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Objectives Characterize the cell profile and immunostaining of proinflammatory markers in an experimental model of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw ( BRONJ). Materials and Methods Male Wistar rats ( n = 6-7) were treated chronically with saline solution or zoledronic acid ( ZA) at 0.04, 0.20, and 1.00 mg kg−1 (1.4 × 10−7, 6.9 × 10−6, and 3.4 × 10−5 mol kg−1), and subsequently, the first left inferior molar was extracted. Were performed counting of viable and empty osteocyte lacunae, viable and apoptotic osteoclasts, polymorphonuclear neutrophil, mast cells (toluidine blue), and the positive presence cells for CD68, tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α), IL (interleukin)-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B ( NF- kB) and IL-18 binding protein ( IL-18 bp). Results BRONJ was showed in ZA treated with 0.20 and 1.00 mg kg−1. There is a dose dependent increase in percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae ( P < 0.001) and apoptotic osteoclasts ( P < 0.001), counting of total osteoclasts ( P = 0.003), polymorphonuclear neutrophil cells ( P = 0.009), cytoplasmic-positive cells of CD68 ( P < 0.001), TNF-α ( P = 0.001), IL-1β ( P = 0.001), iNOS ( P < 0.001), NF- kB ( P = 0.006), and nuclear-positive cells of NF- kB ( P = 0.011). Consequently, there is no difference in mast cells ( P = 0.957), and IL-18 bp immunostaining decreases dose dependently ( P = 0.005). Conclusions BRONJ is characterized by increases in immunostaining for proinflammatory markers and NF- kB and inversely associated with cells exhibiting IL-18 bp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of a toothbrush has a limited ability to control the dental biofilm in interproximal areas. Therefore, specialized devices, such as dental floss, may be useful for these specific areas. Objective This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of dental floss impregnated with 5% chlorhexidine gluconate on the reduction of the supragingival biofilm. Methods This research was parallel, single-blind, controlled and randomized, and contained a sample of thirty dental students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, who were divided equally into three groups. The negative control group ( NC) did not utilize any kind of interproximal cleaning; the positive control group ( PC) used waxed floss without impregnation twice a day; and the test group (T) used the same dental floss, which was impregnated with 5% chlorhexidine gluconate, twice a day. For all groups, this study lasted for 15 days. The presence of a biofilm was evaluated on four surfaces (mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual and distolingual) by the Quigley-Hein Index, resulting in four scores for each tooth. Results Group T had the lowest plaque scores, showing a significant difference compared to group NC ( P < 0.001) and group PC ( P < 0.001). Group PC also displayed a significant difference compared to NC ( P < 0.001). Conclusion It was concluded that the use of dental floss impregnated with 5% chlorhexidine gluconate resulted in additional reductions in the supragingival biofilm relative to the results achieved with conventional waxed floss on the anterior teeth of a well-motivated and well-instructed population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large dog breeds commonly produce unformed faeces. The present study hypothesised that foods for large dog breeds require higher starch gelatinisation (SG) to reduce organic matter flow to colon. Fifteen Rottweilers (Ro; 49.4 ± 6.12 kg), 18 Beagles (Be; 12.13 ± 1.75 kg) and 20 Shih-Tzus (ST; 4.62 ± 1.15 kg) were fed one of three diets, all based on the same sorghum formulation, processed to obtain three levels of SG: SG90 (91.8% SG), SG50 (50.7% SG) and SG30 (27.4% SG). Foods were provided for 23 days, and the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, faecal production and fermentation products, Na, K and Cl apparent absorption and gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) were evaluated. Results were submitted to analysis of variance considering SG, breed and their interactions, and means compared by the Tukey test (p < 0.05). All dogs promptly ate the foods. Faeces scores were lower for Ro than for Be and ST, and lower for SG30 than SG90 (p < 0.05). Faeces pH was higher, and total short-chain fatty acids were lower for SG90 than for SG50 and SG30 (p < 0.01), regardless of breed. No diet effect was observed for GTT (p > 0.05), but it was lower for Ro (41.7 ± 6.2 h) than for ST (48.7 ± 8.6 h). The CTTAD of nutrients was lower for SG30, intermediary for SG50 and higher for SG90 (p < 0.05), and among breeds CTTAD was higher for Be than ST and Ro (p < 0.05), which did not differ from each other, except for crude protein CTTAD which was lower for Ro (p < 0.05). The apparent absorption of Na and K was higher for the SG90 treatment, and for Be in comparison with Ro and ST (p < 0.05). Food SG had a remarkable influence on Ro faeces formation and on the CTTAD in all breeds. Greater fermentation in the colon and lower protein CTTAD may be involved in Ro unformed faeces formation., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Several studies have demonstrated that low-dimensional structures ( e.g ., two-dimensional (2D)) associated with three-dimensional (3D) perovskite films enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, we aim to track the formation sites of the 2D phase on top of the 3D perovskite and to establish correlations between molecular stiffness and steric hindrance of the organic cations and their influence on the formation and crystallization of 2D/3D. Using cathodoluminescence combined with a scanning electron microscopy technique, we verified that the formation of the 2D phase occurs preferentially on the grain boundaries of the 3D perovskite. This helps explain some passivation mechanisms conferred by the 2D phase on 3D perovskite films. Furthermore, by employing in situ grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, we monitored the formation and crystallization of the 2D/3D perovskite using three cations with varying molecular stiffness. In this series of molecules, the formation and crystallization of the 2D phase are found to be dependent on both steric hindrance around the ammonium group and molecular stiffness. Finally, we employed a 2D/3D perovskite heterointerface in a solar cell. The presence of the 2D phase, particularly those formed from flexible cations, resulted in a maximum power conversion efficiency of 21.5%. This study provides insight into critical aspects related to how bulky organic cations' stiffness and steric hindrance influence the formation, crystallization, and distribution of 2D perovskite phases.

Background: Initiatives aiming to assess the impact of rare diseases on population health might be hampered due to the complexity of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) estimation. This study aimed to give insight into the epidemiological data sources and methodological approaches used in studies that estimated DALYs for chronic non-communicable rare diseases (CNCRD), and compare its results., Methods: A literature strategy was developed for peer-review search in Embase and Medline, and also performed on grey literature databases and population health and/or rare disease-focused websites. We included studies that determined the burden of CNCRD listed on the Orphanet's and/or the Genetic and Rare Diseases information center (GARD) websites. We excluded communicable and occupational diseases, rare cancers, and cost-effectiveness/benefit studies. Two researchers independently screened the identified records and extracted data from the final included studies. We used the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting (GATHER) statement to assess the quality of reporting of the included studies. The data synthesis depicted the studies' characteristics, their distribution by geographic coverage and the group of disease(s) they focused on, the methods and data input sources used and estimated DALY per case., Results: In total, 533 titles were screened, and 18 studies were included. These studies covered 19 different CNCRDs, of which most fell in the disease category "Diseases of the nervous system". Diverse methodological approaches and data input sources were observed among burden of CNCRD studies. A wide range of DALY per case was observed across the different studies and diseases included., Conclusions: A low number of burden of CNCRD studies was observed and most estimates resulted from multi-country studies, underlining the importance of international cooperation to further CNCRD research. This study revealed a lack of epidemiological data and harmonization of methods which hampers comparisons across burden of CNCRD studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Transition metal derivatives exhibit high theoretical capacity, making them promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Sulfides, known for their superior electrical conductivity compared to oxides, enhance charge transfer, leading to improved electrochemical performance. Here, a hierarchical WS 2 micro-flower is synthesized by thermal sulfurization of WO 3 . Comprising interconnected thin nanosheets, this structure offers increased surface area, facilitating extensive internal surfaces for electrochemical redox reactions. The WS 2 micro-flower demonstrates a specific capacity of ≈334 mAh g -1 at 15 mA g -1 , nearly three times higher than its oxide counterpart. Further, it shows very stable performance as a high-temperature (65 °C) anode with ≈180 mAh g -1 reversible capacity at 100 mA g -1 current rate. Post-cycling analysis confirms unchanged morphology, highlighting the structural stability and robustness of WS 2 . DFT calculations show that the electronic bandgap in both WS 2 and WO 3 increases when going from the bulk to monolayers. Na adsorption calculations show that Na atoms bind strongly in WO 3 with a higher energy diffusion barrier when compared to WS 2 , corroborating the experimental findings. This study presents a significant insight into electrode material selection for sodium-ion storage applications., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit reduced levels of physical activity, which are associated with poorer outcomes. The number of clinical trials aiming to promote behavioral changes to increase physical activity in this population has grown; therefore, these trials have yet to produce satisfactory results. An ecological model encompassing individual, social, environmental, and political factors represent a potentially more effective approach to promoting physical activity. While favorable urban environments can positively impact physical activity, specifically tailored environmental interventions for individuals with COPD could enhance their engagement in physical activity. Therefore, the aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) study was to analyze the effects of walking in a suggested environment and free walking on physical activity levels in individuals with COPD., Methods: The environment on physical activity for chronic obstructive disease (EPCOT) is a randomized controlled clinical trial protocol approved by our institution's Ethics Committee and registered with The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br, number RBR-4tfwdhp). This protocol will involve 38 volunteers diagnosed with COPD recruited from the pulmonary physiotherapy and rehabilitation service. The volunteers were randomly divided into two walking groups: an experimental group (ERG) with guidance for walking in a suggested environment and an active control group (ACG) instructed to choose their own routes. The intervention consisted of eight consecutive weeks, with progressive walks carried out 3 to 5 times weekly. The primary outcome will be assessing participants' physical activity levels. Secondary outcomes will include exercise capacity, quality of life, dyspnea levels, motivation, anxiety, depression, and perceptions of the environment. All assessments will occur before and after the intervention period, aiming to fill a literature gap by investigating the impact of urban environments on COPD-related physical activity. The results may shed light on the importance of environmental factors in promoting physical activity among individuals with COPD, helping to develop more effective interventions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Guimarães Paiva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

In this work, a polyhedral silsesquioxane (POSS) was used as an engineered drug delivery system for two oxindolimine-copper(II) anticancer complexes, [Cu(isaepy)] + and [Cu(isapn)] + . The interest in hybrid POSS comes from the necessity of developing materials that can act as adjuvants to improve the cytotoxicity of non-soluble metallodrugs. Functionalization of POSS with a triazole ligand (POSS-atzac) permitted the anchorage of such copper complexes, producing hybrid materials with efficient cytotoxic effects. Structural and morphological characterizations of these copper-POSS systems were performed by using different techniques (IR, NMR, thermogravimetric analysis). A combination of continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed EPR (HYSCORE) spectroscopies conducted at the X-band have enabled the complete characterization of the coordination environment of the copper ion in the POSS-atzac matrix. Additionally, the cytotoxic effects of the loaded materials, [Cu(isapn)]@POSS-atzac and [Cu(isaepy)]@POSS-atzac, were assessed toward melanomas (SK-MEL), in comparison to non-tumorigenic cells (fibroblast P4). Evaluation of their nuclease activity or ability to facilitate cleavage of DNA indicated concentrations as low as 0.6 μg mL -1 , while complete DNA fragmentation was observed at 25 μg mL -1 . By using adequate scavengers, investigations on active intermediates responsible for their cytotoxicity were performed, both in the absence and in the presence of ascorbate as a reducing agent. Based on the observed selective cytotoxicity of these materials toward melanomas, investigations on the reactivity of these complexes and corresponding POSS-materials with melanin, a molecule that contributes to melanoma resistance to chemotherapy, were carried out. Results indicated the main role of the binuclear copper species, formed at the surface of the silica matrix, in the observed reactivity and selectivity of these copper-POSS systems.

Purpose: To develop and assess the Bed Bridge Test's (BBT) feasibility, safety, and clinimetric properties and evaluate functional capacity in hospitalised patients., Materials and Methods: This feasibility and measurement study examined four BBT versions, including the timed-limited at 30 and 60 s and repetition-limited at 5 and 10 times, in hospitalised patients in a university hospital in Brazil. Ninety-two functionally stable patients with respiratory, gastrointestinal, or post-surgical conditions participated. Participants completed the BBT versions in a random order. BBT concurrent criterion validity was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Sit-to-Stand (STS) test, and Functional Status Score (FSS)., Results: The participants were 51 ± 17 years old, 60% female, and 66% with clinical conditions. All participants completed the BBT versions without adverse events. Test-retest reliability was good-excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.87) for all BBT versions, with acceptable agreement parameters and minimal detectable changes. The time-limited versions of the BBT might be affected by a ceiling effect. Floor effects were minimal for all BBT versions. BBT showed moderate associations with SPPB and STS and weak associations with FSS., Conclusions: The BBT is feasible and has promising measurement properties.

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of obesity has become a major health problem worldwide. The causes of obesity are multifactorial and could be influenced by dietary patterns and genetic factors. Obesity has been associated with a decrease in micronutrient intake and consequently decreased blood concentrations. Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health, and its metabolism could be affected by obesity, especially severe obesity. This study aimed to identify differential methylation genes associated with serum selenium concentration in women with and without obesity., Methodology: Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: Obese (Ob) n = 20 and Non-Obese (NOb) n = 14, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). Anthropometry, body composition, serum selenium, selenium intake, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. DNA extraction and bisulfite conversion were performed to hybridize the samples on the 450k Methylation Chip Infinium Beadchip (Illumina). Bioinformatics analysis was performed using the R program and the Champ package. The differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using the Bumphunter method. In addition, logarithmic conversion was performed for the analysis of serum selenium and methylation., Results: In the Ob group, the body weight, BMI, fat mass, and free fat mass were higher than in the NOb group, as expected. Interestingly, the serum selenium was lower in the Ob than in the NOb group without differences in selenium intake. One DMR corresponding to the CPT1B gene, involved in lipid oxidation, was related to selenium levels. This region was hypermethylated in the Ob group, indicating that the intersection between selenium deficiency and hypermethylation could influence the expression of the CPT1B gene. The transcriptional analysis confirmed the lower expression of the CPT1B gene in the Ob group., Conclusion: Studies connecting epigenetics to environmental factors could offer insights into the mechanisms involving the expression of genes related to obesity and its comorbidities. Here we demonstrated that the mineral selenium might play an essential role in lipid oxidation via epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of the CPT1B gene in obesity., 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: Carla Barbosa Nonino, Fernando Barbosa Júnior, and Lígia Moriguchi Watanabe report financial support provided by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background Information: The dual-specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3) regulates cell cycle progression, proliferation, senescence, and DNA repair pathways under genotoxic stress. This phosphatase interacts with HNRNPC protein suggesting an involvement in the regulation of HNRNPC-ribonucleoprotein complex stability. In this work, we investigate the impact of DUSP3 depletion on functions of HNRNPC aiming to suggest new roles for this enzyme., Results: The DUSP3 knockdown results in the tyrosine hyperphosphorylation state of HNRNPC increasing its RNA binding ability. HNRNPC is present in the cytoplasm where it interacts with IRES trans-acting factors (ITAF) complex, which recruits the 40S ribosome on mRNA during protein synthesis, thus facilitating the translation of mRNAs containing IRES sequence in response to specific stimuli. In accordance with that, we found that DUSP3 is present in the 40S, monosomes and polysomes interacting with HNRNPC, just like other previously identified DUSP3 substrates/interacting partners such as PABP and NCL proteins. By downregulating DUSP3, Tyr-phosphorylated HNRNPC preferentially binds to IRES-containing mRNAs within ITAF complexes preferentially in synchronized or stressed cells, as evidenced by the higher levels of proteins such as c-MYC and XIAP, but not their mRNAs such as measured by qPCR. Under DUSP3 absence, this increased phosphorylated-HNRNPC/RNA interaction reduces HNRNPC-p53 binding in presence of RNAs releasing p53 for specialized cellular responses. Similarly, to HNRNPC, PABP physically interacts with DUSP3 in an RNA-dependent manner., Conclusions and Significance: Overall, DUSP3 can modulate cellular responses to genotoxic stimuli at the translational level by maintaining the stability of HNRNPC-ITAF complexes and regulating the intensity and specificity of RNA interactions with RRM-domain proteins., (© 2024 Société Française des Microscopies and Société de Biologie Cellulaire de France. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This short review presents the latest advances in the field of electrochemical biosensors, focusing particularly on impedimetric biosensors for the direct measurement of analytes. As a source of study we have chosen to describe these advances in the latest global health crisis originated from the COVID-19 pandemic, initiated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this period, the necessity for swift and precise detection methods has grown rapidly due to an imminent need for the development of an analytical method to identify and isolate infected patients as an attempt to control the spreading of the disease. Traditional approaches such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were extensively used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but their drawbacks, including slow response time, became evident. In this context, the potential of electrochemical biosensors as an alternative for COVID-19 detection was emphasized. These biosensors merge electrochemical technology with bioreceptors, offering benefits such as rapidity, accuracy, portability, and real-time result provision. Additionally, we present instances of electrochemical biosensors modified with conductive polymers, eliminating the necessity for an electrochemical probe. The adaptability of the developed materials and devices facilitated the prompt production of electrochemical biosensors during the pandemic, creating opportunities for broader applications in infectious disease diagnosis.

Introduction: Methylene Blue (MB) has been shown to attenuate oxidative, inflammatory, myocardial, and neurological lesions during ischemia-reperfusion and has great potential during cardiac arrest. This study aimed to determine the effects of MB combined with epinephrine during cardiac arrest on myocardial and cerebral lesions., Method: Thirty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: the sham group (SH, n = 5), and three groups subjected to cardiac arrest (n = 11/group) and treated with EPI 20 µg.kg -1 (EPI), EPI 20 µg.kg -1 + MB 2 mg.kg -1 (EPI + MB), or saline 0.9% 0.2 ml (CTL). Ventricular fibrillation was induced by direct electrical stimulation in the right ventricle for 3 minutes, and anoxia was maintained for 5 minutes. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) consisted of medications, ventilation, chest compressions, and defibrillation. After returning to spontaneous circulation, animals were observed for four hours. Blood gas, troponin, oxidative stress, histology, and TUNEL staining measurements were analyzed. Groups were compared using generalized estimating equations., Results: No differences in the Returning of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rate were observed among the groups (EPI: 63%, EPI + MB: 45%, CTL: 40%, p = 0.672). The mean arterial pressure immediately after ROSC was higher in the EPI+MB group than in the CTRL group (CTL: 30.5 [5.8], EPI: 63 [25.5], EPI+MB: 123 [31] mmHg, p = 0.007). Serum troponin levels were high in the CTL group (CTL: 130.1 [333.8], EPI: 3.70 [36.0], EPI + MB: 43.7 [116.31] ng/mL, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The coadministration of MB and epinephrine failed to yield enhancements in cardiac or brain lesions in a rodent model of cardiac arrest., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: It is not clear whether response to initial treatment in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients is best evaluated by measuring thyroglobulin (Tg) in the presence of levothyroxine (BTg) or when stimulated by elevated TSH (STg). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether response to therapy 1 year after initial treatment changes with the use of STg in relation to BTg in PTC patients treated with total thyroidectomy (TT) and radioiodine ( 131 I), and, if observed, to assess which response is better associated with clinical course., Subjects and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 148 PTC patients submitted to TT and 131 I. We analyzed the response to therapy (excellent, biochemical incomplete, or indeterminate) at 1 year after initial treatment, using BTg or STg, and compared which method was better associated with "excellent response at final evaluation.", Results: Twenty-eight patients (20.4%) presented change in response to therapy, with 17 of these (60.7%) presenting a worse response. Response using STg was 1.6 times better associated with proposed outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 4.61; confidence interval 95% (IC95%): 2.13-9.98] than with BTg (OR = 2.84; IC95%: 1.33-6.06)., Conclusion: Response to therapy at 1 year using STg was altered in approximately 20% of cases and therefore proved to be a better predictor of excellent response in the last evaluation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Hellenic Endocrine Society.)

The microbe-associated molecular pattern flg22 is recognized in a flagellin-sensitive 2-dependent manner in root tip cells. Here, we show a rapid and massive change in protein abundance and phosphorylation state of the Arabidopsis root cell proteome in WT and a mutant deficient in heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled signaling. flg22-induced changes fall on proteins comprising a subset of this proteome, the heterotrimeric G protein interactome, and on highly-populated hubs of the immunity network. Approximately 95% of the phosphorylation changes in the heterotrimeric G-protein interactome depend, at least partially, on a functional G protein complex. One member of this interactome is ATBα, a substrate-recognition subunit of a protein phosphatase 2A complex and an interactor to Arabidopsis thaliana Regulator of G Signaling 1 protein (AtRGS1), a flg22-phosphorylated, 7-transmembrane spanning modulator of the nucleotide-binding state of the core G-protein complex. A null mutation of ATBα strongly increases basal endocytosis of AtRGS1. AtRGS1 steady-state protein level is lower in the atbα mutant in a proteasome-dependent manner. We propose that phosphorylation-dependent endocytosis of AtRGS1 is part of the mechanism to degrade AtRGS1, thus sustaining activation of the heterotrimeric G protein complex required for the regulation of system dynamics in innate immunity. The PP2A(ATBα) complex is a critical regulator of this signaling pathway., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, present in pilosebaceous units, plays a crucial role in the appearance of cutaneous hyperandrogenism manifestations (hirsutism, acne, and androgenetic alopecia). Its inhibition is an excellent strategy to reverse these conditions. Given the limitations of existing treatments, with transient effects and delayed therapeutic response, as well as the possibility of causing undesirable side effects, this study sought to develop new drug delivery systems to overcome these limitations. In other words, innovative stimuli-responsive hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized using silica/natural polysaccharides, encapsulating 5-alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitors derived from the plant Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (commonly known as 'Barbatimão'). Silica core was synthesized by the modified Stöber method. The pH responsive polysaccharides used to coat the porous silica cores were chitosan, and sodium alginate, this coating was carried out using the Layer-by-Layer technique. The hybrid nanoparticles were characterized at molecular and physical-chemical levels. Furthermore, encapsulation efficiency, pH-dependent release behavior, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Amorphous mesoporous structure with adequate size for follicular delivery (between 300 and 600 nm) in addition to effective phytocompound loading capacity, above 80 % was obtained. Based on the release studies, it was possible to observe pH responsiveness. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) obtained from "Barbatimão" bark extract was released in a controlled and more efficient manner by the alginate-coated nanoparticle (SNP&#95;EAF&#95;SA) at pH 7.4, which corresponds to the pH at the deepest area of hair follicles. Furthermore, SNP&#95;EAF&#95;SA proved to be less cytotoxic compared to EAF and chitosan-coated hybrid nanoparticles (SNP&#95;EAF&#95;CH). Characterization, release, and cytotoxicity results indicate that SNP&#95;EAF&#95;SA is a promising system for on-demand follicular delivery of antiandrogenic actives contained in EAF., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [Renata Pinho Morais reports financial support was provided by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement. Claudia Eliana Bruno Marino reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development]., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) is responsible for dengue epidemics on a global scale and is associated with severe cases of the disease. This study conducted a phylogenetic investigation of DENV-2 isolates from 2017 to 2021 originating from the northern states of Brazil. A total of 32 samples from DENV-2 isolates were analyzed, including 12 from Acre, 19 from Roraima, and one from Tocantins. Only one lineage of the Asian-American genotype and one lineage of the cosmopolitan genotype were observed: Lineage 1, Asian-American genotype (connection to Puerto Rico); Lineage 5, cosmopolitan genotype (connection to Peru). Our results provide important data regarding the study of DENV genotypes and lineage distribution and open up possibilities for probable introduction and dissemination routes.

Protein-protein interactions play a critical role in plant viral infection and defense responses against pathogens. This protocol provides a detailed and reliable methodology for investigating protein-protein interactions using a luciferase-based complementation assay that includes easy luminescence-based normalization within a single plate. The protocol includes step-by-step procedures, reagent lists, and considerations for data interpretation, ensuring robust and reproducible results. By following this protocol, researchers can advance on understanding of the crucial role of protein-protein interactions in plant viral infection and defense responses to other pathogen attacks., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The regulation of metastasis-related cellular aspects of two structurally similar AGIs from prunes tea infusion, with different molar masses, was studied in vitro against Triple Wild-Type metastatic melanoma (TWM) from murine and human origin. The higher molar mass AGI (AGI-78KDa) induced TWMs cells death and, in murine cell line, it decreased some metastasis-related cellular processes: invasiveness capacity, cell-extracellular matrix interaction, and colonies sizes. The lower molar mass AGI (AGI-12KDa) did not induce cell death but decreased TWMs proliferation rate and, in murine cell line, it decreased cell adhesion and colonies sizes. Both AGIs alter the clonogenic capacity of human cell line. In spite to understand why we saw so many differences between AGIs effects on murine and human cell lines we performed in silico analysis that demonstrated differential gene expression profiles between them. Complementary network topological predictions suggested that AGIs can modulate multiple pathways in a specie-dependent manner, which explain differential results obtained in vitro between cell lines. Our results pointed to therapeutic potential of AGIs from prunes tea against TWMs and showed that molecular weight of AGIs may influence their antitumor effects., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pulmonary expansion manoeuvres are therapeutic techniques used to prevent and reverse atelectasis; however, no randomized controlled trials have provided evidence supporting the use of this intervention among individuals on mechanical ventilation., Objective: To evaluate the effects of chest compression-decompression and chest block manoeuvres compared to usual care among patients on mechanical ventilation., Methods: The current study was a randomized clinical trial of adult subjects on mechanical ventilation for 12 to 48 hours. The control group received usual care (passive or active mobilization, manoeuvres for airway clearance and tracheal aspiration). The intervention group received usual care plus two lung expansion manoeuvres, i.e., chest decompression and chest block, while remaining on mechanical ventilation. Assessments were performed before and after usual care, immediately after the intervention and 30 minutes after the intervention. The primary outcome was static compliance. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of atelectasis, dynamic compliance, airway resistance, driving pressure, oxygenation, duration of mechanical ventilation, extubation success, length of hospital and ICU stay, and mortality., Results: Fifty-one participants (67±15 years old, 53% men, 26 in the control group and 25 in the intervention group) were evaluated. No differences in static compliance were observed between groups (intervention minus control) before and after expansion manoeuvres [3.64 ml/cmH2O (95% CI: -0.36-7.65, p = 0.074)]. Peripheral oxygen saturation differed between groups before and after expansion manoeuvres, with more favourable outcome observed in the control group [-1.04% (95% CI: -1.94 --0.14), p = 0.027]. No differences were found in other outcomes., Conclusion: Chest compression-decompression and chest block manoeuvres did not improve ventilatory mechanics, the incidence of atelectasis, oxygenation, the duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of stay in the ICU and hospital, or mortality in individuals on mechanical ventilation. The findings of this study can be valuable for guiding evidence-based clinical practice and developing a therapeutic approach that provides real benefits for this population., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 da Silva et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Several individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome referred for pulmonary rehabilitation did not participate. This study aimed to explore individuals' barriers to participating in posthospitalization COVID-19 rehabilitation., Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative, multicenter study performed using semistructured interviews. This study included 20 individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 who refused to participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program at a university hospital., Results: Individuals reported difficulties accessing the rehabilitation center, mainly due to distance, transport costs and conditions, and lack of companions. Health problems (e.g., surgeries, pain, and mobility difficulties) and lack of time due to work, commuting, and household work were also reported. Another reported theme was not perceiving the need for rehabilitation due to feeling well. Minor themes included the need for more information about rehabilitation and a lack of interest, motivation, and medical encouragement., Conclusion: Individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 faced several barriers to participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. These barriers included difficulties in accessing the rehabilitation center, health problems, lack of time, and the perception that rehabilitation was unnecessary. There is a need for actions to overcome these barriers to make the program available to a larger number of individuals., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Polato et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The nucleolus is sensitive to stress and can orchestrate a chain of cellular events in response to stress signals. Despite being a growth factor, FGF2 has antiproliferative and tumor-suppressive functions in some cellular contexts. In this work, we investigated how the antiproliferative effect of FGF2 modulates chromatin-, nucleolus- and rDNA-associated proteins. The chromatin and nucleolar proteome indicated that FGF2 stimulation modulates proteins related to transcription, rRNA expression and chromatin-remodeling proteins. The global transcriptional rate and nucleolus area increased along with nucleolar disorganization upon 24 h of FGF2 stimulation. FGF2 stimulation induced immature rRNA accumulation by increasing rRNA transcription. The rDNA-associated protein analysis reinforced that FGF2 stimulus interferes with transcription and rRNA processing. RNA Pol I inhibition partially reversed the growth arrest induced by FGF2, indicating that changes in rRNA expression might be crucial for triggering the antiproliferative effect. Taken together, we demonstrate that the antiproliferative FGF2 stimulus triggers significant transcriptional changes and modulates the main cell transcription site, the nucleolus., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2023. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Objective: The objectives of this study were to translate and cross-culturally adapt the telehealth usability questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate its psychometric properties., Methods: This was a methodological validation study carried out in two phases. In phase 1, the telehealth usability questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted with 10 participants comprising the expert committee members, including 5 healthcare professionals with theoretical and practical knowledge of telehealth, 1 methodologist, and 4 translators. This phase was performed at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora Physiotherapy Clinic School. In phase 2, the psychometric properties of telehealth usability questionnaire Brazil were analyzed. This phase included in-person assessments at Márcio Cunha Hospital, Minas Gerais. The recruitment period for both phases was from April 2020 to February 2021. Content validity, reliability, internal consistency, and criterion validity were analyzed. The criterion validity was evaluated using correlation with a validated instrument: the system usability scale., Results: The telehealth usability questionnaire was adequately translated and cross-culturally adapted. The telehealth usability questionnaire Brazil presented an excellent content validity index of 0.96 with percentages of understanding higher than 90%. The telehealth usability questionnaire Brazil demonstrated great internal consistency (α=0.94 and ω=0.94), excellent intra-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.85, 95%CI 0.75-0.91), no difference between the test and retest [T (0.425), p>0.673], and no proportional bias (p=0.205). There was a moderate correlation between telehealth usability questionnaire Brazil and the system usability scale (r=0.52, p<0.0001)., Conclusion: The telehealth usability questionnaire was adequately translated and cross-culturally adapted into Brazilian Portuguese and showed adequate psychometric properties for use in telehealth clinical practice and research in Brazilian-Portuguese-speaking individuals.

Background: Critical illness may affect muscle strength and mobility., Objectives: To compare muscle strength, mobility, and in intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness (ICUAW) prevalence among individuals with COVID-19 and other critical illnesses; to identify factors associated with muscle strength, mobility, and length of stay in COVID-19; and to determine the Perme Intensive Care Unit Mobility Score (PICUMS) cut-off point for ICUAW., Methods: We included individuals aged ≥18 in ICU who require mechanical ventilation. We excluded those diagnosed with neuromusculoskeletal diseases or who did not understand the study procedures. The Medical Research Council - sum score (MRC-SS) and the PICUMS were applied before ICU and hospital discharge. Analysis of covariance, Quade´s test, and Fisher's exact test compared groups. Partial correlations were analized between the MRC-SS and PICUMS with clinical variables. Regression models identified the predictors of hospital length of stay. The ROC curve verified the PICUMS related to ICUAW. Significance was set as P<.05., Results: 25 individuals were included in the COVID-19 group and 23 in the non-COVID-19 group. No between-groups difference was observed in MRC-SS and PICUMS at discharge from ICU or hospital. The MRC-SS and PICUMS at ICU discharge predicted the length of hospital stay in the COVID-19 group. The PICUMS cut-off related to ICUAW was 18., Conclusions: Muscle strength, mobility, and ICUAW are similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19. However, muscle strength and mobility at ICU discharge are associated with the length of stay during COVID-19. A PICUMS<18 at ICU discharge may indicate impaired physical functioning due to ICUAW., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In patients at high risk of thromboembolism who were discharged after hospitalisation due to COVID-19, thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban 10 mg/day for 35 days significantly improved clinical outcomes, reducing thrombotic events compared with no post-discharge anticoagulation. The present study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of this anticoagulation strategy., Methods: Using the database of the MICHELLE trial, we developed a decision tree to estimate the cost-effectiveness of thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban 10 mg/day for 35 days versus no thromboprophylaxis in high-risk post-discharge patients for COVID-19 through an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis., Findings: 318 patients in 14 centres in Brazil were enrolled in the primary MICHELLE trial. The mean age was 57.1 years (SD 15.2), 127 (40%) were women, 191 (60%) were men, and the mean body-mass index was 29.7 kg/m2 (SD 5.6). Rivaroxaban 10 mg per day orally for 35 days after discharge decreased the risk of events defined by the primary efficacy outcome by 67% (relative risk 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.90; p = 0.03). The mean cost for thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban was $53.37/patient, and no prophylaxis was $34.22/patient, with an incremental cost difference of $19.15. The effectiveness means obtained in the intervention group was 0.1457, while in the control group was 0.1421, determining an incremental QALY difference of 0.0036. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $5385.52/QALY., Interpretation: Extended treatment with Rivaroxaban as thromboprophylaxis after hospital discharge for high-risk patients with COVID-19 is a cost-effective treatment option., Funding: Modest funding was provided by Science Valley Research Institute, São Paulo, Brazil., Competing Interests: ER reports grants and consulting fees from Bayer and Pfizer; grants from the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology; and personal fees from Aspen Pharma, Biomm Pharma, and Daiichi-Sankyo, outside the submitted work. LBA reports grants from Bayer, Pfizer and the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology. ACS reports consulting fees from Janssen Research & Development LLC, Bayer, Portola, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, ATLAS group and grants from Janssen and Boehringer Ingelheim. AT reports personal fees from Janssen and Recovery Force and grants from Bio Tap, Idorsia, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, Janssen, and Doasense. RDL reports grants and personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic PLC, and Sanofi; and personal fees from Amgen, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. No grants from pharmaceutical companies developing or manufacturing rivaroxaban were involved in this study., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Malnutrition is recognized as one of the main public health problems in hospitals. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) has established a global consensus on the criteria for diagnosing malnutrition in adults in hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the GLIM criteria as a tool to identify malnutrition in hospital settings and to compare the prevalence of malnutrition identified by GLIM criteria with that identified by other screening and/or nutrition assessment methods. This was a systematic review. Searches were performed using MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library, based on established descriptors. The included studies were observational and used screening and/or nutrition assessment tools to compare the prevalence of malnutrition and predictive capacity identified by GLIM criteria in patients aged >18 years in hospital settings. Twelve studies were included in this systematic review. A total of 4066 individuals with different pathologies and clinical conditions participated in the included studies. The prevalence of malnutrition, according to the GLIM criteria, ranged from 16% to 80%. In four studies, the prevalence of malnutrition based on GLIM was higher than that based on the other indicators. Six studies that evaluated the predictive ability of GLIM criteria identified satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. Four studies found low to high agreement between GLIM and the other methods. GLIM criteria can identify malnutrition and find a high prevalence and severity of malnutrition in the hospital setting, proving them to be a sensitive and specific instrument, with good agreement between screening and nutrition assessment methods., (© 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

NiFeMo alloy nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation in the presence of organic additives. Nanoparticles thermal evolution shows that there is a significant increase in the average size (from 28 to 60 nm), consolidating a crystalline structure of the same type as the Ni 3 Fe phase but with lattice parameter a = 0.362 nm. Measurements of magnetic properties follow this morphological and structural evolution increasing saturation magnetization (Ms) by 578% and reducing remanence magnetization (Mr) by 29%. Cell viability assays on as-synthesized revealed that nanoparticles (NPs) are not cytotoxic up to a concentration of 0.4 μg/mL for both non-tumorigenic (fibroblasts and macrophages) and tumor cells (melanoma)., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Systematic studies have revealed interactions between components of the Hsp90 chaperone system and Fe/S protein biogenesis or iron regulation. In addition, two chloroplast-localized DnaJ-like proteins, DJA5 and DJA6, function as specific iron donors in plastidial Fe/S protein biogenesis. Here, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the impact of both the Hsp90 chaperone and the yeast DJA5-DJA6 homologs, the essential cytosolic Ydj1, and the mitochondrial Mdj1, on cellular iron-related processes. Despite severe phenotypes induced upon depletion of these crucial proteins, there was no critical in vivo impact on Fe/S protein biogenesis or iron regulation. Importantly, unlike the plant DJA5-DJA6 iron chaperones, Ydj1 and Mdj1 did not bind iron in vivo, suggesting that these proteins use zinc for function under normal physiological conditions., (© 2023 The Authors. FEBS Letters published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis have postural balance impairments due to uremic syndrome and hemodialysis complications. This study evaluated the factors associated with postural balance in patients on hemodialysis., Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients on hemodialysis [n = 93, 62.0 (16.0) years]. Postural balance was evaluated using a force plate in a static position with eyes opened and eyes closed on a firm surface and with eyes opened on a foam surface to register the center of pressure path length. Physical function was assessed by isometric handgrip force, the 5-repetition sit-to-stand test, and gait speed. The level of physical activity and quality of life were evaluated by accelerometry and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, respectively., Findings: After adjustment for potential confounders, the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the presence of diabetes mellitus and neurological disease and gait speed were significantly associated with the center of pressure path length in the eyes opened test (R 2  = 0.263; p < 0.001). The center of pressure path length in the eyes closed test was significantly associated with the presence of neurological disease (R 2  = 0.177; p = 0.002). The center of pressure path length in the eyes opened on a foam surface test was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus (R 2  = 0.223; p < 0.001)., Interpretation: Poor postural balance was associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus and neurological disease and a slower gait speed in patients on hemodialysis., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study assessed the feasibility of pulmonary telerehabilitation‧s (PTR) acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Brazil. It also explored associations with clinical and socioeconomic features of Brazilians with COPD. This mixed-method study included thirty-one participants with COPD (age 62±10 years; FEV 1 = 72±14% predicted). Most participants (74.2%) reported good PTR session acceptability on the System Usability Scale and scores of 4.6±0.3 and 4.5±0.6 on a 1-5 Likert-type scale of implementation and practicality, respectively. Participants suggested adaptations for better comfort on the exercise bike and varying exercise modalities. PTR acceptability was associated with participants' younger age (r s =-0.57, p<0.01) and higher education (r s =0.51, p<0.01). PTR is feasible for people with COPD in Brazil regarding acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation. Younger age and higher educational level are associated with greater PTR acceptability., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests or personal relationships related to or influencing the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Luis H. G. Neves, Carla Malaguti, Marissa R. Santos, Laura A. Cabral, Laura B. D. da Silva, Hugo H. de Oliveira, Alessa S. S. Brugiolo, Anderson José, Anne E. Holland, Cristino C. Oliveira.)