Therapeutic Physical Exercise for Dysmenorrhea: A Scoping Review.

Dysmenorrhea affects many women of reproductive age. Physical exercise has been used as an effective intervention for pain reduction and to improve well-being. Physiotherapy, involving movement and exercise, can be effective in relieving menstrual pain and provide additional benefits.

Pharmacist-Mediated Deprescribing in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Systematic Review.

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are prevalent among Long-Term Care (LTC) users. Older people, who most use LTC services, are more prone to drug-related problems, which polypharmacy aggravates. Deprescribing is a key intervention to address polypharmacy and inappropriate medication.

Visual Noise Mask for Human Point-Light Displays: A Coding-Free Approach.

Human point-light displays consist of luminous dots representing human articulations, thus depicting actions without pictorial information. These stimuli are widely used in action recognition experiments. Because humans excel in decoding human motion, point-light displays (PLDs) are often masked with additional moving dots (noise masks), thereby challenging stimulus recognition.

Understanding the Role of Irisin in Longevity and Aging: A Narrative Review.

Irisin is a protein resulting from a proteolytic cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FND5). The ability of irisin to modulate adipocyte and control glucose metabolism in human metabolic diseases gave rise to the hypothesis that irisin could have a pivotal role in aging-related diseases. Although in animal models, increased levels of irisin have been positively associated with better health outcomes, in humans, its role remains controversial.

Billion-Scale Expansion of Functional hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes in Bioreactors Through Oxygen Control and Continuous Wnt Activation.

Generation of upscaled quantities of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM), for therapeutic or testing applications, is both expensive and time-consuming. Herein, a scalable bioprocess for hiPSC-CM expansion in stirred-tank bioreactors (STB) is developed. By combining the continuous activation of the Wnt pathway, through perfusion of CHIR99021, within a mild hypoxia environment, the expansion of hiPSC-CM as aggregates is maximized, reaching 4 billion of pure hiPSC-CM in 2L STB.

Flexibility between immersion and distancing: Relationship with depressive symptoms and therapeutic alliance.

Objectives: High levels of change are linked to the flexibility between immersion and distancing, as well as to higher levels of therapeutic alliance. This study aims to explore the evolution of flexibility between immersion and distancing throughout the entire therapeutic process and its relationship with therapeutic alliance and depressive symptoms in a clinical case.

Method: We analyzed five sessions of a good outcome case of depression undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Anterior chamber morphological and refractive outcomes following phacoemulsification in pseudoexfoliative eyes: A case-control study.

Purpose: To compare changes in angle morphology, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and refractive prediction error (PE) after phacoemulsification between pseudoexfoliative (PEX) and non-PEX eyes.

Methods: Prospective case-control study of eyes submitted to cataract surgery. Biometric data and angle parameters - Anterior Chamber Angle (ACA), Angle Opening Distance (AOD), Scleral Spur Angles (SSA) and Trabecular Iris Space Area (TISA) - were measured preoperatively and 1-month postoperatively through swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Upper arm movements in the last days of life: A new possible sign of impending death.

One of the most crucial stages of palliative care is the last days and hours of life, which require special attention and knowledgeable identification of clinical signs described as signs of impending death (SID). Our case series of 11 patients receiving home palliative care describes bilateral hypoactive, stereotyped upper arm movements (scratching of the head, forehead, and nose) that were previously unknown or described, often accompanied by SID.

Development and validation of a UV-Vis spectrophotometric method for estimation of total content of chalcone.

In this study, a straightforward spectrophotometric method was developed for quantifying the total content of chalcones in a sample. The method exhibits linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, and enables the estimation of total chalcone content in trans-chalcone equivalents for a sample diluted in carbon tetrachloride and added to antimony pentachloride. The analytical wavelength was determined to be 390 nm.

Development of a Novel Clinical Classification for Radiation-induced Cystitis: The Portuguese Navy Radiation-induced Cystitis (PNRC) Scale.

Background And Objective: Radiation-induced cystitis (RIC) is an important consequence of pelvic radiotherapy that can cause high morbidity and, in extreme cases, mortality. The lack of a widely accepted classification system makes it difficult to compare treatment regimens. Our aim was to develop a new classification system covering the RIC spectrum to improve treatment comparisons and accurate incidence estimates for systematic use in clinical and research settings.

Health-related physical fitness in children among five Mediterranean countries: a cross-cultural study from the DELICIOUS project.

Background: Health-related fitness (HRF) components are essential for supporting healthy growth and reducing long-term health risks in children. This study explored cross-cultural variations in HRF among children from five Mediterranean countries-Egypt, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, and Spain-within the framework of the DELICIOUS project.

Methods: A total of 860 children participated in the study, including 204 from Egypt ( = 204, 11.

Integrating literature and family insights: exploring the needs of families supporting adults with diabetes.

Introduction: The considerable influence that family members can have on diabetes management is well recognized. Therefore, it is crucial for professionals to acknowledge the impact of the diagnosis on family members. This study aimed to comprehensively identify and understand the needs of family members with an adult diagnosed with diabetes using a two-phased research design.

Assessment of complications in third molar surgery performed by resident surgeons: A comprehensive analysis.

Introduction: Third molar extractions present a wide spectrum of reported complications, spanning from 2.6 % to 30.9 %, making it challenging to predict outcomes for individual patients.

Totally implantable venous access devices: A restrospective analysis of morbidity and risk factors in a hospital with multi-technique approaches.

Background: Totally implantable venous central access devices (TIVADs) can be implanted by open surgery or by direct puncture in the subclavian (ScV), internal jugular (IJV) or cephalic (CephV) veins.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 201 patients. Thirty-day follow-up data was analyzed to compare the outcomes of different techniques and evaluation of risk factors.

Subregional pedoclimatic conditions with contrasted UV-radiation shape host-microbiome and metabolome phenotypes in the grape berry.

This study used integrative omics to address the response of key elements of the grapevine holobiont to contrasted pedoclimatic conditions found in distinct subregions of Douro Valley (Portugal). A metabolic OPLS-DA model predicted with 100 % accuracy the geographic origin of berries; higher UV radiation, higher temperature and lower precipitation stimulated the accumulation of phenolic acids, flavonols and malvidin conjugates, in detriment of amino acids, organic acids, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins and non-malvidin anthocyanins. Metabarcoding showed a trade-off between bacteria and fungal diversity among subregions, with , and acting as intraregional microbial markers.

Artificial intelligence and blockchain in clinical trials: enhancing data governance efficiency, integrity, and transparency.

This article examines the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its integration with artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical trials, focusing on their combined ability to enhance integrity, operational efficiency, and transparency in the data governance. Through an in-depth analysis of recent advancements, the article highlights how blockchain and AI address critical challenges, including patient data privacy, regulatory compliance, and security. The article also identifies key barriers to adoption in the mentioned integration, such as scalability limitations, association with existing healthcare systems, and high implementation costs.

Effectiveness of Combined Physical and Psychological Interventions on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Adult Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Systematic Review Protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of combined physical and psychological interventions on anxiety and depression symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Introduction: By 2030, COPD is expected to be the third-leading cause of death and the seventh in terms of overall health impact, measured in disability-adjusted life years. As with other comorbidities, anxiety and depression disorders influence the prognosis.

Stress assessment instruments for hospitalized preterm newborns: scoping review.

Background: The highly technological environment existing in intensive care units, essential for the survival of the newborn, contributes with a potentially devastating and traumatic effect, especially in preterm newborns and in their future lives, due to the early and frequent exposure to multiple stressors. The preterm newborn must be observed in a systematic and structured way, before, during and after any intervention, aiming at the correct assessment and interpretation of his behaviour and signs of stress, and at the timely planning of interventions that minimize and prevent stress. The objective of this review is to identify and map the instruments for assessing stress in preterm newborns admitted to neonatal units in scientific evidence.

Solvatochromism and cis-trans isomerism in azobenzene-4-sulfonyl chloride.

Solvatochromism exhibited by azobenzene-4-sulfonyl chloride (here abbreviated as Azo-SCl) has been investigated in a series of non-polar, polar-aprotic and polar-protic solvents. The UV-vis spectra of Azo-SCl exhibit two long-wavelength bands, observed at 321-330 nm (band-I) and 435-461 nm (band-II), which are ascribed to the π*-π (S ← S) and π*-n (S ← S) transitions, respectively. The shorter wavelength band indicates a reversal in solvatochromism, from negative to positive solvatochromism, for a solvent with a dielectric constant of 32.

Investigation of genes expression of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway and AMPs in the presence of Borrelia spirochetes in Ixodes ricinus.

Multicellular animals need to control the spread of invading pathogens. This is a particular challenge for blood-feeding vectors such as ticks, which ingest large amounts of blood potentially laden with harmful microorganisms. Ticks have a basic innate immune system and protect themselves from infection through innate immune responses involving pathways such as Janus kinase (JAK) or the signalling transducer activator of transcription (STAT).

Linking Research Data with Physically Preserved Research Materials in Chemistry.

Results of scientific work in chemistry can usually be obtained in the form of materials and data. A big step towards transparency and reproducibility of the scientific work can be gained if scientists publish their data in research data repositories in a FAIR manner. Nevertheless, in order to make chemistry a sustainable discipline, obtaining FAIR data is insufficient and a comprehensive concept that includes preservation of materials is needed.

A gamma-ray spectrometer based on MAPD-3NM-2 and LaBr(ce) and LSO scintillators for hydrogen detection on planetary surfaces.

The presented work is dedicated to the detection of hydrogen, using detectors based on a MAPD (Micropixel Avalanche Photodiode) array based on new MAPD-3NM-2 type photodiodes and two different scintillators (LaBr(Ce) and LSO(Ce)). The physical parameters of the MAPD photodiode used in the study and the intrinsic background of the scintillators were investigated. For the 2.

Fast updating feedback from piriform cortex to the olfactory bulb relays multimodal identity and reward contingency signals during rule-reversal.

While animals readily adjust their behavior to adapt to relevant changes in the environment, the neural pathways enabling these changes remain largely unknown. Here, using multiphoton imaging, we investigate whether feedback from the piriform cortex to the olfactory bulb supports such behavioral flexibility. To this end, we engage head-fixed male mice in a multimodal rule-reversal task guided by olfactory and auditory cues.

Diversity in the medical research ecosystem: a descriptive scientometric analysis of over 49 000 studies and 150 000 authors published in high-impact medical journals between 2007 and 2022.

Objectives: Health research that significantly impacts global clinical practice and policy is often published in high-impact factor (IF) medical journals. These outlets play a pivotal role in the worldwide dissemination of novel medical knowledge. However, researchers identifying as women and those affiliated with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been largely under-represented in high-IF journals across multiple fields of medicine.