MULTIFOCAL CHOROIDITIS IN DISSEMINATED SPOROTRICHOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH HIV/AIDS.

Purpose: In this article, the authors describe multifocal choroiditis related to disseminated sporotrichosis in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of three patients infected with HIV who presented with disseminated sporotrichosis characterized by cutaneous lesions, multifocal choroiditis, and other manifestations, including osteomyelitis and involvement of the bone marrow, larynx, pharynx, and nasal and oral mucosa.

Results: Five eyes of three patients with HIV/AIDS showed multifocal choroiditis related to disseminated sporotrichosis.

Detection of mumps virus genotype H in two previously vaccinated patients from Mexico City.

Infections caused by mumps virus (MuV) have been successfully prevented through vaccination; however, in recent years, an increasing number of mumps outbreaks have been reported within vaccinated populations. In this study, MuV was genotyped for the first time in Mexico. Saliva samples were obtained from two previously vaccinated patients in Mexico City who had developed parotitis.

The Mexican experience in monitoring and evaluation of public policies addressing social determinants of health.

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) have gradually become important and regular components of the policy-making process in Mexico since, and even before, the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) called for interventions and policies aimed at tackling the social determinants of health (SDH). This paper presents two case studies to show how public policies addressing the SDH have been monitored and evaluated in Mexico using reliable, valid, and complete information, which is not regularly available. Prospera, for example, evaluated programs seeking to improve the living conditions of families in extreme poverty in terms of direct effects on health, nutrition, education and income.

Face, Content, and Construct Validity of Brain Tumor Microsurgery Simulation Using a Human Placenta Model.

Background: Brain tumors are complex 3-dimensional lesions. Their resection involves training and the use of the multiple microsurgical techniques available for removal. Simulation models, with haptic and visual realism, may be useful for improving the bimanual technical skills of neurosurgical residents and neurosurgeons, potentially decreasing surgical errors and thus improving patient outcomes.

Validity, reliability and responsiveness to change of the Italian palliative care outcome scale: a multicenter study of advanced cancer patients.

Background: There is an increasing requirement to assess outcomes, but few measures have been tested for advanced medical illness. We aimed to test the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS), and to analyse predictors of change after the transition to palliative care.

Methods: Phase 1: multicentre, mixed method study comprising cognitive and qualitative interviews with patients and staff, cultural refinement and adaption.

Pilocarpine-induced seizures trigger differential regulation of microRNA-stability related genes in rat hippocampal neurons.

Epileptogenesis in the temporal lobe elicits regulation of gene expression and protein translation, leading to reorganization of neuronal networks. In this process, miRNAs were described as being regulated in a cell-specific manner, although mechanistics of miRNAs activity are poorly understood. The specificity of miRNAs on their target genes depends on their intracellular concentration, reflecting the balance of biosynthesis and degradation.

Leptin regulates energy metabolism in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Obesity is known to be a poorer prognosis factor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Among the diverse endocrine factors associated to obesity, leptin has received special attention since it promotes breast cancer cell growth and invasiveness, processes which force cells to adapt their metabolism to satisfy the increased demands of energy and biosynthetic intermediates. Taking this into account, our aim was to explore the effects of leptin in the metabolism of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Effect of silorane-based adhesive system on bond strength between composite and dentin substrate.

Context: The complexities of the oral environment, the dentin substrate, and the different bond and composite resin systems represent a challenge to the maintenance of reasonable bond between the composite resin and the tooth structure.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of the adhesive system on bond strength between silorane-based composite resin and dentin.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen human molars extracted were selected and vertically cut into 3 dentin fragments, randomly divided among the experimental groups and restored with Z250 and P90 composite resin using different adhesive protocols (Adper Single Bond 2, Silorano primer, Adper SE Plus, and Scotchbond Multiuse).

Measurement of dijet azimuthal decorrelation in pp collisions at [Formula: see text].

A measurement of the decorrelation of azimuthal angles between the two jets with the largest transverse momenta is presented for seven regions of leading jet transverse momentum up to 2.2[Formula: see text]. The analysis is based on the proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 8[Formula: see text] corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.

Measurement of the differential cross section and charge asymmetry for inclusive [Formula: see text] production at [Formula: see text] TeV.

The differential cross section and charge asymmetry for inclusive [Formula: see text] production at [Formula: see text] are measured as a function of muon pseudorapidity. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 18.8[Formula: see text] recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC.

Theory of Mind and the Whole Brain Functional Connectivity: Behavioral and Neural Evidences with the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire.

A topic of common interest to psychologists and philosophers is the spontaneous flow of thoughts when the individual is awake but not involved in cognitive demands. This argument, classically referred to as the "stream of consciousness" of James, is now known in the psychological literature as "Mind-Wandering." Although of great interest, this construct has been scarcely investigated so far.

Surgical site infections in oncologic orthopaedic prosthetics surgery.

Background: Literature reports an incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in oncological patients undergoing prosthetic replacement between 8% and 35% after first implantation and 43% after revision. The purpose of this retrospective study, conducted at the oncologic orthopaedic unit of G. Pini Orthopaedic Hospital in Milan, was to evaluate: - number of SSIs in oncological megaprosthetic reconstruction between 2008 and 2011, - possible risk factors associated with the onset of SSIs, - antibiotic prophylaxis applied.

Mind-Reading Ability and Structural Connectivity Changes in Aging.

The Mind-Reading ability through the eyes is an important component of the affective Theory of Mind (ToM), which allows people to infer the other's mental state from the eye gaze. The aim of the present study was to investigate to which extent age-associated structural brain changes impact this ability and to determine if this association is related to executive functions in elderly subjects. For this purpose, Magnetic Resonance Imaging was used to determine both gray matter and white matter (WM) areas associated with aging.

Multiple Goals and Homework Involvement in Elementary School Students.

This work arises from the need to investigate the role of motivational variables in homework involvement and academic achievement of elementary school students. The aims of this study are twofold: identifying the different combinations of student academic goals and analyzing the differences in homework involvement and academic achievement. The sample was composed of 535 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students, between the ages of 9 and 13 years old.

Predicting approach to homework in Primary school students.

Background: The goal of this research was to study the weight of student variables related to homework (intrinsic homework motivation, perceived homework instrumentality, homework attitude, time spent on homework, and homework time management) and context (teacher feedback on homework and parental homework support) in the prediction of approaches to homework.

Method: 535 students of the last three courses of primary education participated in the study. Data were analyzed with hierarchical regression models and path analysis.

Epidemiology and Characteristics of Episodic Breathlessness in Advanced Cancer Patients: An Observational Study.

Context: Episodic breathlessness is a relevant aspect in patients with advanced cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the different aspects of this clinical phenomenon.

Methods: A consecutive sample of patients with advanced cancer admitted to different settings for a period of six months was surveyed.

Alkaline quinone flow battery.

Storage of photovoltaic and wind electricity in batteries could solve the mismatch problem between the intermittent supply of these renewable resources and variable demand. Flow batteries permit more economical long-duration discharge than solid-electrode batteries by using liquid electrolytes stored outside of the battery. We report an alkaline flow battery based on redox-active organic molecules that are composed entirely of Earth-abundant elements and are nontoxic, nonflammable, and safe for use in residential and commercial environments.

Differences between the real and the desired worlds in the results of clinical trials.

Objective: We refer to the effectiveness (known as pragmatic or real world) and efficacy (known as explanatory or desired or ideal world) of interventions. However, these terms seem to be randomly chosen by investigators who design clinical trials and do not always reflect the true purpose of the study. A pragmatic-explanatory continuum indicator summary tool was thus developed with the aim of identifying the characteristics of clinical trials that distinguish between effectiveness and efficacy issues.

Oleate Abrogates Palmitate-Induced Lipotoxicity and Proinflammatory Response in Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Osteoblastic Cells.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease associated with unequilibrated bone remodeling resulting from decreased bone formation and/or increased bone resorption, leading to progressive bone loss. In osteoporotic patients, low bone mass is associated with an increase of bone marrow fat resulting from accumulation of adipocytes within the bone marrow. Marrow adipocytes are active secretory cells, releasing cytokines, adipokines and free fatty acids (FA) that influence the bone marrow microenvironment and alter the biology of neighboring cells.

Sleep Disturbances in Patients With Advanced Cancer in Different Palliative Care Settings.

Context: Information regarding sleep disturbances in the population with advanced cancer is meager.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances and possible correlations with associated factors in a large number of patients with advanced cancer admitted to different palliative care settings.

Methods: This was an observational study performed in different settings of palliative care.

Influence of parameter values on the oscillation sensitivities of two p53-Mdm2 models.

Biomolecular networks that present oscillatory behavior are ubiquitous in nature. While some design principles for robust oscillations have been identified, it is not well understood how these oscillations are affected when the kinetic parameters are constantly changing or are not precisely known, as often occurs in cellular environments. Many models of diverse complexity level, for systems such as circadian rhythms, cell cycle or the p53 network, have been proposed.

Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Peptide Prevents Serum Deprivation-Induced Apoptosis in Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Osteoblastic Cells.

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC) are able to differentiate into cells of connective tissue lineages, including bone and cartilage. They are therefore considered as a promising tool for the treatment of bone degenerative diseases. One of the major issues in regenerative cell therapy is the biosafety of fetal bovine serum used for cell culture.