Early-life and chronic exposure to high-fat diet alters noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the male rat amygdala and hippocampus under cognitive challenges.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of health and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Consuming high-fat diets (HFD) during critical neurodevelopmental periods, like childhood, impairs cognition and memory in humans and animals, affecting the function and connectivity of brain structures related to emotional memory. However, the underlying mechanisms of such phenomena need to be better understood. This study aimed to investigate the neurochemical profile of the amygdala and hippocampus, brain structures involved in emotional memory, during the acquisition of conditioned odor aversion in male rats that consumed a HFD from weaning to adulthood. The rats gained weight, experienced metabolic changes, and reduced insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Rats showed enhanced odor aversion memory, contrary to the expected cognitive impairments. This memory enhancement was accompanied by increased noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the amygdala and hippocampus. Importantly, this upregulation was specific to stimuli exposure, as basal neurotransmitter levels remained unaltered by the HFD. Our results suggest that HFD modifies cognitive function by altering neurochemical signaling, in this case, upregulating neurotransmitter levels rendering a stronger memory trace, demonstrating that metabolic dysfunctions do not only trigger exclusively detrimental plasticity processes but also render enhanced plastic effects depending on the type of information.

Evidencia molecular de Rickettsia ricketsii y Rickettsia felis en garrapatas colectadas en ganado bovino en la costa de Chiapas.

OBJETIVO: Estimar la diversidad de garrapatas, la prevalencia de infestación y tasa de infección de Rickettsia spp. en ganado bovino en la costa del estado de Chiapas. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal de octubre de 2021 a marzo de 2022, que incluyó la extracción de garrapatas de 297 vacas pertenecientes a 5 municipios. Se calcularon los índices de diversidad. El diagnóstico de Rickettsia spp en las garrapatas se realizó mediante PCR anida. RESULTADOS: Se encontró una baja diversidad de especies. Las especies Rhipicephalus microplus, Amblyomma cajennense y Rhipicephalus sanguineus hembra adultas fueron positivas a Rickettsia spp. Los municipios de Pijijiapan y Tonalá presentaron la TMI más alta con 7.5 y 7.2%. Conclusión. Este es primer estudio México que reporta infección de Rickettsia spp, en garrapatas colectadas de ganado bovino, lo cual indica un riesgo de salud pública.

Results of the George Washington University cancer center's comprehensive cancer control cancer communication mentorship program and implications for future practice.

PURPOSE: The Comprehensive Cancer Control Cancer Communication Mentorship Program ("Mentorship Program") was created by the George Washington University Cancer Center (GWCC) to provide technical assistance (TA) in implementing evidence-based cancer screening communication interventions and support networking for comprehensive cancer control (CCC) professionals. The Mentorship Program matched entry-to mid-level CCC professionals with health communication and/or CCC experts and offered monthly web-based discussions with academic researchers and practitioners who shared their knowledge and provided applied learning opportunities throughout mentees' project planning, implementation and evaluation. The program objective was for mentees to improve health communication skills and apply evidence-based knowledge to reduce the burden of cancer. METHODS: A mixed methods evaluation was conducted, including a qualitative description of each project and its outcomes as well as quantitative measures of satisfaction with the program and self-rated changes in competence. RESULTS: Mentees represented the following locations: New Jersey, Arkansas, Michigan, West Virginia, and Republic of Palau. Project topics ranged from increasing Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to increasing screening uptake for colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. Evaluation results from pre- and post-program communication competency self-assessments and mid- and post-program surveys revealed that the Mentorship Program advanced personal and professional goals and improved public health communication skills. CONCLUSION: The Mentorship Program achieved its objectives for peer networking and offering expert TA in cancer prevention and control communication, offering a promising model for others involved in supporting implementation of evidence in practice.

Price smoking participation elasticity in Colombia: estimates by age and socioeconomic level.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco prevalence in Colombia is small compared with other Latin America despite the nation's tobacco taxes being among the lowest in the region. However, tobacco taxes have increased several times during the last decade, and large increases in 2010 and 2016 impacted consumer prices. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to estimate the price smoking participation elasticity (PPE) in Colombia, with specific reference to regional increases in consumer prices after 2010 tax policy changes. METHODS: The PPE is computed using logistic regression based on individual-level data from the National Psychoactive Substances Consumption Survey for 2008 and 2013. Our specific focus is state-level variation in Colombian cigarette prices between 2008 and 2013 induced by the tax hike in 2010. RESULTS: The estimated PPE in Colombia is around -0.66 (p value=0.046). We find almost no differences across socioeconomic level, but price sensitivity was greater for women than men, and for relatively older individuals (ages 51-64). CONCLUSIONS: PPE for Colombia is above estimates for comparable middle-income countries such as Mexico. As a result, current estimates for health gains of tax policies are likely to be underestimated. Moreover, in contrast with the literature, we find that the PPE for the youth (≤25 years) is lower than older age groups, and there is no evidence of a prominent socio-economic status (SES) gradient.

Short-term perioperative iron in major orthopedic surgery: state of the art.

In major orthopaedic surgery, it is recommended to detect and correct preoperative anaemia several weeks prior to surgery. However, in many cases, the procedure is urgent or the patient is evaluated shortly before the intervention. As iron deficiency is the leading cause of perioperative anaemia, an exhaustive review of the literature was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of short-term perioperative intravenous, with or without erythropoietin, or postoperative oral or intravenous supplementation in major orthopaedic surgery. Overall, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were 13 randomized trials (moderate quality) and seven observational studies (low to very low quality). The primary outcomes were reduction in transfusion requirements, haemoglobin increase and medication side-effects during the study period. Data analysis showed that postoperative oral iron administration neither increased haemoglobin nor reduced transfusion requirements, and it was associated with significant gastrointestinal adverse effects (15%). In contrast, for some patient populations, perioperative or postoperative administration of intravenous iron, with or without recombinant erythropoietin, may reduce transfusion requirements and/or hasten the recovery from postoperative, with few clinically relevant adverse effects (<2%). However, discrepancies between randomized trials and observational studies on the possible beneficial effects of short-term perioperative intravenous iron administration were found for patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture repair. Further studies are needed to elucidate when the treatment should be started, which combination of drugs should be used, and which patient groups would be most benefit.

Management of Perioperative Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Preoperative anemia affects 30-40% of patients undergoing major surgery and is an independent risk factor for perioperative blood transfusion, morbidity, and mortality. Absolute or functional iron deficiency is its leading cause. Nonanemic hematinic deficiencies are also prevalent and may hamper preoperative hemoglobin optimization and/or recovery from postoperative anemia. As modifiable risk factors, anemia and hematinic deficiencies should be detected and corrected prior to major surgical procedures. Postoperative anemia is even more common (up to 80-90%) due to surgery-associated blood loss, inflammation-induced blunted erythropoiesis, and/or preexisting anemia. Preoperative oral iron may have a role in mild-to-moderate anemia, provided there is sufficient time (6-8 weeks) and adequate tolerance of oral preparations. Postoperative oral iron is of little value and rife with gastrointestinal adverse events. Intravenous iron should preferentially be used in cases of moderate-to-severe iron deficiency anemia, concomitant use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, short time to surgery or nonelective procedures, and for postoperative anemia management. Minor infusion reactions to intravenous iron are rare, the incidence of severe anaphylactic reactions is extremely low, and there is no increase in infections with intravenous iron. Currently available intravenous iron formulations allowing administration of large single doses are preferred.

Perioperative anemia: Prevalence, consequences and pathophysiology.

In major elective surgery, patient may be exposed to the effects of pre-operative anemia, blood loss and red cell transfusion, all of which may adversely influence post-operative rates of morbidity, mortality and readmission, and length of hospital stay. Preoperative anemia is prevalent among patients scheduled for major surgery (30-40%), while postoperative anemia is even more frequent (up to 80-90%). However, preoperative anemia is usually regarded as no more than a surrogated marker of patient's physical status, and it is not always adequately addressed before surgery, whereas red blood cell transfusion is the usual default treatment for postoperative anemia. Absolute iron deficiency and iron sequestration are the leading causes of preoperative anemia, whereas surgery-associated blood loss and inflammation may induce and/or maintain postoperative anemia. Hematinic deficiencies without anemia may hamper pre-operative hemoglobin optimization and/or recovery from postoperative anemia. As modifiable risk factors, preoperative anemia and hematinic deficiencies should be detected, classified and treated prior to any major surgery. For elective non-cancer procedures, this may entail to postpone surgery until anemia improvement or resolution.

Xanthommatin is Behind the Antioxidant Activity of the Skin of Dosidicus gigas.

Marine bioactive compounds have been found in very different sources and exert a very vast array of activities. Squid skin, normally considered a discard, is a source of bioactive compounds such as pigments. Recovering these compounds is a potential means of valorizing seafood byproducts. Until now, the structure and molecular properties of the bioactive pigments in jumbo squid skin (JSS) have not been established. In this study, methanol-HCl (1%) pigment extracts from JSS were fractionated by open column chromatography and grouped by thin-layer chromatography in order to isolate antioxidant pigments. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS●+) radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay. Fractions 11-34 were separated and grouped according to flow rate values (F1-F8). Fractions F1, F3, and F7 had the lowest IC50 against ABTS●+ per milligram, and fractions F3 and F7 showed the lowest IC50 in the FRAP assay. Finally, fraction F7 had the highest DPPH● scavenging activity. The chemical structure of the F7 fraction was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. One of the compounds identified in the fraction was xanthommatin (11-(3-amino-3-carboxypropanoyl)-1-hydroxy-5-oxo-5H-pyrido[3,2-a]phenoxazine-3-carboxylic acid) and their derivatives (hydro- and dihydroxanthommatin). The results show that JSS pigments contain ommochrome molecules like xanthommatin, to which the antioxidant activity can be attributed.

Preoperative management of colorectal cancer-induced iron deficiency anemia in clinical practice: data from a large observational cohort.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative anemia prevalence among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is high and may adversely influence postoperative outcome. This study assesses the efficacy of a preoperative anemia managing protocol in CRC. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive CRC resections at two Spanish centers (January 2012 to December 2013). Preoperative anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) level of less than 13 g/dL and treated with intravenous iron (IVI) or standard care (oral iron or no iron). Red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) requirements was the primary outcome variable. Postoperative infection rate and length of hospital stay (LOS) were secondary outcome variables. Patients were managed with a restrictive transfusion trigger (Hb < 8 g/dL). Infection was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by laboratory, microbiologic, and/or radiologic evidence. RESULTS: Overall, 322 of 571 patients (56%) presented with anemia: 232 received IVI and 90 standard care. There were differences in RBCT rate between no anemia and anemia (2% vs. 16%; p < 0.01), but not in postoperative infections (19% vs. 22%; p = NS) or LOS. Compared to those on standard care, anemic patients on IVI presented with lower Hb (10.8 g/dL vs. 12.0 g/dL; p < 0.001) at baseline, but similar Hb on day of surgery and Postoperative Day 30. There were no between-group differences in RBCT rates (16% vs. 17%; p = NS), but infection rates were lower among IVI-treated patients (18% vs. 29%; p < 0.05). No relevant IVI-related side effects were recorded. CONCLUSION: Compared to standard care, IVI was more effective in treating preoperative anemia in CRC patients and appeared to reduce infection rate, although it did not reduce postoperative RBCT.

Very-short-term perioperative intravenous iron administration and postoperative outcome in major orthopedic surgery: a pooled analysis of observational data from 2547 patients.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nosocomial infection (PNI) is a severe complication in surgical patients. Known risk factors of PNI such as allogeneic blood transfusions (ABTs), anemia, and iron deficiency are manageable with perioperative intravenous (IV) iron therapy. To address potential concerns about IV iron and the risk of PNI, we studied a large series of orthopedic surgical patients for possible relations between IV iron, ABT, and PNI. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Pooled data on ABT, PNI, 30-day mortality, and length of hospital stay (LHS) from 2547 patients undergoing elective lower-limb arthroplasty (n = 1186) or hip fracture repair (n = 1361) were compared between patients who received either very-short-term perioperative IV iron (200-600 mg; n = 1538), with or without recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO; 40,000 IU), or standard treatment (n = 1009). RESULTS: Compared to standard therapy, perioperative IV iron reduced rates of ABT (32.4% vs. 48.8%; p = 0.001), PNI (10.7% vs. 26.9%; p = 0.001), and 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 9.4%; p = 0.003) and the LHS (11.9 days vs. 13.4 days; p = 0.001) in hip fracture patients. These benefits were observed in both transfused and nontransfused patients. Also in elective arthroplasty, IV iron reduced ABT rates (8.9% vs. 30.1%; p = 0.001) and LHS (8.4 days vs.10.7 days; p = 0.001), without differences in PNI rates (2.8% vs. 3.7%; p = 0.417), and there was no 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Despite known limitations of pooled observational analyses, these results suggest that very-short-term perioperative administration of IV iron, with or without rHuEPO, in major lower limb orthopedic procedures is associated with reduced ABT rates and LHS, without increasing postoperative morbidity or mortality.

School-Located Vaccine Clinics: An Effective Strategy for Expanding Access to COVID-19 Vaccines in Los Angeles County.

A key component of decreasing severe disease, hospitalizations, and death due to COVID-19 has been increasing vaccine accessibility to residents in communities where access to health care is poor and residents are at increased risk of poor health outcomes. Driven by the expansive geography and diverse population it serves, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health built an extensive school vaccination network by partnering with the county's roughly 3000 schools and vaccine providers. We report on the process of building this network and its impact on vaccination coverage. We describe a unique equity metric (HPI+) that used a combination of the Healthy Places Index (HPI) and COVID-19 transmission and vaccination data to prioritize school-located vaccination efforts. More than 328 991 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered at 1050 schools in Los Angeles County from April 15, 2021, through June 18, 2022. Nearly 10% of all doses administered to children aged 5-11 years in Los Angeles County were at school-located vaccine clinics. Most vaccine clinic days (77.3%) were held at schools in HPI+ zip codes. Most doses (68.3%) were administered in HPI+ regions and to people aged ≥12 years (70.3%). Vaccinating the community at schools is an effective public health intervention; however, increased outreach efforts were required in HPI+ regions to ensure equitable access to vaccines. This case study can be used to replicate public health interventions using schools to support access to health care services for students and the surrounding community.

The psychological defensive profile of hemodialysis patients and its relationship to health-related quality of life.

Preliminary data suggest that defensive profile of hemodialysis (HD) patients might influence adaptation to the disease. However, the association of defense mechanisms with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of HD patients remains unknown. In this cross-sectional investigation, 170 HD patients and 170 age- and sex-matched healthy participants had their psychological profile assessed with the Defense Style Questionnaire-40 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Furthermore, the HD patients had their HRQoL measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument-abbreviated version. The HD patients had a more neurotic and immature defensive profile. Splitting, projection, reaction formation, and denial were significantly associated with impaired HRQoL, independent of psychological distress. Somatization was an independent correlate of worse overall and physical HRQoL. These findings suggest that, apart from the treatment of psychological distress symptoms, clinicians should also consider the defensive profile of HD patients because it is independently associated with HRQoL and may be amenable to treatment.

Sucrosomial® Iron: An Updated Review of Its Clinical Efficacy for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency.

Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are highly prevalent worldwide. Oral iron salts, especially ferrous sulfate, are commonly used for the treatment of iron deficiency (ID). However, its use is associated with gastrointestinal side effects, thus compromising treatment compliance. Intravenous iron administration is a more costly and logistically complex alternative and is not risk-free, as infusion and hypersensitivity reactions may occur. Sucrosomial® iron is an oral formulation consisting of ferric pyrophosphate conveyed by a phospholipid and sucrester matrix (sucrosome®). Intestinal Sucrosomial® iron absorption is mediated by enterocytes and M cells, through the paracellular and transcellular routes, and occurs mostly as intact particles. These pharmacokinetic properties of Sucrosomial® iron result in higher iron intestinal absorption and excellent gastrointestinal tolerance compared to oral iron salts. The evidence derived from clinical studies supports the use of Sucrosomial® iron as a valid first option for the treatment of ID and IDA, especially for subjects who are intolerant or refractory to conventional iron salts. Newer evidence also demonstrates the effectiveness of Sucrosomial® iron, with a lower cost and fewer side effects, in certain conditions usually treated with IV iron in current clinical practice.

Dermoscopy distinction of eruptive vellus hair cysts with molluscum contagiosum and acne lesions.

Eruptive vellus hair cysts are benign lesions that can be difficult to distinguish from other skin conditions, including molluscum contagiosum and acne vulgaris. Diagnosis can be corroborated with histopathology. We emphasize differing dermoscopy features to help distinguish eruptive vellus hair cysts from molluscum contagiosum or acne.

Voluntary physical activity improves spatial and recognition memory deficits induced by post-weaning chronic exposure to a high-fat diet.

Childhood and adolescent exposure to obesogenic environments has contributed to the development of several health disorders, including neurocognitive impairment. Adolescence is a critical neurodevelopmental window highly influenced by environmental factors that affect brain function until adulthood. Post-weaning chronic exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) adversely affects memory performance; physical activity is one approach to coping with these dysfunctions. Previous studies indicate that voluntary exercise prevents HFD's detrimental effects on memory; however, it remains to evaluate whether it has a remedial/therapeutical effect when introduced after a long-term HFD exposure. This study was conducted on a diet-induced obesity mice model over six months. After three months of HFD exposure (without interrupting the diet) access to voluntary physical activity was provided. HFD produced weight gain, increased adiposity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Voluntary physical exercise ameliorated glucose tolerance and halted weight gain and fat accumulation. Additionally, physical activity mitigated HFD-induced spatial and recognition memory impairments. Our data indicate that voluntary physical exercise starting after several months of periadolescent HFD exposure reverses metabolic and cognitive alterations demonstrating that voluntary exercise, in addition to its known preventive effect, also has a restorative impact on metabolism and cognition dysfunctions associated with obesity.

Catecholaminergic stimulation restores high-sucrose diet-induced hippocampal dysfunction.

Increasing evidence suggests that long-term consumption of high-caloric diets increases the risk of developing cognitive dysfunctions. In the present study, we assessed the catecholaminergic activity in the hippocampus as a modulatory mechanism that is altered in rats exposed to six months of a high-sucrose diet (HSD). Male Wistar rats fed with this diet developed a metabolic disorder and showed impaired spatial memory in both water maze and object location memory (OLM) tasks. Intrahippocampal free-movement microdialysis showed a diminished dopaminergic and noradrenergic response to object exploration during OLM acquisition compared to rats fed with normal diet. In addition, electrophysiological results revealed an impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) of the perforant to dentate gyrus pathway in rats exposed to a HSD. Local administration of nomifensine, a catecholaminergic reuptake inhibitor, prior to OLM acquisition or LTP induction, improved long-term memory and electrophysiological responses, respectively. These results suggest that chronic exposure to HSD induces a hippocampal deterioration which impacts on cognitive and neural plasticity events negatively; these impairments can be ameliorated by increasing or restituting the affected catecholaminergic activity.

Tobacco taxes and illicit cigarette trade in Colombia.

This paper estimates the short-term impact of a twofold increase of the tobacco excise tax on consumption of illicit cigarette trade in Colombia. Using data collected before and after the tax increase from a novel smoker survey (DEICS-Col), the impact is estimated as the change in the probability that a smoker has illicit cigarettes. The methodology follows a difference-in-differences strategy, measuring the year-to-year variation of the proportion of illicit cigarettes between smokers who report buying low-priced cigarettes (the highest treatment intensity) and those who bought high-priced cigarettes (lowest treatment intensity). Estimations of the impact show an average increase of 4-5 percentage points on the proportion of illicit cigarettes relative to an initial penetration of low-priced illicit cigarettes of nearly 5.1 %.

Investigation of pilot-scale constructed wetlands treating simulated pre-treated tannery wastewater under tropical climate.

Tannery wastewater is characterized by high and variable concentrations of diverse pollutants, which makes it difficult and costly to treat. In the search for sustainable treatment options for tannery effluents, two pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) constructed wetlands (CW) were built and operated for the treatment of synthetic water of quality similar to that of pre-treated tannery effluents. Five different loading phases were examined with gradual increase of inflow COD, NH4+-N and Cr loads until reaching and exceeding the typical composition of a tannery effluent. High COD and NH4+-N removals were observed (82 and 96%, respectively), and almost complete Cr removal in the outflow, which met the Venezuela national standards for environmental discharge. Plant uptake was measured, but microbial processes appear to be the main ammonium transformation/removal mechanism. Nitrogen, chlorophyll and Cr in the plant aerial parts and roots indicated the capacity of Phragmites sp. to grow and survive even under high loads. The measured heterotrophic bacteria in the substrate and rhizomes indicated the biofilm development and the oxidation of organic matter and nitrogen. Water losses via evapotraspiration were also measured and reached 14%. Overall, the tested CW design proved to be a sustainable and feasible alternative for the treatment of tannery wastewater in tropical climates.