 February 2024. We assessed the included studies' methodological quality and statistical description using the PEDro scale.

Evaluation of Synthetic Peptides from ATP Diphosphohydrolase 1: In Silico Approaches for Characterization and Prospective Application in Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is the infection caused by and constitutes a worldwide public health problem. The parasitological recommended method and serological methods can be used for the detection of eggs and antibodies, respectively. However, both have limitations, especially in low endemicity areas.

Combined exercise-induced modulation of Notch pathway and muscle quality in senescence-accelerated mice.

The Notch signaling pathway is crucial for skeletal muscle development, regeneration, inflammation, and aging. This study investigated the association between interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the Notch pathway in C2C12 cells, as well as explored the effects of combined endurance and resistance exercise on the Notch and autophagy pathways in the skeletal muscle of senescence-accelerated mouse-resistant 1 Sedentary (SAMR1 CT), SAMR1 exercised (SAMR1 EX), senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 Sedentary (SAMP8 CT), and SAMP8 exercised (SAMP8 EX). C2C12 myoblasts were transfected with siIL-10.

Risk Factors for Mortality after Out-of-hospital Resuscitation are More Diverse than Assumed.

Finsterer J, Scorza CA, Scorza FA, Fiorini AC. Risk Factors for Mortality after Out-of-hospital Resuscitation are More Diverse than Assumed. Indian J Crit Care Med 2025;29(1):92-93.

Prenatal Valproic Acid Induces Autistic-Like Behaviors in Rats via Dopaminergic Modulation in Nigrostriatal and Mesocorticolimbic Pathways.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder characterized by several behavioral impairments, especially in socialization, communication, and the occurrence of stereotyped behaviors. In rats, prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) induces autistic-like behaviors. Previous studies by our group have suggested that the autistic-like phenotype is possibly related to dopaminergic system modulation because tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression was affected.

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.

Intra-Individual Stable Isotope Variation Tracks Brazilian Contemporary Dietary and Nutritional Transition.

Introduction: Contemporary dietary and nutritional transitions are commonplace, but difficult to study directly. In Brazil, and Latin America, this generalized process, leading to current obesity and malnutrition problems, started more than four decades ago. Although body weight and food availability are used to measure changes, not much information on food consumption and nutrition exist.

Outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) in patients with post-surgical macular edema - a real-world scenario.

Background: Clinically significant macular edema (CME) is the leading cause of visual loss after ophthalmologic surgery due to the release of inflammatory mediators promoted by the procedures. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of intravitreal Ozurdex (700 µg dexamethasone) implants as a primary therapeutical option for post-surgical macular edema cases.

Methods: Patients with post-surgical macular edema diagnosed by optical coherence tomography (Cirrus SD-OCT) and treated with Ozudex were selected for the current study.

Dynamical properties of the composed Logistic-Gauss map.

This study focuses on the analysis of a unique composition between two well-established models, known as the Logistic-Gauss map. The investigation cohesively transitions to an exploration of parameter space, essential for unraveling the complexity of dissipative mappings and understanding the intricate relationships between periodic structures and chaotic regions. By manipulating control parameters, our approach reveals intriguing patterns, with findings enriched by extreme orbits, trajectories that connect local maximum and minimum values of one-dimensional maps.

Short-Latency Trigeminocervical Reflex Obtained Without Muscle Activation: Topographic Distribution and Methodological Approach.

Purpose: Electrical stimulation of trigeminal nerve branches elicits early and late reflex responses in the cervical muscles, known as the trigeminocervical reflex (TCR). This study aimed to evaluate the neurophysiological aspects, stimulation patterns, and topographic distribution of short-latency TCR components in humans in the absence of voluntary muscle activation.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 30 participants.

Presence of polyketide synthases and nonribosomal peptide synthetase in culturable bacteria associated with Aplysina fulva and Aplysina caissara (Porifera).

Culture-dependent and -independent studies have provided access to symbiont genes and the functions they play for host sponges. Thus, this work investigates the diversity, presence of genes of pharmacological interest, biological activities and metabolome of the bacteria isolated from the sponges Aplysina caissara and Aplysina fulva collected on the southwestern Atlantic Coast. The genes for Polyketide Synthases types I and II and Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases were screened in more than 200 bacterial strains obtained, from which around 40% were putatively novel.

Alopecia Induced by Poly-L-Lactic Acid Injection.

Cosmetic procedures carry inherent risks of adverse events. Though rarely reported, transient and permanent alopecia are potential complications of these procedures. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who developed pain and patches of nonscarring alopecia with erythema and edema following aesthetic application of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) on the face and along the frontal hairline.