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Background: We have previously demonstrated the significant reliance of pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells (PaCSCs) on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which enables versatile substrate utilization, including fatty acids (FAs). Notably, dysregulated lipid scavenging and aberrant FA metabolism are implicated in PDAC progression. Methods & results: Our bioinformatics analyses revealed elevated expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in PDAC tissue samples compared to normal tissue samples, which correlated with a stemness signature. Additionally, PaCSCs exhibited heightened expression of diverse lipid metabolism genes and increased lipid droplet accumulation compared to differentiated progenies. Treatment with palmitic, oleic, and linolenic FAs notably augmented the self-renewal and chemotherapy resistance of CD133+ PaCSCs. Conversely, inhibitors of FA uptake, storage and metabolism reduced CSC populations both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, inhibition of FA metabolism suppressed OXPHOS activity, inducing energy depletion and subsequent cell death in PaCSCs. Importantly, combining a FAO inhibitor and Gemcitabine treatment enhanced drug efficacy in vitro and in vivo, effectively diminishing the CSC content and functionality. Conclusion: Targeting FAO inhibition represents a promising therapeutic strategy against this highly tumorigenic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three areas of Catalonia (Spain). Methods: A descriptive observational study collected information on habits and the mid-afternoon snack of 782 schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three cities, Barcelona, Girona, and Lleida, located in Catalonia (Spain). The children's families voluntarily agreed to complete an online questionnaire that collected information about demographic data and snacking habits in the afternoon, as well as a record of mid-afternoon snack intake over three school days. Results: A total of 2163 mid-afternoon snacks were analyzed from a sample of 764 families with 3 to 12 year-old children. Sandwiches emerged as the most prevalent choice, accounting for 41.89%, followed by pastries at 23.86%, fruit at 14.38%, and a combination of fruit and pastries at 6.29%. Of the mid-afternoon snacks recorded, 22.19% were healthy, 20.90% were quite healthy, 12.85% were quite unhealthy, and 44.06% were unhealthy. Conclusions: The nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for a large majority of schooled children should be improved. It is essential to develop food education programs to improve the quality of this intake from early childhood and to consider it as an opportunity to adjust the daily dietary requirements of Spanish children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplura are an ancient group of basal (apterygote) hexapods that thrive in various cryptic terrestrial habitats. Despite an ancient origin that extends at least to the Devonian period, the dipluran fossil record is exceedingly sparse. Here, we document five very rare fossil specimens of the family Campodeidae in amber from the Miocene of the Dominican Republic and the Eocene of the Baltic region. Microscopic preservation in amber provides unique detail for taxonomic placement of small, delicate, soil- and leaf litter-dwelling organisms like these. New taxa include the following: in Lepidocampinae, Lepidocampa glaesi sp. nov. (in Dominican amber); and in Campodeinae, Litocampa eobaltica sp. nov. (in Baltic amber) and Rostricampa engeli gen. et sp. nov. (in Dominican amber). Rostricampa has an extraordinary rostrum formed by sclerotized extensions of the clypeus and, probably, the labium, unique among diplurans. These new taxa provide rare additional data on the fossil record of the earliest diverging lineages of the hexapods and shed light on their evolution and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortwave ultraviolet light (UV-C) disinfection is an emerging technology used to enhance food safety by reducing the pathogen load. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) served as a numerical simulation tool to calculate the average radiation intensity within a disinfection chamber. The resulting CFD data was employed to estimate the UV-C inactivation kinetic parameters for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes. Experimental procedures involved irradiating bacterial suspensions with UV-C doses ranging from 0 to 6.028 kJ/m2. The inactivation of S. Typhimurium was described using a log-linear equation, while UV-C survival curves for E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were best fitted to Weibull model. Subsequently, the integration of CFD simulations and kinetic parameters enabled the estimation of UV-C doses approaching 6 kJ/m2 for the treatment of fresh-cut 'Tommy Atkins' mangoes inoculated with the mentioned microorganisms. This integrated approach partially predicted the inactivation of pathogens on the surface of mango spears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hip fractures are the most common fracture leading to hospitalization and are associated with high costs, mortality rates and functional decline. Although several guidelines exist for preventing new fractures and promoting functional recovery, they tend to focus on osteoporosis treatment and do not take into account the complexity of frailty in older adults and geriatric syndromes, which are important factors in individuals at risk of suffering from frailty fractures. Moreover, most health systems are fragmented and are incapable of providing appropriate management for frail and vulnerable individuals who are at risk of experiencing fragility fractures. Multicomponent interventions and physical exercise using tele-rehabilitation could play a role in the management of hip fracture recovery. However, the effectiveness of exercise prescription and its combination with a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is still unclear. Methods: This randomized clinical trial will be conducted at the Hospital Universitario de Navarra (Pamplona, Spain). A total of 174 older adults who have suffered a hip fracture and fulfil the criteria for inclusion will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive a multicomponent intervention consisting of individualized home-based exercise using the @ctive hip app for three months, followed by nine months of exercise using Vivifrail. Additionally, the intervention group will receive nutrition intervention, osteoporosis treatment, polypharmacy adjustment and evaluation of patient mood, cognitive impairment and fear of falling. The control group will receive standard outpatient care according to local guidelines. This research aims to evaluate the impact of the intervention on primary outcome measures, which include changes in functional status during the study period based on the Short Physical Performance Battery. Discussion: The findings of this study will offer valuable insights into the efficacy of a comprehensive approach that considers the complexity of frailty in older adults and geriatric syndromes, which are important factors in individuals at risk of suffering from frailty fractures. This study's findings will contribute to the creation of more effective strategies tailored to the requirements of these at-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes can contribute to emissions of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) directly by some rhizobia species that are able to denitrify under free-living conditions and in symbiotic association with the plant. In this study, the capacity of Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium etli symbiosis to emit N2O in response to nitrate (NO3-) has been demonstrated for the first time. We found that bacteroidal assimilatory nitrate reductase (NarB) as well as nitrite reductase (NirK) and nitric oxide reductase (cNor) denitrifying enzymes contribute to nitric oxide (NO) and N2O formation in nodules. We also show that R. etli NarK is involved in NO2- extrusion and links NO3- reduction by NarB in the cytoplasm with NirK and cNor denitrification activities in the periplasm. The knowledge generated in this work will be instrumental for exploring strategies and sustainable practices in agricultural soil management to increase legume crop yield and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. HIGHLIGHTS Common bean nodules are able to produce N2O in response to nitrate. Nitrate reduction to nitrite in R. etli bacteroids catalyzed by assimilatory nitrate reductase NarB is involved in N2O emissions from common bean nodules. R. etli respiratory nitrite reductase NirK and nitric oxide reductase cNor support N2O production in common bean nodules. R. etli NarB and cNor are involved in NO homeostasis in common bean nodules. R. etli nitrite exporter NarK links nitrate reduction in the cytoplasm with denitrification activities in the periplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not standardised what is the endometrial thickness that discriminates between normal and potentially malignant. The objective of this study was to determine the endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women; and to evaluate the risk factors linked to malignant endometrial pathology as well as other associated ultrasound findings. This was a retrospective observational study that included hysteroscopies performed at the Hospital Materno-Infantil on 267 asymptomatic menopausal women with an increase in endometrial thickness (AET) >5 mm, from 2015 to 2019. The results shows that the prevalence of malignant pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with a casual finding of endometrial thickening was 3.7%. This percentage was 16.3% when the cut-off point of AET was established at 10 mm. There was a significant association for the diagnosis of malignant pathology with this cut-off point. There is a significant association between the 10 mm endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of EC increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. What is already known on this subject? Several studies have established the cut-off point for asymptomatic endometrial thickening (AET) for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer at 10 mm. Although no cut-off point has optimal accuracy for the diagnosis of malignant endometrial pathology, it has been found that with a cut-off value of AET >10 mm no cases are missed. Likewise, a cut-off point of AET > 11 mm may provide a balance between cancer detection and histopathological workup extension. What do the results of this study add? A significant association was found at the cut-off point of AET > 10 mm, which suggests that screening postmenopausal women at this thickness is acceptable and unlikely to miss cases of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? After analysing our results we can conclude, like other published studies, that by establishing a cut-off point of 10 mm we obtain a good discrimination between benign and malignant pathology, which would allow us to diagnose 100% of malignant pathology. Above this cut-off point, the risk of endometrial cancer increases, and it would therefore be advisable to extend the study. A multicentre study is needed to confirm the cut-off point at which the risk of endometrial cancer increases in postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Current guidelines establish the same hemoglobin (Hb) and iron biomarkers targets for hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) even though patients having PD are usually younger, more active and less comorbid. Unfortunately, specific renal anemia [anemia in chronic kidney disease (aCKD)] trials or observational studies on PD are scanty. The aims of this study were to describe current aCKD management, goals and adherence to clinical guidelines, identifying opportunities for healthcare improvement in PD patients. Methods This was a retrospective, nationwide, multicentre study including patients from 19 PD units. The nephrologists collected baseline data, demographics, comorbidities and data related to anemia management (laboratory values, previously prescribed treatments and subsequent adjustments) from electronic medical records. The European adaptation of KDIGO guidelines was the reference for definitions, drug prescriptions and targets. Results A total of 343 patients (mean age 62.9 years, 61.2% male) were included; 72.9% were receiving ESAs and 33.2% iron therapy [20.7% intravenously (IV)]. Eighty-two patients were receiving ESA without iron therapy, despite 53 of them having an indication according to the European Renal Best Practice guidelines. After laboratory results, iron therapy was only started in 15% of patients. Among ESA-treated patients, 51.9% had an optimal control [hemoglobin (Hb) 10–12 g/dL] and 28.3% between 12–12.9 g/dL. Seventeen patients achieved Hb >13 g/dL, and 12 of them remained on ESA after overshooting. Only three patients had Hb <10 g/dL without ESAs. Seven patients (2%) met criteria for ESA resistance (epoetin dose >300 IU/kg/week). The highest tertile of erythropoietin resistance index (>6.3 UI/kg/week/g/dL) was associated with iron deficiency and low albumin corrected by renal replacement therapy vintage and hospital admissions in the previous 3 months. Conclusion Iron therapy continues to be underused (especially IV). Low albumin, iron deficiency and prior events explain most of the ESA hyporesponsiveness. Hb targets are titrated to/above the upper limits. Thus, several missed opportunities for adequate prescriptions and adherence to guidelines were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some drivers push for a transition towards sustainable and integrated urban water management while involving the community in decision-making. The Transition Management framework has been used to study how to empower experiments and promote sustainable transitions. However, there is no proper recognition of how to involve the community as part of the transition processes, especially in developing countries. This paper analyses the 2007–2012 Magdalena River restoration project in Mexico City to understand community participation in water management transitions, while recognising how different social groups are involved and react to transition experiments. This research points out the difficulties that influence community participation and the necessity of addressing these difficulties while considering the heterogeneous community character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that can increase the risk of fractures, leading to adverse health and socioeconomic consequences. However, current clinical methods have limitations in accurately estimating fracture risk, particularly in older adults. Thus, new technologies are necessary to improve the accuracy of fracture risk estimation. In this observational study, we aimed to explore the association between serum cytokines and hip fracture status in older adults, and their associations with fracture risk using the FRAX reference tool. We investigated the use of a proximity extension assay (PEA) with Olink. We compared the characteristics of the population, functional status and detailed body composition (determined using densitometry) between groups. We enrolled 40 participants, including 20 with hip fracture and 20 without fracture, and studied 46 cytokines in their serum. After conducting a score plot and two unpaired t-tests using the Benjamini-Hochberg method, we found that Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-α), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3LG), Colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), and Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7) were significantly different between fracture and non-fracture patients (p < 0.05). IL-6 had a moderate correlation with FRAX (R2 = 0.409, p < 0.001), while CSF1 and CCL7 had weak correlations with FRAX. LT-α and FLT3LG exhibited a negative correlation with the risk of fracture. Our results suggest that targeted proteomic tools have the capability to identify differentially regulated proteins and may serve as potential markers for estimating fracture risk. However, longitudinal studies will be necessary to validate these results and determine the temporal patterns of changes in cytokine profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to develop a new estuarine classification attending to their vertical structure by examining the advantages and disadvantages of the existing classifications. For this purpose, we reviewed the main classifications, finding that most of them analyze the entire estuary as a unique water body without considering the spatiotemporal variability of the mixing zone in estuaries. Furthermore, the proposed classifications require the calculation of parameters that are not easily measurable, such as tidal current amplitude. Thus, we developed a new classification based on density profile slopes of the water column, which has been correlated to the potential energy anomaly. To test this classification, the proposed method was applied to the Suances estuary (Spain) during the year 2020 and to analyze the potential estuarine modifications under four climate change projections (RCP 4.5 and 8.5 for the years 2050 and 2100). To carry out this study, a calibrated and validated high-resolution horizontal and vertical 3D model was used. The application showed a high variability in the vertical structure of the estuary due to the tide and river. According to the proposed classification, the well mixed category was predominant in the estuary in 2020 and tended to grow in the projections of climate change. As a result, the fully mixed and weakly stratified mixing classes were reduced in the projected scenarios due to a decrease of external forcing, such as river flow and sea level rise. Furthermore, areas classified as stratified tended to move upstream of the estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past two decades, various research teams have designed and applied instruments to measure the quality of life of families with a member who has a disability. A recent systematic review on the state of the Family Quality of Life in early care identified that many of these studies collected data only from the mothers. The present study aimed to investigate whether there is a bias in participant selection in these types of studies. Method: A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted in three databases—Scopus, Web of Science, Eric—from 2000 to 2022. A total of 72 empirical studies were identified. Results: The findings indicate that most studies examining the Family Quality of Life were based on the information of a single informant per family unit. The profiles of participants according to the research objective are quite similar. In one-third of studies, the authors reported that family members who participate cannot be represented by only mothers or one participant per household. Conclusions: Given the dynamic and collective nature of the construct, the application of a systemic approach is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Pediatría de Atención Primaria is the property of LUA Ediciones 3.0 S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

People still drown on beaches in unacceptable numbers due to the lack of knowledge about the risks taking place in them. The proposed methodology forecasts electronic bathing flags in beaches by integrating the benefits of metocean operational systems, machine learning and web-based decision support technologies into a 24/7 risk assessment service that could be easily implemented at any beach worldwide with low costs of maintenance. Firstly, a crosscutting analysis between metocean conditions, beach characteristics and flag records was performed. Secondly, an expert system, based on Deep Learning, was developed to obtain electronic bathing flags as an indicator of the dynamic risk of drowning on beaches. The input variables of the Deep Neural Network were significant wave height, mean wave period, wind velocity, marine current velocity, incidence angle, and beach modal state. Finally, the application of the method to the Santa Catarina's beaches (Brazil) conveniently reproduced the status flag of beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplurans are among the earliest hexapods in the geological record. These primitively wingless relatives of insects are infrequently encountered despite being pervasive in soil habitats. Two groups have disparate adaptations for hunting, one mechanical and the other chemical, in Japygoidea and Projapygoidea, respectively. Here, we report three genera (two new) and four species of fossil Projapygidae preserved in Mesozoic and Cenozoic ambers: Electroprojapyx alchemicus gen. et sp. nov. in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, and Symphylurinopsis punctatus gen. et sp. nov. and two species (unnamed) of Symphylurinus in Miocene Dominican amber. The exceptionally preserved specimens possess cerci that are morphologically specialized for expelling a glandular substance on prey. The new Cretaceous E. alchemicus is a stem group to all living species of the family and provides conclusive Mesozoic evidence for a rare type of predation involving offensive (vs. defensive) secretions. The specimen was fossilized in a preying-and-spraying position with its presumptive meal, a Symphypleona springtail (Collembola), reflecting the behavioural predatory repertoire of modern relatives. Apart from one Cenozoic species, these rare specimens represent the only fossil record of the family Projapygidae. Our findings demonstrate that these basal hexapods were predators of small arthropods of ancient forest soils and enrich our understanding of palaeoecological associations and behavioural strategies paramount for the survival of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archiv für Papyrusforschung und Verwandte Gebiete is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

After the success of the first two editions of the Palaeontological Virtual Congress in 2019 (first PVC) and 2021 (second PVC; Crespo & Manzanares 2019; Crespo & Citton 2021), we have decided to try to replicate the success with a third meeting of the PVC (Fig. 1). The appearance of new applications and technological advances has played a crucial role in paving the way for enhanced avenues of effective scientific communication. This became even more pronounced from more than two years of challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this crisis, online platforms gained more relevance and proved key to keeping up the drive for science communication and the dissemination of scientific results (Barral 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish represent one of the most perishable food groups. Therefore, it is important to find viable alternatives that contribute to the preservation of quality and increase the shelf life of fishery products, and one alternative is to use natural extracts with antimicrobial activity. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a natural extract prepared with garlic (NGE) on the quality and shelf life of tilapia fillets stored on ice for 18 days. For this purpose, NGE was prepared by homogenizing peeled garlic cloves with distilled water, which were then centrifuged to obtain the extract (NGE); then, the fish fillets were immersed in the extract and were coated in NGE. The fillets with NGE were packed in high-density polyethylene bags and stored in crushed ice for 18 days. The adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and degradation products, K-value, color, texture, water holding capacity, pH, total mesophilic count, and total volatile bases (TVB-N) were monitored during storage. The ATP content, K-value, pH, total microbial count, and TVB-N changed with respect to ice storage time, and the results between fillets with NGE and control fillets differed. In conclusion, the application of NGE increased the shelf life of fillets stored on ice by 6 days, obtaining a shelf life of 18 days on ice, which shows its potential to improve the utilization of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although food environments have been highlighted as potentially effective targets to improve population diets, evidence on Mediterranean food environments is lacking. We examined differences in food availability and affordability in Madrid (Spain) by store type and area-level socio-economic status (SES).Design: Cross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores for Mediterranean contexts (NEMS-S-MED) tool to measure the availability and price of twelve food groups (specific foods = 35). We computed NEMS-S-MED scores and summarised price data with a Relative Price Index (RPI, comparing prices across stores) and an Affordability Index (normalising prices by area-level income). We compared the availability and affordability of 'healthier-less healthy' food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialised, convenience stores and others) and area-level SES using ANOVA and multi-level regression models.Setting: City of Madrid. 2016 and 2019 to cover a representative sample.Participants: Food stores within a socio-economically diverse sample of sixty-three census tracts (n 151).Results: Supermarkets had higher food availability (37·5/49 NEMS-S-MED points), compared to convenience stores (13·5/49) and specialised stores (8/49). Supermarkets offered lower prices (RPI: 0·83) than specialised stores (RPI: 0·97) and convenience stores (RPI: 2·06). Both 'healthy' and 'less healthy' items were more available in supermarkets. We found no differences in food availability or price by area-level SES, but affordability was higher in higher-income areas.Conclusions: Supermarkets offered higher food availability and affordability for healthy and less healthy food items. Promoting healthy food availability through supermarkets and specialised stores and/or limiting access to convenience stores are promising policy options to achieve a healthier food environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition to adulthood is an accelerated and early process for care leavers that requires intensive preparation, training and support from child welfare services. This study aimed to explore the perceived readiness for independent living of a group of care‐experienced young people preparing for leaving care in Spain and to compare it with the perceptions of their peers from the general population. A sample of 508 youth (50% women) aged 14–21 (M = 16.67; SD = 1.72) took part, of whom 279 were care experienced and 229 belonged to the general population in Spain. Participants' independent living skills, personal autonomy, self‐efficacy and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed through an online survey using standardized instruments. Care‐experienced young people displayed higher levels of life skills and autonomy in self‐care, daily living at home and employment domains, but not related to making daily arrangements in their community. However, their educational level and self‐efficacy levels were lower than in the comparison group. Work experience stood out as a significant predictor of care‐experienced young people's life skills level. These findings support the importance of assessing life skills as an outcome of leaving care preparation services and providing care‐experienced young people with real‐life experiences to develop their life skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango cv. 'Tommy Atkins' is a highly appreciated fruit for its organoleptic characteristics and its resistance to minimal processing. However, some operations as peeling and cutting can generate microbial contamination and loss of bioactive compounds. Ultraviolet short wave (UV-C) is an alternative technology for fresh-cut products that leads to microbial inactivation and the increase of beneficial compounds. The effect of a UV-C dose of 6 kJ/m2 was evaluated on quality attributes of fresh-cut 'Tommy Atkins' mango during days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 of storage (5°C, relative humidity: 85-90%), and compared with a positive control (conventional method by immersion in 10 mg/L sodium hypochlorite solution) and a negative control (without treatment). Physicochemical analysis (titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solid content, and firmness), superficial color evaluation, determinations of microbial counts, contents of total carotenoids, phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity assays were performed. The results showed that UV-C treatment allowed to preserve microbial safety and superficial color of stored fresh-cut mango, and to increase the content of total carotenoids, which was 19.34 and 26.50 mg ß-carotene/100 g fresh weight (FW) for control and UV-C treated sample at day 12 of storage, respectively. The DPPH• scavenging activity of the UV-C treated mango was also higher (0.60 mM TE/g FW) compared to control (0.27 mM TE/g FW) at the end of storage. However, UV-C treatment caused loss of firmness. Some native microorganisms of mango adapted to the stress caused by the treatments and the storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not standardised what is the endometrial thickness that discriminates between normal and potentially malignant. The objective of this study was to determine the endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women; and to evaluate the risk factors linked to malignant endometrial pathology as well as other associated ultrasound findings. This was a retrospective observational study that included hysteroscopies performed at the Hospital Materno-Infantil on 267 asymptomatic menopausal women with an increase in endometrial thickness (AET) >5 mm, from 2015 to 2019. The results shows that the prevalence of malignant pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with a casual finding of endometrial thickening was 3.7%. This percentage was 16.3% when the cut-off point of AET was established at 10 mm. There was a significant association for the diagnosis of malignant pathology with this cut-off point. There is a significant association between the 10 mm endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of EC increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. What is already known on this subject? Several studies have established the cut-off point for asymptomatic endometrial thickening (AET) for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer at 10 mm. Although no cut-off point has optimal accuracy for the diagnosis of malignant endometrial pathology, it has been found that with a cut-off value of AET >10 mm no cases are missed. Likewise, a cut-off point of AET > 11 mm may provide a balance between cancer detection and histopathological workup extension. What do the results of this study add? A significant association was found at the cut-off point of AET > 10 mm, which suggests that screening postmenopausal women at this thickness is acceptable and unlikely to miss cases of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? After analysing our results we can conclude, like other published studies, that by establishing a cut-off point of 10 mm we obtain a good discrimination between benign and malignant pathology, which would allow us to diagnose 100% of malignant pathology. Above this cut-off point, the risk of endometrial cancer increases, and it would therefore be advisable to extend the study. A multicentre study is needed to confirm the cut-off point at which the risk of endometrial cancer increases in postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross breed dog was examined due to an abnormal right pelvic limb gait following cranial closing wedge ostectomy surgery. Gait evaluation revealed stifle hyperextension during the stance phase of the gait. Manipulation of the stifle revealed no cranial or caudal drawer and no cranial tibial thrust. Radiographs showed complete healing of the proximal tibial osteotomy, with a tibial plateau angle (TPA) of –14°. Computed tomography showed 20° of external tibial torsion on the right pelvic limb. A mini‐medial stifle arthrotomy revealed no gross damage to the cruciate ligaments and intact menisci. A cranial opening wedge osteotomy of 17° was performed and the torsional alignment corrected, after which the tibia was stabilised with orthogonal plates and an intramedullary pin. The postoperative radiographs confirmed a satisfactory TPA of 3° and normal tibial alignment. At 6 months follow‐up, a video record revealed normal right pelvic limb gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is considered the most frequent cause of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the typical pathophysiological signs are present in almost all individuals with DS by the age of 40. Despite of this evidence, the investigation on the pre-dementia stages in DS is scarce. In the present study we analyzed the complexity of brain oscillatory patterns and neuropsychological performance for the characterization of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in DS. Materials and methods: Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) values from restingstate magnetoencephalography recordings and the neuropsychological performance in 28 patients with DS [control DS group (CN-DS) (n = 14), MCI group (MCI-DS) (n = 14)] and 14 individuals with typical neurodevelopment (CN-no-DS) were analyzed. Results: Lempel-Ziv complexity was lowest in the frontal region within the MCI-DS group, while the CN-DS group showed reduced values in parietal areas when compared with the CN-no-DS group. Also, the CN-no-DS group exhibited the expected pattern of significant increase of LZC as a function of age, while MCI-DS cases showed a decrease. The combination of reduced LZC values and a divergent trajectory of complexity evolution with age, allowed the discrimination of CN-DS vs. MCI-DS patients with a 92.9% of sensitivity and 85.7% of specificity. Finally, a pattern of mnestic and praxic impairment was significantly associated in MCI-DS cases with the significant reduction of LZC values in frontal and parietal regions (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Brain signal complexity measured with LZC is reduced in DS and its development with age is also disrupted. The combination of both features might assist in the detection of MCI within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To study the impact of genotype on the performance of the 2019 risk model for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Methods and results The study cohort comprised 554 patients with a definite diagnosis of ARVC and no history of sustained ventricular arrhythmia (VA). During a median follow-up of 6.0 (3.1,12.5) years, 100 patients (18%) experienced the primary VA outcome (sustained ventricular tachycardia, appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator intervention, aborted sudden cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death) corresponding to an annual event rate of 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–3.3]. Risk estimates for VA using the 2019 ARVC risk model showed reasonable discriminative ability but with overestimation of risk. The ARVC risk model was compared in four gene groups: PKP2 (n  = 118, 21%); desmoplakin (DSP) (n  = 79, 14%); other desmosomal (n  = 59, 11%); and gene elusive (n  = 160, 29%). Discrimination and calibration were highest for PKP2 and lowest for the gene-elusive group. Univariable analyses revealed the variable performance of individual clinical risk markers in the different gene groups, e.g. right ventricular dimensions and systolic function are significant risk markers in PKP2 but not in DSP patients and the opposite is true for left ventricular systolic function. Conclusion The 2019 ARVC risk model performs reasonably well in gene-positive ARVC (particularly for PKP2) but is more limited in gene-elusive patients. Genotype should be included in future risk models for ARVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: High-throughput CRISPR screening provides an unbiased way for functional genomic studies in hematological malignancies. This approach has been used to study different blood cancers aiming to identify modulator genes for drug efficacy, therapeutic targets, synthetic lethal interactions, biomarkers of malignant transformation and the genetic determinants of immune evasion. In this review, we discuss the most relevant CRISPR screening studies in the field of hematology. CRISPR is becoming an indispensable tool in biological research, revolutionizing diverse fields of medical research and biotechnology. In the last few years, several CRISPR-based genome-targeting tools have been translated for the study of hematological neoplasms. However, there is a lack of reviews focused on the wide uses of this technology in hematology. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the main CRISPR-based approaches of high throughput screenings applied to this field. Here we explain several libraries and algorithms for analysis of CRISPR screens used in hematology, accompanied by the most relevant databases. Moreover, we focus on (1) the identification of novel modulator genes of drug resistance and efficacy, which could anticipate relapses in patients and (2) new therapeutic targets and synthetic lethal interactions. We also discuss the approaches to uncover novel biomarkers of malignant transformations and immune evasion mechanisms. We explain the current literature in the most common lymphoid and myeloid neoplasms using this tool. Then, we conclude with future directions, highlighting the importance of further gene candidate validation and the integration and harmonization of the data from CRISPR screening approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UV bump is a broad absorption feature centred at 2175 Å that is seen in the attenuation/extinction curve of some galaxies, but its origin is not well known. Here, we use a sample of 86 star-forming galaxies at z  = 1.7–2.7 with deep rest-frame UV spectroscopy from the MUSE HUDF Survey to study the connection between the strength of the observed UV 2175 Å bump and the Spitzer/MIPS 24  |$\mu$| m photometry, which at the redshift range of our sample probes mid-IR polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission at ∼6–8 μm. The sample has robust spectroscopic redshifts and consists of typical main-sequence galaxies with a wide range in stellar mass (log (M */ M ⊙) ∼ 8.5–10.7) and star formation rates (SFRs; SFR |$\sim 1\rm{-}100\, M_{\odot }\, {\rm yr}^{-1}$|⁠). Galaxies with MIPS detections have strong UV bumps, except for those with mass-weighted ages younger than ∼150 Myr. We find that the UV bump amplitude does not change with SFR at fixed stellar mass but increases with mass at fixed SFR. The UV bump amplitude and the PAH strength (defined as mid-IR emission normalized by SFR) are highly correlated and both also correlate strongly with stellar mass. We interpret these correlations as the result of the mass–metallicity relationship, such that at low metallicities PAH emission is weak due to a lower abundance of PAH molecules. The weak or complete absence of the 2175 Å bump feature on top of the underlying smooth attenuation curve at low mass/metallicities is then expected if the PAH carriers are the main source of the additional UV absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parc Tramuntana is the first offshore wind project being promoted in the Catalonian waters, and due to this newness, it has generated a strong social debate surrounding expected environmental and socioeconomic impacts traditionally associated to marine wind farms, as there are no relevant references in this area. The objective of this report is to provide a specific analysis of some of the main potential impacts, based on detailed information and quantitative data, in order to place these impacts in a realistic context and determine their actual magnitude. This analysis is fed by diverse and detailed studies carried out over the last two years to assess the environmental impact of the project, in accordance with current regulations. According to environmental impact assessment, which is based on a standardized methodology, the impact of the project is objectively qualified as MODERATE on vectors such as turbidity and sedimentation, underwater noise, hydrodynamic circulation or the alteration of electromagnetic fields, and NOT SIGNIFICANT on aspects such as the proliferation of invasive exotic species. As this is an ongoing assessment process, this report presents initial conclusions that do not yet address all possible impacts. Nevertheless, the authors stress the importance of framing the debate on offshore wind in Catalonia in the context of the urgency of the climate emergency and its inevitable impacts on the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship between the high-sensitivity troponin T levels in patients with confirmed influenza virus infection and its severity determined by mortality during the care process. In addition, a high-sensitivity troponin T cut-off value was sought to allow us to a safe discharge from the emergency department. An analytical retrospective observational study was designed in which high-sensitivity troponin T is determined as an exposure factor, patients are followed until the resolution of the clinical picture, and the frequency of mortality is analyzed. We included patients ≥ 16 years old with confirmed influenza virus infection and determination of high-sensitivity troponin T. One hundred twenty-eight patients were included (96.9% survivors, 3.1% deceased). Mean and median blood levels of high-sensitivity troponin T of survivors were 26.2 ± 58.3 ng/L and 14.5 ng/L (IQR 16 ng/L), respectively, and were statistically different when compared with those of the deceased patients, 120.5 ± 170.1 ng/L and 40.5 ng/L (IQR 266.5 ng/L), respectively, p = 0.012. The Youden index using mortality as the reference method was 0.76, and the cut-off value associated with this index was 24 ng/L (sensitivity 100%, specificity 76%, NPV 100%, PPV 4%) with AUC of 88,8% (95% CI: 79.8–92.2%), p < 0.001. We conclude that high-sensitivity troponin T levels in confirmed virus influenza infection are a good predictor of mortality in our population, and this predictor is useful for safely discharging patients from the emergency department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was a high medical need for patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) when several next-generation anti-androgens (apalutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide) demonstrated clinically relevant delays in metastasis onset. However, to date, few publications have assessed the pooled effect of these treatments on overall survival (OS). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized, placebo-controlled studies investigating a systemic treatment in nmCRPC. Publications were identified by searching several databases on Apr il 7, 2021. The pr imary objective of this analysis was to determine the OS benefit. Secondary outcomes included the relative risk (RR) of adverse events (AEs) and grade 3-4 AEs. A sensitivity analysis with simulated data was also conducted to examine the influence of the study designs on the results. Three randomized controlled studies (SPARTAN, PROSPER, ARAMIS) met our inclusion cr iter ia. Pooled meta-analyses showed a significant benefit in OS with the active agents versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.83), as well as increased risk of any grade (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17) and grade 3-4 AEs (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.23-1.83). The sensitivity analysis with SPARTAN-like simulated populations demonstrated that when using ARAMIS statistical design, OS would be statistically significant in 98.1% of the cases, at a shorter follow-up and with lower number of events. First-line treatment of nmCRPC patients with anti-androgens increased OS with an acceptable safety profile. In light of the different study designs and follow-up, results should be interpreted separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Memory Failures of Everyday (MFE) is a widely used instrument for assessing memory failure. The aim of the study was to analyze the MFE items using the Rasch model in a sample of cognitively older adults in Spain. Methods: A cross‐sectional validation study in a sample of 214 healthy people aged ≥60 years who used centers for older people in Madrid (Spain). The MFE for the assessment of memory complaints was used. The following properties of the Rasch model were assessed: data fit, reliability, unidimensionality, local dependence and lack of differential item functioning by gender, age and marital status. Results: The MFE showed a good fit to the Rasch model (χ2(140) = 160.2; P = 0.116) and high reliability (person separation index = 0.808). The questionnaire was unidimensional (6.54% t‐test; IC binomial = 0.036–0.095). The items showed lack of local dependence between them and differential item functioning. The MFE scores were transformed into linear interval scores with a median of 44.31 and an observed range of 17.9–89.2 (theoretical range: 0–100). Conclusions: The MFE is a unidimensional, reliable instrument to assess memory complaints in cognitively healthy older adults in Spain, with usefulness in clinical research and practice. The construct validity of the MFE linear score could not be fully confirmed and this deserves further investigation. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 332–337. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable plasma cell malignancy. While its origin is enigmatic, an association with infectious pathogens including hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been suggested. Here we report nine patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or MM with previous HCV infection, six of whom received antiviral treatment. We studied the evolution of the gammopathy disease, according to anti-HCV treatment and antigen specificity of purified monoclonal immunoglobulin, determined using the INNO-LIA™ HCV Score assay, dot-blot assays, and a multiplex infectious antigen microarray. The monoclonal immunoglobulin from 6/9 patients reacted against HCV. Four of these patients received antiviral treatment and had a better evolution than untreated patients. Following antiviral treatment, one patient with MM in third relapse achieved complete remission with minimal residual disease negativity. For two patients who did not receive antiviral treatment, disease progressed. For the two patients whose monoclonal immunoglobulin did not react against HCV, antiviral treatment was not effective for MGUS or MM disease. Our results suggest a causal relationship between HCV infection and MGUS and MM progression. When HCV was eliminated, chronic antigen-stimulation disappeared, allowing control of clonal plasma cells. This opens new possibilities of treatment for MGUS and myeloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Psicologia Juridica y Forense and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We present a pilot library of synthetic NUV, U, B, V , and I photometry of star clusters with stochastically sampled IMFs and ionized gas for initial masses, Mi  = 103, 104, and 105 M⊙; t  = 1, 3, 4, and 8 Myr; Z  = 0.014 and Z  = 0.002; and log(U S) = −2 and −3. We compare the library with predictions from deterministic models and observations of isolated low-mass (<104 M⊙) star clusters with co-spatial compact H  ii  regions. The clusters are located in NGC 7793, one of the nearest galaxies observed as part of the HST  LEGUS and Hα-LEGUS surveys. (1) For model magnitudes that only account for the stars: (a) the residual |deterministic mag - median stochastic mag| can be ≥0.5 mag, even for Mi  = 105 M⊙; and (b) the largest spread in stochastic magnitudes occurs when Wolf–Rayet stars are present. (2) For Mi  = 105 M⊙: (a) the median stochastic mag with gas can be >1.0 mag more luminous than the median stochastic magnitude without gas; and (b) nebular emission lines can contribute with |$\gt 50{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| and |$\gt 30{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| to the total emission in the V and I bands, respectively. (3) Age-dating OB-star clusters via deterministic tracks in the U - B versus V - I plane is highly uncertain at Z  = 0.014 for Mi ∼ 103 M⊙ and Z  = 0.002 for Mi ∼ 103–105 M⊙. (4) For low-mass clusters, the V -band extinction derived with stochastic models significantly depends on the value of log(U S). (5) The youngest clusters tend to have higher extinction. (6) The majority of clusters have multi-peaked age PDFs. (7) Finally, we discuss the importance of characterizing the true variance in the number of stars per mass bin in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of TIP Revista Especializada en Ciencias Químico-Biológicas is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Oniscidea) are a model group for studying the colonization of land. However, their fossil record is remarkably scarce and restricted to amber inclusions, and therefore amber deposits represent valuable windows to their past diversity and morphology. Here we present a new collection of 11 terrestrial isopod specimens preserved in Albian-aged amber from the Peñacerrada I outcrop, northern Spain, which collectively represent the most thoroughly documented fauna of Mesozoic Oniscidea. The three new genera and species identified belong to three of five major groups of the Oniscidea: Eoligiiscus tarraconensis, new genus and species (Ligiidae), Autrigoniscus resinicola, new genus and species (Synocheta: Trichoniscidae), and Heraclitus helenae, new genus and species (Crinocheta: Detonidae?). These taxa significantly expand the known fossil record of Oniscidea and demonstrate that considerable cladogenesis had already transpired by the Albian. The assemblage represents the earliest-known diversification of Oniscidea, extending direct evidence of terrestrialization in the group back to the late Early Cretaceous. These new taxa exhibit some characteristics that may inform hypotheses relating to general patterns of terrestrial isopod evolution. A discussion is provided about different aspects of the paleoecology and biology of the fossils compared to the Recent fauna. The new species indicate that Cretaceous isopods were a group of considerable adaptive diversity, exhibiting innovations analogous to what Recent isopods would exhibit 105 million years later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]