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Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) reduces portal hypertension complications. Its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We evaluated 42,843 liver transplant candidates with HCC from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (2002–2022). 4,484 patients with and without TIPS were propensity score-matched 1:3. Analysing wait-list changes in total tumor volume, HCC count, and alpha-fetoprotein levels, and assessing survival from listing and transplantation; TIPS correlated with a decreased nodule count (−0.24 vs. 0.04, p = 0.028) over a median wait period of 284 days (IQR 195–493) and better overall survival from listing (95.6% vs. 91.5% at 1 year, p < 0.0001). It was not associated with changes in tumor volume (0.28 vs. 0.11 cm³/month, p = 0.58) and AFP (14.37 vs. 20.67 ng/mL, p = 0.42). Post-transplant survival rates (91.8% vs. 91.7% at 1 year, p = 0.25) and HCC recurrence (5.1% vs. 5.9% at 5 years, p = 0.14) were similar, with a median follow-up of 4.98 years (IQR 2.5–8.08). While TIPS was associated with a reduced nodule count and improved waitlist survival, it did not significantly impact HCC growth or aggressiveness. These findings suggest potential benefits of TIPS in HCC management, but further studies need to confirm TIPS safety.

Carbohydrate sequencing is a formidable task identified as a strategic goal in modern biochemistry. It relies on identifying a large number of isomers and their connectivity with high accuracy. Recently, gas phase vibrational laser spectroscopy combined with mass spectrometry tools have been proposed as a very promising sequencing approach. However, its use as a generic analytical tool relies on the development of recognition techniques that can analyse complex vibrational fingerprints for a large number of monomers. In this study, we used a Bayesian deep neural network model to automatically identify and classify vibrational fingerprints of several monosaccharides. We report high performances of the obtained trained algorithm (GlAIcomics), that can be used to discriminate contamination and identify a molecule with a high degree of confidence. It opens the possibility to use artificial intelligence in combination with spectroscopy-augmented mass spectrometry for carbohydrates sequencing and glycomics applications.

Cet article éclaire la territorialisation de l’action climatique en ciblant ses temporalités politiques et administratives locales. Empiriquement, nous nous appuyons sur l’analyse de la mise en œuvre de plans climat-air-énergie territoriaux (PCAET) dans douze intercommunalités de Nouvelle-Aquitaine. À partir de l’étude de la mise en œuvre concrète de ces plans, du travail politique et administratif auquel ils donnent lieu, nous identifions deux freins à la légitimation d’une intervention climatique à l’échelon local. Le portage politique très individualisé de cette question par des élus et par des techniciens, et des trajectoires intercommunales et environnementales contrastées s’opposent à une priorisation locale de la question climatique. Les injonctions étatiques en matière de territorialisation de l’action climatique se heurtent aux temporalités politiques locales.

A pesar de la abundante historiografía sobre la Unidad Popular, esta ha sido abordada principalmente desde la óptica de la historia política y de las relaciones internacionales. Existen relativamente pocos trabajos que se hayan aproximado a la llamada “vía chilena al socialismo” desde la historia cultural. Una historia social de las representaciones y prácticas culturales de ese periodo crucial de la Guerra Fría en América Latina permitiría estudiar con más profundidad cuestiones tales como la democratización de las instituciones culturales durante el gobierno de Allende, las iniciativas culturales y artísticas militantes surgidas entre los grupos que lo apoyaban, las numerosos relaciones culturales transnacionales que se desarrollaron en esa época y el rol jugado por los medios de comunicación masiva.

Beef production has been growing in Roraima state, Brazil, in recent years. As a result, poor sanitary management and final product quality have caused economic losses due to inappropriate vaccine use. Thus, the present study aimed at evaluating the economic losses caused by vaccine reactions due to abscesses and/or granulomas in cattle carcasses from slaughterhouses under veterinary inspection in Roraima. The study was carried out from August 2017 to July 2018, in a slaughterhouse, evaluating cattle carcass injuries. A total of 277 carcasses with vaccine reactions were identified, 57.03% with granulomatous lesions and 42.97% abscessive lesions, representing an economic loss of R$ 2,105.20. In regard to lesion location, there was a predominance on the side of the neck (91.34%). There was a statistical difference between the type of injury and carcass weight (P

Omicron variant is circulating in the presence of a globally acquired immunity unlike the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 isolate. Herein, we investigated the normalized viral load dynamics and viral culture status in 44 fully vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) infected with the Omicron BA.1 variant. Viral load dynamics of 38 unvaccinated HCWs infected with the 20A variant during the first pandemic wave was also studied. We then explored the impact of Omicron infection on pre-existing immunity assessing anti-RBD IgG levels, neutralizing antibody titres against 19A, Delta and Omicron isolates, as well as IFN-γ release following cell stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptides. We reported that two weeks after diagnosis a greater proportion of HCWs infected with 20A (78.9%, 15/19) than with Omicron BA.1 (44.7%, 17/38; p = 0.02) were still positive by RT-qPCR. We found that Omicron breakthrough infections led to an overall enhancement of vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity as soon as a median [interquartile range] of 8 [7–9] days post symptom onset. Among samples with similar high viral loads, non-culturable samples exhibited higher neutralizing antibody titres and anti-RBD IgG levels than culturable samples. Additionally, Omicron infection led to an enhancement of antibodies neutralization capacity against other SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Taken together, the results suggest that Omicron BA.1 vaccine breakthrough infection is associated with a faster viral clearance than that of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2, in addition this new variant leads to a rapid enhancement of the humoral response against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, and of the cellular response.

IntroductionIn November 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern has emerged and is currently dominating the COVID-19 pandemic over the world. Omicron displays a number of mutations, particularly in the spike protein, leading to specific characteristics including a higher potential for transmission. Although Omicron has caused a significant number of deaths worldwide, it generally induces less severe clinical signs compared to earlier variants. As its impact on blood platelets remains unknown, we investigated platelet behavior in severe patients infected with Omicron in comparison to Delta.MethodsClinical and biological characteristics of severe COVID-19 patients infected with the Omicron (n=9) or Delta (n=11) variants were analyzed. Using complementary methods such as flow cytometry, confocal imaging and electron microscopy, we examined platelet activation, responsiveness and phenotype, presence of virus in platelets and induction of selective autophagy. We also explored the direct effect of spike proteins from the Omicron or Delta variants on healthy platelet signaling.ResultsSevere Omicron variant infection resulted in platelet activation and partial desensitization, presence of the virus in platelets and selective autophagy response. The intraplatelet processing of Omicron viral cargo was different from Delta as evidenced by the distribution of spike protein-positive structures near the plasma membrane and the colocalization of spike and Rab7. Moreover, spike proteins from the Omicron or Delta variants alone activated signaling pathways in healthy platelets including phosphorylation of AKT, p38MAPK, LIMK and SPL76 with different kinetics.DiscussionAlthough SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has different biological characteristics compared to prior variants, it leads to platelet activation and desensitization as previously observed with the Delta variant. Omicron is also found in platelets from severe patients where it induces selective autophagy, but the mechanisms of intraplatelet processing of Omicron cargo, as part of the innate response, differs from Delta, suggesting that mutations on spike protein modify virus to platelet interactions.

Pancreas transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes is a therapeutic option when other treatments are not effective and physical complications occur. Psychological burden is prominent in patients, and non-adherence to treatment is often one manifestation of such difficulties. Time projection is an important factor affected by chronic disease. The prospect of transplantation has the potential to repair this disruption. It could re-establish a continuity in the patient’s self and history, by connecting the future to a life that was only about past and present. Taking care of oneself, adhering to treatment, being part of a long-term therapeutic project and going through transplantation are all processes that need a good ability to self-project in time. This is specifically a domain of psychotherapeutic interventions. In this article, the psychological implications of pancreas transplantation for patients and caregivers alike will be discussed, as well as the role of the psychiatrist in the transplantation process.