Radiofrequency Ablation for Solitary Autonomously Functioning Thyroid Nodules: Multicenter Study from Latin America.

Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) represent ∼5% of all thyroid nodules and often necessitate definitive treatments such as surgery or radioiodine (I), both of which have inherent risks. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as an effective and safe therapeutic option for managing AFTNs. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of RFA for solitary AFTNs in various countries across Latin America.

Cost Analysis of Oncological Outpatient Neurosurgery Under General Anesthesia with Hospital-At-Home-Based Postoperative Care.

Objective: This study evaluates the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of an oncological outpatient neurosurgery protocol using enhanced recovery after surgery principles in a European healthcare setting. Additionally, it assesses the impact of incorporating hospital at home (HaH) for perioperative follow-up on program efficiency and costs.

Methods: We analyzed a case cohort of patients who underwent oncological outpatient neurosurgery with HaH-based postoperative follow-up for tumor removal or biopsy at a tertiary care center since 2019.

Comparative analysis of acute respiratory infections of viral etiology in children under 6 months with and without nirsevimab in the Balearic Islands (2022-2023 and 2023-2024).

Introduction: Since 2023, a monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) specifically directed against the preF form of RSV has been marketed in Spain. The impact of late immunization in the population <6 months as a cause of other respiratory infections requiring a hospital visit has been analyzed.

Material And Methods: The viral etiology of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) diagnosed in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons has been prospectively compared, and in this last season between recipients and non-recipients of nirsevimab.

Deep learning image analysis for filamentous fungi taxonomic classification: Dealing with small datasets with class imbalance and hierarchical grouping.

Deep learning applications in taxonomic classification for animals and plants from images have become popular, while those for microorganisms are still lagging behind. Our study investigated the potential of deep learning for the taxonomic classification of hundreds of filamentous fungi from colony images, which is typically a task that requires specialized knowledge. We isolated soil fungi, annotated their taxonomy using standard molecular barcode techniques, and took images of the fungal colonies grown in petri dishes ( = 606).

The Influence of Impedance on the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules.

Objective: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses the heat generated by a high-frequency alternating electric current, and according to Ohm's and Joule's law, the delivered current is inversely proportional to the circuit impedance. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether tissue impedance during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules is related to the degree of volume reduction.

Methods: This observational study included consecutive patients treated with RFA for benign thyroid nodules from February 2020 to August 2023.

Transport of non-classical light mediated by topological domain walls in a SSH photonic lattice.

Advancements in photonics technologies have significantly enhanced their capability to facilitate experiments involving quantum light, even at room temperature. Nevertheless, fully integrating photonic chips that include quantum light sources, effective manipulation and transport of light minimizing losses, and appropriate detection systems remains an ongoing challenge. Topological photonic systems have emerged as promising platforms to protect quantum light properties during propagation, beyond merely preserving light intensity.

Energy Resolution from a Silicon Detector's Interstrip Regions.

In this work, we present a novel approach for improving the energy resolution from particles impinging on the interstrip regions of silicon strip detectors. We employed three double-sided strip detectors from the GRIT array and a triple α-source under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the interstrip resolution depends not only on the impinging side but also on whether it is a P- or an N-interstrip.

Microplastic fibres affect soil fungal communities depending on drought conditions with consequences for ecosystem functions.

Microplastics affect soil functions depending on drought conditions. However, how their combined effect influences soil fungi and their linkages with ecosystem functions is still unknown. To address this, we used rhizosphere soil from a previous experiment in which we employed microplastic fibres addition and drought in a factorial design, and evaluated their effects on soil fungal communities.

Rate-induced tracking for concave or d-concave transitions in a time-dependent environment with application in ecology.

This paper investigates biological models that represent the transition equation from a system in the past to a system in the future. It is shown that finite-time Lyapunov exponents calculated along a locally pullback attractive solution are efficient indicators (early-warning signals) of the presence of a tipping point. Precise time-dependent transitions with concave or d-concave variation in the state variable giving rise to scenarios of rate-induced tracking are shown.

Facial nerve monitoring in parotid gland surgery: Design and feasibility assessment of a potential standardized technique.

Background: Even though the use of nerve monitoring during parotid gland surgery is not the gold standard to prevent damage to the nerve, it surely offers some advantages over the traditional approach. Different from thyroid surgery, where a series of steps in intraoperative nerve monitoring have been described to confirm not only the integrity but-most importantly-the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, in parotid gland surgery, a formal guideline to follow while dissecting the facial nerve has yet to be described.

Methods: A five-year retrospective study was done reviewing the intraoperative records of patients who underwent parotid gland surgery under neural monitoring.

Surfactant-Mediated Effects on Hydrological and Physical Soil Properties: Data Synthesis.

Soils are under the threat of a multitude of anthropogenic factors affecting the complex interplay of various physical and hydrological soil processes and properties. One such factor is the group of surface-active compounds. Surfactants have a broad range of applications and can reduce solid-liquid interfacial forces and increase wettability and dispersion of particles.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the academic help seeking scale in a sample of adults.

Although academic help-seeking is an important variable in the academic context, as it is related to academic achievement, college adjustment and teacher support, among other variables, no instruments evaluate it in the Spanish adult population. The main goal of the current study was to develop an adaptation of the Academic Help-Seeking Scale for the Spanish adult population with suitable psychometric properties. The sample consisted of 536 adults with an average age of 24.

Comparison of clinical outcomes among cancer patients treated in and out of clinical trials.

Background: It is unknown if participation in a cancer clinical trial confers clinical benefits to patients. There is not enough scientific evidence in this regard and the available publications are scarce and provide ambiguous and limited information.

Objective: Compare overall and progression-free survival and response to treatment among those who met the eligibility criteria and accepted to participate and those who refused to participate in cancer clinical trials.

Expression of nutrient transporters in placentas affected by gestational diabetes: role of leptin.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most frequent pathophysiological state of pregnancy, which in many cases produces fetuses with macrosomia, requiring increased nutrient transport in the placenta. Recent studies by our group have demonstrated that leptin is a key hormone in placental physiology, and its expression is increased in placentas affected by GDM. However, the effect of leptin on placental nutrient transport, such as transport of glucose, amino acids, and lipids, is not fully understood.

Test Bench for Highly Segmented GRIT Double-Sided Silicon Strip Detectors: A Detector Quality Control Protocol.

This work deals with the characteristics of highly segmented double-sided silicon detectors. These are fundamental parts in many new state-of-the-art particle detection systems, and therefore they must perform optimally. We propose a test bench that can handle 256 electronic channels with off-the-shelf equipment, as well as a detector quality control protocol to ensure that the detectors meet the requirements.

Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: The Role of Intelligence, the Dark Triad and Dysfunctional Impulsivity.

Background: Although measures to prevent COVID-19 infection have been greatly relaxed in many countries, they are still quite stringent in others. However, not all citizens comply with them to the same extent. Many studies show the importance of personality traits in predicting compliance with these measures, but it is not so clear what the role of intelligence is.

Are older teens more frustrated than younger teens by the covid-19 restrictions? The role of psychological maturity, personality traits, depression and life satisfaction.

Many studies have shown the negative impact of lockdowns on adolescents, but there is less evidence on how they are affected by other stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, especially, whether there are any differences between early and late adolescence. The current study focuses on the frustration felt by adolescents because of the severe COVID-19 restrictions in a non-lockdown situation. We aimed to (a) assess the role of maturity and two personality traits (emotional stability and extraversion) in predicting their frustration, and (b) compare the levels of frustration, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction in older and younger adolescents.

Root associated fungal lineages of a tropical montane forest show contrasting sensitivities to the long-term addition of nitrogen and phosphorus.

Root associated fungal (RAF) communities can exert strong effects on plant communities and are potentially sensitive to shifts in soil fertility. As increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition can alter the nutrient balance in natural ecosystems, we assessed the response of RAF communities to a fertilization experiment deployed on a highly diverse Andean forest. The stand level fine root fraction was sampled after 7 years of systematic N and P additions and RAF communities were characterized by a deep sequencing approach.

Vemurafenib in the Treatment of Erdheim Chester Disease: A Systematic Review.

Erdheim Chester disease (ECD) is a type of histiocytosis characterized by a variable clinical presentation. The treatment of ECD is complex and mainly unknown. We aim to conduct a literature review of the treatment of ECD and consolidate the knowledge about the most recent and updated treatment for ECD.

The Role of Psychological Maturity and the Big Five Personality Traits in the Victimization Through Indirect Aggression.

Background: Peer victimization is a problem that affects adolescents worldwide. Since so few studies have been made on the relationship between maturity and indirect peer victimization, the main objective of this study was to determine if maturity provides incremental validity beyond the personality traits when predicting indirect victimization. Another objective was to test a model of how all these variables are related to depressive symptomatology and life satisfaction.