Creation of an Isogenic Human iPSC-Based RGC Model of Dominant Optic Atrophy Harboring the Pathogenic Variant c.1861C>T (p.Gln621Ter) in the OPA1 Gene.

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) is a rare progressive disease mainly caused by mutations in OPA1, a nuclear gene encoding for a mitochondrial protein that plays an essential role in mitochondrial dynamics, cell survival, oxidative phosphorylation, and mtDNA maintenance. ADOA is characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This causes visual loss, which can lead to legal blindness in many cases. Nowadays, there is no effective treatment for ADOA. In this article, we have established an isogenic human RGC model for ADOA using iPSC technology and the genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 from a previously generated iPSC line of an ADOA plus patient harboring the pathogenic variant NM_015560.3: c.1861C>T (p.Gln621Ter) in heterozygosis in OPA1. To this end, a protocol based on supplementing the iPSC culture media with several small molecules and defined factors trying to mimic embryonic development has been employed. Subsequently, the created model was validated, confirming the presence of a defect of intergenomic communication, impaired mitochondrial respiration, and an increase in apoptosis and ROS generation. Finally, we propose the analysis of OPA1 expression by qPCR as an easy read-out method to carry out future drug screening studies using the created RGC model. In summary, this model provides a useful platform for further investigation of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of ADOA plus and for testing compounds with potential pharmacological action.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of adherence to WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations with health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Health-EpiGEICAM study.

OBJECTIVES: Adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations has been reported to improve health-related quality of life (HRQL) in breast cancer (BC) patients, but the influence of long-term behavioral changes remains unknown. We evaluated the association between adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations and HRQL both, at BC diagnosis and the change 7-12 years later. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 406 breast cancer survivors, from the EpiGEICAM study, were recruited in 16 Spanish hospitals. MEASUREMENTS: Epidemiological, clinical, dietary, physical activity and HRQL information was collected both at recruitment and 7-12 years later. A 7-item score to measure compliance with recommendations was assessed according to the 2018 WCRF/AICR scoring criteria. HRQL was evaluated using SF-36 questionnaire. Linear mixed models for longitudinal data were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between adherence score and the physical and mental component summary scores. RESULTS: At diagnosis, for each unit increase in WCRF/AICR score adherence, the HRQL physical domain increased 0.78 points (95%CI: -0.04 to 1.60; P trend:0.06). The mean change in physical HRQL from diagnosis to follow-up per unit increase in within-subject adherence score was 0.73 points (95%CI: -0.18 to 1.65; P trend: 0.12). For the mental domain, no association was observed with compliance with the recommendations at diagnosis, nor with changes in adherence over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Increased adherence to WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations over time could contribute to slightly improved long-term physical HRQoL in BC survivors.

Store-and-forward teledermatology in a Spanish health area significantly increases access to dermatology expertise.

INTRODUCTION: Teledermatology is the practice of dermatology through communication technologies. The aim of this study is to analyze its implementation in a Spanish health area during its first two years. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study. It included interconsultations between dermatologists and family physicians in the Salamanca Health Area (Spain) after the implementation of the non-face-to-face modality over a period of two consecutive years. A total of 25,424 consultations were performed (20,912 face-to-face and 4,512 non-face-to-face); 1000 were selected by random sampling, half of each modality. MAIN MEASURES: referral rate, response time and resolution time, type of pathology, diagnostic concordance, and quality of consultation. RESULTS: The annual referral rate was 42.9/1000 inhabitants (35.3 face-to-face and 7.6 non-face- to-face). The rate of face-to-face referrals was higher in urban areas (37.1) and the rate of non- face-to-face referrals in rural areas (10.4). The response time for non-face-to-face consultations was 2.4 ± 12.7 days and 56 ± 34.8 days for face-to-face consultations (p < 0.001). The resolution rate for non-face-to-face consultations was 44%. Diagnostic concordance, assessed by the kappa index, was 0.527 for face-to-face consultations and 0.564 for non-face-to-face consultations. Greater compliance with the quality criteria in the non-attendance consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Teledermatology appears to be an efficient tool in the resolution of dermatological problems, with a rapid, effective, and higher quality response for attention to skin pathologies. REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05625295. Registered on 21 November 2022 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT05625295).

BODYFAT: a new calculator to determine the risk of being overweight validated in Spanish children between 11 and 17 years of age.

The assessment of body fat of children in primary care requires consideration of the dynamic changes in height, weight, lean mass, and fat mass during childhood growth. To achieve this, we aim to develop a predictive equation based on anthropometric values, with optimal diagnostic utility. This is a cross-sectional observational study, involving schoolgoers aged 11-17 years in the Vigo metropolitan area. Out of 10,747 individuals, 577 were randomly recruited. VARIABLES: age, sex, ethnicity/country of origin, weight, height, 8 skinfolds, 3 diameters, 7 perimeters, and 85% percentile of body fat mass as the gold standard. Generalized additive regression was selected by cross-validation and compared using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, true positive and true negative values, false positive and false negative values, accuracy, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. Two models were identified. The optimal model includes sex, weight, height, leg perimeter, and arm perimeter, with sensitivity of 0.93 (0.83-1.00), specificity of 0.91 (0.83-0.96), accuracy of 0.91 (0.84-0.96), and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957 (0.928-0.986). The second model includes sex, age, and body mass index, with sensitivity of 0.93 (0.81-1.00), specificity of 0.90 (0.80-0.97), accuracy of 0.90 (0.82-0.96), and an AUC of 0.944 (0.903-0.984). CONCLUSION: Two predictive models, with the 85th percentile of fat mass as the gold standard, built with basic anthropometric measures, show very high diagnostic utility parameters. Their calculation is facilitated by a complementary online calculator. WHAT IS KNOWN: • In routine clinical practice, mainly in primary care, BMI is used to determine overweight and obesity. This index has its weaknesses in the assessment of children. WHAT IS NEW: • We provide a calculator whose validated algorithm, through the determination of fat mass by impedanciometry, makes it possible to determine the risk of overweight and obesity in the community setting, through anthropometric measurements, providing a new practical, accessible and reliable model that improves the classification of overweight and obesity in children with respect to that obtained by determining BMI.

Everolimus plus endocrine therapy beyond CDK4/6 inhibitors progression for HR+ /HER2- advanced breast cancer: a real-world evidence cohort.

PURPOSE: Everolimus in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) was formerly approved as 2nd-line therapy in HR(+)/HER2(-) advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients (pts) progressing during or after a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI). Since this approval, the treatment landscape of aBC has changed dramatically, particularly with the arrival of CDK 4-6 inhibitors. Endocrine monotherapy after progression to CDK4/6 inhibitors has shown a limited progression-free survival (PFS), below 3 months. Evidence of the efficacy of everolimus plus ET after CDK4/6 inhibitors is scarce. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients with aBC treated with everolimus and ET beyond CDK4/6-i progression compiled from February 2015 to December 2022 in 4 Spanish hospitals was performed. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records. The main objective was to estimate the median progression-free survival (mPFS). Everolimus adverse events (AE) were registered. Quantitative variables were summarized with medians; qualitative variables with proportions and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for survival estimates. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-one patients received everolimus plus ET (exemestane: 96, fulvestrant: 54, tamoxifen: 10, unknown: 1) after progressing on a CDK4/6 inhibitor. The median follow-up time was 15 months (interquartile range: 1-56 months). The median age at diagnosis was 49 years (range: 35-90 years). The estimated mPFS was 6.0 months (95%CI 5.3-7.8 months). PFS was longer in patients with previous CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy lasting for > 18 months (8.7 months, 95%CI 6.6-11.3 months), in patients w/o visceral metastases (8.0 months, 95%CI 5.8-10.5 months), and chemotherapy-naïve in the metastatic setting (7.2 months, 95%CI 5.9-8.4 months). CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis cohort of everolimus plus ET in mBC patients previously treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor suggests a longer estimated mPFS when compared with the mPFS with ET monotherapy obtained from current randomized clinical data. Everolimus plus ET may be considered as a valid control arm in novel clinical trial designs.

"Positioning of tucatinib in the new clinical scenario of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: An Italian and Spanish consensus paper".

INTRODUCTION: Advancements in monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) have notably enhanced outcomes for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Despite the expanding treatment options and clinical complexities, determining the optimal sequence of HER2-targeted therapies remains partly uncertain, influenced by various factors. METHODS: To refine HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer management, particularly regarding tucatinib's position, a Steering Committee of leading oncologists in breast cancer care devised a panel of statements via a Delphi approach, focusing on five key topics: general clinical management, therapeutic approaches for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases, treatment sequence, and tucatinib's safety and efficacy. RESULTS: A total of 29 statements were deliberated, with strong consensus achieved for most. However, no consensus emerged regarding the management of brain progression alongside stable extracranial disease: 48 % advocated for switching to tucatinib, while 53 % favored a stereotactic brain radiotherapy (SBRT) approach if feasible. CONCLUSION: The unanimous consensus attained in this Delphi panel, particularly regarding tucatinib's efficacy and safety, underscores oncologists' recognition of its clinical significance based on existing trial data. These findings align closely with current literature, shedding light on areas necessitating further investigation, not thoroughly explored in prior studies. Moreover, the results underscore the scarcity of data on managing brain progression alongside stable extracranial disease, emphasizing the imperative for dedicated research to address these gaps and yield definitive insights.

Frustraevo: a web server to localize and quantify the conservation of local energetic frustration in protein families.

According to the Principle of Minimal Frustration, folded proteins can only have a minimal number of strong energetic conflicts in their native states. However, not all interactions are energetically optimized for folding but some remain in energetic conflict, i.e. they are highly frustrated. This remaining local energetic frustration has been shown to be statistically correlated with distinct functional aspects such as protein-protein interaction sites, allosterism and catalysis. Fuelled by the recent breakthroughs in efficient protein structure prediction that have made available good quality models for most proteins, we have developed a strategy to calculate local energetic frustration within large protein families and quantify its conservation over evolutionary time. Based on this evolutionary information we can identify how stability and functional constraints have appeared at the common ancestor of the family and have been maintained over the course of evolution. Here, we present FrustraEvo, a web server tool to calculate and quantify the conservation of local energetic frustration in protein families.

Impact of dementia on 30-, 180-, and 365-day mortality during the first pandemic wave in older adults seen in spanish emergency departments diagnosed with or without COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether dementia is an independent predictor of death after a hospital emergency department (ED) visit by older adults with or without a COVID-19 diagnosis during the first pandemic wave. METHOD: We used data from the EDEN-Covid (Emergency Department and Elderly Needs during Covid) cohort formed by all patients ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs from March 30 to April 5, 2020. The association of prior history of dementia with mortality at 30, 180 and 365 d was evaluated in the overall sample and according to a COVID-19 or non COVID diagnosis. RESULTS: We included 9,770 patients aged 78.7 ± 8.3 years, 51.1% men, 1513 (15.5%) subjects with prior history of dementia and 3055 (31.3%) with COVID-19 diagnosis. 1399 patients (14.3%) died at 30 d, 2008 (20.6%) at 180 days and 2456 (25.1%) at 365 d. The adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) for age, sex, comorbidity, disability and diagnosis for death associated with dementia were 1.16 (95% CI 1.01-1.34) at 30 d; 1.15 at 180 d (95% CI 1.03-1.30) and 1.19 at 365 d (95% CI 1.07-1.32), p < .001. In patients with COVID-19, the aHR were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.04-1.52) at 30 days; 1.29 at 180 d (95% CI: 1.09-1.53) and 1.35 at 365 d (95% CI: 1.15-1.58). CONCLUSION: Dementia in older adults attending Spanish EDs during the first pandemic wave was independently associated with 30-, 180- and 365-day mortality. This impact was lower when adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity and disability, and was greater in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Management of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer and attitudes towards HER2DX test in Spain: insights from a nationwide survey.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the current therapeutic management of patients with early-stage HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in Spain, while also exploring the perceptions surrounding HER2DX in terms of its credibility, clinical relevance, and impact on therapeutic decision-making. Understanding these aspects is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and enhancing patient outcomes in the context of HER2+ breast cancer. METHODS: An online questionnaire was conducted by an independent third-party between April and May 2022 across 70 medical oncologists highly specialized in breast cancer management in Spain. The survey included 37 questions regarding treatment decision making in HER2+ early breast cancer. RESULTS: The management of patients with HER2+ early breast cancer exhibited a high degree of heterogeneity. Among the interviewed oncologists, 53% would recommend upfront surgery for node negative tumors measuring 1 cm or less. Interestingly, 69% and 56% of interviewers were open to deescalate the duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in pT1a and pT1b N0 tumors, respectively. Certain clinicopathological characteristics, such as high grade, high Ki-67, and young age, influenced the decision to prescribe neoadjuvant treatment for patients with clinical stage 1 disease. In cases where neoadjuvant treatment was prescribed for cT1-2 N0 tumors, there was a wide variation in the choice of chemotherapeutic and anti-HER2 regimens. Regarding the use of adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy, there was diversity in practice, and a common concern emerged that T-DM1 might be overtreating some patients. HER2DX, as a diagnostic tool, was deemed trustworthy, and the reported scores were considered clinically useful. However, 86% of interviewees believed that a prospective trial was necessary before fully integrating the test into routine clinical practice. CONCLUSION: In the context of early-stage HER2+ breast cancer in Spain, a notable diversity in therapeutic approaches was observed. The majority of interviewed medical oncologists acknowledged HER2DX as a clinically valuable test for specific patients, in line with the 2022 SEOM-GEICAM-SOLTI clinical guidelines for early-stage breast cancer. To facilitate the full integration of HER2DX into clinical guidelines, conducting prospective studies to further validate its efficacy and utility was recommended.

Efficacy of conduction hyperthermia in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Intravesical treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) aims to reduce recurrences and stop progression. Hyperthermia-enhanced chemotherapy with devices like COMBAT BRS, Unithermia, and BR-TRG-I is a promising alternative to conventional Bacillus de Calmette Guerin (BCG) therapy. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the efficacy of hyperthermia generated by conduction devices in the treatment of NMIBC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. A search was performed in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of candidate studies and abstracted data from studies that met the inclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was assessment of recurrence. Secondary objectives included evaluation of treatment progression and safety. RESULTS: Thirty studies meeting inclusion criteria underwent data extraction. In intermediate-risk NMIBC patients, COMBAT versus mitomycin C (MMC) in normothermia revealed no superiority in reducing recurrence or progression. High-risk NMIBC patients using COMBAT achieved similar or superior outcomes to BCG. BR-TRG-I demonstrated superior results over normothermia in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients. Unithermia proved less effective than BCG in high-risk NMIBC. Progression outcomes were promising with COMBAT and BR-TRG-I, but comprehensive analysis was limited due to inconsistent assessment across studies. Adverse events were primarily mild-moderate, with some device-specific differences. CONCLUSIONS: Studies on conduction hyperthermia present great variability, which do not allow us to determine the superiority of 1 device over another in terms of recurrence, progression, and/or adverse effects. Further research with consistent administration protocols is crucial for definitive conclusions.

Human adaptation to heat in the context of climate change: A conceptual framework.

Climate change is causing serious damage to natural and social systems, as well as having an impact on human health. Among the direct effects of climate change is the rise in global surface temperatures and the increase in the frequency, duration, intensity and severity of heat waves. In addition, understanding of the adaptation process of the exposed population remains limited, posing a challenge in accurately estimating heat-related morbidity and mortality. In this context, this study seeks to establish a conceptual framework that would make it easier to understand and organise knowledge about human adaptation to heat and the factors that may influence this process. An inductive approach based on grounded theory was used, through the analysis of case studies connecting concepts. The proposed conceptual framework is made up of five components (climate change, vulnerability, health risks of heat, axes of inequality and health outcomes), three heat-adaptation domains (physiological, cultural and political), two levels (individual and social), and the pre-existing before a heat event. The application of this conceptual framework facilitates the assistance of decision-makers in planning and implementing effective adaptation measures. Recognizing the importance of addressing heat adaptation as a health problem that calls for political solutions and social changes. Accordingly, this requires a multidisciplinary approach that would foster the participation and collaboration of multiple actors for the purpose of proposing effective measures to address the health impact of the rise in temperature.

Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of TRAF7-Related Cardiac, Facial, and Digital Anomalies With Developmental Delay: Report of 11 New Cases and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: TRAF7-related cardiac, facial, and digital anomalies with developmental delay (CAFDADD), a multisystemic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by germline missense variants in the TRAF7 gene, exhibits heterogeneous clinical presentations. METHODS: We present a detailed description of 11 new TRAF7-related CAFDADD cases, featuring eight distinct variants, including a novel one. RESULTS: Phenotypic analysis and a comprehensive review of the 58 previously reported cases outline consistent clinical presentations, emphasizing dysmorphic features, developmental delay, endocrine manifestations, and cardiac defects. In this enlarged collection, novelties include a wider range of cognitive dysfunction, with some individuals exhibiting normal development despite early psychomotor delay. Communication challenges, particularly in expressive language, are prevalent, necessitating alternative communication methods. Autistic traits, notably rigidity, are observed in the cohort. Also, worth highlighting are hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and endocrine anomalies, including growth deficiency. Cardiac defects, frequently severe, pose early-life complications. Facial features, including arched eyebrows, contribute to the distinct gestalt. A novel missense variant, p.(Arg653Leu), further underscores the complex relationship between germline TRAF7 variants and somatic changes linked to meningiomas. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive analysis expands the phenotypic spectrum, emphasizing the need for oncological evaluations and proposing an evidence-based schedule for clinical management. This study contributes to a better understanding of TRAF7-related CAFDADD, offering insights for improved diagnosis, intervention, and patient care.

Impact of dose reductions on adjuvant abemaciclib efficacy for patients with high-risk early breast cancer: analyses from the monarchE study.

In monarchE, adjuvant abemaciclib significantly improved invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS), with sustained benefit beyond the 2-year treatment period. Abemaciclib dose reductions were allowed to proactively manage adverse events. Exploratory analyses to investigate the impact of dose reductions on efficacy were conducted. Across the three patient subgroups as defined by relative dose intensity (≤66%, 66-93%, ≥93%), the estimated 4-year IDFS rates were generally consistent (87.1%, 86.4%, and 83.7%, respectively). In the time-dependent Cox proportional hazard model, the effect of abemaciclib was consistent at the full dose compared to being reduced to a lower dose (IDFS hazard ratio: 0.905; 95% confidence interval: 0.727, 1.125; DRFS hazard ratio: 0.942; 95% confidence interval: 0.742, 1.195). These analyses showed that the efficacy of adjuvant abemaciclib was not compromised by protocol mandated dose reductions for patients with node positive, hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor 2-negative, high-risk early breast cancer.

Remarkable clinical improvement with oral nucleoside treatment in a patient with adult-onset TK2 deficiency: A case report.

OBJECTIVES: Thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) is a rare autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder. It manifests as a continuous clinical spectrum, from fatal infantile mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes to adult-onset mitochondrial myopathies characterized by ophthalmoplegia-plus phenotypes with early respiratory involvement. Treatment with pyrimidine nucleosides has recently shown striking effects on survival and motor outcomes in the more severe infantile-onset clinical forms. We present the response to treatment in a patient with adult-onset TK2d. METHODS: An adult with ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, facial, neck, and proximal muscle weakness, non-invasive nocturnal mechanical ventilation, and dysphagia due to biallelic pathogenic variants in TK2 received treatment with 260 mg/kg/day of deoxycytidine (dC) and deoxythymidine (dT) under a Compassionate Use Program. Prospective motor and respiratory assessments are presented. RESULTS: After 27 months of follow-up, the North Star Ambulatory Assessment improved by 11 points, he walked 195 m more in the 6 Minute-Walking-Test, ran 10 s faster in the 100-meter time velocity test, and the Forced Vital Capacity stabilized. Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15) levels, a biomarker of respiratory chain dysfunction, normalized. The only reported side effect was dose-dependent diarrhea. DISCUSSION: Treatment with dC and dT can significantly improve motor performance and stabilize respiratory function safely in patients with adult-onset TK2d.

Migraine treatment consensus document of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (SEMFYC), Society of Primary Care Medicine (SEMERGEN) and Spanish Association of Migraine and Headache (AEMICE) on migraine treatment. / Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (SEN), Sociedad Española de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria (SEMFYC), Sociedad de Medicina de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN) y Asociación Española de Migraña y Cefalea (AEMICE) sobre el tratamiento de la migraña.

Migraine is a disease with a high prevalence and incidence, in addition to being highly disabling, causing a great impact on the patient's quality of life at a personal, family and work level, but also social, given its high expense due to its direct (care) and indirect (presenteeism and work absenteeism) costs. The multiple and recent developments in its pathophysiological knowledge and in its therapy require updating and, therefore, in this article the Spanish scientific societies most involved in its study and treatment (SEN, SEMFYC and SEMERGEN), together with the Association Spanish Association for Patients with Migraine and other Headaches (AEMICE), we have developed these updated care recommendations. We reviewed the treatment of migraine attacks, which consisted mainly of the use of NSAIDs and triptans, to which ditans and gepants have been added. We also discuss preventive treatment consisting of oral preventive drugs, botulinum toxin, and treatments that block the action of calcitonin-related peptide (CGRP). Finally, we emphasize that pharmacological treatments must be complementary to carrying out general measures consisting of identifying and managing/deletion the precipitating factors of the attacks and the chronicizing factors, controlling the comorbidities of migraine and eliminating analgesic overuse.

Removal and fate of microplastics in permeable pavements: An experimental layer-by-layer analysis.

The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MP) in urban environments has raised concerns over their negative effects on ecosystems and human health. Stormwater runoff, and road dust and sediment, act as major vectors of these pollutants into natural water bodies. Sustainable urban drainage systems, such as permeable pavements, are considered as potential tools to retain particulate pollutants. This research evaluates at laboratory scale the efficiency of permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) and porous concrete pavements (PCP) for controlling microplastics, including tire wear particles (TWP) which constitute a large fraction of microplastics in urban environments, simulating surface pollution accumulation and Mediterranean rainfall conditions. Microplastic levels in road dust and sediments and stormwater runoff inputs were 4762 ± 974 MP/kg (dry weight) and 23.90 ± 17.40 MP/L. In infiltrated effluents, microplastic levels ranged from 2.20 ± 0.61 to 5.17 ± 1.05 MP/L; while tire wear particle levels ranged between 0.28 ± 0.28 and 3.30 ± 0.89 TWP/L. Distribution of microplastics within the layers of PICP and PCP were also studied and quantified. Microplastics tend to accumulate on the pavements surface and in geotextile layers, allowing microplastic retention efficiencies from 89 % to 99.6 %. Small sized (< 0.1 mm) fragment shaped microplastics are the most common in effluent samples. The results indicate that permeable pavements are a powerful tool to capture microplastics and tire wear particles, especially by surface and geotextile layers. The study aims to shed light on the complex mobilisation mechanisms of microplastics, providing valuable insights for addressing the growing environmental concern of microplastic pollution in urban areas.

Giant Midline Prostatic Cyst: An Unusual Cause of Acute Urinary Retention.

Midline prostatic cysts are infrequent and mostly asymptomatic. We presented a striking case of a giant midline cyst and detailed its diagnosis, evolution, and treatment. From this case, we offered a comparison of congenital intraprostatic midline cysts, namely, Müller's cysts and utricle cysts. A 40-year-old male experienced recurrent urinary retention. A 10 × 11 mm2 cyst in the mid-prostatic region was diagnosed through transrectal ultrasound, leading to a transperineal puncture as a minimally invasive intervention. Seven years later, the cyst recurred, manifesting obstructive symptoms such as a weak urinary stream, frequent urination, and residual urine sensation. Laparoscopic surgery was then performed for the confirmed 98 × 13 mm2 cystic recurrence. The postoperative course was favourable with no complications. Symptoms were completely resolved, which was maintained over a three-year follow-up period. The therapeutic approach to midline cysts targets symptomatic cases or infertility, ranging from cyst puncture to transurethral endoscopic treatment. Recurrence after minimally invasive interventions is a challenge, with laparoscopic surgery as an alternative post-failed conservative approach. Although total cyst removal risks adjacent structure damage, marsupialisation improves the clinical outcomes. In summary, symptomatic midline prostatic cysts present challenges owing to recurrences after minimally invasive approaches. Enhanced laparoscopic techniques offer a solution, particularly in highly symptomatic cases requiring definitive treatment, as illustrated by this outstanding case report.