Educational disparities in brain health and dementia across Latin America and the United States.

BACKGROUND: Education influences brain health and dementia. However, its impact across regions, specifically Latin America (LA) and the United States (US), is unknown. METHODS: A total of 1412 participants comprising controls, patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) from LA and the US were included. We studied the association of education with brain volume and functional connectivity while controlling for imaging quality and variability, age, sex, total intracranial volume (TIV), and recording type. RESULTS: Education influenced brain measures, explaining 24%-98% of the geographical differences. The educational disparities between LA and the US were associated with gray matter volume and connectivity variations, especially in LA and AD patients. Education emerged as a critical factor in classifying aging and dementia across regions. DISCUSSION: The results underscore the impact of education on brain structure and function in LA, highlighting the importance of incorporating educational factors into diagnosing, care, and prevention, and emphasizing the need for global diversity in research. HIGHLIGHTS: Lower education was linked to reduced brain volume and connectivity in healthy controls (HCs), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Latin American cohorts have lower educational levels compared to the those in the United States. Educational disparities majorly drive brain health differences between regions. Educational differences were significant in both conditions, but more in AD than FTLD. Education stands as a critical factor in classifying aging and dementia across regions.

Lower Extremity Arterial Calcification Predicts Referral to a Closed Unit After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the association between lower extremity arterial calcification (LEAC) and referral to a closed unit (CU), length of stay, 90-day readmissions, and 1-year mortality in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 705 patients who underwent primary THA, identifying 64 patients (9.13%) who had LEAC and 641 who did not have LEAC. Patients who had LEAC were older (77 ± 10.0 versus 67 ± 11.5 years; P < 0.001) and had more comorbidities, except for a history of thromboembolic and oncologic diseases (P > 0.05). A preoperative antero-posterior pelvic radiograph was used to assess the presence of LEAC. Admission to CU, length of stay, 90-day readmissions, and 1-year mortality were recorded. A logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for referral to CU. RESULTS: Patients who had LEAC had a higher incidence of admission to the intensive care unit (8 of 64 [12.5%] versus 8 of 641 [1.09%]; P < 0.001), a longer hospital stay (4.7 ± 1.8 versus 4.2 ± 1.3 days; P = 0.006), more readmissions (16 of 64 [25%] versus 33 of 641 [5.15%]; P < 0.001), and a higher 1-year mortality rate (6 of 64 [9.3%] versus 0 of 641 [0%]; P < 0.001) than patients who did not have LEAC. Of the patients who had LEAC admitted to CU, only 3 of 8 had a previous indication to do so in the preoperative assessment performed by the Department of Anesthesiology, while all non-LEAC ones referred to CU did so. Logistic regression analysis showed that LEAC was a risk factor for admission to CU (odds ratio = 4.77; 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 20.25; P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of LEAC was a risk factor for transfer to CU, longer in-hospital stays, more readmissions, and a higher 1-year mortality rate. Identifying patients who have LEAC can aid in the preoperative assessment and risk stratification of patients planned for primary THA.

Effect of the estrous cycle on zinc transporter expression in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes and oviduct epithelial cells.

During the luteal and follicular phases of the estrous cycle, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) and oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) undergo notable physiological and morphological changes. Maintaining proper zinc (Zn) homeostasis is crucial in both somatic and germinal mammalian cells. This study aimed to assess the impact of the estrous phase (luteal or follicular) on Zn transporter expression in bovine COC and OEC (BOEC). The expression of Zn transporters Slc39a6 (ZIP6), Slc39a8 (ZIP8), Slc39a14 (ZIP14), Slc30a3 (ZnT3), Slc30a7 (ZnT7), and Slc30a9 (ZnT9) was analyzed in COC and BOEC from cows during the luteal or follicular phases. Gene expression of ZIP6, ZIP14, and ZnT9 was quantified in COC and BOEC. The gene expression in the remaining transporters could not be quantified due to low mRNA levels (ZIP8 and ZnT3 in COC and BOEC; ZnT7 in BOEC) or absence of expression (ZnT7 in COC). In COC, the relative expression (RE) of all three transporters was higher in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (P ≤ 0.05). In BOEC, the luteal phase increased the RE of ZIP 6 (P ≤ 0.05), decreased the RE of ZnT9 (P ≤ 0.05), and did not modify the RE of ZIP14 (P > 0.05) compared to the follicular phase. In conclusion, the study reveals differences in the gene expression of ZIP6, ZIP14, and ZnT9 according to the estrous cycle phase in ex vivo samples of bovine COC and OEC.

[Intracranial epidural abscess associated to sinusitis with positive response to medical treatment]. / Absceso epidural intracraneal asociado a sinusitis con respuesta al tratamiento médico.

Epidural abscesses are rare intracranial infections. They can occur from neurosurgical procedures, or head and neck infections. Successful treatment usually requires a combination of drainage procedure and antibiotic therapy. We present the case of a young patient with an intracranial epidural abscess and meningitis secondary to sinusitis who received only corticosteroids and antibiotic therapy, with good evolution.

Los abscesos epidurales son infecciones intracraneales de baja frecuencia. Pueden ocurrir derivados de procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos, o infecciones de cabeza y cuello. El tratamiento exitoso generalmente requiere la combinación de un procedimiento de drenaje y antibioticoterapia. Se presenta el caso de un paciente joven, con un absceso epidural intracraneal y meningitis, secundario a sinusitis que recibió solo tratamiento con corticoides y antibioticoterapia con buena evolución.

Absceso epidural intracraneal asociado a sinusitis con respuesta al tratamiento médico / Intracranial epidural abscess associated to sinusitis with positive response to medical treatment

Resumen Los abscesos epidurales son infecciones intracra neales de baja frecuencia. Pueden ocurrir derivados de procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos, o infecciones de cabeza y cuello. El tratamiento exitoso generalmente requiere la combinación de un procedimiento de drenaje y antibioticoterapia. Se presenta el caso de un paciente joven, con un absceso epidural intracraneal y meningitis, secundario a sinusitis que recibió solo tratamiento con corticoides y antibioticoterapia con buena evolución.

Abstract Epidural abscesses are rare intracranial infections. They can occur from neurosurgical procedures, or head and neck infections. Successful treatment usually re quires a combination of drainage procedure and anti biotic therapy. We present the case of a young patient with an in tracranial epidural abscess and meningitis secondary to sinusitis who received only corticosteroids and antibiotic therapy, with good evolution.

Two protocols for the detection of oleaginous bacteria using Oil Red O.

The selection of oleaginous bacteria, potentially applicable to biotechnological approaches, is usually carried out by different expensive and time-consuming techniques. In this study, we used Oil Red O (ORO) as an useful dye for staining of neutral lipids (triacylglycerols and wax esters) on thin-layer chromatography plates. ORO could detect minimal quantities of both compounds (detection limit, 0.0025 mg of tripalmitin or 0.005 mg of cetylpalmitate). In addition, we developed a specific, rapid, and inexpensive screening methodology to detect triacylglycerol-accumulating microorganisms grown on the agar plate. This staining methodology detected 9/13 strains with a triacylglycerol content higher than 20% by cellular dry weight. ORO did not stain polyhydroxyalkanoates-producing bacteria. The four oleaginous strains not detected by this screening methodology exhibited a mucoid morphology of their colonies. Apparently, an extracellular polymeric substance produced by these strains hampered the entry of the lipophilic dye into cells. The utilization of the developed screening methodology would allow selecting of oleaginous bacteria in a simpler and faster way than techniques usually used nowadays, based on unspecific staining protocols and spectrophotometric or chromatographic methods. Furthermore, the use of ORO as a staining reagent would easily characterize the neutral lipids accumulated by microorganisms as reserve compounds. KEY POINTS: • Oil Red O staining is specific for triacylglycerols • Oil Red O staining is useful to detect oleaginous bacteria • Fast and inexpensive staining to isolate oleaginous bacteria from the environment.

Tomografía computarizada en el posoperatorio de cirugía abdominal mayor / Computed tomography scan after major abdominal surgery

RESUMEN Antecedentes: las cirugías abdominales mayores pueden presentar complicaciones posoperatorias graves cuya detección temprana resulta importante para su tratamiento. Objetivo: determinar la utilidad del uso de la tomografía computarizada (TC) para el diagnóstico temprano de las complicaciones de cirugía abdominal mayor. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo observacional descriptivo, mediante revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes operados de cirugía abdominal mayor en un Hospital Privado. Se agruparon los pacientes según presentaban o no síntomas sospechosos de complicación posoperatoria. Los primeros se clasificaron en 3 grupos: sin TC, con TC con hallazgos positivos y con TC sin hallazgos patológicos. Resultados: se analizaron 154 pacientes, con un promedio de edad de 61,3 ± 12,5 años; 83 (54%) fueron varones. Sobre 48 pacientes (31%) con síntomas sospechosos de complicaciones, fueron reoperados 6 sin TC, pero con síntomas muy evidentes, 7 con signos tomográficos positivos y 14/41 del grupo con TC negativa. Todos tuvieron hallazgos que justificaron la intervención. Hubo 27 casos (17,5%) con complicaciones IIIb según Clavien-Dindo y 3 pacientes (2%) fallecieron. Conclusión: la tomografía computarizada tuvo valor para confirmar una complicación, pero no para descartarla. Los parámetros clínicos cobran especial importancia en los pacientes sintomáticos sin hallazgos patológicos en la TC posoperatoria.

ABSTRACT Background: Major abdominal surgeries may present serious postoperative complications that require early diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for the early diagnosis of major abdominal surgery complications. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational and descriptive study using data obtained from the medical records of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery in a private hospital. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of symptoms suggesting a postoperative complication. Patients with symptoms were classified into 3 groups: without CT, with CT with positive findings and with CT without abnormal findings. Results: A total of 154 patients were analyzed; mean age was 61.3 ± 12.5 years and 83 (54%) were male. Of 48 patients (31%) with symptoms suggestive of complications, 6 had very evident symptoms and were re-operated without CT, 7 had positive findings on CT and CT was negative in 14/41. All the patients had findings that supported the decision to re-operate. There were 27 cases (17.5%) with grade 3b complications of the Clavien-Dindo classification and 3 patients (2%) died. Conclusion: Computed tomography was useful to confirm a complication, but not to rule it out. Clinical parameters remain of utmost importance in patients with symptoms and absence of abnormal findings in post-operative CT.

Five years of advances in electrochemical analysis of protein biomarkers in lung cancer: a systematic review.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. It represents a public health problem that must be addressed through the early detection of specific biomarkers and effective treatment. To address this critical issue, it is imperative to implement effective methodologies for specific biomarker detection of lung cancer in real clinical samples. Electrochemical methods, including microfluidic devices and biosensors, can obtain robust results that reduce time, cost, and assay complexity. This comprehensive review will explore specific studies, methodologies, and detection limits and contribute to the depth of the discussion, making it a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians interested in lung cancer diagnosis.

Experience in the Management of Complex Apple Peel Intestinal Atresia in a Limited-Resource Health Center in Mexico.

Surgical treatment of complex intestinal atresia is challenging. Moreover, multiple surgical techniques have been described to treat these congenital malformations. As no single/universal technique is useful for every patient, individualized surgical treatment for these complex cases is mandatory. Isolated apple peel atresia (type IIIb), in coexistence with other types of atresia, is a rare event with a poor functional prognosis, which is difficult to treat surgically. Furthermore, the ability to achieve good surgical results becomes more difficult in resource-limited health facilities, such as the Hospital Pediatrico Moctezuma (Mexico City). The objective of this case report of two full-term female newborns with isolated apple peel atresia and an apple peel malformation with distal type IV atresia is to describe the successful surgical technique used in these patients and how to deal with certain postsurgical complications.

A Cross-National Comparison of Biosimilars Pricing in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Italy.

BACKGROUND: Biosimilar medicines are defined as biological products highly similar to an already licensed biological product (RP). The market entry of biosimilars is expected to reduce the costs of biological treatments. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the range of differences between the prices of biosimilars and the corresponding RP for biologicals approved in four countries. METHOD: This is a cross-national comparison of pricing of biosimilars in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Italy. The study examined online price databases provided by the national authorities of the investigated countries. Biosimilar price difference was calculated by subtracting the unit price of the biosimilar by the unit price of the RP, and then dividing it by the unit price of the RP. The results were presented as percentage. RESULTS: Brazil had the highest median price reduction (- 36.3%) in biosimilars price, followed by Italy (- 20.0%) and Argentina (- 18.6%). All the biosimilars in Italy were priced below the RP presenting a minimum reduction of 6.3%, while in Australia, most of the prices of biosimilars were equal to the RP. In Argentina, one infliximab-biosimilar displayed price above the RP (40.7%) while the lower priced brand had a reduction of 14.4%. Brazil had four biosimilars with prices above the respective RP, including isophane insulin (1), insulin glargine (1) and somatropin (2). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a marked dispersion in the price's differences between biosimilars and RP across the studied countries. Governments should evaluate whether their policies have been successful in improving affordability of biological therapies.

The Long and Winding Road to Real-Life Experiments: Remote Assessment of Executive Functions with Computerized Games-Results from 8 Years of Naturalistic Interventions.

Mate Marote is an open-access cognitive training software aimed at children between 4 and 8 years old. It consists of a set of computerized games specifically tailored to train and evaluate Executive Functions (EF), a class of processes critical for purposeful, goal-directed behavior, including working memory, planning, flexibility, and inhibitory control. Since 2008, several studies were performed with this software at children's own schools in interventions supervised in-person by cognitive scientists. After 2015, we incorporated naturalistic, yet controlled, interventions with children's own teachers' help. The platform includes a battery of standardized tests, disguised as games, to assess children's EF. The main question that emerges is whether the results, obtained with these traditional tasks but conducted without the presence of researchers, are comparable to those widely reported in the literature, that were obtained in more supervised settings. In this study, we were able to replicate the expected difficulty and age effects in at least one of the analyzed dependent variables of each employed test. We also report important discrepancies between the expected and the observed response time patterns, specifically for time-constrained tasks. We hereby discuss the benefits and setbacks of a new possible strategy for this type of assessment in naturalistic settings. We conclude that this battery of established EF tasks adapted for its remote usage is appropriate to measure the expected mental processes in naturalistic settings, enriching opportunities to upscale cognitive training interventions at schools. These types of tools can constitute a concerted strategy to bring together educational neuroscience research and real-life practice.

Validation of the Spanish translation Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC-Sp) at the Hospital Universitario San Jose of Popayan, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the validity and reliability of the Spanish translation Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC-Sp) questionnaire to identify the palliative care (PC) needs of patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Colombia. METHODS: We developed a cross-sectional observational study of scale assessment in adults with the aim of determining the validity and reliability of the SPARC-Sp questionnaire to identify the PC needs of patients with NCDs receiving outpatient or inpatient care at the Hospital Universitario San Jose of Popayan - ESE, Colombia, from 2021 to 2022. RESULTS: We applied a questionnaire consisting of demographic, clinical data, and SPARC-Sp to 507 participants. The constructed model explained 75% of the variance with an adequate fit according to the root mean square residual (0.03), the comparative fit index (0.98), and acceptable reliability (McDonald's total omega 0.4-0.9). Opportunities for improvement are the reformulation and inclusion of particular words to improve the representativeness and clarity of the domains of communication and information, religious, and spiritual issues. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: This research represents the first validation of SPARC in Spanish. SPARC-Sp is an instrument that allows initiating a conversation of the patient's main needs through a systematic assessment of the patients' main needs. Its psychometric validation demonstrated good fit and acceptable reliability.

Electrochemical microfluidic immunosensor with graphene-decorated gold nanoporous for T-2 mycotoxin detection.

T-2 is one of the most potent cytotoxic food-borne mycotoxins. In this work, we have developed and characterized an electrochemical microfluidic immunosensor for T-2 toxin quantification in wheat germ samples. T-2 toxin detection was carried out using a competitive immunoassay method based on monoclonal anti-T-2 antibodies immobilized on the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic central channel. The platinum wire working electrode at the end of the channel was in situ modified by a single-step electrodeposition procedure with reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-nanoporous gold (NPG). T-2 toxin in the sample was allowed to compete with T-2-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated for the specific recognizing sites of immobilized anti-T-2 monoclonal antibodies. The HRP, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalyzes the oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol (4-TBC), whose back electrochemical reduction was detected on the nanostructured electrode at -0.15 V. Thus, at low T-2 concentrations in the sample, more enzymatically conjugated T-2 will bind to the capture antibodies, and, therefore, a higher current is expected. The detection limits found for electrochemical immunosensor, and commercial ELISA procedure were 0.10 µg kg-1 and 10 µg kg-1, and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 5.35% and 6.87%, respectively. Finally, our microfluidic immunosensor to T-2 toxin will significantly contribute to faster, direct, and secure in situ analysis in agricultural samples.

Advances in Nanomaterials and Composites Based on Mesoporous Materials as Antimicrobial Agents: Relevant Applications in Human Health.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a cornerstone in contemporary research, marked by the advent of advanced technologies aimed at nanoengineering materials with diverse applications, particularly to address challenges in human health. Among these challenges, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has risen as a significant and pressing threat to public health, creating obstacles in preventing and treating persistent diseases. Despite efforts in recent decades to combat AMR, global trends indicate an ongoing and concerning increase in AMR. The primary contributors to the escalation of AMR are the misuse and overuse of various antimicrobial agents in healthcare settings. This has led to severe consequences not only in terms of compromised treatment outcomes but also in terms of substantial financial burdens. The economic impact of AMR is reflected in skyrocketing healthcare costs attributed to heightened hospital admissions and increased drug usage. To address this critical issue, it is imperative to implement effective strategies for antimicrobial therapies. This comprehensive review will explore the latest scientific breakthroughs within the metal-organic frameworks and the use of mesoporous metallic oxide derivates as antimicrobial agents. We will explore their biomedical applications in human health, shedding light on promising avenues for combating AMR. Finally, we will conclude the current state of research and offer perspectives on the future development of these nanomaterials in the ongoing battle against AMR.

[Detection of adverse events in patients interned in medical clinic using the Global Trigger Tool]. / Detección de eventos adversos en pacientes internados en clínica médica utilizando la herramienta Global Trigger Tool.

INTRODUCTION: The Global Trigger Tool (GTT) is a tool that accurately identifies adverse events that represent a significant problem in hospitals. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on retrospective review of randomized medical records using the GTT tool. RESULTS: A total of 161 adverse events (AEs) were detected: 51 events per 100 admissions, 66 per 1000 patient-days, and 30% of admissions with AEs. The most frequent triggers were from the care module, with 25% complications associated with the use of procedures, 10% pressure ulcers, and 9% care-associated infections. The presence of AEs had a statistically significant association with a stay of more than 5 days, and a moderate association with age and number of triggers. Regarding the damage, 78% of the patients presented mild events and 4% fatal events. The ROC curves analysis showed that the triggers with the greatest area under the curve were: procedural complication (0.70), pressure ulcers (0.61) and rapid response code (0.60). DISCUSSION: The number of events per 100 admissions was higher than that reported in the literature, but there were no differences in events per 1000 patientdays. Fatal cases were caused by respiratory infectious diseases in patients with comorbidities, nasogastric tube needs and cognitive decline. The study highlights the scarce use of the tool in public hospitals and the implementation of trigger analysis with ROC curves. Knowing the frequency and the most frequent type of event will allow the implementation of measures that improve patient safety.

Introducción: El Global Trigger Tool (GTT) es una herramienta que identifica con precisión los eventos adversos, estos representan un problema relevante y prevenible en los hospitales. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal basado en la revisión retrospectiva de historias clínicas aleatorizadas utilizando el GTT. Resultados: Se detectaron 161 eventos adversos (EA): 51 por cada 100 admisiones, 66 por cada 1000 días paciente y 30% de admisiones con EA. Los disparadores más frecuentes fueron del módulo cuidados, 25% complicaciones asociadas al uso de procedimientos, 10% úlceras por presión y 9% infecciones asociadas a la atención. La presencia de EA tuvo asociación estadísticamente significativa con estancia mayor a 5 días, y asociación moderada con edad y número de disparadores. En cuanto al daño, 78% de los pacientes presentaron eventos leves y 4% eventos fatales. En el análisis con curvas ROC, los disparadores con mayor área bajo la curva fueron: complicación de procedimientos (0.70), úlceras por presión (0.61) y código de respuesta rápida (0.60). Discusión: Los eventos por 100 admisiones fueron superiores a la bibliografía pero no hubo diferencias en eventos por cada 1000 días paciente. Los casos fatales se produjeron por enfermedades infecciosas respiratorias en pacientes con comorbilidades, necesidad de sonda nasogástrica y deterioro cognitivo. Se destaca la escasa aplicación de la herramienta en hospitales públicos, y la implementación de análisis de disparadores con curvas ROC. Conocer la frecuencia y el tipo de evento más frecuente permitirá implementar medidas que mejoren la seguridad de los pacientes.

Inverse priority effects: A role for historical contingency during species losses.

Communities worldwide are losing multiple species at an unprecedented rate, but how communities reassemble after these losses is often an open question. It is well established that the order and timing of species arrival during community assembly shapes forthcoming community composition and function. Yet, whether the order and timing of species losses can lead to divergent community trajectories remains largely unexplored. Here, we propose a novel framework that sets testable hypotheses on the effects of the order and timing of species losses-inverse priority effects-and suggests its integration into the study of community assembly. We propose that the order and timing of species losses within a community can generate alternative reassembly trajectories, and suggest mechanisms that may underlie these inverse priority effects. To formalize these concepts quantitatively, we used a three-species Lotka-Volterra competition model, enabling to investigate conditions in which the order of species losses can lead to divergent reassembly trajectories. The inverse priority effects framework proposed here promotes the systematic study of the dynamics of species losses from ecological communities, ultimately aimed to better understand community reassembly and guide management decisions in light of rapid global change.

Opposite Responses of Native and Nonnative Birds to Socioeconomics in a Latin American City.

Due to the massive increase of the urban population, a global target is to achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers. To accomplish this, it is important to understand the responses of native and nonnative birds, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. Although many cities in the Global South exhibit strong social and environmental segregation, few studies have investigated the relationship between socioeconomics and biodiversity. Therefore, to help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation in the developing world, we investigated the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigated whether bird response changes with species provenance-it is important to understand the response of native birds separately from nonnative birds because they imply opposite management strategies (e.g., conservation vs. species control/eradication). Thus, we surveyed 120 sites located in residential areas of high, medium, and low socioeconomic levels across the city and fit generalized linear (mixed) models that described bird species richness and abundance for total, native, and nonnative birds according to socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover. We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community, but their effects changed with bird species origin, having opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Residential areas where wealthier people live supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds than residential areas where people of lower socioeconomic status live. In contrast, residential areas where vulnerable people live had greater bird abundance that was mainly composed of nonnative birds. Therefore, affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Due to woody cover having positive effects on native birds and a negative influence on nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover will contribute to supporting more native birds in residential areas deprived of woody vegetation, which are commonly low socioeconomic areas. Additional variables that can explain bird response among residential areas of different socioeconomic levels need to be investigated to better understand the factors influencing the distribution of birds in cities and promote a more biodiverse and environmentally just city.

MLDSR, the transcriptional regulator of the major lipid droplets protein MLDS, is controlled by long-chain fatty acids and contributes to the lipid-accumulating phenotype in oleaginous Rhodococcus strains.

Microorganism lipid droplet small regulator (MLDSR) is a transcriptional regulator of the major lipid droplet (LD)-associated protein MLDS in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 and Rhodococcus opacus PD630. In this study, we investigated the role of MLDSR on lipid metabolism and triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in R. jostii RHA1 at physiological and molecular levels. MLDSR gene deletion promoted a significant decrease of TAG accumulation, whereas inhibition of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis by the addition of cerulenin significantly repressed the expression of the mldsr-mlds cluster under nitrogen-limiting conditions. In vitro and in vivo approaches revealed that MLDSR-DNA binding is inhibited by fatty acids and acyl-CoA residues through changes in the oligomeric or conformational state of the protein. RNAseq analysis indicated that MLDSR not only controls the expression of its own gene cluster but also of several genes involved in central, lipid, and redox metabolism, among others. We also identified putative MLDSR-binding sites on the upstream regions of genes coding for lipid catabolic enzymes and validated them by EMSA assays. Overexpression of mldsr gene under nitrogen-rich conditions promoted an increase of TAG accumulation, and further cell lysis with TAG release to the culture medium. Our results suggested that MLDSR is a fatty acid-responsive regulator that plays a dual role in cells by repression or activation of several metabolic genes in R. jostii RHA1. MLDSR seems to play an important role in the fine-tuning regulation of TAG accumulation, LD formation, and cellular lipid homeostasis, contributing to the oleaginous phenotype of R. jostii RHA1 and R. opacus PD630.