Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Lippia origanoides Kunth in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder commonly associated with atherosclerosis. Plants with therapeutic potential, such as Lippia origanoides Kunth, emerge as effective alternatives for treating these diseases. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Lippia origanoides Kunth (ELo) in alloxan-diabetic rats. Animals were treated orally: normal control, hyperglycemic control, positive control glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), and groups treated with ELo (75, 150, and 250 mg/kg). Preclinical evaluation of ELo showed hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatic, and renal protective effects. At all doses, ELo significantly reduced hyperglycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, atherogenic index, atherogenic coefficient, and cardiovascular risk index (p < .05). Elo at different doses promoted an increase in insulin release compared to untreated animals (p < .05) and showed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (p < .05). Also, ELo (250 mg/kg group) showed maximum reduction of hyperglycemia, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, malonaldehyde, and urea compared to the hyperglycemic and glibenclamide groups, and creatinine only compared to the hyperglycemic groups (p < .05). The promising action of ELo in the context of diabetes may be related to the synergistic action of flavonoid compounds identified in liquid chromatography, whose pharmacological capabilities have already been documented in previous studies. The mechanisms may be the stimulation of insulin release; the inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase; improving general clinical conditions; and the antioxidant effects of the extract. These findings pave the way for the future development of an herbal presentation of L. origanoides Kunth as a hypoglycemic and cardiovascular protector with a lipid-lowering effect.

Factors associated with mortality of patients with COVID-19 on invasive mechanical ventilation: A retrospective cohort study in a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation at a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil. This is a retrospective cohort from April to August 2020 through an analysis of medical records, considering the demographic profile, comorbidities, complications, supports, respiratory and laboratory parameters. A total of 65 patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, of which 64.6% died in the ICU. They were older, had more comorbidities, shorter length of stay in the intensive care unit, received more support such as palliative care and two vasopressors simultaneously, showed lower levels of pH, hemoglobin and calcium, and higher levels of bicarbonate, lactate, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, troponin and ferritin at the start of invasive mechanical ventilation. Furthermore, the time course of pH, arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen ratio, arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure, lactate, hemoglobin, platelets, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, coagulation parameters, calcium, urea, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, ferritin, static compliance, airway resistance, tidal volume, and noradrenaline doses showed association with mortality. There was a high mortality rate in invasively mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, with some associated factors identified at the start of invasive mechanical ventilation and others identified over time.

Implications of seasonal and daily variation on methane and ammonia emissions from naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns in a Mediterranean climate: A two-year study.

Seasonal and daily variations of gaseous emissions from naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns are important figures for the establishment of effective and specific mitigation plans. The present study aimed to measure methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) emissions in three naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns covering the four seasons for two consecutive years. In each barn, air samples from five indoor locations were drawn by a multipoint sampler to a photoacoustic infrared multigas monitor, along with temperature and relative humidity. Milk production data were also recorded. Results showed seasonal differences for CH4 and NH3 emissions in the three barns with no clear trends within years. Globally, diel CH4 emissions increased in the daytime with high intra-hour variability. The average hourly CH4 emissions (g h-1 livestock unit-1 (LU)) varied from 8.1 to 11.2 and 6.2 to 20.3 in the dairy barn 1, from 10.1 to 31.4 and 10.9 to 22.8 in the dairy barn 2, and from 1.5 to 8.2 and 13.1 to 22.1 in the dairy barn 3, respectively, in years 1 and 2. Diel NH3 emissions highly varied within hours and increased in the daytime. The average hourly NH3 emissions (g h-1 LU-1) varied from 0.78 to 1.56 and 0.50 to 1.38 in the dairy barn 1, from 1.04 to 3.40 and 0.93 to 1.98 in the dairy barn 2, and from 0.66 to 1.32 and 1.67 to 1.73 in the dairy barn 3, respectively, in years 1 and 2. Moreover, the emission factors of CH4 and NH3 were 309.5 and 30.6 (g day-1 LU-1), respectively, for naturally ventilated dairy cattle barns. Overall, this study provided a detailed characterization of seasonal and daily gaseous emissions variations highlighting the need for future longitudinal emission studies and identifying an opportunity to better adequate the existing mitigation strategies according to season and daytime.

Frailty does not affect prognostic markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome: results from a Brazilian university hospital

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate frailty and its relationship with prognostic markers in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: This cross-sectional study with a prospective variable analysis (prognostic markers) involved adults of both sexes aged ≥ 50 years with acute coronary syndrome. Patients with ≥ 3 of the following criteria were considered frail: 1) unintentional weight loss; 2) exhaustion (assessed by self-reported fatigue); 3) low handgrip strength; 4) low physical activity level; and 5) low gait speed. The included prognostic markers were: metabolic changes (lipid and glycemic profile), changes in inflammatory status (C-reactive protein), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score, troponin level, angioplasty or surgery, hospitalization in the intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, and hospital outcome. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 125 patients, whose mean age was 65.5 (SD, 8.7) years. The prevalence of frailty was 48.00%, which was higher in women (PR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.08­2.22; p = 0.018) and patients with systemic arterial hypertension (PR = 2.18; 95%CI 1.01­5.24; p = 0.030). Frailty was not associated with age, cardiac diagnosis, or prognostic markers (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was highly prevalent in patients with acute coronary syndrome, affecting almost half of the sample, particularly women and patients with hypertension, irrespective of age. However, despite its high prevalence, frailty was not associated with markers of metabolic change or poor prognosis.

Case report: Cannabinoid therapy for discoid lupus erythematosus in a dog.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a common autoimmune skin disease in dogs. Conventional treatments, such as corticosteroids, can be effective but often have side effects. This case report presents a successful use of cannabinoid therapy (CT) in a dog with DLE resistant to conventional treatment. A 2-year-old mixed-breed dog with a history of DLE presented with worsening lesions despite treatment with corticosteroids and other medications. Liver enzymes levels were elevated, indicating corticosteroid-induced side effects. CT with a CBD-rich full spectrum Cannabis oil was initiated. The dosage was gradually adjusted until the minimum effective dose was found. Within a few weeks of starting CT, the dog showed significant improvement in skin lesions and in liver enzymes levels. After 1 year, the dog remains clinically stable on a low dose of full-spectrum CBD-rich oil. No evidence of DLE recurrence was observed. This case suggests that CT may be a viable alternative or complementary therapy for DLE in dogs, particularly for those experiencing adverse effects from conventional treatments. Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of CT for DLE management in dogs.

Alternative amplicon-PCR protocol for maximizing bacterial and fungal sequencing in low-biomass samples.

Determining bacterial and fungal communities from low-biomass samples remains a challenge for high-throughput sequencing. Due to the low microbial load and host contamination, some sites, including the female upper reproductive tract and the lower respiratory tract, were even considered sterile until recent years. Despite efforts to improve sampling and DNA isolation protocols, some samples provide insufficient microbial DNA input for library preparation and sequencing. Herein, we propose an alternative amplicon-PCR protocol to be used in bacterial and fungal sequencing in low-biomass samples, targeting 16S-rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), respectively. Similar to a nested-PCR, we performed two sequential PCR reactions to maximise the target amplicon. We compared metagenomic results from the original Illumina protocol (Protocol 1 - P1) and the alternative one (Protocol 2 - P2), using a mock community and clinical samples with different microbial loads. Our findings showed no significant differences in data generated by P1 and P2, indicating that the second amplification round does not bias the microbiota diversity rates. Thus, the alternative protocol can be applied for low-biomass samples when the original protocol results in spurious output, preventing library preparation and sequencing.

Desafios da gestão menstrual: uma revisão integrativa / Challenges of menstrual management: an integrative review / Desafíos de la gestión menstrual: una revisión integrativa

Objetivo: analisar as evidências disponíveis na literatura sobre os desafios da gestão menstrual. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, BVS, SciELO e Mendeley, utilizando os descritores "Menstruação", "Produtos de Higiene Menstrual" e "Saúde", para responder à questão norteadora "Quais são as dificuldades e os impactos encontrados pelas pessoas na gestão de suas menstruações?". Resultados: foram incluídos dezessete estudos os quais permitiram a construção de infográfico, que destacou como principais desafios da gestão menstrual.: barreiras culturais e sociais, acesso a produtos de higiene menstrual, infraestrutura e ambientes adequados, educação e conscientização, e impacto na saúde e bem-estar. Considerações finais: barreiras culturais, falta de educação menstrual e acesso limitado a produtos e infraestrutura prejudicam a saúde e o bem-estar das mulheres, impactando suas atividades diárias, no âmbito escolar e/ou profissional. Reconhecer essas questões é crucial para a proposição de intervenções e políticas públicas.

Objective: To analyze the available evidence in the literature regarding the challenges of menstrual management. Method: Integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, BVS, SciELO, and Mendeley databases, using the keywords "Menstruation," "Menstrual Hygiene Products," and "Health," to answer the guiding question "What are the difficulties and impacts encountered by individuals in managing their menstruation?" Results: Seventeen studies were included, allowing the construction of an infographic that highlighted the main challenges of menstrual management: cultural and social barriers, access to menstrual hygiene products, adequate infrastructure and environments, education and awareness, and health and well-being impact. Final considerations:cultural barriers, lack of menstrual education, and limited access to products and infrastructure negatively impact women's health and well-being, affecting their daily activities, both in educational and/or professional settings. Recognizing these issues is crucial for proposing interventions and public policies.

Objetivos:analizar las evidencias disponibles en la literatura sobre los desafíos de la gestión menstrual. Método: revisión integrativa de la literatura realizada en las bases de datos PubMed, BVS, SciELO y Mendeley, utilizando los descriptores "Menstruación", "Productos de Higiene Menstrual" y "Salud", para responder a la pregunta guía "¿Cuáles son las dificultades y los impactos encontrados por las personas en la gestión de sus menstruaciones?". Resultados: se incluyeron diecisiete estudios que permitieron la construcción de un infográfico, que destacó como principales desafíos de la gestión menstrual: barreras culturales y sociales, acceso a productos de higiene menstrual, infraestructura y entornos adecuados, educación y concienciación, e impacto en la salud y el bienestar. Consideraciones finales: barreras culturales, falta de educación y acceso limitado afectan la salud y bienestar femenino, impactando actividades diarias y profesionales. Reconocer estas cuestiones es crucial para proponer intervenciones y políticas públicas.

Perceptions of mhealth technology use by patients under dialytic treatment / Percepciones sobre el uso de tecnología mhealth por pacientes en tratamiento diáltico / Percepções do uso de tecnologia mhealth por pacientes em tratamento dialítico

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the perceptions of mobile health technology use in adherence to the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease under hemodialysis. Method: This is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in a reference hemodialysis clinic in the city of Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil. Patients with chronic kidney disease under hemodialysis who used the Renal Health application between February and October 2022 were included in the study. The data was analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: A total of 12 patients were interviewed, the majority of whom were male, with an average age of 35.3 (±9.7) years and an average of 2.7 (±1.5) years of hemodialysis. After analyzing the content, two thematic categories emerged: "Support from mHealth technology in treatment management" and "Suggestions for improving the application", in which patients describe how the application is practical, favors the storage of information related to treatment, such as weight, water intake and medication taking times. In addition to generating graphs of the exams carried out monthly, it provides strategies that can promote disease self-management and consequently better adherence to treatment. Conclusion: The Renal Health application proved to be a useful tool capable of enhancing knowledge about chronic kidney disease and helping patients better manage their diet, fluid control and taking prescribed medications.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender las percepciones sobre el uso de la tecnología móvil de salud en la adherencia al tratamiento de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis. Método: estudio descriptivo, con enfoque cualitativo, realizado en una clínica de referencia en hemodiálisis de la ciudad de Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil. Se incluyeron en el estudio pacientes en hemodiálisis renal crónica que utilizaron la aplicación Renal Health entre los meses de febrero y octubre de 2022. Los datos se analizaron mediante el método de análisis de contenido. Resultados: se entrevistaron 12 pacientes, la mayoría del sexo masculino, con una edad promedio de 35,3 (±9,7) años y un promedio de 2,7 (±1,5) años de hemodiálisis. Tras el análisis del contenido surgieron dos categorías temáticas: "Apoyo de la tecnología mHealth en la gestión del tratamiento" y "Sugerencias para mejorar la aplicación", en el que los pacientes describen cómo la aplicación es práctica, favorece el almacenamiento de información relacionada con el tratamiento, como peso, ingesta de agua y tiempos de toma de medicamentos. Además de generar gráficos de los exámenes realizados mensualmente, brinda estrategias que pueden promover el autocontrol de la enfermedad y en consecuencia una mejor adherencia al tratamiento. Conclusión: la aplicación Renal Health demostró ser una herramienta útil capaz de mejorar el conocimiento sobre la enfermedad renal crónica y ayudar a los pacientes a gestionar mejor su dieta, control de líquidos y toma de medicamentos prescritos.

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender as percepções do uso de uma tecnologia mobile health na adesão ao tratamento do paciente renal crônico em hemodiálise Método: estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado em uma clínica de referência em hemodiálise no município de Juazeiro, Bahia, Brasil. Foram incluídos no estudo pacientes renais crônicos hemodialíticos que utilizaram o aplicativo Renal Health entre os meses de fevereiro a outubro de 2022. Os dados foram analisados através do método análise de conteúdo Resultados: foram entrevistados 12 pacientes, a maioria do sexo masculino, idade média de 35,3 (±9,7) anos e média de 2,7 (±1,5) anos de hemodiálise. Após análise do conteúdo surgiram duas categorias temáticas: "Apoio da tecnologia mHealth no gerenciamento do tratamento" e "Sugestões para aperfeiçoamento do aplicativo", nas quais os pacientes descrevem como o aplicativo é prático, favorece o armazenamento de informações relacionadas ao tratamento, como peso, ingestão hídrica e horário da tomada de medicamentos. Além de gerar gráficos dos exames realizados mensalmente, proporcionando estratégias que podem favorecer o autogerenciamento da doença e consequentemente uma melhor adesão ao tratamento. Conclusão: o aplicativo Renal Health, demonstrou ser uma ferramenta útil, capaz de potencializar o conhecimento sobre a doença renal crônica e auxiliar os pacientes a gerenciarem melhor a dieta, o controle de líquidos e a tomada das medicações prescritas.

Genotypic characterization of Streptococcus didelphis causative of fatal infection in white-eared opossums.

Streptococcus didelphis was once reported as related to severe infections in opossums. Thus, we present the first comprehensive whole-genome characterization of clinical S. didelphis strains isolated from white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris). Long-read whole-genome sequencing was performed using the MinION platform, which allowed the prediction of several genomic features. We observed that S. didelphis genomes harbor a cluster for streptolysin biosynthesis and a conserved genomic island with genes involved in transcriptional regulation (arlR) and transmembrane transport (bcrA). Antimicrobial resistance genes for several drug classes were found, including beta-lactam, which is the main antimicrobial class used in Streptococcus spp. infections; however, no phenotypical resistance was observed. In addition, we predicted the presence of 33 virulence factors in the analyzed genomes. High phylogenetic similarity was observed between clinical and reference strains, yet no clonality was suggested. We also proposed dnaN, gki, pros, and xpt as housekeeping candidates to be used in S. didelphis sequence typing. This is the first whole-genome characterization of S. didelphis, whose data provide important insights into its pathogenicity.

A cross-sectional study on Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis prevalence and associated factors in Brazilian southern cattle farms.

Cattle farming is a major livestock activity with economic relevance in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. However, this activity is still considered of intermediate to low technological level, and in this region, there are few epidemiologic reports of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv), the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC). Thus, we designed a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence and Cfv-associated factors in cattle farms in RS, Brazil. In total, 99 farms were randomly selected to participate in the survey. Preputial mucus samples from selected bulls were collected twice (within a 15-day interval) and subjected to Cfv molecular detection. A farm was considered positive when at least one sample was positive for Cfv. Our findings indicate that the farm-level Cfv prevalence in RS is 67.67%. On average, the chance of a farm using natural service to be Cfv-positive increased approximately twice compared to farms that do not use natural service. We also determined that Cfv routine tests reduce the chance of a farm being positive by 92%. Therefore, both Cfv detection tests and the reduction of natural services decrease the chance of a farm being positive for Cfv. Finally, we conclude that Cfv is widely spread in Southern Brazil cattle farms and it is urgent the implementation of control measures to reduce Cfv prevalence in the target population.

Reconstrução óssea de defeito crítico com a utilização de tela de titânio: relato de caso / Bone reconstruction of a critical defect using titanium mesh: case report / Reconstrucción ósea de un defecto crítico con malla de titanio: reporte de caso

Introdução: O uso de membranas de barreira de exclusão de epitélio para regeneração óssea guiada tem sido apresentado na literatura como abordagem de tratamento bem sucedida, essas barreiras irão impedir a incorporação de células de tecidos moles no enxerto ósseo ou no es paço criado pelo defeito e permitir que apenas as células osteogênicas estejam presentes. Relato de caso: Trata-se de um caso clinico de um paciente que evoluiu com perda óssea significativa por lesão Endo-periodontal levando a perda dentaria, para a reabilitação com implantes se fez necessário uma reconstrução de um defeito crítico com a utilização de tela de titânio para arcabouço ósseo de mistura de enxerto autógeno e biomaterial e recobrimento com membrana de colágeno, o enxerto autógeno foi removido de área doadora na mandíbula e utilizado de forma particulada. Conclusão: As telas de titânio apresentam viabilidade e previsibilidade no aumento ósseo vertical, horizontal e tridimensional em decorrência da sua ampla aplicabilidade, elasticidade, plasticidade adequadas e boas propriedades mecânicas. Avanços na diminuição de suas taxas de exposição e risco de complicações no período de cicatrização melhoram a cada dia a previsibilidade da técnica, bem como a associação com outros materiais como os hemoderivados... (AU)

Introduction: The use of epithelial exclusion barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration has been presented in the literature as a successful treatment approach, these barriers will prevent the incorporation of soft tissue cells into the bone graft or the space created by the defect and allow that only osteogenic cells are present. Case report: This is a clinical case of a patient who evolved with significant bone loss due to an endo-periodontal lesion leading to tooth loss, for rehabilitation with implants it was necessary to reconstruct a critical defect using mesh titanium for bone framework of mixture of autogenous graft and biomaterial and covering with collagen membrane, the autogenous graft was removed from the donor area in the mandible and used in a particulate form. Conclusion: Titanium meshes are viable and predictable in vertical, horizontal and three-dimensional bone augmentation due to their wide applicability, adequate elasticity and plasticity, good mechanical properties. Advances in reducing their exposure rates and risk of complications during the healing period improve the predictability of the technique every day, as well as the association with other materials such as blood products... (AU)

Introducción: El uso de membranas de barrera de exclusión epitelial para la regeneración ósea guiada se ha presentado en la literatura como un enfoque de tratamiento exitoso, estas barreras evitarán la incorporación de células de tejido blando al injerto óseo o el espacio creado por el defecto y permitirán que solo presencia de células osteogénicas. Reporte de caso: Este es un caso clínico de un paciente que evolucionó con una pérdida ósea importante debido a una lesión endo-periodontal que lo llevó a la pérdida de un diente, para rehabilitación con implantes fue necesario reconstruir un defecto crítico utilizando malla de titanio para armazón óseo de mezcla de injerto autógeno y biomaterial y cubriendo con membrana de colágeno, el injerto autógeno se extrajo del área donante en la mandíbula y se usó en forma de partículas. Conclusión: Las mallas de titanio son viables y predecibles en el aumento óseo vertical, horizontal y tridimensional debido a su amplia aplicabilidad, adecuada elasticidad y plasticidad, buenas propiedades mecánicas. Los avances en la reducción de sus tasas de exposición y riesgo de complicaciones durante el periodo de cicatrización mejoran día a día la predictibilidad de la técnica, así como la asociación con otros materiales como los hemoderivados... (AU)

Time Series of Counts under Censoring: A Bayesian Approach.

Censored data are frequently found in diverse fields including environmental monitoring, medicine, economics and social sciences. Censoring occurs when observations are available only for a restricted range, e.g., due to a detection limit. Ignoring censoring produces biased estimates and unreliable statistical inference. The aim of this work is to contribute to the modelling of time series of counts under censoring using convolution closed infinitely divisible (CCID) models. The emphasis is on estimation and inference problems, using Bayesian approaches with Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and Gibbs sampler with Data Augmentation (GDA) algorithms.

Relationship between sarcopenia and cachexia with prognostic markers of middle-aged and older inpatients with COVID-19: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to various manifestations beyond an inflammatory response, such as anorexia, hyposmia, and other symptoms that may increase the risk of nutritional disorders. Sarcopenia and cachexia are conditions that appear to influence COVID-19 evolution. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate sarcopenia and cachexia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, verifying their clinical impacts and relationship with prognostic markers. METHODS: This is a case-control study involving inpatients with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis. The occurrence of sarcopenia was evaluated according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia 2 criteria. Cachexia was evaluated according to (Evans et al. in Clin Nutr 27:793-799, 2008) criteria. Inflammatory markers and the 4C Mortality Score were evaluated. RESULTS: Our study included 96 individuals, divided into two groups: COVID-19 (n = 32) and control (n = 64). The mean age of the COVID-19 group was 63.3 ± 11.8 years, and the control group had a mean age of 64.3 ± 5.5 years. No significant differences in mean age were found between the groups. The prevalence of sarcopenia and cachexia in patients with COVID-19 was 21.9% and 28.1%, respectively, while in the control group, it was 29.7% and 26.6%, respectively. Sarcopenic patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk of death (4C Mortality Score) (p = 0.038). The occurrence of sarcopenia or cachexia within the COVID-19 group was not associated with inflammatory biomarkers or a higher number of COVID-19 symptoms (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of sarcopenia among COVID-19 patients increased the risk of mortality.

Association between adolescents who are victims of bullying and weapon possession.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between victims of bullying and weapon possession among school adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 2,296 high school students aged 14-19 years. An instrument containing questions from the validated Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire and the National School Health Survey was used. To describe the profile of interviewees, absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, and the chi-square test was applied to verify the existence of associations. To test the association of bullying with weapon possession, Poisson logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was used. The significance level used for all analyses was 5%. RESULTS: Among adolescents interviewed, 23.1% reported being victims of bullying. Among victims of bullying, 37.6% (PR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.30 - 2.17) reported having already carried some type of weapon (knife, revolver, or truncheon) in the last 30 days, while the reported firearm possession was 38% (PR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.16 - 2.40) and 47.5% of these adolescents carried some type of weapon (knife, revolver or truncheon) in the school environment (PR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.50 - 2.93). CONCLUSIONS: It could be observed that adolescents who are victims of bullying are twice as likely of carrying some type of weapon (knife, revolver, or truncheon) to the school environment, and are also more likely of carrying a firearm.

Virulent potential of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in dogs.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for several infectious diseases in pet animals, yet its pathogenic potential is not fully understood. Thus, this study aims to unravel the virulence profile of S. pseudintermedius from canine origin. Methicillin-resistant (MRSP) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSP) strains were isolated from different infection sites and their genotypic and phenotypic features were compared to determine the clinical implications of MRSP and MSSP strains. Bacterial identification was performed using MALDI-TOF and 16S-rDNA sequencing. In addition, we used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for strains' sequence type (ST) determination and phylogenetic relationship. The strains were screened for toxin genes, including cytotoxins (lukS, lukF), exfoliative toxin (siet), enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, secCanine, sel, sem, and seq) and toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst-1). In vitro phenotypic analyses assessing antimicrobial susceptibility profile, biofilm formation ability, and expression of extracellular matrix components were performed. The investigated S. pseudintermedius strains belong to 17 unique ST, most of which were classified as ST71. MSSP and MRSP strains shared siet, lukS, and lukF virulence markers. Our findings showed that some MSSP strains also harbored sel, seq, and sem enterotoxin genes, suggesting a more diverse virulence profile. All MRSP strains and 77% of MSSP strains were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR). Moreover, all investigated S. pseudintermedius strains showed strong biofilm formation ability. In summary, our findings highlight the wide spread of highly virulent and drug-resistant zoonotic S. pseudintermedius strains, being a potential concern for One Health issues.

Fractal analysis of dental periapical radiographs: A revised image processing method.

OBJECTIVE: To assess trabecular bone structure as calculated with fractal analysis by 2 binarization processes: White and Rudolph's original method (WR.o) and a revised version (WR.r). Fractal dimension (FD) values calculated with WR.r (FD.r) and a gray-scale-based method (FD.f) were also compared. FD, histogram parameters, and lacunarity were compared by dentate status, jaw location, and sex. STUDY DESIGN: Regions of interest from digital periapical radiographs were defined below the teeth roots and in the edentulous sites of 37 patients. Histograms were assessed for pixel values. Binarization was performed with WR.o and then with WR.r, in which the outliers were removed. FD was assessed using WR.r (FD.r) and (FD.f). Histograms were assessed to obtain pixel values. Lacunarity was calculated. RESULTS: WR.r revealed fewer trabeculae, branches, and junctions than WR.o (P < .0001). The majority of the mean differences between FD.r and FD.f were within the 95% CI. Dentate areas had greater mean gray levels than partially edentulous areas (P = .0027). FD.f was higher in the mandible (P = .01), but gray-level SD (P < .0001) and lacunarity (P = .02) were greater in the maxilla. FD.f and lacunarity were higher (P = .0005) and lower (P = .0014) in males, respectively. CONCLUSION: WR.r was effective in revealing skeletonized bone trabeculae by removing non-trabecular noise. FD.r and FD.f revealed good agreement. FD.f, histogram parameters, and lacunarity differed based on dentate status, jaw location, and sex.

Anxiety, Depression, and Other Factors Associated With Voice Handicaps in Active Older People During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older people had to remain isolated, which could cause not only anxiety and depression but also voice and communication problems and lifestyle, demographic, and socioeconomic changes. This study aimed to analyze the influence of anxiety and depression and other associated factors on the voice handicap of active older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional and analytical research approached older people enrolled at a reference health care unit for this age group in Recife. Demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle data were surveyed with interviews. Mental health measures were obtained with the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Geriatric Depression Scale. Voice handicap was assessed with the Voice Handicap Index. Analyses were performed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The study compared older people with lesser and greater voice handicaps, using the chi-square and Wald tests. The association was assessed according to the binary and multivariate logistic regression model. Altogether, 91 older people with a mean age of 69 years participated in the research, most of whom (54.9%) did not have voice handicaps. Trait anxiety (P = 0.031) and age (P = 0.036) were associated with voice handicaps. Active older adults with higher trait anxiety were five times as likely to have voice handicaps (odds ratio = 5.151) as those with low trait anxiety. Moreover, the ones with more advanced age were 10% more likely to have voice handicaps (odds ratio = 1.100) than younger participants. It is concluded that, during the pandemic, voice handicap in active older people was associated with trait anxiety and age.

Autocuidado e prevenção de câncer de mama: percepções de mulheres com deficiência motora / Self-care and breast cancer prevention: perceptions of women with motor disabilities / Prevención del cáncer de auto cuidado y mama: percepciones de mujeres con discapacidad motor

Objetivo: conhecer a percepção das mulheres com deficiência motora quanto ao autocuidado e prevenção do câncer de mama. Método: estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, realizado com 11 mulheres de uma associação de pessoas com deficiência no Agreste Pernambucano entre fevereiro e abril de 2020. Para coleta dos dados foi utilizado roteiro de entrevista e gravação dos relatos que foram transcritos, validados e analisados através do referencial metodológico da análise de conteúdo. Resultados: a partir da análise dos relatos emergiram as seguintes categorias temáticas: Iniciativas de autocuidado na prevenção do câncer de mama; A deficiência física e as dificuldades para prevenção do câncer de mama e o conhecimento como barreira para o autocuidado na prevenção do câncer de mama. Conclusão: a quebra de barreiras relacionadas a compreensão da deficiência e o cuidado de enfermagem são essenciais para fortalecimento da autonomia e empoderamento da mulher.

Objective: to know the perception of women with motor disabilities regarding self-care and breast cancer prevention. Method:descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out with 11 women from an association of people with disabilities in Agreste Pernambuco, Brazil between February and April 2020. For data collection, an interview script was used and the reports were recorded, which were transcribed, validated and analyzed through the methodological framework of content analysis. Results: from the analysis of the reports, the following thematic categories emerged: Self-care initiatives in the prevention of breast cancer; Physical disability and difficulties in breast cancer prevention and knowledge as a barrier to self-care in breast cancer prevention.Conclusion: breaking down barriers related to understanding disability and nursing care are essential for strengthening women's autonomy and empowerment.

Objetivo: conocer la percepción de mujeres con discapacidad motriz respecto al autocuidado y la prevención del cáncer de mama.Método: estudio descriptivo con abordaje cualitativo, realizado con 11 mujeres de una asociación de personas con discapacidad de Agreste Pernambucano entre febrero y abril de 2020. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un guión de entrevista y se grabaron los relatos, que fueron transcriptos, validados y analizado a través del marco metodológico del análisis de contenido. Resultados: del análisis de los informes surgieron las siguientes categorías temáticas: Iniciativas de autocuidado en la prevención del cáncer de mama; La discapacidad física y las dificultades en la prevención del cáncer de mama y el conocimiento como barrera para el autocuidado en la prevención del cáncer de mama. Conclusión: derribar las barreras relacionadas con la comprensión de la discapacidad y el cuidado de enfermería son fundamentales para fortalecer la autonomía y el empoderamiento de las mujeres.

Association between adolescents who are victims of bullying and weapon possession

Abstract Objective To verify the association between victims of bullying and weapon possession among school adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 2,296 high school students aged 14-19 years. An instrument containing questions from the validated Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire and the National School Health Survey was used. To describe the profile of interviewees, absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, and the chi-square test was applied to verify the existence of associations. To test the association of bullying with weapon possession, Poisson logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) was used. The significance level used for all analyses was 5%. Results Among adolescents interviewed, 23.1% reported being victims of bullying. Among victims of bullying, 37.6% (PR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.30 - 2.17) reported having already carried some type of weapon (knife, revolver, or truncheon) in the last 30 days, while the reported firearm possession was 38% (PR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.16 - 2.40) and 47.5% of these adolescents carried some type of weapon (knife, revolver or truncheon) in the school environment (PR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.50 - 2.93). Conclusions It could be observed that adolescents who are victims of bullying are twice as likely of carrying some type of weapon (knife, revolver, or truncheon) to the school environment, and are also more likely of carrying a firearm.

Caracterização demográfica, clínica e terapêutica dos casos de pneumonia hospitalar não associada à ventilação mecânica / Demographic, clinical and therapeutic characterization of the cases of hospital-acquired non-ventilator associated pneumonia

Objetivo: Caracterizar os indivíduos adultos internados que desenvolveram Pneumonia Hospitalar Não Associada à Ventilação Mecânica, segundo variáveis demográficas, clínicas e terapêuticas. Métodos: Estudo transversal e descritivo, realizado em hospital terciário do norte do Paraná; considerando as fichas de notificação das Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde da Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar, com idade maior ou igual a 18 anos, internados no período de janeiro de 2017 a dezembro de 2018. Resultados: Em relação ao sexo houve similaridade, com maior prevalência em pacientes acima de 60 anos e com o tempo de permanência prolongado; as variáveis clínicas resultaram em 50,6% de pacientes com hemocultura associada à pneumonia negativa, destes,53,6% evoluíram a óbito. Quanto às culturas de secreção traqueal, obteve-se maior índice de Acinetobacter baumanni, com a utilização do antimicrobiano piperacilina sódica + tazobactam sódico. Conclusão: Os casos de Pneumonia Hospitalar Não Associada à Ventilação Mecânica ocorreram na mesma proporção entre os sexos, com prevalência em idosos e evolução de óbito de mais da metade dos indivíduos. O perfil clínico das secreções traqueais, hemocultura de Staphylo spp, revela que o microrganismo Acinetobacter baumanni foi o mais prevalente, tendo como escolha terapêutica de antimicrobiano a classe das cefalosporinas. Descritores: Pneumonia. Infecção Hospitalar. Pneumonia Associada à Assistência à Saúde. Enfermagem.

Objective: To characterize the hospitalized adult individuals thatdeveloped hospital-acquired non-ventilator associated pneumonia, according to demographic, clinical and therapeutic variables.Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out at a tertiary-level hospital in northern Paraná; considering the notification forms of Healthcare-Associated Infectionsfrom theHospital Infection Control Commissionin patients aged at least 18years old, admitted from January2017 to December2018.Results: There was similarity in relation to gender, with higher prevalence in patients over 60years old and with prolonged hospitalization time; the clinical variables resulted in 50.6% of patients with negative blood cultures associated with pneumonia, with 53.6% of them evolving to death. Regarding the tracheal secretioncultures, a higher index of Acinetobacter baumanniwas obtained, with use of the piperacillin sodium+tazobactam sodiumantimicrobial.Conclusion:The cases of hospital-acquired non-ventilator associated pneumoniaoccurred in the same proportion between the genders, with prevalence in older adults and evolution of death in more than half of the individuals. The clinical profile of the tracheal secretions andStaphylosppblood cultures reveals that the Acinetobacter baumannimicroorganism was the most prevalent, with thecephalosporins class as the antimicrobial therapeutic choice.Descriptors:Pneumonia. Cross Infection. Health-Care Associated Pneumonia. Nursing.