Evaluating the factor structure of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) in adults with congenital heart disease.

: While it is generally assumed that common neurobehavioral assessments, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV), function similarly in clinical and non-clinical populations, this has not been validated in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). In this study, we examined the latent factor structure of the WAIS-IV in adults with d-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) who participated in the Boston Circulatory Arrest Study. : The WAIS-IV was administered as part of a larger assessment battery.

Psychopathology of organic brain disorders.

The concept of mental symptom is constructed considering not only the biological signal that determines it, but the multilayered causative factors related to intersubjective experience. However, specific brain damage might produce a set of symptoms expressed in a recognizable gestalt that helps to differentiate organic of psychogenic causation. The legacy of the theory of mental symptoms developed by German Berrios and the seminal work of Hughlings Jackson and Kurt Goldstein can contribute to this difficult task.

Leptospirosis outbreak in Ecuador in 2023: A pilot study for surveillance from a One Health perspective.

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease that is endemic in tropical regions, including Ecuador. It is caused by spirochetes of the genus , which can infect humans through animal reservoirs such as rats and dogs, or through contact with contaminated water or soil. In March 2023, public health authorities declared a concerning outbreak of leptospirosis in Durán Cantón, located in the Coastal region of Ecuador.

Intratumoral pseudoaneurysm in a carotid body tumor.

Background: The occurrence of secondary vascular pathology in paragangliomas is extremely rare, particularly in carotid body tumors (CBTs).

Case Description: A 73-year-old female presented with computed tomography angiography revealing a right CBT with a large intratumoral contrast collection. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed a CBT with an internal carotid artery (ICA) intratumoral pseudoaneurysm.

Extreme bradycardia in a case of benzodiazepine intoxication in a "body stuffer" (Bradicardia extrema en un caso de intoxicación por benzodiacepinas en un "body stuffer").

Transport intoxication in the form of body stuffing, a dangerous practice involving the ingestion or insertion of psychoactive substances into the body to evade detection during drug trafficking, represents a major medical problem that requires immediate attention in the emergency department. Unlike body packing, where substances are encapsulated and swallowed for later extraction, body stuffing involves direct ingestion without wrapping, which greatly increases the risk of serious intoxication and even death. Benzodiazepines, due to their high demand on the black market, are among the most common drugs used in body stuffing.

Netrin-1 stimulated axon growth requires the polyglutamylase TTLL1.

Introduction: In the developing brain, neurons extend an axonal process through a complex and changing environment to form synaptic connections with the correct targets in response to extracellular cues. Microtubule and actin filaments provide mechanical support and drive axon growth in the correct direction. The axonal cytoskeleton responds to extracellular guidance cues.

Aerial Spraying and Its Impacts on Human Health in Banana-Growing Areas of Ecuador.

The present work examines the relationship between aerial spraying and its health impacts on the population living in the banana production areas of Ecuador (the rural sectors of the cantons Milagro and Naranjito, Guayas Province). : the objectives of this study are to obtain information on sanitation, basic services, and environmental rationality and to interpret the low levels of cholinesterase and prevalent diseases among the population. the methodology involved a face-to-face questionnaire, the formal authorization of an informed consent document, and venipuncture for cholinesterase tests.

Electrophysiological evaluation of the effect of peptide toxins on voltage-gated ion channels: a scoping review on theoretical and methodological aspects with focus on the Central and South American experience.

The effect of peptide toxins on voltage-gated ion channels can be reliably assessed using electrophysiological assays, such as the patch-clamp technique. However, much of the toxinological research done in Central and South America aims at purifying and characterizing biochemical properties of the toxins of vegetal or animal origin, lacking electrophysiological approaches. This may happen due to technical and infrastructure limitations or because researchers are unfamiliar with the techniques and cellular models that can be used to gain information about the effect of a molecule on ion channels.

Impact of Long SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection on the Health Care Burden: Comparative Case-Control Study Between Omicron and Pre-Omicron Waves.

Background: Following the initial acute phase of COVID-19, health care resource use has escalated among individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: This study aimed to compare new diagnoses of long COVID and the demand for health services in the general population after the Omicron wave with those observed during the pre-Omicron waves, using similar assessment protocols for both periods and to analyze the influence of vaccination.

Methods: This matched retrospective case-control study included patients of both sexes diagnosed with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or antigen tests in the hospital microbiology laboratory during the pandemic period regardless of whether the patients were hospitalized.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in synanthropic rats from Guayaquil city (Ecuador) during COVID-19 pandemic: A proxy to prevent wild reservoirs in the tropics.

Human-to-animal reverse transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is a risk for new reservoirs' emergence and new variants' evolution. SARS-CoV-2 infection of synanthropic rodents in urban settings has been reported during COVID-19 in New York and Mexico cities. In this study, we addressed the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to synanthropic rats in the city of Guayaquil (Ecuador) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding Health Care Students' Perceptions, Beliefs, and Attitudes Toward AI-Powered Language Models: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: ChatGPT was not intended for use in health care, but it has potential benefits that depend on end-user understanding and acceptability, which is where health care students become crucial. There is still a limited amount of research in this area.

Objective: The primary aim of our study was to assess the frequency of ChatGPT use, the perceived level of knowledge, the perceived risks associated with its use, and the ethical issues, as well as attitudes toward the use of ChatGPT in the context of education in the field of health.

Efficacy of high-intensity interval training versus continuous training on serum myonectin and lipid outcomes in adults with metabolic syndrome: A post-hoc analysis of a clinical trial.

Background: Myonectin is a myokine with potential effects on the lipid metabolism; however, its regulation by exercise in humans remains unclear. We aimed to compare the efficacy of high-intensity interval training low-volume (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on serum myonectin, serum lipids, appendicular fat and lean mass, and intramuscular lipids in humans.

Methods: Secondary analysis of a controlled, randomized, clinical trial in adults of both sexes with metabolic syndrome, who underwent a supervised, three-times/week, 12-week treadmill program.

Labetalol Dosing in Pregnancy: PBPK/PD and CYP2C19 Polymorphisms.

As detailed information on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of labetalol in pregnant people are lacking, the aims of this study were: (1) to build a physiologically based PK (PBPK) model of labetalol in non-pregnant individuals that incorporates different CYP2C19 genotypes (specifically, *1/*1, *1/*2 or *3, *2/*2, and *17/*17); (2) to translate this model to the second and third trimester of pregnancy; and (3) to combine the model with a previously published direct pharmacodynamic (PD) model to predict the blood pressure lowering effect of labetalol in the third trimester. Clinical data for model evaluation was obtained from the scientific literature. In non-pregnant populations, the mean ratios of simulated versus observed peak concentration (C), time to reach C (T), and exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve, AUC) were 0.

Nickel-Induced Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoribbon Formation on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite for Electronic and Magnetic Applications.

The development of nanoribbon-like structures is an effective strategy to harness the potential benefits of graphenic materials due to their excellent electrical properties, advantageous edge sites, rapid electron transport, and large specific area. Herein, parallel and connected magnetic nanostructured nanoribbons are obtained through the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using NiCl as a precursor with potential applications in nascent electronic and magnetic devices. Several analytical techniques have been used for the thorough characterization of the modified surfaces.