Quality of life in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Latin American countries.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). It is characterized by dyspnoea and a progressive decline in lung function, which negatively affects life. This study aimed to evaluate Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in IPF patients in Latin American countries.

Expression of Lumican and Osteopontin in Perivascular Areas of the Glioblastoma Peritumoral Niche and Its Value for Prognosis.

Glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers due to its complex tumor microenvironment (TME). We previously showed that GB progression is dependent on the aberrant induction of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in pericytes (PCs), which promotes TME immunosuppression through the PC secretome. The secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins with anti-tumor (Lumican) and pro-tumoral (Osteopontin, OPN) properties was shown to be dependent on the regulation of GB-induced CMA in PCs.

Diet therapy abates mutant APC and KRas effects by reshaping plasma membrane cholesterol nanodomains.

Cholesterol-enriched plasma membrane domains are known to serve as signaling platforms in a diverse array of cellular processes. However, the link between cholesterol homeostasis and mutant APC-KRas-associated colorectal tumorigenesis remains to be established. Thus, we investigated the impact of Apc-Kras on 1) colonocyte plasma membrane cholesterol homeostasis, order, and receptor nanoclustering, 2) colonocyte cell proliferation, and 3) whether these effects are modulated by select membrane active dietaries (MADs).

Graphical Dirichlet Process for Clustering Non-Exchangeable Grouped Data.

We consider the problem of clustering grouped data with possibly non-exchangeable groups whose dependencies can be characterized by a known directed acyclic graph. To allow the sharing of clusters among the non-exchangeable groups, we propose a Bayesian nonparametric approach, termed graphical Dirichlet process, that jointly models the dependent group-specific random measures by assuming each random measure to be distributed as a Dirichlet process whose concentration parameter and base probability measure depend on those of its parent groups. The resulting joint stochastic process respects the Markov property of the directed acyclic graph that links the groups.

Freytag's dramatic structure: Reflections on designing and delivering impactful trainings.

While many student leadership educators facilitate trainings, research has shown most never actually learn how to design and deliver impactful experiences. This article provides a proven framework for consistently designing and delivering high-impact, high-engagement, and high-enjoyment trainings that leverage experiential learning and reflective dialogue. The "Training Story" method is based on the dramatic structure introduced by German playwright Gustav Freytag (1895).

Evolution During Bottle Ageing of Wines Macerated with Toasted Vine-Shoots and Micro-Oxygenation.

The effects of SEGs ("Shoot from vines-Enological-Granule") on winemaking within the same variety are well established. However, the interaction of different SEG varieties combined with micro-oxygenation (MOX) and its subsequent evolution in the bottle has not been investigated to date. In this work, Tempranillo wines were treated with two doses of SEGs from Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon (12 and 24 g/L) and subjected to two fixed MOX doses (LOTR, 6.

Effect of micro-oxygenation on color of wines made with toasted vine-shoots.

Background: Toasted vine-shoots (SEGs) are an enological tool to improve wines, to differentiate them, and to encourage sustainable wine production. Micro-oxygenation (MOX) is typically combined with the use of alternative oak products to simulate the oxygen transmission rate of traditional barrel aging, affecting wine color. Its use alongside SEGs has been studied.

Socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 mortality in immune-mediated rheumatic diseases patients: regional analysis from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a major international issue, not only from a medical point of view, but also social, economic and political. Most of the available information comes from the United States, Europe, and China, where the population and the socioeconomic status are very different from Latin American countries. This study evaluates the effect of regional socioeconomic characteristics on mortality due SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD) from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.

Mechanosensing by Piezo1 regulates osteoclast differentiation via PP2A-Akt axis in periodontitis.

Unlabelled: Mechanical stimulus to the multicellular bone unit (MBU) plays a key role in normal bone remodeling, whereas disuse osteoporosis, for example, represents loss of bone owing to lack of mechanical stresses. The analogy can be applied to a variety of pathogenic bone lytic complications, including periodontitis, in which local mechanical stress appears to be diminished. The activation of mechanosensitive Piezo1 Ca channel expressed by osteoblasts and osteocytes in the MBU elicits the osteogenic signals in those cells.

Managing laboratory test ordering: a challenge in the new laboratory medicine model.

Introduction: The role of Laboratory Medicine in patient care has evolved in the last decades. The same has occurred to the laboratory model, which has evolved from a traditional model where the laboratory is merely involved in clinical decision-making to a leading model where the laboratory is not only involved but also determines decision-making. The advent of new technologies and automation of processes have enabled laboratory professionals to focus on the first and last phase of the analytical process namely, test ordering and decision-making based on laboratory results.

Identification of HIV infection in two solid organ recipients three years after transplantation.

Routine screening of organ donors to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has detected the rare transmission of the virus through organ transplantation. However, despite routine screening, HIV transmission remains a risk in organ transplantation since, unlike tissues, solid organs cannot be processed, disinfected, or modified to inactivate infectious pathogens. A case of possible transmission of HIV by organ transplant is described below, from a previously seronegative donor to two recipients.

A step forward in the diagnosis of urinary tract infections: from machine learning to clinical practice.

Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infections within the Emergency Department (ED), causing increased laboratory workloads and unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions. The aim of this study was to improve UTI diagnostics in clinical practice by application of machine learning (ML) models for real-time UTI prediction.

Methods: In a retrospective study, patient information and outcomes from Emergency Department patients, with positive and negative culture results, were used to design models - 'Random Forest' and 'Neural Network' - for the prediction of UTIs.

Outcomes of a Self-Management Program for People with Non-Communicable Diseases in the Context of COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the online version of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on physical activity and depressive symptoms in individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Mexico and Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: Quasi-experimental study with a non-probability sample of 114 people with NCDs, recruited by invitation in Mexico and by convenience in Peru. The participants were assigned to intervention (n = 85) and control (n = 29) groups.

Addressing Breast Cancer Equity Through Virtual Community Oncology Navigation and Engagement (vCONET).

Background: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, Black women face significant disparities in screening mammograms, experience higher rates of breast cancer at advanced stages, and are more likely to die from the disease.

Aims: This study aimed to develop and beta-test a virtual health navigation program to enhance breast cancer care within the Black community.

Lessons learned from patients' weight-related medical encounters: Results from 34 interviews.

Objectives: How to best care for larger-bodied patients is a complicated issue in modern medicine. The present study seeks to inform current medical practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality and evidence-based care through the examination of higher-weight patients' experiences with weight-related care.

Methods: Higher-weight patients (N = 34) completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences and recommendations for weight-related care.

The psychosocial impact of prostate cancer screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers.

Objectives: To report the long-term outcomes from a longitudinal psychosocial study that forms part of the 'Identification of Men with a genetic predisposition to ProstAte Cancer: Targeted Screening in men at higher genetic risk and controls' (IMPACT) study. The IMPACT study is a multi-national study of targeted prostate cancer (PrCa) screening in individuals with a known germline pathogenic variant (GPV) in either the BReast CAncer gene 1 (BRCA1) or the BReast CAncer gene 2 (BRCA2).

Subjects And Methods: Participants enrolled in the IMPACT study were invited to complete a psychosocial questionnaire prior to each annual screening visit for a minimum of 5 years.

Management of procalcitonin test overuse in an emergency department through a computer algorithm.

Objectives: To show the procalcitonin (PCT) test demand from an emergency department (ED) over several years, to decrease PCT measurement via a computerized algorithm based on C-reactive protein (CRP) value, and to evaluate the subsequent economic savings.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was performed from January 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, to evaluate an intervention to avoid PCT measurement in the ED of Hospital Universitario San Juan in Alicante in Spain, when CRP values are low.

Methods: A PCT result of at least 1.

Applying Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking in the Screening for Molecular Mechanisms of Ampalaya ( L.) and Banaba ( L.) against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background And Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern affecting more than 400 million people worldwide. Diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular complications lead to debilitating effects to patients. To prevent these, the treatment goal is to lower the blood sugar levels and maintain at a normal range which is achieved through conventional treatments like insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents.

2024 SIAC guidelines on cardiorespiratory rehabilitation in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease.

The 2024 Interamerican Society of Cardiology (SIAC) guidelines on cardiorespiratory rehabilitation (CRR) in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease aim to gather and evaluate all relevant evidence available on the topic to unify criteria and promote the implementation of CRR programs in this population in Latin America and other parts of the world. Currently, there is no unified CRR model for the pediatric population. Consequently, our goal was to create these CRR guidelines adapted to the characteristics of congenital heart disease and the physiology of this population, as well as to the realities of Latin America.

Gastrointestinal digestion of olive leaf waste from olive mill production chain in a simulator of the gastrointestinal tract.

Background: Currently, olive leaves are considered waste, although their high phenolic content makes them a source of antioxidants that could be used directly. The aim of this work was to study the behavior of phenolic compounds contained in olive leaf from the olive mill production chain during their gastrointestinal digestion.

Results: Phenolic compounds in the gastric digestion analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry increased by 58% to 314.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of artificial intelligence versus clinicians for skin cancer diagnosis.

Scientific research of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology has increased exponentially. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the performance of AI algorithms for skin cancer classification in comparison to clinicians with different levels of expertise. Based on PRISMA guidelines, 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were screened for relevant articles up to August 2022.