The care of non-institutionalized ADL-dependent people in the Orcasitas neighborhood of Madrid (Spain) during the Covid-19 pandemic and its relationship with social inequalities, intergenerational dependency and survival.

Background: Mortality among people with dependency to perform basic activities of daily living (ADL) is higher than that of non-dependent people of the same age. Understanding the evolutionary course and factors involved in non-institutionalized ADL dependency, including the influence of the family structure that supports this population, would contribute to improved health planning. Methods: A longitudinal study carried out in the ADL-dependent population of the Orcasitas neighborhood, Madrid (Spain), between June 2020, when the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown ended, and June 2023. A total of 127 patients participated in the study, 78.7% of whom were women and 21.3% were men. Risk analysis was performed via odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR). Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression. Results: A total of 54.33% of the ADL-dependent persons did not live with their adult children and 45.67% did, being associated living independently with economic capacity and the married marital status but not with the dependency level. In women, being married increased the probability of living independently of their adult children (OR = 12.632; 95% CI = 3.312-48.178). Loss of mobility (OR = 0.398; 95% CI = 0.186-0.853), economic capacity of the dependent (HR = 0.596; 95% CI = 0.459-0.774), and living independently and having better economic capacity (HR = 0.471; 95% CI = 0.234-0.935) were associated with 3-year survival. Those who lived with their adult children had a worse autonomy profile and higher mortality (HR = 1.473; 95% CI = 1.072-2.024). Not being employed, not being married, and not owning a home were significantly associated with being an essential family caregiver. Caregivers were mostly women (OR = 1.794; 95% CI = 1.011-3.182). Conclusion: Among ADL-dependent persons, economic capacity influenced the ability to living independently and affected survival after 3 years. Loss of mobility (wheelchair use) was a predictor of mortality. Social inequalities promote that adult children end up as essential family caregivers. This generates reverse dependency and maintains a vulnerability that is transmitted from generation to generation, perpetuating social and gender inequalities. Dependent parent care in this cohort maintained an archaic pattern in which the eldest daughter cared for her parents. This study made it possible to show that ADL dependence is accompanied by complex interrelationships that must be considered in socio-health planning.

Towards integrated cross-sectoral surveillance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance: Needs, approaches, and considerations for linking surveillance to action.

Pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) microorganisms are continually transmitted between human, animal, and environmental reservoirs, contributing to the high burden of infectious disease and driving the growing global AMR crisis. The sheer diversity of pathogens, AMR mechanisms, and transmission pathways connecting these reservoirs create the need for comprehensive cross-sectoral surveillance to effectively monitor risks. Current approaches are often siloed by discipline and sector, focusing independently on parts of the whole. Here we advocate that integrated surveillance approaches, developed through transdisciplinary cross-sector collaboration, are key to addressing the dual crises of infectious diseases and AMR. We first review the areas of need, challenges, and benefits of cross-sectoral surveillance, then summarise and evaluate the major detection methods already available to achieve this (culture, quantitative PCR, and metagenomic sequencing). Finally, we outline how cross-sectoral surveillance initiatives can be fostered at multiple scales of action, and present key considerations for implementation and the development of effective systems to manage and integrate this information for the benefit of multiple sectors. While methods and technologies are increasingly available and affordable for comprehensive pathogen and AMR surveillance across different reservoirs, it is imperative that systems are strengthened to effectively manage and integrate this information.

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) of Penaeus vannamei and effect of phenanthrene on Prx6 and glutathione peroxidase 4 expression, glutathione-dependent peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as phenanthrene (PHE), are common pollutants found in coastal areas where shrimp farming is developed. Even though PAHs can have adverse effects on physiology, shrimp can detoxify and metabolize toxic compounds and neutralize the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during this process. This requires the activation of multiple antioxidant enzymes, including peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6). Prx6 uses glutathione (GSH) to reduce phospholipid hydroperoxides, a function shared with GSH peroxidase 4 (GPx4). Prx6 has been scarcely studied in crustaceans exposed to pollutants. Herein, we report a novel Prx6 from the shrimp Penaeus vannamei that is abundantly expressed in gills and hepatopancreas. To elucidate the involvement of Prx6 in response to PAHs, we analyzed its expression in the hepatopancreas of shrimp sub-lethally exposed to PHE (3.3 µg/L) and acetone (control) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, along with GPx4 expression, GSH-dependent peroxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation (indicated by TBARS). We found that GPx4 expression is not affected by PHE, but Prx6 expression and peroxidase activity decreased during the trial. This might contribute to the rise of TBARS found at 48 h of exposure. However, maintaining GPx4 expression could aid to minimize lipid damage during longer periods of exposure to PHE.

A framework for modeling the impacts of adaptive search intensity on the efficiency of abundance surveys.

When planning abundance surveys, the impact of search intensity on the quality of the density estimates is rarely considered. We constructed a time-budget modeling framework for abundance surveys using principles from optimal foraging theory. We link search intensity to the number of sample units surveyed, searcher detection probability, the number of detections made, and the precision of the estimated population density. This framework allowed us to determine how a searcher should behave to produce optimized density estimates. Using data collected from quadrat and removal surveys of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in central Minnesota, we applied this framework to evaluate potential improvements. We found that by tuning searcher behavior, density estimates from removal surveys of zebra mussels could be improved by up to 60% in some cases, without changing the overall survey time. Our framework also predicts a critical population density where the best survey method switches from removal surveys at low densities to quadrat surveys at high densities, consistent with past empirical work. In addition, we provide simulation tools to apply this form of analysis to a number of other commonly used survey designs. Our results provide insights into how to improve the performance of many survey methods in high-density environments by either tuning searcher behavior or decoupling the estimation of population density and detection probability.

Systematic loss-of-function screens identify pathway-specific functional circular RNAs.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is covalently closed, single-stranded RNA produced by back-splicing. A few circRNAs have been implicated as functional; however, we lack understanding of pathways that are regulated by circRNAs. Here we generated a pooled short-hairpin RNA library targeting the back-splice junction of 3,354 human circRNAs that are expressed at different levels (ranging from low to high) in humans. We used this library for loss-of-function proliferation screens in a panel of 18 cancer cell lines from four tissue types harbouring mutations leading to constitutive activity of defined pathways. Both context-specific and non-specific circRNAs were identified. Some circRNAs were found to directly regulate their precursor, whereas some have a function unrelated to their precursor. We validated these observations with a secondary screen and uncovered a role for circRERE(4-10) and circHUWE1(22,23), two cell-essential circRNAs, circSMAD2(2-6), a WNT pathway regulator, and circMTO1(2,RI,3), a regulator of MAPK signalling. Our work sheds light on pathways regulated by circRNAs and provides a catalogue of circRNAs with a measurable function.

Risk for progression to type 1 diabetes in first-degree relatives under 50 years of age.

Introduction: The detection of pancreatic autoantibodies in first-degree relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is considered a risk factor for disease. Novel available immunotherapies to delay T1D progression highlight the importance of identifying individuals at risk who might benefit from emerging treatments. The objective was to assess the autoimmunity in first-degree relatives of patients with T1D, estimate the time from autoimmunity detection to the onset of clinical diabetes, and identify the associated risk factors. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study of 3,015 first-degree relatives of patients with T1D recruited between 1992 and 2018. Pancreatic autoantibodies (IAA, GADA, IA2A, and ZnT8A) were determined by radioimmunoassay, starting the analyses at diagnosis of the proband. All those with positive autoimmunity and normal fasting blood glucose without clinical symptoms of diabetes were followed up in the study. The progression rate to T1D was assessed according to sex, relationship with the proband, age at autoimmunity detection, type/number of autoantibodies, and HLA-DRB1 genotype. Cox proportional-hazard models and Kaplan-Meier survival plots were used for statistical analyses. Results: Among the relatives, 21 progenitors [43.7 years (IQR: 38.1-47.7)] and 27 siblings [7.6 years (IQR: 5.8-16.1)] had positive autoantibodies. Of these, 54.2% (95% CI: 39.2%-68.6%) developed T1D (age at autoimmunity detection 11 months to 39 years) in a median of 5 years (IQR: 3.6-8.7; ranged from 0.9 to 22.6 years). Risk factors associated with faster progression to T1D were multiple autoimmunity and <20 years at autoimmunity detection. Younger relatives (<20 years) with multiple autoantibodies had a 5-year cumulative risk of developing diabetes of 52.9% (95% CI: 22.1%-71.6%) and a 20-year risk of 91.2% (95% CI: 50.5%-98.4%). The 20-year risk decreased to 59.9% (95% CI: 21.9%-79.5%) if only one risk factor was met and to 35.7% (95% CI: 0.0%-66.2%) if the relative was older than 20 years with one autoantibody. Conclusions: In first-degree relatives with autoimmunity, the time to progression to T1D is faster in children and adolescents with multiple autoantibodies. Young adults are also at risk, which supports their consideration in screening strategies for people at risk of developing T1D.

"I have not been doing it because of my fear of something happening." Exploring perspectives on healthy dietary behaviors and physical activity in Mexican pregnant women and health care professionals: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Mexico exhibits one of the highest prevalence rates of overweight and obesity globally, accompanied by a surge in non-communicable diseases, which in turn leads to elevated mortality rates. Existing efforts to address rising obesity rates have shown limited effectiveness. Maternal weight, diet, and physical activity (PA) during pregnancy affect the mother's and offspring's health. Despite the importance of establishing and engaging in healthy behaviors during pregnancy, little is known about which factors impact these behaviors among pregnant women in Mexico. This study explored perspectives on factors impacting healthy dietary behaviors and PA in pregnancy from pregnant women and health care professionals in Mexico. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with 11 pregnant women and 12 health care professionals working in prenatal care. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis in a stepwise inductive approach. RESULTS: Classifying factors at the 1) individual level, 2) relational level, and 3) health care system level, three overall themes emerged. At the individual level, challenges with lack of time and competing priorities as well as knowledge of healthy dietary behaviors and PA were identified. At the relational level, influencing factors encompassed financial, social, and emotional support along with descriptive norms. At the health care system level, guidelines for PA during pregnancy and the quality of care were noted. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified factors impacting healthy dietary behaviors and PA in pregnancy in Mexico. Important considerations for future interventions include addressing sociocultural norms around healthy dietary behaviors and PA in pregnancy and involving pregnant women's families, closest social networks, and health care professionals working at the prenatal care unit.

A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studies on Gastric Cancer Screening.

Gastric cancer (GC) poses notable economic and health burdens in settings where the incidence of disease is prevalent. Some countries have established early screening and treatment programs to address these challenges. The objectives of this systematic review were to summarize the cost-effectiveness of gastric cancer screening presented in the literature and to identify the critical factors that influence the cost-effectiveness of screening. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Economic evaluation studies of gastric cancer screening were reviewed from SCOPUS and PubMed. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 (CHEERS 2022) was used to assess the quality of reporting presented in the selected articles. Only primary economic evaluation studies addressing the cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit of gastric cancer screening were selected. Two reviewers scrutinized the selected articles (title, abstract, and full text) to determine suitability for the systematic review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Authors' consensus was relied on where disagreements arose. The main outcome measures of concern in the systematic review were cost, effectiveness (as measured by either quality-adjusted life years (QALY) or life-years saved (LYS)), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of screening versus either no screening or an alternative screening method. Thirty-one studies were selected for the final review. These studies investigated the cost-effectiveness of GC screening based on either primary, secondary, or a combination of primary and secondary interventions. The main primary intervention was Helicobacter pylori (Hp) screening with eradication, while the main secondary intervention was endoscopic screening. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated against no screening or screening using an alternative method in both observational and model-based studies. Screening was mainly cost-effective in Asian countries or their diasporas where the prevalence of GC was high. GC screening was generally not cost-effective among Western countries. GC screening can be cost-effective, but cost-effectiveness is dependent on context-specific factors, including geographical location, the prevalence of GC in the local population, and the screening tool adopted. However, there is benefit in targeting high-risk population groups in Asian countries and their diaspora for GC screening.

The influence of nationwide COVID-19 lockdown on the functional impairment and long-term survival of dependent people for carrying out basic activities of daily living in a neighborhood of the city of Madrid, Spain: Orcasitas Cohort Longitudinal Study.

Background: Prolonged confinement can lead to personal deterioration at various levels. We studied this phenomenon during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in a functionally dependent population of the Orcasitas neighborhood of Madrid, Spain, by measuring their ability to perform basic activities of daily living and their mortality rate. Methods: A total of 127 patients were included in the Orcasitas cohort. Of this cohort, 78.7% were female, 21.3% were male, and their mean age was 86 years. All participants had a Barthel index of ≤ 60. Changes from pre- to post-confinement and 3 years afterward were analyzed, and the effect of these changes on survival was assessed (2020-2023). Results: The post-confinement functional assessment showed significant improvement in independence over pre-confinement for both the Barthel score (t = -5.823; p < 0.001) and the classification level (z = -2.988; p < 0.003). This improvement progressively disappeared in the following 3 years, and 40.9% of the patients in this cohort died during this period. These outcomes were associated with the Barthel index (z = -3.646; p < 0.001) and the level of dependence (hazard ratio 2.227; CI 1.514-3.276). Higher mortality was observed among men (HR 1.745; CI 1.045-2.915) and those with severe dependence (HR 2.169; CI 1.469-3.201). Setting the cutoff point of the Barthel index at 40 provided the best detection of the risk of death associated with dependence. Conclusions: Home confinement and the risk of death due to the COVID-19 pandemic awakened a form of resilience in the face of adversity among the population of functionally dependent adults. The Barthel index is a good predictor of medium- and long-term mortality and is a useful method for detecting populations at risk in health planning. A cutoff score of 40 is useful for this purpose. To a certain extent, the non-institutionalized dependent population is an invisible population. Future studies should analyze the causes of the high mortality observed.

Differential dietary intake and contribution of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy according to nutritional status.

Introduction: Frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) during pregnancy is linked to excess intake of added sugar, fat, and sodium and inadequacy of several micronutrients. Diet quality during pregnancy should be maximized as inadequate levels of key nutrients and excessive intake of energy and added sugar might influence mother-child health. We aimed to estimate the contribution (% of total calories) of ultra-processed products to the total energy intake by pre-gestational body mass index (BMI) categories and Hb status during pregnancy in participants from the MAS-Lactancia Cohort. Methods: Pre-gestational weight, hemoglobin levels, 24-h dietary intake recall interviews, and sociodemographic data were collected during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Reported consumed foods were categorized using the NOVA classification, and the contribution of calories from each NOVA category was estimated using the Mexican Food Database. We estimated medians and interquartile ranges (p25 and p75) for dietary intake and energy contributions. The comparison of intake between the second and third trimesters was done using the Wilcoxon test. In addition, a quantile regression model with an interaction between pre-gestational BMI and Hb levels status in tertiles over the percentage of energy from UPFs was adjusted by age and socioeconomic status. Results: The contribution to total energy intake from UPFs was 27.4% in the second trimester and 27% in the third trimester (with no statistical difference). The percentage of energy intake from UPFs was higher in women who started pregnancy with obesity and presented the lowest levels of Hb (1st tertile), 23.1, 35.8, and 44.7% for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively, compared to those with normal BMI and the highest tertile of Hb levels: 18, 29.0, and 38.6% for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, UPF intake in pregnant women is similar to the general population and was higher for those with pre-gestational obesity and the lowest tertile of Hb levels. UPF contributes also to sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, which may adversely affect the health of mothers and their offspring.

Time-course atherogenic blood lipid response to statin discontinuation in dyslipidemic adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Half of dyslipidemic patients sometimes discontinue statin medication. It is unclear if blood atherogenic risk increases right after statin discontinuation or if there is a lingering protective effect. We sought to determine if a legacy effect prevented blood lipid increases during the first stages of statin cessation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Atherogenic blood lipid profile was measured in 10 overweight (BMI 31 ± 3 kg m-2) middle-aged males (62 ± 7 years old), statin users, while fasted and postprandially. Trials were conducted before (i.e., Day 0) and after 4, 7, 15, and 30 days of statin withdrawal and 20 days after statins reloading (Day 50). Four days after statin discontinuation, blood fasting LDL-c, total cholesterol (CHOL), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations increased by 30%, 18%, and 17%, respectively (P < 0.05). The increases in LDL-c, CHOL, and TG peaked after 7-15 days at 79%, 48%, and 34% of basal levels (P < 0.001), respectively. There were no significant correlations between the increases in blood lipids and the dose or years under statin treatment (P = 0.156-0.575). Twenty days after resuming statins, blood LDL-c (2.79 ± 1.06 vs 2.20 ± 0.50 mmol L-1; P = 0.568), CHOL (4.85 ± 1.41 vs 4.25 ± 0.83 mmol L-1; P = 0.747), and TG (1.47 ± 0.60 vs 1.50 ± 0.68 mmol L-1; P = 0.782), returned to basal levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data does not support a statin lingering/legacy effect in blood lipids since they dangerously increased after only 4 days of statin withdrawal in every patient, regardless of dose and years under treatment. Reloading statins restored blood lipids, evidencing a reproducible biological effect at the whole-body level.

Conservation applications of niche modeling: Native and naturalized ferns may compete for limited Hawaiian dryland habitat.

Premise: Competition from naturalized species and habitat loss are common threats to native biodiversity and may act synergistically to increase competition for decreasing habitat availability. We use Hawaiian dryland ferns as a model for the interactions between land-use change and competition from naturalized species in determining habitat availability. Methods: We used fine-resolution climatic variables and carefully curated occurrence data from herbaria and community science repositories to estimate the distributions of Hawaiian dryland ferns. We quantified the degree to which naturalized ferns tend to occupy areas suitable for native species and mapped the remaining available habitat given land-use change. Results: Of all native species, Doryopteris angelica had the lowest percentage of occurrences of naturalized species in its suitable area while D. decora had the highest. However, all Doryopteris spp. had a higher percentage overlap, while Pellaea ternifolia had a lower percentage overlap, than expected by chance. Doryopteris decora and D. decipiens had the lowest proportions (<20%) of suitable area covering native habitat. Discussion: Areas characterized by shared environmental preferences of native and naturalized ferns may decrease due to human development and fallowed agricultural lands. Our study demonstrates the value of place-based application of a recently developed correlative ecological niche modeling approach for conservation risk assessment in a rapidly changing and urbanized island ecosystem.

Naphthalene and phenanthrene affect differentially two glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) expression, GST activity, and glutathione content in white shrimp P. vannamei.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants ubiquitous in coastal ecosystems. The white shrimp Penaeus vannamei naturally inhabits in coastal areas and is cultivated in farms located nearby the oceans. PAHs can damage shrimp health, endanger natural populations, and lower shrimp aquaculture productivity. However, crustaceans have enzymes capable of metabolizing organic xenobiotics as PAHs and to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during xenobiotics metabolism. An important superfamily of xenobiotic-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes are glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). In white shrimp, some GSTs are known, but they have been scarcely studied in response to PAHs. In this study we report the molecular cloning and bioinformatic characterization of two novel nucleotide sequences corresponding to cytosolic GSTs belonging the Delta and Theta classes (GSTD and GSTT). Both proteins genes have tissue-specific patterns of expression under normal conditions, that do not necessarily relate to GST activity and glutathione content. The expression of the GSTD and GSTT, GST activity and glutathione content was analyzed in juvenile P. vannamei exposed to two PAHs, naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE) in sub-lethal concentrations for 96 h. GSTD expression was up-regulated by the two PAHs, while GSTT expression was only induced by NAP. In contrast, GST activity towards CDNB was only up-regulated by PHE, suggesting differential effects of PAHs at gene and protein level. On the other hand, lower reduced glutathione content (GSH) caused by PAHs indicates its utilization for detoxification or antioxidant defenses. However, the GSH/GSSG did not change by PAHs treatment, indicating that shrimp can maintain redox balance during short-term sub-lethal exposure to NAP and PHE. Despite the variations in the responses to NAP and PHE, all these results suggest that the GSTD and GSTT genes could be useful biomarkers for PAH exposure in P. vannamei.

Impact of imperfect annotations on CNN training and performance for instance segmentation and classification in digital pathology.

Segmentation and classification of large numbers of instances, such as cell nuclei, are crucial tasks in digital pathology for accurate diagnosis. However, the availability of high-quality datasets for deep learning methods is often limited due to the complexity of the annotation process. In this work, we investigate the impact of noisy annotations on the training and performance of a state-of-the-art CNN model for the combined task of detecting, segmenting and classifying nuclei in histopathology images. In this context, we investigate the conditions for determining an appropriate number of training epochs to prevent overfitting to annotation noise during training. Our results indicate that the utilisation of a small, correctly annotated validation set is instrumental in avoiding overfitting and maintaining model performance to a large extent. Additionally, our findings underscore the beneficial role of pre-training.

Biology and life table parameters of Paralobesia viteana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), grown on different grape cultivars.

The grape berry moth, Paralobesia viteana (Clemens), is an important pest of cultivated grapes in eastern North America. Damage is caused directly by larval feeding of grape clusters and indirectly by increasing fruit susceptibility to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Despite the impact of grape berry moth on grapes being widely recognized, there is a lack of understanding of the influence that different grape cultivars may have on grape berry moth development, reproduction, and population dynamics. In this study, we constructed age-stage 2-sex life tables for grape berry moth fed on 5 grape cultivars: Concord, Niagara, Riesling, Chambourcin, and Vidal, to examine the effects of diet on insect population development, survival, reproduction, and demographic parameters such as net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, and mean generation time. Our findings reveal that grape cultivar significantly influenced the neonate wandering period, larval developmental time, adult and female longevity, pupal weight, adult preoviposition period, oviposition period, mean generation time, age-stage-specific life expectancy, and reproductive value of P. viteana. However, diet type did not affect grape berry moth total fecundity or other demographic parameters. The highest female reproductive value was observed at 30-40 days of age, indicating that control tactics implemented during this time frame would have the greatest impact on reducing population increase. This study provides critical information on the effects of different grape cultivars on grape berry moth development, reproduction, and demography. These insights could lead to the development of management strategies that improve pest control and reduce economic losses in vineyards.

Impaired astrocytic synaptic function by peripheral cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol.

Astrocytes represent the most abundant cell type in the brain, where they play critical roles in synaptic transmission, cognition, and behavior. Recent discoveries show astrocytes are involved in synaptic dysfunction during Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD patients have imbalanced cholesterol metabolism, demonstrated by high levels of side-chain oxidized cholesterol known as 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH). Evidence from our laboratory has shown that elevated 27-OH can abolish synaptic connectivity during neuromaturation, but its effect on astrocyte function is currently unclear. Our results suggest that elevated 27-OH decreases the astrocyte function in vivo in Cyp27Tg, a mouse model of brain oxysterol imbalance. Here, we report a downregulation of glutamate transporters in the hippocampus of CYP27Tg mice together with increased GFAP. GLT-1 downregulation was also observed when WT mice were fed with high-cholesterol diets. To study the relationship between astrocytes and neurons, we have developed a 3D co-culture system that allows all the cell types from mice embryos to differentiate in vitro. We report that our 3D co-cultures reproduce the effects of 27-OH observed in 2D neurons and in vivo. Moreover, we found novel degenerative effects in astrocytes that do not appear in 2D cultures, together with the downregulation of glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST. We propose that this transporter dysregulation leads to neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic dysfunction based on the effects of 27-OH on astrocytes. Taken together, these results report a new mechanism linking oxysterol imbalance in the brain and synaptic dysfunction through effects on astrocyte function.

A bout of aerobic exercise in the heat increases carbohydrate use but does not enhance the disposal of an oral glucose load, in healthy active individuals.

We investigated if a bout of exercise in a hot environment (HEAT) would reduce the postprandial hyperglycemia induced by glucose ingestion. The hypothesis was that HEAT stimulating carbohydrate oxidation and glycogen use would increase the disposal of an ingested glucose load [i.e., oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); 75 g of glucose]. Separated by at least 1 wk, nine young healthy individuals underwent three trials after an overnight fast in a randomized order. Two trials included 50 min of pedaling at 58 ± 5% V̇o2max either in a thermoneutral (21 ± 1°C; NEUTRAL) or in a hot environment (33 ± 1°C; HEAT) eliciting similar energy expenditure (503 ± 101 kcal). These two trials were compared with a no-exercise trial (NO EXER). Twenty minutes after exercise (or rest), subjects underwent an OGTT, while carbohydrate oxidation (CHOxid, using indirect calorimetry) plasma blood glucose, insulin concentrations (i.e., [glucose], [insulin]), and double tracer glucose kinetics ([U-13C] glucose ingestion and [6,6-2H2] glucose infusion) were monitored for 120 min. At rest, [glucose], [insulin], and rates of appearance/disappearance of glucose in plasma (glucose Ra/Rd) were similar among trials. During exercise, heart rate, tympanic temperature, [glucose], glycogen oxidation, and total CHOxid were higher during HEAT than NEUTRAL (i.e., 149 ± 35 vs. 124 ± 31 µmol·kg-1·min-1, P = 0.010). However, during the following OGTT, glucose Rd was similar in HEAT and NEUTRAL trials (i.e., 25.1 ± 3.6 vs. 25.2 ± 5.3 µmol·kg-1·min-1, P = 0.981). Insulin sensitivity (i.e., ISIndexMATSUDA) only improved in NEUTRAL compared with NO EXER (10.1 ± 4.6 vs. 8.8 ± 3.7 au; P = 0.044). In summary, stimulating carbohydrate use with exercise in a hot environment does not improve postprandial plasma glucose disposal or insulin sensitivity in a subsequent OGTT.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exercise in the heat increases estimated muscle glycogen use. Reduced muscle glycogen after exercise in the heat could increase insulin-mediated glucose uptake during a subsequent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). However, plasma glucose kinetics are not improved during the OGTT in response to a bout of exercise in the heat, and insulin sensitivity worsens. Heat stress activates glucose counterregulatory hormones whose actions may linger during the OGTT, preventing increased glucose uptake.

Two hexokinases of the shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei are differentially expressed during oxygen limited conditions.

The white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei is the most cultivated shrimp worldwide. Compared to other shrimp species, it has higher resistance to adverse conditions. During hypoxia, the shrimp reduces oxygen consumption and adjusts energy metabolism via anaerobic glycolysis, among other strategies. Hexokinase (HK) is the first enzyme of glycolysis and a key regulation point. In mammals and other vertebrates, there are several tissue-specific HK isoforms with differences in expression and enzyme activity. In contrast, crustacean HKs have been relatively little studied. We studied the P. vannamei HK isoforms during hypoxia and reoxygenation. We cloned two HK1 sequences named HK1-long (1455 bp) and HK1-short (1302 bp), and one HK2 (1344 bp). In normoxia, total HK1 expression is higher in hepatopancreas, while HK2 is higher in gills. Severe hypoxia (1 mg/L of DO) after 12 h exposure and 1 h of reoxygenation increased HK1 expression in both organs, but HK2 expression changed differentially. In hepatopancreas, HK2 expression increased in 6 and 12 h of hypoxia but diminished to normoxia levels after reoxygenation. In gills, HK2 expression decreased after 12 h of hypoxia. HK activity increased in hepatopancreas after 12 h hypoxia, opposite to gills. These results indicate that shrimp HK isoforms respond to hypoxia and reoxygenation in a tissue-specific manner. Intracellular glucose levels did not change in any case, showing the shrimp ability to maintain glucose homeostasis during hypoxia.

Transitioning to a guaranteed annual income and the impact on activities of daily living in older adults: Evidence from public pensions in Canada using the CLSA.

OBJECTIVE: Statistically model the likelihood of changes in the activities of daily living (ADLs) over time for three groups of older adults: those on a pension at all time periods, those never on a pension, and those who transition onto a public pension. METHODS: Our study used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a large national survey. We used data from baseline (2010-2015) and the first follow-up wave (2015-2018). We used logistic regression to model the likelihood of ADL changes in males and females by pension receipt status, controlling for several potential confounders and allowing for the impact of public pensions to be modified by baseline income. RESULTS: The magnitudes of the estimates indicated that those who transition to a public pension are less likely to report ADL degradation and more likely to report ADL improvement compared to those with no public pension. In the lowest baseline income group, those who transitioned onto a pension at follow-up had a 15% (male) or 11% (female) lower likelihood of reporting degraded ADL scores compared to those not receiving a pension at follow-up. Those who transitioned onto a pension in the lowest income group were more likely to report an improved ADL score at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our results could provide evidence for the potential health benefits of more comprehensive guaranteed annual income programs beyond the pension program. The penalty of being low-income was mitigated by the stability of the pension income in terms of ADL improvement or degradation.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Modeler statistiquement la probabilité de changements des activités de la vie quotidienne (AVQ) à travers le temps pour trois groupes d'adultes âgés : ceux qui reçoivent une pension tout le temps, ceux qui ne reçoivent jamais une pension, et ceux qui transitionnent à recevoir une pension pendant la période d'étude. MéTHODES: Notre étude a utilisé les données de l'Étude longitudinale canadienne sur le vieillissement (ÉLCV), une grande enquête nationale. On a utilisé les données de base (2010-2015) et de la première vague (2015-2018). On a utilisé une régression logistique pour modeler la probabilité de changement des AVQ dans les hommes et les femmes par statut de réception de pension, en ajustant plusieurs facteurs de confusion potentielles et pour que l'impact de pensions publiques soient modifiées par le revenu de base. RéSULTATS: La magnitude des estimations a indiqué que ceux qui font une transition à une pension publique sont moins probables de signaler une dégradation des AVQ et plus probables de déclarer une amélioration comparés à ceux qui ne reçoivent pas une pension publique. Parmi le groupe de revenu de base le plus bas, ceux qui ont transitionné à recevoir une pension au suivi avaient 15 % (hommes) ou 11 % (femmes) moins de chance de déclarer une évaluation de AVQ dégradée comparé à ceux qui ne recevaient pas une pension au suivi. Ceux qui ont transitionné à recevoir une pension dans le groupe de revenu de base le plus bas étaient plus probables de déclarer une évaluation de AVQ améliorée au suivi. CONCLUSION: Nos résultats pourraient apporter la preuve pour les avantages potentiels des programmes compréhensifs de revenu garanti qui vont plus loin que les pensions publiques. La pénalité de faire partie du groupe de revenu le plus bas est atténuée par la stabilité des revenus de pension en ce qui concerne l'amélioration ou la dégradation des AVQ.

Evidence for cytokine dysregulation in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A comparison of cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples.

Abnormalities in immune function have been described in schizophrenia but few studies have investigated cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their correlation with blood levels. In this cross-sectional study, cytokines were measured in CSF and plasma of 30 subjects with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) diagnosis and 23 healthy volunteers (HV). Results showed that CSF TNFα was increased in SSD subjects compared to HV and there were no correlations between CSF and plasma cytokine levels. The present findings provide evidence of dysregulation of TNFα in CSF of schizophrenia. These results identify elevated CSF TNFα levels as a potential biomarker in schizophrenia.