Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pilomatricomas in a Mexican pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: Pilomatricoma is a common benign adnexal neoplasm in children. There are few epidemiological studies on this subject, with most relying solely on descriptive statistics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Mexico City from January 2017 to December 2023. Clinical and electronic records of patients with histopathological diagnosis of pilomatricoma, both sexes, under 18 years old, with any type of present comorbidity were selected. Records of patients with diagnosis not confirmed by histopathology or incomplete records were not included in the study. RESULTS: Fifty-two cases with pilomatrixoma were included in the study, showing a total of 74 lesions. About 23.1% of the cases had multiple pilomatrixomas. 40.4% of the cases experienced pain; this symptom was associated with lesions > 15 mm in diameter and with multiple pilomatrixomas. Risk factors for lesions > 15 mm included age under 8 years, positive tent sign, tumor evolution longer than a year, and a non-classical clinical variety. The head and neck were the most commonly affected areas. The left upper extremity presented larger pilomatrixomas (median 18.5 mm) and occurred more frequently in adolescent patients (mean age 12.1 years) compared to other body areas. CONCLUSIONS: Pilomatrixoma in children shows clinical diversity, with specific findings based on size, number, and anatomical location.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El pilomatricoma es una neoplasia anexial benigna frecuente en la infancia. Hay muy pocos estudios epidemiológicos al respecto y la mayoría solo han utilizado estadística descriptiva. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado en dos hospitales de concentración de la Ciudad de México de enero de 2017 a diciembre de 2023. Se seleccionaron expedientes clínicos y electrónicos de pacientes con diagnóstico histopatológico de pilomatricoma, ambos sexos, menores de 18 años, con cualquier tipo de comorbilidad presente. No se incluyeron los expedientes de pacientes con diagnóstico no confirmado por histopatología o expediente incompleto. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 52 casos con diagnóstico de pilomatricoma que mostraron un total de 74 lesiones. El 23.1% de los pacientes tuvieron pilomatricomas múltiples. El 40.4% experimentaron dolor; este signo se asoció con lesiones de diámetro superior a 15 mm y pilomatricomas múltiples. La edad menor de 8 años, el signo de la tienda de campaña positivo, un tiempo de evolución mayor de 1 año y una variedad clínica no clásica son factores de riesgo asociados con las lesiones mayores de 15 mm. La cabeza y el cuello fueron las áreas más comúnmente afectadas por estos tumores. La extremidad superior izquierda presento pilomatricomas de mayor tamaño (mediana 18.5 mm), y ocurrieron más en pacientes adolescentes (media 12.1 años), en comparación con otras áreas del cuerpo. CONCLUSIONES: El pilomatricoma en niños muestra diversidad clínica. Presenta hallazgos y asociaciones específicas según el tamaño, el número y la ubicación anatómica.

Unraveling plant-microbe symbioses using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

Plant-microbe symbioses require intense interaction and genetic coordination to successfully establish in specific cell types of the host and symbiont. Traditional RNA-seq methodologies lack the cellular resolution to fully capture these complexities, but single-cell and spatial transcriptomics (ST) are now allowing scientists to probe symbiotic interactions at an unprecedented level of detail. Here, we discuss the advantages that novel spatial and single-cell transcriptomic technologies provide in studying plant-microbe endosymbioses and highlight key recent studies. Finally, we consider the remaining limitations of applying these approaches to symbiosis research, which are mainly related to the simultaneous capture of both plant and microbial transcripts within the same cells.

Spatial co-transcriptomics reveals discrete stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.

The symbiotic interaction of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is ancient and widespread. Plants provide AM fungi with carbon in exchange for nutrients and water, making this interaction a prime target for crop improvement. However, plant-fungal interactions are restricted to a small subset of root cells, precluding the application of most conventional functional genomic techniques to study the molecular bases of these interactions. Here we used single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing to explore both Medicago truncatula and Rhizophagus irregularis transcriptomes in AM symbiosis at cellular and spatial resolution. Integrated, spatially registered single-cell maps revealed infected and uninfected plant root cell types. We observed that cortex cells exhibit distinct transcriptome profiles during different stages of colonization by AM fungi, indicating dynamic interplay between both organisms during establishment of the cellular interface enabling successful symbiosis. Our study provides insight into a symbiotic relationship of major agricultural and environmental importance and demonstrates a paradigm combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics for the analysis of complex organismal interactions.

Acceptability of a smartphone-based intervention targeting anxiety sensitivity among women receiving emergency care after sexual assault: A pilot uncontrolled trial.

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as the fear of anxious arousal, is a promising therapeutic target to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom development after trauma exposure. Computerized AS interventions have been shown to be acceptable to individuals with PTSD symptoms and effective in achieving symptom reduction; however, to our knowledge, no research has examined AS interventions initiated in the immediate aftermath of trauma. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of a brief (i.e., ∼75 min of psychoeducation, ∼2 hr of ecological momentary intervention) smartphone-based AS intervention in a pilot study. Participants were 12 women who presented for emergency care after sexual assault with high levels of peritraumatic PTSD symptoms. Most women who started the intervention completed the majority of it and reported using the techniques provided. Results indicated that participants perceived the intervention as logical and believed it would help in reducing their symptoms. Qualitative feedback was mostly positive but also indicated concern regarding intervention length. Although not the purpose of the study, results indicated medium-to-large, statistically significant decreases in AS, g = 0.74, and PTSD symptoms, g = 1.20. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that this novel smartphone-based intervention targeting AS was feasible, acceptable, and credible in this small sample of women receiving emergency care following sexual assault. Treatment outcome data must be considered in the context of natural recovery; however, these promising preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and credibility data support continuing to pilot the feasibility and potential efficacy of the intervention to reduce AS and prolonged PTSD symptoms.

Política pública en cuidados paliativos y sus implicaciones sobre servicios, opioides y educación en Colombia / Public policy on palliative care and its implications for services, opioids, and education in Colombia

Introducción: El desarrollo de cuidados paliativos exige la intervención de múltiples dimensiones de salud pública, incluyendo la disponibilidad de servicios de salud, medicamentos esenciales y programas educativos. En Colombia se han realizado diversos cambios en las políticas públicas para promover la atención de personas con necesidades paliativas. Objetivo: Evaluar empíricamente las políticas públicas, existentes en cuidados paliativos y sus implicaciones sobre disponibilidad de servicios, opioides y programas educativos en los años 2010 ­ 2019 en Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se diseñó un estudio mixto exploratorio secuencial en tres fases: identificación de indicadores empíricos de políticas nacionales, diagnostico situacional de cuidados paliativos y evaluación cualitativa de los resultados de la implementación de políticas en siete nodos territoriales de Colombia. Resultados: Se revisaron siete normas obteniendo 12 indicadores empíricos para la evaluación, seis de ellos no contaban con fuentes de información. El diagnostico nacional evidencia un aumento gradual de servicios y consumo de opioides en los años hito del desarrollo de políticas. 44 profesionales de cuidados paliativos perciben un efecto positivo de las políticas públicas en el consumo de opioides y bajos resultados para el dominio de servicios y educación Conclusiones: Existe una relación positiva entre políticas públicas y consumo de opioides, una relación cuantitativa positiva para servicios de cuidados paliativos y una relación cuanticualitativa negativa para programas educativos, lo que denota un bajo estatus operativo de las políticas construidas para mejorar el dolor y sufrimiento asociado a la enfermedad crónica avanzada.

Introduction: Palliative care development requires the intervention of multiple dimensions of public health, including the availability of health services, essential medicines, and educational programs. In Colombia, several changes have been made in public policy to promote the care of people with palliative needs. Objective: To empirically evaluate existing public policies on palliative care and their implications for the availability of services, opioids, and educational programs during the years 2010 to 2019 in Colombia. Materials and methods: A mixed sequential exploratory study was designed in three phases: identification of empirical indicators of national policies, palliative care situational diagnosis, and qualitative assessment of the results of policy implementation in seven regional nodes in Colombia. Results: Seven standards were reviewed, yielding 12 empirical indicators for assessment, six of which had no sources of information. The national diagnosis shows a gradual increase in services and opioid use during the landmark years of policy development. Forty-four palliative care professionals perceive a positive effect of public policy on opioid use and low outcomes for service and education domains. Conclusions: There is a positive relationship between public policy and opioid use, a positive quantitative relationship with palliative care services, and a negative quantitative-qualitative relationship with educational programs. This indicates a low operational status of policies designed to alleviate the pain and suffering associated with advanced chronic diseases.

Introdução: O desenvolvimento dos cuidados paliativos requer a intervenção de múltiplas dimensões da saúde pública, incluindo a disponibilidade de serviços de saúde, medicamentos essenciais e programas educativos. Na Colômbia, várias mudanças foram feitas nas políticas públicas para promover o cuidado de pessoas com necessidades paliativas. Objetivo: Avaliar empiricamente as políticas públicas existentes em cuidados paliativos e suas implicações na disponibilidade de serviços, opioides e programas educacionais nos anos 2010 - 2019 na Colômbia. Materiais e métodos: Desenhou-se um estudo misto exploratório sequencial em três fases: identificação de indicadores empíricos de políticas nacionais, diagnóstico situacional de cuidados paliativos e avaliação qualitativa dos resultados da implementação de políticas em sete nodos territoriais da Colômbia. Resultados: Sete normas foram revisadas, obtendo-se 12 indicadores empíricos para avaliação, seis delas não possuíam fontes de informação. O diagnóstico nacional mostra um aumento gradual nos serviços e consumo de opioides nos anos marcantes do desenvolvimento de políticas. 44 profissionais de cuidados paliativos percebem efeito positivo das políticas públicas sobre o consumo de opioides e resultados baixos para o domínio serviços e educação Conclusões: Existe relação positiva entre políticas públicas e consumo de opioides, relação quantitativa positiva para serviços de cuidados paliativos e negativa relação quantitativo-qualitativa para programas educativos, o que denota um baixo status operacional das políticas destinadas a melhorar a dor e o sofrimento associados à doença crônica avançada.

Progressive belowground soil development associated with sustainable plant establishment during copper mine waste revegetation.

Critical to the environmental sustainability of hard rock mining is the reclamation of disturbed lands following mine closure through revegetation. Improved understanding of associations between above- and belowground processes that characterize successful plant establishment is critical to the implementation of more efficient revegetation strategies for nutrient-poor mine waste materials. The specific objective of this five-year temporal study was to identify progressive biotic and abiotic indicators of primary soil development on mine waste rock (WR) on a slope hydroseeded with native plant species and to quantify comparative effects of plant lifeform on soil development. Aboveground plant diversity and belowground substrate properties were measured annually at 67 m intervals along transects following the slope contour. Seeded WR was compared to unseeded WR and the adjacent native ecosystem. A temporal increase in WR microbial biomass was observed in seeded WR relative to unseeded areas. Microbial community analysis found the unseeded WR to be defined by oligotrophic microbes, whereas targeted grass and shrub root zones samples demonstrated significant increases in specific cellulose and lignin degrading and N-cycling phylotypes. More extensive chemical and biological fertility development was observed in shrub root zones relative to grass. Ten chemical and biological indicators increased significantly in shrub WR relative to unseeded WR, whereas grass WR was only enriched in bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy number/g substrate and bacterial/archaeal and fungal diversity. In addition, the shrub root zone had significantly higher nitrogen-cycling potential than grass root zones or unseeded WR. Thus, both grasses and shrubs improve belowground WR development; however, shrub establishment had greater fertility outcomes. Concurrent belowground fertility development is critical to sustainable plant establishment. Coupled evaluation of above- and belowground metrics provides an improved quantitative assessment of revegetation progress and a valuable tool to guide management decisions.

Chagas disease immunogenetics: elusive markers of disease progression.

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD) is caused by a parasitic infection. The disease usually occurs after decades of the primary infection and can involve the myocardium or the digestive system. Of note, around 30% of T. cruzi infected patients develop CD while the other 70% may remain asymptomatic for their entire life. CD is usually observed as familial clustered phenomena. Moreover, individuals with chronic Chagas heart disease (CCHD) usually present a strong, deregulated immune response, which strongly suggests an immunogenetic effect.Areas covered: In this article we review and discuss the information currently available from the published scientific literature regarding the genetic variants of molecules of the immune system that contribute to the clinical presentation of the disease.Expert commentary: Of note, the most promissory results are found on the polymorphisms of chemokine receptors, particularly CCR5 and CCR2. Additional investigations are required, particularly with a focus on the genes that regulate the immune system.

Novel Airway Training Tool that Simulates Vomiting: Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy Assisted Decontamination (SALAD) System.

INTRODUCTION: We present a novel airway simulation tool that recreates the dynamic challenges associated with emergency airways. The Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy Assisted Decontamination (SALAD) simulation system trains providers to use suction to manage emesis and bleeding complicating intubation. METHODS: We modified a standard difficult-airway mannequin head (Nasco, Ft. Atkinson, WI) with hardware-store equipment to enable simulation of vomiting or hemorrhage during intubation. A pre- and post-survey was used to assess the effectiveness of the SALAD simulator. We used a 1-5 Likert scale to assess confidence in managing the airway of a vomiting patient and comfort with suction techniques before and after the training exercise. RESULTS: Forty learners participated in the simulation, including emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses. The average Likert score of confidence in managing the airway of a vomiting or hemorrhaging patient pre-session was 3.10±0.49, and post-session 4.13±0.22. The average score of self-perceived skill with suction techniques in the airway scenario pre-session was 3.30±0.43, and post-session 4.03±0.26. The average score for usefulness of the session was 4.68±0.15, and the score for realism of the simulator was 4.65±0.17. CONCLUSION: A training session with the SALAD simulator improved trainee's confidence in managing the airway of a vomiting or hemorrhaging patient. The SALAD simulation system recreates the dynamic challenges associated with emergency airways and holds promise as an airway training tool.

Small bowel obstruction from potato and broccoli phytobezoar mimicking mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Bezoars are concretions of undigested foreign material that form in the gastrointestinal tract. Rare in humans, they are nonetheless a well-documented cause of intraluminal bowel obstruction. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this case report include describing an unusual presentation of small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar, which mimicked mesenteric ischemia, and highlighting the risk factors, presentation, and management of bezoars, in addition to covering historical beliefs regarding bezoars. CASE REPORT: Here we report a 64-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain, vomiting, and hypotension. Initial work-up was directed at ruling out cardiac causes and aortic catastrophe such as aortic dissection or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Computed tomography angiography of the chest and abdomen showed findings suggestive of mesenteric ischemia and small bowel obstruction. However, exploratory laparotomy revealed intraluminal small bowel obstruction from a phytobezoar consisting of undigested chunks of potato, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare in humans, bezoars are a documented cause of small bowel obstruction, and should be considered when intraluminal bowel obstruction occurs. Bezoars causing small bowel obstruction require surgical treatment.

A rare case of posterior interosseous nerve palsy associated with radial head fracture.

BACKGROUND: Radial head fractures are the most common fractures occurring about the elbow in adults, but there have been few reported cases of associated nerve injury. The little-known posterior interosseous nerve travels in close proximity to the radial head and is particularly susceptible to injury. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this case report include raising awareness of the possibility of posterior interosseous nerve palsy after radial head fracture and reviewing the clinical assessment of the posterior interosseous nerve to exclude occult injury. CASE REPORT: Here we report a case of a 21-year-old man who developed a posterior interosseous nerve palsy after a fracture of the radial head sustained during a wrestling match. He also sustained frostbite to the extremity due to overaggressive icing of the injury. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should screen patients with radial head fractures for associated nerve injury. A thorough neurovascular examination with attention to the motor innervation patterns in the hand and wrist will help identify posterior interosseous nerve involvement. Careful discharge instructions will help prevent iatrogenic frostbite from overaggressive icing of injuries.

Women residents, women physicians and medicine's future.

The number of women in medicine has increased dramatically in the last few decades, and women now represent half of all incoming medical students. Yet residency training still resembles the historical model when there were few women in medicine. This article reviews the issues facing women in residency today. Data suggest that the experience of female residents is more negative than that of males. Unique challenges facing female residents include the existence of gender bias and sexual harassment, a scarcity of female mentors in leadership positions, and work/family conflicts. Further research is needed to understand the experience of female residents and to identify barriers that hinder their optimal professional and personal development. Structural and cultural changes to residency programs are needed to better accommodate the needs of female trainees.

Following the call: how providers make sense of their decisions to work in faith-based and secular urban community health centers.

We interviewed 49 health care providers from 6 faith-based and 4 secular community health centers (CHCs) to explore the ways they relate their religious commitments to practice among the underserved. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for emergent themes through an iterative process of textual analysis. Providers in faith-based CHCs explained the decision to work in underserved settings as a response to a religious calling to medicine as a means of ministry, and by reference to particular benefits and freedoms of working with colleagues who share an explicitly faith-informed vision for care of the underserved. Most providers from secular CHCs explained their motivations in less religious terms by reference to intrinsic rewards such as "making a difference" for the underserved. Providers from both settings emphasized the frustrations and difficulties of meeting overwhelming demands with inadequate resources. In light of prior literature regarding work orientation, our findings suggest that CHCs may provide distinctive opportunities for intrinsically motivated providers to craft their work into a calling, where a calling is understood as a deeply felt motivation for work that goes beyond the satisfaction of the worker's material and social needs. Faith-based CHCs appear to provide a context that is attractive to some minority of providers who desire to enact a religious calling to ministry through the practice of medicine. Future studies are needed to test these hypotheses using quantitative methods and broader representative sampling.