Soil bacteria and fungi communities are shaped by elevation influences in Colombian forest and páramo natural ecosystems.

The influence of elevation on natural terrestrial ecosystems determines the arrangements of microbial communities in soils to be associated with biotic and abiotic factors. To evaluate changes of fungi and bacteria at the community level along an elevational gradient (between 1000 and 3800 m.a.s.l.), physicochemical measurements of soils, taxonomic identifications of plants, and metabarcoding sequences of the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the ITS1 region for fungi were obtained. The bacterial taxonomic composition showed that Acidobacteriota increased in abundance with elevation, while Actinobacteriota and Verrucomicrobiota decreased. Furthermore, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria maintained maximum levels of abundance at intermediate elevations (1200 and 2400 m.a.s.l.). In fungi, Ascomycota was more abundant at higher elevations, Basidiomycota tended to dominate at lower elevations, and Mortierellomycota had a greater presence at intermediate sites. These results correlated with the edaphic parameters of decreasing pH and increasing organic carbon and available nitrogen with elevation. In addition, the Shannon index found a greater diversity in bacteria than fungi, but both showed a unimodal pattern with maximum values in the Andean Forest at 2400 m.a.s.l. Through the microbial characterization of the ecosystems, the elevational gradient, soil properties, and vegetation were found to exert significant effects on microbial communities and alpha diversity indices. We conclude that the most abundant soil microorganisms at the sampling points differed in abundance and diversity according to the variations in factors influencing ecological communities.

Effects of enamel moistening and repositioning guide color on tooth whitening outcomes: A clinical trial.

This clinical trial investigated the effects of pre-application enamel moistening on the impact of a 37% carbamide peroxide whitener on tooth color changes and the influence of repositioning guide colors. Forty participants were randomly assigned to in-office tooth bleaching with either moistened enamel (experimental) or dry enamel (control). The whitener was applied for 45 min over two sessions. Tooth color was visually measured or assessed using a spectrophotometer with purple or green silicone guides. Tooth bleaching was assessed using CIE76 (ΔEab ) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00 ) formulas and by whitening and bleaching index score changes. Moistening the enamel did not significantly affect tooth color. However, the guide color choice only impacted tooth color when measured instrumentally. At baseline, the green guide resulted in statistically significantly whiter teeth than the purple guide. Less pronounced differences in the b* coordinate between baseline and final measurements were found using the green guide. The green guide also produced lower ΔEab values and less change in indexes. In conclusion, moistening the enamel did not significantly impact tooth color changes. However, the repositioning guide color influenced the tooth bleaching measured instrumentally, except for ΔE00 .

Feeding characteristics and growth among children with prenatal exposure to Zika virus with and without microcephaly in the microcephaly epidemic research group pediatric cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the feeding characteristics and growth of children with prenatal exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) from birth to 48 months. DESIGN: Using data from the prospective Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Pediatric Cohort (MERG-PC), children without microcephaly born to mothers with evidence of ZIKV infection during pregnancy (ZIKV-exposed children without microcephaly) and children with Zika-related microcephaly were compared using repeated cross-sectional analyses within the following age strata: birth; 1 to 12; 13 to 24; 25 to 36; and 37 to 48 months. The groups were compared in relation to prematurity, birth weight, breastfeeding, alternative feeding routes, dysphagia and anthropometric profiles based on the World Health Organization Anthro z-scores (weight-length/height, weight-age, length/height-age and BMI-age). RESULTS: The first assessment included 248 children, 77 (31.05%) with microcephaly and 171 (68.95%) without microcephaly. The final assessment was performed on 86 children. Prematurity was 2.35 times higher and low birth weight was 3.49 times higher in children with microcephaly. The frequency of breastfeeding was high (> 80%) in both groups. On discharge from the maternity hospital, the frequency of children requiring alternative feeding route in both groups was less than 5%. After 12 months of age, children with microcephaly required alternative feeding route more often than children without microcephaly. In children with microcephaly, the z-score of all growth indicators was lower than in children without microcephaly. CONCLUSIONS: Children with Zika-related microcephaly were more frequently premature and low birth weight and remained with nutritional parameters, i.e., weight-for-age, weight-for-length/height and length/height-for-age below those of the children without microcephaly.

In silico prediction of ADMET parameters and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and cytotoxic activities promoted by indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds.

Cancer is a complex and multifactorial disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and is one of the main causes of death in the world. This work aimed to evaluate a small series of 10 different indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds as potential antitumor agents. This is a pioneering study. For this, the antioxidant and cytotoxic capacity against normal and tumor cells was evaluated. The results showed that the compounds were able to promote moderate to low antioxidant activity for the ABTS radical scavenging assay. ADMET in silico assays showed that the compounds exhibited good oral bioavailability. As for toxicity, they were able to promote low cytotoxicity against normal cells, in addition to not being hemolytic. The compounds showed promising in vitro antitumor activity against the T47D, MCF-7, Jurkat and DU-145 strains, not being able to inhibit the growth of the Hepg2 strain. Through this in vitro study, it can be concluded that the compounds are potential candidates for antitumor agents.

New races with wider virulence indicate rapid evolution of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in the Southern Cone of America.

Wheat yellow (stripe) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. Pst populations are composed of multiple genetic groups, each carrying one or more races characterized by different avirulence/virulence combinations. Since the severe epidemics in 2017, yellow rust has become the most economically important wheat foliar disease in Uruguay. A set of 124 Pst isolates collected from wheat fields in Uruguay between 2017 and 2021 were characterized phenotypically and 27 of those isolates were subsequently investigated in-depth by additional molecular genotyping and race phenotyping analyses. Three genetic groups were identified, i.e., PstS7, PstS10 and PstS13, the latter being the most prevalent. Two races previously reported in Europe, Warrior (PstS7) and Benchmark (PstS10), were detected in four and two isolates, respectively. A third race known as Triticale2015 (PstS13), first detected in Europe in 2015 and in Argentina in 2017, was detected at several locations. Additional virulence to Yr3, Yr17, Yr25, Yr27 or Yr32 was detected in three new race variants within PstS13. The identification of these new races, which have not been reported outside South America, provides strong evidence of the local evolution of virulence in Pst during the recent epidemic years.

Effect of gingival barrier brands on operator perception, cervical adaptation, and patient comfort during in-office tooth bleaching: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Light-cured resins are widely used as gingival barriers to protect the gums from highly concentrated peroxides used in tooth bleaching. The impact of barrier brand on clinical outcomes is typically considered negligible. However, there is limited evidence on the effects of different brands on operator experience, barrier adaptation, and patient comfort. OBJECTIVE: This clinical trial assessed the impact of four commercial gingival barrier brands (Opaldam, Topdam, Lysadam, and Maxdam) on operator perception, adaptation quality, and patient comfort. METHODS: Twenty-one undergraduate students placed gingival barriers in a randomized sequence using blinded syringes. Photographs of the barriers were taken from frontal and incisal perspectives. After bleaching procedures, operators rated handling features and safety using Likert scale forms. Two experienced evaluators independently assessed barrier adaptation quality on a scale from 1 (perfect) to 5 (unacceptable). The absolute risk of barrier-induced discomfort was recorded. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Chi-square tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Opaldam and Topdam received the highest scores in most handling features, except for removal, which was similar among all brands. No significant difference was observed in barrier adaptation quality between the evaluated brands. Discomforts were mainly reported in the upper dental arch, with Maxdam having the highest absolute risk (35% for this arch and 24% overall). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that gingival barrier brands can influence operator perception and patient comfort. Opaldam and Topdam were preferred by operators, but all brands demonstrated comparable adaptation quality. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was nested in a randomized clinical trial registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry under identification number RBR-9gtr9sc.

Advanced glycosylation end products as metabolic predictors of systemic pro-inflammatory and prooxidant status in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Controlling systemic proinflammatory and prooxidant effectors is essential for mitigating cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, monitoring these processes is still challenging due to the high uncertainty about their determinants and predictors. Thus, we investigated the relationship between advanced glycosylation end products (AGE), proinflammatory and prooxidant effectors in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). In addition to nutritional profile and dialysis efficiency, AGE, cytokines, chemokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), total (TAC) and non-protein (npAC) antioxidant capacity, lipid and protein oxidation were analyzed in blood samples from 43 HD patients. AGE, CRP, cytokines, chemokines, protein carbonyl (PCn), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were upregulated, while TAC and npAC were down-regulated in HD patients compared to heath subjects. Dialysis efficiency, TAC and npAC were reduced, while leucocytes counting, pre- and post-HD urea, TNF, IL-6, IL-10, CCL-2, MIP-1ß, PCn, and MDA were increased in patients with higher AGE accumulation compared to those with lower AGE levels. Serum levels of CRP, protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and all cytokines and chemokines analyzed were correlated with AGE circulating levels for patients with higher AGE accumulation. AGE was inversely correlated with IL-10, TAC and npAC in patients with higher AGE accumulation. AGE exhibited predictive value (determination coefficient) to explain CRP, cytokines, chemokines, PCN, MDA, TAC and npAC variability in patients with higher AGE levels. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that AGE accumulation is associated with important proinflammatory and prooxidant effectors in patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis. Thus, AGE monitoring may be relevant to predict systemic inflammatory stress and the balance between oxidant and antioxidant status in these patients.

Olive oil and wine as source of multi-target agents in the prevention of Alzheimer disease.

Olive oil and wine are consumed daily worldwide, and they constitute the fundamental pillars of the healthy Mediterranean diet. Polyphenolic compounds, naturally present in both olive oil and wine, are responsible for their beneficial properties. Current studies have shown the neuroprotective effects of polyphenols independently of their well-known antioxidant action. In this work, we have focused on reviewing the protective effect of polyphenols from extra virgin olive oil and wine in Alzheimer´s disease (AD), to emphasise that both foods could be a possible therapeutic tool. Beneficial effects have been described in ß-aggregation, neurofibrillary tangles, autophagy and mitochondrial function, as well as in cerebral insulin resistance. Furthermore, to date, a harmful dose has not been described. Both pre-clinical and clinical works demonstrate that polyphenols act on neuropathological and cognitive disorders of AD, preventing or stopping the onset of this devastating disease. However, there are certain limitations in these studies, since it is very difficult to research diseases that lead to cognitive impairment. Although all the findings obtained are very encouraging, more studies should be carried out investigating the use of the polyphenols from olive oil and wine as therapeutic agents in the progression of AD. Therefore, more longitudinal studies in humans with a homogeneous cohort of patients are necessary to corroborate the efficacy of these nutraceuticals, as well as determine the most appropriate dose for this purpose.

Lymphomatoid Papulosis "Type E" Affecting the Palate: A Detailed Case Report and Review of Literature.

ABSTRACT: Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) belongs to the spectrum of primary cutaneous CD30 + lymphoproliferative disorders, characterized by chronic, recurrent, self-healing papules, small nodules, or ulcers. The clinicopathological features of LyP can mimic overt lymphomas. To date, about 27 intraoral LyP cases have been reported. Of them, only 2 cases were diagnosed as angioinvasive LyP (type E). Herein, we report a 24-year-old Brazilian man who presented a large ulcerated lesion on the hard palate with rapid evolution. Remarkably, there was no involvement of the skin or other mucous membranes. Microscopy revealed a lymphoid infiltrate constituted by medium-sized to large atypical cells, with angiocentric and angiodestructive features. The atypical cells showed immunopositivity for CD3, CD8, CD30, CD56, granzyme B, perforin, and focally for MUM1/IRF4. Ki-67 highlighted almost all atypical lymphoid cells, whereas EBER1/2 was negative. After 2 months of follow-up, the lesion healed completely. Although rare, LyP type E should be included in the differential diagnosis of oral ulcers.

Monoclonal-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer: A retrospective study in an oncology clinic.

Monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab and rituximab, significantly contribute to the oncological therapeutic arsenal. However, they may be associated with the development of cardiotoxicity. This study collected data from clinical records of patients in the use of rituximab and trastuzumab in a private oncology clinic from 2017 to 2019. It also investigated cardiovascular adverse drug reactions and associated risk factors. Cardiotoxicity was defined as symptomatic in the presence of signs and symptoms suggestive of heart failure (HF) such as dyspnea, nocturnal cough, and fatigue, among others. Asymptomatic HF was confirmed by the decline in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥10% of baseline or LVEF ≤50%. Among the 57 patients undergoing trastuzumab, 12 patients (21%) had cardiotoxicity and 8 patients (67%) had extreme or high-risk scores in the cardiotoxicity risk assessment algorithm. Among the 37 patients treated with rituximab, 3 patients (8%) had cardiotoxicity. The presence of previous diabetes mellitus significantly increased the risk of trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity (p = 0.02). However, none of the other risk factors influenced the incidence of trastuzumab- and rituximab-induced cardiotoxicity, which the sample size may explain. More studies are needed to investigate the association of risk factors with cardiotoxicity induced by trastuzumab and rituximab, aiming to establish strategies to prevent and manage this effect early.

Strategies for Incorporating Plant-Based Nutrition Into Nursing Curricula.

ABSTRACT: A whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) eating pattern has shown benefits in preventing and reversing chronic disease, yet nursing curricula rarely include content on nutrition as a primary modality for disease management. We implemented several undergraduate and graduate nursing and interprofessional teaching strategies to increase student knowledge of a WFPB diet and help nurses improve patient outcomes through assimilation. Students requested additional emphasis on WFPB diets and chronic illness in the curriculum.

Forensic odontology and dental age estimation research: a scoping review a decade after the NAS report on strengthening forensic science.

Dental age estimation (DAE) is one of the most reliable and useful scientific methods employed by forensic odontology (FO) for human identification. In 2009, the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report highlighted the need to deepen research in many disciplines, among which FO received strong criticism for specific expertise. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview in order to systematically map the latest original research done in FO, as well as identify DAE within this field. A systematic search was performed from 2014 to 2019. In total, 644 studies were identified for qualitative analysis: DAE was the most studied topic (41.30%). Asia was the most productive continent with 58.27% of the global production on DAE; India was the most productive Asian country, with 32.33% and 55.48% of global and Asian production, respectively. The University of Macerata (Italy), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Split (Croatia), and University of São Paulo (Brazil) led DAE research. Authors from leading countries on DAE research demonstrated great individual productivity, which is evidence of their scientific efforts, but also possible risks if the continuity of this line of research depends on them. Although FO has significantly focused its research on DAE, the absence of publications on controversial topics but necessary for research according to the NAS report shows the possible lack of interest of authors or journals to address them.

Artificial Intelligence in Allergy and Immunology: Comparing Risk Prediction Models to Help Screen Inborn Errors of Immunity.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are underdiagnosed disorders, leading to increased morbimortality and expenses for healthcare system. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to develop and compare risk prediction model to measure the individual chance of a confirmed diagnosis of IEI in children at risk for this disorder. METHOD: Clinical and laboratory data of 128 individuals were used to derive machine learning (ML) and logistic regression risk prediction models, to measure the individual chance of a confirmed diagnosis of IEI in children with suspected disorder, according to previous general pediatrician/clinician judgement. Their performances were compared. RESULTS: Statistically significant variables were mainly leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and low levels of immunoglobulins A/G/M. ML models performed better. CONCLUSION: The enhanced predictive power provided by ML models could be a resource to track IEI, providing better healthcare outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness of an exercise-based cardiovascular rehabilitation program in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in Brazil: An analysis from the PEACH study.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of an exercise-based cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomised clinical trial evaluating the effects of a 6-month exercise-based CR program. The intervention group underwent 3 weekly exercise sessions. The variation of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak ) was used as a measurement of clinical outcome. Cost information from all healthcare expenses (examinations, healthcare visits, medication and hospitalisation) were obtained from the medical records in Brazilian reais (R$) and transformed into dollars using the purchasing power parity ($PPP). The longitudinal costs variation was evaluated through linear mixed models, represented by ß coefficient, adjusted for the baseline values of the dependent variable. The cost-effectiveness evaluation was determined through an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio using the HEABS package (Stata 15.0). RESULTS: The intervention group presented higher costs with healthcare visits (ß = +3317.3; p < 0.001), hospitalisation (ß = +2810.4; p = 0.02) and total cost (ß = +6407.9; p < 0.001) after 3 months of follow-up. Costs related to healthcare visits (ß = +2455.8; p < 0.001) and total cost (ß = +4711.4; p < 0.001) remained higher in the intervention group after 6 months. The CR program showed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $PPP 1874.3 for each increase of 1.0 ml kg-1  min-1 of VO2peak . CONCLUSIONS: The CR program can be considered a cost-effective alternative and should be included as an intervention strategy in the care of patients with CCC.

Guillain-Barre syndrome following COVID-19 vaccines: A scoping review.

Guillain-Barre syndrome following COVID-19 vaccines (GBSfCV19v) is a reported adverse effect that remains unclear. We present a structured review based on two case reports of GBSfCV19v, a systematic review, and Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) analysis to estimate the risk and describe the clinical characteristics (CC) of these events. We've searched on MEDLINE and Embase, from the inception to May 20, 2021, using the keywords: "Guillain barre syndrome" and cross-referenced with "covid-19 vaccines." We estimated the risk of GBSfCV19v, comparing it with the risk of GBS following the influenza vaccine (GBSfIv), considering the VAERS sensitivity. The clinical characteristics included: age, sex, comorbidities, type of vaccine, administered dose, clinical onset, deaths, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and electromyography (EMG) pattern. We found 43 cases, considering the risk of GBSfCV19v lower than GBSfIv (160-320 cases). The patients had a mean age of 54 years and 23 (56%) were male. The types of vaccines used: Pfizer (22), Moderna (9), AstraZeneca (3), Janssen (3), and Johnson & Johnson (1). 24 cases of GBS occurred after the first dose, with clinical onset of 7 days. CSF albuminocytological dissociation was reported in 7 patients, and EMG revealed a predominant demyelinating pattern. GBSfCV19v risk appears to be lower than what was expected from other respiratory virus vaccines. Most cases of GBS were middle-aged males within a week following the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, showing a typical demyelinating neuropathy with albuminocytological dissociation.

Primary cutaneous CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma of the face with intraoral involvement, resulting in facial nerve palsy after chemotherapy.

The primary cutaneous (PC) CD8+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) comprise clinically and histopathologically heterogeneous entities including mycosis fungoides, lymphomatoid papulosis, hydroa-vacciniforme-like LPD, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (TCL), PC acral CD8+ TCL, PC CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic TCL, and PC peripheral TCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). We describe a 33-year-old man who presented with progressive facial swelling and lower lip involvement 1 year ago. Microscopy revealed an atypical small to medium-sized lymphoid proliferation exhibiting perivascular accentuation, adnexotropism, and apoptotic cell debris, without surface epithelium involvement. The tumor cells were positive for CD3, CD8, granzyme B, perforin, MUM1/IRF4, and TCR-BF1. The Ki-67 labeling index was 48%. EBER1/2 was negative. Additional studies confirmed localized disease. The diagnosis favored PC-PTCL-NOS. Two months after completing chemotherapy, right-sided facial nerve palsy was diagnosed. CD8+ T-cell LPDs should be considered in the differential diagnosis when assessing facial swelling with intraoral involvement.

Thiazolidine derivatives: In vitro toxicity assessment against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum and ultrastructural study.

Neglected diseases, such as Leishmaniasis, constitute a group of communicable diseases that occur mainly in tropical countries. Considered a public health problem with limited treatment. Therefore, there is a need for new therapies. In this sense, our proposal was to evaluate in vitro two series of thiazolidine compounds (7a-7e and 8a-8e) against Leishmania infantum. We performed in vitro evaluations through macrophage cytotoxicity assays (J774) and nitric oxide production, activity against promastigotes and amastigotes, as well as ultrastructural analyzes in promastigotes. In the evaluation of cytotoxicity, the thiazolidine compounds presented CC50 values between 8.52 and 126.83 µM. Regarding the evaluation against the promastigote forms, the IC50 values ranged between 0.42 and 142.43 µM. Compound 7a was the most promising, as it had the lowest IC50. The parasites treated with compound 7a showed several changes, such as cell body shrinkage, shortening and loss of the flagellum, intense mitochondrial edema and cytoplasmic vacuolization, leading the parasite to cell inviability. In assays against the amastigote forms, the compound showed a low IC50 (0.65 µM). These results indicate that compound 7a was efficient for both evolutionary forms of the parasite. In silico studies suggest that the compound has good oral bioavailability. These results show that compound 7a is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of Leishmaniasis.

[Profile of Blood pressure measurement devices purchased in Chile 2018-2020Perfil de compra de dispositivos para aferição da pressão arterial, Chile, 2018-2020.] / Perfil de compra de dispositivos de medición de presión arterial, Chile 2018-2020.

Objective: To describe the types of blood pressure measurement devices marketed through the Mercado Público platform between 2018 and 2020. Methods: This is a descriptive study based on transactions on the Mercado Público platform for the purchase of blood pressure measurement devices in the 2018-2020 period. A search was made for any validation granted by international organizations for automatic devices. The results are expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. Results: Between 2018 and 2020, purchases of automatic devices increased from 15% to 75%, while purchases of mercury-based devices dropped from 40.9% to 7.5%, and aneroid devices fell from 38.7% to 15.8%. Of the 772 automatic devices, 52.6% were validated for accuracy. Conclusions: Given that Chile is committed to the HEARTS Initiative in the Americas, and that prevention and control of hypertension is critical to reducing mortality from noncommunicable diseases, it is crucial to ensure accurate blood pressure measurement. This document provides relevant information on transactions and the purchase profile of blood pressure measurement devices on the Mercado Público platform. A growing trend was observed in the purchase of validated automatic equipment during the evaluation period.

Objetivo: Descrever os tipos de dispositivos de aferição da pressão arterial comercializados por meio da plataforma Mercado Público, entre 2018 e 2020. Métodos: Estudo descritivo das transações realizadas por meio do Mercado Público, no período de 2018 a 2020, para a compra de dispositivos de aferição da pressão arterial. No caso de dispositivos automáticos, foi verificado se possuíam validação concedida por organizações internacionais. Os resultados são apresentados na forma de frequências absolutas e relativas. Resultados: Entre 2018 e 2020, a aquisição de dispositivos automáticos aumentou de 15% para 75%. Houve uma redução de 40,9% para 7,5% na compra de esfigmomanômetros de mercúrio e de 38,7% para 15,8% na compra de esfigmomanômetros aneroides. Dos 772 dispositivos automáticos, 52,6% tinham exatidão validada. Conclusões: Considerando que o Chile está comprometido com a Iniciativa HEARTS nas Américas e que a prevenção e o controle da hipertensão arterial sistêmica é fundamental para reduzir a mortalidade por doenças não transmissíveis, é essencial garantir a aferição exata da pressão arterial. Este documento fornece informações relevantes sobre as transações realizadas e o perfil de compra de dispositivos de aferição da pressão arterial por meio da plataforma Mercado Público, mostrando uma tendência crescente na aquisição de dispositivos automáticos validados durante o período de avaliação.

Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet-Wine Association: The Role of Ingredients.

The cultural and nutritional aspects of the multi-secular Mediterranean civilization include diet as a central element of health and well-being, including wine if it is used in moderation [...].

Temperature Dependence of the Electrical Properties of Na2Ti3O7/Na2Ti6O13/POMA Composites.

The temperature dependence of the electrical properties of composites formed by biphasic sodium titanate and poly(o-methoxyaniline) (Na2Ti3O7/Na2Ti6O13/POMA) with different concentrations of POMA (0%, 1%, 10%, 15%, 35% and 50%) in the ceramic matrix was determined from measurements of complex impedance. The structural details were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, confirming the formation of the Na2Ti3O7/Na2Ti6O13/POMA composites. The displacement of the (200) reflection from 2θ = 10.45° to 11.15° in the composites with 10 and 15% of POMA suggested the partial replacement of H+ for Na+ in the Na2Ti3O7 structure. The thermal properties were investigated by Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis. The Thermogravimetry curves of the composites with POMA content of 1, 10 and 15% presented profiles similar to that of pure sodium titanate sample. The composites with 35 and 50% of POMA showed a process at temperatures around 60-70 °C, which was associated with water absorbed by the polymer. The analysis of the complex impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed that the electrical resistivity of the composites in the range from 0 to 35% increased by two orders of magnitude, with different values for each concentration. This positive temperature coefficient of resistivity was less noticeable in the composite with highest POMA mass content (50%). The rapid increase in resistivity caused an increase in the relaxation time calculated from the time domain. The electrical response of the 50% of POMA compound changes in relation to what was observed in the other compounds, which suggests that there is a saturation limit in the increase in resistivity with POMA content.