Development and Validation of the Overall Foot Health Questionnaire for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Analysis

[Abstract] Background and Objectives: In general, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are ignorant of the physician’s role and of RA-related feet problems. The aim of our study was to validate a questionnaire on the knowledge of different aspects of overall foot health in patients with RA. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was carried out between March 2017 and April 2017. A questionnaire was designed and validated through the Delphi method to evaluate the knowledge about the illness, the repercussions on feet, medical podiatry care, and the role of the medical podiatrist. Results: After being checked by a panel of experts, all the items obtained a Cronbach’s alpha over 0.70. Conclusions: The content of this questionnaire about the knowledge of different aspects of medical podiatry health in patients with RA has internal consistenc

Evaluación del cribado y la efectividad de una intervención breve en bebedores de riesgo atendidos en consultas de atención primaria

ObjetivosEvaluar el cribado y la efectividad de una intervención breve antialcohólica, el grado de aceptación y la evolución de los parámetros biológicos asociados con el consumo de alcohol tras la intervención.DiseñoEstudio prospectivo longitudinal de intervención de 1 año de duración.EmplazamientoCinco consultas de atención primaria urbanas.ParticipantesDe una muestra aleatoria de 681 sujetos de ambos sexos y de edad de 18-65 años, se seleccionó a 78 bebedores de riesgo. Los que cumplían criterios de exclusión (n=10), no aceptaban participar (n=24) y presentaban sospecha de síndrome de dependencia alcohólica (n=11) no participaron en el estudio.IntervencionesSe ofrecía un breve consejo antialcohólico apoyado con soporte escrito, y se realizaba un seguimiento a los 2 y 12 meses mediante la cuantificación del consumo de alcohol y un control analítico.Mediciones principalesSe estimó la prevalencia de bebedores de riesgo, el grado de aceptación a participar en el estudio, la disminución del consumo de alcohol y de bebedores de riesgo a los 2 y 12 meses, y la evolución de los parámetros analíticos tras la intervención.ResultadosLa prevalencia de bebedores de riesgo fue del 11,5% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 8,3-14,7%). El grado de aceptación a participar en el estudio fue del 64,7%. Se observó un decremento significativo (p<0,05) en el consumo de alcohol a los 2 y 12 meses, así como una disminución de los bebedores de riesgo, que a los 2 meses fue del 57,6% (IC del 95%, 50,3-64,9%; p=0,01) y a los 12 meses del 42,4% (IC del 95%, 35,9-48,9%; p=0,003). Asimismo, se produjeron disminuciones significativas en las concentraciones de GGT, VCM, colesterol y triglicéridos.ConclusionesSe observa una baja prevalencia de bebedores de riesgo sin sospecha de síndrome de dependencia alcohólica en nuestro medio, así como una elevada efectividad del consejo breve antialcohol y del grado de aceptación a participar en el estudio. Se apreció una disminución de las concentraciones de GGT, VCM, colesterol y triglicéridos tras la intervención.AimsTo evaluate the screening, the effectiveness of an antialcoholic brief intervention for risk drinkers, the acceptation level to participate in this study, and the analytical parameters evolution associated to the alcohol consumption after of the intervention.DesignLongitudinal prospective intervention study of 1 year of duration.Setting5 urban primary care physician's practices.ParticipantsOf an aleatory pattern of 681 patients, men and women of 18-65 years old, were selected 78 risk drinkers. Patients with exclusion criteria (n=10), didn’t wanted to participate (n=24) and had suspicion of alcoholic dependence syndrome (ADS) (n=11), didn’t participated in this intervention.InterventionsWere offered antialcoholic brief counselling with written supporter and were followed with alcohol consumption rate and analytical control at 2 and 12 months.Main measuresWas estimated the prevalence of risk drinkers, the acceptation level to participate in this study, alcohol consumption and risk drinkers decreased at 2 and 12 months, analytical parameters evolution after of the intervention.ResultsPrevalence of risk drinkers: 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3%-14.7%). Acceptation level to participate in this study: 64.7%. Significative alcohol consumption decreased at 2 and 12 months (P<.05). Risk drinkers decreased: at 2 months were 57.6% (95% CI, 50.3%-64.9%; P=.01) and at 12 months were 42.4% (95% CI; 35.9%-48.9%) (P=.003). GGT, MCV, cholesterol, and triglycerides significative decreased.ConclusionsLow prevalence of risk drinkers without suspicion of ADS in our setting; high effectiveness of antialcoholic brief counselling and high acceptation level to participate in this study; reduction of the GGT, MCV, cholesterol, and triglycerides after of the intervention

Brain structural changes during juvenile fibromyalgia: relationships with pain, fatigue and functional disability

Objective: Juvenile fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent chronic pain condition affecting children and adolescents worldwide during a critical period of brain development. To date, no published studies have addressed the pathophysiology of juvenile FM. This study was undertaken to characterize gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in juvenile FM patients for the first time, and to investigate their functional and clinical relevance. Methods: Thirty-four female adolescents with juvenile FM and 38 healthy adolescents underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging examination and completed questionnaires assessing core juvenile FM symptoms. Using voxel-based morphometry, we assessed between-group GMV differences and associations between GMV and functional disability, fatigue, and pain interference in juvenile FM. We also studied whether validated brain patterns predicting pain, cognitive control, or negative emotion were amplified/attenuated in juvenile FM patients and whether structural alterations reported in adult FM were replicated in adolescents with juvenile FM. Results: Compared to controls, juvenile FM patients showed GMV reductions in the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) region (family-wise error corrected P [PFWE-corr ] = 0.04; estimated with threshold-free cluster enhancement [TFCE]; n = 72) associated with pain. Within the juvenile FM group, patients reporting higher functional disability had larger GMV in inferior frontal regions (PFWE-corr = 0.006; TFCE estimated; n = 34) linked to affective, self-referential, and language-related processes. Last, GMV reductions in juvenile FM showed partial overlap with findings in adult FM, specifically for the anterior/posterior cingulate cortices (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively; n = 72). Conclusion: Pain-related aMCC reductions may be a structural hallmark of juvenile FM, whereas alterations in regions involved in emotional, self-referential, and language-related processes may predict disease impact on patients' well-being. The partial overlap between juvenile and adult FM findings strengthens the importance of early symptom identification and intervention to prevent the transition to adult forms of the disease

Hypoxia induces an early primitive streak signature, enhancing spontaneous elongation and lineage representation in gastruloids

The cellular microenvironment, together with intrinsic regulators, shapes stem cell identity and differentiation capacity. Mammalian early embryos are exposed to hypoxia in vivo and appear to benefit from hypoxic culture in vitro. Yet, how hypoxia influences stem cell transcriptional networks and lineage choices remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular effects of acute and prolonged hypoxia on embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells as well as the functional impact on differentiation potential. We find a temporal and cell type-specific transcriptional response including an early primitive streak signature in hypoxic embryonic stem cells mediated by HIF1α. Using a 3D gastruloid differentiation model, we show that hypoxia-induced T expression enables symmetry breaking and axial elongation in the absence of exogenous WNT activation. When combined with exogenous WNT activation, hypoxia enhances lineage representation in gastruloids, as demonstrated by highly enriched signatures of gut endoderm, notochord, neuromesodermal progenitors and somites. Our findings directly link the microenvironment to stem cell function and provide a rationale supportive of applying physiological conditions in models of embryo development

Differences in biochemical, gas exchange and hydraulic response to water stress in desiccation tolerant and sensitive fronds of the fern Anemia caffrorum

Desiccation tolerant plants can survive extreme water loss in their vegetative tissues. The fern Anemia caffrorum produces desiccation tolerant (DT) fronds in the dry season and desiccation sensitive (DS) fronds in the wet season, providing a unique opportunity to explore the physiological mechanisms associated with desiccation tolerance. Anemia caffrorum plants with either DT or DS fronds were acclimated in growth chambers. Photosynthesis, frond structure and anatomy, water relations and minimum conductance to water vapour were measured under well-watered conditions. Photosynthesis, hydraulics, frond pigments, antioxidants and abscisic acid contents were monitored under water deficit. A comparison between DT and DS fronds under well-watered conditions showed that the former presented higher leaf mass per area, minimum conductance, tissue elasticity and lower CO2 assimilation. Water deficit resulted in a similar induction of abscisic acid in both frond types, but DT fronds maintained higher stomatal conductance and upregulated more prominently lipophilic antioxidants. The seasonal alternation in production of DT and DS fronds in A. caffrorum represents a mechanism by which carbon gain can be maximized during the rainy season, and a greater investment in protective mechanisms occurs during the hot dry season, enabling the exploitation of episodic water availability.This work was supported by the projects CTM2014-53902-C2-1-P from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO, Spain) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and PGC2018-093824-B-C41/PGC2018-093824-B-C44 from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (MCIU, Spain) and the ERDF; and the Basque Government (grant UPV/EHU IT-1018-16, Spain). MN was supported by the MINECO and the European Social Fund (predoctoral fellowship BES-2015-072578). AVP-C was supported by the Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte (MECD; pre-doctoral fellowship FPU-02054). MIA was supported by a pre-doctoral grant from the Basque Government. We thank the technical support for microscopy preparation provided by the Universitat de Valencia (Seccio de Microscopia Electrnica, SCSIE), Dr. Ferran Hierro (UIB, Serveis Cientificotecnics) and Margalida Roig Oliver (UIB). JMF provided funding for work conducted in South Africa from her South African Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation Research Chair, grant no. 9840

Reappraisal of the outcome of healthcare-associated and community-acquired bacteramia: a prospective cohort study

Background: Healthcare-associated (HCA) bloodstream infections (BSI) have been associated with worse outcomes, in terms of higher frequencies of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and inappropriate therapy than strict community-acquired (CA) BSI. Recent changes in the epidemiology of community (CO)-BSI and treatment protocols may have modified this association. The objective of this study was to analyse the etiology, therapy and outcomes for CA and HCA BSI in our area. Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort including all CO-BSI episodes in adult patients was performed over a 3-month period in 2006–2007. Outcome variables were mortality and inappropriate empirical therapy. Adjusted analyses were performed by logistic regression. Results: 341 episodes of CO-BSI were included in the study. Acquisition was HCA in 56% (192 episodes) of them. Inappropriate empirical therapy was administered in 16.7% (57 episodes). All-cause mortality was 16.4% (56 patients) at day 14 and 20% (71 patients) at day 30. After controlling for age, Charlson index, source, etiology, presentation with severe sepsis or shock and inappropriate empirical treatment, acquisition type was not associated with an increase in 14-day or 30-day mortality. Only an stratified analysis of 14th-day mortality for Gram negatives BSI showed a statically significant difference (7% in CA vs 17% in HCA, p = 0,05). Factors independently related to inadequate empirical treatment in the community were: catheter source, cancer, and previous antimicrobial use; no association with HCA acquisition was found. Conclusion: HCA acquisition in our cohort was not a predictor for either inappropriate empirical treatment or increased mortality. These results might reflect recent changes in therapeutic protocols and epidemiological changes in community pathogens. Further studies should focus on recognising CA BSI due to resistant organisms facilitating an early and adequate treatment in patients with CA resistant BSI

Feline leukemia virus outbreak in the critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus): high-throughput sequencing of envelope variable region A and experimental transmission

The Iberian lynx is the most endangered felid species. During winter/spring 2006/7, a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) outbreak of unexpected virulence killed about 2/3 of the infected Iberian lynxes. All FeLV-positive animals were co-infected with feline hemoplasmas. To further characterize the Iberian lynx FeLV strain and evaluate its potential virulence, the FeLV envelope gene variable region A (VRA) mutant spectrum was analyzed using the Roche 454 sequencing technology, and an in vivo transmission study of lynx blood to specified-pathogen-free cats was performed. VRA mutations indicated weak apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme and catalytic polypeptide-like cytidine deaminase (APOBEC) restriction of FeLV replication, and variants characteristic of aggressive FeLV strains, such as FeLV-C or FeLV-A/61C, were not detected. Cats exposed to FeLV/Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum-positive lynx blood did not show a particularly severe outcome of infection. The results underscore the special susceptibility of Iberian lynxes to infectious diseases

Optomechanical devides for mechanobiological fingerprinting

Resumen del trabajo presentado en el Frontiers of Nanomechanical Systems (FSN2021), celebraod de forma virtual del 19 al 21 de enero de 2021Twenty years have passed since the first detection of biomolecular recognition using micromechanical systems[1]. In the last two decades, micro- nanomechanical systems have been refined to achieve amazing detection limits in force and mass that have enabled different schemes for ultrasensitive measurements of biological interactions as well as new ways of biological spectrometry. More recently, these figures of merit have been improved by coupling optical cavities to mechanical systems. In this talk, I will review the use of micro- nanomechanical systems for mechanobiological fingerprinting of biological entities, particularizing in the contributions of our group [2]. An essential core of this topic is the discussion about the mechanical coupling between a biological particle and a mechanical resonator, an issue that it is has been often oversimplified. We show that the biomechanical coupling that emerges between a bioparticle and a mechanical resonator is more complex than previously expect and it can give rise to different interaction regimes, in which the resonator response is dominated by different physical parameters of the analyte [3-4]. In particular, we will show experiments done with a variety of micro- nano- optomechanical systems using different measurement schemes where the mass, the stiffness and even the vibration modes of single biological entities can be measured with high sensitivity. It is now widely appreciated the essential role of mechanics in relevant biological processes and how disease can be revealed as changes in the mechanical properties of biological matter. I am pretty sure that future developments in optomechanical devices will contribute for major understanding of diseases as well as for new avenues in diagnosis and therapy

Activity patterns of tayra (Eira barbara) across their distribution

Species' activity patterns are driven by the need to meet basic requirements of food, social interactions, movement, and rest, but often are influenced by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. We used camera-trap data to describe and compare the activity patterns of the relatively poorly studied tayra (Eira barbara) across 10 populations distributed from the south of Mexico to the north of Argentina, and attempted to identify biotic or abiotic factors that may be associated with variation in level of diurnality. In a subset of sites we also aimed to document potential seasonal variation in activity. We used a kernel density estimator based on the time of independent photographic events to calculate the proportion of diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal activity of each population. Tayras were mostly active during diurnal periods (79.31%, 759 records), with a lower proportion of crepuscular activity (18.07%, 173 records) yet we documented some variation in patterns across the 10 study areas (activity overlap coefficient varied from Δ4 = 0.64 to Δ1 = 0.95). In northern localities, activity peaked twice during the day (bimodal) with most activity ocurring in the morning, whereas closer to the geographical equator, activity was constant (unimodal) throughout the day, peaking at midday: activity either was unimodal or bimodal in southern localities. Despite investigating multiple potential abiotic and biotic predictors, only latitude was associated with variation in the proportion of diurnal activity by tayras across its range, with increased diurnal activity closer to the equator. Seasonal comparisons in activity showed a tendency to reduce diurnality in dry versus rainy seasons, but the pattern was not consistently significant. This is the most comprehensive description of tayra activity patterns to date, and lends novel insight into the potential flexibility of the species to adapt to local conditions.Fil: Villafañe Trujillo, Álvaro José. Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro.; MéxicoFil: Kolowski, Joseph M.. Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; BrasilFil: Cove, Michael V.. University of Belize; BeliceFil: Medici, Emilia Patricia. Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; BrasilFil: Harmsen, Bart J.. University of Belize; BeliceFil: Foster, Rebbeca J.. University of Belize; BeliceFil: Hidalgo Mihart, Mircea G.. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco,; MéxicoFil: Espinosa, Santiago. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí; MéxicoFil: Ríos Alvear, Gorky. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Reyes Puig, Carolina. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Reyes Puig, Juan Pablo. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Da Silva, Marina Xavier. Universidad Central del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Paviolo, Agustin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Cruz, Paula Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: López González, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro.; Méxic