Amazon forests, which store ∼50% of tropical forest carbon and play a vital role in global water, energy, and carbon cycling, are predicted to experience both longer and more intense dry seasons by ...the end of the 21st century. However, the climate sensitivity of this ecosystem remains uncertain: several studies have predicted large-scale die-back of the Amazon, whereas several more recent studies predict that the biome will remain largely intact. Combining remote-sensing and ground-based observations with a size- and age-structured terrestrial ecosystem model, we explore the sensitivity and ecological resilience of these forests to changes in climate. We demonstrate that water stress operating at the scale of individual plants, combined with spatial variation in soil texture, explains observed patterns of variation in ecosystem biomass, composition, and dynamics across the region, and strongly influences the ecosystem’s resilience to changes in dry season length. Specifically, our analysis suggests that in contrast to existing predictions of either stability or catastrophic biomass loss, the Amazon forest’s response to a drying regional climate is likely to be an immediate, graded, heterogeneous transition from high-biomass moist forests to transitional dry forests and woody savannah-like states. Fire, logging, and other anthropogenic disturbances may, however, exacerbate these climate change-induced ecosystem transitions.
We assessed the frequency of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a cohort of 522 sarcomas from 457 patients, incuding a subset of 46 patients with 63 matched ...samples from local recurrence or metastases with primary tumours and/or metachronous metastases. We also investigated the correlation of PD-L1 with the presence and degree of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in a subset of cases. IHC was performed using the PD-L1 SP263 companion kit (VENTANA) on tissue microarrays from an archival cohort. Evaluation of PD-L1 and TILs was performed on full sections for a subset of 23 cases. Fisher's exact and Mann Whitney test were used to establish significance (P <0.05). PD-L1 positive expression (≥1%) was identified in 31% of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, 29% of angiosarcomas, 26% of rhabdomyosarcomas, 18% of myxofibrosarcomas, 11% of leiomyosarcomas and 10% of dedifferentiated liposarcomas. Negative expression was present in all atypical lipomatous tumous/well-differentiated lipoasarcomas, myxoid liposarcomas, synovial sarcomas, pleomorphic liposarcomas, and Ewing sarcomas. PD-L1 IHC was concordant in 81% (38 of 47) of matched/paired samples. PD-L1 IHC was discordant in 19% (9 of 47 matched/paired samples), displaying differences in the proportion of cells expressing PD-L1 amongst paired samples with the percentage of PD-L1-positive cells increasing in the metastatic/recurrent site compared to the primary in 6 of 9 cases (67%). Significant correlation between PD-L1 expression and the degree of TILs was exclusively identified in the general cohort of leiomyosarcomas, but not in other sarcoma subtypes or in metastatic/recurrent samples. We conclude that the prevalence of PD-L1 expression in selected sarcomas is variable and likely to be clone dependent. Importantly, we demonstrated that PD-L1 can objectively increase in a small proportion of metastases/recurrent sarcomas, offering the potential of treatment benefit to immune checkpoint inhibitors in this metastatic setting.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
To evaluate whether individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are more affected by malocclusion than individuals without OI.
Materials and Methods
Searches in PubMed, Ovid, Web of ...Science, Scopus, Lilacs and gray literature were performed. Data extraction was conducted by two researchers. Risk of bias assessment employing the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale and meta‐analysis were conducted. Results were provided with mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Strength of evidence was determined.
Results
Six cross‐sectional studies were included. In comparison with individuals without OI, the group with OI had 19.69‐fold greater chance of exhibiting Angle Class III malocclusion (OR = 19.69, CI: 9.00–43.09) and presenting anterior crossbite greater (MD = 6.08, CI: 2.40–9.77). Individuals without OI had a significantly greater ANB angle (MD = 3.88, CI: 1.15–6.61) and SNA angle (MD = 2.11, CI: 0.24–3.98) in comparison with those with OI. No difference between groups was found for SNB (MD = −0.50, CI: −2.21 to 1.21) and open bite (MD = 0.98, CI: −0.29 to 2.25). Most studies included had moderate methodological quality. Strength of evidence was low or very low.
Conclusions
The occurrence of Angle Class III malocclusion and anterior crossbite was greater among individuals with OI compared to those without OI. These findings can assist stakeholders about the occlusal abnormalities affecting OI individuals.
Embodying Borders Laura Ferrero, Ana Cristina Vargas, Chiara Quagliariello / Laura Ferrero, Ana Cristina Vargas, Chiara Quagliariello
01/2021, Letnik:
41
eBook
Based on extensive field research, the essays in this volume
illuminate the experiences of migrants from their own point of
view, providing a critical understanding of the complex social
reality in ...which each experience is grounded. Access to medical
care for migrants is a fundamental right which is often ignored.
The book provides a critical understanding of the social reality in
which social inequalities are grounded and offers the opportunity
to show that right to health does not correspond uniquely with
access to healthcare.
In Brazil, a rapidly aging country suffering from large inequalities, the study of the quality of life (QOL) of aged people is important for the future health. The aim of this study was to examine ...the associations among QOL, gender, and physical and psychosocial health in older Brazilian community-dwelling adults to identify factors that are associated with better QOL.
The "Aging, Gender and Quality of Life (AGEQOL)" study, which included 2,052 respondents aged 60 or older, was conducted in Sete Lagoas, Brazil between January and July 2012. The respondents answered questions regarding their socioeconomic and demographic information, health and social situations, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms and family satisfaction. The authors also applied the Brazilian version the World Health Organization Quality of Life QOL Assessment-Brief Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-Old). Ordinal logistic regression with the Proportional-Odds and Logit function was used to test the association between QOL and physical and psychosocial health according to age and socioeconomic status.
Older adults of both genders with five or more years of education, good self-rated health, an absence of depressive symptoms, and no family dysfunction reported better QOL. Retired men had a better QOL compared to non-retired men (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4-3.2), but this association was not observed in females. Men living in mixed arrangements (OR = 0.5; p = 0.033) and women who did not practice physical activity (OR = 0.7; p = 0.022) tended to have poorer QOL.
We conclude that there are gender differences related to better QOL in this sample. Women with good physical and psychosocial health are more likely to have a better QOL. For men, the best QOL was associated with high socioeconomic conditions and good physical and psychosocial health.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study deals with management of a group of elderly patients with a history of leprosy and hand deformities by a multidisciplinary team of dentists and occupational therapists. Assistive ...technology devices have been developed to allow such patients to obtain independence in oral self-care and can be a cost-effective approach to improving oral care in this population. The objective of this study was to describe the development of assistive devices to facilitate daily oral hygiene in older people with enduring leprosy-related impairments.
Case study realized among elders with a history of leprosy residents in a former isolation colony in Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The elders were evaluated for dependence on others for denture hygiene and mouthwash using the Daily Oral Hygiene Activity Index (ADOH). Those deemed partially or completely dependent on others were eligible for an intervention based on assistive technology. We adopted a personalized approach to each case, taking into account medical history, physical impairment and living environment. Six months after the intervention, the participants were assessed again using the ADOH and an unstructured interview about use of the devices.
Assistive devices for denture hygiene and mouthwash were developed for 16 elders. These devices facilitated oral hygiene in most patients and there was no worsening in any of the cases. Patients' report suggested they were satisfied with the devices provided.
This study demonstrated that assistive devices can facilitate oral hygiene activities in leprosy patients. It also reinforces the importance of using a multidisciplinary team for the rehabilitation of these patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Cortical neuron atrophy is a hallmark of depression and includes neurite retraction, dendritic spine loss, and decreased synaptic density. Psychoplastogens, small molecules capable of rapidly ...promoting cortical neuron growth, have been hypothesized to produce long-lasting positive effects on behavior by rectifying these deleterious structural and functional changes. Here we demonstrate that ketamine and LSD, psychoplastogens from two structurally distinct chemical classes, promote sustained growth of cortical neurons after only short periods of stimulation. Furthermore, we show that psychoplastogen-induced cortical neuron growth can be divided into two distinct epochs: an initial stimulation phase requiring TrkB activation and a growth period involving sustained mTOR and AMPA receptor activation. Our results provide important temporal details concerning the molecular mechanisms by which next-generation antidepressants produce persistent changes in cortical neuron structure, and they suggest that rapidly excreted psychoplastogens might still be effective neurotherapeutics with unique advantages over compounds like ketamine and LSD.
Background
Obesity is associated with obstructive sleep apnea
-
hypopnea syndrome (OSA) and both induce endothelial dysfunction. However, the effect of OSA on endothelial function after bariatric ...surgery has not been investigated yet.
Objectives
This study aims to evaluate the impact of weight loss on endothelial function in patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the first 6 months after bariatric surgery.
Setting
This study was conducted at a university hospital, in Brazil.
Methods
The sample consisted of 56 patients homogeneously divided into groups with and without OSA. All patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and the diagnosis of OSA was performed by polysomnography. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. The evaluations included anthropometric measures, electrical bioimpedance, clinical symptoms of OSA
,
and endothelial function (
f
low-mediated dilation). RYGB improved the anthropometric, bioimpedance, and endothelial function results in both groups.
Results
Patients presented a significant clinical improvement in OSA symptoms throughout the study. However, patients with OSA had an improvement in the endothelial function 2.5% lower (
p
< 0.001) than patients without APNEA syndrome.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the existence of OSA prior to bariatric surgery interferes in the improvement of endothelial function.
The determinants of self-rated health (SRH) have been widely investigated to explain social differences and gender differences in health. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in ...predictors of SRH among Brazilian and Chilean older adults.
We used two samples of older people: 2052 Brazilian community-dwelling participants (1226 women and 862 men) and 1301 Chilean community-dwelling participants (855 women and 446 men). Sequential logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between SRH and potential predictors in a hierarchical model.
Overall, 35.5% and 52.1% of individuals in Chile and Brazil, respectively, reported good SRH. There was a gradient association between good SRH and chronic diseases in both countries. Chilean men without chronic disease or with one had a higher chance of good SRH, compared to two or more diseases. For Brazilian men, no or one chronic disease was associated with good SRH. For women, the set of independent predictors for good SRH included no chronic diseases or one chronic disease, and no activities of daily living limitation. For men, the set also included instrumental activities limitation. For Brazilian adults of both genders, depression demonstrated the strongest independent association with good SRH.
We conclude that when examining gender differences in predictors of SRH, the similarities are greater than the differences between Brazilian and Chilean older adults. In both countries, physical health was the most important predictor of SRH. In addition, absence of depression was the strongest predictor of good health in older Brazilian adults.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
