Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 modulates mitochondrial function in breast cancer cells.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that respond to cellular stress through changes in global mass, interconnection, and subcellular location. As mitochondria play an important role in tumor development and progression, alterations in energy metabolism allow tumor cells to survive and spread even in challenging conditions. Alterations in mitochondrial bioenergetics have been recently proposed as a hallmark of cancer, and positive regulation of lipid metabolism constitutes one of the most common metabolic changes observed in tumor cells. Acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) is an enzyme catalyzing the activation of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with a strong substrate preference for arachidonic acid (AA). High ACSL4 expression has been related to aggressive cancer phenotypes, including breast cancer, and its overexpression has been shown to positively regulate the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, involved in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism genes. However, little is known about the role of ACSL4 in the regulation of mitochondrial function and metabolism in cancer cells. In this context, our objective was to study whether mitochondrial function and metabolism, processes usually altered in tumors, are modulated by ACSL4 in breast cancer cells. Using ACSL4 overexpression in MCF-7 cells, we demonstrate that this enzyme can increase the mRNA and protein levels of essential mitochondrial regulatory proteins such as nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) and respiratory chain Complex III. Furthermore, respiratory parameters analysis revealed an increase in oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and in spare respiratory capacity (SRC), among others. ACSL4 knockdown in MDA-MB-231 cells led to the decrease in OCR and in SCR, supporting the role of ACSL4 in the regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics. Moreover, ACSL4 overexpression induced an increase in glycolytic function, in keeping with an increase in mitochondrial respiratory activity. Finally, there was a decrease in mitochondrial mass detected in cells that overexpressed ACSL4, while the knockdown of ACSL4 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells showed the opposite effect. Altogether, these results unveil the role of ACSL4 in mitochondrial function and metabolism and expand the knowledge of ACSL4 participation in pathological processes such as breast cancer.

Hospital cohort study on survival predictors for intubated coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the predictors of survival among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent tracheal intubation, as part of a hospital cohort study. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study in the Rio do Sul County Hospital, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from April 2020 to May 2021, focused on patients aged 18 years or older intubated for coronavirus disease 2019. We assessed the 90-day survival of intubated patients by estimating the hazard ratio using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The study included 132 participants, with an average age of approximately 60 years. Tracheal intubation was successfully accomplished in 97% of cases within two attempts. The overall mortality rate was 62.9%. Notably, mortality rates were significantly higher in patients aged over 60 years (hazard ratio=2.57; 95%CI 1.54-4.29; p<0.001), those with blood oxygen saturation below 85% (hazard ratio=1.92; 95%CI 1.03-3.57; p=0.04), instances where tracheal intubation was carried out using a conventional laryngoscope (hazard ratio=2.59; 95%CI 1.22-5.48; p=0.013), and when performed by emergency physicians (hazard ratio=3.96; 95%CI 1.51-10.4; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Our analysis unveiled that the risk of death in intubated coronavirus disease 2019 patients is four times higher when an emergency physician, as opposed to an anesthesiologist, leads the tracheal intubation team.

Environmental impact of the diet of young Portuguese and its relationship with adherence to the Mediterranean Diet.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate, in a cohort of young Portuguese adults, the environmental impact (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use, energy used, acidification and potential eutrophication) of diet according to adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD). METHODS: Data from 1554 participants of the Epidemiologic Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto (EPITeen) were analysed. Food intake and MD adherence were determined using validated questionnaires. The environmental impact was evaluated with the EAT-Lancet Commission tables, and the link between MD adherence and environmental impact was calculated using adjusted multivariate linear regression models. RESULTS: Higher adherence (high vs. low) to the MD was associated with lower environmental impact in terms of land use (7.8 vs. 8.5 m2, p = 0.002), potential acidification (57.8 vs. 62.4 g SO2-eq, p = 0.001) and eutrophication (21.7 vs. 23.5 g PO4-eq, p < 0.001). Energy use decreased only in the calorie-adjusted model (9689.5 vs. 10,265.9 kJ, p < 0.001), and GHG emissions were reduced only in a complementary model where fish consumption was eliminated (3035.3 vs. 3281.2 g CO2-eq, p < 0.001). Meat products had the greatest environmental impact for all five environmental factors analysed: 35.7% in GHG emissions, 60.9% in energy use, 72.8% in land use, 70% in acidification and 61.8% in eutrophication. CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to the MD is associated with lower environmental impact, particularly in terms of acidification, eutrophication, and land use. Reducing meat consumption can contribute to greater environmental sustainability.

Evolution of interconsultal activity to endocrinology and nutrition in hospitalization floor in a third level hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Endocrinology and Nutrition (EyN) is an outpatient and hospital medical specialty. This study aims to understand the evolution of the activity of interdepartmental consultation (IC) carried out by EyN in hospitalization floor of a third level hospital, comparing its evolution with other medical specialties, and comparing endocrine IC with nutritional IC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Longitudinal and retrospective study which analyzes IC notes of EyN and other medical specialties between 01-01-2013 and 31-12-2022. RESULTS: A total of 76093 IC notes (12623 patients) were performed by the EyN service (average age 65.4 years; 59% male) with an average of 4.8 notes per patient. Average annual growth was 7% in notes and 4% in patients (versus 6% and 3% of all other medical services, differences statistically significant). Of all patients hospitalized for 4 or more days, EyN went from attending 7.9% (2013) to 12.3% (2022). 66% of the IC performed by EyN was for nutritional cause and 34% for other pathologies. CONCLUSIONS: The EyN service is the one that most patients attend in hospital IC activity, with growth over the last few years greater than other medical specialties. Nutritional pathology is the main reason for IC.

Long-Term Effect of Home Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Plus Medication Self-Titration for Patients With Hypertension: A Secondary Analysis of the ADAMPA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Patient empowerment through pharmacologic self-management is a common strategy for some chronic diseases such as diabetes, but it is rarely used for controlling blood pressure (BP). Several trials have shown its potential for reducing BP in the short term, but evidence in the longer term is scarce. Objective: To evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of BP self-monitoring plus self-titration of antihypertensive medication vs usual care for patients with poorly controlled hypertension, with passive follow-up and primary-care nursing involvement. Design, Setting, and Participants: The ADAMPA (Impact of Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure and Self-Titration of Medication in the Control of Hypertension) study was a randomized, unblinded clinical trial with 2 parallel arms conducted in Valencia, Spain. Included participants were patients 40 years or older, with systolic BP (SBP) over 145 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) over 90 mm Hg, recruited from July 21, 2017, to June 30, 2018 (study completion, August 25, 2020). Statistical analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis from August 2022 to February 2024. Interventions: Participants were randomized 1:1 to usual care vs an individualized, prearranged plan based on BP self-monitoring plus medication self-titration. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outome was the adjusted mean difference (AMD) in SBP between groups at 24 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the AMD in DBP between groups at 24 months of follow-up, proportion of patients reaching the BP target (SBP <140 mm Hg and DBP <90 mm Hg), change in behaviors, quality of life, health service use, and adverse events. Results: Among 312 patients included in main trial, data on BP measurements at 24 months were available for 219 patients (111 in the intervention group and 108 in the control group). The mean (SD) age was 64.3 (10.1) years, and 120 patients (54.8%) were female; the mean (SD) SBP was 155.6 (13.1) mm Hg, and the mean (SD) diastolic BP was 90.8 (7.7) mm Hg. The median follow-up was 23.8 months (IQR, 19.8-24.5 months). The AMD in SBP at the end of follow-up was -3.4 mm Hg (95% CI, -4.7 to -2.1 mm Hg; P < .001), and the AMD in DBP was -2.5 mm Hg (95% CI, -3.5 to -1.6 mm Hg; P < .001). Subgroup analysis for the main outcome showed consistent results. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the main findings. No differences were observed between groups in behaviors, quality of life, use of health services, or adverse events. Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, BP self-monitoring plus self-titration of antihypertensive medication based on an individualized prearranged plan used in primary care reduced BP in the longer term with passive follow-up compared with usual care, without increasing health care use or adverse events. These results suggest that simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-implement self-management interventions have the potential to improve the long-term control of hypertension in routine clinical practice. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03242785.

Characterization, mathematical modeling of moisture sorption isotherms and bioactive compounds of Andean root flours.

Andean roots can be used as an alternative to gluten-free food. The objective of this study was to enhance the technological and nutritional properties of Andean root flours to promote their industrial applicability. The water content and activity of the flour were lower than those required to prevent mold growth. The bulk density of the flour was comparable to that of wheat flour. The flour of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. exhibited the lowest water absorption capacity of the tested samples. However, both this flour and Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavón showed a higher fat absorption capacity. The samples exhibited type-II isotherms, indicating that the flours were highly hygroscopic. The Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Boer GAB model showed a higher coefficient of determination in mathematical modeling. The chroma of T. tuberosum Ruiz & Pavón flour was higher than the other samples, which was related to total carotenoids and lycopene. Furthermore, I. batatas (L.) Lam. exhibited the highest phenol value.

In-vivo 3-dimensional spine and lower body gait symmetry analysis in healthy individuals.

Background: Numerous research studies have delved into the biomechanics of walking, focusing on the spine and lower extremities. However, understanding the symmetry of walking in individuals without health issues poses a challenge, as those with normal mobility may exhibit uneven movement patterns due to inherent functional differences between their left and right limbs. The goal of this study is to examine the three-dimensional kinematics of gait symmetry in the spine and lower body during both typical and brisk overground walking in healthy individuals. The analysis will utilize statistical methods and symmetry index approaches. Furthermore, the research aims to investigate whether factors such as gender and walking speed influence gait symmetry. Methods: Sixty young adults in good health, comprising 30 males and 30 females, underwent motion capture recordings while engaging in both normal and fast overground walking. The analysis focused on interlimb comparisons and corresponding assessments of side-specific spine and pelvis motions. Results: Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) predominantly revealed gait symmetries between corresponding left and right motions in the spine, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle during both normal and fast overground walking. Notably, both genders exhibited asymmetric pelvis left-right obliquity, with women and men showing an average degree of asymmetry between sides of 0.9 ± 0.1° and 1.5 ± 0.1°, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis suggested that neither sex nor walking speed appeared to exert influence on the 3D kinematic symmetry of the spine, pelvis, and lower body in healthy individuals during gait. While the maximum normalized symmetry index (SInorm) values for the lower thorax, upper lumbar, lower lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle displayed significant differences between sexes and walking speeds for specific motions, no interaction between sex and walking speed was observed. Significance: The findings underscore the potential disparities in data interpretations between the two approaches. While SPM discerns temporal variations in movement, these results offer valuable insights that may enhance our comprehension of gait symmetry in healthy individuals, surpassing the limitations of straightforward discrete parameters like the maximum SInorm. The information gleaned from this study could serve as reference indicators for diagnosing and evaluating abnormal gait function.

Pegvisomant or pasirotide in PRL and GH co-secreting vs GH-secreting Pit-NETs.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of second-line therapies in patients with acromegaly caused by a growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) co-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (GH/PRL-Pit-NET) and compare to those caused by a GH-Pit-NET. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study of patients with acromegaly on treatment with pasireotide or pegvisomant. Patients were classified in two groups: GH/PRL-Pit-NETs when evidence of hyperprolactinemia and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for GH and PRL was positive or if PRL were >200 ng/dL regardless of the PRL-IHC; and GH-Pit-NETs when the previously mentioned criteria were not met. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases with GH/PRL-Pit-NETs and 122 with GH-Pit-NETs met the inclusion criteria. GH/PRL-Pit-NETs presented at a younger age, caused hypopituitarism and were invasive more frequently than GH-Pit-NETs. There were 124 patients treated with pegvisomant and 49 with pasireotide at any time. The efficacy of pegvisomant for IGF-1 normalization was of 81.5% and of pasireotide of 71.4%. No differences in IGF-1 control with pasireotide neither with pegvisomant were observed between GH/PRL-Pit-NETs and GH-Pit-NETs. All GH/PRL-Pit-NET cases treated with pasireotide (n=6) and 82.6% (n=19/23) of the cases treated with pegvisomant normalized PRL levels. No differences in the rate of IGF-1 control between pegvisomant and pasireotide were detected in patients with GH/PRL-Pit-NETs (84.9% vs. 66.7%, P=0.178). CONCLUSION: Despite the more aggressive behavior of GH/PRL-Pit-NETs than GH-Pit-NETs, no differences in the rate of IGF-1 control with pegvisomant and pasireotide is observed between both groups, and both drugs are effective treatments to control IGF-1 and PRL hypersecretion in these tumors.

Experiences of nursing students in A peer mentoring program during their clinical practices. A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical placements allow nursing students to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to provide care. Peer mentoring programmes seem to facilitate these achievements, but there are very few studies on the effects of peer mentoring on clinical placements and what it can bring to both mentors and mentees. AIM: To describe the perspectives of nursing students on a peer mentoring programme during their clinical placements. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive and exploratory study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: First year and third year nursing students were included. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with students after they participated in a peer mentoring programme during their clinical practice rotation. RESULTS: The support received from the student mentors was very important both academically and personally. Mentors also acknowledged having improved their teaching and leadership skills. CONCLUSIONS: Our results can be applied to future studies to inform peer mentoring programmes as a complementary teaching tool in clinical placements to improve leadership and empowerment in nursing students.

Effectiveness of Combined First-Line Medical Treatment in Acromegaly with Prolactin Co-secretion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the response to first-line medical treatment in treatment-naive acromegaly patients with pure growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma (GH-PA) and those with GH and prolactin co-secreting PA (GH&PRL-PA). DESIGN: Retrospective multicentric study of acromegaly patients followed from 2003 to 2023 in 33 tertiary Spanish hospitals with at least six months of first-line medical treatment. METHODS: Baseline characteristics, first-line medical treatment strategies, and outcomes were analysed. We employed a multiple logistic regression full model to estimate the impact of some baseline characteristics on disease control after each treatment modality. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients included, 72.9% had a GH-PA, and 27.1% had a GH&PRL-PA. Patients with GH&PRL-PA were younger (43.9 ± 15.0 vs. 51.9 ± 12.7 years; p < 0.01) and harboring more frequently macroadenomas (89.7% vs. 72.1%, p = 0.03). First generation somatostatin receptor ligand (fgSRL) as monotherapy was given to 106 (73.6%) and a combination treatment with fgSRL and cabergoline in the remaining 38 (26.4%). Patients with GH&PRL-PA received more frequently a combination therapy (56.4% vs. 15.2%; p < 0.01). After 6 months of treatment, in the group of patients under fgSRL as monotherapy, those patients with GH&PRL-PA had worse control compared to GH-PAs (29.4% vs. 55.1%, p = 0.04). However, these differences in the rate of disease control between both groups disappeared when both received combination treatment with fgSRL and cabergoline. CONCLUSION: In GH&PRL-PA the biochemical control achieved with fgSRL as monotherapy is substantially worse than in patients harboring GH-PA, supporting the inclusion of cabergoline as first line medical treatment in combination with fgSRLs in these subgroups of patients.

Supportive care needs among older Mexican adults with metastatic cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Supportive care needs may vary according to age. The purpose of this research is to describe and compare supportive care needs between older adults with metastatic cancer (age ≥ 65 years) and their younger counterparts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective secondary analysis of a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed metastatic solid tumors. Supportive care needs were assessed at baseline and at a three-month follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups (aged ≥65/<65 years). Differences in clinical characteristics and supportive care needs were compared utilizing descriptive statistics. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify patient characteristics associated with specific supportive care needs. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2022, 375 patients were enrolled. Median age was 66 years (interquartile range 19-94). At baseline, older adults had a higher number of supportive care needs (4.8 vs. 4.2, p = 0.01) and were at higher risk of malnutrition (75 vs. 65%, p = 0.05). Increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.04, p = 0.03) and an estimated life expectancy <6 months (OR 3.0, 95%CI 1.5-6.1; p < 0.01) were associated with higher odds of malnutrition, while a higher educational level was associated with decreased odds (OR 0.68, 95%CI 0.5-0.8; p < 0.01). At three-month follow-up, older adults still had a higher number of supportive care needs (3.8 vs.2.6, p < 0.01) and were more likely to have fatigue (62 vs. 47%, p = 0.02). An estimated life expectancy of <6 months was associated with increased odds of fatigue (OR 3.0, 95%CI 1.5-6.3; p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Older adults reported significantly more supportive care needs, particularly risk of malnutrition and fatigue. This information can help in the creation of supportive care services tailored to the needs of older individuals.

The rising global economic costs of invasive Aedes mosquitoes and Aedes-borne diseases.

Invasive Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes transmit viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, posing a huge public health burden as well as having a less well understood economic impact. We present a comprehensive, global-scale synthesis of studies reporting these economic costs, spanning 166 countries and territories over 45 years. The minimum cumulative reported cost estimate expressed in 2022 US$ was 94.7 billion, although this figure reflects considerable underreporting and underestimation. The analysis suggests a 14-fold increase in costs, with an average annual expenditure of US$ 3.1 billion, and a maximum of US$ 20.3 billion in 2013. Damage and losses were an order of magnitude higher than investment in management, with only a modest portion allocated to prevention. Effective control measures are urgently needed to safeguard global health and well-being, and to reduce the economic burden on human societies. This study fills a critical gap by addressing the increasing economic costs of Aedes and Aedes-borne diseases and offers insights to inform evidence-based policy.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Oxygenation in Very Old Adults: A Propensity-Score Match Study.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) escalates with advancing age. Although the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is the standard measure for assessing OSA severity, it does not account for additional oximetric parameters that may influence disease progression in older adults. This study aimed to evaluate disparities in respiratory polygraphy/polysomnography parameters among patients with OSA, stratified by age and sex. DESIGN: Retrospective propensity score-matched study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Sleep unit of a university hospital; 11,747 participants, 210 aged 80 years or older. METHODS: Propensity score matching was used to establish 4 age cohorts, with the 210 oldest adults serving as the reference group. Primary outcome variables included the total sleep time with oxygen saturation (SaO2) below 90% (T90), average SaO2, minimum SaO2, and AHI. The association between T90 and AHI, as well as the severity of OSA, was assessed across the 4 age categories. RESULTS: Despite comparable AHI scores, the oldest OSA patients exhibited the highest T90 and the lowest SaO2 levels compared to younger counterparts. The proportion of patients with severe OSA and T90 in the highest quartile increased with age: 12.5% in young adults, 14.8% in adults, 21.7% in the old, and 34% in the very old participants (P < .001). old and very old patients had a greater likelihood of being in the most severe OSA category compared to the younger ones, with odds ratios (OR) 2.57 (95% CI 1.42-4.65) and 5.52 (95% CI 3.06-9.97), respectively. These patterns were more pronounced in women of advanced age, indicating a sex-specific variation in disease severity with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Old OSA patients, particularly women, demonstrate elevated T90 and reduced SaO2 levels, irrespective of AHI, indicating a hypoxemia increased risk. The diagnostic criteria, management, and outcomes for OSA may require adaptations to address the unique needs of very old populations.

Adipokines as potential pharmacological targets for immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: Focus on rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Adipokines are a heterogeneous group of signalling molecules secreted prevalently by adipose tissue. Initially considered as regulators of energy metabolism and appetite, adipokines have been recognized for their substantial involvement in musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others. Understanding the role of adipokines in rheumatic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in other musculoskeletal diseases such as intervertebral disc degeneration, is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting adipokines, or their signalling pathways, may offer new opportunities for the treatment and management of these conditions. By modulating adipokines levels or activity, it may be possible to regulate inflammation, to maintain bone health, and preserve muscle mass, thereby improving the outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by musculoskeletal diseases. The aim of this review article is to update the reader on the multifaceted role of adipokines in the main rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and to unravel the complex interplay among adipokines, cartilage metabolism, bone remodelling and muscles, which will pave the way for innovative therapeutic intervention in the future. For completeness, the role of adipokines in intervertebral disc degeneration will be also addressed.

Skimming genomes for systematics and DNA barcodes of corals.

Numerous genomic methods developed over the past two decades have enabled the discovery and extraction of orthologous loci to help resolve phylogenetic relationships across various taxa and scales. Genome skimming (or low-coverage genome sequencing) is a promising method to not only extract high-copy loci but also 100s to 1000s of phylogenetically informative nuclear loci (e.g., ultraconserved elements [UCEs] and exons) from contemporary and museum samples. The subphylum Anthozoa, including important ecosystem engineers (e.g., stony corals, black corals, anemones, and octocorals) in the marine environment, is in critical need of phylogenetic resolution and thus might benefit from a genome-skimming approach. We conducted genome skimming on 242 anthozoan corals collected from 1886 to 2022. Using existing target-capture baitsets, we bioinformatically obtained UCEs and exons from the genome-skimming data and incorporated them with data from previously published target-capture studies. The mean number of UCE and exon loci extracted from the genome skimming data was 1837 ± 662 SD for octocorals and 1379 ± 476 SD loci for hexacorals. Phylogenetic relationships were well resolved within each class. A mean of 1422 ± 720 loci was obtained from the historical specimens, with 1253 loci recovered from the oldest specimen collected in 1886. We also obtained partial to whole mitogenomes and nuclear rRNA genes from >95% of samples. Bioinformatically pulling UCEs, exons, mitochondrial genomes, and nuclear rRNA genes from genome skimming data is a viable and low-cost option for phylogenetic studies. This approach can be used to review and support taxonomic revisions and reconstruct evolutionary histories, including historical museum and type specimens.

Online xenophobia and mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth in Colombia: The interplay with "in-person" discrimination.

Emerging research provides insights into migration-related cultural stress experiences and mental health among Venezuelan migrants; however, prior studies have not considered the critical distinction between online xenophobia and in-person discrimination. To address this gap, we assess the psychometric properties of an abbreviated version of the Perceived Online Racism Scale (PORS) with Venezuelan migrant youth and examine the interplay between online xenophobia, in-person discrimination, and mental health. Survey data were collected from Venezuelan migrant youth (N = 319; ages 13-17, 49.5% female) in Colombia in April-July 2023. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the PORS, and multiple regression was conducted to examine key associations. The CFA showed excellent model fit: χ²(7) = 13.498, p = .061; comparative fit index = .989; Tucker-Lewis index = .977; root-mean-square error of approximation = .055; standardized root-mean-square residual = .026. Controlling for demographic factors, online xenophobia was associated with depressive symptoms (ß = .253, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = .200, p = .001). The online xenophobia-mental health association weakened when controlling for in-person discrimination but remained nevertheless significant (depression: ß = .181, p = .002, anxiety: ß = .135, p = .026). Interaction effects (Online × In-Person) revealed a pattern in which greater exposure to online xenophobia was associated with greater distress, but only at relatively low levels of in-person discrimination. Findings provide new insights regarding (a) the properties of an increasingly relevant measure of cultural stress, (b) how online xenophobia relates to mental health, and (c) the interplay of online and in-person cultural stressors vis-à-vis mental health among Venezuelan migrant youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of cultural stress on family functioning among Puerto Rican displaced families and the effect on mental health.

Hurricane María caused significant devastation on the island of Puerto Rico, impacting thousands of lives. Puerto Rican crisis migrant families faced stress related to displacement and relocation (cultural stress), often exhibited mental health symptoms, and experienced distress at the family level. Although cultural stress has been examined as an individual experience, little work has focused on the experience as a family. To address this gap, we conducted a mixed-methods study designed to examine the predictive effects of cultural stress on family conflict and its mental health implications among Puerto Rican Hurricane María parent and child dyads living on the U.S. mainland. In the quantitative phase of the study, 110 parent-child dyads completed an online survey assessing cultural stress, family dynamics, and mental health. As part of our primary analysis, we estimated a structural equation path model. Findings from the quantitative phase showed a significant positive relationship between family cultural stress and family conflict, as well as individual parent and child mental health symptoms. In the qualitative phase of the study, 35 parent-child dyads participated in individual interviews. Findings from the interviews revealed variations in difficulties related to language, discrimination, and financial burdens, with some participants adapting more quickly and experiencing fewer stressors. Findings also highlight the impact on mental health for both parents and youth, emphasizing the family-level nature of cultural stress, while noting a potential discrepancy between qualitative and quantitative findings in the discussion of family conflict.

Extensive colitis associated with ixekizumab.

We present the clinical case of a 56-year-old former smoker female, with a family history of maternal ulcerative colitis and personal history of ankylosing spondylitis treated with Ixekizumab for 3 months, who was admitted for fever, left iliac fossa pain and diarrhea without pathological products of 2 weeks of evolution. Abdominopelvic computed tomography scan identified pancolitis. Complete colonoscopy revealed continuous involvement of the proximal colon (right and transverse colon presented deep ulcerations and mucosal friability) with preservation of the terminal ileum. After many complementary tests and according to the clinical context, the diagnosis of extensive colitis associated with IL-17 inhibitor was established.