Comprehensive Analysis of Gut Microbiota Composition and Functional Metabolism in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurotypical Children: Implications for Sex-Based Differences and Metabolic Dysregulation.

This study aimed to investigate the gut microbiota composition in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to neurotypical (NT) children, with a focus on identifying potential differences in gut bacteria between these groups. The microbiota was analyzed through the massive sequencing of region V3-V4 of the 16S RNA gene, utilizing DNA extracted from stool samples of participants. Our findings revealed no significant differences in the dominant bacterial phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota) between the ASD and NT groups. However, at the genus level, notable disparities were observed in the abundance of Blautia, Prevotella, Clostridium XI, and Clostridium XVIII, all of which have been previously associated with ASD. Furthermore, a sex-based analysis unveiled additional discrepancies in gut microbiota composition. Specifically, three genera (Megamonas, Oscilibacter, Acidaminococcus) exhibited variations between male and female groups in both ASD and NT cohorts. Particularly noteworthy was the exclusive presence of Megamonas in females with ASD. Analysis of predicted metabolic pathways suggested an enrichment of pathways related to amine and polyamine degradation, as well as amino acid degradation in the ASD group. Conversely, pathways implicated in carbohydrate biosynthesis, degradation, and fermentation were found to be underrepresented. Despite the limitations of our study, including a relatively small sample size (30 ASD and 31 NT children) and the utilization of predicted metabolic pathways derived from 16S RNA gene analysis rather than metagenome sequencing, our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting a potential association between gut microbiota composition and ASD. Future research endeavors should focus on validating these findings with larger sample sizes and exploring the functional significance of these microbial differences in ASD. Additionally, there is a critical need for further investigations to elucidate sex differences in gut microbiota composition and their potential implications for ASD pathology and treatment.

Engineered Graphene Material Improves the Performance of Intraneural Peripheral Nerve Electrodes.

Limb neuroprostheses aim to restore motor and sensory functions in amputated or severely nerve-injured patients. These devices use neural interfaces to record and stimulate nerve action potentials, creating a bidirectional connection with the nervous system. Most neural interfaces are based on standard metal microelectrodes. In this work, a new generation of neural interfaces which replaces metals with engineered graphene, called EGNITE, is tested. In vitro and in vivo experiments are conducted to assess EGNITE biocompatibility. In vitro tests show that EGNITE does not impact cell viability. In vivo, no significant functional decrease or harmful effects are observed. Furthermore, the foreign body reaction to the intraneural implant is similar compared to other materials previously used in neural interfaces. Regarding functionality, EGNITE devices are able to stimulate nerve fascicles, during two months of implant, producing selective muscle activation with about three times less current compared to larger microelectrodes of standard materials. CNAP elicited by electrical stimuli and ENG evoked by mechanical stimuli are recorded with high resolution but are more affected by decreased functionality over time. This work constitutes further proof that graphene-derived materials, and specifically EGNITE, is a promising conductive material of neural electrodes for advanced neuroprostheses.

Ethanol Solvation of Polymer Residues in Graphene Solution-Gated Field Effect Transistors.

The persistence of photoresist residues from microfabrication procedures causes significant obstacles in the technological advancement of graphene-based electronic devices. These residues induce undesired chemical doping effects, diminish carrier mobility, and deteriorate the signal-to-noise ratio, making them critical in certain contexts, including sensing and electrical recording applications. In graphene solution-gated field-effect transistors (gSGFETs), the presence of polymer contaminants makes it difficult to perform precise electrical measurements, introducing response variability and calibration challenges. Given the absence of viable short to midterm alternatives to polymer-intensive microfabrication techniques, a postpatterning treatment involving THF and ethanol solvents was evaluated, with ethanol being the most effective, environmentally sustainable, and safe method for residue removal. Employing a comprehensive analysis with XPS, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy, together with electrical characterization, we investigated the influence of residual polymers on graphene surface properties and transistor functionality. Ethanol treatment exhibited a pronounced enhancement in gSGFET performance, as evidenced by a shift in the charge neutrality point and reduced dispersion. This systematic cleaning methodology holds the potential to improve the reproducibility and precision in the manufacturing of graphene devices. Particularly, by using ethanol for residue removal, we align our methodology with the principles of green chemistry, minimizing environmental impact while advancing diverse graphene technology applications.

A dual regulatory role of the arbuscular mycorrhizal master regulator RAM1 in tomato.

The REQUIRED FOR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZATION1 (RAM1) transcription factor from the GRAS family is well-known by its role as a master regulator of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in dicot and monocot species, being essential in the transcriptional reprograming for the development and functionality of the arbuscules. In tomato, SlGRAS27 is the putative ortholog of RAM1 (here named SlRAM1), but has not yet been characterized. A reduced colonization of the root and an impaired arbuscule formation were observed in the SlRAM1 silenced plants, confirming the functional conservation of the RAM1 ortholog in tomato . However, unexpectedly, SlRAM1 overexpressing (UBIL:SlRAM1) plants also showed a decreased mycorrhizal colonization. Analysis of non-mycorrhizal UBIL:SlRAM1 roots revealed an overall regulation of AM-related genes and a reduction of strigolactone biosynthesis. Moreover, the external application of the strigolactone analogue GR244DO almost completely reversed the negative effects of SlRAM1 overexpression on the frequency of mycorrhization. However, it only partially recovered the pattern of arbuscule distribution observed in control plants. Our results strongly suggest that SlRAM1 has a dual regulatory role during mycorrhization and, apart from its recognized action as a positive regulator of arbuscule development, SlRAM1 is also involved in different mechanisms for the negative regulation of mycorrhization, including the repression of strigolactone biosynthesis.

Molecular Insights into the Wettability and Adsorption of Acid Gas-Water Mixture.

Sequestration of acid gas in geological formations is a disposal method with potential economic and environmental benefits. The process is governed by variables such as gas-water interfacial tension, wetting transition, and gas adsorption into water, among other things. However, the influence of the pressure and temperature on these parameters is poorly understood. This study investigates these parameters using coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations and density gradient theory (DGT). Simulations were carried out at 313.15 K and a pressure range of 0-15 MPa. A comparison was made against H2S-water systems to clarify the effects of adsorption on interfacial tension due to vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium. The predicted H2S-water interfacial tension and phase densities by CG-MD and DGT matched the experimental values well. The adsorption can be quantified via the Gibbs Adsorption function Γ12, which correlated well with the three-phase transition. On the one hand, pressure increments below the three-phase transition revealed a significant adsorption of H2S. On the other hand, above the three-phase transition, the Gibbs Adsorption capacity remained constant, which indicated a saturation of H2S at the water surface due to liquid-liquid equilibrium. Finally, H2S behaves markedly differently in wetting transition, rather than the involved for CO2 to different molecular layers beneath the surface of aqueous solutions. In this respect, H2S is represented by a first-order wetting transition while CO2 presents a critical wetting. Finally, it has also been found that the preferential adsorption of H2S over the H2O interface is greater if compared to that of CO2, due to its strong interaction with water. In fact, we have also demonstrated that CO2 under triphasic conditions strongly influences the wetting of the ternary system.

Timing of previous heart failure hospitalization as a prognostic factor for emergency department heart failure patients.

To investigate whether the timing of a previous hospital admission for acute heart failure (AHF) is a prognostic factor for AHF patients revisiting the emergency department (ED) in the subsequent 12-month follow-up. All ED AHF patients enrolled in the previously described EAHFE registry were stratified by the presence or absence of an AHF hospitalization admission in the prior 12 months. The primary outcome was 12-month all-cause mortality post ED visit. Secondary end points were hospital admission, prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days), mortality during hospitalization and a 90-day post-discharge adverse composite event (ACE) rate, defined as ED revisits due to AHF, hospitalizations due to AHF, or all-cause mortality. Outcomes were adjusted for baseline and AHF episode characteristics.Of 5,757 patients included, the median age was 84 years (IQR 77-88); 57% were women, and 3,759 (65.3%) had an AHF hospitalization in the previous 12 months. The 12-month mortality was 37% (41.7% vs. 28.3% p < 0.001), hospital admission was 76.1% (78.8% vs. 71.1% p < 0.001) ACE was 60.2% (65.1% vs. 50.5% p < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, patients with AHF hospitalization in the prior 12 months had a higher mortality (HR = 1.41; 95% CI 1.27-1.56), 90-day ACE rate (HR = 1.45: 95% CI 1.32-1.59), and more hospital admissions (OR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.16-1.51), with shorter times since the previous hospitalization being related to the outcomes analyzed. One-year mortality, adverse events at 90 days, and readmission rates are increased in ED AHF patients previously admitted within the last 12 months.

Intransitivity in plant-soil feedbacks is rare but is associated with multispecies coexistence.

Although plant-soil feedback (PSF) is being recognized as an important driver of plant recruitment, our understanding of its role in species coexistence in natural communities remains limited by the scarcity of experimental studies on multispecies assemblages. Here, we experimentally estimated PSFs affecting seedling recruitment in 10 co-occurring Mediterranean woody species. We estimated weak but significant species-specific feedback. Pairwise PSFs impose similarly strong fitness differences and stabilizing-destabilizing forces, most often impeding species coexistence. Moreover, a model of community dynamics driven exclusively by PSFs suggests that few species would coexist stably, the largest assemblage with no more than six species. Thus, PSFs alone do not suffice to explain coexistence in the studied community. A topological analysis of all subcommunities in the interaction network shows that full intransitivity (with all species involved in an intransitive loop) would be rare but it would lead to species coexistence through either stable or cyclic dynamics.

Anticancer Activity of Sargassum fluitans Extracts in Different Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: The arrival of large quantities of Sargassum in the Mexican Caribbean Sea has generated major environmental, health and economic problems. Although Sargassum has been used in the generation of some commercial products, few studies have described its possible applications as a source of compounds with anticancer activity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of different Sargassum extracts on various cancer cell lines. Furthermore, LC/QTOF-MS was used to identify the compounds related to the antiproliferative effect. METHODS: First, determination of the seaweed was performed, and dichloromethane, chloroform and methanol extracts were obtained. The extracts were evaluated for their antiproliferative effects by MTT in breast (MDAMB- 231 and MCF-7), prostate (DU-145), lung (A549) and cervical (SiHa) cancer cell lines. Finally, LC/QTOFMS identified the compounds related to the antiproliferative effect. RESULTS: The authentication showed Sargassum fluitans as the predominant species. The extracts of dichloromethane and chloroform showed an antiproliferative effect. Interestingly, the fractionation of the chloroform extract showed two fractions (FC1 and FC2) with antiproliferative activity in MDA-MB-231, SiHa and A549 cancer cell lines. On the other hand, three fractions of dichloromethane extract (FD1, FD4 and FD5) also showed antiproliferative effects in the MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SiHa and DU-145 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, LC/QTOF-MS revealed the presence of eight major compounds in FC2. Three compounds with evidence of anticancer activity were identified (D-linalool-3-glucoside, (3R,4S,6E,10Z)-3,4,7,11-tetramethyl-6,10-tridecadienal and alpha-tocotrienol). CONCLUSION: These findings showed that Sargassum fluitans extracts are a possible source of therapeutic agents against cancer and could act as scaffolds for new drug discovery.

Concurrent functional ultrasound imaging with graphene-based DC-coupled electrophysiology as a platform to study slow brain signals and cerebral blood flow under control and pathophysiological brain states.

Current methodology used to investigate how shifts in brain states associated with regional cerebral blood volume (CBV) change in deep brain areas, are limited by either the spatiotemporal resolution of the CBV techniques, and/or compatibility with electrophysiological recordings; particularly in relation to spontaneous brain activity and the study of individual events. Additionally, infraslow brain signals (<0.1 Hz), including spreading depolarisations, DC-shifts and infraslow oscillations (ISO), are poorly captured by traditional AC-coupled electrographic recordings; yet these very slow brain signals can profoundly change CBV. To gain an improved understanding of how infraslow brain signals couple to CBV we present a new method for concurrent CBV with wide bandwidth electrophysiological mapping using simultaneous functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) and graphene-based field effect transistor (gFET) DC-coupled electrophysiological acquisitions. To validate the feasibility of this methodology visually-evoked neurovascular coupling (NVC) responses were examined. gFET recordings are not affected by concurrent fUS imaging, and epidural placement of gFET arrays within the imaging window did not deteriorate fUS signal quality. To examine directly the impact of infra-slow potential shifts on CBV, cortical spreading depolarisations (CSDs) were induced. A biphasic pattern of decreased, followed by increased CBV, propagating throughout the ipsilateral cortex, and a delayed decrease in deeper subcortical brain regions was observed. In a model of acute seizures, CBV oscillations were observed prior to seizure initiation. Individual seizures occurred on the rising phase of both infraslow brain signal and CBV oscillations. When seizures co-occurred with CSDs, CBV responses were larger in amplitude, with delayed CBV decreases in subcortical structures. Overall, our data demonstrate that gFETs are highly compatible with fUS and allow concurrent examination of wide bandwidth electrophysiology and CBV. This graphene-enabled technological advance has the potential to improve our understanding of how infraslow brain signals relate to CBV changes in control and pathological brain states.

A semi-automatic mHealth system using wearable devices for identifying pain-related parameters in elderly individuals.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health systems integrating wearable devices are emerging as promising tools for registering pain-related factors. However, their application in populations with chronic conditions has been underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To design a semi-automatic mobile health system with wearable devices for evaluating the potential predictive relationship of pain qualities and thresholds with heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability in individuals with preclinical chronic pain conditions such as suspected rheumatic disease. METHODS: A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 67 elderly participants. Predicted variables were pain qualities and pain thresholds, assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a pressure algometer, respectively. Predictor variables were heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the influence of the predictor variables on the pain dimensions. RESULTS: The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the predictor variables significantly accounted for 27% of the variability in the affective domain, 14% in the miscellaneous domain, 15% in the total pain rating index, 10% in the number of words chosen, 14% in the present pain intensity, and 16% in the Visual Analog Scale scores. CONCLUSION: The study found significant predictive values of heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability in relation to pain qualities and thresholds in the elderly population with suspected rheumatic disease. The comprehensive integration of physiological and psychological stress measures into pain assessment of elderly individuals with preclinical chronic pain conditions could be promising for developing new preventive strategies.

Systematic design of health monitoring systems centered on older adults and ADLs.

BACKGROUND: Older adults face unique health challenges as they age, including physical and mental health issues and mood disorders. Negative emotions and social isolation significantly impact mental and physical health. To support older adults and address these challenges, healthcare professionals can use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as health monitoring systems with multiple sensors. These systems include digital biomarkers and data analytics that can streamline the diagnosis process and help older adults to maintain their independence and quality of life. METHOD: A design research methodology is followed to define a conceptual model as the main artifact and basis for the systematic design of successful systems centered on older adults monitoring within the health domain. RESULTS: The results include a conceptual model focused on older adults' Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Health Status, considering various health dimensions, including social, emotional, physical, and cognitive dimensions. We also provide a detailed instantiation of the model in real use cases to validate the usefulness and feasibility of the proposal. In particular, the model has been used to develop two health systems intended to measure the degree of the elders' frailty and dependence with biomarkers and machine learning. CONCLUSIONS: The defined conceptual model can be the basis to develop health monitoring systems with multiple sensors and intelligence based on data analytics. This model offers a holistic approach to caring for and supporting older adults as they age, considering ADLs and various health dimensions. We have performed an experimental and qualitative validation of the proposal in the field of study. The conceptual model has been instantiated in two specific case uses, showing the provided abstraction level and the feasibility of the proposal to build reusable, extensible and adaptable health systems. The proposal can evolve by exploiting other scenarios and contexts.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of vehicles: Fusion of traffic data and context information.

We present a dataset for vehicle tracking in a rural area. Specifically, in the Barranco de Poqueira region, which includes the municipalities of Pampaneira, Bubión, and Capileira in the Sierra Nevada National Park, Granada, Spain. Four Hikvision License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras collect vehicle entries and exits to each village. Additional contextual data, including vacation calendars, vehicle origins, and socio-demographic information, enrich the dataset. The dataset comprises three files covering nine months from February to October 2022: one with raw data directly extracted from the cameras, another aggregated at the visit level and including context information, and a third aggregated by vehicles with context information. These datasets can be useful for mobility studies, urban planning, tourism, and socio-demographic analysis.

The Autoxidized Mixture of (-)-Epicatechin Contains Procyanidins and Shows Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Activity in Breast Cancer Cells.

For this study, procyanidins generated through the autoxidation of (-)-epicatechin (Flavan-3-ol) under mildly acidic conditions (pH = 6.0) were characterized with ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Two procyanidins (types A and B) and a mix of oligomers were generated through the autoxidation of (-)-epicatechin. The antiproliferative activity of this mixture of procyanidins on MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-436, and MCF-7 breast cancer cells was evaluated. The results indicate that the procyanidin mixture inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells, where the activity of the procyanidin mixture was stronger than that of (-)-epicatechin. Moreover, the mechanism underlying the antiproliferative activity of procyanidins was investigated. The resulting data demonstrate that the procyanidins induced apoptotic cell death in a manner selective to cancerous cells. In particular, they caused the activation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the breast cancer cells. The findings obtained in this study demonstrate that the generation of procyanidins in vitro by the autoxidation of (-)-epicatechin has potential for the development of anti-breast cancer agents.

Gender, smoking, and tobacco cessation with pharmacological treatment in a cluster randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Whether men find it easier to quit smoking than women is still controversial. Different studies have reported that the efficacy of pharmacological treatments could be different between men and women. This study conducted a secondary analysis of 'Subsidized pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation by the Spanish public health system' (FTFT-AP study) to evaluate the effectiveness of a drug-funded intervention for smoking cessation by gender. METHODS: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial by clusters was used. The population included smokers aged ≥18 years, smoking >10 cigarettes per day, randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving regular practice and financed pharmacological treatment, or to a control group receiving only regular practice. The main outcome was continued abstinence at 12 months, self-reported and validated with CO-oximetry. The percentage, with 95% confidence intervals, of continued abstinence was compared between both groups at 12 months post-intervention, by gender and the pharmacological treatment used. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1154 patients from 29 healthcare centers were included. The average age was 46 years (SD=11.78) and 51.7% were men. Overall, the self-reported abstinence at 12 months was 11.1% (62) in women and 15.7% (93) in men (AOR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-2.0), and abstinence validated by CO-oximetry was 4.6% (26) and 5.9% (35) in women and men, respectively (OR=1.3; 95% CI: 0.7-2.2). In the group of smokers receiving nicotine replacement treatment, self-reported abstinence was higher in men compared to women (29.5% vs 13.5%, OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.3-5.8). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of a drug-financed intervention for smoking cessation was greater in men, who also showed better results in self-reported abstinence with nicotine replacement treatment.

Nanoporous graphene-based thin-film microelectrodes for in vivo high-resolution neural recording and stimulation.

One of the critical factors determining the performance of neural interfaces is the electrode material used to establish electrical communication with the neural tissue, which needs to meet strict electrical, electrochemical, mechanical, biological and microfabrication compatibility requirements. This work presents a nanoporous graphene-based thin-film technology and its engineering to form flexible neural interfaces. The developed technology allows the fabrication of small microelectrodes (25 µm diameter) while achieving low impedance (∼25 kΩ) and high charge injection (3-5 mC cm-2). In vivo brain recording performance assessed in rodents reveals high-fidelity recordings (signal-to-noise ratio >10 dB for local field potentials), while stimulation performance assessed with an intrafascicular implant demonstrates low current thresholds (<100 µA) and high selectivity (>0.8) for activating subsets of axons within the rat sciatic nerve innervating tibialis anterior and plantar interosseous muscles. Furthermore, the tissue biocompatibility of the devices was validated by chronic epicortical (12 week) and intraneural (8 week) implantation. This work describes a graphene-based thin-film microelectrode technology and demonstrates its potential for high-precision and high-resolution neural interfacing.

The Role of CLE Peptides in the Suppression of Mycorrhizal Colonization of Tomato.

Symbioses with beneficial microbes are widespread in plants, but these relationships must balance the energy invested by the plants with the nutrients acquired. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi occurs throughout land plants, but our understanding of the genes and signals that regulate colonization levels is limited, especially in non-legumes. Here, we demonstrate that in tomato, two CLV3/EMBRYO-SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptides, SlCLE10 and SlCLE11, act to suppress AM colonization of roots. Mutant studies and overexpression via hairy transformation indicate that SlCLE11 acts locally in the root to limit AM colonization. Indeed, SlCLE11 expression is strongly induced in AM-colonized roots, but SlCLE11 is not required for phosphate suppression of AM colonization. SlCLE11 requires the FIN gene that encodes an enzyme required for CLE peptide arabinosylation to suppress mycorrhizal colonization. However, SlCLE11 suppression of AM does not require two CLE receptors with roles in regulating AM colonization, SlFAB (CLAVATA1 ortholog) or SlCLV2. Indeed, multiple parallel pathways appear to suppress mycorrhizal colonization in tomato, as double mutant studies indicate that SlCLV2 and FIN have an additive influence on mycorrhizal colonization. SlCLE10 appears to play a more minor or redundant role, as cle10 mutants did not influence intraradical AM colonization. However, the fact that cle10 mutants had an elevated number of hyphopodia and that ectopic overexpression of SlCLE10 did suppress mycorrhizal colonization suggests that SlCLE10 may also play a role in suppressing AM colonization. Our findings show that CLE peptides regulate AM colonization in tomato and at least SlCLE11 likely requires arabinosylation for activity.

Single-Step Functionalization Strategy of Graphene Microtransistor Array with Chemically Modified Aptamers for Biosensing Applications.

Graphene solution-gated field-effect transistors (gSGFETs) offer high potential for chemical and biochemical sensing applications. Among the current trends to improve this technology, the functionalization processes are gaining relevance for its crucial impact on biosensing performance. Previous efforts are focused on simplifying the attachment procedure from standard multi-step to single-step strategies, but they still suffer from overreaction, and impurity issues and are limited to a particular ligand. Herein, a novel strategy for single-step immobilization of chemically modified aptamers with fluorenylmethyl and acridine moieties, based on a straightforward synthetic route to overcome the aforementioned limitations is presented. This approach is benchmarked versus a standard multi-step strategy using thrombin as detection model. In order to assess the reliability of the functionalization strategies 48-gSGFETs arrays are employed to acquire large datasets with multiple replicas. Graphene surface characterization demonstrates robust and higher efficiency in the chemical coupling of the aptamers with the single-step strategy, while the electrical response evaluation validates the sensing capability, allowing to implement different alternatives for data analysis and reduce the sensing variability. In this work, a new tool capable of overcome the functionalization challenges of graphene surfaces is provided, paving the way toward the standardization of gSGFETs for biosensing purposes.

A new database of the analysis of the physiological needs in amateur female basketball during official matches.

The PHYAFB database is a valuable resource for studying the physiological demands of female amateur basketball players during high-stress official games. It contains heart rate data from ten players aged 18 to 26, collected during ten crucial relegation phase matches, with 348,232 HR samples in CSV and Excel formats for easy access and analysis. The database includes Python source code for initial examination. The primary aim of the PHYAFB database is to provide a useful reference for other teams facing similar situations. Furthermore, the database represents a unique and valuable resource for sports scientists, coaches, and trainers seeking to comprehend the physiological demands of female basketball players during official competitions. Through the analysis of heart rate data, coaches and trainers can identify the intensity and duration of physical activity during games, enabling the development of more effective training programs. Additionally, the database can be used to compare the physiological demands placed on male and female basketball players or to investigate the impact of different game strategies on player performance.

Use of digoxin in the emergency department to treat patients with acute heart failure and its impact on short-term outcomes. / Uso de digoxina endovenosa en urgencias para tratar pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda y su impacto en la evolución a corto plazo.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze factors related to the use of digoxin to treat patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency departments (EDs) and the impact of digoxin treatment on short-term outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included patients diagnosed with AHF in 45 Spanish EDs. The patients, who were not undergoing long-term treatment for heart failure, were classified according to whether or not they were given intravenous digoxin in the ED. Fifty-one patient or cardiac decompensation episode variables were recorded to profile ED patients treated with digoxin. Outcome variables studied were the need for hospital admission, prolonged stay in the ED (> 24 hours) for discharged patients, prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days) for admitted patients, and all-cause in-hospital or 30-day mortality. The associations between digoxin treatment and the outcomes were studied with odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for patient and AHF episode characteristics. RESULTS: Data for 15 549 patients (median age, 83 years; 55% women) were analyzed; 1430 (9.2%) were treated with digoxin. Digoxin was used more often in women, young patients, and those with better New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications but more severe cardiac decompensation, especially if the trigger was atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Admissions were ordered for 75.4% of the patients overall (81.6% of digoxin-treated patients vs 74.8% of nontreated patients; P .001). The ED stay was prolonged in 38.3% of patients discharged from the ED (52.9% of digoxin-treated patients vs 37.2% of nontreated patients; P .001). The duration of hospital stay was prolonged in 48.1% (digoxin-treated, 49.3% vs 47.9%; P = .385). In-hospital mortality was 7.2% overall (6.9% vs 7.2%, P= .712), and 30-day mortality was 9.7% (9.3% vs 9.7%, P = .625). ED use of digoxin was associated with a prolonged stay in the department (adjusted OR, 1.883; 95% CI, 1.359-2.608) but not with hospitalization or mortality. CONCLUSION: Digoxin continues to be used in one out of ten ED patients who are not already on long-term treatment with the drug. Digoxin use is associated with cardiac decompensation triggered by atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, younger age, women, and patients with better initial NYHA function status but possibly more severe decompensation. Digoxin use leads to a longer ED stay but is safe, as it is not associated with need for admission, prolonged hospitalization, or short-term mortality.

OBJETIVO: Analizar los factores relacionados con el uso de digoxina en urgencias en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) y el impacto pronóstico a corto plazo. METODO: Se incluyeron pacientes diagnosticados de ICA en 45 servicios de urgencias españoles sin tratamiento crónico con digoxina, los cuales se dividieron según recibiesen digoxina endovenosa en urgencias o no. Se recogieron 51 variables relativas al paciente o al episodio de descompensación y se investigó el perfil del paciente tratado con digoxina en urgencias. Como variables evolutivas se investigaron la necesidad de ingreso, la estancia en urgencias prolongada (> 24 horas) en dados de alta y la hospitalización prolongada (> 7 días) en ingresados, y la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y a 30 días por cualquier causa. Se analizó si el tratamiento con digoxina se asoció a diferencias evolutivas, de forma cruda y ajustada a las características del paciente y el episodio de ICA. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 15.549 pacientes (mediana = 83 años, mujeres = 55%), de los que 1.430 (9,2%) fueron tratados con digoxina. La digoxina se utilizó más en mujeres, pacientes jóvenes, en mejor clase funcional de la New York Heart Association (NYHA), pero con descompensaciones más graves y, sobre todo, cuando existía una fibrilación auricular (FA) con respuesta ventricular rápida como desencadenante. Se hospitalizó el 75,4% de pacientes (más frecuente en tratados con digoxina; 81,6% vs 74,8%, p 0,001), tuvo estancia prolongada en urgencias el 38,3% (52,9% vs 37,2%, p 0,001), hospitalización prolongada el 48,1% (49,3% vs 47,9%, p = 0,385), mortalidad intrahospitalaria el 7,2% (6,9% vs 7,2%, p = 0,712) y a 30 días el 9,7% (9,3% vs 9,7%, p = 0,625). El modelo ajustado mostró que el uso de digoxina en urgencias sólo se asoció con estancia prolongada en urgencias (OR = 1,883, IC 95% = 1,359-2,608), pero no con la necesidad de ingreso, hospitalización prolongada o mortalidad. CONCLUSIONES: La digoxina continúa utilizándose en uno de cada 10 pacientes con ICA atendidos en urgencias que no utilizaban este fármaco de manera habitual. Su uso se relaciona con un paciente cuya ICA ha sido descompensada por una FA con respuesta ventricular rápida, más joven y más frecuentemente mujer, en mejor clase funcional de la NYHA basal y con una descompensación posiblemente más grave. El uso de digoxina conlleva una estancia en urgencias más prolongada, pero su uso es seguro, pues no se asocia a la necesidad de ingreso, hospitalización prolongada o mortalidad a corto plazo.

Genome analysis of haloalkaline isolates from the soda saline crater lake of Isabel Island; comparative genomics and potential metabolic analysis within the genus Halomonas.

BACKGROUND: Isabel Island is a Mexican volcanic island primarily composed of basaltic stones. It features a maar known as Laguna Fragatas, which is classified as a meromictic thalassohaline lake. The constant deposition of guano in this maar results in increased levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon. The aim of this study was to utilize high-quality genomes from the genus Halomonas found in specialized databases as a reference for genome mining of moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from Laguna Fragatas. This research involved genomic comparisons employing phylogenetic, pangenomic, and metabolic-inference approaches. RESULTS: The Halomonas genus exhibited a large open pangenome, but several genes associated with salt metabolism and homeostatic regulation (ectABC and betABC), nitrogen intake through nitrate and nitrite transporters (nasA, and narGI), and phosphorus uptake (pstABCS) were shared among the Halomonas isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The isolated bacteria demonstrate consistent adaptation to high salt concentrations, and their nitrogen and phosphorus uptake mechanisms are highly optimized. This optimization is expected in an extremophile environment characterized by minimal disturbances or abrupt seasonal variations. The primary significance of this study lies in the dearth of genomic information available for this saline and low-disturbance environment. This makes it important for ecosystem conservation and enabling an exploration of its biotechnological potential. Additionally, the study presents the first two draft genomes of H. janggokensis.