Measuring mechanical stress in living tissues.

Living tissues are active multifunctional materials capable of generating, sensing, withstanding and responding to mechanical stress. These capabilities enable tissues to adopt complex shapes during development, to sustain those shapes during homeostasis, and to restore them during healing and regeneration. Abnormal stress is associated with a broad range of pathologies, including developmental defects, inflammatory diseases, tumor growth and metastasis.

Demographic, anthropometric and intrasubject variations affect platelet-rich plasma formulation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the inter- and intra-individual differences in the platelet concentration between blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation, assess intersubject differences considering demographic and anthropometric variables, describe PRP code distribution and analyse intrasubject variability.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a single-centre patient database from November 2021 to November 2023. It included patients with musculoskeletal pathologies treated with PRP injections.

Therapeutic alliance in a stepped digital psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients: findings from a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Action mechanisms of therapeutic alliance in stepped and digital interventions remain unclear.

Aims: (a) To compare the development of therapeutic alliance between psychosocial treatment as usual (PTAU) and a stepped digital intervention designed to prevent distress in cancer patients; (b) to analyse the level of agreement between patients' and therapists' therapeutic alliance ratings; and (c) to explore variables associated with therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention.

Method: A multicentre randomised controlled trial with 184 newly diagnosed breast cancer women was conducted.

RADAR-AD: assessment of multiple remote monitoring technologies for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide, leading to cognitive and functional decline. Early detection and intervention are crucial for enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. Remote Monitoring Technologies (RMTs) offer a promising solution for early detection by tracking changes in behavioral and cognitive functions, such as memory, language, and problem-solving skills.

The spatial landscape of cancer hallmarks reveals patterns of tumor ecological dynamics and drug sensitivity.

Tumors are complex ecosystems of interacting cell types. The concept of cancer hallmarks distills this complexity into underlying principles that govern tumor growth. Here, we explore the spatial distribution of cancer hallmarks across 63 primary untreated tumors from 10 cancer types using spatial transcriptomics.

Development of Attention-based Prediction Models for All-cause Mortality, Home Care Need, and Nursing Home Admission in Ageing Adults in Spain Using Longitudinal Electronic Health Record Data.

Predicting health-related outcomes can help with proactive healthcare planning and resource management. This is especially important on the older population, an age group growing in the coming decades. Considering longitudinal rather than cross-sectional information from primary care electronic health records (EHRs) can contribute to more informed predictions.

Strategies for Early Keratoconus Diagnosis: A Narrative Review of Evaluating Affordable and Effective Detection Techniques.

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disorder that can lead to irreversible visual impairment if not detected early. Despite its high prevalence, early diagnosis is often delayed, especially in low-to-middle-income countries due to limited awareness and restricted access to advanced diagnostic tools such as corneal topography, tomography, optical coherence tomography, and corneal biomechanical assessments. These technologies are essential for identifying early-stage keratoconus, yet their high cost limits accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Chitosan Micro/Nanocapsules in Action: Linking Design, Production, and Therapeutic Application.

pH sensitivity of chitosan allows for precise phase transitions in acidic environments, controlling swelling and shrinking, making chitosan suitable for drug delivery systems. pH transitions are modulated by the presence of cross-linkers by the functionalization of the chitosan chain. This review relays a summary of chitosan functionalization and tailoring to optimize drug release.

Mechanical Behavior of PEEK and PMMA Graphene and Ti6Al4V Implant-Supported Frameworks: In Silico Study.

A comparative analysis has been carried out between three different dental materials suitable for the prostheses manufacturing. The analysis performed is based on the finite elements method (FEM) and was made to evaluate their performance under three different loading conditions. Three different materials were modeled with 3D CAD geometry, all of them suitable to be simulated by means of a linear elastic model.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Infections in Catalonia, Spain.

is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus commonly associated with animals which can also be a zoonotic human pathogen. To date, there is little data available on infections. The aim of this study was to characterize the infections identified in two hospitals located, respectively, in rural and urban areas of Catalonia, Spain.

Evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Tool and a Universal Low-Cost Robotized Microscope for the Automated Diagnosis of Malaria.

The gold standard diagnosis for malaria is the microscopic visualization of blood smears to identify parasites, although it is an expert-dependent technique and could trigger diagnostic errors. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools based on digital image analysis were postulated as a suitable supportive alternative for automated malaria diagnosis. A diagnostic evaluation of the AI-based system was conducted in the reference laboratory of the International Health Unit Drassanes-Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain.

Framework for types of metainferences in mixed methods research.

Background: The generation of metainferences is a core and significant feature of mixed methods research. In recent years, there has been some discussion in the literature about criteria for appraising the quality of metainferences, the processes for generating them, and the critical role that assessing the "fit" of quantitative and qualitative data and results plays in this generative process. However, little is known about the types of insights that emerge from generating metainferences.

Influence of Unspecific Visual-Perceptual-Cognitive Task Constraints on Jump Ability and Reactive Strength in Federated Soccer Players.

Soccer players must react quickly and execute complex mental processes to adapt to competitive scenarios while maintaining peak physical performance. Perceptual-cognitive training methods integrate reaction tasks using nonspecific visual stimuli with game-like motor actions, but the impact on explosive strength responses is unclear. This study investigates the effect of nonspecific visual stimuli with varying perceptual-cognitive constraints on jump performance, including countermovement jump height, reactive strength index modified, action time, and reaction time.

MicroVi: A Cost-Effective Microscopy Solution for Yeast Cell Detection and Count in Wine Value Chain.

In recent years, the wine industry has been researching how to improve wine quality along the production value chain. In this scenario, we present here a new tool, MicroVi, a cost-effective chip-sized microscopy solution to detect and count yeast cells in wine samples. We demonstrate that this novel microscopy setup is able to measure the same type of samples as an optical microscopy system, but with smaller size equipment and with automated cell count configuration.

Influence of the Sodium Titanate Crystal Size of Biomimetic Dental Implants on Osteoblastic Behavior: An In Vitro Study.

Treating the surfaces of dental implants in an alkaline medium allows us to obtain microstructures of sodium titanate crystals that favor the appearance of apatite in the physiological environment, producing osteoconductive surfaces. In this research, 385 discs made of titanium used in dental implants underwent different NaOH treatments with a 6M concentration at 600 °C and cooling rates of 20, 50, 75, and 115 °C/h. Using high-resolution electron microscopy, the microstructures were observed, and the different crystal sizes were determined and compared with control samples (those without biomimetic treatment).

Entropies in Electric Circuits.

The present study examines the relationship between thermal and configurational entropy in two resistors in parallel and in series. The objective is to introduce entropy in electric circuit analysis by considering the impact of system geometry on energy conversion in the circuit. Thermal entropy is derived from thermodynamics, whereas configurational entropy is derived from network modelling.

Cushing syndrome.

Cushing syndrome (CS) is a constellation of signs and symptoms caused by excessive exposure to exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoid hormones. Endogenous CS is caused by increased cortisol production by one or both adrenal glands (adrenal CS) or by elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from a pituitary tumour (Cushing disease (CD)) or non-pituitary tumour (ectopic ACTH secretion), which stimulates excessive cortisol production. CS is associated with severe multisystem morbidity, including impaired cardiovascular and metabolic function, infections and neuropsychiatric disorders, which notably reduce quality of life.

Prevalence and severity of anxiety, stress, and depression in long COVID among adults in Barcelona.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic's long-term mental health implications are increasingly concerning, especially among patients suffering post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Long COVID (LC) patients.

Aim: This study explores the presence and distribution of anxiety, depression, and stress in LC individuals with cognitive complaints in northern Barcelona (Spain).

Design & Settings: This cross-sectional study involved 155 diagnosed LC individuals from the "Aliança ProHEpiC-19 Cognitiu (APC)" project.

Utility of the combination of high fluorescence cells and tumor markers for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

Background: New diagnostic tools have emerged to assist the traditional diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE), such as high fluorescence cells (HFc) and tumor markers (TMs), determined by clinical laboratory automated pleural fluid workup. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the combination of HFc and TMs for diagnosing MPE.

Methods: We recruited hospitalized patients with pleural effusion at Parc Taulí University Hospital.

A new Mediterranean Lifestyle Pyramid for children and youth: a critical lifestyle tool for preventing obesity and associated cardiometabolic diseases in a sustainable context.

Cardiovascular risk factors begin in childhood and track into adulthood, increasing the possibility of impaired cardiometabolic health. Adopting healthy dietary patterns can help curb childhood obesity, a worrisome epidemic problem at present. In the era of personalized nutrition, dietary recommendations should be adapted to different stages of life, including children (older than 3 years) and adolescents.

Exploring sex differences in Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive analysis of a large patient cohort from a memory unit.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and projections estimate over 150 million patients by 2050. AD prevalence is notably higher in women, nearly twice that of men, with discernible sex differences in certain risk factors. To enhance our understanding of how sex influences the characteristics of AD patients and its potential impact on the disease trajectory, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of demographic, clinical, cognitive, and genetic data from a sizable and well-characterized cohort of AD dementia patients at a memory clinic in Barcelona, Spain.

Cerebral Microbleeds and Amyloid Pathology Estimates From the Amyloid Biomarker Study.

Importance: Baseline cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and APOE ε4 allele copy number are important risk factors for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) receiving therapies to lower amyloid-β plaque levels.

Objective: To provide prevalence estimates of any, no more than 4, or fewer than 2 CMBs in association with amyloid status, APOE ε4 copy number, and age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data included in the Amyloid Biomarker Study data pooling initiative (January 1, 2012, to the present [data collection is ongoing]).

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

Microgap Formation in Conical Implant-Abutment Connections Under Oblique Loading: Influence of Cone Angle Mismatch Through Finite Element Analysis.

Objectives: This study evaluated different designs of the conical implant-abutment connection (IAC) and their resistance to microgap formation under oblique loads as specified by the ISO standard for testing dental implants. Also evaluated was the effect of deviations from the ISO specifications on the outcomes.

Methods: Finite element analysis was conducted to compare the microgap formation and stress distribution among three conical IAC designs (A, B, and C) in two loading configurations: one compliant with ISO 14801 and one with a modified load adaptor (non-ISO).

Electroresponsive Thiol-Yne Click-Hydrogels for Insulin Smart Delivery: Tackling Sustained Release and Leakage Control.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by the body's inability to produce or use insulin. Considering the figures projected by the World Health Organization, research on insulin therapy is crucial. Hence, we present a soft biointerface based on a thiol-yne poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) click-hydrogel as an advanced treatment option to administrate insulin.