Quelen Iane Garlet

Day-to-day functioning in late life depends on preserving cognition and emotional health. Emotional resilience emerges as a cornerstone for longevity, requiring synergy among modifiable factors such as physical activity, social networks, education, and psychological well-being. Self-reported hopefulness is positively associated with healthy cognitive function in older adults, with this protection being conditional: the association is significantly stronger in individuals with moderate to high physical activity levels (B = 7.409, p < 0.001) (Lee et al. 2025). This suggests psychological and lifestyle benefits are synergistic, potentially improving neuroplasticity through increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and enhanced cortical-limbic connectivity. The presence of social support networks also predicts cognitive strength, serving as a negative predictor for cognitive frailty (B = -0.066, p < 0.01), with psychological resilience mediating this effect (Li et al. 2025). Education plays a crucial role in this association, with higher educational attainment serving as a protective factor against cognitive frailty. Interestingly, the positive effect of social support is progressively weakened as educational level increases, suggesting that social support is particularly crucial for improving psychological resilience in individuals facing educational vulnerability.Management of risk factors for neurocognitive disorders represents another major aspect of health in older adults. Mental health challenges and chronic pain work synergistically toward cognitive decline, demanding expedient management. A longitudinal association exists between chronic multi-site pain and rapid cognitive decline (adjusted OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.48), with depressive symptoms serving as a significant predictor (adjusted OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.32-1.68). Depression mediates the effect of pain on cognitive decline, accounting for approximately 25.71% of the total effect (Xia et al. 2024). When sleep disturbances and hypertension are added to this equation, the impact becomes even more pronounced. Hypertensive older adults experience cognitive decline linearly associated with depression (OR = 1.5) and nonlinearly (U-shaped curve) associated with sleep duration (Fan et al. 2025). Both short sleep duration (7.7 hours) negatively impact cognition, with an inflection point at 7.3 hours. This U-shaped effect is more pronounced in individuals with higher education, suggesting that although education provides protection through cognitive reserve, highly educated individuals may face higher risks of sleep schedule disturbances.Both cognitive decline and mental health impairments co-occur in older adults and potentiate each other. Elderly psychiatric symptoms are significantly impacted by sociodemographic factors. In regions with low sociodemographic indices, mental health is particularly impaired, and women bear a disproportionate burden (Chen et al. 2025). The age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate was highest in low-SDI regions (2,424 per 100,000) compared to high-SDI regions (1,934 per 100,000). Females showed higher age-standardized incidence rates (7,484 vs. 5,182 per 100,000) and DALY rates (2,198 vs. 1,760 per 100,000) than males. Projections extending to 2035 indicate an increase in the standardized DALY rate, highlighting that public health strategies should prioritize widening access to mental healthcare with sex-specific interventions.Despite advances in neuroimaging technology for assessing Central Nervous System disorders, the fundamental neurobiological basis of psychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases remains poorly understood. While diagnostic values and cognitive symptoms in dementia have seen significant progress, neuroimaging findings of neuropsychiatric symptoms are less consistent, particularly regarding affected brain regions (Sone and Shinagawa (2025). These inconsistencies may arise in neuroimaging modalities, analytical methods, temporal variability of symptoms, and subjective assessments. Recent findings propose that abnormalities in temporal and frontal lobes (particularly the prefrontal cortex) and limbic structures such as the cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and hippocampus play roles in cognitive decline. However, morphological changes are better detected in advanced disease stages. New methods capable of evaluating connectivity among these implicated areas are necessary to detect patterns of connectivity changes in early stages of cognitive decline. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool, providing means to perform multimodal neuroimaging and deep neural network analysis to help predict cognitive decline based on neuroimaging together with symptoms, patient sociodemographic characteristics, and lifestyle factors.This Research Topic highlights the multifaceted nature of emotional and cognitive resilience in aging. Preserving emotional health in older adults requires a comprehensive approach addressing protective factors (hopefulness, social support, education, physical activity) while managing risk factors (pain, depression, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular conditions). The synergistic effects of these factors underscore the need for integrated interventions promoting both psychological well-being and physical health. Persistent global disparities in mental health burden emphasize the urgency of equity-focused public health strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations in low-resource settings and for women. Bridging the gap between advanced neuroimaging technologies and our understanding of neurobiological substrates of emotional dysfunction represents a critical frontier. Future research incorporating multimodal approaches and artificial intelligence holds promise for early detection and targeted interventions, supporting healthy cognitive and emotional aging for all.

Background: Melasma is a chronic skin condition resulting from increased melanogenic activity, which induces a significant emotional impact on the patient’s quality of life. The efficacy of melasma treatments depends on individual response and on the chosen therapeutic approach, which may include topical skin-lightening agents, oral drugs, and chemical peels. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the reported efficacy of treatment techniques on melasma control and patients’ quality of life through a systematic review and meta-analysis, as well as to investigate a putative relationship between melasma severity and quality of life. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we collected data from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. The eligibility criteria included studies that analyzed the quality of life through the Melasma Quality of Life (MELASQoL) scale from populations of patients suffering from melasma, scored by the Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI). Results: We retrieved 1296 records; those that did not meet the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded, resulting in 41 papers that underwent qualitative analysis (information synthesis), from which 23 papers containing 34 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a decrease in both MASI and MELASQoL scores following oral or topical treatment, as well as the chemical peeling procedure. Spearman correlation test showed a mild positive relationship between MASI and MELASQoL scores. Conclusions: This study provides evidence supporting oral and topical pharmacological treatments, as well as chemical peels, as effective interventions for melasma management. Despite high heterogeneity among studies and methodological limitations, all treatment modalities analyzed improved patients’ quality of life.

Background/Objectives: Neuroblastoma is a pediatric embryonal tumor of the autonomic nervous system, characterized by high heterogeneity. Recent research has explored the therapeutic potential of retinoic acid and selenium derivatives as antiproliferative agents. This study aims to assess the antiproliferative effects of sodium selenite and retinoic acid, as well as the conventional chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin, using the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. Methods: Cells were treated with the compounds at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 µM for 72 h. The following assays were performed: cell viability, clonogenic assay, cell migration, cell cycle analysis, and gene expression (BCL2 and BAX). Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s or the Mann–Whitney test (p < 0.05). IC₅₀ values were obtained from dose–response curves. Results: Sodium selenite (100–1000 µM) significantly reduced cell viability by more than 50% (IC₅₀: 166 µM at 72 h). Retinoic acid (300 µM) reduced viability by 65% (IC₅₀: 198 µM at 72 h), and cisplatin (10 µM) reduced viability by 79% (IC₅₀: 3.4 µM at 72 h). All compounds significantly decreased colony formation. Sodium selenite and retinoic acid induced arrest in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of the BCL2 gene by all compounds and upregulation of BAX only by sodium selenite at IC₅₀ concentration. Conclusions: Sodium selenite and retinoic acid showed antiproliferative effects on neuroblastoma cells, suggesting their potential as adjuvant therapeutic agents. To reach this goal, we suggest further investigation of their mechanisms of action and evaluation of the combined strategies.

Background: Opioids are commonly used to manage both acute and chronic pain by acting on opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, concerns about their increasing prescription and misuse have emerged due to adverse effects, toxicity, and the global impact of opioid-related harm. Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the harmful (adverse and toxic) effects of prescribed opioids on the pediatric and the general population. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted for data from January 2011 to December 2024 across selected electronic databases (PubMed^®, SciELO^®, Web of Science^®, and EMBASE^®) using a specific search strategy with Boolean operators. Cross-sectional, cohort, and case–control designs published in English, analyzing and identifying the harmful effects of prescribed opioids in children and the general population, were eligible for inclusion. Three reviewers independently assessed titles and abstracts for eligibility, followed by a full-text review. A referee reviewer resolved discrepancies. Data extraction was performed for qualifying studies. The risk of bias was assessed by the ROBINS-I tool. Results: A total of 3984 papers were collected, with 1697 duplicates and 2062 non-eligible papers removed; resulting in 25 papers (112.825 patients) selected for qualitative analysis. The pediatric group experienced more harmful effects across multiple body systems (nausea and vomiting, hypotension, agitation, drowsiness/lethargy, lethargy, respiratory depression, aspiration pneumonia) compared to the general population (dominant S wave, long QTc interval, right axis deviation, seizure). Conclusions: Despite the data heterogeneity, this study highlights the importance of evaluating the harmful effects of opioids, particularly in pediatric patients, to assess the risk–benefit balance and health risks associated with their use. The lower number of effects in the general population may be attributed to increased pharmacological tolerance and tolerability.

Purpose: To determine risk factors for re-stricture after buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (BMGU) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we collected data from PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Web of Science databases. The eligibility criteria included studies with male patients over 18 years old with urethral stricture recurrence after BMGU. Results: We retrieved 646 papers from three electronic databases. Records that did not meet the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded, resulting in 14 papers (3,240 patients) that underwent qualitative analysis, from which nine papers were suitable for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis identified diabetes mellitus (relative risk – RR: 1.58 [95% confidence interval – 95%CI 1.02–2.46];p = 0.04), penile/peno-bulbar site (RR: 1.57 [95%CI 1.04–2.37]; p = 0.03), and stricture size higher than 7 cm (RR: 4.13 [95%CI 2.42–7.04]; p 0.00001) as a predictive factor of re-stricture. Conclusions: These findings may improve understanding the risk factors for this type of urethroplasty and help surgical decisions. For a more effective analysis, larger and better-distributed study groups and cohorts are needed in the future to clarify whether the combination of a previous disease and the urethroplasty etiology may impact a recurrence-free outcome after stricture correction.

Background/Objectives: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is considered one of the major causes of post-renal transplant febrile urinary tract infections (UTI), leading to impaired renal function and the premature loss of the renal graft. We aimed to evaluate whether surgical VUR correction, such as open redo ureteric reimplantation, could be an option for treatment and provide better outcomes in post-transplant care for patients with UTI compared to their pre-VUR correction clinical state. Methods: Our study presents a retrospective analysis of 10 kidney transplant recipients with febrile UTI at the Renal Transplant Service of a Brazilian public hospital from 2010 to 2020. We selected patients who primarily underwent a surgical correction of post-transplant VUR, which was corrected by extravesical reimplantation without a stent in all patients by the same professional surgeon. Results: From 710 patients who received kidney transplants, 10 patients (1.4%) suffered from febrile UTI post-transplant and underwent surgical correction for VUR. Despite the study’s limitations, such as its retrospective nature and limited sample size, the efficacy of open extravesical ureteral reimplantation in reducing post-operative febrile UTI in renal transplant patients was observed. Conclusions: As febrile UTI can contribute significantly to patient mortality after kidney transplantation and VUR emerges as a major cause of post-transplant febrile UTI, it is essential to treat it and consider the surgical outcome. This study emphasizes the timely detection and effective treatment of VUR via extravesical techniques to reduce febrile UTI occurrences post-transplant and it contributes insights into the role of surgical interventions in addressing VUR-related complications post-kidney transplantation.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, fast-growing tumor that is more likely to spread to distant organs. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer, the prevalence of TNBC is 20%, and treatment is currently limited to chemotherapy. Selenium (Se), an essential micronutrient, has been explored as an antiproliferative agent. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to organic (selenomethionine, ebselen, and diphenyl diselenide) and inorganic (sodium selenate and sodium selenite) Se molecules in different breast cell lines. The compounds were tested at 1, 10, 50, and 100 μM for 48 h in the non-tumor breast cell line (MCF-10A) and TNBC derivatives cell lines (BT-549 and MDA-MB-231). The effects of Se on cell viability, apoptotic and necrotic processes, colony formation, and cell migration were analyzed. Exposure to selenomethionine and selenate did not alter the evaluated parameters. However, selenomethionine had the highest selectivity index (SI). The exposure to the highest doses of selenite, ebselen, and diphenyl diselenide resulted in antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects. Selenite had a high SI to the BT cell line; however, the SI of ebselen and diphenyl diselenide was low in both tumoral cell lines. In conclusion, the Se compounds had different effects on the breast cell lines, and additional tests are needed to reveal the antiproliferative effects of Se compounds.

Maclura tinctoria is a tree species native from Brazil and rich in phenolic compounds. Since plant antibacterial activity is highly associated with phenolic compound concentration, we aim to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of different extracts against fish pathogenic bacteria. In addition, some phenolic compounds have central depressant effects and can be useful in aquaculture due to possible sedative and/or anesthetic effects. Four M. tinctoria extracts were extracted separately with ethanol; leaves (LE), bark (BE), heartwood (HE), and the sapwood (SE). In vitro antimicrobial activity was tested against Aeromonas strains at concentrations of 6400 to 3.125 μg/mL. The sedative effect was evaluated for 24 h with 30 and 100 mg/L concentrations. Chemical composition was analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS. The HE extract had the best MIC (400 µg/mL) and MBC (800 µg/mL) compared to the LE, BE, and SE extracts. LE extract induced deep sedation and the BE, SE, and HE extracts induced light sedation. Additionally, BE, SE, and HE induced a normal behavior without side effects. Polyphenolic compounds with antimicrobial activity and sedative effects were identified mainly in HE. Thus, HE extract is safe and can be used as a sedative for silver catfish.

Aim: This study evaluated medication poisoning in paediatric patients through a systematic review and a retrospective documentary analysis in a Brazilian toxicological centre.Methods: The data were systematically collected on PubMed, Scopus and SciELO databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. We included epidemiologic and prevalence studies that were published in English or Portuguese from 2013 to 2017 and covered paediatric patients. The retrospective incidence study was carried out in a Brazilian toxicological centre and was a documentary analysis of paediatric medication poisoning cases from 2005 to 2015.Results: The systematic review comprised 13 papers covering 895 206 poisoning cases from six different countries. The main agents of intoxication were analgesics and antihistamines. The eight papers that explored the reasons for the poisonings showed that 93% of those 762 863 cases were accidental. The Brazilian toxicological centre recorded 443 paediatric patients poisoned by medication such as benzodiazepines, analgesics and antibiotics and found that 63.2% were accidental. However, it agreed with the global findings in many other aspects.Conclusion: The systematic review showed a sustained number of paediatric medication toxicity cases worldwide and the key findings were broadly reflected by the retrospective study carried out in the Brazilian toxicological centre.

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus 1758), is a hematophagous fly responsible for causing loss of performance in horses, causing losses in cattle productivity, and impacting the animals’ health through the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of this work was to investigate the insecticidal activity of essential oil obtained from Melaleuca alternifolia (Cheel), presenting high 1,8-cineole content, against S. calcitrans adults. Insecticidal activity was determined using surface application methods and exposure to oil impregnated paper. It was observed that treatments at 25 and 50 μg/cm2 (P < 0.05) present fumigant activity through exposure to the impregnated paper, and in the first 15 min of exposure, the mortality rates obtained for these treatments were, respectively (96.6 ± 3.3% and 100%), equivalent to the positive control. Using the superficial application method, the only treatment concentration presenting adulticidal action was 5% (w/v) (P < 0.05). Respective toxicities LC50 (%, w/v) and LC80 for the impregnated paper method were 1.06 ± 0.02 and 1.47 ± 0.17; for the superficial application method, they were 3.82 ± 0.65 and 5.53 ± 0.74. As demonstrated, M. alternifolia essential oil presents adulticidal potential against S. calcitrans.