Increases in the soil ammonia oxidizing phylotypes and their rechange due to long-term irrigation with wastewater.

Wastewater irrigation is a common practice for agricultural systems in arid and semiarid zones, which can help to overcome water scarcity and contribute with nutrient inputs. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are key in the transformation of NH4+-N in soil and can be affected by variations in soil pH, EC, N and C content, or accumulation of pollutants, derived from wastewater irrigation. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in the ammonia oxidizing communities in agricultural soils irrigated with wastewater for different periods of time (25, 50, and 100 years), and in rainfed soils (never irrigated). The amoA gene encoding for the catalytic subunit of the ammonia monooxygenase was used as molecular reporter; it was quantified by qPCR and sequenced by high throughput sequencing, and changes in the community composition were associated with the soil physicochemical characteristics. Soils irrigated with wastewater showed up to five times more the abundance of ammonia oxidizers (based on 16S rRNA gene relative abundance and amoA gene copies) than those under rainfed agriculture. While the amoA-AOA: amoA-AOB ratio decreased from 9.8 in rainfed soils to 1.6 in soils irrigated for 100 years, indicating a favoring environment for AOB rather than AOA. Further, the community structure of both AOA and AOB changed during wastewater irrigation compared to rainfed soils, mainly due to the abundance variation of certain phylotypes. Finally, the significant correlation between soil pH and the ammonia oxidizing community structure was confirmed, mainly for AOB; being the main environmental driver of the ammonia oxidizer community. Also, a calculated toxicity index based on metals concentrations showed a correlation with AOB communities, while the content of carbon and nitrogen was more associated with AOA communities. The results indicate that wastewater irrigation influence ammonia oxidizers communities, manly by the changes in the physicochemical environment.

Arteriolar degeneration and stiffness in cerebral amyloid angiopathy are linked to ß-amyloid deposition and lysyl oxidase.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a vasculopathy characterized by vascular ß-amyloid (Aß) deposition on cerebral blood vessels. CAA is closely linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and intracerebral hemorrhage. CAA is associated with the loss of autoregulation in the brain, vascular rupture, and cognitive decline. To assess morphological and molecular changes associated with the degeneration of penetrating arterioles in CAA, we analyzed post-mortem human brain tissue from 26 patients with mild, moderate, and severe CAA end neurological controls. The tissue was optically cleared for three-dimensional light sheet microscopy, and morphological features were quantified using surface volume rendering. We stained Aß, vascular smooth muscle (VSM), lysyl oxidase (LOX), and vascular markers to visualize the relationship between degenerative morphological features, including vascular dilation, dolichoectasia (variability in lumenal diameter) and tortuosity, and the volumes of VSM, Aß, and LOX in arterioles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to assess arteriolar wall stiffness, and we identified a pattern of morphological features associated with degenerating arterioles in the cortex. The volume of VSM associated with the arteriole was reduced by around 80% in arterioles with severe CAA and around 60% in cases with mild/moderate CAA. This loss of VSM correlated with increased arteriolar diameter and variability of diameter, suggesting VSM loss contributes to arteriolar laxity. These vascular morphological features correlated strongly with Aß deposits. At sites of microhemorrhage, Aß was consistently present, although the morphology of the deposits changed from the typical organized ring shape to sharply contoured shards with marked dilation of the vessel. AFM showed that arteriolar walls with CAA were more than 400% stiffer than those without CAA. Finally, we characterized the association of vascular degeneration with LOX, finding strong associations with VSM loss and vascular degeneration. These results show an association between vascular Aß deposition, microvascular degeneration, and increased vascular stiffness, likely due to the combined effects of replacement of VSM by ß-amyloid, cross-linking of extracellular matrices (ECM) by LOX, and possibly fibrosis. This advanced microscopic imaging study clarifies the association between Aß deposition and vascular fragility. Restoration of physiologic ECM properties in penetrating arteries may yield a novel therapeutic strategy for CAA.

Agave distribution and floral display influence foraging rates of an endangered pollinating bat and implications for conservation.

Wildlife conservation involves making management decisions with incomplete knowledge of ecological relationships. Efforts to augment foraging resources for the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) are progressing despite limited knowledge about the species' foraging behavior and requirements. This study aimed to understand L. nivalis responses to floral resource availability, focusing on individual agave- and local-scale characteristics influencing visitation rates to flowering agaves. We observed bat visitation at 62 flowering agaves around two roosts in northeast Mexico on 46 nights in the summers of 2017 and 2018. We found visitation rate had positive relationships with two agave-scale characteristics: the number of umbels with open flowers and the lower vertical position on the stalk of those umbels (i.e., earlier phenological stages of flowering). However, these factors exhibited strong negative interaction: with few umbels with open flowers, the position of flowering umbels had little effect on visitation rate, but when umbels with open flowers were abundant, visitation rate was more strongly related to the lower flowering umbel position. We also found relationships between visitation rate and two local-scale characteristics: negative for the density of flowering conspecifics within 30 m of the focal agave and positive for the density of dead standing agave stalks within 30 m. Our findings suggest opportunities to augment foraging resources for L. nivalis in ways that are consistent with their foraging behavior, including: increasing the supply of simultaneously blooming flowers by planting agave species that tend to have more umbels with simultaneously open flowers; planting multiple species of agaves with different flowering times to increase the availability of agaves with open flowers on lower-positioned umbels throughout the period when bats are present in the region; planting agaves in clusters; and keeping dead standing agave stalks on the landscape. Our study points to useful management strategies that can be implemented and monitored as part of an adaptive management approach to aid in conservation efforts.

Vaginal peritoneum fistula through pouch of Douglas during peritoneal dialysis: Case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal dialysis is the preferred approach for kidney replacement therapy. A peritoneal-vaginal fistula is a rare complication associated with peritoneal dialysis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old woman with a history of type two diabetes and systemic arterial hypertension for twenty years is scheduled to undergo the surgical placement of a Tenckoff catheter to begin renal replacement therapy. After having thirty dialysis sessions, she was discharged to continue therapy at home. Five days later, she observed a notable rise in vaginal discharge after peritoneal dialysis. This case report investigates the etiology, diagnosis, and management of peritoneal vaginal fistula and analyzes current medical literature. DISCUSSION: Factors associated with the formation of peritoneum-vaginal fistula include increased intra-abdominal pressure due to dialysis, anatomical predisposition, peritonitis, and malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal vaginal fistula is an uncommon consequence of peritoneal dialysis. Diagnosis entails demonstrating the movement of dialysis fluid from the peritoneum to the vagina. Treatment should be customized according to the etiology of the fistula and the individual needs of each patient.

VirtualPain. Preliminary findings from a group-based digital therapeutics intervention for fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder characterized by chronic pain, with significant medical, psychological, and socio-economic implications. Although there is limited evidence, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown to be effective in improving FM symptoms. An alternative to enhance CBT effectiveness is to incorporate digital therapeutics (DTx). Aim: We conducted a pilot study to investigate whether the addition of a DTx intervention (VirtualPain) to cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) can reduce pain perception and associated symptoms in patients with FM. Method: Ten patients with FM were initially recruited from a public hospital in Barcelona. The treatment consisted of 6 weeks of VirtualPain group sessions and 16 weeks of CBGT. Measures of catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and coping were recorded before, during, and after the protocol. In the DTx sessions, pain intensity was recorded before and after each session. Results: The program (DTx and CBGT) showed a significant improvement in pain-related self-efficacy and relaxation measures. Improvement in pain perception was observed only after the DTx intervention. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary results regarding the added value of DTx (VirtualPain) as part of a CBGT for FM. The use of the program has facilitated a significant reduction in pain perception in each of the VirtualPain sessions, which provides further evidence of how this technology can be beneficial for improving FM treatments.

Exploring Attentional Bias toward Alcohol Content: Insights from Eye-Movement Activity.

INTRODUCTION: Attentional bias (AB) is an implicit selective attention toward processing disorder-significant information while neglecting other environmental cues. Considerable empirical evidence highlights the clinical implication of AB in the onset and maintenance of substance use disorder. An innovative method to explore direct measures of AB relies on the eye-movement activity using technologies like eye-tracking (ET). Despite the growing interest regarding the clinical relevance of AB in the spectrum of alcohol consumption, more research is needed to fully determine the AB patterns and its transfer from experimental to clinical applications. The current study consisted of three consecutive experiments. The first experiment aimed to design an ad-hoc visual attention task (VAT) consisting of alcohol-related and neutral images using a nonclinical sample (n = 15). The objective of the second and third experiments was to analyze whether the effect of type of image (alcohol-related vs. neutral images) on AB toward alcohol content using the VAT developed in the first experiment was different for type of drinker (light vs. heavy drinker in the second experiment [n = 30], and occasional social drinkers versus alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients in the third experiment [n = 48]). METHODS: Areas of interest (AOIs) within each type of image (neutral and alcohol-related) were designed and raw ET-based data were subsequently extracted through specific software analyses. For experiment 1, attention maps were created and processed for each image. For experiments 2 and 3, data on ET variables were gathered and subsequently analyzed through a two-way ANOVA with the aim of examining the effects of the type of image and drinker on eye-movement activity. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant interaction effect between type of image and type of drinker (light vs. heavy drinker in experiment 2, F(1, 56) = 13.578, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.195, and occasional social drinker versus AUD patients in the experiment 3, F(1, 92) = 35.806, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.280) for "first fixation" with large effect sizes, but not for "number of fixations" and "dwell time." The simple main effect of type of image on mean "first fixation" score for AUD patients was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The data derived from the experiments indicated the importance of AB in sub-clinical populations: heavy drinkers displayed an implicit preference for alcohol-related images compared to light drinkers. Nevertheless, AB fluctuations in patients with AUD compared to the control group were found. AUD patients displayed an early interest in alcohol images, followed by an avoidance attentional processing of alcohol-related images. The results are discussed in light of recent literature in the field.

Phenolic Compounds of Therapeutic Interest in Neuroprotection.

The number of elderly people is projected to double in the next 50 years worldwide, resulting in an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. Aging causes changes in brain tissue homeostasis, thus contributing to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Current treatments are not entirely effective, so alternative treatments or adjuvant agents are being actively sought. Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds are of particular interest for neurodegenerative diseases whose psychopathological mechanisms strongly rely on oxidative stress at the brain level. Moreover, phenolic compounds display other advantages such as the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the interesting molecular mechanisms that we reviewed in this work. We began by briefly outlining the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases to understand the mechanisms that result in irreversible brain damage, then we provided an overall classification of the phenolic compounds that would be addressed later. We reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as some clinical trials in which neuroprotective mechanisms were demonstrated in models of different neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), ischemia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Experiencia y factores perioperatorios que afectan a los resultados en isquemia mesentérica aguda. Resultados de un hospital terciario chileno / Experience and perioperative factors affecting results in acute mesenteric ischemia. Results of a Chilean tertiary hospital

Introducción y objetivo: la isquemia mesentérica es poco frecuente, pero tiene una alta mortalidad. Existen pocos reportes de esta patología en países subdesarrollados. Este estudio pretende describir los resultados de un centro universitario terciario chileno y los factores que afectan a su morbimortalidad. Material y métodos: análisis retrospectivo de los pacientes intervenidos de urgencia por isquemia mesentérica aguda entre 2016 y 2021 en el Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile. Se excluyeron los pacientes manejados sin cirugía. Se analizaron factores perioperatorios, detalles operatorios, la mortalidad a 30 días y la estancia hospitalaria, entre otros. Resultados: se incluyeron 32 pacientes. La mediana de edad fue de 73,5 años (45-92). Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron hipertensión (62,5 %), diabetes mellitus (28,1 %) y enfermedad cardiovascular conocida: infarto agudo de miocardio, angina crónica, accidente cerebrovascular, isquemia aguda de extremidades y enfermedad arterial oclusiva periférica (34,4 %). El 40,6 % tenía causa arterial trombótica; el 18,8 %, arterial embólica; el 25 %, venosa, y el 15,6 %, no oclusiva (NOMI). El motivo de consulta más frecuente fue el dolor abdominal (84,4 %). En la primera intervención, el 81,3 % requirió resección intestinal. Se realizó una anastomosis en el 53,1 %. El 25 % de los pacientes fueron revascularizados, con un cirujano vascular en el equipo quirúrgico, en el 65,6 %. La mediana de estancia hospitalaria fue de 21 días (2-129). La mediana de tiempo a la cirugía fue de 10,75 horas (4,75-196)... (AU)

Introduction and objective: acute mesenteric ischemia has a low incidence but high mortality. The results of this disease are not well reported in developing countries. This study aims to describe the results of a Chilean tertiary university center and the factors that affect its morbidity and mortality. Material and methods: retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing emergency surgery for acute mesenteric ischemia between 2016 and 2021 at the hospital clínico universidad de chile. Patients managed without surgery were excluded. Demographic characteristics, perioperative factors, details of the first surgery, 30-day mortality, and hospital stay, among others, were analyzed. Results: 32 patients were included. The median age was 73.5 years (45-92). The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (62.5 %), diabetes mellitus (28.1 %) and known cardiovascular disease 34.4 % (acute myocardial infarction, chronic angina, cerebrovascular accident, acute limb ischemia, peripheral arterial occlusive disease). 40.6 % had a thrombotic arterial cause, 18.8 % embolic arterial, 25 % thrombotic venous and 15.6 % non-occlusive (NOMI). The most frequent reason for consultation was abdominal pain (84.4 %). In the first surgical intervention, 81.3 % required intestinal resection, with an anastomosis performed in 53.1 %. 25% were revascularized, with a vascular surgeon on the surgical team in 65.6 %. The median hospital stay was 21 (2-129) days. The median time from the emergency department to surgery was 10.75 hours (4.75-196). Mortality at 30 days was 40.6 %, with no differences between etiologies...(AU)

Neurovascular Complications of Iatrogenic Fusarium solani Meningitis.

A multinational outbreak of nosocomial fusarium meningitis occurred among immunocompetent patients who had undergone surgery with epidural anesthesia in Mexico. The pathogen involved had a high predilection for the brain stem and vertebrobasilar arterial system and was associated with high mortality from vessel injury. Effective treatment options remain limited; in vitro susceptibility testing of the organism suggested that it is resistant to all currently approved antifungal medications in the United States. To highlight the severe complications associated with fusarium infection acquired in this manner, we report data, clinical courses, and outcomes from 13 patients in the outbreak who presented with symptoms after a median delay of 39 days.

Vastus Lateralis Muscle Size Is Differently Associated With the Different Regions of the Squat Force-Velocity and Load-Velocity Relationships, Rate of Force Development, and Physical Performance Young Men.

ABSTRACT: Cornejo-Daza, PJ, Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J, Rodiles-Guerrero, L, Páez-Maldonado, JA, Ara, I, León-Prados, JA, Alegre, LM, Pareja-Blanco, F, and Alcazar, J. Vastus lateralis muscle size is differently associated with the different regions of the squat force-velocity and load-velocity relationships, rate of force development, and physical performance young men. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 450-458, 2024-The influence that regional muscle size and muscle volume may have on different portions of the force-velocity (F-V) and load-velocity (L-V) relationships, explosive force, and muscle function of the lower limbs is poorly understood. This study assessed the association of muscle size with the F-V and L-V relationships, rate of force development (RFD) and maximal isometric force in the squat exercise, and vertical jump performance via countermovement jump (CMJ) height. Forty-nine resistance-trained young men (22.7 ± 3.3 years old) participated in the study. Anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) of the vastus lateralis (VLA) muscle was measured using the extended field of view mode in an ultrasound device at 3 different femur lengths (40% [distal], 57.5% [medial], and 75% [proximal]), and muscle volume was estimated considering the VLA muscle insertion points previously published and validated in this study. There were significant associations between all muscle size measures (except distal ACSA) and (a) forces and loads yielded at velocities ranging from 0 to 1.5 m·s -1 ( r = 0.36-0.74, p < 0.05), (b) velocities exerted at forces and loads ranging between 750-2,000 N and 75-200 kg, respectively ( r = 0.31-0.69, p < 0.05), and (c) RFD at 200 and 400 milliseconds ( r = 0.35-0.64, p < 0.05). Proximal and distal ACSA and muscle volume were significantly associated with CMJ height ( r = 0.32-0.51, p < 0.05). Vastus lateralis muscle size exhibited a greater influence on performance at higher forces or loads and lower velocities and late phases of explosive muscle actions. Additionally, proximal ACSA and muscle volume showed the highest correlation with the muscle function measures.

Patentes, acesso e produção local de medicamentos: reflexões a partir de experiências no SUS / Patents, access, and local production of medicines: reflections from experiences in the SUS

Resumo Este artigo procurou contribuir para a literatura e para o debate nacional e global sobre a superação de uma polarização relacionada ao aspecto jurídico e administrativo do processo de inovação, procurando se concentrar nas patentes como um fator condicionante das trajetórias tecnológicas que viabilizam o aprendizado em âmbito produtivo. Baseou-se em um arcabouço teórico e político relacionado à inovação e ao acesso a medicamentos, especialmente quanto aos direitos de Propriedade Intelectual, e na análise crítico-reflexiva de instrumentos de Propriedade Intelectual utilizados em Parcerias para o Desenvolvimento Produtivo (PDP), desenvolvidas por um instituto de tecnologia em fármacos sintéticos, público e nacional. Os resultados demonstram a relevância da compatibilização dos direitos de patentes com a construção de uma capacidade tecnológica e de inovação no país, vinculada ao acesso universal, especialmente quando envolverem produtos que se destinam ao tratamento de doenças graves, de alta complexidade tecnológica e de alto custo. Conclui-se que, para superação da dependência tecnológica e ampliação do acesso a medicamentos no Brasil, o Estado deve buscar o equilíbrio entre os interesses públicos e privados na área da saúde, a articulação entre os instrumentos jurídicos legais existentes e o alinhamento entre suas políticas de saúde, industriais, de CT&I e Propriedade intelectual.

Abstract This article aims to contribute to the literature and to the national and global debate on overcoming the polarization related to the legal and administrative aspect of the innovation process, seeking to focus on patents as a conditioning factor of the technological trajectories that enable learning in the productive scope. It was based on a theoretical and political framework related to innovation and access to medicines, especially regarding Intellectual Property rights, and on a critical-reflexive analysis of Intellectual Property instruments used in Productive Development Partnerships (PDP), developed by a public national institute for synthetic drug technology. The results demonstrate the importance of making patent rights compatible with the construction of technological and innovation capacities in the country, which are linked to universal access, especially when they involve products that are intended to treat serious, technologically complex and high-cost diseases. In conclusion, to overcome technological dependence and expand access to medicines in Brazil, the State must seek a balance between public and private interests in the healthcare area, articulate the existing legal instruments and align its health, industry, ST&I and intellectual property policies.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation in traumatic brain injury: a phase 1, randomized feasibility study.

Converging evidence indicates that impairments in executive function and information-processing speed limit quality of life and social reentry after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). These deficits reflect dysfunction of frontostriatal networks for which the central lateral (CL) nucleus of the thalamus is a critical node. The primary objective of this feasibility study was to test the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation within the CL and the associated medial dorsal tegmental (CL/DTTm) tract.Six participants with msTBI, who were between 3 and 18 years post-injury, underwent surgery with electrode placement guided by imaging and subject-specific biophysical modeling to predict activation of the CL/DTTm tract. The primary efficacy measure was improvement in executive control indexed by processing speed on part B of the trail-making test.All six participants were safely implanted. Five participants completed the study and one was withdrawn for protocol non-compliance. Processing speed on part B of the trail-making test improved 15% to 52% from baseline, exceeding the 10% benchmark for improvement in all five cases.CL/DTTm deep brain stimulation can be safely applied and may improve executive control in patients with msTBI who are in the chronic phase of recovery.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02881151 .

Fatal iatrogenic cerebral ß-amyloid-related arteritis in a woman treated with lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease.

We report the case of a 79-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease who participated in a Phase III randomized controlled trial called CLARITY-AD testing the experimental drug lecanemab. She was randomized to the placebo group and subsequently enrolled in an open-label extension which guaranteed she received the active drug. After the third biweekly infusion, she suffered a seizure characterized by speech arrest and a generalized convulsion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed she had multifocal swelling and a marked increase in the number of cerebral microhemorrhages. She was treated with an antiepileptic regimen and high-dose intravenous corticosteroids but continued to worsen and died after 5 days. Post-mortem MRI confirmed extensive microhemorrhages in the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. The autopsy confirmed the presence of two copies of APOE4, a gene associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, and neuropathological features of moderate severity Alzheimer's disease and severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy with perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, reactive macrophages and fibrinoid degeneration of vessel walls. There were deposits of ß-amyloid in meningeal vessels and penetrating arterioles with numerous microaneurysms. We conclude that the patient likely died as a result of severe cerebral amyloid-related inflammation.

Reliability and Validity of the Spanish Adaptation of the Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium in 2 Clinical Spanish-Speaking Communities.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is the most prevalent neuropsychiatric syndrome experienced by patients admitted to inpatient clinical units, occurring in at least 20% of medically hospitalized patients and up to 85% of those admitted to critical care units. Although current guidelines recommend the implementation of universal prevention strategies, the use of management strategies largely depends on constant surveillance and screening. This allows for the timely diagnosis and correction of its underlying causes and implementation of management strategies. OBJECTIVE: It was to adapt and analyze the Spanish adaptation of the Stanford Proxy Test for Delirium (S-PTDsv) instrument for its use among Spanish-speaking populations. The S-PTD is an instrument consisting of 13 observational items to be completed by a clinician observer, usually the patient's nurse. The completion of the questionnaire takes about 1 minute and does not require the active participation of the person evaluated, which has important clinical advantages compared to other available instruments (e.g., the Confusion Assessment Method). METHODS: The psychometric properties of the S-PTDsv were evaluated in a population of 123 patients using a quantitative, cross-sectional design. All subjects were over 18 years of age and hospitalized in various inpatient medico-surgical and intensive care unit services, either at the Barcelona Clinical Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) or the UC-Christus Health Network Clinical Hospital (Santiago, Chile, S.A.). The ultimate diagnosis of delirium was made by a member of the Psychiatry Consult Service by means of an independent neuropsychiatric evaluation based on the fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, published in 2013, which is the latest version of the diagnostic manual. All study tests were performed by study personnel who were blinded to each other's test results within an hour of each other. RESULTS: In the ROC (curve that considers sensitivity points [Y axis] and specificity [X axis]) analysis, the S-PTDsv demonstrated excellent classification qualities when compared with the DSM-5 as the classification gold standard. Using a cutoff point of ≥3, the S-PTDsv had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 97%. The area under the curve indicator was equal to 0.95, suggesting the S-PTDsv has an excellent overall performance in accurately identifying cases of delirium. Accordingly, the S-PTDsv's positive predictive value = 0.93, and the negative predictive value = 0.97. The internal reliability measured with Cronbach's alpha was 0.96. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 1-dimensional structure with high loadings (>0.72), demonstrating that all items similarly contribute to the total diagnostic dimension, suggesting adequate construct validity. This provided evidence of convergent validity. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the S-PTDsv, as compared to a blinded neuropsychiatric assessment based on DSM-5, indicates that it is an effective instrument for the detection of delirium, in the Spanish-speaking populations. These results are comparable and consistent with previously published studies in the English language version.

Evidence of a Sjögren's disease-like phenotype following COVID-19 in mice and humans.

Sjögren's Disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic inflammation of the lacrimal and salivary glands (SG), dry eyes and mouth, and systemic symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 may trigger the development or progression of autoimmune diseases. To test this, we used a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and convalescent patients' blood and SG in order to understand the development of SjD-like autoimmunity after infection. First, SARS-CoV-2-infected human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transgenic mice exhibited decreased salivation, elevated antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and lymphocytic infiltration in the lacrimal and SG. The sera from patients with COVID-19 sera showed increased ANA (i.e., anti-SSA [Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A]/anti-Ro52 and anti-SSB [SS-antigen B]/anti-La). Male patients showed elevated anti-SSA compared with female patients, and female patients exhibited diverse ANA patterns. SG biopsies from convalescent COVID-19 patients were microscopically similar to SjD SG with focal lymphocytic infiltrates in 4 of 6 patients and 2 of 6 patients exhibiting focus scores of at least 2. Lastly, monoclonal antibodies produced in recovered patients blocked ACE2/spike interaction and cross-reacted with nuclear antigens. Our study shows a direct association between SARS-CoV-2 and SjD. Hallmark features of SjD-affected SGs were histologically indistinguishable from convalescent COVID-19 patients. The results implicate that SARS-CoV-2 could be an environmental trigger for SjD.

Body Dissatisfaction and Body-Related Attentional Bias: Is There a Causal Relationship?

Previous research has shown an association between body dissatisfaction and attentional biases toward the body, but the nature of this relationship is not clear. It is possible that dissatisfaction causes attentional bias or that dissatisfaction is a result of such bias. To clarify the causal relationship between these two variables, this study manipulated dissatisfaction in a sample of healthy women by exposing them to images of "ideal" bodies and observed whether this manipulation increased attentional biases toward different body parts. Fifty-seven women took part in a pre-post experimental design in which they observed an avatar representing themselves in a virtual mirror before and after being exposed to "thin ideal" photographs. Eye-tracking technology was employed to quantify the frequency and duration of fixations on weight-related and weight-unrelated body parts. The outcomes revealed a successful induction of body dissatisfaction, leading participants to display a heightened number of fixations and prolonged fixation durations on unrelated-weight body parts. These findings remained significant after controlling for the effects of trait body dissatisfaction and body mass index. The results imply that heightened body dissatisfaction fosters the aversion of attention from weight-related body parts, which may function as a protective mechanism for preserving self-esteem and promoting psychological well-being.

Attentional Bias Modification Training Based on Virtual Reality and Eye Tracking in Anorexia Nervosa Patients.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients exhibit attentional bias (AB) related to the body, which is the tendency to pay greater attention to weight-related body areas compared to non-weight-related ones. This phenomenon has been linked to elevated levels of body dissatisfaction (BD) and may potentially reduce the effectiveness of body exposure therapy. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy of a single session of a new body-related AB modification task (ABMT) that combines virtual reality with eye tracking in patients with AN. The goals of the ABMT are to reduce body-related AB by balancing attention between weight and non-weight-related body areas and to reduce BD levels. Twenty-three adolescent patients with AN were embodied in a virtual avatar and immersed in a virtual environment where they completed the ABMT. Body-related AB measures and BD levels were assessed before and after the training. A paired samples t-test showed statistically significant differences between pre-assessment and post-assessment; the complete fixation time on weight-related body parts was reduced and BD levels decreased. The initial evidence of the efficacy of this ABMT has important clinical implications, since AB and BD are considered risk factors for developing and maintaining eating disorder symptomatology among patients with AN.