The structure and mechanics of the cell cortex depend on the location and adhesion state.

Cells exist in different phenotypes and can transition between them. A phenotype may be characterized by many different aspects. Here, we focus on the example of whether the cell is adhered or suspended and choose particular parameters related to the structure and mechanics of the actin cortex. The cortex is essential to cell mechanics, morphology, and function, such as for adhesion, migration, and division of animal cells. To predict and control cellular functions and prevent malfunctioning, it is necessary to understand the actin cortex. The structure of the cortex governs cell mechanics; however, the relationship between the architecture and mechanics of the cortex is not yet well enough understood to be able to predict one from the other. Therefore, we quantitatively measured structural and mechanical cortex parameters, including cortical thickness, cortex mesh size, actin bundling, and cortex stiffness. These measurements required developing a combination of measurement techniques in scanning electron, expansion, confocal, and atomic force microscopy. We found that the structure and mechanics of the cortex of cells in interphase are different depending on whether the cell is suspended or adhered. We deduced general correlations between structural and mechanical properties and show how these findings can be explained within the framework of semiflexible polymer network theory. We tested the model predictions by perturbing the properties of the actin within the cortex using compounds. Our work provides an important step toward predictions of cell mechanics from cortical structures and suggests how cortex remodeling between different phenotypes impacts the mechanical properties of cells.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault in youth nightlife contexts in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide epidemiological information on drug-facilitated sexual assault in Spanish youth partying, with a focus on prevalence rates and associated sociodemographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Quota sampling was used to recruit 1601 young people aged 18-35 years in Spain from a digital panel. A validated questionnaire on drug-facilitated sexual assault was used to assess five types of lifetime victimisation experiences while partying. Chi-square and the exact Fisher tests were used to describe the prevalence of victimisation, drug use patterns, and perpetrator profiles. Generalised ordered logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with victimisation, analysed by gender. RESULTS: Half of young women and one-quarter of young men had experienced drug-facilitated sexual assault in their lifetime. Female victimisation due to touching and kissing was notably high, whereas men comprised almost half of the victims of more invasive DFSA experiences involving masturbation, penetration, and oral sex. Opportunism prevailed as the assault tactic, consisting of taking advantage of the victims' incapacity derived from voluntary alcohol use. Among women, risk of victimisation was associated with a lower education level, foreign-born status, and being non-heterosexual. Male victimisation risk was highest among non-heterosexual men. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-facilitated sexual violence in youth nightlife contexts is a serious public health issue in Spain, which requires urgent action. Most assaults involve taking advantage of victims who are incapacitated by the effects of voluntary alcohol consumption. This sexual violence primarily affects women with lower educational levels or those who are foreign-born and non-heterosexual men and women.

Carcinoma neuroendocrino lumbar con invasión al canal neural / Lumbar neuroendocrine carcinoma with invasion of the neural canal

Los tumores extraespinales son una rara causa de compresión de las raíces lumbares y los de origenneuroendocrino son de los menos frecuentes de este grupo. Caso clínico. Mujer de 70 años, que refiere dolor lumbar bajo y en pierna derecha. Los estudios de imagen diagnostican tumor en el sector de la vértebra L2. Este tumor fue operado y se extirpóun carcinoma neuroendocrino. Conclusión. Los tumores neuroendocrinos presentan un crecimiento típicamente lento y se localizan en el tracto gastrointestinal y en el pulmón. Son muy raros en otras localizaciones

Extraspinal tumors are a rare cause of lumbar root compression and neuroendocrine origin are oneof the least frequent of this group. Case report. A 70 years-old woman complained of pain in low back and her right leg. Following image studies a tumor at the level of the L2 vertebrae was diagnosed. This was operated on and a neuroendocrine carcinoma was removed. Conclusion. The neuroendocrine tumors show a slow grows typically and are located in the gastrointestinaltract and lung. These are very rare in others localizations