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We investigated the millennial variability (1000 A.D.-2000 A.D.) of global biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions by using two independent numerical models: The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN), for isoprene, monoterpene, and sesquiterpene, and Lund-Potsdam-Jena-General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ-GUESS), for isoprene and monoterpenes. We found the millennial trends of global isoprene emissions to be mostly affected by land cover and atmospheric carbon dioxide changes, whereas monoterpene and sesquiterpene emission trends were dominated by temperature change. Isoprene emissions declined substantially in regions with large and rapid land cover change. In addition, isoprene emission sensitivity to drought proved to have significant short-term global effects. By the end of the past millennium MEGAN isoprene emissions were 634 TgC yr-1 (13% and 19% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively), and LPJ-GUESS emissions were 323 TgC yr-1(15% and 20% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively). Monoterpene emissions were 89 TgC yr-1(10% and 6% higher than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively) in MEGAN, and 24 TgC yr-1 (2% higher and 5% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively) in LPJ-GUESS. MEGAN sesquiterpene emissions were 36 TgC yr-1(10% and 4% higher than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively). Although both models capture similar emission trends, the magnitude of the emissions are different. This highlights the importance of building better constraints on VOC emissions from terrestrial vegetation.

We investigated the millennial variability (1000 A.D.-2000 A.D.) of global biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions by using two independent numerical models: The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN), for isoprene, monoterpene, and sesquiterpene, and Lund-Potsdam-Jena-General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ-GUESS), for isoprene and monoterpenes. We found the millennial trends of global isoprene emissions to be mostly affected by land cover and atmospheric carbon dioxide changes, whereas monoterpene and sesquiterpene emission trends were dominated by temperature change. Isoprene emissions declined substantially in regions with large and rapid land cover change. In addition, isoprene emission sensitivity to drought proved to have significant short-term global effects. By the end of the past millennium MEGAN isoprene emissions were 634 TgC yr-1 (13% and 19% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively), and LPJ-GUESS emissions were 323 TgC yr-1(15% and 20% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively). Monoterpene emissions were 89 TgC yr-1(10% and 6% higher than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively) in MEGAN, and 24 TgC yr-1 (2% higher and 5% less than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively) in LPJ-GUESS. MEGAN sesquiterpene emissions were 36 TgC yr-1(10% and 4% higher than during 1750-1850 and 1000-1200, respectively). Although both models capture similar emission trends, the magnitude of the emissions are different. This highlights the importance of building better constraints on VOC emissions from terrestrial vegetation.

Changes in the ecosystems of vector-borne diseases can make the environment more or less favorable for mosquito vectors, animal reservoirs, and disease transmission. We report for the 1st time Anopheles marajoara in Argentina. In addition, An. deaneorum is reported for the 1st time in northwestern area of the country. Aedes fulvus, Culex eduardoi, Limatus durhamii, Mansonia pseudotitillans, Psorophora albigenu, Ps. cingulata, and Uranotaenia nataliae are recorded for the 1st time in Tucumán Province. Data on collection localities and comments about medical importance are also presented., (Copyright © 2024 by The American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.)

Occlusion of the artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare yet potentially disabling form of ischemic stroke resulting in infarction of the bilateral paramedian thalami and mesencephalon with variable and often atypical presentation. Given the various patterns of thalamic blood supply, recognizing the presence of AOP infarction is crucial for the diagnosis and management of ischemic strokes involving these regions. Here, we report a case of acute hemorrhagic infarction involving the bilateral thalami and the rostral mesencephalon caused by a cardioembolic occlusion of the AOP., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Review Board, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center issued approval 2024-022. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Llapitan et al.)

The biosynthetic capability of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in teleosts are highly diversified due to evolutionary events such as gene loss and subsequent neo- and/or sub-functionalisation of enzymes encoded by existing genes. In the present study, we have comprehensively characterised genes potentially involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis, namely one front-end desaturase (fads2) and eight fatty acid elongases (elovl1a, elovl1b, elovl4a, elovl4b, elovl5, elovl7, elovl8a and elovl8b) from an amphidromous teleost, Ayu sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis. Functional analysis confirmed Fads2 with Δ6, Δ5 and Δ8 desaturase activities towards multiple PUFA substrates and several Elovl enzymes exhibited elongation capacities towards C 18-20 or C 18-22 PUFA substrates. Consequently, P. altivelis possesses a complete enzymatic capability to synthesise physiologically important LC-PUFA including arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) from their C 18 precursors. Interestingly, the loss of elovl2 gene in P. altivelis was corroborated by genomic and phylogenetic analyses. However, this constraint would possibly be overcome by the function of alternative Elovl enzymes, such as Elovl1b, which has not hitherto been functionally characterised in teleosts. The present study contributes novel insights into LC-PUFA biosynthesis in the relatively understudied teleost group, Osmeriformes (Stomiati), thereby enhancing our understanding of the complement of LC-PUFA biosynthetic genes within teleosts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Bo Zhao reports financial support was provided by China Scholarship Council. Juan C. Navarro, Oscar Monroig reports financial support was provided by Spain Ministry of Science and Innovation. Juan C. Navarro, Oscar Monroig reports financial support was provided by Government of Valencia. 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.)

Patients with bipolar disorder type I (BP-I) often present with impairments in cognitive function. Offspring unaffected by the disorder can also present with cognitive dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare the cognitive function of BP-I patients, their unaffected offspring (UO) and healthy control subjects (HC)., Methods: Verbal memory, working memory index, processing speed, attention, verbal and phonological fluency and executive function were evaluated through the application of a neuropsychological battery to three groups made up of BP-I patients that attended the Bipolar Disorder Outpatient Clinic of Clínica San Juan de Dios de Manizales [San Juan de Dios de Manizales Clinic] (n=30), UO (n=32) and control group (n=31). The UO group and the control group were matched by gender, age and level of education., Results: Major differences between the three groups were found in the measures of cognitive functions (except in semantic fluency). The HC group showed better cognitive performance in all the functions. Post-hoc analysis showed similar results in the cognitive performance between BP-I and UO except in verbal learning and executive function tasks where the results were better in UO. A better performance in the control group was found, compared to the UO group, in executive function, attention, working memory, and semantic fluency and phonological areas., Conclusions: These results indicate that the offspring of patients with BP-I present with cognitive impairments without suffering from the disorder. This suggests that cognitive dysfunction presents without diagnosis and supports the hypothesis that it can correspond to a BP-I endophenotype., (Copyright © 2022 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Trypanosomosis is a tropical disease caused by various protozoan haemoparasites, which affects wild and domestic animals, the latter ones related to worldwide livestock production systems. Species such as Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma evansi have been described using serological and molecular tools in several countries from South and Central America. However, Ecuador presents a relevant knowledge gap in the associated general epidemiology and risk factors of the disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of trypanosomosis in cattle from different regions of Ecuador. 745 serum samples from 7 Coastal and 3 Amazon provinces were screened for IgG anti-Trypanosoma spp. antibodies, using an in-house indirect ELISA. The seropositivity was explored and associated with several variables such as sex, age, breed, region, management, and province, using statistical tools. The general seroprevalence of trypanosomosis was 19.1% (95% CI: 16.30-22.1%). The Amazonian provinces of Sucumbíos and Napo and the Coastal province of Esmeraldas presented the highest seroprevalence values of 36.7% (95% CI: 27.67-46.47%), 23.64% (95% CI: 16.06-32.68%) and 25% (95% CI: 15.99-35.94%), respectively. Statistical significance was found for the region, province, and management variables, indicating as relevant risk factors the extensive management and Amazon location of the cattle analyzed. Specific actions should be taken to identify the exact species on reservoirs and susceptible hosts, evaluate the implication of farm management and cattle movement as risk factors, and implement surveillance and treatment plans for affected herds., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) proteins plays pivotal functions in the biosynthesis of the physiologically essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Polychaetes have important roles in marine ecosystems, contributing not only to nutrient recycling but also exhibiting a distinctive capacity for biosynthesizing LC-PUFA. To expand our understanding of the LC-PUFA biosynthesis in polychaetes, this study conducted a thorough molecular and functional characterization of Elovl occurring in the model organism Platynereis dumerilii . We identify six Elovl in the genome of P. dumerilii . The sequence and phylogenetic analyses established that four Elovl, identified as Elovl2/5, Elovl4 (two genes) and Elovl1/7, have putative functions in LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Functional characterization confirmed the roles of these elongases in LC-PUFA biosynthesis, demonstrating that P. dumerilii possesses a varied and functionally diverse complement of Elovl that, along with the enzymatic specificities of previously characterized desaturases, enables P. dumerilii to perform all the reactions required for the biosynthesis of the LC-PUFA. Importantly, we uncovered that one of the two Elovl4-encoding genes is remarkably long in comparison with any other animals' Elovl, which contains a C terminal KH domain unique among Elovl. The distinctive expression pattern of this protein in photoreceptors strongly suggests a central role in vision.

The Annelida phylum is composed of a myriad of species exhibiting key phenotypic adaptations. They occupy key ecological niches in a variety of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Importantly, the increment of omic resources is rapidly modifying the taxonomic landscape and knowledge of species belonging to this phylum. Here, we comprehensively characterised and annotated a transcriptome of the common ragworm, Hediste diversicolor (OF Müller). This species belongs to the family Nereididae and inhabits estuarine and lagoon areas on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. Ecologically, H. diversicolor plays an important role in benthic food webs. Given its commercial value, H. diversicolor is a promising candidate for aquaculture development and production in farming facilities, under a circular economy framework. We used Illumina next-generation sequencing technology, to produce a total of 105 million (M) paired-end (PE) raw reads and generate the first whole-body transcriptome assembly of H. diversicolor species. This high-quality transcriptome contains 69,335 transcripts with an N50 transcript length of 2313 bp and achieved a BUSCO gene completeness of 97.7% and 96% in Eukaryota and Metazoa lineage-specific profile libraries. Our findings offer a valuable resource for multiple biological applications using this species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests (financial, professional, or personal relationships) that could influence the work here reported., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the influence of dietary patterns on the incidence and evolution of COVID-19. We hypothesised that a plant-based diet or a vegetarian diet compared with an omnivorous diet might be associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19 infection and severity in those infected., Design: In this observational study, 702 participants provided information on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary information and COVID-19 outcomes between March and July of 2022. Individuals were divided into two groups based on their dietary habits, omnivorous (n=424) and plant-based (n=278). The plant-based group was further divided into vegetarian and flexitarian subgroups. The groups were compared with respect to the incidence of COVID-19 infection, severity and duration. We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the influence of dietary patterns., Results: Plant-based and vegetarian groups had a higher intake of vegetables, legumes and nuts, and lower intake of dairy and meat. After adjusting for important confounders, such as body mass index, physical activity and pre-existing medical conditions, the plant-based diet and vegetarian group had 39% (OR=0.61, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.85; p=0.003) and 39% (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.88; p=0.009) lower odds of the incidence of COVID-19 infection, respectively, compared with the omnivorous group. No association was observed between self-reported diets and COVID-19 severity or duration., Conclusion: Plant-based and mainly vegetarian diets were associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19 infection. These dietary patterns may be considered protective against COVID-19 infection. (Study protocol registered in CAAE: 54351421.4.0000.0068.)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Stroke burden is largely due to long-term impairments requiring prolonged care and loss of productivity. We aim to identify and assess studies of different registered pharmacological therapies as treatments for improving post-stroke impairments and/or disabilities., Methods: In a systematic search and review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022376973), studies of treatments that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in adult patients who had suffered a stroke will be searched for, screened, and reviewed based on the following: participants (P): adult humans, aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with stroke; interventions (I): registered or marketed pharmacological therapies that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in stroke; comparators (C): active or placebo or no comparator; outcomes (O): stroke-related neurological impairments and functional/disability assessments. Data will be extracted from included papers, including patient demographics, study methods, keystroke inclusion criteria, details of intervention and control, and the reported outcomes., Result: "The best available studies" based on study design, study size, and/or date of publication for different therapies and stroke subtypes will be selected and graded for level of evidence by consensus., Conclusion: There are conflicting study results of pharmacological interventions after an acute stroke to enhance recovery. This systematic search and review will identify the best evidence and knowledge gaps in the pharmacological treatment of post-stroke patients as well as guide clinical decision-making and planning of future studies., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: Bacterial meningitis remains a global threat due to its high mortality. It is estimated that >1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis are reported annually. Intracranial vasculopathy is an important, under-documented complication, easily detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. Following the PRISMA Guidelines, we reviewed the utility of TCD in bacterial meningitis., Methods: This is a systematic review of observational studies on the use of TCD in patients with CSF-proven bacterial meningitis. Characteristic changes in TCD parameters along the course of the disease, correlation of TCD findings with neuroimaging, and functional outcomes were evaluated., Results: Nine studies were included with a total of 492 participants (mean age of 42). The most common TCD finding was intracranial arterial stenosis of the MCA (50%-82%) and ischemia (33%) was the predominant neuroimaging finding. The presence of an abnormal TCD finding increased the risk of poor outcomes as high as 70%., Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis who underwent TCD show alterations in cerebral blood flow, correlating with imaging findings and poor outcomes. It aids in the diagnosis of its sequelae and can predict the prognosis of its outcome. TCD is a cost-effective, reliable modality for diagnosing vasculopathy associated with bacterial meningitis. It may prove useful in our armamentarium of management. Large prospective studies with long-term follow-up data may help establish the use of TCD in bacterial meningitis., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The Hub-and-Spoke stroke system seeks to enhance the efficiency of stroke care by establishing a cohesive network between healthcare facilities providing quality stroke care to patients. This study endeavors to evaluate the effectiveness and characterize the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients treated within the Hub-and-Spoke hospital system over 2 years. The assessment focused on thrombolysis rates, mortality, and disability at 3-month follow-up., Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center review to assess the service delivery and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients within the Hub-and-Spoke framework which was implemented in Q3 2021. The Hub-and-Spoke model aimed to provide appropriate neurological care for stroke patients, growing from four to eight spoke hospitals in 2 years., Results: The study consisted of 132 stroke patients transferred to the hub hospital, and 42 (31.8%) of them had acute ischemic stroke. Among these 42 ischemic stroke patients, 76% of them were candidates for thrombolysis with a mean NIHSS of 12 (6-22). Among the subset of 32 patients eligible for intervention within the specified time window, a total of 23 individuals, constituting 72% received r-TPA. Regarding patients administered r-TPA, 91.2% demonstrated favorable functional outcomes with an mRS score of 0-1, while 8.7% exhibited a score of 2-3. Among those not given r-TPA, the mean NIHSS was 17 (ranging from 2 to 32). Their functional outcomes after 3 months revealed 52.5% with an mRS score of 0-1, 16% with a score of 2-3, 21.2% with a score of 4-5, and 10.5% with an mRS score of 6., Conclusion: Hub-and-Spoke networks represent a crucial advancement in stroke treatment, particularly for facilities lacking the capacity to manage strokes effectively. By leveraging added expertise and reducing the time from onset to diagnosis to treatment, these networks have significantly enhanced patient care. This enhancement is particularly evident in the increased rate of thrombolysis, resulting in reduced morbidity and prevention of mortality., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: Heart-lung transplantation has shown a progressive decrease in the number of procedures. There is a lack of information about this field in Spain. The main goal of this study is to analyze the experience of a national reference hospital., Methods: We performed a retrospective study of a historical cohort of heart-lung transplanted patients in a single center, during a 30 years period (from 1990 to 2021). The associations between variables were evaluated using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences were evaluated using the log-rank test and multivariate analysis with the Cox method., Results: A decrease in the number of procedures performed in the last decade was observed [2000-2009: 19 procedures (44.2%); 2010-2021: 15 procedures (34.8%)]. Early postoperative mortality was 23.3%, falling to 13.3% from 2010. In-hospital mortality was 41%, falling to 33% from 2010. Main factors related to higher mortality: previous thoracic surgery, corticosteroid therapy, extracorporeal circulation (ECLS) greater than 200 min, ischemia time greater than 300 min, and tracheal dehiscence (p < 0.005). Overall survival at one, five, and ten years was 58%, 44.7%, and 36.1%, respectively. Factors associated with lower survival rates: previous thoracic surgery, male donor, extracorporeal circulation greater than 200 min, ischemia time greater than 300 min, tracheal dehiscence and weight difference (p < 0.005)., Conclusions: There has been a progressive decrease in the number of heart-lung transplantations, being more evident in the last decade, but showing an improvement in both mortality and survival., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Aquatic single-cell organisms have long been believed to be unique primary producers of omega-3 long-chain (≥C 20 ) polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3 LC-PUFA). Multiple invertebrates including annelids have been discovered to possess methyl-end desaturases enabling key steps in the de novo synthesis of ω3 LC-PUFA, and thus potentially contributing to their production in the ocean. Along methyl-end desaturases, the repertoire and function of further LC-PUFA biosynthesising enzymes is largely missing in Annelida. In this study we examined the front-end desaturase gene repertoire across the phylum Annelida, from Polychaeta and Clitellata, major classes of annelids comprising most annelid diversity. We further characterised the functions of the encoded enzymes in selected representative species by using a heterologous expression system based in yeast, demonstrating that functions of Annelida front-end desaturases have highly diversified during their expansion in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We concluded that annelids possess at least two front-end desaturases with Δ5 and Δ6Δ8 desaturase regioselectivities, enabling all the desaturation reactions required to convert the C 18 precursors into the physiologically relevant LC-PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic and arachidonic acids, but not docosahexaenoic acid. Such a gene complement is conserved across the different taxonomic groups within Annelida., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Oscar Monroig reports financial support was provided by Agencia Estatal de Investigación. Juan C. Navarro reports financial support was provided by Generalitat Valenciana., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Previous data revealed the unexpected presence of genes encoding for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) biosynthetic enzymes in transcriptomes from freshwater gammarids but not in marine species, even though closely related species were compared. This study aimed to clarify the origin and occurrence of selected LC-PUFA biosynthesis gene markers across all published gammarid transcriptomes. Through systematic searches, we confirmed the widespread occurrence of sequences from seven elongases and desaturases involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis, in transcriptomes from freshwater gammarids but not marine species, and clarified that such occurrence is independent from the gammarid species and geographical origin. The phylogenetic analysis established that the retrieved elongase and desaturase sequences were closely related to bdelloid rotifers, confirming that multiple transcriptomes from freshwater gammarids contain contaminating rotifers' genetic material. Using the Adineta steineri genome, we investigated the genomic location and exon-intron organization of the elongase and desaturase genes, establishing they are all genome-anchored and, importantly, identifying instances of horizontal gene transfer. Finally, we provide compelling evidence demonstrating Bdelloidea desaturases and elongases enable these organisms to perform all the reactions for de novo biosynthesis of PUFA and, from them, LC-PUFA, an advantageous trait when considering the low abundance of these essential nutrients in freshwater environments.

Background and Purpose: Tuberculous (TB) meningitis is a common type of central nervous system infection, and may cause multifocal cerebral infarctions due to the involvement of cerebral vasculature. This systematic review aims to review and synthesize the utility of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in TB meningitis., Methods: This is a systematic review of observational studies on the use of TCD in patients diagnosed to have TB meningitis. Study outcomes included changes in TCD parameters during stages of TB meningitis, frequency of neurologic complications (such as hydrocephalus, vasculopathy, and cerebral infarction), correlation of TCD findings with neuroimaging, and functional outcomes., Results: Five studies were included with a total of 141 participants, with ages from 4 months to 75 years. The most common neurologic complication was hydrocephalus (87.1%), cerebral infarction (29.2%), and arterial stenosis (26.3%). There was increased mean flow velocity (MFV) most commonly in the middle cerebral artery in the early stage of TB meningitis, and decreased MFV in the advanced disease stage. TCD findings of stenosis were well correlated with CT or MR angiogram. Among patients with hydrocephalus, pulsatility indices were significantly decreased after ventriculoperitoneal shunting., Conclusions: A considerable proportion of patients with TB meningitis develop cerebral hemodynamic disturbances which lead to cerebral ischemia and affect clinical outcomes. TCD is a reliable tool for the diagnosis of vasculopathy and increased intracranial pressure and can thus help monitor disease progression and treatment response. Future studies with larger populations and longer follow-ups are recommended to determine the association of TCD findings with functional outcomes., (© 2023 American Society of Neuroimaging.)

Introduction: The safety of electroconvulsive therapy has improved greatly over the last decades, making the potentially adverse effects on memory and other neurocognitive functions the main clinical aspect of concern in the present. In Colombia, the general population and healthcare professionals (even some psychiatrists) seem to have mostly negative opinions towards electroconvulsive therapy treatment, but maybe this could be reconsidered if more information is provided; therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in memory and the severity of the symptoms in a group of patients with severe depression before and after electroconvulsive therapy., Methods: Twenty-three patients ranging in age from 23 to 70 years from the electroconvulsive therapy service at the San Juan de Dios Clinic (Manizales, Colombia) were recruited in order to assess the effect of electroconvulsive therapy on memory in patients with severe depression. Depressive symptoms and memory were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), respectively. The assessment was administered to participants before the initial treatment of electroconvulsive therapy series (0-1 day) and 2 days after their last treatment., Results: Electroconvulsive therapy resulted in significant improvement in the rating of depression. There were no significant differences in the five learning trials, delayed recall, learning and forgetting scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Significant pre-treatment/post-treatment differences were found in the delayed recognition trial., Conclusions: Pre- and post- electroconvulsive therapy cognitive assessment is a feasible and useful procedure. In general, memory performance does not worsen after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with depression. Only delayed recognition is affected a few days following electroconvulsive therapy, particularly in patients with low educational level and bitemporal (BT) electrode placement., (Copyright © 2021 Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The two-dimensional phase unwrapping problem (PHUP) has been solved with discrete Fourier transforms (FTs) and many other techniques traditionally. Nevertheless, a formal way of solving the continuous Poisson equation for the PHUP, with the use of continuous FT and based on distribution theory, has not been reported yet, to our knowledge. The well-known specific solution of this equation is given in general by a convolution of a continuous Laplacian estimate with a particular Green function, whose FT does not exist mathematically. However, an alternative Green function called the Yukawa potential, with a guaranteed Fourier spectrum, can be considered for solving an approximated Poisson equation, inducing a standard procedure of a FT-based unwrapping algorithm. Thus, the general steps for this approach are described in this work by considering some reconstructions with synthetic and real data.

The plasma membrane and autoinhibited Ca 2+ -ATPases contribute to the Ca 2+ homeostasis in a wide variety of organisms. The enzymatic activity of these pumps is stimulated by calmodulin, which interacts with the target protein through the calmodulin-binding domain (CaMBD). Most information about this region is related to all calmodulin modulated proteins, which indicates general chemical properties and there is no established relation between Ca 2+ pump sequences and taxonomic classification. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform an in silico analysis of the CaMBD from several Ca 2+ -ATPases, in order to determine their diversity and to detect specific patterns and amino acid selection in different species. Patterns related to potential and confirmed CaMBD were detected using sequences retrieved from the literature. The occurrence of these patterns was determined across 120 sequences from 17 taxonomical classes, which were analyzed by a phylogenetic tree to establish phylogenetic groups. Predicted physicochemical characteristics including hydropathy and net charge were calculated for each group of sequences. 22 Ca 2+ -ATPases sequences from animals, unicellular eukaryotes, and plants were retrieved from bioinformatic databases. These sequences allow us to establish the Patterns 1(GQILWVRGLTRLQTQ), 3(KNPSLEALQRW), and 4(SRWRRLQAEHVKK), which are present at the beginning of putative CaMBD of metazoan, parasites, and land plants. A pattern 2 (IRVVNAFR) was consistently found at the end of most analyzed sequences. The amino acid preference in the CaMBDs changed depending on the phylogenetic groups, with predominance of several aliphatic and charged residues, to confer amphiphilic properties. The results here displayed show a conserved mechanism to contribute to the Ca 2+ homeostasis across evolution and may help to detect putative CaMBDs., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Cotton stalks-based biochars were prepared and used to synthetize Ru-supported catalysts for selective production of γ-valerolactone from levulinic acid in aqueous media. Different biochars' pre-treatments (HNO 3 , ZnCl 2 , CO 2 or a combination of them) were carried out to activate the final carbonaceous support. Nitric acid treatment resulted in microporous biochars with high surface area, whereas the chemical activation with ZnCl 2 substantially increases the mesoporous surface. The combination of both treatments led to a support with exceptional textural properties allowing the preparation of Ru/C catalyst with 1422 m 2 /g surface area, 1210 m 2 /g of it being a mesoporous surface. The impact of the biochars' pre-treatments on the catalytic performance of Ru-based catalysts is fully discussed.

The Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) is an arbovirus causing vesicular stomatitis (VS) in livestock. There are two serotypes recognized: New Jersey (VSNJV) and Indiana (VSIV). The virus can be transmitted directly by contact or by vectors. In 2018, Ecuador experienced an outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in cattle, caused by VSNJV and VSVIV, with 399 cases reported distributed over 18 provinces. We determined the phylogenetic relationships among 67 strains. For the construction of phylogenetic trees, the viral phosphoprotein gene was sequenced, and trees were constructed based on the Maximum Likelihood method using 2004 outbreak strains from Ecuador (GenBank) and the 2018 sequences (this article). We built a haplotype network for VSNJV to trace the origin of the 2004 and 2018 epizootics through topology and mutation connections. These analyses suggest two different origins, one related to the 2004 outbreak and the other from a transmission source in 2018. Our analysis also suggests different transmission patterns; several small and independent outbreaks, most probably transmitted by vectors in the Amazon, and another outbreak caused by the movement of livestock in the Andean and Coastal regions. We recommend further research into vectors and vertebrate reservoirs in Ecuador to clarify the mechanisms of the reemergence of the virus.

Droughts evolve in space and time without following borders or pre-determined temporal constraints. Here, we present a new database of drought events built with a three-dimensional density-based clustering algorithm. The chosen approach is able to identify and characterize the spatio-temporal evolution of drought events, and it was tuned with a supervised approach against a set of past global droughts characterized independently by multiple drought experts. About 200 events were detected over Europein the period 1981-2020 using SPI-3 (3-month cumulated Standardized Precipitation Index) maps derived from the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) 5th generation reanalysis (ERA5) precipitation. The largest European meteorological droughts during this period occurred in 1996, 2003, 2002 and 2018. A general agreement between the major events identified by the algorithm and drought impact records was found, as well as with previous datasets based on pre-defined regions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background and Purpose: Watershed infarcts denote ischemic lesions involving the distal territories of two major arteries. For years, hypotheses on its pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed. Yet, the cause is still widely debated. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of watershed strokes and compare their clinical outcomes to acute ischemic stroke from other causes and predict the factors affecting clinical outcomes in patients with watershed infarcts., Methods: This single-center, comparative, six-years retrospective cohort study included patients with a diagnosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke. Patients were classified under watershed group or acute ischemic stroke based on their neuroimaging findings. Stroke mechanisms were determined between groups as well as the factors associated with clinical outcomes in watershed strokes., Results: Among the 424 patients included in the study, large artery atherosclerosis was seen in greater frequency in patients with watershed infarcts regardless of the type (EWIs: n  = 68, 73% vs IWIs: n  = 89, 75%). No differences observed in the clinical outcomes between groups. Multiple variable analysis showed that age, female sex, high NIHSS score and presence of underlying malignancy were associated with clinical outcomes., Conclusion: Clinical outcomes between watershed infarcts and acute ischemic strokes were similar. Hemodynamic compromise in the setting of severe stenosis is the underlying mechanism for both types of watershed strokes thus, the goal of treatment is to maintain adequate perfusion. High baseline NIHSS score, increased age, female gender and underlying malignancy were all poor predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with watershed strokes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a diverse group of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, with the exception of African swine fever virus, that are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods to a vertebrate host. They are the important cause of many diseases due to their ability to spread in different environments and their diversity of vectors. Currently, there is no information on the geographical distribution of the diseases because the routes of transmission and the mammals (wild or domestic) that act as potential hosts are poorly documented or unknown. We conducted a systematic review from 1967 to 2021 to identify the diversity of arboviruses, the areas, and taxonomic groups that have been monitored, the prevalence of positive records, and the associated risk factors. We identified forty-three arboviruses in nine mammalian orders distributed in eleven countries. In Brazil, the order primates harbor the highest number of arbovirus records. The three most recorded arboviruses were Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. Serum is the most used sample to obtain arbovirus records. Deforestation is identified as the main risk factor for arbovirus transmission between different species and environments (an odds ratio of 1.46 with a 95% confidence interval: 1.34-1.59). The results show an increase in the sampling effort over the years in the neotropical region. Despite the importance of arboviruses for public health, little is known about the interaction of arboviruses, their hosts, and vectors, as some countries and mammalian orders have not yet been monitored. Long-term and constant monitoring allows focusing research on the analysis of the interrelationships and characteristics of each component animal, human, and their environment to understand the dynamics of the diseases and guide epidemiological surveillance and vector control programs. The biodiversity of the Neotropics should be considered to support epidemiological monitoring strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Long-chain (≥C 20 ) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are physiologically important fatty acids for most animals, including humans. Although most LC-PUFA production occurs in aquatic primary producers such as microalgae, recent research indicates the ability of certain groups of (mainly marine) invertebrates for endogenous LC-PUFA biosynthesis and/or bioconversion from dietary precursors. The genetic pathways for and mechanisms behind LC-PUFA biosynthesis remain unknown in many invertebrates to date, especially in non-model species. However, the numerous genomic and transcriptomic resources currently available can contribute to our knowledge of the LC-PUFA biosynthetic capabilities of metazoans. Within our previously generated transcriptome of the benthic harpacticoid copepod Platychelipus littoralis, we detected expression of one methyl-end desaturase, one front-end desaturase, and seven elongases, key enzymes responsible for LC-PUFA biosynthesis. To demonstrate their functionality, we characterized eight of them using heterologous expression in yeast. The P. littoralis methyl-end desaturase has Δ15/17/19 desaturation activity, enabling biosynthesis of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 18:2 n-6, 20:4 n-6 and 22:5 n-6, respectively. Its front-end desaturase has Δ4 desaturation activity from 22:5 n-3 to DHA, implying that P. littoralis has multiple pathways to produce this physiologically important fatty acid. All studied P. littoralis elongases possess varying degrees of elongation activity for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, producing aliphatic hydrocarbon chains with lengths of up to 30 carbons. Our investigation revealed a functionally diverse range of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in copepods, which highlights the need to scrutinize the role that primary consumers could perform in providing essential nutrients to upper trophic levels., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Anopheles subgenus Kerteszia is a poorly understood group of mosquitoes that includes several species of medical importance. Although there are currently twelve recognized species in the subgenus, previous studies have shown that this is likely to be an underestimate of species diversity. Here, we undertake a baseline study of species delimitation using the barcode region of the mtDNA COI gene to explore species diversity among a geographically and taxonomically diverse range of Kerteszia specimens. Beginning with 10 of 12 morphologically identified Kerteszia species spanning eight countries, species delimitation analyses indicated a high degree of cryptic diversity. Overall, our analyses found support for at least 28 species clusters within the subgenus Kerteszia . The most diverse taxon was Anopheles neivai , a known malaria vector, with eight species clusters. Five other species taxa showed strong signatures of species complex structure, among them Anopheles bellator , which is also considered a malaria vector. There was some evidence for species structure within An. homunculus , although the results were equivocal across delimitation analyses. The current study, therefore, suggests that species diversity within the subgenus Kerteszia has been grossly underestimated. Further work will be required to build on this molecular characterization of species diversity and will rely on genomic level approaches and additional morphological data to test these species hypotheses.