Unveiling microbial guilds and symbiotic relationships in Antarctic sponge microbiomes.

Marine sponges host diverse microbial communities. Although we know many of its ecological patterns, a deeper understanding of the polar sponge holobiont is still needed. We combine high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, including the largest taxonomic repertoire of Antarctic sponge species analyzed to date, functional metagenomics, and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs).

ACTION APAC: Understanding perceptions, attitudes and behaviours in obesity and its management across south and Southeast Asia.

To identify perceptions and attitudes among people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward obesity and its management in nine Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adult PwO with self-reported body mass index of ≥25 kg/m (≥27 kg/m, Singapore), and HCPs involved in direct patient care. In total, 10 429 PwO and 1901 HCPs completed the survey. Most PwO (68%) and HCPs (84%) agreed that obesity is a disease; however, a significant proportion of PwO (63%) and HCPs (41%) believed weight loss was the complete responsibility of PwO and only 43% of PwO discussed weight with an HCP in the prior 5 years.

Willingness toward post-mortem body donation to science at a Mexican university: an exploratory survey.

Background: Voluntary post-mortem donation to science (PDS) is the most appropriate source for body dissection in medical education and training, and highly useful for biomedical research. In Mexico, unclaimed bodies are no longer a legal source, but PDS is legally possible, although scarcely facilitated, and mostly ignored by the general population. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the attitude and willingness for PDS and to identify a sociodemographic profile of people with willingness toward PDS.

[Vascular damage and cognitive-functional performance in a population with mild cognitive impairment].

Introduction: There is evidence of predemential stages in Vascular Dementia (VD). Alzheimer Disease (AD) and VD share common risk factors and mechanisms. Vascular comorbility may present in 30-60% of patients with AD (mixed dementia).

Increasing Public Health Mosquito Surveillance in Hidalgo County, Texas to Monitor Vector and Arboviral Presence.

From 2016 to 2018, Hidalgo County observed the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections along with sporadic cases of Dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Due to the emergence of ZIKV and the historical presence of other mosquito-borne illnesses, Hidalgo County obtained funding to enhance mosquito surveillance and educate residents on arboviruses and travel risks. During this time period, Hidalgo County mosquito surveillance efforts increased by 1.

Connectivity of bacterial assemblages along the Loa River in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

The Loa River is the only perennial artery that crosses the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It plays an important role in the ecological and economic development of the most water-stressed region, revealing the impact of the mining industry, which exacerbate regional water shortages for many organisms and ecological processes. Despite this, the river system has remained understudied.

An evaluation of a mental health literacy course for Arabic speaking religious and community leaders in Australia: effects on posttraumatic stress disorder related knowledge, attitudes and help-seeking.

Background: Australia is an ethnically diverse nation with one of the largest refugee resettlement programs worldwide, including high numbers of refugees with an Arabic speaking background. Evidence suggests that refugees can demonstrate high levels of psychological distress and are at a higher risk of developing mental illness such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Notwithstanding, research has also shown Arabic speaking refugees have lower levels of professional help-seeking behaviours, postulated to be related to mental health literacy levels.

Intermediate-Grade Teachers' Adaptations for Weaker Writers: A National Survey in Urban Schools in Chile.

Two hundred fifty-four intermediate-grade teachers (88% female) in urban public schools in Chile indicated how frequently they made writing instructional adaptations for their weakest writers, which included students with learning and other disabilities. A majority of teachers reported making the following adaptations for their weakest writers at least once a week: individual tutoring, assistance from a peer when writing, and extra instruction in grammar/spelling, planning/revising, handwriting, sentence construction, and text structure. On a monthly basis or more often, a majority of teachers reported they provided weaker writers with choice about writing assignments, the opportunity to complete an alternative writing assignment, and extra writing instruction via computer technology.

Avian influenza overview August - November2019.

Between 16 August and 15 November 2019, one low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A(H5) outbreak in poultry in France was reported in Europe. Genetic characterisation reveals that the virusclusterswith Eurasian LPAI viruses. No highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in birds were notified in Europe in the relevant period for this report.

A multifactorial intervention to lower potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults in Argentina.

Background: Adverse drug reactions are a common cause of potentially avoidable harm, particularly in older adults.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a pilot multifactorial intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older adults.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2, feasibility, open-label study in the ambulatory setting of an integrated healthcare network in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[Study of the performance of complex activities of daily living in a population of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Mild functional impairment: A new clinical entity?].

Unlabelled: Several papers describe functional changes in the aging population, and its relevance in the early cognitive impairment detection. Alterations in instrumental activities would constitute a diagnostic marker of MCI and predict the progression to Dementia. In order to count on a tool to evaluate the performance in the use of new technologies we have designed a new protocol, Complex Functional Study (CFS), that quantifies performance and functional changes Related to previous states.

[Screening of hepatitis B in high risk Chilean and immigrant pregnant women: Management of mother to child transmission].

Background: Chile is a low-endemic HBV country, but countries with the highest migratory flow to Chile have an intermediate-high endemicity. In order to avoid vertical transmission of HBV, immunoprophylaxis (IP) in the newborn (NB) is a key factor.

Aim: To identify HBsAg prevalence in pregnant immigrants and Chilean pregnant women with risk behaviors (RB) and to asses IP use in the NB.

Predictors of professional help-seeking for emotional problems in Afghan and Iraqi refugees in Australia: findings from the Building a New Life in Australia Database.

Background: Refugees are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes due to exposure to pre migration trauma and post migration stressors. Research has demonstrated evidence to suggest that the professional help-seeking among refugee groups is low or problematic. This study seeks to examine help-seeking for emotional problems in two large samples of Iraqi and Afghan refugees in Australia.

Correction to: A thiotrophic microbial community in an acidic brine lake in Northern Chile.

In Table 1 of the original article, the unit mg/L was incorrectly published as ng/L in the aluminum, chloride, sulphate and OM columns.

A thiotrophic microbial community in an acidic brine lake in Northern Chile.

The endorheic basins of the Northern Chilean Altiplano contain saline lakes and salt flats. Two of the salt flats, Gorbea and Ignorado, have high acidic brines. The causes of the local acidity have been attributed to the occurrence of volcanic native sulfur, the release of sulfuric acid by oxidation, and the low buffering capacity of the rocks in the area.

Watershed-Induced Limnological and Microbial Status in Two Oligotrophic Andean Lakes Exposed to the Same Climatic Scenario.

Laguna Negra and Lo Encañado are two oligotrophic Andean lakes forming part of the system fed by meltwater from distinct glacial tongues of the Echaurren glacier in central Chile, which is in a recession period. The recent increase in temperature and decline in precipitation have led to an increase of glacial meltwater and sediments entering these lakes. Although the lacustrine systems are also hydrogeologically connected, the limnology of the lakes is strongly controlled by the surface processes related to the respective sub-watersheds and hydrology.

Erratum to: The mental health and help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13033-017-0157-z.].

The mental health and help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia.

Background: Psychological trauma, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, are highly prevalent among resettled refugees. However, little is known regarding the mental health status and associated help-seeking behaviour of resettled Afghan refugees in Australia.

Methods: A sample of 150 resettled Afghan refugees (74 males; mean age 32.

Causes of and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder: the beliefs of Iraqi and Afghan refugees resettled in Australia.

Background: Resettled refugees are a vulnerable group for mental health problems and in particular, trauma-related disorders. Evidence suggests that poor 'mental health literacy' (MHL) is a major factor in low or inappropriate treatment-seeking among individuals with mental health problems. This study sought to determine the beliefs regarding the causes of and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst two resettled refugee groups in Australia.

Beliefs and knowledge about post-traumatic stress disorder amongst resettled Afghan refugees in Australia.

Background: Resettled refugees are at high risk of trauma-related mental health problems, yet there is low uptake of mental health care in this population. Evidence suggests poor 'mental health literacy' (MHL) may be a major factor influencing help-seeking behaviour among individuals with mental health problems. This study sought to examine the MHL of resettled Afghan refugees in Adelaide, South Australia.

Breast papillary lesions: an analysis of 70 cases.

Introduction: Papillary breast lesions are rare and constitute less than 10% of benign breast lesions and less than 1% of breast carcinomas.

Objective: To analyse the clinical presentation, preoperative evaluation, and surgical and anatomopathological characteristics of the patients operated on for papillary breast lesions.

Material And Methods: Retrospective descriptive and analytical study.

New assessment of organic mercury formation in highly polluted sediments in the Lenga estuary, Chile.

Anomalously high levels of mercury in sediment in the Lenga estuary, Chile are comparable to the most contaminated sites previously reported elsewhere. Total mercury (Hgtotal) concentrations range from 0.5 to 129 mg kg(-1) and organic mercury (Hgorg) from 11 to 53 μg kg(-1).

Isolation of viable porcine islets by selective osmotic shock without enzymatic digestion.

Islet transplantation is a potential cure for type 1 diabetes, but clinical results have been disappointing. Currently, islet isolation is by enzymatic digestion of the pancreas which has significant pitfalls: warm ischemia exposure, collagenase-induced damage to the islet mass and viability, poor reproducibility, high cost, a relatively low number of islets obtained per whole pancreas, and selection of islets for collagenase resistance rather than for glucose responsiveness. In the present study we performed a series of experiments in a porcine model to demonstrate the feasibility of a new isolation method based on selective osmotic shock (SOS) using very high glucose solutions, doubling or tripling physiological osmotic strength.

Alpha-tocopherol protects against oxidative damage to lipids of the rod outer segments of the equine retina.

Oxidative stress is a possible risk factor for eye diseases. Lipid peroxidation is one of the major events induced by oxidative stress and is particularly active in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich biomembranes. This work evaluated endogenous lipid antioxidants, in vitro non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation of rod outer segment membranes (ROS), the fatty acid composition during oxidative damage of total lipids from equine retina and ROS, and the protective action of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc).