Impact of In vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Chemical Composition and Prebiotic Potential of Coffee Silverskin.

The growing interest in prebiotic ingredients has led to the valorization of agri-food by-products, such as coffee silverskin, known for its richness in dietary fiber and health-promoting compounds. This study evaluated the impact of in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion on the chemical composition (carbohydrates, caffeine, and chlorogenic acids) and prebiotic potential (probiotic growth, organic acid production, pH, and antioxidant activity) of milled coffee silverskin. The results show stability of polysaccharides during digestion, while caffeine and 5-caffeoylquinic acid were partially released into the bioaccessible fraction.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Cisgender and Transgender Adult Entertainment Workers in Brazil.

Adult entertainment work may be associated with increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV. In Brazil, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection has been available through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) since November 2017, representing a significant advancement in public sexual health policy. The objective of this study was to understand the individual and social determinants that promote PrEP use among adult entertainment workers.

Development and Validation of an Educational Tool on Hypodermoclysis for Palliative Care Professionals.

: Hypodermoclysis has gained increasing recognition as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method for administering medication and fluids in palliative care. Despite its advantages, its adoption remains limited, primarily due to a lack of structured training resources for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to develop and validate an educational tool for training clinical nurses in hypodermoclysis administration in palliative care.

Development of a Computerised Adaptive Testing and Equalisation Approaches to Assess Sleep and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain.

Background: Computerised adaptive testing (CAT) and equalisation are statistical approaches that mitigate questionnaire response burden by selecting individually tailored items according to previous response patterns; they facilitate comparing results across distinct instruments by providing conversion functions between their scores, respectively. However, they have seldom been specifically applied to the general chronic pain population. This study aimed at developing CAT and equalisation approaches for widely used sleep quality and quality of life (QoL) assessment instruments.

Assessment of the psychometric properties of self-management measurement instruments for individuals with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review protocol.

Context And Objectives: The type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) negatively impacts patients' quality of life, affecting their physical and mental functioning as well as social relationships. Self-management is essential for T2DM control, as it involves self-care behaviors and self-efficacy, leading to better health outcomes such as better glycemic control. There are a variety of instruments in the literature capable of measuring self-management in T2DM population.

Specialised super-enhancer networks in stem cells and neurons.

Super-enhancers (SEs) are clusters of enhancers with high transcriptional activity that play essential roles in defining cell identity through regulation of nearby genes. SEs preferentially form multiway chromatin interactions with other SEs and highly transcribed regions in embryonic stem cells. However, the properties of the interacting SEs and their specific contributions to complex regulatory interactions in differentiated cell types remain poorly understood.

Insula Deep Brain Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain: A Cross-Over, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Despite neuropathic pain affecting a significant portion of the population, many people still experience refractory conditions. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of posterior-superior insula deep brain stimulation for pharmaco-resistant neuropathic pain.

Materials And Methods: This was a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over trial.

Potential immunoprophylactic use of a multi-epitope protein of CD4 and CD8 T cells against visceral leishmaniasis in Balb/c mice.

Diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania are considered neglected infections. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe form of the disease, with a high annual incidence worldwide. In Brazil, dogs play an essential role as reservoirs, exhibiting a high concentration of parasites on their skin and no clinical signs, making them potential transmitters of the disease.

New approach methodologies for risk assessment of urinary occurring toxicants.

The reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal-based toxicological studies is becoming an essential requirement at academic, industrial, and governmental levels, turning new approach methodologies (NAMs) from alternatives into necessities. New strategies for hazard characterization and exposure assessment have been developed in this wake, including among others, sophisticated organ-on-chip platforms, or holistic human biomonitoring programs. This review summarizes state-of-the-art methods of NAMs for hazard characterization and advances in exposure assessment in the context of toxicants occurring in human urine.

Metabolic Profile Associated With Encystation in Acanthamoeba.

The genus Acanthamoeba includes widespread protozoa that can cause severe infections in humans. Their ability to form resistant cysts within infected tissues complicates treatment, making it essential to understand the encystation process for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This study utilized untargeted metabolomics (GC-MS) to analyze metabolic changes during the encystation of an Acanthamoeba strain in Neff's encystation saline.

Calibration services for X-ray multimeters in Europe: current situation and future needs.

Introduction: Optimization and quality control of the diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures is usually performed with an X-ray multimeter (XMM) based on the non-invasive measurements of different X-ray tube and output parameters obtained from the X-ray beam, such as air kerma, tube voltage and half-value layer. Standardization and metrological support need to be improved, and harmonized calibration procedures are not available for all quantities. There is also a lack of data on performance of XMMs in different measurement conditions relevant for clinical practice.

Circadian rhythms are disrupted in patients and preclinical models of Machado-Joseph disease.

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is caused by an abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene, leading to the expression of a mutant ataxin-3 (mutATXN3) protein. Patients with MJD exhibit a wide range of clinical symptoms, including motor incoordination. Emerging evidence highlights circadian rhythm disruptions as early indicators and potential risk factors for the progression of neurodegenerative conditions.

The Concept of Energy in Martha Rogers' Humanistic Theory: A Theoretical Reflection.

The aim of this essay is to reflect on the concept of human energy in light of Martha Rogers' Humanistic Theory. Rogers presents a humanistic and holistic view of nursing, describing the human being as a synergistic unit in constant interaction with the environment. Her principles, such as integrality, resonance, and helicy, emphasize the continuous dynamics between the human and environmental fields.

Genome sequence of the marine bacterium sp. EG26, isolated from the octocoral , suggests aptitude for a host-associated lifestyle.

We present the genome sequence of the octocoral-associated sp. EG26. We highlight features related to type II, III, IV, and VI secretion systems, ankyrin-repeat proteins, and taurine degradation, suggesting a preference for a host-associated lifestyle.

The Practices of Portuguese Primary Health Care Professionals in Palliative Care Access and Referral: A Focus Group Study.

: The prevalence of people with incurable and progressive diseases in primary health care is high. Family doctors and nurses must be active agents in the early identification of palliative needs and the implementation of palliative approaches in cases of low to intermediate complexity. While there is a need for early referral of more complex palliative care (PC) cases to specialized teams, primary health care (PHC) professionals lack the confidence or skill to describe their role.

Intention to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Age Groups of Brazilian Men Who Have Sex With Men: National Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In Brazil, men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, mirroring global trends. Despite advancements in HIV prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), uptake remains uneven among different MSM age groups, influenced by various sexual behaviors, risk perceptions, and social stigmas.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with PrEP intentions among Brazilian MSM across different age groups.

Assessing nutritional composition and ingredients of packaged foods in Brazil: an in-store census method for creating a comprehensive food label database.

Background: The consumption of ultra-processed packaged foods has surged worldwide with important health implications. It is pertinent to study the composition of packaged foods through information provided on labels. However, there is limited methodological discussion in the field.

Use of dignity therapy in palliative care: a comprehensive scoping review.

Introduction: Dignity Therapy is an innovative intervention designed to alleviate emotional suffering and address the distress associated with loss of dignity in individuals with advanced illness or at the end of life. Its use has steadily increased, and previous systematic reviews have synthesized evidence on its effectiveness in palliative care. However, there is no comprehensive synthesis that explores aspects of this intervention beyond commonly reported clinical outcomes.

Prevalence of pain in older adults with chronic lung disease: analysis of the SHARE database.

Background: Chronic lung diseases (CLD) frequently present comorbidities. These include musculoskeletal conditions, most notably chronic pain.

Aim: To determine whether the prevalence of pain in older adults with CLD is higher compared to the general population.

Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study.

Urban environments and climate-related challenges impact older adults' health and well-being. To address these challenges, climate adaptation strategies and urban design guidelines should be tailored to older adults' needs. Ethnographic studies can help identify these needs by involving them directly in the research process.

HIV prevalence and prevention behaviors among immigrant men who have sex with men in Brazil and Portugal.

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess HIV prevalence and associated sexual behaviors among immigrant men who have sex with men (MSM) in Brazil and Portugal, recognizing the elevated vulnerability of this population due to sociocultural and structural barriers.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted between January 2020 and May 2021 with 2033 immigrant MSM. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling through dating applications.

Treatment targeting pediatric inflammatory bowel disease-associated anemia: experience from a single tertiary center.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are common complications of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Owing to questions regarding optimal iron formulation, dosage, route of administration, and safety, these complications are frequently overlooked and undertreated, negatively impacting patient development and quality of life.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of iron sucrose (IS) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in the treatment of ID and IDA in pediatric IBD.

Durable and breathable ZnO/graphene-coated fabrics for enhanced BQR protection.

This work developed a new strategy to create active protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, based on polyurethane-based coatings for outer (water and oil-repellency) and inner (CBRN protection) functionalization of fabric. The internal coatings were functionalized with varying concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) and/or graphene nanoplatelets (Gf) and carefully spread onto a military-grade camouflage fabric using a knife coating methodology. Hence, a new double-layered system was created consisting of one double-coated fabric combined with a lining knitted fabric.