Comparison of the perception of palliative care by healthcare professionals in some countries around the world: a systematic review.

Background: The global need for palliative care (PC) is increasing, especially as the population ages. The diagnosis of a life-threatening illness triggers numerous decisions by healthcare professionals (HCPs). How these professionals understand and deal with PC influences the quantity and quality of care provided to patients.

Family support in adults with epilepsy.

Background:  The perception of family support in chronic disease can be relevant.

Objective:  To assess the perception of family support in adult patients with epilepsy (PWEs) and relate it to quality of life (QoL) and clinical aspects.

Methods:  Data from the Perceived Family Support Inventory (IPFS) of 130 PWEs were related to the clinical variables, QOLIE-31 scores, and the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) with statistical tests, with  < 0.

Dopamine levels determined in synthetic urine using an electrochemical tyrosinase biosensor based on ZnO@Au core-shell.

This work presents a biosensor based on core-shell nanostructure formed by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles coated with gold (Au). The core-shell nanostructure served as a support for the immobilisation of tyrosinase on screen-printed carbon electrodes to measure dopamine using differential pulse voltammetry. While ZnO is a semiconductor with good electrical conductivity, Au offers high stability and biocompatibility, which is beneficial for maintaining enzyme activity.

Establishing a Fetal Center in a Freestanding Pediatric Hospital.

Advances in antenatal imaging have allowed early and accurate diagnosis of many fetal anomalies. This, together with the increasing understanding of the natural history of many fetal diseases, has opened the door to the possibility of offering timely fetal interventions in progressive or life-threatening conditions with the intention of improving perinatal outcomes. These interventions can occur at an adult hospital with obstetrical services (with or without pediatric care) or at a freestanding pediatric hospital.

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using antibody desorption from iron magnetic nanoparticles.

SARS-CoV-2 is a matter of concern. Here, biosensors were prepared using iron magnetic nanoparticles containing antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Antibodies were adsorbed to nanoparticles in three configurations, including direct adsorption without functionalization (DANPs).

Risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a web-based multinational cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic using Mind-COVID, a prospective cross-sectional study that compares outcomes in middle-income economies and high-income economies.

Methods: A total of 7102 pregnant women from 12 high-income economies and nine middle-income economies were included. The web-based survey used two standardized instruments, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Perinatal outcomes of two consecutive strategies for the management of fetal growth restriction: a before-after study.

Purpose: We aim to compare the perinatal outcomes of two consecutive management strategies for fetal growth restriction (FGR), with or without the inclusion of additional Doppler parameters.

Methods: A quasi-experimental before/after study was conducted in which we compared a composite perinatal outcome, prematurity rate, and neonatal complications between two management strategies in small fetuses. In the strategy 1 (S1), the management was based on fetal biometry and umbilical artery Doppler.

Biosynthesis of Guanitoxin Enables Global Environmental Detection in Freshwater Cyanobacteria.

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (cyanoHABs) cause recurrent toxic events in global watersheds. Although public health agencies monitor the causal toxins of most cyanoHABs and scientists in the field continue developing precise detection and prediction tools, the potent anticholinesterase neurotoxin, guanitoxin, is not presently environmentally monitored. This is largely due to its incompatibility with widely employed analytical methods and instability in the environment, despite guanitoxin being among the most lethal cyanotoxins.

[Feeding behavior, dietary sufficiency and nutritional status in children between 6 and 18 months].

Introduction: Infant feeding has specific qualitative and quantitative characteristics. The influence of parents on food intake is crucial in the development of habits and an adequate nutritional state.

Objective: To evaluate eating behavior, dietary characteristics, and nutritional status of children between 6 to 18 months.

Outcomes of late open fetal surgery for intrauterine spina bifida repair after 26 weeks. Should we extend the Management of Myelomeningocele Study time window?

Objective: To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes of late open fetal repair for open spina bifida (OSB) between 26 -27  weeks.

Methods: A cohort of fetuses with OSB who underwent open surgery in two fetal surgery centers (Argentina and Mexico). Two groups were defined based on the gestational age (GA) at intervention: Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) time window group: GA 19 -25 , and late intervention group: GA 26 -27 .

Prediction of neonatal survival according to lung-to-head ratio in fetuses with right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH): A multicentre study from the Latin American CDH Study Group registry.

Objective: To evaluate survival outcomes of fetuses with right sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated in Latin American centres and to assess the utility of left lung area to predict neonatal survival.

Methods: A retrospective cohort including isolated right sided CDH cases managed expectantly during pregnancy in six tertiary centers from five Latin American countries. The utility of the observed/expected lung-to-head ratio (O/E-LHR) in predicting neonatal survival was assessed, and the best cut-off to predict prognosis was automatically selected by decision tree analysis.

Impact of emerging virus pandemics on cause-specific maternal mortality time series: a population-based natural experiment using national vital statistics, Argentina 1980-2017.

Background: Emerging pandemic viruses may have multiple deleterious effects on maternal health. This study examines the effects of a pandemic influenza virus on cause-specific maternal mortality time series, using Argentinian vital statistics.

Methods: We conducted a population-based natural experiment from national vital records of maternal deaths between 1980 and 2017.

Microcystins can be extracted from Microcystis aeruginosa using amino acid-derived biosurfactants.

Microcystin, a cyanotoxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa growing in eutrophic waters, can promote liver tumors in people ingesting contaminated water. To date, water treatment systems have not been effective in removing or degrading these cyanotoxins. In this work, we investigated the inhibitory activity of surfactants on the growth of M.

Removal of p-cresol using wash waters from lipopeptide production.

This work shows the efficiency of wash waters from lipopeptide production as a remediation strategy to treat urban water samples contaminated with p-cresol. The harvesting step in surfactin production involved a centrifugation step, generating a major soluble fraction and a fraction that is adsorbed to the biomass. The adsorbed fraction was recovered by washing steps.

Open intrauterine repair of spina bifida aperta: Historical aspects, current availability, and clinical outcomes from the Latin American Spina Bifida Consortium.

Objective: To determine the historical aspects, current availability, and clinical outcomes of open intrauterine repair of spina bifida aperta (IRSBA) in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.

Methods: Cases were collected from centers with at least 2 years of experience and a minimum of 10 open IRSBA interventions by December 2020. Clinical variables were compared to the results of the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) trial.

Residual biomass from surfactin production is a source of arginase and adsorbed surfactin that is useful for environmental remediation.

Lipopeptides are important secondary metabolites produced by microbes. They find applications in environmental decontamination and in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. However, their production is expensive.

Attitudes of Argentinean Neonatologists toward Resuscitation of Infants with Trisomies 21, 18, and 13: A Multicenter Survey.

Objective: This study was aimed to explore the attitude of Argentinean neonatologists in the delivery room on resuscitating infants with trisomies.

Study Design: An anonymous questionnaire was completed by neonatologists staffing level-III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) on resuscitation of children with trisomies 21, 18, and 13. Potential sociocultural factors influencing the decision to resuscitate were included.

Autoimmunity and periodontal disease: Arguing a possible correlation.

Currently, there is a growing interest in studying systemic conditions associated with periodontal disease such as autoimmune disorders. Periodontal disease is a destructive inflammatory disease of the dental supporting tissues. The microorganisms associated with periodontal disease constitute diverse species that can colonize the oral cavity and influence the emergence or evolution of autoimmunity, characterized by a breakdown in the mechanisms of tolerance to self-antigens.

Prenatal genetic considerations in congenital ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus.

Background: Fetal ventriculomegaly (VM) is a frequent finding in prenatal ultrasound. Rather than a proper diagnosis, VM is a sonographic sign, making prenatal counseling a complex and challenging undertaking. VM can range from severe pathologic processes leading to severe neurodevelopmental delay to normal variants.

Design, synthesis and valued properties of surfactin oversimplified analogues.

Surfactins are important lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis that present strong surface activity. These biosurfactants find applications in various fields, from environmental remediation to medicine. The use of surfactins in remediation is hampered by production costs; the medical applications are also reframed because of the hemolytic activity of the cyclic peptide.

[Geography of the disabled child population in metropolitan France].

The match between supply and demand for services or equipment for children with disabilities is not easy to determine because, on the one hand, the distribution of disability is not homogeneous across the territory, and on the other hand there is a diversity of databases that does not allow a real estimate of demand. We propose first a discussion on the available data sources to approximate the geographical distribution of children with disabilities. In a second step, we propose a distribution model based on a spatial statistical analysis of the determinants of disability.

Surfactin application for a short period (10/20 s) increases the surface wettability of sound dentin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spreading the lipopeptide surfactin, for short time (10/20 s), on dentin wettability. Study groups were surfactin: 2.8; 1.