Two-Year Longitudinal Outcomes of Subjective Cognitive Decline in Hispanics Compared to Non-hispanic Whites.

BACKGROUND: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), considered a preclinical dementia stage, is less understood in Hispanics, a high-risk group for dementia. We investigated SCD to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression risk, as well as baseline and longitudinal features of depressive symptoms, SCD complaints, and objective cognitive performance among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). METHODS: Hispanic (n = 23) and NHW (n = 165) SCD participants were evaluated at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Evaluations assessed function, depressive symptoms, SCD, and objective cognitive performance. RESULTS: Hispanics were at increased risk of progression to MCI (OR: 6.10, 95% CI 1.09-34.20, P = .040). Hispanic participants endorsed more depressive symptoms at baseline (P = .048) that worsened more longitudinally (OR: 3.16, 95% CI 1.18-8.51, P = .023). Hispanic participants had increased SCD complaints on the Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS) (ß = .40 SE: .17, P = .023), and in specific BCRS domains: concentration (ß = .13, SE: .07, P = .047), past memory (ß = .13, SE: .06, P = .039) and functional abilities (ß = .10, SE: .05, P = .037). In objective cognitive performance, Hispanic ethnicity associated with decline in MMSE (ß = -.27, SE: .13, P = .039), MoCA (ß = -.80 SE: .34, P = .032), Trails A (ß = 2.75, SE: .89, P = .002), Trails B (ß = 9.18, SE: 2.71, P = .001) and Guild Paragraph Recall Delayed (ß = -.80 SE: .28, P = .005). Conclusions: Hispanic ethnicity associated with a significantly increased risk of 2-year progression of SCD to MCI compared to NHW. This increased risk associated with increased depressive symptoms, distinctive SCD features, and elevated amnestic and non-amnestic objective cognitive decline. This supports further research to refine the assessment of preclinical dementia in this high-risk group.

Difference in mortality rates in hospitalized COVID-19 patients identified by cytokine profile clustering using a machine learning approach: An outcome prediction alternative.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causing an acute respiratory disease that can eventually lead to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). An exacerbated inflammatory response is characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which leads to a cytokine release syndrome also known as cytokine storm associated with the severity of the disease. Considering the importance of this event in the immunopathology of COVID-19, this study analyses cytokine levels of hospitalized patients to identify cytokine profiles associated with severity and mortality. Using a machine learning approach, 3 clusters of COVID-19 hospitalized patients were created based on their cytokine profile. Significant differences in the mortality rate were found among the clusters, associated to different CXCL10/IL-38 ratio. The balance of a CXCL10 induced inflammation with an appropriate immune regulation mediated by the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-38 appears to generate the adequate immune context to overrule SARS-CoV-2 infection without creating a harmful inflammatory reaction. This study supports the concept that analyzing a single cytokine is insufficient to determine the outcome of a complex disease such as COVID-19, and different strategies incorporating bioinformatic analyses considering a broader immune profile represent a more robust alternative to predict the outcome of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Incorporation of Caprylic Acid into a Single Cell Oil Rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid for the Production of Specialty Lipids.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: New sources of docosahexaenoic acid have recently been investigated aiming at infant formula fortification and dietary supplementation, among which the single cell oil with 40-50% of this acid. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: For this purpose, such an oil was blended with caprylic acid in amount substance ratio ranging from 1:1 to 5:1 and the blends were interesterified using either Novozym 435 or Lipozyme TL IM as the catalyst. The influence of the amount of excess free caprylic acid in the substrate, as well as the type of enzyme on the triacylglycerol rearrangement resulting from the synthesis of the structured lipids were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The regiospecific lipase Lipozyme TL IM seemed to induce transesterification among single cell oil triacylglycerols preferably by acidolysis with caprylic acid, which was directly proportional to the ratio of this acid in the substrate. In reactions catalyzed by the non-regiospecific lipase Novozym 435, a higher incorporation of caprylic acid into single cell oil triacylglycerols was observed than when using Lipozyme TL IM, independently of the oil/caprylic acid molar ratio. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: These results revealed the importance of combining the choice of the type of lipase, either regiospecific or not, with the amount ratios of free fatty acids and the substrate in acidolysis when aiming to produce structured lipids as a source of docosahexaenoic acid.

Laboratory and field evaluation of acetic acid-based lures for male Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a vector of a pathogen associated with greening and thus a major problem in citriculture worldwide. Lures are much needed for improving ACP trapping systems for monitoring populations and surveillance. Previously, we have identified acetic acid as a putative sex pheromone and measured formic acid- and propionic acid-elicited robust electroantennographic responses. We have now thoroughly examined in indoor behavioral assays (4-way olfactometer) and field tests the feasibility of these three semiochemicals as potential lures for trapping ACP. Formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid at appropriate doses are male-specific attractants and suitable lures for ACP traps, but they do not act synergistically. An acetic acid-based homemade lure, prepared by impregnating the attractant in a polymer, was active for a day. A newly developed slow-release formulation had equal performance but lasted longer, thus leading to an important improvement in ACP trap capture at low population densities.

Situación bucal de pobladores con discapacidades en el distrito de SanLuis - Lima / Dental Status of people with special needs from the District of San Luis - Lima

Objetivo: Establecer el estado de la salud bucal de personas con diversas discapacidades, residentes en un distrito de clase media-baja de la ciudad de Lima. Materiales y métodos: Se examinó a residentes registrados en la Oficina Municipal de Atención de la Persona con Discapacidad - OMAPED, de San Luis, como parte de la primera fase del desarrollo del Sistema de atención Odontológico Especializado a implementar. La clasificación utilizada, incluía la discapacidad a) Motora b) Sensorial y c) Mental. La información bucal recabada, fue el CPOD, apiñamiento dentario (Van der Linden), el Índice de Higiene Oral simplificado de Greene y Vermillion (IHOs), y la presencia de bolsas periodontales, piezas extruidas y atrición dental. Resultados: El total examinado fue de 102 personas, considerando válidos finalmente 89. Las edades oscilaron entre 6 y 93 años. Del total, el 42,2% presentaban discapacidad motora; 35,3% discapacidad mental y el 9,8% discapacidad sensorial. El CPOD, reflejaba un incremento progresivo con el paso de los años, siendo mas pronunciado a partir de los 51 años, donde se observó, el valor mínino de 18 y el máximo de 32. Entre los componentes del CPOD, las piezas perdidas prevalecieron enlos 3 grupos de discapacidad, siendo mayor en los subgrupos motor y sensorial. También llama la atención que las obturaciones eran muy escasas. Conclusiones: La condición bucal de las personas con discapacidad se deteriora rápidamente con la edad.

Objective: To establish the dental status of people with special needs, who live in a district of a Low-Middle Economical class in Lima. Materials and methods: People registered at the office for people with special needs of the City Hall of District of San Luis (OMAPED) were examined. This study is a first stage of the development of an Specialized System of Dental Care. The classification of the special needs included: a) mobility handicap, b) sensorial handicap; c) mental handicap. The dental status included information of DMF-t; crowding (Van der Linden classification), Oral Hygiene Green Vermillion index, presence of periodontal pockets, extruded teeth, and dental attrition. Results: A total of 102 people with special needs were examined, only 89 were considered in the data. Age ranged from 6 to 93 years old. 42.2% of the total examined people had mobility handicap, 35.5% had mental handicap, and 9.8% had sensorial handicap. DMF-t showed a progressive rise as people grew older, it reached its highest value at the age of 51, with a minimum value of 18 and a maximum value of 32. Regarding the components of DMF-t, missing teeth component was more frequent in the three groups of handicapped; the highest values were observed in the motor and sensorial handicap. It also calls the attention the very few restored teeth. Conclusions: The dental status of people with special needs deteriorates rapidly with aging.