Maria José

Background: Families caring for children with medical complexity (CMC) face sustained psychosocial demands that may impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health. A clear map of how these outcomes are assessed and which factors shape them is needed to guide family-centered care. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, and reports were prepared according to the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE (January 2011 to December 2023) to find studies reporting on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and/or mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, burden) of family members and/or caregivers of CMC, including operationalization based on complex chronic condition (CCC) classifications, technology dependency, or the Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm (PMCA). Two reviewers independently screened records and recorded data, and the findings were synthesized narratively and thematically. Results: Sixty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria and spanned cross-sectional, cohort, case–control, pre–post and qualitative designs across conditions such as epilepsy, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, technology dependence and cancer. Common measures were PedsQL™ Family Impact Module, SF-36/12, HADS, Beck inventories and Zarit burden scales. Across the included studies, caregivers, predominantly mothers, frequently reported poorer HRQoL and higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, or burden than comparison groups when these were available. Six recurrent themes emerged: (1) gendered caregiving with disproportionate maternal burden; (2) socio-economic gradients and financing models shaping outcomes; (3) culture, religion and spirituality as coping resources; (4) family and social support buffering distress; (5) school participation and coordinated services potentially reducing burden; and (6) interdependence between caregiver and child outcomes. Conclusions: Heterogeneous CMC definitions, outcome measures, and study designs limited comparability across studies. The mapped evidence suggests that family HRQoL and mental health outcomes are shaped by interacting clinical, social, and contextual factors. These findings may inform more family-centered and equity-oriented approaches to care. Future research should harmonize CMC definitions, standardize outcome measures, and prospectively evaluate multicomponent interventions.

Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas–Fundación Cáncer (CIO-FUCA), Buenos Aires 1426, Argentina Fundación para Combatir la Leucemia (FUNDALEU), Buenos Aires 1114, Argentina

Background: Performance-based tests (PBTs) objectively assess functional capacity and are increasingly applied in fibromyalgia (FM) to complement patient-reported outcomes (PROMs). However, evidence regarding their reliability, especially considering patients’ socio-occupational status, is limited. This study aimed to determine test–retest reliability of a standardized PBT battery in women with FM and to examine the influence of employment status on measurement stability. Methods: A total of 119 women were assessed (89 with FM). The battery included the 6 min walk test (6MWT), handgrip strength test (HST), and 8 feet up and go test (8FUGT). Test–retest reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest real difference (SRD). Analyses were conducted for the total FM group and socio-occupational subgroups (actively working, claiming disability, and permanent disability). Results: All PBTs demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability. Measurement stability was consistently higher in controls. Absolute reliability indices confirmed acceptable measurement stability. However, the claiming disability group showed markedly higher SEM% and SRD% for HST, suggesting reduced reproducibility. The 6MWT and 8FUGT maintained excellent reliability and stability across all groups. PROMs showed good-to-excellent reliability. Conclusions: PBTs showed excellent reliability in women with FM. However, reliability varied across socio-occupational groups, particularly for HST in patients claiming disability. PROMSs showed lower reliability than PBTs.

by and AquaValor, Centro de Valorização e Transferência de Tecnologia da Água, Associação, Rua Dr. Júlio Martins nº 1, 5400-342 Chaves, Portugal

by and Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain

This study aimed to analyze sex-specific changes in blood pressure (BP), anthropometric variables, and movement behaviors following a 16-week educational intervention of the BeE-school project.

What is the current good practice in the IVF laboratory, based on the best available evidence in the literature, if available, and the expertise of the working group?

Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy

Yeasts of the genus Candida are microorganisms of significant relevance in clinical practice, particularly within intensive care units, where they are classified as high-risk pathogens due to their impact on immunocompromised patients. Despite this, fungi frequently remain neglected in comparison to other infectious agents, and their ecological role, specifically concerning wildlife, remains underexplored. Historically, wild animals have been utilized as a source of subsistence by riverside and rural communities, although such consumption has been increasingly regulated in recent years. The interaction among wild animals, domestic species, and humans facilitates microbial exchange across diverse ecological niches, thereby increasing the risk of the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and underscoring the principles of the One Health concept. Accordingly, this literature review consolidated studies regarding the isolation of Candida spp. from commensal sites and infectious processes in wild mammals. Thirty-four studies were analyzed, encompassing 21 Candida species across 74 mammalian species. Although Candida spp. are present in the vast majority of healthy individuals, their presence in free-ranging animals may serve as an indicator of ecological alterations and anthropogenic influence within these habitats. Furthermore, under specific circumstances, these commensals can cause infections, particularly in cases of immunological fragility. These data underscore the necessity for further research into the role of wildlife as hotspots or sentinels in the dissemination of these yeasts, contributing to the monitoring and management of emerging diseases, as well as to the health and conservation of wild populations.

Transformations driven by globalisation, digitalisation, and increasingly complex communication processes have significantly altered how territories are represented, governed, and experienced. Within this evolving landscape, place branding has emerged as a strategic domain that transcends traditional promotional approaches, integrating considerations of identity, governance, participation, and development. Concurrently, digital communication is now a central component of social life, influencing citizenship, the public visibility of social actors, and the collective construction of place-based meanings.