Development and validation of a Medication Adherence Universal Questionnaire: the MAUQ

Abstract Background Different questionnaires assess self-reported medication adherence and others quantify aspects of patients attitudes towards medication, but not together in a single instrument. Gathering these two aspects in a single instrument could reduce patients survey burden. Aim The aim of this study was to develop the Medication Adherence Universal Questionnaire (MAUQ) using the Maastricht Utrecht Adherence in Hypertension short version (MUAH-16) factorial structure as the hypothesized model. Method A multistep process started with the modification of the MUAH-16 to obtain the MAUQ. Patients using at least one antihypertensive medicine were recruited. The two questionnaires, the MUAH-16 and MAUQ, were applied. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed using the initial MUAH-16 s-order 4-factor model. An additional bifactor model with four uncorrelated factors and an overall score was tested. The comparative fit index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) with confidence intervals (CIs), and standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) were used to assess both models. Results A sample of 300 hypertensive patients completed the instruments. The CFA with the second-order 4-factor solution resulted in similar results for the MUAH-16 and MAUQ: CFIs of 0.934 and 0.930, RMSEAs of 0.043 [CI 0.0300.056] and 0.045 [CI 0.0310.057] and SRMRs of 0.060 and 0.061, respectively. The CFA with the bifactor model showed slightly better results for both the MUAH-16 and MAUQ: CFIs of 0.974 and 0.976, RMSEAs of 0.030 [CI 0.0050.046] and 0.028 [CI 0.0010.044], and SRMRs of 0.043 and 0.044, respectively. Conclusion CFA demonstrated that the MAUQ presented a better fit to both models than the MUAH-16, obtaining a robust universal free instrument to assess medicine-taking behaviour and four medicine beliefs components. </jats:sec

A Universal Pharmacological-Based List of Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity

Anticholinergic burden tools have relevant pharmacological gaps that may explain their limited predictive ability for clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to provide a universal pharmacological-based list of drugs with their documented affinity for muscarinic receptors. A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify the anticholinergic burden tools. Drugs included in these instruments were searched in four pharmacological databases, and the investigation was supplemented with PubMed. The evidence regarding the potential antagonism of the five muscarinic receptors of each drug was assessed. The proportion of drugs included in the tools with an affinity for muscarinic receptors was evaluated. A universal list of drugs with anticholinergic activity was developed based on their documented affinity for the different subtypes of muscarinic receptors and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. A total of 23 tools were identified, including 304 different drugs. Only 48.68%, 47.70%, 48.03%, 43.75%, and 42.76% of the drugs had an affinity to the M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 receptor, respectively, reported in any pharmacological database. The proportion of drugs with confirmed antagonism varied among the tools (36.8% to 100%). A universal pharmacological-based list of 133 drugs is presented. It should be further validated in different clinical settings. (c) 2023 by the authors

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in South America: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is among the most prevalent chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases worldwide. The aim of this study was to establish a pooled estimate of the RA prevalence in South America by means of a meta-analysis of the available epidemiologic studies. Systematic searches in PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (updated May 2019) were done followed by a systematic grey literature search to identify original research articles and reports, published after 2000, providing data of RA prevalence in any South American country. Proportion meta-analysis of weighted pooled was performed, with between-trial heterogeneity assessed by the inconsistency relative index. Sensitivity analyses and sub-group analyses were also done. A total of 25 articles, representing 27 population-based studies were included. Pooled prevalence of RA resulted in 0.48% with 591,981 cases in a population of 114,537,812 individuals (I2=99%). Brazil and Colombia presented the lowest rates of RA prevalence 0.22%, and 0.24%, respectively. RA prevalence in indigenous population was higher 1.45%, and studies using COPCORD method reported also the highest rates 1.07%

A parametric description of the 3D structure of the Galactic bar/bulge using the VVV survey

© 2017 The Authors. We study the structure of the inner Milky Way using the latest data release of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey. The VVV is a deep near-infrared, multi-colour photometric survey with a coverage of 300 square degrees towards the bulge/bar. We use red clump (RC) stars to produce a high-resolution dust map of the VVV's field of view. From dereddened colour-magnitude diagrams, we select red giant branch stars to investigate their 3D density distribution within the central 4 kpc. We demonstrate that our best-fitting parametric model of the bulge density provides a good description of the VVV data, with a median percentage residual of 5 per cent over the fitted region. The strongest of the otherwise lowlevel residuals are overdensities associated with a low-latitude structure as well as the so-called X-shape previously identified using the split RC. These additional components contribute only ~5 per cent and ~7 per cent respectively to the bulge mass budget. The best-fitting bulge is 'boxy' with an axial ratio of [1:0.44:0.31] and is rotated with respect to the Sun-Galactic Centre line by at least 20°. We provide an estimate of the total, full sky, mass of the bulge of MbulgeChabrier= 2.36 × 1010M⊙for a Chabrier initial mass function. We show that there exists a strong degeneracy between the viewing angle and the dispersion of the RC absolute magnitude distribution. The value of the latter is strongly dependent on the assumptions made about the intrinsic luminosity function of the bulge

A

Abstract:&nbsp; Musical comedy singers require physical demands and specific vocal techniques specific to the activity they develop, they also need certain patterns, behaviors and habits to achieve prudent care of their voice, these can be related to the presence or appearance of vocal symptoms to short and long term. Analyze the relationship between the applicability of vocal hygiene and the presence of vocal symptoms in musical comedy singers, Arte &amp; Cultura Foundation, Espacio 373, city of Córdoba, year 2019. Descriptive cross-sectional correlational study. Sample: n = 30 adult musical comedy singers, mean age 26.5, after signing informed consent, the subjects answered two self-reports: to determine the applicability of vocal hygiene, participants completed the vocal hygiene questionnaire (VHQ) and to determine the presence of vocal symptoms, the vocal handicap index questionnaire (S-VHI). The classification cut-off lines of the self-reports were: for VHQ, low harmful behaviors and habits (LHBH) 0 to 5 pts., Harmful (HBH) 6 to 11 pts., Very harmful (VHBH) 12 to 29 pts. For S-VHI, from 0 to 36 points, mild symptoms (MS), from 36 to 72 points, moderate symptoms (MoS) and +72 points, severe symptoms (SS). Statistical analysis was performed in infostat 2019. The S-VHI results showed the presence of MS in 50% of the participants and MoS in the remaining 50%. The VHQ found that 46.6% of the singers presented LHBH, 46.6% HBH and 6.7% VHBH. No significant correlation was observed between VHQ and S-VHI CP = 0.1 (p = 0.6). No significant correlation was found between the applicability of vocal hygiene and the presence of vocal symptoms in musical comedy singers, however the presence of vocal symptoms in the studied population was notable, while the applicability of vocal hygiene does not show a clear trend. since approximately half of the population applied behaviors-habits little harmful and a little more than the other half behaviors-harmful and very harmful habits.Resumen:&nbsp; Los cantantes de comedia musical, requieren demandas físicas y técnicas vocales específicas propias de la actividad que desarrollan, además necesitan de ciertos patrones, conductas y hábitos para lograr un prudente cuidado de su voz, estos pueden relacionarse con la presencia o aparición de síntomas vocales a corto y largo plazo. Analizar la relación existente entre la aplicabilidad de la higiene vocal y la presencia de síntomas vocales en cantantes de comedia musical, fundación Arte &amp; Cultura, espacio 373, ciudad de Córdoba, año 2019. Estudio descriptivo transversal correlacional. Muestra: n=30 adultos cantantes de comedia musical, edad media 26,5, posterior a la firma de consentimiento informado, los sujetos respondieron dos autoreportes: para determina la aplicabilidad de la higiene vocal los participantes completaron el cuestionario de higiene vocal (CHV) y para determinar la presencia de síntomas vocales el cuestionario de índice de incapacidad vocal (S-VHI). Las líneas de corte de clasificación de los autoreportes fueron: para CHV, conductas y hábitos poco perjudiciales (CHPP) 0 a 5 pts., perjudiciales (CHP) 6 a 11 pts., muy perjudiciales (CHMP) 12 a 29 pts. Para S-VHI, de 0 a 36 pts., síntomas leves (SL), de 36 a 72 pts., síntomas moderados (SM) y +72 pts., síntomas severos (SS). Se realizó análisis estadístico en infostat 2019. Los resultados del S-VHI mostraron presencia de SL en el 50% de los participantes y SM en el restante 50%. El CHV arrojó que el 46,6% de los cantantes presentó CHPP, el 46,6% CHP y el 6,7% CHMP. No se observó correlación significativa entre CHV y S-VHI CP=0,1 (p=0,6). No se encontró correlación significativa entre la aplicabilidad de la higiene vocal y la presencia de síntomas vocales en cantantes de comedia musical, sin embargo la presencia de síntomas vocales en la población estudiada fue notable, mientras que la aplicabilidad de higiene vocal no muestra una tendencia clara ya que aproximadamente la mitad de la población aplico conductas-hábitos poco perjudiciales y un poco más de la otra mitad conductas-hábitos perjudiciales y muy perjudiciales.

Active Tension Network model suggests an exotic mechanical state realized in epithelial tissues.

Mechanical interactions play a crucial role in epithelial morphogenesis, yet understanding the complex mechanisms through which stress and deformation affect cell behavior remains an open problem. Here we formulate and analyze the Active Tension Network (ATN) model, which assumes that the mechanical balance of cells within a tissue is dominated by cortical tension and introduces tension-dependent active remodeling of the cortex. We find that ATNs exhibit unusual mechanical properties. Specifically, an ATN behaves as a fluid at short times, but at long times supports external tension like a solid. Furthermore, an ATN has an extensively degenerate equilibrium mechanical state associated with a discrete conformal - "isogonal" - deformation of cells. The ATN model predicts a constraint on equilibrium cell geometries, which we demonstrate to approximately hold in certain epithelial tissues. We further show that isogonal modes are observed in the fruit y embryo, accounting for the striking variability of apical areas of ventral cells and helping understand the early phase of gastrulation. Living matter realizes new and exotic mechanical states, the study of which helps to understand biological phenomena

Tennis play intensity distribution and relation with aerobic fitness in competitive players

15 p.Los objetivos de este estudio fueron (1) describir la intensidad relativa del juego de tenis simulado en función del tiempo acumulado en tres zonas de intensidad metabólica y (2) determinar las relaciones entre esta distribución de intensidad de juego y la aptitud aeróbica de un grupo de jugadores competitivos. 20 jugadores masculinos de nivel avanzado a élite (ITN) realizaron una prueba de tenis de resistencia específica en el campo incremental hasta el agotamiento para determinar el consumo máximo de oxígeno (VO2max) y los umbrales de ventilación primero y segundo (VT1, VT2). Los parámetros de ventilación y de intercambio de gases se monitorizaron utilizando un analizador de gas portátil telemétrico (K4 b2, Cosmed, Roma, Italia). Dos semanas después, los participantes jugaron un juego de tenis simulado contra un oponente de nivel similar. Las zonas de intensidad (1: baja, 2: moderada y 3: alta) fueron delimitadas por los valores individuales de VO2 correspondientes a VT1 y VT2, y se expresaron como porcentaje del VO2 máximo y la frecuencia cardíaca. Cuando se expresó en relación con el VO 2 máx. El porcentaje de tiempo de juego en la zona 1 (77 ± 25%) fue significativamente mayor (p <0,001) que en la zona 2 (20 ± 21%) y la zona 3 (3 ± 5%). Se encontraron correlaciones positivas de moderadas a altas entre VT1, VT2 y VO2max, y el porcentaje del tiempo de juego transcurrido en la zona 1 (r = 0,68-0,75), así como las correlaciones inversas de bajas a altas entre las variables metabólicas y el porcentaje de tiempo empleado en las zonas 2 y 3 (r = -0.49–0.75). Los jugadores con mejor aptitud aeróbica juegan a intensidades relativamente más bajas. Concluimos que los jugadores pasaron más del 75% del tiempo en su zona de baja intensidad, con menos del 25% del tiempo dedicado a intensidades moderadas a altas. La aptitud aeróbica parece determinar la intensidad metabólica que los jugadores pueden mantener durante todo el juegoS

New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen

Microsystems become part of everyday life but their application is restricted by lack of strong and fast motors (actuators) converting energy into motion. For example, widespread internal combustion engines cannot be scaled down because combustion reactions are quenched in a small space. Here we present an actuator with the dimensions 100x100x5 um^3 that is using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen as part of its working cycle. Water electrolysis driven by short voltage pulses creates an extra pressure of 0.5-4 bar for a time of 100-400 us in a chamber closed by a flexible membrane. When the pulses are switched off this pressure is released even faster allowing production of mechanical work in short cycles. We provide arguments that this unexpectedly fast pressure decrease is due to spontaneous combustion of the gases in the chamber. This actuator is the first step to truly microscopic combustion engines.Comment: Paper and Supplementary Information (to appear in Scientific Reports

Recurrent De Novo NAHR Reciprocal Duplications in the ATAD3 Gene Cluster Cause a Neurogenetic Trait with Perturbed Cholesterol and Mitochondrial Metabolism.

Recent studies have identified both recessive and dominant forms of mitochondrial disease that result from ATAD3A variants. The recessive form includes subjects with biallelic deletions mediated by non-allelic homologous recombination. We report five unrelated neonates with a lethal metabolic disorder characterized by cardiomyopathy, corneal opacities, encephalopathy, hypotonia, and seizures in whom a monoallelic reciprocal duplication at the ATAD3 locus was identified. Analysis of the breakpoint junction fragment indicated that these 67 kb heterozygous duplications were likely mediated by non-allelic homologous recombination at regions of high sequence identity in ATAD3A exon 11 and ATAD3C exon 7. At the recombinant junction, the duplication allele produces a fusion gene derived from ATAD3A and ATAD3C, the protein product of which lacks key functional residues. Analysis of fibroblasts derived from two affected individuals shows that the fusion gene product is expressed and stable. These cells display perturbed cholesterol and mitochondrial DNA organization similar to that observed for individuals with severe ATAD3A deficiency. We hypothesize that the fusion protein acts through a dominant-negative mechanism to cause this fatal mitochondrial disorder. Our data delineate a molecular diagnosis for this disorder, extend the clinical spectrum associated with structural variation at the ATAD3 locus, and identify a third mutational mechanism for ATAD3 gene cluster variants. These results further affirm structural variant mutagenesis mechanisms in sporadic disease traits, emphasize the importance of copy number analysis in molecular genomic diagnosis, and highlight some of the challenges of detecting and interpreting clinically relevant rare gene rearrangements from next-generation sequencing data