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Abstract Background The increase in life expectancy and long-lived individuals is a challenge for public health and provides an opportunity to understand the determinants of longevity. However, few studies have addressed the factors associated with the health status and quality of life in a long-lived individual population. We described the perceived health, clinical status, quality of life, and dependency for activities of daily living in a representative population in Castile and Leon, Spain. Methods A sample of 759 long-lived individuals aged 95 years and older was studied by the Health Sentinel Network of Castile and Leon (Spain) through a health examination and a structured questionnaire covering quality of life (EQ-5D-3), lifestyle habits, diet, working life and family health. A blood sample was taken for the study of biological and genetic markers. Chi Square and logistic regression OR with 95% confidence intervals were used to analyze the determinants of the long-lived individuals’ health status. The significant level for the bivariate analysis was established at 0.05. Results Perceived health was good, very good or excellent in 64.2%, while only 46.0% had a quality-of-life index above 0.5 (ranging from 0 to 1) and 44.1% maintained acceptable independence for activities of daily living. Quality-of-life index was higher in the oldest, (OR 7.98 [2,32-27.41]) above 100 years compared to those under 98, and men had better values for independence than women (OR 2.43 [1.40–4.29]). Cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent (85.5%), but neurological and mental diseases and vision problems had the highest impact on quality of life and independence. Conclusion The long-lived individuals of Castile and Leon have a relatively well-preserved health status, although the perception of health is higher than that describing their quality of life and dependence. The quality of life was higher in the oldest age group and showed differences according to sex, with a better quality of life in men. Public health policies and programs should take in account the differences by sex and age as well as the prevention and control of the main conditions related with poor quality of life or dependence. Future research must include the interaction among genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and other clinical factors in the quality of life and disability of long-lived individuals.

Tick-borne rickettsioses (TBRs) are distributed worldwide and are recognized as important emerging vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe. The aim of this study was to identify tick-associated Rickettsia among ticks removed from humans, and to track how tick populations and their associated pathogens have changed over the years. For this purpose, we conducted a tick surveillance study in northwestern Spain between 2018 and 2022. Ticks were morphologically identified and analyzed for the presence of rickettsial pathogens through the amplification of the citrate synthase (gltA) and the outer membrane protein A (ompA) genes. PCR products were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. We collected 7397 ticks, with Ixodes ricinus being the species most frequently isolated. Based on the PCR results, Rickettsia DNA was detected in 1177 (15.91%) ticks, and 10 members of Rickettsia were identified: R. aeschlimannii, R. conorii subsp. conorii, R. conorii subsp. raoultii, R. massiliae, R. monacensis, R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae, R. slovaca, R. helvetica, Candidatus R. barbariae, and Candidatus R. rioja. Some of these Rickettsia have gone previously undetected in the study region. There is clear geographic and seasonal expansion not only of tick populations, but also of the associated Rickettsia. The comparison of our data with those obtained years ago provides a clear idea of how the spatiotemporal distributions of ticks and their associated Rickettsiae have changed over the years.

Históricamente, humanos y espárragos silvestres han compartido espacio en la Sierra Morena extremeña y se han beneficiado mutuamente de su interacción. Los espárragos han prosperado en los ecosistemas antrópicos y, a su vez, se han convertido últimamente en la planta silvestre de mayor relevancia cultural en la zona. Si históricamente eran las razones alimentarias las que fundamentaban el interés por los espárragos, hoy en dia son sobre todo un servicio cultural de los agroecosistemas, que atiende a cuestiones de ocio, vinculación al territorio e identidad local y de género. A partir fundamentalmente del trabajo de campo etnográfico y con la ayuda de parte de los resultados de una encuesta, exploramos las dimensiones sociosimbolicas de la persistencia y auge de la recolección de la planta.

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to describe incidence, incidence trends and survival patterns of lymphoid neoplasms (LNs) and its subtypes in Spain in the period 2002-2013 using data from the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN).Materials and MethodsData were extracted from 13 Spanish population-based cancer registries. LNs incident cases were codified using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) and grouped according to the WHO 2008 classification. Age-standardized incidence rates to the 2013 European standard population (ASIRe) were obtained. Poisson regression models were used to analyze trends in incidence rates and estimate the annual percentage change (APC) for each subtype. The number of cases in Spain for 2023 was estimated by applying the estimated age-specific rates for the year 2023 to the 2023 Spanish population. Observed survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and net survival (NS) by the Pohar-Perme method. Sex- and age-specific estimates of 5-year NS were calculated, as well as its changes according to two periods of diagnosis (2002-2007 and 2008-2013).ResultsLNs accounted for 69% (n=39,156) of all hematological malignancies (n=56,751) diagnosed during the period of study. Median age at diagnosis was 67 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 52-77). The overall ASIRe was 34.23 (95% confidence interval (CI): 33.89, 34.57) and showed a marked male predominance in almost all subtypes (global sex ratio = 1.45). During the study period, incidence trends of LNs remained stable (APC: 0.3; 95% CI: -0.1, 0.6), nevertheless some subtypes showed statistically significant variations, such as LNs NOS category (APC: -5.6; 95% CI: -6.8, -4.3). Around 17,926 new cases of LNs will be diagnosed in 2023 in Spain. Survival rates differed considerably across age-groups, while they were similar between men and women. Five- year NS was 62.81% (95% CI: 62.1, 63.52) for all LNs, and varied widely across LNs subtypes, ranging from 39.21% to 90.25%. NS for all LNs improved from the first period of diagnosis to the second one, being 61.57% (95% CI: 60.56, 62.61) in 2002-2007 and 64.17% (95% CI: 63.29, 65.07) in 2008-2013.ConclusionsThis study presents the first complete and extensive population-based analysis of LNs incidence and survival in Spain. These population-based data provide relevant information to better understand the epidemiology of LNs in Southern Europe and it features some useful points for public health authorities and clinicians. However, additional improvements regarding the registration of these hematological neoplasms can be implemented.

Abstract In several species, rank predicts access to food, and subordinates may need specific behavioural strategies to get a share of resources. This may be especially important in despotic species, where resources are strongly biased in favour of dominants and subordinates may more strongly rely on specific tactics to maximize food intake. Here, we compared three macaque species with an experimental set-up reproducing feeding competition contest. Following our predictions, more tolerant species mostly retrieved food in the presence of others and were less dependent on specific tactics. Contrarily, subordinates in more despotic species more likely collected food (1) when dominants could not see food or (2) were attacking others, (3) while “dissimulating”, or (4) “storing food”. Our study reveals that dominance styles reliably predict the probability of using specific food retrieval tactics and provides important insights on the social conditions that might have led to the emergence of tactical deception.

La relación entre seres humanos y otros anymales (anymals) (Kemmerer, 2006) es, por definición, asimétrica. A lo largo de la historia se han esgrimido múltiples argumentos para justificar un supuesto excepcionalismo humano (excepcionalism), desde la atribución de derechos divinos a una mayor inteligencia, legitimando así un sistema de explotación denominado dominación (domination) (Manfredo et al. 2019). Las relaciones entre especies y cómo se conciben son un tema difícil. Hay muchos modos de enfocar las relaciones entre el humano y los anymales, desde la adoración religiosa (vacas en la India) a la explotación (investigación biomédica). Además en Occidente surgen formas alternativas de ver y entender estas relaciones (por ejemplo, la relación con animales domésticos). La pertenencia a una u otra especie es un factor fundamental que influye en la posición que cada animal tiene en estas jerarquías asimétricas. Sin embargo, se deben considerar otros elementos relevantes, como los vínculos entre individuos, de la misma manera que el afecto por otras personas depende en líneas generales del tipo de vínculo que tengamos con ellas (por ejemplo, la relaciones familiares o de amistad).

Arthropod vectors and parasites are identified morphologically or, more recently, by molecular methods. Both methods are time consuming and require expertise and, in the case of molecular methods, specific devices. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identification of bacteria has meant a major change in clinical microbiology laboratories because of its simplicity, speed and specificity, and its capacity to identify microorganisms, in some cases, directly from the sample (urine cultures, blood cultures). Recently, MALDI-TOF MS has been shown as useful for the identification of some parasites. On the other hand, the identification of vector arthropods and the control of their populations is essential for the control of diseases transmitted by arthropods, and in this aspect, it is crucial to have fast, simple and reliable methods for their identification. Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods with a worldwide distribution, that behave as efficient vectors of a wide group of human and animal pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and even helminths. They are capable of parasitizing numerous species of mammals, birds and reptiles. They constitute the second group of vectors of human diseases, after mosquitoes. MALDI-TOF MS has been shown as useful for the identification of different tick species, such as Ixodes, Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma. Some studies even suggest the possibility of being able to determine, through MALDI-TOF MS, if the arthropod is a carrier of certain microorganisms. Regarding mosquitoes, the main group of vector arthropods, the possibility of using MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of different species of Aedes and Anopheles has also been demonstrated. In this review, we address the possibilities of this technology for the identification of parasites and arthropod vectors, its characteristics, advantages and possible limitations.

Los cambios vertiginosos en los procesos de formación y transformación de los sujetos, se ven trastocados por múltiples formas de concebir la vida y el contexto en el que se desenvuelven. Por ello, la educación, como proceso transformador de las personas, se ha enfrentado a cambios generacionales que en muchas ocasiones desdibujan “otras” formas de educar al sujeto. Es decir, por un lado tenemos la educación formal como agente de transformación y cambio en estos, desde diversos mecanismos ideológicos, y por el otro, se mantiene en resistencia la educación comunitaria, entendida ésta como el conjunto de elementos propios de una cultura, que propician la construcción de sujetos con referentes éticos y morales propios al contexto en el que se desenvuelven. Por ello, el presente artículo, producto de una investigación de campo realizado en localidades de habla tseltal en la región chiapaneca V Altos Tsotsil-Tseltal aborda una aproximación a la concepción de educación desde una aproximación a la interpretación y traducción de este concepto al idioma de este pueblo indígena contemporáneo. En este se plantea un análisis detallado en relación a las formas de nombrar y concebir el proceso de educación, visto como un proceso contextualizado que forma parte de los conocimientos culturales de los sujetos y por ende de su condición de sujetos colectivos, pues la educación está enmarcada en función de lo que se hace y se es en comunidad, en sociedad. De allí que se han logrado identificar hasta seis formas de concebir la educación con sus respectivas particularidades en cada una de ellas.

Aim was to evaluate acceptability and iron bioavailability of enriched sorghum cookies with biofortified sweet potato carotenoids. Acceptability and chemical composition were analyzed in four formulations with dry or extruded sorghum and its combination with high carotenoid sweet potato. Enriched cookies presented the highest acceptance as well as nutritional quality, and they were used to measure iron bioavailability by depletion/repletion. The animals fed with Fe-free diet during three weeks were divided in three groups for two weeks: ferrous sulphate control and two tests with the enriched cookies (DEC-D, EEC-D). Hemoglobin were similar among experimental groups and the enzymes expression related to iron metabolism increased in the duodenum of EEC-D. TAC in plasma was similar between test groups and higher when compared to the control. Therefore, biofortified sweet potato carotenoids increased nutritional and sensory quality of the cookies allowing potential action as functional food to reduce risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate self-reported visual function in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients with and without cystoid macular edema (CME) and to explore associations between cystoid spaces (CS), retinal morphometric parameters, and clinical data using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods In this cross-sectional case-control study (1:3) conducted at an Inherited Retinal Degenerations referral center in Portugal, RP patients with and without CME (matched for age and gender) completed the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ) and underwent SS-OCT. Morphometric analysis, including ellipsoid zone area (EZA), was performed by two independent graders. In the CME group, detailed CS analysis was conducted. Correlations between clinical data - age, gender, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) - and MRDQ domains were evaluated. Results The study included 23 RP patients with CME (60.87% male, mean age 44.65 ± 13.58 years) and 69 without CME (49.28% male, mean age 47.94 ± 14.39 years). No significant differences were found between groups in almost all MRDQ domains, BCVA, or EZA. Age positively correlated with 4 MRDQ domains in both groups. BCVA negatively correlated with nearly all MRDQ domains. While EZA showed a negative correlation in both groups, it was significant only in RP without CME. In the CME group, centrally located, outer nuclear layer-involving and large CS were associated with worse BCVA but better EZA. Conclusion MRDQ responses strongly correlated with clinical parameters. CME does not seem to affect self-reported visual function in RP patients, and CS may not worsen visual function. Thus, aggressive treatment of CME in RP may not be necessary.

Resumo Introdução: Os desafios inerentes do início da vida adulta, somados às pressões advindas da graduação, podem predispor os universitários a problemas mentais, tais como a depressão. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre indicativo de depressão e variáveis sociodemográficas, acadêmicas e de hábitos de vida em universitários. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. A coleta de dados ocorreu no período de abril a junho de 2019, por meio de um questionário online. O desfecho, indicativo de depressão, foi definido como escore≥9 mensurado pelo Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Para verificar os fatores associados, realizou-se a regressão de Poisson ajustada com variância robusta, considerando-se estatisticamente significativo p