Phenotyping Asthma Exacerbations: One Step Further in the Management of Severe Asthma.

Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory disease, manifests in heterogeneous phenotypes and endotypes, necessitating bespoke therapeutic approaches. Asthma exacerbations are characterized by worsening of symptoms and decline in lung function and present substantial challenges despite advances in understanding and treatment. Viral respiratory infections, notably those caused by rhinovirus, serve as primary triggers, with allergic sensitization and environmental exposures increasing susceptibility.

Towards a Unified Set of Diagnostic Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: The 2017 McDonald criteria continued the separation of diagnostic criteria for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS) for historical, rather than biological, reasons. We aimed to explore the feasibility of a single, unified set of diagnostic criteria when applied to patients with suspected PPMS.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients evaluated for suspected PPMS at 5 European centers.

Genomics reveal local skin immune response key to control sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica).

Background: Sarcoptic mange is an emerging and neglected contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Mange is the main disease and a major concern for the management and conservation of populations of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), a medium-sized mountain ungulate endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Pyrenees. Differences in host-parasite interaction and host immune response determine mange clinical outcome, but little is known about the related differences in gene expression.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training conditions, results from a pan-European survey: Between vision and reality.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) still has a relatively high complication rate, underscoring the importance of high-quality training. Despite existing guidelines, real-world data on training conditions remain limited. This pan-European survey aims to systematically explore the perceptions surrounding ERCP training.

Deep brain stimulation for chronic refractory cluster headache: A case series about long-term outcomes and connectivity analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide long-term clinical results-including "sweet spot" identification and connectomic imaging analysis-in a series of patients treated with deep brain stimulation for refractory chronic cluster headache.

Background: Deep brain stimulation is a relatively recent indication for the treatment of refractory chronic cluster headache. This indication has generated substantial debate in recent years due to uncertainty surrounding the mechanism of action and the lack of long-term efficacy data.

Association of Liver Damage and Quasispecies Maturity in Chronic HCV Patients: The Fate of a Quasispecies.

Viral diversity and disease progression in chronic infections, and particularly how quasispecies structure affects antiviral treatment, remain key unresolved issues. Previous studies show that advanced liver fibrosis in long-term viral infections is linked to higher rates of antiviral treatment failures. Additionally, treatment failure is associated with high quasispecies fitness, which indicates greater viral diversity and adaptability.

Long-Term Effects of Early Low-Phosphorous Nutritional Conditioning on Broiler Chicken Performance, Bone Mineralization, and Gut Health Under Adequate or Phosphorous-Deficient Diets.

Phosphorous is essential for many metabolic functions and the constitution of bones. Poultry have limited ability to use phosphorous from diets, which is mainly excreted and causes environmental concern. For this reason, diets are commonly supplemented with inorganic phosphorus and phytases.

Comparative Analysis of Classification Criteria in IgG4-Related Disease and Evaluating Diagnostic Accuracy from a Retrospective Cohort in Clinical Practice.

Introduction: We conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of the Okazaki, Umehara, and American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for diagnosing immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a single tertiary hospital, using expert clinical judgment as the gold standard. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the Okazaki, Umehara, and ACR/EULAR criteria in a cohort of 41 patients with suspected IgG4-RD.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and polymorphisms related to intramuscular oleic-to-stearic fatty acid ratio in pigs.

The intramuscular oleic-to-stearic fatty acid ratio (C18:1n-9/C18:0) is an important indicator of the biosynthesis and desaturation of fatty acids in muscle. By using an RNA-Seq approach in muscle samples from 32 BC1_DU (25% Iberian and 75% Duroc) pigs with divergent values (high: H and low: L) of C18:1n-9/C18:0 fatty acids ratio, a total of 81 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Functional analyses of DEGs indicate that mainly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway (associated genes: PPARG, SCD, PLIN1, and FABP3) was overrepresented.

Estimating the prevalence of chronic infections among asymptomatic migrants: results of a screening programme in Catalonia, Spain.

Background: Migrants are disproportionately affected by several infectious diseases differing the risk within migrant groups. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of six chronic infections in asymptomatic migrants attended at primary care or specialized units where health assessments are offered.

Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C virus, spp, and infections in the migrant population who participated in a screening programme implemented at six primary health care centres, and two infectious diseases outpatient clinics in Catalonia, Spain.

A dynamic framework for calculating the biomass of fattening pigs with an application in estimating the burden of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in the Netherlands.

Gaining insight into the size and composition of national pig populations can support decisions on disease control, welfare, and environmental sustainability. However, if one needs to draw meaningful comparisons between the performance of various production systems or countries, a method for standardization is required. One approach to achieve this is by means of biomass estimation.

Impact of Microfluidic Sperm Sorting on Embryonic Euploidy in Infertile Patients with Sperm DNA Damage: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Sperm DNA fragmentation is an important factor that affects male fertility. This study intends to evaluate the impact of sperm DNA damage [single-strand breaks (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB)] on fertilisation and embryonic euploidy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Of the different sperm selection techniques, the novel microfluidic sperm sorting (MSS) ZyMōt™ ICSI device reduces both SSB and DSB in semen samples.

Efficacy of the preformulated irrigation solution Bactisure® in acute periprosthetic joint infection debridement surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Despite significant progress in orthopaedic surgery, the prevalence of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) remains persistent, and future increases are expected due to the increasing number of joint arthroplasties. PJIs are intricately connected to biofilm-producing bacteria, which encase infected prostheses, impairing the effectiveness of antibiotics and the immune system. Acute PJIs with immature biofilms are traditionally managed with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR).

Blood CD45/CD3 lymphocyte-released extracellular vesicles and mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represented a major public health concern. Growing evidence shows that plasma of COVID-19 patients contains large numbers of circulating extracellular vesicles (cEVs) that correlate with disease severity and recovery. In this study, we sought to characterize the longitudinal cEV signature in critically ill COVID-19 patients during hospitalization and its relation to mortality risk.

Towards clinical translation of urinary vitronectin for non-invasive detection and monitoring of renal fibrosis in kidney transplant patients.

Background: Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) is a critical factor in the prognosis of kidney health. Currently, IFTA quantitation in kidney biopsy samples is crucial for diagnosis and assessing disease severity, but the available non-invasive biomarkers are not satisfactory. Proteomic studies identified urinary vitronectin (VTN) as a potential biomarker for kidney fibrosis.

An updated phylogeography and population dynamics of porcine circovirus 2 genotypes: are they reaching an equilibrium?

Introduction: Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) emerged more than three decades ago as one of the most impactful pathogens in the swine industry. Despite being a DNA virus, one of the hallmarks of PCV2 is its high evolutionary rate, which has led to the emergence of different genotypes, each exhibiting varying degrees of evolutionary success. Current knowledge suggests the occurrence of three main waves of genotype dominance, alternating over time (i.

Status of the implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice in Spain: from regional to national initiatives.

Introduction: Pharmacogenetics (PGx) has the potential to improve patient care, allowing to transform medical interventions by providing personalized therapeutic strategies. Scientific evidence supports the use of PGx in clinical practice and international organizations are developing clinical guidelines to facilitate the utilization of PGx testing. However, clinical implementation of PGx is limited and unequal worldwide.