Species delimitation and genetic structure of two endemic Magnolia species (section Magnolia; Magnoliaceae) in Mexico.

Magnolias are characteristic tree species of the Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF) in Mexico, an ecosystem that is highly threatened by habitat fragmentation and climate change. In this study, based on DNA sequences from five regions (chloroplast: trnT-trnL, trnK5-matK, trnS-trnG, rpl32-trnL, nuclear: ITS) and seven nuclear microsatellite markers, we aimed to delineate species boundaries between two-endemic species of the TMCF, Magnolia pedrazae and Magnolia schiedeana, and to estimate levels of genetic structure and diversity among populations. Phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses for the chloroplast and ITS regions did not support genetic differentiation as two distinctive species. Results from Bayesian and multivariate cluster analyses based on microsatellite loci showed high genetic differentiation across most populations, which was consistent with a strong and significant pattern of isolation by geographical distance. We found moderate to high levels of population genetic diversity, but it was lower in small populations relative to large populations. Our results suggest a contemporary decrease of genetic connectivity among populations, likely as a consequence of the current decline of suitable TMCF habitat. Managing landscape connectivity among remnant Magnolia populations within protected natural parks and surroundings, and with emphasis of small populations, would be key for the species conservation.

Home-exercise Childhood Obesity Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Print Versus Web-based (Move It) Platforms.

PURPOSE: To compare the impact of adhering to a Mediterranean diet plus mixed physical exercise program (Move-It) implemented by means of printed instructions or via a web-platform (with or without e-mail support) on body composition, physical fitness, and blood pressure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial. Fifty-two overweight or obese Spanish children and adolescents were randomly assigned to the print-based (n = 18), Move-It (n = 18), or Move-It plus support (n = 16) intervention groups. Two-way mixed ANOVA tests were used to compare any changes between the groups in terms of percentage body fat, physical fitness (VO2peak), handgrip strength, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The measurements were taken before and after a three-month mixed-exercise (aerobic and resistance) and Mediterranean-diet program which was either implemented by means of printed instructions or via a web-platform (with or without e-mail support). RESULTS: No statistical differences were found between groups. However, the results highlighted significant improvements in body fat percentage metrics over time for all three groups (print-based: -1.8%, 95%CI -3.3% to -0.3%; Move-It: -1.8%, 95%CI -3.3% to -0.3%; Move-It plus support: -2.0%, 95%CI -3.7% to -0.4%, P < 0.05). We also observed a tendency towards improvement in the VO2peak, handgrip strength, and blood pressure variable values 10 min after the exercise-stress test in these three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The program improved the body composition, regardless of the way it is implemented. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A mixed physical exercise program lasting for three months, combined with a Mediterranean diet, improves the body composition of children and adolescents with overweight/obesity.

Competitive active video games: Physiological and psychological responses in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Recent strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in children include replacing sedentary screen time for active video games. Active video game studies have focused principally on the metabolic consumption of a single player, with physiological and psychological responses of opponent-based multiplayer games to be further evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adding a competitive component to playing active video games impacts physiological and psychological responses in players. METHODS: Sixty-two healthy Caucasian children and adolescents, nine to 14 years years of age, completed three conditions (8 min each) in random order: treadmill walking, and single and opponent-based Kinect active video games. Affect, arousal, rate of perceived exertion, heart rate and percentage of heart rate reserve were measured for each participant and condition. RESULTS: Kinect conditions revealed significantly higher heart rate, percentage of heart rate reserve, rate of perceived exertion and arousal when compared with treadmill walking (P<0.001). Opponent-based condition revealed lower values for the rate of perceived exertion (P=0.02) and higher affect (P=0.022) when compared with single play. CONCLUSION: Competitive active video games improved children's psychological responses (affect and rate of perceived exertion) compared with single play, providing a solution that may contribute toward improved adherence to physical activity.

HISTORIQUE: Parmi les récentes stratégies en vue de réduire les comportements sédentaires chez les enfants, soulignons le remplacement du temps d'écran sédentaire par des jeux vidéo actifs. Les études sur ce type de jeux ont surtout porté sur la consommation métabolique en mode solo. Les réponses physiologiques et psychologiques de jeux en mode multijoueur comportant des adversaires n'ont pas encore été évaluées. OBJECTIF: Déterminer si l'ajout d'un élément compétitif aux jeux vidéo actifs influe sur les réponses physiologiques et psychologiques chez les joueurs. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Soixante-deux enfants et adolescents blancs en bonne santé de neuf à 14 ans ont effectué trois conditionnements de huit minutes chacun, dans un ordre aléatoire : marche sur tapis roulant et jeux vidéo actifs Kinect en mode solo et multijoueur (Microsoft Corporation, États-Unis). Les chercheurs ont mesuré l'affect, l'éveil, le taux d'effort perçu, la fréquence cardiaque et le pourcentage de réserve de fréquence cardiaque de chaque participant et de chaque conditionnement. RÉSULTATS: Le conditionnement Kinect a suscité une augmentation significative de la fréquence cardiaque, du pourcentage de réserve de fréquence cardiaque, d'effort perçu et d'éveil par rapport à la marche sur tapis roulant (P<0,001). Le conditionnement contre un adversaire révélait des valeurs plus faibles de taux d'effort perçu (P=0,02) et un affect plus élevé (P=0,022) que le jeu en mode solo. CONCLUSION: Les jeux vidéo actifs compétitifs donnent de meilleures réponses psychologiques chez les enfants (affect et taux d'efforts perçu) que le jeu en mode solo. Cette solution pourrait contribuer à une meilleure adhérence à l'activité physique.

The distinctive roles played by the superoxide dismutases of the extremophile Acinetobacter sp. Ver3.

Acinetobacter sp. Ver3 is a polyextremophilic strain characterized by a high tolerance to radiation and pro-oxidants. The Ver3 genome comprises the sodB and sodC genes encoding an iron (AV3SodB) and a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (AV3SodC), respectively; however, the specific role(s) of these genes has remained elusive. We show that the expression of sodB remained unaltered in different oxidative stress conditions whereas sodC was up-regulated in the presence of blue light. Besides, we studied the changes in the in vitro activity of each SOD enzyme in response to diverse agents and solved the crystal structure of AV3SodB at 1.34 Å, one of the highest resolutions achieved for a SOD. Cell fractionation studies interestingly revealed that AV3SodB is located in the cytosol whereas AV3SodC is also found in the periplasm. Consistently, a bioinformatic analysis of the genomes of 53 Acinetobacter species pointed out the presence of at least one SOD type in each compartment, suggesting that these enzymes are separately required to cope with oxidative stress. Surprisingly, AV3SodC was found in an active state also in outer membrane vesicles, probably exerting a protective role. Overall, our multidisciplinary approach highlights the relevance of SOD enzymes when Acinetobacter spp. are confronted with oxidizing agents.

NAFLD determined by Dallas Steatosis Index is associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia: a cohort study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a worldwide health challenge. Liver steatosis diagnosis based on imaging studies has been implicated in poor outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia, but results are inconsistent. The Dallas Steatosis Index (DSI) is an available calculator developed to identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that it would be associated with in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit admission (ICU), and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We conducted a retrospective cohort study on inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia between February 26 and April 11, 2020. We computed the DSI on admission, and patients with high DSI were considered with NAFLD. We employed logistic regression to study the association between NAFLD, mortality, ICU admission, and IMV. We studied the association between liver steatosis on computed tomography (CT) and these outcomes, and also between Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) based on CT findings and risk factors and the outcomes. 470 patients were included; 359 had NAFLD according to the DSI. They had a higher frequency of type 2 diabetes (31% vs 14%, p < 0.001), obesity (58% vs 14%, p < 0.001), and arterial hypertension (34% vs 22%, p = 0.02). In univariable analysis, NAFLD was associated with mortality, ICU admission, and IMV. Liver steatosis by CT and MAFLD were not associated with any of these outcomes. In multivariable logistic regression, high DSI remained significantly associated with IMV and death. High DSI, which can be easily computed on admission, was associated with IMV and death, and its use to better stratify the prognosis of these patients should be explored. On the other hand, liver steatosis by CT and MAFLD were not associated with poor outcomes.

Low Thoracic Skeletal Muscle Area Is Not Associated With Negative Outcomes in Patients With COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia has been related to negative outcomes in different clinical scenarios from critical illness to chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to verify whether there was an association between low skeletal muscle index and in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit admission, and invasive mechanical ventilation need in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of a referral center for COVID-19. We included all consecutive patients admitted to the hospital between February 26 and May 15, 2020, with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Skeletal muscle index was assessed from a transverse computed tomography image at the level of twelfth thoracic vertebra with National Institutes of Health ImageJ software, and statistical analysis was performed to find an association between skeletal muscle index and in-hospital mortality, need of invasive mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit admission. RESULTS: We included 519 patients, the median age was 51 (42-61) yrs, and 115 patients (22%) had low skeletal muscle index. On multivariable analysis, skeletal muscle index was not associated with mortality, intensive care unit admission, or invasive mechanical ventilation need nor in a subanalysis of patients 65 yrs or older. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal muscle index determined by computed tomography at the level of twelfth thoracic vertebra was not associated with negative outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Sociodemographic and undergraduate-related variables as predictors of dental students' empathy: an e-survey in a south brazilian dental school / Variáveis sociodemográficas e relacionadas à graduação como preditoras da empatia de estudantes de odontologia: um e-survey em uma faculdade de odontologia do Sul do Brasil

Aim: To assess the associations between sociodemographic and undergraduate-related characteristics and empathy scores among dental students in a school in Southern Brazil. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study developed from self-administered online questionnaires to undergraduate dental students at the Federal University of Pelotas. Outcomes were the total score of empathy obtained through the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the scores obtained in four domains: perspective-taking (PT), fantasy (FA), empathic concern (EC), and personal distress (PD). In RStudio version 4.1.3 simple and adjusted linear regression models with robust residual standard errors were performed. Results: Eighty-seven students were included (response rate 24.4%). Considering the total IRI score, there was a mean score of 3.62 (SD=0.64) by item, and dental students had a mean score of 94.07 (SD=16.62). In adjusted analysis, being a woman increased the IRI (0.505;95%CI 0.187;0.823), EC (0.494;95%CI 0.168;0.819), and PT (0.822; 95%CI 0.329;1.315) scores compared to men. Adjusted associations were found between the EC domain and skin color and between the PT domain and family income. FA scores increased with age and family income and, decreased with dissatisfaction with undergraduate studies, only in the bivariate analysis. Discussion: Dental professionals' empathy is essential in daily practice, improving the patient-professional relationship in a patient-centered care approach. Thus, it is relevant to recognize predictors of empathy among dental students to promote strategies to increase empathy in dental practice. Conclusion: Gender, skin color, family income, age, and satisfaction with undergraduate studies were associated with empathy scores among dental students.

Objetivo: Avaliar associações entre as características sociodemográficas e relacionadas à graduação e os escores de empatia entre estudantes de odontologia de uma escola do Sul do Brasil. Materiais e métodos: Estudo transversal desenvolvido com questionários on-line autoadministrados para estudantes de graduação em odontologia da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Foram considerados desfechos o escore total de empatia medido pelo Índice de Reatividade Interpessoal (IRI) e os escores obtidos em quatro domínios: tomada de perspectiva (TP), fantasia (FA), consideração empática (CE) e angústia pessoal (AP). No RStudio versão 4.1.3 foram realizadas regressões lineares simples e múltiplas com erros residuais robustos. Resultados: Foram incluídos 87 alunos (taxa de resposta=24,4%). Considerando a pontuação total do IRI, houve média de 3,62 (DP=0,64) por item, e de 94,07 (DP=16,62) por estudante. Na análise multivariável, mulheres tiveram maiores pontuações no IRI (0,505; IC95%0,187;0,823), CE (0,494; IC95%0,168;0,819) e AP (0,822; IC95%0,329;1,315) em comparação aos homens. Foram encontradas associações ajustadas entre o domínio CE e cor da pele e entre o domínio PT e renda familiar. Os escores do domínio FA aumentaram com idade e renda familiar e diminuíram com insatisfação com a graduação, somente em análise bivariada. Discussão: A empatia do profissional de odontologia é essencial na prática diária, melhorando a relação paciente-profissional. Assim, é relevante reconhecer os preditores da empatia entre os estudantes de odontologia, visando estratégias para aumentar a empatia na prática odontológica. Conclusão: Gênero, cor da pele, renda familiar, idade e satisfação com a graduação foram associados aos escores de empatia entre estudantes de odontologia.