Artificial enforcement of the unfolded protein response (UPR) reduces disease features in multiple preclinical models of ALS/FTD.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) are part of a spectrum of diseases that share several causative genes, resulting in a combinatory of motor and cognitive symptoms and abnormal protein aggregation. Multiple unbiased studies have revealed that proteostasis impairment at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a transversal pathogenic feature of ALS/FTD. The transcription factor XBP1s is a master regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR), the main adaptive pathway to cope with ER stress.

Design of Natterins-based peptides improves antimicrobial and antiviral activities.

The biochemical analysis of animal venoms has been intensifying over the years, enabling the prediction of new molecules derived from toxins, harnessing the therapeutic potential of these molecules. From the venom of the fish , using methods for predicting antimicrobial and cell-penetrating peptides, two peptides from Natterins with promising characteristics were synthesized and subjected to and analysis. The peptides were subjected to stability tests and antimicrobial assays, cytotoxicity in murine fibroblast cells, antiviral assays against the Chikungunya virus, and the toxicity on was also evaluated.

Inhaled sedation with sevoflurane in a critically ill pediatric patient.

In pediatric intensive care units (PICU), achieving adequate sedation for patients can be a challenging task for healthcare staff. While the use of intravenous sedatives helps improve comfort and treatment tolerance, it is a priority to develop strategies to use in patients who are difficult to sedate. This case study presents the first reported use of inhaled sevoflurane in a patient admitted to a PICU who was unresponsive to conventional intravenous sedatives.

Risk factors associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in severe COVID-19 patients: a casecontrol study.

Introduction: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) have been described. Possible risk factors for the development of this condition have been proposed, although evidence in Latin American populations is limited. The objectives were to identify risk factors for the development of CAPA and describe the characteristics of this infection.