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The Drosophila tumour necrosis factor (TNF) system comprises a single ligand Eiger (Egr) and two receptors. The structure of Egr in complex with the extracellular domain of the receptor Grindelwald and accompanying data suggest that distinct affinities of TNF ligand for its receptors mediate non-redundant functions.

During asymmetric divisions fate determinants and niche contacts segregate unequally between daughter cells, but the mechanism is unclear. Here the authors show that Insc:LGN tetramers promote assembly of Par3-Insc-LGN-GαiGDP complexes and asymmetric fate specification independently of microtubule motors.

Homework is a debated issue in society and its relationship with academic achievement has been deeply studied in the last years. Nowadays, schools are multicultural stages in which students from different cultures and ethnicities work together. In this sense, the present study aims to compare homework involvement and academic achievement in a sample of native and immigrant students, as well as to study immigrant students’ relationship between homework involvement and Math achievement. The sample included 1328 students, 10 to 16 years old from Spanish families (85.6%) or are immigrant students or students of immigrant origin (14.4%) from South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The study was developed considering three informants: elementary and secondary students, their parents and their teachers.Results showed higher involvement in homework in native students than in immigrant. Between immigrants students, those who are more involved in homework have better academic achievement in Math at secondary grades. There weren’t found gender differences on homework involvement but age differences were reported. Immigrant students are less involved in homework at secondary grades that students in elementary grades. The study highlights the relevance of homework involvement in academic achievement in immigrant students.

Abstract The activity, localization and fate of many cellular proteins are regulated through ubiquitination, a process whereby one or more ubiquitin (Ub) monomers or chains are covalently attached to target proteins. While Ub‐conjugated and Ub‐associated proteomes have been described, we lack a high‐resolution picture of the dynamics of ubiquitination in response to signaling. In this study, we describe the epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐regulated Ubiproteome, as obtained by two complementary purification strategies coupled to quantitative proteomics. Our results unveil the complex impact of growth factor signaling on Ub‐based intracellular networks to levels that extend well beyond what might have been expected. In addition to endocytic proteins, the EGF‐regulated Ubiproteome includes a large number of signaling proteins, ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes, transporters and proteins involved in translation and transcription. The Ub‐based signaling network appears to intersect both housekeeping and regulatory circuitries of cellular physiology. Finally, as proof of principle of the biological relevance of the EGF‐Ubiproteome, we demonstrated that EphA2 is a novel, downstream ubiquitinated target of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), critically involved in EGFR biological responses.

Reducing ice cream fat content without losing its quality characteristics is a nutritional requirement of many consumers and it is a challenge for the ice cream industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate low-fat hard ice cream formulations using modified cassava starch as a fat substitute. It was used in a proportion of 10% and hydrocolloids such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), guar gum, and xanthan gum were used as stabilizers. Mixture viscosity, drip-through time, melting percentage, total solids, titratable acidity, pH, and hardness were determined. The best formulations were the treatments with a mixture of 67% CMC, 33% guar gum, and 100% xanthan gum; they had a viscosity above 5000 cP, melting percentage lower than 7%, and overrun higher than 93%. In addition, a sensory acceptance evaluation was performed on the two best treatments and compared to a low-fat ice cream using a commercial stabilizer and an ice cream with a 7% fat ratio. The sensory results showed that the samples did not present significant differences, which is important because the best formulations can compete with the commercial stabilizers currently used for this type of ice cream.

Abstract Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in α-synucleinopathies, i.e., Parkinson’s disease, Lewy bodies dementia, and multiple system atrophy. We summarize data from systematic reviews/meta-analyses on neuroimaging, neurophysiology, biofluid and genetic diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers of CI in α-synucleinopathies. Diagnostic biomarkers include atrophy/functional neuroimaging brain changes, abnormal cortical amyloid and tau deposition, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers, cortical rhythm slowing, reduced cortical cholinergic and glutamatergic and increased cortical GABAergic activity, delayed P300 latency, increased plasma homocysteine and cystatin C and decreased vitamin B12 and folate, increased CSF/serum albumin quotient, and serum neurofilament light chain. Prognostic biomarkers include brain regional atrophy, cortical rhythm slowing, CSF amyloid biomarkers, Val66Met polymorphism, and apolipoprotein-E ε2 and ε4 alleles. Some AD/amyloid/tau biomarkers may diagnose/predict CI in α-synucleinopathies, but single, validated diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers lack. Future studies should include large consortia, biobanks, multi-omics approach, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to better reflect the complexity of CI in α-synucleinopathies.

Abstract Objective The first international consensus criteria for optic neuritis (ICON) were published in 2022. We applied these criteria to a prospective, global observational study of acute optic neuritis (ON). Methods We included 160 patients with a first‐ever acute ON suggestive of a demyelinating CNS disease from the Acute Optic Neuritis Network (ACON). We applied the 2022 ICON to all participants and subsequently adjusted the ICON by replacing a missing relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) or dyschromatopsia if magnetic resonance imaging pathology of the optical nerve plus optical coherence tomography abnormalities or certain biomarkers are present. Results According to the 2022 ICON, 80 (50%) patients were classified as definite ON, 12 (7%) patients were classified as possible ON, and 68 (43%) as not ON (NON). The main reasons for classification as NON were absent RAPD (52 patients, 76%) or dyschromatopsia (49 patients, 72%). Distribution of underlying ON etiologies was as follows: 78 (49%) patients had a single isolated ON, 41 (26%) patients were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, 25 (16%) patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease, and 15 (9%) with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The application of the adjusted ON criteria yielded a higher proportion of patients classified as ON (126 patients, 79%). Interpretation According to the 2022 ICON, almost half of the included patients in ACON did not fulfill the requirements for classification of definite or possible ON, particularly due to missing RAPD and dyschromatopsia. Thorough RAPD examination and formal color vision testing are critical to the application of the 2022 ICON.

Abstract Background It is well known that individuals recently discharged from psychiatric inpatient care face a high risk of suicide. Severe physical health conditions have also been linked to suicide risk. The risk of suicide following discharge from somatic hospitals is not known for individuals admitted due to acute physical health conditions. Methods A Cohort study using data from the entire Norwegian population aged 12 years and older from 2008 to 2022 linked with information on health service use and cause of death. We used Cox regression with age as time axis to estimate sex-adjusted hazard ratios of suicide following discharge for ages 12 to 64 years and 65 years and older. We also performed analyses after excluding hospitalizations with indications of concurrent mental disorders, self-harm, or suicide attempts. To assess individual risk, we performed an adapted case-crossover analysis among discharged patients who died from suicide. Results A total of 4 632,980 individuals aged 12 to 64 years and 1,469,265 individuals aged 65 years and older were included. Compared to unexposed individuals at similar ages, we found an increased risk of suicide in the first 4 weeks after discharge, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 7.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9 to 8.3) among those aged 12 to 64 years and 6.8 (95% CI 5.4 to 8.6) among those 65 years and older. In the younger age group, the risk was attenuated, with a HR of 2.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 3.2) after excluding hospitalizations with indications of concurrent mental disorders, self-harm, or suicide attempts. The corresponding HR was 4.8 (95% CI 3.5 to 6.4) among those 65 years and older, declining to 1.9, (1.2 to 3.1) in weeks 5 to 8 and 1.2 (0.7 to 2.2) in weeks 21 to 24. The case-crossover analysis confirmed that individuals 65 years and older were particularly vulnerable. Conclusions The heightened risk of suicide following discharge from acute somatic hospitalization, even in the absence of concurrent mental disorders, self-harm, or prior suicide attempts, underscores the critical need for comprehensive mental health and existential support for patients post-discharge.

EEG-based biometrics represent a relatively recent research field that aims to recognize individuals based on their recorded brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). Among the numerous features that have been proposed, connectivity-based approaches represent one of the more promising methods tested so far. In this paper, using the phase lag index (PLI) and the phase locking value (PLV) methods, we investigate how the performance of a connectivity-based EEG biometric system varies with respect to different time windows (using epochs of different lengths ranging from 0.5 s to 12 s with a step of 0.5 s) to understand if it is possible to define the optimal duration of the EEG signal required to extract those distinctive features. All the analyses were performed on two freely available EEG datasets, including 109 and 23 subjects, respectively. Overall, as expected, the results have shown a pronounced effect of the time window length on the biometric performance measured in terms of EER (equal error rate) and AUC (area under the curve), with an evident increase in the biometric performance as the time window increases. Furthermore, our initial findings strongly suggest that enlarging the window size beyond a specific maximum threshold fails to enhance the performance of biometric systems. In conclusions, we want to highlight that EEG connectivity has the potential to represent an optimal candidate as an EEG fingerprint and that, in this context, it is essential to establish an adequate time window capable of capturing subject-specific features. Furthermore, we speculate that the poor performance obtained with short time windows mainly depends on the difficulty of correctly estimating the connectivity metrics from very small EEG epochs (shorter than 8 s).

Treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has gained increased importance in recent years due to the high mortality rate and dismal five-year survival rate. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a promising approach with exceptional outcomes in NSCLC thanks to the antigenic nature of cells. Conversely, immune system over-stimulation with ICI is a double-edged sword that can lead to various negative effects ranging from mild to life-threatening. This review explores current breakthroughs in nanoparticle-based ICI and their limitations. The PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were examined for relevant publications. Thirty-eight trials (N = 16,781) were included in the analyses. The mixed effects analyses on quantifying the treatment effect contributed significantly to the subgroups within studies for ICI treatment effect. Models confirmed ICI’s higher impact on treatment effectivity and the decrease in respondents’ mortality compared to conventional treatment regiments. ICI might be used as first-line therapy due to their proven effectiveness and safety profile.

El propósito de esta investigación es describir la planta lexicográfica desarrollada para el Diccionario gastronómico del español de Colombia (GastroDiCol), apoyada en un trabajo basado en el campo semántico de los tubérculos. Este estudio se basa en el enfoque metalexicográfico y en los antecedentes de investigación sobre el español de Colombia, como, el Atlas Lingüístico-Etnográfico de Colombia (ALEC) y el Diccionario de Colombianismos (DiCol). A nivel metodológico, se plantea el desarrollo de una macroestructura y una microestructura, que permite sistematizar y organizar los lemas seleccionados, con la novedad de proporcionar información diatópica actualizada según la propuesta dialectal de Ruiz (2020). Asimismo, se suministra contenido etimológico y taxonómico para referenciar las plantas con raíces comestibles. El estudio expone, por medio de la identificación de rasgos mínimos diferenciales en los tubérculos que aparecen reunidos en algunos mapas del ALEC, que ciertos términos poseen diferentes sentidos y constituyen un referente concreto, y no una variante sinonímica de estos (e. g. mafafa). Este hallazgo contribuye a ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre formas de organizar y presentar entradas léxicas de las variedades del español hablado en Colombia.

Digital technologies are today used in many museums and archaeological sites. With the passing years, the diffusion of virtual tours, interactive projections and information totems has increased in all cultural places. Nowadays, new digital materials to be included in visits are very often developed during periods of renovation or the creation of new exhibitions. However, the addition of new material rarely includes what is unreachable and it is usually limited to the main content of the site. The present work aims to overcome this limit, making sites that are difficult to access or that are unreachable, virtually accessible. The creation of high quality and culturally accurate virtual tours can make sites that are usually closed to the public, enriching and enjoyable for visitors. To develop such tours, it is necessary to create 3D models, informative layers and to use appropriate communication devices. Photogrammetry can be used to create 3D models which can be evaluated using structural and geometrical analyses. Appropriately chosen video, textual and image material can be used to create the informative layers, considering tourists’ needs and the specificity of the site. 5G networks and cloud computing can widen the possibility of implementation enabling a mobile application to bring the best quality to the tour. The case-study presented within the paper is the Casa di Diana inside the archaeological park of Ostia Antica.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of thigh muscle assessed by CT images to predict overall mortality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This was a multicenter cohort study including adults (≥ 18 years old) newly diagnosed with CRC, who performed a diagnostic computed tomography (CT) exam including thigh regions. CT images were analyzed to evaluate skeletal muscle (SM in cm2), skeletal muscle index (SMI in cm2/m2), and skeletal muscle density (SMD in HU). Muscle abnormalities (low SM, SMI, and SMD) were defined as the values below the median by sex. Kaplan–Meyer curves and hazard ratios (HRs) for low SM, SMI and SMD were evaluated for overall mortality, stratified by sex. A total of 257 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients’ mean age was 62.6 ± 12.1 years, and 50.2% (n = 129) were females. In males, low thigh SMI was associated with shorter survival (log-rank P = .02). Furthermore, this low thigh SMI (cm2/m2) was independently associated with higher mortality rates (HR adjusted 2.08, 95% CI 1.03–4.18). Our additional findings demonstrated that low SMD was independently associated with overall mortality among early-stage patients (I–III) (HR adjusted 2.78, 95% CI 1.26–6.15).

Abstract Background Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents one of the main causes of brain damage in young people and the elderly population with a very high rate of psycho-physical disability and death. TBI is characterized by extensive cell death, tissue damage and neuro-inflammation with a symptomatology that varies depending on the severity of the trauma from memory loss to a state of irreversible coma and death. Recently, preclinical studies on mouse models have demonstrated that the post-traumatic adult Neural Stem/Progenitor cells response could represent an excellent model to shed light on the neuro-reparative role of adult neurogenesis following damage. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 plays a pivotal role in modulating the quiescence/activation balance of adult Neural Stem Cells (aNSCs) and in restraining the proliferation progression of progenitor cells. Based on these considerations, the aim of this work is to evaluate how the conditional ablation of p21Waf1/Cip1 in the aNSCS can alter the adult hippocampal neurogenesis in physiological and post-traumatic conditions. Methods We designed a novel conditional p21Waf1/Cip1 knock-out mouse model, in which the deletion of p21Waf1/Cip1 (referred as p21) is temporally controlled and occurs in Nestin-positive aNSCs, following administration of Tamoxifen. This mouse model (referred as p21 cKO mice) was subjected to Controlled Cortical Impact to analyze how the deletion of p21 could influence the post-traumatic neurogenic response within the hippocampal niche. Results The data demonstrates that the conditional deletion of p21 in the aNSCs induces a strong increase in activation of aNSCs as well as proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, resulting in an enhancement of neurogenesis and the hippocampal-dependent working memory. However, following traumatic brain injury, the increased neurogenic response of aNSCs in p21 cKO mice leads to a fast depletion of the aNSCs pool, followed by declined neurogenesis and impaired hippocampal functionality. Conclusions These data demonstrate for the first time a fundamental role of p21 in modulating the post-traumatic hippocampal neurogenic response, by the regulation of the proliferative and differentiative steps of aNSCs/progenitor populations after brain damage.

Abstract Salivary gland squamous cell carcinomas (SG-SCCs) constitute a rare type of head and neck cancer which is linked to poor prognosis. Due to their low frequency, the molecular mechanisms responsible for their aggressiveness are poorly understood. In this work we studied the role of the phosphatase DUSP1, a negative regulator of MAPK activity, in controlling SG-SCC progression. We generated DUSP1 KO clones in A253 human cells. These clones showed a reduced ability to grow in 2D, self-renew in ECM matrices and to form tumors in immunodeficient mice. This was caused by an overactivation of the stress and apoptosis kinase JNK1/2 in DUSP1 −/+ clones. Interestingly, RNAseq analysis revealed that the expression of SOX2, a well-known self-renewal gene was decreased at the mRNA and protein levels in DUSP1 −/+ cells. Unexpectedly, CRISPR-KO of SOX2 did not recapitulate DUSP1 −/+ phenotype, and SOX2-null cells had an enhanced ability to self-renew and to form tumors in mice. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that SOX2-null cells have a decreased squamous differentiation profile -losing TP63 expression- and an increased migratory phenotype, with an enhanced epithelial to mesenchymal transition signature. In summary, our data indicates that DUSP1 and SOX2 have opposite functions in SG-SCC, being DUSP1 necessary for tumor growth and SOX2 dispensable showing a tumor suppressor function. Our data suggest that the combined expression of SOX2 and DUSP1 could be a useful biomarker to predict progression in patients with SG-SCCs.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia in which immature promyelocytes abnormally proliferate in the bone marrow. In most cases, the disease is characterised by the translocation t(15;17) (q24;q21), which causes the formation of PML::RARA, an oncogenic fusion protein responsible for blocking myeloid differentiation and survival advantage. Here, we present a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia with two unusual features: basophilic differentiation and a three-way translocation involving chromosomes 12, 15 and 17. In the few cases reported, basophilic differentiation was associated with a poor prognosis. In contrast, our patient responded promptly to the standard treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) and obtained complete remission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of basophilic acute promyelocytic leukemia with the three-way translocation t(12;17;15) (p13; q24;q21).

Abstract Recruitment of fibroblasts to tumors and their activation into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is a strategy used by tumor cells to direct extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, invasion, and metastasis, highlighting the need to investigate the molecular mechanisms driving CAF function. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) regulates the communication between cancer and stroma and facilitates the progression of serous ovarian cancer (SOC). By binding to Endothelin A (ETA) and B (ETB) receptors, ET-1 enables the recruitment of β-arrestin1 (β-arr1) and the formation of signaling complexes that coordinate tumor progression. However, how ET-1 receptors might “educate” human ovarian fibroblasts (HOFs) to produce altered ECM and promote metastasis remains to be elucidated. This study identifies ET-1 as a pivotal factor in the activation of CAFs capable of proteolytic ECM remodeling and the generation of heterotypic spheroids containing cancer cells with a propensity to metastasize. An autocrine/paracrine ET-1/ETA/BR/β-arr1 loop enhances HOF proliferation, upregulates CAF marker expression, secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increases collagen contractility, and cell motility. Furthermore, ET-1 facilitates ECM remodeling by promoting the lytic activity of invadosome and activation of integrin β1. In addition, ET-1 signaling supports the formation of heterotypic HOF/SOC spheroids with enhanced ability to migrate through the mesothelial monolayer, and invade, representing metastatic units. The blockade of ETA/BR or β-arr1 silencing prevents CAF activation, invadosome function, mesothelial clearance, and the invasive ability of heterotypic spheroids. In vivo, therapeutic inhibition of ETA/BR using bosentan (BOS) significantly reduces the metastatic potential of combined HOFs/SOC cells, associated with enhanced apoptotic effects on tumor cells and stromal components. These findings support a model in which ET-1/β-arr1 reinforces tumor/stroma interaction through CAF activation and fosters the survival and metastatic properties of SOC cells, which could be counteracted by ETA/BR antagonists.

Abstract Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often exhibit changes in body composition (BC) which are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Many studies group colon and rectal cancers together, irrespective of staging, potentially affecting assessment and treatment strategies. Our study aimed to compare BC in patients with CRC focusing on tumor location and metastasis presence. A total of 635 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 61.8 ± 12.4 years and 50.2% female. The majority had rectal cancer as the primary cancer site (51.0%), and 23.6% had metastatic disease. The first regression model showed tumor site and metastasis as independent factors influencing skeletal muscle (SM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and visceral adipose tissue variability (all p values

Abstract Purpose: Provide empirical evidence of the impact of perceptual variables and beliefs on a person's decision to join or not to join the group of nascent entrepreneurs. Methodology: Logistic regression applied to the most recent data from nine Latin American countries available in the 2018 GEM survey. Following existing literature, we interconnect perceptual variables with control variables in the form of sociodemographic characteristics. Results: New entrepreneurs tend to depend more on subjective perceptions than on sociodemographic variables. Evidence suggests that having the confidence of possessing the necessary knowledge and skills plus knowing a model entrepreneur are inseparable variables with the greatest impact on the decision to become an entrepreneur. Our results also suggest that entrepreneurial knowledge does not necessarily originate from formal classroom education, as this variable was found to be not significant in the model. This supports the hypothesis that confidence in one's knowledge and abilities result from the contact with other entrepreneurs who serve as role models, instructors and mentors, which is consistent with Social Learning Theory.

Background: Caring for a family member can be demanding, particularly when caregivers experience profound distress. Supportive interventions may help prevent mental and physical illness in the caregiver. General practice plays a key role by regularly engaging with patients and caregivers, thereby being able to identify their support needs, offer talk therapy and refer to care initiatives. Objective: This study aimed to develop and pilot-test the Caregiver Care Model to mitigate grief reactions among caregivers in general practice. Design: A participatory intervention development study. Methods: A prototype was developed in a workshop with healthcare professionals. The prototype was refined based on a pilot-test among 40 caregivers from 5 general practice clinics and a workshop with general practitioners. The data were obtained from workshops, feedback questionnaires completed by healthcare professionals, and interviews with caregivers and general practitioners. The analysis focused on model development and mechanisms of impact. Results: The prototype was refined by focusing the dialogue questionnaire, minimising the grief facilitation tools and expanding the target group. The prototype seemed to accommodate the needs among caregivers by acknowledging their situation. The final model includes up to seven caregiver consultations in general practice. A dialogue questionnaire filled in by the caregiver serves as a fixed starting point and preparation for the first consultation. If needed, talk therapy in general practice or referrals to other services are used. Conclusion: The model offers promising support for caregivers. Its flexible structure allows for customisation. The viability of the model should be further tested.

The article discusses how TikTok has emerged as a platform for self-representation and political contestation during the Russia–Ukraine war. Shortly after the beginning of the conflict, journalists and broadcasters have begun to associate the events unfolding in those countries with the widespread use of this platform among young content creators, refugees, soldiers, and civilians. Described as the “first TikTok war” or as “WarTok,” the conflict in Ukraine represents an important example to look at to uncover the increasingly central role of platforms as spaces where conflicts can be witnessed, documented, and shared with global audiences in real time. The research findings illustrate how TikTok becomes a space where material and affective practices of “performed refugeeness” can become visible and viral due to its unique language, formatting style, and highly personalized narratives, while creating a transnational streaming of war-related discourses that not only bypass traditional circuits of news sharing, but also activate a digital care network that crosses borders and connects diverse digital publics. While the study is small scale to account for a more in-depth narrative analysis of TikTok videos, it nevertheless returns significant insights into refugees’ digital storytelling strategies in conflict areas.

O Diabetes Mellitus (DM) é um distúrbio metabólico caracterizado por hiperglicemia persistente decorrente da deficiência na produção de insulina. No Brasil, 11, 4 % da população, com idades entre 20 e 79 anos, têm o diagnóstico. Nessa perspectiva, a bomba de infusão é um recurso terapêutico que tem contribuído para a obtenção de melhor qualidade de vida do DM1. Objetivo: Identificar, na literatura, a utilização da bomba de infusão de insulina no tratamento do Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1. Método: Revisão integrativa, realizado no período de junho a outubro de 2022, através de artigos publicados na íntegra entre 2016 e 2021, nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, Medline, Lilacs Science e Science Direct. Resultados: Obteve-se uma amostra de 20 artigos. Foi confirmado nos estudos que o uso da terapia com a bomba de insulina no tratamento da patologia trouxe melhoria para o tratamento, uma vez que ocorre a redução da hemoglobina glicada, demonstrando um melhor controle glicêmico e assim, trazendo qualidade de vida ao usuário. Por outro lado, o uso da terapia representa desvantagens para algumas pessoas, uma vez que se sentem limitadas a estarem permanentemente conectadas a um aparelho. Considerações finais: O uso das inovações tecnológicas no tratamento do DM1 tem o potencial de contribuir para adesão e prevenção de complicações, nesse intuito é de grande valia o conhecimento e domínio dos profissionais enfermeiros independentes da área e faixa etária de atuação.

There is a persistent an urgent need to solve tissue and organ donor shortage issues. Decellularized tissues represent a promising alternative to other biologic and synthetic treatments that have been developed, since they aim to retain native tissue characteristics that would help in the regenerative processes such as prolifera-tion, cellular adhesion, and the presence of growth factors, while minimizing the chances of an unwanted host immune response. In the present review, we describe the most common methodologies for decellularization pro-cesses, as well as the clinical applications of these biomaterials.

Abstract Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables three-dimensional reconstruction of the functional blood vessels in the retina. Therefore, it enables the quantification of 3D retinal vessel parameters such as surface area and vessel volume. In spite of the widespread use of OCTA, no representative volume-rendered vessel volume (VV) data are published to date. In this study, OCTA 3 × 3 mm macular cubes were processed with volume-rendering techniques to measure VV in 203 eyes from 107 healthy volunteers. Generalized linear models (GLM) were constructed to assess the impact of age, gender, visual acuity (VA), spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length (AL) on VV. Overall mean VV was 0.23 ± 0.05mm3. Age and axial length showed a negative correlation with VV. However, GLM model analysis found that AL exerted the most pronounced influence on VV. No statistically significant associations were identified between gender or between left and right eyes. This is the first study to assess 3D OCTA VV and its naturally occurring variations in a large series of healthy subjects. It offers novel insights into the characterization of normal retinal vascular anatomy in healthy individuals, contributing to a valuable reference for future research in this field.

Heliciculture farms are susceptible to significant biotic issues that can impact snail breeding, among them, the entomofauna predation of snails. Predatory insects can cause damage to snail shells during predation, and sometimes, the specific type of damage may be characteristic of certain insect families or species. Under laboratory conditions, we analysed the predatory activity of the species Silpha tristis Illiger, 1798 (Coleoptera: Silphidae), Ocypus olens (Müller, 1764) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus constantinus Kraatz, 1899 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and Lampyris sardiniae Geisthardt, 1987 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) against the gastropod Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) reared on snail farms located in the Sardinian region. The adult and larval stages of each species were tested, except for L. sardiniae, as only the larval stage preys upon snails. This study showed that among all of the species considered, only two insects were able to damage the shell of C. aspersum: C. morbillosus constantinus and O.olens. This may prove valuable in C. aspersum breeding for the recognition of specific lesions, even in the absence of the predator.

ABSTRACT Background: The current treatments for Chagas disease (CD) include benznidazole and nifurtimox, which have limited efficacy and cause numerous side effects. Triazoles are candidates for new CD treatments due to their ability to eliminate T. cruzi parasites by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis, thereby damaging the cell membranes of the parasite. Methods: Eleven synthetic analogs of the kinase inhibitor SRPIN340 containing a triazole core (compounds 6A-6K) were screened in vitro against the Tulahuen strain transfected with β-galactosidase, and their IC50, CC50, and selectivity indexes (SI) were calculated. Compounds with an SI > 50 were further evaluated in mice infected with the T. cruzi Y strain by rapid testing. Results: Eight compounds were active in vitro with IC50 values ranging from 0.5-10.5 µg/mL. The most active compounds, 6E and 6H, had SI values of 125.2 and 69.6, respectively. These compounds also showed in vivo activity, leading to a reduction in parasitemia at doses of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg/day. At doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg/day, parasitemia was significantly reduced compared to infected untreated animals, with no significant differences between the effects of 6E and 6H. Conclusions: This study identified two new promising compounds for CD chemotherapy and confirmed their activity against T. cruzi.

A patient’s respiratory rate can be measured based on the thoracic excursion during inhalation and exhalation. For this it was implemented a wearable antenna–sensor made of cotton/polyester (polycot) fabric and flexible copper was designed in electromagnetic field simulation software CST Studio Suite to operate at an industrial, scientific, and medical frequency band (ISM) of 2.4 GHz. The measurement protocol used involved conducting a thoracic anamnesis in order to manually measure the expansion of the thoracic cage during the patient’s inhalation and exhalation, as a way to validate the measurements. A wearable patch antenna was used as the thoracic deformation sensor, which allowed for anatomical adjustment to the curvature of the patients’ chests. According to the findings, the variation in the resonant frequency of the antenna–sensor was linear and decreasing in the range of 2.15–2.6 GHz (bandwidth of 450 MHz), allowing for the detection of linear changes in thoracic excursion, with a sensitivity inversely proportional to the applied effort of −2.56 MHz/µ φ . These results were obtained by placing the sensor in the lateral region of the thorax for patients with obesity and respiratory pathologies. The satisfactory results demonstrate a novel instrumental technique for measuring thoracic deformation using a wearable patch antenna as a physiological sensor. This is the initial step toward the automation of the proposed measurement protocol in smart digital devices for respiratory rate monitoring in biomedical applications.

Comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and antibody-mediated diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) including neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are common and may influence the course of their neurological disease. Comorbidity may contribute to neuronal injury and therefore limit recovery from attacks, accelerate disease progression, and increase disability. This study aims to explore the impact of comorbidity, particularly vascular comorbidity, and related risk factors on clinical and paraclinical parameters of MS, NMOSD and MOGAD. We propose COMMIT, a prospective multicenter study with longitudinal follow-up of patients with MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD, with or without comorbidities, as well as healthy subjects as controls. Subjects will be stratified by age, sex and ethnicity. In consecutive samples we will analyze levels of inflammation and neurodegeneration markers in both fluid and cellular compartments of the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using multiple state-of-the-art technologies, including untargeted proteomics and targeted ultrasensitive ELISA assays and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as well as high-dimensional single-cell technologies i.e., mass cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. Algorithm-based data analyses will be used to unravel the relationship between these markers, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and clinical outcomes including frequency and severity of relapses, long-term disability, and quality of life. The goal is to evaluate the impact of comorbidities on MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD which may lead to development of treatment approaches to improve outcomes of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS.

Abstract Research around the world has focused on developing ways to predict hydraulic parameters in water distribution systems. The application of these forecasts can contribute to the decision-making of water distribution systems managers, aiming to ensure that the demand is met, and even to reduce water losses. The present work sought, among two data prediction models (ARIMA and Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Networks), to assess which one can perform best predictions of pressure and discharge rate data. To reach the stipulated goal, real data were obtained from a water supply network provided by NUMMARH - Nucleus of Modeling and Simulation in Environment and Water Resources and Systems of the Federal University of Itajubá, Brazil. These data initially underwent an adjustment so that it was possible to develop a computer program. The results showed that the best prediction model for the data in question was ARIMA, presenting a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 8.54%. Thus, it is concluded that ARIMA models are easy to build and apply, being an advantageous tool to predict such hydraulic parameters.

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo proponer un sistema de actividades para fortalecer laEducación Ambiental. Resulta evidente que se deben formar hombres capaces de regular susacciones en relación con el medioambiente y a la vez que influyan positivamente en la sociedad,concediéndole un papel decisivo a la escuela en el desarrollo de la Educación Ambiental. Seemplearon métodos del nivel teórico y empírico, así como diferentes técnicas e instrumentoscomo el análisis documental, la prueba pedagógica, la entrevista, la guía de observaciónque permitieron realizar el análisis sobre las necesidades y potencialidades que presenta lamuestra que se investiga y proponer el sistema de actividades. La pertinencia del sistema deactividades se realizó mediante la evaluación científica lo que permitió comprobar que tienenvalidez, novedad y originalidad, favoreciendo el logro del objetivo de la investigación.

Abstract This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between salivary immunoglobulins, plaque index, and gingival index in Brazilian children with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for the reporting of observational studies was followed. The DM1 group had 38 children, and an equal number of volunteers matched by sex and age were recruited as controls. Clinical examination was performed for plaque index and gingival index determination. Non-stimulated whole saliva was collected. Concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined by ELISA test. Data were tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman tests and a multiple linear regression model (p

La revisión bibliográfica sobre la cooperación universitaria en la Eurorregión Galicia-Norte de Portugal permite elaborar el guion de las entrevistas en profundidad, fuente fundamental de información en este trabajo. Se explora la movilidad estudiantil y docente e investigadora desde Galicia hacia el Norte de Portugal, concretamente hacia la Escola Superior de Enfermagem Dr. José Timóteo Montalvão Machado, para los primeros, y la Universidade do Minho, para los segundos. Se hace hincapié en conocer cuáles son las relaciones transfronterizas, el papel de la cuestión lingüística, cómo se aborda la residencia y cuáles son los facilitadores. Esta investigación exploratoria revela la importancia del capital relacional en la cooperación más allá del necesario marco comunitario y la existencia de estructuras formales, y subraya la relevancia de esta Eurorregión como marco espacial de referencia.

Objectives: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed umbilical cord clamping (CC) at birth may have been commonly discouraged despite a lack of convincing evidence of mother-to-neonate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We aimed to systematically review guidelines, and reports of practice and to analyze associations between timing of CC and mother-to-neonate SARS-CoV-2 transmission during the early phases of the pandemic. Methods: Major databases were searched from December 1, 2019, to July 20, 2021. Inclusion: studies and guidelines describing CC practice in women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy until 2 postnatal days, giving birth to live-born neonates. Exclusion: no extractable data. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility and assessed study quality. Pooled prevalence rates were calculated. Results: Forty-eight studies (1476 neonates) and 40 guidelines were included. Delayed CC was recommended in 70.0% of the guidelines. Nevertheless, delayed CC was reported less often than early CC: 262/1476 (17.8%) vs 511/1476 (34.6%). Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were similar following delayed (1.2%) and early CC (1.3%). Most SARS-CoV-2 transmissions (93.3%) occurred in utero. Conclusion: Delayed CC did not seem to increase mother-to-neonate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Due to its benefits, it should be encouraged even in births where the mother has a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Systematic review registration: Prospero CRD42020199500.

Early detection of pre-eclampsia is challenging due to the low sensitivity and specificity of current clinical methods and biomarkers. This study investigates the potential of high-wavenumber FTIR spectroscopy (region between 2800 and 3600 cm−1) as an innovative diagnostic approach capable of providing comprehensive biochemical insights with minimal sample preparation. Blood samples were collected from 33 pregnant women and their corresponding 33 newborns during induction or spontaneous labor. By analyzing the dried blood plasma samples, we identified biomarkers associated with FTIR vibrational modes, including 2853.6 cm−1 (CH2 stretching in lipids), 2873.0 cm−1 (CH3 stretching in lipids and proteins), and 3279.7 cm−1 (O–H stretching related to water and proteins). Machine learning classification revealed 76.3% ± 3.5% sensitivity and 56.1% ± 4.4% specificity in distinguishing between pre-eclamptic and non-pre-eclamptic pregnant women, along with 79.0% ± 3.5% sensitivity and 76.9% ± 6.2% specificity for newborns. The overall accuracy for classifying all pregnant women and newborns was 71.8% ± 2.5%. The results indicate that high-wavenumber FTIR spectroscopy can enhance classification performance when combined with other analytical methods. Our findings suggest that investigating hydrophilic sites may complement plasma analysis in clinical settings.

El propósito de este artículo es analizar definiciones y variables asociadas a habilidades sociales en educandos con síndrome de Down. Se emplea la revisión bibliográfica a partir de una estrategia de búsqueda, basada en selección de fuentes localizadas en las bases de datos Google Académico, ResearchGate, SciELO, Redalyc y Dialnet, contentivas de las palabras claves: habilidades sociales y síndrome de Down. Se establecieron como criterios de inclusión: fecha de publicación, tipo de publicación y resultados de interés. Se constata escasa existencia de tesis de doctorado y artículos científicos de investigación y revisión correspondiente a los últimos diez años. Prevalecen las definiciones retomadas de investigaciones más generales, lo que obstaculiza el análisis de los componentes y relaciones esenciales del desarrollo de habilidades sociales en educandos con síndrome de Down. Se refleja poco consenso en el manejo de las variables en relación con las categorías desarrollo psicológico y edad cronológica.

BackgroundAdverse events in the primary care setting result in a direct cost equivalent to at least 2.5% of total healthcare spending. Across OECD countries, they lead to more than seven million avoidable hospital admissions annually. In this manuscript, we describe the protocol of a trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of SinergiAPS (a patient-centered audit and feedback intervention) in reducing avoidable hospital admission and explore the factors that may affect its implementation.MethodsWe will conduct a 24-month, parallel, open-label, multicenter, pragmatic, hybrid type 1 randomized clinical trial. 118 primary healthcare centers with wide geographical distribution in Spain will be randomly assigned (ratio 1:1) to two groups. The intervention group will receive two audits (baseline and intermediate at 12 months) based on information collected through the administration of the PREOS-PC questionnaire (a measure of patient-reported patient safety) to a convenience sample of 100 patients per center. The intervention group will receive reports on the results of both audits, along with educational resources aimed at facilitating the design and implementation of safety improvement plans. The control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome will be the rate of avoidable hospitalizations (administrative data). Secondary outcomes: patient-reported patient safety experiences and outcomes (PREOS-PC questionnaire); patient safety culture as perceived by professionals (MOSPSC questionnaire); adverse events reported by healthcare professionals (ad hoc questionnaire); the number of safety improvement actions which the re has implemented (ad hoc questionnaire). Outcome data will be collected at baseline and 24 months follow-up. For the evaluation of the implementation of the SinergiAPS intervention, we will draw on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We will collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data (30 individual interviews, implementation logbooks; questionnaires for professionals from intervention centers, and level of use of the SinergiAPS web tool).DiscussionThis study will expand the scarce body of evidence existing regarding the effects and implementation of interventions aimed at promoting patient and family engagement in primary healthcare, specifically for enhancing patient safety. The study has the potential to produce an impact on clinical practice, healthcare systems, and population health.Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05958108?term=sinergiAPS&rank=1 (NCT05958108).

Este artículo indaga sobre el deber de la JEP de avocar conocimiento de un macro-caso de violencia sexual cometida en el marco del conflicto armado (VSXCA). Para ello estudia el contexto sobre la VSXCA en Colombia, la justicia transicional con enfoque de género y los criterios de priori-zación y selección establecidos por la JEP.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship between the self-perceived employability of engineering students and graduates and their employment situation. Methodology: A total of 505 individuals participated in this study, including recent graduates and senior students from five engineering programs at a public higher education institution in Colombia. This research adopted a quantitative methodology with a non-experimental cross-sectional design and a correlational scope. The data were analysed using inferential statistics. Findings: Based on the results, perceived employability considerably depends on four factors: the level of job performance, the number of promotions, work experience, and the education–job relationship. Originality: In the current labour context, employability is an important tool for graduates who are entering the labour market and must face a variety of challenges, such as the decline in work opportunities, the rapid development of technology, and the need for lifelong learning. According to the literature in the field, employability is significantly influenced by these kinds of external factors.

Abstract Background Studies have shown that more than 50% of the antibiotics used in hospitals are unnecessary or inappropriate and, that antimicrobial resistance may cost up to 20 billion USD in excess medical costs each year. On the other hand, Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) significantly reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use, emergence of antimicrobial resistance, healthcare associated infections, and costs in hospital settings. Objective To evaluate the development of ASP and antibiotic savings in 7 Latin American hospitals using standardized quantitative indicators in all the participating health care institutions. Methods An interventional study was conducted, where pre- and post- evaluations were performed using a standardized score tool adapted from the Joint Commission International accreditation standards and, the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification. We evaluated ASP from 7 Latin American hospitals between 2019 and 2020. A pre-intervention evaluation was done in each hospital to quantify the degree of development of the ASP (ASP Development score). Based on these results, tailored on-site training was implemented in each hospital, followed by a post-intervention evaluation to quantify improvement of ASP-development indicators. In addition, monetary savings in antimicrobials derived from the ASP intervention were estimated. Results In the pre-intervention evaluation, the average ASP development score for the 7 institutions was 65.8% (40-94.3%). The items with the lowest development score were those related to monitoring and communicating the ASP progress and success. For the post-intervention evaluation, 2 institutions couldn’t participate due to the pressure imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the remaining 5/7 hospitals, the average ASP development score was 82.3% with an increase of 12.0% when compared to the pre-intervention measurement of the same institutions (average pre-intervention score 70.3% (48.2%-94.3%) The items with a significant increase were key performance indicators, AMS education and training of the prescribers. Three of the seven (3/7) hospitals reported antibiotic monetary savings associated to the ASP intervention. Conclusions The use of the tool described shown to be useful to evaluate specific areas of ASP-development that were lacking and tailor interventions for the participating hospitals, consequently, it helped improve ASP-development in the institutions that underwent pre- intervention and post-intervention analysis. In addition, the strategies showed monetary savings on antimicrobial costs when measured.

Polymeric hydrogels are soft materials with a three-dimensional (3D) hydrophilic network capable of retaining and absorbing large amounts of water or biological fluids. Due to their customizable properties, these materials are extensively studied for developing matrices for 3D cell culture scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. However, conventional hydrogels still exhibit many drawbacks; thus, significant efforts have been directed towards developing dynamic hydrogels that draw inspiration from organisms’ natural self-repair abilities after injury. The self-healing properties of these hydrogels are closely associated with their ability to form, break, and heal dynamic bonds in response to various stimuli. The primary objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of dynamic hydrogels by examining the types of chemical bonds associated with them and the biopolymers utilized, and to elucidate the chemical nature of dynamic bonds that enable the modulation of hydrogels’ properties. While dynamic bonds ensure the self-healing behavior of hydrogels, they do not inherently confer adhesive properties. Therefore, we also highlight emerging approaches that enable dynamic hydrogels to acquire adhesive properties.

BackgroundAmbulance response times are considered important. Busy ambulances are common, but little is known about their effect on response times.ObjectiveTo assess the extent of busy ambulances in Central Norway and their impact on ambulance response times.DesignThis was a retrospective observational study. We used machine learning on data from nearby incidents to assess the probability of up to five different ambulances being candidates to respond to a medical emergency incident. For each incident, the probability of a busy ambulance was estimated by summing the probabilities of candidate ambulances being busy at the time of the incident. The difference in response time that may be attributable to busy ambulances was estimated by comparing groups of nearby incidents with different estimated busy probabilities.SettingMedical emergency incidents with ambulance response in Central Norway from 2013 to 2022.Main outcome measuresPrevalence of busy ambulances and differences in response times associated with busy ambulances.ResultsThe estimated probability of busy ambulances for all 216,787 acute incidents with ambulance response was 26.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 26.6 to 26.9). Comparing nearby incidents, each 10-percentage point increase in the probability of a busy ambulance was associated with a delay of 0.60 minutes (95% CI 0.58 to 0.62). For incidents in rural and urban areas, the probability of a busy ambulance was 21.6% (95% CI 21.5 to 21.8) and 35.0% (95% CI 34.8 to 35.2), respectively. The delay associated with a 10-percentage point increase in busy probability was 0.81 minutes (95% CI 0.78 to 0.84) and 0.30 minutes (95% CI 0.28 to 0.32), respectively.ConclusionAmbulances were often busy, which was associated with delayed ambulance response times. In rural areas, the probability of busy ambulances was lower, although the potentially longer delays when ambulances were busy made these areas more vulnerable.

There is limited knowledge on how excess demand for elderly care influences patient outcomes. We used a natural experiment to estimate the causal effect of discharging elderly patients from hospital to municipalities with excess demand. In Norway, hospital in-patients are defined as ready-for-discharge when hospital treatment is completed, but the patient needs further care from municipal services. After this, the municipality of residence is obliged to either provide care for the patient or to pay the hospital a fixed fee per day that the patient spends in hospital. Municipal fee-days may thus indicate excess municipal demand. In the current paper, we studied how excess municipal demand, indicated by the number of fee-days accumulated in the municipality 30 days before an acute admission, influenced patient outcomes. To minimize confounding, we compared patients living within the same municipality, admitted during the same type of day, in the same year, but with varying excess demand. Our outcomes were mortality, resource use and healthcare costs at the primary and secondary care level, within 30 days. Between 2012 and 2016, 354,834 individuals (age≥70 years) had a total of 895,892 acute admissions. There was a 2% increased 30-day mortality per standard deviation change in accumulate fee-days (Hazard ratio (HR) of 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.03). Individuals living in small municipalities (population10,000) had HR of 1.01 (95% CI 1.00-1.03). We found no substantial effect on subsequent healthcare use or costs. Relevance tests supported that fee-days was a good indication of excess demand, and balance tests supported that patients were comparable between periods with different excess demand. In conclusion, our results imply that older patients who are discharged to a municipality with excess demand have slightly elevated mortality, particularly in small municipalities.

BackgroundHealthcare-associated infection (HAI) remains a significant risk for hospitalized patients and a challenging burden for the healthcare system. This study presents a clinical decision support tool that can be used in clinical workflows to proactively engage secondary assessments of pre-symptomatic and at-risk infection patients, thereby enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.MethodsThis study applies machine learning, specifically ensemble-based boosted decision trees, on large retrospective hospital datasets to develop an infection risk score that predicts infection before obvious symptoms present. We extracted a stratified machine learning dataset of 36,782 healthcare-associated infection patients. The model leveraged vital signs, laboratory measurements and demographics to predict HAI before clinical suspicion, defined as the order of a microbiology test or administration of antibiotics.ResultsOur best performing infection risk model achieves a cross-validated AUC of 0.88 at 1 h before clinical suspicion and maintains an AUC >0.85 for 48 h before suspicion by aggregating information across demographics and a set of 163 vital signs and laboratory measurements. A second model trained on a reduced feature space comprising demographics and the 36 most frequently measured vital signs and laboratory measurements can still achieve an AUC of 0.86 at 1 h before clinical suspicion. These results compare favorably against using temperature alone and clinical rules such as the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score. Along with the performance results, we also provide an analysis of model interpretability via feature importance rankings.ConclusionThe predictive model aggregates information from multiple physiological parameters such as vital signs and laboratory measurements to provide a continuous risk score of infection that can be deployed in hospitals to provide advance warning of patient deterioration.

Peripheral neuropathy with antibodies to myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the peripheral nervous system caused by pathogenic IgM recognizing the human natural killer-1 glycoepitope expressed on MAG. This study aimed to analyze the performance of a new indirect immunofluorescence cell-based assay (CBA, EUROIMMUN) for the detection of anti-MAG IgM. Antibody reactivity was determined in sera from 95 patients with clinical and neurophysiological evidence of anti-MAG-associated neuropathy and in control samples from 55 patients with other forms of peripheral neuropathy. Compared to the results of the gold standard method (ELISA, Bühlmann) and using samples at a dilution of 1:100, the CBA had a sensitivity of 98.9% and a specificity of 100% (PPV 100%, NPV 98.2%). In conclusion, the CBA allows the detection of antibodies to MAG using an easy and standardized technique, and it presents a sensitive and specific alternative to the more time-consuming ELISA. Larger studies are needed to address anti-MAG titer monitoring in parallel with clinical activity.