358 results on '"Almeida LM"'
Search Results
2. LINFOMA DE CÉLULAS T PERIFÉRICAS NÃO ESPECIFICADO: UMA APRESENTAÇÃO INCOMUM DE ACOMETIMENTO RENAL ISOLADO
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Rolim-Junior, RAS, Silva, AJ, Brandão, BM, Kososki, E, and Almeida, LM
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- 2024
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3. APRESENTAÇÃO RENAL DO LINFOMA LINFOPLASMOCITICO: CRIOGLOBULINEMIA COM ANEMIA HEMOLÍTICA E SÍNDROME NEFRÓTICA
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Almeida, LM, Silva, AJ, Kososki, E, Brandão, BM, Junior, RASR, Costa, ACC, Brunozzi, ALB, and Santos, ABFS
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- 2024
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4. LINFOMA DE ZONA MARGINAL ESPLÊNICA: O IMPACTO DE UM ADEQUADO EXAME FÍSICO NO DIAGNÓSTICO PRECOCE
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Brandão, BM, Silva, AJ, Kososki, E, Junior, RASR, and Almeida, LM
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- 2024
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5. Peer Review #2 of "Invasion history of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Ecuador (v0.1)"
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Almeida, LM, additional
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- 2020
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6. Insights on antimicrobial stewardship in the microbiology laboratory: a review
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De Almeida Lm, Arley Silva, Afonso Cardoso, and Monteiro Em
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Clinical microbiology ,Search terms ,Resistance pattern ,business.industry ,Antimicrobial susceptibility ,Antimicrobial stewardship ,Medicine ,Antimicrobial ,Multidisciplinary team ,business ,Rational use ,Microbiology - Abstract
The objective was to describe the latest perspectives and assignments for microbiology laboratories in Antimicrobial Stewardship programs within the multidisciplinary team of care to patients including schemes to optimize the use of antibiotics based on microbiological laboratory techniques Methods it conducted a review of narrative literature papers published in Pubmed database from May to September The search terms used were quot Antimicrobial Stewardship AND Clinical Microbiology quot being selected references from the documents found Results Antimicrobial Stewardship programs have emerged in recent decades in order to optimize antimicrobial therapy Microbiology laboratories have important duties to perform tests that support the selection and standardization of restricted antimicrobials in clinical protocols for infection by micro organisms resistant to multiple drugs Currently available tests are related to the identification quantification and determination of resistance patterns and antimicrobial susceptibility among them classical biochemical and microbiological tests rapid tests for diagnosis addition of serum procalcitonin So microbiology laboratories should integrate the various inter committees that promote the safe and rational use of antimicrobials We conclude that there is a lack of studies that evaluated effectively both clinical and financial
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- 2019
7. Coleopterofauna found on fresh and frozen rabbit carcasses in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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Mise, KM., Corrêa, RC., and Almeida, LM.
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besouros ,carrion fauna ,fauna necrófaga ,forensic entomology ,Oxelytrum spp. and cause of death ,entomologia forense ,food and beverages ,Oxelytrum spp. e carcaça de coelho ,beetles - Abstract
Many arthropod species are associated with carrion and some of them can be used as forensic indicators in murder investigations to estimate the time of death. Different physical conditions of cadavers may influence the fauna and the importance of freezing and thawing is unknown. The present paper sought to survey the Coleoptera species encountered in frozen and fresh rabbit carcasses, at a forest in Curitiba, Brazil. Four rabbit carcasses, two of them fresh and the other frozen were used. The coleopterofauna was sampled daily, and analyzed using non-parametric tests. A total of 666 beetles were sampled, belonging to 28 species in 10 families. Most of the beetles captured were larvae of Oxelytrum spp. (433) which are known to be necrophagous. The two frozen carcasses accounted for most of the beetles (338 and 180) in comparison with the two fresh carcasses (103 and 45). The tests were based on the most abundant species. Oxelytrum spp. median differed significantly between carcasses (H = 12.47844; p = 0.0059). The two fresh carcasses differed significantly (U = 190.0; p = 0.00019), but there was no significant difference between the frozen carcasses (U = 336.0; p = 0.29755). The data indicate that the freezing process prevents certain species to colonize carcasses, in this case with the dominance of species of Oxelytrum. These data also indicate that careful attention is necessary before using frozen carcasses in forensic entomology studies. Muitas espécies de artrópodes são associadas a carcaças e algumas delas podem ser utilizadas em casos de morte violenta como indicadoras forenses do intervalo decorrido desde a morte do indivíduo. Diferentes condições físicas dos cadáveres podem influenciar a fauna, sendo que o efeito do congelamento e descongelamento é desconhecido. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram levantar as espécies de Coleoptera em carcaças de coelho frescas e congeladas em um remanescente florestal localizado em Curitiba, Brasil. Foram utilizadas quatro carcaças de coelhos, dois frescos e dois previamente congelados. A coleopterofauna foi amostrada diariamente e analisada com testes não paramétricos. Foram coletados 666 espécimes, pertencentes a 28 espécies, de 10 famílias. A maioria dos besouros coletados foi representada por larvas de Oxelytrum spp. (433), as quais são necrófagas. Observou-se um maior número de indivíduos sobre as carcaças congeladas (338 e 180) em comparação com as duas frescas (103 e 45). Os testes foram baseados nas espécies mais abundantes. A mediana das espécies de Oxelytrum diferiu significativamente entre as carcaças (H = 12,47844; p = 0,0059). As duas carcaças frescas diferiram significativamente (U = 190,0; p = 0,00019), porém não houve diferença significativa entre as carcaças congeladas (U = 336,0; p = 0,29755). Os dados indicaram que o processo de congelamento evitou que algumas espécies colonizassem as carcaças, neste caso com dominância de espécies de Oxelytrum. Estes dados também indicam a necessidade de cuidado ao utilizar carcaças congeladas em estudos de entomologia forense.
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- 2013
8. Inimigos naturais associados a afídeos em pomares de pessegueiros em Araucária, Estado do Paraná, Brasil
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Schuber,JM., Monteiro,LB., Almeida,LM., and Zawadneak,MAC.
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aphids ,predators ,afídeos ,armadilhas ,insecta ,parasitoides ,predadores ,traps ,parasitoids - Abstract
Natural enemies of the Class Insecta are important agents in the balance of aphid populations and an alternative to using insecticides to control these insects. The aim of this study was to identify the species of natural enemies associated with aphids present in peach orchards and observe the efficiency of capturing different sampling methods. The experiment was conducted from July, 2005 to September, 2006 in six peach orchards 'Chimarrita', in Araucária, PR, Brazil. The samples were taken by visual analysis in peach plants and weeds, yellow pan traps, sticky traps and funnels. Predator species were identified: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Cycloneda pulchella, Cycloneda sanguinea, Eriopis connexa, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia convergens and Scymnus sp. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Allograpta sp., Palpada sp. and Toxomerus sp. (Diptera, Syrphidae) and Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) and the parasitoids: Diaretiella rapae, Opius sp. and Praon sp (Braconidae). Examples of Encyrtidae and Eulophidae await identification. Chrysoperla sp. was a less abundant species. There were no statistically significant differences between the different sampling methods tested. Os inimigos naturais da Classe Insecta são importantes agentes no equilíbrio das populações de afídeos e uma forma alternativa ao uso de inseticidas no controle desses insetos. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as espécies de inimigos naturais associados aos afídeos presentes em pomares de pessegueiros, além de verificar a eficiência de captura de diferentes métodos de amostragem. O experimento foi realizado de julho de 2005 a setembro de 2006, em seis pomares de pessegueiros 'Chimarrita' em Araucária-PR, Brasil. As amostragens foram realizadas por meio de: análise visual em plantas de pessegueiros e plantas invasoras; armadilhas amarelas; armadilhas adesivas, e funil. Foram identificados os predadores: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Cycloneda pulchella, Cycloneda sanguinea, Eriopis connexa, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia convergens, Scymnus sp. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Allograpta sp., Palpada sp., Toxomerus sp. (Diptera, Syrphidae) e Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), além dos parasitoides: Diaretiella rapae, Opius sp. e Praon sp. (Braconidae). Exemplares de Encyrtidae e Eulophidae aguardam identificação. Chrysoperla sp. foi a espécie menos abundante. Não foram constatadas diferenças estatísticas significativas entre os diferentes métodos de amostragem testados.
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- 2012
9. Prevalência de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e de alcoolismo em uma região metropolitana do Brasil
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de Almeida Lm and Coutinho Eda S
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medicine.medical_specialty ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Alcohol ,Alcohol drinking ,Target population ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Environmental health ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,Consumo de bebidas alcoólicas/epidemiologia ,Alcoolismo ,media_common ,alcoholism ,business.industry ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,Consumo de bebidas alcoólicas ,Abstinence ,alcohol drinking ,Metropolitan area ,Alcoholic beverage consumption ,Alcoolismo/epidemiologia ,Alcoholism ,chemistry ,business - Abstract
Foi realizado Inquérito epidemiológico com o objetivo de estimar o uso de substâncias psicoativas e a prevalência de alcoolismo. Tomou-se como referência a população de maiores de 13 anos de idade de região administrativa da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brasil), da qual se extraiu uma amostra aleatória de 1.459 indivíduos. Os resultados referentes ao uso de bebidas alcoólicas e alcoolismo, identificados através do teste CAGE, mostraram: prevalência de 51% para o consumo de álcool e de 3% para alcoolismo, sendo 4,9% em homens e 1,7% em mulheres; maior proporção de consumidores de álcool e de alcoolistas entre homens de 30 e 49 anos; abstinência mais freqüente entre os viúvos, protestantes e indivíduos com níveis de renda inferiores. An epidemiological survey was carried out for the purpose of estimating the use of psychoactive substances and the prevalence of alcoholism. The target population consisted of people over 13 years old living in a district of Rio de Janeiro city - Brazil. A random sample of 1,459 people was researched. Data on the use of alcohol and on alcoholism are presented. The diagnosis of this latter, based upon the CAGE Test, showed that 51% used alcohol and 3% were suspected of alcoholism: 4.9% and 1.7% among men and women, respectively. The greatest prevalence of the use of alcohol and of alcoholism was found among men between 30 and 49 years of age. Abstinence from alcohol was more frequent among widowed, Evangelical and low-income groups.
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- 1993
10. Longer decomposition process and the influence on Coleoptera fauna associated with carcasses
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Mise,KM., Martins,CBC., Köb,EL., and Almeida,LM.
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- 2008
11. Selection for entomopathogenic fungi and LD50 of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. for the Lesser Mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
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Chernaki-Leffer,AM, Sosa-Gòmez,DR, and Almeida,LM
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fungi ,Alphitobius diaperinus ,biological control ,entomopathogenic fungi ,bioassays - Abstract
The pathogenicity of insect-pathogenic hyphomycetous isolates to the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) was tested in this study. Thirty isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Paecilomyces amoenoroseus (Hennings), P. fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith, P. lilacinus (Thom) Samson, P. tenuipes (Petch) Samson, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, and M. anisopliae var. acridum were initially screened by sprinkling dry conidia onto adult A. diaperinus or by allowing adults to walk on Petri dishes with sporulating fungal isolates. The two most virulent isolates, CNPSo-Ma352 (M. anisopliae) and CNPSo-Ma356 (M. anisopliae), killed 30% and 26.7% of the dry-conidia treated adults, respectively. These two isolates were selected for LD50 bioassays. LD50 of CNPSo-Ma352 was 4.5 x 10(4) conidia per larva, and 2.1 x 10(5) conidia per adult, and for strain CNPSo-Ma356, LD50 was 2.2 x 10(4) conidia per larva and 1.3 x 10(5) conidia per adult. Larvae were 5-6 times more susceptible than adults. A larger number of conidia required to cause 50% mortality in insect evaluates, suggesting the reduced susceptibility of A. diaperinus to entomopathogenic fungi. Nevertheless, these and other strains of fungus offer an alternative method for controlling of lesser mealworm in poultry houses when associated to integrated management.
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- 2007
12. The epidemiology of hepatitis A in Rio de Janeiro: environmental and domestic risk factors
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Almeida, LM, Werneck, GL, Cairncross, S, Coeli, CM, Costa, MC, and Coletty, PE
- Abstract
A serological study of hepatitis A was carried out in low-income areas scheduled for a major sanitation programme in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood spots were collected by finger puncture and transported on filter paper, and total antibodies to hepatitis A virus were detected by ELISA. Households were also interviewed to collect information on their environmental conditions and socio-economic status. A generalized linear model using a complementary log-log function was fitted to the data, using the logarithm of age as an explanatory variable to derive adjusted rate ratios (RR). The risk of infection was greater among households with 2-3 members per room (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.04-1.8) or more than three per room (RR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.2-2.0). People living on hilltops (RR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.02-2.2), near to open sewers (RR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.03-1.5) or lacking a kitchen (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.08-1.9) were also at greater risk than others. The number of taps and water-using fittings in the house was associated with a protective effect (RR = 0.9 for each tap; 95% CI = 0.9-0.98). A significant protective association was found with maternal education but not with gender or household income. The results do not suggest a strong association with water quality. Ownership of a ceramic water filter was associated with a protective effect on the margin of significance, but the practice of boiling drinking-water was not, nor was the type of water source used. The results suggest that that the risk of infection with hepatitis A is determined by environmental variables in the domestic and public domains.
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- 2001
13. Coleopterofauna found on fresh and frozen rabbit carcasses in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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Mise, KM., primary, Corrêa, RC., additional, and Almeida, LM., additional
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- 2013
- Full Text
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14. Natural enemies associated to aphids in peach orchards in Araucária, Paraná, Brazil
- Author
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Schuber, JM., primary, Monteiro, LB., additional, Almeida, LM., additional, and Zawadneak, MAC., additional
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- 2012
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15. Longer decomposition process and the influence on Coleoptera fauna associated with carcasses
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Mise, KM., primary, Martins, CBC., additional, Köb, EL., additional, and Almeida, LM., additional
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- 2008
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16. Selection for entomopathogenic fungi and LD50 of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. for the Lesser Mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
- Author
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Chernaki-Leffer, AM, primary, Sosa-Gòmez, DR, additional, and Almeida, LM, additional
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- 2007
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17. Populational fluctuation and spatial distribution of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae) in a poultry house, Cascavel, Parana state, Brazil
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Chernaki-Leffer, AM., primary, Almeida, LM., additional, Sosa-Gómez, DR., additional, Anjos, A., additional, and Vogado, KM., additional
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- 2007
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18. Isolamento de enterobactérias em Alphitobius diaperinus e na cama de aviários no oeste do estado do Paraná, Brasil
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Chernaki-Leffer, AM, primary, Biesdorf, SM, additional, Almeida, LM, additional, Leffer, EVB, additional, and Vigne, F, additional
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- 2002
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19. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a clinicopathological study of 20 cases
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Oliveira-Soares, R, primary, Viana, I, additional, Vale, E, additional, Soares-Almeida, LM, additional, and Picoto, A, additional
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- 2002
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20. A snapshot of the striking decrease in cigarette smoking prevalence in Brazil between 1989 and 2008.
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Szklo AS, de Almeida LM, Figueiredo VC, Autran M, Malta D, Caixeta R, and Szklo M
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in cigarette smoking prevalence rates in Brazil between 1989 and 2008. METHODOLOGY: We calculated absolute and relative differences in smoking prevalences, overall and stratified by gender, age, place of residence, educational level and birth cohort. Data were obtained from random samples from two National Household Surveys (1989,n=39,969; 2008,n=38,461). GLM models were specified to obtain estimates and assess whether differences in proportions of smokers differed by categories of the stratification variables. RESULTS: Adjusted absolute and relative differences in smoking prevalence rates between 1989 and 2008 were, respectively, -12.4% and -41.0%. Individuals aged 15-34years and those with 9 or more years of education presented larger relative declines than their counterparts (p(s)<=0.001). After stratification by birth cohort, men presented larger reductions than women, only in the absolute scale (p(s)<=0.001), with the exception of the youngest birth cohort (i.e.,1965-1974). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, several tobacco control measures have been adopted since 1986, in particular increasing taxation of tobacco products and strong health warnings, which may have contributed to the marked decline in smoking prevalence. It is important to understand the evolution of the tobacco epidemic to propose new actions to prevent initiation and encourage cessation among those who started/continued smoking.Copyright © 2012 by Elsevier Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
21. Hepatitis A incidence rate estimates from a pilot seroprevalence survey in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Author
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Struchiner, CJ, de Almeida, LM, de Azevedo, RS, Massad, E, Struchiner, C J, de Almeida, L M, and de Azevedo, R S
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AGE distribution ,COMPARATIVE studies ,ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay ,EPIDEMIOLOGICAL research ,HEPATITIS A ,HEPATITIS viruses ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL cooperation ,RESEARCH ,SANITATION ,VIRAL antibodies ,PILOT projects ,EVALUATION research ,DISEASE incidence ,DISEASE prevalence ,RETROSPECTIVE studies - Abstract
Background: To assess the impact of water sanitation and sewage disposal, part of a major environmental control programme in Rio de Janeiro, we carried out sero-prevalence studies for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in three micro-regions in Rio de Janeiro. Each region varied with regard to level of sanitation. We are interested in assessing the discriminating power of age-specific prevalence curves for HAV as a proxy for improvement in sanitation. These curves will serve as baseline information to future planned surveys as the sanitation programme progresses.Methods: Incidence rate curves from prevalence data are estimated parametrically via a Weibull-like survival function, and non-parametrically via maximum likelihood and monotonic splines. Sera collected from children and adults in the three areas are used to detect antibodies against HAV through ELISA.Results: We compare baseline incidence curves at the three sites estimated by the three methods. We observe a strong negative correlation between level of sanitation and incidence rates for HAV infection. Incidence estimates yielded by the parametric and non-parametric approaches tend to agree at early ages in the microregion showing the best level of sanitation and to increasingly disagree in the other two.Conclusion: Our results support the choice of HAV as a sentinel disease that is associated with level of sanitation. We also introduce monotonic splines as a novel non-parametric approach to estimate incidence from prevalence data. This approach outperforms current estimating procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 1999
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22. Dissemination of the linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis clone ST2 exhibiting the G2576T mutation in the 23S rRNA gene in a tertiary-care hospital, Brazil.
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de Almeida LM, Lincopan N, de Araújo MR, and Mamizuka EM
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- 2012
23. Properties of simple metals beyond the local density approximation of density functional theory
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Almeida, L. M., Fiolhais, Carlos, Causà, M., Almeida, Lm, Fiolhais, C, and Causa', Mauro
- Abstract
We calculated lattice parameters, binding energies, bulk moduli, and phase stabilities of some simple metals: Li, Be, Na, Mg, and Al. Our ab initio all-electron calculations were done within the framework of density functional theory using the Crystal-98 program. The accuracy of different functionals for exchange and correlation energies that go beyond the local density approximation (LDA) was tested. The recent metageneralized gradient approximation proposed from Perdew et al. (Phys Rev Lett 1999, 82, 2544) gives lattice parameters that are better than the LDA values but not always better than the results of generalized gradient approximation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003
- Published
- 2003
24. Cross-sectional, case-control and longitudinal associations between exposure to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and the dispensing of antidepressants.
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Almeida OP, Fong Z, Hill Almeida LM, Sanfilippo FM, Page A, and Etherton-Beer C
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- Humans, Male, Female, Cross-Sectional Studies, Middle Aged, Case-Control Studies, Retrospective Studies, Australia epidemiology, Aged, Longitudinal Studies, Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments therapeutic use, Recombinant Fusion Proteins therapeutic use, Adult, Hypoglycemic Agents therapeutic use, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 drug therapy, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor agonists, Antidepressive Agents therapeutic use, Glucagon-Like Peptides therapeutic use, Glucagon-Like Peptides adverse effects, Glucagon-Like Peptides analogs & derivatives, Exenatide therapeutic use
- Abstract
Aim: To determine if the dispensing of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists is associated with increased dispensing of antidepressants., Materials and Methods: We used cross-sectional, case-control and retrospective cohort study designs to examine the association between dispensed GLP-1 receptor agonists and antidepressants between 2012 and 2022 in the 10% random sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data. PBS-listed GLP-1 receptor agonists, exenatide, dulaglutide and semaglutide were the exposures. Outcomes were the odds ratio [ORs; 99% confidence interval (CI)] and hazard ratio (99% CI) of being dispensed any antidepressant. Analyses were adjusted for demographic measures and the dispensing of medicines to manage cardiovascular diseases or anxiety/insomnia. Statistical tests were two-sided at the 1% level of significance., Results: In total, 358 075 of 1 746 391 individuals were dispensed antidepressants, and 8495 of the 24 783 dispensed a GLP-1 receptor agonist were also dispensed an antidepressant in 2022 (OR 1.44; 99% CI 1.38-1.50); 24 103 of the 1 746 391 participants had been dispensed a GLP-1 receptor agonist between 2012 and 2021, and of these 8083 were dispensed antidepressants in 2022 (OR 1.52; 99% CI 1.46-1.59). The 2012 cohort included 1 213 316 individuals who had not been dispensed antidepressants that year. The hazard ratio of being dispensed an antidepressant between 2013 and 2022 following the dispensing of a GLP-1 receptor agonist was 1.19 (99% CI 1.12-1.27). Additional analyses restricting the time of exposure confirmed these associations for all PBS-listed GLP-1 receptor agonists., Conclusions: Individuals exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists are at greater risk of being dispensed antidepressants. The possible impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on the mood of consumers requires ongoing vigilance and further research., (© 2024 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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- 2024
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25. Usefulness of minimally invasive autopsy in the diagnosis of arboviruses to increase the sensitivity of the Epidemiological Surveillance System in Ceará, Brazil.
- Author
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Almeida LM, Melo DN, Silva MMD, Souza PMM, Silva FKS, Coelho TMS, Lima STS, Mota AGM, Monteiro RAA, Saldiva PHN, Oliveira GGS, and Cavalcanti LPG
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- Humans, Brazil epidemiology, Female, Sensitivity and Specificity, Male, Middle Aged, Adult, Adolescent, Young Adult, Arboviruses isolation & purification, Aged, Population Surveillance methods, Epidemiological Monitoring, Cause of Death, Child, Child, Preschool, Autopsy methods, Arbovirus Infections epidemiology, Arbovirus Infections diagnosis, Arbovirus Infections pathology
- Abstract
Objective: To create a protocol for performing minimally invasive autopsies (MIA) in detecting deaths from arboviruses and report preliminary data from its application in Ceará state, Brazil., Methods: Training was provided to medical pathologists on MIA., Results: A protocol was established for performing MIA, defining criteria for sample collection, storage methods, and diagnoses to be carried out according to the type of biological sample; 43 MIAs were performed in three months. Of these, 21 (48.8%) arrived at the Death Verification Service (SVO) with arboviruses as a diagnostic hypothesis, and seven (16.3%) were confirmed (six chikungunya cases and one dengue case); cases of COVID-19 (n = 9), tuberculosis (n = 5), meningitis (n = 4), cryptococcosis (n = 1), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (n = 1), breast cancer (n = 1), and human rabies (n = 1) were also confirmed., Conclusion: The protocol implemented enabled identification of a larger number of suspected arbovirus-related deaths, as well as confirmation of other diseases of interest for surveillance., Main Results: A protocol was developed to perform minimally invasive autopsies (MIAs) in Death Verification Services (SVO), capable of expanding the system's capacity to identify a greater number of deaths suspected to be due to arboviruses., Implications for Services: The experience suggests that in-service trained health professionals are able to perform MIA, and that use of this technique in SVOs has been shown to be capable of increasing the system's sensitivity in detecting deaths of interest to public health., Perspectives: Trained professionals will be able to collect biological material in hospitals, through MIA, in cases of interest for health surveillance and when family members do not allow a complete conventional autopsy to be performed.
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- 2024
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26. PERK inhibition in zebrafish mimics human Wolcott-Rallison syndrome phenotypes.
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Almeida LM, Lima LP, Oliveira NAS, Silva RFO, Sousa B, Bessa J, Pinho BR, and Oliveira JMA
- Abstract
Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome (WRS) is the most common cause of permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus among consanguineous families. The diabetes associated with WRS is non-autoimmune, insulin-requiring and associated with skeletal dysplasia and growth retardation. The therapeutic options for WRS patients rely on permanent insulin pumping or on invasive transplants of liver and pancreas. WRS has a well identified genetic cause: loss-of-function mutations in the gene coding for an endoplasmic reticulum kinase named PERK (protein kinase R-like ER kinase). Currently, WRS research is facilitated by cellular and rodent models with PERK ablation. While these models have unique strengths, cellular models incompletely replicate the organ/system-level complexity of WRS, and rodents have limited scalability for efficiently screening potential therapeutics. To address these challenges, we developed a new in vivo model of WRS by pharmacologically inhibiting PERK in zebrafish. This small vertebrate displays high fecundity, rapid development of organ systems and is amenable to highly efficient in vivo drug testing. PERK inhibition in zebrafish produced typical WRS phenotypes such as glucose dysregulation, skeletal defects, and impaired development. PERK inhibition in zebrafish also produced broad-spectrum WRS phenotypes such as impaired neuromuscular function, compromised cardiac function and muscular integrity. These results show that zebrafish holds potential as a versatile model to study WRS mechanisms and contribute to the identification of promising therapeutic options for WRS.
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- 2024
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27. Ethnomedical uses, biocompounds and biological properties of Cereus Jamacaru DC. (Cactaceae): a comprehensive review.
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Rodrigues Almeida LM and Gonzaga Fernandez L
- Abstract
Cereus jamacaru , popularly known as mandacaru, is a Cacactacea native to the Caatinga of Brazil, but it is distributed in arid and semiarid regions worldwide. This plant is used for various purposes, such as food, animal fodder, civil construction, and as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Traditional medicine uses the cladodes, roots, and seeds of C. jamacaru to treat various diseases. This review discusses the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical composition, and biological properties of C. jamacaru . The data demonstrate that C. jamacaru produces a wide range of secondary metabolites involved in the defense mechanism against biotic agents and abiotic stresses. Carbohydrate polymers, phenolic compounds, terpenes, and bioactive nitrogen compounds, have been identified and linked to this plant's biological properties. The present review will support future scientific research in identifying new bioproducts and demonstrating the potential of C. jamacaru as a food and medicinal plant.
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- 2024
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28. Thielaviopsis paradoxa and cultivable mycobiota associated with carapace of Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the state of Alagoas, Brazil.
- Author
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Calumby RJN, Almeida LM, Eliziario JLL, Dornelas CB, Alvino V, and Grillo LAM
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Female, Brazil, Animal Shells, Insecta, Coleoptera, Weevils, Ascomycota
- Abstract
Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a significant agricultural pest in palm plantations across tropical America, playing a critical role as a vector of the fungus Thielaviopsis paradoxa, which is the causative agent of stem bleeding disease in coconut palms. This disease has raised concerns due to its rapid spread and subsequent reduction in coconut production in northeastern Brazil. Additionally, this insect can establish mutualistic interactions with various fungi, including saprophytic, phytopathogenic, and entomopathogenic fungi, underscoring the importance of identifying its external mycobiota. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of T. paradoxa in the digestive tract and identify the cultivable mycobiota associated with the carapace of R. palmarum. To achieve this, a mycological study was conducted by culturing the external surface and digestive tract of field-caught adult insects (10 males and 10 females) on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Fungal identification was performed by correlating microscopic features with the macroscopic characteristics of the obtained colonies. The results showed that T. paradoxa was detected in 15.0% of carapace isolates but was not found in the insects' intestinal tract. Additionally, nine fungal genera frequently associated with saprophytic or phytopathogenic behaviors were identified on the carapace. Eight of these genera belong to the Ascomycota phylum, while one is classified in the Basidiomycota phylum. The ubiquitous presence of Paecilomyces spp. and the occurrence of Trichosporon spp. in 95% of the assessed insects stand out. Furthermore, other potentially phytopathogenic fungi such as Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., and Aspergillus spp., as well as fungi with entomopathogenic potential like Paecilomyces spp., Trichoderma spp., Metarhizium spp., and Beauveria bassiana, were detected. These findings enhance the understanding of the complex interactions between R. palmarum and its fungal hosts, providing insights for integrated pest management strategies.
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- 2024
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29. Breaking barriers in Candida spp. detection with Electronic Noses and artificial intelligence.
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Bastos ML, Benevides CA, Zanchettin C, Menezes FD, Inácio CP, de Lima Neto RG, Filho JGAT, Neves RP, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Humans, Artificial Intelligence, Electronic Nose, Candida parapsilosis, Candida, Candidemia, Pichia
- Abstract
The timely and accurate diagnosis of candidemia, a severe bloodstream infection caused by Candida spp., remains challenging in clinical practice. Blood culture, the current gold standard technique, suffers from lengthy turnaround times and limited sensitivity. To address these limitations, we propose a novel approach utilizing an Electronic Nose (E-nose) combined with Time Series-based classification techniques to analyze and identify Candida spp. rapidly, using culture species of C. albicans, C.kodamaea ohmeri, C. glabrara, C. haemulonii, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei as control samples. This innovative method not only enhances diagnostic accuracy and reduces decision time for healthcare professionals in selecting appropriate treatments but also offers the potential for expanded usage and cost reduction due to the E-nose's low production costs. Our proof-of-concept experimental results, carried out with culture samples, demonstrate promising outcomes, with the Inception Time classifier achieving an impressive average accuracy of 97.46% during the test phase. This paper presents a groundbreaking advancement in the field, empowering medical practitioners with an efficient and reliable tool for early and precise identification of candidemia, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
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- 2024
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30. Synergic vascular photodynamic activity by methylene blue-curcumin supramolecular assembly.
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Silva RC, Buzzá HH, Ducas ESA, Oliveira KT, Bagnato VS, Souza GRL, Almeida LM, and Gonçalves PJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Methylene Blue pharmacology, Biological Assay, Chickens, Chorioallantoic Membrane, Curcumin pharmacology
- Abstract
A supramolecular assembly was obtained by combining methylene blue (MB) with a natural plant extract, curcumin (Curc), in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:4 in aqueous solution (90% PBS + 10% ethanol) at room temperature. The MB-Curc supramolecular assembly was evidenced by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, and the stoichiometry and bonding constant were obtained using Cieleńs model. Its stability and photostability were evaluated by chromatographic analysis and UV-Vis absorption. The MB-Curc avoids the aggregation of both isolated compounds and efficiently produces singlet oxygen (Φ
Δ = 0.52 ± 0.03). Its potential for photodynamic antiangiogenic treatments was evaluated through the vascular effect observed in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The results showed intense damage in CAM vascular network by MB-Curc after irradiation, which is higher than the effect of isolated compounds, indicating a synergistic vascular effect. This combination can be essential to prevent cancer revascularization after photodynamic application and improve the efficacy of this approach. The characteristics exhibited by MB-Curc make it a potential candidate for use in cancer treatments through photodynamic antiangiogenic 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2023
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31. Macroporous latex biomembrane from Hancornia speciosa modulates the inflammatory process and has a debridement effect on wound healing in rats.
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Martins KLE, Thomaz MM, Magno LN, Vinaud MC, Almeida LM, Gonçalves PJ, and Lino Junior RS
- Subjects
- Rats, Animals, Debridement, Rats, Wistar, Wound Healing, Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology, Latex pharmacology, Latex therapeutic use, Apocynaceae
- Abstract
Purpose: The angiogenic, osteogenic and anti-inflammatory activity of latex of Hancornia speciosa has been evidenced and indicates pharmacological potential with great applicability in the health area, especially in the wound healing process. The present work aimed to compare the effects of the H. speciosa macroporous latex biomembrane with saline on wound healing., Methods: Forty-three Wistar rats were submitted to excisional wound induction procedure and divided into groups according to treatment: saline (G1), and macroporous biomembrane (G2). The animals were euthanized at three, seven, 14, and 21 days after injury induction (DAI), and three animals were used for the debridement test. Morphometric, macroscopic, and microscopic analyses of general pathological processes were performed., Results: The macroporous biomembrane minimized necrosis and inflammation during the inflammatory and proliferative phases of the healing process, confirmed by the lower intensity of the crust and the debridement effect. In addition, the wounds treated with the macroporous biomembrane presented greater contraction rates in all the experimental periods analyzed., Conclusions: The macroporous biomembrane presents angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and debridement effects, contributing to the healing process, and can be considered a potentially promising new biomaterial to be used as a dressing.
- Published
- 2023
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32. Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st Edition: 17 cancer prevention recommendations to the public and to policy-makers (World Code Against Cancer Framework).
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Espina C, Feliu A, Maza M, Almonte M, Ferreccio C, Finck C, Herrero R, Dommarco JR, de Almeida LM, Arrossi S, García PJ, Garmendia ML, Mohar A, Murillo R, Santamaría J, Tortolero-Luna G, Cazap E, Gabriel OO, Paonessa D, Zoss JW, Luciani S, Carvalho A, and Schüz J
- Subjects
- Humans, Latin America epidemiology, Caribbean Region epidemiology, Ethnicity, Policy, Neoplasms epidemiology, Neoplasms prevention & control
- Abstract
Preventable risk factors are responsible of at least 40% of cases and almost 45% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Cancer is already the leading cause of death in almost half of the Latin American and the Caribbean countries constituting a public health problem. Cost-effective measures to reduce exposures through primary prevention and screening of certain types of cancers are critical in the fight against cancer but need to be tailored to the local needs and scenarios. The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Code Against Cancer, 1st edition, consists of 17 evidence-based recommendations for the general public, based on the most recent solid evidence on lifestyle, environmental, occupational, and infectious risk factors, and medical interventions. Each recommendation is accompanied by recommendations for policymakers to guide governments establishing the infrastructure needed to enable the public adopting the recommendations. The LAC Code Against Cancer has been developed in a collaborative effort by a large number of experts from the region, under the umbrella strategy and authoritative methodology of the World Code Against Cancer Framework. The Code is a structured instrument ideal for cancer prevention and control that aims to raise awareness and educate the public, while building capacity and competencies to policymakers, health professionals, stakeholders, to contribute to reduce the burden of cancer in LAC., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2023
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33. Stress response mechanisms in protein misfolding diseases: Profiling a cellular model of Huntington's disease.
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Almeida LM, Oliveira Â, Oliveira JMA, and Pinho BR
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- Rats, Animals, Humans, Transcription Factors metabolism, Unfolded Protein Response, PC12 Cells, Huntingtin Protein genetics, Huntington Disease drug therapy, Huntington Disease metabolism, Proteostasis Deficiencies
- Abstract
Stress response pathways like the integrated stress response (ISR), the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR
mt ) and the heat shock response (HSR) have emerged as part of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD) - a currently incurable disease caused by the production of mutant huntingtin (mut-Htt). Previous data from HD patients suggest that ISR is activated while UPRmt and HSR are impaired in HD. The study of these stress response pathways as potential therapeutic targets in HD requires cellular models that mimic the activation status found in HD patients of such pathways. PC12 cells with inducible expression of the N-terminal fragment of mut-Htt are among the most used cell lines to model HD, however the activation of stress responses remains unclear in this model. The goal of this study is to characterize the activation of ISR, UPRmt and HSR in this HD cell model and evaluate if it mimics the activation status found in HD patients. We show that PC12 HD cell model presents reduced levels of Hsp90 and mitochondrial chaperones, suggesting an impaired activation or function of HSR and UPRmt . This HD model also presents increased levels of phosphorylated eIF2α, the master regulator of the ISR, but overall similar levels of ATF4 and decreased levels of CHOP - transcription factors downstream to eIF2α - in comparison to control, suggesting an initial activation of ISR. These results show that this model mimics the ISR activation and the impaired UPRmt and HSR found in HD patients. This work suggests that the PC12 N-terminal HD model is suitable for studying the role of stress response pathways in the pathophysiology of HD and for exploratory studies investigating the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting stress responses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2023
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34. Fluency and reading comprehension as a performance indicator in the 3rd year of elementary school.
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Martins-Reis VO, Pedroso DAA, Almeida LM, Pereira ES, Alves LM, and Celeste LC
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Prospective Studies, Schools, Male, Female, Comprehension, Reading
- Abstract
Purpose: to verify whether fluency and reading comprehension vary throughout the third year of elementary school and can be used as performance indicators in reading., Methods: this is a prospective longitudinal study. 53 children participated in the study, regardless of gender. Four assessments were carried out throughout the year, using the LEPIC software to record the reading made by the children, recording reading errors, as well as the answers to questions regarding comprehension., Results: there was an evolution of reading fluency and literal comprehension throughout the tests, but not in inferential comprehension., Conclusion: reading fluency and literal comprehension are good performance indicators in the third year of elementary school.
- Published
- 2023
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35. Acne characteristics in Latin American patients and the potential role of trifarotene.
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da Rocha MAD, Fierro-Arias L, Cohen Sabban EN, Castillo RS, Chavda R, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Humans, Latin America epidemiology, Retinoids adverse effects, Cicatrix complications, Treatment Outcome, Acne Vulgaris drug therapy, Acne Vulgaris complications, Dermatologic Agents adverse effects
- Abstract
Background: Individualization of treatment based on acne type and severity, location, disease burden, and patient preference is required to maximize efficacy, safety, and adherence to therapy. Latin American populations have unique attributes that must be considered as part of this process to improve clinical success and achieve patient goals. Acne is more common among patients with darker skin phototypes, in whom it is often associated with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring-the most important acne sequelae-potentially due to more frequent and more severe underlying inflammatory processes in this population., Discussion: These data argue for an early and proactive approach to managing acne in these patients with agents that target the inflammatory processes that underlie acne and its sequelae. As a class, retinoids offer a spectrum of activity that may be useful in addressing the unique needs of Latin American populations., Conclusion: Trifarotene, a novel, selective retinoid, has been evaluated in relevant patient populations., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the International Society of Dermatology.)
- Published
- 2023
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36. Human Papillomavirus 16 Lineage D is Associated with High Risk of Cervical Cancer in the Brazilian Northeast Region.
- Author
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Martins LFL, Moreira MÂM, Pinto RA, Reis NBD, Felix SP, Vidal JPCB, Torres LC, Souza AI, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Brazil epidemiology, Human Papillomavirus Viruses, Cross-Sectional Studies, Human papillomavirus 16 genetics, Papillomaviridae, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms epidemiology, Papillomavirus Infections complications, Papillomavirus Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Objective: Similar to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, different lineages of a genotype also have different carcinogenic capabilities. Studies have shown that specific genotype lineages of oncogenic HPV are associated with variable risks for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/CIN3) and cervical cancer. The present study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of the HPV16 genotype in women with CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, from the northeast region of Brazil., Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in the northeast region of Brazil, from 2014 to 2016. This study included 196 cases of HPV16 variants (59 and 137 cases of CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, respectively). The difference of proportion test was used to compare patients with CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer, based on the prevalent HPV16 lineage ( p < 0.05)., Results: According to the histopathological diagnosis, the percentage of lineage frequencies revealed a marginal difference in the prevalence of lineage A in CIN2/CIN3, compared with that in cervical cancer ( p = 0.053). For lineage D, the proportion was higher in cancer cases (32.8%), than in CIN2/CIN3 cases (16.9%), with p = 0.023., Conclusion: HPV16 lineage A was the most frequent lineage in both CIN2/CIN3 and cervical cancer samples, while lineage D was predominant in cervical cancer, suggesting a possible association between HPV16 lineage D and cervical cancer., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)
- Published
- 2023
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37. Multi-center Integrating Radiomics, Structured Reports, and Machine Learning Algorithms for Assisted Classification of COVID-19 in Lung Computed Tomography.
- Author
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Machado MAD, Silva RRE, Namias M, Lessa AS, Neves MCLC, Silva CTA, Oliveira DM, Reina TR, Lira AAB, Almeida LM, Zanchettin C, and Netto EM
- Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the classification performance of structured report features, radiomics, and machine learning (ML) models to differentiate between Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other types of pneumonia using chest computed tomography (CT) scans., Methods: Sixty-four COVID-19 subjects and 64 subjects with non-COVID-19 pneumonia were selected. The data was split into two independent cohorts: one for the structured report, radiomic feature selection and model building ( n = 73), and another for model validation ( n = 55). Physicians performed readings with and without machine learning support. The model's sensitivity and specificity were calculated, and inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen's Kappa agreement coefficient., Results: Physicians performed with mean sensitivity and specificity of 83.4 and 64.3%, respectively. When assisted with machine learning, the mean sensitivity and specificity increased to 87.1 and 91.1%, respectively. In addition, machine learning improved the inter-rater reliability from moderate to substantial., Conclusion: Integrating structured reports and radiomics promises assisted classification of COVID-19 in CT chest scans., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestMarcos A. D. Machado receives royalties from Radtec Serviços em Física Médica for artificial intelligence product innovations., (© Taiwanese Society of Biomedical Engineering 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)
- Published
- 2023
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38. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Bilateral Basal Ganglia: A Rare Case Report.
- Author
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Da Silva AJ, Castro Pinheiro Gomes FE, Barros Pimentel Tenório GM, and Pinto Almeida LM
- Abstract
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) may affect the basal nuclei of the brain. The most common type is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This is a case report of an adolescent with rare bilateral lymphoma in the basal ganglia. A male patient aged 16 years had a clinical picture of rapid progression to motor aphasia, dysphagia, and right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull, along with spectroscopy, indicated lymphoproliferative or neoplastic disease. A biopsy confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, the patient died before starting the definitive treatment. PCNSL is infrequent in the pediatric population, but it has a better prognosis in this age group, especially when diagnosed early. It affects immunodeficient patients more often. In addition to MRI, spectroscopy and positron-emission tomography help clarify the diagnosis. Biopsy is a gold standard for diagnosis, leading to the appropriate initiation of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. PCNSL is rare in young patients. With an early diagnosis, better therapeutic planning is possible. Unfortunately, in the present case, the diagnosis was late, and the patient had an unfavorable outcome., Competing Interests: This article was previously posted to the Research Square preprint server on June 3, 2022., (Copyright © 2022, Da Silva et al.)
- Published
- 2022
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39. Tissue healing changes on wounds in rats after treatment with Hancornia speciosa latex in cream-gel formulation.
- Author
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D'Abadia PL, Lemes SR, Melo-Reis PR, Lino Júnior RS, Gonçalves PJ, Reis DDS, Caixeta GAB, Amaral VCS, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Rats, Animals, Wound Healing, Plant Extracts pharmacology, Skin, Collagen, Latex pharmacology, Apocynaceae
- Abstract
Purpose: Hancornia speciosa latex has shown pharmacological potential in wound healing processes due to its angiogenic, osteogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The aims of this study were to carry out a cream-gel formulation with 5, 10 and 25% of H. speciosa serum latex and to evaluate its potential to stimulate the skin regeneration in rats' wounds., Methods: One hundred and twenty rats were divided into five groups: neutral control with saline (G1), cream-gel based on H. speciosa latex serum at 5% m/v (G2), cream-gel at 15% m/v (G3), cream-gel at 25% m/v (G4), and cream-gel (G5). The animals were euthanized at three, seven, 14 and 21 days after the injury induction, and some parameters were analyzed: wound contraction, necrosis, fibrin, polymorphonuclear and mononuclear infiltrates, fibroblast, angiogenesis, hemorrhage, and collagen., Results: The therapeutic treatment with cream-gel at 15 and 25% is beneficial in the inflammatory phase of healing processes since it increased the angiogenesis and proliferation of mononuclear infiltrations in wounds. Regarding wound contraction, the treatment with cream-gel (5 and 15%) induced a higher rate of contraction in the proliferative phase. The 15% cream-gel formulation stimulated a greater production of collagen in the injured tissues., Conclusions: H. speciosa cream-gel is a low-cost herbal medicine which can aid in tissue repair.
- Published
- 2022
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40. Clinical and histological comparative outcomes after injections of poly-L-lactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite in arms: A split side study.
- Author
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Mazzuco R, Evangelista C, Gobbato DO, and de Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Durapatite adverse effects, Arm, Polyesters, Injections, Subcutaneous, Biocompatible Materials adverse effects, Cosmetic Techniques adverse effects, Skin Aging
- Abstract
Background: Although much has been published on the use of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) for off-face indications, questions remain regarding their exact mechanisms of action in subcutaneous tissue and their comparative efficacy., Objective: To present the clinical and histological results of the PLLA and CaHA injections into the opposing arms of the same patients., Methods: Five women received superficial subcutaneous injections of PLLA into the left arm and CaHA into the right arm. After three sessions, the clinical and histological outcomes were analyzed., Results: After the first session, three patients showed improvement in the right arm (CaHA), but at the end of study, two patients showed better results in the left arm (PLLA). Histologically, moderate to intense lymphocytic and giant cell infiltrate, as well as collagen and elastic fiber neoformation, were observed equally near the particles of both products. Dermis had no inflammatory or fiber alterations., Conclusion: In this study, there were no clinical differences between these two fillers. Despite current thinking and previous histological studies, we found both products produced moderate to intense inflammatory reaction, as well as collagenic/elastogenic fiber neoformation, only in the subcutaneous tissue of the immediate vicinity and surrounding the individual filler particles., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
- Published
- 2022
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41. The PERKs of mitochondria protection during stress: insights for PERK modulation in neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.
- Author
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Almeida LM, Pinho BR, Duchen MR, and Oliveira JMA
- Subjects
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Humans, Mitochondria metabolism, Unfolded Protein Response, Metabolic Diseases, eIF-2 Kinase genetics, eIF-2 Kinase metabolism
- Abstract
Protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor that responds to the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Once activated, PERK initiates signalling pathways that halt general protein production, increase the efficiency of ER quality control, and maintain redox homeostasis. PERK activation also protects mitochondrial homeostasis during stress. The location of PERK at the contact sites between the ER and the mitochondria creates a PERK-mitochondria axis that allows PERK to detect stress in both organelles, adapt their functions and prevent apoptosis. During ER stress, PERK activation triggers mitochondrial hyperfusion, preventing premature apoptotic fragmentation of the mitochondria. PERK activation also increases the formation of mitochondrial cristae and the assembly of respiratory supercomplexes, enhancing cellular ATP-generating capacity. PERK strengthens mitochondrial quality control during stress by promoting the expression of mitochondrial chaperones and proteases and by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, resulting in renewal of the mitochondrial network. But how does PERK mediate all these changes in mitochondrial homeostasis? In addition to the classic PERK-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway, PERK can activate other protective pathways - PERK-O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine transferase (OGT), PERK-transcription factor EB (TFEB), and PERK-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) - contributing to broader regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, metabolism, and quality control. The pharmacological activation of PERK is protective in models of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, such as Huntington's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and obesity, while the inhibition of PERK was protective in models of Parkinson's and prion diseases and diabetes. In this review, we address the molecular mechanisms by which PERK regulates mitochondrial dynamics, metabolism and quality control, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting PERK in neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases., (© 2022 Cambridge Philosophical Society.)
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- 2022
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42. A new genus and species of Neotropical Hybosorinae Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Hybosoridae).
- Author
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Basílio DS, Vaz-DE-Mello FZ, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Animals, Brazil, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera
- Abstract
Among the 26 Hybosorinae genera, seven are present exclusively in the Neotropical region. However, Hybosorinae from the New World have been less studied. One new genus and new species collected in Brazil is herein described to this subfamily. The genus is recognizable by the following combination of characters: labium with semicircular mentum; mandibles with lateral projection excavated, separated in the middle by longitudinal carina, inner side sheltering the labrum; antennae with nine antenomeres; scutellar shield with strong punctures at the proximal half; elytra with single rows formed by punctures; and protibia without well-defined denticles.
- Published
- 2022
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43. Cervical cancer screening, treatment and prophylaxis in Brazil: Current and future perspectives for cervical cancer elimination.
- Author
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Corrêa FM, Migowski A, de Almeida LM, and Soares MA
- Abstract
As a middle-income country, Brazil has one of the largest public health systems worldwide, which deals with free and universal access to health care. Regarding cervical cancer, the country possesses a large infrastructure for the screening of premalignant and malignant lesions, but yet based on old technology, having Papanicolaou as the major screening method, followed by colposcopy and treatment. Also, large disparities in access are present, which makes effectiveness of screening and treatment in different regions of the country highly unequal. In this review, we describe and evaluate the current screening, treatment and prophylactic (HPV vaccination) strategies to combat cervical cancer in Brazil, and discuss potential incorporation of more recent technologies in these areas in the country to pave its way toward cervical cancer elimination., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Corrêa, Migowski, de Almeida and Soares.)
- Published
- 2022
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44. Attenuation of Autism-like Behaviors by an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract from Portuguese Blueberries via Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis Modulation in a Valproic Acid Mouse Model.
- Author
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Serra D, Henriques JF, Sousa FJ, Laranjo M, Resende R, Ferreira-Marques M, de Freitas V, Silva G, Peça J, Dinis TCP, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Animals, Anthocyanins pharmacology, Anthocyanins therapeutic use, Brain-Gut Axis, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Humans, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Portugal, Pregnancy, Valproic Acid pharmacology, Valproic Acid therapeutic use, Autism Spectrum Disorder drug therapy, Autistic Disorder drug therapy, Blueberry Plants, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
- Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental pathologies whose current treatment is neither curative nor effective. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring compounds abundant in blueberries and in other red fruits which have been shown to be successful in the treatment of several neurological diseases, at least in in vitro and in vivo disease models. The aim of the present work was to study the ability of an anthocyanin-rich extract (ARE) obtained from Portuguese blueberries to alleviate autism-like symptoms in a valproic acid (VPA) mouse model of ASD and to get insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of such benefits. Therefore, pregnant BALB/c females were treated subcutaneously with a single dose of VPA (500 mg/kg) or saline on gestational day 12.5. Male offspring mice were orally treated with the ARE from Portuguese blueberries (30 mg/kg/day) or the vehicle for three weeks, and further subjected to behavioral tests and biochemical analysis. Our data suggested that the ARE treatment alleviated autism-like behaviors in in utero VPA-exposed mice and, at the same time, decreased both neuroinflammation and gut inflammation, modulated the gut microbiota composition, increased serotonin levels in cerebral prefrontal cortex and gut, and reduced the synaptic dysfunction verified in autistic mice. Overall, our work suggests that anthocyanins extracted from Portuguese blueberries could constitute an effective strategy to ameliorate typical autistic behaviors through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Published
- 2022
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45. Disrupted sleep and risk of depression in later life: A prospective cohort study with extended follow up and a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Author
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Hill Almeida LM, Flicker L, Hankey GJ, Golledge J, Yeap BB, and Almeida OP
- Subjects
- Aged, Australia, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Sleep, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
- Abstract
Background: Sleep difficulties increase the risk of current and future depression, but it is unclear if this relationship is causal., Methods: Prospective cohort study of a community sample of men aged 70-89 years followed for up to 17 years. Initial assessments occurred between 2001 and 2004. Participants were followed until death or 31 December 2018. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) ≥ 10 at subsequent waves of assessments (every 2-3 years) or the recorded diagnosis of a depressive disorder in the Western Australian Data Linkage System marked the onset of depression during follow up. We excluded from follow up men with prevalent depression. The systematic review of longitudinal studies examining the association between disrupted sleep and depression in later life followed PRISMA guidelines., Results: 3441 of 5547 older men reported sleep difficulties at study entry. Current or past depression affected 437 of 5547 participants. Of the 4561 older men free of depression, 2693 reported sleep difficulties. The hazard ratio (HR) of incident depression among participants with sleep problems was 1.67 (95%CI = 1.39-2.00). Statistical adjustments for age, place of birth, education, smoking and physical frailty did not change the effect-size of this association. The systematic review identified another 14 studies, and the meta-analysis yielded an overall risk ratio of depression of 1.82 (95%CI = 1.69-1.97), although the overall quality of available evidence was sub-optimal., Conclusions: Disrupted sleep increases the risk of depression in later life and this seems unlikely to be due to reverse causality. Older adults with sleep difficulties are legitimate targets of interventions to prevent depression., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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- 2022
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46. What can the Allium cepa test say about pesticide safety? A review.
- Author
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Camilo-Cotrim CF, Bailão EFLC, Ondei LS, Carneiro FM, and Almeida LM
- Subjects
- Chromosome Aberrations chemically induced, DNA Damage, Humans, Mitotic Index, Plant Roots, Onions, Pesticides toxicity
- Abstract
The increasing use of pesticides has caused global concerns about the toxic effects and adverse consequences of pesticides on humans and the environment. Among the ways to understand the impact of pesticides, the Allium cepa bioassay stands out. This test is suitable to evaluate different toxic, cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic outcomes. In this context, the present review aimed to summarize the history of using the A. cepa bioassay to investigate pesticide damages. Data on the experimental conditions were also discussed. The reviewed studies showed the toxicity profile of 113 active ingredients primarily tested in the laboratory, using water for exposure. The most used biomarkers were the mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations, and nuclear abnormalities. All active ingredients caused some toxicity levels in A. cepa, showing the efficiency and sensibility of this bioindicator and the adverse effect of pesticides on humans and the environment. Furthermore, it was evident that pesticides have great potential to damage the mitotic spindle and DNA because almost all active ingredients tested induced chromosomal aberrations and nuclear abnormalities. The current review showed that the A. cepa bioassay is an effective and appropriate model to evaluate pesticide toxicity, and it might indicate research gaps and recommendations for further studies., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
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- 2022
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47. Characterization of cultivable intestinal microbiota in Rhynchophorus palmarum Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and determination of its cellulolytic activity.
- Author
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Calumby RJN, de Almeida LM, de Barros YN, Segura WD, Barbosa VT, da Silva AT, Dornelas CB, Alvino V, and Grillo LAM
- Subjects
- Animals, Brazil, Candida, Coleoptera, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Weevils
- Abstract
Rhynchophorus palmarum Linnaeus is an agricultural pest that affects various palm crops, including coconut (Cocos nucifera) plantations which are prominent in the economy of Northeastern Brazil. Characterization of the intestinal microbiota of R. palmarum, as well as elucidation of aspects related to the biochemistry and physiology of the insect's digestion, is essential for intervention in specific metabolic processes as a form of pest control. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota of R. palmarum and investigate its ability to degrade cellulosic substrates, to explore new biological control measures. Intestinal dissection of eight adult R. palmarum insects was performed in a laminar flow chamber, and the intestines were homogenized in sterile phosphate-buffered saline solution. Subsequently, serial dilution aliquots of these solutions were spread on nutritive agar plates for the isolation of bacteria and fungi. The microorganisms were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization with a time-of-flight mass spectrometry and evaluated for their ability to degrade cellulose. Fourteen bacterial genera (Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Citrobacter, Enterococcus, Kerstersia, Lactococcus, Micrococcus, Proteus, Providencia, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Staphylococcus) and two fungal genera (Candida and Saccharomyces)-assigned to the Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Ascomycota phyla-were identified. The cellulolytic activity was exhibited by six bacterial and one fungal species; of these, Bacillus cereus demonstrated the highest enzyme synthesis (enzymatic index = 4.6). This is the first study characterizing the R. palmarum intestinal microbiota, opening new perspectives for the development of strategies for the biological control of this insect., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
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- 2022
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48. Phytochemical Composition and Protective Effect of Vernonanthura polyanthes Leaf against In Vivo Doxorubicin-Mediated Toxicity.
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Rocha JD, Gallon ME, de Melo Bisneto AV, Santana Amaral VC, de Almeida LM, Borges LL, Chen-Chen L, Gobbo-Neto L, and Bailão EFLC
- Subjects
- Animals, DNA Damage, Doxorubicin adverse effects, Doxorubicin analysis, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Mice, Micronucleus Tests, Phytochemicals analysis, Plant Extracts chemistry, Plant Leaves chemistry, Antioxidants pharmacology, Asteraceae
- Abstract
Vernonanthura polyanthes (Spreng.) A.J. Vega & Dematt. (syn.: Vernonia polyanthes Less) is popularly known as "assa-peixe" and its leaves are used in folk medicine mainly to treat respiratory diseases. In this study, we evaluated the cytogenotoxic and anticytogenotoxic potential of the V. polyanthes leaf aqueous extract ( Vp LAE) and its n -butanol fraction ( n- BF) in the presence or absence of doxorubicin (DXR) (pre-, co-, and post-treatments) on a murine model for 24 h or 120 h. The micronucleus test (MN) and the comet assay were used to assess the cytogenotoxic and anticytogenotoxic potential of Vp LAE and n- BF (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) administered via gavage to Swiss Webster mice. The chemical profiles of Vp LAE and n- BF were assessed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and their metabolites were putatively identified. Lastly, the possible biological activities related to the (anti) cytogenotoxicity of the compounds were predicted using the PASS online webserver. The in vivo results showed that different doses of Vp LAE and n- BF did not present cytotoxic activity; however, the MN test revealed a slight mutagenic activity for the 24 h treatments. Moderate genotoxic effects were demonstrated for all treatments in the comet assay. Regarding anticytotoxicity and antimutagenicity, Vp LAE and n- BF presented a high cytoprotective potential against DXR toxic effects. In the co-treatment, Vp LAE reduced the DXR genotoxicity by ~27%, and n -BF did not demonstrate antigenotoxic potential. In contrast, an antigenotoxic effect was observed for both Vp LAE and n -BF in the pre- and post-treatments, reducing DXR genotoxicity by ~41% and ~47%, respectively. Chemical analysis of Vp LAE and n- BF showed the presence of eight phenolic compounds, including seven chlorogenic acids and a flavonoid. The PASS online tool predicted antimutagenic, anticancer, antineoplastic, chemoprotective, antioxidant, and radical scavenging activities for all constituents identified in Vp LAE and n -BF. V. polyanthes leaves presented a protective effect against DXR cytogenotoxicity. In general, Vp LAE and n -BF showed a greater antigenotoxic potential in the pre- and post-treatments. The metabolites putatively identified in Vp LAE and n -BF exhibited antioxidant and chemoprotective potential according to computational prediction analysis. Altogether, our results highlight the potential application of V. polyanthes to protect against toxic manifestations induced by DXR.
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- 2022
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49. Toxic Potential of Cerrado Plants on Different Organisms.
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Rocha JD, Carneiro FM, Fernandes AS, Morais JM, Borges LL, Chen-Chen L, de Almeida LM, and Bailão EFLC
- Subjects
- Antifungal Agents, Brazil, Medicine, Traditional, Plant Extracts adverse effects, Anti-Infective Agents, Plants, Medicinal adverse effects
- Abstract
Cerrado has many compounds that have been used as biopesticides, herbicides, medicines, and others due to their highly toxic potential. Thus, this review aims to present information about the toxicity of Cerrado plants. For this purpose, a review was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, and Web Of Science databases. After applying exclusion criteria, 187 articles published in the last 20 years were selected and analyzed. Detailed information about the extract preparation, part of the plant used, dose/concentration tested, model system, and employed assay was provided for different toxic activities described in the literature, namely cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, antiparasitic, and molluscicidal activities. In addition, the steps to execute research on plant toxicity and the more common methods employed were discussed. This review synthesized and organized the available research on the toxic effects of Cerrado plants, which could contribute to the future design of new environmentally safe products.
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- 2022
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50. Socioeconomic, Clinical, and Molecular Features of Breast Cancer Influence Overall Survival of Latin American Women.
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de Almeida LM, Cortés S, Vilensky M, Valenzuela O, Cortes-Sanabria L, de Souza M, Barbeito RA, Abdelhay E, Artagaveytia N, Daneri-Navarro A, Llera AS, Müller B, Podhajcer OL, Velazquez C, Alcoba E, Alonso I, Bravo AI, Camejo N, Carraro DM, Castro M, Cataldi S, Cayota A, Cerda M, Colombo A, Crocamo S, Del Toro-Arreola A, Delgadillo-Cristerna R, Delgado L, Breitenbach MD, Fernández E, Fernández J, Fernández W, Franco-Topete RA, Gaete F, Gómez J, Gonzalez-Ramirez LP, Guerrero M, Gutierrez-Rubio SA, Jalfin B, Lopez-Vazquez A, Loria D, Míguez S, Moran-Mendoza AJ, Morgan-Villela G, Mussetti C, Nagai MA, Oceguera-Villanueva A, Reis RM, Retamales J, Rodriguez R, Rosales C, Salas-Gonzalez E, Segovia L, Sendoya JM, Silva-Garcia AA, Viña S, Zagame L, Jones B, and Szklo M
- Abstract
Molecular profile of breast cancer in Latin-American women was studied in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Data about socioeconomic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes were described, and the 60-month overall cumulative survival probabilities (OS) were estimated. From 2011 to 2013, 1,300 eligible Latin-American women 18 years or older, with a diagnosis of breast cancer in clinical stage II or III, and performance status ≦̸1 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted, and clinical and outcome data, including death, were extracted from medical records. Unadjusted associations were evaluated by Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests and the OS by Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was used to determine differences between cumulative probability curves. Multivariable adjustment was carried out by entering potential confounders in the Cox regression model. The OS at 60 months was 83.9%. Multivariable-adjusted death hazard differences were found for women living in Argentina (2.27), Chile (1.95), and Uruguay (2.42) compared with Mexican women, for older (≥60 years) (1.84) compared with younger (≤40 years) women, for basal-like subtype (5.8), luminal B (2.43), and HER2-enriched (2.52) compared with luminal A subtype, and for tumor clinical stages IIB (1.91), IIIA (3.54), and IIIB (3.94) compared with stage IIA women. OS was associated with country of residence, PAM50 intrinsic subtype, age, and tumor stage at diagnosis. While the latter is known to be influenced by access to care, including cancer screening, timely diagnosis and treatment, including access to more effective treatment protocols, it may also influence epigenetic changes that, potentially, impact molecular subtypes. Data derived from heretofore understudied populations with unique geographic ancestry and sociocultural experiences are critical to furthering our understanding of this complexity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 de Almeida, Cortés, Vilensky, Valenzuela, Cortes-Sanabria, de Souza, Barbeito, Abdelhay, Artagaveytia, Daneri-Navarro, Llera, Müller, Podhajcer, Velazquez, Alcoba, Alonso, Bravo, Camejo, Carraro, Castro, Cataldi, Cayota, Cerda, Colombo, Crocamo, Del Toro-Arreola, Delgadillo-Cristerna, Delgado, Breitenbach, Fernández, Fernández, Fernández, Franco-Topete, Gaete, Gómez, Gonzalez-Ramirez, Guerrero, Gutierrez-Rubio, Jalfin, Lopez-Vazquez, Loria, Míguez, Moran-Mendoza, Morgan-Villela, Mussetti, Nagai, Oceguera-Villanueva, Reis, Retamales, Rodriguez, Rosales, Salas-Gonzalez, Segovia, Sendoya, Silva-Garcia, Viña, Zagame, Jones, Szklo and United States-Latin American Cancer Research Network (US-LACRN).)
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- 2022
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