Worldwide comparison of carbon stocks and fluxes between native and non-native forests.

Climate change is one of the main challenges that human societies are currently facing. Given that forests represent major natural carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems, administrations worldwide are launching broad-scale programs to promote forests, including stands of non-native trees. Yet, non-native trees may have profound impacts on the functions and services of forest ecosystems, including the carbon cycle, as they may differ widely from native trees in structural and functional characteristics.

Prostate-derived circulating microRNAs add prognostic value to prostate cancer risk calculators.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of malignancy-related deaths among American men. Active surveillance is a safe option for many men with less aggressive disease, yet definitively determining low-risk cancer is challenging with biopsy alone. Herein, we sought to identify prostate-derived microRNAs in patient sera and serum extracellular vesicles, and determine if those microRNAs improve upon the current clinical risk calculators for prostate cancer prognosis before and after biopsy.

Selective intrauterine growth restriction without concomitant twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, natural history, and risk factors for fetal death: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the natural history of selective intrauterine growth restriction in monochorionic twin pregnancies based on the Gratacós classification, including progression of, improvement in, or stability of umbilical artery Dopplers and progression to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or twin anemia polycythemia syndrome. We also aimed to investigate risk factors for smaller twin demise.

Data Sources: A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies published in English up to June 2022 using the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science STUDY ELIGIBILITY: We used retrospective and prospective studies published in English that reported on selective intrauterine growth restriction without concomitant twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

"Long-term oncologic outcomes and risk factors for distant recurrence after pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. A nationwide, multicentre study".

Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) after multimodal treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is used as surrogate marker of success as it is assumed to correlate with improved oncologic outcome. However, long-term oncologic data are scarce.

Methods: This retrospective, multicentre study updated the oncologic follow-up of prospectively collected data from the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project database.

Insights into the Genetic Diversity of in Panama, Inferred via Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST).

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the genus and transmitted by sand fly vectors. Tegumentary leishmaniasis is the most prevalent clinical outcome in Latin America, afflicting people from 18 countries. In Panama, the annual incidence rate of leishmaniasis is as high as 3000 cases, representing a major public health problem.

Prostate-derived circulating microRNAs add prognostic value to prostate cancer risk calculators.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of malignancy-related deaths among American men. Active surveillance is a safe option for many men with less aggressive disease, yet definitively determining low-risk cancer is challenging with biopsy alone. Herein, we sought to identify prostate-derived microRNAs in patient sera and serum extracellular vesicles, and determine if those microRNAs improve upon the current clinical risk calculators for prostate cancer prognosis before and after biopsy.

Detection of Leishmania RNA Virus 1 in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Isolates, Panama.

We detected Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) in 11 isolates of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis collected during 2014-2019 from patients from different geographic areas in Panama. The distribution suggested a spread of LRV1 in L. (V.

Pedicle myiasis by Lucilia caesar (Diptera, Calliphoridae): An emerging disease in roe deer from north-western Spain.

A total of 35 male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Lugo province (north-western Spain) were examined for pedicle myiasis between 2020 and 2022. All these animals had died by different causes and were examined or preserved just after their death to avoid post-mortem infestations. After external and internal head inspection, five animals were diagnosed with severe myiasis at the basis of the antlers (14.

From dark to darkness, negative phototropism influences the support-tree location of the massive woody climber (Hydrangeaceae) in a Chilean temperate rainforest.

Climbing plants rely on suitable support to provide the light conditions they require in the canopy. Negative phototropism is a directional search behavior proposed to detect a support-tree, which indicates growth or movement away from light, based on light attenuation. In a Chilean temperate rainforest, we addressed whether the massive woody climber (H.

Characterization of spp. Causing Cutaneous Lesions with a Negative Parasitological Diagnosis in Panama.

A total of 123 DNA samples from Panamanian patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions were evaluated. These samples were previously confirmed with CL by a specific KDNA-Viannia PCR but had a negative parasitological diagnosis (Group A). Epidemiological variables, such as age, sex, geographic origin, evolution time, and the number and location of the lesions, were analyzed.

Specificity of (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) infections in odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast.

Parasites extracted from the lungs and the pterygoid sinus complex of 6 species of odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast (Northeast Atlantic) between 2009 and 2019 were morphologically identified. The samples belonged to 14 specimens, including 3 harbour porpoises, , 6 short-finned pilot whales, , 1 long-finned pilot whale, , 1 Risso's dolphin, , 1 striped dolphin, and 2 bottlenose dolphins, . All animals (14/14) were infected by nematodes of the genus spp.

First report of imported canine visceral leishmaniasis cases in Panama, Central America: Public health implications.

According to the last leishmaniasis report from the Pan American Health Organization (2021) so far Panama is considered free of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Although the presence of potential vectors and reservoirs involved in the VL transmission cycle have been described in some rural regions of the country, no cases have been reported in humans and domestic or wild animals. Dogs play an important role in the urban transmission of VL; therefore, it is important to detect possible cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the country.

Genetic Diversity of in Panama Inferred by Multi-locus Sequence Typing of Mitochondrial Genes.

The objective of this study was to provide information on genetic diversity among isolates obtained from different biological sources circulating in endemic areas of Panama. Initial discrete typing units (DTUs) assignment was performed evaluating three single locus molecular markers (mini-exon, heat shock protein 60 and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase genes). Further diversity within TcI lineages was explored using a multi-locus sequence typing approach with six maxicircle genes.

CD47 interactions with exportin-1 limit the targeting of mG-modified RNAs to extracellular vesicles.

CD47 is a marker of self and a signaling receptor for thrombospondin-1 that is also a component of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by various cell types. Previous studies identified CD47-dependent functional effects of T cell EVs on target cells, mediated by delivery of their RNA contents, and enrichment of specific subsets of coding and noncoding RNAs in CD47 EVs. Mass spectrometry was employed here to identify potential mechanisms by which CD47 regulates the trafficking of specific RNAs to EVs.

Genetic Diversity in Panama: Challenges for Malaria Elimination in Mesoamerica.

Panama and all nations within the Mesoamerican region have committed to eliminate malaria within this decade. With more than 90% of the malaria cases in this region caused by , an efficient national/regional elimination plan must include a comprehensive study of this parasite's genetic diversity. Here, we retrospectively analyzed genetic diversity in autochthonous and imported field isolates collected in different endemic regions in Panama from 2007 to 2020, using highly polymorphic markers (, -1, and -3α).

Psychiatry's Dark Secrets: Black Lives Don't Matter.

There have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders; however, racial disparities continue to create inequity in mental health care. In this commentary, we explore mental health disparities disfavoring African Americans in the psychiatric literature. We discuss how discrimination over time has resulted in a difference of perception, misdiagnoses, and conflicts in patient care.

Macrophage Polarization in the Skin Lesion Caused by Neotropical Species of sp.

Macrophages play important roles in the innate and acquired immune responses against parasites. Depending on the subset and activation status, macrophages may eliminate intracellular parasites; however, these host cells also can offer a safe environment for replication. In this sense, the fate of the parasite may be influenced by the phenotype of the infected macrophage, linked to the subtype of classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2) macrophages.

Evaluation of cytochrome b sequence to identify Leishmania species and variants: the case of Panama.

Background: The genetic heterogeneity of Leishmania parasites is a major factor responsible for the wide variety of Leishmania-associated manifestations. Consequently, understanding the genetic make-up of Leishmania species using suitable molecular markers is an important component of realising local and regional scale disease risk. The cytochrome b (cytb) is frequently used to type New World Leishmania species.

Correction: Mixed infections by different Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units among Chagas disease patients in an endemic community in Panama.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.