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The article examines ectopic germinal centers (GCs) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and non-SS non-sicca patients, revealing similarities in GC frequency. Topics discussed include the significance of GCs in SS severity, the diagnostic implications of marker expression differences, and the histomorphological variations between the two patient populations.

Wildland–urban interface (WUI) regions are particularly vulnerable to wildfires due to their proximity to both nature and urban developments, posing significant risks to lives and property. To enhance our understanding of the risk profiles in WUI areas, we analysed seven fire case studies in central Chile. We developed a mixed-method approach for conducting local-scale analyses, which involved field surveys, remote-sensing through satellite and drone imagery, and GIS-based analysis of the collected data. The methodology led to the generation of a georeferenced dataset of damaged and undamaged dwellings, including 16 variables representing their physical characteristics, spatial arrangement, and the availability of fire suppression resources. A binary classification model was then used to assess the relative importance of these attributes as indicators of vulnerability. The analysis revealed that spatial arrangement factors have a greater impact on damage prediction than the structural conditions and fire preparedness of individual units. Specifically, factors such as dwelling proximity to neighbours, distance to vegetation, proximity to the border of dwelling groups, and distance from the origin of the fire substantially contribute to the prediction of fire damage. Other structural attributes associated with less affluent homes may also increase the likelihood of damage, although further data are required for confirmation. This study provides insights for the design, planning, and governance of WUI areas in Chile, aiding the development of risk mitigation strategies for both built structures and the broader territorial area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of mega-tsunamis over the last couple of decades has greatly increased the efforts of the research community and practitioners to work hand in hand to reduce risks from these highly destructive threats. Protecting the population through evacuation is the best alternative for avoiding loss of life in the wake of the occurrence of a tsunamigenic earthquake. Therefore, guaranteeing the proper state of evacuation routes is very important to ensuring appropriate movement to the safe zones. This study carries out a detailed analysis of possible evacuation scenarios, considering the actual state of the escape routes of Iquique, a Chilean city prone to tsunamis, with a substantial number of urban micro-scale vulnerabilities, i.e., elements that obstruct or complicate pedestrian flow. The quantification of the delay in evacuation processes resulting from the presence of urban micro-vulnerabilities is carried out through micro-scale agent-based model (ABM) simulations. In addition, these results are integrated with high-resolution tsunami inundation simulations, allowing for an estimation of the potential number of people that the tsunami may reach under different scenarios by emulating the dynamics and behavior of the population and the decision-making regarding the starting time of the evacuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermal substitutes have become fundamental tools for covering skin defects, most recently with biological subtypes such as glycerolized acellular dermal matrix (GADM). However, literature regarding this matter is scarce in Latin America and Colombia. In this descriptive observational study, we compared the use of partial skin autografts (PSA) combined with GADM and autografts without GADM. Patients were selected from the burn unit of a hospital in northeastern Colombia between 2021 and 2022. Two study groups were defined: one receiving GADM plus PSA and the other control receiving only a partial split-thickness autograft. A total of 29 patients with 68 body areas were included, with an average age of 20 years. Most cases involved third-degree burns caused by flame. Hospitalization time was the same for both groups (41 days). The percentage of grafts taken was similar in both groups; in the GADM with autografts group, it was 94.7% compared with 96% in the control group. The presence of complications was similar in both groups. GADM produced in local tissue banks is a cost-effective alternative. It can be used in a single surgical procedure without increasing complications, providing a postsurgical course similar to autografts alone. Granting the potential long-term benefits that dermal matrices give for healing in these patients, which should be evaluated in subsequent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syphilis can mimic, clinically and microscopically, many other diseases. By microscopy, typically syphilis presents with plasma cell infiltration, admixed with lymphocytes and macrophages, in lichenoid and/or perivascular/perineural distribution pattern. When exuberant, this inflammatory infiltrate can mimic a lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD), notably plasma cell neoplasia or lymphoma. To date, about 12 cases of secondary syphilis, all but one in extraoral location, suggesting initially a LPD, have been published. Here, to our knowledge, we report an unusual case of intraoral primary syphilis initially suggesting LPD, notably lymphoid hyperplasia (pseudolymphoma); however, mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and follicular lymphoma could not be disregarded. Polyclonality of plasma cells on immunohistochemistry, in strict clinical correlation, was essential to arrive at the correct diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case report of a rare finding of intraoral epithelioid and spindle cell hemangioma associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PH). Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) is a benign vascular tumor that typically affects the skin and subcutaneous tissue. In this case, a 58-year-old male patient presented with an asymptomatic gingival lesion. The lesion was surgically removed, and the patient experienced complete healing after 2 months of follow-up. The article provides a detailed analysis of the histopathological features and immunohistochemical findings of the lesion. Treatment for oral EH is typically surgical excision, and the prognosis is usually good. [Extracted from the article]

This work aims to analyze the relationship between value added tax (VAT) and economic growth in China and Mexico for the period 1991-2021. This research uses the gross domestic product (GDP) as the dependent variable, for the independent variables this research uses VAT and tax revenue. The test results indicated that for China there is a strong and positive relationship between GDP and VAT, as for Mexico the relationship although positive is not strong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]