3, SD = 1.0). Scores were consistently better in the least poor regions of Brazil and in facilities in larger municipality size (indicating more urban areas). In conclusion, large-scale accessibility audits are feasible to undertake. Poor accessibility means that people with disabilities will experience difficulties in accessing healthcare, and this is a violation of their rights according to international and Brazilian laws.Sulforaphane, a potent dietary bioactive agent obtainable from cruciferous vegetables, has been extensively studied for its effects in disease prevention and therapy. Sulforaphane potently induces transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated expression of detoxification, anti-oxidation, and immune system-modulating enzymes, and possibly acts as an anti-carcinogenic agent. Several clinical trials are in progress to study the effect of diverse types of cruciferous vegetables and sulforaphane on prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, atopic asthmatics, skin aging, dermatitis, obesity, etc. Recently, the protective effects of sulforaphane on brain health were also considerably studied, where the studies have further extended to several neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia. Animal and cell studies that employ sulforaphane against memory impairment and AD-related pre-clinical biomarkers on amyloid-β, tau, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration are summarized, and plausible neuroprotective mechanisms of sulforaphane to help prevent AD are discussed. The increase in pre-clinical evidences consistently suggests that sulforaphane has a multi-faceted neuroprotective effect on AD pathophysiology. The anti-AD-like evidence of sulforaphane seen in cells and animals indicates the need to pursue sulforaphane research for relevant biomarkers in AD pre-symptomatic populations.Accurate noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement requires use of an appropriately sized cuff. We aimed to improve the perioperative allocation of NIBP cuffs in patients with Class II-III obesity. In the baseline evaluation, we measured the mid-arm circumference (MAC) of 40 patients with BMI > 35 kg/m2, documenting the corresponding cuff allocated by pre-operative nurses. The intervention consisted of the introduction of cuff allocation based on MAC measurement and augmented NIBP cuff supplies. We completed a re-evaluation and evaluation of the intervention by staff survey, using 5-point Likert scales and free text comments. At baseline, the correct cuff was allocated in 9 of 40 patients (22.5%). During the intervention, education occurred in 54 (69.2%) peri-operative nursing staff. Upon re-evaluation, the correct cuff was allocated in 30 of 40 patients (75.0%), a statistically significant improvement (χ2 = 22.1, p less then 0.001). Ninety-three of 120 staff surveys were returned (78%). Eleven out of 18 preoperative staff surveyed (61.1%) felt confident measuring the arm and selecting the correct cuff. Six (33%) agreed that taking the arm measurement added a lot of extra work. Equipment shortages, accuracy concerns, and clinical workarounds were reported by staff. Our intervention increased the proportion of correct cuffs allocated, but equipment and practical issues persist with NIBP cuff selection in obese patients.Pre-mRNA splicing plays an important role in muscle function and diseases. The RNA binding motif 20 (RBM20) is a splicing factor that is predominantly expressed in muscle tissues and primarily regulates pre-mRNA splicing of Ttn, encoding a giant muscle protein titin that is responsible for muscle function and diseases. RBM20-mediated Ttn splicing has been mostly studied in heart muscle, but not in skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated splicing specificity in different muscle types in Rbm20 knockout rats and hormonal effects on RBM20-mediated splicing both in cellulo and in vivo studies. check details The results revealed that RBM20 is differentially expressed across muscles and RBM20-mediated splicing is muscle-type specific. In the presence of RBM20, Ttn splicing responds to hormones in a muscle-type dependent manner, while in the absence of RBM20, Ttn splicing is not affected by hormones. In differentiated and undifferentiated C2C12 cells, RBM20-mediated splicing in response to hormonal effects is mainly through genomic signaling pathway. The knowledge gained from this study may help further understand muscle-specific gene splicing in response to hormone stimuli in different muscle types.Although the causes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) still remain largely unknown, multiple lines of evidence suggest that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may contribute to the development of MS. Here, we aimed to identify the potential contribution of EBV-encoded and host cellular miRNAs to MS pathogenesis. We identified differentially expressed host miRNAs in EBV infected B cells (LCLs) and putative host/EBV miRNA interactions with MS risk loci. We estimated the genotype effect of MS risk loci on the identified putative miRNAmRNA interactions in silico. We found that the protective allele of MS risk SNP rs4808760 reduces the expression of hsa-mir-3188-3p. In addition, our analysis suggests that hsa-let-7b-5p may interact with ZC3HAV1 differently in LCLs compared to B cells. In vitro assays indicated that the protective allele of MS risk SNP rs10271373 increases ZC3HAV1 expression in LCLs, but not in B cells. The higher expression for the protective allele in LCLs is consistent with increased IFN response via ZC3HAV1 and so decreased immune evasion by EBV. Taken together, this provides evidence that EBV infection dysregulates the B cell miRNA machinery, including MS risk miRNAs, which may contribute to MS pathogenesis via interaction with MS risk genes either directly or indirectly.Treatment to ameliorate the symptoms of infection with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and to suppress reactivation has been available for decades. However, a safe and effective preventative or therapeutic vaccine has eluded development. Two novel live-attenuated HSV-2 vaccine candidates (RVx201 and RVx202) have been tested preclinically for safety. Hartley guinea pigs were inoculated vaginally (n = 3) or intradermally (n = 16) with either vaccine candidate (2 × 107 PFU) and observed for disease for 28 days. All animals survived to study end without developing HSV-2-associated disease. Neither vaccine candidate established latency in dorsal root or sacral sympathetic ganglia, as determined by viral DNA quantification, LAT expression, or explant reactivation. Infectious virus was shed in vaginal secretions for three days following vaginal inoculation with RVx202, but not RVx201, although active or latent HSV-2 was not detected at study end. In contrast, guinea pigs inoculated with wild-type HSV-2 MS (2 × 105 PFU) vaginally (n = 5) or intradermally (n = 16) developed acute disease, neurological signs, shed virus in vaginal secretions, experienced periodic recurrences throughout the study period, and had latent HSV-2 in their dorsal root and sacral sympathetic ganglia at study end.