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Background: Spina bifida (SB) is a rare congenital disease characterized by not only physical but also neuropsychological disturbances. Among these neuropsychological impairments, memory deficits are a significant concern, as they substantially hinder aspects of crucial importance in the lives of individuals with SB such as medical needs or daily life activities. The main objective is to conduct a systematic review of the current evidence on the memory deficits in the SB population, including children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: Four databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were systematically screened for eligible studies. Results: The present review reveals cognitive difficulties in different memory types among individuals with SB. These deficits, identified in childhood, seem to persist into adulthood. Specifically, impairments are evident in short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory. The neuropsychological instruments applied in the studies that were included in this systematic review vary, however, most reach the same conclusions. Conclusions: The present findings underscore the importance of incorporating cognitive assessments, particularly those focused on the memory domain, into routine childhood evaluations for individuals with SB. Early identification of these cognitive difficulties allows for the timely implementation of cognitive interventions that could leverage the inherent plasticity of the developing brain, and prevent or delay the onset of these deficits in later adulthood for people with SB, ultimately improving their functionality and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal caregivers of older people face demanding responsibilities that can negatively affect their wellbeing, highlighting the relevance of interventions that address their specific needs. This study aimed to assess the effects of a group music therapy program based on different songwriting approaches applied to informal caregivers of older adults with dependency. A sample of 113 caregivers participated, being assigned either to the intervention (n = 60) or the control group (n = 53). The intervention group caregivers received 10 weekly sessions of the songwriting program, while the control group continued with their usual care service. Psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed at baseline and follow-up using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Zarit Burden Interview, and SF-36. Group × Time interactions revealed significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control one in trait anxiety (p = 0.022), social functioning (p = 0.013), role limitations due to physical problems (p = 0.020), and physical component summary (p = 0.022). These findings provided valuable evidence on this novel intervention, showing positive effects for caregivers' wellbeing. The current research emphasizes the importance of considering music therapy as a potential intervention among caregiver support programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromuscular diseases (NMD) cover a broad spectrum of different rare diagnoses in which the primary lesion is in the peripheral nervous system. The impairment caused by an NMD does not only interfere with physical status but also has a clear impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It is therefore essential to know the coping style used by these patients. This study aims to analyze the coping strategies in a sample of people with NMD and how their coping style affects their HRQoL. This cross-sectional study included 61 adult patients diagnosed with a rare NMD. WHO-DAS II, SIP, SF-36, and COPE-60 instruments were administered. The results showed that people affected by NMDs tend to use more frequent coping strategies such as active planning, personal growth, and acceptance. In contrast, the least-used strategies were restraint, mental disengagement, venting, humor, and religion, which affected HRQoL negatively. Moreover, the degree of disability was a relevant variable, with an impact on HRQoL. Social support can be considered the main coping strategy that leads to an improvement in the psychosocial HRQoL (β = 503, p < 0.001). These findings are relevant to clinical practice, given the need to understand the coping variable to improve HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological disorders represent the primary cause of disability and the secondary cause of mortality globally. The incidence and prevalence of the most notable neurological disorders are growing rapidly. Considering their social and public perception by using different platforms like Twitter can have a huge impact on the patients, relatives, caregivers and professionals involved in the multidisciplinary management of neurological disorders. In this study, we collected and analyzed all tweets posted in English or Spanish, between 2007 and 2023, referring to headache disorders, dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or Parkinson's disease using a search engine that has access to 100% of the publicly available tweets. The aim of our work was to deepen our understanding of the public perception of neurological disorders by addressing three major objectives: (1) analyzing the number and temporal evolution of both English and Spanish tweets discussing the most notable neurological disorders (dementias, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, epilepsy and headache disorders); (2) determining the main thematic content of the Twitter posts and the interest they generated temporally by using topic modeling; and (3) analyzing the sentiments associated with the different topics that were previously collected. Our results show that dementias were, by far, the most common neurological disorders whose treatment was discussed on Twitter, and that the most discussed topics in the tweets included the impact of neurological diseases on patients and relatives, claims to increase public awareness, social support and research, activities to ameliorate disease development and existent/potential treatments or approaches to neurological disorders, with a significant number of the tweets showing negative emotions like fear, anger and sadness, and some also demonstrating positive emotions like joy. Thus, our study shows that not only is Twitter an important and active platform implicated in the dissemination and normalization of neurological disorders, but also that the number of tweets discussing these different entities is quite inequitable, and that a greater intervention and more accurate dissemination of information by different figures and professionals on social media could help to convey a better understanding of the current state, and to project the future state, of neurological diseases for the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: IRS4 (insulin receptor substrate4) belongs to a family of intracellular proteins that include IRS1 and IRS2 and whose physiological function is to transmit the effects of insulin and IGF1 inside the cell. IRS4 is the least studied of this family, and its expression has recently been shown to be increased in many types of cancer. IRS4 serves to connect different signaling pathways, such as MAP kinases and PI3K/AKT. In addition, it has been observed that it is capable of activating several oncogenes, such as BRK (breast tumor kinase) and feline sarcoma-related protein (FER). Increased IRS4 expression in cancer cells may be due to changes in the regulatory region of the gene or increased chromosomal aberrations. Our objective has been to carry out a review to assess the possibility that IRS4 behaves as a meeting point for different oncogene signaling pathways, which we have called the oncogene platform. The IRS (insulin receptor substrate) family of scaffold proteins includes insulin receptor substrate-4 (IRS4), which is expressed only in a few cell lines, including human kidney, brain, liver, and thymus and some cell lines. Its N-terminus carries a phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain and a pleckstrin homology domain (PH), which distinguishes it as a member of this family. In this paper, we collected data about the molecular mechanisms that explain the relevance of IRS4 in the development of cancer and identify IRS4 differences that distinguish it from IRS1 and IRS2. Search engines and different databases, such as PubMed, UniProt, ENSEMBL and SCANSITE 4.0, were used. We used the name of the protein that it encodes "(IRS-4 or IRS4)", or the combination of these terms with the word "(cancer)" or "(human)", for searches. Terms related to specific tumor pathologies ("breast", "ovary", "colon", "lung", "lymphoma", etc.) were also used. Despite the lack of knowledge on IRS4, it has been reported that some cancers and benign tumors are characterized by high levels of IRS-4 expression. Specifically, the role of IRS-4 in different types of digestive tract neoplasms, gynecological tumors, lung cancers, melanomas, hematological tumors, and other less common types of cancers has been shown. IRS4 differs from IRS1 and IRS2 in that can activate several oncogenes that regulate the PI3K/Akt cascade, such as BRK and FER, which are characterized by tyrosine kinase-like activity without regulation via extracellular ligands. In addition, IRS4 can activate the CRKL oncogene, which is an adapter protein that regulates the MAP kinase cascade. Knowledge of the role played by IRS4 in cancers at the molecular level, specifically as a platform for oncogenes, may enable the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herpetofauna of the insular systems of Mexico is composed of 226 species, of which 14 are anurans, two are salamanders, and 210 are reptiles, comprised of two crocodilians, 195 squamates, and 13 turtles. Although the surface of the Mexican islands is only 0.26% of the Mexican territorial extension, these 226 species constitute 16.1% of Mexico's documented herpetofauna of 1405 species. We classified the Mexican islands into five physiographic regions: the islands of Pacific Baja California; the islands of the Gulf of California; the islands of the Tropical Pacific; the islands of the Gulf of Mexico; and the islands of the Mexican Caribbean. The highest species richness among these regions is in the Gulf of California, with 108 species, and the lowest richness is 40 for the islands of the Pacific Baja California and 46 for those of the Gulf of Mexico. We identified introduced species, risk of wildfires, climate change, and urban/tourist development as the main environmental threats impinging on these species. In addition, we assessed the conservation status of the native species by comparing the SEMARNAT (NOM-059), IUCN Red List, and the Environmental Vulnerability Score (EVS) systems. The comparison of these systems showed that the NOM-059 and the IUCN systems seriously underestimate the degree of threat for insular endemics, being particularly concerning for those insular species that are known only from their respective type localities. The EVS system proved to be practical and indicated that 94 species have a high vulnerability status, 62 a medium status, and 56 a low status. The Relative Herpetofaunal Priority system, which contrasts the number of endemic and threatened species among different physiographic areas, indicates that the regions with the highest priority are the Islands of the Gulf of California, followed by the islands of the Tropical Pacific. Finally, we discussed the completeness of the Mexican Natural Protected Areas on the insular systems of the country; the result is outstanding since Mexico is already close to achieving the goal of having all their islands under some degree of federal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic has led to a sharp contraction in economic activity with diverse businesses shutting down or reducing their operations. The COVID-19 pandemic is recognized as a challenge in the travel and tourism services industry. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the socioeconomic resilience of the island tourist destination of Cozumel and to determine its ability to manage a pandemic by identifying its strengths and weaknesses. This study was based on the Indicators of Socioeconomic Resilience in Island Destinations (ISRID) matrix adapted to the study territory to achieve this aim. As a result, 63 out of 890 research articles were reviewed, from which 1222 indicators were collected; nevertheless, only thirty-three indicators were selected. The assessment was also structured on a matrix of double data collection before and after the pandemic to analyze the evolution of the components essential to strengthening socioeconomic resilience. In this way, this study revealed that the island of Cozumel does not have good risk management in the presence of a pandemic phenomenon. Thus, the principal axes to reinforce abilities were implementing a comprehensive plan with multidisciplinary approaches containing themes like social participation, access to information, health, economic resources, gender inequalities, marginalization, environmental impacts, and endemic resources. Finally, the matrix developed can aid decision-makers in generating corresponding actions when designing, implementing, and evaluating socioeconomic resilience capacities to cope with a pandemic disaster in island tourist destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the global expansion of forest plantations in Chile, their effect on biology properties of soil has still been only scarcely studied. Land use change in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera (36° to 40° S) is mainly attributed to the conversion of native forest to agriculture and forest plantations (Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus radiata de Don). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the changes in microbial composition (PCR-DGGE) and enzyme activity after the substitution of a native forest (e.g., Nothofagus spp.) by fast-growing exotic species and cropping. The most important factors that influence the abundance and diversity of bacteria and the fungi community were the soil organic matter (SOM) content, phosphorous (P-Olsen), calcium (Ca), boron (B), and water-holding capacity. These variables can better predict the microbial community composition and its enzymatic activity in the surface Ah horizon. Land use change also affected chemical soil properties of biogeochemical cycles. However, to deeply understand the connection between chemical and physical soil factors and microbial community composition, more research is needed. On the other hand, the expansion of forest plantations in Chile should be subject to legislation aimed to protect the biological legacy as a strategy for forest productivity as well as the soil microbial biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling neurological condition coursing with serious multisystem affections and morbidities. Changes in immune cell compartments have been consistently reported in previous works, representing a critical point of study for understanding the pathophysiology and progression of SCI from acute to chronic stages. Some relevant variations in circulating T cells have been noticed in patients with chronic SCI, although the number, distribution, and function of these populations remain to be fully elucidated. Likewise, the characterization of specific T cell subpopulations and their related cytokine production can aid in understanding the immunopathological role of T cells in SCI progression. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to analyze and quantify the total number of different cytokine-producers T cells in the serum of patients with chronic SCI (n = 105) in comparison to healthy controls (n = 38) by polychromatic flow cytometry. Having this goal, we studied CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes as well as naïve, effector, and effector/central memory subpopulations. SCI patients were classified according to the duration of the lesion in chronic SCI with a short period of evolution (SCI-SP) (comprised between 1 and 5 years since initial injury), early chronic phase (SCI-ECP) (between 5 and 15 years since initial injury) and late-chronic phase (SCI-LCP) (>15 years since initial injury). Our results show that patients with chronic SCI exhibited an altered immune profile of cytokine-producer T cells, including CD4/CD8 naïve, effector, and memory subpopulations in comparison to HC. In particular, IL-10 and IL-9 production seems to be importantly altered, especially in patients with SCI-LCP, whereas changes in IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ T cell populations have also been reported in this and other chronic SCI groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrates an altered profile of cytokine-producer T cells in patients with chronic SCI, with marked changes throughout the course of the disease. In more detail, we have observed significant variations in cytokine production by circulating naive, effector, and effector/central memory CD4 and CD8 T cells. Future studies should be directed to explore the possible clinical consequences of these changes or develop additional translational approaches in these groups of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress is a major signature of spinal cord injury (SCI). The altered levels of various oxidative stress markers have been demonstrated in acute and chronic SCI. However, the variation of these markers in patients with chronic SCI depending on the time since the initial injury has not been explored yet. Objective: Our aim was to measure plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation in patients with SCI stratified in different periods of suffering the injury (0–5 years, 5–10 years, and more than 10 years). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with SCI (N = 105) from different periods of the lesion and healthy control (HC) subjects (N = 38): short period (SCI SP, N = 31, time of evolution less than 5 years); early chronic (SCI ECP, N = 32, time of evolution 5–15 years); and late chronic (SCI LCP, N = 42, time of evolution more than 15 years). The plasma levels of MDA were measured using a commercially available colorimetric assay. Results: Patients with SCI had significantly higher plasma levels of MDA than HC subjects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for plasma MDA levels in patients with SCI demonstrated areas under the curve (AUC) of 1 (HC vs. SCI-SP); 0.998 (HC vs. SCI-ECP); and 0.964 (HC vs. SCI-LCP). Additionally, three ROC curves were used to compare the different concentrations of MDA between the subgroups of patients with SCI, and the resulting AUCs were: 0.896 (SCI-SP vs. SCI-ECP); 0.840 (SCI-ECP vs. SCI-LCP); and 0.979 (SCI-SP vs. SCI-LCP). Conclusion: Plasma concentration of MDA can be considered as an oxidative stress biomarker to assess the prognosis of SCI in chronic stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Immune dysfunction is a major feature of chronic spinal cord injuries (SCIs). It is associated with many of the complications observed in these patients, such as increased vulnerability to infections and other medical challenges. The role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) after SCI is beginning to be more acutely understood; however, little is known about their implications at chronic stages. By using flow cytometry, we characterized circulating Tregs from chronic SCI patients according to the time of initial injury (1–5 years; 5–15 years; and >15 years). Our results demonstrate significant changes in the immunological phenotypes of these cells, especially in patients with long periods of evolution (5–15 years and >15 years with chronic SCI). Despite the fact that a deeper understanding of the immune dysfunction caused by chronic SCI is still required, the characterization of circulating leukocytes such as Tregs and other populations can open up the possibility of finding translational biomarkers or therapeutic approaches that may aid in the clinical management of chronic SCI. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a progressive and complex neurological disorder accompanied by multiple systemic challenges. Peripheral immune dysfunction is a major event occurring after SCI, especially in its chronic phase. Previous works have demonstrated significant changes in different circulating immune compartments, including in T cells. However, the precise characterization of these cells remains to be fully unraveled, particularly when considering important variants such as the time since the initial injury. In the present work, we aimed to study the level of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) in SCI patients depending on the duration of evolution. For this purpose, we studied and characterized peripheral Tregs from 105 patients with chronic SCI using flow cytometry, with patients classified into three major groups depending on the time since initial injury: short period chronic (SCI-SP, <5 years since initial injury); early chronic (SCI-ECP, from 5–15 years post-injury) and late chronic SCI (SCI-LCP, more than 15 years post-injury. Our results show that both the SCI-ECP and SCI-LCP groups appeared to present increased proportions of CD4+ CD25+/low Foxp3+ Tregs in comparison to healthy subjects, whereas a decreased number of these cells expressing CCR5 was observed in SCI-SP, SCI-ECP, and SCI-LCP patients. Furthermore, an increased number of CD4+ CD25+/high/low Foxp3 with negative expression of CD45RA and CCR7 was observed in SCI-LCP patients when compared to the SCI-ECP group. Taken together, these results deepen our understanding of the immune dysfunction reported in chronic SCI patients and how the time since initial injury may drive this dysregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most frequent form of lung cancer and represents a set of histological entities that have an ominous long-term prognosis, for example, adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. Both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer are the main causes of oncological death and the oncological diseases with the highest incidence worldwide. With regard to clinical approaches for NSCLC, several advances have been achieved in diagnosis and treatment; the analysis of different molecular markers has led to the development of new targeted therapies that have improved the prognosis for selected patients. Despite this, most patients are diagnosed in an advanced stage, presenting a limited life expectancy with an ominous short-term prognosis. Numerous molecular alterations have been described in recent years, allowing for the development of therapies directed against specific therapeutic targets. The correct identification of the expression of different molecular markers has allowed for the individualization of treatment throughout the disease course, expanding the available therapeutic arsenal. The purpose of this article is to summarize the main characteristics of NSCLC and the advances that have occurred in the use of targeted therapies, thus explaining the limitations that have been observed in the management of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnancy is associated with birth and developmental alterations in infants. In this study, clinical records of 47 infants whose mothers had Zika during pregnancy or clinical manifestations compatible with Zika were reviewed. A description of the infants' anomalies was established, and a neurodevelopmental assessment was performed on 18 infants, using the Evaluation of Infant Development (EDI for its initialism in Spanish) and DDST-II (Denver Developmental Screening Test II) tests. From his sample, 74.5% of the infants evaluated had major anomalies and 51.9% had minor anomalies. The incidence of major anomalies, related to trimester of pregnancy, was 84.2% for the first trimester, 77.8% for the second trimester, and 37.5% in the third trimester. A similar trend was observed in the frequency of infants without anomalies and was less evident in the incidence of minor anomalies (p = 0.016). Through neurodevelopmental assessments, EDI identified 27.8% of infants as having normal development, while 55.5% of affected infants had developmental delay, and 16.7% were at risk for developmental delay. The DDSST-II showed that 77.7% infants had delay in the gross motor and language area, 88.8% in the fine-adaptative motor area, and 72.2% in the personal–social area. In this work, children of mothers with ZIKV infection during pregnancy may have major or minor anomalies regardless of the trimester of pregnancy in which the infection occurred. The neurodevelopmental assessment shows that ZIKV can cause a developmental delay in infants with the fine-adaptative motor area being the most affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placenta is a central structure in pregnancy and has pleiotropic functions. This organ grows incredibly rapidly during this period, acting as a mastermind behind different fetal and maternal processes. The relevance of the placenta extends far beyond the pregnancy, being crucial for fetal programming before birth. Having integrative knowledge of this maternofetal structure helps significantly in understanding the development of pregnancy either in a proper or pathophysiological context. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the main features of the placenta, with a special focus on its early development, cytoarchitecture, immunology, and functions in non-pathological conditions. In contraposition, the role of the placenta is examined in preeclampsia, a worrisome hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, in order to describe the pathophysiological implications of the placenta in this disease. Likewise, dysfunction of the placenta in fetal growth restriction, a major consequence of preeclampsia, is also discussed, emphasizing the potential clinical strategies derived. Finally, the emerging role of the placenta in maternal chronic venous disease either as a causative agent or as a consequence of the disease is equally treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic venous disease (CVeD) is defined as a set of disorders affecting the venous system mainly manifested in the form of varicose veins. CVeD is characterized by a sustained venous hypertension, leading to a plethora of functional and structural changes in the vein that may cause valve incompetence and pathologic reflux. In turn, venous reflux aggravates the venous hypertension and enhances the progression of CVeD into the most advanced stages. Previous studies have proposed that there are several alterations in the venous wall preceding the valve dysfunction and venous reflux. Besides, it has also been identified that young patients with CVeD present premature aging and changes in the venous wall composition that may be related to the presence of venous reflux. In this context, the aim of the present study is to examine the possible pathophysiological role of elastic fibers and their precursors in the venous wall of patients with reflux in comparison to those without reflux, considering the variable age in both groups (<50 years and ≥50 years). We performed immunohistochemical and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to assess the protein and gene expression of tropoelastin, fibrillin-1, fibulins 4 and 5, lysyl oxidase and lysyl oxidase like 1, respectively. In parallel, we assessed the elastin content through histological techniques (orcein stain) in this group of patients. Our results show significant changes in elastic fibers and their precursors in young patients with pathologic reflux when compared with elder patients with reflux and young patients without reflux. These variations suggest that the venous system of young patients with venous reflux appears to present an enhanced dynamism and arterialization of the venous wall, which may be associated with a premature aging and pathological environment of the tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel peptide, RsXXIVA, was isolated from the venom duct of Conus regularis, a worm-hunting species collected in the Sea of Cortez, México. Its primary structure was determined by mass spectrometry and confirmed by automated Edman degradation. This conotoxin contains 40 amino acids and exhibits a novel arrangement of eight cysteine residues (C-C-C-C-CC-CC). Surprisingly, two loops of the novel peptide are highly identical to the amino acids sequence of ?-MVIIA. The total length and disulfide pairing of both peptides are quite different, although the two most important residues for the described function of ?-MVIIA (Lys2 and Tyr13) are also present in the peptide reported here. Electrophysiological analysis using superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons indicates that RsXXIVA inhibits CaV2.2 channel current in a dose-dependent manner with an EC50 of 2.8 µM, whose effect is partially reversed after washing. Furthermore, RsXXIVA was tested in hot-plate assays to measure the potential anti-nociceptive effect to an acute thermal stimulus, showing an analgesic effect in acute thermal pain at 30 and 45 min post-injection. Also, the toxin shows an anti-nociceptive effect in a formalin chronic pain test. However, the low affinity for CaV2.2 suggests that the primary target of the peptide could be different from that of ?-MVIIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based composites are a group of biomaterials that exert synergic and combined activity. There are multiple reported uses of these composites in multiple biomedical areas, such as drug carriers, in wound dressings, and, more prominently, in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bone grafting is a promising field in the use of polymeric composites, as this is the second most frequently transplanted organ in the United States. Advances in novel biomaterials, such as polymeric composites, will undoubtedly be of great aid in bone tissue engineering and regeneration. In this paper, a general view of bone structure and polymeric composites will be given, discussing the potential role of these components in bone tissue. Moreover, the most relevant jawbone and maxillofacial applications of polymeric composites will be revised in this article, collecting the main knowledge about this topic and emphasizing the need of further clinical studies in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly generated a pandemic. Vaccines are currently being rolled out to control the viral spread and prevent deaths. Emergency vaccines, using new platforms, have been approved. Their effectiveness, safety and immunogenicity in different populations are not fully known. This study aimed to discover the immunogenicity of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) BNT162b2 and adenovirus vector Ad5-nCoV vaccines through IgG antibody generation against subunit 1 of protein S (S1 IgG) and assess the side effects of the vaccines. A total of 115 vaccinated people were included, 61 of whom received the BNT162b2 vaccine, while 54 received Ad5-nCoV. Measurements of S1 IgG antibodies were carried out using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The BNT162b2 vaccine generated S1 IgG antibodies in 80.3% of the participants after the first dose. The number of seropositive participants increased to 98.36% with the administration of the second dose. The Ad5-nCoV vaccine generated S1 IgG antibodies in 88.89% of those vaccinated. Women generated more antibodies when administered either vaccine. There were no serious adverse effects from vaccination. In conclusion, not all participants had detectable S1 IgG antibodies. The Ad5-nCoV vaccine presented the most seronegative cases. The studied vaccines were shown to be safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a multifactorial condition affecting an important percentage of the global population. It ranges from mild clinical signs, such as telangiectasias or reticular veins, to severe manifestations, such as venous ulcerations. However, varicose veins (VVs) are the most common manifestation of CVD. The explicit mechanisms of the disease are not well-understood. It seems that genetics and a plethora of environmental agents play an important role in the development and progression of CVD. The exposure to these factors leads to altered hemodynamics of the venous system, described as ambulatory venous hypertension, therefore promoting microcirculatory changes, inflammatory responses, hypoxia, venous wall remodeling, and epigenetic variations, even with important systemic implications. Thus, a proper clinical management of patients with CVD is essential to prevent potential harms of the disease, which also entails a significant loss of the quality of life in these individuals. Hence, the aim of the present review is to collect the current knowledge of CVD, including its epidemiology, etiology, and risk factors, but emphasizing the pathophysiology and medical care of these patients, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatments. Furthermore, future directions will also be covered in this work in order to provide potential fields to explore in the context of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic was declared a year ago, the search for vaccines has become the top priority in order to restore normalcy after 2.5 million deaths worldwide, overloaded sanitary systems, and a huge economic burden. Vaccine development has represented a step towards the desired herd immunity in a short period of time, owing to a high level of investment, the focus of researchers, and the urge for the authorization of the faster administration of vaccines. Nevertheless, this objective may only be achieved by pursuing effective strategies and policies in various countries worldwide. In the present review, some aspects involved in accomplishing a successful vaccination program are addressed, in addition to the importance of vaccination in a pandemic in the face of unwillingness, conspiracy theories, or a lack of information among the public. Moreover, we provide some updated points related to the landscape of the clinical development of vaccine candidates, specifically, the top five vaccines that are already being assessed in Phase IV clinical trials (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222, Ad26.COV2.S, and CoronaVac). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of current–voltage (I-V) curves of single photovoltaic (PV) modules is at this moment the most powerful technique regarding the monitoring and diagnostics of PV plants, providing accurate information about the possible failures or degradation at the module level. Automating these measurements and allowing them to be made online is strongly desirable in order to conceive a systematic tracking of plant health. Currently, I-V tracers present some drawbacks, such as being only for the string level, working offline, or being expensive. Facing this situation, the authors have developed two different low-cost online I-V tracers at the individual module level, which could allow for a cost-affordable future development of a fully automated environment for the tracking of the plant status. The first system proposed implements a completely distributed strategy, since all the electronics required for the I-V measurement are located within each of the modules and can be executed without a power line interruption. The second one uses a mixed strategy, where some common electronics are moved from PV modules to the inverter or combiner box and need an automated very short disconnection of the modules string under measurement. Experiments show that both strategies allow the tracing of individual panel I-V curves and sending of the data afterwards in numerical form to a central host with a minimum influence on the power production and with a low-cost design due to the simplicity of the electronics. A comparison between both strategies is exposed, and their costs are compared with the previous systems proposed in the literature, obtaining cost reductions of over 80–90% compared with actual commercial traces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most prevalent diseases of our time, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer) are rising worldwide. All of them share the condition of an "inflammatory disorder", with impaired immune functions frequently caused or accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota. These multifactorial maladies also have in common malnutrition related to physiopathology. In this context, diet is the greatest modulator of immune system–microbiota crosstalk, and much interest, and new challenges, are arising in the area of precision nutrition as a way towards treatment and prevention. It is a fact that the westernized diet (WD) is partly responsible for the increased prevalence of NCDs, negatively affecting both gut microbiota and the immune system. Conversely, other nutritional approaches, such as Mediterranean diet (MD), positively influence immune system and gut microbiota, and is proposed not only as a potential tool in the clinical management of different disease conditions, but also for prevention and health promotion globally. Thus, the purpose of this review is to determine the regulatory role of nutritional components of WD and MD in the gut microbiota and immune system interplay, in order to understand, and create awareness of, the influence of diet over both key components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: During the recent years, the field of exercise and physical activity have expanded prominently, not only for the prevention but also for the management of different pathologies, including breast cancer. A broad range of studies have been conducted to analyze this relationship, in aim to find the best routines and use of exercise in breast cancer management. Although many works provide contradictory results in these terms, there is less doubt regarding the role of physical activity as a central support for breast cancer patients, due to the systemic benefits of exercise in these women, therefore decreasing the risk of breast cancer-related complications and increasing their quality of life and survival. Future research should be established in order to individualize the physical activity performed by these women based on the available scientific evidence in a multidisciplinary context to maximize the success of breast cancer management. Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the second cause of cancer-related death among women. It is estimated that 9 in 10 cases of BC are due to non-genetic factors, and approximately 25% to 30% of total breast cancer cases should be preventable only by lifestyle interventions. In this context, physical activity represents an excellent and accessible approach not only for the prevention, but also for being a potential support in the management of breast cancer. The present review will collect the current knowledge of physical activity in the background of breast cancer, exploring its systemic and molecular effects, considering important variables in the training of these women and the evidence regarding the benefits of exercise on breast cancer survival and prognosis. We will also summarize the various effects of physical activity as a co-adjuvant therapy in women receiving different treatments to deal with its adverse effects. Finally, we will reveal the impact of physical activity in the enhancement of quality of life of these patients, to conclude the central role that exercise must occupy in breast cancer management, in an adequate context of a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of extreme hydrometeorological threats has co-occurred with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the potential risk of a disaster scenario occurring. The hurricane "Cristobal", which impacted Mexico's tropical regions, presented a high risk of contagion and death caused by the combined effects of violent winds, floods, and evacuations. This work aims to determine whether the presence of concurrent events during the pandemic caused an increase in confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the Yucatan Peninsula's western sector. To achieve this, a numerical analysis and identification of the tropical storm's extreme characteristics were conducted. Next, a combined analysis of the territorial system subject to flooding and the rainfall level reported during the emergency period was conducted at the municipal level. The third phase consisted of analyzing the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 at the municipal level on four strategic dates (before, during, observation, and end of the emergency period). Finally, a content analysis of the emergency bulletins, action guides, and disaster declarations was carried out to identify the measures and adaptations implemented during the pandemic. It is recognized that emergency management measures were implemented for municipalities with more than 30 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and where the shelter capacity was reduced. Protocols for caring for people were followed, these being one of the leading adaptive methods. From the analyzed data, it can be pointed out that there is no direct evidence for an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in 10 of the municipalities. However, in the case of the municipality of Escarcega, there was a sudden increase in cases from June 8, which continues to grow. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the study of multiple events to recognize the actions that can prevent catastrophes in these times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiRs) are an emerging field of study in a wide range of tumours including breast cancer. By targeting mitochondrial, or non-mitochondrial products, mitomiRs are able to regulate the functions of this organelle, thus controlling multiple carcinogenic processes. The knowledge of this system may provide a novel approach for targeted therapies, as potential biomarkers or helping in the diagnosis of such a complex malignancy. Breast cancer is the most prevalent and incident female neoplasm worldwide. Although survival rates have considerably improved, it is still the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate the posttranscriptional expression of a wide variety of genes. Although it is usually located in the cytoplasm, several studies have detected a regulatory role of microRNAs in other cell compartments such as the nucleus or mitochondrion, known as "mitomiRs". MitomiRs are essential modulators of mitochondrion tasks and their abnormal expression has been linked to the aetiology of several human diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction, including breast cancer. This review aims to examine basic knowledge of the role of mitomiRs in breast cancer and discusses their prospects as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a condition of rising prevalence worldwide, with important socioeconomic implications, being considered as a growing public health concern. Frequently, obesity brings other complications in addition to itself—like Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)—sharing origin, risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms. In this context, some authors have decided to include both conditions as a unique entity known as "diabesity". In fact, understanding diabesity as a single disease is possible to maximise the benefits from therapies received in these patients. Gut microbiota plays a key role in individual's health, and their alterations, either in its composition or derived products are related to a wide range of metabolic disorders like T2DM and obesity. The present work aims to collect the different changes reported in gut microbiota in patients with T2DM associated with obesity and their possible role in the onset, development, and establishment of the disease. Moreover, current research lines to modulate gut microbiota and the potential clinical translation derived from the knowledge of this system will also be reviewed, which may provide support for a better clinical management of such a complex condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases are one of the main global public health risks, predominantly caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The control of infections is founded on three main pillars: prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. However, the appearance of microbial resistance has challenged traditional strategies and demands new approaches. Dendrimers are a type of polymeric nanoparticles whose nanometric size, multivalency, biocompatibility, and structural perfection offer boundless possibilities in multiple biomedical applications. This review provides the reader a general overview about the uses of dendrimers and dendritic materials in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of highly prevalent infectious diseases, and their advantages compared to traditional approaches. Examples of dendrimers as antimicrobial agents per se, as nanocarriers of antimicrobial drugs, as well as their uses in gene transfection, in vaccines or as contrast agents in imaging assays are presented. Despite the need to address some challenges in order to be used in the clinic, dendritic materials appear as an innovative tool with a brilliant future ahead in the clinical management of infectious diseases and many other health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, blockchain is developing as a secure and trustworthy platform for secure information sharing in areas of application like banking, supply chain management, food industry, energy, the Internet, and medical services. Besides, the blockchain can be described in a decentralized manner as an immutable ledger for recording data entries. Furthermore, this new technology has been developed to interrupt a variety of data-driven fields, including the health sector. However, blockchain refers to the distributed ledger technology, which constitutes an innovation in the information recording and sharing without a trusted third party. In this paper, blockchain and Distributed Ledger-based Improved Biomedical Security system (BDL-IBS) has been proposed to enhance the privacy and data security across healthcare applications. Further, our goal is to make it possible for patients to use the data to support their care and to provide strong consent systems for sharing data among different organizations and applications, since this includes managing and accessing a high amount of medical information, and this technology can maintain data to ensure reliability. Finally, results show that new blockchain-based digital platforms allow for fast, easy, and seamless interactions between data suppliers to enhance privacy and data security, including for patients themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, energy is considered a significant resource that grows scarce with high demand and population in the global market. Therefore, a survey suggested that renewable energy sources are required to avoid scarcity. Hence, in this paper, a smart, sustainable probability distribution hybridized genetic approach (SSPD-HG) has been proposed to decrease energy consumption and minimize the total completion time for a single machine in smart city machine interface platforms. Further, the estimated set of non-dominated alternative using a multi-objective genetic algorithm has been hybridized to address the problem, which is mathematically computed in this research. This paper discusses the need to promote the integration of green energy to reduce energy use costs by balancing regional loads. Further, the timely production of delay-tolerant working loads and the management of thermal storage at data centers has been analyzed in this research. In addition, differences in bandwidth rates between users and data centers are taken into account and analyzed at a lab scale using SSPD-HG for energy-saving costs and managing a balanced workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a period in a woman's life associated with an increased risk of developing lower extremity chronic venous disease (CVD). Pregnancy-associated CVD is associated with changes in placental villi. We investigated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the placental villi of women with CVD during pregnancy compared with healthy controls with no history of CVD (HC). An observational, analytical, and prospective cohort study was conducted on 114 women in their third trimester of pregnancy (32 weeks). Sixty-two participants were clinically diagnosed with CVD. In parallel, 52 controls with no history of CVD (HC) were studied. Gene and protein expression of CD31, podoplanin (D2-40), Flt-1, and placental growth factor (PIGF) was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. CD31 and D2-40 gene expression was significantly greater in the placental villi of women with CVD, as were the numbers of vessels positive for CD31 and D2-40. Significantly higher gene and protein expression of Flt-1 and PIGF was observed in the placental villi of women with CVD. Histological analysis showed more placental villi with periodic acid of Schiff (PAS)-positive material in women with CVD. Our results show a connection between pregnancy-associated CVD and leading to higher proangiogenic and lymphangiogenic activity in placental villi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service companies in developed countries represent 70–80% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Spain, within the service sector, tourism is the main contributor and is growing annually. This is obviously an opportunity for the country due to its benefits and economic effects but at the same time a well-structured, sustainable and competitive model for its continued development is needed in order to adopt best practices and reference innovative models from other sectors. A qualitative approach using Case Study, Grounded Theory and Delphi Method has been conducted to study the tourism sector in the city of Gandia, Valencia (Spain). Results show that a tourist destination with its different components and stakeholders involved in its value chain can be interpreted as an ecosystem and so reference ecosystem models could be adopted to boost the development of a region. Considering the results obtained, this study can contribute to the development of a tourist destination in a sustainable and innovative way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies on the evolution of tourist destinations are not a new issue, however, most of them have been focused on consolidated destinations, whereas only a minimum has been done on tourism transformation in rural areas. The objective of this work is to diagnose the evolutionary process of tourism in Coastal Rural Communities (CRCs). To do this, we propose a model which combines two research approaches, Path Dependence and Social Network Analysis. The methodological approach is divided into three parts: design, application and validation, and it is based on collecting in situ and identifying key informants. In the first part, the stages of a Path Dependence for a CRC are conceptualized and bipartite graphs are constructed to show the relationships between: (1) the identified establishments built in a period of time and (2) positive and negative lock-ins with a greater degree of influence on the evolutionary process. On this basis, the resulting graphs are associated with the stages of the Path Dependence. In the second part, the model theoretically raised is applied as an empirical case at the CRC of Playa Ventura, Guerrero, in the Southern Pacific of Mexico. Finally, we validated the model based on the results obtained, which indicate that the model is suitable for the generation of knowledge about the evolutionary process of tourism in CRC's, and therefore, it opens the possibility of being replicated in other communities with the same characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO films with Ti atoms incorporated (TZO) in a wide range (0–18 at.%) have been grown by reactive co-sputtering on silicon and glass substrates. The influence of the titanium incorporation in the ZnO matrix on the structural and optical characteristics of the samples has been determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the samples with low Ti content (<4 at.%) exhibit a wurtzite-like structure, with the Ti4+ ions substitutionally incorporated into the ZnO structure, forming Ti-doped ZnO films. In particular, a very low concentration of Ti (<0.9 at.%) leads to a significant increase of the crystallinity of the TZO samples. Higher Ti contents give rise to a progressive amorphization of the wurtzite-like structure, so samples with high Ti content (≥18 at.%) display an amorphous structure, indicating in the XPS analysis, a predominance of Ti–O–Zn mixed oxides. The energy gap obtained from absorption spectrophotometry increases from 3.2 eV for pure ZnO films to 3.6 eV for those with the highest Ti content. Ti incorporation in the ZnO samples <0.9 at.% raises both the blue (380 nm) and green (approx. 550 nm) bands of the photoluminescence (PL) emission, thereby indicating a significant improvement of the PL efficiency of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the second cause of cancer-related death among women. It is estimated that 9 in 10 cases of BC are due to non-genetic factors, and approximately 25% to 30% of total breast cancer cases should be preventable only by lifestyle interventions. In this context, physical activity represents an excellent and accessible approach not only for the prevention, but also for being a potential support in the management of breast cancer. The present review will collect the current knowledge of physical activity in the background of breast cancer, exploring its systemic and molecular effects, considering important variables in the training of these women and the evidence regarding the benefits of exercise on breast cancer survival and prognosis. We will also summarize the various effects of physical activity as a co-adjuvant therapy in women receiving different treatments to deal with its adverse effects. Finally, we will reveal the impact of physical activity in the enhancement of quality of life of these patients, to conclude the central role that exercise must occupy in breast cancer management, in an adequate context of a healthy lifestyle.