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High sodium intake is decisive in the incidence increase and prevalence of hypertension, which has an impact on skeletal muscle functionality. Diazoxide is an antihypertensive agent that inhibits insulin secretion and is an opener of KATP channels (adosine triphosphate sensitive potasium channels). For this reason, it is hypothesized that moderate-intensity exercise and diazoxide improve skeletal muscle function by reducing the oxidants in hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats were assigned into eight groups: control (CTRL), diazoxide (DZX), exercise (EX), exercise + diazoxide (EX + DZX), hypertension (HTN), hypertension + diazoxide (HTN + DZX), hypertension + exercise (HTN + EX), and hypertension + exercise + diazoxide (HTN + EX + DZX). To induce hypertension, the rats received 8% NaCl dissolved in water orally for 30 days; in the following 8 weeks, 4% NaCl was supplied to maintain the pathology. The treatment with physical exercise of moderate intensity lasted 8 weeks. The administration dose of diazoxide was 35 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 14 days. Tension recording was performed on the extensor digitorum longus and the soleus muscle. Muscle homogenates were used to measure oxidants using fluorescent probe and the activity of antioxidant systems. Diazoxide and moderate-intensity exercise reduced oxidants and increased antioxidant defenses.

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Purpose: To design and validate a high-sensitivity semiautomated algorithm, based on adaptive contrast image, able to identify and quantify tear meniscus height (TMH) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images by using digital image processing (DIP) techniques. Methods: OCT images of the lacrimal meniscus of healthy patients and with dry eye are analyzed by our algorithm, which is composed of two stages: (1) the region of interest and (2) TMH detection and measurement. The algorithm performs an adaptive contrast sequence based on morphologic operations and derivative image intensities. Trueness, repeatability, and reproducibility for TMH measurements are computed and the algorithm performance is statistically compared against the corresponding negative obtained manually by using a commercial software. Results: The algorithm showed excellent repeatability supported by an intraclass correlation coefficient equal to 0.993, a within-subject standard deviation equal to 9.88, and a coefficient of variation equal to 2.96%, and for the reproducibility test, the results did not show a significant difference as the mean value was 244.4 ± 114.9 µm for an expert observer versus 242.4 ± 111.2 µm for the inexperienced observer (P = 0.999). The method strongly suggests the algorithm can predict measurements that are manually performed with commercial software. Conclusions: The presented algorithm possess high potential to identify and measure TMH from OCT images in a reproducible and repeatable way with minimal dependency on user. Translational Relevance: The presented work shows a methodology on how, by using DIP, it is possible to process OCT images to calculate TMH and aid ophthalmologists in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

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The Chilean hazelnut (Gevuina avellana Mol., Proteaceae) is a native tree of Chile and Argentina of edible fruit-type nut. We applied two approaches to contribute to the development of strategies for mitigation of the effects of climate change and anthropic activities in G. avellana. It corresponds to the first report where both tools are integrated, the MaxEnt model to predict the current and future potential distribution coupled with High-Resolution Melting Analysis (HRM) to assess its genetic diversity and understand how the species would respond to these changes. Two global climate models: CNRM-CM6-1 and MIROC-ES2L for four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways: 126, 245, 370, and 585 (2021−2040; 2061−2080) were evaluated. The annual mean temperature (43.7%) and water steam (23.4%) were the key factors for the distribution current of G. avellana (AUC = 0.953). The future prediction model shows to the year 2040 those habitat range decreases at 50% (AUC = 0.918). The genetic structure was investigated in seven natural populations using eight EST-SSR markers, showing a percentage of polymorphic loci between 18.69 and 55.14% and low genetic differentiation between populations (Fst = 0.052; p < 0.001). According to the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) we identified 10 genetic populations. We conclude that high-priority areas for protection correspond to Los Avellanos and Punta de Águila populations due to their greater genetic diversity and allelic richness.

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Complex stresses are created or applied as part of medical and dental treatments, which are linked to the achievement of treatment goals and favorable prognosis. Photoelasticity is an optical technique that can help observe and understand biomechanics, which is essential for planning, evaluation and treatment in health professions. The objective of this project was to review the existing information on the use of photoelasticity in medicine and dentistry and determine their purpose, the areas or treatments for which it was used, models used as well as to identify areas of opportunity for the application of the technique and the generation of new models. A literature review was carried out to identify publications in dentistry and medicine in which photoelasticity was used as an experimental method. The databases used were: Sciencedirect, PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Springer, EBSCO, Wiley, Lilacs, Medigraphic Artemisa and SciELO. Duplicate and incomplete articles were eliminated, obtaining 84 articles published between 2000 and 2019 for analysis. In dentistry, ten subdisciplines were found in which photoelasticity was used; those related to implants for fixed prostheses were the most abundant. In medicine, orthopedic research predominates; and its application is not limited to hard tissues. No reports were found on the use of photoelastic models as a teaching aid in either medicine or dentistry. Photoelasticity has been widely used in the context of research where it has limitations due to the characteristics of the results provided by the technique, there is no evidence of use in the health area to exploit its application in learning biomechanics; on the other hand there is little development in models that faithfully represent the anatomy and characteristics of the different tissues of the human body, which opens the opportunity to take up the qualitative results offered by the technique to transpolate it to an application and clinical learning.

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Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are considered the group of insects that most impacts human health. Land use change, conversion of conserved sites into agricultural environments, urbanization, defaunation, and introduction of domestic animals can affect mosquito diversity positively or negatively, increasing the risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases. Here, we describe the diversity of adult mosquitoes in two environments (deciduous forest and anthropized zone) over 2 yr (2014-2016), using eight CDC traps at each site in three climatic seasons (rainy, cold, and dry). We captured 795 individuals belonging to 22 species. We constructed rank-abundance curves to determine spatial and temporal changes in the mosquito communities. We measured alpha diversity using the Shannon index (H'), Shannon exponential (eH) and Simpson dominance (Ds), and beta diversity using Jaccard's coefficient of similarity (Ij). The most abundant species were Culex quinquefasciatus (40.5%), Culex coronator (18.3%), and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis (12.4%). The highest mosquito diversity was in the deciduous forest during the rainy season. Beta diversity analysis showed that species overlap varied among climatic seasons, with the sites sharing 65% species during the rainy season, but only 33% of species during the dry season. We found differences in the diversity of mosquitoes at the two sites, and the mosquito assemblage of the anthropized zone was significantly different from that of the deciduous forest.

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Currently composed of only one order and two families, the class Homoscleromorpha has undergone significant changes in its systematics over the past 20 years. We combined morphological, cytological and molecular (CO1) data to describe three new aspiculate Homoscleromorpha, two Plakinidae and one Oscarellidae. These three sponges live in the dark submarine caves of the Lesser Antilles (Caribbean Sea). Aspiculortis gen. nov. is part of a clade including spiculate Plakortis species. Aspiculortis garifuna gen. nov. sp. nov. is characterized by an original pseudo criblate smooth surface, with a network of translucent canals ending in prominent oscula, and by one type of vacuolar cell concentrated in the ectosome. Aspiculophora papillata sp. nov. is characterized by a papillate surface, a morphological trait that is recorded for the first time among Homoscleromorpha, and one abundant type of vacuolar cell randomly distributed in the mesohyl. Oscarella minka sp. nov. is characterized by a smooth surface and two types of vacuolar cells, one principally found in the ectosome, and a second type which is randomly distributed and which harbors original inclusions. These three new Homoscleromorpha present an abundant microbial community in their mesohyl. After this work, the skeleton-less representatives of this sponge class include four species of Plakinidae belonging to three different genera, and all Oscarellidae described so far. The putative absence of skeleton underlines the need of more cytological descriptions of Plakinidae representatives.

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Introduction: Considering the likely need for the development of novel effective vaccines adapted to emerging relevant CoV-2 variants, the increasing knowledge of epitope recognition profile among convalescents and afterwards vaccinated with identification of immunodominant regions may provide important information. Methods: We used an RBD peptide microarray to identify IgG and IgA binding regions in serum of 71 COVID-19 convalescents and 18 vaccinated individuals. Results: We found a set of immunodominant RBD antibody epitopes, each recognized by more than 30% of the tested cohort, that differ among the two different groups and are within conserved regions among betacoronavirus. Of those, only one peptide, P44 (S415-429), recognized by 68% of convalescents, presented IgG and IgA antibody reactivity that positively correlated with nAb titers, suggesting that this is a relevant RBD region and a potential target of IgG/IgA neutralizing activity. Discussion: This peptide is localized within the area of contact with ACE-2 and harbors the mutation hotspot site K417 present in gamma (K417T), beta (K417N), and omicron (K417N) variants of concern. The epitope profile of vaccinated individuals differed from convalescents, with a more diverse repertoire of immunodominant peptides, recognized by more than 30% of the cohort. Noteworthy, immunodominant regions of recognition by vaccinated coincide with mutation sites at Omicron BA.1, an important variant emerging after massive vaccination. Together, our data show that immune pressure induced by dominant antibody responses may favor hotspot mutation sites and the selection of variants capable of evading humoral response.

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BACKGROUND: While vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose an important public health problem worldwide, there is a limited and conflicting knowledge about such illnesses in rural or urban settings. The present study aimed to explore the social representations (SRs) held by people in the state of Puebla, Mexico on insects and the diseases they transmit. Understood as the group of ideas held and shared by a group of human beings which enable them to understand and interpret the world, SRs constitute what could be called a collective science or knowledge of everyday life. METHODS: The present study was conducted in six municipalities in the state of Puebla, wherein an open-ended questionnaire was applied with three age ranges. A total of 360 questionnaires were applied with people dedicated to a variety of activities. The survey data was analyzed to identify the SR's structure (the central nucleus of the SR and its peripheral system) and the level of organization in order to explore the degree to which the ideas that constitute it are shared and based on consensus. To describe the structure of the SR, a network analysis was conducted and complemented by a correspondence analysis, which also enables the differences between social groups to be identified. RESULTS: Popular knowledge on insects and VBDs is often limited, even in communities in which more than one-vector insect is found. The elements that were most frequently mentioned in the data, as pertaining to the insect-disease relationship, were mosquitoes and dengue fever, with scorpions (which are arachnids and not insects) receiving the second-highest number of mentions, while other insects such as kissing bugs, flies, and cockroaches were also mentioned as transmitting VBDs. While television was the main information source on VBDs for the residents of these communities, biology books were also mentioned. Chemical control measures (insect repellents) were the most used prevention method, and traditional medicine was the remedy most commonly used to treat insect bites and transmitted diseases. Entomophobia was the main cause for the respondents' fear and rejection of insects. Beyond the deleterious effects of many insects, those surveyed also recognized a positive relationship with insects due to economic and nutritional benefits they provide. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides relevant information on how insects and the diseases they transmit are perceived by rural and urban communities. Although the population is aware of dengue fever and the role of mosquitoes in transmitting it, information campaigns are required for other historically neglected VBDs, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and, even, rickettsiosis. As it is important to understand the impact that these illnesses have on communities further research is required to ensure that better information and guidance is provided on VBDs in order to develop a culture of illness prevention in not only the rural but also the metropolitan communities of the state of Puebla.

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Objetivo: Comunicar los resultados funcionales y radiográficos de pacientes tratados con prótesis reversa por fracturas complejas. El objetivo secundario fue determinar la relación entre rangos de movilidad y puntaje ASES con la evolución radiográfica del troquíter. Materiales y Métodos: Se incluyeron 16 pacientes >65 años, tratados con prótesis reversa y reinserción del troquíter, entre 2013 y 2017, operados antes de las 4 semanas del trauma y con un seguimiento mínimo de 2 años. Se consignaron el puntaje ASES y el rango de movilidad activa. En las radiografías, se evaluaron la posición y la consolidación del troquíter, y se registraron las complicaciones y su tratamiento. Resultados: La media de la edad fue 74.5 años (RIC 66-78.5), 11 (69%) eran mujeres. Once fracturas (69%) eran a 4 fragmentos y 5, luxofracturas a 4 fragmentos. La media entre el trauma y la cirugía fue 9.4 días y el seguimiento, 29.5 meses. En 9 casos (56%), el troquíter presentó consolidación. Rotación interna: 5 pacientes alcanzaron la región glútea con el pulgar; 4, la vértebra T12; 4, la vértebra L3; 3, la T7. Las medianas de rotación externa y flexión anterior fueron 30° (RIC 17,5-40) y 100° (RIC 87,5-160). El puntaje ASES promedio fue 78,3 (RIC 63,3-87,4). No hubo una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la evolución del troquíter y la flexión anterior y el puntaje (p = 0,24 y 0,52, respectivamente). Conclusión: La prótesis reversa en fracturas agudas con reinserción de las tuberosidades puede llevar a buenos resultados funcionales. No se encontró relación entre la consolidación del troquíter y el puntaje ASES. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Objective: To report functional and radiologic outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in patients with complex proximal humeral fractures. A second objective was to assess the relation between the greater tuberosity healing and the range of motion (ROM) and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients treated between 2013 and 2017, older than 65 years old, operated before 4 weeks after the trauma, and with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. ASES scores and active ROMs were recorded. Greater tuberosity and the prosthesis position and healing were radiologically evaluated, and the complications and treatment were recorded. Results: The median age was of 74.5 years (IQR 66-78.5), 11 patients were females (69%). According to Neer classification, 11 cases were four-part fractures and 5 were four-part fracture-dislocations. The average time between trauma and surgery was 9.4 days, and the average follow-up was of 29.5 months. The greater tuberosity was healed in 9 cases (56%). Internal rotation: 5 patients (31.25%) were able to reach up with their thumbs to gluteal level, 4 (25%) to T12, 3 (18.75%) to T7, and 4 (25%) to L3. The medians for external rotation and forward flexion were 30° (IQR 17.5°-40°) and 100° (IQR 87.5°-160°). The average ASES score was of 78.3 (IQR 63.3-87.4). There was no significant statistical relation between greater tuberosity healing and forward flexion or ASES score (P=0.24 and P=0.52, respectively). Conclusion: The use of reverse prostheses for complex fractures with greater tuberosity reattachment could lead to good functional outcomes, low complication rates and reoperations. There was no significant statistical relation between ASES score and greater tuberosity healing or failure to heal. Level of Evidence: IV

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Knowledge of homoscleromorph sponge biodiversity has greatly improved during the last decade thanks to the increasing use of integrative taxonomy and extensive exploration of remote ecosystems. Indeed, recently described species have mostly been small sponges living in dark and near-impenetrable habitats. This work integrates morphological, cytological, ecological and molecular data to describe a new species belonging to the Plakina genus. Plakina doudou sp. nov. was found first during close inspection of photographs taken previously in a submarine cave on Martinique Island, where several new species had already been revealed. The new species lives in syntopy with P. arletensis. It is thinly encrusting, whitish in vivo, and its skeleton harbors a unique composition of diods, triods, monolophose triods and monolophose, dilophose and trilophose calthrops. Sequencing of a portion of the mitochondrial gene cox-1 indicates that the new species belongs to a well-supported clade containing the Mediterranean P. crypta and P. trilopha. However, at the time of publication of this work, we have not yet managed to identify synapomorphies that would support the different clades of Plakina. This genus includes a total of 39 species to date, of which 10 have been recorded in the Western Tropical Atlantic, and 4 in Caribbean submarine caves.

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