Genetic Diversity and Antiretroviral Resistance in HIV-1-Infected Patients Newly Diagnosed in Cabo Verde.

The high genetic variability of HIV-1 and the emergence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) can impact treatment efficacy. In this study, we investigated the prevalent HIV-1 genotypes and drug-resistance-associated mutations in drug-naïve HIV-1 individuals in Cabo Verde. The study, conducted between 2018 and 2019, included drug-naïve HIV-1 individuals from the São Vicente, Boa Vista, Fogo, and Santiago islands.

High Detection Rate of Rotavirus Infection Among Children Admitted with Acute Gastroenteritis to Six Public Hospitals in Luanda Province After the Introduction of Rotarix Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Rotavirus group A (RVA) is a major cause of pediatric acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Vaccination is an effective public health strategy and Angola implemented it in 2014. This hospital-based study aimed to estimate the prevalence of RVA infection and the severity of AGE in children under five years of age treated at six hospitals in Luanda Province.

Emergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3 in Portugal (2024).

In September 2024, bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) was first identified in Portugal, specifically in the Alentejo region (Évora District), using molecular diagnostic methods. The initial case involved a sheep exhibiting severe clinical symptoms, including head oedema, prostration, nasal discharge, and significant respiratory distress. A subsequent case was documented in another sheep from a different farm within the same district, which presented with high fever (41.

HIV-1 Antiretroviral Drug Resistance in Mozambique: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review assessed the prevalence of transmitted and acquired HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and the associated risk factors in Mozambique. A search of the PubMed, Cochrane, B-On, and Scopus databases up to December 2023 was conducted and included 11 studies with 1118 HIV-1 pol sequences. Drug resistance mutations (DRMs) to NNRTIs were found in 13% of the drug-naive individuals and 31% of those on ART, while NRTI resistance occurred in 5% and 10%, respectively.

Vaccination After Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: A Review of the Literature and Proposed Vaccination Protocol.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) induces profound immunosuppression, significantly increasing susceptibility to severe infections. This review examines vaccinations' necessity, timing, and efficacy post-HCT to reduce infection-related morbidity and mortality. It aims to provide a structured protocol aligned with international and national recommendations.

Boosting Vaccine Research: The 16-Year Journey of TRANSVAC Vaccine Infrastructure.

TRANSVAC represents a long-running effort to accelerate the development of novel vaccines by integrating institutions from across Europe under a single collaborative framework. This initiative has empowered the global vaccine community since 2009 including contributing toward the development and optimization of vaccine candidates as well as the provision of new adjuvants, research protocols, and technologies. Scientific services were provided in support of 88 different vaccine development projects, and 400 professionals attended TRANSVAC training events on various vaccine-related topics.

Immunoprophylaxis with MV140 Is Effective in the Reduction of Urinary Tract Infections-A Prospective Real-Life Study.

Background/objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTI) represent a highly frequent and debilitating disease. Immunoactive prophylaxis, such as the polyvalent bacterial whole-cell-based sublingual vaccine MV140, have been developed to avoid antibiotic use. However, the effectiveness of this tool in the Portuguese population is still unknown.

Vaccination Promotion Strategies in the Elderly: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The World Health Organization estimates that currently available vaccines prevent 2 to 3 million deaths worldwide each year. Preventing infectious diseases is an important public health priority to ensure healthy ageing and improve quality of life. This study's aim is to identify the best strategies to increase vaccination coverage in the elderly.

Longitudinal Immunological Analysis of Portuguese Healthcare Workers Across the COVID-19 Pandemic Reveals Differences in the Humoral Immune Response to Vaccines.

A vaccination programme against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was initiated in Portugal in December 2020. In this study, we report the findings of a prospective cohort study implemented with the objective of monitoring antibody production in response to COVID-19 vaccination. The humoral immune response to vaccination was followed up using blood samples collected from 191 healthcare workers.

Additive Manufacturing of a Frost-Detection Resistive Sensor for Optimizing Demand Defrost in Refrigeration Systems.

This article presents the development of a resistive frost-detection sensor fabricated using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) with a conductive filament. This sensor was designed to enhance demand-defrost control in industrial refrigeration systems. Frost accumulation on evaporator surfaces blocks airflow and creates a thermal insulating barrier that reduces heat exchange efficiency, increasing energy consumption and operational costs.

Safety of Immersive Virtual Reality for the Management of Parkinson's Disease.

Virtual reality (VR) has been used in research and clinical practice in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD), potentially enhancing physiotherapy. Adverse events (AEs) associated with VR applications in PD have been poorly explored. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare two 12-week interventions using physiotherapy and immersive VR, and analyzed the frequency and type of AEs occurring in 30 people with PD.

A Systematic Review on the Advancements in Remote Sensing and Proximity Tools for Grapevine Disease Detection.

Grapevines ( L.) are one of the most economically relevant crops worldwide, yet they are highly vulnerable to various diseases, causing substantial economic losses for winegrowers. This systematic review evaluates the application of remote sensing and proximal tools for vineyard disease detection, addressing current capabilities, gaps, and future directions in sensor-based field monitoring of grapevine diseases.

Wearable Solutions Using Physiological Signals for Stress Monitoring on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Systematic Literature Review.

Some previous studies have focused on using physiological signals to detect stress in individuals with ASD through wearable devices, yet few have focused on how to design such solutions. Wearable technology may be a valuable tool to aid parents and caregivers in monitoring the emotional states of individuals with ASD who are at high risk of experiencing very stressful situations. However, effective wearable devices for individuals with ASD may need to differ from solutions for those without ASD.

A Comprehensive Dataset of Surface Electromyography and Self-Perceived Fatigue Levels for Muscle Fatigue Analysis.

Muscle fatigue is a risk factor for injuries in athletes and workers. This brings relevance to the study of this biochemical process to allow for its identification and prevention. This paper presents a novel dataset for muscle fatigue analysis comprising surface electromyography data from upper-limbs and the subject's self-perceived fatigue level.

Digital Twin-Assisted Lightpath Provisioning and Nonlinear Mitigation in C+L+S Multiband Optical Networks.

Multiband (MB) optical transmission targets increasing the capacity of operators' optical transport networks. However, nonlinear impairments (NLI) affect each optical channel in the C+L+S bands differently, and, therefore, the routing and spectrum assignment (RSA) problem needs to be complemented with fast and accurate tools to consider the quality of transmission (QoT) within the provisioning process. This paper proposes a digital twin-assisted approach for lightpath provisioning to provide a complete solution for the RSA problem that ensures the required QoT in MB optical networks.

Revolutionizing Free-Space Optics: A Survey of Enabling Technologies, Challenges, Trends, and Prospects of Beyond 5G Free-Space Optical (FSO) Communication Systems.

As the demand for high-speed, low-latency communication continues to grow, free-space optical (FSO) communication has gained prominence as a promising solution for supporting the next generation of wireless networks, especially in the context of the 5G and beyond era. It offers high-speed, low-latency data transmission over long distances without the need for a physical infrastructure. However, the deployment of FSO systems faces significant challenges, such as atmospheric turbulence, weather-induced signal degradation, and alignment issues, all of which can impair performance.

Trends and Innovations in Wearable Technology for Motor Rehabilitation, Prediction, and Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review.

(1) Background: Continuous health promotion systems are increasingly important, enabling decentralized patient care, providing comfort, and reducing congestion in healthcare facilities. These systems allow for treatment beyond clinical settings and support preventive monitoring. Wearable systems have become essential tools for health monitoring, but they focus mainly on physiological data, overlooking motor data evaluation.

Measurement Properties of Wearable Kinematic-Based Data Collection Systems to Evaluate Ball Kicking in Soccer: A Systematic Review with Evidence Gap Map.

Kinematic assessment of ball kicking may require significant human effort (e.g., traditional vision-based tracking systems).

Editorial on Special Issue "State-of-Art in mRNA Therapeutics and Gene Delivery".

RNA therapeutics are a class of medicines based on the insertion of a specific genetic message (mRNA) into the cells and the silencing or gene editing of a specific mRNA [...

Unveiling the Potential of C Factor Applied to Pilot Bioavailability/Bioequivalence Studies-A Case Study with Pazopanib Drug Products.

When companies are uncertain about the potential of a new formulation to be bioequivalent to a Reference product, it is common practice to carry out downsized pilot studies as a gatekeeping in vivo strategy to decide whether to move forward or not with a full-size pivotal study. However, due to the small study size, these studies are inarguably more sensitive to variability. To address and mitigate the uncertainty of the conclusions of pilot studies concerning the maximum observed concentration (C), the factor was proposed as an alternative approach to the average bioequivalence statistical methodology.

Green Sol-Gel Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications.

Background/objectives: The unique properties of iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted significant interest within the biomedical community, particularly for magnetic hyperthermia applications. Various synthesis methods have been developed to optimize these nanoparticles.

Methods: In this study, we employed a powdered coconut water (PCW)-assisted sol-gel method to produce magnetite nanoparticles for the first time.

Liposomal Formulation of an Organogold Complex Enhancing Its Activity as Antimelanoma Agent-In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

The therapeutic management of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, remains challenging. In the search for more effective therapeutic options, metal-based complexes are being investigated for their anticancer properties. Cisplatin was the first clinically approved platinum-based drug and, based on its success, other metals (e.

Assessing Protein Content and Dimer Formation in the Bevacizumab Reference Product and Biosimilar Versions Marketed in Spain.

Background: The manufacture of biologics is a complex, controlled, and reproducible process that results in a product that meets specifications. This should be based on data from batches used to demonstrate manufacturing consistency. Ten batches of originator product (Avastin) were analyzed over a 10-year period.

Advances in Encapsulating Marine Bioactive Compounds Using Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) for Health Applications.

As life expectancy rises and modern lifestyles improve, there is an increasing focus on health, disease prevention, and enhancing physical appearance. Consumers are more aware of the benefits of natural ingredients in healthcare products while also being mindful of sustainability challenges. Consequently, marine bioactive compounds have gained popularity as ingredients in cosmetics and food supplements due to their diverse beneficial properties.

Sustainable Carbon Dots Loaded into Carboxymethylcellulose Based Hydrogels for Uterine Cancer Bioimaging.

: The development of innovative materials for disease diagnostics and therapeutics is a fast-growing area of scientific research. In this work, we report the development of innovative hydrogels incorporating carbon dots (Cdots) for bioimaging purposes. : The Cdots were prepared using a sustainable and low-cost process, starting with an underused fiber from the Brazilian semiarid region.