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15 hrs ago


The adaptive role of amphibian oocyte melanic pigmentation and its molecular control are still elusive. Here we present evidence of a polymorphism in egg pigmentation in the emerald glass frog Espadarana prosoblepon. In Ecuadorian natural populations of this species, females can lay dark brown or pale eggs that develop into normal pigmented tadpoles and adults. This trait is a sex-limited phenotype that is inherited like a recessive allele that we called pale eggs like (pel). The pel phenotype is exclusive of oocyte cortical melanic pigmentation, which is reduced in comparison to wild type (wt) dark pigmented oocytes. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-06463922.html Consequently, pel early embryos are paler in appearance, with reduced melanic pigmentation distributed to early blastomeres and embryonic ectoderm. However, these embryos form normal melanocyte derived pigmentation. Finally, we discuss the origin of this polymorphism and propose the use of E. prosoblepon as a model to study the adaptive role of egg pigmentation.Fish present remarkable malleability regarding gonadal sex fate. This phenotypic plasticity enables an organism to adapt changes in the environment by responding with different phenotypes. The gonad and the brain present this extraordinary plasticity. These organs are involved in the response to environmental stressors to direct the gonadal fate, inducing sex change or sex reversal in hermaphroditic and gonochoristic fish, respectively. The presence of such molecular and endocrine plasticity gives this group a large repertoire of possibilities against a continuously changing environment, resulting in the highest radiation of reproduction strategies described in vertebrates. In this review, we provide a broad and comparative view of tremendous radiation of sex determination mechanisms to direct gonadal fate. New results have established that the driving mechanism involves early response to environmental stressors by the brain plus high plasticity of gonadal differentiation and androgens as by-products of stress inactivation. In addition to the stress axis, another two major axes - the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, which are well known to participate in the regulation of reproduction - have been proposed as reinforcing the brain-gonadal interrelationships in the fate of the gonad.Jorge E. Allende is a biochemist trained in the United States who has been a Professor at the University of Chile since 1961. He has served in many leadership positions in both Chilean and international scientific organizations and academic institutions. He led the International Cell Research Organization, the Latin American Network of Biological Sciences and obtained the Chilean National Science Prize. He belongs to the Chilean Academy of Sciences and is a foreign member of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences and also of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. During his career, besides leading a highly successful research group, he was instrumental in generating an esprit de corps among Latin American scientists of all fields in biology starting in the late 1960's. He began a longstanding tradition by organizing advanced training courses for young scientists from the region who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience the latest methods and concepts in biological research, courses that had world leading researchers as instructors. A constant focus of his efforts consisted in promoting the establishment of postgraduate programs in biology throughout the continent, coordinating international funding programs aimed at scientific development in the third world and, more recently, advocating for science education among children and school teachers as the only way to achieve scientific literacy in our societies. In this interview, we explore how these issues were addressed by him and his counterparts in other Latin American countries, at a time when they had to start, essentially, from scratch.Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado represents a younger generation of Latin- American scientists that have achieved international scientific recognition (Fig. 1) .His work, together with those from other labs, has positioned the planaria Schmidtea mediterranea as a dynamic model system where the cellular and molecular basis of regeneration in metazoans can be probed. During his professional career he has established strong ties with Latin America, hosting and training students and participating in seminars, workshops and courses throughout the region. In this interview he discusses his early scientific development and training, and his views on various issues related to the professional development of young scientists.Development without a free-living tadpole is common among Ibero American frogs. The most derived condition is direct development where the tadpole has been eliminated, and the most investigated direct developing frog is Eleutherodactylus coqui. To provide a different point-of-view, an imaginary interview with a coqui is conducted. Opinions are offered on invasive species, developmental features that are surprisingly conserved, and novelty in germ layer specification.Claudio Stern was born in Montevideo, Uruguay where he received his school education. He moved to the United Kingdom at age 18. This interview briefly explores his trajectory from Uruguay, through universities in the UK (Sussex, UCL, Cambridge and Oxford) and USA (Columbia) and how he was influenced by various mentors and experiences.Roberto Mayor is a prominent Chilean developmental biologist working in the UK and an advocate of the developmental biology discipline in Latin America. Roberto started as a preimplantation mouse developmental biologist during his undergraduate and graduate studies in Chile. Yet, he now uses Xenopus and zebrafish to elucidate the mechanisms that drive the directed collective locomotion of neural crest cells. What life events moulded the research career of Roberto across the years? This article addresses this question and provides a personal perspective on his scientific achievements. The story of Roberto is a mix of turns and cycles that ultimately guided him to the migrating neural crest. Turns that made him shift between model organisms and scientific topics.Cycles that drove him back and forth between Chile and the UK and which have connected his early studies as an undergraduate student with the most recent work of his lab. A big lesson that we can learn from the life of Roberto is that no matter how much you plan your life always serendipity plays a significant role.

01/12/2025


The developed advanced supervision procedure has been tested in simulation as well as in a practical case study using a real two-storey family house.The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted United States residents. Prevention behaviors are critical to minimizing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S., to ultimately reduce the health, social, and economic burdens of COVID-19. Yet, health behavior decision-making is complex, and uptake of preventative behaviors has been variable. Women may provide pro-prevention behavior modeling to their networks, facilitating uptake diffusion. The COPE Study enrolled 491 women residing in the United States from May to June of 2020; women completed an online survey of COVID-19 experiences and prevention behaviors. We employed binary logistic modeling to identify factors predicting women's practice of (1) staying home except for essential activities, (2) physical distancing in public, and (3) wearing a face mask in public. Findings demonstrate that women's prevention behaviors are influenced by multilevel factors. Women living in urban environments, having minimal formal education, or having a household annual income of USD 30,000-50,000 are less likely to practice prevention behaviors. Cultural context may be an important factor in the decision-making process. Results aid in the identification what interventional "levers" may warrant consideration to promote uptake of such behaviors, and whom to engage. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/belvarafenib.html Because women are modelers of behavior, it is critical to engage them in prevention behavior interventions.Yarrowia is a yeast genus that has been used as a model oleaginous taxon for a wide array of studies. However, information regarding metabolite changes within Yarrowia spp. under different environmental conditions is still limited. Among various factors affecting Yarrowia metabolism, nitrogen-limiting conditions have a profound effect on the metabolic state of yeast. In this study, a time-course LC-MS/MS-based metabolome analysis of Y. lipolytica was performed to determine the optimal cultivation time and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for studying the effects of nitrogen-limiting conditions on Yarrowia; we found that cultivation time of 36 h and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 41 and 50 was suitable for studying the effects of nitrogen-limiting conditions on Yarrowia and these conditions were applied to six strains of Yarrowia. These six strains of Yarrowia showed similar responses to nitrogen-limiting conditions; however, each strain had a unique metabolomic profile. Purine and pyrimidine metabolism were the most highly affected biological pathways in nitrogen-limiting conditions, indicating that these conditions affect energy availability within cells. This stress leads to a shift in cells to the utilization of a less ATP-dependent biological pathway. This information will be beneficial for the development of Yarrowia strains for further scientific and industrial applications.Pharmacological treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders is difficult, because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the penetration of many drugs into the brain. To solve this unmet therapeutic need, nanosized drug carriers are the focus of research efforts to develop drug delivery systems for the CNS. For the successful delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) to the brain, targeting ligands on their surface is necessary. Our research aim was to design a nanoscale drug delivery system for a more efficient transfer of donepezil, an anticholinergic drug in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease across the BBB. Rhodamine B-labeled solid lipid nanoparticles with donepezil cargo were prepared and targeted with apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a ligand of BBB receptors. Nanoparticles were characterized by measurement of size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in vitro release, and stability. Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles were investigated by metabolic assay and impedance-based cell analysis. ApoE-targeting increased the uptake of lipid nanoparticles in cultured brain endothelial cells and neurons. Furthermore, the permeability of ApoE-targeted nanoparticles across a co-culture model of the BBB was also elevated. Our data indicate that ApoE, which binds BBB receptors, can potentially be exploited for successful CNS targeting of solid lipid nanoparticles.Worldwide recognition of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas was triggered by an unexplained increase in the frequency of microcephaly. While severe microcephaly is readily identifiable at birth, diagnosing less severe cases requires comparison of head circumference (HC) measurement to a growth chart. We examine measured values of HC and digit preference in those values, and, by extension, the prevalence of microcephaly at birth in two data sources a research study in Honduras and routine surveillance data in Uruguay. The Zika in Pregnancy in Honduras study enrolled pregnant women prenatally and followed them until delivery. Head circumference was measured with insertion tapes (SECA 212), and instructions including consistent placement of the tape and a request to record HC to the millimeter were posted where newborns were examined. Three indicators of microcephaly were calculated (1) HC more than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean, (2) HC more than 3 SD below the mean (referred to as "severe microaution.The present work details a novel approach to increase the transmitting sensitivity of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays and performing the direct modulation of digital information on the same device. The direct modulation system can reach 3× higher signal-to-noise ratio level and 3× higher communication range (from 6.2 cm boosted to 18.6 cm) when compared to more traditional continuous wave drive at the same energy consumption levels. When compared for the same transmission performance, the direct modulation consumes 80% less energy compared to the continues wave. The increased performance is achieved with a switching circuit that allows to generate a short high-AC voltage on the ultrasonic array, by using an LC tank and a bipolar junction transistor, starting with a low-DC voltage, making it CMOS-compatible. Since the modulation signal can directly be formed by the transmitted bits (on/off keying encoding) this also serve as the modulation for the data itself, hence direct modulation. The working principle of the circuit is described, optimization is performed relative to several circuital parameters and a high-performance experimental application is demonstrated.

01/12/2025


Non-motor symptoms such as impulsivity and the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) part I score were associated with QOL after STN-DBS. Conclusions Frontal lobe functions, depression, and verbal fluency significantly worsened 3 years after STN-DBS. The UPDRS part I score and higher impulsivity might be associated with QOL after STN-DBS.Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major contributor to stroke and dementia, characterized by white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on neuroimaging. WMH are associated with reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) cross-sectionally, though longitudinal associations remain unclear. We updated a 2016 systematic review, identifying 30 new studies, 27 cross-sectional (n = 2,956) and 3 longitudinal (n = 440). Cross-sectionally, 10/27 new studies (n = 1,019) included sufficient data for meta-analysis, which we meta-analyzed with 24 previously reported studies (n = 1,161), total 34 (n = 2,180). Our meta-analysis showed that patients with lower CBF had worse WMH burden (mean global CBF standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.64, -0.27). Longitudinally, associations between baseline CBF and WMH progression varied the largest study (5 years, n = 252) found no associations, while another small study (4.5 years, n = 52) found that low CBF in the periventricular WMH penumbra predicted WMH progression. We could not meta-analyse longitudinal studies due to different statistical and methodological approaches. We found that CBF was lower in WMH than in normal-appearing white matter in an additional meta-analysis (5 cross-sectional studies; n = 295; SMD -1.51, 95% CI -1.94, -1.07). These findings highlight that relationships between resting CBF and WMH are complex. Further longitudinal studies analyzing regional CBF and subsequent WMH change are required to determine the role of CBF in SVD progression.Purpose To prospectively investigate the efficacy and tolerance of low-dose rituximab (RTX) for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica-associated optic neuritis (NMO-ON). Methods Optic Neuritis patients with seropositive aquaporin 4-antibody (AQP4-Ab) were diagnosed with NMO-ON and recruited for treatment with low-dose RTX (100 mg * 4 infusions) and were then followed monthly for a minimum of 3 months. Reinfusion of 100 mg RTX was given when the CD19+ B lymphocyte frequency was elevated to above 1%. The serum AQP4-Ab level was tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results A total of 43 NMO-ON patients (1 male/42 female, 75 involved eyes) were included in this study. CD19+ B cell clearance in the peripheral blood was induced in 97.7% of patients after induction treatment. A significant decrease in serum AQP4-Ab concentration was observed after induction treatment (P = 0.0123). The maintenance time of B cell clearance was 5.2 ± 2.25 months. The relapse-free rate was 92.3% in patients followed-up for over 12 months, and patients with non-organ-specific autoimmune antibodies tended to relapse within 6 months. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/protokylol-hydrochloride.html A total of 96.2% of patients had stable or improved vision, and a decrease in the average expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score was found. Structural alterations revealed by optic coherence tomography were observed in both ON and unaffected eyes. The rates of infusion-related reactions and long-term adverse events (AEs) were 18.6 and 23.1%, respectively. No severe AEs was observed. Conclusions Low-dose rituximab is efficient and well-tolerated in treating NMO-ON.Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact PET with 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB in patients with dementia in a developing country. Methodology Retrospective study of the patients referred for the evaluation of dementia to the only PET center in Uruguay. A total of 248 patients were identified, from which 70 patients were included based on the availability of medical history and clinical follow-up. Main outcomes included change in diagnosis, diagnostic dilemma and AD treatment. We evaluated the association of clinical outcomes with PET concordance with baseline diagnosis, diagnostic dilemma, level of education, AD pathology/Non-AD pathology (AD/Non-AD), baseline diagnosis and 11C-PIB PET result. Results Baseline clinical diagnosis was concordant with 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB PET results in 64.7 and 77.1% of the patients, respectively. Change in diagnosis after PET was identified in 30.0% of the patients and was associated with discordant 18F-FDG (p = 0.002) and 11C-PIB (p less then 0.001) PET results, previous diagnostic dilemma (p = 0.005), low education (p = 0.027), Non-AD baseline diagnosis (p = 0.027), and negative 11C-PIB PET result (p less then 0.001). Only the last variable remained significant in the multivariate analysis (adjusted p = 0.038). Diagnostic dilemma decreased after PET from 15.7 to 7.1% (p = 0.11) and was associated with Non-AD diagnosis (p = 0.002) and negative 11C-PIB PET result (p = 0.003). Change in AD treatment after PET occurred in 45.7% of the patients. Conclusion 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB PET had a significant clinical impact in terms of change in diagnosis and treatment in patients with dementia in a developing country, similar to that reported in high-income countries.Background The incidence of pyogenic spinal infection has increased in recent years. In addition to treatment of the spinal infection, early diagnosis and therapy of coexisting infections, especially of secondary brain infection, are important. The aim of this study is to elucidate the added value of routine cerebral imaging in the management of these patients. Methods This was a retrospective single-center study. Cerebral imaging consisting of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) was performed to detect brain infection in patients with a primary pyogenic spinal infection. Results We analyzed a cohort of 61 patients undergoing cerebral imaging after diagnosis of primary pyogenic spinal infection. The mean age in this cohort was 68.7 years and the gender distribution consisted of 44 males and 17 females. Spinal epidural abscess was proven in 32 (52.4%) patients. Overall positive blood culture was obtained in 29 (47.5%) patients, infective endocarditis was detected in 23 (37.7%) patients and septic condition at admission was present in 12 (19.

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15 hrs ago


The adaptive role of amphibian oocyte melanic pigmentation and its molecular control are still elusive. Here we present evidence of a polymorphism in egg pigmentation in the emerald glass frog Espadarana prosoblepon. In Ecuadorian natural populations of this species, females can lay dark brown or pale eggs that develop into normal pigmented tadpoles and adults. This trait is a sex-limited phenotype that is inherited like a recessive allele that we called pale eggs like (pel). The pel phenotype is exclusive of oocyte cortical melanic pigmentation, which is reduced in comparison to wild type (wt) dark pigmented oocytes. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-06463922.html Consequently, pel early embryos are paler in appearance, with reduced melanic pigmentation distributed to early blastomeres and embryonic ectoderm. However, these embryos form normal melanocyte derived pigmentation. Finally, we discuss the origin of this polymorphism and propose the use of E. prosoblepon as a model to study the adaptive role of egg pigmentation.Fish present remarkable malleability regarding gonadal sex fate. This phenotypic plasticity enables an organism to adapt changes in the environment by responding with different phenotypes. The gonad and the brain present this extraordinary plasticity. These organs are involved in the response to environmental stressors to direct the gonadal fate, inducing sex change or sex reversal in hermaphroditic and gonochoristic fish, respectively. The presence of such molecular and endocrine plasticity gives this group a large repertoire of possibilities against a continuously changing environment, resulting in the highest radiation of reproduction strategies described in vertebrates. In this review, we provide a broad and comparative view of tremendous radiation of sex determination mechanisms to direct gonadal fate. New results have established that the driving mechanism involves early response to environmental stressors by the brain plus high plasticity of gonadal differentiation and androgens as by-products of stress inactivation. In addition to the stress axis, another two major axes - the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, which are well known to participate in the regulation of reproduction - have been proposed as reinforcing the brain-gonadal interrelationships in the fate of the gonad.Jorge E. Allende is a biochemist trained in the United States who has been a Professor at the University of Chile since 1961. He has served in many leadership positions in both Chilean and international scientific organizations and academic institutions. He led the International Cell Research Organization, the Latin American Network of Biological Sciences and obtained the Chilean National Science Prize. He belongs to the Chilean Academy of Sciences and is a foreign member of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences and also of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. During his career, besides leading a highly successful research group, he was instrumental in generating an esprit de corps among Latin American scientists of all fields in biology starting in the late 1960's. He began a longstanding tradition by organizing advanced training courses for young scientists from the region who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience the latest methods and concepts in biological research, courses that had world leading researchers as instructors. A constant focus of his efforts consisted in promoting the establishment of postgraduate programs in biology throughout the continent, coordinating international funding programs aimed at scientific development in the third world and, more recently, advocating for science education among children and school teachers as the only way to achieve scientific literacy in our societies. In this interview, we explore how these issues were addressed by him and his counterparts in other Latin American countries, at a time when they had to start, essentially, from scratch.Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado represents a younger generation of Latin- American scientists that have achieved international scientific recognition (Fig. 1) .His work, together with those from other labs, has positioned the planaria Schmidtea mediterranea as a dynamic model system where the cellular and molecular basis of regeneration in metazoans can be probed. During his professional career he has established strong ties with Latin America, hosting and training students and participating in seminars, workshops and courses throughout the region. In this interview he discusses his early scientific development and training, and his views on various issues related to the professional development of young scientists.Development without a free-living tadpole is common among Ibero American frogs. The most derived condition is direct development where the tadpole has been eliminated, and the most investigated direct developing frog is Eleutherodactylus coqui. To provide a different point-of-view, an imaginary interview with a coqui is conducted. Opinions are offered on invasive species, developmental features that are surprisingly conserved, and novelty in germ layer specification.Claudio Stern was born in Montevideo, Uruguay where he received his school education. He moved to the United Kingdom at age 18. This interview briefly explores his trajectory from Uruguay, through universities in the UK (Sussex, UCL, Cambridge and Oxford) and USA (Columbia) and how he was influenced by various mentors and experiences.Roberto Mayor is a prominent Chilean developmental biologist working in the UK and an advocate of the developmental biology discipline in Latin America. Roberto started as a preimplantation mouse developmental biologist during his undergraduate and graduate studies in Chile. Yet, he now uses Xenopus and zebrafish to elucidate the mechanisms that drive the directed collective locomotion of neural crest cells. What life events moulded the research career of Roberto across the years? This article addresses this question and provides a personal perspective on his scientific achievements. The story of Roberto is a mix of turns and cycles that ultimately guided him to the migrating neural crest. Turns that made him shift between model organisms and scientific topics.Cycles that drove him back and forth between Chile and the UK and which have connected his early studies as an undergraduate student with the most recent work of his lab. A big lesson that we can learn from the life of Roberto is that no matter how much you plan your life always serendipity plays a significant role.

01/12/2025


The developed advanced supervision procedure has been tested in simulation as well as in a practical case study using a real two-storey family house.The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted United States residents. Prevention behaviors are critical to minimizing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S., to ultimately reduce the health, social, and economic burdens of COVID-19. Yet, health behavior decision-making is complex, and uptake of preventative behaviors has been variable. Women may provide pro-prevention behavior modeling to their networks, facilitating uptake diffusion. The COPE Study enrolled 491 women residing in the United States from May to June of 2020; women completed an online survey of COVID-19 experiences and prevention behaviors. We employed binary logistic modeling to identify factors predicting women's practice of (1) staying home except for essential activities, (2) physical distancing in public, and (3) wearing a face mask in public. Findings demonstrate that women's prevention behaviors are influenced by multilevel factors. Women living in urban environments, having minimal formal education, or having a household annual income of USD 30,000-50,000 are less likely to practice prevention behaviors. Cultural context may be an important factor in the decision-making process. Results aid in the identification what interventional "levers" may warrant consideration to promote uptake of such behaviors, and whom to engage. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/belvarafenib.html Because women are modelers of behavior, it is critical to engage them in prevention behavior interventions.Yarrowia is a yeast genus that has been used as a model oleaginous taxon for a wide array of studies. However, information regarding metabolite changes within Yarrowia spp. under different environmental conditions is still limited. Among various factors affecting Yarrowia metabolism, nitrogen-limiting conditions have a profound effect on the metabolic state of yeast. In this study, a time-course LC-MS/MS-based metabolome analysis of Y. lipolytica was performed to determine the optimal cultivation time and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for studying the effects of nitrogen-limiting conditions on Yarrowia; we found that cultivation time of 36 h and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 41 and 50 was suitable for studying the effects of nitrogen-limiting conditions on Yarrowia and these conditions were applied to six strains of Yarrowia. These six strains of Yarrowia showed similar responses to nitrogen-limiting conditions; however, each strain had a unique metabolomic profile. Purine and pyrimidine metabolism were the most highly affected biological pathways in nitrogen-limiting conditions, indicating that these conditions affect energy availability within cells. This stress leads to a shift in cells to the utilization of a less ATP-dependent biological pathway. This information will be beneficial for the development of Yarrowia strains for further scientific and industrial applications.Pharmacological treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders is difficult, because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the penetration of many drugs into the brain. To solve this unmet therapeutic need, nanosized drug carriers are the focus of research efforts to develop drug delivery systems for the CNS. For the successful delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) to the brain, targeting ligands on their surface is necessary. Our research aim was to design a nanoscale drug delivery system for a more efficient transfer of donepezil, an anticholinergic drug in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease across the BBB. Rhodamine B-labeled solid lipid nanoparticles with donepezil cargo were prepared and targeted with apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a ligand of BBB receptors. Nanoparticles were characterized by measurement of size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in vitro release, and stability. Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles were investigated by metabolic assay and impedance-based cell analysis. ApoE-targeting increased the uptake of lipid nanoparticles in cultured brain endothelial cells and neurons. Furthermore, the permeability of ApoE-targeted nanoparticles across a co-culture model of the BBB was also elevated. Our data indicate that ApoE, which binds BBB receptors, can potentially be exploited for successful CNS targeting of solid lipid nanoparticles.Worldwide recognition of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas was triggered by an unexplained increase in the frequency of microcephaly. While severe microcephaly is readily identifiable at birth, diagnosing less severe cases requires comparison of head circumference (HC) measurement to a growth chart. We examine measured values of HC and digit preference in those values, and, by extension, the prevalence of microcephaly at birth in two data sources a research study in Honduras and routine surveillance data in Uruguay. The Zika in Pregnancy in Honduras study enrolled pregnant women prenatally and followed them until delivery. Head circumference was measured with insertion tapes (SECA 212), and instructions including consistent placement of the tape and a request to record HC to the millimeter were posted where newborns were examined. Three indicators of microcephaly were calculated (1) HC more than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean, (2) HC more than 3 SD below the mean (referred to as "severe microaution.The present work details a novel approach to increase the transmitting sensitivity of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays and performing the direct modulation of digital information on the same device. The direct modulation system can reach 3× higher signal-to-noise ratio level and 3× higher communication range (from 6.2 cm boosted to 18.6 cm) when compared to more traditional continuous wave drive at the same energy consumption levels. When compared for the same transmission performance, the direct modulation consumes 80% less energy compared to the continues wave. The increased performance is achieved with a switching circuit that allows to generate a short high-AC voltage on the ultrasonic array, by using an LC tank and a bipolar junction transistor, starting with a low-DC voltage, making it CMOS-compatible. Since the modulation signal can directly be formed by the transmitted bits (on/off keying encoding) this also serve as the modulation for the data itself, hence direct modulation. The working principle of the circuit is described, optimization is performed relative to several circuital parameters and a high-performance experimental application is demonstrated.

01/12/2025


Non-motor symptoms such as impulsivity and the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) part I score were associated with QOL after STN-DBS. Conclusions Frontal lobe functions, depression, and verbal fluency significantly worsened 3 years after STN-DBS. The UPDRS part I score and higher impulsivity might be associated with QOL after STN-DBS.Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major contributor to stroke and dementia, characterized by white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on neuroimaging. WMH are associated with reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) cross-sectionally, though longitudinal associations remain unclear. We updated a 2016 systematic review, identifying 30 new studies, 27 cross-sectional (n = 2,956) and 3 longitudinal (n = 440). Cross-sectionally, 10/27 new studies (n = 1,019) included sufficient data for meta-analysis, which we meta-analyzed with 24 previously reported studies (n = 1,161), total 34 (n = 2,180). Our meta-analysis showed that patients with lower CBF had worse WMH burden (mean global CBF standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.64, -0.27). Longitudinally, associations between baseline CBF and WMH progression varied the largest study (5 years, n = 252) found no associations, while another small study (4.5 years, n = 52) found that low CBF in the periventricular WMH penumbra predicted WMH progression. We could not meta-analyse longitudinal studies due to different statistical and methodological approaches. We found that CBF was lower in WMH than in normal-appearing white matter in an additional meta-analysis (5 cross-sectional studies; n = 295; SMD -1.51, 95% CI -1.94, -1.07). These findings highlight that relationships between resting CBF and WMH are complex. Further longitudinal studies analyzing regional CBF and subsequent WMH change are required to determine the role of CBF in SVD progression.Purpose To prospectively investigate the efficacy and tolerance of low-dose rituximab (RTX) for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica-associated optic neuritis (NMO-ON). Methods Optic Neuritis patients with seropositive aquaporin 4-antibody (AQP4-Ab) were diagnosed with NMO-ON and recruited for treatment with low-dose RTX (100 mg * 4 infusions) and were then followed monthly for a minimum of 3 months. Reinfusion of 100 mg RTX was given when the CD19+ B lymphocyte frequency was elevated to above 1%. The serum AQP4-Ab level was tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results A total of 43 NMO-ON patients (1 male/42 female, 75 involved eyes) were included in this study. CD19+ B cell clearance in the peripheral blood was induced in 97.7% of patients after induction treatment. A significant decrease in serum AQP4-Ab concentration was observed after induction treatment (P = 0.0123). The maintenance time of B cell clearance was 5.2 ± 2.25 months. The relapse-free rate was 92.3% in patients followed-up for over 12 months, and patients with non-organ-specific autoimmune antibodies tended to relapse within 6 months. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/protokylol-hydrochloride.html A total of 96.2% of patients had stable or improved vision, and a decrease in the average expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score was found. Structural alterations revealed by optic coherence tomography were observed in both ON and unaffected eyes. The rates of infusion-related reactions and long-term adverse events (AEs) were 18.6 and 23.1%, respectively. No severe AEs was observed. Conclusions Low-dose rituximab is efficient and well-tolerated in treating NMO-ON.Introduction The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact PET with 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB in patients with dementia in a developing country. Methodology Retrospective study of the patients referred for the evaluation of dementia to the only PET center in Uruguay. A total of 248 patients were identified, from which 70 patients were included based on the availability of medical history and clinical follow-up. Main outcomes included change in diagnosis, diagnostic dilemma and AD treatment. We evaluated the association of clinical outcomes with PET concordance with baseline diagnosis, diagnostic dilemma, level of education, AD pathology/Non-AD pathology (AD/Non-AD), baseline diagnosis and 11C-PIB PET result. Results Baseline clinical diagnosis was concordant with 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB PET results in 64.7 and 77.1% of the patients, respectively. Change in diagnosis after PET was identified in 30.0% of the patients and was associated with discordant 18F-FDG (p = 0.002) and 11C-PIB (p less then 0.001) PET results, previous diagnostic dilemma (p = 0.005), low education (p = 0.027), Non-AD baseline diagnosis (p = 0.027), and negative 11C-PIB PET result (p less then 0.001). Only the last variable remained significant in the multivariate analysis (adjusted p = 0.038). Diagnostic dilemma decreased after PET from 15.7 to 7.1% (p = 0.11) and was associated with Non-AD diagnosis (p = 0.002) and negative 11C-PIB PET result (p = 0.003). Change in AD treatment after PET occurred in 45.7% of the patients. Conclusion 18F-FDG and 11C-PIB PET had a significant clinical impact in terms of change in diagnosis and treatment in patients with dementia in a developing country, similar to that reported in high-income countries.Background The incidence of pyogenic spinal infection has increased in recent years. In addition to treatment of the spinal infection, early diagnosis and therapy of coexisting infections, especially of secondary brain infection, are important. The aim of this study is to elucidate the added value of routine cerebral imaging in the management of these patients. Methods This was a retrospective single-center study. Cerebral imaging consisting of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) was performed to detect brain infection in patients with a primary pyogenic spinal infection. Results We analyzed a cohort of 61 patients undergoing cerebral imaging after diagnosis of primary pyogenic spinal infection. The mean age in this cohort was 68.7 years and the gender distribution consisted of 44 males and 17 females. Spinal epidural abscess was proven in 32 (52.4%) patients. Overall positive blood culture was obtained in 29 (47.5%) patients, infective endocarditis was detected in 23 (37.7%) patients and septic condition at admission was present in 12 (19.

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Additionally, litter transport via tributaries into the lake plays a role. Testing the detection of anthropogenic litter via aerial images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles resulted in good recovery rates when minimizing the flight height. Furthermore, the analysis of anthropogenic litter distribution displayed on the images showed litter accumulation areas at the border of sandy beach areas. The deployment of marine guidelines in a freshwater environment did work well, however, small changes in the protocol are suggested for future lake beach studies dealing with anthropogenic litter pollution.The efficiency of petrochemical wastewater biological treatment is dependent upon complex bacterial communities. A well understanding of the structure and function of bacterial community and their association with environmental variables is essential for the elucidation of contaminant removal mechanisms and optimization of wastewater treatment processes. In this study, the bacterial communities and metabolic functions in the primary hydrolysis acidification unit (PHAU), cyclic activated sludge system (CASS), secondary hydrolysis acidification unit (SHAU), and biological aerated filter (BAF) of a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were studied via Illumina high-throughput sequencing. The correlations between bacterial community and environmental variables were also investigated. The phylum Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant in the petroleum WWTP. The bacterial communities varied with wastewater characteristics and operational parameters, as asign and operation optimization in petrochemical WWTP.COVID-19 is an active pandemic that likely poses an existential threat to humanity. Frequent handwashing, social distancing, and partial or total lockdowns are among the suite of measures prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and being implemented across the world to contain the pandemic. However, existing inequalities in access to certain basic necessities of life (water, sanitation facility, and food storage) create layered vulnerabilities to COVID-19 and can render the preventive measures ineffective or simply counterproductive. We hypothesized that individuals in households without any of the named basic necessities of life are more likely to violate the preventive (especially lockdown) measures and thereby increase the risk of infection or aid the spread of COVID-19. Based on nationally-representative data for 25 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, multivariate statistical and geospatial analyses were used to investigate whether, and to what extent, household family structure is associated wstream determinants of in-house access and the full spectrum of layers of inequalities including individual, interpersonal, institutional, and population levels.
In the human body, inorganic arsenic (iAs) is methylated via the one-carbon cycle to form monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Lower proportions of iAs and MMA, and higher proportions of DMA in urine indicate efficient methylation; formation of DMA is thought to detoxify iAs and MMA. Studies on folate, vitamin B-12 and iAs methylation yield mixed findings, depending on whether folate and vitamin B-12 were assessed from diet, supplements, or using a blood biomarker.

First, to compare the associations of serum concentrations and estimated intake of folate and vitamin B-12 with indicators of iAs methylation. Second, to highlight the implications of these different B-vitamin assessment techniques on the emerging evidence of the impact of dietary modifications on iAs methylation.

The study was conducted among ~7-year-old children from Montevideo, Uruguay. Serum folate and vitamin B-12 levels were measured on the Horiba ABX Pentra 400 analyzer; urinary arsenic was measured using High-Pect different exposure windows and inherent measurement error, and if used individually, will likely continue to contribute to lack of consensus.
Additional studies on the role of B-vitamins in iAs methylation are needed to develop a deeper understanding of the implications of assessing folate and vitamin B-12 intake compared to the use of biomarkers. Where possible, both methods should be employed because they reflect different exposure windows and inherent measurement error, and if used individually, will likely continue to contribute to lack of consensus.Triazole fungicides are the most widely used products to treat cereal seeds. Granivorous birds, such as red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa), which consume seeds left on the surface of fields after sowing, have a high risk of exposure. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mrt67307.html As triazole fungicides can affect sterol synthesis, we tested the hypothesis that treated seed consumption could alter the synthesis of sex hormones and reduce the reproductive capacity of partridges. We exposed adult partridges to seeds treated with four different formulations containing triazoles as active ingredients (flutriafol, prothioconazole, tebuconazole, and a mixture of the latter two) simulating a field exposure during the late autumn sowing season. All treatments produced biochemical changes and an overexpression of genes encoding for enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of sterols and steroid hormones, such as PMVK, ABCA1, MVD, PSCK9, DHCR7 and HSD17B7. Plasma levels of oestradiol were reduced in partridges exposed to tebuconazole. We also monitored reproduction 3 months after exposure (laying date, egg fertilization and hatching rates). We observed a 14-day delay in the laying onset of partridges that had been exposed to flutriafol as compared to controls. These results show that the consumption of seeds treated with triazole fungicides has the potential to affect granivorous bird reproduction. We recommend the evaluation of lagged reproductive effects as part of the protocols of environmental risk assessment of pesticides in wild birds in light of the effects resulting from the exposure to triazole-treated seeds.While accumulating evidence shows that air pollution exposure is an important risk factor to influenza prevalence, their association has been inadequately investigated in mountainous regions with dense populations and high humidity. We aim to estimate the association and exposure-outcome effects between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and influenza prevalence in a mountainous region with a dense population and high humidity. We investigated 14,993 patients with confirmed influenza cases from January 2013 to December 2017 in Chongqing, a mountainous city in southwest China. We developed distributed lag non-linear models with quasi-Poisson link to take into account the lag and non-linear effects of NO2 exposure on influenza prevalence. We estimated that the cumulative effect of a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 with seven-day lag (i.e., summing all the contributions up to seven days) corresponded to relative risk of 1.24 (95% CI 1.17-1.31) in daily influenza prevalence. Comparing to annual mean of the World Health Organization air quality guidelines of 40 μg/m3 for NO2, we estimated that 14.

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factor-α (TNF-α) such that concentrations were reduced in SCFP steers from 1 to 2 h postchallenge compared to Control steers. Overall, these data suggest that supplementing calves with SCFP may have primed the innate immune response prior to the challenge, particularly platelets, which resulted in an attenuated sickness behavior and TNF-α response to LPS.
Multiple therapeutic properties have been attributed to
However, further research is required to unveil the medicinal potential of Cannabis and the relationship between biological activity and chemical profile.

The primary objective of this study was to characterize the chemical profile and antioxidant properties of three varieties of
available in Uruguay during progressive stages of maturation.

Fresh samples of female inflorescences from three stable
phenotypes, collected at different time points during the end of the flowering period were analyzed. Chemical characterization of chloroform extracts was performed by
H-NMR. The antioxidant properties of the cannabis sativa extracts, and pure cannabinoids, were measured in a Cu
-induced LDL oxidation assay.

The main cannabinoids in the youngest inflorescences were tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A, 242 ± 62 mg/g) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 7.3 ± 6.5 mg/g). Cannabinoid levels increased more than twice in two of the mature samples. A thirdon both phases of lipid oxidation in copper challenged LDL. Those effects were just partially related with the content of cannabinoids and partially recapitulated by isolated pure cannabinoids. Our results support the potentially beneficial effects of cannabis sativa whole extracts on the initial phase of atherosclerosis.
Cannabis whole extracts acted on both phases of lipid oxidation in copper challenged LDL. Those effects were just partially related with the content of cannabinoids and partially recapitulated by isolated pure cannabinoids. Our results support the potentially beneficial effects of cannabis sativa whole extracts on the initial phase of atherosclerosis.
Different proportions of musculoskeletal or autoimmune manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been reported in literature. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aim of assessing the prevalence of rheumatic manifestations in patients affected by COVID-19, as initial symptom or during disease course.

A database search was run on May 18th, 2020, using two distinct strategies. We were interested in the percentage of symptoms of potential rheumatologic interest observed in large population studies of COVID-19 cases, and in identifying uncommon autoimmune disorders described in patients with COVID-19. For manifestations individually reported, a meta-analysis was performed taking into consideration the proportion of COVID-19 patients presenting the symptom.

Eighty eight original articles were included in the systematic review and 51 in the meta-analysis. We found pooled estimates of 19% for muscle pain and 32% for fatigue as initial symptom of COVID-19 presentation and, respectively play a crucial role in identifying COVID-19 cases in early phases of the illness.
Very late stent thrombosis (ST) is a concern in the era of drug-eluting stents (DESs), and ST is associated with peri-DES coronary artery aneurysmal lesions or coronary evaginations. An increasing number of cases of concurrent systemic allergic reaction and ST have been reported as Kounis syndrome (KS) in the literature. The number of patients with very late ST caused by KS is small, and further investigation of the potential pathophysiology is required.

We report a case of KS that manifested as systemic urticaria followed by very late ST 14 years after placement of two sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs). Three months after the event of ST, coronary evaginations at the stented segments were detected on intravascular optical coherence tomography.

Coronary evaginations are associated with local hypersensitivity, stent malapposition, uncovered strut, and flow disturbance that may predispose to ST. Systemic allergic reactions are known to promote platelet adhesion and aggregation. This case of KS suggests a pathophysiology in which the synergic effects between the coronary evaginations and a systemic allergic reaction may contribute to very late ST. For patients with Type 3 KS, performing follow-up intracoronary imaging tests may be important to confirm potential coronary evaginations, especially in patients with SESs.
Coronary evaginations are associated with local hypersensitivity, stent malapposition, uncovered strut, and flow disturbance that may predispose to ST. Systemic allergic reactions are known to promote platelet adhesion and aggregation. This case of KS suggests a pathophysiology in which the synergic effects between the coronary evaginations and a systemic allergic reaction may contribute to very late ST. For patients with Type 3 KS, performing follow-up intracoronary imaging tests may be important to confirm potential coronary evaginations, especially in patients with SESs.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia is a well-known disorder, but clinical diagnoses tend to be delayed. https://www.selleckchem.com/Androgen-Receptor.html Acute coronary syndrome may occur in childhood.

Our patient, a young boy with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, complained of persistent chest pain at rest and suffered a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The diagnosis of NSTEMI was made on the basis of his clinical features, dynamic electrocardiogram changes, troponin elevation, and cardiac computed tomography findings. The patient was managed surgically by intrathoracic artery (ITA) bypass graft. During post-operative follow-up, the young patient suffered from angina pectoris from unexpected and exceptional atheroma stenosis on the ITA.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia needs to be identified quickly in young patients and lipid lowering therapies should be started without delay.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia needs to be identified quickly in young patients and lipid lowering therapies should be started without delay.
Anomalous origin of the coronary arteries is seen in less than 1% of the general population. Single coronary artery (SCA) is a congenital anatomic abnormality identified by a single coronary ostium giving rise to one coronary artery. We present an extremely rare variant of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) branching off from the right coronary artery (RCA) and following a prepulmonic course.

A 72-year-old woman presented due to ongoing chest pain with associated ST-segment elevation involving the inferior leads. Emergent cardiac catheterization revealed a 99% ulcerated lesion in distal RCA, which was intervened on with angioplasty and stent placement. The RCA was noted giving rise to LMCA, which followed a prepulmonic course (anterior to pulmonary artery) before trifurcating into a small caliber left anterior descending, ramus intermedius, and hypoplastic left circumflex arteries. The non-malignant course of the aberrant LMCA was confirmed on the coronary computed tomography angiogram. The patient was discharged home on guideline-directed medical therapy.