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Understandings of spatiotemporal dispersals of Homo sapiens onto the neotropical South American landscape and their environmental interactions during the late Pleistocene to late Holocene are being refined by multidisciplinary archaeological research. The Sabana of Bogota region in Colombia hosts a concentration of occupational sites, including Tequendama (13,525-2,330 and possibly until 815 cal BP) and Aguazuque (5,900-2,750 cal BP), that offer a view into local human paleoecology. Here, we conduct radiocarbon and stable isotope analysis ( δ 13 C, δ 18 O and δ 15 N) of humans and fauna from these sites, and reveal significant interregional differences in dietary patterns through time. Specifically, individuals from Tequendama exhibit predominantly C 3 diets, while individuals from Aguazuque show evidence of early C 4 consumption, likely maize, around 4,400-4,200 cal BP. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope data suggest environmental stability, with periodic deviations in aridity levels within a mosaic landscape. Our study highlights the complexity of human-environment interactions in the region and contributes to a broader understanding of isotopic variability., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Purpose: To describe the clinical features and identify mortality risk factors in descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) complicating deep neck abscesses (DNA) among patients admitted to the ICU., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care public hospital. Data were collected from July 2017 to July 2024. A bivariate analysis of variables, along with a multiple logistic regression model, were performed to identify mortality risk factors., Results: Forty-five patients with DNA complicated by DNM were admitted to the ICU, of whom 29 (58%) were men. The mean age was 49.8 ± 14 years. All underwent emergency neck and mediastinum debridement. Forty-one (91%) were admitted directly from the operating room. All DNAs were of odontogenic origin. In 36 patients (80%), the mediastinal infection extended below the tracheal carina. Thirty-nine patients (86.6%) required mechanical ventilation, and 25 (55.5%) presented with septic shock. The in-hospital mortality rate was 33.3%. Risk factors for mortality in the bivariate analysis included the total SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score, individual SOFA components (respiratory, hematologic, and cardiovascular), SAPS-3 (Simplified Acute Physiology Score-3), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio. In the multivariate analysis, the number of neck surgical debridements performed during ICU stay and the SOFA respiratory component were independent predictors of mortality., Conclusions: DNM complicating a DNA is a severe condition frequently associated with septic shock and multi-organ failure. Impaired oxygenation at admission and the number of neck wound debridements significantly influenced patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Mobile phones used by healthcare workers (HCWs) in hospitals are significant reservoirs of drug-resistant bacteria responsible for hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)., Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the level of contamination with such bacteria in outpatient clinics., Methods: Swabs from 83 HCWs' mobile phones were processed using standard biochemical and enzymatic procedures to identify pathogenic bacteria. β-Lactamase tests, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, screening for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), and carbapenemase production were performed according to CLSI guidelines. Molecular detection of multi-drug-resistant genes ( mecA in Staphylococcus aureus and kpc / ndm carbapenemases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp.) was performed using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction., Findings: The overall prevalence of mobile phone contamination with one or more bacteria was 100%. A total of 51 Gram-positive and 44 Gram-negative isolates, including 20 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 20 S. aureus (0 meticillin-resistant S. aureus ), 11 Acinetobacter spp. and 10 K. pneumoniae were isolated. β-Lactamase production was detected in 45% of CoNS and 30% of S. aureus . Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) toxin gene in S. aureus was found in 20% (4/20) of the isolates. Twenty (20%) and 13% of the Acinetobacter spp. and K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively, were ESBL but not carbapenemase producers., Conclusions: The presence of HAI-causing organisms on mobile phones used by HCWs in outpatient clinics necessitates the implementation of infection control measures to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination in critical healthcare settings., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this article., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Surgical resection of the stenotic segment with end-to-end anastomosis is considered the gold standard in postintubation tracheal stenosis. However, outcomes of this concrete aetiology are not well described. With the aim to examine the extent, range and characteristics of the existing evidence, a scoping review was performed. Data sources included MEDLINE, Scopus, Ovid and the Cochrane databases. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies in adult patients with postintubation tracheal stenosis that reported characteristics, surgical management and outcomes. A total of 125 articles were identified, of which 10 were included in the final analysis. All studies were case reports or case series (level 4 evidence) grouping 110 patients, 75 males and 35 females. The age ranged from 15 to 71 years. Cotton-Myer stenosis grade was 1 [1 (0.9%)], 2 [25 (22.7%)], 3 [70 (63.6%)] and 4 [14 (12.7%)]. Stenosis location was in the tracheal upper-third in 108 (98.2%), in the middle-third in 1 (0.9%) and in the lower-third in 1 (0.9%). Stenosis length ranged from 1 to 5.6 cm. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months (2 years for the most). Most frequent complications were transitory dysphagia in 13 (11.3%), granuloma formation in 8 (7.3%), dehiscence or air leak in 5 (4.5%) and wound infection in 4 (3.6%). Restenosis rate ranged from 2% to 25%. There was no perioperative mortality. Tracheal resection and primary anastomosis in postintubation tracheal stenosis appear to be safe and effective in the short and mid-terms; however, the very low level of evidence found prevents definitive conclusions., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

The internal iliac artery arises as a terminal extension of the common iliac artery and supplies blood to the pelvic region. This study aims to identify the anatomic variations of the internal iliac artery (IIA) in a Mexican population sample. This is a retrospective cross-sectional observational study. A total of 81 angiographies via the femoral artery approach performed on patients undergoing various medical procedures were included. Variations in the IIA branching patterns were identified by evaluating the angiographic images and grouped according to Adachi's classification into five types (I-V). A total of 139 hemipelvises were analyzed (78 right and 61 left). The frequencies of each type of variation were as follows: Type I (71.2%), Type II (10.79%), Type III (0 cases), Type IV (0.7%), Type V (12.94%), and unclassified (4.31%). The most frequent anatomical variants of the IIA in the western Mexican population sample were Type I, followed by Types V and II. Even though Type V is rare in most populations, it was the second most frequent variant in this study. Understanding the variants of the IIA branching pattern is necessary for performing invasive procedures in the pelvic region with precision and minimizing complications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Integrating genetic data into conservation management decisions is a challenging task that requires strong partnerships between researchers and managers. Conservation in Latin America is of crucial relevance worldwide given the high biodiversity levels and the presence of hotspots in this region. Methods: We conducted a survey across Latin America to identify gaps and opportunities between genetic researchers and conservation managers. We aimed to better understand conservation managers' points of view and how genetic research could help conservation practitioners to achieve their goals, by implementing genetic assessments that could effectively inform conservation practices. We distributed an online survey via four regional collaborating organizations and 32 focal points based in 20 Latin American countries. The target respondents were conservation managers of species or areas in Latin America. Results: We collected a total of 468 answered questionnaires from 21 Latin American countries. Most respondents (44%) were from an academic or research institution while non-academics were mainly from non-governmental institutions (30%) and government agencies (25%). Most respondents (65%) have performed or used genetic assessments in their managed area or species, either alone, in partnership, contracting someone else or using published results. For the majority of this group, the genetic results were relevant to their conservation management goals, helping to inform management decisions. Respondents that had not performed genetic assessments (35%) were mainly from the non-academic group, and their main barriers were limited access to funds, genetic lab facilities, and trained personnel to design studies and conduct lab work. Discussion: From the findings, we describe the current situation and provide a general diagnosis of the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America. We describe the gender gap, academic-practitioner co-development of conservation questions and projects, and the nationality and residency of Latin American conservation managers in relation to the countries where they work. We discuss opportunities to co-create research questions and co-develop studies based on conservation practitioners' needs. We offer recommendations for overcoming barriers to integrate genetic information into conservation actions, and advance agendas that fit the needs and realities of the highly heterogeneous, biodiverse and challenging Latin American region., Competing Interests: Author ND was employed by Aquatic and Terrestrial Pioneers Consulting Services. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Napolitano, Clavijo, Rojas-Bonzi, Miño, González-Maya, Bou, Giraldo, Martino, Miyaki, Aguirre, Cosacov, Milián-García, Prosdocimi, Ramírez-Bravo, Tovar, Velez-Zuazo, Barrios, Herrera-Fernández, Montiel-Villalobos, Oliveira-Miranda, Pool, Santos-Murgas, Segovia-Salcedo, Cecchi, Dans, Dilchand, Lima, Novas, Pelz-Serrano, Pougy, Rodríguez, van der Meer and Zapata-Ríos.)

Introduction: The Gerbode defect is an infrequent cardiac anomaly, with an incidence below 1 % in current worldwide literature. It consists of a communication between the left ventricle and right atrium in the membranous septum with consequential hemodynamical and structural heart changes and can present as either congenital or acquired. The concomitant affectation of the tricuspid valve poses its difficulty as a diagnostic and therapeutical challenge., Presentation of Case: This case report presents a 27-year-old patient with an incidental finding of congenital Gerbode defect with hemodynamical repercussion during surgical treatment for multidisciplinary management in the context of open thoracic trauma., Discussion: This defect has been infrequently described in the literature, and although several classification methods have been proposed, its diagnosis is challenging and must be considered when faced with nonspecific cardiac systems., Conclusion: It reports an infrequent congenital heart defect posing as traumatic or postoperative, generating a challenging diagnosis and successful surgical treatment given to the patient using a multidisciplinary approach to further broaden scientific literature on such an underrepresented pathology., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Leptospirosis is the world's most common zoonotic disease. Mitigation and control rely on pathogen identification and understanding the roles of potential reservoirs in cycling and transmission. Underreporting and misdiagnosis obscure the magnitude of the problem and confound efforts to understand key epidemiological components. Difficulties in culturing hamper the use of serological diagnostics and delay the development of DNA detection methods. As a result, especially in complex ecosystems, we know very little about the importance of different mammalian host species in cycling and transmission to humans., Methodology/principal Findings: We sampled dogs from five indigenous Kichwa communities living in the Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. Blood and urine samples from domestic dogs were collected to assess the exposure of these animals to Leptospira and to identify the circulating species. Microscopic Agglutination Tests with a panel of 22 different serovars showed anti-leptospira antibodies in 36 sampled dogs (75%), and 7 serogroups were detected. Two DNA-based detection assays revealed pathogenic Leptospira DNA in 18 of 19 dog urine samples (94.7%). Amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and SecY genes from 15 urine samples revealed genetic diversity within two of three different Leptospira species: noguchii (n = 7), santarosai (n = 7), and interrogans (n = 1)., Conclusions/significance: The high prevalence of antibodies and Leptospira DNA provides strong evidence for high rates of past and current infections. Such high prevalence has not been previously reported for dogs. These dogs live in the peridomestic environment in close contact with humans, yet they are free-ranging animals that interact with wildlife. This complex web of interactions may explain the diverse types of pathogenic Leptospira observed in this study. Our results suggest that domestic dogs are likely to play an important role in the cycling and transmission of Leptospira. Future studies in areas with complex ecoepidemiology will enable better parsing of the significance of genotypic, environmental, and host characteristics., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Guzmán et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Respiratory tract infections remain among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of mucosal immunity in defending against infectious agents. Vitamin A is known to influence the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) predominantly in the gut, where it is a critical component of the first line of defense on mucosal surfaces. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted 14 days post-positive COVID-19 diagnosis, aimed to determine the relationship between the nutritional status of vitamin A and SIgA levels in COVID-19 outpatients. Serum and saliva samples were collected. Vitamin A nutritional status was determined based on the assessment of dietary intake and the analysis of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4). SIgA levels were analyzed from salivary samples. In addition, serum antibodies were analyzed. Results: Dietary vitamin A intake and RBP4 levels positively correlated with SIgA. Patients with higher vitamin A intake showed higher SIgA/IgG1 and SIgA/IgG3 ratios, while those with higher RBP4 levels showed higher SIgA/IgM, SIgA/IgG1, and SIgA/IgG2 ratios. Conclusions: These findings underscore a significant correlation between vitamin A nutritional status and SIgA levels in COVID-19 outpatients, which may suggest the potential importance of maintaining optimal vitamin A levels for the prevention of viral infections.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality rates in Chile and the world. The Chilean National Health Survey, which describes cardiovascular disease nationally, excludes 27 locations deemed hard to access or insular, like the Juan Fernández Archipelago. Characterization of this territory could support future public health policies., Aim: To characterize the biosocial profile of the population enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Program (CHP) of the Juan Fernández archipelago and then compare them to the national dataset., Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and longitudinal study using data collected from 269 patients over 15 years enrolled in the Juan Fernández CHP until March 31, 2022. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors were obtained by reviewing a sheet database provided by the Juan Fernández Rural Health Care Center. They were contrasted to the latest national health survey, using the Z Test to determine statistical significance., Results: We found significantly lower prevalences for hypertension (20.4% vs 27.6%), tobacco use (8.5% vs 33.3%), overweight (10% vs 39.8%), obesity (13% vs 31.2%), and myocardial infarction (0.7% vs 3.2%). Chronic kidney disease presents at earliest stages than national data., Conclusions: We observed a better cardiovascular profile in the Juan Fernández Archipelago than nationwide. These findings not only provide a basis for future public health actions but also inspire and motivate new lines of research that can bring context to these results and further our understanding of cardiovascular health.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer recommended by most clinical guidelines as the gold standard to prevent relapses in the treatment of Bipolar Affective Disorder. It is highly effective, but unfortunately, it causes adverse effects at several levels, including the skin., Aim: To review the frequency, presentation, evolution, and management of adverse dermatologic effects caused by this drug., Methods: We performed a narrative review using Scielo, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar search engines, using keywords in Spanish and English., Results: The skin presentations that appear most frequently are the progression of previously existing or newly diagnosed psoriasis, alopecia, acne, follicular inflammation, and maculopapular eruptions., Conclusions: Lithium produces and/or exacerbates a series of dermatological conditions of different severity, even at therapeutic levels, which are not usually severe but, even so, should not be underestimated since it can affect adherence to the drug.

Objective: this study evaluated burnout symptoms among physicians and nurses before, during and after COVID-19 care., Method: a cross-sectional comparative study in the Pulmonary Care unit of a tertiary-level public hospital. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used., Results: 280 surveys were distributed across three periods: before (n=80), during (n=105) and after (n=95) COVID-19 care; 172 surveys were returned. The response rates were 57.5%, 64.8% and 61.1%, respectively. The prevalence of severe burnout was 30.4%, 63.2% and 34.5% before, during and after COVID-19 care (p<0.001). Emotional exhaustion (p<0.001) and depersonalization (p=0.002) symptoms were more prevalent among nurses than among physicians. Severe burnout was more prevalent in women, nurses and night shift staff., Conclusion: the high prevalence of burnout doubled in the first peak of hospital admissions and returned to pre-pandemic levels one month after COVID-19 care ended. Burnout varied by gender, shift and occupation, with nurses among the most vulnerable groups. Focus on early assessment and mitigation strategies are required to support nurses not only during crisis but permanently.

Aim: To contribute to the development of disciplinary and generic competencies of medical students at Universidad Austral de Chile. through the incorporation of student- centered educational didactics such as remote simulation with a simulated patient (SP)., Material and Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive research. Non-probabilistic sample included 68 third-year medical students who played two roles: interviewer and evaluator/observer. An instrument adapted from a satisfaction survey was used, applying it at the end of the experience in an anonymous and voluntary digital format (Google Forms). This tool covered 4 areas: Organization, Methodology, Self-assessment, and Evaluation of teaching performance, with closed Likert-type questions of five ordinal categories, two dichotomous questions (yes/no), and 4 open questions. The quantitative analysis was carried out using the SPSS program, and the qualitative one (open questions) with a progressive reduction scheme through three levels. Confidentiality and the fictional contract were protected with signature., Results: The educational experience was very well valued by the students. Similar tendencies were showed in the perception of simulation among the groups that performed the roles of interviewer and evaluator/observer., Conclusions: It is essential to incorporate this type of educational experience into the medical curriculum, since it constitutes a valuable contribution to the development of competencies, through experiential learning, connecting the student with reality, with their emotions, knowledge, and abilities. This approach promotes empathy and communication skills, promoting reflection and self-criticism.

Background: Leptospirosis is the world's most common zoonotic disease. Mitigation and control rely on pathogen identification and understanding the roles of potential reservoirs in cycling and transmission. Underreporting and misdiagnosis obscure the magnitude of the problem and confound efforts to understand key epidemiological components. Difficulties in culturing hamper the use of serological diagnostics and delay the development of DNA detection methods. As a result, especially in complex ecosystems, we know very little about the importance of different mammalian host species in cycling and transmission to humans., Methodology/principal Findings: We sampled five indigenous Kichwa communities living in the Yasuní National Park in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. Blood and urine samples from domestic dogs were collected to assess the exposure of these animals to Leptospira , and to identify the circulating species. Microscopic Agglutination Tests with a panel of 22 different serovars showed anti-leptospira antibodies in 36 sampled dogs (75%), and 10 serotypes were detected. Two DNA-based detection assays revealed pathogenic Leptospira DNA in 18 of 19 dog urine samples (94.7%). Amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16s rDNA and SecY genes from 15 urine samples revealed genetic diversity within two of three different Leptospira species: noguchii (n=7), santarosai (n=7), and interrogans (n=1)., Conclusions/significance: The high prevalence of antibodies and Leptospira DNA provides strong evidence for high rates of past and current infections. Such high prevalence has not been previously reported for dogs. These dogs live in the peridomestic environment in close contact with humans, yet they are free-ranging animals that interact with wildlife. This complex web of interactions may explain the diverse types of pathogenic Leptospira observed in this study. Our results suggest that domestic dogs are likely to play an important role in the cycling and transmission of Leptospira . Future studies in areas with complex ecoepidemiology will enable better parsing of the significance of genotypic, environmental, and host characteristics.

The involvement of effectors and transcriptional regulators in persimmon fruit maturation has been mostly approached by the literature under postharvest conditions. In order to elucidate the participation of these genes in the on-tree fruit maturation development, we have collected samples from seven persimmon germplasm accessions at different developmental stages until physiological maturation. This study has focused on the expression analysis of 13 genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and response pathways, as well as the evolution of important agronomical traits such as skin colour, weight, and firmness. Results revealed different gene expression patterns, with genes up- and down-regulated during fruit development progression. A principal component analysis was performed to correlate gene expression with agronomical traits. The decreasing expression of the ethylene biosynthetic genes DkACO1 , DkACO2, and DkACS2 , in concordance with other sensing ( DkERS1 ) and transduction genes ( DkERF18 ), provides a molecular mechanism for the previously described high production of ethylene in immature detached fruits. On the other side, DkERF8 and DkERF16 are postulated to induce fruit softening and skin colour change during natural persimmon fruit ripening via DkXTH9 and DkPSY activation, respectively. This study provides valuable information for a better understanding of the ethylene signalling pathway and its regulation during on-tree fruit ripening in persimmon.

Transcriptomic and gene expression analysis have greatly facilitated the identification and characterization of transcriptional regulatory factors and effectors involved in dormancy progression and other physiological processes orchestrated during bud development in peach and other temperate fruit species. Gene expression measurements are most usually based on average values from several or many individual buds. We have performed single-bud gene analysis in flower buds of peach across dormancy release using amplicons from the master regulatory DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX ( DAM ) factors, several jasmonic acid biosynthetic genes, other genes related to flowering development, cell growth resumption, and abiotic stress tolerance. This analysis provides a close view on gene-specific, single-bud variability throughout the developmental shift from dormant to dormancy-released stages, contributing to the characterization of putative co-expression modules and other regulatory aspects in this particular tissue.

Due to its anticonvulsant properties, cannabidiol can be supportive as an adjuvant therapy in the management of drug resistant epilepsy. This retrospective observational study evaluates the intensity and frequency of the seizures of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy that have been treated with antiepileptic medication associated with CBD in low doses for at least 12 months. Thirty-four patients were included in the study. The most frequent diagnosis of epilepsy was focal symptomatic epilepsy and Lennox−Gastaut syndrome (35.2%). During the follow-up, there was a statistically significant decrease in the seizure frequency (t student p < 0.001). A high proportion of patients, 16, concluded the study with a total control of the seizures reaching a 100% improvement, 12 reported ≥ 75% improvement, 3 ≥ 50%, and 2 ≥ 25%; only 1 patient had an improvement of less than 25%. This is the first Latin American study that demonstrates that long-term CBD added to the usual drugs significantly reduces the frequency, duration, and type of seizures in the different etiologies of epilepsy, being especially effective on the seizures that are the most incapacitating, improving the quality of life of the individual and their family.

Many vertebrate species undergo population fluctuations that may be random or regularly cyclic in nature. Vertebrate population cycles in northern latitudes are driven by both endogenous and exogenous factors. Suggested causes of mysterious disappearances documented for populations of the Neotropical, herd-forming, white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari, henceforth "WLP") include large-scale movements, overhunting, extreme floods, or disease outbreaks. By analyzing 43 disappearance events across the Neotropics and 88 years of commercial and subsistence harvest data for the Amazon, we show that WLP disappearances are widespread and occur regularly and at large spatiotemporal scales throughout the species' range. We present evidence that the disappearances represent 7-12-year troughs in 20-30-year WLP population cycles occurring synchronously at regional and perhaps continent-wide spatial scales as large as 10,000-5 million km2. This may represent the first documented case of natural population cyclicity in a Neotropical mammal. Because WLP populations often increase dramatically prior to a disappearance, we posit that their population cycles result from over-compensatory, density-dependent mortality. Our data also suggest that the increase phase of a WLP cycle is partly dependent on recolonization from proximal, unfragmented and undisturbed forests. This highlights the importance of very large, continuous natural areas that enable source-sink population dynamics and ensure re-colonization and local population persistence in time and space., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Bud dormancy is a phenological adaptation of temperate perennials that ensures survival under winter temperature conditions by ceasing growth and increasing cold hardiness. SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP)-like factors, and particularly a subset of them named DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM), are master regulators of bud dormancy in perennials, prominently Rosaceae crops widely adapted to varying environmental conditions., Results: SVP-like proteins from recently sequenced Rosaceae genomes were identified and characterized using sequence, phylogenetic and synteny analysis tools. SVP-like proteins clustered in three clades (SVP1-3), with known DAM proteins located within SVP2 clade, which also included Arabidopsis AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AthAGL24). A more detailed study on these protein sequences led to the identification of a 15-amino acid long motif specific to DAM proteins, which affected protein heteromerization properties by yeast two-hybrid system in peach PpeDAM6, and the unexpected finding of predicted DAM-like genes in loquat, an evergreen species lacking winter dormancy. DAM gene expression in loquat trees was studied by quantitative PCR, associating with inflorescence development and growth in varieties with contrasting flowering behaviour., Conclusions: Phylogenetic, synteny analyses and heterologous overexpression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana supported three major conclusions: 1) DAM proteins might have emerged from the SVP2 clade in the Amygdaloideae subfamily of Rosaceae; 2) a short DAM-specific motif affects protein heteromerization, with a likely effect on DAM transcriptional targets and other functional features, providing a sequence signature for the DAM group of dormancy factors; 3) in agreement with other recent studies, DAM associates with inflorescence development and growth, independently of the dormancy habit., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scattered across the published, peer-reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublished raw data. Camera traps are an effective non-invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazon regions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal, bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data set comprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and 13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxa were: mammals: Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles: Tupinambis teguixin (716 records). The information detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, and other human-mediated defaunation processes in one of the most important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when using its data in publications and we also request that researchers and educators inform us of how they are using these data., (© 2022 The Authors. Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Ecological Society of America.)

Background: In the last decade, kidney donation has been recognized as a risk factor for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD risk calculators have been recently perfected in North American populations. In Mexico, the rates of overweight, obesity, and diabetes mellitus (DM) are among the highest worldwide; nevertheless, most kidney transplants are obtained from living donors. This study aims to describe the risk profile for chronic kidney disease (CKD) development in kidney donors in a highly active transplant center in Central Mexico., Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, descriptive cohort study of kidney donors followed at the Hospital Centenario Miguel Hidalgo (CHMH). We used the pretransplant CKD risk calculator at 15 years and over a lifetime (www.transplantmodels.com/esrdrisk). Aside from the calculator of kidney failure risk, we also used the calculator for postdonation CKD risk (www.transplantmodels.com/donesrd/). Factors associated with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis., Results: The study included 543 donors. The average follow-up period was 1.7 years (±2.7) with a median of 0.7 years (interquartile range, 0.2-2.1). The average predicted risk for ESRD development at 15 years was 0.08% (±0.1); 25.6% had a risk >0.1%, and only 1 patient had a risk >1%. The lifetime ESRD risk was 0.62% (±0.5); 15% had a risk >1%, and the greatest risk was 3.5%. The median of patients at risk of developing postdonation ESRD was 1 in 10,000 donors (0.6-1.5) at 5 years, 5.7 in 10,000 donors (3.5-8.8) at 10 years, 15 in 10,000 donors (9.1-23.2) at 15 years, and 31 in 10,000 donors (18.9-47.7) at 20 years. During the follow-up period, 52 patients developed a GFR of <60 mL/min. Both risk estimation formulas were significantly associated with a GFR of <60 mL/min. Among the individual factors, the GFR (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.97, P < .001) and the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (hazard ratio 1.009, 95% confidence interval 1.005-1.01, P < .001) remained statistically significant., Conclusion: The risk of ESRD in kidney donors in Aguascalientes, Mexico, is similar to that described in the United States. Risk calculators are an indispensable decision-making tool to better understand kidney donors in our milieu., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chronic wounds are defined as wounds that do not heal in an orderly and timely manner through the various stages of the healing process. Copper nanoparticles are essential in dressings for wound healing because they promote angiogenesis and skin regeneration, which hasten the healing process. This systematic investigation sought to explain how copper nanoparticles affect chronic wound healing in vivo and in vitro. We realized a systematic review of original articles studying the effectiveness of copper nanoparticles in the healing process of chronic wounds. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. Several databases were searched between 2012 and January 2022 for English-language papers using MeSH terms and text related to chronic wounds, copper nanoparticles, and wound healing. Quality was evaluated using National Institute for Health and Care Excellence methodology and PRISMA guidelines. We looked at a total of 12 primary studies. Quantitative data were gathered and presented in all studies. Our results suggest that copper nanoparticles could have an excellent healing property, facilitating the liberation of growth factors that help the anti-inflammatory process of the wound and significantly improving antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In addition, copper presents a higher biocompatibility than other metallic ions, promoting regeneration and increasing skin quality.

Megafauna paintings have accompanied the earliest archaeological contexts across the continents, revealing a fundamental inter-relationship between early humans and megafauna during the global human expansion as unfamiliar landscapes were humanized and identities built into new territories. However, the identification of extinct megafauna from rock art is controversial. Here, we examine potential megafauna depictions in the rock art of Serranía de la Lindosa, Colombian Amazon, that includes a giant sloth, a gomphothere, a camelid, horses and three-toed ungulates with trunks. We argue that they are Ice Age rock art based on the (i) naturalistic appearance and diagnostic morphological features of the animal images, (ii) late Pleistocene archaeological dates from La Lindosa confirming the contemporaneity of humans and megafauna, (iii) recovery of ochre pigments in late Pleistocene archaeological strata, (iv) the presence of most megafauna identified in the region during the late Pleistocene as attested by archaeological and palaeontological records, and (v) widespread depiction of extinct megafauna in rock art across the Americas. Our findings contribute to the emerging picture of considerable geographical and stylistic variation of geometric and figurative rock art from early human occupations across South America. Lastly, we discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the early human history of tropical South America. This article is part of the theme issue 'Tropical forests in the deep human past'.

DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) genes have recently emerged as key potential regulators of the dormancy cycle and climate adaptation in perennial species. Particularly, PpeDAM6 has been proposed to act as a major repressor of bud dormancy release and bud break in peach (Prunus persica). PpeDAM6 expression is downregulated concomitantly with the perception of a given genotype-dependent accumulation of winter chilling time, and the coincident enrichment in H3K27me3 chromatin modification at a specific genomic region. We have identified three peach BASIC PENTACYSTEINE PROTEINs (PpeBPCs) interacting with two GA-repeat motifs present in this H3K27me3-enriched region. Moreover, PpeBPC1 represses PpeDAM6 promoter activity by transient expression experiments. On the other hand, the heterologous overexpression of PpeDAM6 in European plum (Prunus domestica) alters plant vegetative growth, resulting in dwarf plants tending toward shoot meristem collapse. These alterations in vegetative growth of transgenic lines associate with impaired hormone homeostasis due to the modulation of genes involved in jasmonic acid, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin pathways, and the downregulation of shoot meristem factors, specifically in transgenic leaf and apical tissues. The expression of many of these genes is also modified in flower buds of peach concomitantly with PpeDAM6 downregulation, which suggests a role of hormone homeostasis mechanisms in PpeDAM6-dependent maintenance of floral bud dormancy and growth repression., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Commercial copper (Cu) is obtained by a hydro-pyrometallurgical process, where the Cu anodes obtained in the furnaces (Cu > 99.5%) are enriched up to 99.99% in "cathodes" by electrorefining at an electrolysis plant. During this process, some impurities accumulate in the electrolyte, mainly arsenic (As), which decrease the quality of the Cu cathode. For this reason, the electrolyte is sent to an electrolyte cleaning plant (ECP) for its purification. Electrolyte sludge (ES) is produced in the last stage of purification and is recirculated back to the furnace due to the high Cu content. This recirculation involves a severe problem of As accumulation in the industrial process. The objective of this work was to develop a procedure to fully dissolve the ES, removing the As and recovering its Cu content. The ES dissolution process was optimised (dissolution efficiency > 99%) in H 2 SO 4 (1.4 M)/HNO 3 (1.8 M) medium using a 1:20 g mL -1 solid-to-liquid ratio. As was removed from the ES solution by its precipitation as iron (III) arsenate, with high efficiency (more than 70%). After As removal, the Cu can be precipitated as copper sulphate, which is used in several applications., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Development of a novel in vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) procedure allows localized delivery of high-dose doxorubicin (DOX) for targeting residual micrometastatic disease in the lungs. However, DOX delivery via IVLP requires careful monitoring of drug level to ensure tissue concentrations of this agent remain in the therapeutic window. A small dimension nitinol wire coated with a sorbent of biocompatible morphology (Bio-SPME) has been clinically evaluated for in vivo lung tissue extraction and determination of DOX and its key metabolites. The in vivo Bio-SPME-IVLP experiments were performed on pig model over various (150 and 225 mg/m 2 ) drug doses, and during human clinical trial. Two patients with metastatic osteosarcoma were treated with a single 5 and 7 μg/mL (respectively) dose of DOX during a 3-h IVLP. In both pig and human cases, DOX tissue levels presented similar trends during IVLP. Human lung tissue concentrations of drug ranged between 15 and 293 μg/g over the course of the IVLP procedure. In addition to DOX levels, Bio-SPME followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis generated 64 metabolic features during endogenous metabolite screening, providing information about lung status during drug administration. Real-time monitoring of DOX levels in the lungs can be performed effectively throughout the IVLP procedure by in vivo Bio-SPME chemical biopsy approach. Bio-SPME also extracted various endogenous molecules, thus providing a real-time snapshot of the physiology of the cells, which might assist in the tailoring of personalized treatment strategy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests., (© 2020 Xi'an Jiaotong University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: COVID-19-associated mortality in patients who require mechanical ventilation is unknown in the Mexican population., Objective: To describe the characteristics of Mexican patients with COVID-19 who required mechanical ventilation., Methods: Observational cohort study carried out in an intensive care unit from March 25 to July 17, 2020. Data were obtained from a prospective database and electronic medical records, and were analyzed with the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test or Mann-Whitney's U-test., Results: One hundred patients required mechanical ventilation; median age was 56 years, 31 % were females and 97 % were Latin American. Most common comorbidities were obesity (36 %), diabetes (26 %), hypertension (20 %), and chronic or end-stage kidney disease (10 %). At the end of the analysis, 11 patients remained in the ICU, 31 had been discharged alive and 58 (65.2 %) died; survivors were younger, had lower scores on severity and organ dysfunction scales, lower levels of C-reactive protein at ICU admission, were less likely to receive hemodialysis and vasopressors, and had longer hospital and ICU stays., Conclusions: This study adds information on the presentation and results of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients who require mechanical ventilation., (Copyright: © 2020 Permanyer.)

Abstract: Fructose is a highly abundant carbohydrate in western diet and may induce bowel symptoms in children as in adults. The main objective of this study is to describe the frequency of fructose malabsorption (FM) in symptomatic patients 18 years or younger undergoing fructose breath test in a single tertiary center between 2013 and 2018, and to evaluate whether certain symptoms are related to positivity of the test. Out of 273 tests 183 (67%) were compatible with FM. The most frequent pretest symptom in the overall study population was bloating (83%), followed by abdominal pain (73%). Patients with positive test were younger than those with a negative test (median 5 vs 8 years, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, which included age, sex, and symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea), only age <6 years (odds ratio 2.93, 95% confidence interval 1.64-5.23) and absence of nausea (odds ratio = 3.32, 95% confidence interval 1.56-7.05) were associated with FM., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Background: Ingested button batteries (BB) can cause corrosive damage of digestive mucosa within minutes. Immediate endoscopic removal of esophageal BB has been clearly established, but the management of BB located in the stomach is still controversial., Aim: To describe demographic, clinical, radiologic, and endoscopic characteristics of a series of pediatric patients evaluated for BB ingestion., Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical charts belonging to children younger than 15 years, who underwent endoscopic removal of BB at Clínica Alemana of Santiago, between November 2007 and November 2011., Results: Twenty-five patients subjected to upper endoscopy were analyzed; median age, 31 months; 15 were male (60%), and 11 patients (46%) were symptomatic after ingestion. The BB ingestion was confirmed by radiograph. Endoscopy revealed 10 patients with BB in the esophagus, 12 patients in the stomach and 3 distal to duodenum. Range time between ingestion and endoscopy was 2 to 10 hours for esophageal BB and 2 hours to 3 days for gastric BB. Eight of the 22 BBs removed had a diameter of 20 mm or greater, 6 of them were located in the esophagus and 2 in stomach. The BB color changes were observed in 14 of the 22 BBs. Breakage of battery edges was present in 11 of the 22 batteries. All patients with esophageal BB and 6 of those 12 with gastric BB presented mucosal damage., Conclusion: Esophageal BB cause damage within hours. The BB located in the stomach may also cause damage early. Extraction of gastric BB before 48 hours should be considered.

Objective: The increased morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to traditional and nontraditional factors. However, these factors vary among different ethnicities. Few studies have described these features in Hispanic populations. Thus, we determined the clinical correlates of arterial vascular events in Hispanics from Puerto Rico., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a cohort of 405 Puerto Ricans with rheumatoid arthritis. Demographic parameters, health-related behaviors, clinical manifestations, disease activity (per Disease Activity Score 28), functional status (per Health Assessment Questionnaire), comorbidities, and pharmacotherapy were compared in patients with and without incident arterial vascular events. The latter was defined as the occurrence of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, vascular procedures for coronary artery disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Study groups were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of the total study population, 87.2% were woman. The mean age at study visit was 56.1 ± 13.9 years, and the mean disease duration was 15.0 ± 13.2 years. Arterial vascular events occurred in 43 patients (10.6%). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, extra-articular manifestations, higher Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and number of hospitalizations were associated with arterial cardiovascular events., Conclusion: In this cohort of Puerto Ricans with rheumatoid arthritis, traditional and nontraditional factors, particularly extra-articular manifestations and functional disability, were associated with arterial vascular events. Awareness of these associations may help to implement clinical strategies in this group of rheumatoid arthritis patients at risk of arterial vascular events., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) prevalence in 2 cohorts of children from different socioeconomic strata., Methods: Prospective birth cohort that included patients from 2 hospitals providing care for a low- and high-income population, respectively. Healthy newborns ≥34 gestational weeks were recruited and followed up to 12 months by a monthly telephone survey. If ≥2 predefined symptoms/signs suggestive of CMPA were detected, the patient was evaluated by a pediatric gastroenterologist. Diagnosis was confirmed by exclusion diet followed by open oral food challenge., Results: Overall the prevalence of CMPA was 5.2%, with a 6 times higher prevalence in the high income cohort (9.2%) compared with the low-income group (1.5%; relative risk 6.2; 95% confidence interval 1.8-20.7; P = 0.0005). All the cases were non-immunoglobulin E-mediated with predominantly gastrointestinal symptoms. High-income cohort did have higher frequency of C-section, mother's previous chronic disease, mother's history of atopy/food allergy, older age, and higher educational level of parents. Parent smoking and presence of pets at home were more frequent in the low-income cohort. Multiple logistic regression showed that the high-income cohort did have older age and higher educational level of both parents., Conclusion: In these cohorts the prevalence of CMPA was higher than reported previously in other developing countries and significantly higher in the high-income group. Our findings were associated with sociodemographic characteristics of the parents.

Bud dormancy in temperate perennials ensures the survival of growing meristems under the harsh environmental conditions of autumn and winter, and facilitates an optimal growth and development resumption in the spring. Although the molecular pathways controlling the dormancy process are still unclear, DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX genes ( DAM ) have emerged as key regulators of the dormancy cycle in different species. In the present study, we have characterized the orthologs of DAM genes in European plum ( Prunus domestica L.). Their expression patterns together with sequence similarities are consistent with a role of PdoDAM s in dormancy maintenance mechanisms in European plum. Furthermore, other genes related to dormancy, flowering, and stress response have been identified in order to obtain a molecular framework of these three different processes taking place within the dormant flower bud in this species. This research provides a set of candidate genes to be genetically modified in future research, in order to better understand dormancy regulation in perennial species., (Copyright © 2020 Quesada-Traver, Guerrero, Badenes, Rodrigo, Ríos and Lloret.)

Pulque is a beverage that has been prepared in Mexico since pre-Hispanic times from the fermented sap of more than 30 species of wild and domesticated agaves. We conducted studies in two communities of the state of Michoacán, in central-western Mexico, where we documented its traditional preparation and analyzed the relationship between preparation conditions and the composition and dynamics of microbiological communities, as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of the beverage. In one of the communities, Santiago Undameo (SU), people boil the sap before inoculating it with pulque inoculum; this action causes this local pulque to be sweeter, less acidic, and poorer in bacteria and yeast diversity than in the other community, Tarimbaro (T), where the agave sap is not boiled and where the pulque has more diversity of microorganisms than in SU. Fermentation management, particularly boiling of the agave sap, influences the dynamics and diversity of microbial communities in the beverage.

MBW protein complexes containing MYB, bHLH and WD40 repeat factors are known transcriptional regulators of secondary metabolites production such as proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, and developmental processes such as trichome formation in many plant species. DkMYB2 and DkMYB4 (MYB-type), DkMYC1 (bHLH-type) and DkWDR1 (WD40-type) factors have been proposed by different authors to take part of persimmon MBW complexes for proanthocyanidin accumulation in immature fruit, leading to its characteristic astringent flavour with important agronomical and ecological effects. We have confirmed the nuclear localization of these proteins and their mutual physical interaction by bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis. In addition, transient expression of DkMYB2, DkMYB4 and DkMYC1 cooperatively increase the expression of a persimmon anthocyanidin reductase gene (ANR), involved in the biosynthesis of cis-flavan-3-ols, the structural units of proanthocyanidin compounds. Collectively, these data support the presence of MBW complexes in persimmon fruit and suggest their coordinated participation in ANR regulation for proanthocyanidin production.

Background: There is little information of intensive care unit (ICU) performance when it's relocated to a totally new and equipped area., Objective: To analyze the clinical performance and use of resources of a new respiratory-ICU (nRICU) in a large third-level care hospital., Method: Cross-sectional, comparative study using prospective data of patients admitted from July 17, 2017 to July 17, 2018. The Rapoport adjusted method was used to obtain the standardized clinical performance index (SCPI) and the standardized resource use index (SRUI)., Results: Out of 354 patients, those who were readmissions or remained hospitalized and those whose treatment was withheld or withdrawn where excluded from the analysis. In 301 patients, the observed survival at hospital discharge was 63% while the expected survival was 67.7%. Values of SCPI and SRUI were -1.03 and 0.05 respectively, placing results in coordinates within two standard deviations when plotted in the Rapoport chart. There was a statistically significant difference in survival when comparing the study period with outcomes obtained in the RICU before its relocation (63% vs. 55%, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: In its 1st year of operation, the nRICU had better clinical performance compared to the former RICU, with no change in the use of resources., (Copyright: © 2020 Permanyer.)

Background: The vigilance of tacrolimus (TAC) trough levels is an essential part of renal transplant follow up. Reduced TAC trough levels and high variability are related to adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of brand changes on tacrolimus (TAC) subtherapeutic (SubT) trough levels, acute rejection (AR), and kidney function., Methods: This is a prospective, observational cohort study of renal transplant recipients, between January 2016 and October 2018. Tacrolimus trough levels and brand used by the patient were both registered at every consult. Tacrolimus values ≤3.5 ng/mL were considered SubT., Results: 445 patients were included. The median number of TAC brand changes was 2 (IQR, 1-4). Patients were grouped according to the number of brand changes: Group 1 = 0 (n = 107), Group 2 = 1-4 (n = 236), and Group 3 = ≥5 (n = 102). Patients with the greatest number of brand changes had a greater proportion and number of SubT TAC trough levels (Group 1 = 36.4%, average 0.53; Group 2 = 39.8%, average 0.65, Group 3 = 59.8%, average 1.17, P < .001) and AR (Group 1 = 0.9%, Group 2 = 11%, Group 3 = 14.7%, P < .001). On multivariate analysis, SubT levels and the number of brand changes were related to AR., Conclusions: In Mexico, changes in TAC brand are associated with an elevated frequency of SubT levels. Brand changes and SubT levels are independently associated with acute rejection. The supply policies on TAC brands in Mexico require revision to avoid changing brands as much as possible., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In temperate and boreal regions, perennial trees arrest cell division in their meristematic tissues during winter dormancy until environmental conditions become appropriate for their renewed growth. Release from the dormant state requires exposure to a period of chilling temperatures similar to the vernalization required for flowering in Arabidopsis . Over the past decade, genomic DNA (gDNA) methylation and transcriptome studies have revealed signatures of chromatin regulation during active growth and winter dormancy. To date, only a few chromatin modification genes, as candidate regulators of these developmental stages, have been functionally characterized in trees. In this work, we summarize the major findings of the chromatin-remodeling role during growth-dormancy cycles and we explore the transcriptional profiling of vegetative apical bud and stem tissues during dormancy. Finally, we discuss genetic strategies designed to improve the growth and quality of forest trees.

The use of short stem designs in total hip arthroplasty is not a new concept, but its popularity has increased as a bone-sparing alternative to traditional stems. This study analyzed the midterm clinical and radiological results of the Taperloc Complete Microplasty stem (Zimmer Biomet ® Warsaw, IN, USA). A total of 32 patients (20 men and 12 women) were retrospectively documented and received 40 stems (eight bilateral). The median patient age was 50 years (interquartile range 43-58) at the time of surgery. The median follow-up was 36.5 months (interquartile range 26.75-50.25). Indication for total hip arthroplasty was osteoarthritis (62.5% of patients), avascular necrosis (25%), and developmental dysplasia of the hip (12.5%). The Merle d'Aubigné score improved from a mean 11.5 preoperatively to a mean 17.5 at the latest follow-up. During X-ray assessment, we observed one subsidence of the stem (3 mm) and four cases of varus malalignment without clinical consequences. No cases of osteolysis were reported, and no stems were revised. According to our results, this short tapered stem shows a good early-term outcome. Prospective results and a longer follow-up are needed to assess the long-term survival of this stem fully.

Introduction: New hospitals are replacing old facilities. There is little information on the performance of an intensive care unit (ICU) when it is relocated in a new and equipped area., Objective: To analyze the impact of the change of ICU facilities from a shared environment to individual beds on the occurrence of adverse events., Method: Cross-sectional, comparative study, with prospectively collected data from patients admitted from March 01, 2014 to February 28, 2017 to the former ICU (f-ICU) and from July 17, 2017 to January 17, 2019 to the new ICU (n-ICU) of a public teaching hospital. The rate of adverse events was measured in events per 1,000 patient-days., Results: Among 1,188 patients (f-ICU, n = 681 vs. n-ICU, n = 507), a reduction in the rate of unforeseen cardiac arrest (rate ratio: 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.12-0.80) and an increase in the rate of unplanned extubation (rate ratio: 2.49; 95% CI = 1.24-5.01) were observed, with both being statistically significant. The other nine monitored adverse events showed no changes., Conclusions: In comparison with the f-ICU, most of the monitored adverse events did not significantly change within the first 18 months of activities at the n-ICU., (Copyright: © 2019 Permanyer.)

During autumn perennial trees cease growth and form structures called buds in order to protect meristems from the unfavorable environmental conditions, including low temperature and desiccation. In addition to increased tolerance to these abiotic stresses, reproductive buds modulate developmental programs leading to dormancy induction to avoid premature growth resumption, and flowering pathways. Stress tolerance, dormancy, and flowering processes are thus physically and temporarily restricted to a bud, and consequently forced to interact at the regulatory level. We review recent genomic, genetic, and molecular contributions to the knowledge of these three processes in trees, highlighting the role of epigenetic modifications, phytohormones, and common regulatory factors. Finally, we emphasize the utility of transcriptomic approaches for the identification of key structural and regulatory genes involved in bud processes, illustrated with our own experience using peach as a model.

Scientific, technological and medical research, or new models of social and political organization have been at the center of fiction themes, with food appearing as a tangential theme but always present. Most of the transcendental experiences of life activate the circuit of pleasure. In Western societies food choice is not a matter of survival to become something related to sensorial pleasure and, sometimes, intellectual pleasure. Currently there is a nebula of food, functional foods, to which components are added, removed, replaced, concentrated or the bioavailability of some components is increased. Along those, the so-called "superfoods" have emerged. How to supply food to a growing population with a dwindling soil availability? The source of food protein is another issue for the future; any of them is directly or indirectly related to land exploitation. The interaction between science, technology and cuisine makes new preservation techniques, beyond obtaining safe products, to get insight into the way in which these technologies modify the texture of food and that can be thought of in new solutions for consumers that combine organoleptic and nutritional quality with innovation.

Although the Andes have long been occupied by people, habitat loss, fragmentation through deforestation, and other human activities such as introduction of invasive species have increased drastically during the past century. The Ecuadorian Andes are considered a biodiversity hotspot. However, the fauna and threats to the region are poorly studied, and understanding of factors that shape the distribution of species in habitats disturbed by human activities is needed to identify and mitigate region-wide threats to wildlife. We evaluated factors associated with patterns of occurrence of Andean carnivores in landscapes of the northern Ecuadorian Andes, particularly habitat loss, fragmentation, and occupancy of domestic dogs, and determined whether thresholds occurred for these factors beyond which carnivore occurrence declined markedly. Five study areas (each 20 x 20 km) were surveyed with a total effort of 2,800 camera trap nights. Occupancies of four of the eight carnivores known from the region were best predicted by occupancy of domestic dogs rather than measures of habitat loss and fragmentation [Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus), puma (Puma concolor), striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus), and Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus)]. The two largest carnivores, puma and Andean bear, demonstrated significant threshold responses to the presence of domestic dogs at two sites. Four smaller carnivores were recorded too infrequently to model occupancy, and at least two of these species appear to be in decline. The magnitude of domestic dog impacts on native species in tropical areas like the Ecuadorian Andes currently are not recognized. Results of our study indicate that small and large carnivores are in urgent need of conservation and clearly point to dogs as a significant threat to a broad range of native species.

Macrophage-activating syndrome (MAS) is a rare condition characterized by dysfunctional macrophage activation leading to overproduction of cytokines and phagocytosis of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. MAS is associated with infectious diseases, malignancies, and autoimmune rheumatic disorders. Herein, we present a 22-year-old Hispanic woman with SLE who was hospitalized because of a three-week history of fever, fatigue, polyarthralgia, nausea, and abdominal pain. Initial laboratories showed severe pancytopenia with marked elevation of liver enzymes and ferritin levels. Bone marrow biopsy revealed macrophages with engulfed erythrocytes consistent with MAS. The patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, and cyclosporine 3 mg/kg/day. She had a remarkable clinical response to this therapy. She was continued on cyclosporine, and prednisone dose was gradually decreased to 7.5 mg daily without experiencing recurrent disease. She remained in full clinical remission for 12 months. Our case, together with other reports, suggests that combination therapy with corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, and cyclosporine appears to be effective for patients with SLE-associated MAS. Furthermore, cyclosporine seems to be a good drug for maintenance of remission.

Background: Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) results in better long-term outcomes. However, the optimal therapeutic window has not been clearly established., Objective: To determine the clinical outcome of Puerto Ricans with RA receiving early treatment with conventional and/or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) definition of early RA., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a cohort of Puerto Ricans with RA. Demographic features, clinical manifestations, disease activity, functional status, and pharmacotherapy were determined. Early treatment was defined as the initiation of DMARDs (conventional and/or biologic) in less than 6 months from the onset of symptoms attributable to RA. Patients who received early (< 6months) and late (≥6 months) treatments were compared using bivariate and multivariate analyses., Results: The cohort comprised 387 RA patients. The mean age at study visit was 56.0 years. The mean disease duration was 14.9 years and 337 (87.0%) patients were women. One hundred and twenty one (31.3%) patients received early treatment. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex, early treatment was associated with better functional status, lower probability of joint deformities, intra-articular injections and joint replacement surgeries, and lower scores in the physician's assessments of global health, functional impairment and physical damage of patients., Conclusion: Using the ACR definition of early RA, this group of patients treated with DMARDs within 6 months of disease had better long-term outcomes with less physical damage and functional impairment.

Key Message: PpeS6PDH gene is postulated to mediate sorbitol synthesis in flower buds of peach concomitantly with specific chromatin modifications. Perennial plants have evolved an adaptive mechanism involving protection of meristems within specialized structures named buds in order to survive low temperatures and water deprivation during winter. A seasonal period of dormancy further improves tolerance of buds to environmental stresses through specific mechanisms poorly known at the molecular level. We have shown that peach PpeS6PDH gene is down-regulated in flower buds after dormancy release, concomitantly with changes in the methylation level at specific lysine residues of histone H3 (H3K27 and H3K4) in the chromatin around the translation start site of the gene. PpeS6PDH encodes a NADPH-dependent sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the key enzyme for biosynthesis of sorbitol. Consistently, sorbitol accumulates in dormant buds showing higher PpeS6PDH expression. Moreover, PpeS6PDH gene expression is affected by cold and water deficit stress. Particularly, its expression is up-regulated by low temperature in buds and leaves, whereas desiccation treatment induces PpeS6PDH in buds and represses the gene in leaves. These data reveal the concurrent participation of chromatin modification mechanisms, transcriptional regulation of PpeS6PDH and sorbitol accumulation in flower buds of peach. In addition to its role as a major translocatable photosynthate in Rosaceae species, sorbitol is a widespread compatible solute and cryoprotectant, which suggests its participation in tolerance to environmental stresses in flower buds of peach.