Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli: A case report.

Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis is a differential diagnosis of neck pain. Typical presentation consists in a triad of symptoms including acute onset neck pain, neck stiffness and odynophagia. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for acute calcific longus colli tendinitis diagnosis and the main radiological findings include prevertebral soft tissue swelling and the presence of amorphous calcifications. The case involves a 39-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with acute unilateral cervical pain that resulted in acute calcific longus colli tendinitis.

Research Trends in Proteomic Studies Using Serum from COVID-19 Patients: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global populace, resulting in a staggering number of deaths across the globe. New approaches and biomarkers to evaluate disease progression are crucial for improving disease management. In this context, serum proteomics has emerged as a promising tool for identifying molecular alterations related to COVID-19. This work carried out a bibliometric evaluation of the current status and trends of studies applying serum proteomics to COVID-19 subjects. The search was performed using Web of Science and Scopus databases, and the results were analyzed in VOSviewer software. The investigation was limited to articles published between January 2020 and February 2023. The analysis found 48 articles, primarily experimental studies. China is the most influential country in this field, followed by the USA. The co-occurrence analysis performed by VOSviewer showed 170 keywords, of which 9 reached the occurrence threshold and were divided into two groups. The most cited words were related to biomarker identification and the use of proteomics for diagnosing and treating COVID-19. The most cited proteins include those classically associated with the immune system (IgG, IgM, interleukins, CXCL, CCL, MCP, CRP) and SAA1, SAA1, ApoA-1, TTR (prealbumin), SerpinA and ITIH4. Other studies have validated the predictive value of these serum markers and have the potential to improve the management of COVID-19 patients. The findings highlighted in this bibliometric study can help the researchers design new projects to enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and host immunity.

Studying SARS-CoV-2 interactions using phage-displayed receptor binding domain as a model protein.

SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) mediates viral entry into human cells through its interaction with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Most neutralizing antibodies elicited by infection or vaccination target this domain. Such a functional relevance, together with large RBD sequence variability arising during viral spreading, point to the need of exploring the complex landscape of interactions between RBD-derived variants, ACE2 and antibodies. The current work was aimed at developing a simple platform to do so. Biologically active and antigenic Wuhan-Hu-1 RBD, as well as mutated RBD variants found in nature, were successfully displayed on filamentous phages. Mutational scanning confirmed the global plasticity of the receptor binding motif within RBD, highlighted residues playing a critical role in receptor binding, and identified mutations strengthening the interaction. The ability of vaccine-induced antibodies to inhibit ACE2 binding of many mutated RBD variants, albeit at different extents, was shown. Amino acid replacements which could compromise such inhibitory potential were underscored. The expansion of our approach could be the starting point for a large-scale phage-based exploration of diversity within RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses, useful to understand structure-function relationships, to engineer RBD proteins, and to anticipate changes to watch during viral evolution.

Íleo biliar: descripción de dos casos / Gallstone ileus: Description of two cases

Introducción. El íleo biliar es una complicación rara de la colelitiasis y su incidencia varía del 1 al 4 %. Consiste en la migración de un cálculo de la vesicular biliar al tracto gastrointestinal, generando obstrucción intestinal. Presenta síntomas inespecíficos dependiendo del nivel de la obstrucción, lo que hace que su diagnóstico no suela ser precoz, repercutiendo en el deterioro clínico del paciente. Es especialmente grave en pacientes de edad avanzada y con comorbilidades. Casos clínicos. Se reportan los casos de dos pacientes con dolor abdominal difuso, en quienes se diagnosticó íleo biliar por tomografía. Se realizó manejo quirúrgico, el primero mediante técnica abierta y estrategia de dos pasos, y el otro mediante técnica laparoscópica. Discusión. El íleo biliar es una etiología rara de obstrucción intestinal. El cálculo migra debido a una fistula colecisto-entérica y el nivel de obstrucción es con mayor frecuencia la válvula ileocecal. Los síntomas son inespecíficos y dependen del nivel de obstrucción: dolor abdominal difuso mal caracterizado, náuseas, vómito, ausencia de flatos. El diagnóstico se hace mediante tomografía abdominal, en la cual se evidencia la tríada de Rigler. El manejo es quirúrgico, con enterotomía para extraer el cálculo y resolver la obstrucción. Conclusión. El íleo biliar es una patología que debe ser considerada en el abordaje de la obstrucción intestinal, aunque sea poco frecuente. El manejo quirúrgico es clave para resolver el cuadro de obstrucción intestinal; aún así genera importante morbimortalidad en especial en pacientes de avanzada edad.

Introduction. Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholelithiasis, its incidence varies from 1% to 4%. It consists of the migration of a stone from the gallbladder to the gastrointestinal tract, causing intestinal obstruction. It presents with non-specific symptoms depending on the level of the obstruction, which means that its diagnosis is not usually early, with repercussions on the clinical deterioration of the patient, being serious especially in elderly patients and with comorbidities. Clinical cases. Two patients with diffuse abdominal pain are reported. A tomographic diagnosis was made showing gallstone ileus. Surgeries were performed, in the first case using an open technique and a 2-step strategy, and on the second one using a laparoscopic technique. Discussion. Gallstone ileus is a rare etiology of intestinal obstruction. Symptoms are usually poorly characterized: diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, absence of flatus. The diagnosis is made by abdominal tomography in which Rigler's triad is evident. Management is surgical through enterotomy to remove the stone and resolve the obstruction. Conclusion. Gallstone ileus is a rare pathology that should be considered in the approach to intestinal obstruction. Surgical management is key to resolving intestinal obstruction. Even so, it generates significant morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly patients.

Molecular reshaping of phage-displayed Interleukin-2 at beta chain receptor interface to obtain potent super-agonists with improved developability profiles.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) engineered versions, with biased immunological functions, have emerged from yeast display and rational design. Here we reshaped the human IL-2 interface with the IL-2 receptor beta chain through the screening of phage-displayed libraries. Multiple beta super-binders were obtained, having increased receptor binding ability and improved developability profiles. Selected variants exhibit an accumulation of negatively charged residues at the interface, which provides a better electrostatic complementarity to the beta chain, and faster association kinetics. These findings point to mechanistic differences with the already reported superkines, characterized by a conformational switch due to the rearrangement of the hydrophobic core. The molecular bases of the favourable developability profile were tracked to a single residue: L92. Recombinant Fc-fusion proteins including our variants are superior to those based on H9 superkine in terms of expression levels in mammalian cells, aggregation resistance, stability, in vivo enhancement of immune effector responses, and anti-tumour effect.

¿Qué nos ofrece la comunidad para el tratamiento de la fibromialgia? reporte de una experiencia en la región metropolitana de Santiago / What the community has to offer for the fibromyalgia treatment? a report of an experience in the metropolitan region of Santiago

La fibromialgia es un síndrome polisintomático caracterizado por dolor crónico generalizado no articular e idiopático, cuya terapia, tanto farmacológica como no farmacológica, debe ser individualizada a cada paciente e involucrar equipos multidisciplinarios de trabajo. Objetivo del Estudio: Realizar una base de datos para agrupar los recursos comunitarios disponibles para llevar a cabo las terapias no farmacológicas con evidencia en el tratamiento del dolor crónico no oncológico en las comunas de San Joaquín, Macul, Puente Alto, La Florida, La Pintana y San Miguel, Región Metropolitana, Chile. Materiales y Métodos: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda en internet mediante palabras clave de recursos comunitarios dentro de las comunas antes mencionadas que cumplieran criterios de evidencia en el tratamiento de fibromialgia, además de contactar a servicios municipales y fundaciones orientadas al manejo del dolor no oncológico en la Región Metropolitana, para la confección de una base de datos y un mapa interactivo de fácil acceso y uso con los recursos encontrados. Resultados: Nuestra búsqueda arrojó un total de 78 recursos comunitarios, tanto públicos como privados, que ofrecen alternativas de tratamiento no farmacológico para el manejo del dolor crónico no oncológico y fibromialgia en las cinco comunas descritas. Conclusiones: La fibromialgia es un síndrome polisintomático de difícil manejo frecuente en nuestro país, que incluye como parte de su tratamiento integral diversas medidas no farmacológicas con evidencia reciente, que gracias a la confección de las herramientas creadas para este estudio se espera facilitar el acceso a los recursos disponibles en una zona determinada del Gran Santiago, tanto a los pacientes que padecen estas dolencias como a los profesionales de la salud que indican este tipo de terapias.

Fibromyalgia is a polysymptomatic syndrome characterizedby chronic generalized non-articular and idiopathic pain, whose pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy must be individualized for each patient and involve multidisciplinary work teams. Objective of the study: To create a database to group the community resources available to carry out non- pharmacological therapies with evidence in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain in the communes of San Joaquín, Macul, Puente Alto, La Florida, La Pintana and San Miguel, from Metropolitan Region, Chile. Materials and Methods: An internet search was carried out using keywords of community resources within the aforementioned communes that met evidence criteria in the treatment of fibromyalgia, in addition to contacting municipal services and foundations oriented to non- oncological pain management in the Metropolitan Region, for the preparation of a database and an interactive map of easy access and use with the resources found. Results: Our search yielded a total of 78 community resources, both public and private, that offer non- pharmacological treatment alternatives for the management of chronic non-cancer pain and fibromyalgia in the five districts described. Conclusions: Fibromyalgia is a polysymptomatic syndrome of difficult management, common in our country, which includes as part of its comprehensive treatment various non-pharmacological measures with recent evidence, which, thanks to the preparation of the tools created for this study, is expected to facilitate access to resources available in a given area of Santiago de Chile, both to patients suffering from these ailments and to health professionals who indicate this type of therapy.

Fossil berries reveal global radiation of the nightshade family by the early Cenozoic.

Fossil discoveries can transform our understanding of plant diversification over time and space. Recently described fossils in many plant families have pushed their known records farther back in time, pointing to alternative scenarios for their origin and spread. Here, we describe two new Eocene fossil berries of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) from the Esmeraldas Formation in Colombia and the Green River Formation in Colorado (USA). The placement of the fossils was assessed using clustering and parsimony analyses based on 10 discrete and five continuous characters, which were also scored in 291 extant taxa. The Colombian fossil grouped with members of the tomatillo subtribe, and the Coloradan fossil aligned with the chili pepper tribe. Along with two previously reported early Eocene fossils from the tomatillo genus, these findings indicate that Solanaceae were distributed at least from southern South America to northwestern North America by the early Eocene. Together with two other recently discovered Eocene berries, these fossils demonstrate that the diverse berry clade and, in turn, the entire nightshade family, is much older and was much more widespread in the past than previously thought.

Playful Testing of Executive Functions with Yellow-Red: Tablet-Based Battery for Children between 6 and 11.

Executive functions are psychological processes of great importance for proper functioning in various areas of human development, including academic performance. For this reason, from both clinical and educational perspectives, there is great interest in how they are assessed. This article describes the development and standardization process of Yellow-Red, an instrument for directly assessing executive functions in children between 6 and 11 years of age in a playful format using digital support. The test was based on a three-factor model of executive functioning: inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Yellow-Red comprises six subtests: cognitive inhibition, behavioral inhibition, auditory working memory, visual working memory, cognitive flexibility, and a global assessment test of executive functions. The test was administered to 245 boys and girls between 6 and 11 years of age. Along with the Yellow-Red subtests, gold standard tests were applied for each of the executive functions assessed. The test's psychometric properties are powerful in both reliability and validity evidence. The reliability indices are all greater than 0.8. As evidence of convergent validity, correlations were established between the tests, and the tests considered gold standards. All correlations were significant, with values ranging between 0.42 and 0.73. On the other hand, the factor structure of the test was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. Although it is possible to demonstrate the progressive differentiation of the factor structure with age, it was only possible to find two factors at older ages, one for inhibition/flexibility and one for working memory.

Seminarios autogestionados de psiquiatría como modelo de participación estudiantil activa en pregrado. Experiencia 2014-2021 en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile / Self-managed psychiatry seminars as a model of active student participation in undergraduate education

In the last decade, medical students stood out as active agents in their training, which implies their involvement in the design, implementation, evaluation, and curricular co-governance. This article describes a model of active undergraduate student participation from 2014 to 2021 and compares the face-to-face and synchronous online modalities, later brought forward by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Annually, a call was made to UC School of Medicine undergraduate students to establish the topics and areas to be addressed during self-managed seminars. Then, medical students located in Chile were invited to attend the activity. Psychiatry was established as a priority topic in six out of eight years. Five seminars were conducted, the last two in synchronous online mode. The number of people enrolled in the online modality increased by 251% compared to the face-to-face modality (face-to-face mean = 133 ± 33 SD; online mean = 336 ± 24SD), with no significant differences in rates of attendance between modalities (Odds ratio (OR) = 1,12; 95% CI= 0,82 - 1,55; p = 0,45). The online modality was associated with a higher proportion of enrollees belonging to an institution outside the Metropolitan Region (OR 12,63; 95% CI = 8,64 - 18,46; p < 0,01). The self-managed psychiatry seminars correspond to a model of active undergraduate student participation, with the synchronous online modality representing an opportunity to massify it throughout the national territory.

[Colostrum protocol evaluation for very low birth weight preterm infants]. / Evaluación de un protocolo de calostro para prematuros de muy bajo peso de nacimiento.

INTRODUCTION: Early administration of oral colostrum has been recommended in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infant care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of early colostrum administration on in-hospital outcome and lactation of VLBW preterm infants compared with historical control in an Intensive Care Unit. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: descriptive cohort study with historical control of VLBW preterm infants who did or did not receive early oral colostrum, born 1.6 years before and 1.4 years after this protocol, with information collected from the database of infants under 1500 grams at birth and in the colostrum protocol registry. Children born to HIV+ mothers, with hepatitis, chemothe rapy, and those born with malformations incompatible with life were excluded. The main perinatal, morbidity, nutritional, and breastfeeding data at discharge were compared. RESULTS: 94 patients were born pre-colostrum and 64 in the protocol period (post-colostrum). The groups were comparable in perinatal history. No difference was observed in infectious, respiratory, or gastrointestinal morbidity, progress in enteral feeding, days of parenteral nutrition, and length of hospital stay. There were signi ficant differences in the percentage breastfeeding at discharge (52 vs. 69%, p < 0.037) and in average breast milk volume at discharge (70 vs. 102 ml/k/day, p < 0.012) in the post-colostrum group. Con clusions: Early colostrum administration to preterm infants was associated with a higher volume of maternal milk at discharge, being a good benefit in VLBW preterm infant care.

Lithium in Drinking Water as a Public Policy for Suicide Prevention: Relevance and Considerations.

Although suicide is considered a major preventable cause of mortality worldwide, we do not have effective strategies to prevent it. Lithium has been consistently associated with lowering risk of suicide. This effect could occur at very low concentrations, such as trace doses of lithium in tap water. Several ecological studies and recent meta-analysis have suggested an inverse association between lithium in water and suicide in the general population, with a lack of knowledge of clinically significant side effects. This paper is aimed as a proposal to discuss the addition of lithium to drinking water to decrease the suicide rate. For this, we review the evidence available, use previous experiences, such as water fluoridation to prevent dental caries, and discuss the complexity involved in such a public policy. Considering the limited data available and the controversies contained in this proposal, we suggest that a consensus on lithium concentration in water is needed, where the suicide rates start to reduce, as happened with water fluoridation. This measure will require to develop community-controlled trials with strict monitoring of any side effects, where democratic procedures would constitute one of the most appropriate ways to validate its implementation according to the reality of each community.

[Self-managed psychiatry seminars as a model of active student participation in undergraduate education]. / Seminarios autogestionados de psiquiatría como modelo de participación estudiantil activa en pregrado. Experiencia 2014-2021 en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

In the last decade, medical students stood out as active agents in their training, which implies their involvement in the design, implementation, evaluation, and curricular co-governance. This article describes a model of active undergraduate student participation from 2014 to 2021 and compares the face-to-face and synchronous online modalities, later brought forward by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Annually, a call was made to UC School of Medicine undergraduate students to establish the topics and areas to be addressed during self-managed seminars. Then, medical students located in Chile were invited to attend the activity. Psychiatry was established as a priority topic in six out of eight years. Five seminars were conducted, the last two in synchronous online mode. The number of people enrolled in the online modality increased by 251% compared to the face-to-face modality (face-to-face mean = 133 ± 33 SD; online mean = 336 ± 24SD), with no significant differences in rates of attendance between modalities (Odds ratio (OR) = 1,12; 95% CI= 0,82 - 1,55; p = 0,45). The online modality was associated with a higher proportion of enrollees belonging to an institution outside the Metropolitan Region (OR 12,63; 95% CI = 8,64 - 18,46; p < 0,01). The self-managed psychiatry seminars correspond to a model of active undergraduate student participation, with the synchronous online modality representing an opportunity to massify it throughout the national territory.

Deglución post extubación de pacientes críticos con y sin diagnóstico de COVID-19 durante la pandemia / Post extubation swallowing in critical patients with and without COVID-19 during the pandemic

Estudios previos han caracterizado la disfagia en pacientes críticos hospitalizados que requieren intubación y ventilación mecánica invasiva. A raíz de la pandemia COVID-19 es necesario conocer las características deglutorias de pacientes diagnosticados con la enfermedad para su manejo. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las características deglutorias de pacientes críticos extubados con y sin diagnóstico de COVID-19. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo con una muestra a conveniencia de 43 sujetos mayores de 15 años, ingresados al Hospital San Juan de Dios (Santiago, Chile) entre el 01 de junio y el 31 de agosto de 2020, intubados con o sin diagnóstico de COVID-19. Del total de sujetos, 22 padecieron de COVID-19 quienes estuvieron significativamente más días intubados que aquellos sin la patología (p=0,002). Inmediatamente posterior a la extubación orotraqueal, más del 90% de la muestra presentó disfagia. No hubo diferencia significativa en el nivel FILS ni asociación significativa en el grado de severidad de la disfagia entre sujetos con y sin COVID-19. Tampoco hubo diferencia significativa en el nivel FILS entre los grupos a los 10 días post-extubación. El nivel FILS a los 10 días aumentó significativamente en aquellos sujetos con COVID-19 (p=0,016) y sin COVID-19 (p=0,004). En la muestra, el nivel FILS y grado de severidad de la disfagia de los pacientes con y sin COVID-19 no mostraron diferencias estadísticas, siendo alto el porcentaje de disfagia en ambos grupos, lo que se podría asociar a la intubación orotraqueal y al tubo orotraqueal. Es necesaria la incorporación del fonoaudiólogo dentro de los equipos de Unidades de Pacientes Críticos para el manejo de los pacientes con COVID-19 y disfagia. Además, se recomienda continuar con más estudios en el área.

Previous research have described the deglutition disorders in critical hospitalised patients who required intubation and mechanical ventilation. In the pandemic context, it is mandatory to study both level and grade of dysphagia in patients suffering from COVID-19. The aim of this study is to analyse the deglutition features of extubated critical patients with and without COVID-19. A retrospective cohort study was performed, considering a convenience sample of 43 patients from 15 years old hospitalised at 'Hospital San Juan de Dios' between June 1st and August 31th 2020, who were intubated, with and without the diagnosis of COVID-19. 22of out 43 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 who were intubated for significantly more days in comparison with those without COVID-19 (p=.002). After the intratracheal extubation, 90% of the sample was diagnosed with dysphagia. There was no significant difference in the FILS score nor significant association in dysphagia severity between patients with and without COVID-19. After 10 days post extubation, there was no significant difference in the FILS score between both groups. The FILS score increased significantly in the COVID-19 (p=.016) and non-COVID-19 (p=.004) patients after 10 days post extubation. Post extubation, there are no statistical differences in the FILS score and dysphagia severity in critical ill patients with and without COVID-19, with a high percentage of dysphagia in both groups which could be associated with intratracheal intubation and endotracheal tubes. The incorporation of speech and language therapists in Critical Care Units is mandatory. Furthermore, it is recommended to perform extra research in the area.

Características epidemiológicas y clínicas de los menores de 18 años con hemofilia asistidos en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell. 2016 - 2018 / Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of hemophilic patients of under 18 years of age assisted at the Pereira Rossell Hospital Center. 2016-2018 / Características epidemiológicas e clínicas de menores de 18 anos com hemofilia assistidos no Centro Hospitalar Pereira Rossell. 2016 - 2018

Resumen: Introducción: la hemofilia es una enfermedad hereditaria, ligada al cromosoma X, debida al déficit de factor VIII (tipo A) o IX (tipo B). La prevalencia estimada al nacimiento es de 24,6 casos cada 100.000 varones para hemofilia A y 5 casos cada 100.000 para hemofilia B. El Departamento de Medicina Transfusional (DMT) del Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell (CHPR) es el Centro de Referencia Nacional (CDRN) para los menores de 18 años. El abordaje integral, inter-disciplinario del paciente con hemofilia en un centro especializado disminuye la morbi-mortalidad y contribuye a mejorar la calidad de vida. Objetivo: describir las características epidemiológicas y clínicas de los menores de 18 años con hemofilia asistidos en el DMT-CHPR entre el 1 enero de 2016 y el 31 de diciembre de 2018. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de todos los menores de 18 años con hemofilia. Se describió: edad y circunstancias del diagnóstico, tipo y severidad de la hemofilia, controles en salud, estudios complementarios, complicaciones, frecuencia y motivos de hospitalización, tratamiento. El protocolo de estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética Institucional. Resultados: se asistieron 67 pacientes, 57 con hemofilia A y 10 con hemofilia B. La mediana de edad fue 8 años. Presentaban hemofilia severa 61 pacientes, moderada 2 y leve 4. Presentaban antecedentes familiares de coagulopatía 41. La mediana de edad al diagnóstico fue 2 meses. Se diagnosticaron en el período neonatal 24 de los pacientes con hemofilia A y 5 con hemofilia B. Desarrollaron inhibidores 7 pacientes, todos con hemofilia severa. Conclusiones: en esta serie, predominaron los pacientes con hemofilia A, severa, antecedentes familiares conocidos de coagulopatía, en tratamiento profiláctico con factores de la coagulación. Esta comunicación aporta información valiosa sobre las características de estos pacientes, lo que contribuye a la gestión clínica y a planificar estrategias de mejora de la calidad asistencial.

Summary: Introduction: hemophilia is a hereditary disease, linked to chromosome X and caused by the deficit of factor VIII (type A) and IX (type B). Estimated prevalence at birth is 24.6 cases every 100,000 boys for hemophilia A and 5 cases every 100,000 cases for hemphilia B. The Transfusion Medical Department (TMD) of the Pereira Rossell Children's Hospital Center (CHPR, acronym in Spanish) is the national reference center (NRC) for patients under 18 years of age. A comprehensive, inter-disciplinary approach to hemophilic patients at a specialized center decreases morbidity and mortality and contributes to improving quality of life. Objective: to describe the epidemiologic, clinical and progression characteristics of hemophilic patients of under 18 years of age assisted at the TMD-CHPR between January 1st 2016 and December 31st, 2018. Methodology: descriptive, retrospective study of all hemophilic patients of under 18 years of age. Variables described: age, circumstances of diagnosis, type and severity of hemophilia, health check-ups, tests, complications, frequency and reasons for hospital admittance, treatment. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: 67 patients were assisted, 57 with hemophilia A and 10 with hemophilia B. Median age was 8 years. Severe hemophilia was present in 61 patients, moderate in 2 and mild in 4. 41 had a family history of coagulopathy. Median age at diagnosis was 2 months. 24 patients with hemophilia A and 5 patients with hemophilia B were diagnosed during the neonatal period. 7 patients developed inhibitors, all of them with severe hemophilia. Conclusions: in this study there is a predominance of patients with severe hemophilia A, known family history of coagulopathy, under prophylactic treatment with coagulation factors. This study provides valuable information about the characteristics of these patients, which contributes to improved clinical management and planning strategies to improve their quality of care.

Resumo: Introdução: o Departamento de Medicina Transfusional (DMT) do Centro Hospitalar Pereira Rossell (CHPR) é o Centro Nacional de Referência (CNR) para menores de 18 anos de idade. A abordagem abrangente e interdisciplinar do paciente com hemofilia em um centro especializado reduz a morbimortalidade e contribui para a melhoria da qualidade de vida. Objetivo: descrever as características epidemiológicas, clínicas e evolutivas em crianças menores de 18 anos com hemofilia atendidas no DMT-CHPR entre 1 de janeiro de 2016 e 31 de dezembro de 2018. Metodologia: estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, de todos os menores de 18 anos com hemofilia. Descrevemos: idade e circunstâncias do diagnóstico, tipo e gravidade da hemofilia, controles de saúde, estudos complementares, complicações, frequência e motivos de hospitalização, tratamento. O protocolo do estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética Institucional. Resultados: 67 pacientes foram atendidos, 57 com hemofilia A e 10 com hemofilia B. A media de idade foi de 8 anos. Houve 61 pacientes com hemofilia grave, moderada 2 e leve 4. 41 tiveram história familiar de coagulopatia. A media de idade no diagnóstico foi de 2 meses. 24 dos pacientes com hemofilia A e 5 com hemofilia B foram diagnosticados no período neonatal e 7 desenvolveram inibidores, todos com hemofilia grave. Conclusões: neste estudo, predominaram pacientes com hemofilia A grave, história familiar conhecida de coagulopatia, em tratamento profilático com fatores de coagulação. O estudo fornece informações valiosas sobre as características desses pacientes, o que contribui para o manejo clínico e estratégias de planejamento para melhorar a qualidade do atendimento deles.

Elevated type I interferon responses potentiate metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and accelerated aging in mtDNA mutator mice.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key driver of inflammatory responses in human disease. However, it remains unclear whether alterations in mitochondria-innate immune cross-talk contribute to the pathobiology of mitochondrial disorders and aging. Using the polymerase gamma (POLG) mutator model of mitochondrial DNA instability, we report that aberrant activation of the type I interferon (IFN-I) innate immune axis potentiates immunometabolic dysfunction, reduces health span, and accelerates aging in mutator mice. Mechanistically, elevated IFN-I signaling suppresses activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which increases oxidative stress, enhances proinflammatory cytokine responses, and accelerates metabolic dysfunction. Ablation of IFN-I signaling attenuates hyperinflammatory phenotypes by restoring NRF2 activity and reducing aerobic glycolysis, which combine to lessen cardiovascular and myeloid dysfunction in aged mutator mice. These findings further advance our knowledge of how mitochondrial dysfunction shapes innate immune responses and provide a framework for understanding mitochondria-driven immunopathology in POLG-related disorders and aging.

Extinction at the end-Cretaceous and the origin of modern Neotropical rainforests.

The end-Cretaceous event was catastrophic for terrestrial communities worldwide, yet its long-lasting effect on tropical forests remains largely unknown. We quantified plant extinction and ecological change in tropical forests resulting from the end-Cretaceous event using fossil pollen (>50,000 occurrences) and leaves (>6000 specimens) from localities in Colombia. Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) rainforests were characterized by an open canopy and diverse plant-insect interactions. Plant diversity declined by 45% at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and did not recover for ~6 million years. Paleocene forests resembled modern Neotropical rainforests, with a closed canopy and multistratal structure dominated by angiosperms. The end-Cretaceous event triggered a long interval of low plant diversity in the Neotropics and the evolutionary assembly of today's most diverse terrestrial ecosystem.

Mates Matter: Gametophyte Kinship Recognition and Inbreeding in the Giant Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae).

Inbreeding, the mating between genetically related individuals, often results in reduced survival and fecundity of offspring, relative to outcrossing. Yet, high inbreeding rates are commonly observed in seaweeds, suggesting compensatory reproductive traits may affect the costs and benefits of the mating system. We experimentally manipulated inbreeding levels in controlled crossing experiments, using gametophytes from 19 populations of Macrocystis pyrifera along its Eastern Pacific coastal distribution (EPC). The objective was to investigate the effects of male-female kinship on female fecundity and fertility, to estimate inbreeding depression in the F1 progeny, and to assess the variability of these effects among different regions and habitats of the EPC. Results revealed that the presence and kinship of males had a significant effect on fecundity and fertility of female gametophytes. Females left alone or in the presence of sibling males express the highest gametophyte size, number, and size of oogonia, suggesting they were able to sense the presence and the identity of their mates before gamete contact. The opposite trend was observed for the production of embryos per female gametes, indicating higher costs of selfing and parthenogenesis than outcrossing on fertility. However, the increased fecundity compensated for the reduced fertility, leading to a stable overall reproductive output. Inbreeding also affected morphological traits of juvenile sporophytes, but not their heatwave tolerance. The male-female kinship effect was stronger in high-latitude populations, suggesting that females from low-latitude marginal populations might have evolved to mate with any male gamete to guarantee reproductive success.

Title- Genomic landscape of squamous cell carcinoma- Different genetic pathways culminating in a common phenotype.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinomas (SqCCs) are the most common solid tumors in humans and are found across multiple organ systems. Although, integrated analysis of genetic alterations divulge similarities between SqCCs from various body sites, certain genes appear to be more frequently mutated in a given SqCC. These subtle differences may hold the key to determining the differentiation characteristics and predicting aggressiveness of tumors. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty-four cases of SqCCs, in which the primary location of the tumor could be ascertained by clinical and radiological findings, were included in this study. Next generation sequencing data was analyzed for recurrent genetic abnormalities. RESULTS: Genetic alterations were found in 219 genes in the 54 cases studied. TP53 mutations were found to be more frequent in pulmonary SqCCs (86.5%) as compared to non-pulmonary SqCCs (58.8%) (p<0.05). NOTCH gene family mutations and CREBBP mutations were limited to non-pulmonary SqCC (p<0.005) and were mutated in 41.2% and 17.6% cases. CONCLUSION: A detailed comparative analysis of the genetic alterations identified by sequencing identified higher frequency of TP53 mutations in lung SqCCs as compared to non-pulmonary SqCCs. NOTCH and CREBPP mutations were found to be absent in lung and head and neck SqCCs and more frequent in SqCCs from other locations.

Determining Maximal Muscle Strength in Mice: Validity and Reliability of an Adapted Swimming Incremental Overload Test.

Gouvêa, AL, Martinez, CG, and Kurtenbach, E. Determining maximal muscle strength in mice: validity and reliability of an adapted swimming incremental overload test. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2360-2368, 2020-At present, there are no reliable methods to determine maximal muscle strength in small rodents. Here, we established an adapted swimming incremental overload test (SIOT) as an instrument for this purpose. First, to validate the test, BALB/c mice received 20 mg·kg·d of dexamethasone (DEXA group) or water (control group). After 14 days, with a cumulative dose of 120 mg·kg of dexamethasone, the SIOT could detect a decrease of approximately 7% in muscle strength. In addition, this decrease was consistent with a significant reduction in body (above 13.5%) and muscle (approximately 15%) weight in DEXA atrophic animals. To establish the SIOT reliability, another group of animals was evaluated for 5 consecutive days. In this second protocol, the SIOT was executed with an initial load corresponding to 12% of the mouse body weight (BW) fixed to the tail. Increments between 1 and 5% of the BW were added during each attempt to obtain the highest load that was tolerated for a time interval of 5-7 seconds. On the last day, the SIOT reliability test was performed by 2 different raters to obtain the inter-rater reproducibility. The adapted SIOT was shown to be reliable when measured by the same rater (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.939) and by 2 different raters (ICC = 0.830). The Bland-Altman graphical representation did not demonstrate heteroscedastic errors. Therefore, the SIOT proved to be a sensitive and reliable method to measure muscle strength, and it can be applied to small animals in different models of muscle atrophy.

Intervención de enfermería basada en la dinámica del cuidado para la sobrecarga de cuidadores familiares de adultos mayores dependientes hospitalizados / Nursing intervention based on the dynamics of care for the overload of family caregivers of hospitalized dependent older adults

Introducción: El cuidado que realizan los familiares de adultos mayores dependientes los conduce a estados de sobrecarga por desgaste físico, emocional, social y económico que siguen presentes durante las hospitalizaciones. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de una intervención de enfermería basada en la dinámica del cuidado, comparada con el cuidado convencional, sobre el nivel de sobrecarga de cuidadores familiares de adultos mayores dependientes hospitalizados. Metodología: Diseño cuasi experimental pre test ­ post test, con grupo experimental y grupo de comparación, con una muestra de 68 cuidadores. Resultados: El nivel de sobrecarga de los cuidadores del grupo experimental tuvo una media pre test de 63,2 y 52,8 post test, y el grupo de comparación tuvo una media pre test de 56,9 y 59,6 post test. Conclusiones: La aplicación de la intervención diseñada generó cambios significativos en el cuidador que permitieron modular los niveles de sobrecarga durante la hospitalización del adulto mayor dependiente

Introduction: The care provided by relatives of dependent elderly adults leads them to states of burden due to physical, emotional, social and economic wear and tear that are still present during hospitalizations. Objective: To assess the effect of a nursing intervention based on the dynamics of care, compared to conventional care, on the level of overload of family caregivers of elderly dependents in hospital. Methodology: Quasi-experimental pre-test - post-test design, with an experimental group and a comparison group, with a sample of 68 caregivers. Results: The level of caregiver overload in the experimental group had a pre-test mean of 63,2 and 52,8 post-test, and the comparison group had a pre-test mean of 56,9 and 59,6 post-test. Conclusions: The application of the designed intervention generated significant changes in the caregiver that allowed modulating the levels of overload during the hospitalization of the dependent older adult