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Abstract Aims Many European healthcare providers struggle to adopt multidisciplinary, integrated care pathways for people with heart failure (HF) as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology. PRO‐HF (Program to Optimize Heart Failure Patient Pathways) was developed to help clinicians identify strengths, gaps, and shortcomings in their HF pathways and support tailored interventions to optimize pathways and enhance patient care. We report initial findings from baseline assessments of HF pathway characteristics and challenges from 10 hospitals in six European countries (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom). Methods and results Baseline assessments were holistic appraisals of full HF services to calibrate current status and development needs and assist management teams in prioritizing improvement projects. Assessments were performed using a comprehensive checklist of measures covering the HF patient journey from diagnosis to ongoing follow‐up. These included a digital survey sent to full HF care teams and one‐to‐one interviews. The digital survey focused on four key areas (HF outpatient clinic; remote patient management; efficient device implantation and inpatient pathways; and network maximization) and 16 dimensions of excellence. Priority areas and themes for action identified in baseline assessments were (i) provision of HF specialist care; (ii) data capture and analysis; (iii) institutional care protocols; (iv) hospital‐wide strategies; and (v) multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). Suboptimal specialist care of emergency inpatients was an issue at all hospitals and prioritized at 8/10. Availability and accessibility of data on patients, activities, and outcomes was an issue at all hospitals and prioritized by 4/10. A lack of clear protocols, templates, and tools for some HF activities created variability in patient care (e.g., HF specialist consultations, diagnostic testing, follow‐up appointments, medications, and device eligibility) and inefficient use of clinician time. This made it difficult to initiate new technologies (e.g., remote patient monitoring) due to the risk of overburdening staff. MDTs were frequently understaffed. Multiple interventions were identified to address gaps and shortcomings that could be tailored to specific needs of individual hospitals (e.g., inpatient pathway optimization, creation/optimization of HF outpatient clinics, development of an HF performance dashboard, enhancement of protocol adherence, streamlining cardiac resynchronisation therapy pathways, and MDT coordination). Conclusions PRO‐HF provides a valuable opportunity to identify gaps and significant shortcomings in HF pathways in European hospitals. Preliminary findings from hospitals that have initiated suggested changes to address these challenges are encouraging, though longer‐term follow‐up from more hospitals is needed to confirm the impact of PRO‐HF on HF pathway optimization and patient care.

Purpose: To analyse the relationship between the different habits that occur in childhood and the different malocclusions in the three planes of space. Material and methods: A clinical examination of 106 children between 5 and 12 years of age was carried out and a survey validated by professors of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Seville was made for the parents in order to identify the habits and relate them to the possible malocclusions detected in the child’s mouth. Results: 72.64% of the sample presented a malocclusion in at least one of the three planes of space, with a similar distribution. When correlating the variables, statistically significant relationships were observed in the vertical plane with atypical swallowing (p = 0 < 0.05; V > 0.3) and lip sucking (p = 0 < 0.05; V > 0.3) and in the horizontal plane with oral breathing (p = 0 < 0.05; V > 0.3), atypical swallowing (p = 0 < 0.05; V < 0.3) and digital sucking (p = 0 < 0.05; V < 0.3). Conclusions: It has been observed that the prevalence and prolongation of habits in childhood is increasing, so it is essential to detect pernicious habits at an early age to prevent the establishment of malocclusions and to favour the correct craniofacial growth of the child.

Throughout the last decades, the increasing pressure of anthropogenic (climate and land-use) changes has been a major impact on biodiversity in several regions and habitat types. These drivers have disturbed the timing of reproduction in animals and plants as well as the migration of animals resulting in changes in population size and species distribution. Our study analyses the impact of climate change in the spatial distribution of selected species, between historical period (1950–2018) and future period (2041–2070), in four case studies at a watershed level over the Atlantic region, highlighting the importance of integrating landscape trends to anticipate key biodiversity pattern responses. The results were compared to predicted future climate projections (2041–2070), based on two IPCC scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), using a 5-model ensemble developed under the EURO-CORDEX project. Further, complementary downscaling methodologies were applied, allowing the increase of the spatial resolution from ~12 km to ~1 km in all climate variables. Land cover maps were developed using the Forecasting Landscape Scenarios Model. We assessed the impact of projected climate change and land cover development on specific vulnerable species distribution for each case study. The results showed an overall temperature increase for all case studies and both representative concentration pathways scenarios and a shift in potential habitat area of species addressed to areas upstream of the catchments. These predictions have a strong importance in defining conservation strategies of these vulnerable species, and may overall bring guidelines for the management of Atlantic landscapes in response to climate change, namely as pertinent ecological indicators under realistic future changing regional scenarios.

Tracheal collapse is the most common progressive affection of the anterior pathways in small animals. The most common clinical symptom is a “goose honk” cough in cases of tracheal collapse and inspiratory discomfort in cases of cervical collapse. The diagnosis is based on the history, physical examination, and imaging tests, notably chest radiography and endoscopic examination. Treatment can be clinical or surgical depending on the degree of collapse. Obesity currently affects several domestic animals and predisposes them to respiratory disorders. The overlapping adipose tissue presses on the muscles of the trachea, aggravating the collapse and influencing the lung compliance and expansion. The present report describes the clinical improvement in an obese canine with tracheal and bronchial collapse after clinical management and therapeutic ration.

Abstract Aim Relationships of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction with exercise capacity are understudied. To assess the relationship of PASP and RV function with functional capacity and ventilatory efficiency in heart failure (HF) with a wide range of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods and results Five hundred thirty‐two consecutive HF patients referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing [percent predicted peak VO2 (ppVO2), VE/VCO2 slope] and echocardiography [LVEF, PASP, and RV fractional area change (RVFAC)] were studied. Associations of PASP and RVFAC with ppVO2 and VE/VCO2 slope were assessed by multivariable linear regression and restricted cubic splines. Associations with composite of death, heart transplant, and LV assist device (median 3.9 year follow‐up) was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Mean age was 56 ± 14 years and mean LVEF was 35 ± 15%. Mean PASP was 34 ± 12 mmHg, RVFAC was 41 ± 13%, ppVO2 was 60 ± 21%, and VE/VCO2 slope was 35 ± 12. After adjusting for demographics, co‐morbidities, LVEF, mitral regurgitation severity, and left atrial volume index, higher PASP was associated with worse ppVO2 (P = 0.004) and was more robust in patients with LVEF ≥45% vs.

Neste trabalho realizamos um percurso genealógico da raça e do racismo por meio das pesquisas de Michel Foucault sobre o biopoder e a biopolítica e de Achille Mbembe sobre o nascimento do negro e da África no discurso europeu do século XVII. Partimos da tese de que a raça não é uma realidade biológica ou cultural, mas uma invenção política. O pensador camaronês evidencia que a condição negra foi matricial para o capitalismo se consolidar como sistema hegemônico e que, no contemporâneo, é a manutenção dessa condição que atualiza nossa colonização. Nesse sentido, gostaríamos de problematizar a raça através da história, explicitar seu uso necropolítico e sua dimensão subjetivante e desejante, a fim de avançar no debate sobre a questão que, a nosso ver, pode ajudar na construção de uma psicologia que se pretende antirracista: quais os modos possíveis de combate à colonização subjetiva?

Por su continuidad espacial y su relativa homogeneidad ecológica y biofísica, las ecorregiones son un nivel de organización apropiado para discutir y planificar iniciativas de conservación del ambiente a escala regional y nacional. Las interacciones complejas entre las características ecológicas de las ecorregiones, los cambios socioeconómicos locales y globales, y los cambios en el uso de la tierra ocasionan que las amenazas y la oportunidades para conservar dentro y entre ecorregiones se distribuyan de manera heterogénea. En este artículo realizamos un diagnóstico actualizado de las presiones de conservación asociadas al uso de la tierra en las distintas ecorregiones terrestres de la Argentina. Entendemos por presiones a las actividades antrópicas que modifican el estado de los recursos naturales e impactan sobre su funcionamiento. Luego de identificar las principales presiones por ecorregión realizamos un análisis de agrupamiento para identificar grupos de ecorregiones en función de la similitud de sus presiones. La ganadería comercial y la agricultura estuvieron dentro de las principales presiones asociadas al uso de la tierra en ocho y siete de las ecorregiones terrestres de la Argentina, respectivamente. Otras presiones de incidencia más específicas fueron muy relevantes en algunas ecorregiones, en especial en aquellas con limitantes para las actividades agropecuarias orientadas a los mercados globales. Identificamos cuatro grupos en función de la incidencia de las presiones asociadas al uso de la tierra: 1) Monte, Puna y Altos Andes; 2) Bosques Patagónicos; 3) Selva Paranaense y Selva de las Yungas, y 4) Campos y Malezales, Chaco Húmedo, Chaco Seco, Delta e Islas del Paraná, Espinal, Esteros del Iberá, Estepa Patagónica y Pampa. Este agrupamiento por presiones comunes de ecorregiones distantes en el espacio contribuiría a organizar geográficamente políticas de gestión de los recursos naturales integradas a nivel regional.

Fístulas arteriovenosas hepáticas são comunicações vasculares entre a artéria hepática e a veia porta fazendo com que o sangue se desvie da rede sinusóide hepática e retorne por fluxo retrógrado para o sistema portal. Essa afecção de rara ocorrência, pode ser de caráter congênito ou adquirido, podendo levar à anorexia, perda de peso, diarreia, alterações neurológicas e ascite, e possui o desvio portossistêmico como principal diagnóstico diferencial. O tratamento clínico é paliativo, sendo necessária a realização de cirurgia para resolução definitiva da doença. O presente relato reporta um caso de fistula arteriovenosa em cão, desde o início dos sinais clínicos, o diagnóstico e tratamento exclusivamente clínico realizado, tendo o animal uma sobrevida de 19 meses.

Objetivo: Evaluar la permeabilidad, retención y biodistribución de los LUD-PcAlCl in vivo.Metodología: Los transferosomas fueron obtenidos mediante rehidratación de película lipídica. Ratas Wistar fueron tratadas tópica e intraperitonealmente con los transferosomas por 5 días. La penetración ex vivo fue determinada mediante el ensayo en celdas de Franz y la retención por el método de la cinta adhesiva. Cinco y treinta días postratamiento se obtuvo la piel y órganos para determinar la retención del compuesto y realizar estudios histopatológicos. La PcAlCl fue extraída con solventes y cuantificada por fluorometría. Los resultados se expresaron en nM PcAlCl/mg órgano.Resultados: La PcAlCl no penetró la piel en los ensayos ex vivo, reteniéndose principalmente en el estrato córneo. Cinco días post-tratamiento tópico la PcAlCl fue retenida en estrato córneo (41,76±0,02), mostrando concentraciones mínimas en bazo (0,09±0,02), epidermis-dermis (0,06±0,17), hígado (0,03±0,02) y pulmón (0,02±0,01 nM). Por vía intraperitoneal se encontró PcAlCl en bazo (0,58±0,4), cerebro (0,07±0,07), corazón (0,07±0,12), pulmón (0,012±0,01) y piel (0,021±0,02 nM). Treinta días postratamiento no se encontró PcAlCl en ningún órgano. Los estudios histopatológicos fueron negativos.Conclusión: La PcAlCl contenida en transferosomas fue retenida principalmente en estrato córneo, mostrando bajas concentraciones en la dermis, sitio donde se aloja el parásito. Se sugiere modificar los componentes vesiculares del sistema para aumentar la permeación del compuesto.

This research aims to identify and analyze the main criteria that help the shipper to choose the carrier and the modal to be used to transport the harvest and its derivatives. Ultimately, the results obtained will be demonstrated through criteria identified and analyzed consistently through the AHP method, which is a multi-criteria decision-making method that aids decision making by taking into account all the variables analyzed.

Borderline resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) is associated with adverse outcomes and affects the exercise pulmonary vascular response. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying exertional intolerance in borderline mPAP remain incompletely characterized. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the prevalence and functional impact of exercise pulmonary hypertension (ePH) across a spectrum of resting mPAP’s in consecutive patients with contemporary resting right heart catheterization (RHC) and invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Patients with resting mPAP 0.05) and similar underlying mechanisms of exercise intolerance compared with non-PH (peak oxygen delivery 1868 ± 599 mL/min versus 1756 ± 720 mL/min versus 2482 ± 875 mL/min, respectively; P

¿Es legítimo atribuir “mente” a un interlocutor mecánico (demostrablemente) competente? El experimento mental de la ‘Habitación China’, concebido por Searle en 1980, ha generado un torrente de literatura, de réplicas y contrarréplicas, que llega hasta nuestros días. Veinticinco años después, ¿queda algo interesante que añadir a la discusión, aparte de resucitar viejas objeciones? ¿O acaso hemos alcanzado un impasse filosófico, una suerte de equilibrio insulso? A mi modo de ver, la posición de Searle plantea, aún hoy, un serio desafío al sueño de una Inteligencia Artificial fuerte. No obstante, considero que dicho desafío no es en modo alguno insuperable. Para ello, propongo adoptar un punto de vista diferente, no el de la Habitación China sino el de un laboratorio de I.A.

Resumo: As anomalias coronárias congénitas são uma das causas de isquemia miocárdica e morte súbita em jovens, principalmente durante a prática desportiva. A origem da artéria coronária direita na descendente anterior é muito rara, com uma prevalência de 0,015% e correspondendo a 1,2% das anomalias coronárias congénitas. Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um homem de 22 anos, consumidor de cocaína, internado por enfarte agudo do miocárdio sem supradesnivelamento de ST. O cateterismo mostrou a presença desta anomalia coronária rara e a ausência de lesões ateroscleróticas luminais, pelo que se assumiu tratar-se de um enfarte agudo do miocárdio tipo II secundário a vasospasmo do vaso anómalo induzido pela cocaína. Abstract: Congenital coronary artery anomalies are one of the causes of myocardial ischemia and sudden death in the young, mainly during sports. Origin of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending artery is very rare, with a prevalence of 0.015%, corresponding to 1.2% of all coronary artery anomalies. The authors present the case of a 22-year-old man, with a history of cocaine use, admitted to hospital with a non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed the presence of this rare coronary anomaly and the absence of atherosclerotic luminal stenosis, and so it was assumed to be a type II infarction caused by cocaine-induced vasospasm of the anomalous vessel. Palavras-chave: Coronárias, Congénito, Enfarte, Cocaína, Keywords: Coronary, Congenital, Infarction, Cocaine

The relationship between dyspnea and incident heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarction (MI) among patients without previously diagnosed cardiopulmonary disease is unclear. We studied the prognostic relevance of self-reported dyspnea for cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in persons without previously diagnosed cardiopulmonary disease.We studied 10 881 community-dwelling participants (mean age 57±6, 56% women, 25% black) who were free of prevalent cardiopulmonary disease from Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Dyspnea status at study entry using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. The primary outcomes were time to HF, MI or all-cause death. Dyspnea prevalence was 22%, and was mild (mMRC grade 1 or 2) in 21% and moderate-to-severe (mMRC 3 or 4) in 1%. The main correlates of dyspnea were older age, female sex, higher BMI and active smoking. Over a follow-up of 19±5 years, greater self-reported dyspnea severity was associated with worse prognosis. Mild dyspnea was associated with significantly heightened risk of HF (adjusted Hazard Ratio, HR,1.30; 95% CI: 1.16-1.46), MI (adjusted HR 1.34; 95%CI: 1.20-1.50), and death (adjusted HR 1.16; 95%CI: 1.06-1.26), with moderate/severe dyspnea associated with an even greater risk (adjusted HR 2.14, 95%CI: 1.59-2.89; 1.93, 95%CI: 1.41-2.56; 1.96, 95%CI: 1.55-2.48, respectively).In community-dwelling persons free of previously diagnosed cardiopulmonary disease, self-reported dyspnea is common and, even when of mild intensity, it is independently associated with a greater risk of incident HF, MI, and death. Our data emphasize the prognostic importance of even mild self-reported dyspnea for cardiovascular outcomes.

In the present paper the A. A. reviewed the more fundamental problems in the ethiopathogenic process of bacterial endocardits and report the bacte¬riological observations done by them in 20 cases of the disecase observed at the Section of Pathological Anatomy and Bacteriology of the Hospital S. Francisco de Assis in charge of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. The A.A. isolated Pneumococcus from 10 out the 20 cases, Gonococcus from 2, Staphylococcus from 2, Streptococcus from 5 and Friedlaender bacil¬lus from 1 . The A.A. mainly lay stress on the necessity of the bacteriological exa¬minations being made by a specialist, owing to the difficulties sometimes met with and to the consequences of a detailed examination of the isolated germ.Expomos e analisamos, no presente trabalho, as principais idéias emitidas acerca das endocardites sépticas. De grande importância foram as de Schottmueller sôbre o caráter autônomo da endocardite lenta, assim a especificidade do seu agente etiológico. Observações posteriores trouxeram restrições à teoria desse autor e as nossas se encontram nesse número, conforme se poderá ver no capitulo anterior. Além do Streptococcus viridans muitas outras bactérias têm ocasionado casos clínicos típicos de endocardite lenta ou sub-aguda. Outro ponto para o qual se têm dirigido os pesquisadores é o que trata da mutação do Streptococcus haemohjticus em Streptococcus viridans, o pri¬meiro dado como mais freqüente nas endocardites agudas. A tendência dos modernos autores é nesse sentido e nós temos observado, não raro, mutações dessa natureza. Há mesmo autores que admitem uma só espécie de estrepto-coco não passando de acidentes ocasionados por diferentes fatores físicos, químicos e biológicos as características descritas pelos que admitem várias espécies. As hemoculturas nem sempre foram positivas nos nossos casos, o que têm acontecido a todos os autores que estudaram o assunto. Em primeiro lugar concordamos que é de grande importância o meio de cultura a empregar, assim como os cuidados técnicos auxiliares. Mesmo assim a percentagem de negatividade é elevada. Nem sempre o sôro possui anticorpos que impeçam a proliferação do germe causador, conforme tivemos ocasião de observar em 1 caso. E' mais razoável aceitar, quando tal ocorre, que o germe circule intermitentemente. Lesões do endocárdio em conseqüência de doenças anteriores, principalmente o reumatismo articular agudo, facilitam o desenvolver da endocardite séptica. Em elevada percentagem verifica-se essa ocorrência e, em nossos casos, os que forneceram informações seguras, doenças cardíacas anteriores puderam ser apuradas. Segundo referem alguns autores, o depósito de fibrinas e plaquetas nas lesões antigas, quando novamente atacadas, viria facilitar o desenvolvimento da bactéria que entrou em circulação. As nossas observações microscópicas verificaram a presença desses elementos. Concordando com o que se têm observado os germes do grupo dos cocos predominaram de maneira quase absoluta (95%). Contudo, a verificação do pneumococo em 50% dos casos constitui uma exceção às estatísticas melhor elaboradas. Antes de finalizar desejamos agradecer ao Diretor e Chefes de Serviço do Hospital S. Francisco de Assis e aos Drs. Magarinos Torres e Pena de Azevedo o grande auxílio que nos prestaram durante a execução deste trabalho; ao Sr. J. Pinto pela execução das fotografias e microfotografias.

1. The appearance of meta-hemoglobin in pneumococcus cultures in blood media must be consequential to the formation of hydogen peroxide, according to the observation of several authors as well as of our own. 2. We emphasize the rôle of mucin in the production of hydrogen peroxide by pneumococcus, a circumstance which has been neglected by the authors who dealt with the matter. 3. In the metabolism of pneumococcus, the existence or formation of mucin is necessary for the maintenance of certain biological properties of the germ. 4. In cultures media containing blood and mucin, the production of meta-hemoglobin by pneumococcus is much larger than in those which contain no mucin. 5. We venture the hypothesis that mucin plays a very important rôle in the implantation of pneumonia, as in the periods preceeding this disease theres is an increase of bronchial secretion, and this secretion is almost entirely constintuted by mucin. 6. Mucin increases the pathogenic power of pneumococcus in mice according to the studies of several authors, which comes to favour our hypothesis.1 - O aparecimento da net-hemoglobina nas culturas de pneumococos em meios com sangue deve ser conseqüente à formação de peróxido de hidrogênio, de acôrdo com a observação de vários autores e nossas. 2 - Salientamos o papel da mucina na produção de peróxido de hidrogênio pelo pneumococo, o que tem sido descurado pelos autores que têm tratado do assunto. 3 - No metabolismo do pneumococo, a existência ou formação de mucina é necessária para manter certas propriedade biológicas do germe. 4 - Em meios de cultura contendo sangue e mucina, a produção de meta-hemoglobina pelo penumococo é muito que nos que não contêm mucina. 5 - Aventamos a hipótese de desempenhar a mucina papel importantíssimo na instalação de pneumonia pois que, nos períodos que a precedem, há aumento da secreção dos brônquios e a esta secreção é constituida, quase que exclusivamente, pela mucina. 6 - A mucina aumenta o poder patogênico do pneumococo para comondongos, segundo a verificação de vários autores, o que vem a favor da nossa hipótese.

1 - Os A.A. referem, no presente trabalho, um caso de endocardite e septicemia com isolamento de uma bactéria difteróide do sangue, sangue, durante a vida e das lesões endocárdicas, sangue, baço e rins, post mortem. 2 - A referida bactéria apresenta caracteres especiais e é descrita com o nome de Corynebacterium haemolyticum n. sp. em vista da propriedade hemolítica que apresenta nos meios com sangue. 3 - No caso descrito não é possível atribui-se a outra causa, que não a êsse germe, a origem da doença, pois que nenhum outro foi isolado ou observado no seu decurso ou em material colhido do cadáver. 4 - Consultando a literatura médica, verificamos que os casos semelhantes, acompanhados de comprovação bacteriológica segura, são extremamente raros, podendo-se contar dois em que se isolou difteróide do sangue do doente e lesões cadavéricas do mesmo, figurando o nosso em 3.° lugar, desde 1893. Dois outros são referidos com isolamento das lesões do cadáver. Em maior número são os casos em que o difteróide aparece associado.1. In the present paper the AA. report a case of endocarditis and septicemia along with the isolation of a diphtheroid bacterium from the blood in vita, as well as from the endocardic changes, blood, spleen and kidneys post mortem. 2. The mentioned bacterium presents special features and, owing to the hemolytic property it presents in blood media, is described under the name of Corynebacterium haemolyticum n. sp. 3. In the present case the origin of the disease cannot be ascribed to another cause but to this germ, as no other one was isolated or observed either in the course of the illness or in the material collected form the corpse. 4. Consulting the medical literature, we have found that similar cases accompanied by a secure bacteriological proof are extremely rare, as only two case are found in which a diphthroid bacterium was isolated from the patients' blood and from the corpse changes of the same, our case appearing in the 3rd place, since 1893. Two other cases are reported with isolation from corpse changes. The cases in which the diphtheroid appears associated with other germs are of a larger number.

One of the features of pneumococcus which has deserved the attention of investigators is the capsule. Since Pasteur, Chamberland and Roux (1881) several functions have been ascribed to it as well as peculiar properties. In the present paper, we take into consideration one only aspect of this problem; it is the relationship which there possibly may be between acidity of the culture medium and the power of capsule formation by pneumococcus. As it is known, this germ requires for its development 7.8 as an optimum pH, but maintains its biological activities down to 5.6. These variations do not take place without large alterations, particularly of the capsule, not only from the morphological but also from the chemical viewpoint. The diameter of the mucous envelopment of the pneumococcus decreases in proportion to the increase of acidity down to its complete extinction. This fact has been regarded by investigators as a biological feature inhe¬ring to the germ itself and as proceeding of self-defense. In an acid medium the existing capsule is destroyed and the germ does not produce it again; consequently, acidity inhibits the formation of the capsule. We tried to check how this phenomenon comes to pass and to elucidated it. As we know, the fundamental compound of the pneumococcus capsule is mucin. In the first place, we experimented the action of acidity on same in the following manner: Mucin extracted from bovine submaxillary gland is precipitated by HC1 at a determined concentration degree; the mucin dissolves again and precipi¬tates in function of this concentration. This property of mucin (solubility in acid medium) modifies a little the interpretation of the mechanism of disappearance of the capsule from the said germ in the culture medium. Indeed: The acidification of the medium consecutive to the growth of pneumococcus reduces the dimensions of the capsule until causing its com¬plete disappearance; but on transferring this strain to new optimum cultiva¬ting conditions the capsule appears again exhuberantly, at times as anteriorly, although with biased virulence. Linking these two facts we draw the following conclusions: Pneumo¬coccus does not lose its capacity of capsule formation in an acid medium; but mucin, whilst being produced, is entirely dissolved in this medium by the aid of acidity; we venture to state that, in spite of medium acidity, the capacity of capsule production is a constant feature of pneumococcus and that the disappearance of the capsule does not depend on the pneumococcus in itself when it produces smooth colonies, but on the chemical properties of mucin, mainly on its solubility in acid medium.

The vaccination with hemolytic streptococci washed in saline doesn't give to the plasma of vaccinated people resistence against fibrinolysis, when in presence of antistreptofibrinolysin. The A. A. believe that the fibrinolysin in solube is the culture medium and that it is necessary to the formation of the antifibrinolysin. This fact is important in the preparation of the antistreptococcal serum which must be antibacterian, antitoxic and antifibrinolytic.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and even though modern medicine has reduced considerably the number of deaths due to MI, patients still undergo serious cardiac issues that dramatically affects their well-being. Since the start of the century, massive efforts have been employed in exploring stem cell therapy, however, it is believed that it has failed to live up to expectations and further work must done. Alongside this, FSTL-1 has been an emerging protein which seems to offer a multitude of benefits in post-MI. A considerable number of studies with FSTL-1 have been conducted, always with a very satisfactory level of success, especially considering that research is still in its preliminary phases. In this study, a general evaluation is done to 1) the known mechanisms regulated by FSTL-1, 2) the recognized effects of FSTL-1 in cardiac tissue and cells, 3) and what work can be done to clarify questions and further expand our knowledge in order to advance FSTL-1 as a potential therapeutic agent.

Grassland bird populations in the Mediterranean lowlands have declined dramatically over the past few decades. This decline is due to a combination of factors, including changes in land use and farming practices as well as the impacts of climate change. In particular, more intensive agricultural methods have played a significant role in this reduction. However, in the higher-altitude uplands of the region, traditional practices like pastoralism and rotational low-intensity farming are still common, and these areas continue to support substantial populations of several threatened grassland bird species. In this viewpoint, we discuss the challenges that the uplands are facing and suggest rethinking regional development to better balance the needs of people and nature.

Climate change threatens established agricultural systems and production, driving the need for adaptation and mitigation strategies. Vitiforestry, an alternative cultivation system combining trees and shrubs in the vineyard, promotes environmental sustainability and offers a possible adaptation strategy to climate change. This work scrutinizes the impact of shading on vineyards using an Integrated Model of Vineyard Shading and Climate Adaptation (IMVSCA), supported by a system dynamics approach. This model estimates solar radiation and computes daily and annual trends of insolation, air temperature, and relative humidity to shading and its influence on vineyard growth stages. It also assesses the effects of shading-related extreme weather events and the occurrence of grapevine disease development driven by daily weather conditions and zoning adaptations. The pilot results depict the effects of tree shading on vineyards, namely the impacts of solar radiation and air temperature on vine phenology, pollination, pollen germination, fungal diseases, and the complimentary indicators of grape production and quality. Our modeling framework and findings suggest that vitiforestry could be an interesting climate change adaptation technique, providing a starting point for further studies in this scope.