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Introducción/Objetivos: la utilidad de los signos duodenoscópicos para predecir el hallazgo de enfermedad celíaca (EC) ha sido cuestionada. Nosotros evaluamos la eficacia diagnóstica de los signos endoscópicos de atrofia mucosa intestinal en individuos con diferente riesgo de padecer EC. Métodos: en forma prospectiva realizamos biopsias duodenales endoscópicas y serología específica de EC en 661 individuos, incluyendo 143 pacientes consecutivos que consultaron por sospecha de enfermedad intestinal (alto riesgo) y 518 sujetos seleccionados al azar entre los derivados para endoscopía digestiva superior por la presencia de síntomas digestivos altos (bajo riesgo). Los signos duodenoscópicos evaluados fueron: la patente de mosaico, pliegues peinados y reducción en el número o pérdida de pliegues de Kerkring. Resultados: sesenta y tres (44.1%) y 18 (3.5%) pacientes, respectivamente, presentaron EC en los grupos de alto y bajo riesgo. En la población de alto riesgo, la presencia de cualquier signo (al menos uno de ellos) tuvo muy alta sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos positivo y negativo, y seguridad diagnóstica para la identificación de EC (92.1%, 93.8%, 92.1%, 93.8% y 93.0%, respectivamente). En el grupo de bajo riesgo el valor estadístico para la visión de al menos un marcador fue 61.1%, 96.8%, 40.7%, 98.6% y 95.6%, respectivamente. La sensibilidad (p

Abstract The Neotropics are one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, where environmental dynamics, climate and geology resulted in a complex diversity of fauna and flora. In such complex and heterogeneous environments, widely distributed species require deep investigation about their biogeographic history. The gray-breasted sabrewing hummingbird Campylopterus largipennis is a species complex that occurs in forest and open ecosystems of South America, including also high-altitude grasslands. It has been recently split into four distinct species distributed in Amazonia (rainforest) and Cerrado (savanna) biomes with boundaries marked by ecological barriers. Here, we investigated the evolutionary dynamics of population lineages within this neotropical taxon to elucidate its biogeographical history and current lineage diversity. We used a reduced-representation sequencing approach to perform fine-scale population genomic analyses of samples distributed throughout Amazonia and Cerrado localities, representing all four recently recognized species. We found a deep genetic structure separating species from both biomes, and a more recent divergence between species within each biome and from distinct habitats. The population dynamics through time was shown to be concordant with known vicariant events, isolation by distance, and altitudinal breaks, where the Amazon River and the Espinhaço Mountain Range worked as important barriers associated to speciation.

We describe song geographic variation (n = 61) of the Brown-capped Redstart (Myioborus brunniceps), a montane parulid of the eastern slope of the Andes of Bolivia and Argentina, and explore song divergence association with geographic isolation and ecological factors. We scored temporal and spectral song metrics through standard methods, reduced variation through principal component analysis, and used generalized linear models to evaluate the association of song with geographic isolation, vegetation, and climate. We found that the songs of this bird can be divided into 2 dialects: a fast note rate song (at Andean forests) and a slow note rate song (at the San Luis and Córdoba hills), with a maximum pitch and note rate in northern Argentina. Note rate variation followed a geographic clinc from northern Bolivia to northern Argentina, which changed at the southernmost region of the study area. We found that variation of song spectral features is associated with environmental factors, suggesting the action of selective forces on character evolution, while song temporal aspects were strongly associated with geographic isolation and weakly associated with environmental aspects, suggesting the action of both drift and selective forces. A question that remains to be answered is the role of body size on song variation of this species. The song of the Brown-capped Redstart followed a pattern of geographic variation that is often observed in oceanic islands, suggesting that such patterns (insularity syndrome) would also evolve on continental islands of habitat. Key words: Andes, birdsong, climate factors, note rate, population isolation. Describimos la variación geográfica del canto de Myioborus brunniceps (n = 61), un ave parúlida de los bosques andinos de Bolivia y Argentina, y evaluamos su variación en relación al aislamiento geográfico y a factores ecológicos. Estudiamos variables de canto temporales y de frecuencia, aplicamos análisis de componentes principales y evaluamos la asociación entre las variables de canto y aislamiento geográfico, vegetación y clima. Encontramos que el canto de esta ave se divide en un dialecto con alta tasa de notas (Andes) y en otro con baja tasa de notas (Sierras de San Luis y Córdoba), donde la máxima tasa de notas y de frecuencias estuvo en el norte de Argentina. La variable lasa de notas siguió una dina geográfica, desde el norte de Bolivia al norte de Argentina, la cual cambió en el extremo sur del área de estudio. Encontramos que las variables espectrales se asociaron solo a variación climática, lo que sugiere acción de selección natural, mientras que las variables temporales se asociaron fuertemente a aislamiento geográfico y débilmente a clima, lo que sugiere impacto tanto de selección natural como de deriva. Estudios futuros deberán abordar el rol del tamaño corporal en la variación geográfica del canto en esta especie. También observamos que el canto en Myioborus brunniceps sigue un patrón de variación geográfica que a menudo es observado en islas oceánicas, lo que sugiere que estos patrones podrían ser también observados en islas de habitat en el continente. Palabras clave: aislamiento poblacional. Andes, canto, clima, tasa de notas., Variation and population differentiation in vocal signals can be of importance for bird evolution because they can act as behavioral reproductive barriers, leading to isolation and subsequent speciation (Irwin 2000, [...]

Objective: Ghrelin is an appetite-modulating peptide mainly produced in the stomach, with levels reported to be lower in Helicobacter pylori-positive subjects. This pre-post study aimed to evaluate the effect of H. pylori eradication on circulating total ghrelin, gastric histopathology, appetite, and nutritional status of dyspeptic adults. Patients and Methods: Weight, height, appetite and nutrient intake were determined using validated tools. Gastric biopsies were obtained for histopathology and H. pylori diagnosis. Fasting serum ghrelin was measured by ELISA. H. pylori-positive subjects received eradication therapy and returned ≥12 weeks later for re-evaluation. Results: Of 117 screened individuals, 47 who were H. pylori-positive were included, and the organism was eradicated in 28 (59.6%). Pathologic findings decreased significantly after treatment in subjects with eradication (p

Highlights • The presence of subglottic involvement is in favor of GPA. • Extensive airway involvement is in favor of RP. • Posterior tracheal membrane sparing is a nonspecific and an overly subjective sign.

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at high-risk for severe COVID-19 and have altered immune responses to vaccination. We sought to evaluate the dynamics of immune response to BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in HSCT recipients. We systematically proposed vaccination with BNT162b2 to HSCT recipients and gave a third vaccine dose to those showing titers of IgG(S-RBD) below 4160 AU/mL 1 month following the second dose. We then quantified anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies dynamics in 133 of these HSCT recipients (88 after two and 45 after three vaccine doses) 6 months after the first vaccine dose. Mean IgG(S-RBD) titer at 6 months was significantly lower than the peak value measured 1 month after a second (p

Rectal Cancer (RC) is a complex disease that involves highly variable treatment responses. Currently, there is a lack of reliable markers beyond TNM to deliver a personalized treatment in a cancer setting where the goal is a curative treatment. Here, we performed an integrated characterization of the predictive and prognostic role of clinical features, mismatch-repair deficiency markers, HER2, CDX2, PD-L1 expression, and CD3−CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) coupled with targeted DNA sequencing of 76 non-metastatic RC patients assigned to total mesorectal excision upfront (TME; n = 15) or neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy treatment (nCRT; n = 61) followed by TME. Eighty-two percent of RC cases displayed mutations affecting cancer driver genes such as TP53, APC, KRAS, ATM, and PIK3CA. Good response to nCRT treatment was observed in approximately 40% of the RC cases, and poor pathological tumor regression was significantly associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS, HR = 3.45; 95%CI = 1.14–10.4; p = 0.028). High neutrophils-platelets score (NPS) (OR = 10.52; 95%CI=1.34–82.6; p = 0.025) and KRAS mutated cases (OR = 5.49; 95%CI = 1.06–28.4; p = 0.042) were identified as independent predictive factors of poor response to nCRT treatment in a multivariate analysis. Furthermore, a Cox proportional-hazard model showed that the KRAS mutational status was an independent prognostic factor associated with higher risk of local recurrence (HR = 9.68; 95%CI = 1.01–93.2; p

Research on academic spin-offs demonstrate different types of support provided by universities in the early and later development stages. This study aims to analyze the forms of support provided by universities to academic spin-offs in these development stages. It was conducted a study of multiple cases with two academic spin-offs: one from a public university and other from a private university, both located in the city of Aracaju, Sergipe State, Brazil. Academic spin-offs were selected based on the development stage, one has less than four years of creation (early stage), and the other more than four years (later stage). It was seen that the support provided by universities to spin-offs in the analysed cases was considered poor in both phases. Thus, there was no active participation of the university in obtaining resources, providing contacts or offer courses focused on entrepreneurship. The universities merit was based on the provision of incubators and, through them, training courses and infrastructure. It is suggested that it is necessary to raise awareness in universities about the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship and university support on the first year of the spin-off, which are the most critical.

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease (CMV episodes) are global concerns after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). They affect survival, both by direct and indirect effects. Due to safety issues of current anti-CMV antivirals, long-term CMV prophylaxis is poorly tolerated and the most common strategy to decrease the incidence of CMV disease is preemptive. New, less toxic, molecules are currently being assessed for CMV prophylaxis which should replace or considerably decrease the preemptive approach. The aim of this study was to assess the economic burden of CMV episodes after HSCT with a preemptive approach. Methods We analyzed data from 208 consecutive adults transplanted in our institution, between 2008 and 2013. Hospital resource utilization was retrieved via the linked hospital admissions and Diagnostic Related Groups for the period of conditioning to 12 months after transplant. Results CMV episodes occurred in 70 patients (34%) over the first 12 months following HSCT, after a mean of 75 days (median: 46 (7–334)). The mean total length of stay was significantly associated with the occurrence of a CMV episode (113.9 vs. 87.5 days, p = 0.0002) but was associated neither with the pre-transplant CMV serology of donors/recipients nor with survival. The mean cost of transplant was €104,016 (SD = €37,281) after 12 months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the occurrence of >1 CMV episode increased the costs of allogeneic HSCT by 25–30% (p

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Galectins, a family of animal lectins characterized by their affinity for N-acetyllactosamine-enriched glycoconjugates, modulate several immune cell processes shaping the course of innate and adaptive immune responses. Through interaction with a wide range of glycosylated receptors bearing complex branched N-glycans and core 2-O-glycans, these endogenous lectins trigger distinct signaling programs thereby controling immune cell activation, differentiation, recruitment and survival. Given the unique features of mucosal inflammation and the differential expression of galectins throughout the gastrointestinal tract, we discuss here key findings on the role of galectins in intestinal inflammation, particularly Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease (CeD) patients, as well as in murine models resembling these inflammatory conditions. In addition, we present new data highlighting the regulated expression of galectin-1 (Gal-1), a proto-type member of the galectin family, during intestinal inflammation in untreated and treated CeD patients. Our results unveil a substantial upregulation of Gal-1 accompanying the anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic response associated with gluten-free diet in CeD patients, suggesting a major role of this lectin in favoring resolution of inflammation and restoration of mucosal homeostasis. Thus, a coordinated network of galectins and their glycosylated ligands, exerting either anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory responses, may influence the interplay between intestinal epithelial cells and the highly specialized gut immune system in physiologic and pathologic settings.