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Penguins are the most threatened group of seabirds after albatrosses. Although penguins are regularly captured in fishing gear, the threat to penguins as a group has not yet been assessed. We reviewed both published and grey literature to identify the fishing gear types that penguins are most frequently recorded in, the most impacted species and, for these susceptible species, the relative importance of bycatch compared to other threats. While quantitative estimates of overall bycatch levels are difficult to obtain, this review highlights that, of the worldís 18 species of penguins, 14 have been recorded as bycatch in fishing gear and that gillnets, and to a lesser extent trawls, are the gear types that pose the greatest threats to penguins. Bycatch is currently of greatest concern for yellow-eyed Megadyptes antipodes (Endangered), Humboldt Spheniscus humboldti (Vulnerable) and Magellanic Spheniscus magellanicus penguins (Near Threatened). Penguins face many threats; reducing bycatch mortality in fishing gear will greatly enhance the resilience of penguin populations to threats from habitat loss and climate change that are more difficult to address in the short term. Additional data are required to quantify the true extent of penguin bycatch, particularly for the most susceptible species. In the meantime, it is crucially important to manage the fisheries operating within known penguin foraging areas to reduce the risks to this already threatened group of seabirds.

Marine plastic pollution is worse than expected, and we are starting to realize its full extent and severity. Solving the plastic pollution problem is not easy, as it requires the action and commitment of all sectors of our society. With a coastline extending over 4,000 km (from 18°S to 56°S), Chile is a maritime country, and since plastics are potentially harmful for marine and coastal ecosystems, food security, and public health, plastic pollution is a real threat.Chile is the sixth‐largest exporter of seafood (fish, invertebrates, and algae) in the world, but the extent of plastic contamination of marine organisms, its potential effects on commercial species and aquaculture, and its subsequent effects on human health are mostly unknown.Chile has recently introduced some legislation to prevent plastics from reaching the environment and the coastal ocean. Governmental and non‐governmental organizations have joined an informal alliance to take action against plastic pollution, both at a national and regional level, but stronger involvement of producers and commerce is required for effective measures.Chilean scientists working on plastic pollution have created the Scientific Plastic Pollution Alliance of Chile network, aiming to promote collaborative and coordinated research focused on this pollutant. The wide geographical extent of Chile, with researchers working in diverse ecosystems, provides a unique opportunity to better understand the consequences of one of the most recent and severe threats to biodiversity.Rather than solely presenting the plastic pollution problem from the scientific perspective, this paper includes views from different sectors of society. Mitigating plastic pollution is exceptionally complex, with this study highlighting the importance of local engagement, media, solving social inequities, new legislation, and law enforcement in order to advance on decreasing plastic pollution from a country‐wide perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of cooling rates in one Adélie and one Humboldt penguin yielded calculated thermal conductance values of 0.1040 and 0.1672 W(kg C), respectively. We review the methods used to calculate penguin surface area, an important component in calculating conductance values, and suggest that, in comparative studies of thermal balance, the use of body mass is a better estimator of body size than surface area. Using previously published data on penguin species, we found a significant model to predict thermal conductance from body mass according to: log C= log 0.1083−0.474 log M, where C is minimal specific thermal conductance in W(kg C) and M is body mass in kilograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seabirds have become biovectors of plastic pollutants between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and transport of plastics to their nesting sites becomes relevant due to increasing levels of pollution. To determine the pathways by which plastic reaches their colonies, we analysed the abundance of plastics at the nesting sites of five seabird species (Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti, Peruvian booby Sula variegata, kelp gull Larus dominicanus, grey gull Leucophaeus modestus, Markham's storm-petrel Hydrobates markhami) nesting in northern Chile. Seabirds were primarily grouped according to their nesting behaviour, but two species foraging in contrasting habitats (kelp gull and Markham's storm-petrel) were also compared directly. The abundance, type, and polymer of macro-, meso- and microplastics were analysed in the soil of colonies and control sites, and microplastic ingestion was evaluated for selected species. Densities of plastics in colonies of surface-nesting seabirds ranged from 0 to 21.4 items m -2 (mainly plastic bags and thin films), and 0.002 to 19.7 items m -2 (mainly hard fragments) in colonies of burrow-nesting seabirds. Mean microplastic loads in the stomachs of seabirds were between 3.7 ± 4.2 plastic items individual -1 . Overall, the abundances of plastic items in all seabird colonies were low, suggesting a limited transfer of plastics from sea to land. For kelp gulls, the results indicate transfer of macroplastic items to colonies, reaching the colony via regurgitates, with landfills considered as the main plastic source. Our results suggest that contrasting nesting behaviour and foraging habitats among species can explain differential plastic accumulation in seabird colonies, but also other factors, such as wind, contribute to the accumulation of plastic debris in colonies. Proper management of sanitary landfills are key to reduce plastic contamination of coastal seabirds and their colonies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In heart failure (HF) patients undergoing cardiac surgery, an increased activity of mechanisms related to cardiac remodeling may determine a higher risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). Given that atrial fibrillation (AF) has a negative impact on the course and management of HF, including the need for anticoagulation therapy, identifying the factors associated with AF occurrence after cardiac surgery is crucial for the prognosis of these patients. POAF is thought to occur when various clinical and biochemical triggers act on susceptible cardiac tissue (first hit), with oxidative stress and inflammation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery being potential contributing factors (second hit). However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes remain poorly characterized. Recent research has shown that patients who later develop POAF often have pre-existing abnormalities in calcium handling and activation of NLRP3-inflammasome signaling in their atrial cardiomyocytes. These molecular changes may make cardiomyocytes more susceptible to spontaneous Ca2+-releases and subsequent arrhythmias, particularly when exposed to inflammatory mediators. Additionally, some clinical studies have linked POAF with elevated preoperative inflammatory markers, but there is a need for further research in order to better understand the impact of CPB surgery on local and systemic inflammation. This knowledge would make it possible to determine whether patients susceptible to POAF have pre-existing inflammatory conditions or cellular electrophysiological factors that make them more prone to developing AF and cardiac remodeling. In this context, the NLRP3 inflammasome, expressed in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, has been identified as playing a key role in the development of HF and AF, making patients with pre-existing HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) the focus of several clinical studies with interventions that act at this level. On the other hand, HFpEF has been linked to metabolic and non-ischemic risk factors, but more research is needed to better characterize the myocardial remodeling events associated with HFpEF. Therefore, since ventricular remodeling may differ between HFrEF and HFpEF, it is necessary to perform studies in both groups of patients due to their pathophysiological variations. Clinical evidence has shown that pharmacological therapies that are effective for HFrEF may not provide the same anti-remodeling benefits in HFpEF patients, particularly compared to traditional adrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. On the other hand, there is growing interest in medications with pleiotropic or antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is). These drugs may offer anti-remodeling effects in both HFrEF and HFpEF by inhibiting pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidant, and NLRP3 signaling pathways and their mediators. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-remodeling effects of SGLT-2 i have progressively expanded from HFrEF and HFpEF to other forms of cardiac remodeling. However, these advances in research have not yet encompassed POAF despite its associations with inflammation, oxidative stress, and remodeling. Currently, the direct or indirect effects of NLRP3-dependent pathway inhibition on the occurrence of POAF have not been clinically assessed. However, given that NLRP3 pathway inhibition may also indirectly affect other pathways, such as inhibition of NF-kappaB or inhibition of matrix synthesis, which are strongly linked to POAF and cardiac remodeling, it is reasonable to hypothesize that this type of intervention could play a role in preventing these events.

Background & Aims: Expression of P21, encoded by the CDKN1A gene, has been associated with fibrosis progression in steatotic liver disease (SLD); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the function of CDKN1A in SLD., Methods: CDKN1A expression levels were evaluated in different patient cohorts with SLD, fibrosis, and advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). Cdkn1a -/- and Cdkn1a +/+ mice were fed with either a Western diet (WD), a Lieber-DeCarli (LdC) diet plus multiple EtOH (ethanol) binges, or a DuAL diet (metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver). Primary hepatocytes were isolated and functional assays performed., Results: A significant increase in CDKN1A expression was observed in patients with steatohepatitis and fibrosis (with a positive correlation with both NAFLD Activity Score and fibrosis staging scores), cirrhosis and ACLD. Cdkn1a +/+ mice, fed a DuAL diet exhibited liver injury and cell death increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), and markers of senescence (γH2AX, β-GAL, Cdkn1a/p53 ) contributing to steatosis and inflammation. In contrast, Cdkn1a -/- mutant mice showed a significant decrease in senescence-associated markers as well as in markers of liver injury, hepatic steatosis and an increase in fatty acid oxidation and reduction in free fatty acid uptake as well as de novo lipogenesis. Mechanistically, activation of the AMPK-SIRT3 was observed in Cdkn1a -deleted animals., Conclusions: Cdkn1a deletion protected against preclinical SLD by promoting fatty acid oxidation and preventing free fatty acid uptake and de novo lipogenesis via the AMPK-SIRT3 axis. CDKN1A expression was found to be directly correlated with increased severity of NAFLD Activity Score and fibrosis in patients with SLD. CDKN1A could be a potential theragnostic target for the treatment of metabolic dysregulation in patients with SLD, with and without alcohol consumption., Impact and Implications: Expression of p21, encoded by the CDKN1A gene, has been associated with fibrosis progression in steatotic liver disease (SLD), but the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Interestingly, in this study we found that Cdkn1a deletion protected against preclinical SLD by promoting fatty acid oxidation and preventing free fatty acid uptake and de novo lipogenesis, via the AMPK-SIRT3 axis. Translationally, Cdkn1a expression was found to be directly correlated with increased severity of NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) and fibrosis in SLD patients, and therefore, CDKN1A might be used potential theragnostic target for the treatment of metabolically induced SLD, with and without alcohol consumption., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest that pertain to this work. Please refer to the accompanying ICMJE disclosure forms for further details., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The relative importance of genetic drift and local adaptation in facilitating speciation remains unclear. This is particularly true for seabirds, which can disperse over large geographic distances, providing opportunities for intermittent gene flow among distant colonies that span the temperature and salinity gradients of the oceans. Here, we delve into the genomic basis of adaptation and speciation of banded penguins, Galápagos (Spheniscus mendiculus), Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti), Magellanic (Spheniscus magellanicus), and African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), by analyzing 114 genomes from the main 16 breeding colonies. We aim to identify the molecular mechanism and genomic adaptive traits that have facilitated their diversifications. Through positive selection and gene family expansion analyses, we identified candidate genes that may be related to reproductive isolation processes mediated by ecological thermal niche divergence. We recover signals of positive selection on key loci associated with spermatogenesis, especially during the recent peripatric divergence of the Galápagos penguin from the Humboldt penguin. High temperatures in tropical habitats may have favored selection on loci associated with spermatogenesis to maintain sperm viability, leading to reproductive isolation among young species. Our results suggest that genome-wide selection on loci associated with molecular pathways that underpin thermoregulation, osmoregulation, hypoxia, and social behavior appears to have been crucial in local adaptation of banded penguins. Overall, these results contribute to our understanding of how the complexity of biotic, but especially abiotic, factors, along with the high dispersal capabilities of these marine species, may promote both neutral and adaptive lineage divergence even in the presence of gene flow., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

Objective: To establish recommendations through the consensus of a Latin American experts panel on the use of the flash glucose monitoring system (fCGM) in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regarding the benefits and challenges of using the fCGM., Methods: An executive committee of experts was created, comprised by a panel of fifteen physicians, including endocrinologists and internal medicine physicians, with expertise in management of adult patients with T2DM. The experts were from various countries: Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. The modified Delphi method was used, considering a consensus level of at least 80% of the participants. A seventeen-item instrument was developed to establish recommendations on the use of fCGM in patients with T2DM in Latin American., Results: The number of glucose scans recommended per day with the fCGM for patients managed with oral antidiabetic drugs or basal insulin was a median of 6 scans per day, and for those managed with multiple insulin doses, a median of 10 scans per day was recommended. Additionally, a holistic and individualized management approach was recommended, taking into account new treatment directions and identifying patients who would benefit from the use of the fCGM., Conclusion: Continuous use of the fCGM is recommended for people living with T2DM, regardless of their type of treatment. These metrics must be evaluated individually for each patient profile., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Alcohol misuse, binge drinking pattern, and gender-specific effects in the middle-aged population has been clearly underestimated. In the present study, we focused on understanding gender-specific effects of alcohol exposure on the gut-liver axis and the role of gut microbiota in modulating gender-specific responses to alcohol consumption., Methods: Fifty-two-week-old female and male C57BL/6 mice were fasted for 12 h, and then administered a single oral dose of ethanol (EtOH) (6 g/kg). Controls were given a single dose of PBS. Animals were sacrificed 8 h later. Alternatively, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed in 52-week-old male mice from female donors of the same age. Permeability of the large intestine (colon), gut microbiota, liver injury, and inflammation was thoroughly evaluated in all groups., Results: Middle-aged male mice exposed to EtOH showed a significant increase in gut permeability in the large intestine, evaluated by FITC-dextran assay and ZO-1, OCCLUDIN and MUCIN-2 immuno-staining, compared to PBS-treated animals, whilst female mice of the same age also increased their gut permeability, but displayed a partially maintained intestinal barrier integrity. Moreover, there was a significant up-regulation of TLRs and markers of hepatocellular injury, cell death (AST, TUNEL-positive cells) and lipid accumulation (ORO) in male mice after EtOH exposure. Interestingly, FMT from female donors to male mice reduced gut leakiness, modified gut microbiota composition, ameliorated liver injury and inflammation, TLR activation and the senescence phenotype of middle-aged mice., Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the relevance of gender in middle-aged individuals who are exposed to alcohol in the gut-liver axis. Moreover, our study revealed that gender-specific microbiota transplantation might be a plausible therapy in the management of alcohol-related disorders during aging., Competing Interests: The 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. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Lamas-Paz, Mesquita, Garcia-Lacarte, Estévez-Vázquez, Benedé-Ubieto, Gutierrez, Wu, Leal Lasalle, Vaquero, Bañares, Martínez-Naves, Roa, Nevzorova, Jorquera and Cubero.)

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether the accuracy of intraoral scanners is influenced by different scanning strategies in an in vitro setting, through a systematic review and meta-analysis., Materials and Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 standard. The following PICOS approach was used: population, tooth impressions; intervention, the use of intraoral scanners with scanning strategies different from the manufacturer's instructions; control, the use of intraoral scanners following the manufacturers' requirements; outcome, accuracy of intraoral scanners; type of studies, in vitro . A comprehensive literature search was conducted across various databases including Embase, SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were based on in vitro studies that reported the accuracy of digital impressions using intraoral scanners. Analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.3.5; Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). Global comparisons were made using a standardized mean difference based on random-effect models, with a significance level of α = 0.05., Results: The meta-analysis included 15 articles. Digital impression accuracy significantly improved under dry conditions ( P < 0.001). Moreover, trueness and precision were enhanced when artificial landmarks were used ( P ≤ 0.02) and when an S-shaped pattern was followed ( P ≤ 0.01). However, the type of light used did not have a significant impact on the accuracy of the digital intraoral scanners ( P ≥ 0.16)., Conclusion: The accuracy of digital intraoral scanners can be enhanced by employing scanning processes using artificial landmarks and digital impressions under dry conditions., (© 2023 The Korean Academy of Prosthodontics.)

At-sea distributions of seabird species are strongly associated with the distribution patterns of their prey, which are influenced by physical oceanic features. During breeding and non-breeding seasons, seabirds move extraordinary distances among different environments. However, foraging site fidelity by seabirds appears to be high in areas of known high productivity, such as frontal zones and upwellings. Here, we present a tracking study for the Peruvian diving-petrel Pelecanoides garnotii, an endemic seabird of the highly productive Humboldt Current System, to assess whether adults use the same foraging areas throughout the year, combining data from nest monitoring and global location sensors (GLS) deployed on 12 individuals between two breeding seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015), in Choros Island (29°15'S; 71°32'W), Chile. Two main foraging areas were registered. During the breeding season, adults moved in the northern direction, between 60 to 144 km away from their colony, foraging in areas with high primary productivity. During the non-breeding period, they moved to southern latitudes (~ 1200 km). Adults spent 37% and 63% of their time in flight/land and on/underwater activities, respectively. We determined that birds move northward from their colony during breeding, where prey availability seems more predictable throughout the year. However, during the non-breeding period, it is likely that other environmental factors influence the distribution pattern of the Peruvian diving-petrel., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Many diseases and degenerative processes affecting the nervous system and peripheral organs trigger the activation of inflammatory cascades. Inflammation can be triggered by different environmental conditions or risk factors, including drug and food addiction, stress, and aging, among others. Several pieces of evidence show that the modern lifestyle and, more recently, the confinement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to increasing the incidence of addictive and neuropsychiatric disorders, plus cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we gather evidence on how some of these risk factors are implicated in activating central and peripheral inflammation contributing to some neuropathologies and behaviors associated with poor health. We discuss the current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of inflammation and how these processes occur in different cells and tissues to promote ill health and diseases. Concomitantly, we discuss how some pathology-associated and addictive behaviors contribute to worsening these inflammation mechanisms, leading to a vicious cycle that promotes disease progression. Finally, we list some drugs targeting inflammation-related pathways that may have beneficial effects on the pathological processes associated with addictive, mental, and cardiometabolic illnesses.

Obesity is a pandemic caused by many factors, including a chronic excess in hypercaloric and high-palatable food intake. In addition, the global prevalence of obesity has increased in all age categories, such as children, adolescents, and adults. However, at the neurobiological level, how neural circuits regulate the hedonic consumption of food intake and how the reward circuit is modified under hypercaloric diet consumption are still being unraveled. We aimed to determine the molecular and functional changes of dopaminergic and glutamatergic modulation of nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in male rats exposed to chronic consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a chow diet or HFD from postnatal day (PND) 21 to 62, increasing obesity markers. In addition, in HFD rats, the frequency but not amplitude of the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current is increased in NAcc medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Moreover, only MSNs expressing dopamine (DA) receptor type 2 (D 2 ) increase the amplitude and glutamate release in response to amphetamine, downregulating the indirect pathway. Furthermore, NAcc gene expression of inflammasome components is increased by chronic exposure to HFD. At the neurochemical level, DOPAC content and tonic dopamine (DA) release are reduced in NAcc, while phasic DA release is increased in HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, our model of childhood and adolescent obesity functionally affects the NAcc, a brain nucleus involved in the hedonic control of feeding, which might trigger addictive-like behaviors for obesogenic foods and, through positive feedback, maintain the obese phenotype.

This study evaluated shear bond strength (SBS) of thermally aged composite resins repaired using different surface protocols. Four-hundred composite resin samples were made using the following materials (100 samples per material): Filtek Z350XT (FXT); Spectra Smart (SSM); IPS Empress Direct (EDI); and Forma (FOR). Each group's samples were then divided into 10 groups (n = 10 samples per group): G1: no surface treatment; G2: phosphoric acid-etching + universal-adhesive (PU); G3: surface roughening + PU (RPU); G4: RPU + silane (RPSU); G5: surface roughening + hydrofluoric acid-etching + universal adhesive (RHU); G6: RHU + silane (RHSU); G7: dry sandblast + PU (DsPU); G8: DsPU + silane (DsPSU); G9: wet sandblast + PU (WsPU); and G10: WsPU + silane (WsPSU). G1 was freshly repaired, and G2 to G10 were thermally aged before repair. Specimens were tested for SBS, and the failure type was observed with a magnifying loupe. Representative images were obtained using a scanning electronic microscope. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests (P = .05). Differences were detected among different surface treatments and among different composite resins with equal surface treatments (P < .05). SBS means ranged from 10.48 (FOR:G2) to 20.70 (FXT:G7). The highest SBS values were seen in G7 to G10 (P > .05), while lowest values were generally observed for G2. G1 showed higher results compared to G2 (P < .05), except for EDI (P > .05). Most failures corresponded with cohesive type. In general, thermally aged composite resin presented a decreased repair bond strength potential when no additional surface treatment was applied. Sandblasting improved the SBS of repaired aged composite resins.