Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a Key Player in Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To explore the role of the proinflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in a murine model of dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: The role of MIF on DED was determined using genetically MIF deficient mice and pharmacological inhibition of MIF. DED was induced with 0.

Using FHIR to Support COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Electronic Case Reports in America.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) promoted several activities to strengthen the countries' emergency response. Vaccines represented a breakthrough in the pandemic evolution, even though they have not been equitably distributed. As most vaccines have received emergency authorizations for their timely delivery, vaccine safety surveillance has been highlighted for detecting early signals of potential adverse events following immunization (AEFI, also known as ESAVI).

Acute intermittent porphyria: A case report.

The term ‘porphyria’ comes from the Greek ‘porphyra’. It refers to a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders caused by the enzymatic deficiency in the biosynthesis of the heme group. Acute intermittent porphyria is caused by a deficiency of the porphobilinogen deaminase enzyme.

[Autoimmune encephalitis associated to antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor: Report of two cases].

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is a neurological syndrome that is more common in young women and is often associated with ovarian teratoma. It is characterized by acute general unspecific symptoms that evolve to neurological deterioration, psychosis and seizures. In its more advanced stage it is associated with abnormal movements and dysautonomia.

Mycofier: a new machine learning-based classifier for fungal ITS sequences.

Background: The taxonomic and phylogenetic classification based on sequence analysis of the ITS1 genomic region has become a crucial component of fungal ecology and diversity studies. Nowadays, there is no accurate alignment-free classification tool for fungal ITS1 sequences for large environmental surveys. This study describes the development of a machine learning-based classifier for the taxonomical assignment of fungal ITS1 sequences at the genus level.

Respiratory tract clinical sample selection for microbiota analysis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Changes in respiratory tract microbiota have been associated with diseases such as tuberculosis, a global public health problem that affects millions of people each year. This pilot study was carried out using sputum, oropharynx, and nasal respiratory tract samples collected from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy control individuals, in order to compare sample types and their usefulness in assessing changes in bacterial and fungal communities.

Findings: Most V1-V2 16S rRNA gene sequences belonged to the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria, with differences in relative abundances and in specific taxa associated with each sample type.

Neotropical Andes hot springs harbor diverse and distinct planktonic microbial communities.

Microbial explorations of hot springs have led to remarkable discoveries and improved our understanding of life under extreme conditions. The Andean Mountains harbor diverse habitats, including an extensive chain of geothermal heated water sources. In this study, we describe and compare the planktonic microbial communities present in five high-mountain hot springs with distinct geochemical characteristics, at varying altitudes and geographical locations in the Colombian Andes.

Stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with multiple intracranial meningiomas.

Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) delivers a potent, highly focused dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal tissues. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with intracranial meningiomas treated with SRS.

Methods: A total of 73 patients with 221 benign meningiomas treated between 1991 and 2005 with SRS and followed up for more than a year were reviewed.

[Linear accelerator radiosurgery for brainstem arteriovenous malformations. Long-term results].

Objective: Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the brainstem carry a high risk of recurrent haemorrhage, mortality and morbidity. Treatment options are limited and mainly based on stereotactic radiosurgery. We studied the results of our series of brainstem AVM treated with linear accelerator (LINAC) and with a long-term follow-up.

Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy for newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas: feasibility and long-term outcomes.

Introduction: Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT) is an alternative to dose escalation for the treatment of central nervous system tumors. The objective of this study was to describe the feasibility and long-term outcomes of IOERT in the treatment of primary and recurrent gliomas.

Materials And Methods: From January 1992 through December 2002, all patients treated with IOERT at the Hospital San Francisco de Asis, Madrid/Spain were retrospectively reviewed.

Methods for growing and titrating African swine fever virus: field and laboratory samples.

Growing African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates obtained mainly from the field, but also engineered in the laboratory, is a critical step for diagnosis, titration, or virus infection studies. This unit describes a set of methods and protocols to produce and titrate any ASFV strain in cell cultures. The procedures include (1) basic techniques to prepare virus-sensitive target cells; (2) strategies for growth, concentration, and purification of virus stocks; and (3) the semi-quantitative (end dilution) and quantitative (plaque) assays for the determination of viral titers, and the use of different ASFV-sensitive cells as targets for virus production and titration.

Stereotactic radiosurgery in pituitary adenomas: long-term single institution experience and role of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment for incompletely resected or recurrent pituitary adenomas characterized by high rates of local control and endocrinological remission. The SRS-associated morbidity is usually considered minimal, but could not be neglected. It is mainly related to new pituitary hormone deficit, and seemingly caused by un-intentional inclusion of the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk and gland in the high-dose irradiation area.

Detection of EEG electrodes in brain volumes.

This paper presents a method to detect 128 EEG electrodes in image study and to merge with the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance volume for better diagnosis. First we propose three hypotheses to define a specific acquisition protocol in order to recognize the electrodes and to avoid distortions in the image. In the second instance we describe a method for segmenting the electrodes.

Impact of psychiatric symptoms and sleep disorders on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

The objective of this study is to assess how the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), such as depression, cognitive deterioration, neuropsychiatric and sleep disorders, affect the quality of life, and to compare them with the motor symptoms in order to determine their real impact. A cross-sectional study was designed including 99 patients (mean age 68.5 ± 9.

Radiosurgery and whole brain therapy in the treatment of brainstem metastases.

Purpose: The incidence of brainstem metastasis (BSM) accounts for 1-3% of brain metastases (BM). They are often associated with multiple BM and produce significant neurological symptoms. We retrospectively analyse the results of treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Long-term results of laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias using an intraperitoneal composite mesh.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term complications and recurrences of laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias. Very few studies evaluate objectively the long-term results of laparoscopic incisional hernia repair.

Methods: Data for 200 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic incisional hernia repair (LIHR) in a university teaching hospital using a standardized procedure between January 1994 and December 2006 were collected prospectively.

Central venous catheter-related infection: a prospective, observational study to assess the incidence rate at a teaching hospital in Argentina.

One hundred fifty-one central venous catheters (CVCs) were observed for development of infection. The infection rate was higher for CVCs with a duration of less than 6 days than for those with a longer duration. Our data suggest that scheduled replacement of CVCs is not necessary.