Rheumatoid arthritis and PLA2R-associated mebranous nephropathy. Cause or coincidence?

Key Clinical Message: The coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) is uncommon. It is difficult to demonstrate whether the mechanisms of renal pathology are triggered by RA, but it has been observed that the pro-inflammatory molecules present in RA increase the expression of PLA2R. Rituximab could be effective in both conditions.

Neutrophils as indicators of obesity-associated inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the suitability of routine blood neutrophil values as indicators of obesity-associated inflammation.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assess absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values in subjects with and without obesity and analyze the weight of both parameters on the disease. Additionally, correlation studies between ANC and NLR with BMI, a parameter internationally accepted to define obesity are performed.

Hypothalamic Regulation of Cardiorespiratory Functions: Insights into the Dorsomedial and Perifornical Pathways.

The plays a pivotal role in the orchestration of sympathetic nervous system activities. Through its projections to the brainstem and pontomedullary nuclei, it controls heart rate, contractility, blood pressure, and respiratory activity, such as timing and volumes. The DMH integrates inputs from higher brain centers and processes these signals in order to modulate autonomic outflow accordingly.

Recombinant soluble type I interferon receptor exerts antiviral activity by inducing proteins related to autophagy.

Unlabelled: The soluble type I IFN receptor (sIFNAR2) is produced by alternative splicing and is present in body fluids. Although it can modulate IFN-ß activity, its biological role remains unknown.

Methods: An in-silico study was conducted to compare the structure of recombinant human soluble IFNAR2 (r-sIFNAR2) with its native form.

Effectiveness of a self-management program for anticoagulated patients to improve their knowledge about treatment and time in therapeutic range.

Oral anticoagulation self-control programs have demonstrated efficiency and cost-effectiveness over recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a training intervention focused on patients with antivitamin K anticoagulants included in a self-care program. For this, we made a quasi-experimental study, pretest and post-test, using a validated questionnaire with 2 measures, before and after an educational intervention about oral anticoagulation focused on patients that will initiate the self-control program in consultation.

Personalized online intervention based on a risk algorithm for the universal prevention of anxiety disorders: Design and development of the prevANS intervention.

Objective: To describe the design and development of prevANS, a personalized online intervention for the universal prevention of anxiety disorders based on a predictive risk algorithm. A user-centered approach was followed, considering the feedback of potential users and mental health professionals.

Methods: The study had three phases: (a) designing the intervention based on existing scientific literature; (b) piloting and evaluating the beta version involving potential users and health professionals; and (c) refining the intervention based on participants' suggestions.

Differences in cardiovascular risk and health-related quality of life in COPD patients according to clinical phenotype.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a high prevalence and a major impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). COPD exacerbations are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting cardiovascular risk, and are associated with poorer health status. The aim of this study was to assess the association between cardiovascular risk (CVR) and HRQL, according to exacerbator or non-exacerbator phenotype.

Central Autonomic Mechanisms Involved in the Control of Laryngeal Activity and Vocalization.

In humans, speech is a complex process that requires the coordinated involvement of various components of the phonatory system, which are monitored by the central nervous system. The larynx in particular plays a crucial role, as it enables the vocal folds to meet and converts the exhaled air from our lungs into audible sounds. Voice production requires precise and sustained exhalation, which generates an air pressure/flow that creates the pressure in the glottis required for voice production.

Physical Activity in Work and Leisure Time during Pregnancy, and Its Influence on Maternal Health and Perinatal Outcomes.

Background: Physical inactivity during pregnancy has been shown to be linked to an increased risk of complications. However, during pregnancy, doubts arise about what type, intensity and frequency of physical activity are most recommended.

Objective: Our main objective was to know the level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle in a representative sample of pregnant women in Málaga, one of the most populated cities in Spain.

Plasma metabolite profile of legume consumption and future risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Background: Legume consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), while the potential association between plasma metabolites associated with legume consumption and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases has never been explored. Therefore, we aimed to identify a metabolite signature of legume consumption, and subsequently investigate its potential association with the incidence of T2D and CVD.

Methods: The current cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis was conducted in 1833 PREDIMED study participants (mean age 67 years, 57.

Optimizing Pain Intensity Assessment in Clinical Trials: How Many Ratings are Needed to Best Balance the Need for Validity and to Minimize Assessment Burden?

Pain intensity is the most commonly used outcome domain in pain clinical trials. To minimize the chances of type II error (ie, concluding that a treatment does not have beneficial effects, when in fact it does), the measure of pain intensity used should be sensitive to changes produced by effective pain treatments. Here we sought to identify the combination of pain intensity ratings that would balance the need for reliability and validity against the need to minimize assessment burden.

Effectiveness of a universal personalized intervention for the prevention of anxiety disorders: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial (the prevANS project).

Background: To date, all preventive anxiety disorders interventions are one-fit-all and none of them are based on individual level and risk profile. The aim of this project is to design, develop and evaluate an online personalized intervention based on a risk algorithm for the universal prevention of anxiety disorders in the general population.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel arms (prevANS vs usual care) and 1-year follow-up including 2000 participants without anxiety disorders from Spain and Portugal will be conducted.

Generation of heart and vascular system in rodents by blastocyst complementation.

Generating organs from stem cells through blastocyst complementation is a promising approach to meet the clinical need for transplants. In order to generate rejection-free organs, complementation of both parenchymal and vascular cells must be achieved, as endothelial cells play a key role in graft rejection. Here, we used a lineage-specific cell ablation system to produce mouse embryos unable to form both the cardiac and vascular systems.

Paternal peripartum depression: emerging issues and questions on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A consensus report from the cost action Riseup-PPD.

Introduction: Paternal peripartum depression (P-PPD) is a serious and understudied public health problem associated with impaired family functioning and child development. The lack of recognition of P-PPD may result in limited access to both information and professional help.

Objective: The aim of the study was to review studies on paternal peripartum depression and to identify issues and questions where future research and theory formation are needed.

Natalizumab-immunogenicity evaluation in patients with infusion related events or disease exacerbations.

Introduction: Natalizumab is a biologic drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis that may induce the generation of anti-drug antibodies in some patients. Anti-natalizumab antibodies (ANA) increase the risk of adverse events and reduce efficacy, being useful biomarkers for monitoring treatment response.

Methods: Retrospective observational study including MS patients treated with natalizumab that experienced infusion-related events (IRE) or disease exacerbations (DE).

A personalized intervention to prevent depression in primary care based on risk predictive algorithms and decision support systems: protocol of the e-predictD study.

Unlabelled: The predictD is an intervention implemented by general practitioners (GPs) to prevent depression, which reduced the incidence of depression-anxiety and was cost-effective. The e-predictD study aims to design, develop, and evaluate an evolved predictD intervention to prevent the onset of major depression in primary care based on Information and Communication Technologies, predictive risk algorithms, decision support systems (DSSs), and personalized prevention plans (PPPs). A multicenter cluster randomized trial with GPs randomly assigned to the e-predictD intervention + care-as-usual (CAU) group or the active-control + CAU group and 1-year follow-up is being conducted.

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study.

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk.

Effectiveness of interventions to prevent perinatal depression: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Background: To date, dozens of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) summarize the effectiveness of preventive interventions for perinatal depression. However, the results are inconclusive, making an urgent need to step up to higher levels of evidence synthesis.

Aims: To summarize and compare the evidence from the SR&MA examining the effectiveness of all types of interventions for preventing perinatal depression.

Impact of the glutamatergic neurotransmission within the A5 region on the cardiorespiratory response evoked from the midbrain dlPAG.

Stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey matter (dlPAG) in rats evokes an active defensive behaviour together with a cardiorespiratory response characterised by tachypnoea, tachycardia and hypertension. The dlPAG neurons involved in these responses are excitatory, presumably glutamatergic, due to the presence of vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT2 within their axon terminals. Previously, our group described a functional interaction between dlPAG and the pontine A5 region.

Serum Selenium and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) Trial: Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: Selenium is an essential trace mineral with potential interest for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention owing to its antioxidant properties. Epidemiological data on selenium status and CVD remain inconsistent. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether low serum selenium (SSe) concentrations are related to an increased risk of a first CVD event in a population at high cardiovascular risk.

An update on the molecular biology of glioblastoma, with clinical implications and progress in its treatment.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and common malignant primary brain tumor. Patients with GBM often have poor prognoses, with a median survival of ∼15 months. Enhanced understanding of the molecular biology of central nervous system tumors has led to modifications in their classifications, the most recent of which classified these tumors into new categories and made some changes in their nomenclature and grading system.