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Investment in health has been proposed as a mechanism to promote upward social mobility. Previous analyses have reported inconsistent estimates of the returns to investment in health in Mexico based on different models for different years. We aim to estimate returns for Mexico using data from four time points Adult height and labor income are drawn from the periodical national health and nutrition surveys-a group of relatively standardized surveys-that are representative of individuals living in the country in 2000, 2006, 2012 & 2018. These surveys collect anthropometric measurements and information on individuals labor income. We estimated Mincerian models separately for men and women using OLS, Heckman, instrumental variables, and Heckman with instrumental variables models. Our results indicate significant and positive returns to health for the four surveys, similar in magnitude across years for women and with variations for men. By 2018, returns to health were about 7.4% per additional centimeter in height for females and 9.3% for males. Investments in health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence that increase health capital-measured as adult height-may promote social mobility in Mexico and similar countries to the extent that these investments differentially increase health capital among the poor.

AimCombining preoperative spirometry with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalunia (ARISCAT) risk scale can reduce post-operative complications and improve patient survival. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of performing spirometry or not in conjunction with the ARISCAT scale, to reduce post-operative complications and improve survival among adult patients undergoing elective surgery in Mexico.MethodsA cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed to compare the specific cost and health outcomes associated with the combined use of the ARISCAT scale and preoperative spirometry (Group 1), and the use of the ARISCAT scale without preoperative spirometry (Group 2). The health outcomes evaluated were post-operative complications and survival. The perspective was from the health care provider (Hospital General de México) and direct medical costs were reported in 2019 US dollars. A decision tree with a time horizon of eight months was used for each health outcome and ARISCAT risk level.ResultsThe combined use of the ARISCAT scale and spirometry is more cost-effective for reducing post-operative complications in the low and moderate-risk levels and is cost-saving in the high-risk level, than use of the ARISCAT scale without spirometry. To improve patient survival, ARISCAT and spirometry are also more cost-effective at the moderate risk level, and cost-saving for high-risk patients, than using the ARISCAT scale alone.ConclusionsThe use of preoperative spirometry among patients with a high ARISCAT risk level was cost-saving, reduced post-operative complications, and improved survival. Our findings indicate an urgent need to implement spirometry as part of preoperative care in Mexico, which is already the standard of care in other countries.

Introduction: The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) genome varies by geographical location. This study aims to determine the genomic characteristics of MRSA using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from medical centers in Mexico and to explore the associations between antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. Methods: This study included 27 clinical isolates collected from sterile sites at eight centers in Mexico in 2022 and 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using VITEK 2. In addition, WGS was performed using a NovaSeq platform, and a bioinformatic analysis was conducted using several tools. Results: In this study, 21 strains were CC5, five were CC8, and one was CC93. Moreover, six strains were identified as ST5(CC5)-MRSA-IIa- t895, four strains were found to be ST1011(CC5)-MRSA-IIa-t895, five strains were found to be ST1011(CC5)-MRSA-IIa-t9364, one strain was found to be ST1011(CC5)-MRSA-IIa-t8116, another was found to be ST1011(CC5)-MRSA-IIa-t62, three were found to be ST8(CC8)-MRSA-IVa-t8, one strain was ST5(CC5)-MRSA-IVa-t2, one strain was as ST93(CC93)-MRSA-IVa-t3949, two strains were ST9003(CC8)-MRSA-IVa-t18492, and three strains were ST9034(CC5)-MRSA-V-t2. All SCCmec IIa strains showed resistance to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, and all but two strains were resistant to clindamycin. Among the strains that harbored the type IIa cassette, most had the aadD, blaZ, and ermA_SDS genes and the erm A gene. Multiple genes for adhesion, enzymes, immune evasion, and secretion system were detected, regardless of SCCmec type. Of the SCCmec IVa strains, most harbored the Panton-Valentine leukocidin encoding genes. Conclusion: In this study, the most frequently detected CC was CC5, followed by CC8, and CC93, and the most frequently detected MRSA ST was ST1011, followed by ST5. Most SCCmec elements were found to be type IIa, followed by type IVa. High MIC values were observed for ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and clindamycin, particularly within SCCmec IIa. Of the SCCmec IVa strains, most harbored the lukS-PV and lukF-PV genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining gold nanorods (AuNRs) through biosynthesis is an alternative that replaces the traditional use of ascorbic acid with chemical compounds such as polyphenols, owing to their notable antioxidant properties. Therefore, we developed an AuNR biosynthesis method using an aqueous extract of sour guava (Psidium araca). Initially, a study was conducted to determine the antioxidant capacity of different parts of the fruit (pulp and peel) over 14 days. Four colorimetric techniques were used: total phenol, ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). Subsequently, in stage 2, the selected aqueous extract was used, and two response surface designs were performed. The objective of this study was to find a model equation that would indicate the optimal parameters for obtaining AuNRs with a surface plasmon band at 808 nm, with possible applications in the health field. The results of the antioxidant capacity experiments were analyzed in Minitab® using a multilevel factorial design, and the peel exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. Subsequently, the biosynthesis of AuNRs proceeded using a 5-factor response surface experimental design as input variables (concentration in mM of gold, silver, extract, NaBH4, and reaction time in hours) and longitudinal plasmon (LSPR) as output variables. The AuNRs were approximately 30 nm in size with an LSPR between 700 and 800 nm. Statistical model evaluation revealed a dependence between gold and time and gold–silver factors. Finally, antioxidant capacity was used to select the part (peel or pulp) of sour guava that could be used as a weak reducing agent. Moreover, the utility of surface-response methodology was explored to optimize the synthesis of AuNRs using green agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength. Hormonal changes that occur early in women may influence protein synthesis and promote muscle atrophy, leading to probable sarcopenia, defined as a loss of muscle strength without an obvious decrease in muscle mass. Various types of exercise have already proven effective in treating sarcopenia. Power training (PT), a subtype of resistance training performed at high speed, has not yet been studied in this population group. Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with three parallel groups: a PT group, a multicomponent training (MT) group, and a no-exercise group. The inclusion criteria will be women over 65 years of age who meet the diagnostic criteria for probable sarcopenia (Hand grip test less than 16 kg and Five Times Sit to Stand Test more than 15 s) according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Two assessments will be conducted at the beginning and at the end of the 32 weeks of intervention, in which variables of body composition (muscle, fat and weight) and functionality (strength and physical performance) will be collected. There will be 3 sessions of 50 minutes per week in each intervention group. The masking strategy will be double-blind. The analysis of intergroup differences will be conducted using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance (MANOVA and ANOVA), as well as pairwise comparisons (Bonferroni corrections). Changes in the degree of sarcopenia and how many women eliminate the risk of sarcopenia (no probable sarcopenia) after the different interventions will be tested. Discussion: The study aims to investigate the impact of PT in older women at risk of sarcopenia. The expected results are that PT will significantly improve functionality and body composition compared to other forms of exercise (MT) and no physical activity. The results may represent a significant advance in understanding and addressing sarcopenia before it becomes established, providing preventive treatment and new tools whose clinical applicability has been studied. Trial registration: The clinical trial was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05870046. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have noted the connection between Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and autoimmunity. MAP is an intracellular pathogen that infects and multiplies in macrophages. To overcome the hostile environment elicited by the macrophage, MAP secretes a battery of virulence factors to neutralize the toxic effects of the macrophage. One of the virulence factors is the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase A (PtpA), a protein secreted by MAP that interferes in the phago-lysosome fusion, rendering the pathogen unnoticed in the cytoplasm of the macrophage. This study aimed to assess the presence of PtpA antibodies in the sera of Mexican individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate its possible use as a biomarker for disease activity. We compared RA patients (n = 100) to control subjects (CS) (n = 100) by assessing specific immune responses to PtpA (the antigen) by an indirect ELISA method. Results showed a significant difference in PtpA levels between RA and CS, with RA patients having a median OD of 0.4645 compared to 0.1372 in CS. Antibodies against PtpA were present in 95% of RA patients and 16% of CS (AUC = 0.9163, p = 0.0001). Male control subjects showed higher PtpA reactivity than female CS. The Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) analysis showed that individuals with moderate to high disease activity had lower levels of PtpA reactivity. The results suggest a potential connection between RA and MAP infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common house mosquito Culex pipiens s.l., widely distributed in Europe, Africa, and North America has two recognized biotypes, Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens biotype molestus, which hybridize. Despite their morphological similarities, these biotypes may exhibit ecological differences. This complex ecological mosaic may affect the interaction of Cx. pipiens with pathogens like avian Plasmodium, which is transmitted to wildlife. Although the vector competence for Cx. pipiens biotype molestus has been well studied, there is a lack of studies comparing the vector competence of Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and their hybrids for the transmission of avian Plasmodium. Here, we evaluated the vector competence of the Cx. pipiens biotypes pipiens, molestus and their hybrids for the transmission of two avian Plasmodium species. Mosquitoes were allowed to feed on blood of wild infected birds and the presence of DNA of Plasmodium in head-thorax and saliva of mosquitoes was molecularly evaluated at 13 day-post exposure. The transmission rates (i.e., the detection of parasite DNA in mosquito saliva) for Plasmodium cathemerium were similar for the two biotypes of Cx. pipiens and their hybrids while Plasmodium relictum DNA was only found in the saliva of Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens. In addition, P. cathemerium was significantly more prevalent than P. relictum in the saliva of Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens. Our results suggest that avian Plasmodium is transmitted by both Cx. pipiens biotypes and their hybrids although differences could be found depending of the parasite species studied. Differences in the abundance of each biotype and their hybrids within areas characterized by distinct environmental conditions, along with variations in their blood-feeding patterns and the parasites infecting birds, could ultimately determine differences in the relevance of each Cx. pipiens biotype in the transmission of avian Plasmodium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their distinctive anatomical characteristics, land slugs are appealing research subjects from a variety of angles, including stem cell biology, regeneration, embryonic development, allometry, and neurophysiology. Here we present SlugAtlas, an anatomical and histological online resource of the land slugs Deroceras laeve and Ambigolimax valentianus. The atlas is composed of series of histological sections on the horizontal, sagittal, and transversal planes for both species with 3D viewing tools of their major organs. The atlas was used in this work for a comparative analysis of the major organs and tissues of these two species. We provide a comprehensive histological description of them and an explanation of novel findings of unique features of their anatomy. For D. laeve, we additionally studied its ability for degrowth and regrowth, a feature that characterizes animals with high regeneration potential and obtained initial results on the study of the regeneration of its tail. SlugAtlas is a resource that is also built to accommodate future growth and, along with the experimental techniques that we have developed, will provide the foundation for research projects in a variety of biological domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is the basic raw material to produce chocolate and other derivatives such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cocoa liquor (cocoa paste), which requires a fermentation process that affects its chemical composition and sensory profile. The objective of this study was to monitor the biochemical, physical and sensory changes during fermentation of cocoa beans in cocoa bean processing plants in the department of Caquetá, Colombia. During fermentation, the temperature of the mass and the pH of the pulp and beans were monitored at the different cocoa bean processing plants (Sites ASOACASAN ASA, COMICACAO CMI, COMCAP COC). Also, at two points during fermentation (days 4 and 7), physical properties of the bean were determined, such as variables related to bromatological composition, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity as sensory attributes at the different sites. An increase in dough temperature was found, however the pH of the cotyledon decreased during the fermentation process and the fat and moisture content varied with fermentation time. At the site level, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) contents were statistically different, with COC being different from the other sites. The TPC was higher at the COC site (507 mg gallic acid equivalent GAE/g Cocoa) with respect to the other sites (< 360 mg GAE/g Cocoa). The TF content followed a similar behavior to TPC, with significant differences between sites and differences between fermentation times for ASA. The TF was higher in COC (309.1 mg catechin/g cocoa) with respect to CMI (215.6 mg catechin/g cocoa) and ASA (185.7 mg catechin/g cocoa). Values in DPPH ranged from 5869.3 to 7781.8 μmol Trolox/g cocoa and for the FRAP assay ranged from 369.8 to 606.7 mg ascorbic acid AA/g cocoa among the sites. It was found that the time and management of the fermentation process has a significant impact on the parameters (biochemical, physical and sensory) of cocoa beans. Therefore, it is necessary to standardize the fermentation process to achieve a quality product that meets the needs of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory viruses have clinical and epidemiological importance. With the COVID-19 pandemic, interest has focused on SARS-CoV-2, but as a result, the number of samples available for the differential diagnosis of other respiratory viruses has increased. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Objective: To describe the epidemiological behavior of respiratory viruses based on a laboratory-based epidemiological surveillance system using data from 2017 to 2023. Methods: Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses of data from a laboratory database of respiratory viruses detected by multiplex RT‒qPCR were performed. Results: A total of 4,632 samples with positive results for at least 1 respiratory virus, not including influenza or SARS-CoV-2, were analyzed. The most common virus detected was respiratory syncytial virus in 1,467 (26.3%) samples, followed by rhinovirus in 1,384 (24.8%) samples. Most of the samples were from children under 5 years of age. The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of death for patients infected with parainfluenza virus 4 was 4.1 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.0–8.2). Conclusion: Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus had the highest frequency and proportion of coinfections, whereas parainfluenza virus 4 was associated with an increased risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last ten years, social media has become a crucial data source for businesses and researchers, providing a space where people can express their opinions and emotions. To analyze this data and classify emotions and their polarity in texts, natural language processing (NLP) techniques such as emotion analysis (EA) and sentiment analysis (SA) are employed. However, the effectiveness of these tasks using machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods depends on large labeled datasets, which are scarce in languages like Spanish. To address this challenge, researchers use data augmentation (DA) techniques to artificially expand small datasets. This study aims to investigate whether DA techniques can improve classification results using ML and DL algorithms for sentiment and emotion analysis of Spanish texts. Various text manipulation techniques were applied, including transformations, paraphrasing (back-translation), and text generation using generative adversarial networks, to small datasets such as song lyrics, social media comments, headlines from national newspapers in Chile, and survey responses from higher education students. The findings show that the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classifier achieved the most significant improvement, with an 18% increase using the Generative Adversarial Networks for Sentiment Text (SentiGan) on the Aggressiveness (Seriousness) dataset. Additionally, the same classifier model showed an 11% improvement using the Easy Data Augmentation (EDA) on the Gender-Based Violence dataset. The performance of the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BETO) also improved by 10% on the back-translation augmented version of the October 18 dataset, and by 4% on the EDA augmented version of the Teaching survey dataset. These results suggest that data augmentation techniques enhance performance by transforming text and adapting it to the specific characteristics of the dataset. Through experimentation with various augmentation techniques, this research provides valuable insights into the analysis of subjectivity in Spanish texts and offers guidance for selecting algorithms and techniques based on dataset features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the association between the frequency and severity of dental fluorosis and Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) in 8-12-year-old schoolchildren living in an area with a high concentration of fluoride in the drinking water. Methods: The present cross‑sectional study was conducted on Mexican children (n = 573) selected from one community presenting a drinking water fluoride concentration of 1.39 ppm/F. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was ascertained using the Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index (TFI). The presence and severity of MIH was evaluated using the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria. A multinomial regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI), using the severity of MIH as the result. Results: The prevalence of MIH was 37.7% and, by severity, was 16.1% mild, 14.3% moderate, and 7.3% severe. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in permanent dentition was 70.9% (TFI ≥1) and, by severity, was 29.2% (TFI = 0), 45.6% (TFI 1–3) and 25.3% (TFI ≥4), while 54.5% of subjects were found to have poor oral hygiene. Schoolchildren with fluorosis (TFI ≥4) were 49% less likely [OR = 0.51; p = 0.025] to present mild MIH than children with fluorosis (TFI <4). Similarly, children with fluorosis (TFI ≥4) were 53% [OR = 0.47; p = 0.019] and 62% [OR = 0.38; p = 0.036] less likely to present moderate and severe MIH than children with fluorosis (TFI <4). Conclusion: An inverse relationship between the presence of fluorosis and MIH was found. The results obtained by the present study may contribute to both the early identification of disorders affecting the enamel and the creation and implementation of long-term oral health prevention, promotion, and intervention programs in the affected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species interactions between bats and fungi are poorly known. We documented the association between fungal and bat diversities along a landscape gradient. Ten, eight, and seven bat species were captured in conserved, semi-conserved, and urban sites, respectively. Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis ciliolabrum and Corynorhinus townsendii were the most abundant in conserved and semi-conserved sites. E. fuscus, Myotis velifer, and Lasiurus cinereus were abundant in urban sites. C. townsendii was the least abundant bat. A total of 15 cultivated fungi genera included the fungal diversity in bats, of which nine fungi genera were shared along the landscape gradient. Penicillium and Aspergillus were the most abundant genera, and Aureobasidium, Bispora, Stachybotrys, and Verticillium were only documented in the conserved sites. We observed a higher fungal diversity associated with bat species along this landscape gradient. The individual site-based accumulation curves of fungal diversity showed significant decreasing values along the conserved, semi-conserved, and urban sites, respectively. In conserved and urban sites, M. californicus and M. velifer showed the highest fungal diversity, respectively. E. fuscus was associated to the fungi genera Scopulariopsis, Alternaria, Penicillium and Beauveria; L. cinereus to Cladosporium and Aspergillus, and M. velifer to Alternaria sp1, Bispora and Trichoderma. Conserved sites showed both high bat and fungal diversities [species richness and abundance] compared to semi-conserved and urban sites. More studies associating bat and fungal diversities in other ecosystems are needed to corroborate this pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperammonemia is a metabolic condition characterized by elevated levels of ammonia and a common event in acute liver injury/failure and chronic liver disease. Even though hepatic ammonia levels are potential predictive factors of patient outcome, easy and inexpensive methods aiming at the detection of liver ammonia accumulation in the clinical setting remain unavailable. Thus, herein we have developed a morphological method, based on the utilization of Nessler´s reagent, to accurately and precisely detect the accumulation of ammonia in biological tissue. We have validated our method against a commercially available kit in mouse tissue samples and, by using this modified method, we have confirmed the hepatic accumulation of ammonia in clinical and animal models of acute and chronic advanced liver injury as well as in the progression of fatty liver disease. Overall, we propose a morphological method for ammonia detection in liver that correlates well with the degree of liver disease severity and therefore can be potentially used to predict patient outcome.

Transcription regulation in cestodes has been little studied. Here, we characterize the Taenia solium TATA-binding protein (TBP) gene. We found binding sites for transcription factors such as NF1, YY1, and AP-1 in the proximal promoter. We also identified two TATA-like elements in the promoter; however, neither could bind TBP. Additionally, we mapped the transcription start site (A+1) within an initiator and identified a putative downstream promoter element (DPE) located at +27 bp relative to the transcription start site. These two elements are important and functional for gene expression. Moreover, we identified the genes encoding T. solium TBP-Associated Factor 6 (TsTAF6) and 9 (TsTAF9). A Western blot assay revealed that both factors are expressed in the parasite; electrophoretic mobility shift assays and super-shift assays revealed interactions between the DPE probe and TsTAF6-TsTAF9. Finally, we used molecular dynamics simulations to formulate an interaction model among TsTAF6, TsTAF9, and the DPE probe; we stabilized the model with interactions between the histone fold domain pair in TAFs and several pairs of nucleotides in the DPE probe. We discuss novel and interesting features of the TsTAF6-TsTAF9 complex for interaction with DPE on T. solium promoters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) regulates vascular homeostasis and plays a key role in revascularization and angiogenesis. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzyme catalyzes NO production in endothelial cells. Overexpression of the eNOS gene has been implicated in pathologies with dysfunctional angiogenic processes, such as cancer. Therefore, modulating eNOS gene expression using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) represents a viable strategy for antitumor therapy. siRNAs are highly specific to the target gene, thus reducing off-target effects. Given the widespread distribution of endothelium and the crucial physiological role of eNOS, localized delivery of nucleic acid to the affected area is essential. Therefore, the development of an efficient eNOS-siRNA delivery carrier capable of controlled release is imperative for targeting specific vascular regions, particularly those associated with tumor vascular growth. Thus, this study aims to utilize ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction (UMMD) technology with cationic microbubbles loaded with eNOS-siRNA to enhance transfection efficiency and improve siRNA delivery, thereby preventing sprouting angiogenesis. The efficiency of eNOS-siRNA transfection facilitated by UMMD was assessed using bEnd.3 cells. Synthesis of nitric oxide and eNOS protein expression were also evaluated. The silencing of eNOS gene in a model of angiogenesis was assayed using the rat aortic ring assay. The results showed that from 6 to 24 h, the transfection of fluorescent siRNA with UMMD was twice as high as that of lipofection. Moreover, transfection of eNOS-siRNA with UMMD enhanced the knockdown level (65.40 ± 4.50%) compared to lipofectamine (40 ± 1.70%). Silencing of eNOS gene with UMMD required less amount of eNOS-siRNA (42 ng) to decrease the level of eNOS protein expression (52.30 ± 0.08%) to the same extent as 79 ng of eNOS-siRNA using lipofectamine (56.30 ± 0.10%). NO production assisted by UMMD was reduced by 81% compared to 67% reduction transfecting with lipofectamine. This diminished NO production led to higher attenuation of aortic ring outgrowth. Three-fold reduction compared to lipofectamine transfection. In conclusion, we propose the combination of eNOS-siRNA and UMMD as an efficient, safe, non-viral nucleic acid transfection strategy for inhibition of tumor progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new resistant bacterial strains is a worldwide challenge. A resistant bacterial population can emerge from a single cell that acquires resistance or persistence. Hence, new ways of tackling the mechanism of antibiotic response, such as single cell studies are required. It is necessary to see what happens at the single cell level, in order to understand what happens at the population level. To date, linking the heterogeneity of single-cell susceptibility to the population-scale response to antibiotics remains challenging due to the trade-offs between the resolution and the field of view. Here we present a platform that measures the ability of individual E. coli cells to form small colonies at different ciprofloxacin concentrations, by using anchored microfluidic drops and an image and data analysis pipelines. The microfluidic results are benchmarked against classical microbiology measurements of antibiotic susceptibility, showing an agreement between the pooled microfluidic chip and replated bulk measurements. Further, the experimental likelihood of a single cell to form a colony is used to provide a probabilistic antibiotic susceptibility curve. In addition to the probabilistic viewpoint, the microfluidic format enables the characterization of morphological features over time for a large number of individual cells. This pipeline can be used to compare the response of different bacterial strains to antibiotics with different action mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients face numerous health-related decisions once advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is diagnosed. Yet, when patients are underprepared to navigate and discuss health-related decisions, they can make choices inconsistent with their expectations for the future. This pilot study, guided by the multiphase optimization strategy and community-engaged research principles, aimed to explore the acceptability of a developed patient component to a decision-support training intervention called ImPart (Improving Decisional Partnership of CKD Dyads). CKD patients and their family caregivers were recruited from an urban, academic medical center. Eligibility criteria for patients included a diagnosis of stage 3 or higher CKD (on chart review), and caregivers participated in interview sessions only. Patients without a caregiver were not eligible. The intervention was lay coach, telephone-delivered, and designed to be administered in 1–2 week intervals for 4 sessions. An interview guide, developed in collaboration with an advisory group, was designed to ascertain participants' experiences with the intervention. Caregiver interviews focused on changes in the patient's decision ability or engagement. Thirteen patients and eleven caregivers were interviewed. The program was viewed as "good" or "beneficial." Three themes capture the intervention's impact– 1) Frequent and deliberate disease-focused communication, 2) Future planning activation, and 3) Coaching relationship. The piloted intervention was successfully delivered, acceptable to use, and found to promote enhanced disease and future planning communication. By undergoing this work, we ensure that the patient component is feasible to use and meets the needs of participants before implementation in a larger factorial trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed (CS) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seed (PS) are used in ruminant diets as energy sources. The current experiment studied the impact of dietary inclusion of CS and PS on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition of dairy sheep. Twelve primiparous Texel × Suffolk ewes [70 ± 5 days in milk (DIM); 0.320 ± 0.029 kg milk yield] were distributed in a 4 × 3 Latin square design and fed either a butter-based control diet [CON; 13 g/kg dry matter] or two diets with 61 g/kg DM of either CS or PS. Dietary inclusion of CS and PS did not alter live weight (p >0.1) and DM intake (p >0.1). However, compared to the CON, dietary inclusion of both CS and PS increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (p <0.001) and acid detergent lignin (p < 0.001). Milk production (p = 0.001), fat-corrected milk (p < 0.001), and feed efficiency (p < 0.001) were enhanced with PS, while the highest milk protein yield (p < 0.05) and lactose yield (p < 0.001) were for CS-fed ewes. Compared to the CON diet, the ingestion of either CS and/or PS decreased (p < 0.001) the C16:0 in milk. Moreover, both CS and PS tended to enhance the content of C18:3n6 (p > 0.05) and C18:3n3 (p > 0.05). Overall short-term feeding of CS and/or PS (up to 6.1% DM of diet) not only maintains the production performance and digestibility of nutrients but also positively modifies the milk FA composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ad5-nCoV vaccine was applied to the Mexican population before the WHO approved it. In a transversal study, we compare the CanSino vaccine efficacy and a natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in eliciting neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Guadalajara, Mexico. Participants between 30–60 years were included in the study and classified into three groups: 1) Natural immunity (unvaccinated), 2) Vaccine-induced immunity (vaccinated individuals without a COVID-19 history), and 3) Natural immunity + vaccine-induced immunity. These groups were matched by age and gender. We assessed the ability of individuals' serum to neutralize the Delta variant and compared the results of the different groups using a neutralization test followed by plaque-forming units. Results showed that 39% of individuals' serum with a history of COVID-19 (natural immunity, Group 1) could not neutralize the Delta variant, compared to 33% in vaccinated individuals without COVID-19 (vaccine immunity, Group 2). In contrast, only 7% of vaccinated individuals with a history of COVID-19 (natural + vaccine immunities) could not neutralize the Delta variant. We concluded that the effectiveness of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine to induce neutralizing antibodies against the Delta variant is comparable to that of natural infection (61% vs. 67%). However, in individuals with both forms of immunity (Group 3), it increased to 93%. Based on these results, despite the Ad5-nCoV vaccine originally being designed as a single-dose regimen, it could be recommended that even those who have recovered from COVID-19 should consider vaccination to boost their immunity against this variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to comprehend the impact of handball practice on sub-elite athletes by investigating transcriptomic changes that occur during a match. The primary focus encompasses a dual objective: firstly, to identify and characterize these transcriptomic alterations, and secondly, to establish correlations between internal factors (gene expression), and external loads measured through Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS variables). Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis seeks to evaluate both acute and chronic responses to exercise within the context of handball training. Methods: The study included sixteen elite male athletes from the FC Barcelona handball second team. Blood samples were extracted at three different time points: before the match at baseline levels (T1), immediately upon completion (T2), and 24 hours after completion (T3). Differential gene expression, Gene Ontology Term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were conducted in two comparisons: Comparison 1 (T1 vs T2) and Comparison 2 (T1 vs T3). Further, the correlation between gene expression levels and training variables (external load) was conducted. Results: In T1 vs T2, 3717 of the 14632 genes detected were differentially expressed (adjusted p-value < 0.05), and enrichment of terms related to the immune system, mitochondria, and metabolic processes was found. Further, significant linear correlations were obtained between High-Speed running (HSR) and high-intensity variables such as acceleration ACC and deceleration DEC values with amino acids, and inflammatory and oxidative environment-related pathways, both in chronic and acute response. Conclusions: This research highlights the effects of external workload on elite athletes during a handball match and throughout the season. The study identifies deregulation in the immune system, mitochondrial functions, and various metabolic pathways during the match. Additionally, it establishes correlations between the external load and pathways associated with amino acids, inflammation, oxidative environment, and regulation. These findings offer insights into the immediate and chronic responses of athletes to physical effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]