Understanding processes underlying cross-taxon congruence in species composition along elevational gradients.

Changes in species diversity of different taxa along environmental gradients are usually correlated, resulting in a pattern called cross-taxon congruence. This pattern can be due to functional relationships between taxa, a common response to niche-related processes, or stochastic processes. However, it remains unclear the extent to which they contribute to the association among patterns of changes in species composition, (i.e., beta diversity), and whether these changes are related to species nestedness and turnover. Here we described patterns of change in the taxonomic composition of plant and orthopteran assemblages along an elevational gradient in Cordoba province, central Argentina. We assessed cross-taxon congruence and identified the main environmental variables accounting for such patterns. Mantel correlations showed congruence between the patterns of taxonomic dissimilarity of plants and orthopterans. According Generalized disiimilarity models (GDM) the main environmental variables driving the patterns were temperature for both taxa, and changes in soil nutrient content for plants, spatial effects were also found. Beta diversity was mainly due to species turnover for orthopterans and plants, indicating replacement by species adapted to elevational conditions. Niche-related process, such as environmetal filtering, along with neutral processes may have contributed to cross-taxon congruence in beta diversity.

Validation of a Clinical Scale for Early Detection of Infections at the Exit Site of Central Venous Catheters for Hemodialysis.

Introduction: Exit-site infections (ESI) of central venous catheters for hemodialysis (CVC-HD) has been associated with early catheter removal and an increased risk of CVC-HD related bacteremia. No specific clinical scales to predict ESI have previously been validated. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was performed to validate the proposed scale, which is based on the following 5 signs and symptoms: (i) pain at exit site during interdialytic period; (ii) hyperemia or erythema ≥2 cm from exit site; (iii) inflammation, induration, or swelling at exit site; (iv) fever ≥38 °C not attributable to other causes, and (v) obvious abscess or purulent exudate at the exit site. Adult patients with a tunneled CVC-HD for at least 1 month after insertion has been included. During each hemodialysis session, the exit site was assessed with the proposed scale by nurses. If any item was present, a pericatheter skin swab culture was collected: positive results were gold standard. The scale was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and logistic regression analysis. For this purpose, the logit function was applied, and the ESI probability calculated, as elogit ESI/1 + elogit ESI. Results: Three hundred thirty-seven CVC-HDs from 310 patients were analyzed, producing 515 cultures (117 infected and 398 healthy). The final version of the scale includes the following 3 signs and symptoms, which present the greatest predictive capacity: (i) pain at exit site during interdialytic period, (ii) hyperemia or erythema ≥2 cm from exit site, and (iii) abscess or purulent exudate at the exit site. The final version generated an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 88.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.2%-91%; P < 0.001), Youden index 0.7557 ≈ 1, sensitivity 80.34% (95% CI: 71.36%-87.71%) and specificity 95.23% (95% CI: 92.73%-97%). Conclusions: The validation shows that the scale has good predictive properties, detecting approximately 90% of ESI with very acceptable validity parameters.

Development of two recombinant vaccines against Clostridioides difficile infection and immunogenicity in pregnant sows and neonatal piglets.

INTRODUCTION: Clostridioides difficile is the main cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in humans and is a major enteropathogen in several animal species. In newborn piglets, colonic lesions caused by C. difficile A and B toxins (TcdA and TcdB, respectively) cause diarrhea and significant production losses. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop two recombinant vaccines from immunogenic C-terminal fragments of TcdA and TcdB and evaluate the immune response in rabbits and in breeding sows. Two vaccines were produced: bivalent (rAB), consisting of recombinant fragments of TcdA and TcdB, and chimeric (rQAB), corresponding to the synthesis of the same fragments in a single protein. Groups of rabbits were inoculated with 10 or 50 µg of proteins adjuvanted with aluminum or 0.85 % sterile saline in a final volume of 1 mL/dose. Anti-TcdA and anti-TcdB IgG antibodies were detected in rabbits and sows immunized with both rAB and rQAB vaccines by ELISA. The vaccinated sows were inoculated intramuscularly with 20 µg/dose using a prime-boost approach. RESULTS: Different antibody titers (p ≤ 0.05) were observed among the vaccinated groups of sows (rAB and rQAB) and control. Additionally, newborn piglets from vaccinated sows were also positive for anti-TcdA and anti-TcdB IgGs, in contrast to control piglets (p ≤ 0.05). Immunization of sows with the rQAB vaccine conferred higher anti-TcdA and anti-TcdB responses in piglets, suggesting the superiority of this compound over rAB. CONCLUSION: The synthesized recombinant proteins were capable of inducing antibody titers against C. difficile toxins A and B in sows, and were passively transferred to piglets through colostrum.

The role of D3-type cyclins is related to cytokinin and the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA in Arabidopsis gynoecium development.

MAIN CONCLUSION: We studied the D3-type cyclin function during gynoecium development in Arabidopsis and how they are related to the hormone cytokinin and the transcription factor SPATULA. Growth throughout the life of plants is sustained by cell division and differentiation processes in meristematic tissues. In Arabidopsis, gynoecium development implies a multiphasic process where the tissues required for pollination, fertilization, and seed development form. The Carpel Margin Meristem (CMM) is a mass of undifferentiated cells that gives rise to the gynoecium internal tissues, such as septum, ovules, placenta, funiculus, transmitting tract, style, and stigma. Different genetic and hormonal factors, including cytokinin, control the CMM function. Cytokinin regulates the cell cycle transitions through the activation of cell cycle regulators as cyclin genes. D3-type cyclins are expressed in proliferative tissues, favoring the mitotic cell cycle over the endoreduplication. Though the role of cytokinin in CMM and gynoecium development is highly studied, its specific role in regulating the cell cycle in this tissue remains unclear. Additionally, despite extensive research on the relationship between CYCD3 genes and cytokinin, the regulatory mechanism that connects them remains elusive. Here, we found that D3-type cyclins are expressed in proliferative medial and lateral tissues. Conversely, the depletion of the three CYCD3 genes showed that they are not essential for gynoecium development. However, the addition of exogenous cytokinin showed that they could control the division/differentiation balance in gynoecium internal tissues and outgrowths. Finally, we found that SPATULA can be a mechanistic link between cytokinin and the D3-type cyclins. The data suggest that the role of D3-type cyclins in gynoecium development is related to the cytokinin response, and they might be activated by the transcription factor SPATULA.

Analysis of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacilli in wild and exotic healthy birds in Brazil: A warning sign.

Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a public health problem affecting humans and animals. This study focuses on identifying Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) (MALDI-TOF MS and Klebsiella MALDI TypeR) resistant to antimicrobials in freshly emitted feces of healthy captive and rescued wild birds from a zoo in Brazil. Birds from the zoo and rescued from sixteen different orders were investigated. Resistant bacteria from feces were selected (MacConkey agar with 2 µg/mL cefotaxime). Genomic similarity and plasmid were investigated by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis of XbaI fragments (XbaI-PFGE) and S1-PFGE. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed to search for beta-lactamase genes. From 80 birds included, 26 from the zoo (50 %) and 18 rescued wild birds (64 %) presented cefotaxime-resistant GNB. E. coli and Klebsiella spp were the most prevalent species. Among 65 isolates from the zoo and rescued wild birds, 75 % were considered multidrug-resistant (MDR). The majority of the isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing and resistant to enrofloxacin. blaCTX-M-GROUP-1, blaTEM, and blaSHV were the most detected genes, and blaKPC was detected in K. pneumoniae complex. According to genomic similarity results, some identical profiles were found in birds with no known contact among the zoo or rescued birds. Several isolates carried one to three plasmids (15-350 kb). The presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates from healthy captive and wild birds brings novel data on the dissemination of these elements to the environment.

Taxon-dependent diversity response along a temperate elevation gradient covered by grassland.

Elevational gradients constitute excellent systems for understanding the mechanisms that generate and maintain global biodiversity patterns. Climatic gradients associated with elevation show strong influence on species distribution in mountains. The study of mountains covered by the same habitat type is an ideal scenario to compare alternatives to the energy hypotheses. Our aim was to investigate how changes in climatic conditions along the elevational gradient drive α- and ß-diversity of four taxa in a mountain system located within a grassland biome. We sampled ants, spiders, birds and plants, and measured climatic variables at six elevational bands (with 10 sampling sites each) established between 470 and 1,000 masl on a mountain from the Ventania Mountain System, Argentina. Species richness per site and ß-diversity (turnover and nestedness) between the lowest band and upper sites were estimated. For most taxa, species richness declined at high elevations and energy, through temperature, was the major driver of species richness for ants, plants and birds, prevailing over productivity and water availability. The major ß-diversity component was turnover for plants, spiders and birds, and nestedness for ants. The unique environmental conditions of the upper bands could favour the occurrence of specialist and endemic species.

Characterization of the plasma proteome from healthy adult dogs.

Introduction: Bloodwork is a widely used diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine, as diagnosis and therapeutic interventions often rely on blood biomarkers. However, biomarkers available in veterinary medicine often lack sensitivity or specificity. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology has been extensively used in the analysis of biological fluids. It offers excellent potential for a more comprehensive characterization of the plasma proteome in veterinary medicine. Methods: In this study, we aimed to identify and quantify plasma proteins in a cohort of healthy dogs and compare two techniques for depleting high-abundance plasma proteins to enable the detection of lower-abundance proteins via label-free quantification liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We utilized surplus lithium-heparin plasma from 30 healthy dogs, subdivided into five groups of pooled plasma from 6 randomly selected individuals each. Firstly, we used a commercial kit to deplete high-abundance plasma proteins. Secondly, we employed an in-house method to remove albumin using Blue-Sepharose. Results and discussion: Among all the samples, some of the most abundant proteins identified were apolipoprotein A and B, albumin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, fibrinogen beta chain, fibronectin, complement C3, serotransferrin, and coagulation factor V. However, neither of the depletion techniques achieved significant depletion of highly abundant proteins. Despite this limitation, we could detect and quantify many clinically relevant proteins. Determining the healthy canine proteome is a crucial first step in establishing a reference proteome for canine plasma. After enrichment, this reference proteome can later be utilized to identify protein markers associated with different diseases, thereby contributing to the diagnosis and prognosis of various pathologies.

Bioprospecting of Artemisia genus: from artemisinin to other potentially bioactive compounds.

Species from genus Artemisia are widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and many cultures have a long-standing traditional use of these plants as herbal remedies, liquors, cosmetics, spices, etc. Nowadays, the discovery of new plant-derived products to be used as food supplements or drugs has been pushed by the exploitation of bioprospection approaches. Often driven by the knowledge derived from the ethnobotanical use of plants, bioprospection explores the existing biodiversity through integration of modern omics techniques with targeted bioactivity assays. In this work we set up a bioprospection plan to investigate the phytochemical diversity and the potential bioactivity of five Artemisia species with recognized ethnobotanical tradition (A. absinthium, A. alba, A. annua, A. verlotiorum and A. vulgaris), growing wild in the natural areas of the Verona province. We characterized the specialized metabolomes of the species (including sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway) through an LC-MS based untargeted approach and, in order to identify potential bioactive metabolites, we correlated their composition with the in vitro antioxidant activity. We propose as potential bioactive compounds several isomers of caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic acid esters (e.g. dicaffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids), which strongly characterize the most antioxidant species A. verlotiorum and A. annua. Morevoer, in this study we report for the first time the occurrence of sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway in the species A. alba.

Plasma proteome signature of canine acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS).

Acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea is a common complaint in dogs. In addition to causes like intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, intestinal foreign bodies, canine parvovirus infection, or hypoadrenocorticism, acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS) is an important and sometimes life-threatening differential diagnosis. There is some evidence supporting the link between Clostridium perfringens toxins and AHDS. These toxins may be partially responsible for the epithelial cell injury, but the pathogenesis of AHDS is still not fully understood. Recent studies have suggested that severe damage to the intestinal mucosa and associated barrier dysfunction can trigger chronic gastrointestinal illnesses. Besides bloodwork and classical markers for AHDS such as protein loss and intestinal bacterial dysbiosis, we focused mainly on the plasma-proteome to identify systemic pathological alterations during this disease and searched for potential biomarkers to improve the diagnosis. To accomplish the goals, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We compared the proteomic profiles of 20 dogs with AHDS to 20 age-, breed-, and sex-matched control dogs. All dogs were examined, and several blood work parameters were determined and compared, including plasma biochemistry and cell counts. We identified and quantified (relative quantification) 207 plasmatic proteins, from which dozens showed significantly altered levels in AHDS. Serpina3, Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, several Ig-like domain-containing proteins, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and Serum amyloid A were more abundant in plasma from AHDS affected dogs. In contrast, other proteins such as Paraoxonase, Selenoprotein, Amine oxidases, and Apolipoprotein C-IV were significantly less abundant. Many of the identified and quantified proteins are known to be associated with inflammation. Other proteins like Serpina3 and RPLP1 have a relevant role in oncogenesis. Some proteins and their roles have not yet been described in dogs with diarrhoea. Our study opens new avenues that could contribute to the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of AHDS.

In vitro micropropagation and tiliroside production in Paratecoma peroba (Record) Kuhlm, an endemic and endangered Brazilian tree.

In vitro tissue culture can be an alternative method for endangered species propagation, biodiversity conservation and secondary metabolite studies. Paratecoma peroba (Record) Kuhlm. (Bignoniaceae) is an endemic and endangered Brazilian species. This work aimed to establish in vitro morphogenesis and callus induction and to perform a phytochemical analysis of P. peroba callus extract. Higher seed germination (43%) was obtained in Wood Plant Medium culture without activated charcoal (AC). Combination of 5 µM benzyladenine + 10 µM gibberellic acid, without AC, resulted in a higher number of shoots (2 shoots/explant). A callus culture was stabilised from zygotic embryos using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. A callus methanolic extract was used for phytochemical analysis. The isolated substance was identified as tiliroside (kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-(6''-O-E-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside) by NMR and quantified in callus and leaf extracts by HPLC. This study adds to the chemical knowledge of this species and it is the first report of a flavonol in Paratecoma.

Integrating the autoimmune connective tissue diseases for the medical student: A classification proposal based on pathogenesis and clinical phenotype.

It is hard for medical students to recognize and understand the clinical presentation of systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTDs). In this study, we aimed to review the immune mechanisms of the main SCTDs and to propose a classification system focused on the student and based on each immune dysfunction's clinical phenotype. The search involved the MEDLINE database and included the terms "systemic lupus erythematosus," "antiphospholipid syndrome," "inflammatory myopathies," "rheumatoid arthritis," "Sjögren's syndrome" or "systemic sclerosis" and "pathogenesis," and "immunology" or "mechanism of disease." Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic immune-complex disease with a tendency toward vascular injury. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a diffuse immune-mediated thrombotic vasculopathy. In inflammatory myopathies (IMs), muscle inflammation leading to muscle weakness is the cardinal manifestation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a unique form of erosive and destructive polyarthritis. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) causes sicca symptoms due to infiltration of the exocrine glands. Disseminated fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is caused by vascular injury with excessive fibroblast activation. After the review, we created a focus group involving all the authors to group the diseases according to their pathogenesis and clinical phenotype. Our group agreed that SCTDs can be divided in 3 groups based on the preferential clinical presentation and immune dysfunction: 1) vasculopathic features (SLE and APS), 2) tissue inflammation (IMs, RA, and SS), and 3) tissue fibrosis (SSc). In synthesis, we suggest that clustering SCTDs in groups based on clinical phenotype and presumptive immune dysfunction instead of ordering autoantibodies randomly can help students understand the diseases.

COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV: Peering through the waves.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients infected with HIV, and to compare with a paired sample without HIV infection. METHODS: This is a substudy of a Brazilian multicentric cohort that comprised two periods (2020 and 2021). Data was obtained through the retrospective review of medical records. Primary outcomes were admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death. Patients with HIV and controls were matched for age, sex, number of comorbidities, and hospital of origin using the technique of propensity score matching (up to 4:1). They were compared using the Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon for numerical variables. RESULTS: Throughout the study, 17,101 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and 130 (0.76%) of those were infected with HIV. The median age was 54 (IQR: 43.0;64.0) years in 2020 and 53 (IQR: 46.0;63.5) years in 2021, with a predominance of females in both periods. People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their controls showed similar prevalence for admission to the ICU and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in the two periods, with no significant differences. In 2020, in-hospital mortality was higher in the PLHIV compared to the controls (27.9% vs. 17.7%; p = 0.049), but there was no difference in mortality between groups in 2021 (25.0% vs. 25.1%; p > 0.999). CONCLUSIONS: Our results reiterate that PLHIV were at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality in the early stages of the pandemic, however, this finding did not sustain in 2021, when the mortality rate is similar to the control group.

Pseudoaneurysm Infection Ballooning Out of Control Following Sequential Cardiac Catheterizations: A Case Report.

A femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (PSA) is a potential complication of vascular access procedures, such as cardiac catheterizations, that can have serious consequences if left untreated. Although the incidence of PSA formation has decreased due to the advent of improved surgical techniques, this case demonstrates that such complications should be considered in a clinical setting. This report presents a case of right femoral PSA, pacemaker infection, and high-grade methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia status post multiple cardiac catheterizations. Treatment included open repair of his femoral artery PSA, antibiotics tailored to culture sensitivities, and pacemaker removal. The potential complications, diagnosis, management, and alternative treatment options for PSAs are discussed in order to encourage clinical awareness of a rare complication.

Randomized, controlled clinical trial of the DIALIVE liver dialysis device versus standard of care in patients with acute-on- chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by severe systemic inflammation, multi-organ failure and high mortality rates. Its treatment is an urgent unmet need. DIALIVE is a novel liver dialysis device that aims to exchange dysfunctional albumin and remove damage- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. This first-in-man randomized-controlled trial was performed with the primary aim of assessing the safety of DIALIVE in patients with ACLF, with secondary aims of evaluating its clinical effects, device performance and effect on pathophysiologically relevant biomarkers. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with alcohol-related ACLF were included. Patients were treated with DIALIVE for up to 5 days and end points were assessed at Day 10. Safety was assessed in all patients (n = 32). The secondary aims were assessed in a pre-specified subgroup that had at least three treatment sessions with DIALIVE (n = 30). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in 28-day mortality or occurrence of serious adverse events between the groups. Significant reduction in the severity of endotoxemia and improvement in albumin function was observed in the DIALIVE group, which translated into a significant reduction in the CLIF-C (Chronic Liver Failure consortium) organ failure (p = 0.018) and CLIF-C ACLF scores (p = 0.042) at Day 10. Time to resolution of ACLF was significantly faster in DIALIVE group (p = 0.036). Biomarkers of systemic inflammation such as IL-8 (p = 0.006), cell death [cytokeratin-18: M30 (p = 0.005) and M65 (p = 0.029)], endothelial function [asymmetric dimethylarginine (p = 0.002)] and, ligands for Toll-like receptor 4 (p = 0.030) and inflammasome (p = 0.002) improved significantly in the DIALIVE group. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that DIALIVE appears to be safe and impacts positively on prognostic scores and pathophysiologically relevant biomarkers in patients with ACLF. Larger, adequately powered studies are warranted to further confirm its safety and efficacy. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: This is the first-in-man clinical trial which tested DIALIVE, a novel liver dialysis device for the treatment of cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure, a condition associated with severe inflammation, organ failures and a high risk of death. The study met the primary endpoint, confirming the safety of the DIALIVE system. Additionally, DIALIVE reduced inflammation and improved clinical parameters. However, it did not reduce mortality in this small study and further larger clinical trials are required to re-confirm its safety and to evaluate efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT03065699.

Odontologia minimamente invasiva em atenção primária à saúde: integração ensino-serviço / Odontología mínimamente invasiva en la atención primaria de salud: integración enseñanza-servicio / Minimally invasive dentistry in primary health care: education-service integration

O objetivo do presente estudo foi apresentar um relato de experiência com utilização de Odontologia Minimamente Invasiva em intervenção, tratamento e prevenção de cárie em crianças de escola pública por meio da integração de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior com o sistema público de saúde e comunidade. Para tal ação, a intervenção foi dividida em: Fase 1 -aplicação funcional das diretrizes de atendimento odontológico seguindo o Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (ART) e Fase 2 -análise crítica da efetividade das ações da fase 1, para potencial reprodução sob contexto de retomada das atividades escolares presenciais. Na Fase 1, graduandos do último período de Odontologia de uma universidade estadual realizaram o levantamento clínico e atendimento com a técnica do ART em 275 pacientes provenientes de uma escola da rede pública municipal de ensino fundamental, em escolares na faixa etária de 6 a 15 anos de idade. A partir da Fase 2 (Análise crítica de efetividade de ações) foi possível reconhecer, por meio de uma análise descritiva das experiências vivenciadas e da avaliação do resultado do primeiro controle realizado dois meses após realização ART, que essa atividade foi efetivamente um modelo desucesso na integração ensino-serviço, capaz de exemplificar uma experiência potencialmente significativa para emprego em contextos de retomada das atividades escolares presenciais, minimizando os problemas gerados pelo distanciamento social e interrupção temporária das consultas eletivas em Odontologia. A integração ensino-serviço com a ação realizada promoveu a qualidade de vida e redução da vulnerabilidade e riscos à saúde bucal (AU).

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo presentar un relato de experiencia con el uso de la Odontología Mínimamente Invasiva en la intervención, tratamiento y prevención de caries en escolares públicos a través de la integración de una Institución de Educación Superior con el sistema de salud pública y la comunidad. Para esta acción, la intervención se dividió en: Fase 1 -aplicación funcional de las pautas de atención dental siguiendo el Tratamiento Restaurador Atraumático (TRA) y Fase 2 -análisis crítico de la efectividad de las acciones de la fase 1, para la reproducción potencial en el contexto de reanudación de actividades escolares presenciales. En la Fase 1, estudiantes del último período de Odontología de una universidad estatal realizaron la encuesta clínica y atención con la técnica de TRA en 275 pacientes deuna escuela de la red de escuelas primarias públicas municipales, en estudiantes de 6 a 15 años. A partir de la Fase 2 (Análisis crítico de la efectividad de las acciones) se pudo reconocer, mediante un análisis descriptivo de las experiencias vividas y la evaluación del resultado del primer control realizado dos meses después de la realización de la TAR, que esta actividad fue efectivamente un modelo de éxito en la integración enseñanza-servicio, capaz de ejemplificar una experiencia potencialmente significativa para su uso en contextos de reanudación de actividades escolares presenciales, minimizando los problemas generados por el distanciamiento social y la interrupción temporal de las consultas electivas en Odontología. La integración enseñanza-serviciocon la acción realizada promovió la calidad de vida y redujo la vulnerabilidad y los riesgos para la salud bucal (AU).

The aims of this study were to present an experience case report on the use of Minimally Invasive Dentistry in the intervention, treatment, and prevention of dental cavities in children attending public schools through the integration of a Higher Education Institution along with the Brazilian public health system known as Unified Health System, and the community. For this action, the intervention was dividedinto: Phase 1 -application of the dental care guidelines following the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) and Phase 2 -critical analysis of the effectiveness of phase 1 actions, for potential reproduction under the context of resumption of face-to-face school activities after COVID-19 pandemic. During Phase 1, last period undergraduates of Dentistry from a state university carried out a clinical survey with the ART technique in 275 patients from a public municipal elementary school, in schoolchildrenaged 6 to 15 years old. Based on Phase 2 findings, it was possible to recognize, through a descriptive analysis of the experiences lived and the evaluation of the first follow-up, carried out two months after performing ART, that this initiative was highly successful. It served as a valuable model in the context of resuming face-to-face school activities, mitigating the challenges caused by social distancing measures and the temporary suspension of elective dental appointments due to the pandemic. The education-service integration with the implemented action promoted a better quality of life and reduced vulnerability and risks to oral health (AU).

Unwilling or unable? Using three-dimensional tracking to evaluate dogs' reactions to differing human intentions.

The extent to which dogs (Canis familiaris) as a domesticated species understand human intentions is still a matter of debate. The unwilling-unable paradigm has been developed to examine whether nonhuman animals are sensitive to intentions underlying human actions. In this paradigm, subjects tended to wait longer in the testing area when presented with a human that appeared willing but unable to transfer food to them compared to an unwilling (teasing) human. In the present study, we conducted the unwilling-unable paradigm with dogs using a detailed behavioural analysis based on machine-learning driven three-dimensional tracking. Throughout two preregistered experiments, we found evidence, in line with our prediction, that dogs reacted more impatiently to actions signalling unwillingness to transfer food rather than inability. These differences were consistent through two different samples of pet dogs (total n = 96) and they were evident also in the machine-learning generated three-dimensional tracking data. Our results therefore provide robust evidence that dogs distinguish between similar actions (leading to the same outcome) associated with different intentions. However, their reactions did not lead to any measurable preference for one experimenter over the other in a subsequent transfer phase. We discuss different cognitive mechanisms that might underlie dogs' performance in this paradigm.

Problematizações éticas, estéticas e políticas à branquitude como categoria de análise para psicologia social / Problematizaciones éticas, estéticas y políticas de la blanquitud como categoría de análisis para la psicología social / Ethical, aesthetic and political problematizations regarding whiteness as a category of analysis for social psychology

Resumo Desafiadas a pensar como a branquitude se coloca como categoria de análise para a psicologia social, duas pesquisadoras brancas tomam como pergunta disparadora de pesquisa: De que forma a branquitude se constitui como modo de subjetivação? A fim deslocar quaisquer supostas neutralidade e universalidade, ainda presentes no campo da psicologia social, o objetivo do estudo foi o de produzir efeitos de visibilidade nos processos de subjetivação racistas contemporâneos. O percurso cartográfico foi movimentado pelo recurso à produção de narrativas poéticas, a partir de vivências desde um lugar racializado das pesquisadoras. Esta estratégia metodológica buscou problematizar a branquitude engendrada às tecnologias de subjetivação. Ao final, o estudo destaca a universalidade, a invisibilidade e os pactos narcísicos entre as dimensões do racismo, que sinalizam a urgência de refletirmos acerca destas posições para a invenção de práticas antirracistas a comporem o porvir da psicologia.

Resumen Desafiado a pensar sobre cómo la blanquitud es una categoría de análisis para la psicología social, un par de investigadoras blancas formulan la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿Cómo se constituye la blanquitud como modo de subjetivación? Para desplazar cualquier supuesta neutralidad y universalidad, aún presente en el campo de la psicología social, el objetivo del estudio fue producir efectos de visibilidad en los procesos de subjetivación racistas contemporáneos. El recorrido cartográfico fue impulsado por el uso de la producción de narrativas poéticas, basadas en las experiencias de los investigadores desde un lugar racializado. Esta estrategia metodológica buscó problematizar la blanquitud engendrada por las tecnologías de subjetivación. Al final, el estudio destaca la universalidad, la invisibilidad y los pactos narcisistas entre las dimensiones del racismo, que señalan la urgencia de reflexionar sobre estas posiciones para la invención de prácticas antirracistas que formen el futuro de la psicología.

Abstract Challenged to think about how whiteness is a category of analysis for social psychology, two white researchers take the following research question as the trigger: How whiteness is constituted as a mode of subjectivation? In order to displace any supposed neutrality and universality, still present in the field of social psychology, the aim of the study was to produce visibility effects in contemporary racist subjectivation processes. The cartographic journey was driven by the use of the production of poetic narratives, based on the researchers' experiences from a racialized place. This methodological strategy sought to problematize the whiteness engendered by subjectivation technologies. In the end, the study highlights the universality, invisibility, and narcissistic pacts between the dimensions of racism, which signal the urgency of reflecting on these positions for the invention of anti-racist practices to form the future of psychology.

COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV: Peering through the waves

Abstract Objective To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients infected with HIV, and to compare with a paired sample without HIV infection. Methods This is a substudy of a Brazilian multicentric cohort that comprised two periods (2020 and 2021). Data was obtained through the retrospective review of medical records. Primary outcomes were admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death. Patients with HIV and controls were matched for age, sex, number of comorbidities, and hospital of origin using the technique of propensity score matching (up to 4:1). They were compared using the Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon for numerical variables. Results Throughout the study, 17,101 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and 130 (0.76%) of those were infected with HIV. The median age was 54 (IQR: 43.0;64.0) years in 2020 and 53 (IQR: 46.0;63.5) years in 2021, with a predominance of females in both periods. People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their controls showed similar prevalence for admission to the ICU and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in the two periods, with no significant differences. In 2020, in-hospital mortality was higher in the PLHIV compared to the controls (27.9% vs. 17.7%; p = 0.049), but there was no difference in mortality between groups in 2021 (25.0% vs. 25.1%; p > 0.999). Conclusions Our results reiterate that PLHIV were at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality in the early stages of the pandemic, however, this finding did not sustain in 2021, when the mortality rate is similar to the control group.