Association of Single-Nucleotide Variants in ACE2 with the Persistence of Positive qPCR Test for SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Professionals During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The persistence of qPCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who recovered from COVID-19 raised several questions regarding viral transmission, with a special interest in healthcare professionals who may pose a risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2. This issue highlights the necessity for identifying the genetic risk factors associated with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection. A promising target for achieving this goal is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 () gene, which has been associated with clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection, such as severity.

Docetaxel response in BRCA1,p53-deficient mammary tumor cells is affected by Huntingtin and BAP1.

Taxanes are frequently used anticancer drugs known to kill tumor cells by inducing mitotic aberrations and segregation defects. A defining feature of specific cancers, notably triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and particularly those deficient in BRCA1, is chromosomal instability (CIN). Here, we focused on understanding the mechanisms of docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity, especially in the context of BRCA1-deficient TNBC.

AM-PAC 6-Clicks Basic Mobility and Daily Activities Scores Predict 90-Day Modified Rankin Score in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Secondary to Large Vessel Occlusion.

The relative level of functional impairment in stroke patients is a significant determinant of post-acute care. The Activity Measure for Post Acute Care 6-Clicks (AM-PAC) scores for basic mobility and daily activity are rapid standardized assessments whose utilities in predicting long-term stroke outcomes have not yet been studied. We performed a retrospective analysis of acute ischemic stroke patients and their outcomes.

Real-world psychosocial impact among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and families in Spain.

Background: To assess the psychosocial impact of moderate-severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) on patients and their families, among those who had been treated with at least one anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF-α), according to routine clinical practice in Spain.

Patients And Methods: A 24-month observational, multicentric, cross-sectional and retrospective study was performed. Children diagnosed with JIA were enrolled at three tertiary-care Spanish hospitals.

The Therapeutic Potential of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome in Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation and inflammation. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of secretome derived from adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) in mitigating inflammation and promoting cartilage repair in an in vitro model of OA. Our in vitro model comprised chondrocytes inflamed with TNF.

SUMOylation regulates the aggressiveness of breast cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal cellular component in the tumor microenvironment (TME). CAFs contribute to tumorigenesis and have been proposed as targets for anticancer therapies. Similarly, dysregulation of SUMO machinery components can disrupt the balance of SUMOylation, contributing to tumorigenesis and drug resistance in various cancers, including breast cancer.

An improvement in the method of correcting indirect radial strain measurements during triaxial strength tests in rocks.

The present article provides an improvement in the method to correct indirect strain measurements in triaxial compressive strength tests through axial displacement and hydraulic fluid volume change measurements. The improvement focused on reducing the parameters of the formula proposed for indirect volumetric strain in the original method, thereby facilitating the development of a simpler formula in which the radial strain depends on only two parameters: the initial volume of the rock specimen and the volume changes of the hydraulic fluid for each instant. The comparison between the improvement proposed, and original method resulted in a mean absolute difference of 0.

Host cell CRISPR genomics and modelling reveal shared metabolic vulnerabilities in the intracellular development of Plasmodium falciparum and related hemoparasites.

Parasitic diseases, particularly malaria (caused by Plasmodium falciparum) and theileriosis (caused by Theileria spp.), profoundly impact global health and the socioeconomic well-being of lower-income countries. Despite recent advances, identifying host metabolic proteins essential for these auxotrophic pathogens remains challenging.

Equine Corneal Wound Healing Using Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome: Case Report.

Corneal ulcers are a common and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses that can be challenging to treat with conventional therapies alone. This case report describes the successful treatment of a non-healing corneal ulcer in a 28-year-old Hispano-Bretón mare using the secretome derived from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical debridement, the corneal ulcer failed to heal properly, exhibiting persistent epithelial defects and stromal complications.

The Role of Immunomodulatory Therapy with Oxiris in COVID-19 with Renal Failure and Immune Dysfunction.

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of hemoadsorption on the elimination of inflammatory mediators.

Methods: A prospective, bicenter, observational cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and February 2022 to explore the immunomodulatory response, demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU with severe acute respiratory failure and in need of CRRT with Oxiris® with or without AKI.

Results: Sixty-four patients were analyzed.

H2AX promotes replication fork degradation and chemosensitivity in BRCA-deficient tumours.

Histone H2AX plays a key role in DNA damage signalling in the surrounding regions of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In response to DNA damage, H2AX becomes phosphorylated on serine residue 139 (known as γH2AX), resulting in the recruitment of the DNA repair effectors 53BP1 and BRCA1. Here, by studying resistance to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in BRCA1/2-deficient mammary tumours, we identify a function for γH2AX in orchestrating drug-induced replication fork degradation.

Chromosome-Y haplogroups in Asturias (Northern Spain) and their association with severe COVID-19.

The main objective of this study was to determine whether the common Y-haplogroups were be associated with the risk of developing severe COVID-19 in Spanish male. We studied 479 patients who required hospitalization due to COVID-19 and 285 population controls from the region of Asturias (northern Spain), They were genotyped for several polymorphisms that define the common European Y-haplogroups. We compared the frequencies between patients and controls aged ≤ 65 and >65 years.

Location of the upper oesophageal sphincter during swallowing: Analysis using swallowing CT.

Background: Upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) serves as an important anatomical and functional landmark during swallowing. However, the precise UES location before and during swallowing has not been well established.

Objective: This study aimed to determine upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) location and displacement during swallowing accounting for sex, age, and height in healthy adults using 320-row area detector computed tomography (320-ADCT).

Impact of minimal lumen segmentation uncertainty on patient-specific coronary simulations: A look at FFR.

We examined the effect of minimal lumen segmentation uncertainty on Fractional Flow Reserve obtained from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography . A total of 14 patient-specific coronary models with different stenosis locations and degrees of severity were enrolled in this study. The optimal segmented coronary lumens were disturbed using intra and inter-operator variations on the segmentation threshold.

Optimal Prone Position Duration in Patients With ARDS Due to COVID-19: The Omelette Pilot Trial.

Background: Prone position (PP) has been widely used in the COVID-19 pandemic for ARDS management. However, the optimal length of a PP session is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged versus standard PP duration in subjects with ARDS due to COVID-19.

Dysphagia and Enteral Feeding After Stroke in the Rehabilitation Setting.

Physiatrists play a vital role in post-stroke dysphagia management not only by providing guidance on the risks, benefits, and efficacy of various treatment options but also as advocates for patients' independence and quality of life. While swallow study results are often discussed broadly by acute stroke clinicians as "pass/fail" findings, physiatrists need a more nuanced working knowledge of dysphagia diagnosis and treatment that encompasses swallow pathophysiology, targeted treatment strategies, and prognosis for recovery. To that end, this review summarizes current clinical practice guidelines on dysphagia, nutrition and oral care, risks and benefits of differing enteral access routes, prognostic factors, and approaches to rehabilitation.

Establishing a Clinical Care Pathway to Expedite Rehabilitation Transitions for Stroke Patients With Dysphagia and Enteral Feeding Needs.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a physiatrist-led clinical pathway to expedite rehabilitation transitions for stroke patients with dysphagia requiring nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Design: This is a retrospective single-center observational study in 426 adults with stroke and dysphagia admitted to the acute hospital. Physican Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) was consulted to determine dysphagia prognosis and candidacy for rehabilitation admission with nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

POTEE promotes breast cancer cell malignancy by inducing invadopodia formation through the activation of SUMOylated Rac1.

The small GTPase Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) has been implicated in cancer progression and in the poor prognosis of various types of tumors. Rac1 SUMOylation occurs during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and it is required for tumor cell migration and invasion. Here we identify POTEE (POTE Ankyrin domain family member E) as a novel Rac1-SUMO1 effector involved in breast cancer malignancy that controls invadopodium formation through the activation of Rac1-SUMO1.

[Incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into pharmacy and dermatology departments, in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients, as a tool to improve the healthcare quality and health outcomes].

Introduction: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide subjective information about their disease, treatment, and quality of life.

Objective: To introduce a new system of work coordinated between pharmacists and dermatologists, based on the collection and analysis of PROs to assess its clinical impact as well as patients satisfaction.

Method: A prospective single-centre observational study was conducted under clinical conditions and included adult patients diagnosed with psoriasis (PS) and atopic dermatitis (AD) between April-2021 and February-2022.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Rheumatic Patients with Inflammatory Disorders: A Descriptive Study from a High Infection Incidence Region of Northern Spain.

Background: Since the first confirmed case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in Spain in January 2020, the susceptibility of patients with rheumatic disease has remained unclear. In this report, we will describe the main features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that occurred in rheumatic patients with inflammatory disorders and try to identify features associated with severe disease.

Methods: We included all rheumatic patients with immune-mediated diseases followed at 6 centers belonging to the public healthcare system in the Basque Country (Spain) and diagnosed with COVID-19 from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020.