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Correction for 'Photoluminescence modification of europium(III)-doped MAl2O4 (M = Zn, Mg) spinels induced by Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles' by Rodrigo A. Valenzuela-Fernández et al., Nanoscale, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4nr01526f.

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In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in developing new inorganic compounds with exceptional properties for advanced materials. Specifically, compounds containing europium have attracted much attention due to their luminescent properties. These compounds are used in electronics, biotechnology, medicine, and catalysis. Eu is known for its characteristic red emission, which can be influenced by the environment. This study investigates the surface-enhancement luminescence of europium-doped spinel oxides using modified surface with silver (Ag@SiO2 core-shell) nanoparticles as the enhancers. The europium-doped spinels were synthesized through a sol-gel method, and characterization techniques were used to analyze their structure and morphology. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited characteristic Eu3+ transitions, with the hypersensitive transition being the most prominent. The interaction with an Ag@SiO2 modified-surface led to a significant increase in photoluminescence. The study also analyzed the photoluminescence excitation and lifetimes of the oxides, leading to a 7.3-fold increase in photoluminescence. The improvements observed in the luminescence of these tailor-made materials show their potential interest in next-generation technologies.

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A new series of [Fe3-xLnx]O4 nanoparticles, with Ln = Gd; Dy; Lu and x = 0.05; 0.1; 0.15, was synthesized using the coprecipitation method. Analyses by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) indicate that all phases crystallized in space group Fd3¯m, characteristic of spinels. The XRD patterns, HRTEM, scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM-EDS), and Raman spectra showed single phases. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Rietveld analysis, and Scherrer's calculations confirm that these materials are nanoparticles with sizes in the range of ~6 nm to ~13 nm. Magnetic measurements reveal that the saturation magnetization (Ms) of the as-prepared ferrites increases with lanthanide chemical substitution (x), while the coercivity (Hc) has low values. The Raman analysis confirms that the compounds are ferrites and the Ms behavior can be explained by the relationship between the areas of the signals. The magnetic measurements indicate superparamagnetic behavior. The blocking temperatures (TB) were estimated from ZFC-FC measurements, and the use of the Néel equation enabled the magnetic anisotropy to be estimated.

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When updating beliefs, humans tend to integrate more desirable information than undesirable information. In stable environments (low uncertainty and high predictability), this asymmetry favors motivation towards action and perceived self-efficacy. However, in changing environments (high uncertainty and low predictability), this process can lead to risk underestimation and increase unwanted costs. Here, we examine how people (n = 388) integrate threatening information during an abrupt environmental change (mandatory quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic). Given that anxiety levels are associated with the magnitude of the updating belief asymmetry; we explore its relationship during this particular context. We report a significant reduction in asymmetrical belief updating during a large environmental change as individuals integrated desirable and undesirable information to the same extent. Moreover, this result was supported by computational modeling of the belief update task. However, we found that the reduction in asymmetrical belief updating was not homogeneous among people with different levels of Trait-anxiety. Individuals with higher levels of Trait-anxiety maintained a valence-dependent updating, as it occurs in stable environments. On the other hand, updating behavior was not associated with acute anxiety (State-Anxiety), health concerns (Health-Anxiety), or having positive expectations (Trait-Optimism). These results suggest that highly uncertain environments can generate adaptive changes in information integration. At the same time, it reveals the vulnerabilities of individuals with higher levels of anxiety to adapt the way they learn.

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This review examines the impact of obesity on the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and focuses on novel mechanisms for HFpEF prevention using a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonism (GLP-1 RA). Obesity can lead to HFpEF through various mechanisms, including low-grade systemic inflammation, adipocyte dysfunction, accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, and increased pericardial/epicardial adipose tissue (contributing to an increase in myocardial fat content and interstitial fibrosis). Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone that is released from the enteroendocrine L-cells in the gut. GLP-1 reduces blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin synthesis, suppressing islet α-cell function, and promoting the proliferation and differentiation of ß-cells. GLP-1 regulates gastric emptying and appetite, and GLP-1 RA is currently indicated for treating type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MS). Recent evidence indicates that GLP-1 RA may play a significant role in preventing HFpEF in patients with obesity, MS, or obese T2D. This effect may be due to activating cardioprotective mechanisms (the endogenous counter-regulatory renin angiotensin system and the AMPK/mTOR pathway) and by inhibiting deleterious remodeling mechanisms (the PKA/RhoA/ROCK pathway, aldosterone levels, and microinflammation). However, there is still a need for further research to validate the impact of these mechanisms on humans.

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BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities in the population influence access to health services and constitute a challenge for health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Peru, an increase in the use of medical services has been estimated; however, the study of inequalities in the use of medical services is limited. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze and decompose socioeconomic inequalities in the use of medical consultation services in Peru. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data from the National Household Survey 2019. The outcome variable was the use of a consultation attended by a physician in the last 4 weeks in persons who presented symptom or discomfort, illness, relapse of chronic disease and/or accident. Concentration curves and Erreygers concentration indices were used to determine socioeconomic inequalities, and a generalized linear regression model was used for the decomposition analysis of inequalities. RESULTS: A total of 52,715 persons were included in the study. The frequency of medical consultation was 25.4% (95% confidence interval: 24.8 - 26.1%). In the inequality analysis, it was found that the use of medical consultations was concentrated among the wealthiest individuals. The main contributing factors were having another type of health insurance (social health insurance [EsSalud], private health insurance, health provider, the Armed Forces, and the Police), residing in an urban area, belonging to the richest wealth quintile, having a chronic disease, and residing in the highlands of Peru. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, government institutions seeking to achieve equitable access to health services should consider the main factors contributing to this inequality in the formulation of strategies to lessen the negative impact of inadequate disease control in the population.

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Although several Latin American countries have 70% antenatal care coverage, the proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing of Peruvian pregnant women and the socioeconomic inequalities of this preventive measure are unknown. This study aimed to determine socioeconomic inequalities and quantify the contribution of contextual and compositional factors on HIV testing during prenatal care in Peru. A cross-sectional study of the 2021 Demographic and Family Health Survey data was conducted. The outcome variable was HIV testing of pregnant women during prenatal care. An analysis of inequalities was performed including the determination of concentration curves and a decomposition analysis of concentration indices. Of a total of 17521 women aged 15 to 49 years, 91.4% had been tested for HIV during prenatal care. The concentration curves showed that prenatal HIV testing was concentrated among richer women, while the decomposition analysis determined that the main contributors to inequality were having a higher education, residing in an urban area, and in the highlands, belonging to the wealthy quintile, and being exposed to television and newspapers. Strategies focused on improving access, promotion and restructuring of prevention of mother-to-child transmission measures should be prioritized.

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Antecedentes: La ECA2 ha mostrado ser un regulador esencial de la funcionalidad cardíaca. En un modelo experimental de insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) con Fier, modelo de coartación de aorta (COA), se encontró activación de la vía Rho-kinasa. La inhibición de esta vía con fasudil no mejoró el remodelado cardíaco ni la disfunción sistólica. Se desconoce en este modelo, si el deterioro de la función cardíaca y activación de la vía rho-kinasa se asocia con una disminución de la ECA2 cardíaca y si la inhibición de Rho-kinasa tiene un efecto sobre la expresión de ECA2. Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo es determinar si en la falla cardaca experimental por coartación aórtica, los niveles proteicos de ECA2 en el miocardio se asocian a disfunción sistólica y cual es su interacción con la actividad de ROCK en el miocardio. Métodos: Ratones C57BL6J machos de 7-8 semanas se randomizaron en 3 grupos experimentales. Grupo COA por anudación de la aorta + vehículo; Grupo COA + Fasudil (100 mg/Kg día) por bomba osmótica desde la semana 5 post-cirugía; y grupo control o Sham. Se determinaron las dimensiones y función cardíaca por ecocardiografía. Posterior a la eutanasia, se determinaron los niveles de ECA2 del VI por Western-blot y actividad de la Rho-kinasa Resultados: En los grupos COA+vehículo y COA-FAS hubo deterioro de la función cardíaca, reflejada por la reducción de la FE (47,9 ± 1,53 y 45,5 ± 2,10, p < 0,05, respectivamente) versus SHAM (68,6 ± 1,19). Además, aumentaron las dimensiones cardíacas y hubo desarrollo de hipertrofia (0,53 ± 0,02 / 0,53 ± 0,01, p < 0,05) medida por aumento de la masa cardíaca relativa respecto del grupo SHAM (0,40 ± 0,01). En los grupos COA+vehículo y COA-FAS se encontró una disminución significativa del 35% en la expresión de ECA2 cardíaca respecto al grupo control. Conclusiones: La disfunción sistólica por coartación aórtica se asocia con aumento de la actividad de Rho-kinasa y significativa disminución de la expresión de ECA2. La inhibición de Rho-kinasa no mejoró el remodelado cardíaco, la disfunción sistólica y tampoco modificó los niveles de ECA2 cardíaca.

Background: ACE2 has been described as an essential regulator of cardiac function. In an experimental model of heart failure (HF) and heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the aortic coarctation (COA) model, activation of the Rho-kinase pathway of cardiac remodeling was found. Inhibition of this pathway did not improve cardiac remodeling or systolic ventricular dysfunction. It is unknown in this model whether the impairment of cardiac function and activation of the rho-kinase pathway is associated with a decrease in ACE2 and whether rho-kinase inhibition has an effect on ACE2 expression. Objective: To determine if in experimental heart failure due to aortic coarctation, ACE2 protein levels in the myocardium are associated with systolic dysfunction and what is its interaction with ROCK activity in the myocardium. Methods: Male C57BL6J mice aged 7-8 weeks were divided into 3 groups and anesthetized: One group underwent COA+ vehicle; A second group COA + Fasudil (100 mg/Kg/d) by osmotic pump from week 5 post-surgery and; the third group, control(SHAM). Echocardiograms were performed to determine cardiac dimensions and systolic function. Rats were then euthanized. Ventricular expression of ACE2, activity of the Rho-kinase pathway by MYPT-1 phosphorylation, relative cardiac mass, area and perimeter of cardiomyocytes were determined by Western blot. Results: In both COA+vehicle and COA+FAS groups there was deterioration of cardiac function, reflected in the reduction of EF (47.9 ± 1.53 and 45.5 ± 2.10, p < 0.05, respectively) versus the SHAM group (68.6 ± 1.19). In addition, cardiac dimensions and hypertrophy increased (0.53 ± 0.02 / 0.53 ± 0.01, p < 0.05) due to increased relative cardiac mass compared to the SHAM group (0.40 ± 0.01). In the COA+vehicle and COA+FAS groups a significant decrease of 35% in cardiac ACE2 expression was found compared to the control group. Conclusions: Systolic dysfunction due to aortic coarctation is associated with increased Rhokinase activity and a significant decrease in ACE2 expression. Rho-kinase inhibition did not improve cardiac remodeling, systolic dysfunction, nor did it change cardiac ACE2 levels.

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Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures implemented have generated an environment conducive to an increase in domestic violence. This study aimed to evaluate changes in calls reporting domestic violence to Línea 100 in Peru before, during and after strict lockdown, using a controlled interrupted time series analysis. Methods: Data from January 2018 to March 2022 from Línea 100, a national toll-free hotline service for survivors of domestic violence, were used. A quasi-experimental research design with controlled interrupted time series analysis was applied. The number of monthly calls reporting domestic violence was the outcome variable, while the sex of the callers was the treatment variable. Results: A significant increase in the number of calls was found during strict lockdown compared to the previous period. In addition, a decrease in the number of calls after confinement was observed. In all analyses, women were the most affected by domestic violence before, during and after lockdown. Conclusions: This study provides evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence in Peru. The findings highlight the need to strengthen domestic violence prevention and care services, especially during crisis situations such as the pandemic. Also, better targeted intervention strategies aimed at protecting women and promoting safe environments within the home are needed.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between fetal macrosomia (FM) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) women. DATA SOURCES: Studies evaluating the association between FM and PPH (≥ 500 ml) and severe PPH (≥ 1,000 ml) until November 4, 2021, indexed in CINHAL, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, LILACS, and SciELO. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Inclusion criteria were cohort and case-control studies that provided the number of PPH and FM cases. Exclusion criteria were studies lacking information about the number of cases, with a population of women who were not from LAC; published in a language other than English, Spanish, or Portuguese, and with a different design. DATA COLLECTION: Data extraction was performed independently by two authors, and discrepancies were resolved with a third author. Data regarding FM and PPH cases were retrieved. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 1,044 articles evaluated, 5 studies were included, from 6 different countries: Argentina and Uruguay (multi-country), West Indies, Antigua and Barbuda, French Guyana, and Suriname. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for FM and PPH in the meta-analysis (five studies) was 2.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79-2.47; I2: 0%), with estimates within this 95% CI in the sensitivity analysis. The combined OR for severe PPH (3 studies) was 1.61 (95% CI: 0.40-6.48; I2: 91.89%), showing high heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: There was a positive association between FM and PPH in the LAC, increasing the risk of the presence of this event 2-fold. The high heterogeneity of the studies that measured severe PPH does not allow drawing conclusions about the estimates obtained.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a associação entre macrossomia fetal (FM) e hemorragia pós-parto (HPP) em mulheres da América Latina e Caribe (ALC). FONTES DE DADOS: Estudos avaliando a associação entre FM e HPP (≥ 500 ml) e HPP grave (≥ 1.000 ml) até 4 de novembro de 2021, indexados no CINHAL, Scopus, Embase, Biblioteca Cochrane, MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO. SELEçãO DE ESTUDOS: Os critérios de inclusão foram estudos de corte e caso-controle que forneceram o número de casos de HPP e FM. Os critérios de exclusão foram estudos sem informação sobre o número de casos, com uma população de mulheres que não eram da ALC; publicado em um idioma diferente do inglês, espanhol ou português e com um design diferente. COLETA DE DADOS: A extração de dados foi realizada independentemente por dois autores, as discrepâncias foram resolvidas com um terceiro autor. Os dados relativos aos casos de FM e HPP foram recuperados. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: Dos 1.044 artigos avaliados, foram incluídos 5 estudos, de 6 países diferentes: Argentina e Uruguai (multipaíses), Índias Ocidentais, Antígua e Barbuda, Guiana Francesa e Suriname. O odds ratio agrupado (OR) para FM e HPP na meta-análise (cinco estudos) foi de 2,10 (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC]: 1,79­2,47; I2: 0%), com estimativas dentro deste IC de 95% no análise sensitiva. O OR combinado para HPP grave (3 estudos) foi de 1,61 (95% CI: 0.40­6.48; I2: 91.89%), mostrando alta heterogeneidade. CONCLUSãO: Houve associação positiva entre FM e HPP na ALC, aumentando em 2 vezes o risco da presença desse evento. A alta heterogeneidade dos estudos que mediram a HPP grave não permite tirar conclusões sobre as estimativas obtidas.

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