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Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) is a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). The World Health Organization (WHO) generates guidance to address the problem. Here, we explore the extent to which guidance and related knowledge are generated by experts living in the most-affected countries and consider the results in the context of the movement to decolonize global health. Methods We examined the composition of World Health Organization (WHO) MDR/RR-TB treatment Guideline Development Groups (GDGs) from 2016 to 2022. We classified GDG members according to the MDR/RR-TB burden and World Bank income level of the country of their institutional affiliation. We also searched PubMed to identify peer-reviewed publications from 2016 to 2023 which emanated from individual-patient-data meta-analysis like those done for Guideline review, and classified the publication authors according to the same indicators. Results There were 33 high-burden MDR/RR-TB countries during the time period. Of these, 72.1% were LLMICs and none was high-income. In contrast, only 30.3% of WHO GDG members and 10.4% of peer-reviewed publication authors were from LLMICs. Representatives from high-MDR/RR-TB-burden countries comprised 34.3% of WHO GDG members and 14.7% of authors of guideline-related publications. Conclusions The important imbalance between the geographical distribution of lived experience with MDR/RR-TB and the distribution of individuals generating knowledge and guidance on treatment of MDR/RR-TB can have clinical and resource implications. Countries may reject or defer guideline adoption because of a mismatch between that guidance and local disease epidemiology. Funding conditioned on compliance with guidelines can exacerbate health inequalities. The movement to decolonize global health considers representation disparities as epistemic injustice, that is unfair treatment in the process of generating, sharing, or receiving knowledge. Reform is possible in many of the institutions involved in generation of global health knowledge, such as: meaningful participation of LLMICs in projects as a requirement for research funding, improved attention to the epistemic and geographical location of journal editorial staff, and broader inclusion in guidelines committees. Better alignment of participation in knowledge generation with burden of disease holds potential for reducing inequality and improving relevance of guidance for the lived experience with MDR/RR-TB.

ABSTRACT We present an updated, commented, and revised catalog for the Brazilian cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) and pay tribute to Adolph Ducke’s 1913 monographic work on the Brazilian fauna of these wasps titled “As Chrysididas do Brazil.” We document all 159 chrysidid species known to occur in Brazil, classified into 18 genera representing three subfamilies: Amiseginae, Chrysidinae, and Cleptinae. We detail all synonyms, provide geographical distribution for all recorded species, and compile host associations for 28 species in Brazil. Notes on type specimens and their depository collections are provided and complemented by images of 30 primary types. Additionally, we reinstated Exsecochrysis Linsenmaier from the synonymy with Pleurochrysis Bohart (rejected junior homonym) in place of Rhipidochrysis Rosa & Pavese, new synonym. All species previously treated as Pleurochrysis are transferred to Exsecochrysis.

ABSTRACT In the satisfactory development of soybeans an ally is quality seeding and soil preparation. The aim was to evaluate the quality of soybean seeding under different speeds and cover crops. The experiment was conducted in a commercial soybean crop, using a high-performance pneumatic seeder. The design experimental was randomized blocks, in 2x2 strip arrangement and nine repetitions. The factors consisted of two seeding speeds (7.0 km h-1 and 8.5 km h-1) and two cover crops (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and Urochloa ruziziensis). The operational quality was analyzed by statistical quality control, statistical process control and boxplot. It was found that U. ruziziensis provided more uniformity of coverage and soil humidity than U. brizantha cv. Marandu, but with lower straw produced. It is recommended speeds of 7.0 and 8.5 km h-1 for no-till soybean in U. ruziziensis straw, and 7.0 km h-1 in U. brizantha cv. Marandu straw.

Introdução: O vírus da dengue (DENV) é um dos arbovírus mais importantes (vírus transmitidos por artrópodes) do ponto de vista de saúde pública, conhecido por causar infecção por dengue, transmitida principalmente por Aedes aegypti. Segundo Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHO) mais da metade da população mundial está em risco de contrair essa doença, que aumentou acentuadamente os últimos anos. O Brasil é um dos países que mais realiza transplante de órgãos-sólidos no sistema público do mundo, esse grupo vulnerável de pacientes imunossuprimidos pode desenvolver uma doença mais grave. Resultados: Paciente sexo masculino, 59 anos, com insuficiência cardíaca com fração reduzida de causa isquêmica internado desde agosto de 2023 para uso de inotrópicos e anti-arrítmicos. Manteve-se internado com necessidade de uso das medicações citadas, sem outras intercorrências e sem necessidade de tratamento de infecções relacionadas a assistência a saude. Em abril de 2024 submetido a transplante cardíaco, após pós cirurgia com discrasia sanguínea, instabilidade hemodinâmica e choque hipovolêmico. Realizado transfusão de hemocomponentes. Após recuperação em unidade de terapia intensiva em uso de dispositivos invasivos, evoluindo com pneumonia associada a ventilação mecânica realizado tratamento antimicrobiano. Permaneceu com piora clínica evoluindo com febre refratária optado por ampliação de cobertura antimicrobiana. Visto persistência de quadro febril sem foco definido, iniciado cobertura anti-fúngica. Paciente evoluiu em 23 dias após transplante com piora respiratória associado quadro abdominal inespecífico evoluindo com febre persistente, ascensão de droga vaso ativa e necessidade de retorno a ventilação mecânica. Além de piora de transaminases e canaliculares evoluindo com quadro de insuficiência hepática aguda. Optado por retorno a antibiótico terapia de amplo espectro e rastreio infeccioso. Coletado teste rápido de dengue com NS1 reagente, IgM e IgG não reagentes. Paciente em piora clinica refratário a medidas evoluindo a óbito em 26 dias após transplante. Conclusão: No contexto atual da epidemia de dengue, observa-se aumento no número de casos em que os pacientes contarem a doença em ambiente hospitalar e apresentam uma progressão grave. Esse quadro é especialmente preocupante em pacientes imunossuprimidos, principalmente naqueles em período de pós transplante imediato, devido maior risco para evolução para formas graves da doença, incluindo óbito.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is aa severe hematological malignancy characterized by the expansion of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow. The p53 signaling pathway is altered in AML, impacting disease progression. Rho GTPase proteins contribute to cellular processes regulated by p53. Aims: Investigate the relationship between RhoA, RhoB and RhoC GTPases gene expression and the activation of p53 pathway in AML. Methods: Data from the AML TCGA study was analyzed. Comparisons were performed in patients classified into two groups (with or without inactivation of p53 signaling) based on cytogenetic data, presence of TP53 mutations and lower or higher expression of TP53, MDM2, MDM4 and CDKN2A. Results: Among the 173 patients, 57 patients were classified as presenting inactivation of the p53 signaling according to our criteria. These patients presented a 3-year overall survival (OS) of 30% compared to a 3-year OS of 23% of patients included in the group without inactivation of p53 signaling (P = 0.0065). Patients with alteration in only one parameter presented a similar OS compared to patients with alterations in 2 or more parameters. Dowregulation of MDM2 was the only parameter that did not occur simultaneouly to the other parameters. Interestingly, RhoC gene expression was increased (0.02950, -1.057 - 4.338) in patients with inactivation of p53 signaling compared to patients without inactivation of p53 signaling (-0.3776, -0.9716 - 5.189) (P = 0.0021). RhoA and RhoC expressions did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: RhoC expression may be associated with the status of p53 signaling in acute myeloid leukemia. Funding: CAPES.

Tropical rainforests are of vital importance to the environment, as they contribute to weather patterns, biodiversity and even human wellbeing. Hence, in the face of tropical deforestation, it becomes exigent to quantify and assess the contribution of ecosystem services associated with tropical rainforests to the environment and especially to the people. This study adopted a nuanced approach, different from traditional economic valuations, to estimate the water-related ecosystem services (WRESs) received by the people from 2010 to 2020 in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park (HTRNP). The study focused on water yield, soil conservation, and water purification using InVEST, the SCS-CNGIS model, and spatial analysis. The results show (1) significant land cover changes within the HTRNP, as forest decreased by 4433 ha and water bodies increased by 4047 ha, indicating the active presence of human activities. However, land cover changes were more pronounced within the 5 km buffer area around the HTRNP, suggesting the effectiveness of the tropical rainforest conservation efforts in place. (2) The water yield of the HTRNP in the years studied decreased by 307.03 km3, based on the water yields in 2010 and 2020, which were 5625.7 km3 and 5318.7 km3, respectively. (3) Change detection showed that runoff mitigation in the rainforest has a negative mean (−0.21), indicating a slight overall decrease in soil conservation and runoff mitigation in the rainforest from 2010 to 2020; however, the higher curve number indicates areas susceptible to surface runoff. (4) The ecological effectiveness of water purification to absorb and reduce nitrogen load was better in 2020 (145,529 kg/year), as it was reduced from 506,739 kg/year in 2010, indicating improved water quality. (5) Population growth is more pronounced in areas with high water yields. Overall, the proposed framework has shown that the water yield potential of the HTRNP can meet the water consumption demands of people and industries situated within the buffer area. However, analysis of the study shows that it does not meet the crop water requirements. This study provides insights for decision makers in identifying potential beneficiaries and the essence of effective area-based conservation measures, and the proposed framework can be applied to any area of interest, offering a different approach in ecosystem services assessment.

To face the growing challenges of urbanization, urban management models grounded in the principles of sustainability and smart cities are being proposed. Despite their acknowledged importance, these models are often misunderstood or improperly applied due to a lack of thorough conceptualization, and they are frequently viewed as interchangeable. The aim of this study is to verify whether a correlation exists between indicators of sustainability and smartness in cities. For a sample of 130 Brazilian cities, their Sustainability Synthetic Indicator of System (SSIS) was computed using the Five-Sector Sustainability Model (5SenSu) and data sourced from the ‘Mandala ODS’ framework. Data concerning smart city were directly sourced from the ‘Connected Smart Cities’ framework. Results show that the 5SenSu model emerges as an alternative multicriteria method, epistemologically grounded in a conceptual model capable of quantifying the sustainability of cities. This approach enables quantitative diagnostics, rankings, and benchmarks, providing information to support decision-making processes. Moreover, the correlation analyses employed reveal a moderate linear correlation (Pearson coefficient of −0.61) and a moderate rank-order correlation (Spearman coefficient of −0.59) between sustainability and smartness. Hence, it would be premature to assume that a city deemed smart would automatically be sustainable, or vice versa. Acknowledging the existing limitations, this study contributes to discussions on the conceptual understanding and quantification through indicators of sustainable and smart cities, providing information for shaping effective public policies aimed at fostering more sustainable urban environments.

Objectives: To study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the routine of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and changes in symptoms and suicidal-related behavior, mainly in those with cleaning symptoms. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients completed an online self-report questionnaire that included the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Coronavirus Stress and Traumatic Events Scale, Coronavirus Health Impact Survey, Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression inventories, and Suicide-Related Behaviors Questionnaire. Comparisons were made with another pre-pandemic sample (n=524) regarding the last three measures. Results: During the pandemic, the patients spent more days inside their homes (χ2 = 33.39, p = 0.007), changed their alcohol consumption patterns (χ2 = 87.6, p < 0.001), and increased social media usage (χ2 = 68.83, p < 0.001). Participants with cleaning symptoms did not significantly differ from the others in relation to stress, anxiety/depressive symptoms, or suicidal-related behaviors. Finally, our sample did not differ from an equivalent OCD sample assessed before the pandemic in terms of anxiety and depressive symptom severity or suicidal-related behaviors. Conclusion: Overall, patients with OCD showed no lifestyle changes associated with higher stress levels during the pandemic. Patients with and without cleaning symptoms and patients before and during the pandemic presented similar results.

Water stress on crops can severely disrupt crop growth and reduce yields, requiring the accurate and prompt diagnosis of crop water stress, especially in semiarid regions. Infrared thermal imaging cameras are effective tools to monitor the spatial distribution of canopy temperature (Tc), which is the basis of the daily water stress index (DWSI) calculation. This research aimed to evaluate the variability of plant water stress under different soil cover conditions through geostatistical techniques, using detailed thermographic images of Neem canopies in the Brazilian northeastern semiarid region. Two experimental plots were established with Neem cropped under mulch and bare soil conditions. Thermal images of the leaves were taken with a portable thermographic camera and processed using Python language and the OpenCV database. The application of the geostatistical technique enabled stress indicator mapping at the leaf scale, with the spherical and exponential models providing the best fit for both soil cover conditions. The results showed that the highest levels of water stress were observed during the months with the highest air temperatures and no rainfall, especially at the apex of the leaf and close to the central veins, due to a negative water balance. Even under extreme drought conditions, mulching reduced Neem physiological water stress, leading to lower plant water stress, associated with a higher soil moisture content and a negative skewness of temperature distribution. Regarding the mapping of the stress index, the sequential Gaussian simulation method reduced the temperature uncertainty and the variation on the leaf surface. Our findings highlight that mapping the Water Stress Index offers a robust framework to precisely detect stress for agricultural management, as well as soil cover management in semiarid regions. These findings underscore the impact of meteorological and planting conditions on leaf temperature and baseline water stress, which can be valuable for regional water resource managers in diagnosing crop water status more accurately.

BackgroundNon-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) accounts for one third of intracranial GCT. While the germinoma group have an excellent overall survival, the standard of practice for children with NGGCT is still under evaluation.AimsDescribe the results of the of the Brazilian consortium protocol.MethodsSince 2013, 15 patients with a diagnosis of NGGCT by histopathology and/or serum/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor markers, βHCG >200mlU/ml and/or positive alpha-fetoprotein were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide followed by ventricular radiotherapy (RTV) of 18Gy with boost (32Gy) to the primary site. Metastatic patients underwent craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and “slow responders” to the four initial cycles of CT, to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) followed by CSI.ResultsMean age, 13.1 years. Thirteen males. Primary sites: pineal (n=12), suprasellar (n=2) and bifocal (n=1). Four patients were metastatic at diagnosis. Eight patients had CSF and/or serum alpha-fetoprotein levels > 1,000ng/ml. Tumor responses after chemotherapy demonstrated complete in six cases and partial in seven, with “second-look” surgery being performed in five cases, and two patients presenting viable lesions being referred to ASCT. The main toxicity observed was hematological grades 3/4. Two patients with metastatic disease, one with Down Syndrome and AFP > 1,000ng/ml and the other with choriocarcinoma and pulmonary metastases, developed progressive disease resulting in death, as well as two other patients without evidence of disease, due to endocrinological disorders. Event-free and overall survival at 2 and 5 years were 80% and 72.7%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 48 months (range, 7-107).ConclusionsDespite the small number of patients, in our series, treatment with six cycles of chemotherapy and RTV with focal boost for localized disease (n=11) and ACST for identified slow responders (n=2) seem to be effective strategies contributing to the overall effort to improve outcomes of this group of patients.

Even though the design of vibration isolators is well-established for many engineering applications, their efficiency in wide and multiple frequency ranges is still a challenge. In these cases, the use of Phononic-Based Vibration Isolators (PBVIs) may be advantageous as they present different Attenuation Regions (ARs) in which the elastic waves are strongly attenuated. Therefore, the present paper is devoted to the experimental evaluation, in terms of force transmissibility, of different types of supporting devices tested on a load mass and a motor of a Hermetic Compressor (HC). Those devices are the original Helical Coil Spring (HS) that equips the HC, the PBVI, and the Combined Structure (CS) which is composed of a PBVI combined in series with the HS. Results evidentiate the capability of the CSs to isolate vibrations, where the PBVI contributes with its ARs, thus operating as a “filter” in specific frequency ranges, while the HSs maintain the flexibility of the CSs, which is advantageous for impact-loads and/or transient-case scenarios. Hence, the capability, relevance and impact that these PBVIs present for force transmissibility reduction applications is highlighted here, which should capture the attention of and motivate the industry, e.g., producers of isolation systems, since it has wide-ranging engineering applications.

Globally, land use change has consistently resulted in greater losses than gains in aboveground biomass (AGB). Forest fragmentation is a primary driver of biodiversity loss and the depletion of natural capital. Measuring landscape characteristics and analyzing changes in forest landscape patterns are essential for accounting for the contributions of forest ecosystems to the economy and human well-being. This study predicts national forest distribution for 2036 and 2054 using a Cellular Automata (CA) system and assesses ecosystem conditions through landscape metrics at the patch, class, and landscape levels. We calculated 130 metrics and applied a Variance Threshold method to remove features with low variance, testing different thresholds. The first filtered-out metrics were further analysed through Principal Component Analysis combined with a Feature Importance technique to select and rank the top 10 indicators: effective mesh size, splitting index, mean radius of gyration, largest patch index, mean core area, core area percentage, Simpson's evenness index, mutual information, Simpson's diversity index, and mean contiguity index. The eleventh selected indicator is the AGB density, a structural measurement for ecosystem condition and a proxy for forest carbon storage and sequestration assessments. From 2000 to 2018, the national AGB forest carbon stock decreased from 131.5 to 91.3 Megatons (Mt) with expected values for 2036 and 2054 being 71.8 and 55.3 Mt., respectively. Landscape measurements quantitatively describe forest dynamics, providing insights into the structure, configuration, and changes characterizing landscape evolution. This research underscores the capability of CA models to map large-scale forest resources and predict future development scenarios, offering useful information for conservation and environmental management decisions. Additionally, it provides measurements to support Ecosystem Accounting by assessing forest extent and indicators of its conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lactation is known to improve insulin resistance, but this phenomenon remains poorly understood. Our goal was to evaluate whether subclinical inflammation could mediate the association between breastfeeding (BF) and improvement in glucose metabolism and markers of insulin resistance (MIRs) in the postpartum. Methods: A total of 95 adult women (≥18 years) with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 from the outpatient clinic of the Federal University of São Paulo were followed from early pregnancy until 60 to 180 days postpartum. The patients were divided based on their BF status: BF and non-BF groups. A latent variable termed SubInf was created incorporating inflammation-related biomarkers: adiponectin, E-selectin, branched-chain amino acids, zonulin, copeptin, and lipopolysaccharides. The association of BR with MIRs in the postpartum was evaluated through linear regression analysis, and mediation analysis was performed to evaluate the role of SubInf in this association. Results: The groups were similar regarding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence, pre-gestational BMI, caloric intake, physical activity, and postpartum weight loss. The BF group presented lower levels of triglycerides (TGs), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, TG/HDLcholesterol ratio (TG/HDL), TyG index, and HOMA-IR compared to the non-BF group. A linear regression analysis adjusted for scholarity, parity, pre-gestational BMI, GDM, weight gain during pregnancy, and mode of delivery revealed an inverse association between BF and fasting glucose [-6.30 (-10.71 to -1.89), p = 0.005), HOMA-IR [-0.28 (-0.50 to -0.05), p = 0.017], TyG index [-0.04 (-0.06 to -0.01), p = 0.002], and TG/HDL ratio [-0.23 (-0.46 to -0.01), p = 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, SubInf did not mediate the indirect effect of BF on MIRs. Conclusions: In overweight and obese women, an association between BF and improvement in MIRs in the postpartum was seen, corroborating that BF should be stimulated, especially in these cardiometabolic high-risk women. Subclinical inflammation did not seem to mediate this association.

Background: Cancer patients face a greater risk of complications and death after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were suggested to provide additional protection. This study aimed to assess how cancer patients' immune systems respond to the booster shots and categorize their responses., Methods: We analyzed 735 samples from 422 individuals, including patients followed at the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto). Three cohorts were recruited, and blood samples were collected 3- and 6-months post-booster dose: cohort 1 cancer patients (also collected before the booster); cohort 2 cancer patients; and cohort 3 (healthy individuals). Humoral immune response was evaluated by analyzing IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein. IgG levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid(N) protein was also analyzed in order to address previous contact with the virus., Results: Among Cohort 1 patients with solid tumors, when compared to pre-boost, IgG S levels increased 3 months after the boost and remained high after 6 months. Patients with hematologic tumors demonstrated lower IgG S levels at both timepoints. Comparing the IgG S levels among hematological tumors, solid tumors, and healthy individuals in both timepoints we observed that the healthy individuals had the strongest IgG S response, followed by the solid, and, lastly, the hematologic tumors. Solid tumor patients undergoing chemotherapy had reduced IgG S levels, especially those on high febrile neutropenia risk regimens., Conclusions: In conclusion, cancer patients have a weaker immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, especially those with hematological cancers. Chemotherapy and febrile neutropenia risk further reduce booster effectiveness. Further research is needed to optimize vaccine timing for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Novel photocatalysts were synthesized through the association of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with commercial (P25) titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) by sonication. The resulting TiO 2 /CQDs composite was then incorporated into the polyamide 66 (PA66) biopolymer nanofibers using the electrospinning technique, considering a composite nanoparticles-to-polymer ratio of 1:2 in the electrospinning precursor solution. The produced nanofibers presented suitable morphology and were tested for the photocatalytic degradation under simulated solar radiation of 10 mg L -1 of amoxicillin (AMX) and sulfadiazine (SDZ), in phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.06) and river water, using 1.5 g L -1 of photocatalyst. The presence of the photocatalyst increased the removal of AMX in phosphate buffer solution by 30 times, reducing the AMX degradation half-life time from 62 ± 1 h (without catalyst) to 1.98 ± 0.06 h. Moreover, SDZ degradation half-life time in phosphate buffer solution was reduced from 5.4 ± 0.1 h (without catalyst) to 1.87 ± 0.05 h in the presence of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, the PA66/TiO 2 /CQDs were also efficient in river water samples and maintained their performance in at least three cycles of SDZ photodegradation in river water. The presented results evidence that the produced photocatalyst can be a promising and sustainable solution for antibiotics' efficient removal from water.

The current study aims to test the hypothetical link between hentai pornography use, rape myths endorsement, and sexually aggressive strategies. Furthermore, it aims to capture if such a trajectory echoes across gender and human-realistic pornography. The work targeted a sample of 906 college students, of whom 533 were men and 373 were women, who completed an online survey to capture pornography use, rape myths, and sexually aggressive behavior. Participation criteria included being heterosexual, over 18, pursuing higher education, and using hentai pornography. The results revealed that the frequency of hentai pornography use predicts sexually aggressive behaviors in male and female participants. The endorsement of rape myths mediated the relationship between the frequency of hentai use and sexually aggressive behavior in both genders and the relationship between the intensity of hentai use and sexually aggressive behavior in men. When considering human-realistic pornography, it was found that the frequency of use predicts sexually aggressive behavior in female participants. The endorsement of rape myths mediated the relationship; no other relationship was found. This work aims to increase awareness about the implications of using hentai and human-realistic pornography and highlight the importance of sexual violence prevention in the college setting., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Hydrogels are water-swollen polymeric matrices with properties that are remarkably similar in function to the extracellular matrix. For example, the polymer matrix provides structural support and adhesion sites for cells in much of the same way as the fibers of the extracellular matrix. In addition, depending on the polymer used, bioactive sites on the polymer may provide signals to initiate certain cell behavior. However, despite their potential as biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, fabricating hydrogels that truly mimic the physicochemical properties of the extracellular matrix to physiologically-relevant values is a challenge. Recent efforts in the field have sought to improve the physicochemical properties of hydrogels using advanced materials science and engineering methods. In this review, we highlight some of the most promising methods, including crosslinking strategies and manufacturing approaches such as 3D bioprinting and granular hydrogels. We also provide a brief perspective on the future outlook of this field and how these methods may lead to the clinical translation of hydrogel biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Influenza affects millions of people worldwide each year and can lead to severe complications, hospitalizations, and even death, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure for preventing influenza and its complications. Despite the widespread availability of influenza vaccines, however, vaccination coverage rates remain suboptimal in several countries. Based on the latest scientific evidence and expert opinions on influenza vaccination in older people and patients with chronic disease, the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology (SPP), the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD), the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), the Portuguese Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SPGG), the Study Group of Geriatrics of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEGERMI-SPMI), and the Portuguese Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SPDIMC) discussed best practices for promoting vaccination uptake and coverage and drew up several recommendations to mitigate the impact of influenza. These recommendations focus on the efficacy and safety of available vaccines; the impact of influenza vaccination on older adults; patients with chronic medical conditions, namely cardiac and respiratory conditions, diabetes, and immunosuppressive diseases; and health care professionals, optimal vaccination timing, and strategies to increase vaccination uptake and coverage. The resulting position paper highlights the critical role that vaccinations play in promoting public health, raising awareness, and encouraging more people to get vaccinated., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest FF received personal fees and non-financial support from Sanofi, MSD, AstraZeneca and GSK. AT has no interests to declare. BA received lecture fees and honoraria from Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Menarini Diagnostic, Roche Diagnostic, Sanofi and Novonordisk. JFR received personal fees from Sanofi JO received lecture and scientific consultancy fees from Gilead Sciences, Sanofi Portugal, MSD and Viiv HealthCare SD received lecture fees and honoraria from Sanofi, GSK and Pfizer. MC received personal fees from GKS, Ferrer, Sanofi and Tecnimede. AM received personal fees and non-financial support from Boheringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, MSD, AstraZeneca and Bial., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Percutaneous coronary interventions in heavily calcified coronary lesions are associated with technical difficulties and the worse prognosis. Lesion preparation is important to reduce complications and improve outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare the results of rotational atherectomy (RA) and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) at achieving optimal stent implantation using intravascular ultrasound criteria., Methods: Retrospective, single-center study comparing patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions that underwent percutaneous coronary interventions using RA or IVL., Results in Total: 25 patients (13 in the RA group and 12 in the IVL group) were included. Reference vessel diameter was similar between the groups [2.59 (2.51-3.63) mm in the RA group vs. 2.79 (2.59-3.16) mm in the IVL group; P  = 0.89], as were minimal lumen area [1.02 (0.80-1.23) mm vs. 1.40 (1.01-1.40) mm; P  = 0.43] and diameter stenosis [60.4% (52.3-72.3) vs. 56.1% (47.8-61.3); P  = 0.56). The final minimal lumen area was significantly larger in the IVL group [7.6 mm 2 (5.8-8.6) vs. 5.4 mm 2 (4.5-6.2); P  = 0.01] as were lumen area gain [4.1 mm 2 (2.6-5.9) vs. 2.3 mm 2 (1.4-3.6); P  = 0.01] and final stent volume [491.2 mm 3 (372.2-729.8) vs. 326.2 mm 3 (257.1-435.4); P  = 0.03]. In the RA group, 69.2% of the patients achieved the preestablished intravascular ultrasound-based criteria for successful stent implantation, vs. 100% of the patients in the IVL group ( P  = 0.04)., Conclusion: Patients in the IVL group achieved the Intravascular Ultrasound Versus Angiography-Guided Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation trial criteria of successful stent implantation more frequently than those treated with RA., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and play a central role in ecosystem dynamics. They are also important reservoirs of potentially zoonotic microorganisms, of which rabies virus is the most lethal among the bat-transmitted zoonotic pathogens. Importantly, recent outbreaks of human rabies have been reported from the Brazilian Amazon. Here we present a survey of bat species and rabies virus (RABV) circulation in a bat assemblage in the Marajó region, northern Brazil. Using data from mist-net captures and bioacoustic sampling, 56 bat species were recorded along the Jacundá River basin over a 10-day expedition in November 2022. For the investigation of RABV, we used the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). In total, 159 bat individuals from 22 species were investigated for RABV. Five adults of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, showed RABV-specific antibodies in serum samples. Additionally, we report on local residents with injuries caused by D. rotundus bites and the occurrence of colonies of non-hematophagous bats from different species roosting inside human residences. This scenario raises concerns about the risks of new cases of human rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with bats in the region and highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and mitigation measures to prevent outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cancer patients, prone to severe COVID-19, face immune challenges due to their disease and treatments. Identifying biomarkers, particularly extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived microRNAs (miRNAs), is vital for comprehending their response to COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate specific EV-miRNAs in the plasma of cancer patients under active treatment who received the COVID-19 booster vaccine. The selected miRNAs (EV-hsa-miR-7-5p, EV-hsa-miR-15b-5p, EV-hsa-miR-24-3p, EV-hsa-miR-145- 5p, and EV-hsa-miR-223-3p) are involved in regulating SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and cytokine release, making them potential biomarkers for vaccination response. The study involved 54 cancer patients. Plasma and serum samples were collected at pre-boost vaccination, and at 3 and 6 months post-boost vaccination. Anti-spike antibody levels were measured. Additionally, RNA was extracted from EVs isolated from plasma and the expression levels of miRNAs were assessed. The results showed a significantly positive antibody response after COVID-19 boost vaccination. The expression levels of EV-hsa-miR-7-5p, EV-hsa-miR-15b-5p, EV-hsa-miR-24-3p, and EV-hsa-miR-223-3p increased significantly after 6 months of COVID-19 booster vaccination. Interestingly, an increased expression of certain EV-hsa-miRNAs was positively correlated. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these correlated miRNAs play a critical role in regulating the targets present in antiviral responses and cytokine production. These findings suggest that EV-hsa-miR-15b-5p, EV-hsa-miR-24-3p, and EV-hsa-miR-223-3p may be crucial in immune response induced by mRNA vaccines.

The aim of this work was to optimize the process of elaborating liver pâtés and omental lamb fat and to evaluate the quality of the products. Livers and fats were obtained from lambs fed with diets composed of corn and soybean meal that were partially replaced by cupuaçu, tucumã and palm kernel cake. To prepare the pâtés, livers were baked for 20 minutes at 100°C, weighed, seasoned, crushed, packaged and pasteurized. The best formulation of the pâté was with 40% liver, 10% fat, 35% water, and pasteurized for 20 minutes at 65°C. The pâté from the livers of lambs fed with palm kernel cake obtained a higher caloric value of 193.05 kcal/100 g and all pâtés met the recommended microbiological quality. There was a significant effect (p< 0.05) of the diets on the aroma and texture of the liver pâtés of lambs fed corn and soybean meal and palm kernel cake, and these were 6.38 and 3.37, respectively. Thus, the pâtés can be considered an alternative to increase the options for consumption of liver from lambs, and also for adding commercial value to lamb viscera., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Almeida da Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The prevailing model of steroid hormone nuclear receptor function assumes ligand-induced homodimer formation followed by binding to DNA hormone response elements (HREs). This model has been challenged by evidence showing that the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) forms tetramers upon ligand and DNA binding, which then drive receptor-mediated gene transactivation and transrepression. GR and the closely-related mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) interact to transduce corticosteroid hormone signaling, but whether they share the same quaternary arrangement is unknown. Here, we used a fluorescence imaging technique, Number & Brightness, to study oligomerization in a cell system allowing real-time analysis of receptor-DNA interactions. Agonist-bound MR forms tetramers in the nucleoplasm and higher order oligomers upon binding to HREs. Antagonists form intermediate-size quaternary arrangements, suggesting that large oligomers are essential for function. Divergence between MR and GR quaternary structure is driven by different functionality of known and new multimerization interfaces, which does not preclude formation of heteromers. Thus, influencing oligomerization may be important to selectively modulate corticosteroid signaling., (© 2023 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.)

Introduction: Stroke survivors usually present physical and neuropsychiatric complications. Post-stroke psychosis (PSPsy) is a particularly neglected sequel despite its disruptive nature., Objectives: To present a case of early emerging neuropsychiatric symptoms following a left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke. To review and discuss PSPsy clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes., Clinical Case: A previously autonomous 68-year-old woman with vascular risk factors and depressive disorder presented to the emergency department with a 5-day history of disorientation, motor aphasia, and right hypoesthesia. Computer tomography revealed a left PCA stroke. She was started on acetylsalicylic acid and rosuvastatin and discharged the next day. Afterward, the patient developed a depressive mood, emotional lability, periods of confusion, delusions of persecution, guilt and unworthiness, auditory hallucinations, and suicide ideation. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and started on risperidone with a good response, being discharged after 15 days with the resolution of psychiatric symptoms., Conclusions: PSPsy is more common after right hemisphere lesions and usually develops after some months. Nevertheless, our patient presented PSPsy following an ischemic event of the left PCA, with neuropsychiatric symptomatology dominating the clinic since the beginning. The involvement of the retrosplenial cortex or its connections was likely important for this atypical presentation. Due to the lack of guidelines on approaching PSPsy, most patients are treated with the same strategies used for non-stroke patients. A better comprehension of the anatomical basis underlining the symptomatology in these patients could deepen the understanding of psychosis and psychotic disorders.

In this study, the impact of the apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic subunit-like (APOBEC) enzyme APOBEC3B (A3B) on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-driven lung cancer was assessed. A3B expression in EGFR mutant (EGFRmut) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) mouse models constrained tumorigenesis, while A3B expression in tumors treated with EGFR-targeted cancer therapy was associated with treatment resistance. Analyses of human NSCLC models treated with EGFR-targeted therapy showed upregulation of A3B and revealed therapy-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) as an inducer of A3B expression. Significantly reduced viability was observed with A3B deficiency, and A3B was required for the enrichment of APOBEC mutation signatures, in targeted therapy-treated human NSCLC preclinical models. Upregulation of A3B was confirmed in patients with NSCLC treated with EGFR-targeted therapy. This study uncovers the multifaceted roles of A3B in NSCLC and identifies A3B as a potential target for more durable responses to targeted cancer therapy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)