Visual-functional impact of people affected by severe ocular trauma during social protests in Chile in 2019.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact on the functionality associated with visual loss (VFIP) in people with severe ocular trauma (SOT) caused by kinetic impact projectiles used in police crowd control through a prioritization tool in people admitted to a rehabilitation program in Santiago de Chile from December 02, 2019, to November 13, 2020. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of SOT victims (N = 85), average age 31.4 ± 11.9. The data were recorded through a new 9-item screening instrument for assessment and prioritization of rehabilitation created for this emergency scenario. RESULTS: The impact of the use of kinetic weapons resulted in monocular blindness in the majority of those affected (n = 68; 80.0%). The highest VFIP observed was among young men from lower social strata. There were extreme difficulties in the performance of productive tasks (occupational and/or educational) (n = 42; 49.4%) and the pursuit of hobbies and pastimes (n = 23; 27.1%), as well as a high difficulty in adapting to changes in brightness (n = 29; 34.1%) and handling objects accurately (n = 22; 25.9%). CONCLUSION: The use of kinetic weapons for crowd control resulted in high and extreme VFIP and, in most cases, monocular blindness, causing major difficulties in work, study, and development of hobbies and pastimes in the affected population, highlighting the urgent need for effective rehabilitative care, which requires special attention in order to generate an adequate rehabilitation program. The use of kinetic weapons for crowd control contravenes international goals, policies, and plans set by the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness on strategies to prevent avoidable blindness worldwide until 2020. It is essential to ban the use of these weapons in Chile and worldwide, as well as to revise police protocols for crowd control.

Tissue-Resident Alveolar Macrophages Reduce Ozone-induced Inflammation via MerTK-mediated Efferocytosis.

Lung inflammation, caused by acute exposure to ozone (O3), one of the six criteria air pollutants, is a significant source of morbidity in susceptible individuals. Alveolar macrophages (AMØs) are the most abundant immune cells in the normal lung, and their number increases after O3 exposure. However, the role of AMØs in promoting or limiting O3-induced lung inflammation has not been clearly defined. In this study, we used a mouse model of acute O3 exposure, lineage tracing, genetic knockouts, and data from O3-exposed human volunteers to define the role and ontogeny of AMØs during acute O3 exposure. Lineage-tracing experiments showed that 12, 24, and 72 hours after exposure to O3 (2 ppm) for 3 hours, all AMØs were of tissue-resident origin. Similarly, in humans exposed to filtered air and O3 (200 ppb) for 135 minutes, we did not observe at ∼21 hours postexposure an increase in monocyte-derived AMØs by flow cytometry. Highlighting a role for tissue-resident AMØs, we demonstrate that depletion of tissue-resident AMØs with clodronate-loaded liposomes led to persistence of neutrophils in the alveolar space after O3 exposure, suggesting that impaired neutrophil clearance (i.e., efferocytosis) leads to prolonged lung inflammation. Moreover, depletion of tissue-resident AMØs demonstrated reduced clearance of intratracheally instilled apoptotic Jurkat cells, consistent with reduced efferocytosis. Genetic ablation of MerTK (MER proto-oncogene, tyrosine kinase), a key receptor involved in efferocytosis, also resulted in impaired clearance of apoptotic neutrophils after O3 exposure. Overall, these findings underscore the pivotal role of tissue-resident AMØs in resolving O3-induced inflammation via MerTK-mediated efferocytosis.

Individualised, perioperative open-lung ventilation strategy during one-lung ventilation (iPROVE-OLV): a multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether individualisation of the perioperative open-lung approach (OLA) to ventilation reduces postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing lung resection. We compared a perioperative individualised OLA (iOLA) ventilation strategy with standard lung-protective ventilation in patients undergoing thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation. METHODS: This multicentre, randomised controlled trial enrolled patients scheduled for open or video-assisted thoracic surgery using one-lung ventilation in 25 participating hospitals in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and Ecuador. Eligible adult patients (age ≥18 years) were randomly assigned to receive iOLA or standard lung-protective ventilation. Eligible patients (stratified by centre) were randomly assigned online by local principal investigators, with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Treatment with iOLA included an alveolar recruitment manoeuvre to 40 cm H2O of end-inspiratory pressure followed by individualised positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titrated to best respiratory system compliance, and individualised postoperative respiratory support with high-flow oxygen therapy. Participants allocated to standard lung-protective ventilation received combined intraoperative 4 cm H2O of PEEP and postoperative conventional oxygen therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of severe postoperative pulmonary complications within the first 7 postoperative days, including atelectasis requiring bronchoscopy, severe respiratory failure, contralateral pneumothorax, early extubation failure (rescue with continuous positive airway pressure, non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, or reintubation), acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary infection, bronchopleural fistula, and pleural empyema. Due to trial setting, data obtained in the operating and postoperative rooms for routine monitoring were not blinded. At 24 h, data were acquired by an investigator blinded to group allocation. All analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03182062, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Sept 11, 2018, and June 14, 2022, we enrolled 1380 patients, of whom 1308 eligible patients (670 [434 male, 233 female, and three with missing data] assigned to iOLA and 638 [395 male, 237 female, and six with missing data] to standard lung-protective ventilation) were included in the final analysis. The proportion of patients with the composite outcome of severe postoperative pulmonary complications within the first 7 postoperative days was lower in the iOLA group compared with the standard lung-protective ventilation group (40 [6%] vs 97 [15%], relative risk 0·39 [95% CI 0·28 to 0·56]), with an absolute risk difference of -9·23 (95% CI -12·55 to -5·92). Recruitment manoeuvre-related adverse events were reported in five patients. INTERPRETATION: Among patients subjected to lung resection under one-lung ventilation, iOLA was associated with a reduced risk of severe postoperative pulmonary complications when compared with conventional lung-protective ventilation. FUNDING: Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the European Regional Development Funds.

Current status of geriatric dentistry education in selected dental schools in Latin America and the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVE: Latin American and Carribean (LAC) are currently experiencing a rapid aging of their population, coupled with a significant burden of oral diseases. Despites this, there is a scarcity of evidence regarding the manner in wich geriatric dentistry is being taught in dental schools across LAC. So, the objective of this study is to investigate the current status of geriatric dentistry education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in selected LAC dental schools. METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was developed and emailed to all 539 dental schools in 19 LAC countries. The questionnaire recorded activity levels, contents and methodology of geriatric dentistry education as part of dental degree programmes. Reminders by email and telephone calls were used to encourage non-responders to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 317 schools from 17 countries responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 58.8%). Geriatric dentistry was taught in 54.6% of the schools at the undergraduate level and in 6.9% at the postgraduate level. Thirty two percent of the schools had a programme director trained in geriatric dentistry. Geriatric dentistry was taught as an independent course in 14.5% of the schools. Dry mouth, periodontal disease, denture-related conditions and prosthodontic management, oral mucosal disease and age-related changes of the orofacial complex were the most frequently covered topics. Clinical teaching of geriatric dentistry was reported by 26.5% of the schools, with 38.0% providing clinical training in outreach facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric dentistry education remains incipient in LAC, with only one in every four dental school offering it as a standalone course. There is an urgent need to further develop geriatric dentistry education in the continent, including further research to develop a minimum geriatric dentistry curriculum.

Racial disparities in access to DBS: results of a real-world U.S. claims data analysis.

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective and standard-of-care therapy for Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders when symptoms are inadequately controlled with conventional medications. It requires expert care for patient selection, surgical targeting, and therapy titration. Despite the known benefits, racial/ethnic disparities in access have been reported. Technological advancements with smartphone-enabled devices may influence racial disparities. Real-world evidence investigations can shed further light on barriers to access and demographic disparities for DBS patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using Medicare claims linked with manufacturer patient data tracking to analyze 3,869 patients who received DBS. Patients were divided into two categories: traditional omnidirectional DBS systems with dedicated proprietary controllers ("traditional"; n = 3,256) and directional DBS systems with smart controllers ("smartphone-enabled"; n = 613). Demographics including age, sex, and self-identified race/ethnicity were compared. Categorical demographics, including race/ethnicity and distance from implanting facility, were analyzed for the entire population. Results: A significant disparity in DBS utilization was evident. White individuals comprised 91.4 and 89.9% of traditional and smartphone-enabled DBS groups, respectively. Non-White patients were significantly more likely to live closer to implanting facilities compared with White patients. Conclusion: There is great racial disparity in utilization of DBS therapy. Smartphone-enabled systems did not significantly impact racial disparities in receiving DBS. Minoritized patients were more likely to live closer to their implanting facility than White patients. Further research is warranted to identify barriers to access for minoritized patients to receive DBS. Technological advancements should consider the racial discrepancy of DBS utilization in future developments.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Chronic Stroke: Is Neuroimaging the Answer to the Next Leap Forward?

During rehabilitation, a large proportion of stroke patients either plateau or begin to lose motor skills. By priming the motor system, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising clinical adjunct that could augment the gains acquired during therapy sessions. However, the extent to which patients show improvements following tDCS is highly variable. This variability may be due to heterogeneity in regions of cortical infarct, descending motor tract injury, and/or connectivity changes, all factors that require neuroimaging for precise quantification and that affect the actual amount and location of current delivery. If the relationship between these factors and tDCS efficacy were clarified, recovery from stroke using tDCS might be become more predictable. This review provides a comprehensive summary and timeline of the development of tDCS for stroke from the viewpoint of neuroimaging. Both animal and human studies that have explored detailed aspects of anatomy, connectivity, and brain activation dynamics relevant to tDCS are discussed. Selected computational works are also included to demonstrate how sophisticated strategies for reducing variable effects of tDCS, including electric field modeling, are moving the field ever closer towards the goal of personalizing tDCS for each individual. Finally, larger and more comprehensive randomized controlled trials involving tDCS for chronic stroke recovery are underway that likely will shed light on how specific tDCS parameters, such as dose, affect stroke outcomes. The success of these collective efforts will determine whether tDCS for chronic stroke gains regulatory approval and becomes clinical practice in the future.

Neuromodulation for treatment-resistant depression: Functional network targets contributing to antidepressive outcomes.

Non-invasive brain stimulation is designed to target accessible brain regions that underlie many psychiatric disorders. One such method, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is commonly used in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, for non-responders, the choice of an alternative therapy is unclear and often decided empirically without detailed knowledge of precise circuit dysfunction. This is also true of invasive therapies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), in which responses in TRD patients are linked to circuit activity that varies in each individual. If the functional networks affected by these approaches were better understood, a theoretical basis for selection of interventions could be developed to guide psychiatric treatment pathways. The mechanistic understanding of TMS is that it promotes long-term potentiation of cortical targets, such as dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which are attenuated in depression. DLPFC is highly interconnected with other networks related to mood and cognition, thus TMS likely alters activity remote from DLPFC, such as in the central executive, salience and default mode networks. When deeper structures such as subcallosal cingulate cortex (SCC) are targeted using DBS for TRD, response efficacy has depended on proximity to white matter pathways that similarly engage emotion regulation and reward. Many have begun to question whether these networks, targeted by different modalities, overlap or are, in fact, the same. A major goal of current functional and structural imaging in patients with TRD is to elucidate neuromodulatory effects on the aforementioned networks so that treatment of intractable psychiatric conditions may become more predictable and targeted using the optimal technique with fewer iterations. Here, we describe several therapeutic approaches to TRD and review clinical studies of functional imaging and tractography that identify the diverse loci of modulation. We discuss differentiating factors associated with responders and non-responders to these stimulation modalities, with a focus on mechanisms of action for non-invasive and intracranial stimulation modalities. We advance the hypothesis that non-invasive and invasive neuromodulation approaches for TRD are likely impacting shared networks and critical nodes important for alleviating symptoms associated with this disorder. We close by describing a therapeutic framework that leverages personalized connectome-guided target identification for a stepwise neuromodulation paradigm.

mGluR-dependent plasticity in rodent models of Alzheimer's disease.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) are currently the most comprehensive models of synaptic plasticity models to subserve learning and memory. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus LTP and LTD can be induced by the activation of either NMDA receptors or mGluR5 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Alterations in either form of synaptic plasticity, NMDAR-dependent or mGluR-dependent, are attractive candidates to contribute to learning deficits in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aging. Research, however, has focused predominantly on NMDAR-dependent forms of LTP and LTD. Here we studied age-associated changes in mGluR-dependent LTP and LTD in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and in Octodon degu, a rodent model of aging that exhibits features of AD. At 2 months of age, APP/PS1 mouse exhibited robust mGluR-dependent LTP and LTD that was completely lost by the 8th month of age. The expression of mGluR protein in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice was not affected, consistent with previous findings indicating the uncoupling of the plasticity cascade from mGluR5 activation. In O. degu, the average mGluR-LTD magnitude is reduced by half by the 3 rd year of age. In aged O. degu individuals, the reduced mGluR-LTD correlated with reduced performance in a radial arm maze task. Altogether these findings support the idea that the preservation of mGluR-dependent synaptic plasticity is essential for the preservation of learning capacity during aging.

Neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders: reviewing the past and charting the future.

Surgical techniques targeting behavioral disorders date back thousands of years. In this review, the authors discuss the history of neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders, starting with trephination in the Stone Age, progressing through the fraught practice of prefrontal lobotomy, and ending with modern neurosurgical techniques for treating psychiatric conditions, including ablative procedures, conventional deep brain stimulation, and closed-loop neurostimulation. Despite a tumultuous past, psychiatric neurosurgery is on the cusp of becoming a transformative therapy for patients with psychiatric dysfunction, with an ever-increasing evidence base suggesting reproducible and ethical therapeutic benefit.

Intrafamilial phenotypic variability in autosomal recessive DOCK6-related Adams-Oliver syndrome.

Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) is diagnosed in presence of aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) of the scalp and terminal transverse limb defects (TTLD). The autosomal recessive (AR) DOCK6-related form of AOS is most often associated with a severe phenotype including also central nervous system and ocular abnormalities. We report a sister and brother with different expression of the phenotype. Both were compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in the DOCK6 gene, including a heterozygous c.5939+2T > C intronic variant that was maternally inherited, and a heterozygous deletion of exons 10 to 21 that was paternally inherited. The sister had microcephaly, periventricular calcifications, minor retinal vasculopathy, and mild impaired neurodevelopment, but only very subtle limb abnormalities and no ACC. Her brother showed a classical DOCK6-related AOS phenotype, including a severe bilateral peripheral ischemic retinopathy. From a review of 22 molecularly confirmed cases with DOCK6-related AOS with ophthalmic examination, we found that 16 of them had retinal vascular pathology (72.7%), confirming as the major ocular anomaly. Documented intrafamilial variability in our family and the evidence revised from previous reports, confirm that AR DOCK6-related AOS expressivity can produce a "milder" phenotype without ACC or TTLD, which could be underdiagnosed in simplex cases because it is difficult to recognize out of a familial context. Therefore, in order to know its real magnitude is required the future inclusion of DOCK6 gene in NGS panels directed to the study of simplex cases of patients with microcephaly, periventricular calcifications, retinal vasculopathy, and/or cardiovascular defects.

Birth weight percentiles in Western-Mexico.

Not available.

Omega-3 fatty acids attenuate cardiovascular effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollution is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Evidence shows that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) may attenuate the adverse cardiovascular effects of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, it is unclear whether habitual dietary intake of omega-3 PUFA protects against the cardiovascular effects of short-term exposure to low-level ambient air pollution in healthy participants. In the present study, sixty-two adults with low or high dietary omega-3 PUFA intake were enrolled. Blood lipids, markers of vascular inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolysis, and heart rate variability (HRV) and repolarization were repeatedly assessed in 5 sessions separated by at least 7 days. This study was carried out in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, USA between October 2016 and September 2019. Daily PM2.5 and maximum 8-h ozone (O3) concentrations were obtained from nearby air quality monitoring stations. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between air pollutant concentrations and cardiovascular responses stratified by the omega-3 intake levels. RESULTS: The average concentrations of ambient PM2.5 and O3 were well below the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards during the study period. Significant associations between exposure to PM2.5 and changes in total cholesterol, von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue plasminogen activator, D-dimer, and very-low frequency HRV were observed in the low omega-3 group, but not in the high group. Similarly, O3-associated adverse changes in cardiovascular biomarkers (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, serum amyloid A, soluable intracellular adhesion molecule 1, and vWF) were mainly observed in the low omega-3 group. Lag-time-dependent biphasic changes were observed for some biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates associations between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and O3, at concentrations below regulatory standard, and subclinical cardiovascular responses, and that dietary omega-3 PUFA consumption may provide protection against such cardiovascular effects in healthy adults.

The Role of Ethnic-Specific Gender Schemas in Ethnic Disparities in Adolescent Girls' Disruptive Behavior: A Preliminary Examination.

African American adolescent girls have evidenced higher levels of disruptive behavior than girls from other ethnic groups. However, most research focused on understanding disparities in these outcomes has been conducted without consideration of gender or has focused exclusively on boys. Yet, prior research suggests that anger and aggression are less gender-typed in African American youth than they are among youth from other ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to examine the extent to which ethnic-specific gender schemas about anger mediated the relationship between ethnicity and girls' disruptive behavior. Participants were 66 middle school girls (24.1 % African American, 46.3 % European American; Mage= 12.06). They completed measures of ethnic-specific gender schemas about anger, reactive and instrumental aggression, and classroom disruptive behavior. Results indicated that relative to girls from other ethnic groups, African American girls had higher levels of reactive aggression and classroom disruptive behavior, both of which are rooted in anger. In contrast, no ethnic difference was found for instrumental aggression, which is not connected to anger. Ethnic-specific gender schemas about anger at least partially accounted for ethnic differences in reactive aggression and classroom disruptive behavior. Findings highlight the importance of examining gender schemas specific to ethnicity as factors in ethnic disparities in behavioral outcomes among adolescent girls.

Lung Function and Short-Term Ambient Air Pollution Exposure: Differential Impacts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids.

Rationale: Exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse respiratory effects. Polyunsaturated omega 3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs) appear to attenuate the health effects of air pollution. Objectives: This panel study evaluated whether n-3 FA intake and blood levels of polyunsaturated omega 6 (n-6) FAs can modulate the associations between respiratory effects and short-term exposure to ambient air pollution in healthy adults. Methods: Sixty-two healthy adults were enrolled into either high or low n-3 FA groups on the basis of n-3 FA intake and erythrocyte n-3 FA concentrations. Low and high n-6 FA groups were dichotomized on the basis of blood n-6 FA levels. Participants underwent three to five testing sessions separated by at least 7 days. At each session, the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and plasma markers of inflammation (IL-6 [interleukin-6]) and oxidative stress (ox-LDL [oxidized low-density lipoprotein]) were measured. Associations between the ambient ozone and fine particulate matter (PM) (PM with an aerodynamic diameter ⩽2.5 µm [PM2.5]) levels and the lung function and blood markers were assessed by using mixed-effect models stratified by FA levels. Results: Average levels of ozone (40.8 ± 11.1 ppb) and PM2.5 (10.2 ± 4.1 µg/m3) were below national ambient air quality standards during the study period. FVC was positively associated with ozone at a lag of 0 days (lag0) in the high n-3 FA group, whereas the association was null in the low n-3 FA group (for an interquartile range increase in ozone of 1.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5% to 3.2%] vs. 0.0% [95% CI: -1.4% to 1.5%]); however, the association shifted to being negative at lag4 (-1.9% [95% CI: -3.2 to -0.5] vs. 0.2% [95% CI: -1.2% to 1.5%]) and lag5 (-1.2% [95% CI: -2.4% to 0.0%] vs. 0.9% [95% CI: -0.4% to 2.3%]). A similar pattern was observed in the low n-6 FA group compared with the high n-6 FA group (lag0: 1.7% [95% CI: 0.3% to 3.0%] vs. 0.5% [95% CI: -0.9% to 2.0%] and lag4: -1.4% [95% CI: -2.8% to 0.0%] vs. -0.5% [95% CI: -1.8% to 0.9%]). The associations between FEV1 and ozone and between FVC and PM2.5 also followed a similar pattern. Elevated ozone levels were associated with an immediate decrease in ox-LDL in the high n-3 FA group at lag0 (-12.3% [95% CI: -24.8% to 0.1%]), whereas there was no change in the low n-3 FA group (-7.5% [95% CI: -21.4% to 6.5%]) and there was a delayed increase in IL-6 in the high n-3 FA group compared with the low n-3 FA group (lag4: 66.9% [95% CI: 27.9% to 106.0%] vs. 8.9% [95% CI: -31.8% to 49.6%], lag5: 58.2% [95% CI: 22.4% to 94.1%] vs. -7.4% [95% CI: -48.8% to 34.0%], and lag6: 45.8% [95% CI: 8.7% to 82.9%] vs. -8.5% [95% CI: -49.7% to 32.6%]). Conclusions: We observed lag-dependent associations between short-term ambient air pollutants and lung function that were differentially modulated by n-3 and n-6 FAs, suggesting that n-3 and n-6 FAs counteract the respiratory response to low levels of ambient air pollution in healthy adults.Clinical trial registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02921048).

The influence of dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes among healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has shown protection against exposure to fine particulate matter. This study aims to investigate whether habitual omega-3 PUFA intake differentially modify the associations between respiratory and cardiovascular responses and short-term exposure to ambient NO2. METHODS: Sixty-two healthy participants were enrolled into low or high omega-3 groups based on their habitual omega-3 PUFA intake. Each participant was repeatedly assessed for lung function, blood lipids, markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, vascular function, and heart rate variability (HRV) in up to five sessions, each separated by at least 7 days. This study was carried out in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, USA between October 2016 and September 2019. Daily ambient NO2 concentrations were obtained from an area air quality monitoring station on the day of outcome assessment (Lag0), 4 days prior (Lag1-4), as well as 5-day moving average (5dMA). The associations between short-term exposure to NO2 and the measured indices were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models stratified by omega-3 levels and adjusted by covariates including relative humidity and temperature. RESULTS: The average concentration of ambient NO2 during the study periods was 5.3±3.8 ppb which was below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In the high omega-3 group, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in short-term NO2 concentrations was significantly associated with increased lung function [e.g. 1.2% (95%CI: 0.2%, 2.2%) in FVC at lag1, 2.6% (95%CI: 0.4%, 4.8%) in FEV1 at 5dMA], decreased blood lipids [e.g. -2.6% (95%CI: -4.4%, -0.9%) in total cholesterol at lag2, -3.1% (95%CI: -6.1%, 0.0%) in HDL at 5dMA, and -3.1% (95%CI: -5.5%, -0.7%) in LDL at lag2], improved vascular function [e.g. 8.9% (95%CI: 0.6%, 17.2%) increase in FMD and 43.1% (95%CI: -79.8%, -6.3%) decrease in endothelin-1 at 5dMA], and changed HRV parameters [e.g. -7.2% (95%CI: -13.6%, -0.8%) in HFn and 13.4% (95%CI: 0.2%, 28.3%) in LF/HF ratio at lag3]. In the low omega-3 group, an IQR increase in ambient NO2 was associated with elevations in coagulation markers (von Willebrand Factor, D-dimer) and a decrease in HRV (very-low frequency); however, null associations were observed between short-term NO2 exposure and changes in lung function, blood lipids, and vascular function. CONCLUSIONS: The results in this study imply that dietary omega-3 PUFA consumption may offer respiratory and vascular benefits in response to short-term exposure of healthy adults to NO2 levels below the NAAQS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02921048 ).

Alzheimer's Disease, Neural Plasticity, and Functional Recovery.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common and devastating neurodegenerative condition worldwide, characterized by the aggregation of amyloid-ß and phosphorylated tau protein, and is accompanied by a progressive loss of learning and memory. A healthy nervous system is endowed with synaptic plasticity, among others neural plasticity mechanisms, allowing structural and physiological adaptations to changes in the environment. This neural plasticity modification sustains learning and memory, and behavioral changes and is severely affected by pathological and aging conditions, leading to cognitive deterioration. This article reviews critical aspects of AD neurodegeneration as well as therapeutic approaches that restore neural plasticity to provide functional recoveries, including environmental enrichment, physical exercise, transcranial stimulation, neurotrophin involvement, and direct electrical stimulation of the amygdala. In addition, we report recent behavioral results in Octodon degus, a promising natural model for the study of AD that naturally reproduces the neuropathological alterations observed in AD patients during normal aging, including neuronal toxicity, deterioration of neural plasticity, and the decline of learning and memory.

Piloting of the Just Say Know prevention program: a psychoeducational approach to translating the neuroscience of addiction to youth.

BACKGROUND: Substance use during adolescence can have a number of negative consequences and interfere with normal brain development. Given limited time and resources, brief group- and school-based prevention programs are an efficient strategy for educating youth about the effects of substance use on health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To determine if a science-based, interactive substance prevention program could improve student knowledge and influence students' attitudes toward future substance use behaviors. METHODS: The Just Say Know program was given to 1,594 middle and high school students. The facilitator engaged students in an interactive, hour-long session covering brain basics and effects of substance use. Students completed an eight-item pre- and post-knowledge-based test to measure learning outcomes along with feedback questions about youths' attitudes toward substance use and the program. RESULTS: After the program, 94% of students reported that it provided helpful information; 92% reported it may influence their approach to substance use, with 76% specifying that they would delay or cut back on substance use. Knowledge-based test performance increased by 78%, with high schoolers displaying significantly higher scores than middle schoolers, but both showing similar improvements in scores. Students who reported higher levels of friends' substance use had smaller improvements from pre- to posttest. CONCLUSION: Results suggest Just Say Know, a scientifically-based prevention program, is effective in increasing adolescents' program based-knowledge, has the potential to affect youths' attitudes toward substance use, and is well-received. These findings provide preliminary evidence that a cost-effective, neuroscience-informed group prevention program might reduce or delay adolescents' future substance use.

First report of Sugarcane mosaic virus in achira (Canna edulis Ker.) in Nariño, Colombia / Primer registro del Sugarcane mosaic virus en achira (Canna edulis Ker.) en Nariño, Colombia

ABSTRACT Achira (Canna edulis Ker.) is a cultivated species for handcrafted food products and starch production. In Colombia is estimated an achira cultivated area of 800 ha; in the department of Nariño there has been a disturbance of viral etiology, known by farmers as Streak Virus, due to its symptoms in the leaves, but without previous records in the area. The disease causes losses in performance, although they have not been established precisely. In order to clarify the nature of this pathology and the identity of the pathogen associated with the problem, an investigation was carried out at the University of Nariño, by means of molecular tests of PCR and RT-PCR, sequencing, serology and electron microscopy, of foliar samples collected in the producing areas. The most outstanding symptoms in affected tissues were yellow mosaic, mottled, chlorotic streak and ribs discoloration, among others. There were no cytoplasmic inclusions similar to those produced by Potyvirus, nor viral particles were observed, nor serology positive results, but it was possible to achieve the amplification of a cDNA fragment, with specific primers for Potyvirus and 98% of homology of the sequences with Sugarcane mosaic virus. This is the first SCMV report in achira in Nariño, Colombia.

RESUMEN La achira (Canna edulis Ker.) es una especie utilizada para la producción de almidón y alimentos artesanales. En Colombia, se estima un área cultivada de 800ha; en el departamento de Nariño, se viene presentando un disturbio de etiología viral, conocido por los agricultores como el rayado, por sus síntomas en las hojas, pero sin registros previos en esta zona. La enfermedad causa pérdidas en el rendimiento, aunque no se ha establecido con precisión. Con el objetivo de esclarecer la naturaleza de dicha patología y la identidad del patógeno asociado al problema, en la Universidad de Nariño, se realizó una investigación, mediante pruebas moleculares de PCR y RT-PCR, secuenciación, serología y microscopía electrónica, de muestras foliares colectadas en las zonas productoras. Los síntomas más sobresalientes en tejidos afectados fueron mosaico amarillo, moteado, rayado clorótico, aclaramiento de nervaduras entre otros. No se detectaron inclusiones citoplasmáticas similares a las producidas por Potyvirus, ni se observaron partículas virales, tampoco hubo resultados positivos con serología, pero sí se logró amplificación de un fragmento de cDNA, con cebadores específicos para Potyvirus y homología de 98% de las secuencias con el virus Sugarcane mosaic virus SCMV. Este es el primer reporte de SCMV en achira en Nariño, Colombia.

Validation of a Dietary Questionnaire to Screen Omega-3 Fatty Acids Levels in Healthy Adults.

To facilitate a clinical observational study to identify healthy volunteers with low (defined as ≤4%) and high (defined as ≥5.5%) omega-3 indices, a dietary questionnaire to rapidly assess habitual dietary intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was developed. This study aimed to determine the validity of this newly developed dietary questionnaire. One hundred and eight volunteers were included and were assessed for habitual dietary intake of EPA and DHA using the questionnaire. The United States Department of Agriculture food products database and nutrition fact label was referenced for calculation. Blood samples were collected for the analysis of fatty acids in whole blood specimens and to derive omega-3 indices. A linear correlation was observed between reported dietary consumption of EPA, DHA, EPA+DHA and the whole blood levels of EPA, DHA, and the omega-3 indices (r = 0.67, 0.62, 0.67, respectively, p < 0.001 for all). The findings also suggested that the questionnaire was substantially better at identifying volunteers with high omega-3 indices (sensitivity 89%, specificity 84%, and agreement 86%) compared to volunteers with low omega-3 indices (sensitivity 100%, specificity 66%, and agreement 42%). In conclusion, this newly developed questionnaire is an efficient tool for the assessment of omega-3 indices in study populations and is particularly effective in identifying individuals with high omega-3 indices.

Estimation of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations using sentinel surveillance data-La Paz, Bolivia. 2012-2017.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to estimate the number of hospitalizations associated with influenza and RSV using data from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) sentinel surveillance from El Alto-La Paz. Bolivia. METHODS: All persons who met the case definition for SARI at one sentinel hospital had a clinical sample collected and analyzed by rRT-PCR for influenza and by indirect immunofluorescence for RSV. The SARI-influenza and SARI-RSV case counts were stratified by six age groups. The proportion of cases captured in the sentinel hospital in relation to the non-sentinel hospitals of area was multiplied by the age-specific census population, to build the denominators. The annual incidence and a 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: During 2012-2017, n = 2606 SARI cases were reported (average incidence 120/100 000 inhabitants [95% CI: 116-124]); the average incidence of influenza-associated SARI hospitalization was 15.3/100 000 (95% CI: 14.1-16.7), and the average incidence of RSV-associated SARI hospitalization was 9/100 000 inhabitants (95% CI: 8.1-10.1). The highest incidence of influenza was among those less than one year of age (average 174.7/100 000 [range: 89.1-299.5]), followed by those one to four years of age (average 51.8/100 000 [range: 19.8-115.4]) and then those 65 years of age and older (average 47.7/100 000 [range: 18.8-117]). For RSV, the highest incidence was highest among those less than one year of age (231/100 000 [range: 119.9-322.9]). CONCLUSION: Influenza and RSV represent major causes of hospitalization in La Paz, Bolivia-with the highest burden among children under one year of age. Our estimates support current prevention strategies in this age group.