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Vasectomy is a safe, highly effective and affordable method of permanent contraception, and one of the few currently available contraceptive methods for men. Despite this, vasectomy uptake remains overall low, making up just 2% of the global contraceptive method mix. To better understand access to vasectomy in a country with negligible uptake, we conducted participatory and operational research in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste). We held 14 participatory group discussions with 175 community participants (84 men, 91 women; aged 18-72) across seven municipalities (Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Dili, Lautem, Manufahi, and Oecusse), and individual in-depth interviews with 24 healthcare providers (16 women, 8 men; aged 25-56 years)...

Intending to compare in vitro cell growth in different conditions, we established cell cultures using fin biopsies of two freshwater fishes, Astyanax bimaculatus and Geophagus proximus. Three different culture media (Leibovitz-L-15, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium [DMEM], and 199) were employed, with or without the addition of AmnioMax, maintaining a standard temperature of 29°C. Based on the results obtained, we standardized a cell growth protocol in which medium 199 was less efficient for both species...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the cognitive function of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression included randomized clinical trials published until 05/2022. We included studies conducted with individuals with AD of both sexes, aged between 55 and 85 years, treated with tDCS, TMS, or both...

The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of household purchase of added sugars and their main food sources in Brazil. Nationally representative data from the Household Budget Surveys from 2002-03, 2008-09 and 2017-18 were used. Energy and added sugar quantities were estimated by means of per capita food quantities. The following items were considered as food sources: 1. table sugar: refined sugar and other caloric sweeteners; and 2) processed and ultra-processed foods with added sugar: soft drinks; other drinks; sweets, candies, and chocolates; cookies; cakes and pies; and other foods...

BACKGROUND: Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of congenital disorders characterized by structural abnormalities in the brain cortex. The clinical manifestations include refractory epilepsy, mental retardation, and cognitive impairment. Genetic factors play a key role in the etiology of MCD. Currently, there is no curative treatment for MCD. Phenotypes such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy cannot be observed in the fetus. Therefore, the diagnosis of MCD is typically based on fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or genetic testing...

In this longitudinal study, the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in blood were determined in 32 Murrah buffalo females at 8, 10, 12, 16 and 19 months of age when females were synchronized and the antral follicular population (AFP) was estimated. Correlations of AFP to the AMH level at 19 months of age and retrospectively to younger ages were investigated. Then females were split into high and low AFP, and their AMH levels were compared for all ages and tested as predictors of AFP categories...

INTRODUCTION: Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in genes responsible for the formation and development of adipocytes. Bone abnormalities are described. However, there is a scarcity of data. OBJECTIVE: To describe bone characteristics in a large CGL1 and 2 case series. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that assessed bone radiological features of CGL patients of a reference hospital in Fortaleza (CE), Brazil...

•Both primary endometrial cancers (ECs) and matched lung metastases shared a common ancestor with independent evolution at each site.•The two endometrioid ECs studied acquired additional mutations during the distant metastatic process.•Subclonal CTNNB1 hotspot mutations in the two primary ECs studied became clonal in the distant metastases.

Objectives: Amidst rising global burden of depression and the associated challenges with conventional antidepressant therapies, there is a growing interest in exploring the efficacy and safety of alternative treatments. This study uses a Bayesian network meta-analysis to rigorously evaluate the therapeutic potential of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of depression, focusing on their comparative efficacy and safety against standard pharmacological interventions. Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Wanfang Data, EMBASE, CNKI, and the Cochrane Library) and grey literature were searched from inception to end of July 2023 to identify studies that assessed the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in treating depression...

BACKGROUND: Dietary composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases via epigenetic mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: We recruited 250 adult volunteers and evaluated their socioeconomic status, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometrics...

Snakebite envenoming is a global health issue that affects millions of people worldwide, and that causes morbidity rates surpassing 450,000 individuals annually. Patients suffering from snakebite morbidities may experience permanent disabilities such as pain, blindness and amputations. The (local) tissue damage that causes these life-long morbidities is the result of cell- and tissue-damaging toxins present in the venoms. These compounds belong to a variety of toxin classes and may affect cells in various ways, for example, by affecting the cell membrane...

INTRODUCTION: Axonal plasticity is strongly related to neuronal development as well as regeneration. It was recently demonstrated that active mechanical tension, intended as an extrinsic factor, is a valid contribution to the modulation of axonal plasticity. METHODS: In previous publications, our team validated a the "nano-pulling" method used to apply mechanical forces to developing axons of isolated primary neurons using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) actuated by static magnetic fields...

Anastomosis is a common and critical part of reconstructive procedures within gastrointestinal, urologic, and gynecologic surgery. The use of autonomous surgical robots such as the smart tissue autonomous robot (STAR) system demonstrates an improved efficiency and consistency of the laparoscopic small bowel anastomosis over the current da Vinci surgical system. However, the STAR workflow requires auxiliary manual monitoring during the suturing procedure to avoid missed or wrong stitches. To eliminate this monitoring task from the operators, we integrated an optical coherence tomography (OCT) fiber sensor with the suture tool and developed an automatic tissue classification algorithm for detecting missed or wrong stitches in real time...

Insect migrations have ecological and economic impacts, particularly in agriculture. However, there is limited knowledge about the migratory movements of pests at the continental scale, which is an important factor influencing the spread of resistance genes. Understanding the migratory patterns of economic pests, like Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is essential for improving Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies. In this study, we used stable hydrogen isotopic ratios in wing tissue as a biogeochemical marker to examine migratory patterns and estimate the native origins of H...

BACKGROUND: Monogenic autoinflammatory disorders result in a diverse range of neurological symptoms in adults, often leading to diagnostic delays. Despite the significance of early detection for effective treatment, the neurological manifestations of these disorders remain inadequately recognized. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review searching Pubmed, Embase and Scopus for case reports and case series related to neurological manifestations in adult-onset monogenic autoinflammatory diseases...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to observe the anesthetic effect and safety of intravenous anesthesia without muscle relaxant with propofol-remifentanil combined with regional block under laryngeal mask airway in pediatric ophthalmologic surgery. METHODS: A total of 90 undergoing ophthalmic surgery were anesthetized with general anesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway without muscle relaxant. They were randomly divided into two groups: 45 children who received propofol-remifentanil intravenous anesthesia combined with regional block (LG group), and 45 children who received total intravenous anesthesia (G group)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE: The phase angle (PhA) is a measurement obtained from the resistance and reactance found in the bioelectrical impedance examination and is useful in assessing nutritional status and in assessing cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, the objective was to correlate the phase angle to the anthropometric variables of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in children and adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and neck circumference (NC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and PhA of 1231 children and adolescents aged between 5 and 18 years were assessed...

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a trioecious species with female, male, and hermaphrodite plants. Given the sex segregation, selecting hermaphroditic plants is vital for orchard establishment due to their greater commercial value. However, selecting hermaphrodite plants through sexing is laborious and costly. Moreover, environmental stressors can exacerbate the issue by potentially inducing abnormal flower development, thus affecting fruit quality. Despite these challenges, the molecular mechanisms governing sex development in papaya remain poorly understood...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.