Differential effects of coverslip-induced hypoxia and cobalt chloride mimetic hypoxia on cellular stress, metabolism, and nuclear structure.

Hypoxia has profound effects on cell physiology, both in normal or pathological settings like cancer. In this study, we asked whether a variant of coverslip-induced hypoxia that recapitulates the conditions found in the tumor microenvironment would elicit similar cellular responses compared to the well established model of cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia. Comparable levels of nuclear HIF-1α were observed after 24 h of coverslip-induced hypoxia or cobalt chloride treatment in CAL-27 oral squamous carcinoma cells. However, cellular stress levels assessed by reactive oxygen species production and lipid droplet accumulation were markedly increased in coverslip-induced hypoxia compared to cobalt chloride treatment. Conversely, mitochondrial ATP production sharply decreased after coverslip-induced hypoxia but was preserved in the presence of cobalt chloride. Coverslip-induced hypoxia also had profound effects in nuclear organization, assessed by changes in nuclear dry mass distribution, whereas these effects were much less marked after cobalt chloride treatment. Taken together, our results show that coverslip-induced hypoxia effects on cell physiology and structure are more pronounced than mimetic hypoxia induced by cobalt chloride treatment. Considering also the simplicity of coverslip-induced hypoxia, our results therefore underscore the usefulness of this method to recapitulate in vitro the effects of hypoxic microenvironments encountered by cells in vivo.

End-of-Life Care for Newborn Infants: A Multicenter Real-Life Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Most neonatal deaths in industrialized countries follow a process of redirection of care. The objectives of this study were to describe how neonates die in a middle-income country, whether there was redirection of care, and the reason for this decision. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study. Neonates who died in the delivery room or in the neonatal intensive care unit in 97 hospitals over a 6-month period were included. After each neonatal death, one investigator interviewed a member of the healthcare team who had been involved in the end-of-life care process. Perinatal data, conditions that led to death, whether there was redirection of care, and details of the end-of-life process were recorded. RESULTS: Data from 697 neonatal deaths were analyzed, which represent 80% of the total deaths occurring in Argentina in that period. The main causes of death were complications of prematurity (47%) and congenital anomalies (27%). Overall, 32% of neonates died after a process of redirection of care, and this was less frequent in the neonatal intensive care unit (28%) than in the delivery room (70%, p < 0.001). The reasons for withholding/withdrawing care were inevitable death (75%) and severe compromise of expected quality of life (25%). Redirection of care consisted in withholding therapies in 66% and withdrawal in 34%. A diagnosis of a major congenital anomaly increased the odds of redirection of care (OR 5.45; 95% CI: 3.59-8.27). CONCLUSION: Most neonates who die in Argentina do so while receiving full support. Redirection of care mainly follows a condition of inevitable death.

Real-time phase retrieval in division of aperture microscopy with the transport of intensity equation.

The transport of intensity equation (TIE) allows to recover the phase of a microscopy sample from differently focused intensity measures along the axial direction of its optical field. In the present work, we propose a cost-effective technique for snapshot phase retrieval with TIE. The optics of a commercially available camera is replaced with a doublet system consisting of a microscope objective and a lenslet array with an extra lens mask attached to it. The system allows to obtain, in real-time and with no mechanical shift of either the sample or the sensor, the in-focus as well as a defocused image of the sample. From these two sub-aperture images, the intensity derivative term in TIE can then be approximated after image rectification. Phase is then retrieved for static as well as dynamic samples over the common view area. Validation experiments are presented.

Spatial perception in stereoscopic augmented reality based on multifocus sensing.

In many areas ranging from medical imaging to visual entertainment, 3D information acquisition and display is a key task. In this regard, in multifocus computational imaging, stacks of images of a certain 3D scene are acquired under different focus configurations and are later combined by means of post-capture algorithms based on image formation model in order to synthesize images with novel viewpoints of the scene. Stereoscopic augmented reality devices, through which is possible to simultaneously visualize the three dimensional real world along with overlaid digital stereoscopic image pair, could benefit from the binocular content allowed by multifocus computational imaging. Spatial perception of the displayed stereo pairs can be controlled by synthesizing the desired point of view of each image of the stereo-pair along with their parallax setting. The proposed method has the potential to alleviate the accommodation-convergence conflict and make augmented reality stereoscopic devices less vulnerable to visual fatigue.

Non-COVID-19 intensive care admissions during the pandemic: a multinational registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a large number of critical care admissions. While national reports have described the outcomes of patients with COVID-19, there is limited international data of the pandemic impact on non-COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care treatment. METHODS: We conducted an international, retrospective cohort study using 2019 and 2020 data from 11 national clinical quality registries covering 15 countries. Non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 were compared with all admissions in 2019, prepandemic. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and standardised mortality ratio (SMR). Analyses were stratified by the country income level(s) of each registry. FINDINGS: Among 1 642 632 non-COVID-19 admissions, there was an increase in ICU mortality between 2019 (9.3%) and 2020 (10.4%), OR=1.15 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.17, p<0.001). Increased mortality was observed in middle-income countries (OR 1.25 95% CI 1.23 to 1.26), while mortality decreased in high-income countries (OR=0.96 95% CI 0.94 to 0.98). Hospital mortality and SMR trends for each registry were consistent with the observed ICU mortality findings. The burden of COVID-19 was highly variable, with COVID-19 ICU patient-days per bed ranging from 0.4 to 81.6 between registries. This alone did not explain the observed non-COVID-19 mortality changes. INTERPRETATION: Increased ICU mortality occurred among non-COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, driven by increased mortality in middle-income countries, while mortality decreased in high-income countries. The causes for this inequity are likely multi-factorial, but healthcare spending, policy pandemic responses, and ICU strain may play significant roles.

Digital literacy as a new determinant of health: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Harnessing new digital technologies can improve access to health care but can also widen the health divide for those with poor digital literacy. This scoping review aims to assess the current situation of low digital health literacy in terms of its definition, reach, impact on health and interventions for its mitigation. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search strategy was composed by a qualified medical librarian. Literature databases [Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Google Scholar] were queried using appropriate natural language and controlled vocabulary terms along with hand-searching and citation chaining. We focused on recent and highly cited references published in English. Reviews were excluded. This scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley. RESULTS: A total of 268 articles were identified (263 from the initial search and 5 more added from the references of the original papers), 53 of which were finally selected for full text analysis. Digital health literacy is the most frequently used descriptor to refer to the ability to find and use health information with the goal of addressing or solving a health problem using technology. The most utilized tool to assess digital health literacy is the eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS), a self-reported measurement tool that evaluates six core dimensions and is available in various languages. Individuals with higher digital health literacy scores have better self-management and participation in their own medical decisions, mental and psychological state and quality of life. Effective interventions addressing poor digital health literacy included education/training and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is interest in the study and impact of poor digital health literacy, there is still a long way to go to improve measurement tools and find effective interventions to reduce the digital health divide.

Contributions of viral oncogenes of HPV-18 and hypoxia to oxidative stress and genetic damage in human keratinocytes.

Infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses like HPV-16 and HPV-18 is highly associated with the development of cervical and other cancers. Malignant transformation requires viral oncoproteins E5, E6 and E7, which promote cell proliferation and increase DNA damage. Oxidative stress and hypoxia are also key factors in cervical malignant transformation. Increased levels of reactive species of oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) are found in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, promoting genetic instability and invasiveness. In this work, we studied the combined effect of E5, E6 and E7 and hypoxia in increasing oxidative stress and promoting DNA damage and nuclear architecture alterations. HaCaT cells containing HPV-18 viral oncogenes (HaCaT E5/E6/E7-18) showed higher ROS levels in normoxia and higher levels of RNS in hypoxia compared to HaCaT parental cells, as well as higher genetic damage in hypoxia as measured by γH2AX and comet assays. In hypoxia, HaCaT E5/E6/E7-18 increased its nuclear dry mass and both cell types displayed marked heterogeneity in nuclear dry mass distribution and increased nuclear foci. Our results show contributions of both viral oncogenes and hypoxia to oxidative stress, DNA damage and altered nuclear architecture, exemplifying how an altered microenvironment combines with oncogenic transformation to promote tumor progression.

[Lower socioeconomic conditions are associated with higher rates but similar outcomes in Sepsis in children]. / Condiciones socioeconómicas más bajas se asocian con tasas de sepsis infantil más altas pero con resultados similares.

Sepsis is an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality, especially in low-income countries. Data on regional prevalence, mortality trends, and their relationship with socioeconomic variables are scarce. OBJECTIVE: to determine the regional prevalence, mortality, and sociodemographic situation of patients diagnosed with severe sepsis (SS) and septic shock (SSh) admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs). PATIENTS AND METHOD: patients aged 1 to 216 months admitted to 47 participating PICUs with a diagnosis of SS or SSh between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018, were included. Secondary analysis was performed on the Argentine Society of Intensive Care Benchmarking Quality Program (SATI-Q) database for SS and SSh and a review of the annual reports of the Argentine Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Statistics and Census for the sociodemographic indices of the respective years. RESULTS: 45,480 admissions were recorded in 47 PICUs, 3,777 of them with a diagnosis of SS and SSh. The combined prevalence of SS and SSh decreased from 9.9% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2018. The combined mortality decreased from 34.5% to 23.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that the Odds ratio (OR) of the association between SS and SSh mortality was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.46-2.32) and 2.4 (95% CI: 2.16-2.66), respectively, adjusted for malignant disease, PIM2, and mechanical ventilation. The prevalence of SS and SSh in different health regions (HR) was associated with the percentage of poverty and infant mortality rate (p < 0.001). However, there was no association between sepsis mortality and HR adjusted for PIM2. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and mortality of SS and SSh have decreased over time in the participating PICUs. Lower socioeconomic conditions were associated with higher prevalence but similar sepsis outcomes.

Generalized Hough transform for 3D object recognition and visualization in integral imaging.

Object recognition is an automated image processing application of great interest in areas ranging from defect inspection to robot vision. In this regard, the generalized Hough transform is a well-established technique for the recognition of geometrical features even when they are partially occluded or corrupted by noise. To extend the original algorithm-aimed at detecting 2D geometrical features out of single images-we propose the robust integral generalized Hough transform, which corresponds to transformation under the generalized Hough transform of an elemental image array obtained from a 3D scene under integral imaging capture. The proposed algorithm constitutes a robust approach to pattern recognition in 3D scenes that takes into account information obtained not only from the individual processing of each image of the array but also from the spatial restrictions arising from perspective shifts between images. The problem of global detection of a 3D object of given size, position, and orientation is then exchanged under the robust integral generalized Hough transform for a more easily solved maximum detection in an accumulation (Hough) space dual to the elemental image array of the scene. Detected objects can then be visualized following refocusing schemes of integral imaging. Validation experiments for the detection and visualization of partially occluded 3D objects are presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of the generalized Hough transform for 3D object detection in integral imaging.

Can Intubation Be Improved with Endotracheal Tubes Marked with a Color Scale? Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess if a color scale in the endotracheal tube (ETT) can help operators to correctly select the size and depth of placement of the ETT and decrease the time required to complete the procedure and compared with the usual numeric ETT scale in a mannequin model. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted in eight centers. Each size of the ETT was identified with a different color. The experimental ETTs had two different colored areas, one for the mouthpiece and another to identify where the ETT should be taped above the lip (an area of 1 cm. The operators were trained as part of the protocol using an instructional video. Four clinical scenarios requiring endotracheal intubation were designed and randomly assigned. Each operator had to select the size and depth of ETT based on the birth weight (BW), and then had to perform four intubations. RESULTS: A total of 108 operators performed 432 intubations. No differences were found in the correct placement and selection of the ETT. Median time (in seconds) required for intubation using numeric versus experimental tube was: for ETT Ø NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) 2.5, 11.5 versus 8 (p < 0.001), ETT Ø 3, 12 versus 10 (p < 0.001), ETT Ø 3.5, 15.5 versus12 (p = 0.003), ETT Ø 4, 12 versus11 (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed in the selection and correct placement of the ETT. However, the intubation time was significantly shorter using the experimental ETT. This device could improve the effectiveness of intubation by reducing the time needed to properly place the ETT at mid trachea. KEY POINTS: · It is an innovative intervention to try to solve a great inconvenience of daily practice.. · The study also raises the difficulty in maintaining the ability of endotracheal intubation.. · It proposes a scale that ensures the correct location with a safe fixation zone..

Integración de la vinculación-investigación en la carrera de Medicina de la Universidad Regional Autónoma de Los Andes

Introducción: La integración de la investigación científica y la vinculación es clave para la contribución de las universidades a la solución de los problemas de la sociedad mediante la transferencia de conocimientos y la innovación. Objetivo: Caracterizar el proceso de integración entre vinculación e investigación en la carrera de Medicina de UNIANDES. Método: Se realizó una investigación predominantemente cualitativa y descriptiva con la utilización del análisis documental y la entrevista. Se revisaron documentos rectores, lineamientos, y políticas, aplicadas en la carrera de Medicina. Se aplicaron entrevistas a los coordinadores en la carrera para buscar volumen informativo acerca de estas dos actividades y las proyecciones concretas de transversalización. Resultados: Se denotó una debilidad en cuanto a la gestión de la vinculación con la sociedad, ausencia de una visión más amplia de una gestión integral donde no solo se imbrique vinculación con docencia en las prácticas preprofesionales sino en los proyectos integradores y la existencia de la voluntad de los directivos institucionales en gestar desde la investigación una verdadera vinculación universidad-sociedad. Conclusiones: Falta una visión más amplia de la integración entre los tres procesos claves universitarios, se evidencia solo la relación entre docencia y vinculación a partir de las prácticas preprofesionales, dejando fuera la base y génesis que deben ser los proyectos integradores de saberes. En aras del perfeccionamiento de esta integración se deben proponer proyectos de innovación social donde se unan vinculación e investigación, garantizar la publicación de los resultados de los proyectos de innovación social en las revistas internas de UNIANDES y en otras de impacto regional o mundial.

Introduction: The integration of scientific research and linkage is key for the contribution of universities to the solution of society's problems through the transfer of knowledge and innovation. Objective: Characterize the integration process between linkage and research in the UNIANDES Medicine degree. Method: A predominantly qualitative and descriptive research was carried out with the use of documentary analysis and interviews. Governing documents, guidelines, and policies applied in the Medicine career were reviewed. Interviews were carried out with the coordinators in the program to search for volume of information about these two activities and the specific projections of mainstreaming. Results: A weakness was noted in terms of the management of the link with society, absence of a broader vision of comprehensive management where not only linkage with teaching is intertwined in pre-professional practices but also in integrative projects and the existence of will of institutional directors to create a true university-society link through research. Conclusions: A broader vision of the integration between the three key university processes is missing, only the relationship between teaching and connection is evident from pre-professional practices, leaving out the basis and genesis that knowledge-integrating projects should be. In order to perfect this integration, social innovation projects must be proposed where linkage and research come together, guaranteeing the publication of the results of social innovation projects in the internal journals of UNIANDES and in others with regional or global impact.

Introdução: A integração e articulação da investigação científica é fundamental para a contribuição das universidades na solução dos problemas da sociedade através da transferência de conhecimento e inovação. Objetivo: Caracterizar o processo de integração entre vinculação e pesquisa na graduação em Medicina da UNIANDES. Método: Foi realizada uma pesquisa predominantemente qualitativa e descritiva com utilização de análise documental e entrevistas. Foram revisados documentos normativos, diretrizes e políticas aplicadas à carreira de Medicina. Foram realizadas entrevistas com os coordenadores do programa para buscar volume de informações sobre essas duas atividades e as projeções específicas de mainstreaming. Resultados: Constatou-se uma fragilidade na gestão do vínculo com a sociedade, ausência de uma visão mais ampla de uma gestão integral onde não só o vínculo com o ensino esteja entrelaçado nas práticas pré-profissionais, mas também nos projetos integradores e na existência de vontade de instituições diretores para criar um verdadeiro vínculo universidade-sociedade através da pesquisa. Conclusões: Falta uma visão mais ampla da integração entre os três principais processos universitários, apenas a relação entre ensino e conexão é evidente nas práticas pré-profissionais, deixando de fora a base e a gênese que os projetos integradores de conhecimento deveriam ser. Para aperfeiçoar esta integração, devem ser propostos projetos de inovação social onde a articulação e a investigação se unam, garantindo a publicação dos resultados dos projetos de inovação social nas revistas internas da UNIANDES e em outras com impacto regional ou global.

Láserterapia en tratamientos odontológicos mediante una revisión bibliográfica / Laser therapy in dental treatment by means of a literature review

Introducción: De acuerdo con el avance científico y tecnológico de la sociedad, se van implementando nuevas y mejoradas técnicas en la práctica dental, que están destinadas a ofrecer tratamientos efectivos, más rápidos, conservadores y que reduzcan los niveles de miedo y ansiedad en los pacientes. Objetivo: Interpretar los beneficios de emplear laserterapia en el campo odontológico, mediante una revisión bibliográfica. Métodos: Estudio del nivel exploratorio, auxiliado por la hermenéutica para interpretar la revisión bibliográfica ejecutada. Correspondió al tipo observacional, transversal, descriptivo y retrospectivo. Las búsquedas se efectuaron en las bases de datos: Lilacs, Pubmed, Sciencedirect y se buscaron estudios clínicos aleatorizados. Resultados: Se encontraron 252 artículos, de los cuales fueron seleccionados 7 de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Se percibieron resultados favorables sobre el láser en las especialidades de cirugía, endodoncia, periodoncia y patología oral, en comparación con las terapias consideradas como gold standard, lo que demuestra que el uso del láser es mejor o igual de efectivo que los tratamientos convencionales, ya que reduce el nivel de tiempo en las intervenciones, en tratamientos quirúrgicos evita el sangrado y el uso de sutura en algunos casos, además de que bien aceptado para pacientes porque también evita la presencia de dolor al aplicarlo. Conclusiones: Usando láser para intervenciones odontológicas se puede obtener una mejoría o al menos el mismo resultado que aplicando técnicas convencionales, lo que comprueba que es viable su uso(AU)

Introduction: In accordance with the scientific and technological progress of society, new and improved techniques are being implemented in dental practice that are aimed at offering effective, faster, and more conservative treatments that reduce the levels of fear and anxiety in patients. Objective: To interpret the benefits of using laser therapy in the dental field by means of a review of the literature. Methods: This was an exploratory study, aided by hermeneutics to interpret the literature review. It was observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective. The searches were carried out in the following databases: Lilacs, Pubmed, Sciencedirect and randomized clinical studies were searched. Results: 252 articles were found, of which 7 were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Favorable results were found on laser in the specialties of surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and oral pathology, in comparison with therapies considered as gold standard. thus, demonstrating that the use of laser is better or equally effective than conventional treatments, since it reduces the level of time in interventions, in surgical treatments it avoids bleeding and the use of suture in some cases, besides being well accepted for patients because it also avoids the presence of pain when applying it. Conclusions: Using laser for dental interventions an improvement can be obtained or at least the same result as applying conventional techniques, which proves that its use is feasible (AU)

Current stage of the intensive care unit structure in Argentina: results from the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva self-assessment survey of intensive care units. / Cenário atual da estrutura das unidades de terapia intensiva na Argentina: resultados do inquérito de autoavaliação de unidades de terapia intensiva da Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the structure of Argentinean intensive care units that completed the "self-assessment survey of intensive care units" developed by the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. METHODS: An observational crosssectional study was conducted using an online voluntary survey through the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva member database and other social media postings. Answers received between December 2018 and July 2020 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used. RESULTS: A total of 392 surveys were received, and 244 were considered for the analysis. Seventy-seven percent (187/244) belonged to adult intensive care units, and 23% (57/244) belonged to pediatric intensive care units. The overall completion rate was 76%. The sample included 2,567 ICU beds (adult: 1,981; pediatric: 586). We observed a clear concentration of intensive care units in the Central and Buenos Aires regions of Argentina. The median number of beds was 10 (interquartile range 7 - 15).The median numbers of multiparameter monitors, mechanical ventilators, and pulse oximeters were 1 per bed with no regional or intensive care unit type differences (adult versus pediatric). Although our sample showed that the pediatric intensive care units had a higher mechanical ventilation/bed ratio than the adult intensive care units, this finding was not linearly correlated. CONCLUSION: Argentina has a notable concentration of critical care beds and better structural complexity in the Buenos Aires and Centro regions for both adult and pediatric intensive care units. In addition, a lack of accurate data reported from the intensive care unit structure and resources was observed. Further improvement opportunities are required to allocate intensive care unit resources at the institutional and regional levels.

OBJETIVO: Descrever e comparar a estrutura das unidades de terapia intensiva argentinas que responderam ao inquérito de autoavaliação de unidades de terapia intensiva desenvolvido pela Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal observacional com uso de um inquérito voluntário online por meio do banco de dados de membros da Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva e outras publicações em mídias sociais. Foram analisadas as respostas recebidas entre dezembro de 2018 e julho de 2020. Foram utilizados testes não paramétricos e estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS: Foram recebidos 392 inquéritos, sendo 244 considerados para a análise. Eram de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto 77% (187/244), e 23% (57/244) eram de unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica. A taxa de participação foi de 76%. A amostra incluiu 2.567 leitos de unidades de terapia intensiva (1.981 adulto e 586 pediátrica). Observamos nítida concentração de unidades de terapia intensiva nas regiões Centro e Buenos Aires, Argentina.A mediana de leitos foi de dez (intervalo interquartil 7 - 15). A mediana de monitores multiparamétricos, ventiladores mecânicos e oxímetros de pulso foi de um por leito, sem diferenças regionais ou de tipo de unidade de terapia intensiva (adulto ou pediátrica). Embora nossa amostra tenha evidenciado que as unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica apresentaram proporção de ventilação mecânica/leito maior do que as unidades de terapia intensiva adulto, esse achado não foi linearmente correlacionado. CONCLUSÃO: A Argentina tem concentração notável de leitos de cuidados intensivos e complexidade estrutural superior nas regiões de Buenos Aires e Centro, tanto de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto quanto pediátrica. Além disso, observou-se ausência de dados precisos informados sobre a estrutura e os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva. São necessárias mais opções de melhoria para alocar os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva nos níveis institucional e regional.

Computational multifocus fluorescence microscopy for three-dimensional visualization of multicellular tumor spheroids.

SIGNIFICANCE: Three-dimensional (3D) visualization of multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) in fluorescence microscopy can rapidly provide qualitative morphological information about the architecture of these cellular aggregates, which can recapitulate key aspects of their in vivo counterpart. AIM: The present work is aimed at overcoming the shallow depth-of-field (DoF) limitation in fluorescence microscopy while achieving 3D visualization of thick biological samples under study. APPROACH: A custom-built fluorescence microscope with an electrically focus-tunable lens was developed to optically sweep in-depth the structure of MCTS. Acquired multifocus stacks were combined by means of postprocessing algorithms performed in the Fourier domain. RESULTS: Images with relevant characteristics as extended DoF, stereoscopic pairs as well as reconstructed viewpoints of MCTS were obtained without segmentation of the focused regions or estimation of the depth map. The reconstructed images allowed us to observe the 3D morphology of cell aggregates. CONCLUSIONS: Computational multifocus fluorescence microscopy can provide 3D visualization in MCTS. This tool is a promising development in assessing the morphological structure of different cellular aggregates while preserving a robust yet simple optical setup.

Cenário atual da estrutura das unidades de terapia intensiva na Argentina: resultados do inquérito de autoavaliação de unidades de terapia intensiva da Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva / Current stage of the intensive care unit structure in Argentina: results from the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva self-assessment survey of intensive care units

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever e comparar a estrutura das unidades de terapia intensiva argentinas que responderam ao inquérito de autoavaliação de unidades de terapia intensiva desenvolvido pela Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal observacional com uso de um inquérito voluntário online por meio do banco de dados de membros da Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva e outras publicações em mídias sociais. Foram analisadas as respostas recebidas entre dezembro de 2018 e julho de 2020. Foram utilizados testes não paramétricos e estatística descritiva. Resultados: Foram recebidos 392 inquéritos, sendo 244 considerados para a análise. Eram de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto 77% (187/244), e 23% (57/244) eram de unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica. A taxa de participação foi de 76%. A amostra incluiu 2.567 leitos de unidades de terapia intensiva (1.981 adulto e 586 pediátrica). Observamos nítida concentração de unidades de terapia intensiva nas regiões Centro e Buenos Aires, Argentina. A mediana de leitos foi de dez (intervalo interquartil 7 - 15). A mediana de monitores multiparamétricos, ventiladores mecânicos e oxímetros de pulso foi de um por leito, sem diferenças regionais ou de tipo de unidade de terapia intensiva (adulto ou pediátrica). Embora nossa amostra tenha evidenciado que as unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica apresentaram proporção de ventilação mecânica/leito maior do que as unidades de terapia intensiva adulto, esse achado não foi linearmente correlacionado. Conclusão: A Argentina tem concentração notável de leitos de cuidados intensivos e complexidade estrutural superior nas regiões de Buenos Aires e Centro, tanto de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto quanto pediátrica. Além disso, observou-se ausência de dados precisos informados sobre a estrutura e os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva. São necessárias mais opções de melhoria para alocar os recursos de unidades de terapia intensiva nos níveis institucional e regional.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and compare the structure of Argentinean intensive care units that completed the "self-assessment survey of intensive care units" developed by the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva. Methods: An observational crosssectional study was conducted using an online voluntary survey through the Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva member database and other social media postings. Answers received between December 2018 and July 2020 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used. Results: A total of 392 surveys were received, and 244 were considered for the analysis. Seventy-seven percent (187/244) belonged to adult intensive care units, and 23% (57/244) belonged to pediatric intensive care units. The overall completion rate was 76%. The sample included 2,567 ICU beds (adult: 1,981; pediatric: 586). We observed a clear concentration of intensive care units in the Central and Buenos Aires regions of Argentina. The median number of beds was 10 (interquartile range 7 - 15). The median numbers of multiparameter monitors, mechanical ventilators, and pulse oximeters were 1 per bed with no regional or intensive care unit type differences (adult versus pediatric). Although our sample showed that the pediatric intensive care units had a higher mechanical ventilation/bed ratio than the adult intensive care units, this finding was not linearly correlated. Conclusion: Argentina has a notable concentration of critical care beds and better structural complexity in the Buenos Aires and Centro regions for both adult and pediatric intensive care units. In addition, a lack of accurate data reported from the intensive care unit structure and resources was observed. Further improvement opportunities are required to allocate intensive care unit resources at the institutional and regional levels.

Snapshot polarimetric imaging in multi-view microscopy.

Polarimetric imaging allows for the vector nature of optical information across a scene to be obtained, with recent applications ranging from remote sensing to microscopy. In polarimetric microscopy in particular, different polarization states are conventionally achieved under time-division multiplexing strategies and are mainly subject to static phenomena. In the present work, we propose a cost-effective technique for polarization sensing with the possibility of real-time imaging microscopy. By modifying a commercial camera and replacing the conventional lens with an optical system that integrates a microscope objective and a lenslet array with a polarization mask, linear Stokes parameters can be obtained in a snapshot. The proposed scheme is robust against misalignment and suitable for handling video sequences of microscopic samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on combining multi-view sensing and polarization imaging for applications to microscopy.

Artificial Intelligence Deconstructs Drug Targeting In Vivo by Leveraging a Transformer Platform.

Lead optimization in structure-based drug design ultimately requires that the therapeutic agent be evaluated in the cellular context. However, the in vivo control of the target structure remains unyielding to computational modeling. This situation may change as transformer technologies enable a deconstruction of in vivo cooperativity steering drug-induced protein folding.

Artificial Intelligence Set to Reverse Engineer Drug Targeting in the Cell.

Therapeutic drugs are required to target proteins in the cell, not in vitro. Yet, drug-induced protein folding in vivo is off limits to computational modeling efforts. This situation may change as artificial intelligence empowers molecular dynamics and enables the deconstruction of in vivo cooperativity for structural adaptation.

SARS-CoV-2 Glycosylation Suggests That Vaccines Should Have Adopted the S1 Subunit as Antigen.

Extant SARS-CoV-2 vaccines use the trimeric spike (S) protein as antigen. In the virus, the spike region is extensively glycosylated, modulating immune surveillance. Because they have been defused, many epitopes in the vaccine sidetrack the immune response. Only the receptor binding domain within the S1 subunit is well-exposed to antibody recognition. After proteolytic virus activation, the S1 subunit offers additional epitopes with antibody exposure. Thus, vaccines adopting the S1 subunit as antigen would have been more efficacious than the existing ones.