Integrated Health and Social Home Care Services in Catalonia: Professionals' Perception of its Implementation, Barriers, and Facilitators.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the implementation of integrated social and health home care services (HCS) offered by the Government of Catalonia, and to identify the main barriers and facilitators of integrated HCS. Methods: Analysis of the degree of implementation of integrated social and health HCS perceived by social care services (SCS) and primary health care centers (PHCs) between December 2020 and June 2021 in two phases. First, the perception of integration by social workers within SCS and PHCs was assessed using a screening questionnaire. Then, SCS in counties with the highest integration scores received a customized questionnaire for an in-depth assessment. Results: A total of 105 (100%) SCS and 94 (25%) PHCs answered the screening questionnaire, and 48 (45.7%) SCS received a customized questionnaire. The most frequent barrier identified was the lack of shared protocols, with the most frequent facilitator being the recognition of the importance of integrated HCS. Conclusions: Our study showed that the degree of implementation of integrated health and social HCS offered by the Government of Catalonia was perceived as low. The identified barriers and facilitators can be used to facilitate such implementation. Further studies should include professionals other than social workers in PHC assessments.

Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the Long-Term Effects of Omeprazole on Healthy Dogs.

The use of omeprazole as a preventive treatment for gastrointestinal ulcers in veterinary medicine has been questioned during previous years. The aim of the present study is to assess the long-term effect of omeprazole on cobalamin and serum gastrin levels in healthy dogs. Eighteen healthy dogs were included: 10 in the control group and 8 in the omeprazole group. Three samples were collected: before starting the treatment (T0), 30 days after the start of treatment (T1), and at 60 days (T2). The mean cobalamin value (ng/L) in the control group was 481.4 (±293.70) at T0, 481.4 (±170.21) at T1, and 513.2 (±174.50) at T2. In the omeprazole group, the values were 424.62 (±161.57) at T0, 454.5 (±160.96) at T1, and 414.87 (±127.90) at T2. No statistically significant changes were detected in cobalamin levels between the three-time period in both study groups. These results agree with previous findings in felines but contrast with human medicine studies. The median gastrin values (pg/mL) in the control group were 62.45 [30.17-218.75] at T0, 76.06 [30.67-199.87] at T1, and 63.02 [35.81-176.06] at T2. The median gastrin value in the omeprazole group was 67.59 [55.96-101.60] at T0, 191.77 [75.31-1901.77] at T1, and 128.16 [43.62-1066.46] at T2. Statistically significant differences were detected (p = 0.008), indicating an increase in gastrin levels after initiating treatment with omeprazole. In conclusion, the increased levels of gastrin observed in this population underscore the importance of conducting a comprehensive clinical assessment to identify potential gastrointestinal disorders, particularly in consideration of the usage of omeprazole as a preventive treatment.

Significantly reduced incidence and improved survival from prostate cancer over 25 years.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) was the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality and survival of PCa in Girona, Spain, over 25 years. METHODS: Population-based study of PCa collected in the Girona Cancer Registry, 1994-2018. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 men-year. Joinpoint regression models were used for trends, calculating the annual percentage changes (APC). Observed and net survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Pohar-Perme estimations, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 9,846 cases of PCa were registered between 1994-2018. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were 154.7 (95%CI: 151.7 157.8) and 38.9 (95%CI: 37.3 -40.6), respectively. An increased incidence of 6.2% was observed from 1994 to 2003 (95%CI: 4.4 -8.1), and a decrease of -2.7% (95%CI: -3.5 -;-1.9) between 2003 and 2018. Mortality APC was -2.6% (95%CI: -3.3 --2.0). Five-year observed and net survival were 72.8% (95%CI: 71.8 - 73.7) and 87.2% (95%CI: 85.9 - 88.4), respectively. Five-year net survival increased over time from 72.9% (1994-1998) to 91.3% (2014-2018). CONCLUSIONS: The analyses show a clear reduction in PCa incidence rates from 2003 on, along with an increase in overall survival when comparing the earlier period with more recent years.

Mechanical Disruption of the Inner Limiting Membrane In Vivo Enhances Targeting to the Inner Retina.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of mechanical disruption of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) on the ability to target interventions to the inner neurosensory retina in a rodent model. Our study used an animal model to gain insight into the normal physiology of the ILM and advances our understanding of the effects of mechanical ILM removal on the viral transduction of retinal ganglion cells and retinal ganglion cell transplantation. Methods: The ILM in the in vivo rat eye was disrupted using mechanical forces applied to the vitreoretinal interface. Immunohistology and electron microscopy were used to verify the removal of the ILM in retina flatmounts and sections. To assess the degree to which ILM disruption enhanced transvitreal access to the retina, in vivo studies involving intravitreal injections of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to transduce retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and ex vivo studies involving co-culture of human stem cell-derived RGCs (hRGCs) on retinal explants were performed. RGC transduction efficiency and transplanted hRGC integration with retinal explants were evaluated by immunohistology of the retinas. Results: Mechanical disruption of the ILM in the rodent eye was sufficient to remove the ILM from targeted retinal areas while preserving the underlying retinal nerve fiber layer and RGCs. Removal of the ILM enhanced the transduction efficiency of intravitreally delivered AAV threefold (1380.0 ± 290.1 vs. 442.0 ± 249.3 cells/mm2; N = 6; P = 0.034). Removal of the ILM was also sufficient to promote integration of transplanted RGCs within the inner retina. Conclusions: The ILM is a barrier to transvitreally delivered agents including viral vectors and cells. Mechanical removal of the ILM is sufficient to enhance access to the inner retina, improve viral transduction efficiencies of RGCs, and enhance cellular integration of transplanted RGCs with the retina.

Excess mortality among older adults institutionalized in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based analysis in Catalonia.

Objectives: To assess excess mortality among older adults institutionalized in nursing homes within the successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Catalonia (north-east Spain). Design: Observational, retrospective analysis of population-based central healthcare registries. Setting and participants: Individuals aged >65 years admitted in any nursing home in Catalonia between January 1, 2015, and April 1, 2022. Methods: Deaths reported during the pre-pandemic period (2015-2019) were used to build a reference model for mortality trends (a Poisson model, due to the event counting nature of the variable "mortality"), adjusted by age, sex, and clinical complexity, defined according to the adjusted morbidity groups. Excess mortality was estimated by comparing the observed and model-based expected mortality during the pandemic period (2020-2022). Besides the crude excess mortality, we estimated the standardized mortality rate (SMR) as the ratio of weekly deaths' number observed to the expected deaths' number over the same period. Results: The analysis included 175,497 older adults institutionalized (mean 262 days, SD 132), yielding a total of 394,134 person-years: 288,948 person-years within the reference period (2015-2019) and 105,186 within the COVID-19 period (2020-2022). Excess number of deaths in this population was 5,403 in the first wave and 1,313, 111, -182, 498, and 329 in the successive waves. The first wave on March 2020 showed the highest SMR (2.50; 95% CI 2.45-2.56). The corresponding SMR for the 2nd to 6th waves were 1.31 (1.27-1.34), 1.03 (1.00-1.07), 0.93 (0.89-0.97), 1.13 (1.10-1.17), and 1.07 (1.04-1.09). The number of excess deaths following the first wave ranged from 1,313 (2nd wave) to -182 (4th wave). Excess mortality showed similar trends for men and women. Older adults and those with higher comorbidity burden account for higher number of deaths, albeit lower SMRs. Conclusion: Excess mortality analysis suggest a higher death toll of the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes than in other settings. Although crude mortality rates were far higher among older adults and those at higher health risk, younger individuals showed persistently higher SMR, indicating an important death toll of the COVID-19 in these groups of people.

Pathophysiology of bone disease in chronic kidney disease: from basics to renal osteodystrophy and osteoporosis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent disease that has become a public health problem. Progression of CKD is associated with serious complications, including the systemic CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Laboratory, bone and vascular abnormalities define this condition, and all have been independently related to cardiovascular disease and high mortality rates. The "old" cross-talk between kidney and bone (classically known as "renal osteodystrophies") has been recently expanded to the cardiovascular system, emphasizing the importance of the bone component of CKD-MBD. Moreover, a recently recognized higher susceptibility of patients with CKD to falls and bone fractures led to important paradigm changes in the new CKD-MBD guidelines. Evaluation of bone mineral density and the diagnosis of "osteoporosis" emerges in nephrology as a new possibility "if results will impact clinical decisions". Obviously, it is still reasonable to perform a bone biopsy if knowledge of the type of renal osteodystrophy will be clinically useful (low versus high turnover-bone disease). However, it is now considered that the inability to perform a bone biopsy may not justify withholding antiresorptive therapies to patients with high risk of fracture. This view adds to the effects of parathyroid hormone in CKD patients and the classical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The availability of new antiosteoporotic treatments bring the opportunity to come back to the basics, and the knowledge of new pathophysiological pathways [OPG/RANKL (LGR4); Wnt-ß-catenin pathway], also affected in CKD, offers great opportunities to further unravel the complex physiopathology of CKD-MBD and to improve outcomes.

Time trends and survival of marginal zone lymphoma over 25 years in Girona, Spain (1994-2018).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence, incidence trends, and survival of marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) in Girona and to describe these indicators based on the location in the case of extranodal MZLs. METHODS: Population-based study of MZL collected in the Girona Cancer Registry, 1994-2018. Sociodemographic data, tumor location, and stage were obtained from clinical records. Crude (CR) and age-adjusted (ASRE ) incidence rates expressed per 100,000 person-years (p-y) were calculated. Joinpoint regression models were used for the trend analysis according to the MZL group. Five-year observed and net survival were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 472 MZLs were included, 44 (9.3%) were nodal, 288 (61.0%) extranodal, 122 (25.9%) splenic, and the rest (n = 18) MZL, NOS. The CR for the MZL was 2.89 × 100,000 p-y (95% CI: 2.63-3.15), the ASRE was 3.26 × 100,000 p-y (95% CI: 2.97-3.57), and the annual percentage change (APC) was 1.6 (95% CI: 0.5-2.7). The ASRE for nodal MZL was 0.30 × 100,000 p-y (95% CI: 0.22-0.41) and showed an APC of 2.9% (95% CI: -16.4-26.6). For extranodal MZL, the ASRE was 1.98 × 100,000 p-y (95% CI: 1.76-2.23) and the APC was -0.4 (95% CI: -2.0-1.2). The most frequent locations of this type of MZL were the gastric (35.4%), skin (13.2%), and respiratory system (11.8%). The ASRE of the splenic MZL was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.71-1.02) with an APC of 12.8 (95% CI: 2.5-24.0). The 5-year net survival of MZL was 82.1% (95% CI: 76.3-86.5). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals differences in the incidence and trend of the incidence of MZL according to the subgroup, showing a significant increase in the overall MZL mainly due to splenic MZL type.

Influence of the Nature of Aminoalcohol on ZnO Films Formed by Sol-Gel Methods.

Here we present comparative studies of: (i) the formation of ZnO thin films via the sol-gel method using zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD), 2-methoxyethanol (ME) as solvent, and the aminoalcohols (AA): ethanolamine, (S)-(+)-2-amino-1-propanol, (S)-(+)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-aminophenol, and aminobenzyl alcohol, and (ii) elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, absorption and emission spectra of films obtained after deposition by drop coating on glass surface, and thermal treatments at 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C. The results obtained provide conclusive evidences of the influence of the AA used (aliphatic vs. aromatic) on the ink stability (prior to deposition), and on the composition, structures, morphologies, and properties of films after calcination, in particular, those due to the different substituents, H, Me, or iPr, and to the presence or the absence of a -CH2 unit. Aliphatic films, more stable and purer than aromatic ones, contained the ZnO wurtzite form for all annealing temperatures, while the cubic sphalerite (zinc-blende) form was also detected after using aromatic AAs. Films having frayed fibers or quartered layers or uniform yarns evolved to "neuron-like" patterns. UV and photoluminescence studies revealed that these AAs also affect the optical band gap, the structural defects, and photo-optical properties of the films.

Safety and efficacy of leriglitazone for preventing disease progression in men with adrenomyeloneuropathy (ADVANCE): a randomised, double-blind, multi-centre, placebo-controlled phase 2-3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Adult patients with adrenoleukodystrophy have a poor prognosis owing to development of adrenomyeloneuropathy. Additionally, a large proportion of patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy develop life-threatening progressive cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. Leriglitazone is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist that regulates expression of key genes that contribute to neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes implicated in adrenoleukodystrophy disease progression. We aimed to assess the effect of leriglitazone on clinical, imaging, and biochemical markers of disease progression in adults with adrenomyeloneuropathy. METHODS: ADVANCE was a 96-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2-3 trial done at ten hospitals in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the USA. Ambulatory men aged 18-65 years with adrenomyeloneuropathy without gadolinium enhancing lesions suggestive of progressive cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy were randomly assigned (2:1 without stratification) to receive daily oral suspensions of leriglitazone (150 mg starting dose; between baseline and week 12, doses were increased or decreased to achieve plasma concentrations of 200 µg·h/mL [SD 20%]) or placebo by means of an interactive response system and a computer-generated sequence. Investigators and patients were masked to group assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in the Six-Minute Walk Test distance at week 96, analysed in the full-analysis set by means of a mixed model for repeated measures with restricted maximum likelihood and baseline value as a covariate. Adverse events were also assessed in the full-analysis set. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03231878; the primary study is complete; patients had the option to continue treatment in an open-label extension, which is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between Dec 8, 2017, and Oct 16, 2018, of 136 patients screened, 116 were randomly assigned; 62 [81%] of 77 patients receiving leriglitazone and 34 [87%] of 39 receiving placebo completed treatment. There was no between-group difference in the primary endpoint (mean [SD] change from baseline leriglitazone: -27·7 [41·4] m; placebo: -30·3 [60·5] m; least-squares mean difference -1·2 m; 95% CI -22·6 to 20·2; p=0·91). The most common treatment emergent adverse events in both the leriglitazone and placebo groups were weight gain (54 [70%] of 77 vs nine [23%] of 39 patients, respectively) and peripheral oedema (49 [64%] of 77 vs seven [18%] of 39). There were no deaths. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 14 (18%) of 77 patients receiving leriglitazone and ten (26%) of 39 patients receiving placebo. The most common serious treatment emergent adverse event, clinically progressive cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, occurred in six [5%] of 116 patients, all of whom were in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION: The primary endpoint was not met, but leriglitazone was generally well tolerated and rates of adverse events were in line with the expected safety profile for this drug class. The finding that cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, a life-threatening event for patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy, occurred only in patients in the placebo group supports further investigation of whether leriglitazone might slow the progression of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. FUNDING: Minoryx Therapeutics.

Protein Supplementation with Short Peptides Prevents Early Muscle Mass Loss after Roux-en-Y-Gastric Bypass.

Introduction: A significant reduction in fat-free mass (FFM) following bariatric surgery (BS) has been reported, and adequate protein intake is recommended for FFM preservation. Current guidelines of nutritional management after BS recommend complex protein (CP) compounds. However, Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass (RYGB) has a negative impact on CP digestion, leading to protein malabsorption. At present, there is no data regarding the impact of early supplementation with short peptide-based (SPB) or hydroxy methylbutyrate (HMB)-enriched formulas on the evolution of the FFM after the BS. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nutritional products based on CP, HBM-enriched, or SPB formulas on the FFM of patients that undergo RYGB. Material and methods: This is a prospective interventional study, including three groups of patients (according to the type of protein product) as candidates for BS, recruited between December 2021 and April 2022, matched by age, gender, and BMI. All patients underwent evaluations at baseline and one month post-BS, including: medical history, physical and anthropometric evaluation, bioimpedance, and biochemical analysis. Results: A total of 60 patients were recruited: 63% women, mean age 43.13 ± 9.4 years, and BMI 43.57 ± 4.1 kg/m2. The % of FFM loss from total weight loss (TWL) was significantly lower in the SPB group than CP and HMB groups despite the major %TWL in this group (40.60 ± 17.27 in CP, 34.57 ± 13.15 in HMB, and 19.14 ± 9.38 in SPB, p < 0.001). TWL% was 9.98 ± 1.82 vs. 9.83 ± 2.71 vs. 13.56 ± 4.30, p < 0.001, respectively. Conclusion: In our study, the SPB supplementation prevented almost 50% FFM lost from the TWL than the CP- or HMB-enriched compounds at one month post-BS. These results are significant in the setting of muscle mass preservation after the BS, and have the potential to change the current guidelines for the management of nutritional supplementation after BS.

Evolving Concepts on Inflammatory Biomarkers and Malnutrition in Chronic Kidney Disease.

While patient care, kidney replacement therapy, and transplantation techniques for chronic kidney disease (CKD) have continued to progress, the incidence of malnutrition disorders in CKD appears to have remained unchanged over time. However, there is now a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology according to the disease background, disease stage, and the treatment received. In CKD patients, the increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress lead to a proinflammatory milieu that is at least partially responsible for the increased morbidity and mortality in this patient population. New insights into the pathogenic role of innate immunity and the proinflammatory cytokine profile, characterized, for instance, by higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, explain some of the clinical and laboratory abnormalities observed in these patients. In this article, we will explore currently available nutritional-inflammatory biomarkers in distinct CKD populations (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, transplantation) with a view to evaluating their efficacy as predictors of malnutrition and their involvement in the common proinflammatory process. Although there is a direct relationship between inflammatory-nutritional status, signs and symptoms [e.g., protein-energy wasting (PEW), anorexia], and comorbidities (e.g., atheromatosis, atherosclerosis), we are in need of clearly standardized markers for nutritional-inflammatory assessment to improve their performance and design appropriate bidirectional interventions.

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on the Muscle Mass in Patients with Obesity: 2-Year Follow-up.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery (BS) induces a significant and sustained weight loss in patients with severe obesity (SO). Nevertheless, apart from significantly reducing body fat, fat-free mass (FFM) might also be lost. At present, there is little and controversial data in the literature regarding the impact of BS on FFM. In recent years, bioimpedance (BIA) has emerged as a reliable test to assess body composition easily to use in the daily clinical practice. On the bases, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of BS on the FFM, evaluated by means of BIA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study, including consecutive patients with SO that underwent BS between February 2018 and February 2019 at our center. At baseline, 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after the BS, all the patients underwent complete medical history, physical and anthropometric evaluation, and body composition assessment by means of BIA (using Bodystat QuadScan4000®). RESULTS: Eighty-five patients with SO were recruited, 72.9% females, aged 45.54 ± 9.98 years, pre-BS BMI 43.87 ± 6.52 kg/m2. FFM significantly decreased continuously after BS at all timepoints. The loss of FFM 24 months post-BS accounted for approximately 21.71 ± 13.9% of the total weight loss, and was independent of BS technique or protein metabolism. Pre-BS HOMA-IR and FFM were independent predictors of FFM at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Significant and early loss of FFM in patients with SO that undergo BS was seen, not related to protein metabolism parameters or the BS technique used, suggesting an independent mechanism.

Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 on Pathology Laboratories and Cancer Diagnosis in Girona.

INTRODUCTION: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has compromised socio-health care, with consequences for the diagnosis and follow-up of other pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis in Girona, Spain. METHODOLOGY: Observational study of samples received in two pathology laboratories during 2019-2020 (tertiary hospital in Girona and county hospital in Figueres). Date, sample type, and location and morphology were available. Samples were recoded to determine malignancy and grouped by location. Comparisons were made by calendar year and period of exposure to COVID-19. RESULTS: 102,360 samples were included: 80,517 from Girona and 21,843 from Figueres. The reduction in activity in the pathology laboratories in 2020 compared to the previous year was 25.4% in Girona and 27.5% in Figueres. The reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020 compared to 2019 was 6.8% in Girona and 21% in Figueres. In both laboratories, a decrease was observed in the diagnoses of neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum and anus, kidney and urinary system, melanoma, and central nervous system. A statistically significant higher probability of a sample received in the pathology laboratory displaying malignancy during COVID-19 was found (Girona: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.23-1.34; Figueres: OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20) with respect to the COVID-19-free period. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in cancer diagnoses by pathology departments that varies according to tumor location and type of hospital. Despite this, the optimization of care resources and the recovery effort have partially reduced the impact of the pandemic in certain neoplasms.

Is proteinuria a rare condition in apparently healthy and sick cats? A feline practice experience (2007-2018).

Background: Proteinuria is assumed to be less frequent in cats than in dogs and is mainly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate and compare urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) values retrospectively in cats visited for comprehensive annual health check or for presenting systemic clinical signs related to CKD. Methods: UPC ratio was retrospectively evaluated in 112 owned cats, out of which 51 (45.5%) were apparently healthy cats according to their owners who visited for comprehensive annual health checks and 61 (54.5%) sick cats, presenting systemic clinical signs suggesting CKD, such as weight loss or polyuria/polydipsia, among others. Results: Based on UPC, the present study found that 54.5% of all cats included were borderline proteinuric or proteinuric, having increased UPC (UPC ≥ 0.2), with 35.7% included in the sick group and 18.7% in the health-check group. Increased UPC was also statistically associated with azotemia and isosthenuria (urinary-specific gravity between 1,008 and 1,035) in both sick and health-check groups of cats. Conclusion: Independent of the reason for their medical visit, it could be concluded that borderline proteinuria and proteinuria were statistically mainly related to CKD in cats. Furthermore, the measurement of UPC could be very useful in the detection and management of CKD in apparently healthy cats during a medical visit for annual health check irrespective of the age.

A Compact Raster Lensless Microscope Based on a Microdisplay.

Lensless microscopy requires the simplest possible configuration, as it uses only a light source, the sample and an image sensor. The smallest practical microscope is demonstrated here. In contrast to standard lensless microscopy, the object is located near the lighting source. Raster optical microscopy is applied by using a single-pixel detector and a microdisplay. Maximum resolution relies on reduced LED size and the position of the sample respect the microdisplay. Contrarily to other sort of digital lensless holographic microscopes, light backpropagation is not required to reconstruct the images of the sample. In a mm-high microscope, resolutions down to 800 nm have been demonstrated even when measuring with detectors as large as 138 µm × 138 µm, with field of view given by the display size. Dedicated technology would shorten measuring time.

Pursuing the Diffraction Limit with Nano-LED Scanning Transmission Optical Microscopy.

Recent research into miniaturized illumination sources has prompted the development of alternative microscopy techniques. Although they are still being explored, emerging nano-light-emitting-diode (nano-LED) technologies show promise in approaching the optical resolution limit in a more feasible manner. This work presents the exploration of their capabilities with two different prototypes. In the first version, a resolution of less than 1 µm was shown thanks to a prototype based on an optically downscaled LED using an LED scanning transmission optical microscopy (STOM) technique. This research demonstrates how this technique can be used to improve STOM images by oversampling the acquisition. The second STOM-based microscope was fabricated with a 200 nm GaN LED. This demonstrates the possibilities for the miniaturization of on-chip-based microscopes.

Pre-contrast CT attenuation of the thyroid gland is lower in brachycephalic dogs versus non-brachycephalic dogs.

Computed tomography has been used in human medicine to evaluate the thyroid gland functional status by means of Hounsfield units (HU). Studies describing attenuation value abnormalities, other than those in thyroid neoplasia, lack in veterinary medicine. The authors have observed a subjective reduction in thyroid attenuation in some patients undergoing CT for reasons other than thyroid disease. This finding has been identified more frequently in brachycephalic breeds compared to non-brachycephalic breeds. In order to determine the thyroid gland attenuation variability on CT, a retrospective and prospective, analytical, cross-sectional study was performed. The thyroid attenuation values of 65 client-owned dogs were assessed using a 16-slice helical CT scanner. Differences in attenuation between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs were estimated by Welch's t-test. Serum TT4 and TSH levels were available in 26 patients. Statistically significant differences were observed in the pre-contrast attenuation value ranges between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs (P = .04). The pre-contrast attenuation value range for the brachycephalic group was 69.1-108 HU while being 75.8-121 HU for the non-brachycephalic group. No significant correlation was found between thyroid attenuation and serum thyroid hormone levels in our population (P > .6). All patients with hypoattenuating thyroid were brachycephalic and reported euthyroid. In conclusion, brachycephalic dogs seem to have a pre-contrast attenuation thyroid gland range lower than non-brachycephalic dogs. The present study contributes to the veterinary literature by providing a new thyroid attenuation value range for brachycephalic breeds. Additionally, hypoattenuating thyroid glands may be found in dogs with normal TT4 and TSH values.

Effects of a Fat-Rich Diet on the Spontaneous Release of Acetylcholine in the Neuromuscular Junction of Mice.

Western societies are facing a clear increase in the rate of obesity and overweight which are responsible for musculoskeletal pain. Some of the substances described in the environment of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are the same as those found in the skeletal muscle of obese people, such as cytokines. Furthermore, elevated neuromuscular neurotransmission has been associated with MTrPs. The main objective of this study is to assess whether obesity or overweight may be a facilitator of myofascial pain. The experiments were performed on male Swiss mice. One experimental group was given a typical "cafeteria" diet and another group a commercial high-fat diet for six weeks. Intramuscular adipocytes were assessed with Sudan III. The functional study was performed with electromyographic recording to determine the plaque noise and intracellular recording of miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs). The intake of a cafeteria diet showed the presence of more adipocytes in muscle tissue, but not with the fat-supplemented diet. Both experimental groups showed an increase in the plaque noise and an increase in the frequency of MEPPs that lasted several weeks after interrupting diets. In summary, the supply of a hypercaloric diet for six weeks in mice increases spontaneous neurotransmission, thus facilitating the development of MTrPs.

Nano illumination microscopy: a technique based on scanning with an array of individually addressable nanoLEDs.

In lensless microscopy, spatial resolution is usually provided by the pixel density of current digital cameras, which are reaching a hard-to-surpass pixel size / resolution limit over 1 µm. As an alternative, the dependence of the resolving power can be moved from the detector to the light sources, offering a new kind of lensless microscopy setups. The use of continuously scaled-down Light-Emitting Diode (LED) arrays to scan the sample allows resolutions on order of the LED size, giving rise to compact and low-cost microscopes without mechanical scanners or optical accessories. In this paper, we present the operation principle of this new approach to lensless microscopy, with simulations that demonstrate the possibility to use it for super-resolution, as well as a first prototype. This proof-of-concept setup integrates an 8 × 8 array of LEDs, each 5 × 5 µm2 pixel size and 10 µm pitch, and an optical detector. We characterize the system using Electron-Beam Lithography (EBL) pattern. Our prototype validates the imaging principle and opens the way to improve resolution by further miniaturizing the light sources.

Effects of a polysaccharide-rich extract derived from Irish-sourced Laminaria digitata on the composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota using an in vitro colonic model.

BACKGROUND: Brown seaweeds are known to be a rich source of fiber with the presence of several non-digestible polysaccharides including laminarin, fucoidan and alginate. These individual polysaccharides have previously been shown to favorably alter the gut microbiota composition and activity albeit the effect of the collective brown seaweed fiber component on the microbiota remains to be determined. METHODS: This study investigated the effect of a crude polysaccharide-rich extract obtained from Laminaria digitata (CE) and a depolymerized CE extract (DE) on the gut microbiota composition and metabolism using an in vitro fecal batch culture model though metagenomic compositional analysis using 16S rRNA FLX amplicon pyrosequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis using GC-FID. RESULTS: Selective culture analysis showed no significant changes in cultured lactobacilli or bifidobacteria between the CE or DE and the cellulose-negative control at any time point measured (0, 5, 10, 24, 36, 48 h). Following metagenomic analysis, the CE and DE significantly altered the relative abundance of several families including Lachnospiraceae and genera including Streptococcus, Ruminococcus and Parabacteroides of human fecal bacterial populations in comparison to cellulose after 24 h. The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and total SCFA were significantly higher for both the CE and DE compared to cellulose after 10, 24, 36 and 48 h fermentation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the acetate:propionate ratio was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) for both CD and DE following 24, 36 and 48 h fermentation. CONCLUSION: The microbiota-associated metabolic and compositional changes noted provide initial indication of putative beneficial health benefits of L. digitata in vitro; however, research is needed to clarify if L. digitata-derived fiber can favorably alter the gut microbiota and confer health benefits in vivo.