Impact of biliary stents in the performance of the EUS-guided tissue acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis / Impacto de los stents biliares en el rendimiento de la adquisición de biopsias guiadas por ecoendoscopia: una revisión sistemática y metanálisis

Introduction and aim: Pancreatobiliary tumours are challenging to diagnose exclusively by imaging methods. Although the optimum moment for carrying out the EUS is not well defined, it has been suggested that the presence of biliary stents may interfere with the proper staging of tumours and the acquisition of samples. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of biliary stents on EUS-guided tissue acquisition yield. Material and methods: We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, and OVID Database. A search was made of all studies published up to February 2022. Results: Eight studies were analyzed. A total of 3185 patients were included. The mean age was 66.9±2.7 years; 55.4% were male gender. Overall, 1761 patients (55.3%) underwent EUS guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) with stents in situ, whereas 1424 patients (44.7%) underwent EUS-TA without stents. The technical success was similar in both groups (EUS-TA with stents: 88% vs EUS-TA without stents: 88%, OR=0.92 [95% CI 0.55–1.56]). The type of stent, the needle size and the number of the passes were similar in both groups. Conclusions: EUS-TA has similar diagnostic performance and technical success in patients with or without stents. The type of stent (SEMS or plastic) does not seem to influence the diagnostic performance of EUS-TA. Future prospectives and RCT studies are needed to strengthen these conclusions. (AU)

Introducción y objetivo: Los tumores pancreatobiliares son lesiones difíciles de diagnosticar exclusivamente por métodos de imagen. Aunque no está bien definido el momento óptimo para la realización de la ecoendoscopia (EUS), se ha demostrado que la presencia de stents biliares puede interferir en la correcta estadificación de los tumores y la toma de muestras. Realizamos un metanálisis para evaluar el impacto de los stents biliares en el rendimiento de la adquisición de tejido guiada por EUS. Material y métodos: Realizamos una revisión sistemática en diferentes bases de datos, como PubMed, Cochrane, Medline y OVID Database. Se realizó una búsqueda de todos los estudios publicados hasta febrero de 2022. Resultados: Se analizaron 8 estudios. Se incluyeron un total de 3.185 pacientes. La media de edad fue de 66,9±2,7 años; el 55,4% fueron pacientes de sexo masculino. En total, 1.761 pacientes (55,3%) se sometieron a biopsias guiadas por EUS con stents in situ, mientras que 1.424 pacientes (44,7%) se sometieron a dichas biopsias sin stents. El éxito técnico fue similar en ambos grupos (EUS con stents: 88% vs. EUS sin stents: 88%, OR=0,92 [IC 95% 0,55-1,56]). El tipo de stent, el tamaño de la aguja y el número de pases fueron similares en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: La biopsia por EUS tiene un rendimiento diagnóstico y un éxito técnico similares en pacientes con o sin stents. El tipo de stent (SEMS o plástico) no parece influir en el rendimiento diagnóstico de la adquisición de tejido guiada por EUS. Se necesitan futuros estudios prospectivos y estudios aleatorizados controlados para fortalecer estas conclusiones. (AU)

Real-Time Measurements of Indoor-Outdoor Exchange of Gaseous and Particulate Atmospheric Pollutants in an Urban Area.

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, causing millions of deaths and deleterious health effects worldwide, especially in urban areas where citizens are exposed to high ambient levels of pollutants, also influencing indoor air quality (IAQ). Many sources of indoor air are fairly obvious and well known, but the contribution of outside sources to indoor air still leads to significant uncertainties, in particular the influence that environmental variables have on outdoor/indoor pollutant exchange mechanisms. This is a critical aspect to consider in IAQ studies. In this respect, an experimental study was performed at a public site such as a university classroom during a non-academic period in Madrid city. This includes two field campaigns, in summer (2021) and winter (2020), where instruments for measuring gases and particle air pollutants simultaneously measured outdoor and indoor real-time concentrations. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic variations in the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios in terms of ambient outdoor conditions (meteorology, turbulence and air quality) and indoor features (human presence or natural ventilation). The results show that the I/O ratio is pollutant-dependent. In this sense, the infiltration capacity is higher for gaseous compounds, and in the case of particles, it depends on the particle size, with a higher infiltration capacity for smaller particles (

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis.

Electron microscopy is one of the tools required to characterize cellular structures. However, the procedure is complicated and expensive due to the sample preparation for observation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a very useful characterization technique due to its high resolution in three dimensions and because of the absence of any requirement for vacuum and sample conductivity. AFM can image a wide variety of samples with different topographies and different types of materials. AFM provides high-resolution 3D topography information from the angstrom level to the micron scale. Unlike traditional microscopy, AFM uses a probe to generate an image of the surface topography of a sample. In this protocol, the use of this type of microscopy is suggested for the morphological and cell damage characterization of bacteria fixed on a support. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas hunanensis (isolated from garlic bulb samples) were used. In this work, bacterial cells were grown in specific culture media. To observe cell damage, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were incubated with different concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs). A drop of bacterial suspension was fixed on a glass support, and images were taken with AFM at different scales. The images obtained showed the morphological characteristics of the bacteria. Further, employing AFM, it was possible to observe the damage to the cellular structure caused by the effect of NPs. Based on the images obtained, contact AFM can be used to characterize the morphology of bacterial cells fixed on a support. AFM is also a suitable tool for the investigation of the effects of NPs on bacteria. Compared to electron microscopy, AFM is an inexpensive and easy-to-use technique.

Impact of biliary stents in the performance of the EUS-guided tissue acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Pancreatobiliary tumours are challenging to diagnose exclusively by imaging methods. Although the optimum moment for carrying out the EUS is not well defined, it has been suggested that the presence of biliary stents may interfere with the proper staging of tumours and the acquisition of samples. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of biliary stents on EUS-guided tissue acquisition yield. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, and OVID Database. A search was made of all studies published up to February 2022. RESULTS: Eight studies were analyzed. A total of 3185 patients were included. The mean age was 66.9±2.7 years; 55.4% were male gender. Overall, 1761 patients (55.3%) underwent EUS guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) with stents in situ, whereas 1424 patients (44.7%) underwent EUS-TA without stents. The technical success was similar in both groups (EUS-TA with stents: 88% vs EUS-TA without stents: 88%, OR=0.92 [95% CI 0.55-1.56]). The type of stent, the needle size and the number of the passes were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-TA has similar diagnostic performance and technical success in patients with or without stents. The type of stent (SEMS or plastic) does not seem to influence the diagnostic performance of EUS-TA. Future prospectives and RCT studies are needed to strengthen these conclusions.

Hyaline protoplasmic astrocytopathy in epilepsy.

Hyaline protoplasmic astrocytopathy (HPA) describes a rare histologic finding of eosinophilic, hyaline cytoplasmic inclusions in astrocytes, predominantly in the cerebral cortex. It has mainly been observed in children and adults with a history of developmental delay and epilepsy, frequently with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), but the nature and significance of these inclusions are unclear. In this study, we review the clinical and pathologic features of HPA and characterize the inclusions and brain tissue in which they are seen in surgical resection specimens from five patients with intractable epilepsy and HPA compared to five patients with intractable epilepsy without HPA using immunohistochemistry for filamin A, previously shown to label these inclusions, and a variety of astrocytic markers including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member L1 (ALDH1L1), SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9), and glutamate transporter 1/excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (GLT-1/EAAT2) proteins. The inclusions were positive for ALDH1L1 with increased ALDH1L1 expression in areas of gliosis. SOX9 was also positive in the inclusions, although to a lesser intensity than the astrocyte nuclei. Filamin A labeled the inclusions but also labeled reactive astrocytes in a subset of patients. The immunoreactivity of the inclusions for various astrocytic markers and filamin A as well as the positivity of filamin A in reactive astrocytes raise the possibility that these astrocytic inclusions may be the result of an uncommon reactive or degenerative phenomenon.

Preparación y enfrentamiento a la pandemia de la COVID-19

Los desastres sanitarios han afectado la humanidad desde sus albores. En otras epidemias, las bajas causadas se contabilizan por cientos de miles. La preparación para el enfrentamiento a la epidemia de la COVID-19 en el hospital Militar de Matanzas, "Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy", comenzó tempranamente. Con el objetivo de analizar esa experiencia, se reflexiona sobre los resultados del enfrentamiento en el año 2020, a partir de los principales aspectos, las coordinaciones con otros organismos, las decisiones tomadas, cambios estructurales y modificaciones de procesos institucionales. Consolidar la superación científica ha sido un pilar permanente, junto con la disciplina, la responsabilidad personal y social de los miembros del colectivo.

Health disasters have affected humanity since its dawn. In other epidemics, the casualties caused number in the hundreds of thousands. The preparation for confronting the COVID-19 epidemic at the Military Hospital of Matanzas, "Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy", began early. In order to analyze this experience, we reflect on the results of the confrontation in 2020, based on the main aspects, the coordination with other organizations, the decisions made, structural changes and modifications of institutional processes. Consolidating scientific improvement has been a permanent pillar, along with discipline, personal and social responsibility of the members of the collective.

Neuropathology of microbleeds in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) detected on magnetic resonance imaging are common in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). The neuropathologic correlates of CMBs are unclear. In this study, we characterized findings relevant to CMBs in autopsy brain tissue of 8 patients with genetically confirmed CADASIL and 10 controls within the age range of the CADASIL patients by assessing the distribution and extent of hemosiderin/iron deposits including perivascular hemosiderin leakage (PVH), capillary hemosiderin deposits, and parenchymal iron deposits (PID) in the frontal cortex and white matter, basal ganglia and cerebellum. We also characterized infarcts, vessel wall thickening, and severity of vascular smooth muscle cell degeneration. CADASIL subjects had a significant increase in hemosiderin/iron deposits compared with controls. This increase was principally seen with PID. Hemosiderin/iron deposits were seen in the majority of CADASIL subjects in all brain areas. PVH was most pronounced in the frontal white matter and basal ganglia around small to medium sized arterioles, with no predilection for the vicinity of vessels with severe vascular changes or infarcts. CADASIL subjects have increased brain hemosiderin/iron deposits but these do not occur in a periarteriolar distribution. Pathogenesis of these lesions remains uncertain.

Protective Factors, Risk of Violence and Discrimination and Mental Health Indicators of Young LGB People.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people have more risk of suffering from violence and situations of discrimination than heterosexual people. The current study compares LGB people with heterosexual people in protective factors, violence, health and well-being factors. The sample comprises 609 Spanish people between 14 and 25 years old. We established a cross-sectional design. A survey including questions about sociodemographic information and protective, violence and health and well-being factors was designed ad hoc for this study. The results show that the LGB group (n = 342) is more at risk of verbal and physical violence and feels more isolated than the heterosexual participants (n = 267). In contrast, heterosexual participants report having more employment discrimination. No significant differences were found in social support or psychological health. These results are important to understand the state of social normalization and non-discrimination for LGB people in certain contexts in Spain, and its impact on psychological health.

The role of individual variables as antecedents of entrepreneurship processes: Emotional intelligence and self-efficacy.

Currently, entrepreneurship is a priority for economic, social, and technological growth. Therefore, the interest in understanding entrepreneurship processes has increased significantly. Individual variables play a fundamental role, and academic research has pointed out the influence of emotional intelligence in entrepreneurial processes; however, its relationship with other interpersonal processes and individual variables, such as personality and self-efficacy, has not been extensively studied. The aim of this research was to analyze the relationship among emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial intention, controlling for the effects of personality, gender, and age. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were applied through a questionnaire survey of 1,593 college students to test the relationship between the constructs in the model. The results show that the personality traits are associated with entrepreneurial self-efficacy, emotional intelligence positively influences entrepreneurial intention, and self-efficacy mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial intention. Practical implications for training programs are examined, and future lines of research were discussed.

Key points for translating wound regenerative agents from in vivo assays in mice to clinical validation.

Skin wound healing leads to the recovery of tissue structure and homeostasis after injury. Numerous factors can hamper wound healing and complete recovery of the harmed tissue, causing the formation of scars or chronic wounds. Therapeutic options to improve wound regeneration are limited, possibly due to failure during pre-clinical validation toward clinical trials. In this article, the authors aim to convey key points and provide recommendations for the development of regenerative agents that improve wound healing using mouse models.First, the authors highlight the differences in the wound healing processes of mice and humans. Later, the authors apply a quasi-systematic research approach based on a search algorithm of 32 terms that focuses on in vivomouse model assays of regenerative factors. The authors analyze the top 20 most cited articles of 2241 hits produced by Scopus. The authors focus the search on a period covering the last 10 years (January 2011 to October 2021). The authors synthesize information from the top 20 articles and present the most common type of mouse model used, mouse characteristics (strain, sex, age, weight), surgical wounding technique employed (size, location, equipment), agents tested, methods of wound monitoring, regeneration assessment and key points to consider for the translational potential of these agents. This knowledge will help the scientific community design better in vivo assays and translate their results to further research and clinical validation.

Functionalized Platinum Nanoparticles with Biomedical Applications.

Functionalized platinum nanoparticles have been of considerable interest in recent research due to their properties and applications, among which they stand out as therapeutic agents. The functionalization of the surfaces of nanoparticles can overcome the limits of medicine by increasing selectivity and thereby reducing the side effects of conventional drugs. With the constant development of nanotechnology in the biomedical field, functionalized platinum nanoparticles have been used to diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer and infections caused by pathogens. This review reports on physical, chemical, and biological methods of obtaining platinum nanoparticles and the advantages and disadvantages of their synthesis. Additionally, applications in the biomedical field that can be utilized once the surfaces of nanoparticles have been functionalized with different bioactive molecules are discussed, among which antibodies, biodegradable polymers, and biomolecules stand out.

EUS-Guided gallbladder drainage vs percutaneous transhepatic drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Occasionally, cholecystectomy is not possible because the patient is not suitable for surgery, and non-operative management should be performed. In these patients, the non-operative management can be through the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) or the endoscopic gallbladder drainage. We decided to compare the efficacy and safety of PTGBD and EUS-GBD in the non-operative management of patients with acute cholecystitis. We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, OVID, Medline, and Cochrane Databases. This meta-analysis considers studies published until September 2021. Six studies were selected (2 RCTs). These studies included 749 patients. The mean age was 72.81 ±7.41 years, and males represented 57.4%. EUS-GBD technical success was lower than PTGBD (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99), whereas clinical success and adverse events rates were similar in both groups. Twenty-one deaths were reported in all six studies. The global mortality rate was 2.80%, without differences in both groups (2.84% and 2.77% in the EUS-GBD group and the PTGBD groups, respectively). EUS-GBD and PTGBD were successful techniques for gallbladder drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis who are non-tributary for surgery. EUS-GBD has a similar clinical success rate and a similar adverse events rate in comparison to PTGBD. The high technical success and the low adverse events rate of the EUS approach to gallbladder make this technique an excellent alternative for patients with acute cholecystitis who cannot be undergoing surgery.

En ocasiones, no es posible realizar una colecistectomía debido a que el paciente no es apto para la cirugía, y se debe optar por un manejo no quirúrgico. En estos pacientes, el manejo no quirúrgico puede ser a través del drenaje transhepático percutáneo de la vesícula o bien el drenaje ecoendoscópico de la misma. En el presente trabajo decidimos comparar la eficacia y seguridad de ambas técnicas en el manejo no quirúrgico de pacientes con colecistitis aguda. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática en diferentes bases de datos, como PubMed, OVID, Medline y Cochrane Databases. Este metanálisis considera estudios publicados hasta septiembre de 2021. Se seleccionaron seis estudios (2 estudios aleatorizados controlados). Estos estudios incluyeron 749 pacientes. La edad media fue de 72,81 ± 7,41 años, y los varones representaron el 57,4%. El éxito técnico del drenaje ecoendoscópico fue menor que el del drenaje percutáneo (RR, 0,97; IC del 95 %, 0,95-0,99), mientras que las tasas de éxito clínico y de eventos adversos fueron similares en ambos grupos. Se reportaron 21 muertes en los seis estudios. La tasa de mortalidad global fue del 2,80%, sin diferencias en ambos grupos (2,84% y 2,77% en el grupo ecoendoscópico y en el percutáneo, respectivamente). El drenaje ecoendoscópico y el drenaje percutáneo fueron técnicas exitosas para el drenaje de la vesícula biliar en pacientes con colecistitis aguda que no son tributarios de cirugía. El drenaje ecoendoscópico tiene una tasa de éxito clínico similar y una tasa de eventos adversos similar al drenaje percutáneo. El alto éxito técnico y la baja tasa de eventos adversos del abordaje ecoendoscópico de la vesícula biliar hacen de esta técnica una excelente alternativa para pacientes con colecistitis aguda que no pueden ser intervenidos quirúrgicamente.

EUS-Guided gallbladder drainage vs percutaneous transhepatic drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Occasionally, cholecystectomy is not possible because the patient is not suitable for surgery, and non-operative management should be performed. In these patients, the non-operative management can be through the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) or the endoscopic gallbladder drainage. We decided to compare the efficacy and safety of PTGBD and EUS-GBD in the non-operative management of patients with acute cholecystitis. We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, OVID, Medline, and Cochrane Databases. This meta-analysis considers studies published until September 2021. Six studies were selected (2 RCTs). These studies included 749 patients. The mean age was 72.81 ±7.41 years, and males represented 57.4%. EUS-GBD technical success was lower than PTGBD (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99), whereas clinical success and adverse events rates were similar in both groups. Twenty-one deaths were reported in all six studies. The global mortality rate was 2.80%, without differences in both groups (2.84% and 2.77% in the EUS-GBD group and the PTGBD groups, respectively). EUS-GBD and PTGBD were successful techniques for gallbladder drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis who are non-tributary for surgery. EUS-GBD has a similar clinical success rate and a similar adverse events rate in comparison to PTGBD. The high technical success and the low adverse events rate of the EUS approach to gallbladder make this technique an excellent alternative for patients with acute cholecystitis who cannot be undergoing surgery.

Filgrastim (r-met-hu G-CSF) enhances the efficiency of spermatogenesis in prepubertal Bos indicus bulls.

This study aimed to test the effects of the drug r-met-hu-G-CSF (filgrastim) on spermatogenic efficiency in prepubertal Brahman bulls. Twelve intact, healthy prepubertal bulls were administered 0, 1 (LD = low dose) or 4 (HD = high dose) µg/Kg r-met-hu-G-CSF (daily for 4 days), and haematological analysis was performed. Bulls were castrated (D0 or D60). BW (body weight) and SC (scrotal circumference) were recorded. Testis weight and volume were taken at castration with samples for testis histology and stereology: germ cell types, spermatids count and DSP (daily sperm production per gram)/g of testicular parenchyma. Testicular weight, volume, BW, SC and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were NS (LD-HD; p > .05). At D0 (age 11 months), the most advanced germ cell types (maGCt) ranged from intermediate spermatogonia to pachytene spermatocytes. After 2 months, control animals had round spermatids as maGCt, LD animals 75% round spermatids and 25% elongated spermatids, and HD animals round spermatids. Spermatids/testis were higher in LD (1.23 ± 0.2 millions) than in controls (0.65 ± 0.1 millions, p < .05). Spermatogenic efficiency (DSP/g) was higher in LD (5.4 ± 0.4 million) than in controls (3.2 ± 0.2 million, p < .01). In conclusion, r-met-hu-G-CSF raises spermatogenic efficiency in prepubertal Brahman bulls.

Head-to-head comparison between endoscopic ultrasound guided lumen apposing metal stent and plastic stents for the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) result from acute or chronic pancreatic inflammation that suffers a rupture of its ducts. Currently, there exists three options for drainage or debridement of pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis (WON). The traditional procedure is drainage by placing double pigtail plastic stents (DPPS); lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has a biflanged design with a wide lumen that avoids occlusion with necrotic tissue, which is more common with DPPS and reduces the possibility of migration. We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses head-to-head, including only studies that compare the two main techniques to drainage of PFCs: LAMS vs DPPS. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, OVID, Medline, and Cochrane Databases. This meta-analysis considers studies published from 2014 to 2020, including only studies that compare the two main techniques to drainage of PFCs: LAMS vs DPPS. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analyses. Only one of all studies was a randomized controlled trial. These studies comprise 1584 patients; 68.2% were male, and 31.8% were female. Six hundred sixty-three patients (41.9%) were treated with LAMS, and 921 (58.1%) were treated with DPPS. Six studies included only WON in their analysis, two included only pancreatic pseudocysts, and five studies included both pancreatic pseudocysts and WON. The technical success was similar in patients treated with LAMS and DPPS (97.6% vs 97.5%, respectively, P = .986, RR = 1.00 [95% CI 0.93-1.08]). The clinical success was similar in both groups (LAMS: 90.1% vs DPPS: 84.2%, P = .139, RR = 1.063 [95% CI 0.98-1.15]). Patients treated with LAMS had a lower complication rate than the DPPS groups, with a significant statistical difference (LAMS: 16.0% vs DPPS: 20.2%, P = .009, RR = 0.746 [95% CI 0.60-0.93]). Bleeding was the most common complication in the LAMS group (33 patients, [5.0%]), whereas infection was the most common complication in the DPPS group (56 patients, [6.1%]). The LAMS migration rate was lower than in the DPPS (0.9% vs 2.2%, respectively, P = .05). The mortality rate was similar in both groups, 0.6% in the LAMS group (four patients) and 0.4% in the DPPS group (four patients; P = .640). CONCLUSION: The PFCs drainage is an indication when persistent symptoms or PFCs-related complications exist. EUS guided drainage with LAMS has similar technical and clinical success to DPPS drainage for the management of PFCs. The technical and clinical success rates are high in both groups. However, LAMS drainage has a lower adverse events rate than DPPS drainage. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the real advantage of LAMS drainage over DPPS drainage.

Dystocia and cesarean section in a free-ranging ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) after traumatic spinal cord injury resulting from dog (Canis familiaris) attack.

Background: Ex situ breeding programs are essential to establish genetic resource banks and produce offspring to strengthen the in situ conservation of endangered species. However, many programs fail to maintain viable ex situ populations due to reproductive problems, including dystocia in pregnant females. Dystocia encompasses different emergency obstetric situations for the lives of dams and fetuses that require urgent intervention. This condition has been studied in domesticated species but published records in wildlife, specifically in felines species, are scarce. Case Description: An adult female ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) was referred to the wildlife hospital of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito after being attacked by dogs (Canis familiaris). Neurological tests revealed traumatic spinal cord injury at a thoracolumbar level. Complementary tests (laboratory exams, radiographs, and ultrasound) revealed a full-term pregnancy, failure in the labor progress, and critical fetal stress. A cesarean section was performed, and the newborns received resuscitation care after assessing their viability using the Apgar score system. The neonate with the lowest Apgar score died within the first hour after birth, while the second one showed an increase in Apgar score after resuscitation care and survived the procedure. Conclusion: We provide new obstetric data that could be relevant to save the lives of dams and newborns in related cases for ocelots and other species of wild felids. Furthermore, this study confirms the adverse effects that domestic dogs have on wildlife species.

Two-Step Triethylamine-Based Synthesis of MgO Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Effect against Pathogenic Bacteria.

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) were obtained by the calcination of precursor microparticles (PM) synthesized by a novel triethylamine-based precipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a mean size of 120 nm for the MgO NPs. The results of the characterizations for MgO NPs support the suggestion that our material has the capacity to attack, and have an antibacterial effect against, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains. The ability of the MgO NPs to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion radicals (O2•-) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was demonstrated by the corresponding quantitative assays. The MgO antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 250 and 500 ppm on the microdilution assays, respectively. Structural changes in the bacteria, such as membrane collapse; surface changes, such as vesicular formation; and changes in the longitudinal and horizontal sizes, as well as the circumference, were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lipidic peroxidation of the bacterial membranes was quantified, and finally, a bactericidal mechanism for the MgO NPs was also proposed.

Influence of the CoViD-19 Pandemic on Mental Workload and Burnout of Fashion Retailing Workers in Spain.

This study analyzed the levels of mental workload and the presence of burnout on a sample of fashion retailing workers from Spain and its relationship with the current CoViD-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) pandemic. We established a cross-sectional design. Participants (n = 360) answered an online survey including questions about sociodemographic data, perception of CoViD-19, CarMen-Q questionnaire (workload), and MBI (burnout syndrome). The survey campaign took place in October and November 2020. The results showed that participants exhibited deep concern about the CoViD-19 pandemic and its influence in the workplace. Although the mental workload was near the middle point of the scale, participants showed moderate to high burnout levels, revealing that the sample was at risk of experiencing higher burnout levels over time as the pandemic and associated economic crisis continued. The multiple regression analysis results indicated that environmental changes, work overload, somatic symptoms, insomnia, negative job expectations, and uncertainty constituted significant mental workload predictors. Insomnia, somatic symptoms, and negative job expectations constituted significant predictors for burnout. Differences between job positions and genders in mental workload and burnout were found. In conclusion, the uncertainty at work derived from the CoViD-19 pandemic harms fashion retailing workers' psychological well-being in Spain.

Trait-anxiety and job psychosocial conditions as determinants of mental health in nursing / La ansiedad rasgo y las condiciones psicosociales del trabajo como determinantes de la salud mental en la enfermería

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Job stress can have important consequences on the physical, mental or social health of the workers. A considerable number of studies have shown that the nursing community is especially vulnerable to suffering stress due to their work characteristics. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between perception of psychosocial risk factors at work, trait-anxiety and mental health in nursing. METHOD: Two hundred and ten nurses from various public hospitals in Madrid Province have participated in this study. The perception of psychosocial risk factors was evaluated with DECORE and NASA-TLX questionnaires, trait-anxiety was measured by STAI questionnaire and mental health by GHQ-28 questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that trait-anxiety was the variable most related to mental health. To explore the isolated association between working conditions and nurses' mental health, partial correlations controlling the nurses' trait-anxiety level were calculated and significant correlations were found between mental health and some psychosocial risk factors like organizational support, cognitive and temporal demands and control/autonomy at work. CONCLUSION: Trait-anxiety influences the relations between working conditions and nurse's mental health, but regardless of the trait-anxiety level of nurses, the adverse psychosocial conditions of the workplace are directly associated with poorer mental health

ANTECEDENTES: El estrés experimentado en el ámbito laboral puede tener importantes consecuencias para la salud tanto física como mental y/o social de los trabajadores. Un número considerable de investigaciones han demostrado que el colectivo de enfermería es especialmente vulnerable al estrés debido a las características particulares de su labor. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las relaciones entre la percepción de riesgos psicosociales, la ansiedad rasgo y la salud mental en profesionales de la enfermería. MÉTODO: En este estudio han participado 210 profesionales de enfermería de varios hospitales de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. La percepción de los factores psicosociales de riesgo se ha evaluado mediante los cuestionarios DECORE y NASA/TLX, el nivel de ansiedad rasgo se ha valorado con el cuestionario STAI y la salud mental, con el cuestionario GHQ-28. RESULTADOS: El resultado del análisis de regresión múltiple ha revelado que la variable con mayor correlación con la salud mental fue la ansiedad rasgo. Para evaluar la relación, independientemente de la ansiedad rasgo, entre las condiciones laborales y la salud mental de las/los enfermeras/os, se calcularon las correlaciones parciales, controlando el nivel de ansiedad rasgo, y se encontraron correlaciones significativas y positivas entre una peor salud mental y la mayor presencia de factores psicosociales de riesgo, tales como menor apoyo organizacional, demandas cognitivas y temporales más altas y peor nivel de control en el trabajo. CONCLUSIONES: La ansiedad rasgo influye en la relación entre las condiciones laborales y la salud mental del personal de enfermería, pero independientemente del nivel de ansiedad rasgo, las condiciones laborales adversas se relacionan de forma directa con un peor nivel de salud mental