Early warning systems and end-user decision-making: A risk formalism tool to aid communication and understanding.

In this work, we introduce a formalism to highlight the role of decision-making implicit in the setup of early warning systems (EWSs) and its consequences with respect to loss avoidance for end users. The formalism, a close relative of the cost/loss approach, combines EWS verification scores with traditional expressions of risk from the point of view of the user. This formalism articulates in mathematical format many well-known issues surrounding EWS usage, offering a conceptual anchor for concepts that otherwise may seem to wobble among the multidisciplinary perspectives participating in the EWS chain.

Plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid and the expression of its receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are altered in patients with cocaine use disorders.

We have recently reported alterations in the plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in patients with substance use disorders. In order to further explore the potential role of the LPA signaling system as biomarker in cocaine use disorders (CUD) we conducted a cross-sectional study with 105 patients diagnosed with CUD and 92 healthy controls. Participants were clinically evaluated and blood samples were collected to determine plasma concentrations of total LPA and LPA species (16:0-, 18:0-, 18:1-, 18:2-, and 20:4-LPA), and the gene expression of LPA and LPA receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Development of a Virtual Reality Tool for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients in the ICU.

Prolonged stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) cause difficulties in rehabilitation and other disorders for patients. This problem is exacerbated in the case of pediatric patients. The use of virtual reality can help with the lack of external stimuli and contribute as potential nonpharmacological therapies in some patient rehabilitation processes.

Plasma Concentrations of Neurofilament Light Chain Protein and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as Consistent Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Alcohol Use Disorder.

For a long time, Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) were not considered a component in the etiology of dementia. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders introduced substance-induced neurocognitive disorders, incorporating this notion to clinical practice. However, detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative processes in SUD patients remain a major clinical challenge, especially when early diagnosis is required.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as a Potential Biomarker of Neuroinflammation and Frontal Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.

(1) Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is associated with functional disruption of several brain structures that may trigger cognitive dysfunction. One of the mechanisms of alcohol-associated cognitive impairment has been proposed to arise from its direct impact on the immune system, which culminates in the release of cytokines and chemokines which can eventually reach the brain. Alcohol can also disrupt the blood-brain barrier, facilitating the penetration of pro-inflammatory molecules throughout vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA).

Multi-institutional expert update on the use of laparoscopic bile duct exploration in the management of choledocholithiasis: Lesson learned from 3950 procedures.

Background: Recently there has been a growing interest in the laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones with gallbladder in situ (LBDE), which is favoring the expansion of this technique. Our study identified the standardization factors of LBDE and its implementation in the single-stage management of choledocholithiasis.

Methods: A retrospective multi-institutional study among 17 centers with proven experience in LBDE was performed.

Influence of gender and education on cocaine users in an outpatient cohort in Spain.

Gender significantly influences sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric and addiction variables in cocaine outpatients. Educational level may be a protective factor showing less severe addictive disorders, longer abstinence periods, and better cognitive performance. The aim was to estimate gender-based differences and the influence of educational level on the clinical variables associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD).

Evaluation of neurotrophic factors and education level as predictors of cognitive decline in alcohol use disorder.

Cognitive reserve (CR) is the capability of an individual to cope with a brain pathology through compensatory mechanisms developed through cognitive stimulation by mental and physical activity. Recently, it has been suggested that CR has a protective role against the initiation of substance use, substance consumption patterns and cognitive decline and can improve responses to treatment. However, CR has never been linked to cognitive function and neurotrophic factors in the context of alcohol consumption.

[Epidemiological analysis of catheter-related bloodstream infections in medical-surgical intensive care units].

A retrospective-observational analytical study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiology of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in 773 adult patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hospital Alemán of Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 1 December 2018 and 30 June 2020. During the study period, the incidence of CRBSI was 8.7 cases per 1000 catheter days.

Grafting Snake Melon [ L. subsp. Var. (L.) Naudin] in Organic Farming: Effects on Agronomic Performance; Resistance to Pathogens; Sugar, Acid, and VOC Profiles; and Consumer Acceptance.

The performance of snake melon [ var. (L.)] in organic farming was studied under high biotic and salt stress conditions.

Optimisation in the multidisciplinary approach to patients with hepatitis C in the era of direct-acting antivirals.

The advents of current direct-acting antiviral treatments has revolutionised the therapeutic approach to hepatitis C, increasing cure rates to above 90% and substantially simplifying treatment, which translates into benefits for patients, clinicians and the health system. These new drugs allow cure to be achieved, irrespective of the patient's characteristics, with tolerability similar to that of placebo and few drug reactions with concomitant medication. This in turn improves patients' quality of life and wellbeing.

Metabolomic analysis of the effects of a commercial complex biostimulant on pepper crops.

Research on plant biostimulants is of interest in their potential benefits for agriculture production and environmental sustainability. These naturally occurring products induce beneficial consequences in plant metabolism and productivity. In most cases their modes of action, and consequences for the whole plant as well as parts, such as the fruit, are well characterized, but the precise mechanisms of action require further attention.

Serotonin is the main tryptophan metabolite associated with psychiatric comorbidity in abstinent cocaine-addicted patients.

The lack of effective treatments and a high rate of relapse in cocaine addiction constitute a major health problem. The present study was conducted to examine the expression of tryptophan-derived metabolites in the context of cocaine addiction and psychiatric comorbidity, which is common in addicted subjects. Abstinent patients with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and control subjects were recruited for a cross-sectional study.

Inflammatory mediators and dual depression: Potential biomarkers in plasma of primary and substance-induced major depression in cocaine and alcohol use disorders.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent comorbid mental disorder among people with substance use disorders. The MDD can be both primary and substance-induced and its accurate diagnosis represents a challenge for clinical practice and treatment response. Recent studies reported alterations in the circulating expression of inflammatory mediators in patients with psychiatric disorders, including those related to substance use.

Surgical resection of liver metastasis in pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma.

Introduction: Once liver metastases in pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma are diagnosed, guidelines do not recommend resection of the primary tumor. In this stage of the disease, therapeutic regimes with chemotherapy are the standard treatment. However, it is unclear whether combinations of extensive surgery and novel chemotherapy treatments confer a survival benefit in selected patients.

Executive summary: Consensus document of GEHEP of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), along with SOCIDROGALCOHOL, SEPD and SOMAPA on hepatitis C virus infection management in drug users.

The micro-elimination of HCV infection in drug users (DU) in our area is a priority in order to achieve the overall elimination of this disease. Coordinated action between specialists in addiction treatment, microbiologists and physicians who treat HCV infection is required to implement infection screening, to achieve universal access to treatment and to prevent new infections and reinfections. The objective of this document was to come to a consensus on the screening, hospital referral, treatment, follow-up and prevention of HCV infection in DU by an expert panel from GEHEP/SEIMC and three scientific societies of addiction treating physicians: SEPD, SOCIDROGALCOHOL and SOMAPA.

Higher Impulsivity As a Distinctive Trait of Severe Cocaine Addiction among Individuals Treated for Cocaine or Alcohol Use Disorders.

Aims: Despite alcohol being the most often used addictive substance among addicted patients, use of other substances such as cocaine has increased over recent years, and the combination of both drugs aggravates health impairment and complicates clinical assessment. The aim of this study is to identify and characterize heterogeneous subgroups of cocaine- and alcohol-addicted patients with common characteristics based on substance use disorders, psychiatric comorbidity and impulsivity.

Methods: A total of 214 subjects with cocaine and/or alcohol use disorders were recruited from outpatient treatment programs and clinically assessed.

Evaluation of plasma cytokines in patients with cocaine use disorders in abstinence identifies transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) as a potential biomarker of consumption and dual diagnosis.

Background: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a complex health condition, especially when it is accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders (dual diagnosis). Dual diagnosis is associated with difficulties in the stratification and treatment of patients. One of the major challenges in clinical practice of addiction psychiatry is the lack of objective biological markers that indicate the degree of consumption, severity of addiction, level of toxicity and response to treatment in patients with CUD.

Identification, introgression, and validation of fruit volatile QTLs from a red-fruited wild tomato species.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major determinants of fruit flavor, a primary objective in tomato breeding. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 169 lines derived from a cross between Solanum lycopersicum and a red-fruited wild tomato species Solanum pimpinellifolium accession (SP) was characterized for VOCs in three different seasons. Correlation and hierarchical cluster analyses were performed on the 52 VOCs identified, providing a tool for the putative assignation of individual compounds to metabolic pathways.

Exploring New Alleles Involved in Tomato Fruit Quality in an Introgression Line Library of Solanum pimpinellifolium.

We have studied a genomic library of introgression lines from the Solanum pimpinellifolium accession TO-937 into the genetic background of the "Moneymaker" cultivar in order to evaluate the accession's breeding potential. Overall, no deleterious phenotypes were observed, and the plants and fruits were phenotypically very similar to those of "Moneymaker," which confirms the feasibility of translating the current results into elite breeding programs. We identified chromosomal regions associated with traits that were both vegetative (plant vigor, trichome density) and fruit-related (morphology, organoleptic quality, color).

Sex differences in psychiatric comorbidity and plasma biomarkers for cocaine addiction in abstinent cocaine-addicted subjects in outpatient settings.

There are sex differences in the progression of drug addiction, relapse, and response to therapies. Because biological factors participate in these differences, they should be considered when using biomarkers for addiction. In the current study, we evaluated the sex differences in psychiatric comorbidity and the concentrations of plasma mediators that have been reported to be affected by cocaine.

Plasma concentrations of BDNF and IGF-1 in abstinent cocaine users with high prevalence of substance use disorders: relationship to psychiatric comorbidity.

Recent studies have identified biomarkers related to the severity and pathogenesis of cocaine addiction and common comorbid psychiatric disorders. Monitoring these plasma mediators may improve the stratification of cocaine users seeking treatment. Because the neurotrophic factors are involved in neural plasticity, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, we have determined plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in a cross-sectional study with abstinent cocaine users who sought outpatient treatment for cocaine (n = 100) and age/body mass matched controls (n = 85).

Plasma profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in cocaine users under outpatient treatment: influence of cocaine symptom severity and psychiatric co-morbidity.

The treatment for cocaine use constitutes a clinical challenge because of the lack of appropriate therapies and the high rate of relapse. Recent evidence indicates that the immune system might be involved in the pathogenesis of cocaine addiction and its co-morbid psychiatric disorders. This work examined the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profile in abstinent cocaine users (n = 82) who sought outpatient cocaine treatment and age/sex/body mass-matched controls (n = 65).