Landscape features support natural pest control and farm income when pesticide application is reduced.

Future trajectories of agricultural productivity need to incorporate environmental targets, including the reduction of pesticides use. Landscape features supporting natural pest control (LF-NPC) offer a nature-based solution that can serve as a partial substitute for synthetic pesticides, thereby supporting future productivity levels. Here, we introduce a novel approach to quantify the contribution of LF-NPC to agricultural yields and its associated economic value to crop production in a broad-scale context. Using the European Union as case study, we combine granular farm-level data, a spatially explicit map of LF-NPC potential, and a regional agro-economic supply and market model. The results reveal that farms located in areas characterized by higher LF-NPC potential experience lower productivity losses in a context of reduced synthetic pesticides use. Our analysis suggests that LF-NPC reduces yield gaps on average by four percentage points, and increases income by a similar magnitude. These results highlight the significance of LF-NPC for agricultural production and income, and provide a valuable reference point for farmers and policymakers aiming to successfully invest in landscape features to achieve pesticides reduction targets.

Correction: Exploratory comparisons between different anti-mitotics in clinically-used drug combination in triple negative breast cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28068.].

DC-SIGN Mediates the Interaction Between Neutrophils and Leishmania amazonensis-Infected Dendritic Cells to Promote DC Maturation and Parasite Elimination.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected arthropod-borne disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Successful Leishmania infections require the mitigation of immune cell functions leading to parasite survival and proliferation. A large body of evidence highlights the involvement of neutrophils (PMNs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in the establishment of immunological responses against these parasites. However, few studies, contemplate to what extent these cells interact synergistically to constrain Leishmania infection. Objective: We sought to investigate how PMNs and infected DCs interact in an in vitro model of Leishmania amazonensis infection. Material and Methods: Briefly, human PMNs and DCs were purified from the peripheral blood of healthy donors. Next, PMNs were activated with fibronectin and subsequently co-cultured with L. amazonensis-infected DCs. Results: We observed that L. amazonensis-infected DC exhibited lower rates of infection when co-cultivated with either resting or activated PMNs. Surprisingly, we found that the release of neutrophil enzymes was not involved in Leishmania killing. Next, we showed that the interaction between PMNs and infected-DCs was intermediated by DC-SIGN, further suggesting that parasite elimination occurs in a contact-dependent manner. Furthermore, we also observed that TNFα and ROS production was dependent on DC-SIGN-mediated contact, as well as parasite elimination is dependent on TNFα production in the co-culture. Finally, we observed that direct contact between PMNs and DCs are required to restore the expression of DC maturation molecules during L. amazonensis infection. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the engagement of direct contact between PMNs and L. amazonensis-infected DC via DC-SIGN is required for the production of inflammatory mediators with subsequent parasite elimination and DC maturation.

Exploratory comparisons between different anti-mitotics in clinically-used drug combination in triple negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constitutes a very aggressive type of breast cancer with few options of cytotoxic chemotherapy available for them. A chemotherapy regimen comprising of doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel, known as AC-T, is approved for usage as an adjuvant treatment for this type of breast cancer. In this study we aimed to elucidate the role of KIF11 in TNBC progression throughout its inhibition by two synthetic small molecules containing the DHPM core (dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones or -thiones), with the hypothesis that these inhibitors could be an interesting option of antimitotic drug used alone or as adjuvant therapy in association with AC. For this purpose, we evaluated the efficacy of DHPMs used as monotherapy or in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, in Balbc-nude mice bearing breast cancer induced by MDA-MB-231, having AC-T as positive control. Our data provide extensive evidence to demonstrate that KIF11 inhibitors showed pronounced antitumor activity, acting in key points of tumorigenesis and cancer progression in in vivo xenograft model of triple negative breast cancer, like down-regulation of KIF11 and ALDH1-A1. Moreover, they didn't show the classic peripheral neuropathy characterized by impaired mobility, as it is common with paclitaxel use. These results suggest that the use of a MAP inhibitor in breast cancer regimen treatment could be a promising strategy to keep antitumoral activity reducing the side effects.

Erythematous Papular Rash: A Dermatological Feature of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is the clinical expression of the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection. Most patients have mild symptoms, but a significant proportion have severe or critical disease, which can include cardiac injury, sepsis, acute kidney failure and respiratory failure. It is also worth highlighting the increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases with dermatological disease/manifestations. The cutaneous clinical spectrum is wide and includes maculopapular, urticarial, varicelliform and petechial rashes, pseudo perniosis, livedo reticularis, and pityriasis rosea-like, violaceous and pustular lesions. Until the physiological mechanism is fully understood, it is important to describe these manifestations, which could help identify a typical pattern. This report describes a cutaneous manifestation in a COVID-19 patient. LEARNING POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 presents with multiple symptoms with the dermatological manifestations currently under-recognized.Clinicians should be aware of patients presenting only with cutaneous symptoms, which in some cases are the initial clinical feature of COVID-19.

Risk to the supply of ecosystem services across aquatic ecosystems.

The capacity of ecosystems to supply ecosystem services is decreasing. Sustaining this supply requires an understanding of the links between the impacts of pressures introduced by human activities and how this can lead to changes in the supply of services. Here, we apply a novel approach, assessing 'risk to ecosystem service supply' (RESS), across a range of aquatic ecosystems in seven case studies. We link aggregate impact risk from human activities on ecosystem components, with a relative score of their potential to supply services. The greatest RESS is found where an ecosystem component with a high potential to supply services is subject to high impact risk. In this context, we explore variability in RESS across 99 types of aquatic ecosystem component from 11 realms, ranging from oceanic to wetlands. We explore some causes of variability in the RESS observed, including assessment area, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population density. We found that Lakes, Rivers, Inlets and Coastal realms had some of the highest RESS, though this was highly dependent on location. We found a positive relationship between impact risk and service supply potential, indicating the ecosystem components we rely on most for services, are also those most at risk. However, variability in this relationship indicates that protecting the supply of ecosystem services alone will not protect all parts of the ecosystem at high risk. Broad socio-economic factors explained some of the variability found in RESS. For example, RESS was positively associated with GDP and artificial and agricultural land use in most realms, highlighting the need to achieve balance between increasing GDP and sustaining ecosystem health and human wellbeing more broadly. This approach can be used for sustainable management of ecosystem service use, to highlight the ecosystem components most critical to supplying services, and those most at risk.

Exploring variability in environmental impact risk from human activities across aquatic ecosystems.

Aquatic ecosystems are under severe pressure. Human activities introduce an array of pressures that impact ecosystems and their components. In this study we focus on the aquatic domains of fresh, coastal and marine waters, including rivers, lakes and riparian habitats to transitional, coastal as well as shelf and oceanic habitats. In an environmental risk assessment approach, we identified impact chains that link 45 human activities through 31 pressures to 82 ecosystem components. In this linkage framework >22,000 activity-pressure-ecosystem component interactions were found across seven European case studies. We identified the environmental impact risk posed by each impact chain by first categorically weighting the interactions according to five criteria: spatial extent, dispersal potential, frequency of interaction, persistence of pressure and severity of the interaction, where extent, dispersal, frequency and persistence account for the exposure to risk (spatial and temporal), and the severity accounts for the consequence of the risk. After assigning a numerical score to each risk criterion, we came up with an overall environmental impact risk score for each impact chain. This risk score was analysed in terms of (1) the activities and pressures that introduce the greatest risk to European aquatic domains, and (2) the aquatic ecosystem components and realms that are at greatest risk from human activities. Activities related to energy production were relevant across the aquatic domains. Fishing was highly relevant in marine and environmental engineering in fresh waters. Chemical and physical pressures introduced the greatest risk to the aquatic realms. Ecosystem components that can be seen as ecotones between different ecosystems had high impact risk. We show how this information can be used in informing management on trade-offs in freshwater, coastal and marine resource use and aid decision-making.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of cancer: which link?

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by a group of metabolic disturbances which lead to an enhanced risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. MS constitutes a preoccupant issue with elevated prevalence in the western countries and is often related with cancer development. Elucidating the mechanisms linking these two pathologies is, therefore, essential to identify potential therapeutic molecular targets for cancer treatment in MS patients. The main goals of this review are, to identify the relation between MS and cancer development, handling specifically each one of the main players on this process: insulin and IGF system, estrogen, pro-inflammatory cytokines and others; and, given that colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in MS patients, we intend to particularly highlight the mechanisms that promote colorectal cancer development in MS individuals. Finally, we will also focus on the clinical implications of the presented mechanisms on cancer therapy and care.

Rede informal de apoio à pessoa idosa dependente: motivações e fatores de stress em cuidadores primários e secundários / Informal support network of the dependent older person: motives and stressors among primary and secondary caregivers

Este estudo visa comparar os motivos e os fatores de stress entre cuidadores informais primários e secundários de pessoas idosas dependentes no domicílio. Foi constituída uma amostra de 180 cuidadores: 90 cuidadores primários e 90 cuidadores secundários. No geral, as subamostras partilham das mesmas razões para cuidar. Contudo, diferem no que refere aos fatores de stress. Os resultados são relevantes para o planeamento de intervenções mais individualizadas e adequadas aos dois grupos de cuidadores.(AU)

This study aims to compare the motives and stressors between primary and secondary informal caregiver of domiciliary dependent elderly. A sample of 180 caregivers was recruited: 90 primary caregivers and 90 secondary caregivers. Overall, the subsamples share the same motives to care. However, they differ in relation to the caregiving stressors. Results are useful for planning more individualized and adequate interventions to both groups of caregivers.(AU)

Rede informal de apoio à pessoa idosa dependente: motivações e fatores de stress em cuidadores primários e secundários / Informal support network of the dependent older person: motives and stressors among primary and secondary caregivers

Este estudo visa comparar os motivos e os fatores de stress entre cuidadores informais primários e secundários de pessoas idosas dependentes no domicílio. Foi constituída uma amostra de 180 cuidadores: 90 cuidadores primários e 90 cuidadores secundários. No geral, as subamostras partilham das mesmas razões para cuidar. Contudo, diferem no que refere aos fatores de stress. Os resultados são relevantes para o planeamento de intervenções mais individualizadas e adequadas aos dois grupos de cuidadores.

This study aims to compare the motives and stressors between primary and secondary informal caregiver of domiciliary dependent elderly. A sample of 180 caregivers was recruited: 90 primary caregivers and 90 secondary caregivers. Overall, the subsamples share the same motives to care. However, they differ in relation to the caregiving stressors. Results are useful for planning more individualized and adequate interventions to both groups of caregivers.