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This study aimed to analyze the scope, nature, and extent of the applicability of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in dentistry. A scoping review was conducted following the 5-step methodology of Arksey and O'Malley, the PRISMA-ScR checklist, and the Evidence Synthesis Manual of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Electronic literature searches were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases, including full-text articles with no specific publication period. The following research question was formulated: "What are the applications of THz spectroscopy in the field of dentistry?" Seventeen laboratory studies were identified, detailing oral and dental applications of THz. In restorative dentistry, 8 investigations sought to identify the properties of human and animal dental tissues and differentiate between healthy and decayed tissue. In oral pathology, 5 articles analyzed the identification of cancer cells in comparison to the identification of these cells in histological or cytological analysis. In biomaterials, 4 papers studied the changes in properties of restorative materials and effects on polymerization. While the potential for early diagnosis using THz spectroscopy in dentistry is evident, our findings underscore its limitations. The studies were exclusively conducted in vitro, emphasizing the need for innovative clinical research using intraoral devices. Bridging this gap is essential to unlock the full potential of this noninvasive technology for early diagnosis and informed clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How effective and safe is telerehabilitation for people with COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 conditions? Systematic review of randomised trials. People with COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 conditions. Any type of telerehabilitation. Satisfaction, quality of life, adverse events, adherence to telerehabilitation, dyspnoea, functional performance, readmissions, mortality, pulmonary function and level of independence. Database searches retrieved 2,962 records, of which six trials with 323 participants were included in the review. Breathing exercises delivered via telerehabilitation improved 6-minute walk distance (MD 101 m, 95% CI 61 to 141; two studies), 30-second sit-to-stand test performance (MD 2.2 repetitions, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.8; two studies), Multidimensional Dyspnoea-12 questionnaire scores (MD –6, 95% CI –7 to –5; two studies) and perceived effort on the 0-to-10 Borg scale (MD –2.8, 95% CI –3.3 to –2.3; two studies), with low certainty of evidence. Exercise delivered via telerehabilitation improved 6-minute walk distance (MD 62 m, 95% CI 42 to 82, four studies), 30-second sit-to-stand test performance (MD 2.0 repetitions, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.7; two studies) and Multidimensional Dyspnoea-12 scores (MD –1.8, 95% CI –2.5 to –1.1; one study), with low certainty of evidence. Adverse events were almost all mild or moderate and occurred with similar frequency in the telerehabilitation group (median 0 per participant, IQR 0 to 2.75) as in the control group (median 0 per participant, IQR 0 to 2); Hodges-Lehmann median difference 0 (95% CI 0 to 0), with low certainty of evidence. Telerehabilitation may improve functional capacity, dyspnoea, performance and physical components of quality of life and does not substantially increase adverse events. PROSPERO CRD42021271049. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common planktonic green algal genus Nephrocytium was traditionally assumed to have a close relationship with the genus Oocystis and accordingly has been included in the family Oocystaceae. Although the position of Nephrocytium within the Oocystaceae has differed according to some authors over the years, its inclusion in the family has not been questioned. Following molecular studies of Oocystis, the Oocystaceae (including Nephrocytium) was removed from the class Chlorophyceae and placed in the Trebouxiophyceae. However, recent molecular studies of some of the former Oocystaceae members have returned them to the Chlorophyceae. These studies suggested the placement of Nephrocytium in the Sphaeropleales, but no taxonomic positioning within the order has been determined for the genus. The relocation of Nephrocytium agrees with a strong morphological trait – it lacks the oocystaceaean multilayered ultrastructure of the cell wall. Based on molecular markers (18S rDNA and tufA), and optical and electron microscopy, the present study aimed to establish the relationships of the genus within the Sphaeropleales. The results support the recognition of a new family, the Nephrocytiaceae, to accommodate Nephrocytium. Furthermore, we have carried out a review of previously described Nephrocytium species and based on morphological and molecular data we propose the description of Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although evidence has indicated a positive effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on reducing pain, few studies have focused on the elderly population with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). To evaluate whether tDCS reduces KOA pain in elderly individuals with a dysfunctional descending pain inhibitory system (DPIS). In a double-blind trial, individuals ≥ 60 years with KOA pain and a dysfunctional DPIS, we randomly assigned patients to receive 15 daily sessions of 2 mA tDCS over the primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) (M1-SO) for 20 min or sham tDCS. Change in pain perception indexed by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at the end of intervention was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included: disability, quantitative sensory testing, pain pressure threshold and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Subjects were followed-up for 2 months. Of the 104 enrolled subjects, with mean (SD) age of 73.9 (8.01) years and 88 (84.6%) female, 102 finished the trial. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the active tDCS group had a significantly greater reduction in BPI compared to the sham group (difference, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.23; P < 0.001; Cohen's d, 0.58); and, also a significantly greater improvement in CPM-pressure in the knee (P = 0.01) and CPM-pain in the hand (P = 0.01). These effects were not sustained at follow-up. The intervention was well tolerated, with no severe adverse effects. M1-SO tDCS is associated with a moderate effect size in reducing pain in elderly patients with KOA after 15 daily sessions of stimulation. This intervention has also shown to modulate the DPIS. • Fifteen daily sessions of tDCS decreases knee osteoarthritis pain in the elderly. • Motor cortex tDCS modulates the descending inhibitory pain system in the elderly. • 2 mA for 20 min of anodal tDCS is safe and well tolerated in the elderly. • tDCS alone did not induce long-term effects in the elderly with knee chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• No studies have investigated the association between DAO and physical performance; compounding this issue, there is little information on how to screen patients with DAO efficiently. • Older adults with dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) presented reduced physical performance, and the SPPB score was inversely associated with DAO. Cut-off points of ≤9 for SPPB scores were the most efficient for discriminating the presence of DAO in both men and women. The aim of this study is to verify the utility of using physical performance to discriminate the presence of dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) in older adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 community-dwelling older adults. DAO was identified when dynapenia (cut-off points of <26 kilogram-force [kgf] for men and <16 kgf for women) was detected together with abdominal obesity (waist circumference >102 cm for men and >88 cm for women). Physical performance was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). SPPB scores and DAO were inversely associated even after adjustment (OR: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.58–0.83). Cut-off points of ≤9 for SPPB scores were the most efficient for discriminating the presence of DAO in both men (AUC= 0.836; 95%CI: 0.76–0.89; sensitivity: 90.91% and specificity: 60.33%) and women (AUC= 0.677; 95%CI: 0.62–0.73; sensitivity: 73.33% and specificity: 40.91%). Physical performance assessed with SPPB can discriminate DAO and be useful for the timely identification and management of this condition in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise to decrease fatigue. However, it has never been examined in primary Sjogren Syndrome (pSS). To assess the effect of a tDCS protocol on fatigue in patients with pSS. This is a parallel, double-blind pilot study (NCT04119128). Women aged 18–65 years, with pSS, on stable pharmacological therapy, with complaints of fatigue for at least three months, and with scores >5 on Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were included. We randomized 36 participants to receive five consecutive or sham tDCS sessions, with an intensity of 2 mA, for 20 min/day. After five tDCS sessions, fatigue severity assessed by the FSS (primary outcome) demonstrated a mean group difference of −0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) −1.57, −0.13; effect size 0.80] favouring the active group. The active group presented significantly greater reductions in fatigue as measured by the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index after five tDCS sessions [mean group difference: 1.40; 95%CI -2.33, −0.48; effect size 1.04]. Although there were no between-group differences in the secondary outcomes of sleep, mood and anxiety, within-group comparisons evidenced a small but significant difference in the active group for pain and sleep. There were no significant cortisol changes. All reported adverse events were mild and transitory. tDCS seems to be safe and reduce fatigue in pSS. A differential effect on pain and sleep may underlie its effects. Further studies are needed to optimise tDCS treatment strategies in pSS. • This is the first study to demonstrate that tDCS may help to manage pSS fatigue. • TDCS seems to be safe and has excellent tolerability and compliance in pSS patients. • Our results provide critical data to design future trials on tDCS in pSS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in postmenopausal women is associated with a high incidence of urogenital infections, which negatively impact the quality of life and increase morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. Glucosuria is a known risk factor for these infections; therefore, it is of interest to determine if increased glucosuria secondary to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2in) impacts the incidence and severity of urogenital infections in postmenopausal women with T2DM. The study was conducted at Gaffrée Guinle University Hospital on two groups of postmenopausal women with T2DM: with and without SGLT2in therapy (n = 80 in each group). Medical records and laboratory parameters (urinary dipstick test and culture; blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and creatinine; cervical cytologic study) of all subjects were carefully assessed at baseline and thrice during the 12-month study period. We observed a significant incidence of vulvovaginitis (relative risk [RR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–5.10; P = 0.03) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.09–5.60; P = 0.03), but not of urinary tract infections (RR, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.74–5.81; P = 0.16), secondary to SGLT2in therapy. Genital infection was severe enough to warrant treatment discontinuation in 57.89% of patients in group 1. All urinary tract infections were of mild intensity with a good response to antibiotic therapy. Glucosuria induced by SGLT2in therapy may lead to a high incidence of urogenital infections in postmenopausal women with T2DM and can be considered a risk factor for these infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key summary points: Aim: To assess the effects of bilingualism compared to monolingualism on the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's Disease. Findings: Data from meta-analyses suggest that bilingual individuals exhibit Alzheimer's Disease symptoms are diagnosed later than monolingual participants. Message: Bilingualism may delay the manifestation of symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Objective: To assess the effects of bilingualism compared to monolingualism on the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. Methods: We searched the databases: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and LILACS, and searched by hand and in gray literature for studies published before September 2019. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Two reviewers independently searched for studies, extracted data, and performed the quality assessment. Results: Eight studies were included in this review. Data from meta-analyses suggest that bilingual individuals with Alzheimer's disease exhibit symptoms (694 participants; mean difference (MD) (4.05 years; 95% CI: 1.87–6.22 and are diagnosed later (1012 participants; MD 2.0 years; 95% CI: 0.08–3.92) than monolingual participants. Conclusion: Bilingualism may delay the manifestation of symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Further studies with more rigorous methodology are needed to improve the precision of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical dry forest productivity is thought to be driven by a combination of natural factors, particularly total water availability and seasonality. However, most of the world's dry forests have been converted into forest successional mosaics by a combination of slash-and-burn agriculture and exploitation of forest products, which has potential impacts for forest productivity. Here, we examined litter production, nutrient concentrations and fluxes across regenerating and old-growth stands of a Caatinga dry forest during a 48-mo period, assessing the impact of annual rainfall, forest aboveground biomass, soil fertility, forest successional status, stand age and chronic anthropogenic disturbance. We found our sites to have low litter productivity, producing 0.193 ± 0.016 Mg ha−1 yr−1 (mean ± SE) of litter. Moreover, litter production was highly seasonal (> 90% during the dry season), and varied substantially across forest stands (from 0.0035 to 0.564 Mg ha−1 yr−1), but with no differences relative to forest successional status; i.e. similar litter production in regenerating and old-growth stands. Litter production was affected by precipitation, soil fertility and chronic anthropogenic disturbance. Litter nutrient concentration was highly variable across forest stands, but concentration responded very little to our focal drivers. Litter N-concentration was relatively high, while P was very low resulting in a small flux to the soil via litter decomposition. In contrast to litter nutrient concentrations, nutrient fluxes were more predictable, particularly considering forest successional status. Our results suggest that Caatinga dry forest on sandy soils is a low-productivity ecosystem, probably due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic drivers. • Natural and human-related drivers can alter litter production across dry forests. • We examined litter production and nutrient concentrations/ fluxes in a dry forest. • Caatinga dry forest on sandy soils is a low-productivity ecosystem. • Litter nutrient concentration was highly variable across forest stands. • Litter production was affected by precipitation, soil fertility and human disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência Agronômica is the property of Revista Ciencia Agronomica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND A growing number of people find themselves in conditions of extreme poverty, which often makes living on the streets the only option. Living conditions in this setting exert a direct impact on health and self-care. Health care for the homeless population should be planned in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral manner. In this context, nursing diagnoses constitute an essential part of the systemization of care. OBJECTIVES The aims of the present study were to identify nursing diagnoses of a homeless population and propose nursing interventions based on the findings in light of the Nursing Outcomes Classification and Nursing Interventions Classification. DESIGN AND SETTING A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted on the streets of the city of Recife in northeastern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS The sample consisted of 274 male and female adult homeless individuals. METHODS Data collection involved the administration of a semi-structured interview, the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test and the International Neuropsychiatric Interview. RESULTS The most prevalent diagnoses were related to risk-prone health behaviors (78.1%), inadequate health maintenance (67.1%), along with sleep deprivation (100%), feelings of hopelessness (100%) and low self-esteem (99%). CONCLUSIONS The experience enabled the identification of the peculiarities of the population, bringing nursing practice closer to health promotion for the homeless. Adequate public policies and training for health teams are needed to address the health needs of the homeless population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program seeks to broaden access to health by providing medical professionals, investments in health units and multi-professional integration geared to the Family Health Strategy. Vale do Ribeira includes 25 cities and is among the most vulnerable regions in São Paulo. It has been allocated 41 physicians from the Program. This study is to evaluate access to health, comparing health indicators before and after the Program. We collected data from DATASUS, SIAB, and the Ministry of Health. There was a marked increase in the number of appointments for infants under one year of age, adults, the elderly, STD/HIV patients and group patient care. There was a decrease in appointments outside the catchment area, as well as hospital admissions for other causes, mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infants up to four months. We concluded that after deployment of the Program, there was an increase in health access and health promotion focused on an area that presents an enormous challenge for Primary Health Care (PHC). It would seem that, since this is a high vulnerability area with a large area for care, hospital admissions for PHC care-sensitive conditions, as well as referrals for secondary services, did not decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simple morphology of the members of the family Selenastraceae, common in freshwater phytoplankton, has led to misidentifications. But the use of molecular tools is untangling their phylogeny and unveiling new genera and species hidden under the same morphotype or overlooked by microscopic analysis. Here we propose a description of Viridiparva madeirensis gen. et sp. nov., a small Selenastraceae member, based on the study of three strains by light, scanning and transmission microscopy and 18S rDNA and rbc L phylogenies. The phylogenetic analyses by 18S rDNA and rbc L show, respectively, that the closest relatives to Viridiparva madeirensis are Monoraphidium dybowskii and Raphidocelis microscopica , but with no or low statistical support. V. madeirensis is smaller than M. dybowski and has no cell wall incrustations typical for Raphidocelis. Thus, phylogeny and morphological analyses indicate a novel lineage within Selenastraceae. Furthermore, also reinforce the necessary revision of the genera within Selenastraceae, as Monoraphidium and Raphidocelis. Therefore study contributes to clarify the phylogeny and taxonomy of the family and add genetic sequences of neglected nanophytoplankton to GenBank, including one strain with known potential for biodiesel production. • Viridiparva madeirensis is a new genera and species described for a green microalga • Phylogeny and morphological analyses indicate a novel lineage within Selenastraceae • Elucidation of the taxonomy of a strain with known potential for biodiesel production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Oceanography is the property of Instituto Oceanografico da Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Risk perception of acquiring vaccine preventable diseases and the immune status of 187 health care workers (HCW) from a high-complexity university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, were assessed. The vaccine preventable diseases more cited as at risk for acquisition were hepatitis B (94.1%), influenza (92.5%), meningococcal disease (90.3%), tuberculosis (85.0%), and varicella (72.7%). Previous disease or vaccination reported by HCW were hepatitis B (82.4%), tetanus (87.7%), diphtheria (81.8%), measles (86.6%), mumps (85.6%), rubella (85.0%), varicella (82.9%), and influenza (35.8%). One third of HCW reported previous percutaneous or mucosal occupational accidents, and 83.6% had notified the event to the Hospital Infection Control Committee. Despite good risk perception of acquiring vaccine preventable diseases, only 35.8% of individuals were fully immunized. Efforts should be made to increase influenza vaccination coverage among all professionals and to reduce the number of nonreported accidents, especially among physicians. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been the main cause behind chronic pain and disabilities in the elderly population. The traditional treatment for knee OA pain currently concerns a number of combinations of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. However, such combinations have displayed little effects on a significant group of subjects. In addition to this, pharmacological treatments often cause adverse effects, which limits their use on this population. Previous studies showed that chronic knee OA pain may be associated with maladaptive compensatory plasticity in pain-related neural central circuits indexed by a defective descending pain- inhibitory system. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can revert some of these maladaptive changes, thus decreasing chronic pain sensation. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the use of anodal tDCS stimulation over the primary motor cortex (M1) has positive effects on chronic neuropathic pain. Yet, data on OA pain in elderly patients, including its effects on the endogenous pain-inhibitory system, remain limited. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS in reducing pain intensity caused by knee OA in elderly subjects with defective endogenous pain-inhibitory systems. Methods: We designed a randomized, sham-controlled, single-center, double-blinded clinical trial. Patients with knee OA who have maintained a chronic pain level during the previous 6 months and report a pain score of 4 or more on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain in that period will undergo a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) task. Participants who present a reduced CPM response, defined as a decrease in NRS during the CPM task of less than 10%, and meet all of the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to receive 15 sessions of 2 mA active or sham tDCS for 20 minutes. A sample size of 94 subjects was calculated. The Brief Pain Inventory pain items will be used to assess pain intensity as our primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include pain impact on functioning, mobility performance, quality of life, CPM, pressure pain threshold, touch-test sensory evaluation, and safety. Follow-up visits will be performed 2, 4, and 8 weeks following intervention. The data will be analyzed using the principle of intention-to-treat. Results: This study was approved by the institutional review board with the protocol number 1685/2016. The enrollment started in April 2018; at the time of publication of this protocol, 25 subjects have been enrolled. We estimate we will complete the enrollment process within 2 years. Conclusions: This clinical trial will provide relevant data to evaluate if anodal tDCS stimulation over M1 can decrease chronic knee OA pain in elderly subjects with defective CPM. In addition, this trial will advance the investigation of the role of central sensitization in knee OA and evaluate how tDCS stimulation may affect it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]