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(1) Background: The pandemic led to significant healthcare disruptions, resulting in postponed surgeries and extended waiting times for non-urgent treatments, including hysteroscopies essential for diagnosing endometrial cancer. This study aims to formulate a risk stratification model to enhance the prioritization of hysteroscopy procedures in Brazil; (2) Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Vila Santa Catarina Hospital in São Paulo, analyzing the medical records of 2103 women who underwent hysteroscopy between March 2019 and March 2022. We used bivariate analysis and multivariate linear regression to identify risk factors associated with endometrial cancer and formulate a nomogram; (3) Results: The findings revealed a 5.5% incidence of pre-invasive and invasive endometrial disease in the study population, with an average waiting time of 120 days for hysteroscopy procedures. The main risk factors identified were hypertension, diabetes, postmenopausal bleeding, and obesity; (4) Conclusions: This research highlights the urgent need for efficient prioritization of hysteroscopy procedures in the wake of the pandemic. The developed nomogram is an innovative tool for identifying patients at higher risk of endometrial cancer, thus facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment and improving overall patient outcomes in a strained healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration is a crucial topic for athletic career development. Despite the challenges and issues that sport migrants face, little is known about Brazilian context. On Pierre Bourdieu's sociological approach, this study aims to analyze the Brazilian men elite futsal players' job conditions and their influence on athletes' dispositions for labor sport migration. On quali–quantitative approach, interviews with 28 Brazilian men elite futsal players were thematically analyzed and quantitative data on clubs' rosters from the Brazilian National Futsal League were collected. We concluded the following aspects: (a) players' migrant disposition is a consequence of unfavorable labor conditions; (b) remaining in the same city for long period is a privilege; (c) players and relatives are submitted to constant habitus transformation because of repeated mobility and adaptations to different networks in each new city/club. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of malformed or dilated branches of iliac vessels in causing pelvic pain is not well understood. Such vessels may entrap nerves of the lumbosacral (LS) plexus against the pelvic sidewalls, producing symptoms not typically encountered in gynecological practice, including sciatica and refractory urinary and/or anorectal dysfunction. We describe cases of sciatica in which laparoscopy revealed compression of the LS plexus by variant superior gluteal veins (SGVs). In demonstrating an improvement in patient symptoms after decompression, we identify this neurovascular conflict as a potential intrapelvic cause of sciatica. This study is a retrospective case series (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3). Nerve decompression laparoscopies were performed in São Paulo, Brazil. Thirteen female patients undergoing laparoscopy for sciatica with no clear spinal or musculoskeletal causes were included in this study. In all cases, we identified LS entrapment by aberrant SGVs, and performed decompression by vessel ligation. The average preoperative visual analog scale score of 9.62 ± 0.77 decreased significantly to 2.54 ± 2.88 post-operatively (P < 0.001). The success rate (defined as ≥ 50% improvement in visual analog scale score) was 92.3%, over a follow-up of 13.2 ± 10.6 months. Our case series demonstrates a high success rate and significant decrease in pain scores after laparoscopic intrapelvic decompression, thereby identifying pelvic nerve entrapment by aberrant SGVs as a potential yet previously unrecognized cause of sciatica. This intrapelvic neurovascular conflict—the SGV syndrome—should be considered in cases of sciatica with no identifiable spinal or musculoskeletal etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil features are an important factor influencing plant growth and distribution in different parts of the tropics. We hypothesized that in forests recovering from a disturbance, the spatial and temporal variation of soil proprieties could determine differences in forest structure and composition. We addressed this question by comparatively assessing the soil traits and forest structure and diversity that occur in two contrasting soils in second growth tropical forests of southern Brazil: Cambisols (well-drained and nutrient-poor soil) and Gleisols (periodically flooded and with greater soil Al toxicity). Three replicates of four combinations of four forest ages (9–11, 15–20, 40–55, and >100 years since abandonment) and two soil types (Cambisol and Gleisol) were compared, thus encompassing 21 plots that covered 2.1 ha. A total of 3355 individuals of 151 tree species were sampled in all plots. Soil characteristics changed along the succession, with Al toxicity increasing as the forests aged. Cambisols and Gleisols differed in their nutritional and structural characteristics. Forests growing in both soil types exhibited higher species density, individual density and basal area along the successional gradient, but diversity (and evenness) was higher in forests growing in Gleisol soils. Moreover, soil characteristics (sand:clay, C:N, and Al and P concentrations) and forest age determined the differences in community assemblies among soils. Considering that soil characteristics are spatially and temporally variable in the tropics and that these variations are poorly measured in successional studies, we argue that small-scale variations in soil characteristics can potentially be a powerful factor influencing the successional trajectories of second growth tropical forests in tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aboveground carbon stock and diversity increases with restoration time. • Old forests still accumulating carbon but supporting the maximum diversity. • Natural regeneration is important for carbon sequestration and conservation. • Atlantic Forest presents co-benefits during the recovery of biodiversity and carbon. To counter increasing CO 2 emissions and plant biodiversity loss, ecological restoration has been proposed as a means to sequester carbon as well as to increase species diversity in tropical landscapes. Here we examine how natural regeneration is associated with changing plant diversity and carbon stocks in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. Aboveground carbon stocks and plant species diversity (using taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic and conservation metrics) were estimated in areas undergoing natural regeneration, ranging in age from seven to >80 years. Aboveground carbon, diversity and conservation metrics increase rapidly and concomitantly over time during forest natural regeneration, but even with carbon increase over time, we found the maximum taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity possible for the region. These results show the importance of considering regeneration as an alternative to increase carbon stocks, diversity, and species conservation in carbon-focused restoration plans. Our results showed co-benefits between carbon stocks, diversity, and conservation. Diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic) increases along with carbon stocks, but functional evenness does not. Age of the areas also influences co-benefits, as they increase over time. Thus, we demonstrate that ecological restoration not only sequesters carbon and has benefits with respect to climate change but is also responsible for increasing biodiversity and conservation. This mutualism between different benefits of natural regeneration attends to a variety of international concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]