Search

Cosmetic residues have been found in water resources, especially trace elements of precursors, couplers, and pigments of hair dyes, which are indiscriminately disposed of in the sewage system. These contaminants are persistent, bioactive, and bioaccumulative, and may pose risks to living beings. Thus, the present study assessed the ecotoxicity of two types of effluents generated in beauty salons after the hair dyeing process. The toxicity of effluent derived from capillary washing with water, shampoo, and conditioner (complete effluent—CE) and effluent not associated with these products (dye effluent—DE) was evaluated by tests carried out with the aquatic organisms Artemia salina, Daphnia similis, and Danio rerio. The bioindicators were exposed to pure samples and different dilutions of both effluents. The results showed toxicity in D. similis (CE50 of 3.43% and 0.54% for CE and DE, respectively); A. salina (LC50 8.327% and 3.874% for CE and DE, respectively); and D. rerio (LC50 of 4.25–4.59% and 7.33–8.18% for CE and DE, respectively). Given these results, we can infer that hair dyes, even at low concentrations, have a high toxic potential for aquatic biota, as they induced deleterious effects in all tested bioindicators.

Although COVID-19 in pregnant women and their neonates has been demonstrated, there is not enough evidence about how this vertical transmission occurs. This report describes a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 21-year-old mother-daughter duo at the time of birth, focusing on the viral RNA detection in the stool of both and the human breast milk.

Background: Altering components of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) measures to better suit the purposes of individual studies is a common and oftentimes necessary step. Though the inherent flexibility in EMA has its benefits, no resource exists to provide an overview of the variability in how convergent constructs and symptoms have been assessed in the past. The present study fills that gap by examining EMA measurement design for mood and anxiety symptomatology.Methods: Various search engines were used to identify 234 relevant studies. Items administered, data collection schedules (i.e., beeps per day), response scales (i.e., Likert), data collection platforms (i.e., apps), and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability) were extracted.Results: Study designs varied greatly in all aspects across the identified papers. Over 4,600 extracted items were qualitatively analyzed, resulting in the identification of 12 themes. The most EMA items focused on affect, with categories such as “happiness” and “tension” appearing most frequently. We provide all of our data extraction in the format of an open-source database.Limitations: Despite our best attempts to include as much of the relevant literature as possible, this review and the accompanying database are not exhaustive, but can easily be built upon to include other, newer studies.Conclusions: The fact that the affect theme featured both positive and negative emotional constructs highlights the dichotomous focus on valence and affect within the literature surrounding anxious and depressive symptomatology. We hope that our database will act as a helpful design decision-making resource for researchers studying this kind of symptomatology in the future.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42019139409).

IntroductionDiuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is a prominent herbicide in Brazilian agriculture, particularly in sugarcane farming. This herbicide persists in the environment and is transformed into potentially toxic metabolites, such as 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DCPMU), raising concerns that encompass environmental contamination and One Health, which unites environmental and human health. Zebrafish are an appropriate experimental model to evaluate toxicity: they metabolically and genetically resemble humans and can be applied in ecotoxicology.MethodsIn this study, we have employed multiparameter evaluation to characterize the toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations (0.5–100 μM) of Diuron, DCA, or DCPMU in Brazil, a developing country. In the early stages of zebrafish development, we performed the fish embryo toxicity test according to the guidelines established in OECD Protocol No. 236, extended to 144 h post fertilization (hpf). We also investigated the oxygen consumption rate in zebrafish embryos at 24 hpf, evaluated the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic activity in zebrafish larvae at 96 hpf, and used the Comet Assay to assess DNA fragmentation in zebrafish larvae at 96 hpf. We subjected adult zebrafish to acute exposure for 96 h in accordance with OECD protocol no. 203 for the Acute Toxicity Test in Fish. Following this exposure, we analyzed mutagenicity by using the micronucleus test, which was complemented by quantification of nuclear anomalies (NA) in erythrocytes and further confirmed by histopathological investigations.Results and discussionExposure to any of the tested Diuron concentrations damaged DNA, and NA became significant beyond 10 μM Diuron. At 10 μM, DCA altered AChE activity, suggesting neuromuscular toxicity. Between 0.5 and 5 μM, DCA was potentially genotoxic, and 5–10 μM DCA induced nuclear pleomorphism. At all the tested concentrations, DCPMU damaged DNA, and NA emerged between 1 and 10 μM DCPMU. Adult zebrafish exposed to any of the tested Diuron, DCA, or DCPMU concentrations for 96 h did not exhibit significant histopathological alterations. Erythrocyte morphology analysis did not reveal mutagenicity. Although we observed non-mutagenic genotoxicity, chromosomal instability is of concern. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of how Diuron and its metabolites affect zebrafish and highlights the need for multiparametric assessment to elucidate how herbicides and their metabolites impact the environment and human health. This endeavor informs regulatory measures for safely using Diuron and similar herbicides and reveals substantial implications for developing nations grappling with escalating water contamination due to pesticide use.

Objective To assess organ damage, with emphasis on the cardiovascular system, over the different stages of the disease in a large SLE cohort.Methods Multicentre, longitudinal study of a cohort of 4219 patients with SLE enrolled in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). We longitudinally analysed SDI (globally and for each domain) over time only in the 1274 patients whose dates of damage events had been recorded.Results During the first year after diagnosis of SLE, 20% of the 1274 patients presented with new damage manifestations. At years 2 and 3, new damage was recorded in 11% and 9% of patients. The annual percentage of patients with new damage after year 5 decreased to 5%. In the first year with the disease, most damage was accumulated in the musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric and renal systems; in later stages, most damage was in the musculoskeletal, ocular and cardiovascular systems. Considering ‘cerebrovascular accident’ and ‘claudication for 6 months’ as cardiovascular items, the cardiovascular system was the second most affected system during the early stages of SLE, with 19% of the patients who presented with damage affected at first year after diagnosis. During the late stages, 20–25% of the patients presenting with new damage did so in this modified cardiovascular domain of the SDI.Conclusions New damage occurs mainly during the first year following diagnosis of SLE. Cardiovascular damage is relevant in both the early and the late stages of the disease. Strategies to prevent cardiovascular damage should be implemented early after diagnosis of SLE.

Em um ambiente de negócios altamente competitivo, as empresas estão pro-curando maneiras de aumentar a eficiência e reduzir custos em seus processos produtivos. A automação de processos industriais está se beneficiando significati-vamente dos avanços tecnológicos, oferecendo alternativas para alcançar esses objetivos de forma mais eficaz e eficiente. A automação e a inteligência artificial têm desempenhado um papel fundamental na transformação das operações in-dustriais, impulsionando o progresso e a eficiência em diferentes setores. A inte-ligência artificial, em particular, tem impactado o setor industrial, impulsionando avanços na robótica, automação e eficiência operacional, mas também levantando desafios em relação a aspectos sociais e econômicos. Com isso, este trabalho visa abordar como a inteligência artificial na automação de processos industriais é essencial no dia a dia das operações, pois permite a realização de tarefas repetiti-vas, perigosas ou complexas de forma mais eficiente e segura. Ela envolve a utili-zação de sistemas e equipamentos automatizados para realizar atividades como montagem, transporte, embalagem, controle de qualidade, entre outras.

In this article, we take issue with an idea of autonomous and efficient automation that is upheld through the paradoxical conjunction of a flawed vision of the technological fix and the under-acknowledged human work required to fill in the gaps between machines and users. Our argument is based on two case studies that sit at opposite tails of automation processes: the front end of self-service checkouts and the back end of content moderation. This juxtaposition allows us to surface three themes on how the hype around automation is enabled by human interventions: the ad-hoc sociality in situated practices of automation, the capture of mundane expertise, and the inverted assistance of humans to machines. We argue that this human fix is not a temporary repair of malfunction, but a permanent and constitutive feature of automated systems.

Recently, an association between dysbiosis of the gut microbiota (GMB) and the development of several diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been proposed. Dysbiosis involves changes in microbial diversity influenced by environmental factors, like diet or lifestyle. In this study, we investigated the role of GMB parameters in Spanish AD patients, assessing the impact of adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle (ML), as well as to characterize these parameters in relation to neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, emotional, and functionality parameters. A case–control study was conducted to investigate the association between the composition of the GMB and cognitive, emotional, neuropsychiatric, and functionality status in Spanish AD patients, along with a shotgun metagenomics approach. Richness and alpha-diversity were significantly lower in the AD group compared to the controls. PERMANOVA and ANOSIM tests of Bray–Curtis dissimilarity, Aitchison distance, and Jaccard similarity did not showed significant differences in beta-diversity between the two groups. Moreover, associations between various phyla of the AD group and orientation performance, food consumption, and activities of daily living were identified. Dysbiosis observed in Spanish AD patients is characterized by reductions in richness and alpha-diversity, alongside alterations in GMB composition, which may be linked to adherence to the ML and cognitive and functionality symptoms.

Background/Objectives: Managing caries lesions that affect the inner third of the dentin is crucial to ensuring pulp vitality; the clinician must make decisions that will affect the vitality of the tooth. Our purpose is to understand the behavior of Spanish dentists in treating deep cavities and to examine whether variations exist based on their academic training and/or years of professional experience. Methods: This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Balearic Islands CEI-IB. A survey was conducted using the SurveyMonkey platform with 11 questions, the first 4 of which focused on defining the characteristics of the respondents. The following six concerned a clinical case of deep caries in tooth number 4.7, and the last regarded the opinion of the actual treatment of the case. The survey was sent by email in April 2022. The results were analyzed with the SPSS 29.0 program using the chi-square test. Results: A total of 347 responses were obtained (93.95%), and those surveyed stated that they apply minimal intervention concepts in their treatments, with 90.49% performing conservative dentistry treatments daily. A total of 56.48% of the respondents had bachelor’s degrees, 12.39% had graduated, 33.14% had a postgraduate degree, 38.90% had a master’s degree, and 17% had a doctorate. Most (40.63%) had been in professional practice for 16–30 years. Conclusions: Significant differences were identified regarding years of professional experience in terms of decision-making in methods of treatment and the choice of materials used for pulp protection. Likewise, significant differences were found regarding the academic training of the respondents, the cavity cleaning method selected, and the use of chemical substances for removing carious dentin. We can conclude that academic training and years of professional practice influence decision-making at some points in treating deep caries lesions.

El sentido de pertenencia hace referencia a la experiencia de participación en un sistema o entorno de tal manera que cada miembro se sienta parte de ese sistema. Este atributo es de interés en el ámbito educativo de distintos niveles, sin embargo, no se cuenta con un instrumento que permita su medición en el medio. El propósito del estudio fue adaptar y analizar la estructura interna de la Escala de Sentido de Pertenencia en universitarios peruanos (ESPU). Se trabajó con una muestra por conveniencia compuesta por 827 universitarios, dividida en dos grupos uno de 220 estudiantes (68.6 % mujeres) con una edad promedio de 21.68 años (DE = 4.87), con la cual se realizó el análisis factorial exploratorio. El segundo grupo estuvo conformado por un total de 607 participantes (69.7 % mujeres) con una edad promedio de 21.28 (DE = 4.21) años, con el cual se realizaron los análisis factoriales confirmatorios. Los resultados dan cuenta de la adaptación lingüística, apreciándose un acuerdo inter-observadores adecuado (RVC > .70). El análisis factorial exploratorio sugiere una estructura de dos factores (χ2 = 646.750; gl = 36.00; p < .001) que explica el 41.2 % de la varianza; esta estructura fue corroborada mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio que alcanzó índices de ajuste adecuados (CFI = .998; TLI = .996; RMSEA = .048). La fiabilidad de la escala se determinó por consistencia interna encontrándose coeficientes omegas que van entre .665 y .929. En suma, la ESPU es un instrumento con adecuadas evidencias de validez y fiabilidad para medir el sentido de pertenencia.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) can be fatal in non-idiopathic interstitial lung diseases. We report a descriptive series of 13 patients with PPF who received treatment with nintedanib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antifibrotic effect. Although the reduced number of patients and the observational nature of a case series prevent us from providing strong evidence, our results suggest that nintedanib could be effective in PPF of various etiologies. Nintedanib could also be useful in specific populations such as patients awaiting lung transplant and elderly patients.

BackgroundMore than half of women with psychosis take care of their children despite the difficulties caused by the disease. Additionally, these kids have a higher risk of developing a mental health disorder. However, no interventions have been developed to meet these needs. Metacognitive Training (MCT) is a psychological intervention that has demonstrated its efficacy in improving cognitive insight, symptom management and social cognition in people with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Additionally, MCT has shown better results in women than men with FEP. This study aims to adapt and evaluate the efficacy of MCT-F in mothers and adolescent children in an online group context with the main purpose of improving family relationships, cognitive awareness and symptoms in women with psychosis and increase their children’s knowledge of the disease and their functioning. As secondary objectives, it also aims to evaluate improvements in metacognition, social cognition, symptoms, protective factors and self-perception of stigma.Materials and methodsA quasi-experimental design with participants acting as their own control will be carried out. Forty-eight mothers with psychosis and their adolescent children (between 12 and 20 years old) recruited from a total of 11 adult mental health care centers will receive MCT-F. Participants will be evaluated 11 weeks before the intervention (T1), at baseline (T2), and post-intervention (T3) with a cognitive insight scale, as a primary outcome. Measures of metacognitive and social cognition, symptoms, cognitive functioning, family and social functioning, protective factors (self-esteem, resilience, and coping strategies) and self-perceived stigma will be addressed as secondary outcomes. Assessment will also address trauma and attachment in mothers and, lastly, the feasibility and acceptability of MCT-F in both participant groups.DiscussionThis will be the first investigation of the efficacy, acceptability, and viability of the implementation of MCT-F. The results of this study may have clinical implications, contributing to improving mothers’ with psychosis and adolescents’ functioning and better understanding of the disease, in addition to the possible protective and preventive effect in adolescents, who are known to be at higher risk of developing severe mental disorders.Clinical trial registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier [NCT05358457].

The current study begins with an experimental investigation focused on measuring the pressure drop of a water–air mixture under different flow conditions in a setup consisting of horizontal smooth tubes. Machine learning (ML)-based pipelines are then implemented to provide estimations of the pressure drop values employing obtained dimensionless features. Subsequently, a feature selection methodology is employed to identify the key features, facilitating the interpretation of the underlying physical phenomena and enhancing model accuracy. In the next step, utilizing a genetic algorithm-based optimization approach, the preeminent machine learning algorithm, along with its associated optimal tuning parameters, is determined. Ultimately, the results of the optimal pipeline provide a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 5.99% on the validation set and 7.03% on the test. As the employed dataset and the obtained optimal models will be opened to public access, the present approach provides superior reproducibility and user-friendliness in contrast to existing physical models reported in the literature, while achieving significantly higher accuracy.

While the income gender gap has been widely researched to date, less attention has been paid to the wealth gender gap. This paper analyses individual-level data taken from the Spanish tax agency between 2012 and 2017 and documents the existence of an increasing wealth gap in Spain in this period. Through a comparative analysis, we find a clear difference in wealth accumulation patterns between the two genders, especially with regards to holdings of equity in productive companies. We also find that both women and men in the highest quantiles of the wealth distribution have increased their wealth and that men hold more assets that women. With respect to income distribution, the data shows that men’s income accounts for a larger share of total income, which reinforces the gender gap related to economic resources.

Este artículo realiza una revisión de la práctica artística y de ciertas narrativas visuales desarrolladas durante el ­período de inicio de la pandemia de Covid-19 (marzo a mayo 2020) concentrándose en proyectos realizados en Chile y España. Mediante una selección de obras producidas durante el confinamiento y la cuarentena, este estudio propone una lectura comparativa entre países con el objetivo de encontrar afinidades y diferencias en las producciones artísticas, analizando cómo desde cada contexto y bajo una mirada particular socioeconómica y política, surgen representaciones tan documentales como metafóricas. Nos focalizaremos en dos perspectivas: por un lado, obras que apelan a un imaginario distópico que sugiere cómo las sociedades, debido a la parálisis global, experimentaron una realidad anómala y amenazante que parecía ficticia; por otro, obras que desarrollan un imaginario ecosocial que esboza una sensibilidad sobre la crisis medioambiental y el actual desequilibrio entre naturaleza/humano. Desde ambas perspectivas se examina cómo las/los artistas, en el encierro, articularon dispositivos reflexivos que retrataron la inquietud ante un porvenir desconocido y la activación de la noción de fragilidad, logrando visibilizar procesos desastrosos tan sociales como ecológicos que ya venían desarrollándose y que parecieron agudizarse con la llegada de la pandemia.

Archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence from the Armenian Highlands and wider southern Caucasus region emphasises the significance of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 (c. 57–29 ka) as a crucial period for understanding hominin behaviours amidst environmental fluctuations. Ararat-1 cave, situated in the Ararat Depression, Republic of Armenia, presents potential for resolving emerging key debates regarding hominin land use adaptations during this interval, due to its well-preserved lithic artefacts and faunal assemblages. We present the first results of combined sedimentological, geochronological (luminescence and radiocarbon), archaeological and palaeoecological (macrofauna, microfauna and microcharcoal) study of the Ararat-1 sequence. We demonstrate sediment accumulation occurred between 52 and 35 ka and was caused by a combination of aeolian activity, cave rockfall and water action. Whilst the upper strata of the Ararat-1 sequence experienced post-depositional disturbance due to faunal and anthropogenic processes, the lower strata remain relatively undisturbed. We suggest that during a stable period within MIS 3, Ararat-1 was inhabited by Middle Palaeolithic hominins amidst a mosaic of semi-arid shrub, grassland, and temperate woodland ecosystems. These hominins utilised local and distant toolstone raw materials, indicating their ability to adapt to diverse ecological and elevation gradients. Through comparison of Ararat-1 with other sequences in the region, we highlight the spatial variability of MIS 3 environments and its on hominin land use adaptations. This demonstrates the importance of the Armenian Highlands for understanding regional MP settlement dynamics during a critical period of hominin dispersals and evolution.

In this contribution, we examine a virtual, cross-campus collaboration during the fall of 2020. Our goal was for students to develop deeper knowledge of the materiality of borders through course content as well as getting to know each other and their different contexts in iterative ways. We approached this goal by intentionally seeking to engage our students, who were facing virtual classes for the second or third time given the Covid-19 pandemic. We knew students struggled with online platforms in previous terms and aimed to provide a classroom experience that recognized the limits of screen-based interaction and the multitude of precarities accentuated by the pandemic. While attending our classes, students were also facing the interlocking effects of Covid-19 including illness and death in their families, effects on their employment and mobility, and associated mental health struggles. Thus, community building within and across these classes was key as we navigated teaching online. Finally, we address our social location regarding course content given our complicated histories of migration and identities as undocuscholars: growing up and attending higher education undocumented in the U.S. (though no longer undocumented).

Triclopyr, an auxin-like herbicide that is widely employed for managing weeds in food crops and pastures, has been identified in various environmental settings, particularly aquatic ecosystems. Limited understanding of the environmental fate of this herbicide, its potential repercussions for both the environment and human health, and its insufficient monitoring in diverse environmental compartments has caused it to be recognized as an emerging contaminant of concern. In this study, we have investigated how triclopyr affects zebrafish, considering a new alternative methodology. We focused on the endpoints of developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and behavior of zebrafish embryos and larvae. We determined that triclopyr has a 96 h median lethal concentration of 87.46 mg/L (341.01 µM). When we exposed zebrafish embryos to sublethal triclopyr concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 50 μM) for up to 144 h, we found that 50 µM triclopyr delayed zebrafish egg hatchability. Yolk sac malabsorption was significant at 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 µM triclopyr. In zebrafish larvae, uninflated swim bladder was significant only at 50 µM triclopyr. Furthermore, zebrafish larvae had altered swimming activity after exposure to 10 µM triclopyr for 144 h. In summary, these comprehensive results indicate that even low triclopyr concentrations can elicit adverse effects during early zebrafish development.

Factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH) is an asparagine hydroxylase that acts on hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) to control cellular adaptation to hypoxia. FIH is expressed in several tumor types, but its impact in tumor progression remains largely unexplored. We observed that FIH was expressed on human lung cancer tissue. Deletion of FIH in mouse and human lung cancer cells resulted in an increased glycolytic metabolism, consistent with increased HIF activity. FIH-deficient lung cancer cells exhibited decreased proliferation. Analysis of RNA-Seq data confirmed changes in the cell cycle and survival and revealed molecular pathways that were dysregulated in the absence of FIH, including the upregulation of angiomotin (Amot), a key component of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. We show that FIH-deficient tumors were characterized by higher immune infiltration of NK and T cells compared with FIH competent tumor cells. In vivo studies demonstrate that FIH deletion resulted in reduced tumor growth and metastatic capacity. Moreover, high FIH expression correlated with poor overall survival in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our data unravel FIH as a therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.

Este artículo indaga en qué medida la obra de Roland Barthes podría ser un punto de partida para abordar la literatura contemporánea, haciendo resonar esa inquietud en la lectura de tres poetas brasileñas — Leila Danziger, Aline Motta y Marília Garcia — que tienen en común abrir espacio para su poesía en la frontera entre el texto y la imagen. La apuesta de este artículo es que el crítico y escritor francés, que vivió y escribió en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, pueda darnos algunas herramientas para leer de otro modo, teóricamente, enfocándonos en la práctica de escritura y a partir de la materialidad, del cuerpo y de la subjetividad, elementos que están en el corazón de la poesía de algunas mujeres que escriben aquí y ahora.

The transfer of information between topological edge states is a robust way of spatially manipulating spatial states in lattice environments. This method is particularly efficient when the edge modes are kept within the topological gap of the lattice during the transfer. In this work, we show experimentally the transfer of photonic modes between topological edge states located at opposite ends of a dimerized one-dimensional photonic lattice. We use a diamond lattice of coupled waveguides and show that the topological transfer is insensitive to the presence of a high density of states in the form of a flat band at an energy close to that of the edge states and prevails in the presence of a hopping impurity. We explore the dynamics in the waveguide lattice using a wavelength-scan method, where different input wavelengths translate into different effective lattice lengths. Our results offer an alternative way to the implementation of efficient transfer protocols based on active driving mechanisms.

Editorial do dossiê "Travessias da crítica da América Latina".

Over half of women with psychosis are mothers. Research suggests that mothers with psychosis face unique challenges affecting both their mental health prognosis and their relationship with their children. Moreover, those children have a higher risk of developing a mental disorder. Notwithstanding, interventions specifically tailored to these families remain largely uncovered. Metacognitive Training (MCT) has demonstrated its efficacy in improving cognitive insight, symptom management, and social cognition in people with psychosis. However, there is no evidence of the efficacy of MCT in a family setting (MCT-F). This study describes the first adaptation of MCT for mothers with psychosis and their adolescent children in an online group setting. The phases (assessment, decision, adaptation, production, topical experts’ integration) of the ADAPT-ITT model were systematically applied through a participatory approach (n = 22), including a first-person perspective and involving qualitative (e.g., topical expert literature review and consensus groups, interviews, thematic analyses) and quantitative methods. While MCT’s core components were retained, participants guided adaptations both in content and delivery. The findings suggest the importance of community engagement and sharing decision-making processes to demonstrate the acceptability and feasibility of the adapted intervention. Employing a structured approach such as the ADAPT-ITT model ensures readiness of the new training for efficacy trials.

IntroductionMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (MIS-C), a novel hyperinflammatory condition secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is associated with severe outcomes such as coronary artery aneurysm and death.MethodsThis multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study including eight centers in Mexico, aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with MIS-C. Patient data were evaluated using latent class analysis (LCA) to categorize patients into three phenotypes: toxic shock syndrome-like (TSSL)-MIS-C, Kawasaki disease-like (KDL)-MIS-C, and nonspecific MIS-C (NS-MIS-C). Risk factors for adverse outcomes were estimated using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression.ResultsThe study included 239 patients with MIS-C, including 61 (26%), 70 (29%), and 108 (45%) patients in the TSSL-MIS-C, KDL-MIS-C, and NS-MIS-C groups, respectively. Fifty-four percent of the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 42%, 78%, and 41% received intravenous immunoglobulin, systemic glucocorticoids, and anticoagulants, respectively. Coronary artery dilatation and aneurysms were found in 5.7% and 13.2% of the patients in whom coronary artery diameter was measured, respectively. Any cause in-hospital mortality was 5.4%. Hospitalization after ten days of symptoms was associated with coronary artery abnormalities (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.0). Age ≥10 years (OR: 5.6, 95% CI: 1.4–2.04), severe underlying condition (OR: 9.3, 95% CI: 2.8–31.0), platelet count 1.2 (OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.05–13.9), and serum ferritin concentration >1,500 mg/dl at admission (OR: 52, 95% CI: 5.9–463) were risk factors for death.DiscussionMortality in patients with MIS-C was higher than reported in other series, probably because of a high rate of cases with serious underlying diseases.

Indigenous populations around the world experience a disproportionate burden of oral diseases and health conditions. These inequalities are likely due to a complex web of socioeconomic, cultural, and health determinants. The Baka pygmies of southern Cameroon find themselves in this context of an indigenous population with health inequities. The purpose of this study was to describe the oral health status, diet, hygiene habits, and access to health services of the Baka pygmy children, from which different care needs will emerge in order to develop health strategies. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 Baka pygmy camps randomly selected. The study population consisted of children aged 5–6 years and 11–12 years chosen by a consecutive sampling technique. The examination was performed using a data sheet based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and recommendations which consisted of an oral health questionnaire for children and an oral health assessment form for children. A total of 120 children participated in the study. Extraoral examination of the study population revealed the presence of noma (1%) in the age range of 5–6 years. A total of 2713 teeth were examined, and the DMFT/dft index of the sample was 0.71 with a predominant caries component. The periodontal status showed 87% bleeding on probing. Seven percent of the sample presented a need for immediate urgent treatment due to pain and/or infection. Eighty-seven percent of the sample reported never having been examined by a dentist. The examination and oral care they received was only from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The conclusion of this descriptive study is that the precarious oral health situation of pygmy children combined with the absence of care services in general for the Baka pygmies generate a situation of great vulnerability.

Elderly patients have a high incidence of falls that result in facial injuries. Many cases present with dental crown fractures and soft-tissue lacerations. The initial diagnosis is especially important in this type of dental trauma, since an initial error can result in the failure to establish the correct treatment from the very beginning, worsening the prognosis, which, in the worst case, can compromise the teeth affected by the trauma. Case report: We present the case of a patient, a 79-year-old woman, who suffered an accidental fall. The patient was examined by a dentist in the emergency room. She was diagnosed with a simple crown fracture of the right upper central incisor and right upper lateral incisor without any pulpal involvement and with laceration of the lower lip. Months later, she had an episode of inflammation in the lower lip, and she developed edema and pain. An X-ray of the lower lip revealed a radiopaque mass compatible with a fragment of dental tissue due to the inclusion of remnants of the dental tissue resulting from the previous accident fall. Conclusions: The population of geriatric patients is steadily increasing in our society, and a higher frequency of falls has been observed in this age group, affecting the maxillofacial region, with consequent dental trauma on many occasions. Therefore, as professionals, we must pay special attention to the prevention and treatment of this problem, insisting on the importance of routine investigation in the emergency visit for dental trauma, which includes a meticulous examination of the soft tissues accompanied by a radiographic examination, when the inclusion of foreign bodies is suspected.

El interés por usar sustancias naturales con potencial antimicrobiano crece cada vez más, buscando lograr la conservación de alimentos por periodos más largos. La miel tiene propiedades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas comprobadas, sin embargo, dada su viscosidad y densidad, es necesario buscar alternativas para su aplicación. El objetivo de esta investigación fue obtener miel en polvo mediante liofilización y comprobar su efecto sobre las características fisicoquímicas y microbiológicas de la carne molida de ternera. La miel multifloral de romero y colza que fue utilizada se caracterizó para algunos componentes bioactivos, se mezcló con harina de trigo al 50 %, 60 % y 70 % p/p, se liofilizó y se pulverizó. La formulación al 50 % fue elegida por sus mejores características de humedad e higroscopicidad. Luego, fue aplicada a las carnes molidas al 10 % y al 20 % p/p. Las muestras se empacaron y almacenaron (4 ± 1 ºC) y durante los 0, 3, 7 y 10 días se midió pH, color y se hizo conteo de enterobacterias, aerobios mesófilos totales y psicrótrofos. Este análisis microbiológico arrojó que los tratamientos ralentizan el crecimiento de enterobacterias y aerobios mesófilos totales, siendo mayor el efecto con mayor concentración de miel. Además, la aplicación de los tratamientos afectó el color de las muestras con disminución en los valores de los parámetros: L* y a*. Se plantea que nuevos estudios podrían realizarse a partir de estos resultados para hacer seguimiento a una mayor cantidad de parámetros de calidad en carne molida.

Los cambios sociales y tecnológicos nos llevan a replantearnos si las formaciones de ocio y tiempo libres están adaptadas a las necesidades actuales. Este artículo de investigación tiene por objetivos (1) conocer las valoraciones de agentes profesionales y jóvenes respecto a contenidos transversales que se imparten en los cursos de monitor de ocio y tiempo libre, y (2) evaluar la significación de las relaciones que se establecen entre los contenidos transversales a partir de los diferentes colectivos consultados. A partir de un cuestionario dirigido a 1049 personas, de equipos directivos/técnicos de escuelas de ocio y tiempo libre, responsables de la formación y coordinación del alumnado vinculado a 25 escuelas de tiempo libre y jóvenes de 11 comunidades autónomas de España. Se realizó un estudio correlacional a través de tablas de contingencia, mediante los estadísticos Chi Cuadrado y D de Somers. Como resultados se evidencia que los agentes valoran la propuesta formativa como consolidada y aceptada, pues existe una coherencia entre los contenidos, la expectativa del alumnado y las personas implicadas, lo cual ha permitido reflexionar y proponer actualizaciones de los contenidos transversales. Además de sugerir mantener los contenidos transversales centrados en las actuales políticas de juventud, así como en sus necesidades.

Introducción: El incremento de estudiantes universitarios chinos en el extranjero es un fenómeno que está despertando el interés de cada vez más universidades en todo el mundo. Objetivo: identificar las motivaciones para abandonar y regresar al país de origen y la satisfacción como factores asociados a la decisión de estudiar en el extranjero en una muestra de estudiantes chinos. Método: una muestra conformada por 190 estudiantes chinos que estudiaban en países occidentales. Se elaboró y administró un cuestionario. Las respuestas al cuestionario ofrecieron amplia información sobre los factores push & pull asociados a las motivaciones para irse y volver y a la satisfacción con los estudios. El cuestionario también recoge información sociodemográfica. Resultados: proporcionan una comprensión detallada de los objetivos y necesidades de los estudiantes internacionales chinos, limitados por factores culturales, económicos, educativos, políticos y de igualdad. Discusión: los principales factores para que los estudiantes chinos decidan quedarse en el extranjero o regresar a China son de naturaleza cultural. El cuestionario puede ser de interés para las universidades y los gobiernos que deseen conocer las valoraciones positivas de las políticas de movilidad de los estudiantes chinos en el extranjero.

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have alleviated infection rates, hospitalization and deaths associated with COVID-19. In order to monitor humoral immunity, several serology tests have been developed, but the recent emergence of variants of concern has revealed the need for assays that predict the neutralizing capacity of antibodies in a fast and adaptable manner. Sensitive and fast neutralization assays would allow a timely evaluation of immunity against emerging variants and support drug and vaccine discovery efforts. Here we describe a simple, fast, and cell-free multiplexed flow cytometry assay to interrogate the ability of antibodies to prevent the interaction of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the original Wuhan-1 SARS-CoV-2 strain and emerging variants simultaneously, as a surrogate neutralization assay. Using this method, we demonstrate that serum antibodies collected from representative individuals at different time-points during the pandemic present variable neutralizing activity against emerging variants, such as Omicron BA.1 and South African B.1.351. Importantly, antibodies present in samples collected during 2021, before the third dose of the vaccine was administered, do not confer complete neutralization against Omicron BA.1, as opposed to samples collected in 2022 which show significant neutralizing activity. The proposed approach has a comparable performance to other established surrogate methods such as cell-based assays using pseudotyped lentiviral particles expressing the spike of SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated by the assessment of the blocking activity of therapeutic antibodies (i.e. Imdevimab) and serum samples. This method offers a scalable, cost effective and adaptable platform for the dynamic evaluation of antibody protection in affected populations against variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 compelled university teachers to adapt their learning scenarios to new technology-mediated contexts. This paper analyses teaching and learning experiences, strategies and lessons learned during the lockdown period at the Faculty of Education of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (N=29 teachers, 227 students). The results reveal that participants experienced difficulties (lack of literacy in online pedagogies and work overload among lecturers; privation of physical presence and fluent communication among students). Teachers acquired knowledge around digital technologies and are predisposed to learn about innovative teaching methods supported by technologies. Students are dissatisfied with the learning experience, although they value the opportunities for flexible learning and saving time on commuting. Teaching strategies were less innovative and active than usual, and usually involved a combination of synchronous time for lectures and resolving problems, and self-study. Nevertheless, students valued more traditional teaching strategies (i.e. combinations of lectures and tutoring). The paper concludes that the teachers’ view of the use of digital technologies has improved, although training is needed to make effective use of such technologies for active learning and innovative approaches to teaching.

Quality of life is a parameter that not only evaluates clinical parameters, but also refers to the perception of the individual in his or her sociocultural context. It also refers to psychosocial aspects that have a very important impact on people’s lives. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) must also be considered when assessing oral health in any population for which an oral health program is to be developed. On this premise, and taking into account the precarious situation of refugee children housed in the Temporary Center for Migrants (CETI) in Melilla (Spain), a study was conducted to assess the oral health and OHRQoL of the children housed in the aforementioned facility. For this purpose, the 120 children in care at the time of the study underwent a basic epidemiological examination according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), and their OHRQoL was assessed using the specific OHIP-14 questionnaire. The results show a state of oral health with a high caries prevalence (95%), high DMFT, and dft indices for the studied population. The oral health-related quality of life perceived by these children shows that pain and psychological discomfort are the areas rated worst by them. Thus, it is concluded that it is important to implement specific oral health programs for this population, based on caries prevention and pain management, which must also take into account the psychological and sociocultural aspects that have accompanied their lives.