Post Natal Microbial and Metabolite Transmission: The Path from Mother to Infant.

The entero-mammary pathway is a specialized route that selectively translocates bacteria to the newborn's gut, playing a crucial role in neonatal development. Previous studies report shared bacterial and archaeal taxa between human milk and neonatal intestine. However, the functional implications for neonatal development are not fully understood due to limited evidence. This study aimed to identify and characterize the microbiota and metabolome of human milk, mother, and infant stool samples using high-throughput DNA sequencing and FT-ICR MS methodology at delivery and 4 months post-partum. Twenty-one mothers and twenty-five infants were included in this study. Our results on bacterial composition suggest vertical transmission of bacteria through breastfeeding, with major changes occurring during the first 4 months of life. Metabolite chemical characterization sheds light on the growing complexity of the metabolites. Further data integration and network analysis disclosed the interactions between different bacteria and metabolites in the biological system as well as possible unknown pathways. Our findings suggest a shared bacteriome in breastfed mother-neonate pairs, influenced by maternal lifestyle and delivery conditions, serving as probiotic agents in infants for their healthy development. Also, the presence of food biomarkers in infants suggests their origin from breast milk, implying selective vertical transmission of these features.

Eliciting Polyphenols in Strawberry Leaves: Preliminary Experiments in Fragaria × ananassa cv. Festival.

Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites that function mostly as a general stress-induced protective mechanism. Polyphenols have also gained interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. Strawberry leaves represent an agro-industrial waste material with relevant bioactive polyphenol content, which could be incorporated into circular economy strategies. However, due to the low quantities of polyphenols in plants, their production needs to be improved for cost-effective applications. The objective of this research was to compare polyphenol production in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Festival) leaves in plants grown in greenhouse conditions and plants grown in vitro, using three possible elicitor treatments (UV irradiation, cold exposure, and cysteine). General vegetative effects were morphologically evaluated, and specific polyphenolic compounds were quantified by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Gallic acid was the most abundant polyphenol found in the leaves, both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed higher amounts and faster accumulation of polyphenols in the in vitro regenerated plants, highlighting the relevance of in vitro tissue culture strategies for producing compounds such as polyphenols in this species and cultivar.

Recent ambient temperature and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is associated with urinary kidney injury biomarkers in children.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has examined associations between exposure to ambient temperature, air pollution, and kidney function or injury during the preadolescent period. We examined associations between exposure to ambient temperature and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) with preadolescent estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary kidney injury biomarkers. METHODS: Participants included 437 children without cardiovascular or kidney disease enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors birth cohort study in Mexico City. eGFR and urinary kidney injury biomarkers were assessed at 8-12 years. Validated satellite-based spatio-temporal models were used to estimate mean daily temperature and PM2.5 levels at each participant's residence 7- and 30-days prior to the date of visit. Linear regression and distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) were used to examine associations between daily mean temperature and PM2.5 exposure and kidney outcomes, adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: In single linear regressions, higher seven-day average PM2.5 was associated with higher urinary alpha-1-microglobulin and eGFR. In DLNM analyses, higher temperature exposure in the seven days prior to date of visit was associated with a decrease in urinary cystatin C of -0.56 ng/mL (95 % confidence interval (CI): -1.08, -0.04) and in osteopontin of -0.08 ng/mL (95 % CI: -0.15, -0.001). PM2.5 exposure over the seven days prior to date of visit was associated with an increase in eGFR of 1.77 mL/min/1.73m2 (95 % CI: 0.55, 2.99) and urinary cystatin C of 0.19 ng/mL (95 % CI: 0.03, 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Recent exposure to ambient temperature and PM2.5 were associated with increased and decreased urinary kidney injury biomarkers that may reflect subclinical glomerular or tubular injury in children. Further research is required to assess environmental exposures and worsening subclinical kidney injury across development.

Are Overweight and Obesity Risk Factors for Developing Metabolic Syndrome or Hypertension after a Preeclamptic Event?

OBJECTIVE: To identify the determinants and risks associated with developing hypertension and metabolic syndrome in the first year postpartum in women who experienced preeclampsia. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted, involving women who had experienced preeclampsia (PE) recently. The control group was women with the same characteristics but a healthy pregnancy. The variables analyzed were somatometry, disease history, pre-pregnancy body mass index (Pre-BMI), and Third Adult Treatment Panel updated (ATP III) metabolic syndrome (MS) data (blood pressure, obesity, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, and fasting glucose). These variables were measured at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: Women with a history of PE exhibited higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than women without PE. The risk of developing isolated diastolic arterial hypertension at 3 and 12 months of follow-up was two to eight times greater in women with a history of PE. Factors associated with having higher blood pressure levels were preeclampsia, insulin resistance, age, and BMI. Neither the pre-BMI index nor gestational weight gain (GWG) had any effect on blood pressure in any of the three assessments. Women with preeclampsia had a 5- to 8-fold increased risk of developing MS (which could be explained not only by the history of preeclampsia but also by the history of pre-pregnancy obesity). However, PE was not identified as a risk factor at the six-month evaluation and was only explained by pre-pregnancy obesity and overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and overweight, as well as preeclampsia, were strongly associated with the development of hypertension and metabolic syndrome during the first year following childbirth.

Frequency of new asymptomatic MRI lesions during attacks and follow-up of patients with NMOSD in a real-world setting.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the frequency of new asymptomatic lesions on brain and spinal imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) and their association with subsequent relapses in a large cohort of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients in Argentina. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 675 MRI (225 performed during an attack and 450 during the relapse-free period (performed at least 3 months from the last attack)) of NMOSD patients who had at least 2 years of clinical and MRI follow-up since disease onset. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were used for depicting time from remission MRI to subsequent relapse. RESULTS: We included 135 NMOSD patients (64.4% were aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG)-positive). We found that 26 (19.26%) and 66 (48.88%) of patients experienced at least one new asymptomatic MRI lesion during both the relapse-free period and attacks, respectively. The most frequent asymptomatic MRI lesions were optic nerves followed by short-segment myelitis during the relapse-free period and attacks. KM curves did not show differences in the time taken to develop a new relapse. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that new asymptomatic lesions are relatively frequent. However, the presence of new asymptomatic MRI lesions during the relapse-free period and at relapses was not associated with a shorter time to developing subsequent relapses.

[How to provide a Public Health response with a multidisciplinary approach based on the COVID-19 period.] / Cómo dar una respuesta de Salud Pública con un enfoque multidisciplinar, basándose en la experiencia del período de la COVID-19.

The establishment of regulatory measures and restrictions to take control of the COVID-19 pandemic generated uncertainty and a request for information among the population. To address this demand, the Public Health Department (DGSPCC) of the Government of La Rioja (Spain) created a multidisciplinary work group. This group worked in a coordinated multidisciplinary manner to respond to general inquiries and doubts, generate risk assessments of multitudinous events, and create guides and summaries of preventive measures. Every event was assessed individually and, based on the corresponding risk assignment, a recommendation for its execution or the need for additional measures was issued. In any case, citizens were encouraged to behave cautiously to avoid potential risks of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our goal was to report a multidisciplinary collaborative experience in the area of public health.

En el seno de la Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consumo y Cuidados (DGSPCC) del Gobierno de La Rioja se articuló un procedimiento de actuación, siendo su finalidad dar respuesta a la ciudadanía ante la gran incertidumbre surgida como consecuencia de las medidas y restricciones para el control de la pandemia de la COVID-19. Se desarrolló un trabajo coordinado de colaboración multidisciplinar para responder consultas y dudas, evaluar el riesgo en la celebración de eventos multitudinarios y elaborar guías para la difusión de medidas preventivas. Tras la evaluación de cada caso, se establecía una gradación del riesgo y, de acuerdo con ello, se recomendaba la realización del evento, la adopción de medidas adicionales o la suspensión del mismo. En todo momento se apelaba al deber de cautela y protección de la ciudadanía para adoptar las medidas necesarias con el fin de evitar la generación de riesgos de propagación del virus SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comunicar la experiencia de la colaboración multiprofesional en el ámbito de la Salud Pública.

Cómo dar una respuesta de Salud Pública con un enfoque multidisciplinar, basándose en la experiencia del período de la COVID-19 / How to provide a Public Health response with a multidisciplinary approach based on the COVID-19 period

En el seno de la Dirección General de Salud Pública, Consumo y Cuidados (DGSPCC) del Gobierno de La Rioja se articuló un procedi-miento de actuación, siendo su finalidad dar respuesta a la ciudadanía ante la gran incertidumbre surgida como consecuencia delas medidas y restricciones para el control de la pandemia de la COVID-19. Se desarrolló un trabajo coordinado de colaboración mul-tidisciplinar para responder consultas y dudas, evaluar el riesgo en la celebración de eventos multitudinarios y elaborar guías parala difusión de medidas preventivas. Tras la evaluación de cada caso, se establecía una gradación del riesgo y, de acuerdo con ello, serecomendaba la realización del evento, la adopción de medidas adicionales o la suspensión del mismo. En todo momento se apelabaal deber de cautela y protección de la ciudadanía para adoptar las medidas necesarias con el fin de evitar la generación de riesgosde propagación del virus SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comunicar la experiencia de la colaboración multiprofesional enel ámbito de la Salud Pública.(AU)

The establishment of regulatory measures and restrictions to take control of the COVID-19 pandemic generated uncertainty and arequest for information among the population. To address this demand, the Public Health Department (DGSPCC) of the Governmentof La Rioja (Spain) created a multidisciplinary work group. This group worked in a coordinated multidisciplinary manner to respond togeneral inquiries and doubts, generate risk assessments of multitudinous events, and create guides and summaries of preventive me-asures. Every event was assessed individually and, based on the corresponding risk assignment, a recommendation for its executionor the need for additional measures was issued. In any case, citizens were encouraged to behave cautiously to avoid potential risksof spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our goal was to report a multidisciplinary collaborative experience in the area of public health.(AU)

Short-term topiramate treatment prevents radiation-induced cytotoxic edema in preclinical models of breast-cancer brain metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Brain edema is a common complication of brain metastases (BM) and associated treatment. The extent to which cytotoxic edema, the first step in the sequence that leads to ionic edema, vasogenic edema, and brain swelling, contributes to radiation-induced brain edema during BM remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether radiation-associated treatment of BM induces cytotoxic edema and the consequences of blocking the edema in preclinical models of breast-cancer brain metastases (BCBM). METHODS: Using in vitro and in vivo models, we measured astrocytic swelling, trans-electric resistance (TEER), and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression following radiation. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of AQP4 in astrocytes and cancer cells was used to assess the role of AQP4 in astrocytic swelling and brain water intake. An anti-epileptic drug that blocks AQP4 function (topiramate) was used to prevent cytotoxic edema in models of BM. RESULTS: Radiation-induced astrocytic swelling and transient upregulation of AQP4 occurred within the first 24 hours following radiation. Topiramate decreased radiation-induced astrocytic swelling and loss of TEER in astrocytes in vitro, and acute short-term treatment (but not continuous administration), prevented radiation-induced increase in brain water content without pro-tumorigenic effects in multiple preclinical models of BCBM. AQP4 was expressed in clinical BM and breast-cancer cell lines, but AQP4 targeting had limited direct pro-tumorigenic or radioprotective effects in cancer cells that could impact its clinical translation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BM could find additional benefits from acute and temporary preventive treatment of radiation-induced cytotoxic edema using anti-epileptic drugs able to block AQP4 function.

Short-term Topiramate treatment prevents radiation-induced cytotoxic edema in preclinical models of breast-cancer brain metastasis.

Background: Brain edema is a common complication of brain metastases (BM) and associated treatment. The extent to which cytotoxic edema, the first step in the sequence that leads to ionic edema, vasogenic edema and brain swelling, contributes to radiation-induced brain edema during BM remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether radiation-associated treatment of BM induces cytotoxic edema and the consequences of blocking the edema in pre-clinical models of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM). Methods: Using in vitro and in vivo models, we measured astrocytic swelling, trans-electric resistance (TEER) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression following radiation. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of AQP4 in astrocytes and cancer cells was used to assess the role of AQP4 in astrocytic swelling and brain water intake. An anti-epileptic drug that blocks AQP4 function (topiramate) was used to prevent cytotoxic edema in models of BM. Results: Radiation-induced astrocytic swelling and transient upregulation of AQP4 within the first 24 hours following radiation. Topiramate decreased radiation-induced astrocytic swelling, loss of TEER in astrocytes in vitro , and acute short term treatment (but not continuous administration), prevented radiation-induced increase in brain water content without pro-tumorigenic effects in multiple pre-clinical models of BCBM. AQP4 was expressed in clinical BM and breast cancer cell lines, but AQP4 targeting had limited direct pro-tumorigenic or radioprotective effects in cancer cells that could impact its clinical translation. Conclusions: Patients with BM could find additional benefits from acute and temporary preventive treatment of radiation-induced cytotoxic edema using anti-epileptic drugs able to block AQP4 function. Key points: Radiation induces cytotoxic edema via acute dysregulation of AQP4 in astrocytes in preclinical models of BM. Pharmacologic blockage of AQP4 function prevents water intake, astrocytic swelling and restores TEER in vitro. Pre-treatment with single-dose Topiramate prevents brain radiation-induced brain edema without direct tumor effects in pre-clinical models of BCBM. IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY: In this study we describe a novel role for astrocytic swelling and cytotoxic edema in the progression of radiation-induced brain edema during BM treatment. While radiation-induced edema has been fully attributed to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and ensuing vasogenic effects, our results suggest that cytotoxic edema affecting astrocytes in the acute setting plays an important role in the progression of brain edema during BM standard of care. Current standard of care for brain edema involves pre-treatment with steroids and the use of bevacizumab only after clinically significant edema develops. Both interventions are presumed to target vasogenic edema. This study suggests that patients with BM could find additional benefits from acute and temporary preventive treatment of radiation-induced cytotoxic edema using an already FDA-approved anti-epileptic drug. Such early prevention strategy can be easily clinically implemented with the goal of minimizing treatment-related toxicities.

[Origins and development of a national scientific policy in Chile: Conicyt, 1967-1981]. / Orígenes y desarrollo de una política científica nacional en Chile: Conicyt, 1967-1981.

In 1967, the founding of the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Conicyt) constituted a milestone by creating a national and public body, different from the university, which coordinated and financed scientific-technological activity, linked to the productive development in Chile, and the history of Latin American research councils. Conicyt led a demanding process by debating the contents of a scientific policy in a period in which Chile experienced opposing political-economic development models that conditioned its formulation and objectives. This article characterizes the origins and development of this commission from 1967 to 1981 when the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología was created and a new institutional stage began.

En 1967, la fundación de la Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica constituyó un hito al crearse un organismo nacional y público, distinto al universitario, que coordinó y financió la actividad científica-tecnológica, vinculándola al desarrollo productivo en Chile, y a la historia de los consejos de investigación latinoamericanos. La Comisión lideró un exigente proceso al debatir los contenidos de una política científica en un periodo en que Chile experimentó modelos de desarrollo político-económico opuestos que condicionaron su formulación y objetivos. Este artículo caracteriza los orígenes y desarrollo de esta comisión desde 1967 hasta 1981, cuando al crearse el Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología se inicia una nueva etapa institucional.

Orígenes y desarrollo de una política científica nacional en Chile: Conicyt, 1967-1981 / Origins and development of a national scientific policy in Chile: Conicyt, 1967-1981

Resumen En 1967, la fundación de la Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica constituyó un hito al crearse un organismo nacional y público, distinto al universitario, que coordinó y financió la actividad científica-tecnológica, vinculándola al desarrollo productivo en Chile, y a la historia de los consejos de investigación latinoamericanos. La Comisión lideró un exigente proceso al debatir los contenidos de una política científica en un periodo en que Chile experimentó modelos de desarrollo político-económico opuestos que condicionaron su formulación y objetivos. Este artículo caracteriza los orígenes y desarrollo de esta comisión desde 1967 hasta 1981, cuando al crearse el Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología se inicia una nueva etapa institucional.

Abstract In 1967, the founding of the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Conicyt) constituted a milestone by creating a national and public body, different from the university, which coordinated and financed scientific-technological activity, linked to the productive development in Chile, and the history of Latin American research councils. Conicyt led a demanding process by debating the contents of a scientific policy in a period in which Chile experienced opposing political-economic development models that conditioned its formulation and objectives. This article characterizes the origins and development of this commission from 1967 to 1981 when the Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología was created and a new institutional stage began.

RET gene mutational diagnosis and precision medicine in Mexico.

Precision medicine is a reality in some diseases; it supports the development of accurate and specific diagnostic methods, new drugs and molecules. Our research team in Mexico, made up of clinical and biomedical researchers, has been performing free RET gene mutational diagnosis for medullary thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2 and 3 for 20 years. RET pathogenic variants in the Mexican population are consistent with reported data: most common mutations are 634/NEM2 and 918/NEM3. Currently, new nanobiotechnology methods are being developed for this type of determination in order to obtain faster, simpler, more sensitive and specific results applicable in all types of laboratories.

La medicina de precisión en algunas enfermedades es una realidad; respalda el desarrollo de métodos diagnósticos certeros y específicos, de nuevas drogas y moléculas. Nuestro equipo de investigación en México, conformado por investigadores clínicos y biomédicos, desde hace 20 años realiza de forma gratuita el diagnóstico mutacional del gen RET y su relación con el cáncer medular de tiroides y la neoplasia endocrina múltiple (NEM) 2 y 3. Las variantes patogénicas de RET en la población mexicana coinciden con los datos reportados: la mayoría con 634/NEM2 y 918/NEM3. Actualmente se están desarrollando nuevos métodos de nanobiotecnología para este tipo de determinaciones, de tal forma que puedan obtenerse resultados más rápidos, simples, sensibles y específicos aplicables en todo tipo de laboratorio.

[Depression in patients with epilepsy: experience in a private hospital in Argentina]. / Depresión en pacientes con epilepsia. Experiencia en un hospital privado de Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is the most frequent psychiatric disorder in patients with epilepsy, with an estimated prevalence between 35% and 60%, associated with poorer control of epileptic seizures. Despite the high prevalence of depression, many patients are not diagnosed, presenting a worse clinical course and quality of life. There are no prevalence studies in our population. The main objective was to determinate the prevalence of depression in epilepsy and its relationship with seizure control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study of a cohort of patients who underwent the Depression Inventory in Patients with Neurological Disorders for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) and the data from the medical records were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were inluded, and the prevalence of depression was 43% (n:52), of whom 77% were women (p = 0.01). A 63% of patients with depression was diagnosed in this study. Most of them with good seizure control (70%) did not present depression, while the majority of those with poor (57%) and regular (63%) seizure control presented depression (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Comorbidity between depression and epilepsy is highly prevalent, negatively influencing the control of epileptic seizures. Most patients are underdiagnosed. Screening for major depression in patients with epilepsy is necessary, contributing to the clinical improvement.

Introducción: La depresión es el trastorno psiquiátrico más frecuente en pacientes con epilepsia, con una prevalencia estimada entre 35% y 60%, asociándose a un peor control de crisis epilépticas. A pesar de la gran prevalencia de depresión, muchos pacientes no son diagnosticados, presentando una peor evolución clínica y calidad de vida. No existen estudios de prevalencia en nuestro medio. El objetivo fue determinar la prevalencia de depresión en epilepsia y su relación con el control de crisis. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y transversal de una cohorte de pacientes a los cuales se les realizó el Inventario de Depresión en Pacientes con Trastornos Neurológicos para Epilepsia (NDDIE) y se analizaron datos de las historias clínicas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 121 pacientes, la prevalencia de depresión fue 43% (n:52), el 77% eran mujeres (p = 0.01). Del total de pacientes con depresión, el 63% fue diagnosticado en este estudio. La mayoría tuvo buen control de la crisis (70%) y no presentó depresión, mientras que la mayoría con mal (57%) y regular (63%) control de la crisis presentó depresión (p < 0.001). Discusión: La comorbilidad entre depresión y epilepsia es altamente prevalente, influyendo negativamente en el control de las crisis epilépticas. La mayoría de los pacientes se encuentran subdiagnosticados. El tamizaje de la depresión mayor en aquellos con epilepsia es necesario, contribuyendo a la mejoría clínica.

Diagnóstico mutacional del gen RET y la medicina de precisión en México / RET gene mutational diagnosis and precision medicine in Mexico

Resumen La medicina de precisión en algunas enfermedades es una realidad; respalda el desarrollo de métodos diagnósticos certeros y específicos, de nuevas drogas y moléculas. Nuestro equipo de investigación en México, conformado por investigadores clínicos y biomédicos, desde hace 20 años realiza de forma gratuita el diagnóstico mutacional del gen RET y su relación con el cáncer medular de tiroides y la neoplasia endocrina múltiple (NEM) 2 y 3. Las variantes patogénicas de RET en la población mexicana coinciden con los datos reportados: la mayoría con 634/NEM2 y 918/NEM3. Actualmente se están desarrollando nuevos métodos de nanobiotecnología para este tipo de determinaciones, de tal forma que puedan obtenerse resultados más rápidos, simples, sensibles y específicos aplicables en todo tipo de laboratorio.

Abstract Precision medicine is a reality in some diseases; it supports the development of accurate and specific diagnostic methods, new drugs and molecules. Our research team in Mexico, made up of clinical and biomedical researchers, has been performing free RET gene mutational diagnosis for medullary thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2 and 3 for 20 years. RET pathogenic variants in the Mexican population are consistent with reported data: most common mutations are 634/NEM2 and 918/NEM3. Currently, new nanobiotechnology methods are being developed for this type of determination in order to obtain faster, simpler, more sensitive and specific results applicable in all types of laboratories.

Intermediate- and long-term associations between air pollution and ambient temperature and glycated hemoglobin levels in women of child bearing age.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution has been linked to obesity while higher ambient temperatures typically reduce metabolic demand in a compensatory manner. Both relationships may impact glucose metabolism, thus we examined the association between intermediate- and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ambient temperature and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), a longer-term marker of glucose control. METHODS: We assessed 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month average air pollution and ambient temperature at 1-km2 spatial resolution via satellite remote sensing models (2013-2019), and assessed HbA1c at four, six, and eight years postpartum in women enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) cohort based in Mexico City. PM2.5 and ambient temperature were matched to participants' addresses and confirmed by GPS tracker. Using linear mixed-effects models, we examined the association between 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month average PM2.5 and ambient temperature with repeated log-transformed HbA1c values. All models included a random intercept for each woman and were adjusted for calendar year, season, and individual-level confounders (age, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption level, and education level). RESULTS: We analyzed 1,265 HbA1c measurements of 484 women. Per 1 µg/m3 increase in 3-month and 6-month PM2.5, HbA1c levels increased by 0.28% (95% confidence interval (95 %CI): 0.14, 0.42%) and 0.28% (95 %CI: 0.04, 0.52%) respectively. No association was seen for 12-month average PM2.5. Per 1 °C increase in ambient temperature, HbA1c levels decreased by 0.63% (95 %CI: -1.06, -0.21%) and 0.61% (95 %CI: -1.08, -0.13%), while the 12-month average again is not associated with HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Intermediate-term exposure to PM2.5 and ambient temperature are associated with opposing changes in HbA1c levels, in this region of high PM2.5 and moderate temperature fluctuation. These effects, measurable in mid-adult life, may portend future risk of type 2 diabetes and possible heart disease.

Depresión en pacientes con epilepsia. Experiencia en un hospital privado de Argentina / Depression in patients with epilepsy: experience in a private hospital in Argentina

Resumen Introducción: La depresión es el trastorno psiquiátrico más frecuente en pacientes con epilepsia, con una prevalencia estimada entre 35% y 60%, asociándose a un peor control de crisis epilép ticas. A pesar de la gran prevalencia de depresión, muchos pacientes no son diagnosticados, presentando una peor evolución clínica y calidad de vida. No existen estudios de prevalencia en nuestro medio. El objeti vo fue determinar la prevalencia de depresión en epilepsia y su relación con el control de crisis. Materiales y métodos: Es un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y transversal de una cohorte de pacientes a los cuales se les realizó el Inventario de Depresión en Pacientes con Trastornos Neurológicos para Epilepsia (NDDI-E) y se analizaron datos de las historias clínicas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 121 pacientes, la prevalencia de depresión fue 43% (n:52), el 77% eran mujeres (p = 0.01). Del total de pacientes con depresión, el 63% fue diagnosticado en este estudio. La mayoría tuvo buen control de la crisis (70%) y no presentó depresión, mientras que la mayoría con mal (57%) y regular (63%) control de la crisis presentó depresión (p < 0.001). Discusión: La comorbilidad entre depresión y epilepsia es altamente prevalente, influyendo negativamen te en el control de las crisis epilépticas. La mayoría de los pacientes se encuentran subdiagnosticados. El tamizaje de la depresión mayor en aquellos con epilepsia es necesario, contribuyendo a la mejoría clínica.

Abstract Introduction: Depression is the most frequent psychiatric disorder in patients with epilepsy, with an estimated prevalence between 35% and 60%, associated with poorer control of epileptic seizures. Despite the high prevalence of depression, many patients are not diagnosed, presenting a worse clinical course and quality of life. There are no prevalence studies in our population. The main objective was to determinate the prevalence of depression in epilepsy and its relationship with seizure control. Materials and methods: It is a prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study of a cohort of patients who underwent the Depression Inventory in Pa tients with Neurological Disorders for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) and the data from the medical records were analyzed. Results: A total of 121 patients were inluded, and the prevalence of depression was 43% (n:52), of whom 77% were women (p = 0.01). A 63% of patients with depression was diagnosed in this study. Most of them with good seizure control (70%) did not present depression, while the majority of those with poor (57%) and regular (63%) seizure control presented depression (p < 0.001). Discussion: Comorbidity between depression and epilepsy is highly prevalent, negatively influencing the control of epileptic seizures. Most patients are underdiagnosed. Screening for major depression in patients with epilepsy is necessary, contributing to the clinical improvement.

Detecting Depression Signs on Social Media: A Systematic Literature Review.

Among mental health diseases, depression is one of the most severe, as it often leads to suicide; due to this, it is important to identify and summarize existing evidence concerning depression sign detection research on social media using the data provided by users. This review examines aspects of primary studies exploring depression detection from social media submissions (from 2016 to mid-2021). The search for primary studies was conducted in five digital libraries: ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, SpringerLink, Science Direct, and PubMed, as well as on the search engine Google Scholar to broaden the results. Extracting and synthesizing the data from each paper was the main activity of this work. Thirty-four primary studies were analyzed and evaluated. Twitter was the most studied social media for depression sign detection. Word embedding was the most prominent linguistic feature extraction method. Support vector machine (SVM) was the most used machine-learning algorithm. Similarly, the most popular computing tool was from Python libraries. Finally, cross-validation (CV) was the most common statistical analysis method used to evaluate the results obtained. Using social media along with computing tools and classification methods contributes to current efforts in public healthcare to detect signs of depression from sources close to patients.

Sex steroid hormone function in the brain niche: Implications for brain metastatic colonization and progression.

BACKGROUND: While sex hormones and their receptors play well-known roles in progression of primary tumors through direct action on sex steroid hormone-responsive cancer cells, emerging evidence suggest that hormones also play important roles in metastatic progression by modulating the tumor microenvironment. Estrogens and androgens synthesized in gonads and within the brain influence memory, behavior, and outcomes of brain pathologies. Yet, their impact on brain metastatic colonization and progression is just beginning to be explored. RECENT FINDINGS: Estradiol and testosterone cross the blood-brain barrier and are synthesized de novo in astrocytes and other cells within the adult brain. Circulating and brain-synthesized estrogens have been shown to promote brain metastatic colonization of tumors lacking estrogen receptors (ERs), through mechanisms involving the upregulation of growth factors and neurotrophins in ER+ reactive astrocytes. In this review, we discuss additional mechanisms by which hormones may influence brain metastases, through modulation of brain endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia. CONCLUSION: A greater understanding of hormone-brain-tumor interactions may shed further light on the mechanisms underlying the adaptation of cancer cells to the brain niche, and provide therapeutic alternatives modulating the brain metastatic niche.

Prenatal maternal phthalate exposures and trajectories of childhood adiposity from four to twelve years.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Adiposity trajectories reflect dynamic process of growth and may predict later life health better than individual measures. Prenatal phthalate exposures may program later childhood adiposity, but findings from studies examining these associations are conflicting. We investigated associations between phthalate biomarker concentrations during pregnancy with child adiposity trajectories. METHODS: We followed 514 mother-child pairs from the Mexico City PROGRESS cohort from pregnancy through twelve years. We measured concentrations of nine phthalate biomarkers in 2nd and 3rd trimester maternal urine samples to create a pregnancy average using the geometric mean. We measured child BMI z-score, fat mass index (FMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) at three study visits between four and 12 years of age. We identified adiposity trajectories using multivariate latent class growth modeling, considering BMI z-score, FMI, and WHtR as joint indicators of latent adiposity. We estimated associations of phthalates biomarkers with class membership using multinomial logistic regression. We used quantile g-computation to estimate the potential effect of the total phthalate mixture and assessed effect modification by sex. RESULTS: We identified three trajectories of child adiposity, a "low-stable", a "low-high", and a "high-high" group. A doubling of the sum of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), was associated with 1.53 (1.08, 2.19) greater odds of being in the "high-high" trajectory in comparison to the "low-stable" group, whereas a doubling in di-isononyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDiNP) was associated with 1.43 (1.02, 2.02) greater odds of being in the "low-high" trajectory and mono (carboxy-isononyl) phthalate (MCNP) was associated with 0.66 (0.45, 97) lower odds of being in the "low-high" trajectory. No sex-specific associations or mixture associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal concentrations of urinary DEHP metabolites, DiNP metabolites, and MCNP, a di-isodecyl phthalate metabolite, were associated with trajectories of child adiposity. The total phthalate mixture was not associated with early life child adiposity.

Prenatal and Early Childhood Exposure to Lead and Repeated Measures of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Indicators From Childhood to Preadolescence.

Background: Exposure to lead (Pb) during the early life stages has been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Longitudinal studies of Pb exposure in critical developmental windows in children are limited. Methods: Our study included 601 mother-child dyads from the PROGRESS (Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors) birth cohort. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were assessed during the second and third gestational trimesters, in cord blood at delivery, and at ages 1, 2, and 4 years. Bone lead levels in the patella and tibia were assessed at 1 month postpartum and evaluated in separate models. To account for cumulative exposure (prenatal, postnatal, and cumulative), we dichotomized the BLLs at each stage visit and determined the following: "higher" if a BLL was at least once above the median (HPb) and "lower" if all BLLs were below the median (LPb). We analyzed fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (cHDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (cLDL), body mass index, waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage, and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at two study visits between 6 and 12 years of age and created cutoff points based on the clinical guidelines for each indicator. Mixed effects models were used to analyze each outcome longitudinally for each BLL score, adjusting for child's sex, size for gestational age, child's age, maternal parity, mother's age, and socioeconomic status. Results: We observed associations for HPb exposure and TC in all stages (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.32-0.86) and postnatally (OR = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.36-0.94) and for prenatal HPb and TGs (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.44-0.95). HPb at all stages was associated with WC (OR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.08-0.86), BMI (OR = 0.33, 95%CI = 0.11-0.99), SBP (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.32-0.85), and DBP (OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.34-0.95). Pb levels in the patella were associated with cHDL (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.00-1.07) and those in the tibia with TGs (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.91-0.99). Conclusion: Early life exposure to Pb may alter early indicators of MetS. A follow-up of these children will allow for more definition on the impact of longer-term exposures.