Feedback received and role performance: The mediating role of engagement and the moderating role of authentic living

This research aims to identify the moderating role of authentic living in the relationship between feedback received and role performance, mediated by work engagement. The data were based on a convenience sample of Brazilian workers from public and private organizations (N = 1,244). The significant interaction between the feedback and authentic living allowed us to understand that the main effects of feedback on performance take place in individuals with high authentic living. When individuals are more authentic, the information they receive about their performance more strongly affects the motivational process at work itself. This study highlights the positive relationship between work and personal resources, as well as the work engagement and performance on the other, thus contributing to increase the feedback the organizations receive about performance, as well as to create environments that facilitate authenticity.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar o papel moderador da vivência autêntica na relação do feedback recebido com o desempenho de papéis, mediado pelo engajamento no trabalho. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de uma amostra por conveniência de trabalhadores brasileiros provenientes de organizações públicas e privadas (N = 1.244). A interação significativa entre o feedback e a vivência autêntica permitiu compreender que os maiores efeitos do feedback sobre o desempenho acontecem em indivíduos com elevada vivência autêntica. Quando os indivíduos são mais autênticos, as informações que os mesmos recebem sobre o desempenho afetará mais fortemente o próprio processo motivacional no trabalho. Este estudo fornece evidências da relação positiva entre os recursos do trabalho e pessoais com o engajamento e o desempenho no trabalho, contribuindo, assim, para um aumento, por parte das organizações, do feedback recebido sobre o desempenho, bem como a criação de ambientes facilitadores de autenticidade.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar el papel moderador de la experiencia auténtica en la relación entre la retroalimentación recibida y el desempeño de roles, mediada por el compromiso laboral. Los datos se obtuvieron de una muestra por conveniencia de trabajadores brasileños de organizaciones públicas y privadas (N = 1244). La interacción significativa entre la retroalimentación y la experiencia auténtica permitió comprender que los mayores efectos de la retroalimentación sobre el desempeño ocurren en individuos con alta experiencia auténtica. Cuando los individuos son más auténticos, la información que reciben sobre el desempeño afectará más fuertemente su propio proceso motivacional en el trabajo. Este estudio proporciona evidencia de la relación positiva entre el trabajo y los recursos personales con el compromiso y el desempeño en el trabajo, de esta forma contribuyen al aumento, por parte de las organizaciones, de la retroalimentación recibida sobre el desempeño, así como a la creación de entornos propicios de autenticidad.

Mitigating interferences on LEO satellite downlinks of Earth exploration services by cognitive radio, adaptive modulation and coding techniques.

Upcoming Earth Exploration Satellite Services (EESS) missions, especially to monitor Brazilian diversified biomes, will require progressively higher data rates for downlink transmissions, besides the ability to share its frequency spectrum with cellular base stations. Both impact issues on spectral efficiency (in bps/Hz) and coexistence in frequency, time, location, etc. This paper proposes a technique suitable for LEO Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) by combining two strategies. We initially present the Cognitive Radio (CR) spectrum awareness and exploitation approaches to propose techniques for improving their uses. Next, we detail the Adaptive MODulation and CODing (MODCOD) techniques (ACM) based on DVB-S2X systems to increase RF power and spectral efficiencies. Finally, we evaluate our solution by monitoring the Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) and combining CR/MODCOD techniques. Two case studies are presented that demonstrate the proposed approach on Brazilian satellites developed by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). A real in-situ characterization of the interfering scenarios was performed during the passes of the two EESS satellites that proves the effectiveness of spectral efficiency and coexistence.

Sociocognitive factors determining compliance with standard precautions by nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the socio-cognitive factors determining adherence to standard precautions by nursing professionals in care practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. METHODS: an analytical cross-sectional study, carried out with 9,039 nursing professionals in Brazil, using an electronic form containing participant sociodemographic, training and work variables, and the Brazilian version of the Standard Precautions Questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used using the statistical software R. RESULTS: participants recognize standard precautions as effective measures to reduce infections and report intention to perform them. Training regarding standard precautions was evidenced as a facilitator of adherence (4.72; SD: 0.73), and problems related to materials (3.78; SD: 1.45) were a hindrance. CONCLUSIONS: among the determining factors, facilitating organization presented the highest score, followed by intention to perform. Facilitating and hindering factor identification makes it possible to develop intervention strategies to strengthen patient safety and reduce occupational risks among professionals.

[Epidemiological intelligence, investment in information technologies and new perspectives for the use of data in health surveillance]. / Inteligência epidemiológica, investimento em tecnologias da informação e as novas perspectivas para o uso de dados na vigilância em saúde.

In the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the incorporation of the concept of epidemic intelligence and technological resources has supported new perspectives for the use of data by health surveillance, since the COVID-19 pandemic. This article presents the Epidemiological Intelligence Center (CIE) and the tools and products developed in its coordination. The CIE was inaugurated in March 2022, with a multiprofessional team, supported by the premises of transparency and integration of various data sources for early detection of changes in the trends of events of importance in Public Health. The initial acquisition of a data lake favored changes in the consumption, management and security processes for the data processed. This data lake currently stores the Carioca Base - a retrospective cohort of individuals with a history of COVID-19 vaccination and/or events related to the disease. Descriptive and analytical dashboards have been developed and made available, respectively for public use and for health surveillance administrators. An alert panel, aimed at monitoring trends in care in the urgency and emergency network, was implemented and subsidizes rapid response actions in the city's territories. The CIE developed the concept of epidemiological intelligence in the Brazilian Unified National Health System and this paradigm shift was made possible by investments in physical/human resources, the integration of epidemiological, statistical and data science methods, as well as the incorporation of different data sources in data analysis.

No Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, a incorporação do conceito de inteligência epidêmica e de recursos tecnológicos sustentou novas perspectivas para a utilização de dados pela vigilância em saúde, a partir da pandemia de COVID-19. Neste artigo apresenta-se o Centro de Inteligência Epidemiológica (CIE), ferramentas e produtos desenvolvidos na coordenação. O CIE foi inaugurado em março de 2022, com equipe multiprofissional, apoiado nas premissas de transparência e integração de diversas fontes de dados para detecção precoce de mudanças nas tendências de eventos de importância em Saúde Pública. A aquisição inicial de um data lake favoreceu mudanças nos processos de consumo, gerenciamento e segurança para os dados processados. Esse data lake armazena, atualmente, a Base Carioca - uma coorte retrospectiva composta de indivíduos com histórico vacinal para COVID-19 e/ou eventos relacionados à doença. Painéis descritivos e analíticos foram desenvolvidos e disponibilizados, respectivamente, para uso público e para os gestores da vigilância em saúde. Um painel de alertas, voltado ao monitoramento de tendências nos atendimentos da rede de urgência e emergência municipal, foi implantado e subsidiou ações de resposta rápida nos territórios da cidade. O CIE desenvolveu o conceito de inteligência epidemiológica no Sistema Único de Saúde, e essa mudança de paradigma tornou-se possível em função de investimentos em recursos físicos/humanos, integração de métodos epidemiológicos, estatísticos e das ciências de dados, além de incorporação de fontes de dados diferenciadas nas análises de dados.

En el municipio de Río de Janeiro, Brasil, la inclusión del concepto de inteligencia epidémica y de recursos tecnológicos favoreció nuevas perspectivas en el uso de datos por parte de la vigilancia sanitaria desde la pandemia del COVID-19. Este artículo presenta el Centro de Inteligencia Epidemiológica (CIE), las herramientas y los productos desarrollados en coordinación. El CIE se creó en marzo de 2022 con un equipo multidisciplinar bajo las premisas de transparencia e integración de diversas fuentes de datos para la detección temprana de cambios en las tendencias a grandes eventos en Salud Pública. La adquisición inicial de un data lake promovió cambios en los procesos de consumo, gestión y seguridad de los datos procesados. Este data lake almacena actualmente la Base Carioca, una cohorte retrospectiva compuesta por individuos con antecedentes de vacunación contra el COVID-19 y/o eventos relacionados con la enfermedad. Se desarrollaron paneles descriptivos y analíticos, y se los pusieron a disposición, respectivamente, para uso público y para los gerentes de la vigilancia sanitaria. Se implementó un panel de alerta, dirigido a monitorear las tendencias a la asistencia en la red de urgencia y emergencia del municipio, el cual subvenciona acciones de pronta respuesta en los territorios de la ciudad. El CIE desarrolló el concepto de inteligencia epidemiológica en el Sistema Único de Salud, y este cambio de paradigma se hizo posible gracias a las inversiones en recursos físicos/humanos, la integración de métodos epidemiológicos, estadísticos y de ciencia de datos, además de la inclusión de fuentes de datos diferenciadas en el análisis de datos.

The duration of antibiotic therapy for fracture related infection does not affect recurrence but leads to increased adverse effects: a comparison among 6, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment.

PURPOSE: The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for fracture-related infection (FRI) has not been well defined. Our aim was to assess the recurrence rate of infection in patients who underwent six, 12, or 24 weeks of antibiotic therapy following surgical treatment for FRI one year after antibiotic discontinuation. Additionally, complications were monitored. METHODS: Patients with FRI underwent surgical treatment, and antibiotic therapy was initiated. The patients were divided into groups at the 6th and 12th weeks of antibiotic therapy. The primary endpoint was the recurrence of deep or superficial infection at 90 days and one year after the end of antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS: There was no difference in the recurrence of infection 90 days or one year after stopping antibiotic therapy among patients treated for six, 12, or 24 weeks (p = 0.98 and p = 0.19, respectively). The overall recurrence rate of infection 90 days after stopping antibiotic therapy was 4.9% (8/163), and one year after discontinuation of antibiotic therapy was 9.8% (16/163). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects among the three groups (chi-square; p = 0.01). Adverse effects were more common in the group treated for 24 weeks than in the groups treated for 6 weeks (z score, p = 0.017) or 12 weeks (z score, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic therapy longer than 6 weeks did not reduce the recurrence of FRI after one year of follow-up. Additionally, antibiotic treatment for 24 weeks increases adverse events such as skin reactions and acute renal failure.

II Brazilian Society of Rheumatology consensus for lupus nephritis diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To develop the second evidence-based Brazilian Society of Rheumatology consensus for diagnosis and treatment of lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: Two methodologists and 20 rheumatologists from Lupus Comittee of Brazilian Society of Rheumatology participate in the development of this guideline. Fourteen PICO questions were defined and a systematic review was performed. Eligible randomized controlled trials were analyzed regarding complete renal remission, partial renal remission, serum creatinine, proteinuria, serum creatinine doubling, progression to end-stage renal disease, renal relapse, and severe adverse events (infections and mortality). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to develop these recommendations. Recommendations required ≥82% of agreement among the voting members and were classified as strongly in favor, weakly in favor, conditional, weakly against or strongly against a particular intervention. Other aspects of LN management (diagnosis, general principles of treatment, treatment of comorbidities and refractory cases) were evaluated through literature review and expert opinion. RESULTS: All SLE patients should undergo creatinine and urinalysis tests to assess renal involvement. Kidney biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing LN but, if it is not available or there is a contraindication to the procedure, therapeutic decisions should be based on clinical and laboratory parameters. Fourteen recommendations were developed. Target Renal response (TRR) was defined as improvement or maintenance of renal function (±10% at baseline of treatment) combined with a decrease in 24-h proteinuria or 24-h UPCR of 25% at 3 months, a decrease of 50% at 6 months, and proteinuria < 0.8 g/24 h at 12 months. Hydroxychloroquine should be prescribed to all SLE patients, except in cases of contraindication. Glucocorticoids should be used at the lowest dose and for the minimal necessary period. In class III or IV (±V), mycophenolate (MMF), cyclophosphamide, MMF plus tacrolimus (TAC), MMF plus belimumab or TAC can be used as induction therapy. For maintenance therapy, MMF or azathioprine (AZA) are the first choice and TAC or cyclosporin or leflunomide can be used in patients who cannot use MMF or AZA. Rituximab can be prescribed in cases of refractory disease. In cases of failure in achieving TRR, it is important to assess adherence, immunosuppressant dosage, adjuvant therapy, comorbidities, and consider biopsy/rebiopsy. CONCLUSION: This consensus provides evidence-based data to guide LN diagnosis and treatment, supporting the development of public and supplementary health policies in Brazil.

Estratégias adotadas pelos profissionais de enfermagem a partir da violência sofrida na urgência e emergência / Strategies adopted by nursing professionals based on the violence suffered in urgency and emergency / Estrategias adoptadas por los profesionales de enfermería basadas en la violencia sufrida en urgencia y emergencia

Objetivo: identificar os significados e estratégias adotadas pelos profissionais de enfermagem em situações de violência em uma unidade de urgência e emergência. Método: estudo descritivo, qualitativo, tendo como suporte teórico-conceitual o interacionismo simbólico, que utilizou um grupo focal de oito profissionais da equipe de enfermagem de um serviço de urgência e emergência hospitalar. Resultados: os significados foram complexos e as estratégias adotadas foram tolerância à violência para manter o controle no ambiente de trabalho, gerenciamento de conflito, tentando aplacar a situação de violência, buscar a segurança de terceiros e adotar um posicionamento de afastamento do atendimento ao paciente/acompanhante agressor. Conclusão: a violência significou diversas concepções frequentemente negativas, e as estratégias adotadas pelos profissionais de enfermagem evidenciam a tentativa de evitar o sofrimento perpetuado pelos pacientes no serviço de urgência e emergência hospitalar. Os diversos atores sociais devem sinergicamente propiciar meios para a proteção dos profissionais.

Objective: To identify the strategies adopted and meanings constructed by nursing professionals exposed to violence in an urgency and emergency unit. Method:A descriptive, qualitative study based on symbolic interactionism was conducted with eight nursing professionals from a hospital urgency and emergency service by means of a focus group. Results: The meanings were complex and the strategies adopted were tolerance towards violence to maintain control in the workplace, conflict management seeking to placate the situation, seek the safety of third parties and withdrawal from caring for the offending patient/companion. Conclusion: Violence was often conceptualized negatively and the strategies adopted by nursing professionals show an attempt to avoid the harm perpetrated by emergency patients. The various social actors implicated should synergistically provide means for protecting professionals

Objetivo: identificar los significados y estrategias adoptadas por los profesionales de enfermería en situación de violencia en una unidad de urgencia y emergencia. Método:estudio descriptivo, cualitativo, con interaccionismo simbólico como marco teórico y conceptual, que utilizó un grupo focal formado por ocho profesionales del equipo de enfermería de un servicio de urgencia y emergencia hospitalaria. Resultados: los significados fueron complejos, y las estrategias adoptadas se centraron en la tolerancia a la violencia para mantener el control en el ambiente de trabajo, el manejo de conflictos buscando aplacar la situación de violencia, la búsqueda de seguridad de terceros y la adopción de una posición de retiro de la atención al paciente/acompañante infractor. Conclusión: la violencia significó varias concepciones que muchas veces son negativas, y las estrategias adoptadas por los profesionales de enfermería muestran el intento de evitar el sufrimiento perpetuado por los pacientes en el servicio de emergencia hospitalaria. Los diversos actores sociales deben proporcionar sinérgicamente medios para la protección de los profesionales

Position statement of the Brazilian society of Rheumatology on mesna use as a preventive therapy for bladder disease in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis under cyclophosphamide treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review current literature to support the use of mesna as a preventive therapy for hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis treated with cyclophosphamide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search for articles was conducted systematically through MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Only articles in English were selected. For available records, titles and abstracts were selected independently by two investigators. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were selected for analysis. The known adverse effects of cyclophosphamide were hematological toxicity, infections, gonadal toxicity, teratogenicity, increased risk for malignancy and hemorrhagic cystitis. Long-term toxicity was highly dependent on cyclophosphamide cumulative dose. The risk of bladder cancer is especially higher in long-term exposure and with cumulative doses above 36 g. The risk remains high for years after drug discontinuation. Hemorrhagic cystitis is highly correlated with cumulative dose and its incidence ranges between 12 and 41%, but it seems to be lower with new regimens with reduced cyclophosphamide dose. No randomized controlled trials were found to analyze the use of mesna in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and systemic vasculitis. Retrospective studies yielded conflicting results. Uncontrolled prospective studies with positive results were considered at high risk of bias. No evidence was found to support the use of mesna during the treatment with cyclophosphamide for autoimmune diseases or systemic vasculitis to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer. In the scenarios of high cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (i.e., > 30 g), patients with restricted fluid intake, neurogenic bladder, therapy with oral anticoagulants, and chronic kidney disease, mesna could be considered. CONCLUSION: The current evidence was found to be insufficient to support the routine use of mesna for the prophylaxis of hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients being treated for systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis with cyclophosphamide. The use may be considered for selected cases.

Cytotoxicity and Biological Activities of Geopopolis Extract from the Stingless bee (Melipona scutellaris) in Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Geopropolis resins are produced by stingless bees (Meliponinae), developed from the collection of resinous materials, waxes and exudates, from the flora of the region where stingless bees are present, in addition to the addition of clay or earth in its composition. Several biological activities are attributed to Ethanol Extracts of Geopropolis (EEGP). The bioactive properties are associated with the complex chemical composition that the samples have. This work aims to evaluate the biological activities of the EEGP, in order to contribute with a natural therapeutic alternative, to face infections, mainly those caused by resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The EEGP MIC tests showed antibacterial activity against two strains of S. aureus, both at concentrations of 550 µg/mL. The MBC performed with the inhibition values showed that the EEGP has bacteriostatic activity in both strains. Biofilm inhibition rates exhibited an average value greater than 65 % at the highest concentration. The EEGP antioxidant potential test showed good antioxidant activity (IC50) of 11.05±1.55 µg/mL. In the cytotoxicity test against HaCat cells, after 24 hours, EEGP induced cell viability at the three tested concentrations (550 µg/mL: 81.68±3.79 %; 1100 µg/mL: 67.10±3.76 %; 2200 µg/mL: 67.40±1.86 %). In view of the above, the safe use of EEGP from the brazilian northeast could be proven by the cytotoxicity test, and its use as an antioxidant and antibacterial agent has proven to be effective, as an alternative in combating oxidative stress and microorganisms such as S. aureus, which, through the spread and ongoing evolution of drug resistance, generates an active search for effective solutions.

Demographic, social, and clinical aspects associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará province, Brazilian Amazon.

Internal social disparities in the Brazilian Amazon became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this work was to examine the demographic, social and clinical factors associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará Province in the Brazilian Amazon. This was an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study using a quantitative method through an online survey conducted from May to August 2023. People were eligible to participate if they were current residents of Pará, 18-years-old or older, with self-reported diagnoses of COVID-19 through rapid or laboratory tests. Participants completed an electronic survey was developed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) software-The adapted questionnaire "COVID-19 Global Clinical Platform: Case Report Form for Post-COVID Condition". Questions focused on access to COVID-19 treatment, demographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine and clinical characteristics. Respondent-driven sampling was applied to recruit participants. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to identify the associated factors. Overall, a total of 638 participants were included. The average age was 31.1 years. Access to COVID-19 health care was 68.65% (438/638). The participants most likely to access health care were those with moderate or severe COVID-19 (p = 0.000; OR: 19.8) and females (p = 0.001; OR: 1.99). Moreover, participants who used homemade tea or herbal medicines were less likely to receive health care for COVID-19 in health services (p = 0.002; OR: 0.54). Ensuring access to healthcare is important in a pandemic scenario.

Knowledge of the workers of the construction industry about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmitted by biological, socioeconomic and cultural factors that increase the vulnerability of certain population groups such as civil construction workers. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of workers in the construction industry about infection by HIV and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted, including 381 construction workers, in the cities of João Pessoa, Cabedelo, and Santa Rita, in the State of Paraíba, Brazil, performed through interviews, using a data collection instrument with social demographic variables and the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive measures, and for comparison between the categories the Kruskal-Wallis test was used, with margin of error of 5%. RESULTS: A predominance of male workers was observed (97.4%) among 381 workers; aged 30-39 (34.1%); married (81.4%); with up to eight years of education (66.6%); family income of up to 2x the minimum wage (52.8%) and coming from the country (43.8%). The average of correct responses was 63.3%, with higher indices (70.0%) related to transmission and forms of prevention. There were higher percentages of hits among those who had studied for 12 years or more. Workers from the capital of Paraíba presented a higher number of correct responses (67.44%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a low index of knowledge of construction workers about HIV, highlighting their consequent vulnerability to acquiring this infection.

Frequency and characterization of the accessory heads of the biceps brachii: A multicentric cadaveric study.

PURPOSE: The biceps brachii muscle (BBM) is a large and thick muscle on the ventral portion of the upper arm. The scientific literature reports the existence of extra heads. OBJECTIVE: The present work investigated the frequency of occurrence of BBM accessory head(s) in four different Anatomy Laboratories at universities in Northeast Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Once the upper limbs with an anatomical variation of the BBM heads were identified, the accessory head was evaluated for morphometric characterization (the length, width, and thickness). RESULTS: The sample consisted of 249 upper limbs and the outcomes were 26 members with BBM accessory heads (10.44% of the total sample). Among the 26 members studied was found a single accessory head in 22 (84.62%), two accessory heads in 3 (11.54%), and three accessory heads in 1 (3.85%). BBMs with one, two, and three accessory heads were found, with different origins. The average length, width, and thickness of these accessory heads were 169.39mm, 10.25mm, and 3.39mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The frequency of BBM accessory heads in a population of northeastern Brazil in this cadaveric study was 10.44%.

BRAF p.V600E Mutational Status Does Not Correlate with Biological Behavior in Conventional Ameloblastomas: A Disease-Free Survival Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the MAPK pathway appears to exert a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ameloblastomas, since BRAF p.V600E has been reported in over 65% of the tumors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the BRAF p.V600E is related to biological behavior and disease-free survival in patients with conventional ameloblastomas. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study based on the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) recommendations. The study population consisted of individuals treated for conventional ameloblastomas. Clinical, imaging, histomorphological, immunohistochemical (Ki67 and CD138/syndecan-1), and molecular BRAF p.V600E mutation analyses were performed. Bivariate statistical analysis was performed through chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to identify predictors of disease-free survival, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Forty-one individuals were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.15:1. BRAF p.V600E mutation was identified in 75.6% of the tumors. No association between the BRAF mutational status and other clinical, imaging, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical variables was observed. Only the initial treatment modality was significantly associated with a better prognosis in univariate (p = 0.008) and multivariate (p = 0.030) analyses, with a hazard ratio of 9.60 (95%IC = 1.24-73.89), favoring radical treatment. CONCLUSION: BRAF p.V600E mutation emerges as a prevalent molecular aberration in ameloblastomas. Nevertheless, it does not seem to significantly affect the tumor proliferative activity, CD138/syndecan-1-mediated cell adhesion, or disease-free survival outcomes.

It was not possible to detect BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma: A diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma. METHODS: This is a prospective diagnostic accuracy study conducted based on the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy recommendations. The index test was the plasma-based liquid biopsy, whereas the reference standard was the conventional tissue biopsy. The target condition was the detection of BRAF V600E mutation. The study population consisted of individuals with ameloblastoma recruited from three tertiary hospitals from Brazil. A negative control group composed of three individuals with confirmed wild-type BRAF lesions were included. The participants underwent plasma circulating cell-free DNA and tumor tissue DNA isolation, and both were submitted to using competitive allele-specific TaqMan™ real-time polymerase chain reaction technology mutation detection assays. Sensitivity and specificity measures and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve patients with conventional ameloblastoma were included. BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 11/12 (91.66%) ameloblastoma tissue samples. However, the mutation was not detected in any of the plasma-based liquid biopsy circulating cell-free DNA samples in both ameloblastomas and negative control group. The sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA was 0.0 and 1.0, respectively. The agreement between index test and reference standard results was 26.66%. CONCLUSION: Plasma-based liquid biopsy does not seem to be an accurate method for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma, regardless of tumor size, anatomic location, recurrence status, and other clinicopathological features.

Temporomandibular joint disorders in skeletal class II patients referred to orthognathic surgery: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in subjects with skeletal class II dentofacial deformity referred for orthognathic surgery, as well as to elucidate its association with sociodemographic and psychosocial features. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. The sample comprised class II skeletal patients referred to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery center in the Brazilian Northeast. RESULTS: Seventy-three subjects were enrolled and completed the data collection, which consisted of a physical examination according to Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and facial analysis. Women represented 82.2% of the sample. Among the assessed subjects, 68.5% were already undergoing orthodontic treatment, and the mean overjet of patients was 6.97 mm. The prevalence of TMD in this sample was 46.6%, with muscular disorders being the most common. Patients with an anteroposterior discrepancy greater than 7 mm showed a higher occurrence of TMD (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of TMD in skeletal class II patients referred for orthognathic surgery, especially in those with a pronounced overjet, being Group I (muscular disorders) and Group III (degenerative disorders) the most prevalent.

Sexual behavior of university students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sexual behaviors of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Mixed study, carried out on four campuses of a public university in Paraíba, Brazil, between March 2021 and April 2022. The research followed ethical precepts. RESULTS: 404 university students were included, with an average age of 23.7 years, predominantly female, brown and single. The prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections was 7.9%. Male students were more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Multiple logistic regression indicated that university students aged 25 or over who had engaged in casual sex in the last 12 months and had received or paid for sex were more likely to have sexually transmitted infections. The content analysis showed that social isolation was reflected in reduced consumption of alcohol and other substances, reduced sexual practices, increased use of social networks, as well as low adherence to condoms. CONCLUSION: Physical distancing has an impact on the sexual behavior of university students, as well as on the consumption of alcohol and other substances.

Chitosan-based films filled with nanoencapsulated essential oil: Physical-chemical characterization and enhanced wound healing activity.

The economic burden of chronic wounds, the complexity of the process of tissue repair and the possibility of resistant bacterial infections, have triggered a significant research interest in the application of natural alternative therapies for wound healing. Biomolecules are intrinsically multi-active, as they affect multiple mechanisms involved in tissue repair phenomenon, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, cell proliferation, extra cellular matrix remodeling and angiogenesis. Chitosan features a unique combination of attributes, including intrinsic hemostatic, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties, that make it an exceptional candidate for wound management, in the development of wound dressings and scaffolds. In this study, we produced nanoemulsions (NE) loaded with SFO, characterized them, and evaluated their tissue repairing properties. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis confirmed the formation of a nanoemulsion with a droplet size of 21.12 ± 2.31 nm and a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.159, indicating good stability for up to 90 days. To investigate the potential wound healing effects, SFO-loaded NE were applied on male C57BL/6 mice for seven consecutive days, producing a significantly higher wound closure efficiency (p < 0.05) for the group treated with SFO-loaded NE compared to the control group treated with the saline solution. This finding indicates that the SFO-loaded NE exhibits therapeutic properties that effectively promote wound healing in this experimental model. Then, SFO-loaded NE were incorporated into chitosan:polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films. The inclusion of NE into the polymer matrix resulted in increased lipophilicity reflected by the contact angle results, while decreasing moisture absorption, water solubility, and crystallinity. Moreover, FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of new bonds between SFO-NE and the film matrix, which also impacted on porosity properties. Thermal analysis indicated a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the films due to the presence of SFO-NE, suggesting a plasticizing role of NE, confirmed by XRD results, that showed a decrease in the crystallinity of the blend films upon the addition of SFO-NE. AFM images showed no evidence of NE droplet aggregation in the Chitosan:PVA film matrix. Moisture absorption and water content decreased upon incorporation of SFO-loaded NE. Although the inclusion of NE increased hydrophobicity and water contact angle, the values remained within an acceptable range for wound healing applications. Overall, our results emphasize the significant tissue repairing properties of SFO-loaded NE and the potential of Chitosan:PVA films containing nanoencapsulated SFO as effective formulations for wound healing with notable tissue repairing properties.

Association between circulating micronutrient pattern, glycemic control, and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The circulating micronutrient pattern in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may impact glycemic control and insulin resistance; however, there is a scarcity of studies that have evaluated the circulating micronutrient pattern in the T2DM population. Therefore, our objective was to identify circulating micronutrient pattern and their association with markers of glycemic control and insulin resistance in individuals with T2DM. We developed a cross-sectional observational study involving adults with T2DM in Sergipe, Brazil. We assessed plasma levels of magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Additionally, also measured fasting glucose levels, the percentage of glycated hemoglobin (%HbA1c), and calculated the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Patterns of body reserve were established using principal component analysis and categorized into quartiles. Binary logistic regression models were employed. We evaluated 114 individuals (63.7% women), with a median age and body mass index of 49 years and 29.6 kg/m², respectively. Two circulating micronutrient patterns were identified, explaining 62.5% of the variance: Pattern 1 (positive contributions from magnesium, zinc, calcium, and potassium) and Pattern 2 (positive contributions from 25-hydroxyvitamin D and zinc, with a negative contribution from potassium). Lowest quartile for Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 exhibiting a 4.32-fold (p = 0.019) and 3.97-fold (p = 0.038) higher likelihood of increasing HOMA-IR and %HbA1c values, respectively, compared to the larger quartiles. However, no associations were found between these patterns and fasting glucose values. Lowest quartile for both patterns of micronutrients was associated with inadequate metabolic control in individuals with T2DM.

Aleitamento materno e o processo de adaptação no contexto familiar: abordagem qualitativa / Breastfeeding and the adjustment process in the family context: a qualitative approach

OBJETIVO: Compreender a adaptação das mulheres ao processo de amamentação e o apoio familiar e dos serviços de saúde. MÉTODO: Estudo qualitativo fundamentado no referencial metodológico da Etnoenfermagem, conforme a Teoria de Enfermagem Transcultural de Leininger. Foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. RESULTADOS: Evidenciaram-se três categorias temáticas: "Enfrentando algo inesperado, mutável e desafiador"; "Convivendo com dúvidas, incertezas e desorientação" e "Identificando fontes de apoio para a manutenção da amamentação". CONCLUSÃO: O processo de adaptação do aleitamento materno é permeado por dúvidas, incertezas e desafios. As mulheres apoiam-se em suas experiências prévias e na cultura familiar e sofrem influência direta destas. O papel da atenção básica é essencial nesse contexto.

OBJECTIVE: To understand women's adaptation to the breastfeeding process and the support provided by family and health services. METHOD: A qualitative study based on the methodological framework of Ethnonursing, following Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory. A semi-structured interview guide was used. RESULTS: Three thematic categories were identified: "Facing something unexpected, changing, and challenging"; "Dealing with doubts, uncertainties, and disorientation"; and "Identifying sources of support for breastfeeding maintenance". CONCLUSION: The breastfeeding adjustment process has doubts, uncertainties, and challenges. Women rely on and are directly influenced by their past experiences and family culture. The role of primary health care is crucial in this context.