Mentha arvensis oil exhibits repellent acute toxic and antioxidant activities in Nauphoeta cinerea.

Mentha arvensis is an herbaceous plant commonly known as peppermint or Japanese mint. This study investigated the toxic potential and repellent efficacy of M. arvensis essential oil (MaEO) at varying concentrations (15.625-250 mg/mL) in Nauphoeta cinerea, along with its impact on biochemical parameters in N. cinerea. The potential of the major compounds as a new analgesic target was investigated using molecular docking. The essential oil was analyzed by gas Chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the toxic potential, repellent property, and changes in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were evaluated as markers of oxidative stress. GC-MS results revealed that the main components were oxygenated monoterpenes such as menthol (71.31%), mentone (13.34%) and isomentone (5.35%). MaEO significantly reduced lipid peroxidation (LPO), the levels of non-protein thiols and iron(II) at the concentration of 125 mg/mL in N. cinerea. Furthermore, the major components, L-(-)-Menthol and menthone demonstrated high gastrointestinal absorption and high affinity with the target protein, suggesting possible links that contribute to the analgesic effect of MaEO.

Influence of Different Diagnostic Criteria on Alzheimer Disease Clinical Research.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Updates in Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnostic guidelines by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) and the International Working Group (IWG) over the past 11 years may affect clinical diagnoses. We assessed how these guidelines affect clinical AD diagnosis in a cohort of cognitively unimpaired (CU) and cognitively impaired (CI) individuals. METHODS: We applied clinical and biomarker data in algorithms to classify individuals from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort according to the following diagnostic guidelines for AD: 2011 NIA-AA, 2016 IWG-2, 2018 NIA-AA, and 2021 IWG-3, assigning the following generic diagnostic labels: (1) not AD (nAD), (2) increased risk of developing AD (irAD), and (3) AD. Diagnostic labels were compared according to their frequency, convergence across guidelines, biomarker profiles, and prognostic value. We also evaluated the diagnostic discordance among the criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1,195 individuals (mean age 73.2 ± 7.2 years, mean education 16.1 ± 2.7, 44.0% female) presented different repartitions of diagnostic labels according to the 2011 NIA-AA (nAD = 37.8%, irAD = 23.0%, AD = 39.2%), 2016 IWG-2 (nAD = 37.7%, irAD = 28.7%, AD = 33.6%), 2018 NIA-AA (nAD = 40.7%, irAD = 9.3%, AD = 50.0%), and 2021 IWG-3 (nAD = 51.2%, irAD = 8.4%, AD = 48.3%) frameworks. Discordant diagnoses across all guidelines were found in 512 participants (42.8%) (138 [91.4%] occurring in only ß-amyloid [CU 65.4%, CI 34.6%] and 191 [78.6%] in only tau-positive [CU 71.7%, CI 28.3%] individuals). Differences in predicting cognitive impairment between nAD and irAD groups were observed with the 2011 NIA-AA (hazard ratio [HR] 2.21, 95% CI 1.34-3.65, p = 0.002), 2016 IWG-2 (HR 2.81, 95% CI 1.59-4.96, p < 0.000), and 2021 IWG-3 (HR 3.61, 95% CI 2.09-6.23, p < 0.000), but not with 2018 NIA-AA (HR 1.69, 95% CI 0.87-3.28, p = 0.115). DISCUSSION: Over 42% of the studied population presented discordant diagnoses when using the different examined AD criteria, mostly in individuals with a single positive biomarker. Except for 2018 NIA-AA, all guidelines identified asymptomatic individuals at risk of cognitive impairment. Our findings highlight important differences between the guidelines, emphasizing the necessity for updated criteria with enhanced staging metrics, considering clinical, research, therapeutic, and trial design aspects.

Perfil dos profissionais de enfermagem presenteístas / Profile of presentee nursing professionals / Perfil de los profesionales de enfermería presentes

Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência do presenteísmo entre os profissionais de enfermagem e caracterizar o perfil desses trabalhadores. Métodos: Estudo transversal, descritivo com abordagem quantitativa realizado em um hospital geral privado de médio porte, com uma amostra de 437 profissionais da enfermagem. Utilizou-se como instrumentos de pesquisa um questionário biossocial e ocupacional e o questionário Stanford Presenteeism Scale para a avaliação do presenteísmo. Resultados: Identificou-se que 63,4% (277) dos profissionais de enfermagem participantes compareceu ao trabalho doente nos últimos 30 dias. Dos 277 trabalhadores com comportamento presenteísta, 206 (74,4%) foram considerados presenteístas, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino, técnicas de enfermagem, com idade superior a 35 anos e desempenho de função assistencial, com jornada de trabalho diária de seis horas diurnas e 36 horas semanais. A prevalência do presenteísmo entre os profissionais de enfermagem foi de 47,1%. Houve associação dos profissionais presenteístas com as doenças mentais auto relatadas; 25,2% apresentaram mais dificuldade em finalizar o trabalho e 23,8% de manter-se concentrado durante o trabalho. Conclusão: O presenteísmo é um fenômeno prevalente entre os profissionais de enfermagem. Os fatores psicossociais e da organização estão entre as causas desencadeantes e podem associar-se e agravar doenças mentais. (AU)

Objective: To identify the prevalence of presenteeism among nursing professionals and characterize the profile of these workers. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach conducted in a medium-sized private general hospital, in a sample of 437 nursing professionals. The research instruments used were a biosocial and occupational questionnaire and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale questionnaire for evaluating presenteeism. Results: It was identified that 63.4% (277) of nursing professionals went to work sick in the last 30 days. Of the 277 workers with presenteeism, 206 (74.4%) were considered presentees, and most of them were female, nursing technicians, over 35 years of age, performing care work, with a daily work day of six hours and 36 hours per week. The prevalence of presenteeism among nursing professionals was 47.1%. There was an association between presenteeism and self-reported mental diseases; 25.2% had more difficulty to finish the work and 23.8% to keep focused during the work. Conclusion: Presenteeism is a prevalent phenomenon among nursing professionals. Psychosocial and organizational factors are among the triggering causes and may associate with and aggravate mental illness. (AU)

Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia del presentismo entre los profesionales de enfermería y caracterizar el perfil de estos trabajadores. Métodos: Estudio transversal, descriptivo con abordaje cuantitativo realizado en un hospital privado general de porte médico, en una muestra de 437 profesionales de la enfermería. Los instrumentos de investigación utilizados fueron un cuestionario biosocial y ocupacional y el cuestionario Stanford Presenteeism Scale para evaluar el presentismo. Resultados: Identificamos que el 63,4% (277) de los profesionales de enfermería fueron a trabajar enfermos en los últimos 30 días. De los 277 trabajadores con presentismo, 206 (74,4%) fueron considerados presentistas, y la mayoría eran mujeres, técnicos de enfermería, mayores de 35 años, con una carga de trabajo diaria de seis horas al día y 36 horas a la semana. La prevalencia del presentismo entre los profesionales de enfermería fue del 47,1%. Hubo una asociación entre el presentismo y las enfermedades mentales autodeclaradas; al 25,2% le resultaba más difícil terminar el trabajo y al 23,8% le costaba concentrarse durante el mismo. Conclusión: El presentismo es un fenómeno prevalente entre los profesionales de la enfermería. Los factores psicosociales y organizativos se encuentran entre las causas desencadenantes y pueden asociarse y agravar los trastornos mentales. (AU)

Correlations between the degree of infection by wild strain of Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and porcine hematological parameters.

The apicomplexa Toxoplasma gondii is capable of actively proliferating in numerous types of nucleated cells, and therefore has a high potential for dissemination and resistance. Thus, the present work aimed to correlate the inoculum concentrations and amount of post-infection parasites with porcine hematological parameters (including biochemistry) through in vitro culture. Porcine blood was incubated with different concentrations of parasites (1.2 × 107, 6/3/1.5 × 106 cells/mL), then the concentrations of red blood cells (RBC) and their morphology, total and differential leukocytes, and free peptides were evaluated. In addition, eight different blood samples analyzed before inoculation, where subsequent multivariate analysis was applied to correlate different variables with trophozoite concentration. The results showed no significant variation (p < 0.05) in the relative levels of free peptides, or the relative percentage of RBC at all the parasite concentrations tested. However, the normalized percentages of leukocytes and neutrophils showed a significant reduction, while those of lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes showed the opposite behavior. Semi-automatic processing of images exhibited significant microcytosis and hypochromia. The multivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between the amount number of protozoa (AP) and the variables: "Red cells" and "Neutrophils", an indifference between the AP and the content of free peptides, and the concentration of monocytes in the samples; and a negative correlation for AP and the percentages of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Our results suggest that specific changes in hematological parameters may be associated with different degrees of parasitemia, demanding a thorough diagnostic process and adequate treatment.

Randomized self-controlled study comparing open-face vs. closed immobilization masks in fractionated cranial radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To compare patient discomfort and immobilisation performance of open-face and closed immobilization masks in cranial radiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single-center randomized self-controlled clinical trial. At CT simulation, an open-face and closed mask was made for each patient and treatment plans with identical dose prescription were generated for each mask. Patients were randomised to start treatment with an open-face or closed mask. Masks were switched halfway through the treatment course; every patient was their own control. Patients self-reported discomfort, anxiety and pain using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Inter- and intrafraction set-up variability was measured with planar kV imaging and a surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) system for the open-face masks. RESULTS: 30 patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors were randomized - 29 completed radiotherapy to a median total dose of 54 Gy (range 30-60 Gy). Mean discomfort VAS score was significantly lower with open-face masks (0.5, standard deviation 1.0) vs. closed masks (3.3, standard deviation 2.9), P < 0.0001. Anxiety and pain VAS scores were significantly lower with open-face masks (P < 0.0001). Closed masks caused more discomfort in infraorbital (P < 0.001) and maxillary (P = 0.02) areas. Two patients and 27 patients preferred closed or open-face masks, respectively. Interfraction longitudinal shifts and roll and yaw rotations were significantly smaller and lateral shifts were significantly larger with closed masks in combination with the laser system (P < 0.05) compared to open masks in combination with a SGRT system. Intrafraction variability did not differ between the masks. CONCLUSIONS: Open-face masks are associated with decreased patient discomfort without compromising patient positioning and immobilisation accuracy.

Corrigendum: Random cellulose acetate nanofibers: a breakthrough for cultivated meat production.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1297926.].