Dietary oleacein, a secoiridoid from extra virgin olive oil, prevents collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Olacein (OLA), one of the main secoiridoids derived from extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), has been shown to modulate oxidative and inflammatory responses in various pathological conditions; however, its potential benefit in joint disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the preventive role of the effects of an OLA-supplemented diet in the murine model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), delving into the possible mechanisms and signaling pathways involved. Animals were fed an OLA-enriched preventive diet for 6 weeks prior to CIA induction and until the end of the experimental time course. On day 43 after the first immunization, mice were sacrificed: blood was collected, and paws were histologically and biochemically processed. Dietary OLA prevented collagen-induced rheumatic bone, joint and cartilage conditions. Circulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-17) levels were significantly decreased in the joint, as well as MMP-9 and cathepsin-K (CatK) expression in secoiridoid-fed animals. In addition, dietary OLA was able to decrease COX-2, mPGES-1 and iNOS protein expressions and, also, PGE2 levels. The mechanisms possibly involved in these protective effects could be related to the activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1 axis and the inhibition of proinflammatory signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT, MAPKs and NF-κB, involved in the production of inflammatory and oxidative mediators. These results support the interest of OLA, as a nutraceutical intervention, in the management of RA.

Religiosidade e espiritualidade no cuidado da saúde e o impacto na vida de pessoas com doenças crônicas / Religiosity and spirituality in health care and the impact on life / Religiosidad y espiritualidad en el cuidado de la salud y elimpacto en la vida

Objetivo: Descrever a influência da religiosidade e espiritualidade no cuidado da saúde, com ênfase nas seguintes doenças crônicas: diabetes, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, doenças cardiovasculares e renais. Método:Revisão sistemática realizada nas bases de dados Latindex, Pubmed e SciELO. As palavras-chave utilizadas foram: "religiosidade" OR "espiritualidade" AND "cuidados da saúde" AND "doenças crônicas" e seus equivalentes no idioma inglês: "religiosity" OR "spirituality" AND "health care" AND "Chronic disease". Foram selecionados artigos nos idiomas português e inglês, publicados nos últimos dez anos. Resultados:Foram encontrados 3.686 artigos. Após leitura e análise criteriosa foram selecionados 14 artigos finais. Os benefícios que aparecem nos estudos estão relacionados com mudanças no estilo de vida, redução de depressão, ansiedade e estresse, que o diagnóstico de doença crônica carrega, estimulando o maior enfrentamento as doenças e maior adesão aos tratamentos, contribuindo de forma geral para o bem-estar e melhora da saúde desta população. Conclusão:Indivíduos portadores de doenças crônicas que usam a R/E no enfrentamento da doença, apresentam um impacto positivo no cuidado das mesmas e melhor qualidade de vida.

Objective: To describe the influence of religiosity and spirituality in health care, with emphasis on the following chronic diseases: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular and renal diseases. Method:Systematic review performed in the databases Latindex, Pubmed and SciELO. The keywords used were: "religiosity" OR "spirituality" AND "health care" AND "chronic diseases" and their equivalents in the English language: "religiosity" OR "spirituality" AND "health care" AND "Chronic disease". Articles in Portuguese and English, published in the last ten years, were selected. Results: A total of 3,686 articles were found. After careful reading and analysis, 14 final articles were selected. The benefits that appear in the studies are related to changes in lifestyle, reduction of depression, anxiety and stress, which the diagnosis of chronic disease carries, stimulating greater coping with diseases and greater adherence to treatments, contributing in a general way to the well-being and improvement of the health of this population. Conclusion:Individuals with chronic diseases who use R/E in coping with the disease have a positive impact on their care and better quality of life

Objetivo: Describir la influencia de la religiosidad y la espiritualidad en el cuidado de la salud, con énfasis en las siguientes enfermedades crónicas: diabetes, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, enfermedades cardiovasculares y renales. Método:Revisión sistemática realizada en las bases de datos Latindex, Pubmed y SciELO. Las palabras clave utilizadas fueron: "religiosidad" O "espiritualidad" Y "cuidado de la salud" Y "enfermedades crónicas" y sus equivalentes en el idioma inglés: "religiosidad" O "espiritualidad" Y "atención médica" Y "enfermedad crónica". Se seleccionaron artículos en portugués e inglés, publicados en los últimos diez años.Resultados:Se encontraron un total de 3.686 artículos. Después de una cuidadosa lectura y análisis, se seleccionaron 14 artículos finales. Los beneficios que aparecen en los estudios están relacionados con cambios en el estilo de vida, reducción de la depresión, ansiedad y estrés, que conlleva el diagnóstico de enfermedad crónica, estimulando un mayor afrontamiento de las enfermedades y una mayor adherencia a los tratamientos, contribuyendo de manera general al bienestar y mejora de la salud de esta población. Conclusión:Los individuos con enfermedades crónicas que utilizan R/E en el afrontamiento de la enfermedad tienen un impacto positivo en su cuidado y una mejor calidad de vida.

Eficacia de la capacidad y la eficiencia pronósticas de la herramienta de inteligencia artificial Thoracic Care Suite de GE aplicada a la radiografía torácica de pacientes con neumonía COVID-19 / Performance in prognostic capacity and efficiency of the Thoracic Care Suite GE AI tool applied to chest radiography of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Objetivo: La rápida progresión de la neumonía COVID-19 puede implicar la necesidad de recurrir a sistemas de respiración asistida, como la ventilación mecánica no invasiva o la intubación endotraqueal. La introducción de herramientas que detecten la neumonía COVID-19 puede mejorar la atención sanitaria de los pacientes. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar la eficacia y la eficiencia de la herramienta de inteligencia artificial (IA) Thoracic Care Suite de GE Healthcare (que incorpora Lunit Insight CXR) para predecir la necesidad de recurrir a la respiración asistida en función de la progresión de la neumonía en la COVID-19 en radiografías torácicas consecutivas. Métodos: Se incluyó a pacientes ambulatorios con infección por SARS-CoV-2 confirmada, con hallazgos probables o indeterminados de neumonía COVID-19 en la radiografía torácica (RXT) y que necesitaron una segunda RXT debido a la evolución clínica desfavorable. En las 2RXT se evaluaron el número de campos pulmonares afectados mediante la herramienta de IA. Resultados: Se incluyó a 114 pacientes (57,4±14,2 años; 65 de ellos varones, el 57%) de forma retrospectiva; 15 pacientes (el 13,2%) precisaron respiración asistida. La progresión de la diseminación neumónica ≥0,5 campos pulmonares al día en comparación con el inicio de la neumonía, detectada mediante la herramienta TCS, cuadruplicó el riesgo de precisar respiración asistida. El análisis de los resultados de IA precisó 26 segundos. Conclusiones: Aplicar la herramienta de IA, Thoracic Care Suite, a la RXT de pacientes con neumonía COVID-19 nos permite predecir la necesidad de recurrir a la respiración asistida en menos de medio minuto.(AU)

Objective: Rapid progression of COVID-19 pneumonia may put patients at risk of requiring ventilatory support, such as non-invasive mechanical ventilation or endotracheal intubation. Implementing tools that detect COVID-19 pneumonia can improve the patient's healthcare. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of the artificial intelligence (AI) tool GE Healthcare's Thoracic Care Suite (featuring Lunit Insight CXR, TCS) to predict the ventilatory support need based on pneumonic progression of COVID-19 on consecutive chest X-rays. Methods: Outpatients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, with chest X-ray (CXR) findings probable or indeterminate for COVID-19 pneumonia, who required a second CXR due to unfavorable clinical course, were collected. The number of affected lung fields for the 2CXRs was assessed using the AI tool. Results: One hundred fourteen patients (57.4±14.2 years; 65 of them were men, 57%) were retrospectively collected; and 15 (13.2%) required ventilatory support. Progression of pneumonic extension ≥ 0.5 lung fields per day compared to pneumonia onset, detected using the TCS tool, increased the risk of requiring ventilatory support by 4-fold. Analyzing the AI output required 26seconds of radiological time. Conclusions: Applying the AI tool, Thoracic Care Suite, to CXR of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia allows us to anticipate ventilatory support requirements requiring less than half a minute.(AU)

Inappropriate requests for cranial CT scans in emergency departments increase overuse and reduce test performance.

PURPOSE: The number of non-traumatic urgent cranial computed tomography (NT-UCCT) is exponentially increasing but limited research has been conducted on the quality of clinical justification. Accordingly, we aimed (1) to assess how clinical information in the electronic NT-UCCT request agreed with that provided in the patient's emergency department discharge summary and (2) to analyze the potential effect of those discrepancies on the NT-UCCT overload. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients undergoing NT-UCCT in 2017-2021 were randomly selected for this retrospective research-board-approved study. Signs and symptoms (S/S) in electronic request and emergency department discharge summary, acute and relevant computed tomography (CT) findings (acute ischemia or hemorrhage, masses, brain edema, or previously undetected hydrocephalus), and final diagnosis at emergency department discharge summary were collected. Concordance between digital request and emergency department discharge summary and their association with both acute and relevant CT findings and final diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: We recruited 156 patients: 80 men; mean age, 55. Acute, relevant CT findings were detected in 28 cases (17.9%). The final diagnosis was neurological disease, non-neurological disease, and no definitive diagnosis in 46 (29.5%), 58 (37.2%), and 51 (32.7%) cases, respectively. Full agreement between the electronic request and emergency department discharge summary occurred in only 36 patients (23.1%). Motor deficit was the most frequent false positive electronic request S/S (18; 11.54%), having low positive predictive value (30.30%; 95%CI 15.59-48.71%) and worst association with acute relevant CT findings than when true positive (OR 2.54; 95%CI 0.04-6.21 vs. OR 6.26, 95%CI 2.21-17.78). Nausea/vomiting was the third most common false negative electronic request S/S (13; 10.26%) and reduced the likelihood of acute and relevant CT findings (OR 0.126; 95%CI 0.016-0.971; p = 0.020). False S/S in electronic request predominated in non-neurological diseases (50-60.2% vs. 33-39.8%; p = 0.068). CONCLUSION: Discrepancies between electronic request and emergency department discharge summary were observed in >75% of patients, leading to unnecessary NT-UCCT tests.

Vertical Slot Fishways: Incremental Knowledge to Define the Best Solution.

River artificial fragmentation is arguably the most imperilling threat for freshwater-dependent fish species. Fish need to be able to freely move along river networks as not only spawning grounds but also refuge and feeding areas may be spatially and temporally separated. This incapacity of free displacement may result in genetic depletion of some populations, density reduction and even community changes, which may in turn affect how meta-community balances are regulated, potentially resulting in functional resilience reduction and ecosystem processes' malfunction. Fishways are the most common and widely used method to improve connectivity for fish species. These structures allow fish to negotiate full barriers, thus reducing their connectivity impairment. Among all technical fishway types, vertical slot fishways (VSF) are considered to be the best solution, as they remain operational even with fluctuating water discharges and allow fish to negotiate each cross-wall at their desired depth. In the present study, we collected both published and original data on fish experiments within VSF, to address two questions, (1) What variables affect fish passage during experimental fishway studies? and (2) What is the best VSF configuration? We used Bayesian Generalized Mixed Models accounting for random effects of non-controlled factors, limiting inherent data dependencies, that may influence the model outcome. Results highlight that fish size, regardless of the species, is a good predictor of fishway negotiation success. Generally, multiple slot fishways with one orifice proved to be the best solution. Future work should be focused on small-sized fish to further improve the design of holistic fishways.

Digital tomosynthesis improves chest radiograph accuracy and reduces microbiological false negatives in COVID-19 diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Diagnosing pneumonia by radiograph is improvable. We aimed (a) to compare radiograph and digital thoracic tomosynthesis (DTT) performances and agreement for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis, and (b) to assess the DTT ability for COVID-19 diagnosis when polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and radiograph are negative. METHODS: Two emergency radiologists with 11 (ER1) and 14 experience-years (ER2) retrospectively evaluated radiograph and DTT images acquired simultaneously in consecutively clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia patients in March 2020-January 2021. Considering PCR and/or serology as reference standard, DTT and radiograph diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement, and DTT contributions in unequivocal, equivocal, and absent radiograph opacities were analysed by the area under the curve (AUC), Cohen's Kappa, Mc-Nemar's and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: We recruited 480 patients (49 ± 15 years, 277 female). DTT increased ER1 (from 0.76, CI95% 0.7-0.8 to 0.79, CI95% 0.7-0.8; P=.04) and ER2 (from 0.77 CI95% 0.7-0.8 to 0.80 CI95% 0.8-0.8, P=.02) radiograph-AUCs, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and positive likelihood ratio. In false negative microbiological cases, DTT suggested COVID-19 pneumonia in 13% (4/30; P=.052, ER1) and 20% (6/30; P=.020, ER2) more than radiograph. DTT showed new or larger opacities in 33-47% of cases with unequivocal opacities in radiograph, new opacities in 2-6% of normal radiographs and reduced equivocal opacities by 13-16%. Kappa increased from 0.64 (CI95% 0.6-0.8) to 0.7 (CI95% 0.7-0.8) for COVID-19 pneumonia probability, and from 0.69 (CI95% 0.6-0.7) to 0.76 (CI95% 0.7-0.8) for pneumonic extension. CONCLUSION: DTT improves radiograph performance and agreement for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis and reduces PCR false negatives.

Situação epidemiológica do Monkeypox (MPX) no Brasil, até outubro de 2022: Casos notificados, confirmados, suspeitos e mortalidade / Epidemiological situation of Monkeypox (MPX) in Brazil, until October 2022: Notified, confirmed, suspected cases and mortality / Situación epidemiológica de la Viruela del Simio (MPX) en Brasil, hasta octubre de 2022: Casos notificados, confirmados, sospechosos y mortalidade

Objetivo: Analisar a frequência de registros de Monkeypox (MPX) no recorte histórico formado pelos meses de "janeiro a outubro de 2022" no recorte geográfico formado pelo "Brasil". Método: Pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, comparativa e quantitativa. Os dados foram adquiridos junto ao Centro de Informações Estratégicas em Vigilância em Saúde (CIEVS), do Centro de Operações em Emergências (COE) do Ministério da Saúde (MS). Resultados: Foram notificados o universo de 13.915 registros de MPX, sendo que 65% (n=9.045) eram de casos confirmados e 35% (n=4.870) eram de casos suspeitos. A região Sudeste (SE) computou a maior preponderância, tanto de casos confirmados com 65,1% (n=5.886) quanto de casos suspeitos com 33,6% (n=1.635). O estado de São Paulo (SP) obteve maior preponderância com 44,4%(n=4.012) casos confirmados e 23,2% (n=1.131) casos suspeitos. Conclusão: Foi identificado aumento na frequência de registros de casos confirmados e suspeitos no recorte geográfico e histórico analisados.

Objective: To analyze the frequency of Monkeypox (MPX) records in the historical period formed by the months from "January to October 2022" in the geographic region formed by "Brazil". Method: Exploratory, descriptive, comparative and quantitative research. Data were acquired from the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (CIEVS), from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) of the Ministry of Health (MS). Results: A total of 13,915 MPX records were reported, of which 65% (n=9,045) were confirmed cases and 35% (n=4,870) were suspected cases. The Southeast (SE) region accounted for the highest preponderance, both of confirmed cases with 65.1% (n=5,886) and of suspected cases with 33.6% (n=1,635). The state of São Paulo (SP) had the highest prevalence with 44.4% (n=4,012) confirmed cases and 23.2% (n=1,131) suspected cases. Conclusion: An increase in the frequency of records of confirmed and suspected cases was identified in the geographical and historical scope analyzed

Objetivo: Analizar la mortalidad por infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) en Brasil de 1996 a 2017. Método: Estudio epidemiológico, exploratorio, descriptivo y cuantitativo. Los datos fueron extraídos del Servicio de Información de Mortalidad (SIM) del Ministerio de Salud (MS). Se realizó análisis estadístico descriptivo. Resultados: Se identificó un universo de 1.592.197 registros, con media y desviación estándar de (72.373±12.999,9). El año 2016 registró la mayor preponderancia con 5,9% (n=94.148) y 1996 la menor con 3,5% (n=55.900). La mayor preponderancia estuvo constituida por 59,1% (n=940.552) del sexo masculino, 25,6% (n=407.340) tenían entre 70 y 79 años, 54,7% (n=871.319) eran blancos, 45,5% (n=725.234) casados, 20,7 El % (n=328.981) tenía de 1 a 3 años de escolaridad, el 55,6% (n=885.368) tenían sus defunciones registradas en el hospital. Conclusión: Se identificó un aumento en la frecuencia de registros de defunción por IAM en el área geográfica e histórica analizada.

Inclusão da atenção à saúde masculina de caminhoneiros a partir do Cartão de Saúde do Caminhoneiro e da Caminhoneira na Atenção Primária à Saúde / Inclusion of male health care for truck drivers from the Truck Driver and Truck Driver Health Card in Primary Health Care / Inclusión de la atención médica masculina para conductores de camiones de la Tarjeta de Salud de Camioneros y Camioneros en la Atención Primaria de Salud

Objetivo: identificar o avanço da implantação do Cartão de Saúde do Caminhoneiro e da Caminhoneira na Atenção Primária à Saúde desses profissionais. Método: estudo descritivo exploratório, por meio de entrevistas estruturadas. O público-alvo foram os profissionais de saúde das unidades de saúde localizadas próximas ao Pontos de Parada e Descanso certificados pelo o Ministério da Infraestrutura e caminhoneiros do sexo masculino presentes nestes mesmos Pontos. Resultados: 50% dos responderam que em sua rota de trabalho já tiveram alguma necessidade de atendimento de saúde, porém 100% responderam que não foram atendidos com o CSCC. 58% dos profissionais de saúde entrevistados não tiveram capacitação sobre PNAISH, 75% responderam que desconhecem a política e 83% a Nota Técnica n° 08/2020. Na avaliação de 25% (n=3) dos profissionais de saúde, o CSCC facilitou o acesso a busca de atendimento na Atenção Primária pelos caminhoneiros. Foram considerados dificuldades ou obstáculos para a implementação do CSCC: a questão de desconhecimento do CSCC por parte da equipe(75%), a falta de capacitação(83%) e a baixa procura dos profissionais caminhoneiros(58%). Conclusão: esta pesquisa resultou em uma proposta de Projeto Piloto de implementação ao acesso à Atenção Primária à Saúde com a prática do Cartão de Saúde do Caminhoneiro e da Caminhoneira

Objective: to identify the progress of the implementation of the Trucker's and Trucker's Health Card in the Primary Health Care of these professionals. Method: exploratory descriptive study, through structured interviews. The target audience was the health professionals of the health units located near the Stop and Rest Points certified by the Ministry of Infrastructure and male truck drivers present in these same Points. Results: 50% of the respondents answered that in their work route they had already had some need for health care, but 100% answered that they were not attended with the CSCC. 58% of the health professionals interviewed did not have training on PNAISH, 75% answered that they are unaware of the policy and 83% the Technical Note No. 08/2020. In the evaluation of 25% (n=3) of the health professionals, the CSCC facilitated the access to seek care in Primary Care by truck drivers. The following were considered difficulties or obstacles to the implementation of the CSCC: the issue of lack of knowledge of the CSCC by the team (75%), the lack of training (83%) and the low demand of professional truck drivers (58%). Conclusion: this research resulted in a proposal for a Pilot Project to implement access to Primary Health Care with the practice of the Trucker's and Trucker's Health Card.

Objetivo: identificar los avances de la implementación de la Tarjeta de Salud del Camionero y Camionero en la Atención Primaria de Salud de estos profesionales. Método: estudio descriptivo exploratorio, a través de entrevistas estructuradas. El público objetivo fueron los profesionales de la salud de las unidades de salud ubicadas cerca de los Puntos de Parada y Descanso certificados por el Ministerio de Infraestructura y los conductores de camiones varones presentes en estos mismos Puntos. Resultados: 50% de los encuestados respondieron que en su ruta de trabajo ya habían tenido alguna necesidad de atención médica, pero 100% respondieron que no fueron atendidos con el CSCC. El 58% de los profesionales de la salud entrevistados no tenía capacitación sobre PNAISH, el 75% respondió que desconoce la política y el 83% la Nota Técnica Nº 08/2020. En la evaluación de 25% (n=3) de los profesionales de salud, el CSCC facilitó el acceso a buscar atención en Atención Primaria por parte de camioneros. Se consideraron dificultades u obstáculos para la implementación del CSCC: el problema de la falta de conocimiento del CSCC por parte del equipo (75%), la falta de capacitación (83%) y la baja demanda de conductores de camiones profesionales (58%). Conclusión: esta investigación resultó en una propuesta de Proyecto Piloto para implementar el acceso a la Atención Primaria de Salud con la práctica de la Tarjeta de Salud del Camionero y Camionero.

Activity, boldness and schooling in freshwater fish are affected by river salinization.

Rivers are experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressures and salinity has shown to affect freshwater fish behaviour, potentially disrupting ecological processes. In this study, the aim was to determine the sub-lethal effects of salinization on freshwater fish behaviour, using a widespread native cyprinid species, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) as the model species. Behavioural trials in a mesocosms setting were performed to assess the effects of three levels of a salinity gradient - control (no salt added to the water, 0.8 mS/cm), low (9 mS/cm), and high concentration (18 mS/cm) - on fish routine activity, shoal cohesion and boldness. Upon increasing the salinity levels in the flume-channels, fish showed a significant reduction on their i) swimming activity (76% of searching behaviour in the control vs. 57% in high salinity), and ii) shoal cohesion (0.95 shoal cohesion ratio in the control vs. 0.76 in high salinity), while iii) an increase of bolder individuals, measured by a higher number of attempts to escape the altered environment (106 total jumps in the control vs. 262 in high salinity), was simultaneously observed. Behavioural changes in fish can reflect shifts in ecological condition. Thus, the behavioural responses of fish caused by salinization stress should be further researched, in addition to the interaction with other environmental stressors, in order to understand the true scope of the consequences of salinization for fish species.

Brevíssimas considerações históricas sobre o processo de vacinação de crianças e adolescentes contra a COVID-19 no Brasil / Very brief historical considerations about the process of vaccination of children and adolescents against COVID-19 in Brazil / Breves consideraciones históricas sobre el proceso de vacunación de niños y adolescentes contra la COVID-19 en Brasil

Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), o sobrepeso e a obesidade podem ser definidas enquanto o acúmulo anormal ou excessivo de gordura, podendo se constituir enquanto prejudiais a saúde.1 Os referidos problemas de saúde pública tem adquirido proporções pandêmicas, onde aproximadamente, 4 milhões de pessoas morrem a cada ano em sua decorrência ou por conta de complicações relacionadas

Varíola e Varíola dos macacos (Monkeypox): Brevíssimos apontamentos históricos / Smallpox and Monkeypox (Monkeypox): Very brief historical notes / Viruela y Viruela del Mono (Monkeypox): Notas históricas muy breves

A palavra variola ou varíola, etimologicamente possui origem do latim vulgar "varius", sendo formada por meio do radical "vari", que se encontra presente em inúmeros verbetes, como por exemplo, "vários", "variedade" e "varicela", sendo esta última o diminutivo de varíola e, possuindo enquanto significação, "marcado", ou por extensão, com "manchas".1,2,3 Segundo alguns antigos relatos, se considera que ela teria surgido inicialmente na Índia ou no Egito, sendo também descrita posteriormente junto ao continente asiático e ainda, no africano desde antes do Anno Domini (A.D.), ou seja, do que é considerada a era cristã.1,

Lupinus angustifolius Protein Hydrolysates Reduce Abdominal Adiposity and Ameliorate Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Western Diet Fed-ApoE-/- Mice.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most important cause of liver disease worldwide. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver and is closely associated with abdominal obesity. In addition, oxidative stress and inflammation are significant features involved in MAFLD. Recently, our group demonstrated that lupin protein hydrolysates (LPHs) had lipid lowering, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Sixty male mice fed with a Western diet were intragastrically treated with LPHs (or vehicle) for 12 weeks. Liver and adipose tissue lipid accumulation and hepatic inflammatory and oxidant status were evaluated. A significant decrease in steatosis was observed in LPHs-treated mice, which presented a decreased gene expression of CD36 and LDL-R, crucial markers in MAFLD. In addition, LPHs increased the hepatic total antioxidant capacity and reduced the hepatic inflammatory status. Moreover, LPHs-treated mice showed a significant reduction in abdominal adiposity. This is the first study to show that the supplementation with LPHs markedly ameliorates the generation of the steatotic liver caused by the intake of a Western diet and reduces abdominal obesity in ApoE-/- mice. Future clinical trials should shed light on the effects of LPHs on MAFLD.

Knowledge Gaps in the Definition of Threats for the Red List Assessment of European Freshwater-Dependent Fish Species.

Freshwater ecosystems are disproportionally important for biodiversity conservation, as they support more than 9% of known animal species while representing less than 1% of the Earth's surface. However, the vast majority of the threats (99%, or 826 out of 837) identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species known to affect the 434 known freshwater-dependent fish and lampreys of Europe are not supported by validated published scientific knowledge. This general lack of information about freshwater-dependent fish and lamprey species may have deleterious effects on species conservation, and additional funding is required to fill baseline knowledge gaps.

Elevated serum progesterone does not impact euploidy rates in PGT-A patients.

PURPOSE: Some women undergoing stimulated cycles have elevated serum progesterone (P) on the day of ovulation trigger, but its effect on embryo quality is unclear. We analyze embryo quality among patients with high and low serum P undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). METHODS: This retrospective study included 1597 patients divided into two groups by serum P values: < 1.5 ng/mL or ≥ 1.5 ng/mL. A gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol was established for each patient. Serum P levels were measured on the day of triggering. Propensity score matching and Poisson regression were done. Age, body mass index, and ovarian sensitivity index were also compared. RESULTS: Elevated serum P was not significantly associated with euploid embryo rate or other embryo-quality variables evaluated in our study. Age was the only variable associated with euploidy rate (per MII oocyte, P < 0.001; per biopsied embryo, P = 0.008), embryo biopsy rate (P < 0.001), absolute number of euploid embryos (P = 0.008), and top-quality embryo rate (P = 0.008). Categorical variables decreased in value for every year of increased age in patients with high serum P. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum P did not affect the number of euploid and good-quality embryos for transfer in GnRH antagonist intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Contrary to the clear influence of premature P elevation on endometrial receptivity based on literature, our results may help to tip the balance towards the absence of a negative effect of P elevation on embryo competence. More studies are needed to fully understand the effect of P elevation on reproductive outcomes.

Radiomics for prediction of survival in lower-grade gliomas-it's time to move beyond the crystal ball.

KEY POINTS: • Radiomics might help predict survival of patients with lower-grade gliomas.• Several different models using different radiomics features have been proposed with only little overlap in included features.• Prospective trials and validation studies are needed to establish which models offer clinical benefit and which do not.