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Objetivo: Relatar um caso de mielopoiese anormal transitória (MAT) em recém-nascido (RN) com síndrome de Down e malformações congênitas das câmaras e comunicações cardíacas. Material e métodos: Paciente do sexo masculino, RN, 01 dia de vida, internado na UTI neonatal com face sindrômica, hipertelorismo ocular, ponte nasal em selo e dedos das mãos curtos. Foi realizado hemograma automatizado em amostra do sangue periférico (ADVIA 2120i-Siemens Healthineers) e coloração de distensões sanguíneas (May Grunwald–Giemsa e Citoquímica Peroxidase). Aos 10 dias de vida foi realizado cariótipo com banda G e imunofenotipagem do sangue periférico para diagnóstico diferencial de leucocitose. Imunofenotipagem realizada por citometria de fluxo multiparamétrica (FACSCalibur), utilizando os seguintes anticorpos monoclonais: CD20, CD10, CD34, HLA-DR, CD41, CD61, CD117, CD71, CD33, CD14, CD300e, CD36, CD13, CD64, CD11b, nTdT, CD19, CD45). Resultados: O hemograma apresentou os seguintes parâmetros: E = 4,73 milhões/mm3; Hb = 14,3 g/dL; Ht = 46,5%; VCM = 98,4fL; HCM = 30,2pg; CHCM = 30,7%; RDW = 19,5%, Plaquetas = 703000/mm3, Leucócitos = 72000/mm3 e a análise microscópica complementar mostrou a presença de 40% de blastos de aparência mieloide, 38% de neutrófilos com desvio à esquerda até mielócito e sem escalonamento maturativo preservado, 21% de linfócitos, 1% de monócito e presença de 98 eritroblastos em 100 leucócitos contados. Após 10 dias: E = 4,27 milhões/mm3; Hb = 12,3g /dL; Ht = 39,2%; VCM = 91,9fL; HCM = 28,7 pg; CHCM = 31,3%; RDW = 22,5%, Plaquetas = 954000/mm3, Leucócitos = 54500/mm3 e a análise microscópica: 73% de blastos de aparência mieloide, 19% de neutrófilos com desvio à esquerda até mielócito sem escalonamento maturativo preservado, 6% de linfócitos, 21% de monócitos e presença de 18 de eritroblastos em 100 leucócitos contados. A coloração citoquímica peroxidase foi negativa em 100% dos blastos. A análise imunofenotípica revelou presença de 76% de células precursoras mieloides com diferenciação megacariocítica (CD45++; baixa/moderada SSC, CD117+, CD61+, CD41+, CD13+, CD36+, dos quais 22% são CD34+ e CD33+). A pesquisa dos marcadores HLA-DR, CD20, CD10, CD71, nTdT, CD64, CD11b, CD19 e CD20 foi negativa. Através do cariótipo com banda G foi visualizada a trissomia livre do cromossomo 21. O RN apenas recebeu tratamento para a cardiopatia e após um mês do diagnóstico, o hemograma não apresentou mais leucocitose (9.900/mm3) e a análise microscópica evidenciou ausência de blastos. Discussão: A MAT representa uma forma única de leucemia autorregressiva ou pré-leucemia, esta condição neonatal ocorre em 10 a 15% dos portadores de síndrome de Down e geralmente é diagnosticada ao nascimento, com uma tendência comum à regressão espontânea. Apesar do prognóstico da MAT ser geralmente benigno, até 20% dos pacientes podem apresentar desfechos fatais. No caso específico descrito, a MAT regrediu espontaneamente após um mês de vida. No entanto, complicações decorrentes da malformação cardíaca resultaram no óbito do RN aos 72 dias de vida. Conclusão: A identificação precisa de células precursoras e o acompanhamento cuidadoso da evolução desses pacientes é fundamental para a compreensão verdadeira da natureza da MAT e direcionar a melhor conduta terapêutica.

A synergistic combination of cationic styrylpyridinium dyes and water-soluble deep cavitand hosts can recognize phosphorylated peptides with both site- and state-selectivity. Two mechanisms of interaction are dominant: either the cationic dye interacts with Trp residues in the peptide or the host:dye pair forms a heteroternary complex with the peptide, driven by both strong dye-peptide and cavitand-peptide binding ( K d values up to 4 μM). The presence of multiple recognition mechanisms results in varying fluorescence responses dependent on the phosphorylation state and position, eliminating the need for covalent modification of the peptide target. Differential sensing aided by machine learning algorithms permits full discrimination between differently positioned serine phosphorylations with a minimal 3-component array. The array is fully functional in the presence of protein kinase A (PKA) and its required cofactors and capable of site-selective monitoring of serine phosphorylation at the privileged PKA motif, in the presence of serine residues that do not undergo reaction, illustrating the potential of the system in kinase-based drug screening.

Phosphorus (P) is essential for plants but often limited in soils, with microbes playing a key role in its cycling. P deficiency in crops can be mitigated by applying by-products like sludge and struvite to enhance yield and sustainability. Here, we evaluated the contribution of four different types of fertilizers: i) conventional NPK; ii) sludge; iii) struvite; and iv) struvite+sludge in a semiarid maize plantation to the availability of P and the responses of the soil microbiome. We investigated the effects of these treatments on the relative abundance of bacterial and archaeal genes and proteins related to organic P mineralization, inorganic P solubilization, and the P starvation response regulation through a multi-omic approach. Moreover, we explored the impact of maize phenology by collecting samples at germination and flowering stages. Our findings suggest that the phenological stage has a notable impact on the abundance of P cycle genes within bacterial and archaeal communities, particularly regarding the solubilization of inorganic P. Furthermore, significant variations were observed in the relative abundance of genes associated with different P cycles in response to various fertilizer treatments. Sludge and struvite application improved P availability, which was related to an increase in the relative abundance of Sphingomonas (Proteobacteria) and Luteitalea (Acidobacteria) respectively, and genes related to inorganic P solubilization. Furthermore, we observed a substantial taxonomic clustering of functional processes associated with the P cycle. Among the dominant bacterial populations containing P-related genes, those microbes possessing genes linked to the solubilization of inorganic P typically did not harbor genes associated with the mineralization of organic P. This phenomenon was particularly evident among members of Actinobacteria. Overall, we reveal important shifts in bacterial and archaeal communities and associated molecular processes, stressing the intricate interplay between fertilization, phenology, and P cycling in agroecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Glutathione (GSH) is a non-protein tripeptide thiol that plays a prominent role in oxidative stress defense. GSH concentration is particularly critical in the neonatal period, especially for premature newborns that face increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Monitoring GSH levels provides valuable insights into newborn health, helping to tailor care to their specific needs. The aim of this study was the development of a sensor specifically targeted for its use in neonatology, enabling GSH determination in only 2 μL of whole blood. The newly developed sensing system simplifies sample processing, addressing a critical need in clinical applications. Unlike current methods that demand fast pre-processing of relatively large sample volumes, expensive equipment, and skilled personnel, the developed approach streamlines the analytical process. By using 2 μL of whole blood, a single syringe filter for sample treatment, a deuterated internal standard (IS) for signal normalization, and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy with a silver colloid substrate for GSH detection, the set-up's characteristics are compatible with point-of-care applications. The analytical procedure was validated and applied to diverse populations including healthy adults (N = 63) and newborns (N = 35), yielding GSH concentration values ranging from 0.6 to 1.8 and 0.8-2.1 mM, respectively. This new optical sensor offers a quick and cost-effective solution to support the assessment of GSH levels in newborns that can greatly benefit not only neonatal care, but also the study of adult populations for health monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Carlos III Health Institute. Abel Albiach-Delgado reports financial support was provided by Carlos III Health Institute. Jose Luis Moreno-Casillas reports financial support was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Government of Valencia. Guillermo Quintas reports financial support was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) has increased worldwide in the last decade. However, PICCs are associated to catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). We describe the characteristics of patients requiring a PICC, estimate the incidence rate, and identify potential risk factors of PICC-related complications., Methods: All adult patients requiring a PICC at our institution (Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogota, Colombia) from September 2022 to May 2024 were included in the analysis. The database from active PICC monitoring collected demographic and PICC-related information. The incidence rate of CLABSI and CRT, and crude odds ratios (cORs) were estimated., Results: Overall, 1936 individuals were included in the study. The median age was 67 years (IQR: 50-78 years), and 51.5% were females. The median duration of PICC lines was 10 days (IQR: 4-17). Seventy-nine patients had catheter-related complications, mostly in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The CLABSI and CRT institutional incidence rates per 1000 catheter-days were 2.03 (2.96 in the ICU) and 0.58 (0.61 in the ICU), respectively. Prolonged catheter use (≥ 6 days), PICC insertion in the intensive care unit, and postoperative care after cardiac surgery were identified as potential risk factors for CLABSI, while a catheter insertion into the brachial vein was associated with CRT., Conclusion: Daily PICC assessment, particularly in patients with prolonged catheter use, PICC insertion into the brachial vein, or in postoperative care after cardiac surgery may significantly reduce CLABSI and CRT cases. Implementing Vascular Access Teams, venous catheter care bundles, and institutional insertion protocols optimize clinical outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 crowded intensive care units in the world with high mortality. Mechanical ventilation was fundamental in the treatment; however, the evidence of ventilatory markers associated with mortality is not entirely clear. In 2021 it was described the linear power, which was superior to other markers. At the moment its possible utility in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 has not been described., Objective: To evaluate linear power as a risk factor for mortality in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 in intensive care., Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study in patients admitted to intensive care with ARDS secondary to COVID-19. Linear power was calculated for patients who died and patients who survived in intensive care. Mann-Whitney U test and multivariable Cox regression (hazard ratio [HR] with 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]) were performed., Results: 60 patients were studied with a mortality of 43.3%. Those who died had a higher linear power (89.5 vs. 78, p = 0.031) and the best cut-off point was 84 cmH2O/rpm (AUC 0.663, p = 0.031, LR 2.02); in addition, those with linear power < 84 (p = 0.050) had a better cumulative survival., Conclusions: Linear power is a possible risk factor for mortality in patients with ARDS secondary to COVID-19 in intensive care., (Licencia CC 4.0 (BY-NC-ND) © 2024 Revista Médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.)

Numerous cases of myocarditis related to mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 have recently been described, usually in young men. Long-term evolutive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) data are lacking. We describe four consecutive cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis. The pathological findings of cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed the diagnosis in the acute phase, showing edema, as well as pericardial enhancement, with light pericardial effusion and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), predominantly in the inferolateral wall. These cases highlight the unique value of cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with suspected myocarditis induced by COVID-19 RNAm vaccines as a tool to confirm the diagnosis, avoiding other invasive techniques, as well as for the long-term follow-up of patients. Our iterative CMR imaging demonstrated frequent long-term LGE persistence.

Background: Small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs) are nano-sized vesicles that are present in all biofluids including human milk (HM) playing a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and the stimulation of the neonatal immune system. Oxylipins, which are bioactive lipids formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids, have gained considerable attention due to their potential role in mitigating disease progression and modulating the inflammatory status of breastfed infants. This study aims at an in-depth characterization of the oxylipin profiles of HM and, for the first time, of HM-derived sEVs (HMEVs) employing an ad-hoc developed and validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method., Results: The UPLC-MS/MS method covered a panel of 13 oxylipins for quantitation and 93 oxylipins for semi-quantitation. In 200 μL of HM and HMEV isolates of 15 individuals, 42 out of 106 oxylipins were detected in either HM or HMEVs, with 38 oxylipins being detected in both matrices. Oxylipins presented distinct profiles in HM and HMEVs, suggesting specific mechanisms responsible for the encapsulation of target molecules in HMEVs. Ten and eight oxylipins were quantified with ranges between 0.03 - 73 nM and 0.30 pM-0.07 nM in HM and HMEVs, respectively. The most abundant oxylipins found in HMEVs were docosahexaenoic acid derivatives (17-HDHA and 14-HDHA) with known anti-inflammatory properties, and linoleic acid derivatives (9-10-DiHOME and 12,13-DiHOME) in HM samples., Significance and Novelty: This is the first time a selective, relative enrichment of anti-inflammatory oxylipins in HMEVs has been described. Future studies will focus on the anti-inflammatory and pro-healing capacity of oxylipins encapsulated in HMEVs, with potential clinical applications in the field of preterm infant care, specifically the prevention of severe intestinal complications including necrotizing enterocolitis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Carlos III Health Institute. Abel Albiach-Delgado reports financial support was provided by Carlos III Health Institute. Pilar Sepulveda reports financial support was provided by Carlos III Health Institute. Jose L Moreno-Casillas reports financial support was provided by Government of Valencia. Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Government of Valencia. Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Valencia Innovation Agency. Pilar Sepulveda reports financial support was provided by Valencia Innovation Agency. Julia Kuligowski reports financial support was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. Isabel Ten-Doménech reports financial support was provided by Valencia Innovation Agency. Guillermo Quintas reports financial report was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. Abel Albiach-Delgado, Isabel Ten-Domenech, Pilar Sepulveda, and Marta Gomez-Ferrer have patent Composition comprising oxylipins present in human milk derived small extracellular vesicles and its use in the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases (EP23382313) (pending). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rapid, simple, and low-cost diagnostic technologies are crucial tools for combatting infectious disease. We describe a class of aptamer-based RNA switches or aptaswitches that recognize target nucleic acid molecules and initiate folding of a reporter aptamer. Aptaswitches can detect virtually any sequence and provide an intense fluorescent readout without intervening enzymes, generating signals in as little as 5 minutes and enabling detection by eye with minimal equipment. Aptaswitches can be used to regulate folding of seven fluorogenic aptamers, providing a general means of controlling aptamers and an array of multiplexable reporter colors. Coupling isothermal amplification reactions with aptaswitches, we reach sensitivities down to 1 RNA copy/μL in one-pot reactions. Application of multiplexed all-in-one reactions against RNA from clinical saliva samples yields an overall accuracy of 96.67% for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in 30 minutes. Aptaswitches are thus versatile tools for nucleic acid detection that are readily integrated into rapid diagnostic assays., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests Z.Y., A.A.T., D.M., and A.A.G. have filed patent applications US20190256898A1 and WO2022046978A3 that describe aspects of this technology. A.A.G. is a cofounder of En Carta Diagnostics Inc. P.Y. is a co-founder, equity holder, director and consultant of Ultivue, Inc. and of Digital Biology, Inc. J.J.C. is a cofounder of Synlogic and Senti Biosciences, a cofounder and director of Sherlock Biosciences, and is on the Shape Therapeutics scientific advisory board.

Background: The consumption of foods such as sweet potato and cassava with high levels of carotenoids is a possible solution to reduce vitamin A deficiency. In this study, we evaluated the kinetics of thermal degradation of carotenoids. The content of carotenoids was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, first in fresh material, then in flour and finally in bakery products using mixtures of wheat, sweet potato and cassava. The degree of acceptance of the bakery products by children was also assessed through a sensory acceptance test., Results: The study found that the degradation of carotenoid compounds in sweet potato followed first-order kinetics and fitted the Arrhenius equation with correlations of R 2  > 0.9. The retention rates of all-trans-β-carotene were 77%, 56% and 48% at cooking temperatures of 75, 85 and 95 °C respectively, during a cooking time of 20 min. The concentrations of all-trans-β-carotene, after baking, for bread, cookies and cake were 15, 19 and 14 μg g -1 db, respectively. In a sensory acceptance test carried out in a school, 47.6% of the boys and 79.2% of the girls rated the cookies made from a mixture of cassava, sweet potato and wheat flour with the indicator I like it a lot., Conclusion: The content of carotenoid compounds was reduced by exposure to high temperatures and long cooking times. The combinations of cooking time and temperature which minimized degradation of all-trans-β-carotene occurred at 75 °C-20 min and 95 °C-10 min. All-trans-β-carotene retentions for bread, cookies and cake were 25%, 15% and 11% respectively. The mixture of wheat, sweet potato and cassava flour can be considered in the development of cookies with positive contributions of all-trans-β-carotenes and with a good acceptance by children between 9 and 13 years old. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Consumer preferences for boiled or fried pieces of roots, tubers and bananas (RTBs) are mainly related to their texture. Different raw and cooked RTBs were physiochemically characterized to determine the effect of biochemical components on their cooking properties., Results: Firmness in boiled sweetpotato increases with sugar and amylose contents but no significant correlation was observed between other physicochemical characteristics and cooking behaviour. Hardness of boiled yam can be predicted by dry matter (DM) and galacturonic acid (GalA) levels. For cassava, no significant correlation was found between textural properties of boiled roots and DM, but amylose and Ca 2+ content were correlated with firmness, negatively and positively, respectively. Water absorption of cassava root pieces boiled in calcium chloride solutions was much lower, providing indirect evidence that pectins are involved in determining cooking quality. A highly positive correlation between textural attributes and DM was observed for fried plantain, but no significant correlation was found with GalA, although frying slightly reduced GalA., Conclusion: The effect of main components on texture after cooking differs for the various RTBs. The effect of global DM and major components (i.e. starch, amylose) is prominent for yam, plantain and sweetpotato. Pectins also play an important role on the texture of boiled yam and play a prominent role for cassava through interaction with Ca 2+ . © 2023 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of hyperspectral imaging for the characterization of cooking quality parameters, dry matter content (DMC), water absorption (WAB), and texture in cassava genotypes contrasting for their cooking quality., Results: Hyperspectral images were acquired on cooked and fresh intact longitudinal and transversal slices from 31 cassava genotypes harvested in March 2022 in Colombia. Different chemometric methods were tested for the quantification of DMC, WAB, and texture parameters. Data analysis was conducted through partial least squares regression, K nearest neighbors regression, support vector machine regression and CovSel multiple linear regression (CovSel&#95;MLR). Efficient performances were obtained for DMC using CovSel&#95;MLR with, coefficient of multiple determination R p 2 = 0.94 , root-mean-square error of prediction RMSEP = 0.96 g/100 g, and ratio of the standard deviation values RPD = 3.60. High heterogeneity was observed between contrasting genotypes. The predicted distribution of DMC within the root can be homogeneous or heterogeneous depending on the genotype. Weak predictions were obtained for WAB and texture parameters., Conclusions: This study showed that hyperspectral imaging could be used as a high-throughput phenotyping tool for the visualization of DMC in contrasting cooking quality genotypes. Further improvement of protocols and larger datasets are required for WAB and texture quality traits. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

A simple aqueous host:guest sensing array can selectively discriminate between different types of citrus varietal from peel extract samples. It can also distinguish between identical citrus samples at varying stages of ripening. The discrimination effects stem from detection of changes in the terpenoid composition of the peel extracts by the host:guest array, despite the overwhelming excess of a single component, limonene, in each sample. The hosts are insensitive to limonene but bind other monoterpenes strongly, even though they are similar in structure to the major limonene component. This work demonstrates the capability of host:guest arrays in sensing target molecules in environments with the competing agents present at high abundances in the sample matrix.

Dissemination in pediatric low-grade glioma may occur in about 4%-10% of patients according to retrospective cohort studies. Due to its low incidence, there is no consensus on treatment for these patients. According to the constitutional activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway in these tumors, MEK inhibitors such as trametinib have been used successfully in the relapsed setting. Skin toxicity is frequent in patients receiving trametinib, normally mild to moderate, but sometimes severe, needing to discontinue the drug, limiting the efficacy in the tumor. There is not much information in the literature regarding whether reducing the dose of trametinib is able to maintain efficacy while, at the same time, decreasing toxicity. Here, we present an adolescent, with severe skin toxicity, whose trametinib dose was reduced by 50% and efficacy on the tumor continued while skin toxicity significantly decreased., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Castellano-Damaso, Vazquez-Gomez, Moreno-Carrasco, Arce, Borrego and Lassaletta.)

Background: In spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) accurate determination of the bleeding source is paramount to guide treatment. Traditionally, the bleeding pattern has been used to predict the aneurysm location. Here, we have tested a software-based tool, which quantifies the volume of intracranial blood and stratifies it according to the regional distribution, to predict the location of the ruptured aneurysm., Methods: A consecutive series of SAH patients admitted to a single tertiary centre between 2012-2018, within 72 h of onset, harbouring a single intracranial aneurysm. A semi-automatized method of blood quantification, based on the relative density increase, was applied to initial non-contrast CTs. Five regions were used to define the bleeding patterns and to correlate them with aneurysm location: perimesencephalic, interhemispheric, right/left hemisphere and intraventricular., Results: 68 patients were included for analysis. There was a strong association between the distribution of blood and the aneurysm location (p < 0.001). In particular: ACom and interhemispheric fissure (p < 0.001), MCA and ipsilateral hemisphere (p < 0.001), ICA and ipsilateral hemisphere and perimesencephalic cisterns (p < 0.001), PCom and hemispheric, perimesencephalic and intraventricular (p = 0.019), and PICA and perimesencephalic and intraventricular (p < 0.001). The internal diagnostic value was high (AUROC ≥ 0.900) for these locations., Conclusion: Regional automatised volumetry seems a reliable and objective tool to quantify and describe the distribution of blood within the subarachnoid spaces. This tool accurately predicts the location of the ruptured aneurysm; its use may be prospectively considered in the emergency setting when speed and simplicity are attained., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Plant-soil biodiversity interactions are fundamental for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, the existence of a set of globally distributed topsoil microbial and small invertebrate organisms consistently associated with land plants (i.e., their consistent soil-borne microbiome), together with the environmental preferences and functional capabilities of these organisms, remains unknown. We conducted a standardized field survey under 150 species of land plants, including 58 species of bryophytes and 92 of vascular plants, across 124 locations from all continents. We found that, despite the immense biodiversity of soil organisms, the land plants evaluated only shared a small fraction (less than 1%) of all microbial and invertebrate taxa that were present across contrasting climatic and soil conditions and vegetation types. These consistent taxa were dominated by generalist decomposers and phagotrophs and their presence was positively correlated with the abundance of functional genes linked to mineralization. Finally, we showed that crossing environmental thresholds in aridity (aridity index of 0.65, i.e., the transition from mesic to dry ecosystems), soil pH (5.5; i.e., the transition from acidic to strongly acidic soils), and carbon (less than 2%, the lower limit of fertile soils) can result in drastic disruptions in the associations between land plants and soil organisms, with potential implications for the delivery of soil ecosystem processes under ongoing global environmental change., (© 2024 The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Sequestration of small molecule guests in the cavity of a water-soluble deep cavitand host has a variety of effects on their NMR properties. The effects of encapsulation on the longitudinal ( T 1 ) and transverse ( T 2 ) relaxation times of the protons in variably sized guest molecules are analyzed here, using inversion recovery and spin-echo experiments. Sequestration of neutral organic species from the bulk solvent reduces the overall proton relaxation times, but the magnitude of this effect on different protons in the same molecule has a variety of contributors, from the motion of the guest when bound, to the position of the protons in the cavity and the magnetic anisotropy induced by the aromatic walls of the host. These subtle effects can have large consequences on the environment experienced by the bound guest, and this sheds light on the nature of small molecules in enclosed environments.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among U.S. military veterans and is associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Crisis response planning (CRP), a brief safety planning-type intervention, has been shown to rapidly reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in emergency and acute care settings. CRP's effectiveness when combined with trauma-focused therapies remains unknown. In this randomized pragmatic clinical trial with one-year follow-up, 157 U.S. military personnel and veterans were randomly assigned to receive CRP or self-guided safety planning (SP) prior to beginning massed cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for PTSD. Among 51 (32.5 % of sample) participants endorsing suicidal ideation at baseline, reductions in the severity of suicidal ideation were significantly larger and faster in CRP (F(11,672)= 15.8, p < .001). Among 106 participants denying suicidal ideation at baseline, 8.5 % of CRP participants versus 11.9 % of SP participants (OR=0.69, 95 % CI=0.19-2.52) reported new-onset suicidal ideation during any follow-up assessment. PTSD symptoms significantly reduced over time with no differences between groups. Results support the effectiveness of CRP for rapidly reducing suicidal ideation and managing suicide risk during outpatient treatment for PTSD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. C.J. Bryan reported grant funding from the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Mental Health, the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, the Boeing Company, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Oui Therapeutics outside the submitted work; and ownership of Anduril, LLC, outside the submitted work. Ms. A.O. Bryan reported grant funding from the Department of Defense, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company, during the conduct of the study; and ownership of Anduril, LLC, outside the submitted work. Dr. L.R. Khazem reported grant funding from the Department of Defense, the USAA Foundation, the Boeing Company, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention during the conduct of the study; and personal fees from Anduril, LLC, outside the submitted work. Dr. D.M. Aase reported grant funding from the Department of Defense, the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, and the Boeing Company. Dr. J.L. Moreno reported grant funding from the Boeing Company. Dr. E. Ammendola reported grants from the Department of Defense, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company. Dr. C.R. Bauder reported grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company; and personal fees from Anduril, LLC, outside the submitted work. Dr. J. Hiser reported grant funding from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company, during the conduct of the study. Dr. S.E. Daruwala reported grant funding from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company during the conduct of the study. Dr. J.C. Baker reported grant funding from the Department of Defense, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the USAA Foundation, and the Boeing Company; and personal fees from Anduril, LLC, outside the submitted work., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An indirect competitive binding mechanism can be exploited to allow a combination of cationic fluorophores and water-soluble synthetic receptors to selectively recognize and discriminate peptide strands containing a single isomeric residue in the backbone. Peptide isomerization occurs in long-lived proteins and has been linked with diseases such as Alzheimer's, cataracts and cancer, so isomers are valuable yet underexplored targets for selective recognition. Planar cationic fluorophores can selectively bind hydrophobic, Trp-containing peptide strands in solution, and when paired with receptors that provide a competitive host for the fluorophore, can form a differential sensing array that enables selective discrimination of peptide isomers. Residue variations such as D- and L-Asp, D- and L-isoAsp, D-Ser and D-Glu can all be recognized, simply by their effects on the folded structure of the flexible peptide. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to determine the most favorable conformation of the peptide : fluorophore conjugate, indicating that favorable π-stacking with internal tryptophan residues in a folded binding pocket enables micromolar binding affinity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: The administration of colostrum through its absorption at the oropharyngeal level stimulates the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, providing a local immunological protection barrier. The study aimed to investigate the association of oropharyngeal colostrum administration with the reduction of inflammatory indices., Materials and Methods: This was an observational, ambispective, analytical study of newborns < 32 weeks of gestation at risk of sepsis. Oropharyngeal colostrum was administered at 0.2 mL every 4 h for 5 days. Inflammatory indices were analyzed. Statistical analysis included frequencies, percentages, mean and Standard deviation, contingency coefficient, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for the distribution curve of the numerical data., Results: There were 50 patients, 33 (66%) female and 17 (34%) male, with a median gestational age of 30-31 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI]). Nineteen patients had sepsis. A lower positivity rate in C-reactive protein was found, with a median of 0.5-0.6 (95% CI) at 5 days of colostrum administration versus 0.5-1.1 (95% CI) as the initial C-reactive protein. Analysis with χ 2 yielded a p = 0.13, and the contingency coefficient showed a p = 0.196, indicating an association., Conclusion: Oropharyngeal colostrum administration was associated with a lower C-reactive protein positivity rate and clinical improvement in premature newborns at risk of sepsis., (Copyright: © 2024 Permanyer.)

The maturation of genomic surveillance in the past decade has enabled tracking of the emergence and spread of epidemics at an unprecedented level. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, genomic data revealed that local epidemics varied considerably in the frequency of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage importation and persistence, likely due to a combination of COVID-19 restrictions and changing connectivity. Here, we show that local COVID-19 epidemics are driven by regional transmission, including across international boundaries, but can become increasingly connected to distant locations following the relaxation of public health interventions. By integrating genomic, mobility, and epidemiological data, we find abundant transmission occurring between both adjacent and distant locations, supported by dynamic mobility patterns. We find that changing connectivity significantly influences local COVID-19 incidence. Our findings demonstrate a complex meaning of "local" when investigating connected epidemics and emphasize the importance of collaborative interventions for pandemic prevention and mitigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests K.G.A. has received consulting fees on SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Top of the basilar syndrome (TBS) is defined as the presence of multiple ischemic lesions on magnetic resonance image (MRI) including more than two territories supplied by branches of the distal portion of the basilar artery, causing symptoms such as dizziness, diplopia, ataxia, and acute cognitive decline that can lead to quadriplegia and death. Diagnosing TBS is challenging because it can mimic other conditions such as thalamic hemorrhages or vertebrobasilar ischemia, and requires advanced imaging. Although the prognosis for these patients is poor, rehabilitation is essential for their recovery. This case describes a healthy 28-year-old woman who presented with headache, vomiting, and tonic-clonic seizures sent to the hospital with a stroke diagnosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Rivera et al.)

Water-soluble deep cavitands with cationic functions at the lower rim can selectively bind iodide anions in purely aqueous solution. By pairing this lower rim recognition with an indicator dye that is bound in the host cavity, optical sensing of anions is possible. The selectivity for iodide is high enough that micromolar concentrations of iodide can be detected in the presence of molar chloride. Iodide binding at the "remote" lower rim causes a conformational change in the host, displacing the bound dye from the cavity and effecting a fluorescence response. The sensing is sensitive, selective, and works in complex environments, so will be important for optical anion detection in biorelevant media.

Rapid, simple, and low-cost diagnostic technologies are crucial tools for combatting infectious disease. Here, we describe a class of aptamer-based RNA switches called aptaswitches that recognize specific target nucleic acid molecules and respond by initiating folding of a reporter aptamer. Aptaswitches can detect virtually any sequence and provide a fast and intense fluorescent readout, generating signals in as little as 5 minutes and enabling detection by eye with minimal equipment. We demonstrate that aptaswitches can be used to regulate folding of six different fluorescent aptamer/fluorogen pairs, providing a general means of controlling aptamer activity and an array of different reporter colors for multiplexing. By coupling isothermal amplification reactions with aptaswitches, we reach sensitivities down to 1 RNA copy/ μ L in one-pot reactions. Application of multiplexed one-pot reactions against RNA extracted from clinical saliva samples yields an overall accuracy of 96.67% for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in 30 minutes. Aptaswitches are thus versatile tools for nucleic acid detection that can be readily integrated into rapid diagnostic assays.

Purpose: Glioblastoma often recurs after treatment. Bevacizumab increases progression-free survival in some patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Identifying pretreatment predictors of survival can help clinical decision making. Magnetic resonance texture analysis (MRTA) quantifies macroscopic tissue heterogeneity indirectly linked to microscopic tissue properties. We investigated the usefulness of MRTA in predicting survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab., Methods: We evaluated retrospective longitudinal data from 33 patients (20 men; mean age 56 ± 13 years) who received bevacizumab on the first recurrence of glioblastoma. Volumes of contrast-enhancing lesions segmented on postcontrast T1-weighted sequences were co-registered on apparent diffusion coefficient maps to extract 107 radiomic features. To assess the performance of textural parameters in predicting progression-free survival and overall survival, we used receiver operating characteristic curves, univariate and multivariate regression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier plots., Results: Longer progression-free survival (>6 months) and overall survival (>1 year) were associated with lower values of major axis length (MAL), a lower maximum 2D diameter row (m2Ddr), and higher skewness values. Longer progression-free survival was also associated with higher kurtosis, and longer overall survival with higher elongation values. The model combining MAL, m2Ddr, and skewness best predicted progression-free survival at 6 months (AUC 0.886, 100% sensitivity, 77.8% specificity, 50% PPV, 100% NPV), and the model combining m2Ddr, elongation, and skewness best predicted overall survival (AUC 0.895, 83.3% sensitivity, 85.2% specificity, 55.6% PPV, 95.8% NPV)., Conclusions: Our preliminary analyses suggest that in patients with recurrent glioblastoma pretreatment, MRTA helps to predict survival after bevacizumab treatment.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have created a global climate crisis which requires immediate interventions to mitigate the negative effects on all aspects of life on this planet. As current agriculture and land use contributes up to 25% of total GHG emissions, plant scientists take center stage in finding possible solutions for a transition to sustainable agriculture and land use. In this article, the PlantACT! (Plants for climate ACTion!) initiative of plant scientists lays out a road map of how and in which areas plant scientists can contribute to finding immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions, and what changes are necessary to implement these solutions at the personal, institutional, and funding levels., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests No interests are declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Soil contamination is one of the main threats to ecosystem health and sustainability. Yet little is known about the extent to which soil contaminants differ between urban greenspaces and natural ecosystems. Here we show that urban greenspaces and adjacent natural areas (i.e., natural/semi-natural ecosystems) shared similar levels of multiple soil contaminants (metal(loid)s, pesticides, microplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes) across the globe. We reveal that human influence explained many forms of soil contamination worldwide. Socio-economic factors were integral to explaining the occurrence of soil contaminants worldwide. We further show that increased levels of multiple soil contaminants were linked with changes in microbial traits including genes associated with environmental stress resistance, nutrient cycling, and pathogenesis. Taken together, our work demonstrates that human-driven soil contamination in nearby natural areas mirrors that in urban greenspaces globally, and highlights that soil contaminants have the potential to cause dire consequences for ecosystem sustainability and human wellbeing., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Alemtuzumab (ALZ) is a humanized monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) administered in two annual courses. The objective of this study was to describe the effectiveness and safety data of ALZ and to report the health resource utilization in patients receiving this treatment., Methods: In this retrospective, non-interventional study, information was retrieved from patients' medical charts at one center in Spain. Included patients were ≥18 years old, and ALZ treatment was initiated between 1 March 2015 and 31 March 2019, according to routine clinical practice and local labeling., Results: Of 123 patients, 78% were women. The mean (standard deviation, SD) age of patients at diagnosis was 40.3 (9.1) years, and the mean time since diagnosis was 13.8 (7.3) years. Patients were previously treated with a median (interquartile range; IQR) number of two (2.0-3.0) disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). Patients were treated with ALZ for a mean (SD) of 29.7 (13.8) months. ALZ reduced the annualized relapse rate (ARR) (1.5 before vs. 0.05 after; p < 0.001) and improved the median EDSS (4.63 before vs. 4.00 after; p < 0.001). Most (90.2%) patients were relapse-free while receiving ALZ. The mean number of gadolinium-enhancing [Gd+] T1 lesions was reduced (1.7 before vs. 0.1 after; p < 0.001), and the mean number of T2 hyperintense lesions was maintained (35.7 before vs. 35.4 after; p = 0.392). A total of 27 (21.9%) patients reported 29 autoimmune diseases: hyperthyroidism (12), hypothyroidism (11), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (3), alopecia areata (1), chronic urticaria (1), and vitiligo (1). The mean number of health resources (outpatient visits, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and tests performed in the hospital) used while patients were treated with ALZ progressively decreased from year 1 to year 4, except for a slight increase at year 2 of outpatient visits., Conclusion: The ReaLMS study provides real-world evidence that ALZ can promote clinical and magnetic resonance imaging disease remission, as well as disability improvement in patients with MS, despite several prior DMT failures. The ALZ safety profile was consistent with data available from clinical trials and other real-world studies. Healthcare resource use was reduced throughout the treatment period., Competing Interests: JLMA was employed by Sanofi and hold shares and/or stock options in the company. SE received speaker honoraria and consultant fees from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck, Bayer, Sanofi, Roche and Teva. RLR received speaker honoraria and/or consultant fees from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck, Bayer, Sanofi, Roche and Mylan. MÁC received speaker honoraria, research fundings and consultant fees from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck, Mylan, Bayer, Sanofi, Roche and Teva. JD received speaker honoraria and consultant fees from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck, UCB, Sanofi, Roche, Almirall and Teva. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Eichau, López Ruiz, Ruíz de Arcos, Ruiz-Peña, Navarro, Calleja, Moreno-Amador and Dotor García-Soto.)

Nowadays, an enormous amount of high dimensional data is available in the field of neuroscience. Handling these data is complex and requires the use of efficient tools to transform them into useful knowledge. In this work we present NeuroSuites, an easy-access web platform with its own architecture. We compare our platform with other software currently available, highlighting its main strengths. Thanks to its defined architecture, it is able to handle large-scale problems common in some neuroscience fields. NeuroSuites has different neuroscience-oriented applications and tools to integrate statistical data analysis and machine learning algorithms commonly used in this field. As future work, we want to further expand the list of available software tools as well as improve the platform interface according to user demands., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Moreno-Rodríguez, Larrañaga and Bielza.)

Irrigation with desalinated seawater (DSW) is a potential solution for addressing water scarcity in semiarid regions across the globe. However, this strategy may compromise the health of agricultural ecosystems due to the high content of phytotoxic elements (mainly boron, B) in this water. Here, a three-year experiment was carried to evaluate the response of the soil's physicochemical and microbiological properties, and plant physiology, to three irrigation water treatments (DSW; fresh water, FW; and their blend (1:1), BW) in the presence or not of organic amendments. Lemon trees (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. fil. cv. Eureka), with a higher sensitivity to B toxicity, and apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. 'Búlida'), with a lower one, were used as model plants. Lemon trees irrigated with BW and DSW showed a decline in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, and an accumulation of B in leaves that exceeded the toxicity threshold. These effects were stronger in amended soils. In soils cultivated with lemon trees, DSW irrigation increased the water-soluble nitrogen content, the urease activity, and the activity and biomass of the microbial community, and shifted the microbial community structure as compared with the other water treatments. The soil microbial community responses were controlled by the addition of organic amendments. The irrigation of apricots with DSW did not negatively impact plant physiological parameters but increased the soil microbial biomass, as in the case of the lemon tree-soil system. These results suggest that DSW irrigation increases soil microbial biomass in both crop-soil systems but harms the physiological status of the most sensitive crop. Our findings provide an initial approach to evaluate the response of the plant-soil system to DSW., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Prenatal environmental insults increase the risk of neurodevelopmental psychiatric conditions in the offspring. Structural modifications of dendritic spines are central to brain development and plasticity. Using maternal immune activation (MIA) as a rodent model of prenatal environmental insult, previous results have reported dendritic structural deficits in the frontal cortex. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying MIA-induced synaptic structural alterations in the offspring. Using prenatal (E12.5) injection with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid potassium salt as a mouse MIA model, we show here that upregulation of the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) is at least in part responsible for some of the effects of prenatal insults on frontal cortex dendritic spine structure and sensorimotor gating processes. Mechanistically, we report that this upregulation of frontal cortex 5-HT 2A R expression is associated with MIA-induced reduction of nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and, consequently, a decrease in the enrichment of GR at the 5-HT 2A R promoter. The translational significance of these preclinical findings is supported by data in postmortem human brain samples suggesting dysregulation of GR translocation in frontal cortex of schizophrenia subjects. We also found that repeated corticosterone administration augmented frontal cortex 5-HT 2A R expression and reduced GR binding to the 5-HT 2A R promoter. However, virally (adeno-associated virus) mediated augmentation of GR function reduced frontal cortex 5-HT 2A R expression and improved sensorimotor gating processes via 5-HT 2A R. Together, these data support a negative regulatory relationship between GR signaling and 5-HT 2A R expression in the mouse frontal cortex that may carry implications for the pathophysiology underlying 5-HT 2A R dysregulation in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest J. G.-M. had a sponsored research contract with NeuRistic. All the other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Soils are the foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems 1 . However, unlike for plants and animals, a global assessment of hotspots for soil nature conservation is still lacking 2 . This hampers our ability to establish nature conservation priorities for the multiple dimensions that support the soil system: from soil biodiversity to ecosystem services. Here, to identify global hotspots for soil nature conservation, we performed a global field survey that includes observations of biodiversity (archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists and invertebrates) and functions (critical for six ecosystem services) in 615 composite samples of topsoil from a standardized survey in all continents. We found that each of the different ecological dimensions of soils-that is, species richness (alpha diversity, measured as amplicon sequence variants), community dissimilarity and ecosystem services-peaked in contrasting regions of the planet, and were associated with different environmental factors. Temperate ecosystems showed the highest species richness, whereas community dissimilarity peaked in the tropics, and colder high-latitudinal ecosystems were identified as hotspots of ecosystem services. These findings highlight the complexities that are involved in simultaneously protecting multiple ecological dimensions of soil. We further show that most of these hotspots are not adequately covered by protected areas (more than 70%), and are vulnerable in the context of several scenarios of global change. Our global estimation of priorities for soil nature conservation highlights the importance of accounting for the multidimensionality of soil biodiversity and ecosystem services to conserve soils for future generations., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Amylose-free and wild-type cassava starches were fermented for up to 30 days and oven- or sun-dried. The specific volume ( ν ) after baking was measured in native and fermented starches. The average ν (across treatments) for waxy starch was 3.5 times higher than that in wild-type starches (17.6 vs. 4.8 cm 3 g -1 ). The best wild-type starch (obtained after fermentation and sun-drying) had considerably poorer breadmaking potential than native waxy cassava (8.4 vs. 16.4 cm 3 g -1 , respectively). The best results were generally obtained through the synergistic combination of fermentation (for about 10-14 days) and sun-drying. Fermentation reduced viscosities and the weight average molar mass led to denser macromolecules and increased branching degree, which are linked to a high loaf volume. The absence of amylose, however, was shown to be a main determinant as well. Native waxy starch (neutral in taste, gluten-free, and considerably less expensive than the current alternatives to cassava) could become a new ingredient for the formulation of clean label-baked or fried expanded products.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate functional and safety outcomes for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) versus medical management (MM) in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and mild neurological deficits, stratified by perfusion imaging mismatch., Methods: The pooled cohort consisted of patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) < 6 and internal carotid artery (ICA), M1, or M2 occlusions from the Extending the Time for Thrombolysis in Emergecy Neurological Deficits - Intra-Arterial (EXTEND-IA) Trial,  Tenecteplase vs Alteplase before Endovascular Thrombectomy in Ischemic Stroke (EXTEND-IA TNK) trials Part I/II and prospective data from 15 EVT centers from October 2010 to April 2020. RAPID software estimated ischemic core and mismatch. Patients receiving primary EVT (EVT pri ) were compared to those who received primary MM (MM pri ), including those who deteriorated and received rescue EVT, in overall and propensity score (PS)-matched cohorts. Patients were stratified by target mismatch (mismatch ratio ≥ 1.8 and mismatch volume ≥ 15ml). Primary outcome was functional independence (90-day modified Rankin Scale = 0-2). Secondary outcomes included safety (symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage [sICH], neurological worsening, and mortality)., Results: Of 540 patients, 286 (53%) received EVT pri and demonstrated larger critically hypoperfused tissue (Tmax > 6 seconds) volumes (median [IQR]: 64 [26-96] ml vs MM pri : 40 [14-76] ml, p < 0.001) and higher presentation NIHSS (median [IQR]: 4 [2-5] vs MM pri : 3 [2-4], p < 0.001). Functional independence was similar (EVT pri : 77.4% vs MM pri : 75.6%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82-2.03, p = 0.27). EVT had worse safety regarding sICH (EVT pri : 16.3% vs MM pri : 1.3%, p < 0.001) and neurological worsening (EVT pri : 19.6% vs MM pri : 6.7%, p < 0.001). In 414 subjects (76.7%) with target mismatch, EVT was associated with improved functional independence (EVT pri : 77.4% vs MM pri : 72.7%, aOR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.01-2.81, p = 0.048), whereas there was a trend toward less favorable outcomes with primary EVT (EVT pri : 77.4% vs MM pri : 83.3%, aOR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.12-1.34, p = 0.13) without target mismatch (p interaction  = 0.06). Similar findings were observed in a propensity score-matched subpopulation., Interpretation: Overall, EVT was not associated with improved clinical outcomes in mild strokes due to LVO, and sICH was increased. However, in patients with target mismatch profile, EVT was associated with increased functional independence. Perfusion imaging may be helpful to select mild stroke patients for EVT. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:364-378., (© 2022 American Neurological Association.)

Over a century of bacteriophage research has uncovered a plethora of fundamental aspects of their biology, ecology, and evolution. Furthermore, the introduction of community-level studies through metagenomics has revealed unprecedented insights on the impact that phages have on a range of ecological and physiological processes. It was not until the introduction of viral metagenomics that we began to grasp the astonishing breadth of genetic diversity encompassed by phage genomes. Novel phage genomes have been reported from a diverse range of biomes at an increasing rate, which has prompted the development of computational tools that support the multilevel characterization of these novel phages based solely on their genome sequences. The impact of these technologies has been so large that, together with MAGs (Metagenomic Assembled Genomes), we now have UViGs (Uncultivated Viral Genomes), which are now officially recognized by the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), and new taxonomic groups can now be created based exclusively on genomic sequence information. Even though the available tools have immensely contributed to our knowledge of phage diversity and ecology, the ongoing surge in software programs makes it challenging to keep up with them and the purpose each one is designed for. Therefore, in this review, we describe a comprehensive set of currently available computational tools designed for the characterization of phage genome sequences, focusing on five specific analyses: (i) assembly and identification of phage and prophage sequences, (ii) phage genome annotation, (iii) phage taxonomic classification, (iv) phage-host interaction analysis, and (v) phage microdiversity.

In the present study, we identified the Bacillus subtilis strain annotated Fa17.2 isolated from Bromelia flower inflorescences collected from the subtropical humid mesothermal region, Santo Domingo de Los Tsachilas Province, Ecuador. The probiotic capacity and antimicrobial potential against four foodborne pathogens were assessed. The cell culture of Fa17.2 is highly resistant to synthetic gastric acid (pH 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5), bile salts (0.3%), tolerating different sodium chloride concentrations (1, 3, and 5%), and growth conditions (15 °C and 45 °C), suggesting its potential probiotic features. The isolate showed no antibiotic resistance and was considered safe as no hemolysis was detected on sheep blood agar. The optimum medium for bacterial growth and the release of antimicrobial compounds was MRS with 10% glucose. The active components released in the neutralized crude extract (NCE) were insensitive to organic solvents, surfactants, and nonproteolytic enzymes and sensitive to proteolytic enzymes suggesting their proteinaceous nature. The antimicrobial activity was enhanced by heat and maintained active over a wide range of pH (2.0-8.0). Moreover, the crude extract (CE) showed inhibitory activity against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The molecular weight of partially purified precipitated bacteriocin-like substances (BLISs) was about 14 kDa in 20% Tricine-SDS-PAGE. The CE obtained from Fa17.2 inhibits the growth of four foodborne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Kosaconia cowanii , and Shigella dysenteriae , which implies its potential as an antimicrobial producer strain.

Serosurveillance helps establish reopening guidelines and determine the immunity levels in different populations to reach herd immunity. Then, there is an urgent need to estimate seroprevalence population wide. In Mexico, information about COVID-19 cases and related deaths is scarce. Also, there is no official serosurveillance, limiting our knowledge of the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Here, we report the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 522,690 unvaccinated people from July 5th to December 31st, 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 32.8% and highest in adults aged 30-39 years (38.5%) than people under 20 years (33.0%) or older (28.9%). Moreover, in a cohort of 1655 individuals confirmed COVID-19 by PCR, we found that symptomatic people (HR = 2.56) increased seroconversion than presymptomatic. Also, we identified that the most discriminative symptoms for COVID-19 that could predict seroconversion were anosmia and ageusia (HR = 1.70), fever, myalgia/arthralgia, and cough (HR = 1.75). Finally, we found that obese people had lower seroconversion (HR = 0.53) than healthy people, but the opposite happens in diabetic people (HR = 1.39). These findings reveal that around one-third of Mexican outpatients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before vaccination. Also, some symptoms improve empirically COVID-19 diagnosis and seroconversion. This information could help fine-tune vaccination schemes and the reopening and back-to-work algorithms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study enrolled 8676 children, 3-4 months of age, born with HLA-susceptibility genotypes for islet autoimmunity (IA) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed in 1119 children in a nested case-control study design. Telomere length was estimated from WGS data using five tools: Computel, Telseq, Telomerecat, qMotif and Motif&#95;counter. The estimated median telomere length was 5.10 kb (IQR 4.52-5.68 kb) using Computel. The age when the blood sample was drawn had a significant negative correlation with telomere length (P = 0.003). European children, particularly those from Finland (P = 0.041) and from Sweden (P = 0.001), had shorter telomeres than children from the U.S.A. Paternal age (P = 0.019) was positively associated with telomere length. First-degree relative status, presence of gestational diabetes in the mother, and maternal age did not have a significant impact on estimated telomere length. HLA-DR4/4 or HLA-DR4/X children had significantly longer telomeres compared to children with HLA-DR3/3 or HLA-DR3/9 haplogenotypes (P = 0.008). Estimated telomere length was not significantly different with respect to any IA (P = 0.377), IAA-first (P = 0.248), GADA-first (P = 0.248) or T1D (P = 0.861). These results suggest that telomere length has no major impact on the risk for IA, the first step to develop T1D. Nevertheless, telomere length was shorter in the T1D high prevalence populations, Finland and Sweden., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Omicron is the most mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant-a factor that can affect transmissibility, disease severity, and immune evasiveness. Its genomic surveillance is important in cities with millions of inhabitants and an economic center, such as Mexico City. Results. From 16 November to 31 December 2021, we observed an increase of 88% in Omicron prevalence in Mexico City. We explored the R346K substitution, prevalent in 42% of Omicron variants, known to be associated with immune escape by monoclonal antibodies. In a phylogenetic analysis, we found several independent exchanges between Mexico and the world, and there was an event followed by local transmission that gave rise to most of the Omicron diversity in Mexico City. A haplotype analysis revealed that there was no association between haplotype and vaccination status. Among the 66% of patients who have been vaccinated, no reported comorbidities were associated with Omicron; the presence of odynophagia and the absence of dysgeusia were significant predictor symptoms for Omicron, and the RT-qPCR Ct values were lower for Omicron. Conclusions. Genomic surveillance is key to detecting the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in a timely manner, even weeks before the onset of an infection wave, and can inform public health decisions and detect the spread of any mutation that may affect therapeutic efficacy.