Association of vitamin D intake during pregnancy with small vulnerable newborns: a population-based cohort study.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide and has a significant impact on newborns. However, whether vitamin D intake during pregnancy is related to small vulnerable newborns (SVN) has not been confirmed. Thus, we sought to examine the relationship between maternal vitamin D intake, including vitamin D supplementation and dietary intake, and the risk of SVN. A total of 2980 Chinese mother-infant pairs were included in this study. Information on vitamin D supplementation and dietary intake was prospectively collected through face-to-face interviews. The outcomes assessed included low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and SVN (having LBW, PTB, or SGA). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of vitamin D intake with different types of SVN, and a restricted cubic spline function was modeled to explore their dose-response associations. Compared to the lowest total vitamin D intake in the first trimester, the highest total vitamin D intake was associated with a 50.0% decrease in the SGA risk (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.96) and a 41.0% decrease in the SVN risk (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.95). Similar protective results were observed between vitamin D supplementation in the first trimester and SGA and SVN risks. Moreover, a significant L-shaped relationship was identified for total vitamin D intake, vitamin D supplementation, and dietary intake with the risk of different types of SVN. In conclusion, higher total vitamin D intake and supplementation in the first trimester were associated with a reduced risk of SGA and SVN.

Association between protein energy wasting and peritoneal membrane transport in peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: fast peritoneal transport (FT) has been associated with peritoneal albumin loss and protein energy wasting (PEW); however, this relationship has not been fully studied. AIM: the aim of this study was to analyze the differences in nutritional parameters between fast-transport peritoneal membrane (FT-PET) and slow-transport peritoneal membrane (ST-PET), and analyze the association between FT-PET and PEW in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: a cross-sectional study of patients on PD. Peritoneal transport characteristics were assessed using the peritoneal equilibration test (PET). Malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) was used for PEW identification. Clinical and biochemical characteristics between patients with and without PEW were assessed. Association between FT-PET status and PEW were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: a total of 143 patients were included. FT-PET group showed a higher prevalence of hypoalbuminemia, edema, lower phase angle, lower energy intake, and higher values of MIS score. FT-PET was significantly associated with PEW on univariate (OR: 3.5, 95 % CI: 1.56-7.83, p = 0.002) and multivariate models (OR: 2.6, 95 % CI: 1.02-6.6, p = 0.04). This association was maintained in patients where baseline PET was performed after initiating PD therapy (OR: 6.2, 95 % CI: 1.01-38.6, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: FT-PET is associated with PEW evaluated by MIS score. Clinical trials to study nutritional interventions personalized to peritoneal-membrane transport characteristics should be designed.

Dieta de la Milpa: A Culturally-Concordant Plant-Based Dietary Pattern for Hispanic/Latine People with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects minorities in the United States, including the Hispanic/Latine population, and is a public health concern in Latin American countries. An emphasis on healthy dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets, has been suggested as they are associated with a lower incidence of CKD, slower CKD progression, and lower mortality in kidney failure. However, their applicability may be limited in people from Latin America. The Dieta de la Milpa (Diet of the Cornfield) was recently described as the dietary pattern of choice for people from Mesoamerica (Central Mexico and Central America). This dietary pattern highlights the intake of four plant-based staple foods from this geographical region, corn/maize, common beans, pumpkins/squashes, and chilies, complemented with seasonal and local intake of plant-based foods and a lower intake of animal-based foods, collectively classified into ten food groups. Limited preclinical and clinical studies suggest several health benefits, including cardiometabolic health, but there is currently no data concerning CKD. In this narrative review, we describe and highlight the potential benefits of the Dieta de la Milpa in CKD, including acid-base balance, protein source, potassium and phosphorus management, impact on the gut microbiota, inflammation, and cultural appropriateness. Despite these potential benefits, this dietary pattern has not been tested in people with CKD. Therefore, we suggest key research questions targeting measurement of adherence, feasibility, and effectiveness of the Dieta de la Milpa in people with CKD.

First Argentine database for the accurate identification of Brucella to species level by MALDI-TOF MS.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) has proven to be a fast and reliable method for the identification of a large number of taxonomic groups. It offers the advantage of being able to incorporate protein spectra of microorganisms that are absent or poorly represented in commercial databases, such as the genus Brucella. The aim of the study was to build the first database of protein spectra of local biological variants of Brucella in Argentina and of standard strains. First, the identification performance of a panel of 135 strains was evaluated with the Swedish database ¨Folkhälsomyndigheten¨ (containing protein spectra of several international standards of the genus Brucella) imported from the open access site https://spectra.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/spectra/. With this library 100 % of the strains were correctly identified by mass spectrometry to genus level, but not to species level. Due to the limitation found, an in-house database was designed with local Brucella isolates from Argentina and standard strains used in routine bacteriological diagnosis. For its validation, a panel of strains, different from those used to develop the extended local database (n: 177), was used to, simultaneously, challenge both libraries. The samples were processed by triplicate and the results obtained were: 177 strains correctly identified to genus and species level compared to the gold standard method (phenotypic typing), meeting the criteria accepted by the literature and the manufacturer as reliable identification. Only 2 of these isolates had score values lower than 2 (1.862) and were therefore not included in the calculation of results. According to these results, MALDI-TOF MS is a fast and reliable method for the routine identification of the different Brucella species, and even has the advantage of reducing the time of exposure to pathogenic microorganisms for laboratorians. It could be considered a valuable technique to replace, in the near future, the current conventional techniques due to the ease of transferring protein spectra, avoiding the use of reference strains that are difficult to find commercially available and commonly used in phenotypic typing.

If You're Not Confused, You're Not Paying Attention: Ochrobactrum Is Not Brucella.

Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged the brucellae with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related Ochrobactrum spp. in the genus Brucella. This change, founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic Ochrobactrum spp. from medically compromised patients, has been automatically included in culture collections and databases. We argue that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and we advise against its use because (i) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; (ii) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or Ochrobactrum; (iii) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and (iv) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, we urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella and Ochrobactrum genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.

Combined lineage tracing and scRNA-seq reveals unexpected first heart field predominance of human iPSC differentiation.

During mammalian development, the left and right ventricles arise from early populations of cardiac progenitors known as the first and second heart fields, respectively. While these populations have been extensively studied in non-human model systems, their identification and study in vivo human tissues have been limited due to the ethical and technical limitations of accessing gastrulation-stage human embryos. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) present an exciting alternative for modeling early human embryogenesis due to their well-established ability to differentiate into all embryonic germ layers. Here, we describe the development of a TBX5/MYL2 lineage tracing reporter system that allows for the identification of FHF- progenitors and their descendants including left ventricular cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with oligonucleotide-based sample multiplexing, we extensively profiled differentiating hiPSCs across 12 timepoints in two independent iPSC lines. Surprisingly, our reporter system and scRNA-seq analysis revealed a predominance of FHF differentiation using the small molecule Wnt-based 2D differentiation protocol. We compared this data with existing murine and 3D cardiac organoid scRNA-seq data and confirmed the dominance of left ventricular cardiomyocytes (>90%) in our hiPSC-derived progeny. Together, our work provides the scientific community with a powerful new genetic lineage tracing approach as well as a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of hiPSCs undergoing cardiac differentiation.

[Ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis. Initial experience in patients with contraindications to systemic thrombolysis]. / Trombólisis acelerada por ultrasonido. Experiencia inicial en pacientes con contraindicación para trombólisis sistémica.

Background: acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a complex and potentially deadly entity, with a variable clinical course, considered the third cardiovascular cause of death. Its management varies according to the stratified risk from anticoagulation to reperfusion therapy, suggesting systemic thrombolysis as a first-choice strategy; however, in a large group of patients their use will be contraindicated, discouraged or will have failed, thus recommending as options in such cases endovascular therapies or surgical embolectomy. With the presentation of 3 clinical cases and a review of the literature, we seek to communicate our initial experience in the use of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis with the EKOS system and to investigate key elements for its understanding and application. Clinical cases: the cases of 3 patients with APE of high and intermediate risk with contraindications for systemic thrombolysis taken to accelerated thrombolysis therapy by ultrasound are discussed. They presented adequate clinical and hemodynamic evolution in the short term, achieving a rapid decrease in thrombolysis, systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, improvement of right ventricular function and reduction of thrombotic burden. Conclusion: Ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis is a novel pharmaco-mechanical therapy that combines the emission of ultrasonic waves with the infusion of a local thrombolytic agent, a strategy that, according to different trials and clinical registries, has a high success rate and a good safety profile.

Introducción: la tromboembolia pulmonar (TEP) aguda es una entidad compleja y potencialmente mortal, de curso clínico variable, considerada como la tercera causa cardiovascular de muerte. Su manejo varía de acuerdo con el riesgo estratificado desde anticoagulación hasta terapia de reperfusión, por lo que se sugiere como estrategia de primera elección la trombólisis sistémica; sin embargo, en un grupo amplio de pacientes su empleo estará contraindicado, desaconsejado o habrá fallado y se recomendarán como opciones en tales casos terapias endovasculares o embolectomía quirúrgica. A partir de la presentación de 3 casos clínicos y una revisión de la literatura, buscamos comunicar nuestra experiencia inicial en el uso de trombólisis acelerada por ultrasonido con sistema EKOS e indagar elementos claves para su entendimiento y aplicación. Caso clínico: se discuten los casos de 3 pacientes con TEP aguda de riesgo alto e intermedio con contraindicaciones para la trombólisis sistémica, llevados a terapia de trombólisis acelerada por ultrasonido, los cuales presentaron adecuada evolución clínica y hemodinámica a corto plazo, y lograron una rápida disminución de la presión arterial pulmonar sistólica y media, mejoría de función ventricular derecha y reducción de la carga trombótica. Conclusión: la trombólisis acelerada por ultrasonido es una terapia fármaco-mecánica novedosa que combina la emisión de ondas ultrasónicas con la infusión de un agente trombolítico local, estrategia que según diferentes ensayos y registros clínicos presenta una alta tasa de éxito y un buen perfil de seguridad.

Higher diversity of Brucella canis in Latin America, according to an MLVA_13 Bc analysis.

Brucella canis is the main causative agent of canine brucellosis, which affects domestic and wild canids and leads to clinical signs and symptoms of the reproductive and locomotor systems. Owing to the scarce information on this pathogen, here we addressed the genetic diversity of the circulating strains of this species in Argentina by following an MVLA_13 Bc scheme. The analyzed sample set consisted of 101 strains of B. canis isolates collected between 2006 and 2020 from canines of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and other regions of Argentina, as well as 235 isolates from North America. The analysis yielded 336 variants (Hunter-Gaston Diversity Index, HGDI equal to 1.0) showing high diversity on a global scale. The analysis of the six most variable markers also reveled high diversity and allowed further analysis regarding variant relationships. Although the diversity obtained using both schemes (all or the 6 most variable markers) was higher for the Latin American than for the North American strains, we cannot discard that this was due to biases in the sampling methodology or to the different health policies employed in these regions regarding the management of infected individuals. Altogether, the Argentine circulating strains are genetically diverse, but with no apparent geographical association. The markers used in the MLVA_13 Bc are variable and highly useful for the evaluation of outbreaks. Furthermore, the reduced panel of 6 markers (MLVA_6 Bc) proposed in this study is convenient for the study of B. canis strain diversity.

Parent Perception of School Meals in the San Joaquin Valley during COVID-19: A Photovoice Project.

School-based nutrition programs are crucial to reducing food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted students' school meal participation. This study seeks to understand parent views of school meals during COVID-19 to inform efforts to improve participation in school meal programs. Photovoice methodology was used to explore parental perception of school meals in San Joaquin Valley, California, a region of predominately Latino farmworker communities. Parents in seven school districts photographed school meals for a one-week period during the pandemic and then participated in focus group discussions and small group interviews. Focus group discussions and small group interviews were transcribed, and data were analyzed using a team-based, theme-analysis approach. Three primary domains emerged: benefits of school meal distribution, meal quality and appeal, and perceived healthfulness. Parents perceived school meals as beneficial to addressing food insecurity. However, they noted that meals were unappealing, high in added sugar, and unhealthy, which led to discarded meals and decreased participation in the school meal program. The transition to grab-and-go style meals was an effective strategy for providing food to families during pandemic school closures, and school meals remain an important resource for families experiencing food insecurity. However, negative parental perceptions of the appeal and nutritional content of school meals may have decreased school meal participation and increased food waste that could persist beyond the pandemic.

Mitigating childhood food insecurity during COVID-19: a qualitative study of how school districts in California's San Joaquin Valley responded to growing needs.

OBJECTIVES: To explore best practices and challenges in providing school meals during COVID-19 in a low-income, predominantly Latino, urban-rural region. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews with school district stakeholders and focus groups with parents were conducted to explore school meal provision during COVID-19 from June to August 2020. Data were coded and themes were identified to guide analysis. Community organisations were involved in all aspects of study design, recruitment, data collection and analysis. SETTING: Six school districts in California's San Joaquin Valley. PARTICIPANTS: School district stakeholders (n 11) included food service directors, school superintendents and community partners (e.g. funders, food cooperative). Focus groups (n 6) were comprised of parents (n 29) of children participating in school meal programmes. RESULTS: COVID-19-related challenges for districts included developing safe meal distribution systems, boosting low participation, covering COVID-19-related costs and staying informed of policy changes. Barriers for families included transportation difficulties, safety concerns and a lack of fresh foods. Innovative strategies to address obstacles included pandemic-electronic benefits transfer (EBT), bus-stop delivery, community pick-up locations, batched meals and leveraging partner resources. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on fresher, more appealing meals and greater communication between school officials and parents could boost participation. Districts that leveraged external partnerships were better equipped to provide meals during pandemic conditions. In addition, policies increasing access to fresh foods and capitalising on United States Department of Agriculture waivers could boost school meal participation. Finally, partnering with community organisations and acting upon parent feedback could improve school meal systems, and in combination with pandemic-EBT, address childhood food insecurity.

Monitorización hemodinámica integrada: clínica, gasométrica y ecocardiográfica / Integrated hemodynamic monitoring: clinical, gasometric and echocardiographic / Monitorização hemodinâmica integrada: clínica, gasométrica e ecocardiográfica

Introducción: la monitorización hemodinámica constituye un conjunto de técnicas y parámetros que permiten valo rar si la función cardiovascular es la adecuada para mantener la perfusión y la oxigenación tisular que permita sa tisfacer las demandas metabólicas del organismo, valorar el estado y el comportamiento del sistema cardiovascular, orientando sobre la mejor estrategia terapéutica. La presente revisión busca proporcionar una descripción general e integrada de las diferentes técnicas de monitorización, así como aspectos fisiológicos relevantes para su entendi miento y empleo terapéutico. La monitorización hemodinámica acompañada de un adecuado conocimiento de la fisiología cardiovascular permite determinar el estado del sistema cardiovascular, la condición hemodinámica del paciente y la estrategia terapéutica requerida. Su interpretación debe partir de la integración y la correlación de diversos parámetros hemodinámicos.

Introduction: hemodynamic monitoring is a set of techniques and parameters that allow evaluating whether cardio vascular function is adequate to maintain tissue perfusion and oxygenation to satisfy metabolic demands of the or ganism, assess the condition and behavior of the cardiovascular system, providing guidance on the best therapeutic strategy. This review seeks to provide a general and integrated description of the different monitoring techniques, as well as physiological aspects relevant to their understanding and therapeutic use. Hemodynamic monitoring accompanied by an adequate knowledge of cardiovascular physiology allows to determine the state of the cardiovascular system, hemodynamic condition of the patient and therapeutic strategy required, its interpretation must start from the integration and correlation of different hemodynamic parameters.

Introdução: a monitorização hemodinâmica constitui um conjunto de técnicas e parâmetros que permitem avaliar se a função cardiovascular é adequada para manter a perfusão e oxigenação tecidual que permite satisfazer as exi gências metabólicas do organismo, avaliar o estado e comportamento do sistema cardiovascular, orientando sobre a melhor estratégia terapêutica. Esta revisão procura fornecer uma descrição geral e integrada das diferentes técnicas de monitorização, bem como aspectos fisiológicos relevantes para a sua compreensão e utilização terapêutica. A monitorização hemodinâmica acompanhada de um conhecimento adequado da fisiologia cardiovascular permite determinar o estado do sistema cardiovascular, a condição hemodinâmica do doente e a estratégia terapêutica neces sária, a sua interpretação deve partir da integração e correlação de vários parâmetros hemodinâmicos.

Predictores de fenómeno de no reflujo en infarto agudo del miocardio con elevación del segmento ST / Predictors in no-reflow phenomenon in acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation

Resumen Antecedentes: El fenómeno de «no reflujo¼ (NR) es una de las complicaciones más temidas tras una intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) en el tratamiento del infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST) por su elevada morbimortalidad. Objetivo: Describir los factores predictores para el fenómeno de NR en un grupo de sujetos con IAMCEST tratados con ICP. Método: Se estudiaron 103 casos de IAMCEST a los que se les realizó una ICP. Los sujetos se dividieron de acuerdo con la presencia del fenómeno de NR. Se estudió mediante un análisis multivariante la edad, el sexo, presencia de comorbilidades, el peso y otros parámetros clínicos y de laboratorio como predictores del fenómeno de NR. Resultados: En este estudio, el análisis con regresión logística identificó como factores independientes para el desarrollo de fenómeno de NR el flujo TIMI basal ≤ 2 (razón de momios [OR]6.03; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%]: 0.9-11.8; p = 0.04), estadio enfermedad renal según KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) ≥ 3 (OR 3.49; IC 95%: 1.2-2.6; p = 0.02) y nivel de glucosa ≥ 180 mg/dl(OR 2.61; IC 95%: 1.0-2.4; p = 0.04). Conclusiones: El fenómeno de NR sigue siendo un reto para la morbimortalidad a corto y a largo plazo en el IAMCEST. Los factores identificados pueden ser utilizados para la estratificación de los casos con IAMCEST y riesgo de fenómeno de NR previo a la ICP.

Abstract Background: No-reflow (NR) phenomenon is one of the most feared complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to its high morbidity and mortality. Objective: To describe the predictive factors for NR phenomenon in a group of subjects with STEMI treated with PCI. Method: One hundred and three cases of STEMI who underwent PCI. The subjects were divided according to the presence of NR phenomenon. In a multivariate analysis age, gender, comorbidities, weight, and other clinical and laboratory parameters were studied as predictors of NR phenomenon were studied. Results: In this study, logistic regression analysis identified as independent factors for the development of NR phenomenon baseline TIMI flow ≤ 2 (OR 6.03; 95% CI, 0.9 to 11.8; p = 0.04), ER KDIGO ≥ 3 (OR OR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4; p = 0.04). Conclusions: NR phenomenon continues to be a challenge for short and long-term morbidity and mortality in STEMI. The identified factors can be used for the stratification of cases with STEMI and risk of NR phenomenon prior to PCI.

Predictors in no-reflow phenomenon in acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation.

BACKGROUND: No-reflow (NR) phenomenon is one of the most feared complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to its high morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe the predictive factors for NR phenomenon in a group of subjects with STEMI treated with PCI. METHOD: One hundred and three cases of STEMI who underwent PCI. The subjects were divided according to the presence of NR phenomenon. In a multivariate analysis age, gender, comorbidities, weight, and other clinical and laboratory parameters were studied as predictors of NR phenomenon were studied. RESULTS: In this study, logistic regression analysis identified as independent factors for the development of NR phenomenon baseline TIMI flow ≤ 2 (OR 6.03; 95% CI, 0.9 to 11.8; p = 0.04), ER KDIGO ≥ 3 (OR OR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: NR phenomenon continues to be a challenge for short and long-term morbidity and mortality in STEMI. The identified factors can be used for the stratification of cases with STEMI and risk of NR phenomenon prior to PCI.

ANTECEDENTES: El fenómeno de «no reflujo¼ (NR) es una de las complicaciones más temidas tras una intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) en el tratamiento del infarto de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST) por su elevada morbimortalidad. OBJETIVO: Describir los factores predictores para el fenómeno de NR en un grupo de sujetos con IAMCEST tratados con ICP. MÉTODO: Se estudiaron 103 casos de IAMCEST a los que se les realizó una ICP. Los sujetos se dividieron de acuerdo con la presencia del fenómeno de NR. Se estudió mediante un análisis multivariante la edad, el sexo, presencia de comorbilidades, el peso y otros parámetros clínicos y de laboratorio como predictores del fenómeno de NR. RESULTADOS: En este estudio, el análisis con regresión logística identificó como factores independientes para el desarrollo de fenómeno de NR el flujo TIMI basal ≤ 2 (razón de momios [OR]6.03; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%]: 0.9-11.8; p = 0.04), estadio enfermedad renal según KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) ≥ 3 (OR 3.49; IC 95%: 1.2-2.6; p = 0.02) y nivel de glucosa ≥ 180 mg/dl(OR 2.61; IC 95%: 1.0-2.4; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONES: El fenómeno de NR sigue siendo un reto para la morbimortalidad a corto y a largo plazo en el IAMCEST. Los factores identificados pueden ser utilizados para la estratificación de los casos con IAMCEST y riesgo de fenómeno de NR previo a la ICP.

Milium cysts on hands; hypertrichosis on face.

The patient's dermatologic symptoms and his history of a particular chronic condition pointed toward the diagnosis.