Candida spp.: the burden of a microorganism in a microbiology department.

There is no precise information available on the entire workload of isolating a specific microorganism in a clinical microbiology laboratory, and the costs associated with it have not been specifically estimated. In this descriptive retrospective study conducted at the microbiology department of a general teaching hospital from January 2021 to December 2022, we assessed the workload associated with identifying Candida species in all types of clinical samples and patients. Costs were estimated from data obtained from the hospital's finance department and microbiology laboratory cost records. In 2 years, 1,008,231 samples were processed at our microbiology department, of which 8,775 had one or more Candida spp. isolates (9,683 total isolates). Overall, 5,151 samples with Candida spp. were identified from 2,383 inpatients. We isolated Candida spp. from 515.3 samples/100,000 population/year and from 92 samples/1,000 hospital admissions/year. By sample type, 90.8% were superficial, mainly mucosal. Only 9.1% Candida spp. were isolated from deep, usually sterile, samples, being mostly from ordinarily sterile fluids. Candida albicans was the main species (58.5%) identified, followed by C. parapsilosis complex, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. In admitted patients, the incidences of samples with Candida spp. isolates were 302.7 samples/100,000 population/year and 54 samples/1,000 admissions/year. The average cost of isolating and identifying Candida spp. was estimated at 25€ per culture-positive sample. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to gage the workload and costs of Candida spp. isolation at a hospital microbiology department. These data can help assess the burden and significance of Candida isolation at other institutions and also help design measures for streamlining. IMPORTANCE: We believe that this work is of interest because at present, there is no really accurate information available on the total workload involved in isolating a specific microorganism in a clinical microbiology laboratory. The costs related to this have also not been described. We have described the unrestricted workload of Candida spp. in all types of samples for all types of species and patients. We believe that this information would be necessary to collect and share this information as well as to collect it in a standardized way to know the current situation of Candida spp. workload in all clinical microbiology laboratories.

Risk factors of death or chronic renal replacement therapy requirements in patients with thrombotic microangiopathies without ADAMTS-13 deficiency.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and multisystem organ dysfunction, is a life-threatening disease. Patients with TMA who do not exhibit a severe ADAMTS-13 deficiency (defined as a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif no. 13 activity ≥10%: TMA-13n) continue to experience elevated mortality rates. This study explores the prognostic indicators for augmented mortality risk or necessitating chronic renal replacement therapy (composite outcome: CO) in TMA-13n patients. We included 42 TMA-13n patients from January 2008 to May 2018. Median age of 41 years and 60% were female. At presentation, 62% required dialysis, and 57% warranted intensive care unit admission. CO was observed in 45% of patients, including a 9-patient mortality subset. Multivariate logistic regression revealed three independent prognostic factors for CO: early administration of eculizumab (median time from hospitalization to eculizumab initiation: 5 days, range 0-19 days; odds ratio [OR], 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.94), presence of neuroradiological lesions (OR, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.12-39.80), and a PLASMIC score ≤4 (OR, 7.39; 95% CI, 1.18-46.11). In conclusion, TMA-13n patients exhibit a heightened risk of CO in the presence of low PLASMIC scores and neuroradiological lesions, while early eculizumab therapy was the only protective factor.

Effect of combined physical-cognitive training on the functional and cognitive capacity of older people with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The increase in population aging highlights the growing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment, prompting the adoption of interventions that combine physical exercise and cognitive training to improve health and cognitive performance in older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a combined program on physical and cognitive health in older people with cognitive impairment. METHODS: A 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial involving 95 participants (aged 72.12 ± 4.25 years), 47 individuals participated in a control group (CG) that only underwent cognitive stimulation, while 48 individuals were in an experimental group (EG) that participated in a combined program. Balance was measured using the Tinetti scale, upper body strength was assessed with the arm curl test, lower body strength was evaluated with the 30-s chair stand test, flexibility was tested using the back scratch test and chair sit-and-reach test, physical function was measured with the Timed Up and Go test, cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination, cognitive impairment was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, verbal fluency was tested with the Isaac test, and executive functions were assessed using the Trail Making Test. RESULTS: The results of the study show significant improvements in both physical and cognitive aspects, such as balance, gait, upper and lower body strength, flexibility, physical function, cognitive function, cognitive impairment, verbal fluency, and executive functions in the group that carried out the intervention compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: A combined program for older individuals with mild cognitive impairment leads to enhancements in physical and cognitive health. These improvements underscore the importance of integrating physical exercise with cognitive training as an effective strategy for enhancing overall health and quality of life in older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05503641.

BRAF mutational status is associated with survival outcomes in locally advanced resectable and metastatic NSCLC.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy-based treatments have demonstrated high efficacy in patients with advanced and locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). BRAF mutations affect a small but significant fraction of NSCLC. The efficacy of these therapies in this subgroup of patients is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma and tissue samples from 116 resectable stage IIIA/B NSCLC patients, included in NADIM and NADIM II clinical trials (NADIM cohort), and from a prospective academic cohort with 84 stage IV NSCLC patients (BLI-O cohort), were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: The p.G464E, p.G466R, p.G466V, p.G469V, p.L597Q, p.T599I, p.V600E (n = 2) BRAF mutations, were identified in four (3.45 %) samples from the NADIM cohort, all of which were cases treated with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (CH-IO), and four (4.76 %) samples from the BLI-O cohort, corresponding to cases treated with first-line immunotherapy (n = 2) or CH-IO (n = 2). All these patients were alive and had no evidence of disease at data cut-off. Conversely, patients with BRAF wild-type (wt) tumors in the BLI-O cohort had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.49 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 12.00 months (P-LogRank = 0.013 and 0.046, respectively). Likewise, PFS and OS probabilities at 36 months were 60.5 % and 76.1 % for patients with BRAF-wt tumors in the NADIM cohort. The pathological complete response (pCR) rate after neoadjuvant CH-IO in patients with BRAF-positive tumors (n = 4) was 100 %, whereas the pCR rate in the BRAF-wt population was 44.3 % (RR: 2.26; 95 % CI: 1.78-2.85; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: BRAF mutations may be a good prognostic factor for advanced and locally advanced NSCLC patients undergoing immunotherapy-based treatments.

Yoga as a therapeutic approach to mental health in university students: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to analyze the efficacy of a yoga-based intervention on stress, emotional wellbeing, state anxiety and trait anxiety in university students. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 129 university students, of which 65 underwent a yoga training for 12 weeks and a control group that did not carry out any type of intervention. The primary outcome was stress, which was collected through The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The secondary outcomes were emotional wellbeing which was measured through the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and anxiety through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). All variables were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Participants in the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in the primary outcome perceived stress (Cohen's d = 0.44) and the secondary outcomes emotional wellbeing (Cohen's d = 0.47), and both state anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.38) and trait anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.80) compared to the control group that did not carry out any type of physical training. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a 12-week yoga intervention can significantly reduce perceived stress and anxiety, and improve emotional wellbeing in university students. Initially, the experimental group (EG) reported higher levels of stress and anxiety than the control group (CG), but after the intervention, the EG experienced significant improvements compared to the CG.

Effects of a Yoga Program Combined with a Mediterranean Diet on Nutritional Status and Functional Capacity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: With the aging population, effective interventions are needed to enhance the health of older adults. This study investigated the combined effects of yoga and the Mediterranean diet on various health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults; (2) Methods: The study employed a randomized controlled trial design with a total of 116 older adults randomized to an experimental group (n = 57) that underwent a combined yoga and Mediterranean diet program and a control group (n = 59) that did not receive any intervention. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, flexibility with the Back Scratch Test and the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test, balance, gait, and fall risk with the Tinetti Scale, and muscle strength with a dynamometer and the 30 s Chair Stand Test; (3) Results: Regarding nutritional status, there were significant differences between the experimental group and the control group (Cohen's d = 0.02). The participants in the experimental group showed greater balance (11.12 ± 3.01 vs. 10.03 ± 2.35, Cohen's d = 0.41 and gait (7.63 ± 1.96 vs. 6.69 ± 2.50, Cohen's d = 0.44) with respect to the control group. In terms of flexibility, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in the right arm (Cohen's d = 0.43), left arm (Cohen's d = 0.64), right perineum (Cohen's d = 0.42), and left leg (Cohen's d = 0.37) Finally, in terms of strength, participants in the experimental group experienced statistically significant improvements in grip strength and lower body strength (Cohen's d = 0.39 and 0.81, respectively); (4) Conclusions: The study highlights the potential benefits of a 12-week intervention combining yoga with a Mediterranean diet to improve the health and functional capacities of community-dwelling older adults.

Exercise and Nutrition in the Mental Health of the Older Adult Population: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: Global population aging is changing demographic structures and presents significant challenges for health systems, which must adapt to an increasingly elderly population. (2) Methods: The study employed a randomized controlled trial design with a total of 116 older adults aged 65 or older, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 57) undergoing a combined resistance program and Mediterranean diet program and a control group (n = 59) who did not receive any intervention. Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), sleep quality through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). (3) Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed both within and between groups in anxiety (Cohen's d = 0.38 and 0.78, respectively), depression (Cohen's d = 0.56 and 0.18, respectively), perceived stress (Cohen's d = 0.15 and 0.39, respectively), and in the PSQI domains: subjective sleep quality (Cohen's d = 1.01 and 0.53, respectively), sleep duration (Cohen's d = 0.112 and 0.53, respectively), sleep disturbances (Cohen's d = 1.92 and 0.95, respectively), use of medications (Cohen's d = 0.34 and 0.40, respectively), and the PSQI total score (Cohen's d = 0.68 and 0.49, respectively). No significant differences were observed in sleep latency or daytime dysfunction. (4) Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that resistance intervention may be an effective therapeutic option to improve mental health and sleep quality in older adults aged 65 or older, offering a non-pharmacological approach to improving overall well-being in this demographic.

Lipid phase separation impairs membrane thickness sensing by the Bacillus subtilis sensor kinase DesK.

Membrane fluidity and thickness have emerged as crucial factors for the activity of and resistance to several antimicrobials. However, the lack of tools to study membrane fluidity and, in particular, thickness in living bacteria limits our understanding of this interplay. The Bacillus subtilis histidine kinase/phosphatase DesK is a molecular sensor that directly detects membrane thickness. It controls activity of DesR, which regulates expression of the lipid desaturase Des, known for its role in cold adaptation and daptomycin susceptibility. We hypothesized that this property could be exploited to develop biosensors and reporters for antibiotic-induced changes in membrane fluidity and thickness. To test this, we designed three assays based on the des system: activation of the Pdes promoter as reporter for membrane thickening, localization of DesK-GFP(green-fluorescent protein) as proxy for rigidified membrane domains, and antibiotic sensitivity of des, desK, and desR deletion mutants as readout for the importance of membrane rigidification/thickening under the tested condition. While we could not confirm the suitability of the des system as reporter for antibiotic-induced changes in membrane thickness, we did observe that des expression is only activated by mild temperature shocks, likely due to partitioning of the sensor DesK into fluid membrane domains upon phase separation, precluding effective thickness sensing under harsh cold shock and antibiotic stress conditions. Similarly, we did not observe any sensitivity of the deletion mutants to either temperature or antibiotic stress, raising the question to what extent the des system contributes to fluidity adaptation under these conditions. IMPORTANCE: The B. subtilis des system is a prime model for direct molecular membrane thickness sensor and, as such, has been well studied in vitro. Our study shows that our understanding of its function in vivo and its importance under temperature and antibiotic stress is still very limited. Specifically, our results suggest that (i) the des system senses very subtle membrane fluidity changes that escape detection by established fluidity reporters like laurdan; (ii) membrane thickness sensing by DesK is impaired by phase separation due to partitioning of the protein into the fluid phase; and (iii) fluidity adaptations by Des are too subtle to elicit growth defects under rigidifying conditions, raising the question of how much the des system contributes to adaptation of overall membrane fluidity.

Treatment of post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant cytopenias with sequential doses of multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Cytopenias after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) are a common complication, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of which remain incompletely understood. Multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) therapy has been successfully employed in the treatment of immune-related disorders and can aid in the restoration of the hematopoietic niche. METHODS: A phase II clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of administering four sequential doses of ex-vivo expanded bone marrow MSCs from a third-party donor to patients with persistent severe cytopenias after allo-SCT was performed. RESULTS: The overall response rate on day 90 was 75% among the 27 evaluable patients (comprising 12 complete responses, 8 partial responses, and 7 with no response). The median time to respond was 14.5 days. Responses were observed across different profiles, including single or multiple affected lineages, primary or secondary timing, and potential immune-mediated or post-infectious pathophysiology versus idiopathic origin. With a median follow-up for surviving patients of 85 months after MSC infusion, 53% of patients are alive. Notably, no adverse events related to MSC therapy were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the sequential infusion of third-party MSCs emerges as a viable and safe therapeutic option, exhibiting potential benefits for patients experiencing cytopenias following allo-SCT.

Telemedicine Beyond Borders: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Cross-National Usage Intention.

Introduction: Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this article investigates the adoption of telemedicine services from a patient perspective in Germany, Spain, and the United States using a mixed-methods approach. Digital health technologies have the potential to improve access to care and to alleviate the burden on traditional health care systems and are becoming more integrated into everyday medicine. Therefore, understanding the factors that impact patients' intentions to use telemedicine is crucial to ensure successful development. Methods: Based on 1,200 surveys collected in Germany, Spain, and the United States, structural equation modeling (IBM SPSS Amos 24) is employed to test the hypotheses. The article also explores how age and gender moderate the proposed relationships. Results: Seven out of the 10 hypotheses (performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, habit, relative advantage, and perceived security) are found to be positive, direct, and statistically significant. Furthermore, findings suggest stronger effects for telemedicine usage intention for younger female users than their male counterparts. Discussion: With digital health technologies becoming more prevalent, the outcomes of this study can endorse the development of effective strategies to promote the adoption of telemedicine, ultimately improving access to care and contributing to the advancement of and modern health care.

Total body irradiation versus thiotepa/busulfan-based conditioning regimens for myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Total body irradiation (TBI)-based conditioning regimens are generally recommended for allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent evidence suggests that modern chemotherapy-based regimens may be as effective. This multicenter retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of myeloablative allo-HSCT with thiotepa, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide/fludarabine (TTB) to TBI-based conditioning. Between 2002 to 2018, 63 and 114 patients received TTB- and TBI-based conditioning regimens, respectively. The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was lower in the TBI cohort compared to the TTB cohort (30% [95% CI, 22-38] versus 47% [95% CI, 36-59]; P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis identified T-ALL, Ph-negative B-ALL, and measurable residual disease associated with a higher relapse risk. The 5-year cumulative incidence of non-relapsed mortality (NRM) was significantly lower with TTB (12% [95% CI, 5-20]) compared to TBI (25% [95% CI, 18-33]) (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis found TBI conditioning, older age, and advanced stages of ALL at transplantation associated with a higher NRM. No statistical difference was seen in overall survival (49% [95% CI, 40-58] and 46% [95% CI, 35-60]) in the TBI and TTB groups, respectively; P = 0.9). The study suggests that TTB-based conditioning may be a promising option for ALL patients undergoing allo-HSCT, as it resulted in similar OS and lower NRM than TBI-based conditioning.

Opposing effects of the purinergic P2X7 receptor on seizures in neurons and microglia in male mice.

BACKGROUND: The purinergic ATP-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is increasingly recognized to contribute to pathological neuroinflammation and brain hyperexcitability. P2X7R expression has been shown to be increased in the brain, including both microglia and neurons, in experimental models of epilepsy and patients. To date, the cell type-specific downstream effects of P2X7Rs during seizures remain, however, incompletely understood. METHODS: Effects of P2X7R signaling on seizures and epilepsy were analyzed in induced seizure models using male mice including the kainic acid model of status epilepticus and pentylenetetrazole model and in male and female mice in a genetic model of Dravet syndrome. RNA sequencing was used to analyze P2X7R downstream signaling during seizures. To investigate the cell type-specific role of the P2X7R during seizures and epilepsy, we generated mice lacking exon 2 of the P2rx7 gene in either microglia (P2rx7:Cx3cr1-Cre) or neurons (P2rx7:Thy-1-Cre). To investigate the protective potential of overexpressing P2X7R in GABAergic interneurons, P2X7Rs were overexpressed using adeno-associated virus transduction under the mDlx promoter. RESULTS: RNA sequencing of hippocampal tissue from wild-type and P2X7R knock-out mice identified both glial and neuronal genes, in particular genes involved in GABAergic signaling, under the control of the P2X7R following seizures. Mice with deleted P2rx7 in microglia displayed less severe acute seizures and developed a milder form of epilepsy, and microglia displayed an anti-inflammatory molecular profile. In contrast, mice lacking P2rx7 in neurons showed a more severe seizure phenotype when compared to epileptic wild-type mice. Analysis of single-cell expression data revealed that human P2RX7 expression is elevated in the hippocampus of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy in excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Functional studies determined that GABAergic interneurons display increased responses to P2X7R activation in experimental epilepsy. Finally, we show that viral transduction of P2X7R in GABAergic interneurons protects against evoked and spontaneous seizures in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy and in mice lacking Scn1a, a model of Dravet syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a dual and opposing action of P2X7R in epilepsy and suggest P2X7R overexpression in GABAergic interneurons as a novel therapeutic strategy for acquired and, possibly, genetic forms of epilepsy.

Establishment and molecular characterization of HCB-541, a novel and aggressive human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common type of skin cancer that can result in significant morbidity, although it is usually well-managed and rarely metastasizes. However, the lack of commercially available cSCC cell lines hinders our understanding of this disease. This study aims to establish and characterize a new metastatic cSCC cell line derived from a Brazilian patient. A tumor biopsy was taken from a metastatic cSCC patient, immortalized, and named HCB-541 after several passages. The cytokeratin expression profile, karyotypic alterations, mutational analysis, mRNA and protein differential expression, tumorigenic capacity in xenograft models, and drug sensitivity were analyzed. The HCB-541 cell line showed a doubling time between 20 and 30 h and high tumorigenic capacity in the xenograft mouse model. The HCB-541 cell line showed hypodiploid and hypotetraploidy populations. We found pathogenic mutations in TP53 p.(Arg248Leu), HRAS (Gln61His) and TERT promoter (C228T) and high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in both tumor and cell line. We observed 37 cancer-related genes differentially expressed when compared with HACAT control cells. The HCB-541 cells exhibited high phosphorylated levels of EGFR, AXL, Tie, FGFR, and ROR2, and high sensitivity to cisplatin, carboplatin, and EGFR inhibitors. Our study successfully established HCB-541, a new cSCC cell line that could be useful as a valuable biological model for understanding the biology and therapy of metastatic skin cancer.

Circulating miRNA in functional tricuspid regurgitation. Unveiling novel links to heart failure: A pilot study.

AIM: Severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is associated with high risk of cardiovascular events, particularly heart failure (HF) and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been recently identified as novel biomarkers in different cardiovascular conditions, but no studies have focused on FTR. We sought to (1) to identify and validate circulating miRNAs as regulators of FTR and (2) to test association of miRNA with heart failure and mortality in FTR. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with isolated severe FTR (n = 100) evaluated in the outpatient Heart Valve Clinic and age- and gender-matched subjects with no TR (controls, n = 50) were prospectively recruited. The experimental design included (1) a screening phase to identify candidate miRNA differentially expressed in FTR (n = 8) compared with controls (n = 8) through miRNA array profiling of 192 miRNAs using quantitative reverse transcription PCR arrays [qRT-PCR]) and (2) a validation phase in which candidate miRNAs identified in the initial screening were selected for further validation by qRT-PCR in a prospectively recruited cohort of FTR (n = 92) and controls (n = 42). Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict their potential target genes and functional pathways elicited. A combined endpoint of hospital admission due to heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality was defined. Initial screening identified 16 differentially expressed miRNAs in FTR compared with controls, subsequently confirmed in the validation phase (n = 16 were excluded due to significant haemolysis). miR-186-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-152-3p identified FTR with high predictive value [AUC of 0.93 (0.88-0.97), 0.83 (0.75-0.91) and 0.84 (0.76-0.92), respectively]. During a median follow-up of 20.4 months (IQR 8-35 months), 32% of FTR patients reached the combined endpoint. Patients with low relative expression of miR-15a-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR101-3p, and miR-363-3p, miR-324-3p, and miR-22-3p showed significantly higher rates of events (log-rank test for all P < 0.01). Both miR-15a-5p [hazard ratio: 0.21 (0.06-0.649, P = 0.007) and miR-92a-3p (0.27 (0.09-0.76), P = 0.01] were associated with outcomes after adjusting for age, gender, and New York Heart Association functional class. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating miRNAs are novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in severe FTR. The quantification of miR-186-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-152-3p held strong diagnostic value, and the quantification of miR-15a-5p and miR-92a-3p are independently associated with outcomes. The recognition of specific miRNAs offers a novel perspective for TR evaluation.

Gamification in the classroom: Kahoot! As a tool for university teaching innovation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the use of gamification in the classroom, in terms of its effects on attention, concentration, creativity, and generic capabilities, for university students enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy. Methods: An experimental design was implemented, using three groups differentiated by their time of exposure to the game (0 min, 30 min, or 60 min per week). The sample consisted of 73 s-year students from a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy. The theoretical content for each class was taught during a period of 4 months, reinforced by use of the Kahoot! Online platform. Selective attention and concentration were evaluated using the d2 Test of Attention; creative intelligence using the Creative Intelligence Test (CREA); and generic capabilities using the capabilities subscale of the Student Engagement Questionnaire (SEQ). Results: The study's participants had a mean age of 19.51 ± 0.9 years, and it has demonstrated that use of Kahoot! For longer periods of time, i.e., more than 60 min per day, can improve essential skills in university students, such as attention, creativity, critical thinking, self-managed learning, adaptability, problem solving, and computer literacy. This study's results show that integrating Kahoot! Into the educational environment, especially with longer sessions that allow for deeper immersion in the game, produces benefits by stimulating various cognitive aspects and enhancing complex skills. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that use of Kahoot! Improves key skills such as attention, creativity, and critical thinking, especially when longer sessions are used. It is also suggested that its use should be balanced with other educational activities, in order to achieve comprehensive development for the students.

Patterns of Physical Activity of Adolescents With ADHD in the School Context: A Cross-Sectional Study for Clinical Practice.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the daily Physical Activity (PA) patterns of adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to analyze the differences in terms of PA patterns between adolescents with ADHD and those without ADHD, and to study the factors associated with achieving the daily PA recommendations. METHODS: The sample was composed of 778 adolescents who provided complete information on their PA patterns through the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Of these, 97 had ADHD according to DSM-5 criteria. RESULTS: The results show that being a girl or being of foreign origin and having ADHD have an impact on the achievement of the recommended amount of daily PA. CONCLUSIONS: When promoting PA in adolescents with ADHD within the school environment, it is necessary to consider different domains and specific contexts of a school day, paying special attention to girls and adolescents with ADHD of immigrant origin.

Observational Retrospective Study in Patients Treated with Galcanezumab as Preventive Treatment for Migraine: The ORYGAM Study.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of galcanezumab has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, but evidence about its use under clinical practice conditions is still limited. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the patients treated with galcanezumab in routine clinical practice in Spain as well as treatment patterns, persistence, and effectiveness. METHODS: A retrospective chart review study was carried out in six hospitals. Information of adults with migraine, who started treatment with galcanezumab between November 2019 and September 2021, was analyzed until end or loss of follow-up. Continuous variables were described as mean (standard deviation, SD) and median (interquartile range, IQR), and categorical variables as frequency and percentages. Persistence to treatment was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A total of 314 patients were analyzed over median follow-up period of 17.5 months (13.8-20.7), with a mean age of 46.3 (12.6), 85% women, 80.6% chronic migraine, and reporting a mean of monthly migraine days of 16.7 (7.8). Overall, 72.9% had comorbid conditions, with anxiety and depression disorders being the most frequent. More than 60% had received ≥ 6 previous preventive drugs, the most common being antiepileptics, antidepressants, and botulinum toxin (95.2%, 89.8% and 84.1%, respectively). Overall, 60.3% of the patients with other preventive treatments maintained them after galcanezumab initiation. The median time on galcanezumab was 14.6 months (9.4-22.8); 95.7%, 82.0%, 76.2% and 59.8% of patients were persistent to treatment at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Of the patients who discontinued (151: 48.1%), 57.6% were due to lack of effectiveness and 31.1% were due to improvement in migraine. The average reduction of monthly migraine days at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months was 7.9 (7.2), 9.1 (7.5), 8.8 (6.6) and 9.0 (6.9) days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In real clinical practice, galcanezumab is an effective treatment and has a high persistence in patients with migraine, mostly chronic and with multiple use of previous preventive treatments.

Fluvastatin Converts Human Macrophages into Foam Cells with Increased Inflammatory Response to Inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra.

Cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors (statins) protect hypercholesterolemic patients against developing active tuberculosis, suggesting that these drugs could help the host to control the pathogen at the initial stages of the disease. This work studies the effect of fluvastatin on the early response of healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Ra. We found that in fluvastatin-treated PBMCs, most monocytes/macrophages became foamy cells that overproduced NLRP3 inflammasome components in the absence of immune stimulation, evidencing important cholesterol metabolism/immunity connections. When both fluvastatin-treated and untreated PBMCs were exposed to Mtb H37Ra, a small subset of macrophages captured large amounts of bacilli and died, concentrating the bacteria in necrotic areas. In fluvastatin-untreated cultures, most of the remaining macrophages became epithelioid cells that isolated these areas of cell death in granulomatous structures that barely produced IFNγ. By contrast, in fluvastatin-treated cultures, foamy macrophages surrounded the accumulated bacteria, degraded them, markedly activated caspase-1 and elicited a potent IFNγ/cytotoxic response. In rabbits immunized with the same bacteria, fluvastatin increased the tuberculin test response. We conclude that statins may enhance macrophage efficacy to control Mtb, with the help of adaptive immunity, offering a promising tool in the design of alternative therapies to fight tuberculosis.

Unlocking bacterial defense: Exploring the potent inhibition of NorA efflux pump by coumarin derivatives in Staphylococcus aureus.

The occurrence of bacterial resistance has been increasing, compromising the treatment of various infections. The high virulence of Staphylococcus aureus allows for the maintenance of the infectious process, causing many deaths and hospitalizations. The MepA and NorA efflux pumps are transporter proteins responsible for expelling antimicrobial agents such as fluoroquinolones from the bacterial cell. Coumarins are phenolic compounds that have been studied for their diverse biological actions, including against bacteria. A pharmacokinetic in silico characterization of compounds C10, C11, C13, and C14 was carried out according to the principles of Lipinski's Rule of Five, in addition to searching for similarity in ChemBL and subsequent search for publications in CAS SciFinder. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and modulatory activity against standard and multidrug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. The effect of coumarins C9, C10, C11, C13, and C14 as efflux pump inhibitors in Staphylococcus aureus strains was evaluated using the microdilution method (MepA or NorA) and fluorimetry (NorA). The behavior of coumarins regarding the efflux pump was determined from their interaction properties with the membrane and coumarin-protein using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Only the isolated coumarin compound C13 showed antibacterial activity against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. However, the other tested coumarins showed modulatory capacity for fluoroquinolone and aminoglycoside antibacterials. Compounds C10, C13, and C14 were effective in reducing the MIC of both antibiotics for both multidrug-resistant strains, while C11 potentiated the effect of norfloxacin and gentamicin for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and only norfloxacin for Gram-negative. Only coumarin C14 produced synergistic effects when associated with ciprofloxacin in MepA-carrying strains. All tested coumarins have the ability to inhibit the NorA efflux pump present in Staphylococcus aureus, both in reducing the MIC and inducing increased ethidium bromide fluorescence emission in fluorimetry. The findings of this study offer an atomistic perspective on the potential of coumarins as active inhibitors of the NorA pump, highlighting their specific mode of action mainly targeting protein inhibition. In molecular docking, it was observed that coumarins are capable of interacting with various amino acid residues of the NorA pump. The simulation showed that coumarin C10 can cross the bilayer; however, the other coumarins interacted with the membrane but were unable to cross it. Coumarins demonstrated their potentiating role in the effect of norfloxacin through a dual mechanism: efflux pump inhibition through direct interaction with the protein (C9, C10, C11, and C13) and increased interaction with the membrane (C10 and C13). In the context of pharmacokinetic prediction studies, the studied structures have a suitable chemical profile for possible oral use. We suggest that coumarin derivatives may be an interesting alternative in the future for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections, with the possibility of a synergistic effect with other antibacterials, although further studies are needed to characterize their therapeutic effects and toxicity.

Effect of estrogen and progesterone on intracellular free zinc and zinc transporter expression in bovine oviduct epithelial cells.

Zinc (Zn) plays essential roles in numerous cellular processes. However, there is limited understanding of Zn homeostasis within the bovine reproductive system. This study investigated the influence of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on Zn transporter expression and intracellular free Zn levels in bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC). For this purpose, cells were harvested from slaughtered cows and cultured in vitro. Intracellular Zn concentrations were measured using FluoZin-3AM staining, while real-time polymerase chain reaction assessed Zn transporter gene expression and quantification. Overall, our results confirmed the gene expression of all the evaluated Zn transporters (ZIP6, ZIP8, ZIP14, ZnT3, ZnT7 and ZnT9), denoted and the active role of E2 and P4 in intracellular Zn regulation. Our findings suggest an interaction between Zn, E2 and P4.