Age at natural menopause and its associated characteristics among Brazilian women: cross-sectional results from ELSI-Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the median age at natural menopause and analyze lifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics associated with the age at natural menopause among Brazilian women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 2,731 women 50 years and over, drawn from the baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil, 2015/16). Nonparametric Kaplan-Meier cumulative survivorship estimates were used to assess the median timing of natural menopause. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the associations between age at natural menopause and exposure variables. RESULTS: The overall median age at natural menopause was 50 years. In the adjusted Cox model, current smoking (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) and underweight (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61) were associated with earlier natural menopause. Conversely, performing recommended levels of physical activity in the last week (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97), being overweight (HR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99), and adhering to two or three healthy eating markers (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.97; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.94, respectively) were associated with later age at natural menopause. Binge drinking and waist circumference were not associated with age at natural menopause. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle, anthropometric, and dietary characteristics are significant factors that affect the age at natural menopause. Our findings can contribute to public policies targeted at Brazilian women's health.

Quality of Care Transition for COVID-19 Patients in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of care transition from hospital to home for COVID-19 patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional study conducted at a University Hospital in Southern Brazil, involving 78 patients discharged after COVID-19 hospitalization. Data collection was performed via telephone using the Brazilian version of the Care Transitions Measure (CTM-15). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. RESULTS: The mean quality of care transition was 70.8 on a scale ranging from zero to 100, indicating moderate quality of care transition. The highest score was attributed to factor 1, "Preparation for self-management," and the lowest to factor 4, "Care Plan." CONCLUSIONS: It is important to enhance communication and support provided to patients during the transition process, especially regarding understanding prescribed medications and the development of clear care plans.

Enhancing Molecular Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter by Integrative Direct Infusion and Liquid Chromatography Nontargeted Workflows.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic systems is a highly heterogeneous mixture of water-soluble organic compounds, acting as a major carbon reservoir driving biogeochemical cycles. Understanding DOM molecular composition is thus of vital interest for the health assessment of aquatic ecosystems, yet its characterization poses challenges due to its complex and dynamic chemical profile. Here, we performed a comprehensive chemical analysis of DOM from highly urbanized river and seawater sources and compared it to drinking water. Extensive analyses by nontargeted direct infusion (DI) and liquid chromatography (LC) high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) through Orbitrap were integrated with novel computational workflows to allow molecular- and structural-level characterization of DOM. Across all water samples, over 7000 molecular formulas were calculated using both methods (∼4200 in DI and ∼3600 in LC). While the DI approach was limited to molecular formula calculation, the downstream data processing of MS2 spectral information combining library matching and in silico predictions enabled a comprehensive structural-level characterization of 16% of the molecular space detected by LC-HRMS across all water samples. Both analytical methods proved complementary, covering a broad chemical space that includes more highly polar compounds with DI and more less polar ones with LC. The innovative integration of diverse analytical techniques and computational workflow introduces a robust and largely available framework in the field, providing a widely applicable approach that significantly contributes to understanding the complex molecular composition of DOM.

Efficiency and safety of single anastomosis sleeve ileal (SASI) bypass in the treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The Single Anastomosis Sleeve Ileal (SASI) bypass is a new bariatric surgery corresponding to an adaptation of the Santoro approach, consisting of a sleeve gastrectomy (SG) followed by loop gastroileostomy. Therefore, we aimed to systematically assess all the current literature on SASI bypass in terms of safety, weight loss, improvement in associated comorbidities, and complications. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). We performed a meta-analysis of risk ratios and mean differences to compare surgical approaches for excessive weight loss, improvement/remission in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HT), dyslipidemia (DL), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and complications. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included in the qualitative analysis and four in the quantitative analysis, comparing SASI bypass with SG and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB). A comparison between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and SASI bypass could not be performed. Compared to SG, the SASI bypass was associated with improved weight loss (MD = 11.32; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [7.89;14.76]; p < 0.0001), and improvement or remission in T2DM (RR = 1.35; 95%CI [1.07;1.69]; p = 0.011), DL (RR = 1.41; 95%CI [1.00;1.99]; p = 0.048) and OSA (RR = 1.50; 95%CI [1.01;2.22]; p = 0.042). No statistically significant differences in any of the assessed outcomes were observed when compared with OAGB. When compared to both SG and OAGB, the complication rate of SASI was similar. CONCLUSION: Although studies with longer follow-up periods are needed, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that SASI bypass has a significant effect on weight loss and metabolic variables. Variations in outcomes between studies reinforce the need for standardization.

Histopathological findings and diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, confirmed by PCR, in an endemic region of Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is difficult, and the correct use of histopathological criteria can be useful in clinical practice. The present study evaluates the association between histopathological findings and the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinically suspected cases of CL. METHODOLOGY: Skin samples were received in a laboratory from an endemic region of Brazil for over nine years. Associations were analyzed by means of the Chi square test with a 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Of the 222 examined samples, 190 (85.6%) tested positive by PCR. All 25 cases identified by microscopic examination also tested positive by PCR. Except for the more intense inflammatory infiltrate, all other evaluated histological variables (ulceration, epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, presence of granuloma, neutrophils, histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasmocytes, and necrosis) were not significantly associated with PCR positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate is a good indicator of the occurrence of CL. Histopathological aspects are useful to increase the predictive values of CL diagnoses, but PCR is still necessary to confirm or exclude the disease.

Prevalence of Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection and Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Among Men Who Have Sex With Men 50 Years and Older Living With or Without HIV.

BACKGROUND: Anal cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV-16, and is preceded by anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). The incidence of anal cancer is highest among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV (MSMLWH) and increases with age. However, most previous studies of anal HPV infection and anal HSIL were performed on men under 50 years old, and relatively little is known about HSIL among older MSMLWH or MSM not living with HIV (MSM-Not-LWH). SETTING: We enrolled MSM who were aged 50+ during 2018-2022 in San Francisco, CA. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine MSMLWH and 109 MSM-not-LWH participated. All participants had anal HPV DNA testing (Atila Biosystems) and high-resolution anoscopy with a biopsy of visible lesions. RESULTS: Among MSMLWH, 47% had anal HSIL, 19% had HPV-16, and 51% had other oncogenic anal HPV types (excluding HPV-16). Among MSM-not-LWH, 37% had anal HSIL, 22% had HPV-16, and 34% had other oncogenic anal HPV types. Increasing age was not statistically associated with prevalent HSIL, HPV-16, or other oncogenic HPV infections in MSMLWH or MSM-not-LWH. HPV-16 (odds ratio: 45.1, 95% confidence interval: 15.8-129); other oncogenic HPV types (odds ratio: 5.95, 95% confidence interval: 2.74-12.9) were associated with increased odds of anal HSIL, adjusted for age, income, education, and HIV status. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of oncogenic anal HPV, anal HPV-16, and anal HSIL remains very high in older MSMLWH and MSM-not-LWH. With recent evidence showing that treating anal HSIL prevents anal cancer, MSM aged 50+ should be considered for anal cancer screening.

WEIRD and non-consensual food deserts and swamps: A scoping review of operational definitions.

The aim of the present study was to critically analyze operational definitions of food deserts and food swamps included in empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals. A scoping review was conducted following the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. A search of the scientific literature was performed on August 2023 to identify empirical studies including operational definitions of food deserts and/or food swamps in three databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Scielo. A total of 932 scientific articles were identified in the three databases, from which 157 articles, published between 2002 and 2023, were included in the review. The included studies were mainly conducted in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrilaized, Rich and Democractic) countries. They presented a total of 107 operational definitions of food deserts and 30 operational definitions of food swamps. Large heterogeneity in the operational definitions of food deserts and food swamps was found. Published studies differed in all the elements of the operational definitions analyzed in the present work. Results stress the need for standardization and the development of more objective and multivariate continuous measures of physical food accessibility that reflect the complexity of modern food environments globally. A series of recommendations to advance food environment research are derived.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Based on Babassu Oil and Copaiba Oleoresin: A Promising Approach for Prostate Cancer Therapy.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) represent promising nanostructures for drug delivery systems. This study successfully synthesized SLNs containing different proportions of babassu oil (BBS) and copaiba oleoresin (COPA) via the emulsification-ultrasonication method. Before SLN synthesis, the identification and quantification of methyl esters, such as lauric acid and ß-caryophyllene, were performed via GC-MS analysis. These methyl esters were used as chemical markers and assisted in encapsulation efficiency experiments. A 22 factorial design with a center point was employed to assess the impact of stearic acid and Tween 80 on particle hydrodynamic diameter (HD) and polydispersity index (PDI). Additionally, the effects of temperature (8 ± 0.5 °C and 25 ± 1.0 °C) and time (0, 7, 15, 30, 40, and 60 days) on HD and PDI values were investigated. Zeta potential (ZP) measurements were utilized to evaluate nanoparticle stability, while transmission electron microscopy provided insights into the morphology and nanometric dimensions of the SLNs. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the SLNs (10 µg/mL, 30 µg/mL, 40 µg/mL, and 80 µg/mL) was evaluated using the MTT assay with PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines. Results demonstrated that SLNs containing BBS and COPA in a 1:1 ratio exhibited a promising cytotoxic effect against prostate cancer cells, with a percentage of viable cells of 68.5% for PC-3 at a concentration of 30 µg/mL and 48% for DU-145 at a concentration of 80 µg/mL. These findings underscore the potential therapeutic applications of SLNs loaded with BBS and COPA for prostate cancer treatment.

Altered centriolar cohesion by CEP250 and appendages impact outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. PDACs are characterized by centrosome aberrations, but whether centrosome-related genes influence patient outcomes has not been tested. METHODS: Publicly available RNA-sequencing data of patients diagnosed with PDAC were interrogated with unsupervised approaches to identify centrosome protein-encoding genes with prognostic relevance. Candidate genes were validated by immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence in a set of clinical PDAC and normal pancreatic tissues. RESULTS: Results showed that two genes CEP250 and CEP170, involved in centrosome linker and centriolar subdistal appendages, were expressed at high levels in PDAC tissues and were correlated with prognosis of PDAC patients in independent databases. Large clustered γ-tubulin-labelled centrosomes were linked together by aberrant circular and planar-shaped CEP250 arrangements in CEP250-high expressing PDACs. Furthermore, PDACs displayed prominent centrosome separation and reduced CEP164-centrosomal labelling associated with acetylated-tubulin staining compared to normal pancreatic tissues. Interestingly, in a small validation cohort, CEP250-high expressing patients had shorter disease free- and overall-survival and almost none of those who received gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel first-line therapy achieved a clinical response. In contrast, weak CEP250 expression was associated with long-term survivors or responses to medical treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Alteration of the centriolar cohesion and appendages has effect on the survival of patients with PDAC.

CellsFromSpace: a fast, accurate, and reference-free tool to deconvolve and annotate spatially distributed omics data.

Motivation: Spatial transcriptomics enables the analysis of cell crosstalk in healthy and diseased organs by capturing the transcriptomic profiles of millions of cells within their spatial contexts. However, spatial transcriptomics approaches also raise new computational challenges for the multidimensional data analysis associated with spatial coordinates. Results: In this context, we introduce a novel analytical framework called CellsFromSpace based on independent component analysis (ICA), which allows users to analyze various commercially available technologies without relying on a single-cell reference dataset. The ICA approach deployed in CellsFromSpace decomposes spatial transcriptomics data into interpretable components associated with distinct cell types or activities. ICA also enables noise or artifact reduction and subset analysis of cell types of interest through component selection. We demonstrate the flexibility and performance of CellsFromSpace using real-world samples to demonstrate ICA's ability to successfully identify spatially distributed cells as well as rare diffuse cells, and quantitatively deconvolute datasets from the Visium, Slide-seq, MERSCOPE, and CosMX technologies. Comparative analysis with a current alternative reference-free deconvolution tool also highlights CellsFromSpace's speed, scalability and accuracy in processing complex, even multisample datasets. CellsFromSpace also offers a user-friendly graphical interface enabling non-bioinformaticians to annotate and interpret components based on spatial distribution and contributor genes, and perform full downstream analysis. Availability and implementation: CellsFromSpace (CFS) is distributed as an R package available from github at https://github.com/gustaveroussy/CFS along with tutorials, examples, and detailed documentation.

A Peculiar Finding on the Ventrolateral Surface of the Tongue.

Phleboliths are reported as calcifications that occur in vascular malformations, associated with changes in blood flow dynamics, thrombus formation and subsequent calcifications. Radiological examination, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) could help in demonstrating the presence of a calcifiied mass. A 45-year-old male was referred to our service with an asymptomatic nodular purplish lesion located on the ventrolateral tongue. Within the lesion, a stony mass was also evident on palpation. A digital dental radiograph demonstrated two circumscribed radiopaque structures. Phleboliths associated with vascular malformation was the main diagnostic hypothesis. The patient underwent a sclerotherapy protocol allowing surgical accessibility to the area. Phlebolyts were surgically removed using electrocoagulation. Histopathological examination revealed phleboliths in the context of a vascular malformation with intense fibrosis.

Mechanical stimulation-induced purinome priming fosters osteogenic differentiation and osteointegration of mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow of post-menopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical stimulation (MS) significantly increases the release of adenine and uracil nucleotides from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) undergoing osteogenic differentiation. Released nucleotides acting via ionotropic P2X7 and metabotropic P2Y6 purinoceptors sensitive to ATP and UDP, respectively, control the osteogenic commitment of BM-MSCs and, thus, bone growth and remodelling. Yet, this mechanism is impaired in post-menopausal (Pm)-derived BM-MSCs, mostly because NTPDase3 overexpression decreases the extracellular accumulation of nucleotides below the levels required to activate plasma membrane-bound P2 purinoceptors. This prompted us to investigate whether in vitro MS of BM-MSCs from Pm women could rehabilitate their osteogenic commitment and whether xenotransplantation of MS purinome-primed Pm cells promote repair of critical bone defects in an in vivo animal model. METHODS: BM-MSCs were harvested from the neck of femora of Pm women (70 ± 3 years old) undergoing total hip replacement. The cells grew, for 35 days, in an osteogenic-inducing medium either submitted (SS) or not (CTR) to MS (90 r.p.m. for 30 min) twice a week. Increases in alkaline phosphatase activity and in the amount of osteogenic transcription factors, osterix and osteopontin, denoted osteogenic cells differentiation, while bone nodules formation was ascertain by the alizarin red-staining assay. The luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay was used to quantify extracellular ATP. The kinetics of the extracellular ATP (100 µM) and UDP (100 µM) catabolism was assessed by HPLC. The density of P2Y6 and P2X7 purinoceptors in the cells was assessed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. MS-stimulated BM-MSCs from Pm women were xenotransplanted into critical bone defects drilled in the great trochanter of femora of one-year female Wistar rats; bone repair was assessed by histological analysis 10 days after xenotransplantation. RESULTS: MS-stimulated Pm BM-MSCs in culture (i) release 1.6-fold higher ATP amounts, (ii) overexpress P2X7 and P2Y6 purinoceptors, (iii) exhibit higher alkaline phosphatase activity and overexpress the osteogenic transcription factors, osterix and osteopontin, and (iv) form larger bone nodules, than CTR cells. Selective blockage of P2X7 and P2Y6 purinoceptors with A438079 (3 µM) and MRS 2578 (0.1 µM), respectively, prevented the osteogenic commitment of cultured Pm BM-MSCs. Xenotransplanted MS purinome-primed Pm BM-MSCs accelerated the repair of critical bone defects in the in vivo rat model. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that in vitro MS restores the purinergic cell-to-cell communication fostering the osteogenic differentiation and osteointegration of BM-MSCs from Pm women, a strategy that may be used in bone regeneration and repair tactics.

Maternal and perinatal health indicators in Brazil over a decade: assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination through interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, on maternal and perinatal health at a populational level. We investigated maternal and perinatal health indicators in Brazil, focusing on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign for pregnant women. Methods: Utilizing interrupted time series analysis (January 2013-December 2022), we examined Maternal Mortality Ratio, Perinatal Mortality Rate, Preterm Birth Rate, Cesarean Section Rate, and other five indicators. Interruptions occurred at the pandemic's onset (March 2020) and pregnant women's vaccination (July 2021). Results were expressed as percent changes on time series' level and slope. Findings: The COVID-19 onset led to immediate spikes in Maternal Mortality Ratio (33.37%) and Perinatal Mortality Rate (3.20%) (p < 0.05). From March 2020 to December 2022, Cesarean Section and Preterm Birth Rates exhibited upward trends, growing monthly at 0.13% and 0.23%, respectively (p < 0.05). Post start of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (July 2021), Maternal Mortality Ratio (-34.10%) and Cesarean Section Rate (-1.87%) promptly declined (p < 0.05). Subsequently, we observed a monthly decrease of Maternal Mortality Ratio (-9.43%) and increase of Cesarean Section Rate (0.25%) (p < 0.05), while Perinatal Mortality Rate and Preterm Birth Rate showed a stationary pattern. Interpretation: The pandemic worsened all analyzed health indicators. Despite improvements in Maternal Mortality Ratio, following the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign for pregnant women, the other indicators continued to sustain altered patterns from the pre-pandemic period. Funding: No funding.

Food Fraud Conceptualization: An Exploratory Study with Portuguese Consumers.

Food fraud refers to deceptive practices conducted for economic gain, and incidents of such fraud are often reported in the media and scientific literature. However, little is known about how European consumers perceive food fraud. To address this gap, a study explored Portuguese consumers' knowledge and perceptions of food fraud using qualitative methods such as free word association and semi-structured interviews. For this research, 340 participants were recruited, providing 911 valid words, classified into categories, major categories, and dimensions. Differences between consumers' previous exposure to food fraud and sociodemographic characteristics were explored. Additionally, other thirty-six participants were selected and interviewed, following a semi-structured guide. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. The results suggest that Portuguese consumers view food fraud as a morally reprehensible deception and are aware of its causes and impacts. However, not all consumers know the different forms of food fraud or the types of products vulnerable to fraud. Among the most repeated words were "deception", "expiration date", and "falsification". Despite this food fraud awareness, most consumers believed they were not exposed to food fraud and stated that they do not conduct daily practices to reduce exposure to it. Following the chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were identified between participants exposed and not exposed to food fraud. The study also found that consumers with higher education and self-reported exposure to food fraud had a better understanding of the issue. This study provides insights for quantitative research on consumer perceptions and beliefs about food fraud to explore further vulnerable food categories and types of food fraud in real-world scenarios.

The experience of pregnant women and their families who were infected with covid-19 before vaccination: A qualitative approach within a multicenter study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant and postpartum women infected by COVID-19 are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, including negative effects on their mental health. Brazilian maternal mortality rate due to COVID-19 is 2.5 times higher than overall mortality rates. This study aimed to understand how pregnant/postpartum women experienced the COVID-19 suspicion/investigation or confirmed infection in different Brazilian cities, the pandemic's consequences to women and their families, and their needs to improve maternal health services during public health emergencies. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with 27 women with COVID-19 and 6 of their family members, as part of a multicenter study among 15 maternity hospitals in Brazil. We applied in-depth interviews through telephone calls when women received the diagnostic or had a suspect infection and after 60 days. Another semi-structured interview was applied to their close family members. The interviews were considered through thematic analysis. RESULTS: From the thematic content analysis three major themes emerged from the first and second interviews: (Cucinotta and Vanelli, 2020) assistance received by the woman and newborn in the medical services; (World Health Organization (WHO) 2021) stigma/fear of contamination from health workers and from family and friends reported by the women; (Allotey et al., 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic impact. CONCLUSION: Before the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, pregnant women experienced fear of death, hospitalization, quarantine, loss of family members, and financial repercussions, resulting in physical, psychological, and socioeconomic impacts on these women's lives.

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by Fe,N co-doped walnut shell biochar for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole: Performance and mechanisms.

Fe and N co-doped walnut shell biochar (Fe,N-BC) was prepared through a one-pot pyrolysis procedure by using walnut shells as feedstocks, melamine as the N source, and iron (III) chloride as the Fe source. Moreover, pristine biochar (BC), nitrogen-doped biochar (N-BC), and α-Fe2O3-BC were synthesized as controls. All the prepared materials were characterized by different techniques and were used for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). A very high degradation rate for SMX (10 mg/L) was achieved with Fe,N-BC/PMS (0.5 min-1), which was higher than those for BC/PMS (0.026 min-1), N-BC/PMS (0.038 min-1), and α-Fe2O3-BC/PMS (0.33 min-1) under the same conditions. This is mainly due to the formation of Fe3C and iron oxides, which are very reactive for the activation of PMS. In the next step, Fe,N-BC was employed for the formation of a composite membrane structure by a liquid-induced phase inversion process. The synthesized ultrafiltration membrane not only exhibited high separation performance for humic acid sodium salt (HA, 98%) but also exhibited improved self-cleaning properties when applied for rhodamine B (RhB) filtration combined with a PMS solution cleaning procedure. Scavenging experiments revealed that 1O2 was the predominant species responsible for the degradation of SMX. The transformation products of SMX and possible degradation pathways were also identified. Furthermore, the toxicity assessment revealed that the overall toxicity of the intermediate was lower than that of SMX.

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy as a major cause of preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes: findings from a Brazilian National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy among Brazilian women with preterm births and to compare the epidemiological characteristics and perinatal outcomes among preterm births of women with and without hypertension. METHODS: This was a secondary cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth. During the study period, all women with preterm births were included and further split into two groups according to the occurrence of any hypertensive disorder during pregnancy. Prevalence ratios were calculated for each variable. Maternal characteristics, prenatal care, and gestational and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups using χ2 and t-tests. RESULTS: A total of 4,150 women with preterm births were included, and 1,169 (28.2%) were identified as having hypertensive disorders. Advanced maternal age (prevalence ratio (PR) 2.49) and obesity (PR= 2.64) were more common in the hypertensive group. The gestational outcomes were worse in women with hypertension. Early preterm births were also more frequent in women with hypertension. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were frequent among women with preterm births, and provider-initiated preterm births were the leading causes of premature births in this group. The factors significantly associated with hypertensive disorders among women with preterm births were obesity, excessive weight gain, and higher maternal age.

Single-cell multiomics profiling reveals heterogeneous transcriptional programs and microenvironment in DSRCTs.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare, aggressive sarcoma driven by the EWSR1::WT1 chimeric transcription factor. Despite this unique oncogenic driver, DSRCT displays a polyphenotypic differentiation of unknown causality. Using single-cell multi-omics on 12 samples from five patients, we find that DSRCT tumor cells cluster into consistent subpopulations with partially overlapping lineage- and metabolism-related transcriptional programs. In vitro modeling shows that high EWSR1::WT1 DNA-binding activity associates with most lineage-related states, in contrast to glycolytic and profibrotic states. Single-cell chromatin accessibility analysis suggests that EWSR1::WT1 binding site variability may drive distinct lineage-related transcriptional programs, supporting some level of cell-intrinsic plasticity. Spatial transcriptomics reveals that glycolytic and profibrotic states specifically localize within hypoxic niches at the periphery of tumor cell islets, suggesting an additional role of tumor cell-extrinsic microenvironmental cues. We finally identify a single-cell transcriptomics-derived epithelial signature associated with improved patient survival, highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings.

Electrical impedance spectroscopy for potassium content analysis and botanical origin identification of honey.

Minerals are reported to dominate the electrical properties of honey and indicate its botanical and geographical origins. In this study, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used to assess the relation between mineral elements, electrical properties and botanical origin using three honey varieties - Citrus sp., Eucalyptus sp., and Erica sp. These varieties are identified through pollen analysis and market labelling. Flame atomic absorption and emission spectroscopies were used to quantify the concentrations of eight elements (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron). Among all the mineral elements, potassium showed a consistent correlation with impedance. The potassium estimation in honey and standard solutions (calibration curve) had similar sensitivities of 153.43 nF/mM and 132.68 nF/mM, respectively. Additionally, the analysis revealed that potassium dominates the mineral composition, with the other species present in minimal quantities. The EIS technique showed high sensitivity to potassium and other ionisable species, making it possible to classify the botanical origin of these three honey types. The EIS technique proved to be both time and cost effective, yielding a classification rate higher than that achieved by analysing mineral composition.