TBS correlates with bone density and microstructure at trabecular and cortical bone evaluated by HR-pQCT.

INTRODUCTION: Trabecular bone score (TBS) estimates bone microstructure, which is directly measured by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT). We evaluated the correlation between these methods and TBS influence on fracture risk assessed by FRAX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 129 individuals (82 women, 43 postmenopausal) 20 to 82.3 years without prevalent clinical or non-clinical morphometric vertebral fractures, using DXA (spine and hip), HR-pQCT at distal radius (R) and tibia (T) and TBS which classifies bone microarchitecture as normal (TBS ≥ 1.350), partially degraded (1.200 < TBS < 1.350), or degraded (TBS ≤ 1.200). RESULTS: Spine and hip BMD and HR-pQCT parameters at cortical bone: area (T), density (R,T) thickness (T) and trabecular bone: density (R,T), number (T) and thickness (R) were significantly better in the 78 individuals with normal TBS (group 1) versus the 51 classified as partially degraded (n = 42) or degraded microarchitecture (n = 9) altogether (group 2). TBS values correlated with age (r = - 0.55), positively with spine and hip BMD and all cortical and trabecular bone density and microstructure parameters evaluated, p < 0.05 all tests. Binary logistic regression defined age (p = 0.008) and cortical thickness (p = 0.018) as main influences on TBS, while ANCOVA demonstrated that HR-pQCT data corrected for age were not different between TBS groups 1 and 2. TBS adjustment increased FRAX risk for major osteoporotic fractures and hip fractures. CONCLUSION: We describe significant association between TBS and both trabecular and cortical bone parameters measured by HR-pQCT, consistent with TBS influence on fracture risk estimation by FRAX, including hip fractures, where cortical bone predominates.

Ultrathin nanocapacitor assembled via atomic layer deposition.

We fabricated ultrathin metal - oxide - semiconductor (MOS) nanocapacitors using atomic layer deposition. The capacitors consist of a bilayer of Al2O3 and Y2O3 with a total thickness of ~10 nm, deposited on silicon substrate. The presence of the two materials, each slab being ~5 nm thick and uniform over a large area, was confirmed with Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The capacitance in accumulation varied from 1.6 nF (at 1MHz) to ~2.8 nF (at 10 kHz), which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than other nanocapacitors. This high capacitance is attributed to the synergy between the dielectric properties of ultrathin Al2O3 and Y2O3 layers. The electrical properties of the nanocapacitor are stable within a wide range of temperatures, from 25 °C to 150 °C, as indicated by capacitance-voltage (C - V). Since the thickness-to-area ratio is negligible, the nanocapacitor could be simulated as a single parallel plate capacitor in COMSOL Multiphysics, with good agreement between experimental and simulation data. As a proof-of-concept we simulated a MOSFET device with the nanocapacitor gate dielectric, whose drain current is sufficiently high for micro and nanoelectronics integrated circuits, including for applications in sensing.

CAR T in patients with large B-cell lymphoma not fit for autologous transplant.

Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients with comorbidities and/or advanced age are increasingly considered for treatment with CD19 CAR T, but data on the clinical benefit of CAR T in the less fit patient population are still limited. We analysed outcomes of consecutive patients approved for treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) by the UK National CAR T Clinical Panel, according to fitness for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). 81/404 (20%) of approved patients were deemed unfit for ASCT. Unfit patients were more likely to receive tisa-cel versus axi-cel (52% vs. 48%) compared to 20% versus 80% in ASCT-fit patients; p < 0.0001. The drop-out rate from approval to infusion was significantly higher in the ASCT-unfit group (34.6% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.042). Among infused patients, response rate, progression-free and overall survival were similar in both cohorts. CAR T was well-tolerated in ASCT-unfit patients with an incidence of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity of 2% and 11%, respectively. Results from this multicentre real-world cohort demonstrate that CD19 CAR T can be safely delivered in carefully selected older patients and patients with comorbidities who are not deemed suitable for transplant.

Hyperphosphatemia is associated with cardiac valve calcification in chronic hypoparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients 18 years and older, glomerular filtration > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and no documented coronary artery disease were selected. Serum calcium, phosphorus, glucose, lipids, PTH, 25(OH)D and FGF23 were measured. Cardiovascular risk was estimated by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) calculator. Transthoracic echocardiogram and carotid ultrasound were performed to detect carotid plaques (CP), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), cardiac valve calcification (CVC), and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (94.6% female), aged 56.0 ± 13.5 years and HPP duration 7.0 (4.0; 11.3) years, were included. Fifteen were classified as low cardiovascular risk, 9 as intermediate risk, 9 as high risk and none as very high risk. The prevalence of CP, CVC and LVH was 24.3%, 24.3% and 13.5%, respectively. IMT values were within normal ranges in all cohort. FGF23 were not associated with CP, IMT, CVC or LVH. After logistic regression, phosphorus was the only significant metabolic variable impacting CVC in univariate analysis (OR 2.795; 95% CI 1.132-6.905; p = 0.026), as well as in the multivariate analysis (OR 3.572; 95% CI 1.094-11.665; p = 0.035). Analysis by ROC curve showed serum phosphorus > 5.05 mg/dL (AUC 0.748; CI 0.584-0.877; p = 0.05) as the best cutoff point associated with valve heart calcification (sensitivity 78%; negative predictive value 91.3%). CONCLUSION: Hyperphosphatemia was associated with CVC in HPP patients. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the control of hyperphosphatemia may reduce cardiovascular risk in this population.

Hyperextension-distraction fractures in ankylosing and spondylotic spines: injury profile and treatment results.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series study. PURPOSE: To describe demographic metrics, and clinical and radiographical outcomes of surgical treatment in patients with ankylosed spine (ASP) such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-ankylosed spines (NAS) suffering from hyperextension-distraction spine fractures. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with hyperextension-distraction fractures between 2012 and 2020 were identified. A retrospective analysis of clinical and surgical data was performed. Similarities between patients with ASP and NAS were evaluated by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, 13 had ASP (10 patients with DISH, 3 AS) and nine NAS. Most of these injuries involved the thoracolumbar spine (45.4%). All patients with NAS presented some sign of spondylosis: facet joint degeneration, intervertebral osteochondrosis, and anterolateral osteophytes. None of the patients with NAS and 30.7% with ASP suffered low-energy mechanisms (p = .11). All the patients with NAS and 61% of the patients with ASP had associated injuries (p = .04). On average, the instrumented levels were four (range, 2-6), achieving a fusion rate of 94.7% in all groups. Most of the ASP and NAS presented post-operative complications respectively (p = .65). CONCLUSION: Hyperextension-distraction spine fractures are not unique in ASP. In patients with spondylosis and high-energy accidents, we should suspect those fractures and rule out associated injuries, fractures in other vertebral segments, and acute spinal cord injury. The four-level instrumentation achieved an effective fusion rate in all patients.

Microarchitectural parameters and bone mineral density in patients with tumour-induced osteomalacia by HR-pQCT and DXA.

INTRODUCTION: Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic condition characterised by decreased tubular phosphate reabsorption. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture in six TIO patients, compared with 18 healthy controls. METHODS: Volumetric BMD and microarchitecture were evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), and areal BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Differences between groups were significant for p < .05. RESULTS: All TIO subjects were healthy until the development of diffuse bone pain and multiple skeletal fractures and deformities. At baseline, sPi and TmPi/GFR were low and patients were on vitamin D and phosphate replacement at the study. Compared with controls, TIO patients had lower aBMD at lumbar spine and hip, and lower vBMD at trabecular, cortical and entire bone, at distal radius (R) and distal tibia (T): trabecular vBMD (R = 118.3 × 177.1; T = 72.3 × 161.3 gHA/cm3 ); cortical vBMD (R = 782.3 × 866.5; T = 789.1 × 900.9 gHA/cm3 ); total region vBMD (R = 234.5 × 317; T = 167.1 × 295.8 gHA/cm3 ). Bone microarchitecture was very heterogeneous among patients and significantly different from controls: lower cortical thickness (R = 0.59 × 0.80; T = 0.90 × 1.31 mm), bone volume-to-total volume ratio (R = 0.09 × 0.14; T = 0.06 × 0.13) and Tb.N (R = 1.46 × 2.10; T = 0.93 × 1.96 mm-1 ) and also higher Tb.Sp (R = 0.70 × 0.41; T = 1.28 × 0.45 mm) and Tb.1/N.SD (R = 0.42 × 0.18; T = 0.87 × 0.20 mm). CONCLUSION: In this original study of TIO patients, DXA and HR-pQCT evaluation identified lower areal and volumetric BMD and severely impaired microarchitecture at cortical and trabecular bones, which probably contribute to bone fragility and fractures.

Phosphate-Arsenic Interactions in Halophilic Microorganisms of the Microbial Mat from Laguna Tebenquiche: from the Microenvironment to the Genomes.

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid present in the earth's crust and widely distributed in the environment. Due to its high concentrations in the Andean valleys and its chemical similarity with phosphorus (P), its biological role in Andean Microbial Ecosystems (AMEs) has begun to be studied. The AMEs are home to extremophilic microbial communities that form microbial mats, evaporites, and microbialites inhabiting Andean lakes, puquios, or salt flats. In this work, we characterize the biological role of As and the effect of phosphate in AMEs from the Laguna Tebenquiche (Atacama Desert, Chile). Using micro X-ray fluorescence, the distribution of As in microbial mat samples was mapped. Taxonomic and inferred functional profiles were obtained from enriched cultures of microbial mats incubated under As stress and different phosphate conditions. Additionally, representative microorganisms highly resistant to As and able to grow under low phosphate concentration were isolated and studied physiologically. Finally, the genomes of the isolated Salicola sp. and Halorubrum sp. were sequenced to analyze genes related to both phosphate metabolism and As resistance. The results revealed As as a key component of the microbial mat ecosystem: (i) As was distributed across all sections of the microbial mat and represented a significant weight percentage of the mat (0.17 %) in comparison with P (0.40%); (ii) Low phosphate concentration drastically changed the microbial community in microbial mat samples incubated under high salinity and high As concentrations; (iii) Archaea and Bacteria isolated from the microbial mat were highly resistant to arsenate (up to 500 mM), even under low phosphate concentration; (iv) The genomes of the two isolates were predicted to contain key genes in As metabolism (aioAB and arsC/acr3) and the genes predicted to encode the phosphate-specific transport operon (pstSCAB-phoU) are next to the arsC gene, suggesting a functional relationship between these two elements.

Cortisol level after dexamethasone suppression test in patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma is positively associated with the duration of reactive hyperemia response on microvascular bed.

PURPOSE: Data on endothelial derangements in patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI) are scarce. METHODS: We investigated if NFAI patients present clinical, biochemical and endothelial alterations compared to individuals without an adrenal lesion and also the associations among these variables. Forty-two NFAI and 40 controls were evaluated. NFAI diagnosis and controls were defined according to the current guidelines and based on a normal adrenal imaging exam, respectively. Body composition was evaluated by dual emission X-ray absorptiometry. Endothelial reactivity was assessed by two methods: tonometry (Endo-PAT®) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). RESULTS: There were no differences between groups regarding age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, and statin use. The frequency of metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria was 69% and 57.9%, respectively in NFAI and controls (p = 0.36), whereas the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk was 63.4% and 66.7% (p = 0.81). The clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric characteristics, as well as body composition, were similar between the groups. Additionally, any differences between groups were observed on endothelial reactivity tests. Nevertheless, we noted an association between cortisol levels after 1 mg-dexamethosone suppression test (1 mg-DST) and the duration of post-occlusive reactive hyperemia tested on microcirculation (r = 0.30; p = 0.03). NFAI patients require more antihypertensive drugs to achieve blood pressure control (p = 0.04). The number of antihypertensive drugs used to control blood pressure correlated with cortisol levels after 1 mg-DST (r = 0.29; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Since both groups herein investigated had a high frequency of metabolic syndrome and ASCVD risk, it might explain similarities observed on endothelial reactivity. Nevertheless, prolonged reactive hyperemia response on microcirculation was correlated with cortisol levels under suppression.

Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) in critically ill children is associated with clinical outcomes: a prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) has been described in critically ill adults and may contribute to unfavourable outcomes. The present study aimed to describe and characterise PICS in critically ill children (PICS-ped) and to verify its association with clinical outcomes. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with children aged between 3 months and 15 years. PICS-ped, based on adult definition, was described. PICS-ped was defined as PICU length of stay >14 days; C-reactive protein > 10.0 mg L-1 ; lymphocytes <25%; and any reduction of mid-upper arm circumference Z-score. Clinical, demographic, nutritional status, nutrition therapy parameters and clinical outcomes were assessed. Statistical analysis comprised Mann-Whitney and Fisher's chi-squared tests, as well as logistic and Cox regression. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In total, 153 children were included, with a median age of 51.7 months (interquartile range 15.6-123.4 months), and 60.8% male. The mortality rate was 10.5%. The prevalence of PICS-ped was 4.6%. Days using vasoactive drugs and days using antibiotics were associated with PICS-ped. PICS-ped was associated with mortality in crude (odds ratio = 6.67; P = 0.013) and adjusted analysis (odds ratio = 7.14; P = 0.017). PICS-ped was also associated with PICU and hospital length of stay, as well as duration of mechanical ventilation. Similar results were found in a subset of critically ill children who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: Children with PICS-ped required antibiotics or vasoactive drugs for a longer period. PICS-ped was associated with poor clinical outcomes in critically ill children. More studies are needed to properly define PICS-ped for this population.

Blocking mu-opioid receptors inhibits social bonding in rituals.

Religious rituals are universal human practices that play a seminal role in community bonding. In two experiments, we tested the role of mu-opioids as the active factor fostering social bonding. We used a mu-opioid blocker (naltrexone) in two double-blind studies of rituals from different religious traditions. We found the same effect across both studies, with naltrexone leading to significantly lower social bonding compared with placebo. These studies suggest that mu-opioids play a significant role in experiences of social bonding within ritual contexts.

Adverse events in meditation practices and meditation-based therapies: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Meditation techniques are widely used as therapy and wellbeing practices, but there are growing concerns about its potential for harm. The aim of the present study is to systematically review meditation adverse events (MAEs), investigating its major clinical categories and its prevalence. METHOD: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase and AMED up to October 2019. Eligible studies included original reports of meditation practices (excluding related physical practices such as Yoga postures) with adult samples across experimental, observational and case studies. We identified a total of 6742 citations, 83 of which met the inclusion criteria for MAEs with a total of 6703 participants who undertook meditation practice. RESULTS: Of the 83 studies analysed, 55 (65%) included reports of at least one type of MAE. The total prevalence of adverse events was 8.3% (95% CI 0.05-0.12), though this varied considerably across types of studies - 3.7% (95% CI 0.02-0.05) for experimental and 33.2% (95% CI 0.25-0.41) for observational studies. The most common AEs were anxiety (33%, 18), depression (27%, 15) and cognitive anomalies (25%, 14); gastrointestinal problems and suicidal behaviours (both 11%, 6) were the least frequent. CONCLUSION: We found that the occurrence of AEs during or after meditation practices is not uncommon, and may occur in individuals with no previous history of mental health problems. These results are relevant both for practitioners and clinicians, and contribute to a balanced perspective of meditation as a practice that may lead to both positive and negative outcomes.

Refractive index of ZnO ultrathin films alternated with Al2O3 in multilayer heterostructures.

The design of optoelectronic devices made with ZnO superlattices requires the knowledge of the refractive index, which currently can be done only for films thicker than 30 nm. In this work, we present an effective medium approach to determine the refractive index of ZnO layers as thin as 2 nm. The approach was implemented by determining the refractive index of ZnO layers ranging from 2 nm to 20 nm using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements in multilayers. For a precise control of morphology and thickness, the superlattices were fabricated with atomic layer deposition (ALD) with alternating layers of 2 nm thick Al2O3 and ZnO, labeled as N ZnO-Al2O3, where N = 10, 20, 30, 50, 75 and 100. The total thickness of all superlattices was kept at 100 nm. The approach was validated by applying it to similar superlattices reported in the literature and fitting the transmittance spectra of the superlattices.

Spatiotemporal trends of Chagas disease-related mortality in the Northeast of Brazil, 2007-2017.

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease and endemic in Brazil. In the Brazilian Northeast Region, it affects millions of people. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the spatiotemporal trends of CD mortality in the Northeast of Brazil. This ecological study was designed, in which the unit of analysis was the municipality of the Brazilian northeast. The data source was the Information System of Mortality. It was calculated relative risk from socioeconomic characteristics. Mortality rates were smoothed by the Local Empirical Bayes method. Spatial dependency was analysed by the Global and Local Moran Index. Scan spatial statistics were also used. A total of 11 287 deaths by CD were notified in the study. An expressive parcel of this number was observed among 70-year-olds or more (n = 4381; 38.8%), no schooling (n = 4381; 38.8%), mixed-race (n = 4381; 62.3%), male (n = 6875; 60.9%). It was observed positive spatial autocorrelation, mostly in municipalities of the state of Bahia, Piauí (with high-high clusters), and Maranhão (with low-low clusters). The spatial scan statistics has presented a risk of mortality in 24 purely spatial clusters (P < 0.05). The study has identified the spatial pattern of CD mortality mostly in Bahia and Piauí, highlighting priority areas in planning and control strategies of the health services.

Exon 3-deleted growth hormone receptor isoform is not related to worse bone mineral density or microarchitecture or to increased fracture risk in acromegaly.

PURPOSE: Acromegaly is a cause of secondary osteoporosis and is associated with increased risk of vertebral fractures (VFs). The influence of exon 3-deleted isoform of growth hormone receptor (d3-GHR) on bone microarchitecture has not been studied in acromegaly. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between d3-GHR isoform and bone mineral density (BMD), bone microarchitecture, and VFs in acromegaly patients. METHODS: Consecutive acromegaly patients treated at a single reference center were included. BMD was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone microarchitecture was analyzed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). The presence of moderate to severe VFs was assessed by thoracic and lumbar X-ray. GHR genotyping was analyzed by PCR, and full-length isoform of GHR (fl-GHR) was represented by a 935-bp fragment and d3-GHR by a 532-bp fragment. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included [56 females; median age at diagnosis: 43 years (17-78)]. Disease was uncontrolled in 63% of patients. At least one d3-GHR allele was present in 60% of patients. Frequency of active disease (p = 0.276) and hypogonadism (p = 1.000) was not different between patients with fl-GHR and those with at least one d3-GHR. There was no difference in any DXA or HR-pQCT parameters between patients with fl-GHR and those with d3-GHR. Significant VFs were observed in 14% of patients, but there was no difference in frequency between patients with fl-GHR and those with at least one d3-GHR allele (p = 0.578). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of d3-GHR was not associated with worse BMD or bone microarchitecture or with higher frequency of significant VFs.

Evaluation of body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas and an intermediate phenotype: Is there an association with metabolic syndrome?

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and sarcopenia are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. No studies using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) have evaluated association between body composition (BC) changes and MS in adrenal incidentaloma (AI). Our aim was to analyse BC in non-functioning AI (NFAI) and intermediate phenotype (IP) relative to controls and to correlate with cortisol levels. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 44 NFAI (serum cortisol ≤ 50 nmol/L after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test), 27 IP (cortisol 51-138 nmol/L), and 41 controls (normal adrenal on imaging examination) using DXA. Autonomic cortisol secretion (cortisol > 138 nmol/L) was excluded from the study. BC data were compared using criteria for MS (World Health Organization, National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel-III, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), and International Diabetes Federation). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in clinical data and body mass index (BMI) among the three groups. Waist circumference (WC) was larger in AI vs. controls (p < 0.01). Waist-to-hip ratio was higher in NFAI vs. controls and waist-to-height ratio was higher in IP vs. controls (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). The frequency of MS was higher in AI vs. controls. BC was not different among the groups. Patients with AI there was a significant association of MS with both an increase in total fat and body fat index (all criteria), and a significant difference between MS and smaller BMI-adjusted lean mass (AACE, p = 0.036). No correlation of cortisol after 1 mg dexamethasone test with BC or MS. AI and WC were independently associated with MS. CONCLUSIONS: AI presented high frequency of MS and was independently associated with MS. Possible deleterious effects of cortisol secretion seem to initially affect the muscular system.

A Review of the Potential of Chilean Native Berries in the Treatment of Obesity and its Related Features.

Obesity is a major worldwide health threat. It is characterized by an abnormal adipose tissue overgrowth together with increased monocytes infiltration, causing inflammation and oxidative stress, events associated with several illnesses. Investigations have focused on the benefits of native fruit consumption, claiming these to be natural sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. It has been widely stated that berries are a source of the most antioxidant compounds, and, thus, seem highly promising to endure research efforts on these vegetal matrices. The present article describes botanical, chemical and biomedical features of the Chilean native berries, Aristotelia chilensis, Ugni molinae, and Berberis microphylla. This work aims to potentiate incoming research focused on the search for novel treatments for first-order diseases with these particular plant sources.

Microbial Communities of High-Elevation Fumaroles, Penitentes, and Dry Tephra "Soils" of the Puna de Atacama Volcanic Zone.

The aim of this study was to understand the spatial distribution of microbial communities (18S and 16S rRNA genes) across one of the harshest terrestrial landscapes on Earth. We carried out Illumina sequencing using samples from two expeditions to the high slopes (up to 6050 m.a.s.l.) of Volcán Socompa and Llullaillaco to describe the microbial communities associated with the extremely dry tephra compared to areas that receive water from fumaroles and ice fields made up of nieves penitentes. There were strong spatial patterns relative to these landscape features with the most diverse (alpha diversity) communities being associated with fumaroles. Penitentes did not significantly increase alpha diversity compared to dry tephra at the same elevation (5825 m.a.s.l.) on Volcán Socompa, but the structure of the 18S community (beta diversity) was significantly affected by the presence of penitentes on both Socompa and Llullaillaco. In addition, the 18S community was significantly different in tephra wetted by penitentes versus dry tephra sites across many elevations on Llullaillaco. Traditional phototrophs (algae and cyanobacteria) were abundant in wetter tephra associated with fumaroles, and algae (but not cyanobacteria) were common in tephra associated with penitentes. Dry tephra had neither algae nor cyanobacteria but did host potential phototrophs in the Rhodospirillales on Volcán Llullaillaco, but not on Socompa. These results provide new insights into the distribution of microbes across one of the most extreme terrestrial environments on Earth and provide the first ever glimpse of life associated with nieves penitentes, spire-shaped ice structures that are widespread across the mostly unexplored high-elevation Andean Central Volcanic Zone.

Association of osteoporosis and bone medication with the periodontal condition in elderly women.

UNLABELLED: This study investigated whether osteoporosis and its treatment may affect periodontal condition in elderly women. The findings highlighted that women with osteoporosis had a higher chance to present severe periodontitis than women with normal bone mineral density (BMD), particularly those who were not treated for osteoporosis. INTRODUCTION: This study investigated whether osteoporosis increases the frequency and severity of chronic periodontitis in elderly women and evaluated the influence of vitamin D and osteoporosis treatment in the periodontal condition. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, elderly women were selected among 1266 subjects evaluated for lumbar spine and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and complete periodontal examination were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Forty-eight elderly women with normal BMD and 86 with osteoporosis were selected. Women with osteoporosis presented higher frequency of sites with clinical attachment level ≥6 mm (p = 0.003) and gingival recession ≥3 mm (p = 0.002) than those with normal BMD and were more than twice as likely to present severe periodontitis (odds ratio (OR) = 2.49, 95 % CI [1.14 to 5.43]). Osteoporotic women who were not treated for the condition had more chance to present severe periodontitis (OR = 3.16, 95 % CI [1.28 to 7.82]) than those who did use bisphosphonates (OR = 2.04, 95 % CI [0.85 to 4.89]). Among the participants who presented low levels of vitamin D, those with osteoporosis exhibited a higher chance to present severe periodontitis than those with normal BMD (p = 0.027), but the association between vitamin D levels and osteoporosis was not statistically significant after adjustment (p = 0.198). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women with osteoporosis have a greater chance to present periodontitis, with higher severity than those with normal BMD. Osteoporosis treatment provides protection for periodontitis.

Synthesis and characterization of (3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxy-silane (APTMS) functionalized Gd2O3:Eu(3+) red phosphor with enhanced quantum yield.

We report the surface modification of nanocrystalline Gd2O3:Eu(3+) phosphor by (3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS). The nanoparticles were first coated with silica using the Stöber process, and then annealed at 650 °C for 2 h. Afterwards, APTMS was functionalized onto the silica layer to obtain Gd2O3:Eu(3+) nanoparticles bearing amine groups on the surface. The effect of silica coating, and the subsequent annealing process on the crystallization of the nanophosphor were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) confirmed the presence of a silica layer of ∼45 nm thickness. X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of silica and the amine groups. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis demonstrated an increased emission after functionalization of nanoparticles. Absolute quantum yield (QY) measurements revealed an 18% enhancement in QY in functionalized nanoparticles compared with unmodified nanoparticles, which is of great importance for their biomedical applications.

Density functional theory simulation of the adsorption of sulphur multilayers on Au(100).

The adsorption of sulphur multilayers on Au(100) has been studied using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The first sulphur layer was adsorbed on the four-fold sites of the unreconstructed Au(100) surface forming a lattice. The experimental parameters of the lattice were reproduced taking into account the surface expansion of the topmost Au(100) layer. This expansion should occur when gold islands are formed after the lifting of hex-reconstruction, which allows the lateral movement of the gold atoms. The second sulphur layer, on top of the lattice, consisted of eight S atoms (octomer phase) in a quasi-rectangular arrangement. The structural optimization of the octomer phase was achieved in a specific spatial orientation with respect to the lattice. The analysis of Bader atomic charges and the projected density of states (PDOS) demonstrated that charge transfer from the Au(100) surface to the sulphur layers, sulphur chemisorption and sulphur-sulphur inter-layer mixing of electronic states control the formation of sulphur multilayers.