Assessing the Influence of Urine pH on the Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Fosfomycin in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Murine Models of and Infection in the Lower Urinary Tract.

In vitro studies have suggested that acidic pH may reduce and increase the efficacy of ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin, respectively, when used to treat and infections. We assessed the effects of acidic, neutral, and alkaline urine pH on the efficacy of optimized ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin dosages in UTI murine model of and . Immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice with adjusted urine pH were inoculated with and strains, and the efficacy was assessed based on the bacterial concentrations in tissues and fluids at 72 h, with respect to untreated controls.

Mitomycin C as an Anti-Persister Strategy against Toxicity and Synergy Studies.

The combination of several therapeutic strategies is often seen as a good way to decrease resistance rates, since bacteria can more easily overcome single-drug treatments than multi-drug ones. This strategy is especially attractive when several targets and subpopulations are affected, as it is the case of persister cells, a subpopulation of bacteria able to transiently survive antibiotic exposures. This work aims to evaluate the potential of a repurposed anticancer drug, mitomycin C, combined with the lytic phage vB_KpnM-VAC13 in vitro and its safety in an in vivo murine model against two clinical isolates of this pathogen, one of them exhibiting an imipenem-persister phenotype.

Patient journey, disease burden, and functional disability in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in South Africa: results of International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS).

Objective: To assess the unmet needs of South Africans with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) focusing on the patient journey, functional disability, and health-related quality of life.

Methods: One hundred forty-six South African axSpA patients completed the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) online survey. Patient journey, functional disability, activities of daily living, and psychological stress were analyzed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, disease activity, diagnostic delay, extra-musculoskeletal manifestations, and drug therapy.

Role of Nutrients Regulating Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in Cancer: A Scoping Review.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature cells with an immunosuppressive function. MDSCs have been related to inflammation in many settings, including infections, transplantation, obesity, aging, or cancer. In oncological settings, MDSCs participate in tumor immunoescape, growth, and metastasis.

Innovation Inspired by Nature: Applications of Biomimicry in Engineering Design.

Sustainable development is increasingly driving the trend toward the application of biomimicry as a strategy to generate environmentally friendly solutions in the design of industrial products. Nature-inspired design can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by improving efficiency and minimizing the environmental impact of each design. This research conducted an analysis of available biomimetic knowledge, highlighting the most applied tools and methodologies in each industrial sector.

Analysis of patient referrals from primary care to ophthalmology. The role of the optometrist.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the quality of primary care referrals of patients to ophthalmology at the Virgen Macarena Hospital in Seville. This will enable us to optimize ophthalmologic resources and to evaluate the role of the optometrist in improving referrals.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional review of 220 ophthalmology consultations referred from primary care to the hospital from March to May 2022.

Equity in education for migrant and racialized students in Southern Spain: From multilevel analysis to participatory recommendations.

This paper aims to analyze equity in education policies and practices in Southern Spain that ensure cultural competence in services and the inclusion of migrant and racialized students. Our model for defining and analyzing equity in education was adapted from the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and includes five dimensions: (E1) equity in mission/goal, (E2) equity in access, (E3) quality/sensitivity of services, (E4) equity in participation, and (E5) development of partnerships and opportunities. Through transformative mixed methods (i.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychotropic prescribing: a systematic review.

Objectives: The global prevalence of mental health disorders has risen significantly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has additionally caused disruption to mental health services, leading to a shift from in-person to remote service delivery. Given its long-term impact, it has become critical to evaluate whether changes in health delivery during the pandemic have had an effect on prescribing patterns for commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs.

Sex-Stratified Genome-Wide Association Study in the Spanish Population Identifies a Novel Locus for Lacunar Stroke.

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) represents a significant health burden globally, necessitating a better understanding of its genetic underpinnings to improve prevention and treatment strategies. Despite advances in IS genetics, studies focusing on the Spanish population and sex-stratified analyses are lacking.

Methods: A case-control genome-wide association study was conducted with 9081 individuals (3493 IS cases and 5588 healthy controls).

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Managing Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Needle-Related Procedures: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The most frequently performed invasive procedures in hospitals and healthcare centers are needle-related procedures, such as intravenous cannulation and phlebotomy, and they are identified as the major sources of pain, fear, and anxiety in children and adolescents. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR as a distraction measure to reduce pain, fear, and anxiety in children and adolescents undergoing needle-related invasive procedures. For this purpose, the CINAHL, Scopus, WOS, and Cochrane Library scientific databases were used.

Influential Relationship Questionnaire (IRQ): psychometric characteristics of an abbreviated Spanish version.

Background: The relevance of family relationships in the outcome of various disorders has been highlighted from different domains. Specifically, empirical studies on the relationship between the outcome of schizophrenia and various affective dimensions of family relationships have allowed the identification of particularly relevant aspects: criticism, hostility, and over-protection.

Aims: The present study aims to adapt and validate an abbreviated Spanish version of the Influential Relationship Questionnaire (IRQ), an instrument that measures the patient's own perception of the affective dimensions of family relationships.

An in-depth analysis of data reduction methods for sustainable deep learning.

In recent years, deep learning has gained popularity for its ability to solve complex classification tasks. It provides increasingly better results thanks to the development of more accurate models, the availability of huge volumes of data and the improved computational capabilities of modern computers. However, these improvements in performance also bring efficiency problems, related to the storage of datasets and models, and to the waste of energy and time involved in both the training and inference processes.

Accentuated eccentric resistance training: Effects on physical performance in male and female athletes.

This study aimed to compare the effects of an accentuated eccentric training programme on physical performance between men and women. Distributed in two groups by gender, 21 male and 21 female athletes performed four sets of seven repetitions of the half-squat exercise twice per week for 6 weeks. Both groups lifted the same absolute load using a rotary inertial device.

Exercise interventions for self-perceived body image, self-esteem and self-efficacy in women diagnosed with breast cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regressions.

Purpose: To synthesise the effectiveness of exercise interventions on self-perceived body image, self-esteem and self-efficacy in women diagnosed with breast cancer who are undergoing or have completed primary adjuvant treatments.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted with meta-analysis and meta-regressions. Five electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2023, and hand searches were performed to explore the reference lists of similar systematic reviews.

Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease: Global Cognition, Cue Efficiency, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light Values Predict Short-Term Conversion to Dementia.

Background: Predicting which patients with prodromal AD (pAD) will imminently convert to dementia may be paramount in a memory clinical setting, especially with potential disease-modifying therapies on the horizon.

Objective: To explore a practical tool for this prediction, combining cognitive tests and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers.

Methods: We designed a longitudinal prospective, observational, and multicenter study, enrolling patients with pAD.

Long-term outcomes of primary ventral hernia repair associated with rectus diastasis.

Primary ventral hernia repair is a common global surgical procedure, entailing economic burdens and recurrence challenges. Rectus diastasis (RD) is considered a risk factor for midline defects and treatment is symptom-based. When primary ventral hernia and RD coexist, management still remains unclear.

Nursing students' perceptions and satisfaction with a self-learning methodology in simulated environments: A mixed-methods study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and satisfaction of last-year nursing students with the Self-Learning Methodology in Simulated Environments (MAES©).

Background: As a learning method, clinical simulation uses elements that replicate real clinical practice scenarios and facilitates the acquisition of competencies and learning objectives. Simulations promote critical thinking, knowledge, techniques and teamwork in nursing students.

Optimizing a biorefinery design for the valorization of Rugulopteryx okamurae by extracting bioactive compounds and enhancing methane production.

The Mediterranean Sea has suffered recently from the unprecedent invasion of the alien macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae due to global warming and climate change putting at risk the natural local ecosystem. Since 2015 this alga has colonized a great area on the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea and it has been also spotted in other areas such as the Azores Islands or the south of France. The arrival of alga tides into the coasts also provokes collateral environmental problems that need to be addressed.

An Update on the Survival of the First 50 Face Transplants Worldwide.

Importance: Since 2005, a total of 50 face transplants have been reported from 18 centers in 11 countries. The overall survival of the grafts has not yet been established.

Objective: To assess the survival of the face transplant grafts and evaluate factors potentially influencing it.

Opportunities and challenges with G-quadruplexes as promising targets for drug design.

Introduction: G-quadruplexes (G4s) are secondary structures formed in guanine-rich regions of nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA). G4s are significantly enriched at regulatory genomic regions and are associated with important biological processes ranging from telomere homeostasis and genome instability to transcription and translation. Importantly, G4s are related to health and diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, as well as infections with viruses and microbial pathogens.

A multicomponent smoking cessation program for adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ( project): A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Tobacco use represents a significant public health burden, being especially harmful for smokers with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Effective smoking cessation interventions are required for this vulnerable population. The goal is to describe a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at analyzing the effectiveness and efficiency of a multicomponent smoking cessation intervention for T2DM smokers, including a training protocol on healthy lifestyle habits and self-management of T2DM ( project).

NKG2C and NKG2A coexpression defines a highly functional antiviral NK population in spontaneous HIV control.

Elite controllers (ECs), a unique group of people with HIV (PWH), exhibit remarkable control of viral replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. In this study, we comprehensively characterized the NK cell repertoire in ECs after long-term viral control. Phenotypic profiling of NK cells revealed profound differences compared with other PWH, but marked similarities to uninfected individuals, with a distinctive prevalence of NKG2C+CD57+ memory-like NK cells.

Enhanced Recognition Memory through Dual Modulation of Brain Carbonic Anhydrases and Cholinesterases.

This study introduces a novel multitargeting strategy that combines carbonic anhydrase (CA) activators and cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors to enhance cognitive functions. A series of tacrine-based derivatives with amine/amino acid moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their dual activity on brain CA isoforms and ChEs (AChE and BChE). Several derivatives, notably compounds , , , and , demonstrated potent CA activation, particularly of hCA II and VII, and strong ChE inhibition with subnanomolar to low nanomolar IC values.