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Sensory development is a complex process that can influence physiological and pathological factors. In laterally-eyed mammals, monocular enucleation (ME) during development and the subsequent lack of external sensory stimuli can result in permanent morphological and physiological changes. Malnutrition, especially in early life, also can cause permanent morphofunctional changes due to inadequate nutrient intake in both hemispheres. This study investigated the effects of early (postnatal day 7) ME and malnutrition during the suckling period on cortical excitability in adulthood (110-140 days of life). For this, we compared the speed propagation of cortical spreading depression in the occipital and parietal cortex of malnourished and well-nourished adult rats, previously suckled small-sized litters with three pups (L3/dam) medium-sized litters with six pups (L6/dam), and large-sized litters with twelve pups (L12/dam). The CSD velocity was augmented by the ME in the contralateral side of the removed eye in the parietal and occipital cortex. These findings suggest that visual sensory input deprivation is associated with permanent functional changes in the visual pathways, which can alter cortical excitability and lead to modifications in CSD propagation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Axillary lymph node involvement is one important prognostic factor in breast cancer, but the way to access this information has been modified over the years. This study evaluated if axillary ultrasound (US) coupled with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) can accurately predict clinically relevant node metastasis in patients with breast cancer, and thus assist clinical decisions METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of 241 individuals (239 women and 2 men) with unilateral operable breast cancer who were submitted to preoperative axillary assessment by physical exam, US and FNAC if suspicious nodes by imaging. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the methods. We compared the patient's characteristics using chi-square test, parametrics and non-parametrics statistics according to the variable., Results: The most sensible method was US (0.59; 95% CI, 0.50-0.69), and the most specific was US coupled with FNAC (0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99). Only 2.7% of the patients with normal axillary US had more than 2 metastatic nodes in the axillary lymph node dissection, against 50% of the patients with suspicious lymph nodes in the US and positive FNAC., Conclusions: Axillary US coupled with FNAC can sort patients who have a few metastatic nodes at most from those with heavy axillary burden and could be one more tool to initially evaluate patients and define treatment strategies., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The scope of this study was to evaluate exclusive and total breastfeeding in children up to 2 years of age treated in Basic Health Units (BHU) of Recife in the state of Pernambuco. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Basic Health Units of Mustardinha, Jardim Uchôa, Fernandes Figueira and Upinha Novo Prado. The study population consisted of children of 0 to 24 months of age. One hundred and forty-one children from 0 to 24 months of age were evaluated, of which 56.4% were female, 22% were ≤ 6 months old, 21.3% were between 7 and 12 months of age and 56.7% were between 13 and 24 months of age. Analysis of the prevalence of exclusive and total breastfeeding revealed an average of 60.84 and 182.52 days, respectively. Male children, the use of pacifiers and bottle-feeding was associated with shorter exclusive breastfeeding duration.