A Pilot Study to Improve Cognitive Performance and Pupil Responses in Mild Cognitive Impaired Patients Using Gaze-Controlled Gaming.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may progress to severe forms of dementia, so therapy is needed to maintain cognitive abilities. The neural circuitry for oculomotor control is closely linked to that which controls cognitive behavior. In this study, we tested whether training the oculomotor system with gaze-controlled video games could improve cognitive behavior in MCI patients. Patients played a simple game for 2-3 weeks while a control group played the same game using a mouse. Cognitive improvement was assessed using the MoCA screening test and CANTAB. We also measured eye pupil and vergence responses in an oddball paradigm. The results showed an increased score on the MoCA test specifically for the visuospatial domain and on the Rapid Visual Information Processing test of the CANTAB battery. Pupil responses also increased to target stimuli. Patients in the control group did not show significant improvements. This pilot study provides evidence for the potential cognitive benefits of gaze-controlled gaming in MCI patients.

Cognitive Vergence Recorded with a Webcam-Based Eye-Tracker during an Oddball Task in an Elderly Population.

(1) Background: Our previous research provides evidence that vergence eye movements may significantly influence cognitive processing and could serve as a reliable measure of cognitive issues. The rise of consumer-grade eye tracking technology, which uses sophisticated imaging techniques in the visible light spectrum to determine gaze position, is noteworthy. In our study, we explored the feasibility of using webcam-based eye tracking to monitor the vergence eye movements of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) during a visual oddball paradigm. (2) Methods: We simultaneously recorded eye positions using a remote infrared-based pupil eye tracker. (3) Results: Both tracking methods effectively captured vergence eye movements and demonstrated robust cognitive vergence responses, where participants exhibited larger vergence eye movement amplitudes in response to targets versus distractors. (4) Conclusions: In summary, the use of a consumer-grade webcam to record cognitive vergence shows potential. This method could lay the groundwork for future research aimed at creating an affordable screening tool for mental health care.

Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Observational Study from the ENEIDA Registry and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic events are frequent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is little information on the prevalence, features and outcomes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) in patients with IBD. AIMS: To describe the clinical features and outcomes of SVT in patients with IBD and to perform a systematic review of these data with published cases and series. METHODS: A retrospective observational study from the Spanish nationwide ENEIDA registry was performed. A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify studies with at least one case of SVT in IBD patients. RESULTS: A new cohort of 49 episodes of SVT from the Eneida registry and 318 IBD patients with IBD identified from the literature review (sixty studies: two multicentre, six single-centre and fifty-two case reports or case series) were analysed. There was a mild predominance of Crohn's disease and the most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal pain with or without fever followed by the incidental finding in cross-sectional imaging techniques. The most frequent SVT location was the main portal trunk in two-thirds of the cases, followed by the superior mesenteric vein. Anticoagulation therapy was prescribed in almost 90% of the cases, with a high rate of radiologic resolution of SVT. Thrombophilic conditions other than IBD itself were found in at least one-fifth of patients. CONCLUSIONS: SVT seems to be a rare (or underdiagnosed) complication in IBD patients. SVT is mostly associated with disease activity and evolves suitably when anticoagulation therapy is started.

Mesalazine dose modification based on faecal calprotectin levels in patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission. / Modificación de la dosis de mesalazina en función de los niveles de calprotectina fecal en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa en remisión clínica.

BACKGROUND: Faecal calprotectin (FC) shows an excellent correlation with endoscopic and histological activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) and it is the best predictor of clinical relapse. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of modifying the dose of mesalazine based on FC levels, in clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective, single-centre study in UC patients in clinical remission while treated with mesalazine which dosage was decreased (DOWN) or increased (UP) according to FC levels. The main endpoint was the long-term maintenance of clinical remission. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included (39 DOWN, 17 UP). In the DOWN group, the median baseline dose of mesalazine was 3.6g/day and the median baseline FC was 36µg/g. After a median follow-up of 22 months, 28% required rescue therapy. The cumulative relapse-free survival after tapering was 91% and 82% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the UP group, the median baseline dose of mesalazine was 2.4g/day, with a median baseline FC of 524µg/g. After a median follow-up of 12 months, 29% required rescue therapy. The cumulative relapse-free survival after dose increase was 86% and 72% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mesalazine dose modification based on FC monitoring seems to be a safe strategy in patients with UC in clinical remission, with a probability of clinical relapse around 20% at two years.

Appropriateness of routine pre-endoscopic SARS-CoV-2 screening with RT-PCR in asymptomatic individuals and its impact on delayed diagnosis / Idoneidad del cribado pre-endoscópico rutinario de SARS-CoV-2 con RT-PCR en individuos asintomáticos y su impacto en la demora diagnóstica

Aims: Endoscopy units are considered to be at an increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2. Our aim is to assess the correlation between pre-endoscopic screening with reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic individuals scheduled for elective endoscopy and the epidemiological data published by the local Health Administration. Patients and methods: Observational retrospective study collecting the results of our screening strategy spanning June/2020–June/2021, the effective potential growth (EPG), an index measuring the outbreak risk, and the 7 and 14-day cumulative incidence (CI). Indication, delay and the findings of the endoscopic examinations were registered for RT-PCR positive patients. Results: A total of 5808 tests were performed, yielding 125 positive results (2.15%). All positive tests occurred in weeks of high/very high risk (EPG>100) with the highest monthly rate being 9.36%, recorded in January/2021. A significant correlation (rho=0.796; p<0.001) between weekly positive rates and EPG was observed, and a significantly lower weekly number of positive tests was recorded when EPG<100. Planning the screening strategy one week ahead according to EPG>100 would have avoided up to 826 tests with only one positive result to account for. One hundred and thirteen individuals tested positive and 89 endoscopies were delayed. The most common findings were colon polyps, colorectal cancer and gastric metaplasia. Oncological diagnosis was delayed 50±3 days. Conclusions: No positive RT-PCR test were registered out of high-risk periods. Epidemiological administrative data in the preceding two weeks showed a significant correlation with screening results and could be useful to plan pre-endoscopic screening and avoid unnecessary tests.(AU)

Antecedentes: La actividad endoscópica comporta un riesgo elevado de transmisión de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Nuestro objetivo es valorar la correlación entre el cribado pre-endoscópico con reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) en individuos asintomáticos programados para una endoscopia ambulatoria y los datos epidemiológicos publicados por el departamento de salud pública. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los resultados del cribado realizado entre junio/2020 y junio/2021. Se registró el índice de crecimiento potencial (ICP) y la incidencia acumulada a 7 y 14 días. En los pacientes con RT-PCR positiva se registraron indicación, demora y hallazgos endoscópicos. Resultados: Se identificaron un total de 5.808 test con 125 resultados positivos (2,15%). Todos los resultados positivos se registraron en semanas consideradas de alto/muy alto riesgo (ICP>100), con una tasa máxima de positivos del 9,26% en enero/2021. Se observó una correlación significativa (rho=0,796; p<0,001) entre la tasa de positivos y el ICP, así como una diferencia estadísticamente significativa con la tasa de positivos en las semanas con el ICP<100. Planificar el cribado acorde al ICP>100 en la semana previa, habría evitado hasta 876 test, con un único resultado positivo. Ciento trece pacientes resultaron positivos y se demoraron 89 endoscopias; los hallazgos más frecuentes fueron pólipos, cáncer colorrectal y metaplasia gástrica. El diagnóstico oncológico se demoró 50±3 días. Conclusiones: No se registraron RT-PCR positivas fuera de los períodos de alto riesgo. Los datos epidemiológicos de las dos semanas anteriores mostraron una correlación significativa con los resultados del cribado y podrían ser útiles para planificar el mismo y evitar pruebas innecesarias.(AU)

Appropriateness of routine pre-endoscopic SARS-CoV-2 screening with RT-PCR in asymptomatic individuals and its impact on delayed diagnosis.

AIMS: Endoscopy units are considered to be at an increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2. Our aim is to assess the correlation between pre-endoscopic screening with reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic individuals scheduled for elective endoscopy and the epidemiological data published by the local Health Administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study collecting the results of our screening strategy spanning June/2020-June/2021, the effective potential growth (EPG), an index measuring the outbreak risk, and the 7 and 14-day cumulative incidence (CI). Indication, delay and the findings of the endoscopic examinations were registered for RT-PCR positive patients. RESULTS: A total of 5808 tests were performed, yielding 125 positive results (2.15%). All positive tests occurred in weeks of high/very high risk (EPG>100) with the highest monthly rate being 9.36%, recorded in January/2021. A significant correlation (rho=0.796; p<0.001) between weekly positive rates and EPG was observed, and a significantly lower weekly number of positive tests was recorded when EPG<100. Planning the screening strategy one week ahead according to EPG>100 would have avoided up to 826 tests with only one positive result to account for. One hundred and thirteen individuals tested positive and 89 endoscopies were delayed. The most common findings were colon polyps, colorectal cancer and gastric metaplasia. Oncological diagnosis was delayed 50±3 days. CONCLUSIONS: No positive RT-PCR test were registered out of high-risk periods. Epidemiological administrative data in the preceding two weeks showed a significant correlation with screening results and could be useful to plan pre-endoscopic screening and avoid unnecessary tests.

Programa de salud Agente +014: gamificación aplicada a la educación de adolescentes con diabetes según el modelo PRECEDE-PROCEDE y desde una perspectiva salutogénica / Agent +014 health program: gamification applied to the education of adolescents with diabetes according to the Precede-Proceed model and from a salutogenic perspective / Programa de saúde Agente +014: gamificação aplicada à educação de adolescentes com diabetes segundo o modelo PRECEDE-PROCEDE e desde uma perspectiva salutogênica

Resumen Objetivos: la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 es una enfermedad crónica que suele debutar en la infancia y necesitar formación a lo largo para dar respuesta a los cambios producidos en todas las etapas vitales. El objetivo de esta investigación es desarrollar un programa de educación para la salud, siguiendo el modelo Precede-Procede y desde una perspectiva salutogénica atendiendo a las necesidades de la población adolescente y que incluya la gamificación como estrategia educativa. Materiales y métodos: la primera fase es investigación mixta, cuantitativa y cualitativa y combina diferentes instrumentos para la recogida de información. Los participantes son adolescentes con dicho diagnóstico y sus progenitores, residentes en la Comunidad de Madrid, España. En la segunda, se desarrolla un programa educativo que responde a los hallazgos de la etapa anterior y que incorpora la gamificación. Resultados: la población diana disfruta de una buena calidad de vida, tiene un estilo de vida saludable y alta responsabilidad hacia sus cuidados. Sin embargo, los recursos que les hace falta son los relacionados con la esfera emocional. Es por ello por lo que el programa educativo denominado Agente +014 abarca la competencia emocional y cuidados avanzados de la diabetes, todo ello con forma de juego digital. Conclusiones: el modelo Precede-Procede se ha mostrado eficaz para desarrollar esta intervención de educación para la salud. El enfoque salutogénico facilita el análisis de los recursos personales, familiares y comunitarios. La gamificación es una estrategia innovadora en la promoción de la salud.

Abstract Objectives: type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that usually begins in childhood and requires training throughout to respond to the changes produced in all life stages. The objective of this research is to develop a health education program following the Precede-Proceed model from a salutogenic perspective, attending to the needs of the adolescent population and including gamification as an educational strategy. Materials and methods: the first stage is a mix of quantitative and qualitative research that combines different instruments for the collection of information. The participants are adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their parents, residents of the Community of Madrid, Spain. In the second stage an educational program is developed that responds to the findings of the previous stage and incorporates gamification. Results: the target population enjoys a good quality of life, they have a healthy lifestyle and high responsibility towards their care. However, the resources they lack are those related to the emotional sphere. That is why the educational program called "Agent +014" is used since it encompasses the emotional competence and advanced diabetes care, all in the form of a digital game. Conclusions: the Precede-Procede model has shown to be effective in developing health education interventions. The salutogenic approach facilitates the analysis of personal, family and community resources. Gamification is an innovative strategy in health promotion.

Resumo Objetivos: a diabetes mellitus tipo 1 é uma doenças crônicas que costuma debutar na infância e necessitar formação ao longo para dar resposta aos câmbios produzidos em todas as etapas vitais. O objetivo desta pesquisa é desenvolver um programa de educação para a saúde, seguindo o modelo Precede-Procede e desde uma perspectiva salutogênico atendendo às necessidades da população adolescente e que incluía a gamificação como estratégia educativa. Materiais e métodos: a primeira fase é pesquisa mista, quantitativa e qualitativa e combina diferentes instrumentos para a colheita de informação. Os participantes são adolescentes com este diagnóstico e seus progenitores, residentes na Comunidade de Madrid, Espanha. Na segunda, desenvolve-se um programa educativo que responde às descobertas da etapa anterior e que incorpora a gamificação. Resultados: a população Diana desfruta de uma boa qualidade de vida, tem um estilo de vida saudável e alta responsabilidade para seus cuidados. Contudo, os recursos que lhes faz falta são os relacionados com a esfera emocional. É por isso que o programa educativo denominado Agente +014 abarca a competência emocional e cuidados avançados da diabetes, todo isto com forma de jogo digital. Conclusões: o modelo Precede-Procede foi eficaz para desenvolver esta intervenção de educação para a saúde. O enfoque salutogênico facilita a análise dos recursos pessoais, familiares e comunitários. A gamificação é uma estratégia inovadora na promoção da saúde.

Patterns of physiological parameters and nitrogen partitioning in flag leaf explain differential grain protein content in rice.

The grain protein content (GPC) in rice is low, and more efforts with agronomic and molecular approaches were performed to increase them. However, the rice research focusing on the plant physiological behaviour that modulates the phenomenon of grain protein filling is very scarce. This work contains physiological parameters related to photosynthetic activity in the flag leaf in the grain filling period and N partitioning assays of high (Nutriar) and traditional (Camba) GPC cultivars. Results indicated a higher photosynthetic capacity, a better capacity to provide CO2 to the chloroplast and a healthier PSII structure in Camba relative to Nutriar. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased more steeply over time in the high protein variety, and a strong negative correlation was observed between GPC and PSII structure parameters. N content in the flag leaf at anthesis showed lower values and higher remobilisation during the grain filling period in Nutriar compared to Camba. The results of this work suggested that the inactivation of some PSII structures in higher GPC cultivars is associated with N remobilisation and would contribute to an increase in the free N available to be translocated to the grain.

Mental health impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: A large cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.

Altered Vergence Eye Movements and Pupil Response of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment During an Oddball Task.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions and may be preceded by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Evidence shows changes in pupil and vergence responses related to cognitive processing of visual information. OBJECTIVE: Here we test the hypothesis that MCI and AD are associated with specific patterns in vergence and pupil responses. METHODS: We employed a visual oddball task. In the distractor condition (80%of the trials), a blue stimulus was presented whereas in the target condition (20%of trials) it was red. Participants (23 Controls, 33 MCI patients, and 18 AD patients) were instructed to press a button when a target appeared. RESULTS: Participants briefly converged their eyes 200 ms after stimulus presentation. In controls, this transient peak response was followed by a delay response to targets but not to distractor stimuli. In the patient groups, delay responses to distractors were noticed. Consequently, the differential vergence response was strong in the control group, weak in the MCI group, and absent in the AD group. Pupils started to dilate 500-600 ms after the appearance of a target but slightly contracted after the presentation of a distractor. This differential pupil response was strongest in the AD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the idea of a role of vergence and pupil responses in attention and reveal altered responses in MCI and AD patients. Further studies should assess the value of vergence and pupil measurements as an objective support tool for early diagnosis of AD.

Vergence eye movements during figure-ground perception.

Figure-ground, that is the segmentation of visual information into objects and their surrounding backgrounds, provides structure for visual attention. Recent evidence shows a novel role of vergence eye movements in visual attention. In the present work, vergence responses during figure-ground segregation tasks are psychophysically investigated. We show that during a figure-ground detection task, subjects convergence their eyes. Vergence eye movements are larger in figure trials than in ground trials. In detected figures trials, vergence are stronger than in trials where the figure went unnoticed. Moreover in figure trials, vergence responses are stronger to low-contrast figures than to high-contrast figures. We argue that these discriminative vergence responses have a role in figure-ground.

Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Biological Agents During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID19 evolved rapidly into a global pandemic, forcing hospitals, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) referral units, to change their practices to ensure quality of care. AIMS: To describe the clinical outcomes and the fulfilment of the treatment schedule of patients with IBD treated with biological agents in a single-center of a red-zone of the pandemic, and to report the patients' perceptions about COVID-19 and the measures adopted at our center. METHODS: Therapeutic adherence and clinical outcomes were collected for all patients undergoing treatment with intravenous biologicals and subcutaneous biologicals at our center. A telephone survey was also performed to assess these patients' perceptions of the COVID pandemic and the related measures adopted at their IBD unit. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were included (117 on intravenous and 117 on subcutaneous biologicals). Only 10% of patients postponed intravenous infusions intentionally and 5% postponed the collection of subcutaneous biologicals at the hospital pharmacy. Only five confirmed COVID-19 cases were registered (2.1%), all of them of mild severity. One hundred and fifty-five patients participated in the survey (77 on intravenous and 78 on subcutaneous drugs). Fear of going to the hospital was the most common reason for postponing biological administrations. Among those on combination therapy, only 7% admitted to have withdrawn immunosuppressants. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to intravenous and subcutaneous biological therapies during the pandemic was high in a single-center cohort of IBD patients even though the cumulative incidence of confirmed COVID-19 was low.

Mental health impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: A large cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.

Eye vergence responses in children with and without reading difficulties during a word detection task.

Vergence eye movements are movements of both eyes in opposite directions. Vergence is known to have a role in binocular vision. However recent studies link vergence eye movements also to attention and attention disorders. As attention may be involved in dyslexia, it is sensible to guess that the presence of reading difficulties can be associated with specific patterns in vergence responses. Data from school children performing a word-reading task have been analysed. In the task, children had to distinguish words from non-words (scrambled words or row of X's), while their eye positions were recorded. Our findings show that after stimulus presentation eyes briefly converge. These vergence responses depend on the stimulus type and age of the child, and are different for children with reading difficulties. Our findings support the idea of a role of attention in word reading and offer an explanation of altered attention in dyslexia.

Occurrence of Salmonella typhimurium resistance under sublethal/repeated exposure to cauliflower infusion and infection effects on Caernohabditis elegans host test organism.

Resistant bacteria to antimicrobials are increasingly emerging in medical, food industry and livestock environments. The present research work assesses the capability of Salmonella enterica var Typhimurium to become adapted under the exposure to a natural cauliflower antimicrobial by-product infusion in consecutive repeated exposure cycles. Caenorhabditis elegans was proposed as in vivo host-test organism to compare possible changes in the virulent pattern of the different rounds treated S. enterica var Typhimurium and untreated bacterial cells. According to the obtained results, S. enterica var Typhimurium was able to generate resistance against a repeated exposure to cauliflower by-product infusion 5% (w/v), increasing the resistance with the number of exposed repetitions. Meanwhile, at the first exposure, cauliflower by-product infusion was effective in reducing S. enterica var Typhimurium (≈1 log10 cycle), and S. enterica var Typhimurium became resistant to this natural antimicrobial after the second and third treatment-round and was able to grow (≈1 log10 cycle). In spite of the increased resistance observed for repeatedly treated bacteria, the present study reveals no changes on C. elegans infection effects between resistant and untreated S. enterica var Typhimurium, according to phenotypic parameters evaluation (lifespan duration and egg-laying).

First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: an unexpected finding triggered by citizen science.

BACKGROUND: Aedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now. RESULTS: Here, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed.

Clinical Validation of Eye Vergence as an Objective Marker for Diagnosis of ADHD in Children.

OBJECTIVE: ADHD youth show poor oculomotor control. Recent research shows that attention-related eye vergence is weak in ADHD children. METHOD: To validate vergence as a marker to classify ADHD, we assessed the modulation in the angle of vergence of children ( n = 43) previously diagnosed with ADHD while performing an attention task and compared the results with age-matched clinical controls ( n = 19) and healthy peers ( n = 30). RESULTS: We observed strong vergence responses in healthy participants and weak vergence in the clinical controls. ADHD children showed no significant vergence responses. Machine-learning models classified ADHD patients ( n = 21) from healthy controls ( n = 21) with an accuracy of 96.3% (false positive [FP]: 5.12%; false negative [FN]: 0%; area under the curve [AUC]: 0.99) and ADHD children ( n = 11) from clinical controls ( n = 14) with an accuracy of 85.7% (FP: 4.5%; FN: 19.2%, AUC: 0.90). CONCLUSION: In combination with an attention task, vergence responses can be used as an objective marker to detect ADHD in children.