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Background There is evidence that sarcopenia and functionality are closely related. However, the association between geriatric syndromes, such as dependence, on instrumental activities and sarcopenia could be affected by the presence of certain comorbidities, such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between instrumental activities of daily living and muscle mass in the elderly and evaluate the impact of certain comorbidities on this association. Methods This was a retrospective analytical observational study, including 1,897 patients. Muscle mass was measured with calf circumference, and instrumental activities were measured with the Lawton index. Results Among different parameters studies, a statistical correlation was found in a stratified regression analysis between the Lawton index score and muscle mass in patients who were overweight (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.08), obese (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.05), had diabetes (p=0.012, β coefficient=0.03), and had COPD (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.03). Conclusion The correlation between muscle mass and instrumental activities of daily living should be evaluated individually according to the needs of each participant and according to their comorbidities, promoting patient-centered geriatric medicine.

The Earth’s vital ocean is constantly changing and is at risk due to pollution, overfishing, and climate change (Pörtner et al. 2022). Research highlights the importance of personal attachment to the sea in fostering responsible stewardship (Chawla 2020; Pyle 2003). In urban areas, opportunities for human-nature interactions are limited, making mediated experiences, i.e., indirect interactions a crucial tool for fostering ocean stewardship. Murals, a form of street art, are prevalent in many cities around the world (Schacter and MacDowall 2023) and have been suggested as tools to promote community engagement and raise environmental literacy and awareness (see Mattern 1999; Sanchez et al. 2020; Schneller and Irizarry 2014). Based on the lessons learned from the project “From Sea to Street”, we hypothesise that murals evoke emotions, thoughts and memories, thereby shaping and strengthening people’s connection to the marine environment.

BackgroundSplicing is the molecular mechanism to produce mature messenger RNA (mRNA) before its translation into protein. It is estimated that 50% of disease-causing mutations disrupt splicing, mostly of them affecting canonical positions. However, variants occurring in coding regions or deep-intronic variants can also affect splicing. In these cases, interpretation of the results may be challenging and molecular validation is required.MethodsThe study includes 23 patients with splicing variants out of a cohort of 187 patients diagnosed with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Clinical features and immunophenotypes are shown. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the molecular assay employed for pathogenicity validation.ResultsWe detected 23 patients of 20 pedigrees with splicing variants in IEI genes, which constitutes the 12.3% of our cohort. In total, 21 splicing variants were analyzed, 10 of which had previously been reported in the literature and 11 novel ones. Among the 23 patients, 16 showed variants at canonical splice sites. Molecular validation was required only in the cases of genes of uncertain significance (GUS), high homology pseudogenes or incompatible clinical phenotype. Seven patients showed variants outside canonical positions. All of them needed molecular validation, with the exception of two patients, whose variants had previously been well characterized in the medical literature.ConclusionThis study shows the proportion of splicing variants in a cohort of IEI patients, providing their clinical phenotypic characteristics and the methodology used to validate the splicing defects. Based on the results, an algorithm is proposed to clarify when a splicing variant should be validated by complementary methodology and when, by contrast, it can be directly considered disease causing.

Background: High-grade glioma (HGG) patients post-radiotherapy often face challenges distinguishing true tumor progression (TTP) from pseudoprogression (PsP). This study evaluates the effectiveness of systemic inflammatory markers and volume of enhancing tissue on post-contrast T1 weighted (T1WCE) MRI images for this differentiation within the first six months after treatment. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on a cohort of HGG patients from 2015 to 2021, categorized per WHO 2016 and 2021 criteria. We analyzed treatment responses using modified RANO criteria and conducted volumetry on T1WCE and T2W/FLAIR images.Blood parameters assessed included neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI). We employed Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analyses, using log-transformed predictors due to multicollinearity. A Cox regression analysis assessed the impact of PsP- and TTP-related factors on overall survival (OS). Results: The cohort consisted of 39 patients, where 16 exhibited PsP and 23 showed TTP. Univariate analysis revealed significantly higher NLR and SII in the TTP group [NLR: 4.1 vs 7.3, p = 0.002; SII 546.5 vs 890.5p = 0.009]. T1WCE volume distinctly differentiated PsP from TTP [2.2 vs 11.7, p

Radical and quick transformations towards sustainability will be fundamental to achieving a more sustainable future. However, deliberate interventions to reconfigure systems will result in winners and losers, with the potential for greater or lesser equity and justice outcomes. Positive tipping points (PTPs) have been proposed as interventions in complex systems with the aim to (a) reduce the likelihood of negative Earth system tipping points and/or (b) increase the likelihood of achieving just social foundations. However, many narratives around PTPs often do not take into account the entire spectrum of impacts the proposed alternatives could have or still rely on narratives that maintain current unsustainable behaviours and marginalize many people (i.e. do not take “b” into account). One such example is the move from petrol-based to electric vehicles. An energy transition that remains based on natural resource inputs from the Global South must be unpacked with an equity and justice lens to understand the true cost of this transition. There are two arguments why a critical engagement with these and other similar proposals needs to be made. First, the idea of transitioning through a substitution (e.g. of fuel) while maintaining the system structure (e.g. of private vehicles) may not necessarily be conceived as the kind of radical transformation being called for by global scientific bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Second, and probably more importantly, the question of positive for whom, positive where, and positive how must be considered. In this paper, we unpack these narratives using a critical decolonial view from the south and outline their implications for the concept of tipping points.

During a lifetime, hematopoietic sites progressively change. Specifically, physiological hematopoiesis begins in the yolk sac in the embryo phase, passes to the liver and spleen during the fetal second trimester, [...], Context.--Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is an uncommon occurrence, usually associated with hematologic disorders, but it rarely presents as an isolated finding. Objective.--To determine the frequency, immunomorphologic features, and clinicopathologic background of EMH in orchiectomies from pediatric patients. Design.--All orchiectomy specimens removed from children from 2008 to 2020 in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Biopsies and neoplasias were excluded. The EMH diagnosis was rendered when hematopoietic cell precursors were present. Immunohistochemical stainings were performed to characterize the hematopoietic components. Results.--Seventy-nine orchiectomies from 77 children (mean age, 5 years; range, 0-17 years) were included in our study. Forty-three patients (55.8%) underwent surgery for testicular atrophy, 30 (39.0%) for torsion, and 4 (5.2%) for intersex conditions. EMH was identified in 6 of 79 orchiectomies (7.6%), all performed for testicular torsion. All patients but one were newborns, and the remaining patient was 15 years old. No patient had evidence of a hematologic disorder. All EMH foci were in a background of reactive changes with a variable extension, either in the epididymis (4 cases) or in the deferens duct (2 cases). Immunostaining confirmed an association of myeloid ([myeloperoxidase.sup.+]) and erythroid precursors ([E-cadherin.sup.+]) in all 6 cases. One case also presented rare megakaryocytes, and one showed benign [TdT.sup.+] B-cell precursors. Conclusions.--To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates EMH as a common finding in orchiectomy samples, especially from newborns. Despite the lack of pathologic potential, it is important to recognize EMH in order to avoid misdiagnosis. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0135-OA

The Action-sentence Compatibility Effect (ACE) is a well-known demonstration of the role of motor activity in the comprehension of language. Participants are asked to make sensibility judgments on sentences by producing movements toward the body or away from the body. The ACE is the finding that movements are faster when the direction of the movement (e.g., toward) matches the direction of the action in the to-be-judged sentence (e.g., Art gave you the pen describes action toward you). We report on a pre-registered, multi-lab replication of one version of the ACE. The results show that none of the 18 labs involved in the study observed a reliable ACE, and that the meta-analytic estimate of the size of the ACE was essentially zero.

Se presentan cuatro casos clínicos de distinta etiología y en cuya presentación la Hipereosinofihia fue un signo relevante. Los diagnósticos finales fueron los de Toxocanasis, Ascaridiasis, Leucemia Linfocftica Aguda, e Histiocitosis de Células de Langerhans.

BackgroundThere is uncertainty about the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in individuals with rare inborn errors of immunity (IEI), a population at risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019. This is relevant not only for these patients but also for the general population, because studies of IEIs can unveil key requirements for host defense.ObjectiveWe sought to describe the presentation, manifestations, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in IEI to inform physicians and enhance understanding of host defense against SARS-CoV-2.MethodsAn invitation to participate in a retrospective study was distributed globally to scientific, medical, and patient societies involved in the care and advocacy for patients with IEI.ResultsWe gathered information on 94 patients with IEI with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Their median age was 25 to 34 years. Fifty-three patients (56%) suffered from primary antibody deficiency, 9 (9.6%) had immune dysregulation syndrome, 6 (6.4%) a phagocyte defect, 7 (7.4%) an autoinflammatory disorder, 14 (15%) a combined immunodeficiency, 3 (3%) an innate immune defect, and 2 (2%) bone marrow failure. Ten were asymptomatic, 25 were treated as outpatients, 28 required admission without intensive care or ventilation, 13 required noninvasive ventilation or oxygen administration, 18 were admitted to intensive care units, 12 required invasive ventilation, and 3 required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Nine patients (7 adults and 2 children) died.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that (1) more than 30% of patients with IEI had mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and (2) risk factors predisposing to severe disease/mortality in the general population also seemed to affect patients with IEI, including more younger patients. Further studies will identify pathways that are associated with increased risk of severe disease and are nonredundant or redundant for protection against SARS-CoV-2.

Leprosy is a neglected disease sporadically reported in high-income countries. Skin lesion and peripheral nerve involvement represent most common manifestations. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the absence of superficial lymph nodes involvement is very rare. Atypical or rare clinical presentations of disease may delay diagnosis and therapy and cause potential life-threatening manifestations and disabilities. We describe the case of a 49-year-old Sinhalese man who was admitted to our hospital with a one-month history of peripheral neurological symptoms and skin lesions on lower limbs. CT scan showed the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathies without lung parenchymal and superficial lymph nodes involvement. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration showed the presence of granulomas while skin biopsy revealed dermo-hypodermic granulomas with perineural lymphohistiocytic inflammatory reaction. Fite-Faraco staining demonstrated the presence of acid-fast bacilli in both lymph nodal and skin biopsy and polymerase chain reaction was positive for Mycobacterium leprae. Multibacillary leprosy was then diagnosed.

Despite the critical importance of small-scale fisheries for food security and well-being and the role of fishers as stewards of aquatic ecosystems, their future is uncertain. Tackling narratives that portray small-scale fisheries as obsolete, disparate, and inefficient requires collectively imagining and articulating new, creative, and inspiring narratives that reflect their real contributions and enable transformative futures. Drawing on a transdisciplinary country-level case study, we analyze the process and outcomes of co-creating desirable, plural, and meaningful visions of the future for small-scale fisheries in Uruguay. Using an arts-based approach and leveraging the agency of emerging innovative initiatives throughout the country, different food system actors (fish workers, chefs, entrepreneurs) and knowledge systems (local, experience-based, and scientific) were engaged in a creative visioning process. The results of this arts-based co-creation process include (1) a series of desirable visions and narratives, synthesized into an artistic boundary object; and (2) the stepping stones to a transformative space for collective reflection, learning, and action. Although the artistic boundary object has proven instrumental among multiple and diverse participants, the transformative space encouraged academic and non-academic participants to plan collective actions and to feel more confident, motivated, and optimistic about the future of small-scale fisheries in Uruguay. With this paper we provide a tool, a platform, and a roadmap to counter the dominant bleak narrative, while also communicating the elements that constitute desirable futures for small-scale fisheries in Uruguay. On a broader scale, our contribution reinforces the emerging narrative of the key role that small-scale fisheries have, and will play, in local and global food systems.

Background: Splicing is the molecular mechanism to produce mature messenger RNA (mRNA) before its translation into protein. It is estimated that 50% of disease-causing mutations disrupt splicing, mostly of them affecting canonical positions. However, variants occurring in coding regions or deep-intronic variants can also affect splicing. In these cases, interpretation of the results may be challenging and molecular validation is required. Methods: The study includes 23 patients with splicing variants out of a cohort of 187 patients diagnosed with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Clinical features and immunophenotypes are shown. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the molecular assay employed for pathogenicity validation. Results: We detected 23 patients of 20 pedigrees with splicing variants in IEI genes, which constitutes the 12.3% of our cohort. In total, 21 splicing variants were analyzed, 10 of which had previously been reported in the literature and 11 novel ones. Among the 23 patients, 16 showed variants at canonical splice sites. Molecular validation was required only in the cases of genes of uncertain significance (GUS), high homology pseudogenes or incompatible clinical phenotype. Seven patients showed variants outside canonical positions. All of them needed molecular validation, with the exception of two patients, whose variants had previously been well characterized in the medical literature. Conclusion: This study shows the proportion of splicing variants in a cohort of IEI patients, providing their clinical phenotypic characteristics and the methodology used to validate the splicing defects. Based on the results, an algorithm is proposed to clarify when a splicing variant should be validated by complementary methodology and when, by contrast, it can be directly considered disease causing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive research into developing efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for converting CO2 over the last decade, the search for a robust and cost‐effective catalytic system is ongoing. This study describes developing and applying a new catalytic system using inexpensive ferrate and zincate anions immobilized on easily available commercial ion exchange resins (IER) to produce cyclic carbonates from CO2 with high efficiency and low cost. Two polystyrene‐based anion exchange resins, AmberlystTM A26‐Cl (A26‐Cl) and AmberliteTM IRA‐400‐Cl (IRA400‐Cl), were compared. The results demonstrated the catalysts' remarkable activity under mild conditions and demonstrated the synergistic effect between the polystyrene support and the active ammonium metallates, presenting a scalable, eco‐friendly method for cyclic carbonate production using waste CO2. A Design of Experiment (DoE) approach was implemented to optimize the catalytic cycloaddition of CO2. The reaction scale‐up to produce a 5 g batch of propylene oxide and conducting recycling tests demonstrated that the catalyst retained its activity over four cycles. The research also explored the use of various epoxides and found that terminal epoxides produced very good yields. In summary, this study introduces a cost‐effective, scalable method for converting CO2 into valuable cyclic carbonates, leveraging the synergistic effects of polystyrene supports and active ammonium metallates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive research into developing efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for converting CO2 over the last decade, the search for a robust and cost‐effective catalytic system is ongoing. This study describes developing and applying a new catalytic system using inexpensive ferrate and zincate anions immobilized on easily available commercial ion exchange resins (IER) to produce cyclic carbonates from CO2 with high efficiency and low cost. Two polystyrene‐based anion exchange resins, AmberlystTM A26‐Cl (A26‐Cl) and AmberliteTM IRA‐400‐Cl (IRA400‐Cl), were compared. The results demonstrated the catalysts' remarkable activity under mild conditions and demonstrated the synergistic effect between the polystyrene support and the active ammonium metallates, presenting a scalable, eco‐friendly method for cyclic carbonate production using waste CO2. A Design of Experiment (DoE) approach was implemented to optimize the catalytic cycloaddition of CO2. The reaction scale‐up to produce a 5 g batch of propylene oxide and conducting recycling tests demonstrated that the catalyst retained its activity over four cycles. The research also explored the use of various epoxides and found that terminal epoxides produced very good yields. In summary, this study introduces a cost‐effective, scalable method for converting CO2 into valuable cyclic carbonates, leveraging the synergistic effects of polystyrene supports and active ammonium metallates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that sarcopenia and functionality are closely related. However, the association between geriatric syndromes, such as dependence, on instrumental activities and sarcopenia could be affected by the presence of certain comorbidities, such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between instrumental activities of daily living and muscle mass in the elderly and evaluate the impact of certain comorbidities on this association. Methods: This was a retrospective analytical observational study, including 1,897 patients. Muscle mass was measured with calf circumference, and instrumental activities were measured with the Lawton index. Results: Among different parameters studies, a statistical correlation was found in a stratified regression analysis between the Lawton index score and muscle mass in patients who were overweight (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.08), obese (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.05), had diabetes (p=0.012, β coefficient=0.03), and had COPD (p=0.001, β coefficient=0.03). Conclusion: The correlation between muscle mass and instrumental activities of daily living should be evaluated individually according to the needs of each participant and according to their comorbidities, promoting patient-centered geriatric medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A luxação patelar medial é um problema ortopédico comumente encontrado em cães de raça pequena, cujo tratamento é cirúrgico. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo relatar um caso de luxação patelar medial bilateral grau 3. Deu entrada no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade de Sorocaba, um cão, fêmea, não castrada, da raça Maltês, 5 anos de idade, diagnosticado com uma luxação patelar medial bilateral grau 3. O procedimento cirúrgico realizado foi a artroplastia patelar do membro pélvico esquerdo, sendo que nesse tipo de grau, apresenta prognóstico favorável.

IntroductionInborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a heterogeneous group of diseases caused by intrinsic defects of the immune system. Estimating the immune competence of immunocompromised patients for an infection risk assessment or after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination constituted a challenge.MethodsThe aim of this study was to determine the humoral responses of patients with IEI through a comprehensive analysis of specific receptor-binding domain-positive (RBD+) IgG+ memory B cells (MBCs) by flow cytometry, together with routine S-specific IgG antibodies and QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 (T-cell response), before the vaccine and 3 weeks after a second dose.Results and discussionWe first analyzed the percentage of specific RBD+ IgG+ MBCs in healthy healthcare workers. Within the control group, there was an increase in the percentage of specific IgG+ RBD+ MBCs 21 days after the second dose, which was consistent with S-specific IgG antibodies.Thirty-one patients with IEI were included for the pre- and post-vaccination study; IgG+ RBD+ MBCs were not evaluated in 6 patients due to an absence of B cells in peripheral blood. We detected various patterns among the patients with IEI with circulating B cells (25, 81%): an adequate humoral response was observed in 12/25, consider by the detection of positive S-specific IgG antibodies and the presence of specific IgG+ RBD+ MBCs, presenting a positive T-cell response; in 4/25, very low S-specific IgG antibody counts correlated with undetectable events in the IgG+ RBD+ MBC compartment but with positive cellular response. Despite the presence of S-specific IgG antibodies, we were unable to detect a relevant percentage of IgG+ RBD+ MBCs in 5/25; however, all presented positive T-cell response. Lastly, we observed a profound failure of B and T-cell response in 3 (10%) patients with IEI, with no assessment of S-specific IgG antibodies, IgG+ RBD+ MBCs, and negative cellular response. The identification of specific IgG+ RBD+ MBCs by flow cytometry provides information on different humoral immune response outcomes in patients with IEI and aids the assessment of immune competence status after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2), together with S-specific IgG antibodies and T-cell responses.