Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease in childhood and strongly associated with obesity. Routine biochemical non-invasive tests remain with low accuracy for diagnosis of NAFLD. We performed a cross-sectional study to examine potential associations between anthropometric and biochemical parameters, specially TGF-β, a prognosis marker for hepatic steatosis (HS). Between May and October 2019, seventy-two overweight adolescents were enrolled, of which 36 had hepatic steatosis. Hepatic, lipidic and glycemic profiles, and levels of vitamin D, ferritin and TGF-β were analyzed. Hierarchical cluster and a discriminant model using canonical correlations were employed to depict the overall expression profile of biochemical markers and the biochemical degree of perturbation. Median values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and TGF-β were higher in the adolescents with HS. Values of body mass index (BMI)/age and ALT, but not of TGF-β, were gradually increased proportionally to augmentation of steatosis severity. In a multivariate analysis, TGF-β plasma concentrations were associated with occurrence of hepatic steatosis independent of other covariates. Discriminant analysis confirmed that TGF-β concentrations can identify HS cases. Our data reveal that HS patients exhibit a distinct biosignature of biochemical parameters and imply TGF-β as an important biomarker to evaluate risk of steatosis development.

Background. Patients on haemodialysis (HD) present a significant inflammatory status, which has a pronounced negative impact on their outcomes. Propolis is a natural resin with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. We assessed the safety and impact of a standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) on the inflammatory status in patients under conventional HD. Methods. Patients were assigned to receive 200 mg/day of EPP-AF® for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks without the drug, and changes in plasma levels of interleukins (ILs), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivityc-reactive protein (HsCRP) were measured. A heatmap was used to illustrate trends in data variation. Results. In total, 37 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients presented an exacerbated inflammatory state at baseline. During EPP-AF® use, there was a significant reduction in IFN-γ ( ), IL-13 ( 2), IL-17 ( ), IL-1ra ( ), IL-8 ( ), and TNF-α ( ) levels compared to baseline, and significant changes were found in Hs-CRP levels. The heatmap demonstrated a pattern of pronounced proinflammatory status at baseline, especially in patients with primary glomerulopathies, and a clear reduction in this pattern during the use of EPP-AF®. There was a tendency to maintain this reduction after suspension of EPP-AF®. No significant side effects were observed. Conclusion. Patients under haemodialysis presented a pronounced inflammatory status, and EPP-AF® was demonstrated to be safe and associated with a significant and maintained reduction in proinflammatory cytokines in this population. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04072341.

The implementation of Quality Management Standards (QMS) in health laboratories is essential to ensuring the traceability, reliability, and reproducibility of results, thus supporting compliance and continuous improvement. This study identifies and compares the requirements adopted in four widely used four standards for health laboratoriesto evaluate their equivalence and contribute to the harmonization of normative terminology. A comparative analysis of the requirements and their applications in health laboratories was conducted. Subsequently, interrelationships and equivalence among the standards were assessed, followed by an evaluation of the terminology used and the grouping of requirements across the four normative documents. The results revealed a substantial overlap among the standards, particularly regarding quality management, risk management, personnel competence, documentation control, and continuous improvement. However, differences in terminology, structure, and scope were identified, which may hinder the uniform interpretation and implementation of quality systems. The harmonization of terms and equivalent requirements could facilitate compliance, integration of management systems, and accreditation processes. The findings demonstrate that standardizing normative terminology contributes to greater alignment among quality standards, improving their understanding, dissemination, and application in health laboratories while supporting more efficient and reliable quality management practices.

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories are essential for handling high-risk pathogens and strengthening global health security. This study presents a patent landscape analysis of BSL-3-related technologies using the Derwent World Patents Index (DWPI) to identify technological trends, geographic distribution, patent classifications, and temporal evolution. Patent documents associated with laboratory infrastructure, ventilation systems, containment devices, and biosafety procedures were screened and analyzed. A total of 58 patent documents filed between 2009 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that China and the United States are the leading contributors to BSL-3 patent development, reflecting continued investments in biosafety and biosecurity infrastructure. The most frequent International Patent Classification (IPC) categories were C12M (microbiological devices), E04H (specialized construction infrastructure), and F24F (ventilation and air control systems), highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of innovations in laboratory containment and safety. The temporal trends revealed increases in patent activity following major public health emergencies, including SARS, Ebola, and particularly the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a significant increase in patent expirations is expected by 2029, creating opportunities for technology transfer, open innovation, and broader access to critical biosafety technologies. These findings emphasize the strategic importance of continued investment in BSL-3 technologies, especially in developing countries with growing biosafety demands.

Sustainable energy sources, such as wind energy, are pivotal in driving our energy landscape towards a more environmentally conscious and responsible future. Wind power, as an exemplar of clean and renewable energy solutions, adeptly harnesses the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity. While wind energy significantly contributes to our sustainability objectives, the quality of the energy it produces is equally essential. A critical challenge in this context is harmonic distortion, which manifests as unwanted fluctuations in the frequency and amplitude of electrical waveforms. Effectively mitigating these distortions within wind energy systems is vital to maintaining the stability and reliability of power grids, guaranteeing that the electricity supplied adheres to high-quality standards. The objective of this study was to conduct a technological prospection focused on the contemporary scenario of genetic algorithm applications in addressing harmonic variations. This investigation unearthed a total of 634 relevant documents. The findings suggest that the utilization of genetic algorithms for enhancing energy quality is a relatively recent but promising field. The State Grid Corp of China emerged as the principal contributor, with ten noteworthy inventors identified. Remarkably, both China and the United States lead in patent filings. The insights gleaned from these documents underscore the potential for further exploration and the synergistic application of these techniques. These collaborative efforts have the potential to yield processes and devices that offer significant economic and environmental advantages for the energy industry, solidifying our commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

Objetivo: Desenvolver e caracterizar nanopartículas de prata associadas a extrato de própolis vermelha para avaliação de suas propriedades antimicrobianas e posterior aplicação biológica. Métodos: Nanopartículas de prata com extrato de própolis vermelha foram desenvolvidas com testes de concentração, temperatura e tempo de incubação ideais. Em seguida foi realizada a caracterização das nanopartículas quanto ao seu tamanho e PDI. Adicionalmente, testes microbiológicos foram realizados utilizando cepas de bactérias Gram-positivas e Gam-negativas. Resultados: Os resultados obtidos indicam as condições ideais para a produção de nanopartículas de prata na presença de extrato de própolis vermelha. As caracterizações físico-químicas realizadas demostraram que, nas condições selecionadas, as nanopartículas produzidas apresentam tamanho e PDI dentro dos valores descritos na literatura. Além disso, os dados microbiológicos obtidos indicam que as nanopartículas produzidas possuem efeito microbicida nas maiores concentrações testadas. Conclusão: Os dados apresentados nesse estudo identificaram as condições de temperatura, tempo de incubação e concentrações ideais para a produção de nanopartículas de prata na presença de extrato de própolis. Além disso, os dados microbiológicos obtidos revelaram propriedades antimicrobianas nas formulações.