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BackgroundSuicide is a serious public health problem that affects our entire country. The aim of this research was to study the variation in completed suicide rates between 2010 and 2022 in Spain and their relationship with the consumption of addictive substances.MethodsCompleted suicide data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) were analyzed with a joinpoint regression model to determine time trends. The relationship between the variation in completed suicide rates with sociodemographic variables, including depression rates, obtained from the Spanish Statistical Office and variables related to the consumption of substances obtained from the survey on alcohol and other drugs in Spain (EDADES) of the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs (DGPNSD) was also studied using an exploratory analysis and also performing a Generalized Additive Model.ResultsThe joinpoint regression model did reveal a point of significant change in the period studied for Spain showing a trend of increased suicide death rates for the studied period. The following variables correlated positively with the variation in completed suicide rates in the Generalized Additive Model: alcohol use in the past 12 months, alcohol use in the last 30 days, daily alcohol use in the last 30 days, binge drinking in the last 12 months, binge drinking in the last month, positive Alcohol Use Disorder Test for risky alcohol use, benzodiazepine use in the last 12 months, benzodiazepine use in the last month, daily benzodiazepine use in the last month, use of illegal substances in the last 12 months, use of illegal substances in the last month, mean age and depression rates.ConclusionApplying preventive strategies on the risky consumption of alcohol, benzodiazepines and illegal substances would help reduce the rates of completed suicide in Spain.

A integridade na investigação é um valor incontornável para as universidades. São várias as instituições e organizações comprometidas com a pesquisa que oferecem pautas para garantir a integridade nas diferentes ações que implica toda atividade investigadora. O objetivo deste trabalho é conhecer a percepção do pessoal docente e pesquisador universitário sobre as condutas éticas que devem ser respeitadas nas pesquisas da área de conhecimento de Ciências Sociais e Jurídicas e de Ciências e evidenciar a possível existência de diferenças entre os dois ramos do conhecimento. Para dar conta destes objectivos realizou-se um estudo descritivo e aplicou-se a uma amostra de docentes universitários de três universidades públicas espanholas um questionário em linha, desenhado ad hoc para o estudo. Os resultados obtidos mostram a existência de certos comportamentos que violam a integridade na investigação científica e de diferenças significativas neste tipo de práticas entre os dois campos de conhecimento. Além disso, torna-se evidente a necessidade de acções que garantam a integridade científica nas instituições de ensino superior.

Abstract The 2023 monkeypox (mpox) epidemic was caused by a subclade IIb descendant of a monkeypox virus (MPXV) lineage traced back to Nigeria in 1971. Person-to-person transmission appears higher than for clade I or subclade IIa MPXV, possibly caused by genomic changes in subclade IIb MPXV. Key genomic changes could occur in the genome’s low-complexity regions (LCRs), which are challenging to sequence and are often dismissed as uninformative. Here, using a combination of highly sensitive techniques, we determine a high-quality MPXV genome sequence of a representative of the current epidemic with LCRs resolved at unprecedented accuracy. This reveals significant variation in short tandem repeats within LCRs. We demonstrate that LCR entropy in the MPXV genome is significantly higher than that of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and that LCRs are not randomly distributed. In silico analyses indicate that expression, translation, stability, or function of MPXV orthologous poxvirus genes (OPGs), including OPG153, OPG204, and OPG208, could be affected in a manner consistent with the established “genomic accordion” evolutionary strategies of orthopoxviruses. We posit that genomic studies focusing on phenotypic MPXV differences should consider LCR variability.

Access to the Internet and digital technologies has become the primary source of information used in academic papers, and, according to numerous studies, is therefore accountable for the greatest number of cases of cyber-plagiarism. The aim of this study is to determine whether the type of format used by university students for their academic papers (paper/electronic) has an influence on plagiarism or cyber-plagiarism. The research is based on a quantitative methodology, and it is characterized as exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory, using the questionnaire as a tool for data collection. Purposive non-probability convenience sampling provided a sample of 8,943 students from the Autonomous Community of Galicia. The findings show a preference for the use of the electronic format for submitting academic work. Exceptions are made in several cases in which statistically significant differences are observed both in the acts of plagiarism that are initiated and in the main reasons given to justify such acts. A discussion of the findings correlates the findings of the research with the analysis of previous studies in this area, and the conclusions focus on the need to train students in informational skills so as not to commit plagiarism when using the Internet as an academic source.

Abstract CD4 T cells play a key role in Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection, by modulating latent antigen expression, and exhibiting cytotoxic and regulatory properties. Our aim was to evaluate the presence of Granzyme B (GZMB) and Foxp3 CD4 T cells at different EBV infection status and latency profiles. We examined CD4, GZMB, Foxp3, IL10, TGF-β, CD4-GZMB and CD4-Foxp3 expression at the tonsils of pediatric patients with different infective status and EBV latency profiles. CD4+, GZMB+, Foxp3+, CD4-GZMB+ and CD4-Foxp3+ cell counts were higher at the interfollicular region. Higher expression of CD4-GZMB was found in primary infected patients compared to healthy carriers. In patients that expressed latency III antigens, we demonstrated lower CD4+, CD4-GZMB+, CD4-Foxp3+ expression; a negative correlation between the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10+ and GZMB+ as well as a positive correlation of IL-10+ and CD4+. In patients expressing the lytic protein BMRF1, a positive correlation of TGF-β+ with CD4-GZMB+ and CD4-Foxp3+ was observed. Our findings indicate that CD4-GZMB+ cells are involved in the restriction of primary EBV infection in pediatric patients, which could partially explain the lack of symptoms, whereas both CD4-GZMB+ and CD4-Foxp3+ cells could be involved in the modulation of latency.

The advancement of digital twins (DTws) has been instrumental in various scientific and industrial domains, facilitating real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimisation of complex systems. However, it remains difficult to describe precisely the architectural models and their characteristics of DTws and the aggregation of lower-level DTws to higher-level DTws. This article introduces two contributions with the goal of addressing challenges in describing DTws architectures and aggregating DTws. Firstly, it presents the development of “WoTDT” (WoT digital twin) ontology, an extension of the W3C Web of Things descriptions ontology, designed to semantically describe the five-dimensional model architecture of DTws. This ontology enhances data interoperability and accessibility across dimensions, promoting a deeper understanding of DTws. Secondly, it introduces the “DTAG” (digital twin aggregation) methodology for aggregating multiple DTws into an unified DTw aggregate (DTwA). This methodology considers whether the DTws contain semantics or not and employs the WoTDT ontology to conceptualise the architecture and features of the resulting DTwA. Finally, an example of WoTDT ontology together with the DTAG methodology is shown in the context of the European H2020 construction-related project COGITO.

SUMMARY: The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of 2 interventions (i.e., 2 treatments across 2 independent experiments, each with its own control) that were thought to reduce fractures and stress-related responses (e.g., changes in cloacal and comb temperature, respiration rate and tonic immobility [TI]) during the catching, handling, and crating part of the depopulation process. In the cart treatment, hens were immediately crated instead of carrying them to the crating area in order to minimize handling time, stress, and risk of injury to hens. The second intervention, the blue light treatment, used custom blue light modules with the aim of improving visibility for the workers in the barn, facilitating the catching and carrying process, leading to improved handling (e.g., fewer collisions with the pen furniture). The analysis revealed that neither the cart nor the blue light treatment effectively reduced fractures or stress-related responses compared to the control. Possible explanations for the lack of findings include unfamiliarity with the work routine, unsuitable light intensity or orientation, and insufficient sample size. Despite the fact that the treatments failed to improve hen welfare in regard to the examined parameters, treatments may still improve working conditions as well as efficiency without negative effects on hen welfare. Whether a combination of the cart and blue light treatment and increased familiarity with the cart system would result in increased welfare of hens is unclear and should be the focus of future efforts.

Novo enfoque terapêutico, para tratar o retinoblastoma, estádios III e IV, é mostrado, ressaltando-se doses, complicações e finalmente, o resultado, 38,8% (14:36) vivendo além de 3 anos pós-tratamento, e 27,77% (10:36) vivendo além de 3 anos pós-tratamento, e 27,77% (10:36) acima de 5 anos.

ABSTRACT We performed whole-genome sequencing with bait enrichment techniques to analyze Andes virus (ANDV), a cause of human hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. We used cryopreserved lung tissues from a naturally infected long-tailed colilargo, including early, intermediate, and late cell culture, passages of an ANDV isolate from that animal, and lung tissues from golden hamsters experimentally exposed to that ANDV isolate. The resulting complete genome sequences were subjected to detailed comparative genomic analysis against American orthohantaviruses. We identified four amino acid substitutions related to cell culture adaptation that resulted in attenuation of ANDV in the typically lethal golden hamster animal model of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Changes in the ANDV nucleocapsid protein, glycoprotein, and small nonstructural protein open reading frames correlated with mutations typical for ANDV strains associated with increased virulence in the small-animal model. Finally, we identified three amino acid substitutions, two in the small nonstructural protein and one in the glycoprotein, that were only present in the clade of viruses associated with efficient person-to-person transmission. Our results indicate that there are single-nucleotide polymorphisms that could be used to predict strain-specific ANDV virulence and/or transmissibility. IMPORTANCE Several orthohantaviruses cause the zoonotic disease hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas. Among them, HPS caused by Andes virus (ANDV) is of great public health concern because it is associated with the highest case fatality rate (up to 50%). ANDV is also the only orthohantavirus associated with relatively robust evidence of person-to-person transmission. This work reveals nucleotide changes in the ANDV genome that are associated with virulence attenuation in an animal model and increased transmissibility in humans. These findings may pave the way to early severity predictions in future ANDV-caused HPS outbreaks.

Abstract Background Diagnosis of mature-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), a non-autoimmune monogenic form of diabetes mellitus, is confirmed by genetic testing. However, a positive genetic diagnosis is achieved in only around 50% of patients with clinical characteristics of this disease. Results We evaluated the diagnostic utility of transcriptomic analysis in patients with clinical suspicion of MODY but a negative genetic diagnosis. Using Nanostring nCounter technology, we conducted transcriptomic analysis of 19 MODY-associated genes in peripheral blood samples from 19 patients and 8 healthy controls. Normalized gene expression was compared between patients and controls and correlated with each patient’s biochemical and clinical variables. Z-scores were calculated to identify significant changes in gene expression in patients versus controls. Only 7 of the genes analyzed were detected in peripheral blood. HADH expression was significantly lower in patients versus controls. Among patients with suspected MODY, GLIS3 expression was higher in obese versus normal-weight patients, and in patients aged 25 years at diabetes onset. Significant alteration with respect to controls of any gene was observed in 57.9% of patients. Conclusions Although blood does not seem to be a suitable sample for transcriptomic analysis of patients with suspected MODY, in our study, we detected expression alterations in some of the genes studied in almost 58% of patients. That opens the door for future studies that can clarify the molecular cause of the clinic of these patients and thus be able to maintain a more specific follow-up and treatment in each case.

Background: Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects our entire country. The aim of this research was to study the variation in completed suicide rates between 2010 and 2022 in Spain and their relationship with the consumption of addictive substances. Methods: Completed suicide data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) were analyzed with a joinpoint regression model to determine time trends. The relationship between the variation in completed suicide rates with sociodemographic variables, including depression rates, obtained from the Spanish Statistical Office and variables related to the consumption of substances obtained from the survey on alcohol and other drugs in Spain (EDADES) of the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs (DGPNSD) was also studied using an exploratory analysis and also performing a Generalized Additive Model. Results: The joinpoint regression model did reveal a point of significant change in the period studied for Spain showing a trend of increased suicide death rates for the studied period. The following variables correlated positively with the variation in completed suicide rates in the Generalized Additive Model: alcohol use in the past 12 months, alcohol use in the last 30 days, daily alcohol use in the last 30 days, binge drinking in the last 12 months, binge drinking in the last month, positive Alcohol Use Disorder Test for risky alcohol use, benzodiazepine use in the last 12 months, benzodiazepine use in the last month, daily benzodiazepine use in the last month, use of illegal substances in the last 12 months, use of illegal substances in the last month, mean age and depression rates. Conclusion: Applying preventive strategies on the risky consumption of alcohol, benzodiazepines and illegal substances would help reduce the rates of completed suicide in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages are exceptionally flexible cells. The presence of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α results in an M1 (CD68) activation, while cytokines such as IL-10 or TGF-β induce the M2 (CD163) activation. Our aim was to study the behavior of peripheral cytokines involved in macrophage polarization and relate them with tissue findings to further comprehend the role of macrophages in EBV pediatric infection. We studied cytokine expression in tonsils and peripheral blood samples of children in different stages of infection. Peripheral cytokines were compared with macrophage polarization markers and viral protein expression in tonsils. Only IL-10 showed a negative correlation between compartments, exclusively in patients undergoing viral reactivation (R). Higher expressions of peripheral IL-1β, IL-23, and IL-12p40 in R children were observed. Lower expressions of local and peripheral TNF-α in patients with broader expressions of latent and lytic viral proteins were demonstrated. In healthy carrier (HC) patients, IL-23 positively correlated with CD163, and IP-10 positively correlated with CD68. Our results indicated that EBV might modulate antigen expression in the presence of TNF-α and influence peripheral cytokine expression differently in each stage of infection. Moreover, peripheral cytokines might have a particular role in macrophage polarization in HC.

Objetivo. Determinar si la edad es un factor importante en la prestación de los servicios de teleconsulta por parte de los profesionales de salud, mediante una revisión de la literatura disponible. Materiales y métodos. En las bases de datos se encontraron 34.000 resultados. Se escogieron 50 artículos donde se mencionaba la teleconsulta. El mayor número de investigaciones se llevó a cabo en Estados Unidos, España, Australia, India y Suecia. Se tuvieron en cuenta criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados. En los 50 artículos seleccionados se pudieron establecer cinco categorías: normatividad, importancia de la telemedicina, grupos de edad, factores diferenciales y aceptabilidad por parte de los profesionales de la salud. Se evidencia que los adultos mayores son menos tolerantes a los cambios y a la adherencia a las nuevas tecnologías comparados con los pacientes en edades pediátricas. Sin embargo, son los primeros quienes utilizan con mayor frecuencia los servicios de teleconsulta dado los requerimientos frecuentes de asistencia propios de la edad adulta. Además, en los adultos mayores que necesitan de personal cuidador la atención se vio limitada porque este no ofreció los datos requeridos por dificultad en el uso de los dispositivos tecnológicos. Conclusiones. Esta investigación demuestra que la edad puede comportarse como un factor determinante en la atención por teleconsulta, sobre todo la edad adulta en la que ocurren los cambios fisiológicos propios de la senectud y el requerimiento de acompañantes permanentes se convierte en una necesidad. La escasa adherencia a nuevas tecnologías, secundaria a limitaciones físicas y motrices, impiden una consulta efectiva desde la virtualidad en tal grupo etario.

Cetaceans are recognized as bioindicators of pollution in oceans. These marine mammals are final trophic chain consumers and easily accumulate pollutants. For example, metals are abundant in oceans and commonly found in the cetacean tissues. Metallothioneins (MTs) are small non-enzyme proteins involved in metal cell regulation and are essential in many cellular processes (cell proliferation, redox balance, etc.). Thus, the MT levels and the concentrations of metals in cetacean tissue are positively correlated. Four types of metallothioneins (MT1, 2, 3, and 4) are found in mammals, which may have a distinct expression in tissues. Surprisingly, only a few genes or mRNA-encoding metallothioneins are characterized in cetaceans; molecular studies are focused on MT quantification, using biochemical methods. Thus, we characterized, in transcriptomic and genomic data, more than 200 complete sequences of metallothioneins (mt1, 2, 3, and 4) in cetacean species to study their structural variability and to propose to the scientific research community Mt genes dataset to develop in future molecular approaches which will study the four types of metallothioneins in diversified organs (brain, gonad, intestine, kidney, stomach, etc.).

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Background: In developing countries, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is mostly asymptomatic in early childhood. EBV persistence may lead to different malignancies, such as B cell derived lymphomas. In Argentina, most children are seropositive at three years and an increased association between EBV and lymphoma was proved in children under 10 years old by our group. Objective: Our aim was to characterize EBV infection at the site of entry and reactivation of viral infection —the tonsils— in order to better understand the mechanism of viral persistence in pediatric patients. Methods: A cohort of 54 patients was described. We assessed specific antibodies profiles in sera; viral proteins presence by IHC on FFPE samples and EBV type from fresh tissue. Results: EBV type 1 was prevalent, mostly in the youngest patients. Asymptomatic primary infected patients presented higher viral loads and Latency 0/I or II patterns, whereas the Latency III pattern was observed mostly in healthy carriers. There were no differences between groups in the expression of viral lytic antigens. This study discloses new features in patients undergoing primary infection from a developing population. Low viral inoculum and restricted viral antigen expression may be responsible for the lack of symptoms in children from our country. Keywords: EBV, Pediatric, Primary infection, Asymptomatic, Tonsils, Persistence

La presencia de las mujeres en el mercado laboral es una realidad hoy en día, no obstante, el acceso a los puestos de responsabilidad y poder, espacios donde podrían ejercer su liderazgo, son todavía una barrera insalvable para ellas. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo conocer si, en un sector como el bancario, existen diferencias en función del sexo y el cargo de gestión y dirección en lo que respecta a variables de carácter personal y organizacional. Para recopilar dicha información se elaboró una hoja de registro, que fue remitida a todas las entidades bancarias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Galicia, a la que contestaron 448 empleados/as: 315 hombres (70.3%) y 133 mujeres (29.7%). Los resultados obtenidos revelaron que tanto directoras como subdirectoras son más jóvenes que sus compañeros directores y subdirectores y tienen un nivel de formación más alto; por el contrario, su trayectoria laboral en el sector de la banca es más corta, su antigüedad en la dirección o subdirección menor y su categoría profesional inferior a la de directores y subdirectores y, en consecuencia, los salarios que perciben menores. Finalmente, en las oficinas, las directoras tienen un número de trabajadores/as a su cargo igual que los directores, pero este número se reduce en el caso de las subdirectoras frente a los subdirectores.

Summary: Laying hen flocks undergo depopulation at end of lay, a difficult process that has been associated with injuries and is considered stressful to hens and human collectors. To date, most assessments of depopulations have been conducted within cage housing systems, layers, or noncage broilers, thus offering little relevance to noncage laying hen systems including aviaries. Given that the predominant housing systems in Switzerland are multitier aviaries and their growing popularity in general, our study was undertaken to establish a baseline for hen injuries and stress as well as the experience of human workers during depopulation. For the effort, a total of 15 individual farms were visited, and a battery of assessments was made on a total of 603 individual end-of-lay hens. In addition, potentially influential factors such as time of day, handling duration, or time into depopulation were recorded and analyzed. The results suggest that approximately 8.1% of hens sustain severe injuries (i.e., fractures and muscle damage) or exhibit a considerable stress reaction (i.e., increased corticosterone levels), whereas 90% of laying hens are only mildly affected.

Organotypic slice cultures recapitulate many features of an intact organ, including cellular architecture, microenvironment, and polarity, making them an ideal tool for the ex vivo study of viruses and viral vectors. Here, we describe a procedure for generating precision-cut ovine and murine tissue slices from agarose-perfused normal and murine melanoma tumor-bearing lungs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these precision-cut lung slices can be maintained up to 1 month and can be used for a range of applications, which include characterizing the tissue tropism of viruses that cannot be propagated in cell monolayers, evaluating the transducing properties of gene therapy vectors, and, finally, investigating the tumor specificity of oncolytic viruses. Our results suggest that ex vivo lung slices are an ideal platform for studying the tissue specificity and cancer cell selectivity of gene therapy vectors and oncolytic viruses prior to in vivo studies, providing justification for pre-clinical work.