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Depression affects several aspects of life, including socioeconomic status, relationships, behavior, emotions, and overall health. The etiology of depression is complex and influenced by various factors, with obesity emerging as a significant contributor. This narrative review aims to investigate the factors associated with the development of depression, with a particular focus on the role of obesity. The literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO from May to July 2024. The review highlights the impact of environmental and socioeconomic conditions; lifestyle choices, including physical activity and dietary habits; stress; traumatic experiences; neurotransmitter imbalances; medical and psychological conditions; hormone fluctuations; and epigenetic factors on depression. A key emphasis is placed on the inflammatory processes linked to obesity, which may drive the bidirectional relationship between obesity and depression. The findings suggest that obesity is associated with an increased risk of depression, potentially due to chronic inflammation, neurochemical dysregulation, and the emotional and social challenges related to weight stigma and obesity management. Understanding these interconnected factors is important for developing targeted interventions to address both obesity and depression, leading to improved quality of life for those affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic composites exhibit improved mechanical performance compared to pure matrices, and the fiber is usually the most influential component of the composite. Recently, studies related to the use of vegetable fibers have grown significantly, but few works report the direct comparative between inorganic and vegetable fibers and fillers as reinforcements. In this work, composites were produced with polystyrene (PS) matrix, reinforced with inorganic fibers (glass), vegetal fibers (kapok), particulate inorganic (CaCO3), and vegetal (wood) fillers. The composites were mixed by a twin‐screw co‐rotating extruder and after processed in an injection‐molding machine. Statistical analyses of density, tensile and flexural strength abrasion resistance were made, along with analyzes of thermal deflection temperature, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed on the composites. The main results indicate that all reinforcing agents (vegetal and inorganic fibers and fillers) show a regular trend of increasing the mechanical properties proven by statistical comparison, presenting p < 0.01 that proves a significant increase. By dynamic mechanical analysis, vegetable reinforcements showed a higher coefficient of effectiveness when compared to composites produced with inorganic reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A medida da concentração de hemoglobina (Hb)por co‐oximetria é uma técnica inovadora que oferece eficiência e agilidade no processamento das informações referentes à medida da concentração de hemoglobina obtida por meio de monitorização contínua, não‐invasiva e rápida. Por conta desse atributo, evita exposições desnecessárias do paciente a procedimentos invasivos ao possibilitar redução da quantidade de amostras sanguíneas para avaliação e de outras terapêuticas desnecessárias. Além disso, auxilia a tomada de decisões quanto à necessidade de transfusão e quanto ao manejo da mesma. Comparar o desempenho oferecido para a obtenção dos valores de concentração de hemoglobina entre medida não invasiva da Hb e a ferramenta padrão ouro (exame laboratorial). O estudo corresponde a uma revisão sistemática seguida de metanálise que incluiu ensaios clínicos devidamente registrados com texto completo, publicados a partir de 1990 até 2018. Foram investigadas as bases de dados PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, Embase e Web Of Science. A diferença média global encontrada entre os métodos não invasivo e invasivo de monitorização da hemoglobina foi de 0,23 (95% IC ‐0,16; 0,62), ou seja, não apresentou significância estatística (p = 0,250). Os resultados da análise de heterogeneidade dentro e entre os estudos, apontou níveis elevados de inconsistência (Q = 461,63, p < 0,0001, I2 = 98%). Embora a diferença média entre as medidas não invasivas da Hb e o método padrão ouro sejam pequenas, o co‐oxímetro pode ser utilizado como um monitor não invasivo de "tendência" na detecção de alterações inesperadas nos níveis de Hb. The measurement of Hb by co‐oximetry is an innovative technique that offers efficiency and agility in the processing of information regarding the measurement of Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) obtained through continuous, non‐invasive and rapid monitoring. Because of this attribute, it avoids unnecessary exposures of the patient to invasive procedures by allowing a reduction in the number of blood samples for evaluation and other unnecessary therapies. It also helps to make decisions about the need for transfusion and how to handle it. The objective of this study is to compare the performance offered to obtain Hb values between the Masimo Corporation (Irvine, CA, USA) instrument and the standard gold tool (laboratory examination). The study corresponds to a systematic review followed by meta‐analysis, which included fully registered full‐text clinical trials published from 1990 to 2018. PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases were investigated. The mean overall difference found between the non‐invasive and invasive methods of hemoglobin monitoring was 0.23 (95% CI ‐0.16, 0.62), that is, it did not present statistical significance (p = 0.250). The results of the analysis of heterogeneity within and between the studies indicated high levels of inconsistency (Q = 461.63, p < 0.0001, I2 = 98%), method for Hb values. Although the mean difference between noninvasive measurements of Hb and the gold standard method is small, the co‐oximeter can be used as a non‐invasive "trend" monitor in detecting unexpected responses at Hb levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Obesidade, Nutrição e Emagrecimento is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has a high prevalence and carries significant cardiovascular risks. It is important to study new therapeutic approaches to this disease. Positional therapy might be beneficial in reducing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Imaging methods have been employed in order to facilitate the evaluation of the airways of OSAS patients and can be used in order to determine the effectiveness of certain treatments. This study was aimed at determining the influence that upper airway volume, as measured by cervical CT, has in patients diagnosed with OSAS. Methods: This was a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study. We evaluated 10 patients who had been diagnosed with OSAS by polysomnography and on the basis of the clinical evaluation. All of the patients underwent conventional cervical CT in the supine position. Scans were obtained with the head of the patient in two positions (neutral and at a 44° upward inclination), and the upper airway volume was compared between the two. Results: The mean age, BMI, and neck circumference were 48.9 ± 14.4 years, 30.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2, and 40.3 ± 3.4 cm, respectively. The mean AHI was 13.7 ± 10.6 events/h (range, 6.0-41.6 events/h). The OSAS was classified as mild, moderate, and severe in 70%, 20%, and 10% of the patients, respectively. The mean upper airway volume was 7.9 cm3 greater when the head was at a 4 4° upward inclination than when it was in the neutral position, and that difference (17.5 ± 11.0%) was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Elevating the head appears to result in a significant increase in the caliber of the upper airways in OSAS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in ovarian cancer.A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, LILACS, Grey literature and EMBASE was performed for articles published from January 1990 to March 2012. The following MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms were searched: “ovarian tumor” or “ovarian cancers” and “HPV” or “human papillomavirus.” Included were case-control and cross-sectional studies, prospective or retrospective, that evaluated clinical ovarian cancer and provided a clear description of the use of in situ hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. The statistical analysis was performed using REVMAN 5.0.In total, 24 primary studies were included in this meta-analysis. Studies from 11 countries on 3 continents contained data on HPV and ovarian cancer, including 889 subjects. Overall, the HPV prevalence in patients with ovarian cancer was 17.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.0%-20.0%). Human papillomavirus prevalence ranged from 4.0% (95% CI, 1.7%-6.3%) in Europe to 31.4% (95% CI, 26.9%-35.9%) in Asia. An aggregate of 4 case-control studies from Asia showed an odds ratio of 2.48 (95% CI, 0.64-9.57).We found a high prevalence of HPV-positive DNA in ovarian cancer cases, but the role of HPV in ovarian cancer remains inconclusive. Further studies are needed to control case to answer this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Venous and pulmonary thromboembolism and combined hormonal contraceptives. Systematic review and meta-analysis" in a 2012 issue.

In Brazil, as in other countries, it is expected a significant variation of epidemiological and clinical characteristics among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study was performed to explore maternal risk factors and clinical characteristics of children with ASD in a population located in southern Brazil. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed to explore biomarkers associated with ASD. Out of 321 children with ASD, 86.5% were males with a male-to-female ratio of 5.7:1, 50.7% were mild/moderate while 49.3% presented severe ASD. Between the risk factors investigated, gestational infection was significantly associated with severe ASD patients. There was also an association between epilepsy and severe autism. Several gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were significantly associated with severe ASD. Obesity, followed by lower levels of cholesterol, were also significant factors associated with an ASD diagnosis when compared to age-matched controls. Finally, severe ASD was associated with significantly higher serum serotonin levels when compared to age-matched controls and mild/moderate ASD cases. Our findings demonstrate that our population shares many features associated with ASD around the world, such as GI symptoms, epilepsy, and high serotonin levels. It is worth highlighting the low cholesterol levels associated with obesity as an unusual feature that deserves more attention. • Gestational infection may be an important risk factor associated to severe ASD. • Gastrointestinal symptoms and high level of serotonin are associated to severe ASD. • ASD population presents lower levels of cholesterol and higher obesity rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the framework for developing parallel applications Java Parallel Programming Framework were conducted performance analysis of an application for the clustering data by the method of fuzzy logic combined with Gustafson-Kessel algorithm. In addition to running in a distributed environment, for comparative purposes, were also conducted collections of processing time in environments with a single Personal Computer approach. With the results obtained by collecting time of application, there was a statistical analysis to validate the application and the algorithm as well as the use of computational clustering as a way to increase performance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the efficacy, compared to placebo, of fluconazole 150mg weekly, given for six months as prophylaxis against recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Study design: A quantitative systematic review was performed, and randomized controlled trials were included. We conducted searches at Medline, EMBASE, Lilacs, Cochrane Library and ICI Web of Science from 1980 to March 2012. We used the odds ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) of 95% using a random effects model of Mantel-Haenszel. The software used was Review Manager version 5.0. Results: Through the search strategies we identified 249 articles, of which only two were part of the meta-analysis. Fluconazole was more effective than placebo in reducing symptomatic episodes of VVC, immediately after treatment (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03–0.34), 3 months after treatment (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07–0.74) and 6 months after treatment (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.24–0.64). Conclusion: Weekly treatment with fluconazole (150mg) for six months is effective against RVVC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the diagnosis of proximal carious lesions through different parameters of execution and visualization of the images., Material and Methods: Proximal carious lesions were artificially induced in human teeth three different times (10, 20, and 30 hours) by in vitro demineralization. The teeth were radiographed with the Dürr digital system using three exposure times (0.10, 0.16, and 0.20s) and three different resolutions in the scanning of the phosphor plates (20-, 25- and 40-line pairs). After acquiring the images, they were submitted to VistaScan Fine, Caries 1, and Caries 2 software filters. Three radiologists analyzed the images in JPEG format., Results: The Pearson's chi-square test showed an association between longer demineralization time and the presence of injury according to the professional's classification. There was no statistically significant association among the other parameters, exposure time, resolution, and use of filters and the presence of a lesion. All parameters showed a greater sensitivity than specificity. The exposure time of 0.2s showed better accuracy, the resolutions 25 and 40lp showed equal results and better than 20lp and the Fine filter obtained better values than the Caries 1 and 2 filters., Conclusions: Despite the variation of parameters, exposure time, resolution, and use of filters, there were no statistically significant differences. For better diagnostic accuracy, it is recommended to use 0.2s of exposure time and a Fine filter, and scan the phosphor plates with 25lp. Key words: Orbital fracture, Etiology, Orbital trauma, Road traffic accidents, Trauma., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None declared., (Copyright: © 2024 Medicina Oral S.L.)

Background: Stressful life events are associated with higher odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Furthermore, stressful life events can trigger specific symptoms, including the suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome, resulting in an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study examined the moderating role of suicide risk in the relationship between stressful life events, the suicidal narrative, and the suicide crisis syndrome., Methods: 2,260 adults completed an online survey recruited through advertisements on social media. The level of emotional distress was assessed through the Suicide Narrative Inventory, Suicide Crisis Inventory-2, Stressful Life Events Questionnaire, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The PROCESS macro (Hayes) was used to analyze the moderation models., Results: Stressful life events were positively correlated with the suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome. The effects of stressful life events on suicidal narrative and suicide crisis syndrome were strongest when suicide risk was low and weakest when suicide risk was high., Conclusions: These findings suggest that including stressful life events as part of suicide risk assessment in general and clinical settings is critical to managing treatment for suicidal thoughts and developing adaptive coping.

Objective: Necrotizing pneumonia (PNZ) is a severe and rare complication of a community-acquired pneumonia, affecting mainly children. We aimed to analyze medical records of children undergoing surgical treatment for PNZ and compare our results with those found in the medical literature., Methods: Retrospective analysis of children's medical charts who underwent an operation for PNZ, between July 2006 and July 2016, in two hospitals in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil., Results: A total of 26 children with a median age of 2.70 years and mostly females (61.5%) were included in the current study. The main symptoms were fever (88.5%) and cough (65.4%). There was an average use of 4.31 antibiotics per patient. The primary etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (23.1%), but cultures were negative in 69% of the patients. Decortication and debridement of necrotic areas were performed in 23 patients (88.5%). The mean postoperative pleural drainage was 8.12 days. The presence of bronchopleural fistula occurred in 50.0% in the preoperative period and 46.2% in the postoperative. The total length of hospital stay was, on average, 27.52 days and the postoperative length of stay was 12.60 days (mean). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 children and there was no mortality., Conclusion: The surgical approach is indicated to patients with no response to clinical treatment. Late surgical intervention is associated with progressive parenchyma infection and higher rates of complications. Surgery can lead to better clinical outcomes and earlier recovery.

The objective of the study was to conduct a systematic review to synthesize the current evidence on the accuracy of IgM and IgA to early diagnosis the dengue virus. The review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD 42015024808). We searched for studies in the following electronic database from 1990 to January 2018. The search identified 3507 studies. Five studies were included for quantitative analysis. Three studies included evaluations of salivary IgM provided a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 93%. Two studies included evaluating of IgA salivary showed a combined sensitivity of 69% and a combined specificity of 98%. Despite the results found and the low methodological quality of the studies included in the meta-analysis it is still soon to claim that IgA is better than IgM to diagnosis Dengue.

Background: Ceramic industry workers are subjected to several factors, such as high temperature, dust and work in standing position, which in greater or lesser degree might cause discomfort and work-related disorders., Objective: To investigate the quality of life and functional capacity of ceramic industry workers., Methods: The present study had a quantitative cross-sectional design. A total of 189 ceramic industry workers were analyzed. Muscle strength was assessed by means of dynamometry, and the following questionnaires were applied: WHOQOL-Bref for quality of life; Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms, pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ 2.0) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH)., Results: Overall, 115 (60.8%) participants described their quality of life as average. The lumbar spine was the body segment most often mentioned as the location of pain 68 (36.0%) participants reported occurrence of pain in the past 12 months and 38 (20.1%) in the past 7 days. A total of 107 (56.6%) participants exhibited upper limb muscle weakness., Conclusion: The results evidenced a higher prevalence of pain compared to other professional categories. Muscle weakness, mainly affecting the upper limbs, and self-perceived quality of life as predominantly average show that the state of health of a part of the sample was partially impaired, and while it was not associated with disability, it was perceived as having impact in their personal and professional lives.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second type of cancer diagnosed and the fifth cause of death in men worldwide. Early diagnosis helps to control disease progression. Currently, prostate specific antigen is the standard biomarker, as it has a broad scope of identification and, thus, new and more specific biomarkers must be studied., Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of engrailed-2 protein (EN2) in urine as a prostate cancer biomarker., Method: A comprehensive search was conducted in the period from January 2005 to July 2016 using the following electronic databases: Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library and Lilacs. The keywords used in the databases were: "engrailed-2," "EN2," "prostatic neoplasms." The search was limited to humans and there was no language restriction. Critical appraisal of the included studies was performed according to Quadas-2. Statistical analysis was performed using Meta-DiSc® and RevMan 5.3 softwares., Results: A total of 248 studies were identified. After title and abstract screening, 231 studies were removed. A total of 17 studies were read in full and two studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 66% (95CI 0.56-0.75) and specificity was 89% (95CI 0.86-0.92). The DOR was 15.08 (95CI 8.43-26.97)., Conclusion: The EN2 test showed high specificity (89%) and low sensitivity (66%).

The objective of this work was to estimate the accuracy of mesothelin as a biomarker for ovarian cancer. A quantitative systematic review was performed. A comprehensive search of the Medline, LILACS, SCOPUS, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Biomed Central, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted from January 1990 to June 2015. For inclusion in this systematic review, the papers must have measured mesothelin levels in at least two histological diagnoses; ovarian cancer (borderline or ovarian tumor) vs. benign or normal ovarian tissue. For each study, 2 x 2 contingency tables were constructed. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio. The verification bias was performed according to QUADAS-2. Statistical analysis was performed with the software Stata 11, Meta-DiSc(r) and RevMan 5.2. Twelve studies were analyzed, which included 1,561 women. The pooled sensitivity was 0.62 (CI 95% 0.58 - 0.66) and specificity was 0.94 (CI 95% 0.92 - 0.95). The DOR was 38.92 (CI 95% 17.82 - 84.99). Our systematic review shows that mesothelin cannot serve alone as a biomarker for the detection of ovarian cancer.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has a high prevalence and carries significant cardiovascular risks. It is important to study new therapeutic approaches to this disease. Positional therapy might be beneficial in reducing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Imaging methods have been employed in order to facilitate the evaluation of the airways of OSAS patients and can be used in order to determine the effectiveness of certain treatments. This study was aimed at determining the influence that upper airway volume, as measured by cervical CT, has in patients diagnosed with OSAS., Methods: This was a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study. We evaluated 10 patients who had been diagnosed with OSAS by polysomnography and on the basis of the clinical evaluation. All of the patients underwent conventional cervical CT in the supine position. Scans were obtained with the head of the patient in two positions (neutral and at a 44° upward inclination), and the upper airway volume was compared between the two., Results: The mean age, BMI, and neck circumference were 48.9 ± 14.4 years, 30.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2, and 40.3 ± 3.4 cm, respectively. The mean AHI was 13.7 ± 10.6 events/h (range, 6.0-41.6 events/h). The OSAS was classified as mild, moderate, and severe in 70%, 20%, and 10% of the patients, respectively. The mean upper airway volume was 7.9 cm3 greater when the head was at a 44° upward inclination than when it was in the neutral position, and that difference (17.5 ± 11.0%) was statistically significant (p = 0.002)., Conclusions: Elevating the head appears to result in a significant increase in the caliber of the upper airways in OSAS patients.

Background: Meningitis is a complex and severe acute infectious disease of the central nervous system and is caused mainly by bacteria and viruses. However, the distinction between aseptic and bacterial meningitis can be difficult for clinicians because the symptoms and the results of laboratory assays are often similar and overlapping, particularly when the use of antibiotics is administered prior to examining the cerebrospinal fluid., Methods: We determined the accuracy of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) for the differential diagnosis between bacterial and aseptic meningitis. A comprehensive search was performed for papers published from January 1989 to July 2013. Prospective or retrospective studies and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) TNF-α and/or IL-1β cytokine concentrations for differential diagnosis distinguishing bacterial from aseptic meningitis were included., Results: A statistical analysis was performed using Revman and Meta-Disc. This systematic review showed that TNF-α has a sensitivity of 80.5%, specificity of 94.9%, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 71.7, and area under the curve (AUC) = 0.942; IL-1β showed a sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 92.3%, DOR of 53.5, and AUC = 0.975., Conclusion: Therefore, TNF-α and IL-1β are useful markers for the prediction of the bacterial meningitis and levels may represent an accurate method that is useful for the differentiation between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.