1,255 results match your criteria: "University of Alfenas[Affiliation]"

Aim: To perform a systematic review to investigate if the use of audio distraction reduces signs of stress and anxiety in paediatric patients undergoing dental treatment.

Materials And Methods: Search was made in electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Scielo, BVS, Springer Link, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and grey literature) until March 11th, 2024. The eligibility criteria were: paediatric patients under dental treatment; use of audio as a distraction method; comparison between groups with and without use of audio distraction; Clinical trials.

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"Suffering is only intolerable when nobody cares"… is it?

Palliat Support Care

January 2025

Interdisciplinary Center for Studies in Palliative Care, School of Nursing, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Brazil.

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Innovative applications of cobalt tungstate nanoparticles (CoWO NPs) are directly linked to their increased production and consumption, which can consequently increase their release into aquatic ecosystems and the exposure of organisms. Microalgae are autotrophic organisms that contribute directly to global primary productivity and provide oxygen for maintaining many organisms on Earth. In this paper, we assessed the toxicity of CoWO NPs when in contact with the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata (Chlorophyceae).

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Eversa Transform (ETL) was immobilized on octyl agarose beads at two different enzymes loadings (1 mg/g and 15 mg/g) under 18 different conditions, including different pH values, buffers, additives (different solvents, Ca, NaCl). Their activity was analyzed at pH 5 and 7 with p-nitrophenyl butyrate and at pH 5 with triacetin, determining also its stability at pH 5 and 7 (in different media). Ca stabilized ETL biocatalysts while phosphate destabilized them.

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Death Anxiety Among Users and Non-Users of Psychedelics.

J Psychoactive Drugs

January 2025

Interdisciplinary Cooperation for Ayahuasca Research and Outreach (ICARO), School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.

This study is a survey-type, cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil ( = 517), with online data collection taking place from April to June 2022. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the death anxiety in users and non-users of psychedelics. To this end, we also assessed the validity and reliability of the Death Anxiety Scale in Brazil.

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Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is an intriguing therapeutic target in cancer re-search, distinguished as the only HDAC family member predominantly located in the cyto-plasm. HDAC6 features two catalytic domains and a unique ubiquitin-binding domain, which sets it apart from other HDACs. Beyond its role in histone deacetylation, HDAC6 targets vari-ous nonhistone substrates, such as α-tubulin, cortactin, Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), and Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1).

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COVID-19 is an infectious disease whose prevention is significantly aided by vaccination, which reduces both case severity and mortality. Despite the safety and efficacy of vaccines, acceptance is not universal, and understanding of the factors influencing vaccination decisions and hesitancy remains limited. This review aims to identify and analyze studies addressing two key questions: what influences the decision to vaccinate and what factors are associated with vaccine hesitancy.

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Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a critical issue due to the widespread and indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antifungals to treat common infections, leading to a growing shortage of effective drugs. Moreover, the increase in antimicrobial resistance is enhancing the pathogenicity and virulence of various pathogens. Microorganisms are key sources of chemically diverse specialized metabolites, which are produced in the final stages of their growth cycle.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an emergent threat due to the antimicrobial resistance crisis. Bacteriophages (phages) are promising agents for phage therapy approaches against P. aeruginosa.

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With praziquantel being the sole available drug for schistosomiasis, identifying novel anthelmintic agents is imperative. A chemical investigation of the fruiting body of the bioluminescent mushroom Berk. resulted in the isolation of new conjugated long-chain fatty acids (8,10,12,13)-12,13-dihydroxy-7-oxo-octadeca-8,10-dienoic acid () and (7,8,9,11)-7,8-dihydroxy-13-oxo-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid () and three previously described compounds, (7,8,9)-7,8-dihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid (), (2)-dec-2-ene-1,10-dioic acid (), and a ketolactone marasmeno-1,15-dione ().

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The objective of this study was to produce new and renewable bio-based plasticizers from used soybean cooking oil (USCO). First, USCO was completely converted into free fatty acids (FFAs) using lipase from Candida rugosa. Next, these FFAs were enzymatically esterified with benzyl alcohol in solvent-free systems.

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Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a public health problem that affects around 12% of the global population. The treatment is based on analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, or arthrocentesis associated with hyaluronic acid-based viscosupplementation. However, the use of hyaluronic acid alone in viscosupplementation does not seem to be enough to regulate the intra-articular inflammatory process.

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Turning agro-food waste into resources: Exploring the antioxidant effects of bioactive compounds bioaccessibility from digested jabuticaba tree leaf extract.

Food Chem

December 2024

In vitro and in vivo Nutritional and Toxicological Analysis Lab, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.; Bioactivity & Applications Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.. Electronic address:

The jabuticaba tree leaf, considered an agro-food by-product or waste, was evaluated as a potential unconventional ingredient of bioactive compounds. Its hydroalcoholic extracts were assessed for the phenolic chemical profile by LC-QQQ-MS and antioxidant capacity pre- and post-gastrointestinal digestion (i.e.

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Background: The aging process leads to negative changes in various bodily systems, including the neuromuscular system. Strength training, is considered the best strategy to counteract these neuromuscular changes, preventing sarcopenia and frailty in older adults.

Objective: To compare the effects of strength training with elastic resistance and free weights on the muscle strength of knee extensors and flexors and functional performance in the older adults.

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Morphophysiological responses of black pepper to recurrent water deficit.

Photosynthetica

August 2024

Capixaba Institute for Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension, BR 101 North, Km 151, P.O. Box 62, Linhares, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

This study investigated the effects of recurrent water deficit on drought tolerance traits in black pepper ( L.) 'Bragantina'. Plants were subjected to three cycles of water deficit followed by recovery periods.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights how socioeconomic factors, such as wealth concentration and social inequality, influence ecosystem services (ES), particularly crop pollination in Brazil over a decade from 2006 to 2017.
  • It found that as small, diverse farms were replaced by large monocultures, the demand for pollination services increased by 3.3%, but both the diversity and provision of these services dropped significantly—by 16.1% and 22.5%, respectively.
  • The research indicates that regions with concentrated land ownership and fewer financial resources face reduced pollination services, emphasizing the need for a multidimensional approach to understand these complex socio-ecological interactions.
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Neuroanatomical and neurochemical substrates mediating fear-induced antinociception: A systematic review of rodent preclinical studies.

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

January 2025

Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Gualtar Campus, Braga 4710-057, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address:

Fear-induced antinociception (FIA), an instinctive defensive response producing pain suppression in stressful and/or dangerous situations, has been the subject of extensive research to elucidate the mechanisms involved in triggering and controlling pain during emotional disorders. In this systematic review, we synthesized pre-clinical studies that demonstrated the neural hodology and the neurochemical bases of FIA in laboratory animals. The literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus, from inception up to July 2022, retrieved 797 articles from which 50 studies were included in this review.

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High molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (HMW-PAH) isomers: unveiling distinct toxic effects from cytotoxicity to oxidative stress-induced DNA damage.

Arch Toxicol

November 2024

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology, and Food Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Do Café S/nº, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil.

Article Synopsis
  • * The research specifically investigates the effects of dibenzo(b,l)fluoranthene, dibenzo(a,j)fluoranthene, dibenzo(a,l)fluoranthene, and naphtho(1-2j)fluoranthene on HepG2 cells, highlighting their potential to cause cellular toxicity, DNA damage, and oxidative stress.
  • * DB(a,l)F emerged as the most toxic isomer, reducing cell viability and inducing cell
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Knockdown Enhances Oral Cancer Cell Chemosensitivity to Cisplatin via Decreased Expression.

Int J Mol Sci

November 2024

Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil.

Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant expression levels of Sigma1 (, also known as sigma-1 receptor) have been implicated in the progression of various diseases, including cancer. However, its significance in oral cancer (OC) has not been thoroughly explored. To advance in this field, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of knockdown in oral cancer cells.

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Tailoring magnesium-doped coatings for improving surface and biological properties of titanium-based dental implants.

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces

February 2025

Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil. Electronic address:

Physicochemical modifications of biomaterials have been proposed to overcome bone integration impairment and microbial infections. The magnesium (Mg) incorporation on dental implant surfaces has shown positive results in bone-to-implant contact and in the reduction of microbial colonization. Here, we explored the potential of using different Mg precursors to synthesize coatings via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on commercially pure titanium (cpTi), aiming to optimize the surface and biological properties.

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Chagas disease (CD) is a life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and there are only two drugs currently available for pharmacotherapy of this neglected infection (benznidazole and nifurtimox). Their limited efficacy in chronic phase of the disease, problems of toxicity and the growing resistance by the protozoan are directly associated to high rates of drug discontinuation by the patients. In the context of the search for new trypanocidal drug candidates, our group has been working with the chemical manipulation of eugenol to obtain new agents active against T.

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Objectives: evaluate the association between Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and cognitive performance (global and in each domain) in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: cross-sectional study with 544 participants (≥60 years). Cognition was assessed using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument - Short (CASI-S), evaluating four domains: memory, orientation, executive function, recall.

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Urban environments increase generalization of hummingbird-plant networks across climate gradients.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

November 2024

Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38402-018, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Article Synopsis
  • * Urban areas displayed increased generalization in species interactions, demonstrating greater overlap and a link between lower rainfall and more generalized interaction networks.
  • * Urban environments also showed reduced functional trait diversity among hummingbirds and a higher presence of nonnative nectar plants, affecting both species composition and the interactions within these ecological communities.
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