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Objetivos: Avaliar autopercepção de saúde (APS) e perfil socioclinicodemográfico de idosos frequentadores de grupos de convivência da Regional Norte de BH/MG e verificar correlação com o fenótipo de fragilidade. Métodos: Participaram idosos frequentadores dos grupos de convivência, sem distinção de raça, sexo ou condição social. Excluíram- se aqueles com marcha dependente, déficit visual, auditivo ou de fonação incapacitante, doenças neurológicas, relato de dor que impossibilitasse os testes, alterações cognitivas (MEEM). Dados socioclinicodemográficos e APS foram informados por meio de entrevista estruturada. O fenótipo de fragilidade foi verificado pela presença dos itens: perda de peso, diminuição da velocidade de marcha, baixa atividade física, força de preensão manual, relato de exaustão. Foram utilizados estatística descritiva e frequência, e o teste qui-quadrado para verificar associações (a = 5%). Resultados: Participaram 117 idosos (70 ± 7,2 anos), sendo 86,3% mulheres, sendo 48,7% viúvas, de baixa escolaridade (84,0%), baixa renda (91,4%), sedentários (58,9%), com doenças crônicas associadas (92,0%), polifarmácia (23,0%) e sobrepeso (68,0%). A maioria classificou a saúde como “muito boa/boa” (58,1%). Pré-frágeis foram 51,2%, não frágeis foram 41,8% e frágeis foram 6,8%. O fenótipo de fragilidade mostrou-se associado positivamente com a APS (p = 0,01) e não regularidade na prática de atividade física (p = 0,01). Demais associações não foram observadas (p >0,05). Conclusão: A maioria dos frequentadores dos grupos de convivência da Regional Norte de BH/MG são mulheres, viúvas, sedentárias, não longevas, com sobrepeso e hipertensão arterial, baixas escolaridade e renda. A categoria pré-frágil foi a mais prevalente, com boa APS da saúde.

Abstract Background Premenopausal, high-risk, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients are often treated with ovarian suppression in combination with aromatase inhibitors (AI). This combination has important adverse effects, particularly in sexual function, such as vaginal dryness and loss of libido. There is no effective therapy for reduced sexual function in this setting. Our study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety, particularly regarding sexual function, of a low-dose, topical testosterone gel administration. Methods This is a pilot, single-center study, designed to evaluate the efficacy of topical testosterone gel (3 mg/day) in improving sexual function in 29 premenopausal patients on ovarian suppression in combination with an AI. The primary safety endpoint was to assess serum estradiol elevation. The primary efficacy endpoint was sexual function improvement, assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. Results We report the results on 29 patients. Twenty-two patients (75%) completed the 3-month treatment, and seven discontinued treatment before completion, mostly due to logistical difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All patients maintained the value of baseline mass spectrometry assay for estradiol of less than 2.7 pg/mL during the undertaken measurements. We observed a significant improvement in Female Sexual Function Index measures over the visits, with an increase from a mean of 11.7 at baseline to 19.1 in the third month (p

Abstract Background African mahogany species (Khaya sp.) have been introduced to Brazil gaining increasing economic interest over the last years, as they produce high quality wood for industrial applications. To this date, however, the knowledge available on the genetic basis of African mahogany plantations in Brazil is limited, which has driven this study to examine the extent of genetic diversity and structure of three cultivated species (Khaya grandifoliola, Khaya senegalensis and Khaya ivorensis) and their prospects for forest breeding. Results In total, 115 individuals were genotyped (48 of K. grandifoliola, 34 of K. senegalensis and 33 of K. ivorensis) for 3,330 filtered neutral loci obtained from genotyping-by-sequencing for the three species. The number of SNPs varied from 2,951 in K. ivorensis to 4,754 in K. senegalensis. Multiloci clustering, principal component analysis, Bayesian structure and network analyses showed a clear genetic separation among the three species. Structure analysis also showed internal structure within each species, highlighting genetic subgroups that could be sampled for selecting distinct genotypes for further breeding, although the genetic distances are moderate to low. Conclusion In our study, SNP markers efficiently assessed the genomic diversity of African mahogany forest plantations in Brazil. Our genetic data clearly separated the three Khaya species. Moreover, pairwise estimates of genetic distances among individuals within each species showed considerable genetic divergence among individuals. By genotyping 115 pre-selected individuals with desirable growth traits, allowed us not only to recommend superior genotypes but also to identify genetically distinct individuals for use in breeding crosses.

Table of Contents Introduction I. Voter ID Requirements and the Cost of Compliance A. The Current Landscape of State Voter ID Requirements 1. Strict Photo ID 2. Strict Nonphoto ID [...], Thirty-five states currently request or require identification documents for inperson voting, and these requirements uniquely impact transgender voters. Of the more than 697,800 voting-eligible trans people living in states that conduct primarily in-person elections, almost half (43 percent) lack documents that correctly reflect their name or gender. When an ID does not align with a trans voter's gender presentation, the voter may be disenfranchised--either because a poll worker denies them the right to cast a ballot or because the voter ID requirement chills their participation in the first place. Further, when a trans voter presents an ID that does not align with their gender presentation, they effectively out themselves. For both nonpassing and cispassing trans voters, presenting an ID that does not align with their gender identity compels them to express a message about their identity that they do not personally believe. In response to these problems for trans voters, this Note offers a novel legal avenue through which to challenge voter ID laws, arguing that voter-ID requirements as applied to trans voters constitute compelled speech in violation of the First Amendment.

Abstract In this paper we study meson scattering in a non-minimally Lorentz-violating scalar QED at finite temperature. The meson scatterings were investigated in tree level and the finite temperature effects were addressed by using the thermofield dynamics formalism. We have considered three types of scattering, namely, meson-antimeson of a-type into meson-antimeson of b-type, meson-antimeson of a-type into meson-antimeson of a-type and meson-meson of a-type into meson-meson of a-type. For each scattering we have computed the cross section in order to investigate the influence of the finite temperature effects.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer has an unknown pathogenesis, and cytokines may play an important role in the aetiology and prognosis. Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and its receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) are involved in the biology of ovarian cancer, tumour pathogenesis, and their relationship with prognostic factors. They are involved in biological processes such as immunoregulation, growth modulation, and cell differentiation. Aim: To evaluate stromal immunostaining of TNF-α and its receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) in malignant ovarian neoplasms, comparing it with benign ovarian neoplasms and non neoplastic ovarian lesions. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from January 1997 to December 2020. Patients with ovarian lesions who underwent surgical treatment according to pre-established criteria (n=95) were included in the study. Patients with benign (n=37) and malignant (n=43) ovarian epithelial neoplasms, and non neoplastic ovarian lesions (n=15) were included. Data evaluated included age, parity, hormonal status (menarche or menopause), histological grade, and staging. Immunohistochemical study was performed to evaluate stromal TNF-α, TNFR1, and TNFR2. Data were analysed by GraphPad Prism 6 and IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics 20.0 software. The comparison between non neoplastic tumours, benign and malignant neoplasms was performed by the Fisher’s exact test with a significance level below 0.05. Results: Considering staining intensity 0 and 1 as “weak immunostaining” and 2 and 3 as “strong immunostaining,” TNF-α stromal immunostaining was stronger (2/3) in benign ovarian neoplasms compared to non neoplastic tumours (p-value=0.0016) and in malignant neoplasms compared to non neoplastic tumours (p-value

We address the issue of gravitational radiation in the context of the Bondi-Sachs space-time, and consider the expression for the gravitational energy of the radiation obtained in the realm of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity (TEGR). This expression is independent of the radial distance (i.e., of powers of 1/r) and depends exclusively on the functions c(u,θ,ϕ) and d(u,θ,ϕ), which yield the news functions (u is the retarded time, u=t−r). We investigate the mathematical and physical features of this energy expression in the simpler framework of axial symmetry. Once a burst of gravitational radiation takes place in a self gravitating system, that leads to a loss of the Bondi mass, gravitational radiation is emitted throughout the whole space-time. The existence and presence of this radiation in the background structure of the space-time is consistent with the analysis developed by Papapetrou, and Hallidy and Janis, who found no proof that a gravitational system that emits a burst of gravitational radiation is preceded and followed by two stationary gravitational field configurations, namely, it seems that it is impossible for a gravitational system, which is initially stationary, to return to a stationary state after emitting a burst of axially symmetric gravitational radiation, in which case the space-time is not even asymptotically stationary. Therefore, it is plausible that the gravitational energy of radiation is present in the background structure of the space-time, and this is the energy predicted in the TEGR. This analysis leads us to conjecture that the noise detected in the large terrestrial gravitational wave observatories is intrinsically related to the background gravitational radiation.

ABSTRACT Background: In the past decades, endoscopic ultrasound has developed from a diagnostic tool to a platform for many therapeutic interventions. Various technological advancements have emerged since the last Brazilian Consensus, demanding a review and update of the recommendations based on the best scientific evidence. Methods: A group of 32 renowned echoendoscopists selected eight relevant topics to be discussed to generate clinical questions. After that, a literature review was conducted to answer these questions based on the most updated evidence. Results: Thirty-three statements were formulated and voted on by the experts to reach a consensus. The Oxford System was used to grade the level of evidence. Conclusion: There is moderate evidence to support that the needle shape, gauge, or aspiration technique does not influence the yield of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue sampling of pancreatic solid lesions. There is moderate evidence to support using EUS-TTNB of the cyst wall to differentiate between mucinous and non-mucinous cystic neoplasms. There is little evidence to support the EUS-guided treatment of gastric varices. There is a high level of evidence to support that EUS-guided biliary drainage and ERCP present similar outcomes in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction. There is a high level of evidence for using EUS to diagnose neoplastic pancreatic cysts and detect necrosis before indicating drainage. There is moderate evidence to support EUS-GE over duodenal stent for malignant gastric outlet obstruction in patients with a life expectancy higher than 2 months. There is a high level of evidence to support the use of RFA in treating both functioning and non-functioning types of NET.

Objetivo: Determinar os intervalos de referência (IR) de índices hematológicos derivados de parâmetros do hemograma em indivíduos saudáveis. Material e métodos: Este estudo incluiu participantes da linha de base de Minas Gerais e Rio Grande do Sul do estudo ELSA-Brasil com informações do hemograma. Foram excluídos participantes com proteína C reativa (PCR) > 10 mg/dL; que auto relataram: problemas de saúde nas últimas 12h, uso de medicamento contínuo, saúde regular, ruim, muito ruim, diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial, doença cardiovascular, doença hepática, câncer e tabagismo; obesidade (IMC ≥ 30 kg/m2), taxa de filtração glomerular < 60 mL/min e com subtipos leucocitários fora do IR estabelecido pela Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde. Os índices avaliados foram: razões neutrófilos/linfócitos (RNL), plaquetas/linfócitos (RPL), linfócitos/monócitos (RLM), neutrófilos/global leucócitos – neutrófilos (dNLR) (derived NLR), neutrófilos x monócitos/linfócitos (índice de resposta à inflamação sistêmica - SIRI), neutrófilos x monócitos x plaquetas/linfócitos (índice agregado de inflamação sistêmica - AISI), plaquetas x neutrófilos/linfócitos (índice de imunoinflamação sistêmica - SII). O teste de Dixon foi utilizado para verificar outliers e o teste Kolmogorov-Smirnov para avaliar a distribuição. O IR correspondeu ao intervalo entre os percentis 2,5 e 97,5. O teste Mann Whitney verificou diferenças entre subgrupos de sexo e idade e indicar IR específica para faixa etária e sexo pela estatística de Harris/Boyd. Resultados: Após aplicar os critérios de exclusão, a amostra analítica totalizou 759 indivíduos dos 5.176 avaliados. A maioria era homem (54%), com idade entre 35-59 anos (92%). Nenhum parâmetro apresentou relação estatística (p < 0,05) com a idade. Quanto ao sexo, os valores das medianas da RML e SIRI foram estatisticamente maiores nos homens e RPL, RLM e SII nas mulheres. Os IR foram categorizados apenas para os parâmetros que atenderam a pelo menos um critério da abordagem estatística Harris/Boyd e as recomendações do documento C28A3 do Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Os IR obtidos foram: RNL [0.84-3.77]; RLM [1.95-7.39]; dNLR [0.65-2.50]; SIRI [0.29-2.19]; AISI [61.72–521.60]; SII [168.17-871.72]; RPL [mulheres: 75.99–236.34; homens: 69.31–206.10]; RML [mulheres: 0.13–0.45; homens 0.15–0.53]. Discussão: Os índices hematológicos derivados do hemograma têm sido estudados em muitos contextos clínicos, como nas doenças cardíacas e neoplásicas, porém ainda não há pontos de cortes ou IR para auxiliar seu uso. Esse estudo é pioneiro, propondo IR para estes índices em uma população brasileira saudável. Limitações incluem amostra restrita a adultos com ≥ 35 anos, da coorte ELSA que não inclui extremos da hierarquia social do país. Conclusão: Devido à qualidade dos dados do ELSA-Brasil foi possível garantir que uma amostra de referência saudável fosse selecionada e estabelecidos os IR para os índices hematológicos derivados do hemograma. Nossos resultados podem ser úteis para consolidar o uso desses índices, contribuindo para sua padronização e validação na prática clínica.

RESUMO A Teoria da Mente, mais conhecida em inglês como Theory of Mind (ToM), designa a habilidade sociocognitiva que se desenvolve nos seres humanos durante os primeiros anos de vida, que lhes permite atribuir estados mentais às outras pessoas por meio de inferências a respeito de suas crenças, desejos e intenções, e assim predizer ou explicar o comportamento dos outros nas relações sociais cotidianas. Nesse sentido, foi objetivo desta pesquisa realizar uma revisão de literatura a respeito da emergência e do desenvolvimento da ToM em bebês. A busca foi realizada nas bases Science Direct, Scielo e PsycInfo e obteve 399 resultados, dos quais foram analisados 26 artigos referentes ao desenvolvimento da ToM antes da linguagem expressiva. Os resultados sugerem que as habilidades mentais dos bebês são mais sofisticadas do que se acreditava anteriormente. Entretanto, a razão desse êxito é contraditória e vem sendo conceitualizada e interpretada de modos diferentes pelos pesquisadores.

Este trabalho objetivou estudar aspectos da germinação e do armazenamento de diásporos de Ocotea corymbosa (Meissn.) Mez., bem como estimar sua longevidade natural. Os diásporos foram obtidos de árvores da região de Moji-Guaçu, SP, em outubro de 1996. Avaliaram-se a porcentagem de germinação, o teor de água e o vigor dos diásporos, antes e após o armazenamento por 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 dias. Este foi realizado sob duas condições: a) diásporos em sacos de papel, em ambiente de laboratório e b) diásporos em sacos plásticos perfurados, dentro de câmara fria (8 ± 2 oC). Os testes de germinação foram, ainda, realizados sob quatro temperaturas constantes: 20, 25, 30 e 35oC. Os resultados mostraram que diásporos de O. corymbosa apresentam longevidade natural próxima a 60 dias. Esta longevidade pode ser ampliada para, no mínimo, 150 dias quando o armazenamento das sementes é realizado dentro de sacos plásticos, em câmara fria. A germinação foi favorecida pela temperatura constante de 30oC.

BackgroundThe Parkinson’s Disease-Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) is a widely used tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients, however, the neuroanatomical underpinnings of this test’s outcomes require clarification. This study aims to: (a) investigate cortical volume (CVol) and cortical thickness (CTh) disparities between PD patients exhibiting mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and those with preserved cognitive abilities (PD-IC); and (b) identify the structural correlates in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of overall PD-CRS performance, including its subtest scores, within a non-demented PD cohort.Materials and methodsThis study involved 51 PD patients with Hoehn & Yahr stages I–II, categorized into two groups: PD-IC (n = 36) and PD-MCI (n = 15). Cognitive screening evaluations utilized the PD-CRS and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). PD-MCI classification adhered to the Movement Disorder Society Task Force criteria, incorporating extensive neuropsychological assessments. The interrelation between brain morphology and cognitive performance was determined using FreeSurfer.ResultsVertex-wise analysis of the entire brain demonstrated a notable reduction in CVol within a 2,934 mm2 cluster, encompassing parietal and temporal regions, in the PD-MCI group relative to the PD-IC group. Lower PD-CRS total scores correlated with decreased CVol in the middle frontal, superior temporal, inferior parietal, and cingulate cortices. The PD-CRS subtests for Sustained Attention and Clock Drawing were associated with cortical thinning in distinct regions: the Clock Drawing subtest correlated with changes in the parietal lobe, insula, and superior temporal cortex morphology; while the PD-CRS frontal-subcortical scores presented positive correlations with CTh in the transverse temporal, medial orbitofrontal, superior temporal, precuneus, fusiform, and supramarginal regions. Additionally, PD-CRS subtests for Semantic and Alternating verbal fluency were linked to CTh changes in orbitofrontal, temporal, fusiform, insula, and precentral regions.ConclusionPD-CRS performance mirrors neuroanatomical changes across extensive fronto-temporo-parietal areas, covering both lateral and medial cortical surfaces, in PD patients without dementia. The observed changes in CVol and CTh associated with this cognitive screening tool suggest their potential as surrogate markers for cognitive decline in PD. These findings warrant further exploration and validation in multicenter studies involving independent patient cohorts.

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the optimal day for pollinating the flowers of the San Andreas strawberry cultivar after flower anthesis. The study was carried out in two periods (summer and fall), on a commercial farm. A total of 12 flower buds were monitored and photographed in each of the following 11 treatments: manual cross-pollination (MCP) on the first to fifth day after flower anthesis (MCP1 to MCP5), natural pollination (NP) on the first to fifth day after flower anthesis (NP1 to NP5), and self-pollination. After pollination, the flowers were bagged until the development and maturation of the flower receptacle. Subsequently, the fruits were harvested, quantified, and subjected to evaluations to determine biometry, degree of deformity, and the percentage of fertilized achenes. The flowers of the San Andreas cultivar remain open during five days, when the beginning of the development of the flower receptacle can already be observed. The optimal days for strawberry flower pollination through MCP or NP are the first two days after anthesis.

This work investigates the classical and quantum duality between the SIM(1)-Maxwell-Chern-Simons (MCS) model and its self-dual counterpart. Initially, we focus on free-field cases to establish equivalence through two distinct approaches: comparing the equations of motion and utilizing the master Lagrangian method. In both instances, the classical correspondence between the self-dual and MCS dual fields undergoes modifications due to very special relativity (VSR). Specifically, the duality is established when the associated VSR-mass parameters are identical, and the dual field is introduced through a non-local VSR correction. Furthermore, we analyze the duality when the self-dual model is minimally coupled to fermions. As a result, we demonstrate that Thirring-like interactions, corrected for non-local VSR contributions, are included in the MCS model. Additionally, we establish the quantum equivalence of the models by performing a functional integration of the fields and comparing the resulting effective Lagrangians.

Abstract The hemodynamic response during the transition from the supine to standing position in idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is not completely understood. This study aimed to analyze the hemodynamic changes that occur during the head‐up tilt test in idiopathic AF patients. We investigated the hemodynamic changes during the head‐up tilt test with impedance cardiography in 40 AF patients (12 with AF rhythm‐AFr and 28 with sinus rhythm‐AFsr) and 38 non‐AF controls. Patients with AFr had attenuated SVI decrease after standing when compared to AFsr and non‐AF [ΔSVI in mL/m2: −1.3 (−3.4 to 1.7) vs. −6.4 (−17.3 to −0.1) vs. −11.8 (−18.7 to −8.0), respectively; p

Summary: Background: CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia®) was the first dengue vaccine approved, launched in Brazil in 2015 for individuals aged 9–44 years. We aimed to estimate the effectiveness of CYD-TDV in preventing symptomatic dengue cases during a campaign targeting individuals aged 15–27 years in selected municipalities in Paraná, Brazil. Additionally, we examined whether a history of dengue, as recorded by the surveillance system, modified the vaccine's effectiveness. Methods: We conducted a case-cohort analysis comparing the frequency of vaccination, with at least one dose of CYD-TDV, in individuals with dengue confirmed by RT-PCR, identified by the surveillance system during 2019 and 2020, with the vaccination coverage in the target population. Moreover, in a case-control design using weighted controls, we assessed the documented history of dengue as a modifier of the vaccine's effectiveness. We used a logistic random-effects regression model, with data clustered in municipalities and incorporating covariates such as the incidence of dengue before the campaign, age, and sex. We calculated vaccine effectiveness (VE) as (1-relative risk) x 100%. Findings: 1869 dengue cases were identified, which had a vaccination frequency significantly lower than the overall vaccination coverage in the target population (50.3% vs. 57.2%, respectively; overall VE: 21.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.4%–28.4%). In individuals with a documented history of dengue, vaccination had a VE of 71% (95% CI: 58%–80%) in reducing the incidence of dengue. However, vaccination was not associated with a significant reduction in the overall dengue case risk in individuals without a documented history of dengue (VE: 12%; 95% CI: −21% to 36%). In this last stratum, vaccination was associated with reduced cases due to DENV-1 and DENV-4, but an excess of DENV-2 cases. Interpretation: Vaccination led to a significant reduction in reported dengue cases within the target population. The case-control design suggested that this reduction was primarily driven by the benefits observed in individuals with a documented history of dengue. In endemic regions with limited serological testing facilities, a previous history of dengue diagnosis recorded by epidemiological surveillance could be used to triage candidates for CYD-TDV vaccination. Funding: Research supported by Sanofi.