Introduction: Dengue is a vector-borne disease, especially important in tropical and subtropical areas. The first presentation of many arboviral diseases occurred mainly in animals, including multiple Alphaviruses and Flaviviruses, such as dengue. Objective: To determine the serological and molecular frequency of the dengue virus in animals. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in five databases for the proportion of animals infected with dengue, defined by molecular and serological tests. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Cochran?s Q test and the I2 statistic were used to assess the heterogeneity between the two studies. Results: The presence of dengue in bats, primates, birds, sheep, horses, cattle, pigs, rodents and buffaloes, according to serological methods, had a prevalence of 10%, 29%, 8%, 1%, 11%, 0%, 49%, 2%, 7%, respectively. According to molecular methods, the presence of dengue in bats had a seroprevalence of 6.0%. Conclusion: The present study confirms the presence of the Dengue virus in a large group of animal species, with potential implications as possible reservoirs of this virus, raising the possibility of zoonotic transmission.
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) may derive from Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)-infected human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that migrate to sites characterized by inflammation and angiogenesis, promoting the initiation of KS. By analyzing the RNA sequences of KSHV-infected primary hMSCs, we have identified specific cell subpopulations, mechanisms, and conditions involved in the initial stages of KSHV-induced transformation and reprogramming of hMSCs into KS progenitor cells. Under proangiogenic environmental conditions, KSHV can reprogram hMSCs to exhibit gene expression profiles more similar to KS tumors, activating cell cycle progression, cytokine signaling pathways, endothelial differentiation, and upregulating KSHV oncogenes indicating the involvement of KSHV infection in inducing the mesenchymal-to-endothelial (MEndT) transition of hMSCs. This finding underscores the significance of this condition in facilitating KSHV-induced proliferation and reprogramming of hMSCs towards MEndT and closer to KS gene expression profiles, providing further evidence of these cell subpopulations as precursors of KS cells that thrive in a proangiogenic environment.
Herpesvirus 8, Human , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Sarcoma, Kaposi , Humans , Herpesvirus 8, Human/physiology , Herpesvirus 8, Human/genetics , Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/virology , Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Gene Expression Profiling , Cell Proliferation
Mpox is a zoonotic disease that became epidemic in multiple countries in 2022. There is a lack of published systematic reviews on natural animal infection due to Mpox. We performed a systematic literature review with meta-analysis to assess animal Mpox prevalence. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for prevalence studies. After the screening, 15 reports were selected for full-text assessment and included in qualitative and quantitative analyses. Ten reports assessed Mpox infection by molecular or serological tests (n = 2680), yielding a pooled prevalence of 16.0% (95%CI: 3.0-29.0%) for non-human primates; 8.0% (95%CI: 4.0-12.0%) for rodents and 1.0% (95%CI: 0.0-3.0%) for shrews. Further studies in other animals are required to define the extent and importance of natural infection due to Mpox. These findings have implications for public human and animal health. OneHealth approach is critical for prevention and control.
Objective: We aimed to review the available evidence on the association between vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine levels with worse outcomes among COVID-19 patients. Methods: The search was carried out in ten databases simultaneously run on 10 May 2023, without language restrictions. We included cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. The random-effects meta-analysis was performed using the Sidik-Jonkman method and corrected 95% confidence intervals using the truncated Knapp-Hartung standard errors. Standardized mean difference and 95% CI was used as the measure effect size. Results: Thirteen articles were included in this review (n = 2134). Patients with COVID-19 who did not survive had the highest serum vitamin B12 values (SMD: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.31-1.78; p = 0.01, I2 = 91.22%). In contrast, low serum folate values were associated with patients with severe COVID-19 (SMD: -0.77; 95% CI: -1.35 to -0.19; p = 0.02, I2 = 59.09%). The remaining tested differences did not yield significant results. Conclusion: Elevated serum levels of vitamin B12 were associated with higher mortality in patients with COVID-19. Severe cases of COVID-19 were associated with low serum folate levels. Future studies should incorporate a larger sample size.
OBJECTIVES.: Motivation for the study. No study conclusively recommends the use of medicinal plants to treat COVID-19 symptoms, and their indiscriminate use may present health risks. Main findings. Sixty percent of participants consumed medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This was particularly true for those living in the Peruvian highlands and individuals with family members diagnosed or deceased from COVID-19, who perceive a higher risk of infection and use medications or chlorine dioxide as preventive measures. Implications. Communication strategies emphasizing validated preventive practices and educating about the risks of consuming medicinal plants should be tailored to the predominant characteristics of the consumer. Determine the factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants as a preventive measure against COVID-19 in the Peruvian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: A population over 18 years of age, living in Peru and without a history of COVID-19 disease, was evaluated. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants were evaluated using a Poisson regression model with robust variances. RESULTS.: Of the 3231 participants included, 84.6% were young adults (18-29 years old), 62.7% were women, and 59.7% consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19 infection. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 infection were residing in the Peruvian highlands, having had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, having had a family member die from COVID-19, considering their family to be at increased risk of infection, having used medications or chlorine dioxide to prevent COVID-19, having medical information as the main source of information about COVID-19, thinking that medicinal plants are effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, or not being informed about their effectiveness. CONCLUSION.: Sixty percent of the participants reported having consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19. Authorities must apply communication strategies about the implications of consuming medicinal plants, prioritizing population groups with higher consumption patterns.
OBJETIVOS: Motivación para realizar el estudio. Ningún estudio recomienda de manera concluyente el uso de plantas medicinales para tratar los síntomas de la COVID-19, y su uso indiscriminado puede presentar riesgos para la salud. Principales hallazgos. El 60% de los participantes utilizó plantas medicinales para la prevención de la COVID-19. Especialmente aquellos de la sierra peruana y personas con familiares diagnosticados o fallecidos por COVID-19, que perciben mayores riesgos de contagio y utilizan medicamentos o dióxido de cloro como medidas preventivas. Implicancias. Las estrategias de comunicación esenciales para las prácticas preventivas validadas y la educación sobre los riesgos del consumo de plantas medicinales deben adaptarse a las características predominantes del consumidor. Determinar los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales como prevención de la COVID-19 en la población peruana. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se evaluó población mayor de 18 años, residentes en Perú y sin antecedentes de enfermedad por COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales se evaluaron mediante un modelo de regresión de Poisson con varianzas robustas. RESULTADOS.: De 3231 participantes incluidos, el 84,6% eran jóvenes (18-29 años), el 62,7% eran mujeres y el 59,7% consumía alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales para prevenir el contagio de COVID-19 fueron residir en la sierra peruana, haber tenido un familiar diagnosticado con COVID-19, haber tenido un familiar fallecido por COVID-19, considerar que su familia se encuentra en mayor riesgo de infección, haber usado medicamentos o dióxido de cloro para prevenir la COVID-19, tener información médica como principal fuente de información sobre la COVID-19, pensar que las plantas medicinales son efectivas para prevenir la enfermedad COVID-19 o no estar informado sobre su eficacia. CONCLUSIÓN: . El 60% de los participantes reportó haber consumido alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Es importante que las autoridades apliquen estrategias de comunicación sobre lo que implica el consumo de plantas medicinales, priorizando los grupos poblacionales que tienen mayores patrones de consumo.
COVID-19 , Plants, Medicinal , Humans , Peru/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Male , Adult , Adolescent , Young Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Phytotherapy , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Background and aims: The presence of fungal infections has been described in patients after recovering from COVID-19. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of studies that reported fungal infections (Mucor spp., Pneumocystis jirovecii, or Aspergillus spp.) in adults after recovering from COVID-19. Methods: We performed a systematic review through PubMed, Web of Science, OVID-Medline, Embase, and Scopus. The study selection process was performed independently and by at least two authors. We performed a risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort and case-control studies, and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Checklists for Case Series and Case Reports. Results: The systematic search found 33 studies meeting all inclusion criteria. There was a total population of 774 participants, ranging from 21 to 87 years. From them, 746 developed a fungal infection. In 19 studies, Mucor spp. was reported as the main mycosis. In 10 studies, P. jirovecii was reported as the main mycosis. In seven studies, Aspergillus spp. was reported as the main mycosis. Regarding the quality assessment, 12 studies were classified as low risk of bias and the remaining studies as high risk of bias. Conclusion: Patients' clinical presentation and prognosis after recovering from COVID-19 with fungal infection differ from those reported patients with acute COVID-19 infection and those without COVID-19 infection.
BACKGROUND: Cefazolin is the standard of care for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in the United States. The potential allergic cross-reactivity between cefazolin and penicillin causes uncertainty regarding optimal antibiotic choice in patients who have a reported penicillin allergy (rPCNA). The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of perioperative cefazolin in PCNA patients undergoing primary TJA. METHODS: We identified all patients (n = 49,842) undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (n = 25,659) or total knee arthroplasty (n = 24,183) from 2016 to 2022 who received perioperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients who had an rPCNA (n = 5,508) who received cefazolin (n = 4,938, 89.7%) were compared to rPCNA patients who did not (n = 570, 10.3%), and to patients who did not have an rPCNA (n = 43,359). The primary outcome was the rate of allergic reactions within 72 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the rates of superficial infections, deep infections, and Clostridioides difficile infections within 90 days. RESULTS: The rate of allergic reactions was 0.1% (n = 5) in rPCNA patients who received cefazolin, compared to 0.2% (n = 1) in rPCNA patients who did not (P = .48) and 0.02% (n = 11) in patients who have no rPCNA (P = .02). Allergic reactions were mild in all 5 rPCNA patients who received cefazolin and were characterized by cutaneous symptoms (n = 4) or dyspnea in the absence of respiratory distress (n = 1) that resolved promptly with antibiotic discontinuation and administration of antihistamines and/or corticosteroids. We observed no differences in the rates of superficial infections (0.1 versus 0.2%, P = .58), deep infections (0.3 versus 0.4%, P = .68), or C difficile infections (0.04% versus 0%, P = .99) within 90 days in rPCNA patients who received cefazolin versus alternative perioperative antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of more than 5,500 patients who had an rPCNA undergoing primary TJA, perioperative prophylaxis with cefazolin resulted in a 0.1% incidence of allergic reactions that were clinically indolent. Cefazolin can be safely administered to most patients, independent of rPCNA severity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
Circadian rhythms synchronize to light through the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), which is a bundle of axons coming from melanopsin retinal ganglion cells, whose synaptic terminals release glutamate to the ventral suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Activation of AMPA-kainate and NMDA postsynaptic receptors elicits the increase in intracellular calcium required for triggering the signaling cascade that ends in phase shifts. During aging, there is a decline in the synchronization of circadian rhythms to light. With electrophysiological (whole-cell patch-clamp) and immunohistochemical assays, in this work, we studied pre- and postsynaptic properties between the RHT and ventral SCN neurons in young adult (P90-120) and old (P540-650) C57BL/6J mice. Incremental stimulation intensities (applied on the optic chiasm) induced much lesser AMPA-kainate postsynaptic responses in old animals, implying a lower recruitment of RHT fibers. Conversely, a higher proportion of old SCN neurons exhibited synaptic facilitation, and variance-mean analysis indicated an increase in the probability of release in RHT terminals. Moreover, both spontaneous and miniature postsynaptic events displayed larger amplitudes in neurons from aged mice, whereas analysis of the NMDA and AMPA-kainate components (evoked by RHT electrical stimulation) disclosed no difference between the two ages studied. Immunohistochemistry revealed a bigger size in the puncta of vGluT2, GluN2B, and GluN2A of elderly animals, and the number of immunopositive particles was increased, but that of PSD-95 was reduced. All these synaptic adaptations could be part of compensatory mechanisms in the glutamatergic signaling to ameliorate the loss of RHT terminals in old animals.
Aging , Glutamic Acid , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Synaptic Transmission , Animals , Mice , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Synaptic Transmission/physiology , Aging/physiology , Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Male , Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/physiology , Visual Pathways/physiology , Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2/metabolism , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein/metabolism
In recent years, the growth of Internet of Things devices has increased the use of sustainable energy sources. An alternative technology is offered by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) that can harvest green energy and convert it into electrical energy. Herein, we assessed three different nopal powder types that were used as triboelectric layers of eco-friendly and sustainable TENGs for renewable energy harvesting from environmental vibrations and powering electronic devices. These nanogenerators were fabricated using waste and recycled materials with a compact design for easy transportation and collocation on non-homogeneous surfaces of different vibration or motion sources. In addition, these TENGs have advantages such as high output performance, stable output voltage, lightweight, low-cost materials, and a simple fabrication process. These nanogenerators use the contact-separation mode between two triboelectric layers to convert the vibration energy into electrical energy. TENG with the best output performance is based on dehydrated nopal powder, generating an output power density of 2.145 mWm-2 with a load resistance of 39.97 MΩ under 3g acceleration and 25 Hz operating frequency. The proposed TENGs have stable output voltages during 22500 operating cycles. These nanogenerators can light 116 ultra-bright blue commercial LEDs and power a digital calculator. Also, the TENGs can be used as a chess clock connected to a mobile phone app for smart motion sensing. These nanogenerators can harvest renewable vibration energy and power electronic devices, sensors, and smart motion sensing.
Introduction: The incidence of squamous carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) has presented an increase worldwide, a fact that occurs along with a phenomenon of epidemiological transition, whose pathogenesis is linked to human papilloma virus (HPV) in a significant part of the cases. Published evidence at the Latin American level is scarce. The present study aims to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated in a public oncology reference centre in Chile. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Patients with histological confirmation of OPSCC aged 18 years or older, referred to the National Cancer Institute of Chile between 2012 and 2023 were included. The association with HPV was determined by immunohistochemistry for p16. Results: 178 patients were analysed, most of them in locoregionally advanced stages involving the palatine tonsil. Seventy-seven percent were male, with a median age of 60 years. Sixty-seven percent of patients were positive for p16, with a progressive increase to 85% in the last 2 years of the study. The p16(+) patients were younger and had fewer classical risk factors. Primary treatment was radiotherapy in 94% of patients. Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of patients with OPSCC treated in a Chilean public oncology referral centre reflects the epidemiological transition observed in developed countries. This change justifies the need to adapt health policies and conduct research that considers the characteristics of this new epidemiological profile.
Snakebites still constitute a significant public health problem in developing countries and are considered a neglected tropical condition by the WHO. Snake accidents are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and may produce secondary complications, such as severe infections. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of snakebite infections and characterize the bacteria isolated from these infections. A systematic literature review in five databases was carried out to assess the prevalence of snakebite infection. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% CIs. Cochran's Q test and the I2 statistic were used to assess between-study heterogeneity. The pooled prevalence of infection due to snakebite was 27.0% (95% CI: 22.0-32.0%), with high heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 99.7%). The prevalence was higher in Asia (32%) than in the Americas (21%). Snakebite infections required surgical interventions in 68% (95% CI: 37.0-98.0%). The leading group of pathogens identified corresponded to Gram-negative bacteria (63%), particularly Morganella morganii (32%), but also, Gram-positive cocci (40%), especially Enterococcus spp. (23%) and Staphylococcus aureus (15%). However, multiple other pathogens, including anaerobes, were found. A high prevalence of snakebite-associated infection has been described, primarily due to M. morganii, with the corresponding implications for empirical therapy. Rational use of antimicrobials is recommended, and this should guide initial empirical treatment. Moreover, isolation and identification of the possible bacteria present in snakebite wounds is recommended in all cases to confirm or rule out associated infection.
Snake Bites , Snake Bites/epidemiology , Snake Bites/complications , Humans , Prevalence , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Asia/epidemiology
Three-line hybrid rice is produced by crossing male sterile (A line) rice with a fertility-restorer (R line). Fertile lines (B lines) are also required to maintain A line seed for breeding programs. We used a range of hybrids and their parental lines to assess the frequency and nature of heterosis for resistance to the whitebacked planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and yellow stemborer (Scirpophaga incertulas). Heterosis is defined as trait improvement above the average of the parental lines as a result of outbreeding. Based on the results from a greenhouse study that challenged hybrids and their parental lines with each herbivore species, we found that susceptibility to planthoppers was associated with one of the eight A lines tested, but resistance was improved by crossing with a relatively resistant restorer. Higher frequencies of heterosis for susceptibility in comparisons between hybrids and their B lines suggest that susceptibility was not related to the cytoplasmic genomes of the associated sterile A lines. Furthermore, because none of the parental lines possessed currently effective resistance genes, improved resistance against planthoppers was probably due to quantitative resistance. In a related field trial, hybrids had generally higher yields than their fertile parents and often produced larger grain; however, they were often more susceptible to stemborers, leaffolders (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) and other caterpillars (Rivula atimeta). This was largely a consequence of hybrid heterosis for plant biomass and was strongly affected by crop duration. We make a series of recommendations to improve hybrid breeding to reduce the risks of herbivore damage.
The RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) is a repressor factor related to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (PCa) (NEPC), a poor prognostic stage mainly associated with castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). NEPC is associated with cell transdifferentiation and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cells undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and enzalutamide (ENZ). The effect of REST overexpression in the 22rv1 cell line (xenograft-derived prostate cancer) on EMT, migration, invasion, and the viability for ENZ was evaluated. EMT genes, Twist and Zeb1, and the androgen receptor (AR) were evaluated through an RT-qPCR and Western blot in nuclear and cytosolic fractions of REST-overexpressing 22rv1 cells (22rv1-REST). The migratory and invasive capacities of 22rv1-REST cells were evaluated via Transwell® assays with and without Matrigel, respectively, and their viability for enzalutamide via MTT assays. The 22rv1-REST cells showed decreased nuclear levels of Twist, Zeb1, and AR, and a decreased migration and invasion and a lower viability for ENZ compared to the control. Results were expressed as the mean + SD of three independent experiments (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, Tukey test). REST behaves like a tumor suppressor, decreasing the aggressiveness of 22rv1 cells, probably through the repression of EMT and the neuroendocrine phenotype. Furthermore, REST could represent a response marker to ENZ in PCa patients.
Benzamides , Nitriles , Phenylthiohydantoin , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Prostatic Neoplasms , Male , Humans , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Androgen Antagonists , Transcription Factors , Cell Line, Tumor , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology
INTRODUCTION: Patients with above-knee amputations (AKA) are normally treated with the traditional socket-mounted prosthesis (SMP), which is associated with a high incidence of problems. Osseointegration has been proposed as a promising option for avoiding many common SMP drawbacks. Several concerns have arisen regarding amputee osseointegration, however, mainly with respect to infection. We report on the safety of a single-stage osseointegration protocol using an antibiotic-loaded hydrogel to coat the intramedullary implant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all AKA cases treated at our center between January 2019 and April 2022, in which a transcutaneous osseointegrated implant was used in a single-stage strategy, together with a rapid-resorbable hydrogel loaded with vancomycin and gentamicin. The specific protocol used, infection rate, implant osseointegration rate and implant survivorship were determined after a minimum follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: Eleven osseointegration cases were included in the study, with an average of 16 years post-amputation (range: 3-35 years). After a median follow-up of 24 months (range 12-49 months) no patient had suffered any implant-related infection. Osseointegration of the implant had been achieved in all cases. The mid-term survivorship of the implant in our series was 100 % at the end of follow-up. Radiographs of all cases showed no loosening of the implant. Further, 91 % of the series patients were able to walk without restrictions after the rehabilitation process. CONCLUSIONS: The single-stage osseointegration protocol for AKA, using a rapid-resorbable hydrogel loaded with vancomycin and gentamicin, yields low rates of implant-related deep infection. This protocol consistently delivers high rates of radiological osseointegration, with no hydrogel-associated complications.
Artificial Limbs , Osseointegration , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Vancomycin , Hydrogels , Treatment Outcome , Amputation, Surgical , Postoperative Complications , Gentamicins
Exposure to brief, intense sound can produce profound changes in the auditory system, from the internal structure of inner hair cells to reduced synaptic connections between the auditory nerves and the inner hair cells. Moreover, noisy environments can also lead to alterations in the auditory nerve or to processing changes in the auditory midbrain, all without affecting hearing thresholds. This so-called hidden hearing loss (HHL) has been shown in tinnitus patients and has been posited to account for hearing difficulties in noisy environments. However, much of the neuronal research thus far has investigated how HHL affects the response characteristics of individual fibres in the auditory nerve, as opposed to higher stations in the auditory pathway. Human models show that the auditory nerve encodes sound stochastically. Therefore, a sufficient reduction in nerve fibres could result in lowering the sampling of the acoustic scene below the minimum rate necessary to fully encode the scene, thus reducing the efficacy of sound encoding. Here, we examine how HHL affects the responses to frequency and intensity of neurons in the inferior colliculus of rats, and the duration and firing rate of those responses. Finally, we examined how shorter stimuli are encoded less effectively by the auditory midbrain than longer stimuli, and how this could lead to a clinical test for HHL.
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced , Inferior Colliculi , Humans , Rats , Animals , Inferior Colliculi/physiology , Noise/adverse effects , Auditory Threshold/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology , Cochlea
Brain physiology and morphology are vulnerable to chronic stress, impacting cognitive performance and behavior. However, functional compounds found in food may alleviate these alterations. White quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Wild) seeds contain a high content of n-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid. This study aimed to evaluate the potential neuroprotective role of a quinoa-based functional food (QFF) in rats. Prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with rat chow or QFF (50% rat chow + 50% dehydrated quinoa seeds) and exposed or not to restraint stress protocol (2 h/day; 15 days). Four experimental groups were used: Non-stressed (rat chow), Non-stressed + QFF, Stressed (rat chow) and Stressed + QFF. Weight gain, locomotor activity (open field), anxiety (elevated plus maze, light-dark box), spatial memory (Y-maze), and dendritic length in the hippocampus were measured in all animals. QFF intake did not influence anxiety-like behaviors, while the memory of stressed rats fed with QFF improved compared to those fed with rat chow. Additionally, QFF intake mitigated the stress-induced dendritic atrophy in pyramidal neurons located in the CA3 area of the hippocampus. The results suggest that a quinoa-supplemented diet could play a protective role in the memory of chronically stressed rats.
Chenopodium quinoa , Rats , Animals , Male , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Maze Learning , Dietary Supplements , Hippocampus/physiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology
BACKGROUND: Optimal analgesic protocols for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients remain controversial. Multimodal analgesia is advocated, often including peripheral nerve blocks and/or periarticular injections (PAIs). If 2 blocks (adductor canal block [ACB] plus infiltration between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee [IPACK]) are used, also performing PAI may not be necessary. This noninferiority trial hypothesized that TKA patients with ACB + IPACK + saline PAI (sham infiltration) would have pain scores that were no worse than those of patients with ACB + IPACK + active PAI with local anesthetic. METHODS: A multimodal analgesic protocol of spinal anesthesia, ACB and IPACK blocks, intraoperative ketamine and ketorolac, postoperative ketorolac followed by meloxicam, acetaminophen, duloxetine, and oral opioids was used. Patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA were randomized to receive either active PAI or control PAI. The active PAI included a deep injection, performed before cementation, of bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine, 30 mL; morphine; methylprednisolone; cefazolin; with normal saline to bring total volume to 64 mL. A superficial injection of 20 mL bupivacaine, 0.25%, was administered before closure. Control injections were normal saline injected with the same injection technique and volumes. The primary outcome was numeric rating scale pain with ambulation on postoperative day 1. A noninferiority margin of 1.0 was used. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were randomized. NRS pain with ambulation at POD1 in the ACB + IPACK + saline PAI group was not found to be noninferior to that of the ACB + IPACK + active PAI group (difference = 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], [-0.9 to 1.5], P = .120). Pain scores at rest did not differ significantly among groups. No significant difference was observed in opioid consumption between groups. Cumulative oral morphine equivalents through postoperative day 2 were 89 ± 40 mg (mean ± standard deviation), saline PAI, vs 73 ± 52, active PAI, P = .1. No significant differences were observed for worst pain, fraction of time in severe pain, pain interference, side-effects (nausea, drowsiness, itching, dizziness), quality of recovery, satisfaction, length of stay, chronic pain, and orthopedic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: For TKA patients given a comprehensive analgesic protocol, use of saline PAI did not demonstrate noninferiority compared to active PAI. Neither the primary nor any secondary outcomes demonstrated superiority for active PAI, however. As we cannot claim either technique to be better or worse, there remains flexibility for use of either technique.
Anesthetics, Local , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Nerve Block , Pain, Postoperative , Popliteal Artery , Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects , Male , Female , Aged , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Pain, Postoperative/diagnosis , Pain, Postoperative/etiology , Middle Aged , Nerve Block/methods , Popliteal Artery/surgery , Injections, Intra-Articular , Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage , Pain Measurement , Treatment Outcome , Double-Blind Method , Knee Joint/surgery , Knee Joint/physiopathology , Analgesia/methods
We summarize the clinical trials (CTs) main characteristics, including members of ethnic minorities from Latin America. We carried out a systematic search in six databases. We made a descriptive synthesis of CTs, summarizing the characteristics, interventions, main findings, results, and conclusions reported. 4411 studies were acquired in search strategy, leaving 24 CTs in the final selection. Of these, ten were randomized, four were non-randomized, and the remainder had other designs. Most of the studies were carried out in the population of infants and children (08), ten of the studies included only women, and two studies included men. Nine studies were conducted in Mexico, with the Mayan ethnic minority being mostly evaluated (05). In only 15 it was mentioned that their research was approved by a research ethics committee. Finally, half of the CTs reported funding from international agencies and third reported funding from government agencies. Our results show that that CTs in ethnic minorities are limited and reduced to a few native peoples of the continent.
Clinical Trials as Topic , Ethnic and Racial Minorities , Humans , Latin America/ethnology , Caribbean Region/ethnology , Male , Female , Minority Groups , Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data
The past decade has seen a wealth of research dedicated to determining which and how morphological changes in the auditory periphery contribute to people experiencing hearing difficulties in noise despite having clinically normal audiometric thresholds in quiet. Evidence from animal studies suggests that cochlear synaptopathy in the inner ear might lead to auditory nerve deafferentation, resulting in impoverished signal transmission to the brain. Here, we quantify the likely perceptual consequences of auditory deafferentation in humans via a physiologically inspired encoding-decoding model. The encoding stage simulates the processing of an acoustic input stimulus (e.g., speech) at the auditory periphery, while the decoding stage is trained to optimally regenerate the input stimulus from the simulated auditory nerve firing data. This allowed us to quantify the effect of different degrees of auditory deafferentation by measuring the extent to which the decoded signal supported the identification of speech in quiet and in noise. In a series of experiments, speech perception thresholds in quiet and in noise increased (worsened) significantly as a function of the degree of auditory deafferentation for modeled deafferentation greater than 90%. Importantly, this effect was significantly stronger in a noisy than in a quiet background. The encoding-decoding model thus captured the hallmark symptom of degraded speech perception in noise together with normal speech perception in quiet. As such, the model might function as a quantitative guide to evaluating the degree of auditory deafferentation in human listeners.
Hearing Loss , Speech Perception , Animals , Humans , Auditory Threshold/physiology , Noise/adverse effects , Acoustic Stimulation , Auditory Perception/physiology
Previous studies have shown that in challenging listening situations, people find it hard to equally divide their attention between two simultaneous talkers and tend to favor one talker over the other. The aim here was to investigate whether talker onset/offset, sex and location determine the favored talker. Fifteen people with normal hearing were asked to recognize as many words as possible from two sentences uttered by two talkers located at 45° and +45° azimuth, respectively. The sentences were from the same corpus, were time-centered and had equal sound level. In Conditions 1 and 2, the talkers had different sexes (male at +45°), sentence duration was not controlled for, and sentences were presented at 65 and 35 dB SPL, respectively. Listeners favored the male over the female talker, even more so at 35 dB SPL (62 % vs 43 % word recognition, respectively) than at 65 dB SPL (74 % vs 64 %, respectively). The greater asymmetry in intelligibility at the lower level supports that divided listening is harder and more 'asymmetric' in challenging acoustic scenarios. Listeners continued to favor the male talker when the experiment was repeated with sentences of equal average duration for the two talkers (Condition 3). This suggests that the earlier onset or later offset of male sentences (52 ms on average) was not the reason for the asymmetric intelligibility in Conditions 1 or 2. When the location of the talkers was switched (Condition 4) or the two talkers were the same woman (Condition 5), listeners continued to favor the talker to their right albeit non-significantly. Altogether, results confirm that in hard divided listening situations, listeners tend to favor the talker to their right. This preference is not affected by talker onset/offset delays less than 52 ms on average. Instead, the preference seems to be modulated by the voice characteristics of the talkers.
Speech Perception , Voice , Humans , Male , Female , Speech Intelligibility , Language , Acoustics
