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Arsenic and its inorganic compounds affect numerous organs and systemic functions, such as the nervous and hematopoietic systems, liver, kidneys, and skin. Despite a large number of studies on arsenic toxicity, rare reports have investigated the leukopenia incidence in workers exposed to arsenic. In workplaces, the main source of workers' exposure is the contaminated air by the inorganic arsenic in mines, arsenic or copper smelter industries, and chemical factories. Erythropoiesis inhibition is one of the arsenic effects and it is related to regulatory factor GATA-1. This factor is necessary for the normal differentiation of early erythroid progenitors. JAK-STAT is an important intracellular signal transduction pathway responsible for the mediating normal functions of several cytokines related to cell proliferation and hematopoietic systems development and regulation. Arsenic inactivates JAK-STAT by inhibiting JAK tyrosine kinase and using the IFNγ pathway. The intravascular hemolysis starts after the absorption phase when arsenic binds to the globin of hemoglobin in erythrocytes and is transported into the body, which increases the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in hemoglobin. So, this article intends to highlight the potential leukopenia risk via inhalation for workers exposed to arsenic and suggests a possible mechanism for this leukopenia through the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway inhibition., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Cooperative MIMO communication systems play an important role in the development of future sixth-generation (6G) wireless systems incorporating new technologies such as massive MIMO relay systems, dual-polarized antenna arrays, millimeter-wave communications, and, more recently, communications assisted using intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In a companion paper, we provided an overview of cooperative communication systems from a tensor modeling perspective. The objective of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive tutorial on semi-blind receivers for MIMO one-way two-hop relay systems, allowing the joint estimation of transmitted symbols and individual communication channels with only a few pilot symbols. After a reminder of some tensor prerequisites, we present an overview of tensor models, with a detailed, unified, and original description of two classes of tensor decomposition frequently used in the design of relay systems, namely nested CPD/PARAFAC and nested Tucker decomposition (TD). Some new variants of nested models are introduced. Uniqueness and identifiability conditions, depending on the algorithm used to estimate the parameters of these models, are established. Two families of algorithms are presented: iterative algorithms based on alternating least squares (ALS) and closed-form solutions using Khatri-Rao and Kronecker factorization methods, which consist of SVD-based rank-one matrix or tensor approximations. In a second part of the paper, the overview of cooperative communication systems is completed before presenting several two-hop relay systems using different codings and configurations in terms of relaying protocol (AF/DF) and channel modeling. The aim of this presentation is firstly to show how these choices lead to different nested tensor models for the signals received at destination. Then, by capitalizing on these models and their correspondence with the generic models studied in the first part, we derive semi-blind receivers to jointly estimate the transmitted symbols and the individual communication channels for each relay system considered. In a third part, extensive Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to compare the performance of relay systems and associated semi-blind receivers in terms of the symbol error rate (SER) and channel estimate normalized mean-square error (NMSE). Their computation time is also compared. Finally, some perspectives are drawn for future research work.

Children with Cerebral palsy (CP) present movement and posture disorders. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS), and Visual Function Classification System (VFCS) enhance the understanding of their performance. We verified inter-rater reliability and associations between the classification levels. Physical therapists classified 100 Brazilian children with CP (3-17 years) according to GMFCS, MACS, CFCS, EDACS, and VFCS. To evaluate inter-rater reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient-ICC) two independent examiners concurrently assessed a subset of 60 participants. According to Spearman's correlation coefficients, there were associations between GMFCS/MACS ( r  = 0.81), GMFCS/CFCS ( r  = 0.70), MACS/CFCS ( r  = 0.73), GMFCS/VFCS ( r  = 0.61), MACS/VFCS ( r  = 0.61), CFCS/EDACS ( r  = 0.58), CFCS/VFCS ( r  = 0.50), and EDACS/VFCS ( r  = 0.45) ( p  < .05). The inter-rater reliability ranged from excellent (ICC = 0.93-0.99) to good (ICC = 0.89), p  < .05. The classification systems are reliable, and the levels associated with each other in Brazilian children, especially the GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS.

Introduction: Dengue is the most fatal virus disease spread by mosquito bites and Aedes aegypti is the main transmitting agent. It is an endemic disease in the tropical and subtropical regions, currently affecting more than 100 countries. Although most patients present mild forms of the disease, a considerable proportion of individuals has severe alterations in the blood count. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption pattern of blood components in epidemic and non-epidemic periods and to verify if there was an impact on dengue cases and the death rate., Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted through the collection and analysis of data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health from 2008 to 2019 on new cases and deaths from dengue, as well as the consumption of blood components in the period mentioned by hemovigilance bulletins of the Brazilian authority., Results: Regarding the results, no significant difference was found between the absolute amount of blood components used in years with an epidemic peak. Regarding the relative values, an important variation was shown among the distributive consumption patterns of blood components in the outbreak years. In the univariate linear regression analysis, there was statistical significance between the increase in the number of dengue cases and deaths from dengue with the increase in the consumption of red blood cell concentrates (RBP), platelet concentrates (PP), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and cryoprecipitate (Cryo) (p-value < 0.05). The increase in dengue cases was related to the increase in Cryo consumption with clinical significance (R² > 0.5), but dengue deaths were not correlated to the same. In multivariate analysis, all regression models had clinical and statistical significance., Conclusion: The data obtained in the present study demonstrate that there is a relevant relationship between the increase in cases and deaths from dengue with the blood components usage, especially PP, FFP and cryoprecipitate., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Context: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia around the world, totaling about 55 million cases, with an estimated growth to 74.7 million cases in 2030, which makes its treatment widely desired. Several studies and strategies are being developed considering the main theories regarding its origin since it is not yet fully understood. Among these strategies, the 5-HT 6 receptor antagonism emerges as an auspicious and viable symptomatic treatment approach for AD. The 5-HT 6 receptor belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family and is closely implicated in memory loss processes. As a serotonin receptor, it plays an important role in cognitive function. Consequently, targeting this receptor presents a compelling therapeutic opportunity. By employing antagonists to block its activity, the 5-HT 6 receptor's functions can be effectively modulated, leading to potential improvements in cognition and memory., Methods: Addressing this challenge, our research explored a promising avenue in drug discovery for AD, employing Artificial Neural Networks-Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (ANN-QSAR) models. These models have demonstrated great potential in predicting the biological activity of compounds based on their molecular structures. By harnessing the capabilities of machine learning and computational chemistry, we aimed to create a systematic approach for analyzing and forecasting the activity of potential drug candidates, thus streamlining the drug discovery process. We assembled a diverse set of compounds targeting this receptor and utilized density functional theory (DFT) calculations to extract essential molecular descriptors, effectively representing the structural features of the compounds. Subsequently, these molecular descriptors served as input for training the ANN-QSAR models alongside corresponding biological activity data, enabling us to predict the potential efficacy of novel compounds as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 6 (5-HT 6 ) antagonists. Through extensive analysis and validation of ANN-QSAR models, we identified eight new promising compounds with therapeutic potential against AD., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To confirm the diagram of the program's impact pathways and Estratégia Amamenta e Alimenta Brasil (EAAB - Brazilian Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Strategy) core functions, and to determine indicators for evaluating EAAB., Methods: This is a qualitative study within the field of implementation research. Data collection included two focus groups with EAAB implementers, document analysis, and literature review. The analysis included a review of the participants' suggestions and two stages of reviewing the diagram and the names of the impact pathways and core functions. Questions for evaluating the EAAB were then constructed based on the confirmed diagram. The indicators of the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) were adapted to the EAAB context. The evaluation questions were revised according to the RE-AIM domains and, finally, indicators were determined for each evaluation question., Results: This study advanced the analysis of EAAB implementation, defining 22 indicators for its monitoring and evaluation. Most of the indicators are already used in implementation, however, the analysis with the RE-AIM framework allowed the indicators to be updated to be more specific, measurable, and relevant to the desired objectives., Conclusion: The results of the study support the pragmatic application of RE-AIM evaluation in health programs and encourage the planning of evaluation indicators for other child health and development programs in primary care.

The compilation of ligand and structure-based molecular modeling methods has become an important practice in virtual screening applied to drug discovery. This systematic review addresses and ranks various virtual screening strategies to drive the selection of the optimal method for studies that have as their starting point a multi-ligand investigation and investigation based on the protein structure of a therapeutic target. This study shows examples of applications and an evaluation based on the objective and problematic of a series of virtual screening studies present in the ScienceDirect® database. The results showed that the molecular docking technique is widely used in scientific production, indicating that approaches that use protein structure as a starting point are the most promising strategy for drug discovery that relies on virtual screening-based research., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors play an important role in the genesis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D). In the genetic context, one of the strategies used to investigate possible associations with diabetes is the search for Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), involving the comparison of alelle frequencies, the phenotypic variations and other relevant factors, such as environmental influences and lifestyle choices, Thus, the aim of this study was to find the relationship of risk variants for T2D in SNPs (rs4994) in the ADRB3 gene; (rs1799854) in the ABCC8 gene; (rs7901695 and rs12255372) in the TCF7L2 gene; and (rs8050136) in the FTO gene in a sample of the population of the municipality of Santarém (PA), Brazilian Amazon, in the northern region of Brazil. ABCC8 (rs1799854 C>T) showed a statistically significant association with T2D. Each chosen gene and SNP has been previously implicated in T2D risk according to existing scientific literature, owing to their roles in glucose regulation and body fat.

Objectives: to identify, in the scientific literature, the care that should be provided to individuals with drug-resistant tuberculosis by nurses in primary health care., Methods: integrative review, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses study selection flowchart. Data collection was conducted in November 2022, across ten databases., Results: six studies emphasized that nurses should perform directly observed treatment; two highlighted the importance of integrated care management between tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus; two demonstrated comprehensive nursing consultation using the nursing process; one emphasized person-centered care, with discharge planning and improved hospital communication with primary health care services., Final Considerations: the care that nurses should provide to individuals with drug-resistant tuberculosis in primary health care, for care resolution, is evidence-based.

A label-free one-step lithographically masked deposition technique was implemented for the fabrication of gold nanoparticle (Au NP) micropatterns. These micropatterns serve as active substrates for surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and exhibit a substantial increase in the IR signal upon adsorption of multiple proteins compared to untreated surfaces. Micro-FTIR chemical imaging was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Au NP micropatterns as singular enhancers for SEIRAS across diverse IR-active substrates demonstrating a promising application for the detection of proteins at low concentrations within biological fluids.

Introduction/objective: During the 1150 days of COVID-19 pandemic there were great efforts to develop efficient treatments for the disease. After this long time, some drugs emerged as treatment for COVID-19. Some of them are new drugs, most of them, known drugs. These developments were triggered by information already available in patent documents. Pharmaceutical companies, therefore, rushed to conduct drugs evaluations and trials in order to deliver to the world a reasonable treatment that could reach the majority of its population. However, it is not immediately clear how companies operated to reach their goals. The ability of open innovation to achieve results assertively and faster than closed innovation strategies is questioned and therefore, it is questioned whether pharmaceutical companies use open innovation to face COVID-19., Methods: In this work, data available on patent databases were mined to inform about the scientific and technological panorama of selected drugs tested for COVID-19 treatment and to understand the perspectives of such developments during the pandemic., Results: This study evidenced that most treatments were based on known drugs, that some of the initially promising drugs were abandoned during the pandemic, and that it was able to inform if open innovation and collaborations were explored strategies., Conclusion: This study evidenced that the developments during COVID-19 were not based on open innovation by revealing a patent race towards the treatment development, but with practically no collaborations or information exchange between companies, universities, and research facilities., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background/aim: The relevance of cytogenetic markers as prognostic risk factors has been demonstrated in a vast number of studies, with many prognostication tools utilizing these factors to determine treatment approaches. Patients aged above 60 years represent an important subgroup of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, especially because they usually exhibit a poorer cytogenetic landscape and are less suitable for intensive treatments. The importance of evaluating prognostic parameters in AML, especially in low-income countries, prompted an investigation into CD38 expression and its effects., Patients and Methods: Medical records of AML patients aged above 60 years from three hospitals in Brazil's northwest region were analyzed. A total of 67 patients were evaluated in terms of overall survival and factors predicting worse outcomes. The risk stratification was performed based on the European LeukemiaNet 2022 guidelines. The analysis of immunophenotyping markers was conducted using multi-parametric flow cytometry., Results: The overall survival of CD38-positive AML patients was higher than that of patients with CD38-negative AML, with survival rates of 15.6 months versus 4 months, respectively (p-value=0.026). The impact of CD38 positivity was relevant also in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, demonstrating a positive effect on overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.33 (95%CI=0.13-0.79; p-value=0.014)., Conclusion: Expression of CD38 in patients with AML was associated with better overall survival and serves as a relevant predictor of improved outcome in patients aged above 60 years., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

The current study was conducted to statistically compare the SYBR® Green quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and the conventional plate counting (PC) method to construct growth curves of a cocktail of Weissella viridescens in pure culture under different isothermal storage conditions (4, 8, 14, and 30 °C) and in mixed culture with Leuconostoc mesenteroides at 8 °C. The efficiency and specificity of the qPCR standard curves were confirmed, and both methods were adequate to quantify the growth kinetics of W. viridescens at all isothermal temperatures, demonstrating a good correlation and agreement. The efficiencies of the standard curves varied between 98% and 102%. The SYBR® Green qPCR assay was also able to differentiate the growth curves of W. viridescens and L. mesenteroides in the mixed culture at 8 °C. Additionally, the SYBR® Green qPCR method was considered a faster and more sensitive alternative to construct growth curves under different isothermal conditions and differentiate morphologically similar lactic acid bacteria. Overall, the results suggest that the SYBR® Green qPCR method is a reliable and efficient tool to study microbial growth kinetics in pure and mixed cultures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no financial or non-financial interests that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest regarding this research. None of the authors have received any form of compensation, including honoraria or consultancy fees, from any organization that may gain or lose financially from the publication of this manuscript. The authors have no financial or personal relationships that could bias this work or create a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE) of macauba pulp oil (MPO) was performed in this study with five commercial enzymatic pools. The chemical, nutritional, and thermal properties of the oils with high oil efficiency by AEE were evaluated and compared with mechanical pressing (MP) and organic solvent extraction (SE). Among the AEE processes, the pectinase pool (at pH 5.5 and 50 °C) exhibited the highest process efficiency (88.6 %). The oils presented low acidity values (0.4-3.1 %) and low molar absorptivities, indicating minimal oil degradation. Bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, were found in MPO. The iodine index and the fatty acid profile of the oils revealed a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic and linoleic acids, with excellent nutritional scores, as evidenced by anti-atherogenicity and anti-thrombogenicity indices. These findings emphasized that AEE is an eco-friendly approach for extracting high-quality MPO with beneficial health compounds for food products., 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.)

Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to insulin resistance and type II diabetes. Caryocar brasiliense pulp oil (pequi oil - PO) is rich in oleic acid and carotenoids and positively implicated in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigated PO's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in a diet-induced obesity model. Male Wistar rats were allocated into three experimental groups: Control (CD), Western Diet (WD), and Western Diet, with 27% of lard switched by PO (WDP). Metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated after 12 weeks of diet protocols in liver and adipose tissue. WDP rats gained less body mass and epididymal fat, had less hepatic fat infiltration, and were more glucose-tolerant and insulin-sensitive than WD (p < 0.05). In the liver, the WDP group had the highest non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, SOD and GPx activities, CAT, SOD II, and HSP72 expression compared to WD (p < 0.05). Adipose tissue IL-6 and TNF were reduced, and IL-10 was increased in WDP compared to WD (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that the partial replacement of lard by PO in a Western diet prevented visceral fat accumulation and contributed to reducing inflammation in adipose tissue and liver oxidative stress, improving obesity-related insulin resistance., 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.)

Reference genes are used as internal reaction controls for gene expression analysis, and for this reason, they are considered reliable and must meet several important criteria. In view of the absence of studies regarding the best reference gene for the analysis of acute leukemia patients, a panel of genes commonly used as endogenous controls was selected from the literature for stability analysis: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( GAPDH ), Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene human homolog 1 ( ABL ), Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase 1 ( HPRT1 ), Ribosomal protein lateral stalk subunit P0 ( RPLP0 ), β-actin ( ACTB ) and TATA box binding protein ( TBP ). The stability of candidate reference genes was analyzed according to three statistical methods of assessment, namely, NormFinder, GeNorm and R software (version 4.0.3). From this study's analysis, it was possible to identify that the endogenous set composed of ACTB , ABL , TBP and RPLP0 demonstrated good performances and stable expressions between the analyzed groups. In addition to that, the GAPDH and HPRT genes could not be classified as good reference genes, considering that they presented a high standard deviation and great variability between groups, indicating low stability. Given these findings, this study suggests the main endogenous gene set for use as a control/reference for the gene expression in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from patients with acute leukemias is composed of the ACTB , ABL , TBP and RPLP0 genes. Researchers may choose two to three of these housekeeping genes to perform data normalization.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical-epidemiological profile, associated risk factors and clinical outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), identifying the main causes of morbidity and mortality and overall survival rate of patients at five years of follow-up., Method: This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating the prognosis and clinical outcomes of 222 patients diagnosed with AML at three large hematology centers in Ceará (northeastern Brazil) over a period of five years., Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 44.1 ± 16 years, with a female prevalence of 1.3:1. No additional relevant risk factors associated with the development of AML were found, except for the well-established cytogenetic assessment. The overall 5-year survival rate was 39.4% (95%CI: 35.47 - 42.17). The main causes of death were disease progression (37.72%; n = 84) and sepsis (31.58%; n = 70)., Conclusion: The clinical outcomes in our sample of AML patients were similar to those of other reported groups. Disease progression and infection were the main causes of death. Access to diagnostic flow cytometry and karyotyping was greater in our sample than in the national average. As expected, overall survival differed significantly according to the risk, as determined by cytogenetic testing., Competing Interests: Conflicts of 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 © 2022 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The global COVID-19 pandemic has increased the concern and risks of health professionals exposed by acting on the front lines in combating and controlling the spread of the virus. This study aims at analyzing the workloads and their implications for the activities carried out by managers and health workers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil., Method: This is a qualitative study, of the case study type, that integrates a macro research that deals with the experiences built during the confrontation of the pandemic of COVID-19 in the capital of the state of Amazonas, Brazil, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country. Data production resorted to documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with 56 managers or professionals from the Manaus Health Care Network. The analytical process was supported by the resources of the Atlas.ti 8.0 software and the precepts of Thematic Networks analysis., Results: The thematic network "workloads" brought together three topics related to the experience of psychological, physiological and biological loads. Psychological workloads were strongly present in the work routine, being referred to in a more significant way. The sources that increase them are strongly related to work stress, dealing with suffering and death and excess demand on the service. Physiological loads were related to excessive working hours, staff shortages and activity overload. "Biological burdens" include exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, constant contact with infected individuals, and individual protection as key elements of this set., Conclusion: The study showed that both managers and workers have work processes and environments with conditions that tend to generate workloads that harm their health and safety, as well as institutions and patient care. Therefore, there is a need for more effective organizational actions in workers' health surveillance, disease prevention, adequate working conditions, reducing workloads and promoting more resolute and less stressful work environments., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Monteiro 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.)

This study aimed to understand the expressions of fear in the journeys of health professionals who worked in the confrontation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Western Amazon. This is an exploratory qualitative study that adopts interpretive description as a method to generate informed knowledge responsive to the needs of the practice. We included 56 participants, comprising 23 health managers and 33 health workers (middle and higher level) of different professional categories. The results revealed three circles of experience: (1) knowledge and professional experience in dealing with the disease (unknown-known-experienced); (2) the growing proximity to death and loss (predicted-witnessed-suffered); and (3) the involvement and proximity to whatever affects the individual, their emotions, and personal transformations in the face of the threat (the collective, the neighbor, and oneself). Our results suggest that health professionals who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic in Manaus experienced insecurity, dread, and fear, illustrating the complexity of developing their activities in the front line of care and management during the different phases of the pandemic. A contribution of the study is precisely that of capturing this complexity, which suggests the impossibility of analyzing fear only in its simple manifestation, or in each circle of experience., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Brachial plexus injuries (BPI) affect not only body structure and function, but also several aspects of individual's well-being. Considering the crescent need for assessing such patients through a biopsychosocial perspective, linking meaningful concepts of BPI instruments to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a useful overview of how the ICF components are contemplated on the current measurements available., Purpose: To identify patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) specifically designed for BPI assessment and link the content with the ICF., Study Design: Content Analysis through ICF linking., Methods: The study was conducted in two steps: the first one encompassed a literature review to identify questionnaires specifically designed for assessing patients with BPI, where two PROMs were eligible: the Brachial Assessment Tool (BrAT) and the Impact of Brachial Plexus Injury Questionnaire (IBPIQ); in the second phase, the items of such instruments were linked to the ICF by two independent reviewers, in accordance to the methodology proposed by Cieza et al., Results: 54 different significant concepts were identified from the 74 questionnaire items and linked to 49 distinct ICF categories. The categories were mostly related to the activities and participation component (56.9%, n = 29), followed by body functions (27.45%, n = 14), body structures (9.8%, n = 5) and environmental factors component (1.96%, n = 1)., Conclusion: The questionnaires developed for adults with BPI were BrAT and IBPIQ. Although both instruments presented with a diverse coverage of ICF components, their content had a major focus on activities and participation domain and poorly or did not addressed environmental factors. Thus, other instruments could be considered in a complementary way for clinical assessment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We previously demonstrated that a 50% caloric restriction (CR) from birth improves several cardiometabolic risk factors in young rats. In this study, we investigated in middle-aged rats the consequences of a 50% CR from birth on cardiometabolic risk factors, heart function/morphology, ventricular arrhythmia, and fibrillation incidence, and cardiac intracellular proteins involved with redox status and cell survival. From birth to the age of 18 months, rats were divided into an Ad Libitum (AL18) group, which had free access to food, and a CR18 group, which had food limited to 50% of that consumed by the AL18. Resting metabolic rate, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded, and oral glucose and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests were performed. Blood was collected for biochemical analyses, and visceral fat and liver were harvested and weighed. Hearts were harvested for cardiac function, histological, redox status, and western blot analyses. The 50% CR from birth potentially reduced several cardiometabolic risk factors in 18-month-old rats. Moreover, compared with AL18, the CR18 group showed a ∼50% increase in cardiac contractility and relaxation, nearly three to five times less incidence of ventricular arrhythmia and fibrillation, ∼18% lower cardiomyocyte diameter, and ∼60% lower cardiac fibrosis. CR18 hearts also improved biomarkers of antioxidant defense and cell survival. Collectively, these results reveal several metabolic and cardiac antiaging effects of a 50% CR from birth in middle-aged rats.

Due to increasingly strong and varied performance requirements, cooperative wireless communication systems today occupy a prominent place in both academic research and industrial development. The technological and economic challenges for future sixth-generation (6G) wireless systems are considerable, with the objectives of improving coverage, data rate, latency, reliability, mobile connectivity and energy efficiency. Over the past decade, new technologies have emerged, such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay systems, intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), unmanned aerial vehicular (UAV)-assisted communications, dual-polarized (DP) antenna arrays, three dimensional (3D) polarized channel modeling, and millimeter-wave (mmW) communication. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of tensor-based MIMO cooperative communication systems. Indeed, during the last two decades, tensors have been the subject of many applications in signal processing, especially for digital communications, and more broadly for big data processing. After a brief reminder of basic tensor operations and decompositions, we present the main characteristics allowing to classify cooperative systems, illustrated by means of different architectures. A review of main codings used for cooperative systems is provided before a didactic and comprehensive presentation of two-hop systems, highlighting different tensor models. In a companion paper currently in preparation, we will show how these tensor models can be exploited to develop semi-blind receivers to jointly estimate transmitted information symbols and communication channels.

A high frequency of feline leishmaniasis has been reported in several countries. However, much information about disease progression in cats still needs to be clarified. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of clinicopathological changes in cats infected with Leishmania infantum. A total of 60 cats were divided into three groups of 20 animals each: control, suspects, and infected. All 60 cats underwent blood count and biochemical analyses. Serum samples from 20 animals with leishmaniasis were also used to diagnose feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus. A total of five of the infected animals underwent necropsy for a histopathological study. The main clinical findings in cats with leishmaniasis were lymphadenomegaly (65%), alopecia (55%), ulcerative skin lesions and weight loss (40%), skin nodules (25%), a significant reduction in red blood cells (p=0.0005) and hematocrit (p=0.0007), hyperplasia in spleen 4/5(80%), presence of Leishmania in the spleen 2/5(40%), hepatitis 3/5(60%), liver degeneration 4/5(80%) and inflammatory nephropathy 3/5(60%). It was concluded that cats with leishmaniasis presented significant clinical, hematological, and histopathological alterations compatible with L. infantum infection. The observation of lymphadenomegaly, weight loss, skin lesions and low concentration of red blood cells, contributes significantly to the diagnosis and analysis of progression of feline leishmaniasis.

The present study aimed to know and analyze the repercussions and legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Unified Health System from the perspective of health managers working in Manaus, a city considered the epicenter of the pandemic in Brazil. This qualitative research was designed as the study of a single incorporated case and conducted with 23 Health Care Network managers. The analysis was applied in two thematic coding cycles (values and focused coding methods), with the aid of the ATLAS.ti software. The categories we analyzed covered the lessons learned within the scope of the work process, change in stance, and human values, as well as the coping strategies adopted by individual or team initiatives or by the incorporation of innovations in practices. This study highlighted the importance of strengthening primary health care; of promoting team spirit in the service and establishing partnerships with public and private institutions, of being integrated with the training in complex situations, and of reflecting on human values and appreciation of life. Coping with the pandemic promoted an in-depth reflection about the functioning of the Unified Health System and the individual ways of being.

The scope of the study was to typify the violence suffered by the homeless population and analyze the associated factors in a medium-sized municipality in Minas Gerais. A cross-sectional study was conducted and data about sociodemographic status, health, risk behaviors and occurrence of violence among the homeless was collected. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to verify the association between exposure and outcomes. Of the 85 respondents, the majority were male (75.3%), aged between 40 and 59 years (59.5%), non-white (86.3%), smokers (69.4%), alcoholics (80.7%) and drug users (53.6%). The overall prevalence of violence was 62.3%. The types of violence most reported were verbal and physical aggression and threats. Being a woman (OR 42.1; 95%CI 27.8-638.0) and being non-white (OR 9.02; 95%CI 1.33-61.1) were associated with a higher risk of experiencing violence. Having no morbidity (OR 0.14; 95%CI 0.03-0.62) and living on the streets for up to five years (OR 0.17; 95%CI 0.04-0.71) revealed a negative association. It was observed how violence is present in the urban context associated with sex, race, self-reported morbidity and time living on the streets.

Objectives: Anxiety and depression are relevant comorbidities in asthma, but, in Portugal and Spain, data on this topic are scarce. We assessed, in patients with asthma, the frequency of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D); the level of agreement between these questionnaires, and the factors associated with these symptoms., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the INSPIRERS studies. A total of 614 adolescents and adults with persistent asthma (32.6±16.9 years, 64.7% female) were recruited from 30 primary care centres and 32 allergy, pulmonology and paediatric clinics. Demographic and clinical characteristics, HADS and EQ-5D were collected. A score ≥8 on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety/Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression or a positive answer to EQ-5D item 5 indicated the presence of these symptoms. Agreement was determined by Cohen's kappa. Two multivariable logistic regressions were built., Results: According to HADS, 36% of the participants had symptoms of anxiety and 12% of depression. According to EQ-5D, 36% of the participants had anxiety/depression. The agreement between questionnaires in identifying anxiety/depression was moderate (k=0.55, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.62). Late asthma diagnosis, comorbidities and female gender were predictors of anxiety/depression, while better asthma control, health-related quality of life and perception of health were associated with lower odds for anxiety/depression., Conclusion: At least 1/3 of the patients with persistent asthma experience symptoms of anxiety/depression, showing the relevance of screening these disorders in patients with asthma. EQ-5D and HADS questionnaires showed a moderate agreement in the identification of anxiety/depression symptoms. The identified associated factors need to be further investigated in long-term studies., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To understand the work organization of health professionals when coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in Manaus., Method: This is a qualitative case study which adopted ergology as theoretical framework. Data production used document analysis and semi-structured interviews with 33 health workers from the Health Care Network. The resources of the software Atlas.ti 8.0 were used for data analysis., Results: The precepts of Thematic Networks analysis revealed the following categories: "Reordering services and functions"; "Incorporation and management of instruments application"; "Professional experiences and tactics: changing roles, attitudes and relationships"., Conclusion: It was found that they express a dynamic view of the organizational process, in which the worker, when discussing past standards and comparing his/her knowledge, experiences and values, modifies the environment, flows and conducts as needed, facing the lack of safety, conditions and solidity of the technical bases of work.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy that occurs due to alterations such as genetic mutations, chromosomal translocations, or changes in molecular levels. These alterations can accumulate in stem cells and hematopoietic progenitors, leading to the development of AML, which has a prevalence of 80% of acute leukemias in the adult population. Recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities, in addition to mediating leukemogenesis onset, participate in its evolution and can be used as established diagnostic and prognostic markers. Most of these mutations confer resistance to the traditionally used treatments and, therefore, the aberrant protein products are also considered therapeutic targets. The surface antigens of a cell are characterized through immunophenotyping, which has the ability to identify and differentiate the degrees of maturation and the lineage of the target cell, whether benign or malignant. With this, we seek to establish a relationship according to the molecular aberrations and immunophenotypic alterations that cells with AML present.

This article aims to map promotion, protection, and support strategies aimed at working women who breastfeed and their potential impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDGs 5 (gender equality and women's empowerment) and 8 (decent work and economic growth). This study is a scoping review based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework, whose searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Social Science Research Network, and Open Knowledge Repository databases. This study's search obtained 576 publications, of which 33 were included in the study. The narrative synthesis was organized into three axes: 1) promotion; 2) protection, and 3) support for breastfeeding in the work context. Actions aimed at women who breastfeed at work have the potential to directly achieve SDGs 5 and 8, and indirectly achieve SDGs 1 and 10. Increased breastfeeding rates also help to achieve another four SDGs (2, 3, 4, 12). Actions aimed at working women who breastfeed can contribute directly and indirectly to the achievement of eight of the 17 SDGs, and should therefore be encouraged and reinforced.

Effective therapies for multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, especially Gram-negative bacteria, are becoming rare. Also, solid-organ transplant recipients are at high risk of MDR Gram-negative bacilli infection. Urinary tract infections are the most frequent bacterial infections in kidney transplant recipients and are an important cause of mortality after renal transplantation. We describe a case of complicated urinary tract infection in a kidney transplant patient due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) K. pneumoniae treated successfully with a regimen comprising a combination of chloramphenicol and ertapenem. We do not recommend chloramphenicol as a first-line choice for treating complicated urinary tract infections. Still, we believe it is an alternative for infections caused by MDR and/or XDR pathogens in renal transplant patients, as other options are nephrotoxic., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To synthesize the evidence about the effects of telehealth interventions provided through smart-phone apps and text messages on the behavior of adults regarding healthy food consumption., Method: A rapid systematic review of the literature was performed through searches in nine electronic databases to identify systematic reviews published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish that evaluated telehealth strategies compared to face-to-face interventions to improve dietary intake in the adult population (18 to 59 years old). Searches were performed in November 2020 and updated in April 2022. The included systematic reviews were assessed for methodological quality using the AMSTAR 2 tool., Results: Five systematic reviews were included. Methodological quality was moderate in one review and critically low in four. There was a dearth of studies comparing the use of telehealth strategies with face-to-face interventions for the promotion of healthy eating in adults. The most consistent results refer to an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables with the use of an app or text messages, in addition to improvement in the dietary habits of people with diabetes or glucose intolerance with the use of text messages., Conclusion: Positive effects were observed on healthy eating outcomes for most interventions using mobile apps or text messages; however, the findings refer to a few clinical trials with small samples that were analyzed in the systematic reviews covered in the present rapid review, most of which had low methodological quality. Thus, the current knowledge gap warrants the performance of further methodologically robust studies.

Background : Throughout recent years, periodontal disease (PD) has been linked to innumerable medical systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This association could negatively impact oral health, so the knowledge of dentists who have graduated must follow modern dentistry in order to promote oral health, mainly in systemically compromised patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine and evaluate the knowledge level of dentistry undergraduate students (DUS) regarding the correct periodontal treatment and management of cardiac patients with PD. Methods : This cross-sectional and populational-based study was conducted between March and June 2022 in northern Brazil. A total of 153 DUS received an anonymous digital form (Google Forms Platform) using a non-probabilistic "snowball" sampling technique. The digital form was composed of four blocks of dichotomous and multiple-choice questions. After signing the informed consent term, DUS were divided into three groups according to their period/semester in dentistry graduation during the study time (G1: 1st period/semester; G2: 5th period/semester and G3: 10th period/semester). A total of 25 questions referring to demographic, educational and knowledge data about the dental and periodontal care of cardiac patients with PD were asked, and all data were presented as descriptive percentages and then analyzed using the Kappa test. Results : From a total of 153 (100%) DUS, the sample was mostly composed of 104 (68%) female participants, with an average age of 21.1 years. Regarding basic knowledge, the majority of answers were no, with G1 being higher than G2 and G3. Regarding clinical questions, 1247 (58.3%) answers were no. Additionally, regarding fundamental clinical questions 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 14, the majority of G1, G2 and G3 answered no, demonstrating a major lack of knowledge. Conclusions : In our study, DUS demonstrated a low knowledge level of the dental and periodontal care of cardiac patients with PD and its bi-directional link. Thus, according to our results, an improvement in dentistry educational programs regarding periodontal medicine must be implemented.

In this work photocatalytic ethylene degradation (TiO 2 -UV) was applied in green cherry tomatoes with the aim to control biochemical and physiological changes during ripening. Photocatalytic process was performed at 18 °C  ±  2 °C and 85% HR for 10 days using continuous air flux. Ethylene, O 2 and CO 2 concentration from cherry tomatoes under TiO 2 -UV and control (c) fruits, were measured by GC-MS for 10 days. After that, the tomatoes were stored for 20 days. During the photocatalysis process, ethylene was completely degraded and control fruits, the ethylene was 28.73 nL/g. Respiration rate was lower for fruits under TiO 2 -UV than control. During storage period, cherry tomatoes treated by TiO 2 -UV, showed lower ethylene concentration, respiration rate, total soluble solid, lycopene, sugar and organic acid content than control showing that the fruits treated with photocatalysis did not reach the full maturity. In addition, all the cherry tomatoes showed different maturity stages. Fungal incidence was higher in control fruits than fruits treated with photocatalysis. This research showed for the first time that photocatalytic technology preserved the physiological quality of cherry tomatoes for 30 days of storage, being a promised technology to preserve cherries tomatoes.

Background and Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the concurrent validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set to classify physical health of older adults in relation to self-rated health., Methods: This is a methodological study conducted in Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, in Northeastern Brazil, with 101 community-dwelling older adults. The participants rated their health status, which was classified into 3 groups: very good, fair, and poor/very poor. An interview was then conducted using self-reported and objective measurements to classify physical health according to the ICF core set. It consists of 30 categories, 14 of which belong to the body function (b) component, 4 to body structures (s), 9 to activities and participation (d), and 3 related to environmental factors (e). To analyze the compromised and problematic categories in the ICF, an impairment index was created for each component. The relationship between self-rated health and the impairment indexes was assessed using the multinomial logistic regression test adjusted for age, sex, schooling, and perception of income sufficiency., Results: A greater likelihood of poor or very poor self-rated health was found in older individuals with the highest impairment index in (b) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; P < .001); (s) (OR = 1.11; P ≤ .001); (d) capacity (OR = 1.09; P = .02); and (d) performance (OR = 1.08; p = 0.01)., Conclusion: The results suggest that the ICF core set is a valid instrument to assess the physical health of older adults, since it is associated with self-rated health and shows potential for use in clinical practice and scientific research, with universal language regarding functionality and physical health in older adults., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 APTA Geriatrics, An Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association.)

Background: Left atrial (LA) volume indexing for body surface area (BSA) may underestimate LA size in obese and overweight people. Since LA volume is a risk marker for some cardiovascular events, it is suggested that indexing for height would be an alternative more appropriate method. The aims of this study were to find normal and the best cutoff values for LA volume indexed for height in our population., Methods: Echocardiograms from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed and patients without known cardiac disease and completely normal echocardiograms that had the left atrial volume (LAvol) measured by biplane Simpson's method were included. LAvol was indexed by BSA (ml/m 2 ), by height (LAvol/m), by height raised to exponent 2.7 (ml/ m 2.7 ) and by height squared (ml/h 2 )., Results: A total of 545 patients, 50.5 ± 13.4 y., 335 females (61,5%) were analyzed. There were 145 normal weight (26.6%), 215 overweight (39.4%), 154 obese (28.3%) and 31 low weight (5.7%) patients. To establish normal values we included only the normal weight group and considered normal values from 2SD below to 2SD above the mean. Mean and normal values were: LAvol/h 26.0 ±4.5, 17 - 35 ml/m, LAvol/ht 2 16 ± 2.8, 10.4 - 21.6 ml/ ht 2 and LAvol/ht 2.7 11.4 ± 2.2, 7.0 - 15.8 ml/m 2.7 . The normal LAvol/ht 2.7 differed between male and female (11.4 ± 2.4 and 12.8 ± 2.6, p < 0.001). LA diameter, LAvol, LAvol/h, LAvol/h 2 and LAvol/ht 2.7 increased progressively from low-weight, normal weight, overweight and obese patients (p< 0.0001), but not LAvol/BSA. When indexing LAvol for height, for height 2 and for height 2.7 20.8%, 22.7% and 21.4% of the obese patients, respectively, were reclassified as enlarged LA, and 7.4%, 8.8% and 8.4% of the overweight patients as well. Using ROC curve analysis, LAvol/h 2 had the highest AUC ant the best predictive value to identify LA enlargement and LAvol/BSA the worst one., Conclusions: Normal values for LAvol indexed for height by three different methods are described in normal individuals. We reinforce that LAvol indexation for BSA underestimates LA size in obese and overweight patients and in these groups, specially, indexing for height 2 is probably the best method to evaluate LAvol.

We investigated the impactof microsatellite instability (MSI) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status in gastric cancer (GC), regarding response to perioperative chemotherapy (POPChT), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). We included 137 cases of operated GC, 51 of which were submitted to POPChT. MSI status was determined by multiplex PCR and EBV status by EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. Thirty-seven (27%) cases presented as MSI-high, and seven (5.1%) were EBV+. Concerning tumor regression after POPChT, no differences were observed between the molecular subtypes, but females were more likely to respond ( p = 0.062). No significant differences were found in OS or PFS between different subtypes. In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.02, IC 95% 1.002-1.056, p = 0.033) and positive lymph nodes (HR 1.82, IC 95% 1.034-3.211, p = 0.038) were the only prognostic factors for OS. However, females with MSI-high tumors treated with POPChT demonstrated a significantly increased OS compared to females with MSS tumors ( p = 0.031). In conclusion, we found a high proportion of MSI-high cases. MSI and EBV status did not influence OS or PFS either in patients submitted to POPChT or surgery alone. However, superior survival of females with MSI-high tumors suggests that sex disparities and molecular classification may influence treatment options in GC.

The respiratory tract is the main infection site for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulting in many admissions to intensive care centers in several countries. However, in addition to lung involvement, kidney injury caused by the novel coronavirus has proven to be a significant factor related to high morbidity and mortality, alarming experts worldwide. The number of deaths has drastically reduced with the advent of large-scale immunization, highlighting the importance of vaccination as the best way to combat the pandemic. Despite the undeniable efficacy of the vaccine, the renal side effects associated with its use deserve to be highlighted, especially the emergence or reactivation of glomerulopathies mentioned in some case reports. This study aimed to identify the main renal morphological findings correlated with COVID-19 infection and its vaccination, seeking to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms, main clinical features, and outcomes., 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 Pacheco, Costa, Sousa, Salgado Filho N, Silva and Neves.)

Objective: To develop a rapid review on effective actions for the promotion of breastfeeding and healthy complementary feeding in primary health care and to summarize a list of actions and their elements for implementation., Data Source: The review included systematic reviews on the effectiveness of interventions to promote breastfeeding and/or healthy complementary feeding for mothers and other caregivers, and/or professionals who work with this population, in comparison with any usual approach or none., Data Synthesis: A total of 32 systematic reviews were included in the evidence synthesis. Ten types of interventions were evaluated in systematic reviews on promotion of breastfeeding and four types of interventions on promotion of healthy complementary feeding. The synthesis allowed six aspects to be discussed, and these must be considered to increase the chances of interventions' impact: type of intervention, target audience, timing of intervention, actors that can implement it, strategies and methods of intervention, and intensity of intervention., Conclusions: It was possible to assemble a list of actions whose effectiveness has already been demonstrated, providing elements for local adaptations. Evidence is expected to support and strengthen the implementation of programs aimed at promoting breastfeeding and complementary feeding in primary health care.

Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) is a rare type of tumour, and primary retroperitoneal PEComa is rarer still. Although pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), angiomyolipomas and clear cell 'sugar' tumours of the lung are well described, relatively little is known about other members of the PEComa family. We describe a case of an asymptomatic retroperitoneal PEComa, lymphangioleiomyoma type, which appeared in a previously healthy middle-aged woman as an incidental finding, in a CT scan performed in the context of spontaneous pneumothorax. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumour and the histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the surgical specimen made the definitive diagnosis. Although rare, reports of isolated retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyoma and primary retroperitoneal PEComas NOS (not otherwise specified) are described in the literature, normally associated with pulmonary LAM. The patient's pulmonary imaging was normal. Short-term re-examination did not detect any recurrence. We also provide a literature review of this rare group of tumours., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul) is one of the 35 threatened Brazilian primate species found in two highly endangered Brazilian biomes. Their Amazonian native populations have been declining due to exponential deforestation associated with human activities, especially the construction of dams. The studied population (n = 27) was located in the Belo Monte dam Area of Influence. For the first time, we presented hematological parameters and the basic profile of T (CD3) and B (BSAP PAX5) cells by immunocytochemistry. The results supported the hypothesis that the immuno-hematological profile is influenced by sex, age, and season. Eosinophils were significantly higher in females (p = 0.03), monocytes statistically greater in juveniles (p = 0.04), and total plasma protein increased significantly (p > 0.001) during the dry season. Furthermore, adults showed a statistically higher average absolute number of B lymphocytes than young individuals (p = 0.03), in contrast to T lymphocytes. Even without knowing the full history of antigenic exposure, these results not only contribute to elucidating the boundaries between health and disease but may help lay the groundwork for future research into the effects of anthropogenic stress on immune activation., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Japan Monkey Centre.)

This study aimed to evaluate and model the antimicrobial action of different concentrations of Croton blanchetianus essential oil (CBEO) on the behavior of six bacterial species in vitro. CBEO extraction was performed by hydrodistillation and characterized by CG-MS. CBEO solutions in culture media were tested at 0.90, 1.80, 2.71, and 4.51 mg of CBEO/mL, against foodborne bacteria: pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis at 35 °C), a non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (at 35 °C), and spoilage bacteria (Weissella viridescens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides at 30 °C). The CBEO major compounds were eucalyptol, α-pinene, sativene, E-caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene, and spatulenol. Baranyi and Roberts (growth) and Weibull (inactivation) primary models, along with power and hyperbolic secondary models, were able to describe the data. CBEO inactivated L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, L. mesenteroides and W. viridescens at all applied concentrations. CBEO did not inactivate S. Enteritidis and E. coli, but their growth rates were reduced., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The increasing overload of chronic conditions raises challenges for the health system. Informal caregivers have a major role in ensuring the quality of life of the cared-for person, despite the reported lack of working resources which can lead to unmet needs. This article reports on the first part of a nurse-led research project entitled ''Informal caregiver' profiles in Lisbon county: a health community approach.' We aimed to support decision-making by developing an informal caregiver profile to promote tailored interventions. A survey addressing the dyad was developed and submitted to a convenient, network-based, stratified sample of carers aged 18 years or above. More than thirty community partners supported the identification of caregivers. Data were submitted to univariate descriptive analysis. A profile of the cared-for person and the informal caregiver was uncovered by identifying 639 caregivers, of whom the majority lived with the cared-for person. Only four percent planned the transition to a caregiver role, and no more than 10% had access to support programs. Approximately half of the respondents found that COVID-19 negatively impacted their performance in the caregiver role. Developing a local and tailored strategy with collaboration between healthcare professionals, academics, and community partners is key to ensuring that meaningful support is provided to caregivers.

Health literacy (HL) allows people to access, understand and evaluate health information. Informal caregivers’ levels of HL may impact long-term care outcomes. ‘Informal caregivers’ profile in Lisbon county: a health community approach’ is a nurse-led research project aiming to assess informal caregivers’ health literacy and associated factors in Lisbon county, as well as to foster the development of a local-specific health literacy strategy. A survey to identify a health/social caregiver profile, including questions about HL (HLS-EU-PT), was submitted to a representative sample of carers. Descriptive and bivariate inferential analysis was developed. Informal caregivers’ level of HL was mostly sufficient (n = 99, 38%). More than 60% of caregivers have limited HL regarding health promotion. ‘Access’, ‘Appraisal’ and ‘Use’ are the information processing stages with lower mean scores of HL. Carers with low HL levels appear to be older and to have less education, low knowledge of community resources and decreased wellbeing (p < 0.05). A strategy focused on health promotion-related HL through primary care resources can potentially improve caregivers’ knowledge, competencies and motivation, as well as health system sustainability. Reported HLS-EU-PT scores deserve special attention. Future work should emphasize the role of HL-associated factors and health outcomes for caregivers and cared-for persons., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual maturation and anthropometric and blood pressure indicators in teenagers. This was a population-based cross-sectional study, conducted with 345 teenagers, aged 10 to 19 years, between 2018 and 2020. In this study, data referent to sociodemographic and anthropometric variables, blood pressure, and sexual maturation were collected. The data analysis was performed by applying the Principle Component Analysis (PCA), which generated three components and then tested the correlation between sexual maturation and the generated components. Most of the teenagers were female (53%), normotensive (66.1%), and with a normal weight (73%). A positive correlation was found between breast development and component 1 and component 2, as well as a negative correlation between the breasts and component 3. In the boys, the development of genitals and pubic hair was positively correlated with component 2 and inversely correlated with component 3. It could therefore be concluded that there is a relationship between sexual maturation and the anthropometric and blood pressure indicators, which proved to be representative variables for cardiovascular risk in teenagers, even if not in their entirety.