Effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid in Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review.

Tranexamic acid (TXA), a fibrinolytic agent, effectively inhibits plasminogen activation, thereby reducing fibrinolysis and hemorrhage. This study focused on its application in trauma patients undergoing emergency surgery, a critical area due to trauma's significant role in mortality. Our investigation involved a meticulous screening of randomized controlled trials from databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane. The findings indicate that TXA intervention is promising in enhancing outcomes for trauma patients. However, the drug's effectiveness may vary based on the specific nature of the medical condition. In summary, robust evidence suggests that TXA can diminish blood loss, lower transfusion rates, reduce complications, and improve hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in surgical patients. Consequently, TXA should be considered a crucial medication, readily available to mitigate morbidity and mortality in surgical settings. Future research should explore factors influencing TXA's effectiveness in traumatic brain injury cases and across a broad spectrum of surgical scenarios in diverse patient populations. This would further guide clinicians in refining and optimizing the use of TXA.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis and Treatment in High- and Low-Income Countries: A Narrative Review.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary cardiac condition characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy without a hemodynamic cause. This condition is prevalent in the United States, resulting in various clinical manifestations, including diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular outflow obstruction, cardiac ischemia, and atrial fibrillation. HCM is associated with several genetic mutations, with sarcomeric mutations being the most common and contributing to a more complex disease course. Early diagnosis of HCM is essential for effective management, as late diagnosis often requires invasive treatments and creates a substantial financial burden. Disparities in HCM diagnosis and treatment exist between high-income and low-income countries. High-income countries have more resources to investigate and implement advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities. In contrast, low-income countries face challenges in accessing diagnostic equipment, trained personnel, and affordable medications, leading to a lower quality of life and life expectancy for affected individuals. Diagnostic tools for HCM include imaging studies such as 2D echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and electrocardiograms (ECGs). CMR is considered the gold standard but remains inaccessible to a significant portion of the world's population, especially in low-income countries. Genetics plays a crucial role in HCM, with numerous mutations identified in various genes. Genetic counseling is essential but often limited in low-income countries due to resource constraints. Disparities in healthcare access and adherence to treatment recommendations exist between high-income and low-income countries, leading to differences in patient outcomes. Addressing these disparities is essential to improve the overall management of HCM on a global scale. In conclusion, this review highlights the complex nature of HCM, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis, genetic counseling, and access to appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Addressing healthcare disparities is crucial to ensure that all individuals with HCM receive timely and effective care, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status.

Quality attributes of CTVad1, a nanoemulsified adjuvant for phase I clinical trial of SpiN COVID-19 vaccine.

Aim: To develop, characterize and evaluate an oil/water nanoemulsion with squalene (CTVad1) to be approved as an adjuvant for the SpiN COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Materials & methods: Critical process parameters (CPPs) of CTVad1 were standardized to meet the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of an adjuvant for human use. CTVad1 and the SpiN-CTVad1 vaccine were submitted to physicochemical, stability, in vitro and in vivo studies. Results & conclusion: All CQAs were met in the CTVad1 production process. SpiN- CTVad1 met CQAs and induced high levels of antibodies and specific cellular responses in in vivo studies. These results represented a critical step in the process developed to meet regulatory requirements for the SpiN COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcome of Intrapericardial Teratoma: Report of Two Clinical Scenarios.

Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare tumor composed of tissue from the three germ cell layers with a rapid growth that may cause severe hemodynamic complications due to compressive effects. We present two clinical cases: the first case had severe fetal heart failure with fatal outcome, and the second underwent surgical treatment during the immediate postnatal period with a favorable evolution. Although teratomas are histologically benign tumors, rapid growth can cause serious hemodynamic complications. The importance of prenatal diagnosis is to allow appropriate monitoring of tumor growth and establish a prompt therapeutic plan. Opportune surgical treatment can prevent death and improve the prognosis of these patients.

Screening and characterization of ß-galactosidase activity in lactic acid bacteria for the valorization of acid whey.

ß-Galactosidase is an enzyme produced by some strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) commonly found in dairy products; however, industrial demand for these enzymes is still low. Acid whey (AW), a lactose-rich byproduct, has large output from cottage cheese and remains unexploited. The purpose of this study was to understand the production mechanism of ß-galactosidase from LAB using AW as a culture medium. First, bioinformatics analysis was conducted on 15 species of LAB. Then, 24 strains were selected and inoculated in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) broth and in AW medium to compare the bacterial kinetic growth and ß-galactosidase production. Bacterial growth and total protein activity were measured using spectrophotometric techniques. ß-Galactosidase activity was determined by 2 methods: following the hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl-ß-d-galactopyranoside and of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-ß-d-galactopyranoside (X-gal) in tryptic soy agar plates. The relative expression of the ß-galactosidase gene was performed using real-time quantitative PCR. Despite generally lower growth in AW, 18 strains showed higher ß-galactosidase activity when grown in AW compared with MRS medium. The highest ß-galactosidase activity in AW was in Lactobacillus helveticus strain OSU-PECh-4A, which showed almost 5 times higher activity than average. Analysis of 6 selected strains for expression of the bgal-620 gene found higher overexpression in AW than in MRS, regardless of specific ß-galactosidase activity. Strains of LAB such as OSU-PECh-4A could valorize AW through the production of ß-galactosidase (as an aid to lactose digestion) and production of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides.

Characterization and Evaluation of Proteolysis Products during the Fermentation of Acid Whey and Fish Waste and Potential Applications.

Reduction of waste in the food industry is critical to sustainability. This work represents one strategy of valorizing waste streams from the dairy (acid whey) and fisheries industries (fish waste) using fermentation. The main approach was to characterize the peptides produced by this fermentation under three conditions: (1) fermentation without adding inoculum; (2) with the addition of a single lactic acid bacterial strain; and (3) the addition of a consortium of lactic acid bacteria. Previous results indicated that the rapid acidification of this fermentation was advantageous for its food safety and microbial activity. This work complements our previous results by defining the rate of peptide production due to protein digestion and using two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and proteomic analysis to give a more detailed identification of the peptides produced from different waste streams. These results provide important information on this process for eventual applications in industrial fermentation and, ultimately, the efficient valorization of these waste streams.

Atypical Radicular Anatomy in Permanent Human Teeth: A Systematic Review.

The aim of the present study is to classify and quantify the anatomical variations of teeth in terms of form and number of root canals reported in human teeth employing the classification systems proposed previously. An electronic (PubMed) and manual search were performed to identify case reports noting any of the anatomical variations. Each alteration was studied independently. The electronic search was performed using the following keywords: anatomical aberration, root canal, permanent Dentition, case report, c-shaped canal, dens invaginatus, palato-radicular groove, palato-radicular groove, palato-gingival groove, radix entomolaris, dental fusion, dental gemination, taurodontism, dilaceration. The initial search revealed 1497 papers, of which 938 were excluded after analyzing the titles and abstracts. Therefore, 559 potential papers were considered. Of those, 140 articles did not meet the inclusion criteria. For the final revision, 419 papers were considered. We found that the mandibular first premolar had the highest prevalence of C-shaped canals. Dens invaginatus was more frequently found in the mandibular lateral incisor. Taurodontism was more prevalent in the maxillary first molar and in the mandibular first molar. Dilaceration was not clearly associated with a particular tooth. The classifications systems used in this review allowed for the better understanding and analysis of the many anatomical variations present in teeth. The variations in shape most found were dens invaginatus and radix entomolaris. The most frequently reported anatomical variation was in the number of canals.

Occurrence and distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the atmosphere of the Andean city of Medellin, Colombia.

Passive air sampling (PAS) was used to evaluate organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polybrominated biphenyl, hexabromocyclododecane, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and perfluoroalkane substances in the atmosphere of Medellin, Colombia. PAS was carried out for three months (four quarters per year) over two consecutive years (2017 and 2018). This study allowed establishing the baseline of some pollutants in the city against which future temporal trends can be assessed. Furthermore, monitoring results suggested releases of DDT in the city or surrounding areas despite this pollutant was banned many years ago in the country. Moreover, this study evidenced the limited scope of the national laboratories to analyze persistent organic pollutants, specially brominated and fluorinated contaminants. However, there is an installed capacity to analyze organochlorine pesticide and indicator PCB in future national monitoring plans. Therefore, it is essential to realize efforts to improve the analytical capacity and increase the scope of the national laboratories. Furthermore, the PAS strategy was valuable for monitoring these pollutants in air. Finally, the results provide an overall view of persistent organic pollutants levels and represent an initial attempt to monitor and surveillance the releases of these pollutants in the city.

Proteomic analysis reveals stage-specific reprogramed metabolism for the primary breast cancer cell lines MGSO-3 and MACL-1.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. Its molecular subtypes are based on the presence/absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). MACL-1 and MGSO-3 are cell lines derived from primary tumor sites of patients diagnosed with luminal A subtype carcinoma (ER+/PR+/HER2-) and ductal carcinoma in situ (ER-/PR-/HER2+), respectively. However, these cell lines lost the expression of these markers over cell culturing, and both have triple-negative phenotypes (ER-/PR-/HER2-), which has the poorest prognosis. Here, we sought to study the proteome signature of MGSO-3 and MACL-1, comparing them with the epithelial cell line MCF-10A and the well-established metastatic-derived breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Our results showed that proteins associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were upregulated in MGSO-3 and MACL-1 cells. These cell lines also showed upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins when compared with MDA-MB-231. The molecular differences highlighted in this study may clarify the molecular basis behind cancer cells functioning and may reveal novel signatures across the breast cancer cell models.

Characterization and Cellular Uptake of Peptides Derived from In Vitro Digestion of Meat Analogues Produced by a Sustainable Extrusion Process.

Whether proteins in meat analogues (MAs) have the ability to provide equivalent nutrition as those in animal meat remains unknown. Herein, a MA was produced by high-moisture extrusion using soy and wheat proteins. The physicochemical properties, in vitro digestion, and cellular uptake of the released peptides were systematically compared between the MA and the chicken breast (CB). The MA showed a higher hardness but a lower degree of texturization than the CB. After simulated digestion, soluble peptides in the MA had a higher molecular weight and higher hydrophobicity. No observable cytotoxicity or inflammatory response to Caco-2 cells was found for both MA and CB digests. The former exhibited less permeability of peptides across Caco-2 cells. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry found that the identified peptides in MA and CB digests contained 7-30 and 7-20 amino acid residues, respectively, and they became shorter after cellular transportation. The amino acid composition showed fewer essential and non-essential amino acids in the MA permeate than in the CB permeate.

The Impact of a Multimodal Sport Science-Based Prehabilitation Program on Clinical Outcomes in Abdominal Cancer Patients: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The potential for prehabilitation programs to impact clinical outcomes is uncertain in abdominal cancer patients due to the short window of time to intervene and the weakened state of the patients. To improve the effectiveness of prehabilitation intervention, a multimodal sports science approach was implemented. METHODS: Prior to cancer-related surgery, 21 patients participated in a 4-week exercise and nutrition prehabilitation program comprised of blood flow restriction exercise (BFR) and a sports nutrition supplement. Retrospective data of 71 abdominal cancer patients who underwent usual preoperative care was used as a comparator control group (CON). At 90 days post-surgery, clinical outcomes were quantified. RESULTS: Prehabilitation was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (P = .02) with 5.5 fewer days (4.7 ± 2.1 vs 10.2 ± 1.2 days in CON) and decreased incidence of any complications (P = .03). Prehabilitation was not related to incidence of serious complications (P = .17) or readmission rate (P = .59). The prehabilitation group recorded 58% more steps on day 5 after surgery (P = .043). DISCUSSION: A 4-week home-based prehabilitation program composed of BFR training and sports nutrition supplementation was effective in reducing postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in older patients with abdominal cancer.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04073381.

Identification of Putative ß-Galactosidase Genes in the Genome of Lactobacillus helveticus OSU-PECh-4A.

The Lactobacillus helveticus OSU-PECh-4A strain, from the Ohio State University Parker Chair collection, produces exceptional ß-galactosidase activity using acid whey as a culture medium, compared with a commercial broth. The strain has a genome sequence of 1,834,843 bp, and its GC content is 36.69%. Using InterProScan v5.50-84.0 software, four genes with putative ß-galactosidase function were found.

Utilidad de la resonancia magnética como estudio imagenológico complementario al ultrasonido en el diagnóstico de malformaciones fetales. Experiencia de dos centros de Medicina Materno Fetal de Latinoamérica / Usefulness of magnetic resonance as a complementary imaging study to ultrasound in the diagnosis of fetal malformations. Experience in two Maternal-fetal Medicine centers in Latin America

Resumen OBJETIVO: Conocer los aportes de la resonancia magnética, como estudio complementario al ultrasonido, en el diagnóstico de malformaciones fetales en el sistema nervioso central, musculoesquelético y tórax en dos unidades de Medicina Materno Fetal. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional y comparativo, de corte transversal, efectuado con base en la revisión de las historias clínicas registradas durante tres años de pacientes con más de 18 semanas de embarazo remitidas a la Unidad de Medicina Materno Fetal del Hospital San José y la Clínica Colsubsidio por alguna malformación estructural fetal identificada en el sistema nervioso central, musculoesquelético y tórax diagnosticada con base en la ultrasonografía. RESULTADOS: Se revisaron 109 historias clínicas de pacientes embarazadas con fetos con diagnóstico de malformación congénita por ultrasonido. Las indicaciones más frecuentes fueron: anormalidades en el sistema nervioso central en 61.5%; hidrocefalia no comunicante en 36.6% por ultrasonido y 21% por resonancia magnética, seguida de las del tórax con 40.4% por ultrasonido y 36.7% por resonancia magnética y malformaciones del sistema musculoesquelético con 20.1% por ultrasonido y 2.8% por resonancia magnética. La concordancia diagnóstica entre el ultrasonido y el diagnóstico posnatal fue del 66% y el de la resonancia magnética de 76%. En comparación con el ultrasonido inicial la resonancia magnética aumentó la frecuencia de diagnóstico de malformación fetal. CONCLUSIÓN: La resonancia magnética, complementaria al diagnóstico por ultrasonido de malformaciones congénitas, fue más notable en los sistemas nervioso central y musculoesquelético donde permitió mejorar la caracterización de las alteraciones detectadas en el ultrasonido.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To know the contributions of magnetic resonance imaging, as a complementary study to ultrasound, in the diagnosis of fetal malformations in the central nervous system, musculoskeletal and thorax in two units of Maternal Fetal Medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational and comparative cross-sectional study, based on the review of medical records recorded during three years of patients with more than 18 weeks of pregnancy referred to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit of Hospital San José and Clínica Colsubsidio, for any fetal structural malformation identified in the central nervous system, musculoskeletal and thorax diagnosed based on ultrasonography. RESULTS: We reviewed 109 clinical histories of pregnant patients with fetuses diagnosed with congenital malformation by ultrasound. The most frequent indications were abnormalities of the central nervous system in 61.5%: non-communicating hydrocephalus in 36.6% by ultrasound and 21% by MRI, followed by those of the thorax with 40.4% by ultrasound and 36.7 by MRI and malformations of the musculoskeletal system 20.1% by ultrasound and 2.8% by MRI. The diagnostic agreement between ultrasound and postnatal diagnosis was 66% and that of MRI was 76%. Compared to initial ultrasound, MRI increased the frequency of diagnosis of fetal malformation. CONCLUSION: MRI, complementary to ultrasound diagnosis of congenital malformations, was more notable in the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems where it allowed improving the characterization of the alterations detected by ultrasound.

Tinnitus pulsátil asociado con shunt arteriovenosos de origen dural: reporte de caso / Pulsatile tinnitus associated with shunt arteriovenous of dural origin: case report

El tinnitus es una entidad común y al ser de características pulsátiles es importante identificar su etiología dado los riesgos y morbilidad que conlleva, como tumores de origen vascular o malformaciones arteriovenosas. Objetivo: se describe el caso de una paciente con tinnitus pulsátil asociado con un shunt arteriovenoso de origen dural que recibió tratamiento endovascular. Resultados: mostrar el seguimiento clínico y endovascular de una paciente con tinnitus pulsátil con malformación arteriovenosa y resolución de síntomas a los 18 meses de seguimiento. Discusión: la importancia de estudiar los pacientes con tinnitus pulsátil radica en determinar posibles causas de origen vascular que expliquen sus síntomas, las cuales, en su mayoría, no son evidentes en la valoración inicial. Conclusión: realizar un diagnóstico adecuado permite optimizar el tratamiento de cada paciente; en el tinnitus pulsátil asociado con shunts arteriovenosos la embolización selectiva suele ser exitosa y segura, y logra resolver por completo los síntomas.

Tinnitus is a commun entity, as it's pulsatile characteristics, it's important to identify its etiology given the risk and morbidity that entails, such as tumors of vascular origin or arteriovenous malformations. Objective: to describe the clinical case of a patient with pulsatile tinnitus associated with an arteriovenous shunt of dural origin, this patient received endovascular treatment. Results: To show the clinical followup and endovascular findings of a patient with pulsatile tinnitus with arteriovenous malformation who required endovascular treatment, the patient shows resolution of symptoms in the follow-up at 18 months. Discussion: The importance of studying patients with pulsatile tinnitus lies in determining possible causes of vascular origin that explain their symptoms, wich're mostly not evident in the initial evaluation. Conclusion: Making an adequate diagnosis allows optimizing the treatment of each patient, in pulsatile tinnitus associated with arteriovenous shunts, selective embolization's usually successful and safe, allowing the symptoms to be completely resolved.

Estudio del desempeño de dos métodos de detección de antígenos rápidos en hisopados combinados y en hisopados nasofaríngeos para la detección de SARS-CoV-2 / Performance study of two rapid antigen detection methods in combined swabs and nasopharyngeal swabs for detection of SARS-CoV-2

Resumen Se realizó una comparación del desempeño de los métodos rápidos de detección de antígenos para el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2 Veritor System de Becton Dickinson y Panbio de Abbott versus una reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con retrotranscripción en tiempo real (RT-PCR) de Roche en un triage de demanda espontánea de pacientes febriles de un hospital público, para la detección de COVID-19. Se procesaron 36 hisopados de pacientes sospechosos por los tres métodos. La concordancia entre ambos métodos con la RT-PCR fue del 97%. La sensibilidad de los métodos de detección de antígenos versus la RT-PCR fue del 83% y la especificidad fue del 100%. El valor predictivo positivo (VPP) fue del 100% y el valor predictivo negativo (VPN) fue del 97%. La muestra que resultó discordante presentó un ciclo umbral (Ct) de 29,8. El método para detección de antígenos tuvo un desempeño aceptable, incluso con resultados de sensibilidad mayores que los declarados por los fabricantes (84% para el Veritor System y 93,3% para el Panbio).

Abstract A comparison of the performance of the rapid antigen detection methods for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Veritor System from Becton Dickinson and Panbio from Abbott versus a real-time polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) Roche in a spontaneous demand triage of febrile patients of a public hospital was made, for the detection of COVID-19. Thirty six swabs from suspected patients were processed by the three methods. The concordance between both methods with RT-PCR real time was 97%. The sensitivity of the antigen detection methods versus RT-PCR real time was 83% and specificity was 100%. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 97%. The sample that was discordant presented a threshold point (Ct) of 29.8. The method for antigen detection resulted in an acceptable performance, even with S results higher than those declared by the manufacturers (84% for the Veritor System and 93.3% for the Panbio).

Resumo Uma comparação do desempenho dos métodos rápidos de detecção de antígenos para o diagnóstico deSARS-CoV-2 Veritor System de Becton Dickinson e Panbio de Abbott versus uma reação em cadeia da polimerasecom transcrição reversa em tempo real (RT-PCR) da Roche em uma triagem de demanda espontâneade pacientes febris de um hospital público, para a detecção de COVID-19. Foram processadas 36 amostrasde esfregaços de pacientes suspeitos pelos três métodos e a concordância entre os dois métodos com aRT-PCR foi de 97%. A sensibilidade dos métodos de detecção de antigenos versus a RT-PCR foi de 83% ea especificidade de 100%. O valor preditivo positivo (VPP) foi de 100% e o valor preditivo negativo (VPN)foi de 97%. A amostra que resultou discordante apresentou um ciclo limiar (Ct) de 29,8. O método paradetecção de antígenos teve um desempenho aceitável, mesmo com resultados de sensibilidade superioresaos declarados pelos fabricantes (84% para o Veritor System e 93,3% para o Panbio).

Improved antimicrobial spectrum of the N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase from Latilactobacillus sakei upon LysM domain deletion.

The gene encoding N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase in Latilactobacillus sakei isolated from a fermented meat product was cloned in two forms: its complete sequence (AmiC) and a truncated sequence without one of its anchoring LysM domains (AmiLysM4). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of LysM domain deletion on antibacterial activity as well the biochemical characterization of each recombinant protein. AmiC and AmiLysM4 were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. Using a zymography method, two bands with lytic activity were observed, which were confirmed by LC-MS/MS analysis, with molecular masses of 71 kDa (AmiC) and 66 kDa (AmiLysM4). The recombinant proteins were active against Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The inhibitory spectrum of AmiLysM4 was broader than AmiC as it showed inhibition of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Weissella viridescens, both microorganisms associated with food decomposition. Optimal temperature and pH values were determined for both proteins using L-alanine-p-nitroanilide hydrochloride as a substrate for N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase activity. Both proteins showed similar maximum activity values for pH (8) and temperature (50 °C). Furthermore, structural predictions did not show differences for the catalytic region, but differences were found for the region called 2dom-AmiLysM4, which includes 4 of the 5 LysM domains. Therefore, modification of the LysM domain offers new tools for the development of novel food biopreservatives.

Use of a screening questionnaire for systemic lupus erythematosus among pregnant women in a Mexican population.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a diagnostic assessment of pregnant women using a screening questionnaire for SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out at the National Institute of Perinatology between 1 November 2019 and 28 February 2020, using a screening questionnaire for SLE. Antinuclear antibody and anti-double stranded DNA antibody tests and a clinical assessment by a rheumatologist were conducted for participants who obtained ≥4 positive responses on the questionnaire. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the screening questionnaire for SLE were calculated. RESULTS: The questionnaire survey was conducted with 540 pregnant patients, 22 of whom (4.1%) had ≥4 positive responses. An antinuclear antibody test was conducted in all aforementioned 22 patients; 17 (77.3%) showed titres of ≥1:80. Of the 22 patients, 19 (86.4%) underwent clinical assessment by a rheumatologist. The patients were classified according to the SLE classification criteria: 7/19 (36.9%) met the revised 1997 American College Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, 8/19 (42.1%) met the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria and 7/19 (36.9%) met the 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria (sensitivity=0.86, specificity=0.97, PPV=0.77 and NPV=1 for antinuclear antibody titre of ≥1:80; sensitivity=0.88, specificity=0.98, PPV=0.37 and NPV=1 for SLE according to the 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire showed high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of SLE. Given its usability and cost:benefit ratio, this strategy should be used for all patients coming in for their first visit to determine who requires antinuclear antibody testing and who needs to be referred to a rheumatologist.

Prehabilitation program composed of blood flow restriction training and sports nutrition improves physical functions in abdominal cancer patients awaiting surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of prehabilitation remains controversial due to a short presurgical waiting period and the diminished capacity of the patient population. A strategy to augment and optimize the effectiveness of prehabilitations for abdominal cancer patients may be found in the unlikely field of sport science. We investigated the use of blood flow restriction training and sport nutrition supplementation to augment functional capacity and increase muscle strength in twenty-four abdominal cancer patients awaiting surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sport science-based program was comprised of blood flow restriction exercise 5 to 6 times per week and a daily sports nutrition supplement containing l-citrulline, creatine monohydrate, and whey protein. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of prehabilitation, 6-min walk test, timed up and go, short physical performance battery, 5-chair stand test and physical component score of quality of life were significantly improved (all p < 0.05). Total body and appendicular lean mass as assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry increased by 0.73 ± 1.04 kg (p = 0.004) and 0.42 ± 0.64 kg (p = 0.006), respectively. Total body fat mass and trunk fat mass decreased (p = 0.004 and p = 0.021). There were no significant changes in hand grip strength, fear of falling, the mental component summary of quality of life, or fasting serum concentrations of myostatin, follistatin, and growth hormone. CONCLUSION: A multimodal prehabilitation program, which encompasses blood flow restriction training and sports nutrition supplements, is both feasible and effective in improving lean mass and physical function in abdominal cancer patients prior to surgery.

Characterization of antibacterial activity of a N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase produced by Latilactobacillus sakei isolated from salami.

Lactic acid bacteria are the predominant group within meat products, whose metabolites such as bacteriocins and peptidoglycan hydrolases inhibit pathogenic or spoilage bacteria. Fermented meat products, as a salami, is a good source to analyze the viable microbiota, due to these products present a low risk to consumer health. The aim of this work was to identify the lactic acid bacteria with broad antibacterial activity present in salami, purify the protein responsible for this activity, achieve antagonistic spectrum and perform the biochemical characterization. Five strains from salami were selected, isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by antagonism assay and zymography, using spoilage microorganisms commonly found in meat products. The strain that showed a broad antibacterial activity was Latilactobacillus sakei and the antibacterial activity was given by a protein with 75-kDa of molecular mass, identified by LC/MALDI-TOF/TOF. The sequence analysis showed 67% of identity with a N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase protein with five non-identical LysM domains. The purified protein showed an optimal pH of 8.0 and heat resistance at 80 °C for 10 min. L. sakei strain displayed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive spoilage microorganisms. The results of this study provide the information to use Latilactobacillus sakei as a starter culture which will provide the necessary metabolites to combat undesirable microorganisms. Additionally, the conditions and properties for the best application and use of the antibacterial protein produced by this strain. This protein may have a potential use in the food industry as a new antibacterial agent.