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Los retos que impone el cambio climático a la bioética frente a los impactos negativos en la biodiversidad plantea “Cambiar las mentalidades, no el clima”; así reza el lema de la campaña de sensibilización de la opinión pública que forma parte de la Estrategia de la UNESCO sobre el cambio climático 2018-2021, elaborada en el contexto del Acuerdo de París 2015 (COP21) y de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas y que plantea un cambio profundo del comportamiento humano y su relación con el medio ambiente, tarea que se impone a la bioética como objeto de reflexión sobre el papel que deben asumir las nuevas generaciones si es que queremos salvar nuestro planeta. Más allá de las denominaciones (ecoética, tecnoética, ética de la biotecnología, ética ambiental, geoética…), cualquier debate ético que tenga como epicentro la vida en cualquiera de sus formas, puede considerarse, en pleno sentido, de un debate de naturaleza bioética, cuyo propósito será la de preservar y promover la vida de las generaciones presentes y futuras y de la naturaleza con sentido de la justicia.

Introduction: Patch test results may be influenced by age-related factors. However, there is still discordant evidence between age and patch test results., Objectives: We aim to evaluate the patch test results reflecting skin sensitisation, their relevance and association with clinical features by age group., Methods: Prospective multicentric study of all patients patch tested with the Spanish baseline series in participating centres. Age groups were pre-defined as children (0- to 11-years), adolescents (12- to 18-years), young adults (19- to 30-years), middle-aged adults (31- to 65-years) and older adults (≥66-years). Occurrence of sensitisation, relevance and clinical features were compared by age group. Factors associated with skin sensitisation were investigated with multivariate logistic regression., Results: A total of 13 368 patients were patch-tested. Differences in positive patch test results and relevance by age were detected with the highest proportion in middle-aged adults. Age-related trend differences were found for nickel, potassium dichromate, caines, colophony, Myroxylon pereirae resin, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and limonene hydroperoxide. The multivariate logistic analysis (adjusted for sex, atopic dermatitis, body location and occupational dermatitis) showed an association between the age group of 31-65 (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.26-1.58) and above 66-years (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32) with a higher proportion of positive results, compared with young adults., Conclusions: Positive patch test results vary according to age, with the highest occurrence in middle-aged adults. Most haptens did not present age-related differences, reinforcing the use of baseline series regardless of age., (© 2024 The Author(s). Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Hakai protein (CBLL1 gene) was identified as an E3 ubiquitin ligase of E-cadherin complex, inducing its ubiquitination and degradation, thus inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Most of the knowledge about the protein was associated to its E3 ubiquitin ligase canonical role. However, important recent published research has highlighted the noncanonical role of Hakai, independent of its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, underscoring its involvement in the N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) writer complex and its impact on the methylation of RNA. The involvement of Hakai in this mRNA modification process has renewed the relevance of this protein as an important contributor in cancer. Moreover, Hakai potential as a cancer biomarker and its prognostic value in malignant disease also emphasize its untapped potential in precision medicine, which would also be discussed in detail in our review. The development of the first small-molecule inhibitor that targets its atypical substrate binding domain is a promising step that could eventually lead to patient benefit, and we would cover its discovery and ongoing efforts toward its use in clinic., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Several species of amoebae in the genus Entamoeba forming four-nucleated mature cysts are pathogenic, but their identification is challenging due to a lack of distinctive morphological traits. Furthermore, host species cannot reliably be used as a criterion for identification. In this study, several isolates of four-nucleated cyst-forming Entamoeba species from animals at the Zoo Aquarium of Madrid are genetically identified. Entamoeba cysts were identified through microscopic analysis of faecal samples; none of the animals exhibited symptoms. DNA was extracted, and a fragment of the SSU-rRNA gene was PCR-amplified and sequenced to identify the species. Entamoeba dispar was identified in mantled guerezas ( Colobus guereza ), lar gibbons ( Hylobates lar ), greater rheas ( Rhea americana ) and giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ). Entamoeba hartmnanni was detected in mandrills ( Mandrillus sphinx ) and chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ). Entamoeba nuttalli was detected in mandrills; the analysis of sequences available in GenBank revealed that this species has also been detected in human samples. The identification of the Entamoeba species across diverse host species underscores the need for genetic confirmation to prevent misidentifications. These findings expand the known host range of these species and emphasize the importance of regular monitoring to minimize transmission risks, including potential cross-species transmission to/from humans.

Digital pathology is now a standard component of the pathology workflow, offering numerous benefits such as high-detail whole slide images and the capability for immediate case sharing between hospitals. Recent advances in deep learning-based methods for image analysis make them a potential aid in digital pathology. However, A significant challenge in developing computer-aided diagnostic systems for pathology is the lack of intuitive, open-source web applications for data annotation. This paper proposes a web service that efficiently provides a tool to visualize and annotate digitized histological images, integrating AI-driven predictive insights. While the tool is capable of handling various image formats, its primary use case is for Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) in the TIFF format, specifically tailored for histopathology applications. This innovative integration not only revolutionizes accessibility but also democratizes the utilization of complex deep-learning models for pathologists unfamiliar with such tools. Moreover, to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, we present a use case centered on the diagnosis of spindle cell skin neoplasm involving multiple annotators. Additionally, we conduct a usability study, showing the feasibility of the developed tool., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None Declared., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of age, period, and cohort on the incidence of psoriasis in Spain from 1990 through 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database and age-period-cohort (A-P-C) analysis., Methods: We conducted an ecological trend study to analyze the incidence rates of psoriasis in Spain from 1990 through 2019. Joinpoint Regression Program, Version 5.0.2 - May 2023; Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute and National Cancer Institute A-P-C tools were used to identify trends and assess the effects of age, period, and cohort., Results: From 1990 through 2019, an estimated 2.99 million cases of psoriasis were diagnosed in Spain, with a mean annual increase of 0.49%. Significant decreases in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) were reported for both sexes, with women consistently maintaining a slightly higher ASIR. Joinpoint analysis revealed multiple turning points in the downward trend, indicating periods of stabilization. A-P-C analysis demonstrated significant declines in both net (overall trend) and local drift (age-specific trends), indicating a broad decrease in the incidence of psoriasis across most age groups. While the risk of psoriasis increased with age, peaking in the 50-54 age group, it declined thereafter. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a continuous decline in risk from 1990 through 2019 for both sexes, with individuals born in the early 21st century exhibiting a significantly lower risk vs those born in the early 20th century., Conclusion: This study observed a slight decline in the reported psoriasis ASIR in Spain, potentially due to reduced exposure to risk factors. However, limitations in data and the complexity of factors influencing the incidence of psoriasis require further research., (Copyright © 2024 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound estimates of fetal weight made by residents., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on consecutive pregnancies attended in an obstetric ward. All participants provided their consent to participate. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies with ultrasound evaluation and delivery within 14 days. Congenital abnormalities and stillbirths were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed by two residents, one observer per subject, following standardized methodology and supervised by senior staff. Fetal weight was calculated using the four-parameter Hadlock 1985 formula. Birth weight was measured using a standard clinical scale. Bland-Altman and mixed-effects analyses were performed., Results: In a 6-month period, 95 gestations were recruited at 30-41 weeks, and birth weights ranged from 1200 to 4080 g. The bias between methods was -28 g (CI95%, -74 to 18) with 95% limits of agreement of ±440 g. The 95% deviation between methods was of ±16%. Parity had the most significant effect on the bias between methods; operator and maternal weight had no significant effect., Conclusions: Supervised measurement of fetal weight by residents demonstrated high accuracy. Parity bias may be associated with visceral fat deposition independent of maternal weight gain. A methodology for medical evaluation is presented., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The exponential use of plastics and their recalcitrant nature leads to their significant accumulation in the environment. The occurrence of plastic wastes is considered as a serious environmental problem. Additionally, plastic wastes can break down into smaller pieces called microplastics (MPs), leading to further interactions with the environment and living organisms. In this study, sixty-six strains were isolated from microplastic particles collected on different coastal areas of Monastir and Mahdia (Tunisia). The different bacterial isolates were identified according to some biochemical tests such as catalase, oxidase, and were subjected to molecular characterization. Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) revealed the presence of 31 ITS haplotypes. The partial sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA of representative strains was analyzed. The majority of bacterial isolates (84.31 %) belonged to Gamma-proteobacteria (84.78 %), while the remaining isolates were affiliated to Firmicutes (15.21 %). The microplastic-associated bacterial isolates belonged to 10 genera, namely Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Shewanella, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Stutzerimonas, Exiguobacterium, Enterobacter. Among the well-represented Acinetobacter genus, the most common species identified was Acinetobacter johnsonii. Susceptibility patterns of these strains were studied against 21 antibiotics commonly used in Tunisia. A high level of antibiotic resistance was observed for Penicillin G (97.82 %) and Temocillin (86.95 %). S26 strain presented the highest multidrug resistance with a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.71., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objectives: This study examined the spatial patterns of systemic sclerosis mortality in Spain from 2003 to 2022, identifying provincial-level clusters and sex-specific differences to explore potential underlying factors., Methods: Mortality and population data (2003-2022) were sourced from the National Institute of Statistics. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated, and spatial patterns were analyzed using standardized mortality ratios and smoothed relative risks via the Besag, York, and Mollié model, with statistical inference performed using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) technique. Spatial clustering was assessed using Tango's and Kulldorff's tests., Results: A total of 2016 SSc deaths were recorded, revealing a marked gender disparity. SSc mortality rates showed a consistent annual increase of 2.1% for both sexes, with women experiencing rates approximately 3.4 times higher than men. Age-specific analysis demonstrated higher mortality rates among women across all age groups, with an average sex ratio of 2.9, and rates increased with age for both sexes. Spatial analysis identified significant clusters of elevated SSc mortality in northwestern Spain, primarily in León and Asturias, with additional clusters extending to nearby provinces. These regions, characterized by silica mining and related industries, exhibited notable variations between men and women in the specific provinces affected., Conclusions: This study identifies significant geographic and sex-based disparities in SSc mortality across Spain, with prominent clusters in the north. The results highlight the potential impact of environmental and occupational exposures on disease outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions in high-risk areas., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer´s (AD) and physiological ageing are characterized by a decline in neurogenesis and in the polysialylated isoforms of neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) expression within the hippocampus and specifically in the dentate gyrus (DG). In the 3xTG-AD mouse model, which mimics the human disease in both pathological and behavioral features, this decline in PSA-NCAM is associated with the presence of Aβ plaques at 9 months and Tau tangles at 12-15 months. In this work we studied the presence of PSA-NCAM at early ages (1-6 months) in the same model. Our results demonstrated that even as early as the first month of age there is a strong decrease in PSA-NCAM dendritic tree mainly altering the molecular layer (MolL) coverage affecting the synaptic plasticity and furthermore confirmed by the reduction of PSA-NCAM area density (Sv) in the 3xTG-AD. Similar and more marked early changes were seen during aging in both NTG and 3xTg-AD animals. Our results demonstrate for the first time a precipitate decrease of PSA-NCAM cells at such very early phases of the disease. This result suggests an early effect of the disease in the progression of immature and pluripotent cells resulting in an ulterior and early diminution of neurogenesis and therefore an impaired hippocampal cellular and synaptic plasticity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare no actual or potential conflicts of interest including any financial, personal or other relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence the present work., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

A fosmid library was constructed with the metagenomic DNA from the high-temperature sediment-rich water of the Albian aquifer (Algeria). Functional screening of this library was subsequently done looking for genes encoding lipolytic enzymes. We identified a novel gene named AMWEst (1209 base pairs) encoding a protein of 402 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 43.44 kDa and conferring esterase activity. AMWEst was successfully overexpressed in the yeast mesophilic host Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the expression system used proved to be efficient and produced sufficient activity for its biochemical characterization. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that AMWEst contained a conserved pentapeptide motif (Gly120-His121-Ser122-Gln123-Gly124). The optimum pH and temperature of the recombinant esterase AMWEst were 8 and 80 °C, respectively. Additionally, AMWEst showed higher activity towards short carbon substrates and showed maximum activity for p-nitrophenyl hexanoate (C6). Notably, AMWEst has a remarkable thermostability, and the enzyme retains almost maximum activity at 70 °C after incubation for 1 h. Moreover, enzyme activity was enhanced by high concentrations of SDS and Triton X-100 detergents. KEY POINTS: • A novel thermostable esterase has been retrieved through functional metagenomics • The esterase is detergent-tolerant, which is attractive for some applications • The esterase can be expressed in a yeast mesophilic host to enhance its yield., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psoriasis in Spain from 2018 to 2022 and analyze trends by sex and age groups., Methods: We used the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP) to identify individuals coded with psoriasis (S91) during the study period. Population data for calculating rates was obtained from the Primary Care Information System (SIAP). Crude, age- and sex-specific, and standardized prevalence rates were calculated. Joinpoint analysis assessed annual percentage change (APC) in prevalence., Results: The estimated psoriasis prevalence in Spain in 2022 was 1.9%. Psoriasis prevalence increased substantially by 43.3% (from 692,317 to 991,832 cases) over the study period. We observed a clear increase in both crude and standardized prevalence rates for men (7.2% annual increase) and women (8.3% annual increase) throughout the study period. Men consistently had slightly higher prevalence rates than women. Prevalence increased with age, reaching a peak in the 70-74 age group for men and 60-64 for women, before declining in older age groups., Conclusions: This study revealed a concerning increase in psoriasis prevalence in Spain, independent of population aging. Increased disease awareness, improved diagnostics, and greater treatment seeking behavior are potential explanations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying causes of this rise and inform public health interventions., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The World Health Organization Global Hearts initiative (HEARTS) and technical package aim to improve the primary health care management of hypertension and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease at the population level. This study describes the first HEARTS implementation pilot project in Guatemala's Ministry of Health (MOH) primary health care system. This pilot began in April 2022 in six primary health care facilities in three rural indigenous municipalities. The project consisted of HEARTS-aligned strategies adapted to enhance program sustainability in Guatemala. Outcomes were defined using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. The primary reach outcome was treatment count, defined as the absolute number of patients per month receiving medication treatment for hypertension. The primary effectiveness outcomes were mean systolic blood pressure (BP), mean diastolic BP, and proportion of patients with BP control (<130/80 mmHg). In the first month of the post-implementation period, there was a statistically significant increase of 25 patients treated per month above the baseline of 20 to 25 patients ( P = .002), followed by a significant increase of 2.4 additional patients treated each month ( P = .005) thereafter. The mean change in systolic BP was -4.4 (95% CI, -8.2 to -0.5; P = 0.028) mmHg, and the mean change in diastolic BP was -0.9 (95% CI, -2.8 to 1.1; P = .376) mmHg. The proportion of the cohort with BP control increased from 33.4% at baseline to 47.1% at 6 months (adjusted change, 13.7%; 95% CI, 2.2% to 25.2%; P = .027). These findings support the feasibility of implementing the HEARTS model for BP control throughout the MOH primary health care system, which is where most Guatemalans with hypertension seek care., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest. None declared.

Background: Testicular cancer, primarily affecting young men, has seen an alarming rise globally. This study delves into incidence and mortality trends in Spain from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database and the Age-Period-Cohort (A-P-C) model., Methods: We analyzed GBD data on testicular cancer cases and deaths in Spain, calculating age-standardized rates (ASIR and ASMR) and employing Joinpoint regression to identify significant shifts. The A-P-C model further dissected the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on these trends., Results: A striking doubling in testicular cancer incidence was observed, from 3.09 to 5.40 per 100,000 men (1.9% annual increase), while mortality rates remained stable and even decreased in younger age groups (0.34 to 0.26 per 100,000, 0.8% annual decrease). Joinpoint analysis revealed four distinct periods of increasing incidence, with a recent slowdown. The A-P-C model highlighted a consistent rise in incidence risk with each successive generation born after 1935, contrasting with a progressive decline in mortality risk across cohorts, particularly marked for those born since the 1960s., Conclusion: While mortality rates are encouraging, Spain reflects the global trend of escalating testicular cancer incidence. The A-P-C analysis suggests a generational influence, but the underlying causes remain elusive. Further research is crucial to understand these trends and implement effective prevention strategies to combat this growing health concern., (Copyright © 2024 AEU. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

(1) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which the patient suffers from an affection of both upper and lower motor neurons at the spinal and brainstem level, causing a progressive paralysis that leads to the patient's demise. Gender is also considered a predisposing risk factor for developing the disease. A brief review of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease is also described in this work. Despite the fact that a cure for ALS is currently unknown, there exists a variety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies that can help reduce the progression of the disease over a certain period of time and alleviate symptoms. (2) We aim to analyze these pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies through a systematic review. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment is necessary. (3) Drugs such as riluzole, edaravone, and sodium phenylbutyrate, among others, have been investigated. Additionally, it is important to stay updated on research on new drugs, such as masitinib, from which very good results have been obtained. (4) Therapies aimed at psychological support, speech and language, and physical therapy for the patient are also available, which increase the quality of life of the patients.

Photobioreactors (PBRs) are used to grow the light-requiring microalgae in diverse commercial processes. Often, they are operated as continuous culture over months period. However, with time, biofouling layer develops on the inner surfaces of their walls. The fouling layer formation deteriorates the PBR performance as foulants reduce light penetration in it. Light is essential for photosynthetic cultures, and a deterioration in lighting adversely impacts algae growth and biomass productivity. Fouling requires a frequent shutdown to clean the PBR and add to the environmental impact of the operation by generating many wastewaters contaminated with the cleaning chemicals. Antibiofouling coatings could be used to modify the surfaces of existing and future PBRs. Therefore, transparent and non-toxic fouling-release coatings, produced using hydrogel technology, could transform the existing PBRs into efficient and enduring microalgae culture systems, requiring only the application of the coating to the inner walls, without additional investments in new PBRs., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Introduction: malnutrition is a very frequent problem in oncology patients and may have serious repercussions. Adequate nutritional management is cost-effective in terms of health and survival in this population, but it requires multidisciplinary coordination, specific training, and continuous follow-up. Objective: to validate the applicability and efficacy of a multidisciplinary nutritional support protocol in oncology patients. Methods: a multidisciplinary nutritional protocol was developed for oncology patients, with guidelines for screening and assessment of malnutrition, treatment, re-evaluation, and management of side effects, as well as guidance on supplementation and eating patterns. The protocol would be implemented in various clinical centers, collecting data through a structured questionnaire, registering variables before and after implementation. Results: the protocol and its impact were implemented and evaluated in 39 centers. An improvement in nutritional care was observed, evidenced by an earlier initiation of nutritional assessment and an increase in the number of patients receiving adequate care following the protocol implementation. Problems related to inadequate malnutrition coding in the centers, limited resources, and the need for greater interdepartmental collaboration were identified. Conclusions: the conduct of this study provides insights into how the implementation of a multidisciplinary nutritional support protocol can improve the nutritional care received by patients and informs about the main obstacles to adequate implementation.

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most -common skin cancer in Spain, yet national data on its incidence trends are limited. To analyse the trends in NMSC incidence in Spain from 1990 to 2019, examining variations by sex, age, period, and birth cohort. Data on NMSC incidence was sourced from the Global Health Data Exchange. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) were calculated using the direct method. Trends and average annual percentage changes were identified using Joinpoint regression analysis. Age-period-cohort analysis was applied to assess age-specific, period-specific, and cohort-specific relative risks. From 1990 to 2019, Spain reported 2,302,399 NMSC cases. ASIRs significantly declined post-2005, with men exhibiting slightly higher rates than women. Joinpoint analysis revealed distinct trends between genders, with men experiencing an initial rise followed by a decline, while women exhibited periods of increase interspersed with decline. APC analysis showed a net decrease in age-adjusted NMSC rates for both sexes. Local drift analysis showed a downward trend in most age groups, indicating a broad decrease at the population level. However, no decrease was observed in young men (20-24 years). Both sexes showed an increased risk of NMSC between 1990 and 2002, followed by a decrease. In particular, those born at the beginning of the 21st century showed a significant decrease in NMSC risk compared with earlier cohorts, suggesting a possible cohort effect. A comprehensive analysis of NMSC trends in Spain highlights the need for ongoing research and interventions to address the evolving burden.

Indomethacin (IND) as a non-selective cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 inhibitor administered orally causes numerous adverse effects, mostly related to the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, when applied exogenously in topical preparations, there are obstacles to its permeation through the stratum corneum due to its low water solubility and susceptibility to photodegradation. In this work, solid dispersions (SDs) of IND with low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (LHPC) were developed. The IND-SDs were incorporated into a hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) hydrogel to enhance drug solubility on the skin. The hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), viscosity, drug release, and unspecific cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. SEM showed a highly porous structure for SD hydrogels. DSC and XRPD studies showed that amorphous IND species were formed; therefore, these hydrogels exhibited superior drug release in comparison with IND raw material hydrogels. FTIR evidenced the presence of the hydrogen bond in the SD hydrogel. The rheology parameter viscosity increased across gels formulated with SDs in comparison with hydrogels with pure IND. In addition, IND-SD hydrogels combine the advantages of a suitable viscosity for dermal use and no potentially hazardous skin irritation. This study suggests that the formulated IND-SD hydrogels represent a suitable candidate for topical administration.

Islands have played a key role in our understanding of rapid evolution. A large body of literature has examined morphological changes in response to insularity and isolation, which has yielded useful generalizations about how animals can adapt to live in very small geographic areas. However, understanding the evolution of morphological variation in insular populations often requires detailed data sets on longitudinal patterns of growth and development, and such studies typically necessitate long-term mark-recapture on a large sample of individuals. Rattlesnakes provide a unique opportunity to address some of these difficulties because the addition of rattle segments to the rattle string occurs with regular periodicity and their size directly correlates with the body size of the snake at the time of the ecdysis cycle generating the segment. Here, we used a large database of rattle segment sizes recorded from island (Isla Coronado Sur, Baja California, Mexico) and mainland (Camp Pendleton, California, United States) populations of Western Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus oreganus and C. o. caliginis ) that separated approximately 10,000 years ago to compare body sizes at different ecdysis cycles, which allowed us to assess differences in growth rates and patterns of sexual size dimorphism. Our results show that rattlesnakes on Isla Coronado Sur appear to be born smaller and grow more slowly than their mainland counterparts, resulting in a "dwarfed" island population. However, despite significant differences in body size, both populations exhibited the same degree of sexual dimorphism. Our study demonstrates the potential to use rattle characteristics to recover detailed estimates of fundamental demographic parameters., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflict of interest or competing interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Ferroptosis is a form of nonapoptotic cell death that involves iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation induced by accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and results in plasma membrane damage and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns. Ferroptosis has been implicated in aging and immunity, as well as disease states including intestinal and liver conditions and cancer. To date, several ferroptosis-associated genes and pathways have been implicated in liver disease. Although ferroptotic cell death is associated with dysfunction of the intestinal epithelium, the underlying molecular basis is poorly understood. As the mechanisms regulating ferroptosis become further elucidated, there is clear potential to use ferroptosis to achieve therapeutic benefit., (Copyright © 2024 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lipoid proteinosis (LP), also known as Urbach-Wiethe disease, is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis, caused by mutations in the ECM1 gene. This results in the deposition of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive, hyaline-like material on the skin, mucosae and internal organs., Objectives: To present a case report of LP and a systematic review to synthesize the scientific literature on the management of this uncommon and frequently missed diagnosis., Methods: We present a case report of a 48-year-old man with LP who exhibited significant improvement after oral acitretin therapy. To address the lack of large case-control studies on LP treatment, we performed a systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA 2020 criteria. The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus databases from inception until June 2023. To assess the methodological quality of case reports and case series, we used the Joanna Briggs Collaboration critical appraisal tool., Results: We included 25 studies that met eligibility criteria. Data from 44 patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis were analysed. Treatment ranged from systemic therapies (acitretin, etretinate, dimethyl sulfoxide, corticosteroids, penicillamine) to surgical or laser procedures. Regarding methodological quality, the main discrepancies arose in the reporting of participant characteristics and treatment interventions., Conclusions: Low-dose oral acitretin could have potential in managing LP, exhibiting fewer side-effects compared with other therapeutic agents. Further research is needed to establish more comprehensive and evidence-based treatment guidelines., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Atopic Dermatitis® (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense itching and highly visible signs, representing a great burden to the patient. Despite its straightforward diagnosis, AD severity and burden can be underestimated in routine clinical practice. This review aims to determine the impact of AD on patients' lives, establish which domains of life are most affected, and identify symptom drivers of AD burden. A systematic literature review was conducted in Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus following Cochrane and PRISMA recommendations. Observational studies published in English or Spanish between January 1, 2018, and August 31, 2022, evaluating the impact of AD and its symptoms from the patient's perspective, were included. Reviewed studies were assessed for quality following the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology Checklist. A total of 28 observational studies evaluating the impact of AD and its symptoms from the patient's perspective were included in the review. All domains of the AD patient's life were found to be greatly affected, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), emotional health, sleep disorders, work impairment, health care resource utilization, cognitive function, and development of comorbidities. The more severe the disease, the greater the impact, worsening in patients with moderate and severe AD. Pruritus and pain are reported to be the disease symptoms with the greatest impact. In conclusion, AD impacts several domains of patients' lives, especially HRQoL and mental health. Pruritus and pain are identified as the main drivers of AD impact, suggesting that optimal symptom control may reduce the burden and improve disease management.

This study reports on the application of activated carbons from macadamia nut shells as adsorbents for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a commonly used pesticide, from water. Different activating agents (FeCl 3 , ZnCl 2 , KOH and H 3 PO 4 ) were used to obtain adsorbents within a wide range of porous texture and surface properties. The characterization of the resulting activated carbons was performed by N 2 adsorption-desorption, elemental analysis, TG and pH PZC . The adsorption experiments were conducted in batch at 25, 45 and 65 °C. The adsorption kinetics on activated carbons obtained with FeCl 3 H 3 PO 4 or KOH was well described by the pseudo-second order model, whereas for the resulting from ZnCl 2 activation the experimental data fit better the pseudo-first order model. The equilibrium studies were performed with the KOH- and ZnCl 2 -activated carbons, the two showing higher surface area values. In both cases, high adsorption capacities were obtained (c.a. 600 mg g -1 ) and the experimental data were better described by the Langmuir and Toth models. The thermodynamic study allows concluding the spontaneous and endothermic character of the adsorption process, as well as an increase of randomness at the solid/liquid interface. Breakthrough curves were also obtained and fitted to the logistic model., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Jorge Bedia reports financial support was provided by Autonomous University of Madrid. Jorge Bedia reports a relationship with Autonomous University of Madrid that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)