A worldwide assessment of the mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Analysis of the VENTILAGROUP over time. A retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: The trend over time and across different geographical areas of outcomes and management with noninvasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation in patients admitted for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and treated with ventilatory support is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and identify variables associated with survival for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [aeCOPD] who received noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation worldwide.

Methods: Retrospective, multi-national, and multicenter studies, including four observational cohort studies, were carried out in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016 for the VENTILAGROUP following the same methodology.

[Cardiovascular risk factors of medical specialists in Argentina].

Introduction: The objective was to analyze the prevalence of classic CVRFs in specialist doctors and establish if there are differences by sex, age and specialty.

Materials And Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study carried out through an anonymous selfadministered survey of specialist doctors throughout the country. Sociodemographic and CVRF data were collected by self-report.

Integrated surveillance for Oropouche Virus: Molecular evidence of potential urban vectors during an outbreak in the Brazilian Amazon.

The Oropouche Virus (OROV) has Culicoides paraensis as its main vector in the urban cycle. Diagnoses of acute febrile cases and entomological collections were performed between January and April 2024 in the urban setting of Porto Velho, a city located in the western Brazilian Amazon. A total of 904 human samples were evaluated using RT-qPCR, of which 328 were positive for OROV.

Joint aerobic biodegradation of synthetic and natural textile microfibers and laundry surfactants.

Microfibers (MFs) represent one of the most prominent sources of microplastics in aquatic environments, primarily released during textile washing alongside surfactants found in laundry detergents. This study aimed to investigate the biodegradability of natural (cotton) and synthetic (polyester) MFs individually and in combination with two surfactants: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, anionic) and polyoxyethylene glycerol ester (PGE-OE6, nonionic). Using the OECD 301 F test, the research assessed biodegradation patterns and environmental interactions.

Effect of BMI on Caries Assessed by Structural Equation Modelling in an Adult Brazilian Population.

Objectives: Compare different behavioural, environmental and socioeconomic factors for caries with transversal data to decompose the direct and indirect effects of body mass index (BMI) in relation to coronal and root caries.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a representative sample of 1002 individuals aged ≥ 35 years living in Porto Alegre. Questionnaires recorded age, sex, educational level, tooth brushing frequency and access to dental services.

Pharmacological modulation of transglutaminase 2 in the unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse model.

Background: Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a multifunctional enzyme involved in fibrosis by promoting transforming-growth-factor-β1 and crosslinking of extracellular matrix proteins. These functions are dependent on the open conformation, while the closed state of TG2 can induce vasodilation. We explored the putative protective role of TG2 in its closed state on development of renal fibrosis and blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Adherence to low tidal volume in the transition to spontaneous ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure in intensive care units in Latin America (SPIRAL): a study protocol.

Objective: Patients with acute respiratory failure often require mechanical ventilation to reduce the work of breathing and improve gas exchange; however, this may exacerbate lung injury. Protective ventilation strategies, characterized by low tidal volumes (≤ 8mL/kg of predicted body weight) and limited plateau pressure below 30cmH2O, have shown improved outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, in the transition to spontaneous ventilation, it can be challenging to maintain tidal volume within protective levels, and it is unclear whether low tidal volumes during spontaneous ventilation impact patient outcomes.

Reactive oxygen species in hypertension.

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for stroke, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Multiple interacting factors and organ systems increase blood pressure and cause target-organ damage. Among the many molecular elements involved in the development of hypertension are reactive oxygen species (ROS), which influence cellular processes in systems that contribute to blood pressure elevation (such as the cardiovascular, renal, immune and central nervous systems, or the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system).

Proximal foundation anchor variations and their correlation with unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR) in children with EOS treated with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR).

Introduction: The evolution of MCGR technique has led to modifications in the configuration of the proximal construct to decrease the incidence of implant-related complications (IRC) and revision surgeries. However, there is no data characterizing the performance of the most used configurations reducing the risk of complications.

Methods: 487 patients were identified from an international multicenter EOS database.

Mechanisms of Vascular Inflammation and Potential Therapeutic Targets: A Position Paper From the ESH Working Group on Small Arteries.

Inflammatory responses in small vessels play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, stroke, and small vessel disease. This involves various complex molecular processes including oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, immune-mediated responses, and protein misfolding, which together contribute to microvascular damage. In addition, epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs influence vascular inflammation and injury.

SEC31A may be associated with pituitary hormone deficiency and gonadal dysgenesis.

Purpose: Disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) result from variants in many different human genes but, frequently, have no detectable molecular cause.

Methods: Detailed clinical and genetic phenotyping was conducted on a family with three children. A Sec31a animal model and functional studies were used to investigate the significance of the findings.

Transcriptional Stress Induces the Generation of DoGs in Cancer Cells.

A characteristic of the cellular response to stress is the production of RNAs generated from a readthrough transcription of genes, called downstream-of-gene-(DoG)-containing transcripts. Additionally, transcription inhibitor drugs are candidates for fighting cancer. In this work, we report the results of a bioinformatic analysis showing that one of the responses to transcription inhibition is the generation of DoGs in cancer cells.

Complete biodegradability assessment of polyoxyethylene glycerol ester non-ionic surfactant: Aerobic, anaerobic, combined biodegradation and inhibitory effects.

Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability have become one of the most relevant characteristics for all contaminants. This is especially important in case of surfactants, which are discharged in wastewater treatment plants or directly into the aquatic bodies. The aim of this study is the integral assessment of the biodegradability of the non-ionic surfactant polyoxyethylene glycerol ester PGE-OE.

Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticular Stress Interplay in the Vasculopathy of Hypertension.

Under physiologic conditions, reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as signalling molecules that control cell function. However, in pathologic conditions, increased generation of ROS triggers oxidative stress, which plays a role in vascular changes associated with hypertension, including endothelial dysfunction, vascular reactivity, and arterial remodelling (termed the vasculopathy of hypertension). The major source of ROS in the vascular system is NADPH oxidase (NOX).

Reverse triggering during mechanical ventilation: Diagnosis and clinical implications.

This review addresses the phenomenon of "reverse triggering", an asynchrony that occurs in deeply sedated patients or patients in transition from deep to light sedation. Reverse triggering has been reported to occur in 30-90% of all ventilated patients. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, but "entrainment" is proposed as one of them.

Recent Advances in Understanding the Mechanistic Role of Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channels in Patients With Hypertension.

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily is a group of nonselective cation channels that function as cellular sensors for a wide range of physical, chemical, and environmental stimuli. According to sequence homology, TRP channels are categorized into 6 subfamilies: TRP canonical, TRP vanilloid, TRP melastatin, TRP ankyrin, TRP mucolipin, and TRP polycystin. They are widely expressed in different cell types and tissues and have essential roles in various physiological and pathological processes by regulating the concentration of ions (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) and influencing intracellular signalling pathways.

Synthesis and Characterization of Environmentally Friendly Chitosan-Arabic Gum Nanoparticles for Encapsulation of Oregano Essential Oil in Pickering Emulsion.

The encapsulation of bioactive agents through the utilization of biodegradable nanoparticles is a topic of considerable scientific interest. In this study, microcapsules composed of chitosan (CS) and Arabic gum (GA) nanoparticles were synthesized, encapsulating oregano essential oil (OEO) through Pickering emulsions and subsequent spray drying. The optimization of hybrid chitosan and Arabic gum (CS-GA) nanoparticle formation was carried out via complex coacervation, followed by an assessment of their behavior during the formation of the emulsion.

European Network for ICU-Related Respiratory Infections (ENIRRIs): a multinational, prospective, cohort study of nosocomial LRTI.

Purpose: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are the most frequent infectious complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We aim to report the clinical characteristics of ICU-admitted patients due to nosocomial LRTI and to describe their microbiology and clinical outcomes.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 13 countries over two continents from 9th May 2016 until 16th August 2019.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces endothelial inflammation via ACE2 independently of viral replication.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a respiratory disease associated with inflammation and endotheliitis. Mechanisms underling inflammatory processes are unclear, but angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor which binds the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 may be important. Here we investigated whether spike protein binding to ACE2 induces inflammation in endothelial cells and determined the role of ACE2 in this process.

Epidemiology, patterns of care and prognosis of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: A multicenter study in Argentina (The EPIRA study).

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in the intensive care unit (ICU). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), epidemiological information about this condition is still scarce. Our main objective was to characterize its epidemiology, prognosis, and its treatment.

Risk of COVID-19 in people with multiple sclerosis who are seronegative following vaccination.

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) treated with certain disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have attenuated IgG response following COVID-19 vaccination; however, the clinical consequences remain unclear.

Objective: To report COVID-19 rates in pwMS according to vaccine serology.

Methods: PwMS with available (1) serology 2-12 weeks following COVID-19 vaccine 2 and/or vaccine 3 and (2) clinical data on COVID-19 infection/hospitalisation were included.

Impact of Environmental Factors on Hypertension and Associated Cardiovascular Disease.

Hypertension is the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases and is responsible for nearly 9 million deaths worldwide annually. Increasing evidence indicates that in addition to pathophysiologic processes, numerous environmental factors, such as geographic location, lifestyle choices, socioeconomic status, and cultural practices, influence the risk, progression, and severity of hypertension, even in the absence of genetic risk factors. In this review, we discuss the impact of some environmental determinants on hypertension.

The importance of microvascular inflammation in ageing and age-related diseases: a position paper from the ESH working group on small arteries, section of microvascular inflammation.

Microcirculation is pervasive and orchestrates a profound regulatory cross-talk with the surrounding tissue and organs. Similarly, it is one of the earliest biological systems targeted by environmental stressors and consequently involved in the development and progression of ageing and age-related disease. Microvascular dysfunction, if not targeted, leads to a steady derangement of the phenotype, which cumulates comorbidities and eventually results in a nonrescuable, very high-cardiovascular risk.

Nondestructive Methods of Pathogen Detection: Importance of Mosquito Integrity in Studies of Disease Transmission and Control.

Mosquitoes are vectors of many pathogens, including viruses, protozoans, and helminths, spreading these pathogens to humans as well as to wild and domestic animals. As the identification of species and the biological characterization of mosquito vectors are cornerstones for understanding patterns of disease transmission, and the design of control strategies, we conducted a literature review on the current use of noninvasive and nondestructive techniques for pathogen detection in mosquitoes, highlighting the importance of their taxonomic status and systematics, and some gaps in the knowledge of their vectorial capacity. Here, we summarized the alternative techniques for pathogen detection in mosquitoes based on both laboratory and field studies.