Recapitulating human tissue damage, repair, and fibrosis with human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids.

As new applications for human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids in drug screenings and tissue replacement therapies emerge, there is a need to examine the mechanisms of tissue injury and repair recently reported for various organoid models. In most cases, organoids contain the main cell types and tissues present in human organs, spatially arranged in a manner that largely resembles the architecture of the organ. Depending on the differentiation protocol used, variations may exist in cell type ratios relative to the organ of reference, and certain tissues, including some parenchymal components and the endothelium, might be poorly represented, or lacking altogether. Despite those caveats, recent studies have shown that organoid tissue injury recapitulates major events and histopathological features of damaged human tissues. In particular, major mechanisms of parenchyma cell damage and interstitial fibrosis can be reproduced with remarkable faithfulness. Although further validation remains to be done in order to establish the relevance of using organoid for either mechanistic studies or drug assays, this technology is becoming a promising tool for the study of human tissue homeostasis, injury, and repair.

Tubal Sterilization and Cervical Cancer Underscreening in the United States.

Background: Tubal sterilization is more commonly utilized by racial/ethnic minority groups and has been implicated in underscreening for cervical cancer. The objective is to determine if prior tubal sterilization is a risk factor for cervical cancer underscreening. Methods: National Survey of Family Growth dataset from 2015 to 2019 used for analysis; data were weighted to represent the 72 million women in the U.S. population aged 22-49. Chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, and logistic regression were used for analysis. The primary predictor variable was tubal sterilization which was categorized into no previous sterilization, sterilization completed <5 years ago, and sterilization completed ≥5 years ago. The outcome variable was underscreened versus not underscreened. Other predictor variables included age, household income as a percent of federal poverty level, previous live birth, primary care provider, and insurance status. Results: Prevalence of tubal sterilization completed 5 or more years ago was 12.5% and varied by most measured characteristics in univariate analyses. Approximately 8% of women were underscreened for cervical cancer. In multivariable analyses, women with a tubal sterilization 5 or more years ago had 2.64 times the odds (95% confidence interval = 1.75-4.00) of being underscreened for cervical cancer compared with women who did not have a tubal sterilization. Conclusions: Approximately 4.3 million women ages 22-49 in the United States are potentially underscreened for cervical cancer and women with previous tubal ligation ≥5 years ago are more likely to be underscreened. These results may inform the need for culturally sensitive public health messages informing people who have had these procedures about the need for continued screening.

Boba sign with a twist - A variant presentation of a mature cystic teratoma complicated by torsion and rupture.

While mature cystic teratomas are relatively common ovarian neoplasms typically comprising of multiple embryologic cell types, a specific monodermal subtype involving thyroid tissue, struma ovarii, can rarely be seen. This case reviews typical imaging characteristics with MRI and ultrasound of struma ovarii and details possible complications from these masses with intraoperative and histologic correlation.

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts: the importance of early diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts is a rare type of leukodystrophy associated with mutations in the MLC1 and GlialCAM genes. The classic form is characterized by macrocephaly, early or delayed normal neurodevelopment followed by a period of slow motor skill loss, with cerebellar ataxia and spasticity; some patients develop movement disorders and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging shows widespread diffuse white matter involvement with edema and subcortical cysts. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of two sisters aged 6 and 10 years, consanguineous parents, with a history of psychomotor delay and macrocephaly. The older sister presented with seizures at the age of 4 years and spasticity without loss of gait; the younger sister had a similar clinical picture. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse alteration of the white matter and subcortical cysts in the temporal lobes. Electroencephalogram detected focal epileptiform activity. Seizure control was achieved upon initiation of carbamazepine treatment. By sequencing, a homozygous variant of the MLC1 gene was found in exon 3: c.255T>G (p.Cys85Trp). CONCLUSIONS: Leukodystrophies are rare diseases that represent a diagnostic challenge. Clinical, radiological, and molecular findings allow diagnostic certainty, the appropriate direction of interventions, and adjustment to the prognosis of each entity. The c.255T>G mutation was previously described in a South American patients, suggesting that it is a specific variant to Latin populations.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La leucoencefalopatía megalencefálica con quistes subcorticales es una leucodistrofia poco frecuente, asociada con mutaciones en los genes MLC1 y GlialCAM. La forma clásica se caracteriza por macrocefalia, neurodesarrollo temprano normal o con retraso seguido por un periodo de pérdida lenta de habilidades motoras, con ataxia cerebelosa y espasticidad; algunos pacientes desarrollan trastornos del movimiento y crisis convulsivas. La resonancia magnética muestra afección difusa generalizada de la sustancia blanca con edema y quistes subcorticales. CASO CLÍNICO: Se presenta el caso de dos hermanas de 6 y 10 años con historia de retraso psicomotor y macrocefalia, hijas de padres consanguíneos. La mayor inició con crisis convulsivas a los 4 años y espasticidad sin pérdida de la marcha autónoma; la menor presentó un cuadro clínico similar. La resonancia magnética mostró una alteración difusa de la sustancia blanca y quistes subcorticales en los lóbulos temporales. El electroencefalograma detectó actividad epileptiforme focal. Se logró el control de las crisis convulsivas al iniciar el tratamiento con carbamazepina. Por secuenciación, se encontró una variante homocigota del gen MLC1 en el exón 3: c.255T>G (p.Cys85Trp). CONCLUSIONES: Las leucodistrofias son enfermedades raras que representan un desafío para su diagnóstico. Los hallazgos clínicos, radiológicos y moleculares permiten la certeza del diagnóstico, la dirección adecuada de las intervenciones y el ajuste al pronóstico de cada una. La mutación c.255T>G fue descrita previamente en pacientes sudamericanos, lo que sugiere que podría tratarse de una variante específica de poblaciones latinas.

Participatory research in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Adjusting your methodological toolkits.

Solving grand environmental societal challenges calls for transdisciplinary and participatory methods in social-ecological research. These methods enable co-designing the research, co-producing the results, and co-creating the impacts together with concerned stakeholders. COVID-19 has had serious impacts on the choice of research methods, but reflections on recent experiences of "moving online" are still rare. In this perspective, we focus on the challenge of adjusting different participatory methods to online formats used in five transdisciplinary social-ecological research projects. The key added value of our research is the lessons learned from a comparison of the pros and cons of adjusting a broader set of methods to online formats. We conclude that combining the adjusted online approaches with well-established face-to-face formats into more inclusive hybrid approaches can enrich and diversify the pool of available methods for postpandemic research. Furthermore, a more diverse group of participants can be engaged in the research process.

Soybean meal induces intestinal inflammation in zebrafish larvae.

The necessary replacement of fish meal with other protein source in diets of commercially important fish has prompted the study of the effect of the inclusion of different vegetable proteins sources on growth performance and on the gastro-intestinal tract. Currently, soybean meal is the primary protein source as a fish meal replacement because of its low price and high availability. Likewise, it is been documented that the ingestion of soybean meal by several fish species, such as salmonids and carp, triggers a type of intestinal inflammation called enteritis. In this paper, we analyzed the effects of the ingestion of soybean meal and two of its components, soy protein and soy saponin, on zebrafish to establish the basis for using zebrafish larvae as a model for fish nutrition. We took advantage of the existence of different transgenic lines, which allowed us to perform in vivo analysis. Our results indicated that larvae that were feed with soybean meal developed a clear intestinal inflammation as early as two day after beginning the diet. Moreover, we determined that is not the soy protein present in the diet but the soy saponin that is primarily responsible for triggering the immune response. These findings support the use of zebrafish screening assays to identify novel ingredients that would to improved current fish diets or would formulate new ones.

Prevalencia y factores de riesgo psicosociales de la depresión en un grupo de adultos mayores en Bogotá / Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors of depression in a group of older adults in Bogota

Introducción: la depresión es una enfermedad de alta prevalencia en adultos mayores. En Colombia su prevalencia se ha descrito entre 1,2 a 12% en mayores que viven en comunidad. Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de depresión en un muestra de adultos mayores de Bogotá y describir los factores de riesgo psicosocial asociados. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de corte transversal observacional-descriptivo, en 889 adultos mayores autónomos. La depresión fue evaluada con el test de depresión geriátrica Yesavage y los factores de riesgo con la sección de acontecimientos vitales del cuestionario Predict. Resultados: el 74% de la muestra estuvo constituida por mujeres, la media de edad fue de 72,51 (DS 9,4) años y la escolaridad promedio en años fue de 7,50 (DS 5,64). Así mismo, se estimó una prevalencia de depresión del 18,6%, siendo mayor en mujeres (20%) y (18%) en sujetos entre 70 y 79 años, los adultos con baja escolaridad sumaron un 43%, y el 22% lo constituyeron personas dependientes económicamente. Por otra parte, se encontró relación entre la depresión y cinco de los factores de riesgo psicosocial conocidos como acontecimientos vitales adversos: insomnio, vivir solo, padecer enfermedades crónicas, haber sufrido una crisis económica, y la muerte de un familiar o amigo cercano en el último año. Conclusión: la prevalencia de depresión en un grupo de personas mayores de la comunidad en Bogotá es más alta que lo descrito previamente en Colombia y por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Programas que reduzcan la soledad en la vejez y protejan a la mujer y a los mayores con menos escolaridad podrían mitigar esta condición.

Introduction: depression is one of the most prevalent diseases in the elderly. In Colombia, the prevalence of depression in this population ranges from 1,2 to 12%. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of depression in a group of independent elderly subjects in Bogota and describe the psychosocial risk factors associated with it. Material and methods: a cross-observational and descriptive study was done. The sample was constituted of 889 autonomous elderly subjects of Bogota city. Depression was assessed by applying the Test of Geriatric Depression-Yesavage-. Besides, the psychosocial risk factors were measured through the life events section, which is part of the Predict Questionnaire. Results: 74% of the sample was made up of women, the mean age was 72,51 years old (DS.9,4) and the average of education was of 7.50 years (DS.5,64). Besides, it was found a prevalence of depression of 18,6%. This prevalence was higher in the women (20%) and elderly between 70 and 79 years old (18%), adults with low education with 43% or 22% in economically dependent people. A relationship between depression and five psychosocial risk factors, known as adverse life events-insomnia, living alone, suffering a chronic disease or economic crisis or the death of the couple, a close friend or a relative. Conclusion: results showed a higher prevalence of depression in this sample in comparison to the findings yielded in previous studies developed in Colombia and the WHO. Programs that help to reduce the long lines protect women and older with less schooling ageing could mitigate the condition.