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A myxozoan survey was performed on specimens of thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus (Risso) captured from the Douro River estuary, northern Portugal. Eleven new species, all belonging to the genus Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (M. abdominalis n. sp., M. aestuarium n. sp., M. caudalis n. sp., M. chelonari n. sp., M. cucurbitiformis n. sp., M. douroensis n. sp., M. intestinicola n. sp., M. invictus n. sp., M. labicola n. sp., M. peritonaei n. sp., and M. pinnula n. sp.) are described based on microscopic and molecular data, confirming the known high radiation of these myxozoans in mullets. Additionally, Myxobolus pupkoi Gupta et al., 2022 is reported for the first time from C. labrosus, bringing forth a novel case of morphological plasticity between geographic isolates. We consider that molecular-based comparisons are imperative for the description of mugiliform-infecting Myxobolus, with distance estimation further matching two of the novel Myxobolus spp. with sphaeractinomyxon types previously reported from another Portuguese estuary. This finding supports sphaeractinomyxon as specific life cycle counterparts of Myxobolus that infect mullets. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA retrieved a monophyletic clade of mugiliform-infecting myxobolids comprising well-supported lineages of species parasitizing mullets from the genera Chelon, Mugil, Crenimugil, and Planiliza. The existence of more than one Chelon- and Planiliza-infecting lineage reveals that myxobolids parasitized members of these genera multiple times during their evolution. Lastly, the elevated number of unmatched sphaeractinomyxon sequences included in the Chelon-infecting lineages clearly shows that Myxobolus diversity hosted by this genus remains underrated.

A contribution is made to the classification of lattice-like total perfect codes in integer lattices Λn via pairs (G, Φ) formed by abelian groups G and homomorphisms Φ: Zn → G. A conjecture is posed that the cited contribution covers all possible cases. A related conjecture on the unfinished work on open problems on lattice-like perfect dominating sets in Λn with induced components that are parallel paths of length > 1 is posed as well.

The aim of this work is to show that multiaxial fatigue can be successfully adpted to model fretting problems. For instance, the paper presents (i) the critical direction method, as an alternative to the critical plane concept, to model the crack initiation path under fretting conditions and (ii) studies on size effects considering the influence of incorporating fretting wear on the life estimation. A wide range of new data generated by a two actuators fretting fatigue rig considering Al 7050-T7451 and of Ti-6Al-4V aeronautical alloys is produced to validate these analyses. It is shown that, the development of appropriate tools and techniques to incorporate the particularities of the fretting phenomenon into the multiaxial fatigue problem allow an accurate estimate of the fretting fatigue resistance/life in the medium high cycle regime. Such tools and techniques can be extended to the design of other mechanical components under similar stress enviroments.

Recently, electrical resistivity (ER) measurements have been done during some thermomechanical tests in copper based shape memory alloys (SMA's). In this work, single crystals of Cu-based SMA's have been studied at different temperatures to analyse the relationship between stress (s) and ER changes as a function of the strain (e). A good consistency between ER change values is observed in different experiments: thermal martensitic transformation, stress induced martensitic transformation and stress induced reorientation of martensite variants. During stress induced martensitic transformation (superelastic behaviour) and stress induced reorientation of martensite variants, a linear relationship is obtained between ER and strain as well as the absence of hys teresis. In conclusion, the present results show a direct evidence of martensite electrical resistivity anisotropy.

In order to compare the use of a structured self-report questionnaire with direct questioning about memory problems, 71 healthy and independent aged individuals (63 women) from the community without risk factors for cognitive deficits were objectively asked about subjective memory complaints (SMC), given the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q) and then submitted to the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). SMC positively correlated with higher scores on MAC-Q, although a significant percentage of the sample had SMC and lower scores on MAC-Q and also no SMC and higher scores on MAC-Q. Performance on RAVLT was significantly worse (p

É apresentado caso de traumatismo craniencefálico com sintomas de síndrome disexecutiva ou do lobo frontal: apatia, apragmatismo e perda de habilidades prévias, mais evidentes na interação social - em especial com o sexo oposto - que resultou em prejuízo do charme que lhe era característico. São comentados os resultados do exame neuropsicológico, que evidenciou dismnésia de recuperação com reconhecimento normal, diminuição da destreza motora e da flexibilidade cognitiva, na presença de inteligência normal. Os sintomas cognitivo-comportamentais contrastavam com exame neurológico normal.

Abstract Introduction The treatment of complex liver injuries remains a challenge. Nonoperative treatment for such injuries is increasingly being adopted as the initial management strategy. We reviewed our experience, at a University teaching hospital, in the nonoperative management of grade IV liver injuries with the intent to evaluate failure rates; need for angioembolization and blood transfusions; and in-hospital mortality and complications. Methods This is a retrospective analysis conducted at a single large trauma centre in Brazil. All consecutive, hemodynamically stable, blunt trauma patients with grade IV hepatic injury, between 1996 and 2011, were analyzed. Demographics and baseline characteristics were recorded. Failure of nonoperative management was defined by the need for surgical intervention. Need for angioembolization and transfusions, in-hospital death, and complications were also assessed Results Eighteen patients with grade IV hepatic injury treated nonoperatively during the study period were included. The nonoperative treatment failed in only one patient (5.5%) who had refractory abdominal pain. However, no missed injuries and/or worsening of bleeding were observed during the operation. None of the patients died nor need angioembolization. No complications directly related to the liver were observed. Unrelated complications to the liver occurred in three patients (16.7%); one patient developed a tracheal stenosis (secondary to tracheal intubation); one had pleural effusion; and one developed an abscess in the pleural cavity. The hospital length of stay was on average 11.56 days. Conclusions In our experience, nonoperative management of grade IV liver injury for stable blunt trauma patients is associated with high success rates without significant complications.

Abstract Background The microorganisms intended for use as probiotics in aquaculture should exert antimicrobial activity and be regarded as safe not only for the aquatic hosts but also for their surrounding environments and humans. The objective of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial/bacteriocin activity against fish pathogens, the antibiotic susceptibility, and the prevalence of virulence factors and detrimental enzymatic activities in 99 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) (59 enterococci and 40 non-enterococci) isolated from aquatic animals regarded as human food. Results These LAB displayed a broad antimicrobial/bacteriocin activity against the main Gram-positive and Gram-negative fish pathogens. However, particular safety concerns based on antibiotic resistance and virulence factors were identified in the genus Enterococcus (86%) (Enterococcus faecalis, 100%; E. faecium, 79%). Antibiotic resistance was also found in the genera Weissella (60%), Pediococcus (44%), Lactobacillus (33%), but not in leuconostocs and lactococci. Antibiotic resistance genes were found in 7.5% of the non-enterococci, including the genera Pediococcus (12.5%) and Weissella (6.7%). One strain of both Pediococcus pentosaceus and Weissella cibaria carried the erythromycin resistance gene mef(A/E), and another two P. pentosaceus strains harboured lnu(A) conferring resistance to lincosamides. Gelatinase activity was found in E. faecalis and E. faecium (71 and 11%, respectively), while a low number of E. faecalis (5%) and none E. faecium exerted hemolytic activity. None enterococci and non-enterococci showed bile deconjugation and mucin degradation abilities, or other detrimental enzymatic activities. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first description of mef(A/E) in the genera Pediococcus and Weissella, and lnu(A) in the genus Pediococcus. The in vitro subtractive screening presented in this work constitutes a valuable strategy for the large-scale preliminary selection of putatively safe LAB intended for use as probiotics in aquaculture.

Abstract Background Maputo, the Mozambique capital, contrasts with the rest of the country with regard to its sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of tobacco exposure. We conducted a migrant study to compare the prevalence of manufactured-cigarette smoking and traditional forms of tobacco use among dwellers in the capital who were also born in Maputo City (MC/MC) with those born in southern (SP/MC) and northern (NP/MC) provinces, and additionally with inhabitants in the latter regions. Methods In 2003, a representative sample of 12,902 Mozambicans aged 25-64 years was evaluated. We computed age- and education-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95%-confidence intervals (95%CI) using Poisson regression. Results The prevalence of any type of tobacco consumption among Maputo City inhabitants born in other provinces contrasted with the pattern observed in locally born inhabitants (SP/MC vs. MC/MC: men, PR, 0.61; 95%CI, 0.44-0.85; women, PR, 0.38, 95%CI, 0.18-0.79; NP/MC vs. MC/MC: men, PR, 0.66; 95%CI, 0.34-1.29; women, PR, 4.56, 95%CI, 1.78-11.69); the prevalence among city inhabitants born in other provinces resembled the pattern seen in inhabitants of their provinces of origin. Traditional forms of tobacco consumption among men were rare in Maputo City, which is in stark contrast to the situation in other provinces. Conclusions Cultural background, affordability, and availability of different types of tobacco in urban Mozambique need to be considered when developing strategies to control the tobacco epidemic.

Abstract Background Measles remains a major public health problem in Mozambique despite significant efforts to control the disease. Currently, health authorities base their outbreak control on data from the routine surveillance system while vaccine coverage and efficacy are calculated based on mathematical projections of the target population. The aim of this work was to assess the quality of the measles reporting system during two outbreaks that occurred in Maputo City (1998) and in Manica Province (2002). Methods Retrospectively, we collected data from the routine surveillance system, i.e. register books at health facilities and weekly provincial and national epidemiological reports. To test whether the provinces registered an outbreak, the distribution of measles cases was compared to an endemic level established based on cases reported in previous years. Results There was a significant under-notification of measles cases from the health facilities to the province and national level. Register books, the primary sources of information for the measles surveillance system, were found to be incomplete for two main variables: "age" and "vaccination status". Conclusion The Mozambican surveillance system is based on poor quality records, receives the notification of only a fraction of the total number of measles in the country and may result in failures do detect epidemics. The measles reporting system does not provide the data needed by Expanded Program on Immunisation managers to make evidence-based decisions, nor does it allow in-depth analysis to monitor measles epidemiology in the country. The progress of Mozambique to the next stage of measles elimination will require an improvement of the routine surveillance system and a stronger Health Information System.

Background: Wheelchair racing is a traditional modality of Paralympic athletics. In general, racing wheelchairs are customized according to the athletes' anthropometric conditions, based on pre-established dimensions according to the manufacturer's manual. Usually, athletes choose the dimensions for their new sports wheelchairs, and when they are delivered for use, they often have problems due to incorrect body adjustments., Purpose: To develop a new customization methodology that is made possible through a new multi-adjustable racing wheelchair prescription equipment (RWPE) for athletics. This equipment performs several measurements and adjustments according to the athlete's anthropometric characteristics, evaluating the best-fit athlete to obtain better performance in the personalized wheelchair., Materials and Methods: Customizing racing wheelchairs is based on anthropometric measurements of the individual and specific ergonomic adjustments for better performance and safety. The RWPE is a multi-adjustment device composed of modules that use measuring instruments to guarantee maximum precision and accuracy of the assessments. This project's innovation is associated with the multi-regulation equipment itself and a conventional process of manufacturing a racing wheelchair through an online form. The RWPE has a robust and rigid structure for conducting race-track experimental tests., Results and Conclusions: The experimental tests allowed the equipment to be validated regarding safety, comfort, and prescription methodology. A high-performance athlete validated the equipment and prescription methodology, and as a result, a new version of a parameterized wheelchair was also developed using the prescription methodology. A comparison between prescription tests showed better athlete performance regarding estimated average power, considering dimensions optimized through RWPE.

Brackish water can promote physicochemical changes in the soil. Aiming to mitigate the effect of excess salts in the soil, the use of organic matter promotes restructuring. The aim was to evaluate the productive and nutritional characteristics of cactus pear under different brackish water depths (ID) and levels of organic matter (OM). A factorial arrangement of 4 × 4 × 4 with four replications was utilized. Plots consisted of ID (0, 12, 20, and 28% reference evapotranspiration-ETo), and subplots were composed of OM levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 t/ha) and days after planting (DAP; 180, 270, 360, and 450 days). The growth, yield, and chemical composition of cactus pear were affected by ID and OM and/or by their interaction. The regular and increasing application of ID from 192 to 456 mm/year and a rainfall of 110 mm/year in cactus pear crops in biosaline systems improves the growth, freshness, dry matter yields, accumulation capacity per unit area, and chemical composition of cactus pear. The increase in OM up to the range from 30 to 45 Mg/ha linearly increases the agronomic performance of cactus pear. Biosaline systems with cactus pear should be adopted with the combined use of regular supplementary ID and OM, measuring at 304 mm/year and 45 Mg/ha, respectively.

The mechanisms underlying the formation of necrotic regions within avascular tumors are complex and poorly understood. In this paper, we investigate the formation of a necrotic core in a 3D tumor cell culture within a microfluidic device, considering oxygen, nutrients, and the microenvironment acidification by means of a computational-mathematical model. Our objective is to simulate cell processes, including proliferation and death inside a microfluidic device, according to the microenvironmental conditions. We employed approximation utilizing finite element models taking into account glucose, oxygen, and hydrogen ions diffusion, consumption and production, as well as cell proliferation, migration and death, addressing how tumor cells evolve under different conditions. The resulting mathematical model was examined under different scenarios, being capable of reproducing cell death and proliferation under different cell concentrations, and the formation of a necrotic core, in good agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. This approach not only advances our fundamental understanding of necrotic core formation but also provides a robust computational platform to study personalized therapeutic strategies, offering an important tool in cancer research and treatment design., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ivermectin (IVM) is a semi-synthetic antiparasitic derived from abamectin, one of the natural avermectins. The liver promotes metabolism and excretion of IVM, representing a risk of toxicity to this organ. The use of antioxidants to alleviate damage caused by chemicals has been increasingly studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of IVM on HepG2 cells to elucidate the mechanisms related to its toxicity and the possible protection provided by tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and vitamin C. HepG2 cells were treated with IVM (1-25 μM) for 24 and 48 h. IVM was cytotoxic to HepG2 cells, denoted by a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and metabolic activity. In addition, IVM induced damage to the cell membrane at all tested concentrations and for both incubation times. IVM significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential from concentrations of 5 μM (24 h) and 1 μM (48 h). Additionally, IVM showed a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate levels. The levels of reduced glutathione were decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner, while IVM stimulated the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) at all tested doses, reaching rates above 50% following treatment at 7.5 μM (24 h) or 5 μM (48 h). Treatment with THC (50 μM) and vitamin C (50 μM) protected against IVM-induced cytotoxicity and RONS production. These results suggest that oxidative damage is involved in IVM-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells, and that THC and vitamin C can mitigate the toxic effects caused by the compound.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the activity of essential oils from Nepeta Cataria (EON) at concentrations of 125 μ L  L-1, 150 μ L  L-1, 175 μ L  L-1, and 200 μ L  L-1 on the behavior of loss of the posture reflex and recovery of the posture reflex and electrocardiographic activity and recording of the opercular beat of Colossoma macropomum during immersion bathing for a period of 5 min, in order to obtain a window for safe use during anesthesia. The fish (23.38 ± 3.5 g) were assigned to the following experiments: experiment 1 (latency to loss and recovery of the posture reflex): (a) 125 μ L  L-1, (b) 150 μ L  L-1, (c) 175 μ L  L-1, and (d) 200 μ L  L-1 (n = 9) per group. Experiment 2 (electrocardiographic and heartbeat recordings): (a) control group; (b) vehicle control group (2 ml of alcohol per liter of water), (c) 125 μ L  L-1, (d) 150 μ L  L-1, (e) 175 μ L  L-1, and (f) 200 μ L  L-1 (n = 9), per group. All the concentrations used showed efficacy in inducing loss of the posture reflex and reversibility with recovery of the posture reflex, but the electrocardiographic recordings indicated morphographic changes such as bradycardia during induction and p wave apiculation during recovery at the highest concentrations tested. In this way, we suggest a safe use window for short-term anesthesia with EON in the concentration range of 125 to 150 μ L  L-1 for juvenile Colossoma macropomum., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Objective: To estimate the probability of infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses in different socioeconomic strata of the population of Recife, Northeast Brazil., Methods: Study carried out from samples obtained in a survey of residents of a large urban center that had a population base and stratified sampling with random selection of households using the "Brazil Sample" package in the R software. HBV (HBsAg) and anti-HCV was performed using immunochromatographic tests. In cases positive for HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBeAg were tested using chemiluminescence, as well as HBV-DNA using real-time PCR. For cases positive for anti-HCV, the search for this antibody was repeated by chemiluminescence and for HCV-RNA by real-time PCR. The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV cases in the general population was estimated based on a theoretical negative binomial distribution., Results: Among 2,070 samples examined, 5 (0.24%) were HBsAg and 2 (0.1%) anti-HCV positive. The majority of cases had self-reported skin color as black/brown (6/7), education level up to high school (6/7), a steady partner (5/7) and lived in an area of low socioeconomic status (5/7)., Conclusion: The occurrence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was lower than those previously found in population-based studies and slightly lower than the most recent estimates. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status should be a priority target of public health policies.

Objectives: Identify potential barriers, delays, and missed opportunities in the prevention and diagnosis of childhood TB., Methods: Scoping review according to the PRISMA extension. The definitions considered for the selection followed the acronym PCC where the population (P) is children under 18 years of age with TB disease, the concept (C) refers to missed opportunities for prevention and diagnosis, and context (C) is defined as a diagnosis of TB disease. The authors searched systematically in the databases; VHL/Lilacs, Medline via PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science, without date or language limitation., Results: Seven studies were included. In developed countries, with low disease burden, the main shortcoming is the delay in diagnosing bacilliferous adults in contact with young children. This problem is concentrated in the portion of the population with socioeconomic vulnerability. In underdeveloped countries, with a high burden of disease, the biggest challenge is tracking children who come into contact with bacilliferous patients., Conclusions: There are still many missed opportunities in the prevention and diagnosis of childhood TB. The positive legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken advantage of and the encouragement of scientific development in the management of infectious diseases should be taken., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Due to its complexity, it has been hard to find an ideal medicine to treat all cancer types, although there is an urgent need for it. However, the cost of developing a new drug is high and time-consuming. In this sense, drug repurposing (DR) can hasten drug discovery by giving existing drugs new disease indications. Many computational methods have been applied to achieve DR, but just a few have succeeded. Therefore, this review aims to show in silico DR approaches and the gap between these strategies and their ultimate application in oncology. Methods: The scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. Relevant studies were identified through electronic searching of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We included peer-reviewed research articles involving in silico strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2021. Results: We identified 238 studies for inclusion in the review. Most studies revealed that the United States, India, China, South Korea, and Italy are top publishers. Regarding cancer types, breast cancer, lymphomas and leukemias, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer are the top investigated. Additionally, most studies solely used computational methods, and just a few assessed more complex scientific models. Lastly, molecular modeling, which includes molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, was the most frequently used method, followed by signature-, Machine Learning-, and network-based strategies. Discussion: DR is a trending opportunity but still demands extensive testing to ensure its safety and efficacy for the new indications. Finally, implementing DR can be challenging due to various factors, including lack of quality data, patient populations, cost, intellectual property issues, market considerations, and regulatory requirements. Despite all the hurdles, DR remains an exciting strategy for identifying new treatments for numerous diseases, including cancer types, and giving patients faster access to new medications., 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 © 2024 Cavalcante, Freitas, Siquara da Rocha, Santos, Souza, Ramos, Rocha and Gurgel Rocha.)

To analyse the association between sleep duration and quality with food intake, chrononutrition patterns, and weight gain during pregnancy. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 100 pregnant women. Data collection occurred once during each gestational trimester. The assessment of sleep quality and duration was performed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Food intake was assessed using three 24-h recalls in each trimester. Body weight was measured during the three trimesters, and height was measured only once to calculate the BMI. Linear regression analyses were performed to associate sleep duration and quality with food consumption and weight gain variables. Longer sleep duration was associated with a later dinner in the first trimester ( β = 0·228, P = 0·025) and earlier in the third trimester ( β = -0·223, P = 0·026), in addition to a later morning snack in the second trimester ( β = 0·315, P = 0·026). Worse sleep quality was associated with higher total energy intake ( β = 0·243, P = 0·044), total fat ( β = 0·291, P = 0·015) and the chrononutrition variables such as a higher number of meals ( β = 0·252, P = 0·037), higher energetic midpoint ( β = 0·243, P = 0·044) and shorter fasting time ( β = -0·255, P = 0·034) in the third trimester. Sleep quality was also associated with a higher BMI in the first trimester of pregnancy ( β = 0·420, P = < 0·001). Most of the associations found in the present study show that poor sleep is associated with higher energy and fat intake and higher BMI. Longer sleep duration was associated with a later dinner in early pregnancy and an earlier dinner in late pregnancy, as well as with a later morning snack in the second trimester of pregnancy.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) shows significant clinical heterogeneity. This study aimed to explore the association between clinical heterogeneity in 22q11.2DS and the parental origin of the deletion. The parental origin of the deletion was determined for 61 individuals with 22q11.2DS by genotyping DNA microsatellite markers and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among the 61 individuals, 29 (47.5%) had a maternal origin of the deletion, and 32 (52.5%) a paternal origin. Comparison of the frequency of the main clinical features between individuals with deletions of maternal or paternal origin showed no statistically significant difference. However, Truncus arteriosus , pulmonary atresia, seizures, and scoliosis were only found in patients with deletions of maternal origin. Also, a slight difference in the frequency of other clinical features between groups of maternal or paternal origin was noted, including congenital heart disease, endocrinological alterations, and genitourinary abnormalities, all of them more common in patients with deletions of maternal origin. Although parental origin of the deletion does not seem to contribute to the phenotypic variability of most clinical signs observed in 22q11.2DS, these findings suggest that patients with deletions of maternal origin could have a more severe phenotype. Further studies with larger samples focusing on these specific features could corroborate these findings.

The indiscriminate use of synthetic herbicides reduces its effectiveness. Bioherbicides produced with metabolites emerge as an alternative to managing weeds. We aimed to analyze the phytotoxic potential of the essential oil of Vanillosmopsis arborea (EOVA) and the α-bisabolol molecule, its main component. We evaluated the effects of EOVA and α-bisabolol at different concentrations on the germination, growth, antioxidant metabolism, and photosynthesis of different species. EOVA and α-bisabolol showed promising phytotoxic effects on the germination and initial growth of the weed Senna occidentalis , inhibiting the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and increasing lipid peroxidation. α-Bisabolol reduced the weed seedling growth by inducing oxidative stress, which suggests a greater role in postemergence. Moreover, in the weed postemergence, both EOVA and α-bisabolol caused damage in the shoots, reduced the chlorophyll content, and increased lipid peroxidation besides reducing photosynthesis in S. occidentalis . Overall, we suggest the promising action of α-bisabolol and EOVA as bioherbicides for weed control.

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 is still present around the world. Despite advances in combating the disease, such as vaccine development, identifying infected individuals is still essential to optimize the control of human-to-human transmission of the virus. The main technique for detecting the virus is the RT-PCR method, which, despite its high relative cost, has a high accuracy in detecting the coronavirus. Given this, a method capable of performing the identification quickly, accurately, and inexpensively is necessary. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the feasibility of a new technique for identifying SARS-CoV-2 through the use of optical spectroscopy in the visible and near-infrared range (Vis-NIR) combined with machine learning algorithms. Spectral signals were obtained from nasopharyngeal swab samples previously analyzed using the RT-PCR method. The specimens were provided by the Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory of Covid-19 at Univasf. A total of 314 samples were analyzed, comprising 42 testing positive and 272 testing negative for Covid-19. Digital signal processing techniques, such as Savitzky-Golay filters and statistical methods were used to eliminate spurious elements from the original data and extract relevant features. Supervised machine learning algorithms such as SVM, Random Forest, and Naive Bayes classifiers were used to perform automatic sample identification. To evaluate the performance of the models, a 5-fold cross-validation technique was applied. With the proposed methodology, it was possible to achieve an accuracy of 75%, a sensitivity of 80%, and a specificity of 70%, in addition to an area under the ROC curve of 0.81, in the identification of nasopharyngeal swab samples from previously diagnosed individuals. From these results, it was possible to conclude that Vis-NIR spectroscopy is a promising, fast and relatively low cost technique to identify the SARS-CoV-2., 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.)

Objective: The field of chrononutrition suggests that mealtime can influence food intake. Previous studies have linked the caloric midpoint - defined as the time at which 50% of the daily energy is consumed - with different aspects of food consumption. However, its relationship with food craving remains unexplored. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between caloric midpoint, food craving, and food consumption in pregnant women. Methods: The study comprised 233 pregnant women classified as early eaters (caloric midpoint ≤ 1:00pm) and late eaters (caloric midpoint >1:00pm). Food craving were assessed using Food Craving Trait and State Questionnaires. Energy and nutrient intake, as well as mealtimes, were assessed using a 24-h food recall. Results: No association between caloric midpoint and food craving was found. However, late eaters consumed more calories (2039.47 kcal vs 1843.44 kcal; p  < 0.001), carbohydrates (255.06 g vs 211.12 g; p  = 0.002), total fat (73.1 g vs 64.8 g; p  = 0.003), monounsaturated fat (21.33 mg vs 18.59 mg; p  = 0.002) and saturated fat (24.37 mg vs 22.21 mh; p  = 0.01) and had higher consumption of calories and macronutrients in the first (calories: 275.63 vs 213.41, p  = 0.007; carbohydrate: 170.42 vs 142.54, p  = 0.01; total fat: 56.49 vs 50.17, p  = 0.04) and second (calories: 213.21 vs 151.59, p  = 0.04; carbohydrate: 130.44 vs 96.6, p  = 0.04; protein: 15.17 vs 13.71, p  = 0.03) afternoon snack, dinner (calories: 576.89 vs 412.4, p  < 0.001; carbohydrate: 230.76 vs 169.45, p  < 0.001; protein: 80.48 vs 68.9, p  = 0.02; total fat: 212.77 vs 147.12, p  < 0.001) and late-night snack (calories: 135.75 vs 68.3, p  = 0.04; total fat: 13.23 vs 22.45, p  = 0.04) than early eaters. Conclusion: Pregnant women who concentrate their meals at later times consumed more calories, macro and micronutrients throughout the day and in the night meals when compared to early eaters.

Cactus pear is used in large proportions in diets for small ruminants in semiarid regions. However, its exclusive use is not recommended due to the low fiber and crude protein content and the high water and mineral content, leading to metabolic disorders, low dry matter intake, and weight loss. The use of mixed cactus silage associated with protein and fibrous sources seeks to overcome the deficits in dry matter, fiber and crude protein, aiming to improve the nutritional quality of the diets that will be offered to ruminants. Thus, the use of gliricidia hay in cactus pear silages could represent an important alternative to improve the nutritional and fermentative characteristics of the ensiled material. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the fermentation dynamics, nutritional characteristics, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of cactus pear combined with different levels of gliricidia hay. This was a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and five repetitions. The treatments consisted of different levels of inclusion of gliricidia hay (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% on a dry matter basis) in the composition of mixed cactus pear silages. The inclusion of gliricidia hay in the composition of mixed silages of cactus pear resulted in a quadratic effect for dry matter recovery, pH, NH 3 -N, buffering capacity, aerobic stability, ether extract, P, K, Na, and Zn ( p < 0.05). There was a reduction in density, effluent losses, maximum pH, mineral matter, non-fiber carbohydrates, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn ( p < 0.05), and an increase in the time to reach maximum pH as well as an upward trend in pH, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and B ( p < 0.05). Under experimental conditions, the inclusion of gliricidia hay between 20 and 30% in cactus pear-based silage provided an improvement to the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of the silages.

Background: In intensive care units (ICUs), infections by multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms should be monitored to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)., Methods: From 2018 to 2020, we investigated all medical records of patients admitted to the ICU of a public university hospital. All patients colonized/infected by MDR microorganisms and submitted to active surveillance cultures (ASCs) were included., Results and Discussion: Male patients prevailed, and 9.5% were positive for MDR bacteria. In-hospital deaths were statistically significant ( p  < 0.05) for older patients, patients with orotracheal tube use during previous and current hospitalization, and patients with high blood pressure, cardiac and pulmonary diseases, and chronic kidney disease. Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae was the most frequently resistance profile, followed by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. The diagnosis or evolution of HAIs was statistically significant ( p  < 0.0001) for patients treated with meropenem and vancomycin, and in-hospital deaths occurred in 29.5% of patients using polypeptides while the use of macrolides reduced the odds for mortality. The BRADEN Scale demonstrated that 50% of the patients were at high risk of dying., Conclusion: Patients hospitalized in the ICU, colonized or infected by MDR bacteria, using invasive medical devices, and with underlying medical conditions presented increased mortality rates. The prescription of meropenem and vancomycin should be carefully monitored once patients using these antimicrobials already have or develop an HAI., 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 © 2024 Martins, da Mata, dos Santos, de Araújo, Leite, de Carvalho, Vidigal, Vieira and dos Santos-Key.)

Introduction: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different chemical agents on stain removal and mineral uptake of artificial dentin caries (ADC) lesions treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF)., Methods: Baseline L*a*b* values were determined in polished human permanent dentin blocks, and ADC lesions were induced with an acid gel for 1 week. Samples were assigned to four groups; in three groups, half of each sample received SDF (30% SDF for 3 min), while the other half received SDF followed by a bleaching treatment protocol (garlic extract, bentonite, or 35% hydrogen peroxide). The fourth group had one SDF-treated half and one half without SDF. Color changes (ΔE) were measured by spectrometry, and transversal microradiography was used to quantify integrated mineral loss (ΔZ) 24 h after treatment (SDF or SDF + bleaching). A two-way mixed ANOVA was applied to thirty percent., Results: SDF application increased mineral uptake by ADC (p = 0.001). The type of chemical agent evaluated (p &lt; 0.0001), time (p = 0.01), and their interaction (p &lt; 0.0001) bleached the ADC treated with SDF. However, 35% hydrogen peroxide was the only compound with a bleaching effect (p &lt; 0.001), without returning to baseline color. None of the compounds altered the mineral uptake effect of SDF (p = 0.30)., Conclusion: This in vitro study showed mineral uptake effect in ACD within 24 h after SDF application and the ability of hydrogen peroxide to partially remove (reduction of 24%) the staining caused by SDF without affecting its mineral uptake effect., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: The intricate relationship between Chagas disease and ischemic stroke remains unclear. Limited evidence exists concerning secondary prophylaxis, etiological diagnosis, and stroke-related determinants. This study aims to discern factors linked to stroke in Chagas disease by contrasting patients with and without a history of ischemic stroke., Methods: Retrospective data from all outpatient Chagas disease patients from two Brazilian hospitals - one Chagas center and one stroke clinic - were examined. Descriptive analyses were conducted to identify stroke-associated factors. Variables were compared between patients with and without ischemic stroke history., Results: Among 678 subjects, 72 had experienced stroke. Univariate associations with stroke included male gender, heart failure, prior or ongoing alcoholism, electrocardiographic features (non-sinus rhythm, left bundle branch, right bundle branch block, left anterosuperior fascicular block, atrial fibrillation), as well as echocardiographic findings indicative of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and segmental abnormalities. After logistic regression (multivariate analysis), congestive heart failure, right bundle branch block, left anterosuperior divisional block, and atrial fibrillation retained independent associations., Conclusion: In this study, cardiac involvement emerged as the predominant factor correlated with stroke in Chagas disease. While atherosclerosis-related risk factors were prevalent, their influence on ischemic stroke in Chagas disease appeared limited., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors report conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The common bean is cultivated in all regions of the country, representing a product of great economic and social importance. In order to ensure food security in the world, it is necessary to create alternatives to reduce the dependence on fertilizers and seeds, and in this context, organic agriculture is a sustainable alternative to ensure it. Therefore, it becomes necessary to adapt rapid methods to monitor plant nutrition in real-time. The reflectance index determined by SPAD and pigment determination can be a sustainable alternative to identify genotypes in different fertilizations (organic × mineral fertilizer). The research hypothesis is to monitor nutritional management through pigment levels and reflectance index in common bean cultivars and their adaptation into different types of fertilization (organic × mineral fertilizer). Therefore, the objective of the research was to evaluate the common bean genotypes of the type carioca, in different fertilizations (organic × mineral fertilizer), and their effects on photosynthetic pigments, and the relationship between SPAD reflectance index and productivity. The experimental design used was a 2 × 7 factorial in randomized blocks with four replications: The first factor was the fertilization (organic × mineral fertilizer)and the second were the 7 genotypes (UFU-1; UFU-2; UFU-3; UFU-4; UFU-5; UFU-6 UFU-7), with UFU-1 being a hybrid obtained between genotypes UFU-4 and UFU-7; UFU-2 and UFU-3 were commercial genotypes; and UFU-4, UFU-5, UFU-6 and UFU-7 were genotypes from the UFU germplasm bank, located in the city of Monte Carmelo, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out for the agronomic characteristics of the plants, which were: height, number of branches, length and volume of roots, dry matter, leaf area index, number of flowers, number of pods, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, and productivity of the genotypes. The results were compared with chlorophyll content and SPAD reflectance index, and the genotypes showed distinct behavior for each fertilization (organic × mineral fertilizer). The genotypes recommended for the organic fertilizer were UFU-2, UFU-6, and UFU-7, which showed higher productivity. For themineral fertilizer, the best-adapted genotype was UFU-4, with a higher productive yield. In conclusion, we can affirm that the highest chlorophyll and SPAD indices can help select common bean genotypes with higher productivity and adaptation within the organic fertilizer being this the main focus of this research. However, the other variables carried out during this research also demonstrated to have significant effects, so they could be analyzed individually and could offer valuable information in the selection of the best-adapted genotypes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Identifying the prevalence of palliative care (PC) needs among patients who die at the emergency department (ED) and to assess symptom control and aggressiveness of care., Methods: We conducted a decedent cohort study of adults deceased at the ED of a Portuguese teaching hospital in 2016. PC needs were identified using the National Hospice Organization terminality criteria and comorbidities measurement by the Charlson's Index., Results: 384 adults died at the ED (median age 82 (IQR 72-89) years) and 78.4% (95% CI 73.9% to 82.2%) presented PC needs. Only 3.0% (n=9) were referred to the hospital PC team. 64.5%, 38.9% and 57.5% experienced dyspnoea, pain and confusion, respectively. Dyspnoea was commonly medicated (92%), against 56% for pain and 8% for confusion. Only 6.3% of the patients were spared from aggressive interventions, namely blood collection (86.0%) or intravenous fluid therapy (63.5%). The burden of aggressive interventions was similar between those with or without withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation order (median 3 (2-4) vs 3 (2-5)), p=0.082., Conclusions: Nearly four out of five adults who died at the ED had PC needs at the time of admission. Most experienced poor symptom control and care aggressiveness in their last hours of life and were mostly unknown to the PC team. The findings urge improvements in the care provided to patients with PC needs at the ED, focusing on patient well-being and increased PC referral., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Regular physical activity is associated with a low risk of severe community-acquired infections. However, the hypothesis that a physical inactivity pattern is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 has not been completely proven, especially with severe pneumonia., Objective: The goal of this study was to confirm the link between physical activity patterns and severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia., Design: Case-control study., Methods: This study involved 307 patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia and were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Age- and sex-matched controls (307) were selected from the same population: patients with mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 who were not hospitalized. Physical activity patterns were assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire., Results: The mean physical activity levels were lower in the SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia group as compared to the control group: 1576±2939 vs 2438±2999, metabolic equivalent of task (MET-min/week), p<0.001. A high or moderate physical activity level was more common in the control group, and a low physical activity level was more observed in the case group (p<0.001). Obesity was also associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (p<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that a low physical activity level was associated with a higher risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, independent of nutritional status (CI 3.7; 2.24-5.99), p<0.001)., Conclusion: A higher and moderate level of physical activity is linked to a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 severe pneumonia., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

In late 2021, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called Omicron emerged, replacing Delta worldwide. Although it has been associated with a lower risk of hospitalization and severe forms of COVID-19, there is little evidence of its relationship with specific symptoms and viral load. The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between Delta and Omicron variants of concern, viral load, and the occurrence of symptoms in individuals with COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and sequenced from patients with COVID-19 from the Northeast Region of Brazil between August 2021 and March 2022. The results showed a gradual replacement of the Delta variant by the Omicron variant during the study period. A total of 316 samples (157 Delta and 159 Omicron) were included. There was a higher prevalence of symptoms in Delta-infected individuals, such as coryza, olfactory and taste disturbances, headache, and myalgia. There was no association between viral load and the variants analyzed. The results reported here contribute to the understanding of the symptoms associated with the Delta and Omicron variants in individuals affected by COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Rodrigo Feliciano do Carmo reports financial support was provided by Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). Associate Editor of Heliyon - Rodrigo Feliciano do Carmo., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To assess the feasibility of incorporating technology as a new alternative for treating topics on cervical lesions., Method: This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial with a prospective design. During the realization of this study, 43 women were included and divided between groups A (ointment without silver nanoparticles n = 23) and B (ointment with silver nanoparticles n = 20) clinically healthy and who used the unified health system., Results: There were no significant differences when comparing before and after the use of ointment for IVA test (p = 0.15), Schiller test (p = 0.15), cellular changes (p = 0.47) and microbiological analysis (p = 0.89) through cytology. After use, no adverse reaction was observed in the sample studied., Conclusion: Based on the results identified in this study, identified that the product is safe and does not promote adverse events. Regarding the effectiveness of the product in uterine cervical lesions, it is necessary to continue the study in phase II. Registro de Ensaios Clínicos Brasileiros: UTN: U1111-1218-2820.

Background: The global public health system has been severely tested by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mass testing was essential in controlling the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2; however, its implementation has encountered challenges, particularly in low-income countries. The urgent need for rapid and accurate tests for SARS-CoV-2 has proven to be extremely important. Point-of-care tests using the CRISPR system for COVID-19 have shown promise, with a reported high sensitivity and rapid detection. The performance of a CRISPR-based SARS-CoV-2 testing system was reported in this study., Methods: A total of 29 nasopharyngeal samples were evaluated, including 23 samples from individuals suspected of COVID-19, and six samples positive for H3N2 or respiratory syncytial virus. Two reference samples with known concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (3000 RNA copies/mL) or viral titer determined by plaque assay (105 PFU/mL) were also evaluated. The LAMP technique was employed to amplify the ORF1ab gene and the results were analyzed using a Gemini XPS fluorescence reader., Results: The RT-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12 assay showed 100% concordance compared to RT-PCR. The RT-PCR presented a detection limit of 0.01 PFU/mL and the CRISPR/Cas12 system showed a limit of 15.6 PFU/mL. The RT-PCR sensitivity was approximately 8 RNA copies/µL and CRISPR/Cas12 at 84 RNA copies/µL., Conclusion: The RT-LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a assay offered a promising alternative for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and reinforces that CRISPR-based diagnostic techniques can be an alternative for fast and accurate assays.

Background: Hypoglycemia has been reported in patients with LAMA2-CMD, but the frequency, risk factors, and correlation to genotype/phenotype have not been systematically assessed to date., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 48 patients with LAMA2-CMD. Patients were divided into two groups: a hypoglycemic group, with at least one episode of hypoglycemia, and a nonhypoglycemic group. The groups were compared according to gait function, epilepsy, intellectual disability, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, gastrostomy, weight percentile, scoliosis, the use of a ventilator device, the use of a feeding device, neuromuscular disease swallowing status scale, and type of mutation., Results: Fifteen patients (31.2%) presented with at least one episode of symptomatic hypoglycemia and eight (16.6% of the cohort) had two or more episodes. All patients who had hypoglycemia were in the nonambulant group. We observed a correlation between gait, the use of ventilator and feeding devices, and swallow function with hypoglycemia. Patients with extremely low weight were five times more likely to have recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia. The presence of at least one missense variant appears to be associated with a lower risk of hypoglycemia., Conclusion: Patients with LAMA2-CMD are at risk of hypoglycemia. The risk is more relevant in patients with severe phenotype and patients with loss-of-function variants. For patients with extremely low weight, the risk is higher. Blood glucose should be actively measured in patients who are fasting or have infections, and health care providers should be prepared to identify and treat these patients., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study aimed to analyze the spatial pattern of natural infection index (NII) for triatomines and the risk of Chagas disease transmission in an endemic area of Northeastern Brazil. An ecological study was conducted, based on 184 municipalities in five mesoregions. The NII for triatomines was evaluated in the Pernambuco State, Brazil, from 2016 to 2018. Spatial autocorrelations were evaluated using Global Moran Index (I) and Local Moran Index (II) and were considered positive when I > 0 and p < 0.05, respectively. In total, 7,302 triatomines belonging to seven different species were detected. Triatoma brasiliensis had the highest frequency (53%; n = 3,844), followed by Triatoma pseudomaculata (25%; n = 1,828) and Panstrongylus lutzi (18.5%; n=1,366). The overall NII was 12%, and the higher NII values were P. lutzi (21%) and Panstrongylus megistus (18%). In the mesoregions of Zona da Mata, Agreste, Sertao, and Sertao do Sao Francisco, 93% of triatomines were detected indoors. The global spatial autocorrelation of I to NII was positive (0.2; p = 0.01), and II values calculated using BoxMap, MoranMap, Lisa Cluster Map were statistically significant for natural infections. With regard to the risk areas for the presence of triatomines, Zone 2 (the Agreste and Sertao regions) presented a relative risk of 3.65 compared to other areas in the state. Our study shows the potential areas of vector transmission of Chagas disease. In this study, the application of different methods of spatial analysis made it possible to locate these areas, which would not have been identified by only applying epidemiological indicators.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a pathogen associated with acute diarrhoea in humans. To determine whether EPEC isolated from healthy food-producing animals possesses the same virulence gene repertoire as EPEC isolated from human with diarrhoea, we compared six typical EPEC (tEPEC) and 20 atypical EPEC (aEPEC) from humans with diarrhoea and 42 aEPEC from healthy animals (swine, sheep and buffaloes), using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), virulence markers, serotyping and subtyping of eae and tir genes. We found that human and animal isolates shared virulence genes, including nleB, nleE and nleF, which were associated with human diarrhoea. Serogroups and serotypes identified in isolates of food-producing animals such as O26:H11, O128:H2, O76:H7, O103, O108, O111 and O145, have previously been implicated in human disease. The subtypes eae and tir were also shared between human and animal isolates, being eae-γ1 and eae-β1 the most prevalent in both groups, while the most common tir subtypes were α and β. Despite PFGE analysis demonstrating that EPEC strains are heterogeneous and there was no prevalent clone identified, EPEC isolated from humans and food-producing animals shared some characteristics, such as virulence genes associated with human diarrhoea, indicating that food-producing animals could play a role as reservoirs for those genes., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We present a genome polymorphisms/machine learning approach for severe COVID-19 prognosis. Ninety-six Brazilian severe COVID-19 patients and controls were genotyped for 296 innate immunity loci. Our model used a feature selection algorithm, namely recursive feature elimination coupled with a support vector machine, to find the optimal loci classification subset, followed by a support vector machine with the linear kernel (SVM-LK) to classify patients into the severe COVID-19 group. The best features that were selected by the SVM-RFE method included 12 SNPs in 12 genes: PD-L1 , PD-L2 , IL10RA , JAK2 , STAT1 , IFIT1 , IFIH1 , DC-SIGNR , IFNB1 , IRAK4 , IRF1 , and IL10 . During the COVID-19 prognosis step by SVM-LK, the metrics were: 85% accuracy, 80% sensitivity, and 90% specificity. In comparison, univariate analysis under the 12 selected SNPs showed some highlights for individual variant alleles that represented risk ( PD-L1 and IFIT1 ) or protection ( JAK2 and IFIH1 ). Variant genotypes carrying risk effects were represented by PD-L2 and IFIT1 genes. The proposed complex classification method can be used to identify individuals who are at a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes even in uninfected conditions, which is a disruptive concept in COVID-19 prognosis. Our results suggest that the genetic context is an important factor in the development of severe COVID-19.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders that affect communication and social interactions and present with restricted interests and repetitive behavior patterns. The susceptibility to ASD is strongly influenced by genetic/heritable factors; however, there is still a large gap in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of ASD. Significant progress has been made in identifying ASD risk genes and the possible convergent pathways regulated by these gene networks during development. The breakthrough of cellular reprogramming technology has allowed the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with syndromic and idiopathic ASD, providing patient-specific cell models for mechanistic studies. In the past decade, protocols for developing brain organoids from these cells have been established, leading to significant advances in the in vitro reproducibility of the early steps of human brain development. Here, we reviewed the most relevant literature regarding the application of brain organoids to the study of ASD, providing the current state of the art, and discussing the impact of such models on the field, limitations, and opportunities for future development., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the study design; collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; writing of the manuscript; or the decision to publish the results.

Background: Self-collected saliva samples can increase the diagnostic efficiency and benefit healthcare workers, patient care, and infection control. This study evaluated the performance of self-collected saliva samples compared to nasopharyngeal swabs using three commercial kits for the qualitative detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)., Methods: Matched nasopharyngeal and saliva samples were collected from 103 patients with either asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19. Both samples were evaluated using three commercial kits (TaqCheck, Allplex, and TaqPath). To evaluate sample stability, viral RNA extraction was performed in the presence or absence of an RNA-stabilizing solution. Storage conditions, including the duration, temperature, and stability after freezing and thawing of the samples, were also evaluated., Results: All the saliva samples showed 100% concordance with the nasopharyngeal swab results using TaqCheck and Allplex kits, and 93% using TaqPath kit. No difference was observed in the samples that used the RNA-stabilizing solution compared to the group without the solution. The Ct values of the freeze-thawed samples after 30 days were higher than those on day 0; however, the results were consistent the fresh samples., Conclusion: The high concordance of SARS-CoV-2 detection via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in matched saliva and nasopharyngeal samples using different commercial assays reinforces the concept that self-collected saliva samples are non-invasive, rapid, and reliable for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy is a disorder that causes muscle weakness and varies in severity, from a severe, congenital type to a milder, late-onset form. However, the disease does not only affect the muscles, but has systemic involvement and can lead to alterations such as brain malformation, epilepsy and intellectual disability., Objective: Describe the frequency of cortical malformations, epilepsy and intellectual disability in LAMA2-RD in a Brazilian cohort and correlate the neurological findings to genetic and motor function., Methods: This is an observational study of 52 LAMA2-RD patients, who were divided into motor function subgroups and compared based on brain MRI findings, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and type of variants and variant domains., Results: 44 patients (84.6%) were only able to sit, and 8 patients (15.4%) were able to walk. 10 patients (19.2%) presented with cortical malformations (polymicrogyria, lissencephaly-pachygyria, and cobblestone),10 patients (19.2%) presented with epilepsy, and 8 (15.4%) had intellectual disability. CNS manifestations correlated with a more severe motor phenotype and none of the patients able to walk presented with cortical malformation or epilepsy. There was a relation between gene variants affecting the laminin-α2 LG-domain and the presence of brain malformation (P = 0.016). There was also a relation between the presence of null variants and central nervous system involvement. A new brazilian possible founder variant was found in 11 patients (21,15%) (c.1255del; p. Ile419Leufs*4)., Conclusion: Cortical malformations, epilepsy and intellectual disability are more frequent among LAMA2-RD patients than previously reported and correlate with motor function severity and the presence of variants affecting the laminin-α2 LG domain. This brings more insight fore phenotype-genotype correlations, shows the importance of reviewing the brain MRI of patients with LAMA2-RD and allows greater attention to the risk of brain malformation, epilepsy, and intellectual disability in those patients with variants that affect the LG domain.

Diazinon (DZN) is an insecticide extensively used to control pests in crops and animals. However, its indicriminated use may lead to liver damage in animals and humans. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of DZN (25-150 µM) on human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells after 24 and 48 h of exposure and the role of its biotransformation on the toxicological potential. We also tested the protective effect of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), an antioxidant agent, in the DZN-induced citotoxicity. DZN caused cytotoxicity in the HepG2 cells, inhibiting cell proliferation and reducing cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The pre-incubation of HepG2 cells with chemical inducers of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital resulted in a further decrease of cell viability associated with DZN exposure. In addition, the metabolite diazoxon was more toxic than DZN. Our results also revealed that THC alleviated DZN-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generation in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, our data provide novel insights into the involvement of biotransformation in the mechanisms of DZN-induced cytotoxicity and suggest that amelioration of RONS accumulation might be involved in the protective effect of THC on DZN-induced liver injury., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), isolated in 1980, causes T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in adulthood, a type of lymphoproliferative disease, and chronic HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, a disease that causes paralysis of the lower limbs, which occur in about 5% of cases in this viral infection. This study aimed to establish the hematological profile of patients with HTLV-1 infection in Belém do Pará, describing the hematological parameters under study, estimating the frequency of lymphocytic atypical, and associating the hematological profile with diseases and symptoms. Hematologic data from 202 individuals were analyzed, including 87 HTLV-1 infected individuals and 115 non-HTLV-1 infected individuals as a control group, composed, at a great part, of relatives of the infected. The seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infection was observed in 71.3% of female individuals, with predominance in the group older than 50 years (44.8%). The analysis of hematological parameters showed a significant difference in the counts of the segmented cells ( p = 0.0303) and eosinophils ( p = 0.0092) in HTLV-1 carriers. Lymphocytic atypical was a finding present only in HTLV-1 carriers ( p = 0.0001). There was no high frequency in the leukocyte counts of those infected by HTLV-1 not among them concerning a significant increase or decrease. It is concluded that HTLV-1 infection is prominent in women over 50 years old. The hematological profile of those infected shows a reduction of segmented cells, an increase of eosinophils, and the presence of atypical lymphocytes. The hematological profile of the HTLV-1 carrier should always be evaluated to identify early some diseases associated with the infection., 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 Ribeiro, Nobre, Covre, de Almeida Viana, Silva, dos Santos, Ishikawa, da Costa and de Sousa.)

Positive body image (PBI) has received attention in the recent research literature. Despite this, its role in daily functioning in different cultural contexts, particularly its potential relationship with academic outcomes, is still lacking. This study aimed to offer an international perspective on the association between PBI and body mass index (BMI), perceived academic achievement, and educational aspirations, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem. A cross-national study was conducted in eight European countries with a total of 2653 female university students. Participants completed an online survey measuring PBI (conceptualized as body appreciation), self-esteem, perceived academic achievement and aspirations, and body mass index (BMI). Results revealed differences in PBI between countries (low magnitude). PBI correlated negatively with BMI in all national groups (low-to-moderate magnitude). Mediation analysis showed that self-esteem mediated the association between PBI and academic variables. Findings from this study suggest that building students' self-esteem and PBI can be a suitable way to boost academic success.

Drug repurposing has been applied in the biomedical field to optimize the use of existing drugs, leading to a more efficient allocation of research resources. In oncology, this approach is particularly interesting, considering the high cost related to the discovery of new drugs with therapeutic potential. Computational methods have been applied to predict associations between drugs and their targets. However, drug repurposing has not always been promising and its efficiency has yet to be proven. Therefore, the present scoping review protocol was developed to screen the literature on how in silico strategies can be implemented in drug repurposing in oncology. The scoping review will be conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework (2005) and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations. We will search the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the grey literature. We will include peer-reviewed research articles involving in silico strategies applied to drug repurposing in oncology, published between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2021. Data will be charted and findings described according to review questions. We will report the scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review guidelines (PRISMA-ScR)., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The Petiveria alliacea L. (P. alliacea) plant is traditionally used in folklore medicine throughout tropical regions of the world to treat arthritis, asthma, and cancer. Dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS) is one of the active ingredients within the P. alliacea plant. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis, particularly among women of West African ancestry, due in part to limited effective therapy. Though potent anticancer actions of DTS have been reported in a TNBC cell line, the mechanism of DTS-mediated cytotoxicity and cell death remains ill-defined. In the current study, we show that DTS exhibits cytotoxicity in a panel of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells derived from patients of European and West African ancestry. We found that DTS inhibits proliferation and migration of CRL-2335 cells derived from a patient of West African ancestry. DTS induces the expression of pro-apoptotic genes BAK1, GADD45a, and LTA in CRL2335 cells though it primarily promotes caspase-independent CRL-2335 cell death. DTS also promotes destabilization of the lysosomal membrane resulting in cathepsin B release in CRL-2335 cells. Finally, Kaplan-Meier survival curves reveal that higher expression of BAK1 and LTA in tumors from patients with TNBC is associated with longer relapse-free survival. Collectively, our data suggest that DTS confers promising antitumor efficacy in TNBC, in part, via lysosomal-mediated, caspase-independent cell death to warrant furthering its development as an anticancer agent., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The filling of the root canal system (RCS) is an important step in endodontic treatment and aims to obtain a three-dimensional sealing of the root canal spaces to prevent bacterial contamination. For this, the selection of an appropriate sealer must be performed synchronously with the choice of the root canal filling technique. This study aims, through an integrative review, to evaluate the quality of root canal filling by comparing thermoplastic and single-cone (SC) techniques., Material and Methods: The Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were used to find articles published until November 2021. The eligibility criteria comprised articles that evaluating the quality of root canal filling comparing thermoplastic techniques with the SC technique using tricalcium silicate-based sealer. Studies that evaluated primary teeth, endodontic retreatment or perforations, different outcomes, and studies that considered artificial teeth or different sealer and material for obturation of different techniques were excluded. For articles that were not available for access, an additional contact with authors were considered. A total of 1699 articles were found. After duplicate removal, the title and abstract of 828 articles were screened. Sixteen articles were considered for full-text analysis, but only ten articles met the eligibility criteria. Data extracted from the studies were discussed and tabulated to allow the comparison of desired factors., Results: Concerning the formation of gaps/voids, the thermoplastic techniques showed better results than the SC technique in 3 articles. On the other hand, 2 articles reported no statistical difference between the tested techniques. In addition, about the penetration of tricalcium silicate-based sealer in the dentinal tubules, of the 5 articles selected, in 4 there was no significant difference between the tested techniques and only one study showed better penetration of the sealer when using thermoplastic techniques., Conclusions: The thermoplastic technique was better in most selected studies regarding gaps and voids, but regarding the penetration of the sealer into the tubules, both techniques were effective. Key words: Root canal filling, thermoplastic techniques, tricalcium silicate., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors claim there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Medicina Oral S.L.)

For over a century, cells within other cells have been detected by pathologists as common histopathological findings in tumors, being generally identified as "cell-in-cell" structures. Despite their characteristic morphology, these structures can originate from various processes, such as cannibalism, entosis and emperipolesis. However, only in the last few decades has more attention been given to these events due to their importance in tumor development. In cancers such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, cell-in-cell events have been linked to aggressiveness, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. This review aims to summarize relevant information about the occurrence of various cell-in-cell phenomena in the context of oral squamous cell carcinoma, addressing their causes and consequences in cancer. The lack of a standard terminology in diagnosing these events makes it difficult to classify the existing cases and to map the behavior and impacts of these structures. Despite being frequently reported in oral squamous cell carcinoma and other cancers, their impacts on carcinogenesis aren't fully understood. Cell-in-cell formation is seen as a survival mechanism in the face of a lack of nutritional availability, an acid microenvironment and potential harm from immune cell defense. In this deadly form of competition, cells that engulf other cells establish themselves as winners, taking over as the predominant and more malignant cell population. Understanding the link between these structures and more aggressive behavior in oral squamous cell carcinoma is of paramount importance for their incorporation as part of a therapeutic strategy., 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 Siquara da Rocha, Souza, Lambert and Gurgel Rocha.)

We investigated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccine response through serum and salivary antibodies, serum antibody neutralizing activity and cellular immune response in samples from health care workers who were immunized with two doses of an inactivated virus-based vaccine (CoronaVac) who had or did not have COVID-19 previously. IgA and IgG antibodies directed at the spike protein were analysed in samples of saliva and/or serum by ELISA and/or chemiluminescence assays; the neutralizing activity of serum antibodies against reference strain B, Gamma and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants were evaluated using a virus neutralization test and SARS-CoV-2 reactive interferon-gamma T-cell were analysed by flow cytometry. CoronaVac was able to induce serum and salivary IgG anti-spike antibodies and IFN-γ producing T cells in most individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and/or were vaccinated. Virus neutralizing activity was observed against the ancestral strain, with a reduced response against the variants. Vaccinated individuals who had previous COVID-19 presented higher responses than vaccinated individuals for all variables analysed. Our study provides evidence that the CoronaVac vaccine was able to induce the production of specific serum and saliva antibodies, serum virus neutralizing activity and cellular immune response, which were increased in previously COVID-19-infected individuals compared to uninfected individuals., (© 2022. The Author(s).)