Background: Schizencephaly is a congenital brain malformation involving a cleft in the cerebral hemisphere lined with abnormal gray matter with an estimated incidence of 1.5 per 100,000 live births. Methods: This study aims to characterize the radiological, etiological, and clinical features of schizencephaly, identifying factors predictive of patient outcomes. A retrospective cohort of 94 individuals, both adult and pediatric, was analyzed across four tertiary care centers. A neuroradiologist systematically reviewed imaging, while charts were reviewed for clinical features. Results: Several perinatal risk factors were identified, including young maternal age and prenatal infections. However, genetic testing yielded only one pathogenic COL4A1 mutation. MRI findings showed frequent additional malformations, including those in the pituitary, corpus callosum, and fornix. Clinical characteristics included neurodevelopmental delay (71.6%), seizures (50.0%), and motor impairments (53.3%). Outcomes were heterogeneous, with bilateral and open-lip clefts associated with more severe developmental delays, while seizure rates were comparable across subtypes. Conclusions: The complexity of schizencephaly is highlighted in the largest cohort reported with high rates of seizures, neurodevelopmental delays, and motor impairments, but outcomes varied widely based on imaging features, underscoring the importance of individualized management. The low yield of genetic findings emphasizes prenatal environmental risk factors as etiological contributors.

This work reports the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data recorded at room temperature (293 K) of dibromidodioxido-[(4,4′-di-tert-butyl)-2,2′-bipyridine]molybdenum(VI). The analysis of the powder diffraction pattern led to an orthorhombic united cell with parameters a = 17.9205(23) Å, b = 13.4451(16) Å, c = 18.1514(19) Å, V = 4,373.5(11) Å3, and values of Z = 8 and Z’ = 2. The crystal structure of this material corresponds to the structure of entry IFUJEC of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), determined at 90 K. The excellent Rietveld refinement, carried out with General Structure and Analysis Software II (GSAS-II), showed the single-phase nature of the material and the good quality of the data. This material was also characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) techniques.

Haemosporidians constitute a monophyletic group of vector-borne parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including Neotropical lizards. The remarkable diversity of these host-parasite associations and inadequate research on certain parasite groups have resulted in controversial haemosporidian taxonomy. Herein, we rediscover erythrocytic and non-erythrocytic haemosporidians infecting golden tegus (Tupinambis teguixin) from Brazil and Colombia. The erythrocyte-inhabiting parasite belongs to Plasmodium sp., and the non-erythrocytic form was identified as Saurocytozoon tupinambi, previously attributed to the Family Leucocytozoidae. These non-pigmented haemosporidian parasites do not multiply in the blood. The relationships between the Saurocytozoon and Leucocytozoidae species were discussed for many years, especially during the 1970s. However, cytochrome b (cytb) sequences and the mitochondrial genomes recovered for this species strongly support classifying this parasite as a Plasmodium taxon. Therefore, we proposed a new combination for this parasite, Plasmodium (Saurocytozoon) tupinambi comb. nov., where Saurocytozoon is retained as a subgenus due to its distinct morphology. These results reinforce that a broader definition of Plasmodiidae must include saurian parasites that develop non-pigmented leucocytozoid-like gametocytes.

We provide an assessment of the Infinity Two fusion pilot plant (FPP) baseline plasma physics design. Infinity Two is a four-field period, aspect ratio $A = 10$, quasi-isodynamic stellarator with improved confinement appealing to a max-$J$ approach, elevated plasma density and high magnetic fields ($ \langle B\rangle = 9$ T). Here $J$ denotes the second adiabatic invariant. At the envisioned operating point ($800$ MW deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion), the configuration has robust magnetic surfaces based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium calculations and is stable to both local and global MHD instabilities. The configuration has excellent confinement properties with small neoclassical transport and low bootstrap current ($|I_{bootstrap}| \sim 2$ kA). Calculations of collisional alpha-particle confinement in a DT FPP scenario show small energy losses to the first wall (${\lt}1.5 \,\%$) and stable energetic particle/Alfvén eigenmodes at high ion density. Low turbulent transport is produced using a combination of density profile control consistent with pellet fueling and reduced stiffness to turbulent transport via three-dimensional shaping. Transport simulations with the T3D-GX-SFINCS code suite with self-consistent turbulent and neoclassical transport predict that the DT fusion power$P_{{fus}}=800$ MW operating point is attainable with high fusion gain ($Q=40$) at volume-averaged electron densities $n_e\approx 2 \times 10^{20}$ m$^{-3}$, below the Sudo density limit. Additional transport calculations show that an ignited ($Q=\infty$) solution is available at slightly higher density ($2.2 \times 10^{20}$ m$^{-3}$) with $P_{{fus}}=1.5$ GW. The magnetic configuration is defined by a magnetic coil set with sufficient room for an island divertor, shielding and blanket solutions with tritium breeding ratios (TBR) above unity. An optimistic estimate for the gas-cooled solid breeder designed helium-cooled pebble bed is TBR $\sim 1.3$. Infinity Two satisfies the physics requirements of a stellarator fusion pilot plant.

We present a novel scheme for rapid quantitative analysis of debris generated during experiments with solid targets following relativistic laser–plasma interaction at high-power laser facilities. Results are supported by standard analysis techniques. Experimental data indicate that predictions by available modelling for non-mass-limited targets are reasonable, with debris of the order of hundreds of μg per shot. We detect for the first time two clearly distinct types of debris emitted from the same interaction. A fraction of the debris is ejected directionally, following the target normal (rear and interaction side). The directional debris ejection towards the interaction side is larger than on the side of the target rear. The second type of debris is characterized by a more spherically uniform ejection, albeit with a small asymmetry that favours ejection towards the target rear side.

This paper presents the radiocarbon context of the megalithic monument El Amarejo 1, situated in the corridor of Almansa in the southern region of La Meseta in Spain. The monument was constructed using small and medium-sized masonry, comprising a short corridor and two separate chambers in which burials were carried out. The results of the 14C analyses of each of the 11 individuals documented indicate that the monument was in use between approximately 1900 and 1200 cal BC. Bayesian modeling of the radiocarbon dates allows for the proposition of hypotheses regarding the construction, utilisation dynamics, and abandonment of the monument. The combination of these new data with the analysis of the 14C dating of other burials from the Bronze Age of La Mancha reveals a complex and heterogeneous panorama. The evidence presented and analyzed in this paper suggests that burial practices associated with fortified settlements and their domestic areas shared space and time with the construction of megalithic monuments located near settlements.

Increasing evidence indicates that (poly)phenol consumption can have beneficial effects in human brain function(1). The overall aim of this project is to investigate whether consumption of a (poly)phenol rich cranberry drink improve mental health and cognitive function in university students via the gut-brain axis.

A parallel randomised controlled trial was conducted in 72 young healthy final year university students assigned to consume 236 mL cranberry drink (442 mg polyphenols) or nutrient matched placebo, daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was mood, measured as Total Mood Disturbance (TMD), using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included stress, anxiety and depression levels, measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, salivary cortisol levels and cognitive function measured using the Online General Cognitive Assessment Battery (CogniFit). All of these questionnaires were measured every 4 weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure inflammatory markers, gut-brain-axis metabolites, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and cranberry polyphenols metabolites. Faecal samples were also collected for measuring gut microbiome diversity and composition and faecal metabolomics. Diet was assessed using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), 7-day food diaries (EPIC) and 24 h online dietary recalls (intake 24) during the study. Linear mixed-effect model (LMM) and ANCOVA were used to investigate the relationship between the 2 trial arms.

No significant differences were found between treatments for mood, stress levels, anxiety, depression, circulating short chain fatty acids or inflammatory markers, however a significantly lower diurnal area under the curve of salivary cortisol (p = 0.010) and significantly higher short-term memory (Z-score: p = 0.024; Raw-score: p = 0.034) was found at 12 weeks in the cranberry group compared with the placebo. Besides, significant differences between interventions were found in plasma gut-brain axis metabolites, including the kynurenine and bile acids pathway which were kynurenine (p = 0.023), kynurenic (p = 0.032), quinolinic (p = 0.018), and glycolithocholic acid (p = 0.04) as well as several plasma and urinary cranberry (poly)phenol metabolites were modulated by cranberry consumption.

In conclusion, daily cranberry (poly)phenol supplementation for 12 week did not improve mood, stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in healthy university students, however it may modulate cortisol levels and some aspects of cognitive function via the gut-brain axis.

In the winter of 2022–2023, hundreds of the Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) appeared dead in the coast of the Canary Islands, a rare event considering their cold-living habits, normally occupying the North Atlantic Ocean. In this work, investigation about the parasites present in the Atlantic puffins found in the biggest islands of the Archipelago was carried out from a population portion. Necropsies of 39 birds were made and, during the examination of the urinary tracts, helminths were found. Morphoanatomical analysis under microscope allowed to identify them into Renicola genus with high similarity to Renicola sloanei. After that, DNA was extracted and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene were amplificated by a polymerase chain reaction method followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The molecular results demonstrated that in fact R. sloanei was the helminth parasite present in the urinary tracts of the Atlantic puffins found in the Canary Islands.

Objectives: Leveraging the non-monolithic structure of Latin America, which represents a large variability in social determinants of health (SDoH) and high levels of genetic admixture, we aim to evaluate the relative contributions of SDoH and genetic ancestry in predicting dementia risk in Latin American populations

Methods: Community-dwelling participants aged 65 and older (N = 3808) from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru completed the 10/66 protocol assessments. Dementia was diagnosed using the cross-culturally validated 10/66 algorithm. The primary outcome measured was the risk of developing dementia. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for SDoH were used in the main analysis.

Results: We observed extensive three-way (African/European/Native American) genetic ancestry variation between countries. Individuals with higher proportions of Native American (>70%) and African American (>70%) ancestry were more likely to exhibit factors contributing to worse SDoH, such as lower educational levels (p <0.001), lower SES (p < 0.001), and higher frequency of vascular risk factors (p < 0.001). In unadjusted analysis, American individuals with predominant African ancestry exhibited a higher dementia frequency (p = 0.03) and both Native and African ancestry predominant groups showed lower cognitive performance relative to those with higher European ancestry (p < 0.001). However, after adjusting for measures of SDoH, there was no association between ancestry proportion and dementia probability, and ancestry proportions no longer significantly accounted for the variance in cognitive performance (African predominant p = 0.31 [–0.19, 0.59] and Native predominant p = 0.74 [–0.24, 0.33]).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that social and environmental factors play a more crucial role than genetic ancestry in predicting dementia risk in Latin American populations. This underscores the need for public health strategies and policies that address these social determinants to reduce dementia risk in these communities effectively.

Objectives: Studies in PD have traditionally focused on motor features, however, interest in non-motor manifestations has increased resulting in improved knowledge regarding the prognosis of the disease. Although several studies have explored the incidence of dementia in PD cohorts, these studies have been conducted mainly in reference centers in high-income countries (HIC). In this study we aimed to analyze the prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with parkinsonism and PD and its association with incident dementia in a population- based study, of elderly from six Latin American countries.

Methods: This report consists of the analysis of data from a follow-up of 12,865 elderly people aged 65 years or older, carried out by 10/66 Dementia Research Group. Residents of urban and rural areas, from six low and middle- income countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico and Peru). Exposures include parkinsonism and PD defined according to the UK Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria. Cognitive impairment was the main exposure and dementia was measured through the dementia diagnosis algorithm from 10/66 DRG.

Results: At baseline, the overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 14% (n = 1,581), in people with parkinsonism and PD, it was of 30.0% and 26.2%, respectively. Parkinsonism and PD were individually associated with prevalent and incident dementia after controlling for age, sex, and education. The pooled odds ratios from a fixed-effects meta-analysis were 2.2 (95% CI: 1.9 – 2.6) for parkinsonism and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.4 – 2.4) for PD. Regarding incident dementia, the pooled sub-Hazard ratio estimated using a competing risk model was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.2 –1.9) for parkinsonism and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0 – 2.2) forPD.

Conclusions: Parkinsonism and PD were associated cross-sectionally with the presence of cognitive impairment, and prospectively with incident dementia in elderly people in the community population of Latin America studied. Systematic screening for cognitive impairment and dementia with valid tools in PD patients may help with earlier detection of those at highest risk for adverse outcomes. Identifying modifiable risk factors could potentially lead to efficient interventions even in advanced stages of PD.

Objectives: Because of the continued transition to older populations, various strategies have been developed to estimate the social impact and burden of health care. Regarding mental health, a strategy in the elderly is the measurement of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), these include a wide range of behavioral and psychological manifestations. These are more frequent in the presence of some diseases, such as neurodegenerative syndromes, among which dementias and Parkinson’s disease (PD) stand out. The present study seeks to analyze the frequency of NPS, its relationship with the presence or absence of neurodegenerative syndromes and some characteristics of the elderly and caregivers.

Methods: This is an analysis of data from 12,865 elderly people evaluated within the protocols of the Dementia Research Group 10/66 in 6 Latin American countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela and Peru). The presence or absence of parkinsonism, dementia and parkinsonism plus dementia (PDD) was identified through previously validated and published Methods. The NPS were assessed using the 12-symptom questionnaire version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Other characteristics such as age, sex and education, in patients and caregivers; socioeconomic status, disability and comorbidities in the elderly; relationship with the elderly, needs and care-burden were assessed in careers.

Results: The most frequent symptoms were depression and sleep disorders in the four groups (without non-NDS neurodegenerative syndromes, parkinsonism, dementia and PDD, ranging from 23% to 49%. About a third of the elderly with parkinsonism, half of those with dementia, and 3 out of 5 of the elderly with PDD had 3 or more NPS. The odds ratios (OR) of each NPS measure by multivariate logistic regression models shown OR from 1.4 to 1.9 in the presence of parkinsonism; between 1.7 and 9.3 in the presence of dementia; and between 1.9 and 10.2 in the presence of PDD.

Conclusions: From a clinical and public mental health perspective, it is necessary to implement systematic Methods for NPS screening, as well as develop support strategies for families and caregivers, mainly of those with neurodegenerative syndromes.

Background: Limited knowledge exists about the association between Parkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease (PD) and cognitive impairment and dementia in Latin America.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the cross-sectional and prospective associations between Parkinsonism and PD with cognitive impairment and dementia in a large multi-country cohort in Latin America.

Methods: The 10/66 is a prospective, observational cohort study. This population-based cohort study was based in six Latin American countries: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and Peru. The study includes 12,865 participants from six countries, including residents aged 65 years and living in urban and rural catchment areas. Exposures included diagnosed Parkinsonism and PD defined according to the United Kingdom Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria. Cognitive impairment was the main outcome measure for cross-sectional analysis and dementia was used to measure the prospective association with the exposures. Logistic regression models were used to explore the association between Parkinsonism/PD with cognitive impairment at baseline. Competing risk models were used to assess the prospective association between Parkinsonism/PD with incident dementia accounting for competing risk of mortality. Individual country analyses were combined via fixed-effect meta-analysis.

Results: At baseline, the prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with Parkinsonism and PD was 30% and 26.2%, respectively. Parkinsonism (OR 2.2 (95%CI 1.9 – 2.6)) and PD (1.9 (95%CI 1.4 – 2.4)) were individually associated with baseline and incident cognitive impairment after accounting for age, sex, and education, after pooling. In competing risk models, the pooled sub- hazard ratios for dementia in the fixed effect metanalysis were 1.5 (95%CI 1.2 – 1.9) for parkinsonism and 1.5 (95%CI 1.0 – 2.2) for PD.

Conclusions: Parkinsonism and PD were cross-sectionally associated with cognitive impairment and prospectively associated with incident dementia in Latin America. Routine screening for cognitive impairment and dementia with validated tools in PD patients may aid earlier detection of those at greater risk ofadverseoutcomes.