Association of OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 polymorphisms with clinical phenotype among women with fibromyalgia.

To investigate the association between three selected pain polymorphisms and clinical, functional, sensory-related, psychophysical, psychological or cognitive variables in a sample of women with fibromyalgia (FMS). One hundred twenty-three (n = 123) women with FMS completed demographic (age, height, weight), clinical (years with pain, intensity of pain at rest and during daily living activities), functional (quality of life, physical function), sensory-related (sensitization-associated and neuropathic-associated symptoms), psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds), psychological (sleep quality, depressive and anxiety level) and cognitive (pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia) variables. Those three genotypes of the OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 and COMT rs4680 single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained by polymerase chain reactions from no-stimulated whole saliva collection. No significant differences in demographic, clinical, functional, sensory-related, psychophysical, psychological and cognitive variables according to OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 or COMT rs4680 genotype were identified in our sample of women with FMS. A multilevel analysis did not either reveal any significant gene-to-gene interaction between OPRM1 rs1799971 x HTR1B rs6296, OPRM1 rs1799971 x COMT rs4680 and HTR1B rs6296 x COMT rs4680 for any of the investigated outcomes. This study revealed that three single nucleotide polymorphisms, OPRM1 rs1799971, HTR1B rs6296 or COMT rs4680, mostly associated with chronic pain were not involved in phenotyping features of FMS. Potential gene-to-gene interaction and their association with clinical phenotype in women with FMS should be further investigated in future studies including large sample sizes.

Transforming entomology to adapt to global concerns: 2021 student debates.

The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was "Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns", with 3 topics. Each topic had an unbiased introduction and 2 teams. The debate topics were (i) Nonnative insect introduction is an ethical approach for counteracting proliferation and overpopulation of consumers, (ii) What is the best technology to control undesirable insect pests in urban and agricultural settings? and (iii) Compared to other solutions, like plant-based diets, insect farming is the best method to address rising human global food and nutrient supply demands. Unbiased introduction speakers and teams had approximately 6 months to prepare for their presentations.

A Novel Multi-Modal Teleoperation of a Humanoid Assistive Robot with Real-Time Motion Mimic.

This research shows the development of a teleoperation system with an assistive robot (NAO) through a Kinect V2 sensor, a set of Meta Quest virtual reality glasses, and Nintendo Switch controllers (Joycons), with the use of the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework to implement the communication between devices. In this paper, two interchangeable operating models are proposed. An exclusive controller is used to control the robot's movement to perform assignments that require long-distance travel. Another teleoperation protocol uses the skeleton joints information readings by the Kinect sensor, the orientation of the Meta Quest, and the button press and thumbstick movements of the Joycons to control the arm joints and head of the assistive robot, and its movement in a limited area. They give image feedback to the operator in the VR glasses in a first-person perspective and retrieve the user's voice to be spoken by the assistive robot. Results are promising and can be used for educational and therapeutic purposes.

[Combination of noise plus weight-bearing accelerates consolidation time in tibial shaft fractures: A preliminary report]. / La combinación de ruido más carga de peso acelera la consolidación en las fracturas de la diáfisis tibial: Un informe preliminar.

Introduction: Long bones fractures are responsible for prolonged periods of incapacity and economic losses. New therapies for shortening the time of consolidation are needed. Thus, the purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of noise plus weight-bearing over the bone consolidation of tibial shaft fractures. Methods: In this clinical trial, 12 patients with tibial shaft fractures were recruited during a 24-month period. Participants were treated with intramedullary nails and randomized to two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Both groups underwent a rehabilitation program consisting of two daily walking sessions with progressive weight-bearing. Simultaneously, the experimental group received a noise stimulus on the fracture site with intensities of 0.1-0.6 N and frequencies of 0.1-50 Hz. Radiographic consolidation was evaluated by Radiographic Unión Scale of Tibia. Results: X-ray consolidation was achieved at 18.6 ± 3.6 weeks and 27.2 ± 6.9 weeks, for experimental and control group, respectively (p < 0.05). Recovery of mobility ranges in the knee and ankle was faster in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusions: This new method to stimulate fracture consolidation has the following advantages: it is effective, portable, easy to use, and inexpensive.

Introducción: Las fracturas de huesos largos son causa de períodos prolongados de incapacidad y pérdidas económicas. Se necesitan nuevas terapias para acortar el tiempo de consolidación. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio clínico fue evaluar la eficacia del ruido más el soporte de peso sobre la consolidación ósea de las fracturas de la diáfisis tibial. Método: En este ensayo clínico, 12 pacientes con fracturas de la diáfisis tibial fueron reclutados durante un período de 24 meses. Los participantes fueron tratados con clavos intramedulares y luego aleatorizados a dos grupos: un grupo experimental y un grupo control. Ambos grupos se sometieron a un programa de rehabilitación que consta de dos sesiones diarias de caminata con soporte progresivo de peso. Simultáneamente, el grupo experimental recibió un estímulo de ruido en el sitio de la fractura con intensidades de 0.1-0.6 N y frecuencias de 0.1-50 Hz. La consolidación radiográfica se evaluó mediante la escala RUST. Resultados: La consolidación radiográfica se logró a las 18.6 ± 3.6 semanas en el grupo experimental y a las 27.2 ± 6.9 semanas en el grupo control (p < 0.05). La recuperación de los rangos de movilidad en la rodilla y el tobillo fue más rápida en el grupo experimental que en el grupo control. Conclusiones: Este nuevo método para estimular la consolidación de fracturas tiene las siguientes ventajas: es eficaz, portátil, fácil de usar y económico.

[Clinical perspective as seen in Archivos de Bronconeumología]. / La clínica vista a través de Archivos.

This article discusses the current main clinical problems of thoracic surgery and pneumology by means of the articles published in 2008 in the "clinical notes" section of the journal Archivos de Bronconeumología. The 18 cases published -which deal with topics ranging from pharmacologic toxicity to lung function- will enable us to discuss the main novelties in each one of the various fields and highlight future areas for research.