Ecological risk of metals in Andean water resources: A framework for early environmental assessment of mining projects in Peru.

Metallic contaminants in Andean water resources influenced by mining activities poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and a challenge to regulatory agencies responsible for environmental compliance. In this study, the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) framework was adapted to assess dissolved heavy metal concentrations at 283 surface water monitoring stations near to six mining projects during the dry and wet seasons. Reports from OEFA-Peru on Early Environmental Assessment (EEA) were used to apply various criteria and non-parametric statistical tests. They included ecological, ecotoxicological, chemical, and regulatory factors. The main goal of this research was to identify, analyze, characterize, and compare the risks present at different trophic levels. These levels were categorized as T1 (Microalgae), T2 (Zooplankton and Benthic invertebrates), and T3 (Fish). Individual risk (IR) was estimated using the quotient model, while total risk (TR) was assessed using the additive probability rule. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), representing trophic level T3, showed the highest sensitivity to Fe and Cu. Statistical tests ranked the IR as Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Pb (p < 0.01). The TR was more prevalent during the wet season compared to the dry season (p < 0.01). Notably, around 50 % of the monitoring stations (n = 142) were classified as high risk, and 9 % (n = 13) showed extremely high-risk values for Cu and Fe. The adapted ERA framework demonstrated great effectiveness in identifying critical points of metal contamination in high Andean aquatic ecosystems under mining influence. However, specialized studies are suggested that allow the sources of pollution to be associated with specific regulatory actions.

Multiple independent de novo mutations are associated with the development of schistosoma reflexum, a lethal syndrome in cattle.

Schistosoma reflexum (SR) is a lethal congenital syndrome characterized by U-shaped dorsal retroflexion of the spine and exposure of abdominal viscera. SR is usually associated with severe dystocia. The syndrome is thought to be inherited as a Mendelian trait. We collected a series of 23 SR-affected calves from four breeds (20 Holstein, one Red Danish, one Limousin, one Romagnola) and performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS). WGS was performed on 51 cattle, including 14 cases with parents (trio-based; Group 1) and nine single cases (solo-based; Group 2). Sequencing-based genome-wide association studies with 20 Holstein cases and 154 controls showed no association (above Bonferroni threshold; P-value<3 ×10-09). Assuming a monogenic recessive inheritance, no region of shared homozygosity was observed, suggesting heterogeneity. Alternatively, the presence of possible dominant acting de novo mutations were assessed. In Group 1, heterozygous private variants, absent in both parents, were found in seven cases. These involved the ACTL6A, FLNA, GLG1, IQSEC2, MAST3, MBTPS2, and MLLT1 genes. In addition, heterozygous private variants affecting the genes DYNC1LI1, PPP2R2B, SCAF8, SUGP1, and UBP1 were identified in five cases from Group 2. The detected frameshift and missense variants are predicted to cause haploinsufficiency. Each of these 12 affected genes belong to the class of haploinsufficient loss-of-function genes or are involved in embryonic and pre-weaning lethality or are known to be associated with severe malformation syndromes in humans and/or mice. This study presents for the first time a detailed genomic evaluation of bovine SR, suggesting that independent de novo mutations may explain the sporadic occurrence of SR in cattle.

Health and welfare assessment of beef cattle during the adaptation period in a specialized commercial fattening unit.

Beef cattle welfare and health status are influenced by housing and management systems. The present study aimed to assess the welfare and health status in the first 15 days after arrival of Limousine bulls imported from France and fattened in a commercial fattening unit in Italy. A total of 264 bulls were included in the study. Welfare, biosecurity, and major hazard and warning system were assessed on days 2 (T1) and 15 (T2) after arrival to the unit. At T1 and T2 an inspective clinical examination was performed on all bulls. At T1 and T2 blood samples were collected from 88 bulls for haematological analysis. Both at T1 and T2, the welfare, biosecurity, and major hazards and warning systems were classified with a general score of medium but with a decrease on animal-based measurements in T2. At T1 and T2 the clinical examination revealed a significant increase (p-value≤0.05) of skin lesions and lameness in T2. A high incidence of respiratory disease was noticed in both assessed times. Leucocytes and all differentials count, and platelets were significantly increased (p-value≤0.05) at T2, while the fibrinogen was significantly decreased. The haematological changes suggest that the bulls were under higher stress in T2 when compared with T1 linked with a difficult adaptation response to the fattening unit. A multi-factorial approach that integrates the indicators of the checklist and the clinical and haematological findings of animals can be a useful method to deepen the assessment of welfare in beef cattle.

Infrared Thermography, Intratendon Vascular Resistance, and Echotexture in Athletes with Patellar Tendinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Ultrasonographic signs of tendinopathies are an increase in thickness, loss of alignment in collagen fibers and the presence of neovascularization. Nevertheless, analysis of intratendinous vascular resistance (IVR) can be more useful for understanding the physiological state of the tissue. To show thermal, echotextural, and Doppler signal differences in athletes with patellar tendinopathy and controls. Twenty-six athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT) participants (30.1 years; SD = 9.0 years) and 27 asymptomatic athletes (23.3 years; SD = 5.38 years) were evaluated with thermographic and Doppler ultrasonography (DS). Area of Doppler signals (DS), echotextural parameters (echointensity and echovariation) and IVR were determined by image analysis. The statistical analysis was performed by Bayesian methods and the results were showed by Bayes Factor (BF10: probability of alternative hypothesis over null hypothesis), and Credibility intervals (CrI) of the effect. The absolute differences of temperature (TD) were clearly greater (BF10 = 19) in the tendinopathy group (patients) than in controls. Regarding temperature differences between the affected and healthy limb, strong evidence was found (BF10 = 14) for a higher temperature (effect = 0.53°C; 95% CrI = 0.15°C-0.95°C) and very strong for reduced IVR compared (BF10 = 71) (effect = -0.67; 95% CrI = -1.10 to 0.25). The differences in area of DS (BF10 = 266) and EV (BF10 = 266) were higher in tendinopathy group. TD showed a moderate positive correlation with VISA-P scores (tau-B = .29; 95% CrI = .04-.51) and strong correlation with IVR (r = -.553; 95%CrI = -.75 to .18). Athletes with patellar tendinopathy showed a more pronounced thermal difference, a larger area of Doppler signal, a lower IVR and a moderately higher echovariaton than controls. The correlation between temperature changes and IVR might be related with the coexistence of degenerative and inflammatory process in PT.

Short communication: Prevalence of deleterious variants causing recessive disorders in Italian Chianina, Marchigiana and Romagnola cattle.

In the last two decades, the molecular cause of six monogenic autosomal recessive disorders has been identified in native Italian beef cattle: two different ATP2A1 variants for the pseudomyotonia congenita, the first in Chianina and Romagnola (PMT1) and the second in Romagnola (PMT2); a KDM2B variant for the paunch calf syndrome (PCS) in Marchigiana and Romagnola; a NID1 variant for the congenital cataract (CC) in Romagnola; a LAMB1 variant for the hemifacial microsomia (HFM) in Romagnola; an ABCA12 variant for the ichthyosis fetalis (IF) in Chianina and a FA2H variant for the ichthyosis congenita (IC) in Chianina. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of these disorders in the affected Italian populations. For this purpose, 3331 Chianina, 2812 Marchigiana and 1680 Romagnola bulls born in the last 40 years were considered. The allelic frequency (AF) of the variant for PMT1 was 1.0% in Romagnola, 4.6% in Marchigiana and 5.9% in Chianina. The AF of the variant for PMT2 was 3.3% in Romagnola and 0% in the other two breeds. The AF of the variant for PCS was 11.7% in Romagnola, 2.0% in Marchigiana and 0% in Chianina. The AF of the variants for CC, HFM, IF and IC resulted below 3%, being the variants detected only in the breed populations in which they were previously reported. Considering a selected male population in the single breed, Chianina showed carrier prevalence of 11.9% for PMT1, 7.7% for IC and 6.4% for IF. Romagnola showed carrier prevalence of 23.4% for PCS, 6.7% for PMT2, 4.1% for HFM, 3.2% for CC and 2.0% for PMT1. Marchigiana showed carrier prevalence of 9.1% for PMT1 and 4.0% for PCS. With respect to the Romagnola cattle, the concerning presence of a total of five defect alleles in the population hampers a general approach based on the prevention of carriers from artificial insemination. However, identification of carriers may allow conscious mating to prevent the risk of homozygous descendants as well as the spread of heterozygous offspring. Therefore, systematic genotyping for all seven known harmful alleles is recommended to prevent risk mating between carriers, in particular to avoid the occurrence of affected offspring.

Clinical presentation and outcome of human papillomavirus-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a North American cohort.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) versus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive NPC and HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). METHODS: Clinical characteristics and presenting signs/symptoms were compared between patients who had viral-related NPC versus viral-related OPC treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy from 2005 to 2020 and who were matched 1:1 (by tumor and lymph node categories, smoking, age, sex, histology, and year of diagnosis). Locoregional control (LRC), distant control (DC), and overall survival (OS) were compared using the 2005-2018 cohort to maintain 2 years of minimum follow-up. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the cohort effect. RESULTS: Similar to HPV-positive OPC (n = 1531), HPV-positive NPC (n = 29) occurred mostly in White patients compared with EBV-positive NPC (n = 422; 86% vs. 15%; p < .001). Primary tumor volumes were larger in HPV-positive NPC versus EBV-positive NPC (median volume, 51 vs. 23 cm3 ; p = .002), with marginally more Level IB nodal involvement. More patients with HPV-positive NPC complained of local pain (38% vs. 3%; p = .002). The median follow-up for the 2005-2018 cohort was 5.3 years. Patients who had HPV-positive NPC (n = 20) had rates of 3-year LRC (95% vs. 90%; p = .360), DC (75% vs. 87%; p = .188), and OS (84% vs. 89%; p = .311) similar to the rates in those who had EBV-positive NPC (n = 374). Patients who had HPV-positive NPC also had rates of LRC (95% vs. 94%; p = .709) and OS (84% vs. 87%; p = .440) similar to the rates in those who had HPV-positive OPC (n = 1287). The DC rate was lower in patients who had HPV-positive disease (75% vs. 90%; p = .046), but the difference became nonsignificant (p = .220) when the analysis was adjusted for tumor and lymph node categories, smoking, and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: HPV-positive NPC and EBV-positive NPC seem to be mutually exclusive diseases. Patients who have HPV-positive NPC have greater local symptom burden and larger primary tumors but have similar outcomes compared with patients who have EBV-positive NPC or HPV-positive OPC.

Reliability of a New Semi-automatic Image Analysis Method for Evaluating the Doppler Signal and Intratendinous Vascular Resistance in Patellar Tendinopathy.

The aim of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a new semi-automatic image analysis method for quantification of the shape of the Doppler signal and the intratendinous vascular resistance in patellar tendinopathy. Thirty athletes (27.4 y, standard deviation = 8.57 y) with patellar intratendinous vascularity were included in a cross-sectional study (42 tendons analyzed). The intratendinous blood flow was assessed with power Doppler and ImageJ (Version 1.50b, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) quantification software over a manually selected region of interest. Two blinded observers performed the analysis of the Doppler signal (vascular resistance) and shape descriptors (number of signals, pixel intensity, area, perimeter, major diameter, minor diameter, circularity and solidity). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated, and the Bland-Altman mean of differences (MoD) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were determined. Also, small real differences (SRDs) and the standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated. Intra-rater reliability was at a maximum for area (ICC = 0.999, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.998-0.999) and at a minimum for solidity (ICC = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.682-0.853). The MoD and 95% LoA were very low, and the relative SRD and SEM were below 5.3% and 2%, respectively. The inter-rater reliability was the maximum for area (ICC = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.989-0.996) and the minimum for circularity (ICC = 0.73; 95% CI=0.611-0.817). The MoD and 95% LoA were low, with the SRD and SEM below 6% and 2.2%. The proposed quantitative method for studying the intratendinous Doppler signal in the patellar tendon is reliable and reproducible.

Assessing the Effect of Radiotherapy in Addition to Surgery in Colon Adenocarcinomas: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Contemporary Evidence.

PURPOSE: This study aims to review the contemporary evidence investigating radiotherapy (RT) in addition to surgery for colon adenocarcinomas. METHODS: We searched the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ASCOpubs, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Studies (since January 2005) comparing outcomes of high-risk colon adenocarcinomas who underwent RT in addition to surgery versus no RT were eligible. Pooling of outcomes from published results or from analysis of survival curves was done. Subgroup analysis was conducted to determine if the efficacy of RT varies with RT timing. RESULTS: Eight studies were included (five retrospective cohorts, three population-based studies). Pooled analysis from retrospective cohorts showed a reduction in 5-year LR (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.21-0.79; p = 0.007) in the RT group. A benefit in 3-year (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.15-2.87; p = 0.01) and 5-year (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.21-3.63; p = 0.008) DFS and in 3-year (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.43-4.54; p = 0.001) and 5-year (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.17-3.41; p = 0.01) OS was seen in the RT group. The OS benefit was demonstrated in the subgroup analysis of neoadjuvant RT, but not with adjuvant RT. The improvement in OS with neoadjuvant RT was supported by a population-based study from NCDB, while results from two population-based studies investigating adjuvant RT were conflicting. CONCLUSION: Taking into account the limitations of the studies, our review of evidence suggests a possible role of RT in improving oncologic outcomes of select colon adenocarcinomas. Prospective studies are needed to definitively assess the value of RT for colon cancer.

Reirradiation for Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas: Experience From an Academic Tertiary Center in a Low- to Middle-Income Country.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to report the oncologic outcomes and the treatment-related toxicities after reirradiation (re-RT) for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) at our institution and to apply a recently published prognostic model for survival in rNPC in our cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with rNPC treated at the authors' institution with re-RT were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment modalities for re-RT were intensity-modulated radiotherapy (n = 14), three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (n = 9), single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (n = 6), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (n = 2), and high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (n = 1). Twenty-seven patients received re-RT with curative intent, whereas five patients were treated palliatively. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 15.5 months (range, 1 to 123 months) for the entire cohort and 20 months (range, 3 to 123 months) for patients treated with curative intent. For the entire cohort, median locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) was 14 months, with actuarial 1- and 2-year LRRFS estimates of 67.5% and 44.0%, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) time was 38 months, with actuarial 1- and 2-year estimates of 74.2% and 57.2%, respectively. For patients treated with curative intent, median LRRFS was not reached. Actuarial 1- and 2-year LRRFS estimates were 68.2% and 54.5%, respectively. Median OS time after curative intent re-RT was 42 months, with actuarial 1- and 2-year estimates of 75.4% and 63.8%, respectively. One- and 2-year OS estimates based on risk stratification were 68.6% for high risk compared with 80.8% for low risk and 34.3% for high risk compared with 70.7% for low risk, respectively ( P = .223). Three patients (9.4%) developed symptomatic temporal lobe necrosis. There was no reported grade 5 treatment-related toxicity. CONCLUSION: Results of the study suggest that re-RT is an effective and safe salvage treatment strategy for rNPC. Re-RT to a maximum equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions of 60 Gy may yield good LRRFS and translate to prolonged OS.

Quantitative neuromuscular ultrasound analysis as biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the differences in morphological and texture parameters of median nerve (MN) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and controls. METHODS: The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the MN and the muscle thickness (MTh) of APB were measured bilaterally in 59 recently diagnosed ALS patients and 20 matched healthy controls. Echointensity (EI), echovariation (EV) and grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features of both structures were also analysed. Correlations between these parameters and clinical variables (muscle strength and disability) were analysed. RESULTS: The CSA of MN was significantly lower in ALS patients (MD = - 1.83 mm2 [95% CI = 2.89; - 0.77 mm2]; p = 0.01). ALS patients showed significantly lower MTh (- 2.23 mm [3.16; - 1.30 mm]; p < 0.001) and EV (- 7.40 [11.5; - 3.33]; p = 0.004) and higher EI (21.2 [11.9; 30.6]; p < 0.001) in the APB muscle. No relevant differences were detected in GLCM features for this muscle. The model including all parameters (CSA for MN and MTh, EI and EV for APB) showed an AUC of 82% (sensitivity 87%; specificity 42%). Muscle strength and disability correlated with APB muscle ultrasound parameters but not with those of the MN. CONCLUSIONS: APB muscle ultrasound biomarkers (especially MTh and EI) showed better discrimination capacity and correlation with clinical variables than MN biomarkers. However, the combination of both biomarkers increased their ability to detect LMN impairment, suggesting that both biomarkers could be used in a complementary manner for the diagnosis and progression monitoring in ALS. KEY POINTS: • Abductor pollicis brevis muscle and median nerve impairment is detectable by ultrasound in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, even in those without clinical impairment. • Muscle ultrasound biomarkers show better discrimination capacity than nerve biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. • Quantitative neuromuscular ultrasound biomarkers could be useful in a general amyotrophic lateral sclerosis population early on the disease.

Sonoelastography for the Assessment of Muscle Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the sonoelastographic features of four different muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared with healthy controls and to evaluate the relationship of these features to muscle strength and other ultrasonographic variables. Fourteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 20 controls were examined using strain sonoelastography scanning. The RGB channel fraction ratio was analyzed with ImageJ software (Version 1.48). Two main sonoelastographic patterns could be distinguished in the controls: a clear predominance of the blue channel (hard areas) and a more heterogeneous pattern with predominance of the green channel (intermediate stiffness). These patterns were also observed in patients, although a higher green channel score was observed in mildly impaired muscles, whereas a higher blue channel score was observed in the most severely impaired muscle. Sonoelastography may be a good complementary biomarker in the detection and monitoring of muscle changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy Versus No Radiotherapy for Stage IV Rectal Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to review the contemporary evidence comparing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT) versus no radiotherapy (no RT) in patients with stage IV rectal cancer. METHODS: Literature was searched for studies using the following databases: Pubmed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Scopus, ASCOpubs, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting outcomes for stage IV rectal cancer patients who underwent NRT or no RT were selected. RESULTS: A total of eight studies were included in this review (one RCT, five retrospective cohorts, two population-based studies). The only RCT in this review reported no significant difference in 2- and 5-year local recurrence (NRT versus no RT) 10.1% versus 23.8%, and 15.9% versus 26.9%, respectively. However, multivariate analysis showed the effect of treatment might not have differed between subgroups according to stage. Pooled analysis from five retrospective studies showed significantly improved local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) with NRT (risk ratio [RR] 1.15; 95% CI 1.01-1.31, p = 0.03), which was maintained in the subgroup who underwent metastasectomy. (RR 1.18; 95% CI 1.01-1.37, p = 0.04). Pooled 5-year overall survival (OS) showed a statistically significant benefit with NRT (RR 1.47; 95% CI 1.14-1.89, p = 0.003), which was not seen in the subgroup who underwent metastasectomy (RR 1.31; 95% CI 0.94-1.82, p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: The current available evidence shows an LRFS benefit with NRT over no RT in patients with stage IV rectal cancer. The review also suggests a possible OS benefit with NRT, although this finding should be interpreted with caution.

Monitoring Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Ultrasound Morpho-Textural Muscle Biomarkers: A Pilot Study.

The need is increasing for progression biomarkers that allow the loss of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to be monitored in clinical trials. In this prospective longitudinal study, muscle thickness, echointensity, echovariation and gray level co-occurrence matrix textural features are examined as possible progression ultrasound biomarkers in ALS patients during a 5-mo follow-up period. We subjected 13 patients to 3 measurements for 20 wk. They showed a significant loss of muscle, an evident tendency to loss of thickness and increased echointensity and echovariation. In regard to textural parameters, muscle heterogeneity tended to increase as a result of the neoformation of non-contractile tissue through denervation. Considering some limitations of the study, the quantitative muscle ultrasound biomarkers evaluated showed a promising ability to monitor patients affected by ALS.

La importancia de los tests biomecánicos y funcionales en la rehabilitación del siglo xxi. Presentación de la Sociedad Ibérica de Biomecánica en Rehabilitación (SIBRehab) / The importance of biomechanical and functional tests in the rehabilitation of the 21th century. Presentation of the Iberian Society of Biomechanics in Rehabilitation (SIBRehab)

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Muscular Echovariation: A New Biomarker in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

The purpose of the work described here was to assess the characteristics of echovariation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared with other muscle ultrasonography parameters. Twenty-six ALS patients (8 women, mean age 58.9 y, standard deviation 12.02 y) and 26 healthy controls (17 women, mean age 59.6 y, standard deviation 6.41 y) were included in this observational study. They underwent bilateral and transverse ultrasound of the biceps/brachialis, forearm flexor group, quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior. Muscular thickness, echo-intensity and echovariation were analyzed. Muscles affected by ALS had increased echo-intensity, decreased thickness and decreased echovariation. Echovariation in all muscles except the quadriceps femoris strongly correlated with muscle strength (explained variance between 21.8% in the biceps/brachialis and 37.5% in the tibialis anterior) and the ALS Functional Rating Scale Revised score (explained variance between 26% in the biceps/brachialis and 36.7% in the forearm flexor group). Echovariation is an easy-to-obtain quantitative muscle ultrasonography parameter that could distinguish ALS patients from healthy controls more accurately than previous described biomarkers.

The Effect of Chair Yoga on Biopsychosocial Changes in English- and Spanish-Speaking Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Lower-Extremity Osteoarthritis.

Chair yoga (CY), a mind-body therapy, is a safe nonpharmacological approach for managing osteoarthritis (OA) in older adults who cannot participate in standing exercise. However, there is no linguistically tailored CY program for those with limited English proficiency (LEP). This 2-arm randomized controlled trial compared the effects of a linguistically tailored yoga program (English and Spanish versions) on the outcomes of pain, physical function, and psychosocial factors compared to the effects of a linguistically tailored Health Education Program (HEP; English and Spanish versions). Participants with lower-extremity OA, recruited from 2 community sites, completed the Spanish (n = 40) or English (n = 60) version of twice-weekly 45-min CY or HEP sessions for 8 weeks. Data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 1- and 3-month follow-ups. English and Spanish CY groups (but neither HEP language group) showed significant decreases in pain interference. Measures of OA symptoms, balance, depression, and social activities were not significantly different between English and Spanish versions of CY and English and Spanish versions of HEP. It was concluded that the Spanish and English versions of CY and HEP were equivalent. Linguistically tailored CY could be implemented in aging-serving communities for persons with LEP.

Sonoelastography of Plantar Fascia: Reproducibility and Pattern Description in Healthy Subjects and Symptomatic Subjects.

The purpose of the work reported here was to describe the sonoelastographic appearance of the plantar fascia of healthy volunteers and patients with fasciitis. Twenty-three healthy subjects and 21 patients with plantar fasciitis were examined using B-mode and real-time sonoelastography (RTSR) scanning. B-Mode examination included fascia thickness and echotexture. Echogenicity and echovariation of the color histogram were analyzed. Fasciae were classified into type 1, blue (more elastic); type 2, blue/green (intermediate); or type 3, green (less elastic). RTSE revealed 72.7% of fasciae as type 2, with no significant association with fasciitis (χ(2) = 3.6, df = 2, p = 0.17). Quantitative analysis of the color histogram revealed a significantly greater intensity of green (mean = 77.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 71.9-83.6) and blue (mean = 74.2, 95% CI = 69.7-78.8) in healthy subjects. Echovariation of the color red was 33.4% higher in the fasciitis group than in the healthy group (95% CI = 16.7-50.1). Sonoelastography with quantitative analysis of echovariation can be a useful tool for evaluation of plantar fascia pathology.

Resección de quiste óseo aneurismático en húmero proximal con aplicación de injerto peroneo no vascularizado: Presentación de un caso / Resection of an aneurysmal bone cyst in the proximal humerus with a non-vascularized fibular graft: Case report

El quiste óseo aneurismático es una lesión benigna que afecta la médula de huesos largos, supone 6% de las lesiones óseas primarias y puede surgir secundariamente con otros tumores óseos benignos o malignos. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de siete años de edad con un quiste óseo aneurismático, diagnosticado por clínica, radiología, tomografía axial computarizada y confirmado por histopatología. Se le realizó resección con técnica eggshell e injerto óseo no vascularizado de peroné izquierdo, su evolución fue satisfactoria hasta los cuatro años de operada, lo que concuerda con lo descrito en la literatura mundial.

An aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign lesion involving the marrow of long bones; it accounts for 6% of primary bone lesions and may occur as a secondary lesion with other benign or malignant bone tumors. We describe herein the case of a seven year-old female with an aneurysmal bone cyst which was diagnosed clinically, radiographically and with a CAT scan, and confirmed with histopathology. Resection was performed using the eggshell technique and a non-vascularized left fibular bone graft. The patient did well up to the fourth postoperative year, which is consistent with what has been reported in world literature.

[Resection of an aneurysmal bone cyst in the proximal humerus with a non-vascularized fibular graft. Case report]. / Resección de quiste óseo aneurismático en húmero proximal con aplicación de injerto peroneo no vascularizado. Presentación de un caso.

An aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign lesion involving the marrow of long bones; it accounts for 6% of primary bone lesions and may occur as a secondary lesion with other benign or malignant bone tumors. We describe herein the case of a seven year-old female with an aneurysmal bone cyst which was diagnosed clinically, radiographically and with a CAT scan, and confirmed with histopathology. Resection was performed using the eggshell technique and a non-vascularized left fibular bone graft. The patient did well up to the fourth postoperative year, which is consistent with what has been reported in world literature.

Disparate effects of depletion of CD1d-reactive T cells during early versus late stages of disease in a genetically susceptible model of lupus.

Some T cells react with lipid antigens bound to antigen-presenting molecule CD1d. Numbers and functions of a subset of such lipid-reactive T cells are reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their relatives, as well as in genetically susceptible and chemically induced animal models of lupus-like disease. We have reported that the germline deletion of CD1d exacerbates lupus, suggesting a protective role of these cells in the development of lupus. The use of a knockout mouse model in this study, however, did not allow examination of the role of these cells at different stages of disease. Here, we describe an approach to deplete CD1d-dependent T cells, which allowed us to investigate the role of these cells at different stages of disease in genetically lupus-prone NZB/NZW F1 (BWF1) mice. Repeated intravenous injections of large numbers of CD1d-transfected cells resulted in ∼50-75% reduction in these cells, as defined by the expression of CD4, NK1.1 and CD122, and lack of expression of CD62 ligand. TCR γδ (+)NK1.1(+) cells were also reduced in the recipients of CD1d-transfected cells as compared with control recipients. Such depletion of CD1d-reactive T cells in preclinical BWF1 mice resulted in disease acceleration with a significant increase in proteinuria and mortality. In older BWF1 mice having advanced nephritis, however, such depletion of CD1d-reactive T cells resulted in some disease improvement. Taken together, these data as well as our published studies suggest that CD1d-reactive T cells protect against the development of lupus in animal models. However, these cells appear to be unable to suppress established lupus nephritis in these animals, and might even play a disease aggravating role in late stages of disease.