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Introduction: The current study provides people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) the support to cope with this disease and to improve their quality of life, since their longevity has significantly increased. Aim: Investigating the effect of an educational intervention on PLHIV's strategies to cope with HIV. Methodology: Quasi-experimental, before-and-after study type, whose data were collected before and after educational intervention, was carried out with 75 PLHIV at a School Outpatient Clinic. The Brazilian version of the Ways of Coping Scale was herein used. It is a questionnaire comprising 4 disease-coping domains, namely: coping focused on problem, emotion and on seeking social support and religious practices. Results: There was increased use of all coping-strategy domains after the educational intervention, as well as reduced standard deviation, and it pointed out that the recorded values were grouped closer to the mean therefore showing less variability. Coping focused on social support was the strategy mostly used after the educational intervention; it was followed by strategies focused on both emotion and problem. The least used strategy was the one focused on religion/fantasy. Discussion: This study identified the need of introducing a new coping strategy focused on prejudice against patients with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Enfermagem em Foco is the property of Conselho Federal 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 Neotropical Ichthyology is the property of Neotropical Ichthyology 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: Preeclampsia (PE) is a multifunctional and multisystem disorder. Several factors favor the development of PE, including obesity. Cytokines are also expressed in the placenta, predisposing to local alterations that favor the development of distinct pathological processes, including PE. This study aimed to evaluate the apelin and visfatin mRNA expression in the placental tissue of women with preeclampsia and overweight/obesity and correlates with maternal and fetal variables. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was performed with 60 pregnant women and their newborns. Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory variables were collected. Placental tissue samples were obtained, and the apelin and visfatin mRNA expression levels were assessed by qRT-PCR. Results: The main findings evidenced lower levels of apelin expression in overweight/obese women, accompanied by a negative correlation with BMI and pre-pregnancy weight; a higher expression of apelin was also observed in women with late PE and no personal history of PE. For visfatin levels, higher expression levels were observed in women with late PE and term delivery. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between visfatin levels and fetal anthropometric parameters, such as weight, length, and head circumference. Conclusion: Apelin levels were less expressed in overweight/obese women. Apelin and visfatin levels were correlated/associated with maternal-fetal variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ transplant is one of the best options for many medical conditions, and in many cases, it may be the only treatment option. Recent evidence suggests, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic might have detrimentally affected the provision of this type of healthcare services. The main purpose of this article is to use Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index to assess the impact that the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 had on the provision of solid organ transplant services. To this purpose, we use three complementary models, each focusing on specific aspects of the organ donation and transplantation process, and data from Brazil, which has one of the most extensive public organ transplant programs in the world. Using data from 17 States plus the Federal District, the results of our analysis show a significant drop in the performance of the services in terms of the organ donation and transplantation process from 2018 to 2020, but the results also indicate that not all aspects of the process and States were equally affected. Furthermore, by using different models, this research also allows us to gain a more comprehensive and informative assessment of the performance of the States in delivering this type of service and identify opportunities for reciprocal learning, expanding our knowledge on this important issue and offering opportunities for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: The reproduction of key reef species is still largely unknown due to difficulties in documenting all elements and steps involved. Sharks are particularly affected by this scarcity of information due to being long-lived species, and witnessing courtship, gestation, and birth is still mostly limited to fortuitous encounters by divers or specimens captured by fishers. Still scarcely described in the literature, our study reports the successful reproduction of Triaenodon obesus in an ex situ environment, which offers an opportunity to observe all steps of the reproduction in detail. Furthermore, we offer the first description of the late embryonic developmental stage based on ultrasound imagery. Elasmobranchs represent a group of species under considerable anthropic pressure because of the scale of industrial and artisanal fisheries and the loss of essential areas for nursery and feeding, which are causing substantial population losses around the world. Reproduction in an ex situ environment enables a healthy population to be built and maintained in networks of public aquariums, increasing our knowledge of elasmobranch reproductive biology and offering the opportunity for reintroductions in areas where native populations have been removed. The study reports two successful pregnancies of the whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus, considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Copulation and gestation data are provided, including ultrasound recordings of the late stage of embryo development. Ultrasonography was performed with the GE Logiq and convex transducer and revealed a fetus with defined fins and organogenesis, with definition of eyes, gills, liver, a heart with individualized chambers, partially defined kidneys, and a well-defined spiral intestine. A cartilaginous skeleton forming a posterior acoustic shadow was detailed, as well as a moving fetus with a biparietal diameter of 6.47 cm and a heart rate of 62 Beats Per Minute on spectral Doppler. This is the first successful reproduction of T. obesus in an aquarium in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is a lack of detailed information on the capture pressures and records regarding the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) (Carcharhinidae) for the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This study aimed to expand the tiger shark record database and to improve upon future conservation and management strategies in this area. A total of 23 new records were obtained, increasing the number of tiger shark records off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro approximately 5-fold. Possible seasonality patterns concerning tiger shark sizes were noted, indicating the need to consider the coast of Rio de Janeiro as an especially relevant area for at least part of the life history of tiger sharks. The tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) (Carcharhinidae) is classified as near-threatened along the Brazilian coast, in line with its global categorization. Although Rio de Janeiro, located in southeastern Brazil, is internationally identified as a priority shark conservation area, many shark species, including tiger sharks, are landed by both industrial and artisanal fisheries in this state. However, there is a lack of detailed information on the species capture pressures and records for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, the aims of this study were to expand the tiger shark record database and to improve upon future conservation and management strategies. Tiger shark records from four coastal Rio de Janeiro regions were obtained by direct observation. The information obtained from fishery colonies/associations, environmental guards, researchers, and scientific articles, totaling 23 records, resulted in an approximately 5-fold increase in the number of tiger shark records off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. A possible seasonality pattern concerning the size of the captured/observed animals was noted, emphasizing the need to consider the coast of Rio de Janeiro as an especially relevant area for at least part of the life history of tiger sharks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established the length–weight relationships (LWR) for 78 fish species from the São Francisco River basin, Brazil. Samples were originated from different scientific projects performed between 1993 and 2019. Fishing gears used were mainly gillnets and cast nets of various mesh sizes. Specimens varied from 0.6 to 128 cm (18.1 ± 11.8 cm) and from 0.01 to 26,900 g (317.9 ± 733.6 g). The allometric coefficient b varied from 2.509 to 3.494. For 66 species, the LWR parameters were completely novel and, for the other 12 species, are present for the first time for the São Francisco River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Characidium is described from the tributaries of the upper and middle rio Doce basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from most congeners, except C. cricarense, C. hasemani, C. helmeri, C. kalunga, C. pterostictum, C. schubarti, C. summus, and C. travassosi by lacking scales in the area between the anterior limit of the isthmus and the anterior margin of cleithrum. The new species differs from the aforementioned species by a series of characters, including the presence of the adipose fin, 2-4 scales between the anus and anal fin, two rows of dentary teeth, presence of the parietal branch of the supraorbital canal, 4 scale rows above the lateral line, and absence of two conspicuous inclined dark bands on each caudal-fin lobe. The new species further differs from most congeners with an unscaled ventral surface of the isthmus by the presence of 33-34 pored scales on the lateral line and by the dark dashes on the caudal fin-rays not forming well-defined bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enfermagem Brasil is the property of Atlantica Editora 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.)

A new species of Hyphessobrycon is described from a marshland area in the headwaters of Rio Jequitinhonha basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species differs from congeners by presenting a single well‐delimited conspicuous humeral blotch, rounded to vertically oval, restricted to the area dorsal to the lateral‐line row of scales, without a narrower downward extension, greatest body depth anterior to dorsal‐fin origin, bony processes in anal and pectoral‐fin rays of males and four teeth in the inner row of the premaxillary bone. The new species presents a set of morphological features shared by some species currently assigned to Hasemania, Myxiops and to the Astyanax scabripinnis complex. Some of these features are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A total of 1,471 specimens of 16 species of flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) were caught during 48 sampling campaigns between July 2005 and June 2007 at ten stations in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Paralichthyidae was the dominant family, with Etropus crossotus as the dominant species. The outer stations, especially those on the western side of the lower estuary, were distinguished as a result of their higher abundance of flatfishes and number of species. The spatial distribution of E. crossotus and its population structure indicate that this species is an estuarine resident despite the apparent reduction in its area of occupation within the estuarine complex. Among the other species, nine were classified as marine stragglers (Achirus declivis, Bothus ocellatus, Cyclopsetta chittendeni, Etropus longimanus, Paralichthys orbignyanus, P. patagonicus, Syacium micrurum, Symphurus diomedeanus and Trinectes paulistanus) and three as estuarine opportunists (Bothus robinsi, Citharichthys macrops and Syacium papillosum); another three could not be classified due to the small number of captures or lack of previous data (S. tessellatus, A. lineatus and C. spilopterus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this context, this study evaluated 400 patients from the Brazilian health service who had their nutritional status defined based on the body mass index and were classified as physically active or insufficient active. The energy intake and macronutrients was also assessed by a 24-hour dietary recall where the association of overweight/obesity with the investigated variables was evaluated using chisquare, Student's t test and multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). The main results showed that more than half of the studied population have the habit of omitting breakfast (55.8%), and among those, 81.2% were overweight/obese (p < 0.0001). Almost three-fourths of these individuals consumed no more than 4 meals a day (73.0%), and regarding this meal frequency/day, 78.8% of the individuals who reported having 4 meals or less a day were overweight/obese compared with 57.8% who reported as having 5-6 meals/day (p < 0.0001). The individuals who reported to omit breakfast had a higher chance of being overweight compared with those who had this habit (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.40-3.60) and the chance of the physically insufficient active individuals to be overweight/obese was 2.9 times higher when compared to the active individuals (p < 0.0001). Our findings suggest that regular breakfast consumption may decrease overweight and obesity risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: assess a prototype for use on mobile devices that permits registering data for the Systemization of Nursing Care at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Method: an exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken, characterized as an applied methodological research, developed at a teaching hospital. Results: the mobile technology the nurses at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit use was positive, although some reported they faced difficulties to manage it, while others with experience in using mobile devices did not face problems to use it. The application has the functions needed for the Systematization of Nursing Care at the unit, but changes were suggested in the interface of the screens, some data collection terms and parameters the application offers. The main contributions of the software were: agility in the development and documentation of the systemization, freedom to move, standardization of infant assessment, optimization of time to develop bureaucratic activities, possibilities to recover information and reduction of physical space the registers occupy. Conclusion: prototype software for the Systemization of Nursing Care with mobile technology permits flexibility for the nurses to register their activities, as the data can be collected at the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Baiana de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal da Bahia 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.)

Introduction: The growing volume of information originating with nursing records demands strategies for managing the data that is produced in a way that avoids the disadvantages of case histories kept on paper. Purpose: The study was intended to develop software applicable to the systematization of nursing care, so as to provide nurses with efficient and quick computerized records. Methodology: This is a methodological study, with technological production, and is divided into three phases: construction of diagnostic categories and nursing interventions, validation of diagnostic categories, and software development. The system was built on the Java platform, using JavaServer Faces (JSF) as a framework and featuring the J2EE specification to readily develop web applications. Findings: The database consists of 143 nursing diagnostic categories and 130 references to nursing interventions. The respective software shows 17 screens that include data on identification and complete physical examination of the newborn, organized according to basic human needs, along with a list of nursing diagnoses and interventions suggested by the program and a final sheet for printing. Final considerations: The software provides the nursing process with a complete, uniform and quick record, and constitutes an important source of data for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study has the aim to investigate the changes that happen in women's life when they suffer definitive intestinal stomas and their implications in their sexuality. It's about a research made in field, at the University's Hospital of João Pessoa/PB, where ten women took place at this work. The data interpretation, was adopted the technique of analysis of contents of Bardin. The results have showed that women had to face, besides the change of intestinal traffic, change in the way of life, affecting their image and sexuality. So, acording to the importance of the point dicussed, the reflection and it's effects, need extremely attention trying to reduce the prejudice. [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 Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco 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 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 Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao 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 Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia 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.)

Patients with an autoimmune condition are known to be at higher risk of developing other autoimmune disorders. Type 1 diabetes may be associated with additional autoimmune disorders including autoimmune thyroid disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in a group of children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes from northeastern Brazil as well as their significance for the development of thyroid disorders. The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive, analyzing young people with a previous type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Two hundred and fourteen children and adolescents with prior diagnosis of type 1 diabetes were evaluated. Antibodies to thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO) were determined in all patients and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. The anti-TPO antibody test was positive in 54 out of the 214 patients studied, resulting in an overall prevalence of 25.2%. Among the anti-TPO-positive subjects, females were predominant (72%) over males (28%) (p < 0.001). A total of 55.5% patients with positive anti-TPO antibodies had abnormal TSH levels. Clinically significant hypothyroidism was found in 29.6% and subclinical hypothyroidism in 22.2% of patients with positive anti-TPO. Hyperthyroidism was present in only 3% of them. Our results demonstrate the high prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis in patients with type 1 diabetes and the need for these patients of regular screening to make a precocious diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, agro-industrial residues are focusing attention worldwide as a new source of pozzolans; in Brazil one of the wastes generated from agro-industrial activities comes from elephant grass that is cultivated as biomass for energy cogeneration. The goal of this paper is to analyze the influence of elephant grass, once activated at 700 °C for 1 h in electric furnace, on the evolution of the hydration reaction as well as physical and mechanical properties in blended cement elaborated with 20% of elephant grass ash. For the present study, different instrumental techniques of characterization and methodologies (XRF, XRD, TG/DTG, mercury porosimetry, isothermal calorimetry and mechanical strength) were used. The results obtained in the present work show, that due to its high pozzolanic activity, the elephant grass ash activated at 700 °C can be used as an alternative pozzolan in the blended cement manufacture. Additions of 20% of ash confirm the formation of CSH gels and hexagonal C 4 AH 13 as main products from hydration as well as pozzolanic reaction. The 20% ash blended cement showed lower heat evolution than OPC and similar to the 20% silica fume blended cement, a 12% of reduction of compressive strength and an important reduction of pore sizes below 50 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate self-esteem, the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other substances in outsourced workers of a public university. Method: a descriptive-analytical, crosssectional, quantitative study developed with 316 outsourced workers from a municipality in the Southeast of Brazil. Data was collected through a characterization tool, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, odds ratio and logistic regression. Results: the majority of workers had high self-esteem and some used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants. A significant association between gender, age group and work shift with self-esteem; between the risk of developing problems related to alcohol consumption with sex, age group, marital status, religious belief and number of children; between the practice of physical activity and the risk of developing problems related to the consumption of tobacco products was found. Conclusion: this study contributes to the increase of knowledge due to the small number of researches involving this subject and to contribute to the nurses to have subsidies to work with this population using strategies to combat the triggers of psychic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In our study we investigated the possible role of MBL2 functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the augmented susceptibility to develop other autoimmune diseases in presence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a group of Brazilian patients. Patients were stratified for the presence of autoimmune diseases known to be associated with T1D, such as autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and celiac disease (CD), and compared with healthy controls (HC). Our findings suggest that MBL2 functional SNPs are more closely related to AITD than to T1D, being MBL2 SNPs frequencies in T1D patients not affected by AITD comparable to the HC ones, while significantly different between AITD patients and patients not affected by the disease. Thus, the association between MBL2 polymorphisms and T1D that we previously reported, seems to result from the stronger association of MBL2 SNPs with another autoimmune disease, the AITD, frequently associated with T1D. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: to analyze the association between burnout and sociodemographic, work factors, lifestyle habits and health conditions of military police officers in a municipality in the state of Paraná, Brazil., Method: cross-sectional research with 131 military police officers. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software and the R program. Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Poisson Generalized Linear Model tests were used., Results: most participants (65.6%) had a high level of burnout. In relation to protective factors, those who carried out leisure activities had a 33.6% chance of not developing burnout. Conjugality was also a protective factor. Not practicing physical activity and leisure activities are factors that can contribute to the occurrence of burnout., Conclusions: important factors and high rates of burnout were observed in the police officers investigated. It is necessary to implement public health policies to reduce burnout with attention focused on this professional category.

Background: Patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs) have been prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination to mitigate the infection severity risks. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a high risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, especially those under immunosuppression or with associated comorbidities. However, few studies have assessed the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with RA., Objective: To evaluate the safety of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with RA., Methods: This data are from the study "Safety and Efficacy on COVID-19 Vaccine in Rheumatic Diseases," a Brazilian multicentric prospective phase IV study to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine in IMRDs in Brazil. Adverse events (AEs) in patients with RA of all centers were assessed after two doses of ChAdOx1 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) or CoronaVac (Sinovac/Butantan). Stratification of postvaccination AEs was performed using a diary, filled out daily and returned at the end of 28 days for each dose., Results: A total of 188 patients with RA were include, 90% female. CoronaVac was used in 109 patients and ChAdOx1 in 79. Only mild AEs were observed, mainly after the first dose. The most common AEs after the first dose were pain at the injection (46,7%), headache (39,4%), arthralgia (39,4%), myalgia (30,5%) and fatigue (26,6%), and ChAdOx1 had a higher frequency of pain at the injection (66% vs 32 %, p < 0.001) arthralgia (62% vs 22%, p < 0.001) and myalgia (45% vs 20%, p < 0.001) compared to CoronaVac. The more common AEs after the second dose were pain at the injection (37%), arthralgia (31%), myalgia (23%), headache (21%) and fatigue (18%). Arthralgia (41,4% vs 25%, p = 0.02) and pain at injection (51,4% vs 27%, p = 0.001) were more common with ChAdOx1. No serious AEs were related. With Regard to RA activity level, no significant difference was observed between the three time periods for both COVID-19 vaccines., Conclusion: In the comparison between the two immunizers in patients with RA, local reactions and musculoskeletal symptoms were more frequent with ChAdOx1 than with CoronaVac, especially after the first dose. In summary, the AE occurred mainly after the first dose, and were mild, like previous data from others immunizing agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Vaccination did not worsen the degree of disease activity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Lychnophora ericoides Mart, also known as the Brazilian arnica or fake arnica, belongs to the Asteraceae family. Leaves and roots are used in alcoholic and hydroalcoholic preparations for the treatment of wounds, inflammation, and pain., Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of L. ericoides ethanolic extract (EELE) on cutaneous wound healing and the mechanisms of action involved., Methods: A total of 72 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each. An excisional wound was made in the dorsal region of each mouse. The test groups were topically treated with the vehicle, a positive control commercial reference drug, EELE ointment (5%), and EELE ointment (10%). The treatments were applied over 14 days. The wound area was measured every two days to verify the wound closure kinetics. On days 3, 7, and 14 the wound tissue samples were processed for Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson-Trichrome, and Toluidine blue staining. The expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components, the vascular growth factor-A (VEGF-A), the basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), and type I collagen genes were evaluated. Phytochemical analyses were performed using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS., Results: The EELE (10%) significantly reduced the wound area compared to the treatments used for the other groups. Histological analysis demonstrated that wounds treated with L. ericoides for 14 days developed improved anatomical skin features, healed with hair follicles and sebaceous glands, increased collagen production and angiogenesis, and decreased the number of mast cells at the injury site. Real-time PCR data demonstrated that groups treated with EELE (10%) showed increased Type I collagen, VEGF-A, FGF-2, and AT 1 R and decreased ACE II and receptor MAS. The healing action of L. ericoides may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid derivatives, and C-glycoside flavonoids., Conclusion: Topical treatment with EELE increases important factors for wound healing: FGF, VEGF, collagen formation, and the expression of the proliferative axis of the renin-angiotensin system. For the first time, the present study shows the healing action of L. ericoides at the molecular level in an animal model. This process can be used as an alternative therapy for wound healing and the development of herbal therapy., 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 © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate a new dairy by-product nutritional supplement with Buriti fruit to improve malnutrition in mice and elderly woman., Background: Malnutrition is a prevalent problem in the elderly; therefore, oral dietary supplementation is an important strategy to reduce this health problem incidence., Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of a low-cost food supplement, made from byproducts of the dairy and fruit industry in the Brazilian Cerrado (Buriti), on the nutritional status and on the recovery of the metabolic profile of malnourished animals and elderly women., Methods: In the pre-clinical phase, Swiss mice were divided into six groups and subjected to malnutrition and renutrition. The clinical phase was carried out with 25 elderly women residing in a long-term institution, aged ≥ 65 years and with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition., Results: The main results showed improvements in anthropometric parameters and an increase in serum albumin levels, in addition to lipid profile improvement in the preclinical phase and an increase in the red blood cells and hemoglobin in the clinical phase., Conclusion: The supplement based on Buriti was able to reverse malnutrition promoting improvements in anthropometric and biochemical parameters., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: To reflect on the role of Brazilian nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering as a historical landmark the bicentenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a precursor of modern nursing, celebrated in 2020., Method: Theoretical-reflective study, based on Florence Nightingale's environmental theory through a literature review, carried out in international and national virtual news from different sources and added to the authors' experiences related to the pandemic., Results: It was possible to identify the weaknesses experienced by nurse practitioners as to contagion by COVID-19, the routine of exposure to risks, the lack of adequate protection in many scenarios, the high rates of illness, and also deaths that occurred in this profession., Final Considerations: Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory describes the importance of the adequacy of the work environment. It also emphasizes the value of this professional for contemporary nursing and the redefinition of this professional category during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new long-snouted Corydoras species is described from two tributaries of the río Manuripe and a tributary of the río Madre de Dios, rio Madeira basin, Peru. Corydoras fulleri can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following features: (a) branch of the temporal sensory canal at sphenotic, which gives rise to the supraorbital canal, with two pores; (b) upper tooth plate of branchial arch with three series of teeth; (c) area at the corner of the mouth, ventral to the maxillary barbel, with a small fleshy flap; (d) two moderate-sized dark-brown or black blotches on caudal-fin base, one on its lateral portion and another one on its dorsal portion, blotches variably diffuse and/or fused with each other; (e) absence of a dark-brown or black stripe transversally crossing the orbit; (f) a longitudinal dark-brown or black stripe on the postdorsal region of flank midline, variably fused with the lateral peduncular blotch, some specimens with slender, longitudinally elongated, dark-brown or black blotch on flank midline, forming a dash-like marking, stripe or dash-like blotch diffuse in some specimens; and (g) region around dorsal-fin origin generally lacking dark brown or black blotch, or displaying diffuse blotch., (© 2021 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Background: Brazilian flora is rich in plants with medicinal properties, which though popular, has contributed to the development of a range of phytotherapic products that use plants to treat and cure diseases. However, studies that use Brazilian plants in the treatment of metabolic disorders are still scarce in the literature., Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hepatotoxicity Lafoensia pacari on the metabolism of mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet and to verify the phytochemical difference between the Lafoensia pacari bark of the trunk, leaves, and branches., Methods: The plant material was collected from April to May in the municipality of Bonito de Minas, MG, Brazil. Qualitative tests for the presence of secondary metabolite classes were performed for leaves, branches and bark of the trunk. Through histological analysis, we evaluated hepatocytes and cell lesions in the liver., Results: The comparative phytochemical analysis of the plant did not reveal alterations between the different plant parts. The phytochemical test showed that is preferable to use the leaves to make the extract to be applied, aiming to reduce the plant aggression. After treatment, greater changes were observed in the animals that received the high-fat diet and the hydroethanolic extract; the levels of AST, ALT, albumin and creatinine that were increased, thus demonstrating a possible toxicity. There were no significant differences in body weight. In the histological analysis, the animals without plant treatment displayed decreased liver weight and reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate., Conclusion: We conclude that Lafoensia pacari should be better evaluated for oral consumption and may cause liver damage., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of hospital nursing professionals with the presence of stress, and to associate this with capillary cortisol., Method: A cross-sectional, exploratory and correlational study, conducted in a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 164 nursing professionals participated; the Perceived Stress Scale was administered, and hair samples were obtained for laboratory analysis. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (2010), and then into Microsoft Office and the R software, version 3.2.2., Results: High levels of capillary cortisol in 47% of participants suggest the presence of stress, but no statistical significance between cortisol and stress levels were found., Conclusions: Stress and capillary cortisol levels were indicative of stress among nursing professionals; however, no association between them was found, although the values found were above those recommended.

Objective: The increased prevalence of obesity and associated comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, has gained attention worldwide, and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been pointed out as a possible link. Thus, the present study aimed to verify the possible association between angiotensinogen (AGT) or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphisms with overweight and obesity in adults., Subjects and Methods: The present investigation was a population-based cross-sectional study including 1,567 individuals from an urban area in Brazil. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated, and all individuals were genotyped for the ACE I/D and AGT M/T polymorphisms., Results: The prevalence of overweight was higher among men, whereas obesity was more prevalent among women. However, the frequency of ACE or AGT polymorphisms was similar among body mass index (BMI) categories. In addition, the mean age-adjusted BMI averages did not change significantly for ACE or AGT polymorphisms, regardless of sex or BMI category. The age-adjusted BMI average for the combination of ACE and AGT genotypes evidenced no significant differences regardless of sex or BMI categories. Results were similar when BMI was replaced by waist circumference (WC)., Conclusions: We were not able to find any associations between BMI and WC (overweight/obesity) and ACE and AGT polymorphisms, indicating that the RAS system might not be involved in overweight and obesity, at least based on genetic backgrounds. However, further studies must measure RAS components to elucidate this question.

This study sought to identify the prevalence of excess weight and food consumption patterns among adolescents attending public schools in northern Minas Gerais state. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random and representative sample of adolescents. Demographic and economic data were collected. Food consumption was evaluated by applying a semi-quantitative food questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured to assess the nutritional status based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) by Age. The sexes were compared by Student's t test (comparison of samples) and chi-square test (goodness of fit) at a level of significance of p <0.05. 535 adolescents were evaluated and prevalence of excess weight was detected in 18.5% of the group. BMI (p = 0,001) was statistically different between the sexes and higher for girls. The average energy consumption of the group was 3096.30 kcal/day. Fiber consumption was insufficient in 35% of the adolescents, vitamin A and calcium in 80% and unsaturated fats in 100%. Carbohydrate and cholesterol were consumed in excess by 20.6% and 48%, respectively. The prevalence of excess weight and inadequate food consumption is of great concern for the population studied and requires appropriate nutritional intervention.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the effects of a public program of application of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in terms of muscle spasticity, range of motion, quality of gait, functional independence and quality of life of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 14 children with CP to evaluate the effects of three applications of BoNT-A, at intervals of three months. Children were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Rating Scale, the Manual Goniometer, the Physician Rating Scale, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the Caregiver Questionnaire (CQ). There was a reduction of spasticity, an increase in the range of motion, an improvement of the functional abilities of self-care and mobility of PEDI and the areas of personal care, comfort and interaction/communication with the CQ. The BoNT-A application program for children and adolescents with CP, conducted in a public rehabilitation service in the Jequitinhonha Valley, was effective for the targeted population.

This is a qualitative descriptive exploratory study, conducted in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) which offers Nursing course, in Joao Pessoa-PB. The study aimed to understand the concept of managers about the need for organizational changes to attend customers with special needs. Four managers participated in the study. A semi-structured interview with guiding questions was used to collect information and to interpret the data we used the method of discourse analysis based on Fiorin. It was noticed that the managers have a concern to meet the demands of inclusive policies, including the adequacy of physical spaces and the pedagogy adopted to meet the students' needs. However, some of them admitted to have little knowledge on how to deal with students with special needs and also mentioned that the institutions do not have an efficient and logistic work which can meet the current legislation of inclusion. We concluded that the process of structural and pedagogical changes is built in a slow and gradual way and it requires an involvement of qualified managers who are committed to execute the policies of inclusion of customers with special needs in a civil and legal way.

In the present paper the main aspects of the natural history of human infection by Toxocara larvae that occasionally result in the occurrence of visceral and/or ocular larva migrans syndrome were reviewed. The contribution by Brazilian researchers was emphasized, especially the staff of the Tropical Medicine Institute of São Paulo (IMT).

Mannose-binding lectin is an important constituent of the innate immune system, the serum levels of which are greatly affected by polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene: three polymorphisms in exon 1, as well as nucleotide variations in the promoter region of the gene, have been associated with protein deficiency and some infectious and autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between MBL2 gene polymorphisms in patients who have developed type 1 diabetes during childhood and adolescence. We evaluated MBL2 gene polymorphisms in 214 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and compared them with a healthy control group, finding significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0008, respectively). Our results suggest that patients with type 1 diabetes possessing the 0 allele have a higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes during childhood and adolescence, and that this risk factor is not related to age at diagnosis.

We evaluated the indoor atmospheric Hg contamination in gold trade shops in two Brazilian cities of the Legal Amazon area using the Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides, Bromeliaceae) as a sentinel species. Plants inside plastic cages were exposed to a controlled atmosphere to evaluate the rate of Hg retention over time and then distributed in several stores with different characteristics to enable a relative comparison. Hg concentrations were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plants exposed in active stores with good air circulation exhibited lower levels. Ex-gold trade shops that were kept closed for long periods exhibited higher values. Stores that have been restored before being transformed into new businesses exhibited lower values than nonrestored ones. Direct measurements suggest that indoor Hg air concentrations were below the threshold limit recommended by the World Health Organization to occupational exposure; nevertheless, restoring ex-gold trade shops could ensure a healthier working environment.

Background/aims: Familial aggregation of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has been reported in several studies, most of them carried out in USA. It is uncertain to what extent these findings can be generalized to other populations. The objective of this study was to assess whether familial aggregation of ESKD occurs in Brazil and whether it is influenced by race., Methods: Case-control study including 555 ESKD patients and 595 controls without renal disease. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between a history of ESKD in a first-degree relative (Fam-ESKD) and the risk of ESKD. Additionally, the association between Fam-ESKD and race among ESKD cases was analyzed., Results: Twenty-seven cases (4.9%) and 5 controls (0.8%) reported Fam-ESKD (p < 0.001). Fam-ESKD was significantly more frequent among cases in a regression model adjusted for all studied covariates (OR = 5.71, 95% CI = 2.13-15.4; p < 0.001). The frequency of Fam-ESKD among dialysis patients belonging to the white, black and 'mixed' racial subgroups was 6.0, 4.3 and 4.0%, respectively (p = 0.62). There was no association between race and Fam-ESKD (p = 0.54) in adjusted regression analyses., Conclusion: Fam-ESKD occurs in Brazil but, as opposed to what has been suggested by American studies, it does not appear to be influenced by race., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)