Recent range expansion and lineage idiosyncratic population structure of Liodessus diving beetles in the high Andes (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini).

Here, we review the taxonomy and population genetic structure of diving beetles in the genus Liodessus Guignot, 1939 from the high Andes of southern Colombia and Ecuador. Liodessus quillacinga ecuadoriensis ssp. nov.

Mercury removal from mining wastewater by bioaccumulation and thermal separation in Eichhornia crassipes.

Environmental problems persist due to mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) as well as ecological problems associated with the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes Martius (EC). Environmental problems persist due to mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and ecological issues related to the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes Martius (EC). A bioaccumulation study was conducted on mercury-laden wastewater (WWm) from ASGM using a pilot treatment plant, specifically a constructed wetland system (CW) with the macrophyte species EC.

A neurotrophin functioning with a Toll regulates structural plasticity in a dopaminergic circuit.

Experience shapes the brain as neural circuits can be modified by neural stimulation or the lack of it. The molecular mechanisms underlying structural circuit plasticity and how plasticity modifies behaviour are poorly understood. Subjective experience requires dopamine, a neuromodulator that assigns a value to stimuli, and it also controls behaviour, including locomotion, learning, and memory.

Acute Immunological Profile and Prognostic Biomarkers of Persistent Joint Pain in Chikungunya Fever: A Systematic Review.

Chikungunya virus infection (CHIKV) increases the risk of persistent arthralgia; however, there is no consistent evidence regarding prognostic biomarkers of progression to chronic arthropathy. This systematic review provides an overview of currently available literature about the potential role of the acute immunologic response in predicting long-term joint pain in patients with a diagnosis of CHIKV. We searched for observational studies using the terms "chikungunya," "cytokines," "biomarkers," and "joint pain" in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library Plus, and SCOPUS databases, restricting to articles published in English and up to April 2024.

Exploring Dense Breast Density in Mammography: A Comparative Analysis of Breast Cancer Risk.

Background: Breast density is a strong predictor of breast cancer. However, the difference in risk between breast density categories C and D remains inadequately explored. Given the low occurrence of extremely dense breasts, this investigation is crucial because it may lead to modifications in screening techniques for those with these conditions.

Social patterning of cognitive impairment in Colombia: evidence from the SABE 2015 study.

Introduction: Dementia, an increasingly critical public health concern in low and middle-income countries, is associated with lower socioeconomic status, early cognitive impairment, and elevated dementia-related mortality risk. This study seeks to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment, investigate its links with social indicators, and visualize social gradients across different regions in Colombia.

Methods: Secondary data analysis from the SABE 2015 survey, multinomial regression analyses, and equiplot graphs.

Acceptability of a resource-oriented approach (DIALOG+) among patients with chronic physical illnesses in primary health care-Uganda, a qualitative study.

Background: Chronic physical illnesses are often associated with significant psychological distress and chronic mental illnesses are often co-morbid with physical illnesses. Efforts to integrate mental health into primary health care in Uganda are underway. However, there are enormous logistical challenges.

Evaluation of a commercial Histoplasma antigen detection enzyme immunoassay for the follow-up of histoplasmosis treatment in people living with HIV from Argentina.

Histoplasmosis poses a significant risk to HIV patients, particularly in regions with limited access to antiretroviral therapy. Antigen detection assays are crucial in these settings for timely diagnosis and treatment, which can reduce mortality. While commercial antigen detection kits have performed well in diagnosing histoplasmosis, their effectiveness in monitoring treatment remains unclear.

Relationship Between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations and Depression.

Background And Objectives: Depressive episodes are frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. These episodes are related to a vast number of clinical and psychosocial variables. Nevertheless, the relationship between the number of COPD exacerbations and depression has not been extensively studied in the Colombian Caribbean.

Effectiveness of Paliperidone Palmitate on Treatment Adherence and Relapse in the Adult Schizophrenia Population: A One-Year Mirror-Image Study in a Colombian Mental Health Care Facility.

Introduction: The benefits of long-acting injectable antipsychotics have been documented in several observational studies, but data remain scarce in Latin America. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of paliperidone palmitate once monthly (PP1M) on treatment adherence and relapse in the schizophrenia population followed in a government-funded mental health care facility in Colombia.

Methods: A mirror-image study was conducted.

The role of Intravitreal chemotherapy as an adjunctive treatment for retinoblastoma: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Topic: evaluation of clinical outcomes of patients with retinoblastoma treated with intravitreal chemotherapy (IvitC).

Design: Systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical outcomes with IVitC vary across reports according to patient characteristics and concomitant treatment modalities, mainly intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) and intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC). There are currently no large clinical trials or meta-analyses focusing on the topic.

How natural disasters affect the distribution of marine litter in protected island ecosystems (Seaflower Biosphere Reserve - Colombia).

Islands are particularly vulnerable to storms and hurricanes, which can cause severe environmental, economic, and social impacts, including the accumulation of waste in marine ecosystems. In November 2020, Hurricane Iota struck the islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Colombia. This study assesses the distribution, composition, and sources of marine litter after the hurricane, focusing on variations observed across coastal ecosystems such as beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs.

International perspectives on LI-RADS.

Given the crucial role of imaging in HCC diagnosis, LI-RADS CT/MRI was developed to standardize the imaging interpretation and reporting of HCC in patients at risk for HCC and categorize hepatic observations on an ordinal scale according to the likelihood of HCC. LI-RADS has since been expanded to include 5 algorithms: LI-RADS US Surveillance, contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) LI-RADS, LI-RADS CT/MRI, and LI-RADS Treatment Response Assessment. LI-RADS has been adopted broadly in North America, however with less ubiquitous adoption outside of North America.

Radiofrequency Ablation for Solitary Autonomously Functioning Thyroid Nodules: Multicenter Study from Latin America.

Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) represent ∼5% of all thyroid nodules and often necessitate definitive treatments such as surgery or radioiodine (I), both of which have inherent risks. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as an effective and safe therapeutic option for managing AFTNs. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of RFA for solitary AFTNs in various countries across Latin America.

Religion and professional experience: Are they predictors of nurses' spiritual intelligence? Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: to analyze the relationship between religion and professional experience with spiritual intelligence in nurses.

Methods: cross-sectional and analytical study carried out in 2021, with the participation of 544 nursing professionals working in health facilities in Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple regression analysis and Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data.

Molecular and metabolomic characterization of hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts transitioning to myofibroblasts.

Background: Mechanical stress and pathological signaling trigger the activation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, which impacts extracellular matrix composition, disrupts normal wound healing, and can generate deleterious fibrosis. Myocardial fibrosis independently promotes cardiac arrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest, and contributes to the severity of heart failure. Fibrosis can also alter cell-to-cell communication and increase myocardial stiffness which eventually may lead to lusitropic and inotropic cardiac dysfunction.

Methodology for the correction of a CBCT volume from the skull to the natural head position.

The orientation of the head during the acquisition of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is crucial for accurate cephalometric measurements. However, involuntary head movements during the scan can result in misaligned images. This study presents a method to correct the natural head position (NHP) in CBCT skull images after acquisition.

Prevalence of refractive errors in school-aged and preadolescent children in Colombia.

Aim: To describe the distribution of refractive errors by age and sex among schoolchildren in Soacha, Colombia.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in five urban public schools in the municipality of Soacha. A total of 1161 school-aged and pre-adolescent children, aged 5-12y were examined during the school year 2021-2022.

Functionalization of 3D printed poly(lactic acid)/graphene oxide/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLA/GO/TCP) scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration application.

The challenge of bone tissue regeneration implies the use of new advanced technologies for the manufacture of polymeric matrices, with 3D printing technology being a suitable option for tissue engineering due to its low processing cost, its simple operation and the wide use of biomaterials in biomedicine. Among the biopolymers used to obtain porous scaffolds, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stands out due its mechanical and biodegradability properties, although its low bioactivity to promote bone regeneration is a great challenge. In this research, a 3D scaffold based on PLA reinforced with bioceramics such as graphene oxide (GO) and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was designed and characterized by FTIR, XRD, DSC, SEM and mechanical tests.

Socioeconomic Status and Stroke: A Review of the Latest Evidence on Inequalities and Their Drivers.

The latest research on socioeconomic status (SES) and stroke continues to demonstrate that individuals with low SES are at a higher risk of stroke, receive lower-quality care, and experience poorer outcomes. Despite growing evidence on the impact of SES on stroke, gaps remain in understanding the underlying mechanisms and the influence of SES in different contexts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This narrative review builds upon our previous reviews from 2006 to 2015, focusing on studies published since 2015 to update on the influence of SES on stroke.

Incidence, risk factors, and epidemiological trends of tracheal cancer: a global analysis.

Background: Tracheal cancer is a rare malignancy with limited research but high mortality rates. This study aims to analyse recent data to understand the global burden, trends, and risk factors for tracheal cancer, facilitating improved prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods: We conducted a study on tracheal cancer using data from the Global Cancer Observatory and the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents databases.

A worldwide assessment of the mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Analysis of the VENTILAGROUP over time. A retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: The trend over time and across different geographical areas of outcomes and management with noninvasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation in patients admitted for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and treated with ventilatory support is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe outcomes and identify variables associated with survival for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [aeCOPD] who received noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation worldwide.

Methods: Retrospective, multi-national, and multicenter studies, including four observational cohort studies, were carried out in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016 for the VENTILAGROUP following the same methodology.

Barriers to advancing the sexual and reproductive health agenda in Latin America: a qualitative study of key informants' perspectives.

Background: The effective attainment of sexual, reproductive, and maternal health and rights (SRMHR) requires a holistic life-course approach. This approach should address disparities in healthcare access and rights, guarantee the delivery of high-quality care devoid of discrimination, and underscore rigorous accountability mechanisms throughout the implementation process. Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries face significant disparities in SRMHR within and between nations.

The anesthesiologist's guide to critically assessing machine learning research: a narrative review.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Machine Learning (ML), has developed systems capable of performing tasks that require human intelligence. In anesthesiology and other medical fields, AI applications can improve the precision and efficiency of daily clinical practice, and can also facilitate a personalized approach to patient care, which can lead to improved outcomes and quality of care. ML has been successfully applied in various settings of daily anesthesiology practice, such as predicting acute kidney injury, optimizing anesthetic doses, and managing postoperative nausea and vomiting.