Uncontrolled Illegal Mining and Garimpo in the Brazilian Amazon.

Mining has played an important role in the economies of South American countries. Although industrial mining prevails in most countries, the expansion of garimpo activity has increased substantially. Recently, Brazil exhibited two moments of garimpo dominance over industrial mining: 1989-1997 and 2019-2022.

SID/SIEDP expert consensus on optimizing clinical strategies for early detection and management of wolfram syndrome.

Wolfram Syndrome (WFS) is a rare, multisystemic, degenerative disease leading to premature death. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity makes WFS diagnosis and management challenging. The Italian Society of Diabetes (SID) and the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (SIEDP) convened an expert panel of professional healthcare practitioners to provide up-to-date knowledge about the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and treatment of WFS, and recommendations for the earlydetection and optimal disease management.

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of bioactive compounds extracted from Streptomyces africanus strain E2 isolated from Moroccan soil.

This study aimed to isolate Streptomyces sp. from Moroccan terrestrial ecosystems and identify bioactive compounds through GC-MS analysis. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against various pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 60193, and multi-drug resistant strains comprising Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae 19K 929, Proteus sp.

The Causal Relationship Between Choline Metabolites and Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis: Identifying as Colocalized Gene.

Background: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a type of cholecystitis with high mortality rate while its pathogenesis remains complex. Choline is one of the essential nutrients and is related to several diseases. This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between choline metabolites and AAC and its potential mechanisms.

Elaboration and Characterization of Electrodes from and Charcoal Powder with Coconut Bio-Pitch as a Binder.

Carbon-based electrodes have recently been most widely used in P-MFC due to their desirable properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, affordable price, corrosion resistance, and ease of regeneration. In general, carbon-based electrodes, particularly graphite, are produced using a complex process based on petroleum derivatives at very high temperatures. This study aims to produce electrodes from bio-pitch and charcoal powder as an alternative to graphite electrodes.

State of Food and Nutritional Security of Urban Households in Grand Lome: Approach by Measuring Household Indicators.

In West Africa, the number of people facing food crises increases each year in both rural and urban areas, due to interdependent factors. The city of Grand Lome in Togo faces an increasingly large population that must ensure access to food, which it hardly produces anymore, because of the establishment of housing and infrastructure. In addition, the increase in the price of food products in this city further weakens the purchasing power of city dwellers in the context of poverty.

Rapid on-site detection of illicit drugs in urine using C18 pipette-tip based solid-phase extraction coupled with a miniaturized mass spectrometer.

Drug abuse is a social issue worldwide, and there is an increasing demand for on-site rapid detection of illicit drugs. In this study, a rapid and simple analytical method for the detection of 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), methamphetamine (MA), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine (K), norketamine (NK), and cocaine (COC) in urine was developed. The developed method combines C18 pipette-tip based solid-phase extraction (C18 PT-SPE) with a miniaturized mass spectrometer (miniMS), exhibiting remarkable simplicity, high sensitivity, and strong reliability, compared with the conventional method.

In ovo toxico-pathological effects of medicinal plants used against coccidiosis on chicken embryos development and hatchability.

TOXICO-pathological effects of herbal plants have always been a major concern, but little information is provided on the toxico-pathological effects of medicinal plants used against coccidiosis. This study aimed to assess the histopathological effects of Carica papaya seeds (CPS), Azadirachta indica leaves (AIL), and Sarcocephalus latifolius root (SLR) used as coccidiostat in traditional poultry farms with various doses using the chick embryo model. A total of 420 Sasso breeder eggs at ED4 of incubation were inoculated with the extract of these plants following a 3×4 factorial design with 3 plant extracts (CPS, AIL and SLR) and 4 inoculation doses (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg egg-weight).

Breastfeeding and Children's Cognitive Development up to the Age of 4 Years: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Breastfeeding, depending on its duration, has been suggested to benefit children's cognitive development. We aimed to examine this issue by using the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide prospective birth cohort study. We evaluated the relationship between feeding methods and cognitive development in 2- and 4-year-old children.

The SH3-binding domain of chorismate mutase protein of contributes to mycobacterial virulence.

Crystal structure of the secretory chorismate mutase protein of (MtbCM) reveals presence of a proline rich region on its surface that serve as a recognition site for protein-protein interaction. This study shows that MtbCM upregulates IL-10 which favors by affecting PKCε-MKP-1-p38 MAPK signaling. MtbCM translocates to the Golgi-network where it interacts with AKAP9 via its SH3-binding domain to inhibit AKAP9-PKCε interaction and reducing PKCε phosphorylation.

Treatment of acute pharyngitis in children: an Italian intersociety consensus (SIPPS-SIP-SITIP-FIMP-SIAIP-SIMRI-FIMMG).

Sore throat represents one of the main causes of antibiotic overprescription in children. Its management is still a matter of debate, with countries considering streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis a benign and self-limiting condition and others advocating for its antibiotic treatment to prevent suppurative complications and acute rheumatic fever. Italian paediatricians frequently prescribe antibiotics on a clinical basis regardless of microbiological results.

The effectiveness of shoe modifications and foot orthoses in conservative treatment of lesser toe deformities: a review of literature.

Forefoot disorders are prevalent in the general population, with an incidence between 2 and 20%. Among them, lesser toe deformities (hammer, claw, and mallet toes) are frequent disorders, and their conservative management is often not adequately considered but usually attempted before surgical indication. Among conservative treatments, shoe modifications and the application of orthoses may, in most cases, alleviate symptoms.

Association between urinary cotinine level and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women with uterine myoma: findings from the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The effect of smoking on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is a public concern. Recent evidence suggests that the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is influenced by the presence of uterine fibroids. We explored the association between maternal smoking exposure and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in relation to the presence of uterine fibroids using data from Japan's largest birth cohort study.

Using Animation to Address Disparities in Kidney Transplantation.

This essay reviews an arts-based project based in Buffalo, New York, seeking to educate patients with kidney failure and their social network about the transplantation process. Through a multi-phase arts-based research project, informed by a community-based steering committee and key stakeholders, 33 educational animated videos were developed and tested for efficacy in samples of diverse patients at a regional transplant center. Animation was chosen for its potential to better explain health concepts more sensibly to patients and support knowledge dissemination to their social network, who may donate a kidney or support a recipient or donor.

Staged angioplasty in 2 patients with severe carotid artery stenosis: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Cerebral infarction is a common ischemic cerebrovascular disease, associated with high rates of morbidity, disability, and recurrence, that can seriously affect patient physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Carotid artery stenosis is an independent risk factor of cerebral infarction. Following rapid developments in interventional technology and materials science, carotid artery stenting has arisen an important treatment option for carotid artery stenosis.

Clinical and Market Analysis of NanoBEO: A Public-Worth, Innovative Therapy for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)-Emerging Evidence and Its Implications for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Decision-Making in National Health Systems.

Background: According to scientific literature, some 99% of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs). In particular, agitation is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. States of agitation represent a very serious problem as they make these subjects dangerous for themselves and others and worsen as the disease advances.

Collection, Establishment and Assessment of Complex Human Osteocartilaginous Explants for Modeling Osteoarthritis.

With the increasing burden of osteoarthritis worldwide, cost efficient and reliable models are needed to enable the development of innovative therapies or therapeutic interventions. Ex vivo models have been identified as valuable modalities in translational research, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo models. Osteocartilaginous explants from Osteoarthritis (OA) patients offer an exquisite opportunity for studying OA progression and testing novel therapies.

Circulating Serum Micro-RNA as Non-Invasive Diagnostic Biomarkers of Endometriosis.

Background/objectives: Endometriosis (END) is a painful gynecological condition. Clinical examination, imaging, and laparoscopy can provide a definitive diagnosis of END. Nonetheless, non-invasive biomarkers could help enhance and streamline the diagnostic process.