Use of topical rSm29 in combination with intravenous meglumine antimoniate in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is associated with an inflammatory response. Granzyme (GzmB) and IL-1ß play a key role in the pathology. Meglumine antimoniate (MA) is the first-choice drug for the treatment of CL, but therapy failure is observed in up to 50% of the cases. The protein, rSm29 of Schistosoma mansoni, down-modulates pro-inflammatory cytokine production. We evaluate if the combination of topical rSm29 plus MA increases the cure rate of CL. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 91 CL patients were allocated in 3 groups. All cases received MA (20 mg/kg/weight) for 20 days. Group 1 used topical rSm29 (10 µg), group 2 a placebo topically applied, and group 3 received only MA. RESULTS: The cure rate on day 90 was 71% in subjects treated with rSm29 plus MA, and 43% in patients who received MA plus placebo or MA alone (P < 0.05). There was a decrease in GzmB and an increase in IFN-γ (P < 0.05) in supernatants of skin biopsies of the lesions obtained on D7 of therapy (P < 0.05) in patients who received rSm29. CONCLUSION: rSm29 associated with MA reduces GzmB levels, is more effective than MA alone, and decreases CL healing time. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov under NCT06000514.

Corrigendum: Genomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 from an indigenous reserve in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1195779.].

Surveillance of Erythrovirus B19 (B19V) in patients with acute febrile illness suspected of arboviruses in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil.

Introduction: Human Erythrovirus (parvovirus) B19 infection can produce symptoms similar to those produced by Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses, making clinical diagnosis difficult. The importance of erythrovirus B19 in human pathology has been increased and reported in numerous studies published globally. Methods: The B19V infection was investigated by real-time PCR in sera samples from patients with signs and symptoms related to classic arboviral symptoms. This study was conducted to provide information on the genetic diversity of Human Erythrovirus B19 (B19V) circulating in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest region of Brazil, from 2017 to 2022. A total of 773 sera samples of patients with negative diagnostic results for Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, during the study period were analyzed. Results: Erythrovirus DNA was found in 10.6% (82/773) of patients, among them 10 were pregnant women. Four samples were completely sequenced, and the other five partially, to genotype by phylogenetic reconstruction. All samples belong to worldwide dispersed genotype 1, subgenotype 1a. Discussion: The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of including B19V in differential laboratory diagnosis for epidemiological purposes and appropriate patient management. The diagnosis for B19V should be performed, particularly among pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, and individuals with hemolytic diseases, given that the infection is more severe in these cases.

Predominance of CD137+ And TNF-α Expressing CD8+ Central Memory T Cells in Mild COVID-19 Recovered Patients Upon SARS-CoV-2 Re-Exposure.

INTRODUCTION: Memory CD8+ T cells are essential for long-term immune protection in viral infections, including COVID-19. METHODS: This study examined the responses of CD8+ TEM, TEMRA, and TCM subsets from unvaccinated individuals who had recovered from mild and severe COVID-19 by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The peptides triggered a higher frequency of CD8+ TCM cells in the recovered mild group. CD8+ TCM and TEM cells showed heterogeneity in CD137 expression between evaluated groups. In addition, a predominance of CD137 expression in naïve CD8+ T cells, TCM, and TEM was observed in the mild recovered group when stimulated with peptides. Furthermore, CD8+ TCM and TEM cell subsets from mild recovered volunteers had higher TNF-α expression. In contrast, the expression partner of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-17 indicated an antiviral signature by CD8+ TEMRA cells. These findings underscore the distinct functional capabilities of each memory T cell subset in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 upon re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Custom-made Trabecular Metal Acetabular Component in Total Hip Revision.

The following case report aims to demonstrate a total hip arthroplasty revision surgery (THARS) using a custom-made trabecular metal acetabular component for correction of a severe acetabular defect. Currently, in the literature, there are few complete descriptions of surgical planning and procedures involving customized prostheses. This is due to the inherent technical difficulty of the surgical procedure and the high costs related to the planning and materials.

Long-term oxygen therapy to reduce length of hospital stay in COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of long-term oxygen therapy as a strategy to reduce hospitalization time in patients affected by COVID-19. METHODS: Between April and December 2021, COVID-19 patients with stable clinical conditions needing supplementary oxygen therapy during hospitalization were oriented to have hospital discharge with long-term oxygen therapy and reassessment after 15 days. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were evaluated and, 15 days after discharge, 69% of patients had suspended long-term oxygen therapy, with no difference between the groups admitted to the intensive care unit or the ward (p=0.319). Among the individuals who needed to maintain long-term oxygen therapy, in addition to worse P/F ratio (265±57 vs. 345±51; p<0.001) and lower partial pressure of oxygen (55±12 vs. 72±11 mmHg; p<0.001), were those more obese (37±8 vs. 30±6 kg/m2; p=0.032), needed more time for invasive mechanical ventilation (46±27 vs. 20±16 days; p=0.029), had greater persistence of symptoms (p<0.001), and shorter time between the onset of symptoms and the need for hospitalization (7 [2-9] vs. 10 [6-12] days; p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Long-term oxygen therapy is an effective strategy for reducing hospitalization time in COVID-19 patients, regardless of gravity. Additionally, more obese patients with persistence of respiratory symptoms, faster disease evolution, and more days of invasive mechanical ventilation needed to maintain the long-term oxygen therapy longer.

Validity of the Brazilian online version of the Sexual Desire Inventory 2.

OBJECTIVE: The Sexual Desire Inventory 2 is a self-report instrument for assessing sexual desire in men and women. In Brazil, there is no validated sexual desire self-report for the adult population. The aim of this study was to determine the evidence of validity for the content and construct of the Brazilian online version of the Sexual Desire Inventory 2. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with Brazilian men and women. The sample size was calculated using the criterion of more than 20 participants per item. The invitation to participate in the study was conducted online by the platform Survey Monkey®. The Sexual Desire Inventory 2 was evaluated for content, construct, reliability, and invariance. RESULTS: A total of 818 female and male adults participated in the study. The two-dimensional factorial solution represented 71% of the total variance explained by the model, and the factorial loads of the model were ≥0.40; commonalities presented values ≥0.23. Reliability was measured by the coefficients of Cronbach's alpha with a total score of 0.87, McDonald's of 0.87, Omega, and greatest lower bound with a total score of 0.95. The metric invariance was tested for the sex variables ΔCFI (comparative fit index) and ΔRMSEA (root mean square error of approximation) with a total score of 0.01. CONCLUSION: The analyses indicate evidence of robust validity in the Brazilian online version of the Sexual Desire Inventory 2.

Long-term surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the school community from Campo Grande, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted education systems worldwide, with Brazil being one of the countries with the longest school closures. Over a million children and teenagers have been affected, leading to increased hunger and nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed to implement long-term surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in public and private schools in Campo Grande, Brazil, after returning to in-person classes. METHODS: The study involved testing and genomic surveillance at 23 public and private schools in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from October 18, 2021 to November 21, 2022. The participants eligible for enrollment were students aged 6-17 years and staff members from school institutions. At the time of collection, participants were asked if they had symptoms in the last two weeks. Whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 was conducted to identify circulating variants and to compare them with those detected in the municipality. The demographic data and clinical history of the participants were described, and a logistic regression model was used to understand how the RT-qPCR results could be related to different characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 999 participants, most of whom were women. A total of 85 tests were positive, with an overall positivity rate of 3.2%. The dynamics of case frequency were consistent with those observed in the municipality during the study period. The most common symptoms reported were cough, rhinorrhea, headache, and sore throat. Symptoms were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eleven lineages were identified in school community samples, with a frequency of occurrence per period similar to that found in the sequences available for the municipality. The most prevalent lineages within the sampling period were BA.2 (59.3%) and BA.5 (29.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that schools can play a crucial role in epidemiological surveillance, helping trigger rapid responses to pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Long-term surveillance can be used to track outbreaks and assess the role of children and adults in transmission. It can also contribute to pandemic preparedness, enabling a rapid response to emergencies, such as COVID-19.

Drug screening and development cascade for Chagas disease: an update of in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Chagas disease is a tropical neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide, still demanding a more effective and safer therapy, especially in its chronic phase which lacks a treatment that promotes substantial parasitological cure. The technical note of Romanha and collaborators published in 2010 aimed establish a guideline with the set of minimum criteria and decision gates for the development of new agents against Trypanosoma cruzi with the focus on developing new antichagasic drugs. In this sense, the present review aims to update this technical note, bringing the state of the art and new advances on this topic in recent years.

Enhanced filtration membranes with graphene oxide and tannic acid for textile industry wastewater dye removal.

A novel modification technique employing a layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method, integrated with a pressure-assisted filtration system, was developed for enhancing a commercial polyethersulfone (PES) microfiltration (MF) membrane. This modification involved the incorporation of tannic acid (TA) in conjunction with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The effectiveness of the LbL method was confirmed through comprehensive characterization analyses, including ATR-FTIR, SEM, water contact angle (WCA), and mean pore size measurements, comparing the modified membrane with the original commercial one. Sixteen variations of PES MF membranes were superficially modified using a three-factorial design, with the deposited amount of TA and GO as key factors. The influence of these factors on the morphology and performance of the membranes was systematically investigated, focusing on parameters such as pure water permeability (PWP), blue corazol (BC) dye removal efficiency, and flux recovery rate (FRR). The membranes produced with the maximum amount of GO (0.1 mg, 0.55 wt%) and TA as the inner and outer layers demonstrated remarkable FRR and significant BC removal, exceeding 80%. Notably, there was no significant difference observed when using either 0.2 (1.11 wt%) or 0.4 mg (2.22 wt%) in the first layer, as indicated by the Tukey mean test. Furthermore, the modified membrane designated as MF/TA0.4GO0.1TA0.4 was evaluated in the filtration of a simulated dye bath wastewater, exhibiting a BC removal efficiency of 49.20% and a salt removal efficiency of 27.74%. In conclusion, the novel PES MF membrane modification proposed in this study effectively enhances the key properties of pressure-driven separation processes.

The inflammatory and metabolic status of patients with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss.

Introduction: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common emergency symptom in otolaryngology that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. SSNHL has a multifactorial etiology, and its pathophysiologic mechanisms may be associated with inflammatory and metabolic changes that may affect the cochlear microenvironment or its nervous component, thus triggering the process or hindering hearing recovery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess metabolic and inflammatory changes to identify systemic parameters that could serve as prognostic factors for hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL. Materials and methods: Thirty patients with a sudden hearing loss of at least 30 dB in three contiguous frequencies were enrolled in this study. Patients were followed up for 4 months and peripheral blood samples were collected at 7 days (V1), 30 days (V2) and 120 days (V3). Interleukins (IL)-1F7, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and adiponectin were quantified in serum. In addition, lipid and glycemic profiles as well as concentration of creatinine, uric acid, fructosamine, peroxide, total proteins and albumin were analyzed. Patients underwent weekly ear-specific hearing tests with standard pure tone thresholds for frequencies of 250-8,000 Hz, speech recognition threshold and word recognition score. Results: Patients with SSNHL were divided into a group of patients who did not achieve hearing recovery (n = 14) and another group who achieved complete and significant recovery (n = 16). Most serologic parameters showed no significant changes or values indicating clinical changes. However, IFN-γ levels decreased by 36.3% between V1 and V2. The cytokine TNF-α showed a statistically significant decrease from V1 to V3 (from 22.91 to 10.34 pg./mL). Adiponectin showed a decrease from 553.7 ng/mL in V1 to 454.4 ng/mL in V3. Discussion: Our results show that serologic cytokine levels change in the acute phase of manifestation of SSNHL and establish a parallel between systemic changes and improvements in hearing, especially TNF-α, which showed differences in hearing recovery. The use of IFN-γ, TNF-α and adiponectin may elucidate the clinical improvement in these patients.

Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance among Prison Populations in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in 2022.

This study examines the epidemiological and genomic characteristics, along with the transmission dynamics, of SARS-CoV-2 within prison units I and II in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Conducted between May and October 2022, it reveals how the virus spreads in the confined settings of prisons, emphasizing the roles of overcrowded cells, frequent transfers, and limited healthcare access. The research involved 1927 participants (83.93% of the total prison population) and utilized nasopharyngeal swabs and RT-qPCR testing for detection. Contact tracing monitored exposure within cells. Out of 2108 samples, 66 positive cases were identified (3.13%), mostly asymptomatic (77.27%), with the majority aged 21-29 and varying vaccination statuses. Next-generation sequencing generated 28 whole genome sequences, identifying the Omicron variant (subtypes BA.2 and BA.5) with 99% average coverage. Additionally, the study seeks to determine the relationship between immunization levels and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 cases within this enclosed population. The findings underscore the necessity of comprehensive control strategies in prisons, including rigorous screening, isolation protocols, vaccination, epidemiological monitoring, and genomic surveillance to mitigate disease transmission and protect both the incarcerated population and the broader community.

Is additional silane application necessary for a new silane-containing universal adhesive to bond to glass ceramics?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the in vitro influence of prior silane application on the microshear bond strength (µSBS) of Scotchbond Universal Plus to glass ceramic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty blocks of lithium disilicate ceramic were etched with hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and distributed into Group 1 (no silane and no adhesive), Group 2 (adhesive), Group 3 (silane + adhesive). Three cylinders of resin cement were made on each ceramic block. Five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were subjected to the µSBS test after 24 h, and the other five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were tested after 6 months of water storage. RESULTS: According to two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test, the means of µSBS (MPa), denoted by different letters, show significant differences (p < 0.05): after 24 h-Group 1 (31.7)B, Group 2 (43.3)A, and Group 3 (31.3)B; after 6 months-Group 1 (14.8)B, Group 2 (33.6)A, and Group 3 (30.3)A. After 6 months of storage, there was a significant decrease in µSBS for Groups 1 and 2, along with an increase in adhesive failures across all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prior application of silane did not increase the µSBS between Scotchbond Universal Plus and ceramic, and there was degradation at the bond interface over time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Prior application of a silane agent is not necessary when using Scotchbond Universal Plus for bonding to glass ceramics. Regardless of the prior application of silane, there is degradation at the bond interface over time.

Methodological quality and clinical recommendations of guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias for cardiovascular disease risk reduction: a systematic review and an appraisal through AGREE II and AGREE REX tools.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are statements to assist practitioners and stakeholders in decisions about healthcare. Low methodological quality guidelines may prejudice decision-making and negatively affect clinical outcomes in non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases worsted by poor lipid management. We appraised the quality of CPGs on dyslipidemia management and synthesized the most updated pharmacological recommendations. METHODS: A systematic review following international recommendations was performed. Searches to retrieve CPG on pharmacological treatments in adults with dyslipidaemia were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Trip databases. Eligible articles were assessed using AGREE II (methodological quality) and AGREE-REX (recommendation excellence) tools. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. The most updated guidelines (published after 2019) had their recommendations qualitatively synthesized in an exploratory analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 66 guidelines authored by professional societies (75%) and targeting clinicians as primary users were selected. The AGREE II domains Scope and Purpose (89%) and Clarity of Presentation (97%), and the AGREE-REX item Clinical Applicability (77.0%) obtained the highest values. Conversely, guidelines were methodologically poorly performed/documented (46%) and scarcely provided data on the implementability of practical recommendations (38%). Recommendations on pharmacological treatments are overall similar, with slight differences concerning the use of supplements and the availability of drugs. CONCLUSION: High-quality dyslipidaemia CPG, especially outside North America and Europe, and strictly addressing evidence synthesis, appraisal, and recommendations are needed, especially to guide primary care decisions. CPG developers should consider stakeholders' values and preferences and adapt existing statements to individual populations and healthcare systems to ensure successful implementation interventions.

MiR-9-3 hypermethylation is associated with stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the potential relation between methylation of miR-9-3 and stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Additionally, we explored whether miR-9-3 methylation impacts the serum levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 170 participants with type 2 diabetes, including a control group (n = 64) and a diabetes retinopathy group (n = 106), which was further divided into NPDR (n = 58) and PDR (n = 48) subgroups. Epidemiological, clinical, anthropometric, biochemical ELISA assay were analysed. DNA extracted from leukocytes was used to profile miR-9-3 methylation using PCR-MSP. Results: MiR-9-3 hypermethylated profile was higher in the DR group (p < 0.001) and PDR subgroup compared to DM2 control group (p < 0.001). The hypermethylated profile in the PDR subgroup was also higher compared to NPDR subgroup (p < 0.001). There was no difference between DM2 control and NPDR group (p = 0.234). Logistic regression showed that miR-9-3 hypermethylation increases the odds of presenting DR (OR: 2.826; p = 0.002) and PDR (OR: 5.472; p < 0.001). In addition, hypermethylation of miR-9-3 in the DR and NPDR subgroup was associated with higher serum VEGF-A levels (p = 0.012 and p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusion: The methylation profile of the miR-9-3 promoter increases the risk of developing PDR. Higher levels of VEGF-A are associated with miR-9-3 hypermethylated profile in patients in the DR and NPDR stages. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-024-01411-9.

A missing piece is found: a new species of Paepalanthus (Poales, Eriocaulaceae) and the puzzling relations of the campos rupestres mountaintop floras of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Paepalanthus is a diverse genus characteristic of the campos rupestres, a megadiverse vegetation found on mountaintops of mainly quartzitic mountain ranges of central-eastern Brazil. Recent efforts on prospecting the biodiversity of Serra do Padre Ângelo, a small mountain complex in eastern Minas Gerais, yielded several new plant and animal species, highlighting the urgency of conservation actions towards this still unprotected area. Here, we describe yet another new species found in the campos rupestres of these mountains, Paepalanthusmagnus, a mountaintop microendemic species morphologically similar to taxa found in the Espinhaço Range, over 200 km distant, a biogeographic pattern shared by several other species. The affinities of the new species are discussed, and we provide illustrations, photographs, and SEM photomicrographs of the seed. We also discuss the conservation status of the species, which is preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered, reinforcing the urgent need to address the conservation of the unique biodiversity of Serra do Padre Ângelo.

ResumoPaepalanthus é um gênero característico dos campos rupestres, uma vegetação megadiversa encontrada no topo de montanhas de cadeias montanhosas, principalmente quartzíticas, do centro-leste do Brasil. Esforços recentes de inventariar a biodiversidade da Serra do Padre Ângelo, um pequeno complexo montanhoso no leste de Minas Gerais, resultaram na descoberta de várias novas espécies de plantas e animais, destacando a urgência de ações de conservação para esta área ainda não protegida. Aqui, descrevemos mais uma nova espécie encontrada nos campos rupestres dessas montanhas, Paepalanthusmagnus, uma espécie microendêmica, morfologicamente semelhante a táxons encontrados na Serra do Espinhaço, a mais de 200 km de distância, um padrão biogeográfico repetido por várias outras espécies. As afinidades da nova espécie são discutidas e fornecemos ilustrações, fotografias da planta e de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) da semente. Também discutimos o status de conservação da espécie, que é preliminarmente avaliada como Criticamente Em Perigo, reforçando a necessidade urgente de abordar a conservação da biodiversidade única da Serra do Padre Ângelo.

Enzymes and biosurfactants of industrial interest produced by culturable fungi present in sediments of Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, north-east Antarctic Peninsula.

This study characterized cultivable fungi present in sediments obtained from Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, in the north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula, and evaluated their production of enzymes and biosurfactants of potential industrial interest. A total of 116 fungal isolates were obtained, which were classified into 16 genera within the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota, in rank. The most abundant genera of filamentous fungi included Pseudogymnoascus, Pseudeurotium and Antarctomyces; for yeasts, Thelebolales and Naganishia taxa were dominant. Overall, the lake sediments exhibited high fungal diversity and moderate richness and dominance. The enzymes esterase, cellulase and protease were the most abundantly produced by these fungi. Ramgea cf. ozimecii, Holtermanniella wattica, Leucosporidium creatinivorum, Leucosporidium sp., Mrakia blollopis, Naganishia sp. and Phenoliferia sp. displayed enzymatic index > 2. Fourteen isolates of filamentous fungi demonstrated an Emulsification Index 24% (EI24%) ≥ 50%; among them, three isolates of A. psychrotrophicus showed an EI24% > 80%. Boeckella Lake itself is in the process of drying out due to the impact of regional climate change, and may be lost completely in approaching decades, therefore hosts a threatened community of cultivable fungi that produce important biomolecules with potential application in biotechnological processes.

Double tendon transfer for massive rotator cuff tear: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Repairing massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs) can often be technically challenging due to tendon retraction, bursal fibrosis, and muscular fatty infiltration that usually occurs, often resulting in poor outcomes and an unpredictable prognosis. Although some other surgical management options have been reported, there is a lack of literature supporting tendon transfers in the presence of combined anterior and posterior-superior irreparable rotator cuff tears. We describe a case where a combined transfer of the latissimus dorsi and lower trapezius tendons was employed to treat an MRCT affecting the anterior and posterior superior portions of the rotator cuff. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old male presented significant pain and limited range of motion in the right shoulder following a traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation seven months prior. MRI showed retracted tears (> 5 cm) of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis tendons with significant fatty infiltration (Goutallier IV). The patient underwent an open transfer of the lower trapezius tendon to the greater tuberosity and the latissimus dorsi to the lesser tuberosity. At the final follow-up, 2.5 years postoperatively, the patient exhibited a painless functional range of motion and could resume daily activities. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Although there are alternative surgical options available, the positive outcomes observed in the presented case may be attributed to the restoration of rotational strength and the re-establishment of force coupling across the shoulder. CONCLUSION: This report describes the successful implementation of a surgical treatment option for managing MRCT affecting the anterior and posterior superior portions of the rotator cuff.

The use of a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for measuring nickel in plants: sample preparation and validation.

X-ray fluorescence is a fast, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method for elemental analyses. Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (pXRF) have proven instrumental in detecting metals across diverse matrices, including plants. However, sample preparation and measurement procedures need to be standardized for each instrument. This study examined sample preparation methods and predictive capabilities for nickel (Ni) concentrations in various plants using pXRF, employing empirical calibration based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) Ni data. The evaluation involved 300 plant samples of 14 species with variable of Ni accumulation. Various dwell times (30, 60, 90, 120, 300 s) and sample masses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 g) were tested. Calibration models were developed through empirical and correction factor approaches. The results showed that the use of 1.0 g of sample (0.14 g cm-2) and a dwell time of 60 s for the study conditions were appropriate for detection by pXRF. Ni concentrations determined by ICP-OES were highly correlated (R2 = 0.94) with those measured by the pXRF instrument. Therefore, pXRF can provide reliable detection of Ni in plant samples, avoiding the digestion of samples and reducing the decision-making time in environmental management.