Is a vegetarian diet beneficial for bipolar disorder? Relationship between dietary patterns, exercise and pharmacological treatments with metabolic syndrome and course of disease in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle factors are being increasingly studied in bipolar disorder (BD) due to their possible effects on both course of disease and physical health. The aim of this study was to jointly describe and explore the interrelations between diet patterns, exercise, pharmacological treatment with course of disease and metabolic profile in BD. METHODS: The sample consisted of 66 euthymic or mild depressive individuals with BD. Clinical and metabolic outcomes were assessed, as well as pharmacological treatment or lifestyle habits (diet and exercise). Correlations were explored for different interrelations and a factor analysis of dietary patterns was performed. RESULTS: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low, seen in 37.9% of the patients and was positively associated with perceived quality of life. The amount of exercise was negatively associated with cholesterol levels, with 32.8% of participants rated as low active by International Physical Activity Questionnaire. There was a high prevalence of obesity (40.6%) and metabolic syndrome (29.7%). Users of lithium showed the best metabolic profile. Interestingly, three dietary patterns were identified: "vegetarian," "omnivore" and "Western." The key finding was the overall positive impact of the "vegetarian" pattern in BD, which was associated with reduced depression scores, better psychosocial functioning, and perceived quality of life, decreased body mass index, cholesterol, LDL and diastolic blood pressure. Nuts consumption was associated with a better metabolic profile. CONCLUSIONS: A vegetarian diet pattern was associated with both, better clinical and metabolic parameters, in patients with BD. Future studies should prioritize prospective and randomized designs to determine causal relationships, and potentially inform clinical recommendations.

Designing Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial BODIPY Derivatives: A Computational and In Vitro Assessment.

Leishmaniasis and Human African trypanosomiasis pose significant public health threats in resource-limited regions, accentuated by the drawbacks of the current antiprotozoal treatments and the lack of approved vaccines. Considering the demand for novel therapeutic drugs, a series of BODIPY derivatives with several functionalizations at the meso, 2 and/or 6 positions of the core were synthesized and characterized. The in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major parasites was carried out alongside a human healthy cell line (MRC-5) to establish selectivity indices (SIs). Notably, the meso-substituted BODIPY, with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene (1b) and anthracene moiety (1c), were the most active against L. major, displaying IC50 = 4.84 and 5.41 µM, with a 16 and 18-fold selectivity over MRC-5 cells, respectively. In contrast, the mono-formylated analogues 2b and 2c exhibited the highest toxicity (IC50 = 2.84 and 6.17 µM, respectively) and selectivity (SI = 24 and 11, respectively) against T. brucei. Further insights on the activity of these compounds were gathered from molecular docking studies. The results suggest that these BODIPYs act as competitive inhibitors targeting the NADPH/NADP+ linkage site of the pteridine reductase (PR) enzyme. Additionally, these findings unveil a range of quasi-degenerate binding complexes formed between the PRs and the investigated BODIPY derivatives. These results suggest a potential correlation between the anti-parasitic activity and the presence of multiple configurations that block the same site of the enzyme.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: 38 years of experience in an oncological center.

Background: Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is an uncommon malignant sinonasal tumor. There are few data regarding ENB management, namely its treatment. We review our institute's experience in the treatment of ENB and evaluate survival outcomes. Materials and methods: Retrospective study of patients with ENB treated between 1984-2022. A total of 20 patients were identified, 13 men and 7 women, aged between 20 and 76 years. Results: Eleven patients were stage C of the modified Kadish staging system at initial presentation, 7 stage B, 1 stage A and 1 stage D. Seventeen patients underwent surgery alone or combined with adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy). The majority of the patients (71.4%) treated with surgery alone were stage B, whereas most of the patients (63.6%) that underwent surgery combined with adjuvant treatment were stage C. Five of the 7 patients treated with surgery alone had a locoregional recurrence. Two of the 10 patients treated with surgery followed by adjuvant treatment had relapsed, locoregionally and at a distance, respectively. One patient was treated with chemotherapy and 2 patients were treated with chemoradiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy, respectively. The recurrence and persistence rates were 35% and 15%, respectively. The median time from the end of the first treatment to recurrence was 20.9 months. Two- and 5-year overall survival rates were 83.9% and 77.9%; while progression-free survival rates were 76.7% and 61.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Sixty percent of patients were treated with a multimodal approach, which appeared to be a favorable strategy for the majority of patients.

Potential of bacteriophage proteins as recognition molecules for pathogen detection.

Bacterial pathogens are leading causes of infections with high mortality worldwide having a great impact on healthcare systems and the food industry. Gold standard methods for bacterial detection mainly rely on culture-based technologies and biochemical tests which are laborious and time-consuming. Regardless of several developments in existing methods, the goal of achieving high sensitivity and specificity, as well as a low detection limit, remains unaccomplished. In past years, various biorecognition elements, such as antibodies, enzymes, aptamers, or nucleic acids, have been widely used, being crucial for the pathogens detection in different complex matrices. However, these molecules are usually associated with high detection limits, demand laborious and costly production, and usually present cross-reactivity. (Bacterio)phage-encoded proteins, especially the receptor binding proteins (RBPs) and cell-wall binding domains (CBDs) of endolysins, are responsible for the phage binding to the bacterial surface receptors in different stages of the phage lytic cycle. Due to their remarkable properties, such as high specificity, sensitivity, stability, and ability to be easily engineered, they are appointed as excellent candidates to replace conventional recognition molecules, thereby contributing to the improvement of the detection methods. Moreover, they offer several possibilities of application in a variety of detection systems, such as magnetic, optical, and electrochemical. Herein we provide a review of phage-derived bacterial binding proteins, namely the RBPs and CBDs, with the prospect to be employed as recognition elements for bacteria. Moreover, we summarize and discuss the various existing methods based on these proteins for the detection of nosocomial and foodborne pathogens.

Effects of malnutrition on length of stay in patients hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward.

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatric patients are considered at risk for malnutrition due to pharmacological treatments, lifestyle habits and the mental illness by itself. Even though metabolic risk factors have been related to worse outcomes in certain conditions, the evidence regarding the nutritional status and its impact on the length of stay in psychiatric inpatients is scarce. This study aims to characterize the nutritional status in acute psychiatric patients, to correlate it with the length of stay, and to find specific potential indicators of malnutrition. METHODS: Adult patients admitted to the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona acute psychiatric ward throughout a 1-year period were included in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were registered, including length of stay and the nutritional status measured with the CONUT score. RESULTS: Malnutrition was observed in 42.5% of patients. Plasmatic transferrin saturation, protein and iron levels were inversely correlated with length of stay, having low iron levels an association with longer hospitalizations. The length of stay was not influenced by diagnosis or treatment. Negative correlations with the nutritional status were found in: BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, total proteins, prealbumin, iron, lymphocytes and zinc levels, and transferrin saturation. The multivariate analysis showed a significant association for cholesterol and zinc levels, lymphocyte count, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nutritional status might influence the course of psychiatric admissions. Cholesterol and zinc levels, lymphocyte count, and BMI might be factors strongly associated with malnutrition. This consideration might allow the identification of profiles in which lifestyle interventions could be implemented.

A magnetic nanoparticle-based microfluidic device fabricated using a 3D-printed mould for separation of Escherichia coli from blood.

Herein, A microfluidic device is described, produced with a 3D-printed master mould that rapidly separates and concentrates Escherichia coli directly from whole blood samples, enabling a reduction in the turnaround time of bloodstream infections (BSIs) diagnosis. Moreover, it promotes the cleansing of the blood samples whose complexity frequently hampers bacterial detection. The device comprises a serpentine mixing channel with two inlets, one for blood samples (spiked with bacteria) and the other for magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalized with a (bacterio)phage receptor-binding protein (RBP) with high specificity for E. coli. After the magnetic labelling of bacteria throughout the serpentine, the microchannel ends with a trapping reservoir where bacteria-MNPs conjugates are concentrated using a permanent magnet. The optimized sample preparation device successfully recovered E. coli (on average, 66%) from tenfold diluted blood spiked within a wide range of bacterial load (102 CFU to 107 CFU mL-1). The non-specific trapping, tested with Staphylococcus aureus, was at a negligible level of 12%. The assay was performed in 30 min directly from diluted blood thus presenting an advantage over the conventional enrichment in blood cultures (BCs). The device is simple and cheap to fabricate and can be tailored for multiple bacterial separation from complex clinical samples by using RBPs targeting different species. Moreover, the possibility to integrate a biosensing element to detect bacteria on-site can provide a reliable, fast, and cost-effective point-of-care device.

Colorimetric Chemosensor for Cu2+ and Fe3+ Based on a meso-Triphenylamine-BODIPY Derivative.

Optical chemosensors are a practical tool for the detection and quantification of important analytes in biological and environmental fields, such as Cu2+ and Fe3+. To the best of our knowledge, a BODIPY derivative capable of detecting Cu2+ and Fe3+ simultaneously through a colorimetric response has not yet been described in the literature. In this work, a meso-triphenylamine-BODIPY derivative is reported for the highly selective detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+. In the preliminary chemosensing study, this compound showed a significant color change from yellow to blue-green in the presence of Cu2+ and Fe3+. With only one equivalent of cation, a change in the absorption band of the compound and the appearance of a new band around 700 nm were observed. Furthermore, only 10 equivalents of Cu2+/Fe3+ were needed to reach the absorption plateau in the UV-visible titrations. Compound 1 showed excellent sensitivity toward Cu2+ and Fe3+ detection, with LODs of 0.63 µM and 1.06 µM, respectively. The binding constant calculation indicated a strong complexation between compound 1 and Cu2+/Fe3+ ions. The 1H and 19F NMR titrations showed that an increasing concentration of cations induced a broadening and shifting of the aromatic region peaks, as well as the disappearance of the original fluorine peaks of the BODIPY core, which suggests that the ligand-metal (1:2) interaction may occur through the triphenylamino group and the BODIPY core.

Dabcyl as a Naked Eye Colorimetric Chemosensor for Palladium Detection in Aqueous Medium.

Industrial activity has raised significant concerns regarding the widespread pollution caused by metal ions, contaminating ecosystems and causing adverse effects on human health. Therefore, the development of sensors for selective and sensitive detection of these analytes is extremely important. In this regard, an azo dye, Dabcyl 2, was synthesised and investigated for sensing metal ions with environmental and industrial relevance. The cation binding character of 2 was evaluated by colour changes as seen by the naked eye, UV-Vis and 1H NMR titrations in aqueous mixtures of SDS (0.02 M, pH 6) solution with acetonitrile (99:1, v/v). Out of the several cations tested, chemosensor 2 had a selective response for Pd2+, Sn2+ and Fe3+, showing a remarkable colour change visible to the naked eye and large bathochromic shifts in the UV-Vis spectrum of 2. This compound was very sensitive for Pd2+, Sn2+ and Fe3+, with a detection limit as low as 5.4 × 10-8 M, 1.3 × 10-7 M and 5.2 × 10-8 M, respectively. Moreover, comparative studies revealed that chemosensor 2 had high selectivity towards Pd2+ even in the presence of other metal ions in SDS aqueous mixtures.

New Amino Acid-Based Thiosemicarbazones and Hydrazones: Synthesis and Evaluation as Fluorimetric Chemosensors in Aqueous Mixtures.

Bearing in mind the interest in the development and application of amino acids/peptides as bioinspired systems for sensing, a series of new phenylalanine derivatives bearing thiosemicarbazone and hydrazone units at the side chain were synthesised and evaluated as fluorimetric chemosensors for ions. Thiosemicarbazone and hydrazone moieties were chosen because they are considered both proton-donor and proton-acceptor, which is an interesting feature in the design of chemosensors. The obtained compounds were tested for the recognition of organic and inorganic anions (such as AcO-, F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, ClO4-, CN-, NO3-, BzO-, OH-, H2PO4- and HSO4-) and of alkaline, alkaline-earth, and transition metal cations, (such as Na+, K+, Cs+, Ag+, Cu+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Pb2+, Pd2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ and Cr3+) in acetonitrile and its aqueous mixtures in varying ratios via spectrofluorimetric titrations. The results indicate that there is a strong interaction via the donor N, O and S atoms at the side chain of the various phenylalanines, with higher sensitivity for Cu2+, Fe3+ and F- in a 1:2 ligand-ion stoichiometry. The photophysical and metal ion-sensing properties of these phenylalanines suggest that they might be suitable for incorporation into peptide chemosensory frameworks.

Novel Crown Ether Amino Acids as Fluorescent Reporters for Metal Ions.

Unnatural amino acids with enhanced properties, such as increased complexing ability and luminescence, are considered to be highly attractive building blocks for bioinspired frameworks, such as probes for biomolecule dynamics, sensitive fluorescent chemosensors, and peptides for molecular imaging, among others. Therefore, a novel series of highly emissive heterocyclic alanines bearing a benzo[d]oxazolyl unit functionalized with different heterocyclic π-spacers and (aza)crown ether moieties was synthesized. The new compounds were completely characterized using the usual spectroscopic techniques and evaluated as fluorimetric chemosensors in acetonitrile and aqueous mixtures in the presence of various alkaline, alkaline-earth, and transition metal ions. The different crown ether binding moieties as well as the electronic nature of the π-bridge allowed for fine tuning of the sensory properties of these unnatural amino acids towards Pd2+ and Fe3+, as seen by spectrofluorimetric titrations.

Polyaromatic Bis(indolyl)methane Derivatives with Antiproliferative and Antiparasitic Activity.

Bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) are a class of compounds that have been recognized as an important core in the design of drugs with important pharmacological properties, such as promising anticancer and antiparasitic activities. Here, we explored the biological activity of the BIM core functionalized with different (hetero)aromatic moieties. We synthesized substituted BIM derivatives with triphenylamine, N,N-dimethyl-1-naphthylamine and 8-hydroxylquinolyl groups, studied their photophysical properties and evaluated their in vitro antiproliferative and antiparasitic activities. The triphenylamine BIM derivative 2a displayed an IC50 of 3.21, 3.30 and 3.93 µM against Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania major and HT-29 cancer cell line, respectively. The selectivity index demonstrated that compound 2a was up to eight-fold more active against the parasites and HT-29 than against the healthy cell line MRC-5. Fluorescence microscopy studies with MRC-5 cells and T. brucei parasites incubated with derivative 2a indicate that the compound seems to accumulate in the cell's mitochondria and in the parasite's nucleus. In conclusion, the BIM scaffold functionalized with the triphenylamine moiety proved to be the most promising antiparasitic and anticancer agent of this series.

A Sustainable Approach for the Valorization of Underutilized Date Fruits.

Secondary varieties of date fruits are often discarded because they do not have commercial value. However, their phytochemicals are very similar to those of the primary ones and therefore, they can be valorized as a source of compounds of interest, mainly phenols and dietary fiber. Their chemical composition changes with ripening, so their characterization throughout this process is of great significance. Date fruit samples were harvested at Khalal, Rutab, and Tamer stages, and a mixture of fruits from ornamental date trees was also analyzed. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were studied for their phenolic composition. In aqueous extracts, phenols decreased with ripening, while in the ethanolic ones having higher phenolic content. Chelidonic acid, a γ-pyrone, was the major compound found in all extracts, but in the ethanolic ones, flavonoids were also present in similar amounts. After purification by adsorption chromatography, all extracts were assayed for their antimicrobial activity. Those from the Tamer stage showed the highest activity, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. The fibrous residues after aqueous and ethanolic extractions were also characterized. Their chemical composition suggested that they can be considered as a good source of prebiotic arabinoxylans and antioxidant fiber, whose antiradical activity correlated with their phenolic content. Date fruits from secondary varieties are promising as a worthwhile starting point for obtaining new value-added products.

The kynurenine pathway in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of 101 studies.

The importance of tryptophan as a precursor for neuroactive compounds has long been acknowledged. The metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway and its involvement in mental disorders is an emerging area in psychiatry. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the differences in kynurenine metabolites in major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ). Electronic databases were searched for studies that assessed metabolites involved in the kynurenine pathway (tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and their associate ratios) in people with MDD, SZ, or BD, compared to controls. We computed the difference in metabolite concentrations between people with MDD, BD, or SZ, and controls, presented as Hedges' g with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 101 studies with 10,912 participants were included. Tryptophan and kynurenine are decreased across MDD, BD, and SZ; kynurenic acid and the kynurenic acid to quinolinic acid ratio are decreased in mood disorders (i.e., MDD and BD), whereas kynurenic acid is not altered in SZ; kynurenic acid to 3-hydroxykynurenine ratio is decreased in MDD but not SZ. Kynurenic acid to kynurenine ratio is decreased in MDD and SZ, and the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio is increased in MDD and SZ. Our results suggest that there is a shift in the tryptophan metabolism from serotonin to the kynurenine pathway, across these psychiatric disorders. In addition, a differential pattern exists between mood disorders and SZ, with a preferential metabolism of kynurenine to the potentially neurotoxic quinolinic acid instead of the neuroprotective kynurenic acid in mood disorders but not in SZ.

Essential Oils Encapsulated in Zeolite Structures as Delivery Systems (EODS): An Overview.

Essential oils (EO) obtained from plants have proven industrial applications in the manufacturing of perfumes and cosmetics, in the production and flavoring of foods and beverages, as therapeutic agents in aromatherapy, and as the active principles or excipients of medicines and pharmaceutics due to their olfactory, physical-chemical, and biological characteristics. On behalf of the new paradigm of a more natural and sustainable lifestyle, EO are rather appealing due to their physical, chemical, and physiological actions in human beings. However, EO are unstable and susceptible to degradation or loss. To tackle this aspect, the encapsulation of EO in microporous structures as zeolites is an attractive solution, since these host materials are cheap and non-toxic to biological environments. This overview provides basic information regarding essential oils, including their recognized benefits and functional properties. Current progress regarding EO encapsulation in zeolite structures is also discussed, highlighting some representative examples of essential oil delivery systems (EODS) based on zeolites for healthcare applications or aromatherapy.

Bioimaging of Lysosomes with a BODIPY pH-Dependent Fluorescent Probe.

Fluorescence-based probes represent a powerful tool for noninvasive imaging of living systems in real time and with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Amongst several known fluorophores, 3-difluoroborodipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives have become a cornerstone for innovative fluorescent labelling applications, mainly due to their advantageous features including their facile synthesis, structural versatility and exceptional photophysical properties. In this context, we report a BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for imaging of lysosomes in living cells. The BODIPY derivative displayed a remarkable fluorescence enhancement at low pH values with a pKa* of 3.1. In vitro studies by confocal microscopy in HeLa cells demonstrated that the compound was able to permeate cell membrane and selectively label lysosome whilst remaining innocuous to the cell culture at the maximum concentration tested. Herein, the BODIPY derivative holds the promise of investigating lysosomal dynamics and function in living cells through fluorescence imaging.

Inhibition of Intestinal Lipid Absorption by Cyanobacterial Strains in Zebrafish Larvae.

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease, which is increasing worldwide. The reduction of dietary lipid intake is considered an interesting pathway to reduce fat absorption and to affect the chronic energy imbalance. In this study, zebrafish larvae were used to analyze effects of cyanobacteria on intestinal lipid absorption in vivo. In total, 263 fractions of a cyanobacterial library were screened for PED6 activity, a fluorescent reporter of intestinal lipases, and 11 fractions reduced PED6 activity > 30%. Toxicity was not observed for those fractions, considering mortality, malformations or digestive physiology (protease inhibition). Intestinal long-chain fatty acid uptake (C16) was reduced, but not short-chain fatty acid uptake (C5). Alteration of lipid classes by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) or lipid processing by fluorescent HPTLC was analyzed, and 2 fractions significantly reduced the whole-body triglyceride level. Bioactivity-guided feature-based molecular networking of LC-MS/MS data identified 14 significant bioactive mass peaks (p < 0.01, correlation > 0.95), which consisted of 3 known putative and 11 unknown compounds. All putatively identified compounds were known to be involved in lipid metabolism and obesity. Summarizing, some cyanobacterial strains repressed intestinal lipid absorption without any signs of toxicity and could be developed in the future as nutraceuticals to combat obesity.

Automatic Resting Tremor Assessment in Parkinson's Disease Using Smartwatches and Multitask Convolutional Neural Networks.

Resting tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most distinctive motor symptoms. Appropriate symptom monitoring can help to improve management and medical treatments and improve the patients' quality of life. Currently, tremor is evaluated by physical examinations during clinical appointments; however, this method could be subjective and does not represent the full spectrum of the symptom in the patients' daily lives. In recent years, sensor-based systems have been used to obtain objective information about the disease. However, most of these systems require the use of multiple devices, which makes it difficult to use them in an ambulatory setting. This paper presents a novel approach to evaluate the amplitude and constancy of resting tremor using triaxial accelerometers from consumer smartwatches and multitask classification models. These approaches are used to develop a system for an automated and accurate symptom assessment without interfering with the patients' daily lives. Results show a high agreement between the amplitude and constancy measurements obtained from the smartwatch in comparison with those obtained in a clinical assessment. This indicates that consumer smartwatches in combination with multitask convolutional neural networks are suitable for providing accurate and relevant information about tremor in patients in the early stages of the disease, which can contribute to the improvement of PD clinical evaluation, early detection of the disease, and continuous monitoring.

Psychiatric Clinical Profiles and Pharmacological Interactions in COVID-19 Inpatients Referred to a Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Unit: a Cross-Sectional Study.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect mental health in different ways. There is little research about psychiatric complications in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The aim of the study was to describe the psychiatric clinical profile and pharmacological interactions in COVID-19 inpatients referred to a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) unit. This is a cross-sectional study, carried out at a tertiary hospital in Spain, in inpatients admitted because of COVID-19 and referred to our CLP Unit from March 17,2020 to April 28,2020. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. The patients were divided in three groups depending on psychiatric diagnosis: delirium, severe mental illness (SMI) and non-severe mental illness (NSMI). Of 71 patients included (median [ICR] age 64 [54-73] years; 70.4% male), 35.2% had a delirium, 18.3% had a SMI, and 46.5% had a NSMI. Compared to patients with delirium and NSMI, patients with SMI were younger, more likely to be institutionalized and were administered less anti-COVID19 drugs. Mortality was higher among patients with delirium (21.7%) than those with SMI (0%) or NSMI (9.45%). The rate of side effects due to interactions between anti-COVID19 and psychiatric drugs was low, mainly drowsiness (4.3%) and borderline QTc prolongation (1.5%). Patients affected by SMI were more often undertreated for COVID-19. However, the rate of interactions was very low, and avoidable with a proper evaluation and drug-dose adjustment. Half of the patients with SMI were institutionalized, suggesting that living conditions in residential facilities could make them more vulnerable to infection.

Bacteriophage-receptor binding proteins for multiplex detection of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus in blood.

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) affect hundreds of millions of patients, representing a significant burden for public health. They are usually associated to multidrug resistant bacteria, which increases their incidence and severity. Bloodstream infections are among the most frequent and life-threatening HCAIs, with Enterococcus and Staphylococcus among the most common isolated pathogens. The correct and fast identification of the etiological agents is crucial for clinical decision-making, allowing to rapidly select the appropriate antimicrobial and to prevent from overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the consequent increase in antimicrobial resistance. Conventional culture methods are still the gold standard to identify these pathogens, however, are time-consuming and may lead to erroneous diagnosis, which compromises an efficient treatment. (Bacterio)phage receptor binding proteins (RBPs) are the structures responsible for the high specificity conferred to phages against bacteria and thus are very attractive biorecognition elements with high potential for specific detection and identification of pathogens. Taking into account all these facts, we have designed and developed a new, fast, accurate, reliable and unskilled diagnostic method based on newly identified phage RBPs and spectrofluorometric techniques that allows the multiplex detection of Enterococcus and Staphylococcus in blood samples in less than 1.5 hr after an enrichment step.

Deep Learning Approaches for Detecting Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease Patients through On-Body Acceleration Sensors.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is one of the most incapacitating motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). The occurrence of FOG reduces the patients' quality of live and leads to falls. FOG assessment has usually been made through questionnaires, however, this method can be subjective and could not provide an accurate representation of the severity of this symptom. The use of sensor-based systems can provide accurate and objective information to track the symptoms' evolution to optimize PD management and treatments. Several authors have proposed specific methods based on wearables and the analysis of inertial signals to detect FOG in laboratory conditions, however, its performance is usually lower when being used at patients' homes. This study presents a new approach based on a recurrent neural network (RNN) and a single waist-worn triaxial accelerometer to enhance the FOG detection performance to be used in real home-environments. Also, several machine and deep learning approaches for FOG detection are evaluated using a leave-one-subject-out (LOSO) cross-validation. Results show that modeling spectral information of adjacent windows through an RNN can bring a significant improvement in the performance of FOG detection without increasing the length of the analysis window (required to using it as a cue-system).