Portal Vein Doppler tracks volume status in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

BACKGROUND: Renal and liver congestion are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Currently, there are no valid sonographic indicators of fluid status in this population. Intra-renal venous Doppler (IRVD) is a novel method for quantifying renal congestion but its interpretation can be challenging in severe TR due to altered hemodynamics. This study explores the potential of portal vein Doppler (PVD) as an alternative marker for decongestion during volume removal in patients with severe TR. METHODS: 42 patients with severe TR undergoing decongestive therapy were prospectively enrolled. Inferior vena cava diameter (IVCd), PVD and IRVD were sequentially assessed during volume removal. Improvement criteria were Portal Vein Pulsatility Fraction (PVPF) < 70% and Renal Venous Stasis Index (RVSI) < 0.5 for partial improvement, and PVPF <30% and RVSI <0.2 for complete improvement. RESULTS: After volume removal, PVPF significantly improved from 130 ± 39% to 47 ± 44% (p < 0.001), while IRVD improved from 0.72 ± 0.08 to 0.54 ± 0.22 (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients displayed improvement in PVD compared to IRVD (partial: 38% vs. 29%, complete: 41% vs. 7%) (p < 0.001). IRVD only improved in patients with concomitant improvement in severe TR. PVD was the only predictor of achieving ≥5 litres of negative fluid balance (AUC 0.83 p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study suggests that PVD is the only sonographic marker that can track volume removal in severe TR, offering a potential indicator for decongestion in this population. Further intervention trials are warranted to determine if PVD-guided decongestion improves patient outcomes in severe TR.

Social Marketing Perspective on Participant Recruitment in Informatics-Based Intervention Studies.

Effective recruitment strategies are pivotal for informatics-based intervention trials success, particularly for people living with HIV (PLWH), where engagement can be challenging. Although informatics interventions are recognized for improving health outcomes, the effectiveness of their recruitment strategies remains unclear. We investigated the application of a social marketing framework in navigating the nuances of recruitment for informatics-based intervention trials for PLWH by examining participant experiences and perceptions. We used qualitative descriptive methodology to conduct semi-structured interviews with 90 research participants from four informatics-based intervention trials. Directed inductive and deductive content analyses were guided by Howcutt et al.'s social marketing framework on applying the decision-making process to research recruitment. The majority were male (86.7%), living in the Northeast United States (56%), and identified as Black (32%) or White (32%). Most participants (60%) completed the interview remotely. Sixteen subthemes emerged from five themes: motivation, perception, attitude formation, integration, and learning. Findings from our interview data suggest that concepts from Howcutt et al.'s framework informed participants' decisions to participate in an informatics-based intervention trial. We found that the participants' perceptions of trust in the research process were integral to the participants across the four trials. However, the recruitment approach and communication medium preferences varied between older and younger age groups. Social marketing framework can provide insight into improving the research recruitment process. Future work should delve into the complex interplay between the type of informatics-based interventions, trust in the research process, and communication preferences, and how these factors collectively influence participants' willingness to engage.

Empirical Characterization of False Discovery Rates of Differentially Expressed Genes and Transcriptomic Benchmark Concentrations in Zebrafish Embryos.

High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) is increasingly applied to zebrafish embryos to survey the toxicological effects of environmental chemicals. Before the adoption of this approach in regulatory testing, it is essential to characterize background noise in order to guide experimental designs. We thus empirically quantified the HTTr false discovery rate (FDR) across different embryo pool sizes, sample sizes, and concentration groups for toxicology studies. We exposed zebrafish embryos to 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 5 days. Pools of 1, 5, 10, and 20 embryos were created (n = 24 samples for each pool size). Samples were sequenced on the TempO-Seq platform and then randomly assigned to mock treatment groups before differentially expressed gene (DEG), pathway, and benchmark concentration (BMC) analyses. Given that all samples were treated with DMSO, any significant DEGs, pathways, or BMCs are false positives. As expected, we found decreasing FDRs for DEG and pathway analyses with increasing pool and sample sizes. Similarly, FDRs for BMC analyses decreased with increasing pool size and concentration groups, with more stringent BMC premodel filtering reducing BMC FDRs. Our study provides foundational data for determining appropriate experiment designs for regulatory toxicity testing with HTTr in zebrafish embryos.

Sociotechnical feasibility of natural language processing-driven tools in clinical trial eligibility prescreening for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 55 million globally. Current clinical trials suffer from low recruitment rates, a challenge potentially addressable via natural language processing (NLP) technologies for researchers to effectively identify eligible clinical trial participants. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the sociotechnical feasibility of NLP-driven tools for ADRD research prescreening and analyzes the tools' cognitive complexity's effect on usability to identify cognitive support strategies. METHODS: A randomized experiment was conducted with 60 clinical research staff using three prescreening tools (Criteria2Query, Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside [i2b2], and Leaf). Cognitive task analysis was employed to analyze the usability of each tool using the Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Scale. Data analysis involved calculating descriptive statistics, interrater agreement via intraclass correlation coefficient, cognitive complexity, and Generalized Estimating Equations models. RESULTS: Leaf scored highest for usability followed by Criteria2Query and i2b2. Cognitive complexity was found to be affected by age, computer literacy, and number of criteria, but was not significantly associated with usability. DISCUSSION: Adopting NLP for ADRD prescreening demands careful task delegation, comprehensive training, precise translation of eligibility criteria, and increased research accessibility. The study highlights the relevance of these factors in enhancing NLP-driven tools' usability and efficacy in clinical research prescreening. CONCLUSION: User-modifiable NLP-driven prescreening tools were favorably received, with system type, evaluation sequence, and user's computer literacy influencing usability more than cognitive complexity. The study emphasizes NLP's potential in improving recruitment for clinical trials, endorsing a mixed-methods approach for future system evaluation and enhancements.

Identifying Key Factors to PrEP Initiation and Persistence Among YMSM Through Focus Groups and Surveys in Two High-Priority Settings.

Cisgender men are diagnosed with HIV at a rate four times greater than cisgender women, with 71% of infections attributed to male-male sexual contact. Despite expanding accessibility, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention is initiated by only 30% of people with PrEP indications. Five focus groups with 42 young men who have sex with men from New York and Alabama were conducted to identify key factors to PrEP initiation and persistence. Thirty focus group participants completed a survey on demographics, PrEP choices and health care attitudes. Findings suggest provider competency significantly influences PrEP use due to stigmatization in medical settings. Participants noted benefits of PrEP including HIV protection and sexual empowerment, yet barriers like cost and side effects were prevalent. Our findings outline barriers and facilitators to PrEP use among young men who have sex with men in two high priority settings that will inform PrEP care updates in participating clinics.

Comparison of evaluation methods for improving the usability of a Spanish mHealth tool.

OBJECTIVE: Mobile health (mHealth) technology is now widely used across health conditions and populations. The rigorous development of these tools has yielded improved health outcomes, yet the ideal approach for developing mHealth tools continues to evolve, indicating the need for rigorous usability evaluation methods. This study compares two usability evaluation methods - cognitive interviews and usability assessments employing a think-aloud approach - for adapting an evidence-based mHealth tool from English into Spanish. METHODS: We conducted cognitive interviews and usability assessments using a think-aloud protocol to evaluate the usability of an HIV mHealth application among 40 Spanish-speaking adults with HIV in New York City, NY, and La Romana, Dominican Republic. The Health IT Usability Evaluation Model (Health-ITUEM) was used to guide the analysis of qualitative data collected from each method. RESULTS: Participants (N = 40) averaged 43 years old (SD = 12.26; range 20-79), identified primarily Hispanic/Latino (92.5 %), and resided in La Romana (50 %) or New York City (50 %). Both usability evaluation methods yielded similar findings, highlighting learnability and information needs as crucial components of participant feedback for the mHealth application. Cognitive interviews captured participants' perspectives on the app's interface and design. On the other hand, results from usability assessments offered insights into participants' competency while interacting with the mHealth tool. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study highlight the contributions and limitations of including cognitive interviews and task-based usability assessments using a think-aloud approach in mHealth usability testing. Future research should employ a multi-method approach, incorporating complementary usability evaluation methods and engaging participants in multiple assessments. Using complementary usability evaluation methods may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the usability and participant experience aspects of a mHealth tool compared to using a single usability evaluation method.

A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol.

BACKGROUND: While there is no cure for HIV, adherence to antiretroviral therapy can extend the lifespan and improve the quality of life of people with HIV. Despite the global reduction of HIV infection rates in recent years, New York City and La Romana, Dominican Republic, continue to report high infection rates among Latino populations. Many people with HIV remain virally unsuppressed in these geographic hotspots, suggesting a need for additional interventions to overcome medication adherence barriers. Tailored and culturally appropriate mobile health (mHealth) technology can be an engaging way to improve adherence. The primary objective of this trial is to test the effectiveness of an mHealth tool to improve HIV medication adherence among Spanish-speaking people living in New York City and the Dominican Republic. METHODS: The WiseApp study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial among 248 people with HIV across the New York and Dominican Republic sites over the course of 12 months. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive a CleverCap pill bottle that is linked to the WiseApp (intervention) or standard of care (control). All participants complete surveys at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits and the study team obtains HIV-1 viral load and CD4 count results through blood draw at each study timepoint. DISCUSSION: The use of mHealth technologies to improve medication adherence among people with HIV has been implemented in recent years. Although some studies have found improvement in adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the short term, there is limited information about how these interventions improve adherence among Spanish-speaking populations. Disproportionate rates of HIV infection among Latinos in New York City suggest an existing inequitable approach in reaching and treating this population. Due to a lack of mHealth studies with Latino populations, and apps tailored to Spanish-speakers, the WiseApp study will not only demonstrate the effectiveness of this particular mHealth app but will also contribute to the mHealth research community as a whole. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05398185) on 5/31/2022.

Unraveling the Role of EV-Derived miR-150-5p in Prostate Cancer Metastasis and Its Association with High-Grade Gleason Scores: Implications for Diagnosis.

Metastasis remains the leading cause of mortality in prostate cancer patients. The presence of tumor cells in lymph nodes is an established prognostic indicator for several cancer types, such as melanoma, breast, oral, pancreatic, and cervical cancers. Emerging evidence highlights the role of microRNAs enclosed within extracellular vesicles as facilitators of molecular communication between tumors and metastatic sites in the lymph nodes. This study aims to investigate the potential diagnostic utility of EV-derived microRNAs in liquid biopsies for prostate cancer. By employing microarrays on paraffin-embedded samples, we characterized the microRNA expression profiles in metastatic lymph nodes, non-metastatic lymph nodes, and primary tumor tissues of prostate cancer. Differential expression of microRNAs was observed in metastatic lymph nodes compared to prostate tumors and non-metastatic lymph node tissues. Three microRNAs (miR-140-3p, miR-150-5p, and miR-23b-3p) were identified as differentially expressed between tissue and plasma samples. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of these microRNAs in exosomes derived from prostate cancer cells and plasma samples. Intriguingly, high Gleason score samples exhibited the lowest expression of miR-150-5p compared to control samples. Pathway analysis suggested a potential regulatory role for miR-150-5p in the Wnt pathway and bone metastasis. Our findings suggest EV-derived miR-150-5p as a promising diagnostic marker for identifying patients with high-grade Gleason scores and detecting metastasis at an early stage.

Physiological Conditions Leading to Maternal Subclinical Ketosis in Holstein Dairy Cows Can Impair the Offspring's Postnatal Growth and Gut Microbiome Development.

Maternal metabolic disruptions, such as ketosis, can have adverse effects on fetal development and influence postnatal factors. Twelve Holstein calves were randomly enrolled in this study at birth and monitored until 8 weeks of age. The study was conducted from fall 2018 until spring 2019. After completing the data collection period, calves were classified according to their respective dams ketotic condition after parturition. This classification was based on dam blood ß-hydroxybutyrate < 1.4 mmol/L nonketotic (NONKET; n = 6 calves) or ≥1.4 mmol/L subclinical-ketotic (SK; n = 6 calves). SK calves had greater birth body weight (p = 0.05) but exhibited a slower growth rate compared to NONKET calves from 1 to 8 weeks (p = 0.02). At birth, SK calves had lower (p < 0.01) levels of non-esterified fatty acids and bilirubin compared to NONKET calves. Analysis of feces alpha diversity indicates that by 3 weeks, NONKET calves had greater diversity, richness, and evenness. Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum and Gallibacterium anatis were more abundant in SK calves (p < 0.05) at 3 weeks. In contrast, NONKET calves had a greater (p < 0.05) abundance of Sharpae azabuensis at 3 weeks. These findings suggest that subclinical ketosis in cows can impact the in-utero development, postnatal growth, and maturing gut microbiome of their offspring.

An Interactome Assay for Detecting Interactions between Extracellular Domains of Receptor Kinases.

Interactions between extracellular domains (ECDs) are crucial for many physiological processes in the cell, most importantly perception of its environment. However, studying these often-transient interactions can be challenging. Here we describe a method that allows for in vitro detection of extracellular domain interactions through an oligomerization-based cell surface interaction (CSI) assay. In a CSI, bait- and prey-tagged proteins are produced and secreted by Drosophila S2 cells to ensure proper folding and post-translational modifications. Subsequently, Bait (FC fragment) and Prey (pentamer domain and alkaline phosphatase) tags allow the detection of interactions in protein A-coated 96 wells plates through a colorimetric readout. Due to the easy detection of interactions this approach can be used for high-throughput screening and mapping of extracellular interaction networks.

Oocyte dynamics for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the southern Gulf of Mexico: A comparative assessment of Mediterranean spawners using two stereological methods.

Although most research focused on the northern Gulf of Mexico for western Atlantic bluefin tuna, the histological records of reproductive activity of this species in the southern Gulf of Mexico (Mexican waters) have been presented for the first time. This work is the first to study oocyte dynamics in Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in the southern Gulf of Mexico by assessing and comparing them with Mediterranean stock (BFT-E) through stereology using two different methods. Regardless of Atlantic bluefin tuna females returning to their respective spawning grounds at different months in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean, both stocks arrived reproductively inactive and remained in these zones during periods of similar length; they were reproductively active until March for the southern Gulf of Mexico and May for the Mediterranean females. The comparison of the size structure between the two stocks examined using kernel density estimators demonstrated a quite remarkable difference in mean fork lengths between stocks. The ovarian oocyte density, that is, the number of oocytes per gram of ovary, for each gonad stage predicted using the Weibel and Gomez and oocyte packing density (OPD) methods did not significantly differ between stocks and showed that advanced vitellogenic oocytes from spawning-capable females are an appropriate indicator to estimate potential fecundity, presenting values of c. 1273 and ~1355 eggs per gram for the southern Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean females, respectively. Females caught in Mexican waters (southern Gulf of Mexico) were larger than those caught in the Mediterranean; however, it was demonstrated that the length and weight of females did not affect ovarian oocyte density production. In addition, densities estimated for each gonad stage using W&G and OPD methods did not differ between stocks and presented equal patterns in their oocyte dynamics. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna, especially in the southern Gulf of Mexico, due to the lack of information regarding this zone, and may allow to support strategies for proper assessment, management, and conservation.

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of Low-Concentration Exposure to Bisphenol A, S, and F in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous synthetic compound used as a monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Even at low doses, BPA has been associated with the molecular progression of diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hormone-regulated cancers due to its activity as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). Consequently, the use of BPA has been regulated worldwide by different health agencies. BPA structural analogs such as bisphenol S and bisphenol F (BPS and BPF) have emerged as industrial alternatives, but their biological activity in the molecular progression of cancer remains unclear. Prostate cancer (PCa) is a hormone-dependent cancer, and the role of BPA structural analogs in PCa progression is still undescribed. In this work, we use an in vitro model to characterize the transcriptomic effect of low-concentration exposure to bisphenol A, S, or F in the two main stages of the disease: androgen dependency (LNCaP) and resistance (PC-3). Our findings demonstrated that the low concentration exposure to each bisphenol induced a differential effect over PCa cell lines, which marks the relevance of studying the effect of EDC compounds through all the stages of the disease.

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment Modifies Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic Islets from Prediabetic Mice Under Hypercaloric Diet.

Background: The endocannabinoid system over-activation is associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus onset, involving physiological, metabolic, and genetic alterations in pancreatic islets. The use of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as treatment is still controversial since its effects and mechanisms on insulin secretion are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of THC treatment in pancreatic islets from prediabetic mice. Methods: Prediabetes was induced in mice by hypercaloric diet, and then treated with THC for 3 weeks. Blood glucose and body weight were determined, after behavior tests. Histological changes were evaluated in whole pancreas; in isolated islets we analyzed the effect of THC exposure in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), gene expression, intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cytosolic calcium changes. Results: THC treatment in prediabetic mice enhanced anxiety and antidepressive behavior without changes in food ingestion, decreased oral-glucose tolerance test, plasma insulin and weight, with small alterations on pancreatic histology. In isolated islets from healthy mice THC increased GSIS, cAMP, and CB1 receptor (CB1r) expression, meanwhile calcium release was diminished. Small changes were observed in islets from prediabetic mice. Conclusions: THC treatment improves some clinical parameters in prediabetic mice, however, in isolated islets, modifies GSIS, intracellular calcium and gene expression, suggesting specific effects related to diabetes evolution.

Medicamentos bioterapéuticos: uso de toxinas botulínicas en la era de biosimilares / Biotherapeutic medicines: use of botulinum toxins in the era of biosimilars

Introducción: Las toxinas botulínicas son medicamentos bioterapéuticos con grandes aplicaciones en el campo de la neurología, como la cefalea y los movimientos anormales. Debido a la importancia médica y al incremento de las indicaciones terapéuticas de la toxina botulínica, este artículo pretende hacer claridad acerca de la terminología básica con respecto a la naturaleza de este medicamento, a las diferencias estructurales con medicamentos convencionales y aspectos importantes en relación con su potencia biológica e inmunogenicidad, para así comprender las potenciales diferencias entre las toxinas disponibles y conceptuar en torno a la no intercambiabilidad o sustitución de una toxina por otra. Materiales y métodos: Revisión no sistemática, según lo recomendado en la Escala para la Verificación de los Artículos Revisiones Narrativas (Sanra). Conclusiones: Los medicamentos biológicos no son intercambiables entre sí, aunque demuestren bioequivalencia. No se pueden evaluar como medicamentos genéricos intercambiables porque son biológicos; no existen estudios comparativos cabeza a cabeza; son diferentes, debido al proceso individual de manufactura.

Introduction: Botulinum toxins are biotherapeutic drugs with great applications in the field of neurology such as headache and abnormal movements. Due to the medical importance and the increase in therapeutic indications of botulinum toxin, this article aims to clarify the basic terminology regarding the nature of this drug, the structural differences with conventional drugs and important aspects in relation to its biological potency and immunogenicity in order to understand the potential differences between the available toxins and conceptualize regarding the non-interchangeability or substitution of one toxin for another. Materials and methods: Non-systematic review as recommended in the Scale for the Verification of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). Conclusions: Biological drugs are not interchangeable with each other, even if they demonstrate bioequi-valence. They cannot be evaluated as interchangeable generic drugs because they are biologics. There are no head-to-head comparative studies. They are different due to the individual manufacturing process.

Expert Feedback on the Adaptation and Translation of Spanish Version of WiseApp.

HIV-related disparities also exist in developing countries, such as the Dominican Republic, where minority groups and/or those with low socioeconomic status experience higher disease burdens and worse health outcomes than those with higher socioeconomic status. We used a community-based approach to ensure the WiseApp intervention is culturally relevant and addresses the needs of our target population. Expert panelists made recommendations on how to simplify the language and features of the WiseApp to accommodate Spanish-speaking users who may have lower levels of education, or color or vision deficiencies.

First account of microplastics in pelagic sporting dolphinfish from the eastern Mexican coast of Baja California Sur.

This study is a baseline data on the presence of MPs from the gastro-intestinal tracts (GITs) in Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, from eastern Baja California Sur, México. 878 MPs items (in %) of fibers (29%), fragments (68%) and films (1.3%) were detected from 51 GITs of Coryphaena hippurus. Transparent, white, blue and black were the prevalent colours. Morphological features observed through SEM analysis, the presence of heavily weathered MPs is due to the mechanical, microbiological and chemical weathering process. PP (29%), Nylon (29%), PS (17%), PE (11%), PET (6%) and HDPE (8%) presence indicates their source from regional anthropogenic stress. Trophic level transition is enforced by polymer derivative, permitting the sinking behavior of MPs and increased ingestion probability. Fishes were classified as slim despite their higher feeding capabilities and ingested MPs indicates a relationship with environmental contaminants. Current study emphasizes the health risk linked to biological aspects of MPs ingestion.

SFRP1 induces a stem cell phenotype in prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks second in incidence and sixth in deaths globally. The treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) continues to be a significant clinical problem. Emerging evidence suggests that prostate cancer progression toward castration resistance is associated with paracrine signals from the stroma. SFRP1 is one of the extracellular proteins that modulate the WNT pathway, and it has been identified as a mediator of stromal epithelium communication. The WNT pathway is involved in processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, cell anchoring, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation as well as the regulation of stem cell populations in the prostatic epithelium. In the present study, we explored the role of exogenous SFRP1 on the stem cell phenotype in prostate cancer. The results reveal that cancer stem cell markers are significantly increased by exogenous SFRP1 treatments, as well as the downstream target genes of the Wnt/-catenin pathway. The pluripotent transcription factors SOX2, NANOG, and OCT4 were also up-regulated. Furthermore, SFRP1 promoted prostate cancer stem cell (PCSC) properties in vitro, including tumorsphere formation, migration, bicalutamide resistance, and decreased apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that SFRP1 participates in the paracrine signaling of epithelial cells, influencing them and positively regulating the stem cell phenotype through deregulation of the WNT/ß-catenin pathway, which could contribute to disease progression and therapeutic failure. This research increases our molecular understanding of how CRPC progresses, which could help us find new ways to diagnose and treat the disease.

Convergent Validity between Electromyographic Muscle Activity, Ultrasound Muscle Thickness and Dynamometric Force Measurement for Assessing Muscle.

Muscle fatigue is defined as a reversible decline in performance after intensive use, which largely recovers after a resting period. Surface electromyography (EMG), ultrasound imaging (US) and dynamometry are used to assess muscle activity, muscle morphology and isometric force capacity. This study aimed to assess the convergent validity between these three methods for assessing muscle fatigue during a manual prehension maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted, enrolling 50 healthy participants for the measurement of simultaneous changes in muscle thickness, muscle activity and isometric force using EMG, US and a hand dynamometer, respectively, during a 15 s MVIC. An adjustment line and its variance (R2) were calculated. Muscle activity and thickness were comparable between genders (p > 0.05). However, men exhibited lower force holding capacity (p < 0.05). No side-to-side or dominance differences were found for any variable. Significant correlations were found for the EMG slope with US (r = 0.359; p < 0.01) and dynamometry (r = 0.305; p < 0.01) slopes and between dynamometry and US slopes (r = 0.227; p < 0.05). The sample of this study was characterized by comparable muscle activity and muscle thickness change between genders. In addition, fatigue slopes were not associated with demography or anthropometry. Our findings showed fair convergent associations between these methods, providing synergistic muscle fatigue information.

The function of the endocannabinoid system in the pancreatic islet and its implications on metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

The following review focuses on the scientific studies related to the role of endocannabinoid system (ECS) in pancreatic islet physiology and dysfunction. Different natural or synthetic agonists and antagonists have been suggested as an alternative treatment for diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Therapeutic use of Cannabis led to the discovery and characterization of the ECS, a signaling complex involved in regulation of various physiological processes, including food intake and metabolism. After the development of different agonists and antagonists, evidence have demonstrated the presence and activity of cannabinoid receptors in several organs and tissues, including pancreatic islets. Insulin and glucagon expression, stimulated secretion, and the development of diabetes and other metabolic disorders have been associated with the activity and modulation of ECS in pancreatic islets. However, according to the animal model and experimental design, either endogenous or pharmacological ligands of cannabinoid receptors have guided to contradictory and paradoxical results that suggest a complex physiological interaction. In consensus, ECS activity modulates insulin and glucagon secretions according to glucose in media; over-stimulation of cannabinoid receptors affects islets negatively, leading to glucose intolerance, meanwhile the treatment with antagonists in diabetic models and humans suggests an improvement in islets function.

Metacognición, insight clínico y sintomatología en pacientes ambulatorios chilenos con Esquizofrenia

Introducción: Las personas con esquizofrenia presentan graves dificultades para formar ideas complejas sobre sí mismos y otros, definidas como déficits metacognitivos, junto a menor insight clínico o capacidad para tomar conciencia de poseer un trastorno de salud mental. El presente estudio evaluó dichas alteraciones y las correlaciones entre metacognición, insight clínico y sintomatología en pacientes ambulatorios con esquizofrenia. Metodología: Se diseñó un estudio cuantitativo, relacional, prospectivo, transversal y observacional. Treinta y un pacientes ambulatorios del Centro Diurno "Luz y Esperanza" de Talca (Chile) fueron evaluados utilizando la Metacognitive Assessment Scale-Abbreviated, Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder y la Escala de Síndromes Positivo y Negativo, en el período 2019-2020. Resultados: Se encontraron bajos puntajes metacognitivos y de insight clínico, destacando las correlaciones estadísticamente significativas de puntaje metacognitivo total, Autorreflexividad y Maestría con escasa Conciencia de poseer un trastorno y las subescalas de síntomas negativos y desorganización. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados respaldan la inclusión de los déficits metacognitivos y de insight clínico en los modelos de esquizofrenia. Se discute sobre su potencial aporte en el diseño de intervenciones psicoterapéuticas que promuevan estas capacidades e influyan en los síntomas negativos y de desorganización. Es necesario replicar estudios sobre estas variables en nuestro país, que incluyan un mayor número de participantes.

Introduction: People with schizophrenia have serious disturbances in forming complex ideas about themselves and others, defined as metacognitive deficits, along with less clinical insight or awareness of mental disorder The present study assessed these disturbances and the correlations between metacognition, clinical insight and symptomatology in outpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: A quantitative, relational, prospective, cross-sectional and observational study was designed. Thirty-one outpatients of the "Luz y Esperanza" Day Center in Talca (Chile) were evaluated using the Metacognitive Assessment Scale-Abbreviated, Scale of Unawareness of Mental Disorder and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, in the period 2019-2020. Results: Low metacognitive and clinical insight scores were found, highlighting statistically significant correlations of total metacognitive score, Self-Reflectivity and Mastery with low Awareness of mental disorder and the subscales of negative symptoms and disorganization. Conclusions: Our results support the inclusion of metacognitive deficits and clinical insight in schizophrenia models. Its potential contribution to the design of psychotherapeutic interventions that promote these abilities and influence negative and disorganized symptoms is discussed. It is necessary to replicate studies about these variables in our country, including a greater number of participants.