Measures of performance validity for Hispanic/Latin American adults: A PRISMA systematic review.

Objective: Use of performance validity tests (PVTs) to assess suboptimal performance has become a recommended feature in neuropsychological evaluations. However, most of the literature has examined the utility of PVTs in primarily non-Hispanic White, monolingual English-speaking samples. Given the continual growth of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations, especially Hispanic/Latin Americans (H/Ls), it is necessary to provide an updated review on the available literature involving the use of PVTs in H/L adults. Methods: We conducted a systematic review that examined the available literature surrounding use of performance validity measures in H/L adults. This review identified evidence for the utility of PVTs in assessing invalid performance in H/Ls and compiled psychometric properties related to these measures, specifically rates of specificity and sensitivity when available. Results: We identified six standalone and four embedded performance validity measures that have been examined in H/Ls. The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) was identified as the PVT most studied in various H/L heritage groups. Across the studies reviewed, adjustments to cutoff scores are generally recommended for the majority of PVTs discussed. Within H/Ls, specificity rates tend to be bolstered when sociocultural factors, like education, are considered. Conclusions: Recommended cutoff scores across the different PVTs reviewed are not typically suitable for use in heritage groups of H/L adults, especially in groups that include adults with lower levels of education and literacy. Therefore, education may need to be considered when applying cutoffs to these populations.

Alpha-Synuclein Gene Alterations Modulate Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons in a Parkinson's Disease Animal Model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) caused by SNCA gene triplication (3XSNCA) leads to early onset, rapid progression, and often dementia. Understanding the impact of 3XSNCA and its absence is crucial. This study investigates the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived floor-plate progenitors into dopaminergic neurons. Three different genotypes were evaluated in this study: patient-derived hiPSCs with 3XSNCA, a gene-edited isogenic line with a frame-shift mutation on all SNCA alleles (SNCA 4KO), and a normal wild-type control. Our aim was to assess how the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) microenvironment, damaged by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), influences tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (Th+) neuron differentiation in these genetic variations. This study confirms successful in vitro differentiation into neuronal lineage in all cell lines. However, the SNCA 4KO line showed unusual LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha (Lmx1a) extranuclear distribution. Crucially, both 3XSNCA and SNCA 4KO lines had reduced Th+ neuron expression, despite initial successful neuronal differentiation after two months post-transplantation. This indicates that while the SNpc environment supports early neuronal survival, SNCA gene alterations-either amplification or knock-out-negatively impact Th+ dopaminergic neuron maturation. These findings highlight SNCA's critical role in PD and underscore the value of hiPSC models in studying neurodegenerative diseases.

SGLT2i treatment during AKI and its association with major adverse kidney events.

Background: The association between the administration of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) during acute kidney injury (AKI) and the incidence of major adverse kidney events (MAKEs) is not known. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with AKI and compared the outcomes for those who were treated with SGLT2is during hospitalization and those without SGLT2i treatment. The associations of SGLT2i use with MAKEs at 10 and 30-90 days, each individual MAKE component, and the pre-specified patient subgroups were analyzed. Results: From 2021 to 2023, 374 patients were included in the study-316 without SGLT2i use and 58 with SGLT2i use. Patients who were treated with SGLT2is were older; had a greater prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, chronic heart failure, and chronic kidney disease; required hemodialysis less often; and presented stage 3 AKI less frequently than those who were not treated with SGLT2is. Logistic regression analysis with nearest-neighbor matching revealed that SGLT2i use was not associated with the risk of MAKE10 (OR 1.08 [0.45-2.56]) or with MAKE30-90 (OR 0.76 [0.42-1.36]). For death, the stepwise approach demonstrated that SGLT2i use was associated with a reduced risk (OR 0.08; 0.01-0.64), and no effect was found for kidney replacement therapy (KRT). The subgroups of patients who experienced a reduction in the risk of MAKEs in patients with AKI treated with SGLT2is were those older than 61 years, those with an eGFR >81, and those without a history of hypertension or DM (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Conclusion: The use of SGLT2is during AKI had no effect on short- or medium-term MAKEs, but some subgroups of patients may have experienced benefits from SGLT2i treatment.

The conserved RNA-binding protein Imp is required for the specification and function of olfactory navigation circuitry in Drosophila.

Complex behaviors depend on the precise developmental specification of neuronal circuits, but the relationship between genetic programs for neural development, circuit structure, and behavioral output is often unclear. The central complex (CX) is a conserved sensory-motor integration center in insects, which governs many higher-order behaviors and largely derives from a small number of type II neural stem cells (NSCs). Here, we show that Imp, a conserved IGF-II mRNA-binding protein expressed in type II NSCs, plays a role in specifying essential components of CX olfactory navigation circuitry. We show the following: (1) that multiple components of olfactory navigation circuitry arise from type II NSCs. (2) Manipulating Imp expression in type II NSCs alters the number and morphology of many of these circuit elements, with the most potent effects on neurons targeting the ventral layers of the fan-shaped body (FB). (3) Imp regulates the specification of Tachykinin-expressing ventral FB input neurons. (4) Imp is required in type II NSCs for establishing proper morphology of the CX neuropil structures. (5) Loss of Imp in type II NSCs abolishes upwind orientation to attractive odor while leaving locomotion and odor-evoked regulation of movement intact. Taken together, our findings establish that a temporally expressed gene can regulate the expression of a complex behavior by developmentally regulating the specification of multiple circuit components and provides a first step toward a developmental dissection of the CX and its roles in behavior.

Methemoglobinemia in Hemodialysis Patients due to Acute Chlorine Intoxication: A Case Series Calling Attention on an Old Problem.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis uses municipal water that must be strictly purified and sterilized to be used for that procedure. Large amounts of decontaminants are often used, such as chlorine, and if these compounds are not subsequently removed they can be transferred to the blood of patients causing complications including methemoglobinemia. METHODS: In this case series study, dialysis patients in one unit were evaluated. We reviewed clinical characteristics and laboratory findings obtained on the day when the water supply was disinfected with chlorine, with the aim to quantify methemoglobin concentrations. Our objective was to characterize the clinical presentation and management of patients who presented with methemoglobinemia on a specific index day. We also reviewed reported cases in the literature regarding this underreported complication. RESULTS: Eight patients who presented with chlorine intoxication were evaluated. The methemoglobin concentrations were between 1.3% and 7.9% (reference value 0-1%). We believe this to be caused by water containing 0.78 mg/L of total chlorine. Seven patients presented with cyanosis, 4 with dizziness, 6 with dark brown blood, 4 with dyspnea, and 4 with headache and hemolytic anemia. Subjects were treated with supplemental oxygen, methylene blue, intravenous vitamin C, blood transfusions, and increased doses of erythropoietin. No patient died, and all continued with their usual hemodialysis sessions. CONCLUSION: Acute chlorine intoxication transferred by the water used during hemodialysis sessions can present with methemoglobinemia accompanied by cyanosis, oxygen desaturation, and hemolytic anemia. Chlorine levels should be carefully monitored in the water used for hemodialysis treatment.

Synthesis of novel conjugated benzofuran-triazine derivatives: Antimicrobial and in-silico molecular docking studies.

Two new developments of antibacterial agents, a series of benzofuran-triazine based compounds (8a-8h) were designed and synthesized. The derivatives were prepared through conventional chemical reactions and structurally characterized with FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR techniques. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized derivatives was assessed against gram-positive bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacterial strains (Salmonella entritidis and Escherichia coli). Compound 8e, with the MIC value of 125-32 µg/µl against all the examined strains of bacteria, was the most active antibacterial compound. The synthesized derivatives were also studied for docking to the binding sites of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) receptor which has a key role in drug resistance associated with bacterial infections. The synthesized compounds showed good interaction with the targets through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. According to antibacterial and docking studies, compound 8e could be introduced as a candidate for development of antibacterial compounds.

The RNA-binding protein, Imp specifies olfactory navigation circuitry and behavior in Drosophila.

Complex behaviors depend on the precise developmental specification of neuronal circuits, but the relationship between genetic prograssms for neural development, circuit structure, and behavioral output is often unclear. The central complex (CX) is a conserved sensory-motor integration center in insects that governs many higher order behaviors and largely derives from a small number of Type II neural stem cells. Here, we show that Imp, a conserved IGF-II mRNA-binding protein expressed in Type II neural stem cells, specifies components of CX olfactory navigation circuitry. We show: (1) that multiple components of olfactory navigation circuitry arise from Type II neural stem cells and manipulating Imp expression in Type II neural stem cells alters the number and morphology of many of these circuit elements, with the most potent effects on neurons targeting the ventral layers of the fan-shaped body. (2) Imp regulates the specification of Tachykinin expressing ventral fan-shaped body input neurons. (3) Imp in Type II neural stem cells alters the morphology of the CX neuropil structures. (4) Loss of Imp in Type II neural stem cells abolishes upwind orientation to attractive odor while leaving locomotion and odor-evoked regulation of movement intact. Taken together, our work establishes that a single temporally expressed gene can regulate the expression of a complex behavior through the developmental specification of multiple circuit components and provides a first step towards a developmental dissection of the CX and its roles in behavior.

Context Facilitates the Decoding of Lexically Ambiguous Words for Adult Literacy Learners.

An estimated one-fifth of adults in the United States possess low literacy skills, which includes minimal proficiency in reading and difficulty processing contextual information. One way to study reading behavior of adults with low literacy is through eye movement studies; however, these investigations have been generally limited. Thus, the present study collected eye movement data (e.g., gaze duration, total time, regressions) from adult literacy learners while they read sentences to investigate online reading behavior. We manipulated the lexical ambiguity of the target words, context strength, and context location in the sentences. The role of vocabulary depth, which refers to the deeper understanding of a word in one's vocabulary, was also examined. Results show that adult literacy learners spent more total time reading ambiguous words compared to control words and vocabulary depth was significantly correlated with processing of lexically ambiguous words. Participants with higher depth scores were more sensitive to the complexity of ambiguous words and more effective at utilizing context compared to those with lower depth scores, which is reflected by more total time reading ambiguous words when more informative context was available and more regressions made to the target word by participants with higher depth scores. Overall, there is evidence to demonstrate the benefits of context use in lexical processing, as well as adult learners' sensitivity to changes in lexical ambiguity.

Urea Reduction in Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality Risk.

INTRODUCTION: Urea is a toxin present in acute kidney injury (AKI). We hypothesize that reduction in serum urea levels might improve clinical outcomes. We examined the association between the reduction in urea and mortality. METHODS: Patients with AKI admitted to the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. We create 4 groups of urea reduction ratio (UXR) stratified by their decrease in urea from the highest index value in comparison to the value on day 10 (0%, 1-25%, 26-50%, and >50%), or at the time of death or discharge if prior to 10 days. Our primary endpoint was to observe the association between UXR and mortality. Secondary observations included determination of which types of patients achieved a UXR >50%, whether the modality of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) effected changes in UXR, and if serum creatinine (sCr) value changes were similarly associated with patient mortality. RESULTS: A total of 651 AKI patients were enrolled. The mean age was 54.1 years, and 58.6% were male. AKI 3 was present in 58.5%; the mean admission urea was 154 mg/dL. KRT was started in 32.4%, and 18.9% died. A trend toward decreased risk of death was observed in association with the magnitude of UXR. The best survival (94.3%) was observed in patients with a UXR >50%, and the highest mortality (72.1%) was observed in patients achieving a UXR of 0%. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, CKD, antibiotics, sepsis, hypovolemia, cardio-renal syndrome, shock, and AKI stage, the 10-day mortality was higher in groups that did not achieve a UXR of at least 25% (OR: 1.20). Patients achieving a UXR >50% were most likely initiated on dialysis due to a diagnosis of the uremic syndrome or had a diagnosis of obstructive nephropathy. Percentage change in sCr was also associated with increased mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective cohort of AKI patients, the percent decrease in UXR from admission was associated with a stratified risk of death. Patients with a UXR >25% had the best associated outcomes. Overall, a greater magnitude in UXR was associated with improved patient survival.

Gingival state and presence of red complex bacteria in 12-Year-Old schoolchildren / Estado gingival y presencia de bacterias del complejo rojo en escolares de 12 años

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the gingival state and presence of red complex bacteria in saliva samples of 12-year-old schoolchildren. A calibrated periodontist evaluated biofilm index (BI) (Silness and Löe, 1964), presence of calculus, and gingival index (GI) (Silness and Löe, 1967) in sixty two 12-year-old students of Carmen Lyra School. Saliva samples were collected from each student. The DNA of each sample was extracted and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, using specific primers. The BI was 1.18. Calculus was present in 40.40% of the schoolchildren examined; 19.4% was supragingival calculus and 21% both supragingival and subgingival calculus. The GI was 0.97, which according to Silness and Löe is mild gingivitis. Gingivitis was present in 96.8% of the children examined. Regarding the PCR tests: 18 of the samples (31.58%) did not present any of the bacteria analyzed and the remaining 39 samples (68.42%) were positive for at least the presence of red complex bacteria. Within the limitations of this study, it is concluded that the prevalence of gingivitis and calculus is high in the sample examined, and the gingival state observed in the study population, may be related to the presence of red complex bacteria.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio era determinar el estado gingival y la presencia de bacterias del complejo rojo en muestras de saliva de niños de 12 años de la Escuela Carmen Lyra. Una periodoncista calibrada evaluó en 62 estudiantes de 12 años de la Escuela Carmen Lyra, el índice de biofilme (IB) (Silness y Löe, 1964), la presencia de cálculo y el índice gingival (IG) (Silness y Löe, 1967). Se recolectaron muestras de saliva de cada estudiante. El ADN de cada muestra fue extraído y amplificado por medio de la prueba PCR, empleando primers específicos, para determinar la presencia de bacterias del complejo rojo. El IB fue de 1.18. El cálculo estuvo presente en el 40.40% de la muestra, se encontró 19.4% de cálculo en supragingival y 21% tanto en supragingival como en subgingival. El IG fue de 0.97, que de acuerdo con Silness y Löe es una gingivitis leve. La gingivitis estuvo presente en el 96.8 % de los niños examinados. Con respecto a las pruebas PCR: 18 de las muestras (31.58 %) no presentaron ninguna de las bacterias analizadas y las 39 muestras restantes (68.42%) fueron positivas por lo menos a la presencia de las bacterias del complejo rojo. Dentro de las limitaciones de este estudio, se concluye que la prevalencia de gingivitis y cálculo es alta en la muestra examinada y el estado gingival observado puede estar relacionado con la presencia de bacterias del complejo rojo.

Anti-plasmodial effect of plant extracts from Picrolemma huberi and Picramnia latifolia.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, of which Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are the major species that cause the disease in humans. As there are relatively few alternatives for malaria treatment, it is necessary to search for new chemotherapeutic options. Colombia possesses a great diversity of plants, which are potential sources of new compounds of medical interest. Thus, in this study the antiplasmodial effect of extracts from two species of plants from the families Simaroubaceae and Picramniaceae (Picramnia latifolia and Picrolemma huberi) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. These plants were chosen because they contain secondary metabolites with interesting medicinal effects. RESULTS: The ethanolic extracts of both species were highly active with IC50: 1.2 ± 0.19 µg/mL for P. latifolia and IC50: 0.05 ± 0.005 µg/mL for P. huberi. The P. latifolia extract had a stage specific effect on trophozoites and inhibited parasite growth in vivo by 52.1 ± 3.4%, evaluated at 1000 mg/kg in Balb/c mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. On the other hand, evaluated at 150 mg/kg body weight in the same murine model, the ethanolic extract from P. huberi had an antiplasmodial effect in all the asexual intraerythrocytic stages of P. falciparum FCR3 and inhibited the parasitic growth in 93 ± 32.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of anti-malarial activity for these two species of plants. Thus, P. latifolia and P. huberi are potential candidates for the development of new drugs for treating malaria.