Morbidity and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years in preterm infants undergoing percutaneous transcatheter closure vs. surgical ligation of the PDA.

OBJECTIVE: Review a cohort of preterm infants ≤29 weeks of gestation at birth and compare morbidities and neurodevelopmental outcomes based on PDA status and type of PDA closure. STUDY DESIGN: Single center observational retrospective-prospective case control study of premature infants who had no hsPDA, underwent surgical ligation or percutaneous transcatheter closure of the PDA. Neurodevelopmental testing was done using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development 3rd ed. RESULTS: The percutaneous transcatheter closure group had an older post menstrual age and greater weight at the time of procedure, and started enteral feeds and achieved room air status at an earlier post procedure day. Infants in the surgical ligation group were more likely to experience vocal cord paralysis. There was no difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes between groups. CONCLUSION: Waiting for infants to achieve the appropriate size for percutaneous transcatheter closure of the PDA may lead to reduced short-term complications without increasing the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment.

Competitive oxidation of key pentose phosphate pathway enzymes modulates the fate of intermediates and NAPDH production.

The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) involving the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), is critical to NADPH generation within cells, with these enzymes catalyzing the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into ribulose-5-phosphate (Ribu5-P). We have previously studied peroxyl radical (ROO•) mediated oxidative inactivation of E. coli G6PDH, 6PGL, and 6PGDH. However, these data were obtained from experiments where each enzyme was independently exposed to ROO•, a condition not reflecting biological reality. In this work we investigated how NADPH production is modulated when these enzymes are jointly exposed to ROO•. Enzyme mixtures (1:1:1 ratio) were exposed to ROO• produced from thermolysis of 100 mM 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). NADPH was quantified at 340 nm, and protein oxidation analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS). The data obtained were rationalized using a mathematical model. The mixture of non-oxidized enzymes, G6P and NADP+ generated ∼175 µM NADPH. Computational simulations showed a constant decrease of G6P associated with NADPH formation, consistent with experimental data. When the enzyme mixture was exposed to AAPH (3 h, 37 ºC), lower levels of NADPH were detected (∼100 µM) which also fitted with computational simulations. LC-MS analyses indicated modifications at Tyr, Trp, and Met residues but at lower concentrations than detected for the isolated enzymes. Quantification of NADPH generation showed that the pathway activity was not altered during the initial stages of the oxidations, consistent with a buffering role of G6PDH towards inactivation of the oxidative phase of the pathway.

Disruption of the mitochondrial network in a mouse model of Huntington's disease visualized by in-tissue multiscale 3D electron microscopy.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the coding sequence of huntingtin protein. Initially, it predominantly affects medium-sized spiny neurons (MSSNs) of the corpus striatum. No effective treatment is still available, thus urging the identification of potential therapeutic targets. While evidence of mitochondrial structural alterations in HD exists, previous studies mainly employed 2D approaches and were performed outside the strictly native brain context. In this study, we adopted a novel multiscale approach to conduct a comprehensive 3D in situ structural analysis of mitochondrial disturbances in a mouse model of HD. We investigated MSSNs within brain tissue under optimal structural conditions utilizing state-of-the-art 3D imaging technologies, specifically FIB/SEM for the complete imaging of neuronal somas and Electron Tomography for detailed morphological examination, and image processing-based quantitative analysis. Our findings suggest a disruption of the mitochondrial network towards fragmentation in HD. The network of interlaced, slim and long mitochondria observed in healthy conditions transforms into isolated, swollen and short entities, with internal cristae disorganization, cavities and abnormally large matrix granules.

Anxiety, prenatal distress, and resilience during the first trimester of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the relationship between pregnancy-related anxiety, prenatal distress, and individual resilience in pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy and compare it with the obstetric variable of parity. METHOD: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study using non-probabilistic circumstantial sampling. A total of 144 women participated. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, the Resilience Scale, and the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire were used. A descriptive analysis with measures of central tendency was performed, and the reliability of the instruments was assessed. RESULTS: The average age was 33.57 years. 58.3% were multiparous and 41.7% primiparous. Anxiety was found in 21.5% and very high levels of resilience in 54.9%. Primiparous women showed higher levels of worry about the future and fear of childbirth than multiparous women. Pregnant women with high resilience showed lower levels of anxiety and stress. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with higher levels of resilience show less anxiety and stress during the first trimester of pregnancy. Primiparous women show more anxiety and stress than multiparous women.

Sequential Unipolar Biventricular Pulsed Field Ablation for Refractory Intramural Septal Ventricular Tachycardia.

Catheter ablation of septal ventricular tachycardia (VT) is challenging. Pulsed field ablation is a promising technology, potentially reaching deep substrates. We report the first sequential unipolar biventricular pulsed field ablation targeting refractory septal VT. Besides, we illustrate the importance of searching underlying cardiomyopathy in patients with recurrent multiple morphology VTs and normal magnetic resonance imaging.

Differences and Similarities in the Feet of Metatarsalgia Patients with and without Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission.

Objectives: Metatarsalgia continues to be a problem in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission (remRA), as well as in the non-rheumatic population, with a mechanical origin. Identify and compare clinical, morphological, disability, synovitis (ultrasound), and radiological osteoarticular damage characteristics in two groups of patients with lesser-ray metar-tarsalgia, with remRA, and without RA. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 84 patients with remRA (mRA) and 60 patients without RA (nmRA). The study evaluated five clinical variables (pain, Foot Function Index (FFI), joint mobility, digital deformities, and foot type), a radiological variable (osteoarticular damage), and an ultrasound variable (metatarsal synovitis). The data were analysed using descriptive and correlational techniques. Results: There were no significant differences in sex, age, body mass index (BMI), or degree of pain. Both groups showed a high prevalence of limited joint mobility for the ankle and first metatarsal phalanx (DF1st MTPJ) and digital deformities, with no statistically significant differences. Similarly, there were no differences in lesser-ray synovitis. On the other hand, there were differences in mRA with greater disability and activity limitation (FFI), LDD (lesser-ray digital deformities) stiffness, first-ray deformities, radiological damage, synovitis in 1st MTPJ, and positive Doppler (five patients). Conclusions: Metatarsalgia presents similarities in both populations. Biomechanical factors may influence the symptoms and presence of synovitis in patients with RA in remission. Other characteristics are more frequent in mRA, which could be related to the disease; thus, future research should include both biomechanical and ultrasound exploration of the foot in the valuation of patients in remission.

The impact of experimental diabetes on intracerebral haemorrhage. A preclinical study.

Although diabetes mellitus negatively affects post-ischaemic stroke injury and recovery, its impact on intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of experimental diabetes (ED) on ICH-induced injury and neurological impairment. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with ED 2 weeks before ICH induction. Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: 1)Healthy; 2)ICH; 3)ED; 4)ED-ICH. ICH and ED-ICH groups showed similar functional assessment. The ED-ICH group exhibited significantly lower haemorrhage volume compared with the ICH group, except at 1 mo. The oedema/ICH volume ratio and cistern displacement ratio were significantly higher in the ED-ICH group. Vascular markers revealed greater expression of α-SMA in the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) compared with ICH. Conversely, the ICH groups (ED-ICH and ICH) exhibited higher levels of VEGF compared to the healthy and ED groups. An assessment of myelin tract integrity showed an increase in fractional anisotropy in the ED and ED-ICH groups compared with ICH. The ED group showed higher cryomyelin expression than the ED-ICH and ICH groups. Additionally, the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) displayed higher expression of MOG and Olig-2 than ICH. As for inflammation, MCP-1 levels were significantly lower in the ED-ICH groups compared with the ICH group. Notably, ED did not aggravate the neurological outcome; however, it results in greater ICH-related brain oedema, greater brain structure displacement and lower haemorrhage volume. ED influences the cerebral vascularisation with an increase in vascular thickness, limits the inflammatory response and attenuates the deleterious effect of ICH on white matter integrity.

Cross-cultural evaluation of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire: a systematic review.

This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis and in-depth analysis of the quality of the different cross-cultural versions of the MHQ. This study was conducted using Pubmed, Web of Science, CINAHL and SCOPUS databases to identify cross-cultural validation studies of the MHQ. Methodological quality, quality of evidence and criteria for good measurement properties of these studies were applied for each psychometric property. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers according to the COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines. A total of 493 articles were identified, of which 22 were included and 20 were analysed.Of the six properties analysed, responsiveness and hypothesis testing for construct validity had the highest methodological quality and quality of evidence, and met the criteria for good measurement properties. The lowest quality properties were measurement error and internal consistency. The different cross-cultural versions of the MHQ were found to be reliable, valid and able to detect clinical change. The lack of development of measurement error, formulation of an a priori hypothesis or structural validity affects the detection of small clinical changes and their discriminative capacity.

Identification of epigenetic silencing of the SFRP2 gene in colorectal cancer as a clinical biomarker and molecular significance.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) gene as a potential clinical biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its diagnostic role remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the significance of SFRP2 methylation levels in a large cohort of biological specimens (including blood, adipose and colonic tissues) from patients with CRC, thereby potentially identifying new biomarker utility. METHODS: We examined the expression (by qPCR) and methylation status (by 450 K DNA array and DNA pyrosequencing) of the SFRP2 gene in healthy participants (N = 110, aged as 53.7 (14.2), 48/62 males/females) and patients with CRC (N = 85, aged 67.7 (10.5), 61/24 males/females), across different biological tissues, and assessing its potential as a biomarker for CRC. Additionally, we investigated the effect of recombinant human SFRP2 (rhSFRP2) as a therapeutic target, on cell proliferation, migration, and the expression of key genes related to carcinogenesis and the Wnt pathway. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that SFRP2 promoter methylation in whole blood could predict cancer stage (I + II vs. III + IV) (AUC = 0.653), lymph node invasion (AUC = 0.692), and CRC recurrence (AUC = 0.699) in patients with CRC (all with p < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed a global hypomethylation of SFRP2 in tumors compared to the adjacent area (p < 0.001). This observation was validated in the TCGA-COAD and TCGA-READ cohorts, demonstrating overall hypermethylation (both with p < 0.001) and low expression (p < 0.001), as shown in publicly available scRNA-Seq data. Notably, neoadjuvant-treated CRC patients exhibited lower SFRP2 methylation levels compared to untreated patients (p < 0.05) and low promoter SFRP2 methylation in untreated patients was associated with poor overall survival (p < 0.05), when compared to high methylation. Finally, treatment with 5 µg of rhSFRP2 treatment in CRC cells (HCT116 cells) inhibited cell proliferation (p < 0.001) and migration (p < 0.05), and downregulated the expression of AXIN2 (p < 0.01), a gene involved in Wnt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish promoter methylation of the SFRP2 gene as a prognostic candidate in CRC when assessed in blood, and as a therapeutic prognostic candidate in tumors, potentially valuable in clinical practice. SFRP2 also emerges as a therapeutic option, providing new clinical and therapeutical avenues.

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon species (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) infecting snakes in the Northeastern region of Argentina.

The genus Hepatozoon Miller (1908) contains a wide range of obligate parasitic organisms with complex life cycles involving vertebrates and hematophagous invertebrates. Despite over 300 species being described, only a small percentage has been characterized in snakes using morphological and molecular techniques. The prevalence of these parasites in snakes is significant, highlighting the need for molecular descriptions in such elusive hosts. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine molecularly the presence of Hepatozoon species in snakes from the Northeastern region of Argentina. Thirty-two specimens of eight snake species (Bothrops alternatus, Dryophylax hypoconia, Erythrolamprus jaegeri coralliventris, Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus, Erythrolamprus semiaureus, Philodryas olfersii latirostris, Pseudablabes (ex Philodryas) patagoniensis and Palusophis (ex Mastigodryas) bifossatus were collected and examined. PCR analysis of the 18S rRNA locus detected four samples (12% prevalence) positive for the presence of Hepatozoon DNA. Phylogenetic analysis positioned the 18S rRNA Hepatozoon sequences obtained in three different clades, one with Hepatozoon musa, another with sequences of Hepatozoon cuestensis, while the third was placed as a sister taxon to a clade including Hepatozoon cevapii and Hepatozoon massardi. This study presents the first documentation of Hepatozoon infecting snakes in Argentina, thereby expanding their distribution within southern South America. Additionally, B. alternatus and Pa. bifossatus are reported as new hosts of Hepatozoon.

Adult Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder is associated with Lewy Body Disease and Cognitive Impairment: A prospective cohort Study With 15-year Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVES: Past reports have suggested that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be a risk factor for Lewy body disease (LBD). To confirm this relationship, we conducted the present study. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study with a follow-up to 15 years. SETTING: The subjects were recruited from cognitive neurology clinics, where they attended for a cognitive complaint or health check-up. PARTICIPANTS: Two groups of subjects: ADHD adults and healthy subjects. MEASUREMENTS: The risk of dementia and LBD was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis comparing for the presence or absence of ADHD with the log-rank test. Predictors of conversion were assessed through separate univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, adjusting for several variables. RESULTS: The baseline sample consisted of 161 subjects with ADHD and 109 without ADHD. At the end of the follow-up, 31 subjects developed dementia, 27 cases in the ADHD group and 4 in comparison group. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) was the most frequent type (N:20) of which 19 corresponded to the ADHD group. The incidence of non-amnestic-MCI in the ADHD group was higher representing 67.1 % of these subjects (N:108), and 17.4% (N:19) of healthy cases. The hazard ratios for dementia and LBD in the multivariate adjusted model were 3.33 (95% CI 1.0915 to 10.1699) and 54.54 (95% CI 7.4849 to 397.5028), respectively in the ADHD group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that adult ADHD is independently associated with an increased risk of LBD, dementia, and na-MCI. Future studies should clarify this relationship to develop preventive measures for these patients.

Flavouring Group Evaluation 413 (FGE.413): Naringenin.

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of naringenin [FL-no: 16.132] as a new flavouring substance, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. No other substances with sufficient structural similarity have been identified in existing FGEs that could be used to support a read-across approach. The information provided on the manufacturing process, the composition and the stability of [FL-no: 16.132] was considered sufficient. From studies carried out with naringenin, the Panel concluded that there is no concern with respect to genotoxicity. The use of naringenin as a flavouring substance at added portions exposure technique (APET) exposure levels is unlikely to pose a risk for drug interaction. For the toxicological evaluation of naringenin, the Panel requested an extended one-generation toxicity study on naringenin, in line with the requirements of the Procedure and to investigate the consequence of a possible endocrine-disrupting activity. The Panel considered that changes in thymus weight, litter size, post-implantation loss and a consistent reduced pup weight in the high-dose F2 generation could not be dismissed and selected therefore, the mid-dose of 1320 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for the parental males as the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the study. The exposure estimates for [FL-no: 16.132] (31,500 and 50,000 µg/person per day for children and adults, respectively) were above the threshold of toxicological of concern (TTC) for its structural class (III). Using the NOAEL of 1320 mg/kg bw per day at step A4 of the procedure, margins of exposure (MoE) of 1590 and 630 could be calculated for adults and children, respectively. Based on the calculated MoEs, the Panel concluded that the use of naringenin as a flavouring substance does not raise a safety concern.

Re-evaluation of guar gum (E 412) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of its re-evaluation as food additive for uses in foods for all population groups.

Guar gum (E 412) was re-evaluated in 2017 by the former EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS). As a follow-up to this assessment, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of guar gum (E 412) for its uses as food additive in food for infants below 16 weeks of age belonging to food categories 13.1.1 (Infant formulae) and 13.1.5.1 (Dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes and special formulae for infants). In addition, the FAF Panel was requested to address the issues already identified during the re-evaluation of the food additive when used in food for the general population. The process involved the publication of a call for data to allow the interested business operators to provide the requested information to complete the risk assessment. In the response to EFSA requests, one IBO stated that E 412 is not used in food categories 13.1.1 and 13.1.5.1, but it is present in products under food category 13.1.5.2. The Panel concluded that the submitted data are not sufficient to support the safe use of guar gum (E 412) in food for infants (below and above 16 weeks of age) and young children under FC 13.1.1, 13.1.5.1 and 13.1.5.2. Additionally, the Panel concluded that the technical data provided by the IBO support further amendments of the specifications for E 412 laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.

Flavouring group evaluation 419 (FGE.419): 2-methyl-1-(2-(5-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)butan-1-one.

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of 2-methyl-1-(2-(5-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)butan-1-one [FL-no: 16.134] as a new flavouring substance, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. The substance has not been reported to occur naturally and is chemically synthesised. In food, it is intended to be used as a flavouring substance only in chewing gum. The chronic dietary exposure to [FL-no: 16.134] was estimated to be 45 µg/person per day for a 60-kg adult and 28.4 µg/person per day for a 15-kg 3-year-old child. [FL-no: 16.134] did not show genotoxicity in a bacterial reverse mutation test and an in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus assay. Based on the submitted toxicokinetic and metabolism data, it can be predicted that the flavouring substance is metabolised to innocuous products only. The Panel derived a lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose (BMDL) of 0.71 mg/kg bw per day for a 20% increase in the relative thyroid (including parathyroid) weight observed in a 90-day toxicity study in rats. Based on this BMDL, adequate margins of exposure of 887 and 374 could be calculated for adults and children, respectively. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for [FL-no: 16.134], when used as a flavouring substance at the estimated level of dietary exposure, based on the intended use and use levels as specified in Appendix B. The Panel further concluded that the combined exposure to [FL-no: 16.134] from its use as a food flavouring substance and from its presence in toothpaste and mouthwash is also not of safety concern.

Molecular survey of Piroplasmida, Hepatozoon spp. and Anaplasmataceae in anemic and thrombocytopenic dogs from Uruguay.

Canine tick-borne diseases, such as babesiosis, rangeliosis, hepatozoonosis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis, are of veterinarian relevance, causing mild or severe clinical cases that can lead to the death of the dog. The aim of this study was detecting tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial infections in dogs with anemia and/or thrombocytopenia in Uruguay. A total of 803 domestic dogs were evaluated, and 10% were found positive (detected by PCR) at least for one hemoparasite. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of four hemoprotozoan species: Rangelia vitalii, Babesia vogeli, Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum, and the rickettsial Anaplasma platys. The most detected hemoparasite was R. vitalii, followed by H. canis and A. platys. This is the first report of B. vogeli in Uruguay and the second report of H. americanum in dogs from South America. The results highlight the importance for veterinarians to include hemoparasitic diseases in their differential diagnosis of agents causing anemia and thrombocytopenia.

Envelope-dimer epitope-like broadly protective antibodies against dengue in children following natural infection and vaccination.

Cross-reactive antibodies (Abs) to epitopes that span envelope proteins on the virion surface are hypothesized to protect against dengue. Here, we measured Abs targeting the quaternary envelope dimer epitope (EDE) as well as neutralizing and binding Abs and evaluate their association with dengue virus (DENV) infection, vaccine response, and disease outcome in dengue vaccinated and unvaccinated children (n=252) within a longitudinal cohort in Cebu, Philippines (n=2,996). Abs targeting EDE were prevalent and strongly associated with broad neutralization of DENV1-4 in those with baseline multitypic immunity. Subsequent natural infection and vaccination boosted EDE-like, neutralizing, and binding Abs. EDE-like Abs were associated with reduced dengue risk and mediated the protective effect of binding and neutralizing Abs on symptomatic and severe dengue. Thus, Abs targeting quaternary epitopes help explain broad cross protection in those with multiple prior DENV exposures, making them useful for evaluation and development of future vaccines and therapeutics.

Experiences of male irregular migrants during their migration process and reception in Spain: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The causes behind migration movements are complex. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how several countries failed to respond to the virus adequately, while simultaneously infringing on people's rights. Male irregular migrants fled their countries of origin and embarked on a perilous migration journey to Spain. The highly restrictive COVID-19 measures and border closures affected the mobility of male irregular migrants, whose reception in the host country posed a challenge. It led to the establishment of emergency facilities to accommodate male irregular migrants affected by COVID-19, which had repercussions on their mental health. The aim of this study was to describe and understand the experiences of male irregular migrants throughout their migration process and reception in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study. Sixteen male irregular migrants participated in this study. Data were collected between January and March 2023 through 16 one-on-one in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data using ATLAS.ti computer software. Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) How the COVID-19 pandemic drove male irregular migrants to leave their countries of origin, (2) How COVID-19 lockdown policies affected the migration journey, and (3) Receiving male irregular migrants in a pandemic: a housing labyrinth marked by isolation and loneliness. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the social, employment and health inequalities experienced by male irregular migrants. Border closures exacerbated the migration journey and the social stigmatization of this group, who were seen as carriers of the virus in both transit and host countries. Strict control measures in emergency and reception facilities had a significant psychological impact on the male irregular migrants due to the social isolation they experienced. Health institutions should develop programs to guarantee the care needs of irregular migrants.

Adaptation of the Coparenting Relationship Scale Questionnaire to Spanish Parents with Offspring.

The scientific literature supports that practicing positive coparenting leads to the healthy development of children. Consequently, professional interest in parenting and coparenting has experienced significant growth, and evaluating coparenting is crucial in family psychology for establishing action protocols in clinical practice. An instrument highly regarded within the scientific community for evaluating coparenting dynamics is The Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS). This research aims to achieve two objectives: first, to adapt the CRS for the Spanish population of both engaged and separated/divorced parents and to ascertain its reliability, validity, and factorial invariance psychometric properties; second, to assess the effectiveness of the total coparenting measure in categorizing sample participants. A cross-sectional non-experimental investigation was conducted to address these objectives. The first objective was answered by conducting an instrumental study, and the second by an exploratory study using classification techniques and a causal-comparative study using multivariate inferential methods. It was concluded that the model comprising 20 items across two factors, Positive Coparenting and Negative Perception of Coparenting, is the simplest and best fit for the Spanish parent sample; it is invariant regarding gender and marital status, and the measures derived from each factor demonstrate reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. The resulting questionnaire for Spanish parents is named CRS-SEg-S&D. The Coparental Vitality measure calculated using the total weighted measure of CRS-SEg-S&D allows the sample of participants to be divided into three differentiated clusters called Coparental Robustness, Moderate Coparenting, and Coparenting Rickets.

Engagement and factors associated with annual anal human papillomavirus screening among sexual and gender minority individuals.

Objectives: Annual screening with a provider has been recommended for groups at highest risk for anal cancer. Anal self-sampling could help address screening barriers, yet no studies have examined annual engagement with this method. Methods: The Prevent Anal Cancer Self-Swab Study recruited sexual and gender minority individuals 25 years and over who have sex with men in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in an anal cancer screening study. Participants were randomized to a home or clinic arm. Home-based participants were mailed an anal human papillomavirus self-sampling kit at baseline and 12 months, while clinic-based participants were asked to schedule and attend one of five participating clinics at baseline and 12 months. Using Poisson regression, we conducted an intention-to-treat analysis of 240 randomized participants who were invited to screen at both timepoints. Results: 58.8% of participants completed annual (median=370 days) anal screening. When stratified by HIV status, persons living with HIV had a higher proportion of home (71.1%) versus clinic (22.2%) annual screening ( p <0.001). Non-Hispanic Black participants had a higher proportion of home-based annual anal screening engagement (73.1%) compared to annual clinic screening engagement (31.6%) ( p =0.01). Overall, annual screening engagement was significantly higher among participants who had heard of anal cancer from an LGBTQ organization, reported "some" prior anal cancer knowledge, preferred an insertive anal sex position, and reported a prior cancer diagnosis. Annual screening engagement was significantly lower for participants reporting a medical condition. Conclusions: Annual screening engagement among those at disproportionate anal cancer risk was higher in the home arm.

Formation of Mycobacterium abscessus colonies in cellular culture in an in vitro infection model.

Mycobacterium abscessus is one of the most important nontuberculous mycobacteria that cause lung diseases. In vitro infection models developed to analyze the immune response are frequently based on the addition of mycobacteria to mononuclear cells or neutrophils from peripheral blood. An important requirement of these assays is that most cells phagocytose mycobacteria, only accomplished by using large multiplicities of infection (1 or more bacteria per cell) which may not adequately reflect the inhalation of a few mycobacteria by the host. We propose modifications that try to mimic some of the conditions in which immune cells deal with mycobacteria. For the preparation of the inoculum mycobacteria are grown in solid media followed by preparation to a single cell suspension. Multiplicities of infection (number of bacteria per cell) are below 0.01. Serum-free cellular media is used to allow the growth of M. abscessus. After several days of incubation Bacterial Colonies in Cellular Culture (BCCC) develop, which are enumerated directly under an inverted microscope. These colonies may represent biofilm formation during chronic infections. •Low multiplicity of infection (below 0.01 bacteria per cell) reflects more realistically conditions encountered by immune cells in the lungs.•The surface of mycobacteria prepared for infection assays that are grown in solid media are less affected than that of mycobacteria grown in liquid media with detergents.•Colony formation in the infected cells may reflect the aggregation and biofilm formation in the lungs during chronic infection.