Exploring the challenges of avoiding collisions with virtual pedestrians using a dual-task paradigm in individuals with chronic moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (m/sTBI), despite experiencing good locomotor recovery six months post-injury, face challenges in adapting their locomotion to the environment. They also present with altered cognitive functions, which may impact dual-task walking abilities. Whether they present collision avoidance strategies with moving pedestrians that are altered under dual-task conditions, however, remains unclear. This study aimed to compare between individuals with m/sTBI and age-matched control individuals: (1), the locomotor and cognitive costs associated with the concurrent performance of circumventing approaching virtual pedestrians (VRPs) while attending to an auditory-based cognitive task and; (2) gaze behaviour associated with the VRP circumvention task in single and dual-task conditions. METHODOLOGY: Twelve individuals with m/sTBI (age = 43.3 ± 9.5 yrs; >6 mo. post injury) and 12 healthy controls (CTLs) (age = 41.8 ± 8.3 yrs) were assessed while walking in a virtual subway station viewed in a head-mounted display. They performed a collision avoidance task with VRPs, as well as auditory-based cognitive tasks (pitch discrimination and auditory Stroop), both under single and dual-task conditions. Dual-task cost (DTC) for onset distance of trajectory deviation, minimum distance from the VRP, maximum lateral deviation, walking speed, gaze fixations and cognitive task accuracy were contrasted between groups using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: In contrast to CTLs who showed locomotor DTCs only, individuals with m/sTBI displayed both locomotor and cognitive DTCs. While both groups walked slower under dual-task conditions, only individuals with m/sTBI failed to modify their onset distance of trajectory deviation and maintained smaller minimum distances and smaller maximum lateral deviation compared to single-task walking. Both groups showed shorter gaze fixations on the approaching VRP under dual-task conditions, but this reduction was less pronounced in the individuals with m/sTBI. A reduction in cognitive task accuracy under dual-task conditions was found in the m/sTBI group only. CONCLUSION: Individuals with m/sTBI present altered locomotor and gaze behaviours, as well as altered cognitive performances, when executing a collision avoidance task involving moving pedestrians in dual-task conditions. Potential mechanisms explaining those alterations are discussed. Present findings highlight the compromised complex walking abilities in individuals with m/sTBI who otherwise present a good locomotor recovery.

Short-duration dynamic power training with elastic bands combined with endurance training: a promising approach to hypertension management in older adults.

Previous studies have investigated the effects of different combined training programs involving traditional resistance training and aerobic exercise on hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness in older adults. However, little is known about the impact of power training combined with endurance training on these variables in hypertensive older adults. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dynamic power training with elastic bands combined with endurance training on arterial stiffness and hemodynamic parameters in hypertensive older adults. Twenty-six participants were randomly assigned to the control group (CG; n = 13) and the intervention group (n = 13). IG participants performed power training with elastic bands combined with endurance training twice a week for 8 weeks. Pulse pressure, central pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, SBP, DBP, central SBP, and central DBP were assessed before and after 8 weeks using the triple pulse wave velocity method. Pulse pressure, central pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, SBP, DBP, central SBP, and central DBP significantly improved after 8 weeks of intervention (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that power training with elastic bands combined with endurance training reduces arterial stiffness and significantly improves hemodynamic parameters in older adults diagnosed with grade 1 hypertension. In addition, underscores the potential of this approach as a promising strategy for the management of hypertension in older adults.

Lung cancer screening in Brazil: recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, Brazilian Thoracic Association, and Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging.

Although lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common and lethal tumors, only 15% of patients are diagnosed at an early stage. Smoking is still responsible for more than 85% of cases. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduces LC-related mortality by 20%, and that reduction reaches 38% when LCS by LDCT is combined with smoking cessation. In the last decade, a number of countries have adopted population-based LCS as a public health recommendation. Albeit still incipient, discussion on this topic in Brazil is becoming increasingly broad and necessary. With the aim of increasing knowledge and stimulating debate on LCS, the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, the Brazilian Thoracic Association, and the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging convened a panel of experts to prepare recommendations for LCS in Brazil. The recommendations presented here were based on a narrative review of the literature, with an emphasis on large population-based studies, systematic reviews, and the recommendations of international guidelines, and were developed after extensive discussion by the panel of experts. The following topics were reviewed: reasons for screening; general considerations about smoking; epidemiology of LC; eligibility criteria; incidental findings; granulomatous lesions; probabilistic models; minimum requirements for LDCT; volumetric acquisition; risks of screening; minimum structure and role of the multidisciplinary team; practice according to the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System; costs versus benefits of screening; and future perspectives for LCS.

Resequencing and characterization of the first Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis genome isolated from camel.

Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a zoonotic Gram-positive bacterial pathogen known to cause different diseases in many mammals, including lymph node abscesses in camels. Strains from biovars equi and ovis of C. pseudotuberculosis can infect camels. Comparative genomics could help to identify features related to host adaptation, and currently strain Cp162 from biovar equi is the only one from camel with a sequenced genome. Methods: In this work, we compared the quality of three genome assemblies of strain Cp162 that used data from the DNA sequencing platforms SOLiD v3 Plus, IonTorrent PGM, and Illumina HiSeq 2500 with an optical map and investigate the unique features of this strain. For this purpose, we applied comparative genomic analysis on the different Cp162 genome assembly versions and included other 129 genomes from the same species. Results: Since the first version of the genome, there was an increase of 88 Kbp and 121 protein-coding sequences, a decrease of pseudogenes from 139 to 53, and two inversions and one rearrangement corrected. We identified 30 virulence genes, none associated to the camel host, and the genes rpob2 and rbpA predicted to confer resistance to rifampin. In comparison to 129 genomes of the same species, strain Cp162 has four genes exclusively present, two of them code transposases and two truncated proteins, and the three exclusively absent genes lysG, NUDIX domain protein, and Hypothetical protein. All 130 genomes had the rifampin resistance genes rpob2 and rbpA. Our results found no unique gene that could be associated with tropism to camel host, and further studies should include more genomes and genome-wide association studies testing for genes and SNPs.

Lung cancer screening in Brazil: recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, Brazilian Thoracic Association, and Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging / Recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Torácica, Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia e Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem para o rastreamento do câncer de pulmão no Brasil

ABSTRACT Although lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common and lethal tumors, only 15% of patients are diagnosed at an early stage. Smoking is still responsible for more than 85% of cases. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduces LC-related mortality by 20%, and that reduction reaches 38% when LCS by LDCT is combined with smoking cessation. In the last decade, a number of countries have adopted population-based LCS as a public health recommendation. Albeit still incipient, discussion on this topic in Brazil is becoming increasingly broad and necessary. With the aim of increasing knowledge and stimulating debate on LCS, the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, the Brazilian Thoracic Association, and the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging convened a panel of experts to prepare recommendations for LCS in Brazil. The recommendations presented here were based on a narrative review of the literature, with an emphasis on large population-based studies, systematic reviews, and the recommendations of international guidelines, and were developed after extensive discussion by the panel of experts. The following topics were reviewed: reasons for screening; general considerations about smoking; epidemiology of LC; eligibility criteria; incidental findings; granulomatous lesions; probabilistic models; minimum requirements for LDCT; volumetric acquisition; risks of screening; minimum structure and role of the multidisciplinary team; practice according to the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System; costs versus benefits of screening; and future perspectives for LCS.

RESUMO O câncer de pulmão (CP) é uma das neoplasias mais comuns e letais no Brasil, e apenas 15% dos pacientes são diagnosticados nos estágios iniciais. O tabagismo persiste como o responsável por mais de 85% de todos os casos. O rastreamento do CP (RCP) por meio da TC de baixa dosagem de radiação (TCBD) reduz a mortalidade do CP em 20%, e, quando combinado com a cessação do tabagismo, essa redução chega a 38%. Na última década, diversos países adotaram o RCP como recomendação de saúde populacional. No Brasil, embora ainda incipiente, a discussão sobre o tema é cada vez mais ampla e necessária. Com o intuito de aumentar o conhecimento e estimular o debate sobre o RCP, a Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Torácica, a Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia e o Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem constituíram um painel de especialistas para elaborar as recomendações para o RCP. As recomendações aqui apresentadas foram baseadas em revisão narrativa da literatura, com ênfase em grandes estudos populacionais, em revisões sistemáticas e em recomendações de diretrizes internacionais, sendo construídas após ampla discussão pelo grupo de especialistas. Os temas revisados foram os seguintes: porque rastrear, considerações gerais sobre tabagismo, epidemiologia do CP, critérios de elegibilidade, achados incidentais, lesões granulomatosas, modelos probabilísticos, requisitos mínimos da TCBD, aquisições volumétricas, riscos do rastreamento, estrutura mínima e papel da equipe multidisciplinar, conduta segundo o Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS), custos vs. benefícios e perspectivas do rastreamento.

The Application of an Eco-Friendly Synthetic Polymer as a Sandy Soil Stabilizer.

The conducted investigation encompassed the comprehensive integration of mechanical, environmental, chemical, and microstructural evaluations of a composite amalgamating sandy soil and a synthetic polymer at two distinct concentrations (2.5% and 5%) across multiple curing intervals (0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, 30, and 45 days). The studied soil originates from an environmentally significant protected area in Brazil. The implementation of mechanisms for soil improvement in the region must adhere to technical criteria without causing environmental harm. Direct shear testing was conducted, permeability was assessed, and microstructure analysis and XRD and XRF/EDX studies of both the soil and composites were conducted. It was observed that longer curing times yielded improved results in shear stress, friction angle, and cohesive intercept, with SP_5% exhibiting the highest values compared with the soil and SP_2.5%. Adding the polymeric solution to the soil contributed to cementation and cohesion gains in the substrate. Through microstructural characterization, the polymer's role as a cementing agent for the grains is evident, forming a film on the grains and binding them together. Based on the analyses and studies conducted in the research, it can be concluded that there is technical feasibility for applying the polymeric solution at both dosages in geotechnical projects.

Comprehensive probiogenomics analysis of the commensal Escherichia coli CEC15 as a potential probiotic strain.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have gained attention for their potential maintaining gut and immune homeostasis. They have been found to confer protection against pathogen colonization, possess immunomodulatory effects, enhance gut barrier functionality, and mitigate inflammation. However, a thorough understanding of the unique mechanisms of effects triggered by individual strains is necessary to optimize their therapeutic efficacy. Probiogenomics, involving high-throughput techniques, can help identify uncharacterized strains and aid in the rational selection of new probiotics. This study evaluates the potential of the Escherichia coli CEC15 strain as a probiotic through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo analyses, comparing it to the well-known probiotic reference E. coli Nissle 1917. Genomic analysis was conducted to identify traits with potential beneficial activity and to assess the safety of each strain (genomic islands, bacteriocin production, antibiotic resistance, production of proteins involved in host homeostasis, and proteins with adhesive properties). In vitro studies assessed survival in gastrointestinal simulated conditions and adhesion to cultured human intestinal cells. Safety was evaluated in BALB/c mice, monitoring the impact of E. coli consumption on clinical signs, intestinal architecture, intestinal permeability, and fecal microbiota. Additionally, the protective effects of both strains were assessed in a murine model of 5-FU-induced mucositis. RESULTS: CEC15 mitigates inflammation, reinforces intestinal barrier, and modulates intestinal microbiota. In silico analysis revealed fewer pathogenicity-related traits in CEC15, when compared to Nissle 1917, with fewer toxin-associated genes and no gene suggesting the production of colibactin (a genotoxic agent). Most predicted antibiotic-resistance genes were neither associated with actual resistance, nor with transposable elements. The genome of CEC15 strain encodes proteins related to stress tolerance and to adhesion, in line with its better survival during digestion and higher adhesion to intestinal cells, when compared to Nissle 1917. Moreover, CEC15 exhibited beneficial effects on mice and their intestinal microbiota, both in healthy animals and against 5FU-induced intestinal mucositis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the CEC15 strain holds promise as a probiotic, as it could modulate the intestinal microbiota, providing immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and reinforcing the intestinal barrier. These findings may have implications for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, particularly some forms of diarrhea.

Analysis of pulmonary function in post-Covid-19 patients at a university hospital / Análise da função pulmonar de pacientes com síndrome pós-covid-19 em um hospital universitário

Objective: Evaluate the spirometry pattern of patients who persisted with respiratory symptoms after infection with SARS-Cov-2. Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study in a single center, approved by the local Ethics Committee (registration number: 5,120,720). Patients who underwent spirometry due to Post-Covid Syndrome were evaluated to analyze the spirometric pattern presented. The following were collected: exam identification data, sex, age, symptom time, the need for mechanical ventilation, and quality of spirometry, in addition to the following exam parameters: FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEV 25-75/FVC, and FEV 75, evaluating the Lower Limit of Normality, pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator values. Results: Data from 72 patients were collected. Of these, 55.5% of patients had spirometry results within normal limits. The most frequent respiratory alteration was obstructive respiratory disorder, present in 29.2% of the patients. Conclusions: The presence of dyspnea in patients with normal spirometry may indicate further evaluation of lung function and other etiologies for dyspnea (AU).

Objetivo: Avaliar o padrão de espirometria de pacientes que persistiram com sintomas respiratórios após a infecção pelo SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: Estudo transversal, observacional e retrospectivo realizado em um único centro, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética local (número do parecer: 5.120.720). Foram avaliados pacientes submetidos a espirometria devido à Síndrome Pós-Covid, a fim de analisar o padrão espirométrico apresentado. Os seguintes dados foram coletados: identificação do exame, sexo, idade, tempo de sintomas, necessidade de ventilação mecânica, qualidade da espirometria, além dos seguintes parâmetros do exame: CVF, VEF1, VEF1/CVF, VEF 25-75/CVF e VEF 75, avaliando o Limite Inferior da Normalidade, valores pré-broncodilatador e pós-broncodilatador. Resultados: Foram coletados dados de 72 pacientes. Destes, 55,5% apresentaram resultados espirométricos dentro dos limites normais. A alteração respiratória mais frequente foi o distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo, presente em 29,2% dos pa-cientes. Conclusões: A presença de dispneia em pacientes com espirometria dentro da normalidade pode indicar uma avaliação adicional da função pulmonar, assim como outras etiologias para a dispneia (AU).

Leveraging advanced ai algorithms for predicting outcomes in non-acute coronary syndrome chest pain patients

INTRODUCTION: Chest pain is often encountered in emergency rooms and the detection of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major focus. However, a notable percentage of patients present with a diverse range of nonACS conditions. Accurately identifying the causes and outcomes of these cases can prevent unnecessary interventions, reduce healthcare costs, and optimize resource allocation. This study aims to explore how advanced AI algorithms can enhance risk assessment, refine classification, and predict outcomes in nonACS chest pain patients using conventional ECG analysis. METHODS: We studied 3458 nonACS patients referred to the Emergency Room at Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia with chest pain. A total of 185 features, including sex, height, ECG diagnostic statements, and measures, were used. The predicted outcome was defined as hospitalization within 14 days and/or death (1 or 0). We employed the AutoGluon framework for feature engineering and early model selection. XGBoost, a tree-based model, was chosen as the architecture. Training and k-fold stratified cross-validation were performed using an oversampled balanced dataset, and evaluation metrics such as AUROC, specificity, and sensitivity were measured using the original data. RESULTS: In this study, 18.2% (630 patients) had a positive outcome. The sex distribution was comparable between outcome groups, with men accounting for 57-58% and women for 42-43%. Significant differences (p<0.01) were observed in ECG intervals (QRS, corrected QT, RR interval, PSP) between the groups. The AI model identified important diagnostic statements, including normal ECG (19.4), atrial fibrillation (7.4), left ventricular hypertrophy (7.1), Ischemic T-wave inversion in inferior leads (6.7), T-wave changes in inferior leads (5.9), and first-degree atrioventricular block (5.8). The AI model performed exceptionally well, with a sensitivity of 97.93%, specificity of 96.08%, and an AUROC of 0.97. CONCLUSIONS: The AI model demonstrated its ability to predict outcomes in patients with acute chest pain without ACS, making it an appealing tool for effective risk stratification. The early identification provided by the AI model presents an opportunity for timely intervention to mitigate adverse outcomes.

Effects of combined muscle power and endurance training with different volumes on functional and hemodynamic parameters in previously trained older adults.

BACKGROUND: To promote optimal neuromuscular and cardiovascular gains in older adults, it seems crucial to investigate the effects of different combined training volumes in this population. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the effects of combined muscle power training (MPT) and endurance training (ET) with different volumes on functional and hemodynamic parameters in previously trained older adults. METHODS: Twenty-five older adults were randomly assigned to either the lower-volume group (LVG; n = 13) or the higher-volume group (HVG; n = 12). In the LVG, participants performed 1 set of 6 repetitions for each exercise, followed by 10 min of walking exercise. In the HVG, participants performed 2 sets of 6 repetitions for each exercise, followed by 20 min of walking exercise. Lift from the ventral decubitus position (LPDV), timed up-and-go (TUG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed before and after 8 weeks. RESULTS: Significant increases in LPDV test occurred in both groups after 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvements in TUG performance occurred in both groups from week 0 to week 8 (p < 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed between groups in functional parameters (p > 0.05). SBP and DBP remain unchanged (p > 0.05) in both groups over the experimental period. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that lower-volume and higher-volume of combined MPT and ET promoted improvements in functional parameters. This study has an important practical application, as it indicates that regardless of the volume (lower or higher), comparable improvements are observed in functional parameters in previously trained older adults.

Probiogenomics of Leuconostoc Mesenteroides Strains F-21 and F-22 Isolated from Human Breast Milk Reveal Beneficial Properties.

Bacteria of the Leuconostoc genus are Gram-positive bacteria that are commonly found in raw milk and persist in fermented dairy products and plant food. Studies have already explored the probiotic potential of L. mesenteroides, but not from a probiogenomic perspective, which aims to explore the molecular features responsible for their phenotypes. In the present work, probiogenomic approaches were applied in strains F-21 and F-22 of L. mesenteroides isolated from human milk to assess their biosafety at the molecular level and to correlate molecular features with their potential probiotic characteristics. The complete genome of strain F-22 is 1.99 Mb and presents one plasmid, while the draft genome of strain F-21 is 1.89 Mb and presents four plasmids. A high percentage of average nucleotide identity among other genomes of L. mesenteroides (≥ 96%) corroborated the previous taxonomic classification of these isolates. Genomic regions that influence the probiotic properties were identified and annotated. Both strains exhibited wide genome plasticity, cell adhesion ability, proteolytic activity, proinflammatory and immunomodulation capacity through interaction with TLR-NF-κB and TLR-MAPK pathway components, and no antimicrobial resistance, denoting their potential to be candidate probiotics. Further, the strains showed bacteriocin production potential and the presence of acid, thermal, osmotic, and bile salt resistance genes, indicating their ability to survive under gastrointestinal stress. Taken together, our results suggest that L. mesenteroides F-21 and F-22 are promising candidates for probiotics in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Trichoderma agriamazonicum sp. nov. (Hypocreaceae), a new ally in the control of phytopathogens.

The genus Trichoderma comprises more than 500 valid species and is commonly used in agriculture for the control of plant diseases. In the present study, a Trichoderma species isolated from Scleronema micranthum (Malvaceae) has been extensively characterized and the morphological and phylogenetic data support the proposition of a new fungal species herein named Trichoderma agriamazonicum. This species inhibited the mycelial growth of all the nine phytopathogens tested both by mycoparasitism and by the production of VOCs, with a highlight for the inhibition of Corynespora cassiicola and Colletotrichum spp. The VOCs produced by T. agriamazonicum were able to control Capsicum chinense fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum scovillei and no symptoms were observed after seven days of phytopathogen inoculation. GC-MS revealed the production of mainly 6-amyl-α-pyrone, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone during interaction with C. scovillei in C. chinense fruit. The HLPC-MS/MS analysis allowed us to annotate trikoningin KBII, hypocrenone C, 5-hydroxy-de-O-methyllasiodiplodin and unprecedented 7-mer peptaibols and lipopeptaibols. Comparative genomic analysis of five related Trichoderma species reveals a high number of proteins shared only with T. koningiopsis, mainly the enzymes related to oxidative stress. Regarding the CAZyme composition, T. agriamazonicum is most closely related to T. atroviride. A high protein copy number related to lignin and chitin degradation is observed for all Trichoderma spp. analyzed, while the presence of licheninase GH12 was observed only in T. agriamazonicum. Genome mining analysis identified 33 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of which 27 are new or uncharacterized, and the main BGCs are related to the production of polyketides. These results demonstrate the potential of this newly described species for agriculture and biotechnology.

Angina bolhosa hemorrágica: características clínicas, histopatológicas, diagnóstico e estratégias terapêuticas

Introdução: A angina bolhosa hemorrágica (ABH) é uma condição rara, benigna e geralmente assintomática, caracterizada pelo surgimento súbito de bolhas preenchidas com sangue nas superfícies mucosas da cavidade oral e orofaringe. Objetivo: Este trabalho tem como propósito fornecer uma análise abrangente das características clínicas, etiológicas e histopatológicas da angina bolhosa hemorrágica, além de abordar métodos de diagnóstico e opções de tratamento. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma busca por artigos científicos publicados de 2010 a 2023, nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) e ScienceDirect. Foram coletados artigos em inglês e português utilizando as palavras-chave "angina bolhosa hemorrágica", "estomatite bolhosa hemorrágica benigna", "hemorrhagic bullous angina" e "benign hemorrhagic bullous stomatitis". Conclusão: A ABH é escassamente documentada na literatura, com muitos dados ausentes ou subnotificados. Embora seja uma condição benigna com rápida evolução espontânea, o procedimento diagnóstico deve ser rigoroso para descartar outras possíveis lesões.

Introduction: Hemorrhagic bullous angina (ABH) is a rare, benign and generally asymptomatic condition, characterized by the sudden appearance of blisters filled with blood on the mucous surfaces of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Objective: This work aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the clinical, etiological and histopathological characteristics of hemorrhagic bullous angina, in addition to addressing diagnostic methods and treatment options. Materials and methods: A search was carried out for scientific articles published from 2010 to 2023, in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and ScienceDirect databases. Articles were collected in English and Portuguese using the keywords "hemorrhagic bullous angina", "benign hemorrhagic bullous stomatitis", "hemorrhagic bullous angina" and "benign hemorrhagic bullous stomatitis". Conclusion: ABH is scarcely documented in the literature, with many data missing or underreported. Although it is a benign condition with rapid spontaneous evolution, the diagnostic procedure must be rigorous to rule out other possible lesions.

Aspectos clínicos, radiográficos e estratégias terapêuticas da Síndrome de Eagle: revisão de literatura / Clinical, radiographic aspects and therapeutic strategies of Eagle Syndrome: literature review

Objetivo: Este trabalho tem como propósito fornecer uma análise abrangente das características anatômicas, clínicas e radiográficas da Síndrome de Eagle, além de abordar os métodos de diagnóstico e estratégias terapêuticas. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma busca por artigos científicos publicados no período de 2016 a 2024, utilizando as bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) e Google Scholar. A coleta de artigos foi realizada nos idiomas inglês e português, utilizando as palavras-chave: "síndrome de eagle", "síndrome estiloide", "síndrome da artéria carótida", "estilalgia", "eagle syndrome", "styloid syndrome", "carotid artery syndrome" e "stylalgia". Conclusão: Os profissionais devem estar atentos à síndrome de Eagle em casos de dor unilateral ao realizar atividades como engolir, bocejar e chorar, sem causa aparente, especialmente em mulheres adultas que não encontram alívio com analgésicos. Devido à frequência de casos assintomáticos, a realização precoce de exames radiológicos desempenha um papel crucial na avaliação diagnóstica. É essencial que profissionais de Otorrinolaringologia, Neurologia e Odontologia estejam cientes dessa síndrome, pois está associada a uma significativa deterioração na qualidade de vida. (AU)

Objective: This work aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the anatomical, clinical and radiographic characteristics of Eagle Syndrome, in addition to addressing diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies. Materials and methods: A search was carried out for scientific articles published between 2016 and 2024, using the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases. Articles were collected in English and Portuguese, using the keywords: "eagle syndrome", "styloid syndrome", "carotid artery syndrome", "stilalgia", "eagle syndrome", "styloid syndrome", "carotid artery syndrome" and "stylalgia". Conclusion: Professionals should be aware of Eagle syndrome in cases of unilateral pain when performing activities such as swallowing, yawning and crying, without an apparent cause, especially in adult women who do not find relief with analgesics. Due to the frequency of asymptomatic cases, early radiological examinations play a crucial role in diagnostic evaluation. It is essential that Otorhinolaryngology, Neurology and Dentistry professionals are aware of this syndrome, as it is associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life. (AU)

Total Osteopontin and Its Isoform OPN4 Are Differently Expressed in Respiratory Samples during Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Infection and Progression.

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection affects the human respiratory tract, causing an acute and highly contagious disease. Individuals with comorbidities and in the extremes of age are classified as risk groups for serious clinical outcomes. However, part of the severe infections and fatalities are observed among young healthy individuals. Noteworthy, influenza infections lack specific prognostic biomarkers that would predict the disease severity. Osteopontin (OPN) has been proposed as a biomarker in a few human malignancies and its differential modulation has been observed during viral infections. However, OPN expression levels in the primary site of IAV infection have not been previously investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the transcriptional expression patterns of total OPN (tOPN) and its splicing isoforms (OPNa, OPNb, OPNc, OPN4, and OPN5) in 176 respiratory secretion samples collected from human influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases and a group of 65 IAV-negative controls. IAV samples were differentially classified according to their disease severity. tOPN was more frequently detected in IAV samples (34.1%) when compared with the negative controls (18.5%) (p < 0.05), as well as in fatal (59.1%) versus non-fatal IAV samples (30.5%) (p < 0.01). OPN4 splice variant transcript was more prevalent in IAV cases (78.4%) than in the negative controls (66.1%) (p = 0.05) and in severe cases (85.7%) in relation to the non-severe ones (69.2%) (p < 0.01). OPN4 detection was also associated with severity symptoms such as dyspnea (p < 0.05), respiratory failure (p < 0.05), and oxygen saturation < 95% (p < 0.05). In addition, the OPN4 expression level was increased in the fatal cases of respiratory samples. Our data indicated that tOPN and OPN4 had a more pronounced expression pattern in IAV respiratory samples, pointing to the potential use of these molecules as biomarkers to evaluate disease outcomes.

Environmental Biofilms from an Urban Community in Salvador, Brazil, Shelter Previously Uncharacterized Saprophytic Leptospira.

Biofilms are complex microecosystems with valuable ecological roles that can shelter a variety of microorganisms. Spirochetes from the genus Leptospira have been observed to form biofilms in vitro, in rural environments, and in the kidneys of reservoir rats. The genus Leptospira is composed of pathogenic and non-pathogenic species, and the description of new species is ongoing due to the advent of whole genome sequencing. Leptospires have increasingly been isolated from water and soil samples. To investigate the presence of Leptospira in environmental biofilms, we collected three distinct samples of biofilms formed in an urban setting with poor sanitation: Pau da Lima, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. All biofilm samples were negative for the presence of pathogenic leptospires via conventional PCR, but cultures containing saprophytic Leptospira were identified. Whole genomes were generated and analyzed for twenty isolates obtained from these biofilms. For species identification, we used digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis. The obtained isolates were classified into seven presumptive species from the saprophytic S1 clade. ANI and dDDH analysis suggest that three of those seven species were new. Classical phenotypic tests confirmed the novel isolated bacteria as saprophytic Leptospira. The isolates presented typical morphology and ultrastructure according to scanning electron microscopy and formed biofilms under in vitro conditions. Our data indicate that a diversity of saprophytic Leptospira species survive in the Brazilian poorly sanitized urban environment, in a biofilm lifestyle. We believe our results contribute to a better understanding of Leptospira biology and ecology, considering biofilms as natural environmental reservoirs for leptospires.

Enhanced mercury phytoremediation by Pseudomonodictys pantanalensis sp. nov. A73 and Westerdykella aquatica P71.

Mercury is a non-essential and toxic metal that induces toxicity in most organisms, but endophytic fungi can develop survival strategies to tolerate and respond to metal contaminants and other environmental stressors. The present study demonstrated the potential of mercury-resistant endophytic fungi in phytoremediation. We examined the functional traits involved in plant growth promotion, phytotoxicity mitigation, and mercury phytoremediation in seven fungi strains. The endophytic isolates synthesized the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid, secreted siderophores, and solubilized phosphate in vitro. Inoculation of maize (Zea mays) plants with endophytes increased plant growth attributes by up to 76.25%. The endophytic fungi stimulated mercury uptake from the substrate and promoted its accumulation in plant tissues (t test, p < 0.05), preferentially in the roots, which thereby mitigated the impacts of metal phytotoxicity. Westerdykella aquatica P71 and the newly identified species Pseudomonodictys pantanalensis nov. A73 were the isolates that presented the best phytoremediation potential. Assembling and annotation of P. pantanalensis A73 and W. aquatica P71 genomes resulted in genome sizes of 45.7 and 31.8 Mb that encoded 17,774 and 11,240 protein-coding genes, respectively. Some clusters of genes detected were involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites such as dimethylcoprogen (NRPS) and melanin (T1PKS), which are metal chelators with antioxidant activity; mercury resistance (merA and merR1); oxidative stress (PRX1 and TRX1); and plant growth promotion (trpS and iscU). Therefore, both fungi species are potential tools for the bioremediation of mercury-contaminated soils due to their ability to reduce phytotoxicity and assist phytoremediation.

Viscoelastic Properties of Human Facial Skin and Comparisons with Facial Prosthetic Elastomers.

Prosthesis discomfort and a lack of skin-like quality is a source of patient dissatisfaction with facial prostheses. To engineer skin-like replacements, knowledge of the differences between facial skin properties and those for prosthetic materials is essential. This project measured six viscoelastic properties (percent laxity, stiffness, elastic deformation, creep, absorbed energy, and percent elasticity) at six facial locations with a suction device in a human adult population equally stratified for age, sex, and race. The same properties were measured for eight facial prosthetic elastomers currently available for clinical usage. The results showed that the prosthetic materials were 1.8 to 6.4 times higher in stiffness, 2 to 4 times lower in absorbed energy, and 2.75 to 9 times lower in viscous creep than facial skin (p < 0.001). Clustering analyses determined that facial skin properties fell into three groups-those associated with body of ear, cheek, and remaining locations. This provides baseline information for designing future replacements for missing facial tissues.

Characterization of Peptaibols Produced by a Marine Strain of the Fungus Trichoderma endophyticum via Mass Spectrometry, Genome Mining and Phylogeny-Based Prediction.

Trichoderma is recognized as a prolific producer of nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) known as peptaibols, which have remarkable biological properties, such as antimicrobial and anticancer activities, as well as the ability to promote systemic resistance in plants against pathogens. In this study, the sequencing of 11-, 14- and 15-res peptaibols produced by a marine strain of Trichoderma isolated from the ascidian Botrylloides giganteus was performed via liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Identification, based on multilocus phylogeny, revealed that our isolate belongs to the species T. endophyticum, which has never been reported in marine environments. Through genome sequencing and genome mining, 53 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified as being related to bioactive natural products, including two NRP-synthetases: one responsible for the biosynthesis of 11- and 14-res peptaibols, and another for the biosynthesis of 15-res. Substrate prediction, based on phylogeny of the adenylation domains in combination with molecular networking, permitted extensive annotation of the mass spectra related to two new series of 15-res peptaibols, which are referred to herein as "endophytins". The analyses of synteny revealed that the origin of the 15-module peptaibol synthetase is related to 18, 19 and 20-module peptaibol synthetases, and suggests that the loss of modules may be a mechanism used by Trichoderma species for peptaibol diversification. This study demonstrates the importance of combining genome mining techniques, mass spectrometry analysis and molecular networks for the discovery of new natural products.

Hospital admission and mortality rates for non-COVID-19 respiratory diseases in Brazil's public health system during the covid-19 pandemic: a nationwide observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions (HA), intra-hospital deaths (HD), and intra-hospital lethality rates (HL) related to respiratory diseases (RD) other than COVID-19 in Brazil. METHODS: This observational time-series study was conducted through comparative analyses of the HA, HD, and HL related to non-COVID-19 RD registered between March and December 2020 by the Brazilian Unified Public Health System on the DataSUS Tabnet platform, using as reference the values recorded in the same period of 2019 and those projected by linear regression methods for 2020, considering the period from 2015 to 2019. The adopted statistical significance level was 5% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Compared to 2019, in 2020, there was a 42% decrease in HA and a 7.4% decrease in total HD related to non-COVID-19 RD, followed by a 60% increase in HL associated with this group of diseases. The HA and HL registered in 2020 differed significantly from the projected trend for that year by linear regression (p < 0.05). Of note, a significant reduction in hospitalizations due to asthma (-46%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (-45%), bronchiectasis (-54%), pneumonia (-46%), and acute bronchitis (-73%) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: During the first 8 months of the pandemic, there was a decline in HA and an increase in HL related to non-COVID-19 RD in Brazil, which can hypothetically reflect logistical challenges and delays in the management of this group of diseases.