Influenza A virus (IAV) is a zoonotic pathogen with pandemic potential that infects a wide range of species, including companion animals. Although surveillance efforts have primarily focused on North America, Europe and Asia, data from South America remain scarce. This study evaluated the molecular and serological evidence of IAV circulation in dogs and cats from shelters and multi-pet households in central Chile. Between June and November 2020, oropharyngeal swabs and serum samples were collected from dogs and cats in shelters and multi-pet households in central Chile. Samples were analysed by RT-qPCR, NP-ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition assay. IAV was detected by RT-qPCR in 3.2% (11/342) of dogs (95% CI: 1.3%-5.1%) and 5.8% (4/69) of cats (95% CI: 0.3%-11.3%). Serological analysis revealed IAV seropositivity in 55.5% (96/173) of dogs (95% CI: 48.1%-62.9%) and 50.0% (10/20) of cats (95% CI: 28.1%-71.9%). Additionally, pdmH1N1 antibodies were detected in 26 animals (25.7%; 95% CI: 17.2%-34.2%) out of 101 NP-ELISA-positive serum samples, with higher median titres for cats (median = 160) compared to dogs (median = 20). Low-level antibody titres against Canine/H3N2 (range = 10-20) were identified in three dogs (3.0%; 95% CI: 0.0%-6.3%), whereas no antibodies were detected against Canine/H3N8 or Avian/H3N6. No significant associations were observed between seropositivity and animal age, sex, origin or area. This study presents the first report of IAV detection in cats in South America and highlights a high level of IAV exposure among companion animals in central Chile. These findings underscore the importance of including pets in IAV surveillance efforts under a One Health approach and highlight the need for expanded monitoring and genetic characterization of circulating strains to assess zoonotic risk.
Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV) is a significant fish pathogen historically reported in East and Southeast Asia and increasingly detected in other regions, often in association with the international movement of ornamental fish. Centrocestus formosanus is a digenean trematode of sanitary and economic relevance, with zoonotic potential, that uses snails and fish as intermediate hosts. In this study, ornamental fish representing 24 species were sampled from 13 quarantine facilities across Chile. ISKNV was detected in samples of platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus) from two quarantine facilities in the Metropolitana district in Chile, both supplied by the same exporter in the State of Florida (United States). C. formosanus metacercariae were also detected in the gills of two ISKNV-positive platy fish. These results represent the first molecular detection of ISKNV and C. formosanus in ornamental fish in Chile and highlight the relevance of targeted surveillance for high-risk pathogens in imported ornamental fish.
Infectious outbreaks caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in hospitals constitute a global health threat. To characterise CPE infectious outbreaks in public hospitals in Chile during 2017-2024. Retrospective epidemiological surveillance study using national public health data across three periods: baseline pre-pandemic (2017-2019), pandemic (2020-2022), and post-pandemic (2023-2024). Seventy-two CPE outbreaks, 945 associated cases and 21 attributable deaths were notified. Median CPE outbreak size in the pre-pandemic period (4 cases) peaked during the pandemic (7 cases) and recovered afterwards post-pandemic (4 cases). Median outbreak duration decreased over time (pre-pandemic period: 75 days; pandemic: 45 days; post-pandemic: 9 days). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the primary cause (83.3% of outbreaks, 92.6% of cases) and KPC the most common carbapenemase detected (54.2% of outbreaks, 53.7% of cases). OXA-48-like and KPC + NDM co-production were observed from 2021 onwards, and IMP was first identified in 2024. The size of CPE outbreaks in Chilean public hospitals increased significantly during the pandemic and shrunk back to pre-pandemic values afterwards. CPE outbreak duration decreased sharply from the pandemic onwards. Since 2021, carbapenemases detected in CPE hospital outbreaks have diversified in Chile.
The extensive use of antibiotics in Chilean salmon farming raises concerns about harmful effects on benthic habitats, particularly the iconic cold-water coral (CWC) banks in semi-enclosed fjords. We collected specimens of the CWC Desmophyllum dianthus near and far from salmon farms in Comau Fjord, Chile, and investigated their associated bacterial community (metabarcoding, culturing) and screened bacterial isolates for their antibiotic resistance (15 antibiotics, including antibiotics common in Chilean salmon farming). The cultured bacterial isolates of D. dianthus showed a slight but significant increase in antibiotic resistance (near: 7.7 ± 0.47 vs. far: 6.3 ± 0.48). This was accompanied by a change in dominance in the randomly selected isolates, with Pseudoalteromonas and Shewanella dominating far and near, respectively. Metabarcoding also showed a shift in the dominant bacterial strains from SUP05 clade to Mycoplasma and a loss of Pseudoalteromonas strains near the salmon farm. Common antibiotics used in salmon farming, however, significantly reduced bacterial growth at the community level, and most bacterial isolates were also sensitive to these antibiotics, except for tilmicosin. This may provide a first indication of how salmon farms modify the microbiome of D. dianthus and underscores the need to expand such assessments in space and time.
The present dataset reports illicit drug consumption estimated through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío Region, Chile. We collected 24 hour flow proportional Influent wastewater samples at the city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Sampling during the COVID-19 period was conducted on twelve days between 9 and 29 August 2021. We collected 50 samples divided in two periods i) COVID-19 period (between 9 and 29 August 2021) and ii) Post-COVID-19 (5 September 2022 to 30 August 2023). Samples collected were preserved by adding Sodium metabisulfite (0.5 g/L), and samples were stored at -20 °C until further analysis. Target analytes included benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH, cannabis metabolite), amphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Sample preparation involved filtration, pH adjustment, and solid-phase extraction, followed by quantitative analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) followed the best-practice protocols of the Sewage CORe Group Europe (SCORE) network, including isotopically labelled internal standards, matrix-matched calibration, recovery and matrix-effect assessment, and batch-level blanks and continuing calibration verifications. We normalized concentrations using the daily influent flow and estimated population served by the wastewater treatment plant according to the 2024 Chilean CENSUS. Results are reported as milligrams per day per 1000 inhabitants (mg/day/1000 inhabitants), with values below the limit of quantification informed as "NA". We provide the dataset in an excel file containing collection date, location information, population data, and normalized consumption estimates for each target compound. Data are publicly available in the Mendeley Data repository (DOI: 10.17632/vgpr6b99vf.1) and can be reused for methodological comparisons, inter-study analyses, and secondary modeling applications in WBE.
Evaluating deprivation among individuals transitioning to older ages requires a multidimensional approach to evaluate their diverse needs. Despite its importance, research on this topic remains limited in the developing world, particularly in Latin America. This study tracks the multidimensional poverty of a cohort of Chileans as they transition into older age, following them longitudinally across three waves (2006, 2009, and 2015). We construct a multidimensional poverty index (MPI) for individuals born in 1955 or earlier using the Alkire and Foster methodology, considering deprivation across four key dimensions: education; labor and social security; health; and housing. Our findings reveal a decrease in multidimensional poverty from 21 percent to 14 percent during the study period, with chronic multidimensional poverty affecting 9 percent of this population. The most significant reduction in deprivation is observed in the labor and social security dimension.  However, this dimension also exhibits the highest persistence of deprivation and the most pronounced gender disparities, highlighting the need for targeted policy interventions. Notably, education emerges as a strong protective factor against both current and future poverty. This study contributes to the scarce literature on dynamic multidimensional poverty among older adults in Latin America and provides valuable insights for policy makers to design effective strategies that address the unique challenges faced by this growing population segment.
Concerns about the mental health of young people have increased in recent years, and the knowledge of education professionals about mental health disorders is closely related to the identification of young people with these problems. Due to the scarcity of instruments to measure this knowledge, the present research aimed to develop and validate tests to measure knowledge about adolescent depression and anxiety to be answered by adults in the school system. We used a quantitative, non-experimental, and cross-sectional design. A non-probabilistic purposive sampling method was used to select participants. The sample comprised 10 expert judges for content validation, 16 teachers for cognitive interviews, and 304 professionals from educational establishments for administering the tests. Items were developed based on a literature review and the DSM-5; concordance among judges was calculated using Aiken's V coefficient. Difficulty and discrimination analyses were carried out using Classical Test Theory (CTT), a well-established framework that is well-suited to the sample size and the exploratory nature of this study. Group contrast was used as validity evidence, and the Kuder-Richardson reliability coefficient was calculated. In total, 45 items resulted; the depression test has 17 items in the symptoms dimension and 10 in risk factors, and the anxiety test has 12 in the symptoms dimension and 6 in risk factors. In terms of reliability, the depression test yielded coefficients of 0.864 for the symptoms dimension and 0.742 for the risk factors dimension. The anxiety scale showed coefficients of 0.873 and 0.846 for the symptoms and risk factors dimensions, respectively. The results provide preliminary psychometric evidence of content validity and internal consistency, based on a non-probabilistic regional sample from southern Chile. Future research should replicate these findings in larger, more diverse samples and apply advanced modeling approaches, such as Item Response Theory, to further evaluate the instruments' properties.
Salmonella, a globally distributed genus of Enterobacteriaceae, poses a public health risk due to its role in gastrointestinal and systemic infections. Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are asymptomatic carriers of various Salmonella serovars. The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of Salmonella in different parts of pet turtles and their environment. In total, 179 samples (cloacal, shell swabs, and water) were collected from 72 pet turtles in Concepción, Chile. Using selective media and biochemical tests, 50 presumptive Salmonella isolates were found in 42 turtles, indicating a 58.3% prevalence. Shell swabs had the highest positive prevalence (30.6%), followed by water (28.6%) and cloacal samples (25.0%). The high contamination on shell surfaces suggests a direct fomite route for zoonotic transmission. These findings confirm pet turtles as significant Salmonella reservoirs and highlight the need for One Health strategies integrating veterinary care, public health education, and environmental hygiene to reduce salmonellosis risk.
The Atacama Desert is among the most arid environments on the planet where human settlements are found. Sandstorms are atmospheric events capable of transporting and depositing particulate matter enriched with potentially toxic metal(loid)s in urban environments, thereby increasing human exposure risks. The objective of this study was to quantify metal(loid) levels in soil and dust following the 2022 sandstorm in Diego de Almagro, Chile, evaluating the resulting health risks for adult and pediatric populations. A total of 60 samples (30 soils + 30 settled dust) were collected and analyzed for Pb, As, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, and Zn using ICP-OES, while health risk assessment was conducted following EPA guidelines. Results showed significantly higher concentrations of most elements in settled dust compared to soils, particularly Cu, Pb, Co, Zn, and As. Health risk assessment revealed that ingestion was the dominant exposure pathway, with children exhibiting higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than adults. These findings demonstrate that sandstorms act as effective vectors for redistributing contaminated particles, enhancing environmental and human exposure. Post-event monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies are strongly recommended, particularly to protect vulnerable populations.
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Understanding how abiotic factors influence species diversity, evolution and functional patterns of species is crucial for biodiversity conservation and for the management of terrestrial protected areas. We evaluate biogeographic and phylogenetic metrics in rodents to understand biodiversity patterns and improve wildlife conservation strategies. Chile, South America. Rodents (Mammalia, Rodentia). We updated the phylogeny of rodent species in Chile using gene sequences retrieved from GenBank. We used the phylogenetic tree to calculate different biodiversity indices. We analysed Species Richness (SR), observed and standard effect size (SES) of Phylogenetic Diversity (PD), Phylogenetic Endemism (PE), and Functional Diversity (FD) across different ecoregions, climatic regions, and terrestrial protected areas along gradients of temperature and precipitation. We found high rodent diversity in north and central-south Chile, and an association between phylogenetic and functional indices. Diversity indices (SR, SES.PD, SES.PE, SES.PE) were strongly associated with ecoregions, with the highest indices occurring in a high-altitude ecoregion (i.e., Puna), Polar climatic region, and unprotected areas. Spatial congruence among diversity indices suggests that species composition and evolutionary history play a fundamental role in structuring rodent species assemblages. Areas with high diversity indices delineate regions with high species richness that experience higher species diversification (PD), leading to ecological specialisation (FD) and endemism (PE). The linkages between diversity indices and ecoregions suggest that environmental heterogeneity within ecoregions drives variation in community composition. Environmental variation may be more pronounced in harsh habitats (e.g., Atacama Desert), while weak in benign habitats (e.g., Puna). The spatial mismatch between biodiversity hotspots and protected areas suggests that key evolutionary and ecological processes could be occurring outside current protected areas, raising concerns about the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation strategies.
Child and Adolescent Day Hospitals stabilize acute mental health conditions through intensive and interdisciplinary interventions. In Chile, there are 12 such facilities, with a shortfall of 73, amid exponential demand growth. This issue coexists with a lack of information and knowledge regarding the care and management provided in these centers. The problem is grounded in Patricia Benner's theory and E. Morin's theory of "complex thinking." To reveal the clinical management of children and adolescents enrolled in Child and Adolescent Day Hospitals with severe mental health conditions. A phenomenological study, based on the theoretical framework of Max Van Manen. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with a convenience sampling. Data analysis takes a phenomenological approach, identifying units of meaning and categories. The following meta-categories were identified: 1. Care and management: meso-level, micro-level, and quality; and 2. Challenges related to care: improvement of organizational guidelines, awareness, visibility, and education regarding facilities. Studies reveal centers with similar objectives in mental health, showing greater development in quality processes and in the importance/awareness of the field, alongside specialization in mental health nursing. The vulnerability and complexity of individuals receiving care are decisive, making community educational awareness and the provision of resources for management and quality of care imperative, alongside an appropriate care model. Los Hospitales de Día Infanto Adolescente estabilizan cuadros agudos de salud mental, por medio de intervenciones intensivas e interdisciplinarias. En Chile, existen 12 dispositivos con una brecha de 73, en un contexto de crecimiento exponencial de la demanda, problema que coexiste con déficit de información y conocimiento respecto a los cuidados y gestiones que se otorgan en estos centros. El problema se apoya en la teoría de Patricia Benner, y la teoría de E. Morin del “Pensamiento complejo”. Develar la gestión clínica en niños, niñas y adolescentes adscritos a Hospital de día Infanto Adolescentes con diagnósticos de salud mental en condición de gravedad. Estudio con enfoque fenomenológico, bajo el referente teórico Max Van Manen. Se realizan 12 entrevistas en profundidad con muestreo por conveniencia, el análisis toma actitud fenomenológica, reconociendo unidades de significados y categorías. Se obtienen metacategorías de: 1. Cuidados y gestión: cuidados a nivel de mesogestión, microgestión y calidad y 2. Desafíos en relación con los cuidados: mejora de lineamientos organizacionales, concientización, visualización y educación del dispositivo. Estudios develan centros con similares objetivos en salud mental, observándose mayor desarrollo en los procesos de calidad y en la importancia/concientización del área, coexistiendo con especialización de enfermería en salud mental. Es determinante la vulnerabilidad y complejidad de las personas de cuidado, por lo que se hace imperante la concientización educativa en la comunidad y la prestación de recursos para gestión y calidad en la atención en conjunto a un modelo de atención pertinente. Os Hospitais-Dia da Infância e Adolescência estabilizam quadros mentais agudos por meio de intervenções intensivas e interdisciplinares. No Chile, existem 12 dessas unidades, com uma lacuna de 73, em um contexto de demanda crescente exponencialmente. Esse problema coexiste com a falta de informação e conhecimento a respeito do cuidado e manejo oferecidos nesses centros. Essa questão é corroborada pelas teorias de Patricia Benner e pela teoria do "Pensamento Complexo" de E. Morin. Compreender o manejo clínico em crianças e adolescentes internados em Hospitais-Dia da Infância e Adolescência com diagnósticos de saúde mental em condição grave. Foi realizado um estudo fenomenológico, baseado no referencial teórico de Max Van Manen. Doze entrevistas em profundidade foram conduzidas utilizando amostragem por conveniência. A análise adotou uma abordagem fenomenológica, identificando unidades de significado e categorias. As seguintes metacategorias foram obtidas: 1. Cuidado e gestão: cuidado nos níveis de mesogestão, microgestão e qualidade; e 2. Desafios relacionados ao cuidado: aprimoramento das diretrizes organizacionais, conscientização, visibilidade e educação sobre o serviço. Os estudos revelam centros com objetivos semelhantes em saúde mental, demonstrando maior desenvolvimento nos processos de qualidade e na importância/conscientização da área, coexistindo com a especialização em enfermagem em saúde mental. A vulnerabilidade e a complexidade dos usuários do cuidado são fatores determinantes, tornando imperativa a conscientização educativa na comunidade e a disponibilização de recursos para a gestão e a qualidade do cuidado, juntamente com um modelo de cuidado relevante.
Sclerophyllous plants present a suite of traits, including small, leathery leaves with thick cuticles, dense trichomes and sclerified tissues, which are often accompanied by high levels of secondary metabolites. Although these features are generally associated with protection and defence, they do not necessarily deter gall-inducing organisms. In fact, some gall inducers may exploit the structural and chemical complexity of sclerophyllous tissues to develop protective and nutrient-rich microhabitats. This appears to be the case for eriophyid mites (Acari: Eriophyidae) that induce galls on the leaves of Crinodendron patagua Mol. (Elaeocarpaceae), a sclerophyllous species endemic to Chile and characteristic of coastal Mediterranean forests. We hypothesized that these mites exploit and enhance the morphoanatomical and chemical traits of C. patagua sclerophyllous leaves to induce the formation of galls that function as protective, nutrient-enriched microhabitats in the stressful Mediterranean-type climate of central Chile. Anatomical, cytohistometric, histochemical and spectrophotometric analyses were performed on galled and non-galled leaves to evaluate changes in anatomical structure, primary metabolites (proteins and reducing sugars) and secondary metabolites (polyphenols). The results revealed that mites induce anatomical changes that favour progeny development, including hypotrophy and thinning of adaxial epidermal cell walls rich in cellulose and hemicellulose and the accumulation of proteins and reducing sugars in these nutritive cells. In parallel, lignified trichomes redifferentiated at the opening of the gall, abaxial epidermal cells exhibited hypertrophy and thickened walls, and the polyphenol content increased in gall tissues. Some sclerophyllous characteristics were intensified, whereas others remained unchanged. Gall development in C. patagua selectively reprograms structural and biochemical traits to meet the nutritional and protective needs of eriophyid mites, partially supporting our original hypothesis.
Meiofauna samples were collected using the multicorer during three FS POLARSTERN research expeditions to the Southern Ocean between 2013 and 2019. The samples yielded, among other representatives of the CopepodaHarpacticoida, 11 individuals of a previously unknown species of the Ancorabolidae Sars. The six males and five females could be assigned to the genus Breviconia Conroy-Dalton & Huys, within which they form a separate species. Breviconia acuminata sp. nov. differs from the two already known species B. australis (George) from the Beagle Channel (Chile) and B. andrei Garlitska, George & Chertoprud from the Barents Sea (Russia) in the following autapomorphies: (i) the female antennule has only nine setae on the last segment instead of ten, (ii) the inner apical seta on P2enp2 is strongly shortened and only reaches half the length of the outer apical seta. In addition to the detailed description of the new species, a morphologically based comparison with the taxa Arthropsyllus Sars and Uptionyx Conroy-Dalton & Huys confirmed the monophyletic status of Breviconia. A key to the Breviconia species is also provided. Breviconia acuminata sp. nov. has a very limited distribution range. To date, it has only been found on the continental shelf at the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and on the continental slope in Bransfield Strait, at depths between 420 and 750 metres. The sediments at the stations where the new species was found were characterised by low bottom temperatures, a high silt and clay content (84-89%), and high pigment content, indicating a high food availability.
To evaluate the association between physician experience and the use of forceps-assisted vaginal delivery, and to assess whether increasing experience is associated with changes in cesarean delivery rates in a tertiary academic health care network. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal cohort study including all physician-attended deliveries within a tertiary academic healthcare network in Santiago, Chile, between 2014 and 2024. The unit of analysis was the physician-year. Physician experience was defined as years since completion of residency and analyzed as a continuous variable. Outcomes included forceps-assisted and cesarean deliveries, modeled using volume-weighted logistic regression at the physician-year level. A sensitivity analysis restricted the data set to physician-years with ≥20 deliveries. The data set included 109 physicians, 641 physician-year observations, and 26 898 deliveries. Cesarean delivery accounted for 46.05%, spontaneous vaginal delivery for 46.18%, and forceps-assisted delivery for 7.75%. Increasing physician experience was associated with higher odds of forceps delivery (odds ratio [OR] per year, 1.013 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.008-1.018]; p < 0.001). Although a statistically significant association was observed for cesarean delivery (OR per year, 1.007 [95% CI, 1.005-1.010]; p < 0.001), the magnitude was minimal and not clinically meaningful. Findings were consistent in the ≥20-delivery sensitivity analysis. Increasing physician experience is associated with greater use of forceps-assisted delivery, while cesarean delivery rates remain largely unchanged. These findings suggest that operative vaginal delivery depends on sustained clinical exposure, and preserving training opportunities may help maintain its role as an alternative to cesarean delivery in appropriately selected patients.
Bacterial kidney disease (BKD), caused by the Gram-positive intracellular bacterium Renibacterium salmoninarum, remains a major challenge for salmon aquaculture, particularly in Chile, where the lack of an effective vaccine has led to sustained antibiotic use. In this study, we applied an integrative in silico approach combining comparative genomics, reverse vaccinology, immunoinformatics, structural modeling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics to design a multiantigenic and multiepitope chimeric protein as a vaccine candidate. Comparative analysis of three genomes revealed a highly conserved proteome, supporting the identification of shared immunogenic targets. From proteins associated with virulence, secretion systems, iron acquisition, chaperones, ribosomal functions, magnesium transport, and carbohydrate uptake, 17 proteins were selected after antigenicity and localization screening. Epitope prediction initially identified 154 candidates; after filtering for antigenicity, toxicity, and host homology, 60 epitopes grouped into 26 antigenic regions derived from 15 proteins were retained. Structural models were evaluated using QMEAN and Ramachandran analysis, and docking against Atlantic salmon MHC class I and II alleles identified the best candidates, with HADDOCK scores ranging from -71.2 to -154.6 (MHC I) and -116.5 to -152.0 (MHC II). Twelve antigenic regions were assembled into a 439-amino-acid chimeric protein using GSGSGS linkers. The construct showed a predicted molecular weight of 43.7 kDa, pI of 9.56, aliphatic index of 87.97, moderate solubility (0.43), and no predicted toxicity. Molecular dynamics (100 ns) supported structural stability, with RMSD convergence at ~85 ns. Surface analysis identified exposed antigenic regions mainly from DnaK, HmuU, Tpl, and DacB. This approach enabled the rational design of a structurally stable and immunologically promising candidate, providing a basis for future experimental validation.
Andes virus-associated hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (ANDV-HCPS) is a severe zoonotic disease endemic to South America, characterised by high mortality and a unique capacity for person-to-person transmission. The 2026 MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak underscored its potential for international dissemination. To map the available evidence on diagnostic approaches and clinical management of ANDV-HCPS, and to identify key knowledge gaps and research priorities. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov, searched from 01/01/1993 to 13/05/2026. Original studies reporting clinical data on confirmed or probable ANDV-HCPS, including clinical trials, observational studies, surveillance cohorts, case series, and case reports. Patients with confirmed or probable ANDV-HCPS. Diagnostic approaches, clinical management strategies, and therapeutic interventions evaluated across included studies. Data were charted using a predefined extraction framework and synthesised narratively by clinical domain. Forty studies were included, predominantly retrospective cohorts and case reports from Chile and Argentina. Across the included studies, serology served as the primary diagnostic modality in routine practice, with RT-PCR reserved for diagnostically challenging cases; however, no validated ANDV-specific point-of-care test was identified. Management was entirely supportive, with mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, and ECMO used in severe cases; ECMO-based management was associated with improved survival in specialist centres, although evidence remains observational. No approved antiviral therapy exists; evidence for corticosteroids and immune plasma remains limited and inconclusive. Long-term outcomes are poorly characterised, with recent data suggesting substantial post-discharge morbidity. ANDV-HCPS remains a high-mortality disease with limited evidence across diagnostic and therapeutic domains. The decline over time in case fatality rates reflects accumulated clinical expertise rather than pharmacological advances. Key priorities include strengthening early diagnostic pathways, standardising clinical escalation criteria, and generating prospective multicentre evidence on therapeutic interventions, building on prior experience and research efforts in endemic settings.
Andes orthohantavirus (ANDV) is a deadly pathogen that causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which is a severe disease characterized by respiratory failure and high mortality rates (~30-40%). While previous studies have shown that neutralizing antibodies have a critical role in survival, the contribution of the Fc-mediated effector functions remains unexplored. We performed a serological profiling of acute HCPS patients and survivors, analyzing antibody types, subtypes, and neutralization capacity targeting ANDV glycoproteins (Gn and GnGc). Fc-mediated effector functions, which are key to defining antibody-mediated correlates of protection, were analyzed using FcγR reporter signaling assays, antibody-dependent NK cell activation, and antibody-dependent complement deposition (ADCD). Acute HCPS patients who developed moderate disease exhibited significantly higher IgG levels against the Gn glycoprotein and stronger Fc-mediated effector functions, including antibody-dependent NK cell activation and ADCD against glycoproteins, compared to the more severe cases. Surviving acute patients showed elevated IgG and IgM responses against Gn. In survivors, polyfunctional non-neutralizing IgG activities persisted for years after infection and were more pronounced against the GnGc complex than Gn alone. In summary, our study reveals the existence of functional diversity in the humoral immune response to ANDV glycoprotein during HCPS, which can be associated with protective responses and may contribute to a long-lasting immune response to restrict ANDV infection. These findings identify Fc effector functions as important correlates of protection and provide valuable insights for the design of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics against hantaviruses.
This study explores the extraction and characterization of novel microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) seed outer peels and establish its suitability as a sustainable biomass source. MCC was obtained through a multi-step method consisting of alkaline treatment, acid hydrolysis, and oxidative bleaching. Structural and physicochemical features were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and laser diffraction particle size analysis. FTIR analysis confirmed the removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while XRD revealed a high crystallinity index of 73.14%. UV-Vis analysis indicated the presence of chromophoric groups, suggesting possible relevance in biomaterial-related applications. TGA and DSC analyses demonstrated that the extracted MCC possessed thermal stability up to 256.6 °C along with distinct thermal transitions. AFM and SEM analyses revealed a fibrous surface morphology with rough texture and heterogeneous microparticle distribution. These findings confirm that MCC derived from jackfruit seed outer peel (JSOP) exhibits promising structural and thermal characteristics suitable for future bio-composite reinforcement applications.
Traditionally defined as attaching to the mandibular coronoid process, the temporalis muscle (TM) has instead been shown, through anatomical evidence, including dissection, histology, and imaging, to have more variable distal insertions relevant to mastication, deglutition, temporomandibular disorders, and facial reanimation. We have assembled this evidence and propose a classification based on insertion. A systematic review of the medical literature was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and LILACS to identify studies that reported distal TM insertions in humans by dissection, histology, or imaging; case reports, animal studies, and studies involving major craniofacial anomalies were excluded. PRISMA and Evidence-Based Anatomy guidelines were followed, with risk of bias assessed using the Anatomical Quality Assessment (AQUA) Tool; data on sample characteristics, detection method, definition, and insertion sites were collected. From 276 records reviewed, only 22 met the inclusion criteria, with 815 cadaveric TMs recorded by dissection, 26 TMs recorded histologically, and 183 TMs recorded by use of imaging across multiple regions. Overall, AQUA ratings for study objectives, descriptive anatomy, and reporting were rated as low risk but were rated higher risk regarding methodological characterisation. Three bony insertions were identified: (1) on or through the coronoid; (2) between the coronoid and ramus; and (3) between the coronoid, ramus, and retromolar triangle of the mandible. These bony insertions may be modified by accompanying soft-tissue attachments. This information could assist in standardising anatomical communication and aid in research on the TM region. It may also help clarify the function of the TM during chewing and swallowing and improve understanding of temporomandibular joint disorders.