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Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenge in Neuro‐oncology, with a poor prognosis showing only a 5% survival rate beyond two years. This is primarily due to its aggressiveness and intra‐tumoral heterogeneity, which limits complete surgical resection and reduces the efficacy of existing treatments. The existence of oncostreams—neuropathological structures comprising aligned spindle‐like cells from both tumor and non‐tumor origins‐ is discovered earlier. Oncostreams are closely linked to glioma aggressiveness and facilitate the spread into adjacent healthy brain tissue. A unique molecular signature intrinsic to oncostreams, with overexpression of key genes (i.e., COL1A1, ACTA2) that drive the tumor's mesenchymal transition and malignancy is also identified. Pre‐clinical studies on genetically engineered mouse models demonstrated that COL1A1 inhibition disrupts oncostreams, modifies TME, reduces mesenchymal gene expression, and extends survival. An in vitro model using GFP+ NPA cells to investigate how various treatments affect oncostream dynamics is developed. Analysis showed that factors such as cell density, morphology, neurotransmitter agonists, calcium chelators, and cytoskeleton‐targeting drugs influence oncostream formation. This data illuminate the patterns of glioma migration and suggest anti‐invasion strategies that can improve GBM patient outcomes when combined with traditional therapies. This work highlights the potential of targeting oncostreams to control glioma invasion and enhance treatment efficacy.

The purpose of the protocol reported in this work is the solubility profiling of large chemical libraries using nephelometry. This technique allows the qualitative classification of compounds as highly, moderately, or poorly water-soluble. The described methodology is not intended to yield quantitative solubility values of the studied compounds but can be used as a primary solubility assessment of large chemical libraries, to guide hit prioritization after High Throughput Screening (HTS) campaigns.

A autora trata de caracterizar a racionalidade tal como se apresenta nos textos filosóficos e poéticos de língua portuguesa, centrando a discussão no conceito de heterologos, - pensamento impuro, entre o logos e o mythos, o poético e o profético.

A relação poesia e filosofia nos dois grandes mestres do togocentrismo ocidental. Enquanto Platão, expulsando os poetas da cidade, definirá a poesia como uma mimesis infiel, arte dos simutacros, o poema aquém do materna e do filosofema, Aristóteles, ao afIrmar que a poesia é mais universal e mais séria do que a história, concebê-la-á como autêntica poiesis. Quase universal, a metáfora poética, embora implicita na arqueogeneatogia do conceito, nunca terá a seriedade e universalidade deste, acabando rasurada no discurs metafisico do Ocidente, essa mitologia branca (Derrida) onde permanecerá quase invisível até aos nossos dias (Derrida) .

Summary: Development of spatial-integrative pre-clinical models is needed for glioblastoma, which are heterogenous tumors with poor prognosis. Here, we present an optimized protocol to generate three-dimensional ex vivo explant slice glioma model from orthotopic tumors, genetically engineered mouse models, and fresh patient-derived specimens. We describe a step-by-step workflow for tissue acquisition, dissection, and sectioning of 300-μm tumor slices maintaining cell viability. The explant slice model allows the integration of confocal time-lapse imaging with spatial analysis for studying migration, invasion, and tumor microenvironment, making it a valuable platform for testing effective treatment modalities.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Comba et al. (2022).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

It is essential to improve our understanding of the features that influence aggressiveness and invasion in high grade gliomas (HGG). Here, the authors characterize dynamic anatomical structures in HGG called oncostreams, which are associated with tumor growth and are regulated by COL1A1.

Human tails or caudal appendages are rare anomalies defined as lumbo-sacrococcygeal skin-covered appendages. They can be classified as true tails (vestigial structures containing normal tissues and not associated with other anomalies) or pseudo-tails (containing different types of normal or abnormal tissues, while associated with other lesions such as lipomas, dermal sinus tract, teratomas, spinal dysraphism, among others). We report a case of a pseudo-tail in a child with spinal cord dysraphism without neurological impairment. Postnatal evaluation was made through magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical repair was performed with dermal sinus ligation, appendage removal, and dysraphism closure using a muscle flap. After 36 months of follow-up the patient has a normal neurologic examination and a favorable cosmetic result. We aim to highlight that although rare, caudal appendages can be associated with spinal dysraphism and other congenital lesions such as dermal sinus or tumors. For that reason, these patients require accurate investigation and appropriate treatment.

Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive high-grade glial tumor, is resistant to therapy and has a poor prognosis due to its universal recurrence rate. GBM cells interact with the non-cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitating their rapid growth, evolution, and invasion into the normal brain. Herein we discuss the complexity of the interactions between the cellular and non-cellular components of the TME and advances in the field as a whole. While the stroma of non-central nervous system (CNS) tissues is abundant in fibrillary collagens, laminins, and fibronectin, the normal brain extracellular matrix (ECM) predominantly includes proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans, with fibrillary components typically found only in association with the vasculature. However, recent studies have found that in GBMs, the microenvironment evolves into a more complex array of components, with upregulated collagen gene expression and aligned fibrillary ECM networks. The interactions of glioma cells with the ECM and the degradation of matrix barriers are crucial for both single-cell and collective invasion into neighboring brain tissue. ECM-regulated mechanisms also contribute to immune exclusion, resulting in a major challenge to immunotherapy delivery and efficacy. Glioma cells chemically and physically control the function of their environment, co-opting complex signaling networks for their own benefit, resulting in radio- and chemo-resistance, tumor recurrence, and cancer progression. Targeting these interactions is an attractive strategy for overcoming therapy resistance, and we will discuss recent advances in preclinical studies, current clinical trials, and potential future clinical applications. In this review, we also provide a comprehensive discussion of the complexities of the interconnected cellular and non-cellular components of the microenvironmental landscape of brain tumors to guide the development of safe and effective therapeutic strategies against brain cancer.

The preclinical and clinical development of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) tumors is advancing at a rapid pace. High-grade gliomas (HGG) are aggressive tumors with poor prognoses in both adult and pediatric patients, and innovative and effective therapies are greatly needed. The use of cytotoxic chemotherapies has marginally improved survival in some HGG patient populations. Although several challenges exist for the successful development of immunotherapies for CNS tumors, recent insights into the genetic alterations that define the pathogenesis of HGG and their direct effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME) may allow for a more refined and targeted therapeutic approach. This review will focus on the TME in HGG, the genetic drivers frequently found in these tumors and their effect on the TME, the development of immunotherapy for HGG, and the practical challenges in clinical trials employing immunotherapy for HGG. Herein, we will discuss broadly the TME and immunotherapy development in HGG, with a specific focus on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) as well as additional discussion in the context of the pediatric HGG diagnoses of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and diffuse hemispheric glioma (DHG).

During embryonic spinal cord development, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) generate three major cell lines: neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes at precise times and locations within the spinal cord. Recent studies demonstrate early astrogenesis in animal models of spina bifida, which may play a role in neuronal dysfunction associated with this condition. However, to date, the pathophysiological mechanisms related to this early astrocytic response in spina bifida are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the development of early astrogliosis over time from Pax6+, Olig2+, or Nkx2.2+ NPCs using a retinoic acid-induced spina bifida rat model. At three gestational ages (E15, E17, and E20), spinal cords from fetuses with retinoic acid-induced spina bifida, their healthy sibling controls, or fetuses treated with the vehicle control were analyzed. Results indicated that premature astrogliosis and astrocytic activation were associated with an altered presence of Pax6+, Olig2+, and Nkx2.2+ NPCs in the lesion compared to the controls. Finally, this response correlated with an elevation in genes involved in the Notch-BMP signaling pathway. Taken together, changes in NPC patterning factor expression with Notch-BMP signaling upregulation may be responsible for the altered astrogenesis patterns observed in the spinal cord in a retinoic acid-induced spina bifida model.

Resumen: La patología de la aorta supone un reto para la medicina. Tanto a nivel diagnóstico, como terapéutico, el volumen de variables implicado ha hecho que dicha patología sea abordada por una ingente cantidad de especialistas. El manejo quirúrgico de dichas patologías implica un esfuerzo extraordinario por parte de muchos profesionales, dada la complejidad técnica y tecnológica empleada. A lo largo de estos años, dichos esfuerzos están dando sus frutos en forma de mejoras de resultados, gracias a un abordaje sistemático y protocolizado en el seno de un grupo de expertos (Comités de aorta o «Aortic team») en el que se han de implicar cardiólogos, cirujanos cardiacos, cirujanos vasculares, anestesiólogos y radiólogos, principalmente.En este documento, consensuado entre los grupos de trabajo de aorta de las sociedades españolas de Anestesiología y Cirugía Torácica-Cardiovascular se busca difundir los modos de trabajo más consensuados entre los centros de mayor actividad del país por parte de ambas especialidades, en lo que al tratamiento quirúrgico se refiere de la patología crónica de aorta descendente.Somos conscientes de la evolución constante de la terapéutica, lo cual sin duda puede hacer cuestionables algunas opiniones aquí expresadas y que sin duda irán modificándose en futuras ediciones.Este documento aspira a ser una herramienta de trabajo para los diferentes profesionales implicados en el tratamiento de la patología aórtica. Abstract: The pathology of the aorta is a challenge for medicine. Diagnostic and therapeutics move a huge volume of variables. This has let this pathology to be addressed by a big number of specialists. The surgical management of these pathologies implies an extraordinary effort on the part of many professionals, given the technical and technological complexity employed. Throughout these years, these efforts are paying off in the form of improved results, thanks to a systematic and protocolized approach within a group of experts (Aortic Committees or “Aortic team”) in which they have to involve cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists and radiologists, mainly.In this document, agreed between the Aorta working groups of the Spanish societies of Anesthesiology and Thoracic-Cardiovascular Surgery, it is sought to disseminate the most agreed working modes among the centers of greatest activity in the country by both specialties, as far as surgical treatment is concerned in descending chronical aortic pathology.We are aware of the constant evolution of therapeutics, which can undoubtedly make some of the opinions expressed here questionable and that will undoubtedly be modified in future editions.This document aims to be a working tool for the different professionals involved in the treatment of aorticpathology.

Advanced heart failure is a growing problem for which the best treatment is cardiac transplantation. However, the shortage of donors’ hearts made left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy (DT-LVAD) a highly recommended alternative: they improved mid-term prognosis as well as patients’ quality of life. Current intracorporeal pumps with a centrifugal continuous flow evolved in the last few years. Since 2003, when first LVAD was approved for long-term support, smaller device sizes with better survival and hemocompatibility profile were reached. The most important difficulty lies in the moment of the implant. Recent indications range from INTERMACS class 2 to 4, with close monitoring in intermediate cases. Moreover, a large multiparametric study is needed for considering the candidacy: basal situation, with a special interest in frailty, comorbidities, including renal and hepatic dysfunction, and medical background, considering every prior cardiac condition, must be evaluated. In addition, some clinical risk scores can be helpful to measure the possibility of right heart failure or morbi-mortality. With this review, we sought to summarize all the device improvements, with their updated clinical results, as well as to focus on all the patient selection criteria.

Este estudo, marcadamente descritivo, foca os rituais do casamento no interior da ilha de Santiago, nos meados do século XIX, procurando compreender como é que o casamento, um ato íntimo entre duas pessoas, podia envolver duas famílias, os vizinhos ou até duas comunidades e quais as etapas percorridas desde a manifestação de interesse do jovem pretendente pela rapariga, até ao casamento. Assim, começa-se por fazer a contextualização de um casamento tradicional, arranjado e realizado, no interior de Santiago, passando pelas diferentes etapas, desde o pedido de noiva aos preparativos que antecedem o dia da cerimónia religiosa e uma série de rituais realizados na residência dos pais da noiva ao longo do dia do casamento, e à noite, antes e depois da consumação do matrimónio. Esta pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e de campo, baseada em entrevistas semiestruturadas, pretende contribuir para a descrição do casamento tradicional, recorrendo a testemunhos de figuras reconhecidas da cultura tradicional e de alguns anciãos respeitados na sua comunidade. Foi possível concluir que tanto o namoro como o casamento, nos dias que correm, são arranjados e realizados em moldes diversos e que os rituais envolventes pouco ou nenhuma relação têm com os eventos descritos no presente trabalho. de Santiago, passando pelas diferentes etapas, desde o pedido de noiva e os preparativos que antecedem o dia da cerimónia religiosa e uma série de rituais realizados na residência dos pais da noiva ao longo do dia, do casamento, e à noite, antes e depois, da consumação do matrimónio. Este trabalho pretende contribuir para a descrição do casamento tradicional recorrendo a testemunhos de figuras reconhecidas da cultura tradicional e de alguns anciãos respeitados na sua comunidade, complementarmente, reforçados pela revisão da parca bibliografia existente sobre este assunto. Foi possível, através desta pesquisa, concluir que tanto o namoro como o casamento, nos dias que correm, são arranjados e realizados em moldes diversos e que os rituais envolventes pouco ou nenhuma relação têm com os eventos descritos neste trabalho.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal).Este artículo ha sido retirado por indicación del Editor Jefe de la revista, después de constatar que parte de su contenido había sido plagiado, sin mencionar la fuente original: European Heart Journal (2014) 35, 2873 926.: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/35/41/2873/407693#89325738El autor de correspondencia ha sido informado de la decisión y está de acuerdo con la retirada del artículo.El Comité Editorial lamenta las molestias que esta decisión pueda ocasionar.Puede consultar la política de Elsevier sobre la retirada de artículos en https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most common and aggressive tumors of the central nervous system. Rapid tumor growth and diffuse infiltration into healthy brain tissue, along with high intratumoral heterogeneity, challenge therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. A better understanding of spatiotemporal tumor heterogeneity at the histological, cellular, molecular, and dynamic levels would accelerate the development of novel treatments for this devastating brain cancer. Histologically, GBM is characterized by nuclear atypia, cellular pleomorphism, necrosis, microvascular proliferation, and pseudopalisades. At the cellular level, the glioma microenvironment comprises a heterogeneous landscape of cell populations, including tumor cells, non-transformed/reactive glial and neural cells, immune cells, mesenchymal cells, and stem cells, which support tumor growth and invasion through complex network crosstalk. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of gliomas have revealed significant inter and intratumoral heterogeneity and insights into their molecular pathogenesis. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that diverse dynamics of collective motion patterns exist in glioma tumors, which correlate with histological features. We hypothesize that glioma heterogeneity is not stochastic, but rather arises from organized and dynamic attributes, which favor glioma malignancy and influences treatment regimens. This review highlights the importance of an integrative approach of glioma histopathological features, single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomic and cellular dynamics to understand tumor heterogeneity and maximize therapeutic effects.

Introduction: Schools are the most important settings for promoting healthy eating through their food environments. Objective: To characterize the physical, sociocultural, political, and economic aspects of food environments in four schools of different socio-economic levels from Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: Qualitative study based on a focused ethnography approach. Information was collected through participant observation during 12 weeks in four schools (3 weeks per school), with a total of 1 409 children aged 8 to 12 enrolled in grades third through sixth. Institutional documents were analyzed, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 key informants (executive, administrative, and operational staff). Results: School food environments were characterized by the availability of ultra-processed foods at low prices, as opposed to a limited supply of fruits at high prices. In all schools, there was a lack of school health policies regarding healthy eating, and compliance with the provisions of Law 1355/2009 on the prevention of obesity was poor in three schools. The presence of healthy eating promotion policies and activities was associated with the importance of nutrition in the high socioeconomic level school. Conclusions: It is necessary to enforce the implementation of public policies on the prevention of childhood obesity, as well as monitor compliance of schools with the relevant legislation through actions that favor nutrition as a fundamental part of a comprehensive education, including the elimination of vending machines for snacks and sugary drinks, the establishment of a mandatory healthy menu in school cafeterias, and the reduction of prices of healthy foods.

Contexto: A literatura tem documentado que as experiências emocionais precoces e as competências autocompassivas desempenham um papel central na regulação emocional adaptativa e na saúde mental. Adicionalmente, crescente evidência suporta que diferentes processos de regulação emocional exercem um papel mediador significativo na relação entre experiências emocionais e sintomatologia depressiva. Métodos e Objetivo: Este estudo foi conduzido numa amostra da população geral constituída por 389 participantes, com idades entre os 18 e os 50 anos (M = 31,84; DP = 10,97). Os participantes completaram um protocolo de medidas de autorresposta que avalia memórias precoces de calor e segurança, autocompaixão, proximidade e conexão aos outros, evitamento experiencial e sintomatologia depressiva. O estudo examinou um modelo integrador no qual foi colocado como hipótese que a relação entre memórias afiliativas positivas e sintomatologia depressiva é mediada pela proximidade e conexão aos outros e o evitamento experiencial. Resultados: Os resultados confirmaram a adequabilidade do modelo testado, o qual explica 34% da variância da sintomatologia depressiva. Os resultados revelaram que experiências precoces de calor, afeto e segurança e as competências autocompassivas se associam a menores níveis de sintomatologia depressiva, através de níveis superiores de sentimentos de segurança e proximidade ao outro e menor adoção de estratégias de evitamento experiencial. Conclusões: Este estudo contribui para a clarificação do impacto das vivências emocionais precoces e das competências autocompassivas na saúde mental. Os dados sublinham a importância das competências sociais e afiliativas e de aceitação, enquanto mecanismos mediadores na explicação da saúde mental.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in the adult population and it carries a dismal prognosis. Inefficient drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB), an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and development of drug resistance are key barriers to successful glioma treatment. Since gliomas occur through sequential acquisition of genetic alterations, gene therapy, which enables to modification of the genetic make-up of target cells, appears to be a promising approach to overcome the obstacles encountered by current therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy is a rapidly evolving field with the ultimate goal of achieving specific delivery of therapeutic molecules using either viral or non-viral delivery vehicles. Gene therapy can also be used to enhance immune responses to tumor antigens, reprogram the TME aiming at blocking glioma-mediated immunosuppression and normalize angiogenesis. Nano-particles-mediated gene therapy is currently being developed to overcome the BBB for glioma treatment. Another approach to enhance the anti-glioma efficacy is the implementation of viro-immunotherapy using oncolytic viruses, which are immunogenic. Oncolytic viruses kill tumor cells due to cancer cell-specific viral replication, and can also initiate an anti-tumor immunity. However, concerns still remain related to off target effects, and therapeutic and transduction efficiency. In this review, we describe the rationale and strategies as well as advantages and disadvantages of current gene therapy approaches against gliomas in clinical and preclinical studies. This includes different delivery systems comprising of viral, and non-viral delivery platforms along with suicide/prodrug, oncolytic, cytokine, and tumor suppressor-mediated gene therapy approaches. In addition, advances in glioma treatment through BBB-disruptive gene therapy and anti-EGFRvIII/VEGFR gene therapy are also discussed. Finally, we discuss the results of gene therapy-mediated human clinical trials for gliomas. In summary, we highlight the progress, prospects and remaining challenges of gene therapies aiming at broadening our understanding and highlighting the therapeutic arsenal for GBM.

Introducción: el propósito del estudio fue describir el consumo de frutas y verduras de niños escolarizados de Cali, Colombia y explorar la asociación entre el consumo poco frecuente del consumo de frutas y verduras y algunos aspectos físicos y sociales del ambiente alimentario de su hogar. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional con diseño transversal analítico en el que participaron 560 parejas conformadas por niños de 8 a 12 años y uno de sus padres, los cuales fueron invitados a participar en cuatro colegios de diferentes niveles socioeconómicos. La información sobre el consumo de frutas y verduras fue recogida usando un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo validado previamente el cual permitió clasificar el consumo en poco o frecuente. Los padres reportaron información sociodemográfica y de los aspectos físicos y sociales del ambiente alimentario del hogar a través de cuestionarios de autorreporte validados previamente. Se analizó la asociación entre el consumo poco frecuente de frutas y verduras y el aspectos físicos y sociales del ambiente alimentario del hogar usando una regresión logística. Resultados: el consumo diario de frutas en los niños fue moderado y el consumo de verduras fue bajo, estando asociado el consumo poco frecuente con aspectos sociales del hogar como las prácticas parentales y los hábitos de los padres, y con aspectos físicos como la disponibilidad de alimentos en el hogar y cerca de éste, con diferencias significativas por nivel socioeconómico. Conclusiones: son necesarias políticas aumente el consumo de frutas y verduras el estudio aporta evidencia sobre la necesidad de enfocar las intervenciones de promoción de alimentación saludable y prevención de la obesidad infantil en los ambientes alimentarios de los hogares, en los que los padres tienen un rol fundamental.

Comunicamos resultados centrales de un proyecto multidisciplinario que abordó la corporeidad humana como un producto social, histórico, inmerso en un campo de ejercicio del poder. Nuestros estudios de grupos mayas en Mérida, Yucatán, realizados en los últimos quince años, evidencian las consecuencias a largo plazo de las condiciones de vida en que nacen, crecen y se reproducen. El panorama es desalentador, pues el crecimiento y estado nutricional de niños y madres adultas participantes expresan los efectos de carencias y pobreza crónicas que han sido una constante entre la población maya de Yucatán. Entre ellos coexiste la mala nutrición en dos facetas: desnutrición crónica -expresada por el desmedro, en los niños, y talla baja en las mujeres adultas- y sobrepeso muy frecuente entre mujeres adultas. Finalmente, encontramos indicios de que las pobres condiciones de vida experimentadas por madres y abuelas mayas tienen efectos adversos en las generaciones más recientes.

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) threatens human health in hospital and community settings. The lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin (DAP) is a frequently used treatment option for MRSA infection. DAP exposure can cause bacterial resistance because mutations are induced in genes implicated in cell membrane and cell wall metabolism. Adaptations aimed at surviving antimicrobial pressure can affect bacterial physiology and modify in vivo aptitude and pathogenesis. In this study, clinical DAP-susceptible (DAPs) and DAP-resistant (DAPr) MRSA isolates were used to investigate associations between DAP resistance and staphylococcal virulence. We previously found that VraSR is a critical sensor of cell membrane/wall homeostasis associated with DAP acquisition during MRSA infection. The present study found that DAPr CB1634 and CB5014 MRSA strains with vraSR upregulation were less virulent than their susceptible counterparts, CB1631 and CB5013. Differential gene-transcription profile analysis revealed that DAPr CB1634 had decreased agr two-component system expression, virulence factors, and highly suppressed hemolysis activity. Functional genetic analysis performed in DAPr CB1634 strains using vraSR inactivation followed by gene complementation found that vraSR acted as a transcriptional agrA regulator. These results indicated that VraSR has a broad range of regulatory functions. VraSR also appeared to affect DAPr adherence to epithelial cells, which would affect DAPr strain colonization and survival in the host. The correlation between DAP resistance and decreased virulence was also found in the CB5013 (DAPs) and CB5014 (DAPr) pair. Taken together, these findings are the first evidence that DAP resistance and MRSA virulence are tightly connected and involve compromised expression of regulatory and virulence determinants. IMPORTANCE Methicillin-resistant S. aureus continues to develop resistance to antimicrobials, including those in current clinical use as daptomycin (DAP). Resistance to DAP arises by mutations in cell membrane and cell wall genes and/or upregulation of the two-component VraSR system. However, less is known about the connection between the pathogen and virulence traits during DAP resistance development. We provide new insights into VraSR and its regulatory role for virulence factors during DAP resistance, highlighting coordinated interactions that favor the higher persistence of MRSA DAP-resistant strains in the infected host.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is characterized by the herniation of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity during the fetal period. This competition for fetal thoracic space results in lung hypoplasia and vascular maldevelopment that can generate severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). The detailed mechanisms of CDH pathogenesis are yet to be understood. Acknowledgment of the lung metabolism during the in-utero CDH development can help to discern the CDH pathophysiology changes. Timed-pregnant dams received nitrofen or vehicle (olive oil) on E9.5 day of gestation. All fetal lungs exposed to nitrofen or vehicle control were harvested at day E21.5 by C-section and processed for metabolomics analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The three groups analyzed were nitrofen-CDH (NCDH), nitrofen-control (NC), and vehicle control (VC). A total of 64 metabolites were quantified and subjected to statistical analysis. The multivariate analysis identified forty-four metabolites that were statistically different between the three groups. The highest Variable importance in projection (VIP) score (>2) metabolites were lactate, glutamate, and adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). Fetal CDH lungs have changes related to oxidative stress, nucleotide synthesis, amino acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism. This work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the CDH pathophysiology and can explore potential novel treatment targets for CDH patients.

Background and Purpose: Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is one of the most important forest species growing in the Western Mediterranean region. This investigation intends to assess the timing of flowering differentiation of cork oak and contribute to the deepening of the knowledge about the process of the sexual reproduction of the species. Materials and Methods: In 2010 four trees were selected (9, 14, 24, 25) from a plot of 25 trees located at Quinta da Serra, Portugal. A total of 240 buds were collected from these four trees, on three days (8, 14 and 23 March), from 4 branches per tree and 5 positions per branch for the assessment of meristem differentiation. Results: Meristem differentiation analysed on the sampling days revealed there were only vegetative structures by 8 March; a few male and female primordia on 14 March; and fully differentiated reproductive structures on 23 March. Conclusions: Flowering sex determination of cork oak occurs about one month before the flowering onset.

Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is a human food-borne poisoning that has been known since ancient times to be found mainly in tropical and subtropical areas, which occurs when fish or very rarely invertebrates contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs) are consumed. The genus of marine benthic dinoflagellates Gambierdiscus produces CTX precursors. The presence of Gambierdiscus species in a region is one indicator of CP risk. The Canary Islands (North Eastern Atlantic Ocean) is an area where CP cases have been reported since 2004. In the present study, samplings for Gambierdiscus cells were conducted in this area during 2016 and 2017. Gambierdiscus cells were isolated and identified as G. australes, G. excentricus, G. caribaeus, and G. belizeanus by molecular analysis. In this study, G. belizeanus is reported for the first time in the Canary Islands. Gambierdiscus isolates were cultured, and the CTX-like toxicity of forty-one strains was evaluated with the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (neuro-2a CBA). G. excentricus exhibited the highest CTX-like toxicity (9.5–2566.7 fg CTX1B equiv. cell−1) followed by G. australes (1.7–452.6.2 fg CTX1B equiv. cell−1). By contrast, the toxicity of G. belizeanus was low (5.6 fg CTX1B equiv. cell−1), and G. caribaeus did not exhibit CTX-like toxicity. In addition, for the G. belizeanus strain, the production of CTXs was evaluated with a colorimetric immunoassay and an electrochemical immunosensor resulting in G. belizeanus producing two types of CTX congeners (CTX1B and CTX3C series congeners) and can contribute to CP in the Canary Islands.

Introducción: Considerando la influencia del entorno familiar en el desarrollo de hábitos saludables en la primera infancia, este estudio se propuso explorar las prácticas que usan los padres para promover una alimentación saludable en niños de 1 a 5 años de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio mixto con una fase cualitativa y una fase cuantitativa, con análisis secuencial. En la fase cualitativa 20 padres fueron entrevistados en profundidad. A partir de esta información se construyó el Cuestionario Prácticas de crianza para promover hábitos de salud en la primera infancia. Con la subescala de alimentación se condujo la fase cuantitativa del estudio, en la que participaron 170 padres de diferentes niveles socioeconómicos. Resultados: Los padres reportaron que para promover los hábitos de alimentación utilizan en mayor medida prácticas responsivas o adecuadas (como supervisar el patrón de ingesta de los niños, establecer límites con niveles de control adecuados, modelar los hábitos, disponer de alimentos saludables en el hogar, reforzar los hábitos saludables y estimular a los niños para comer saludablemente), pero también hacen uso de algunas prácticas indulgentes y no responsivas. Las prácticas menos adecuadas fueron más frecuentes en padres de niveles socioeconómicos bajos. Conclusiones: Los padres utilizan un amplio rango de estrategias con diversidad de intencionalidades y estilos al promover hábitos de alimentación en sus hijos, presentando diferencias marcadas según su nivel socioeconómico. Los resultados señalan la necesidad de promover en los padres de niños en la primera infancia mayores conocimientos y habilidades para la crianza de sus hijos en relación con los hábitos de alimentación.

The important influence of the environmental context on health and health behavior—which includes place, settings, and the multiple environments within place and settings—has directed health promotion planners from a focus solely on changing individuals, toward a focus on harnessing and changing context for individual and community health promotion. Health promotion planning frameworks such as Intervention Mapping provide helpful guidance in addressing various facets of the environmental context in health intervention design, including the environmental factors that influence a given health condition or behavior, environmental agents that can influence a population’s health, and environmental change methods. In further exploring how to harness the environmental context for health promotion, we examine in this paper the concept of interweaving of health promotion into context, defined as weaving or blending together health promotion strategies, practices, programs, and policies to fit within, complement, and build from existing settings and environments. Health promotion interweaving stems from current perspectives in health intervention planning, improvement science and complex systems thinking by guiding practitioners from a conceptualization of context as a backdrop to intervention, to one that recognizes context as integral to the intervention design and to the potential to directly influence health outcomes. In exploring the general approach of health promotion interweaving, we examine selected theoretical and practice-based interweaving concepts in relation to four key environments (the policy environment, the information environment, the social/cultural/organizational environment, and the physical environment), followed by evidence-based and practice-based examples of health promotion interweaving from the literature. Interweaving of health promotion into context is a common practice for health planners in designing health promotion interventions, yet one which merits further intentionality as a specific health promotion planning design approach.

This paper concerns the fast-paced changes affecting the status of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) within the Portuguese context of higher education over the past years, in particular at the University of Minho. There are multiple reasons for this change, associated with the international evolution of the French language, with the challenges of globalisation and with the constraints experienced in the field, which call for differentiated teaching strategies suited to both initial and continuous training. The problems underlying these changes are interpreted in light of modern methods and methodologies, as well as of the audiences and goals that make up the cultural specificity of the institution concerned. Despite the adverse circumstances and the persistent hegemony of English, French still preserves its influence in some areas, knowledge of this language is deemed to be an asset, and such new uses of French require that FFL teaching/learning be prepared to promptly meet the challenges of globalisation, specifically that of communication.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders in a sample of children from a public hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: 330 children, who came to the clinical laboratory, were consecutively investigated for sleep disorders, using the sleep disturbance scale for children. Gender, age, and social/economical classification were considered. RESULTS: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) showed higher prevalence in our sample (55%) than in data found in the literature. Prevalence of sleep hyperhydrosis (SHY) was 27% considering the whole sample. Boys and children in age range 7.1 to 11 years old showed higher prevalence for SDB as well as children belonging to lower social/economic classifications who were also more prevalent for disorders in the transition of sleep-wakefulness. CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders were highly prevailing in our study, mostly SDB and SHY which were exceedingly more prevalent in boys in relation to international literature.OBJETIVO: Investigar a prevalência de distúrbios do sono numa amostra de crianças de um hospital público da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODO: 330 crianças que compareceram ao laboratório clínico foram consecutivamente investigadas para a presença de distúrbios do sono, usando-se a Escala de Distúrbios do Sono para crianças. Foram consideradas variáveis como sexo, idade e classificação sócio econômica. RESULTADOS: Os distúrbios respiratórios do sono (DRS) mostraram alta prevalência (55%) em nossa amostra em relação aos dados encontrados na literatura. A prevalência de hiper hidrose do sono (HHS) foi de 27%. Meninos e crianças da faixa etária compreendida entre 7,1 e 11 anos apresentaram prevalências mais altas para distúrbios respiratórios do sono assim como crianças pertencentes às classificações sócio econômicas mais baixas, que também foram mais prevalentes para desordens da transição sono-vigília. CONCLUSÃO: Os distúrbios do sono foram altamente presentes em nosso estudo, principalmente DRS e HHS, que foram mais prevalentes nos meninos, comparados com a literatura internacional.

Este artigo estuda as noções de pensar, sentir, sofia e paradoxia segundo as reflexões do filósofo Agostinho da Silva, visando, também, pensar a questão da língua portuguesa em suas várias expressões no mundo hodierno. Palavras-chave: Agostinho da Silva, língua portuguesa, sofia, paradoxia.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar aspectos relacionados con el neurodesarrollo infantil de la población indígena arhuaca en el grupo de la primera infancia, basado en una valoración global y general de determinadas áreas o procesos de desarrollo, desde cuatro aspectos fundamentales: la motri­ cidad gruesa, fina, audición y lenguaje, y personal social, a través de la escala abreviada del desarrollo de Nelson-Ortiz validada en el país. Se les aplicó a 55 niños menores de seis años que no tuvieran patologías crónicas o comorbilidades asociadas, en Nabusimake y Pueblo Bello, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, con el previo consentimiento de las autoridades locales indígenas y de sus padres, en el período abril de 2009.

Este artículo analiza, de forma comparativa, las estrategias de participación de la familia en la empresa a través de las narraciones de emprendedores inmigrantes extranjeros y retornados en Galicia. La intersección entre negocio y familia ha sido un elemento central en el marco de la literatura sobre empresariado inmigrante, de modo que los conceptos «empresa familiar» y «empresa inmigrante» han sido presentados como sinónimos. Las diferentes investigaciones en esta línea han sacado a la luz como el uso de mano de obra femenina en la empresa es clave para el éxito de los negocios, pero dificulta la visibilidad de contribución y la independencia de las mujeres. Asimismo, la investigación ha puesto de manifiesto como la dedicación al negocio por parte de las siguientes generaciones puede bloquear la trayectoria educativa de los hijos. Sin embargo, los resultados de este trabajo de investigación muestran que los negocios liderados por mujeres solas no necesariamente son sinónimo de una mejor inserción sociolaboral y percepción de movilidad social positiva, y que las estrategias de participación de los hijos en el negocio guardan relación con la percepción de movilidad experimentada por los padres. El acceso diferencial a la ciudadanía muestra unas estrategias diferenciales para emprendedores retornados y extranjeros. Las narrativas analizadas han sido obtenidas a través de 74 entrevistas en profundidad semiestructuradas a inmigrantes emprendedores retornados y extranjeros en Galicia.

Ao recordar Agostinho da Silva, vem-me á memória esse homem simples e sábio que algumas vezes visitei em sua casa em Lisboa, acompanhando nossa amiga comum Dalila Lello Pereira da Costa.

Questionando-nos sobre a autonomia dos discursos filosóficos em língua portuguesa perante os discursos poético-narrativos.

Escrito por Maria Helena Varela.

The Maya are the most populous and shortest in stature Native American ethnic group. The Maya provide us a good opportunity to study the dietetic characteristics of a group who experience nutritional dual burden (the combination of under and overnutrition) at the individual, mother-child dyad and population level. The aim of this study is to describe general dietetic patterns of a sample of Maya mothers and children who experienced nutritional dual burden and were living in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. From February to July 2010 we applied food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to 58 dyads of Maya mothers and their children (7-9 years old). The FFQ was developed by staff of the Department of Human Ecology at Cinvestav and included 78 foods, grouped in: cereals and tubers, foods of animal origin, leguminous vegetables, fats, fruits, vegetables, sugars, and daily products. The frequencies of consumption were classified in four levels: 1) no consumption, 2) low (1-2 days/week), 3) medium (3-4 days/week), high (5-7 days/week). The observed pattern suggests a low consumption of fruits and vegetables, a medium consumption of pork, eggs, oil and lard, and a high consumption of soda and whole milk. From these frequencies we extrapolated that the dietetic pattern is characterized by a low intake of fibre and micronutrients and high intake of fat and sugars, findings supported by previous National and regional studies. Our observations suggest that the studied group have a dietetic pattern that has moved away from a traditional Maya diet.

O presente estudo buscou compreender aspectos assistenciais presentes na base da utilização indiscriminada de benzodiazepínicos. Com base numa parceria entre uma universidade brasileira e uma cubana, buscou-se o entendimento das práticas relacionadas ao uso desses medicamentos na atenção primária e dos sentidos que profissionais de saúde atribuem a elas. A investigação integrou um estudo de casos múltiplos realizado nos municípios de São Paulo e Diadema (Brasil) e Santiago de Cuba (Cuba). O trabalho de campo adotou como estratégias de coleta de dados entrevistas individuais e grupos focais. Os dados, analisados tematicamente, revelaram cinco temas: (i) terra de ninguém: a ausência de gestão sobre o uso dos benzodiazepínicos pelos profissionais da atenção básica; (ii) indicação inadequada: o benzodiazepínico prescrito psra situações injustificáveis; (iii) salvação e perdição: o medicamento como atenuante da dificuldade de atuação na saúde mental pelos profissionais da atenção primária; (iv) pouco empoderamento dos profissionais da atenção primária para atuação na saúde mental; e (v) cuidado fragmentado: a desarticulação da rede de atenção psicossocial. A pouca apropriação das questões da saúde mental pelos profissionais da atenção primária, a fragmentação do cuidado, a sobrecarga de trabalho com temas considerados prioritários, as deficiências na disponibilidade de recursos terapêuticos e o pouco investimento em formação específica contribuem para o uso não adequado de benzodiazepínicos. Independentemente dos contextos sanitários estudados, os desafios são semelhantes para os sistemas de saúde e só podem ser enfrentados se convertidos em prioridade para a gestão das organizações e para o conjunto dos profissionais.