End-of-life care is an increasingly relevant topic due to advances in biomedical research and the establishment of new disciplines in evidence-based medicine and bioethics. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are two terms widely discussed in medicine, which cause displeasure on many occasions and cause relief on others. The evolution of these terms and the events associated with their study have allowed the evaluation of cases that have established useful definitions for the legal regulation of palliative care and public policies in the different health systems. However, there are still many aspects to be elucidated and defined. Based on the above, this review aimed to compile relevant historical aspects on the evolution of euthanasia and assisted suicide, which will allow understanding the use and research of these terms.

Meta-research in biomedical science is crucial for ensuring rigour, relevance, and transparency in an era marked by the exponential growth of scientific publications. This study examines global and historical trends in meta-research activities within biomedicine and investigates their relationship with health, science, and human development indicators. A systematic analysis of 9633 publications from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed was conducted, focusing on publication volume, citation impact, and geographic distribution. Regression analyses reveal a significant positive association between meta-research activity and the Human Development Index (HDI), suggesting that meta-research contributes to societal advancement by enhancing evidence-based decision-making in health. However, no association was found between meta-research output and research and development (R&D) expenditure, reflecting the minimal resource requirements of secondary data-driven studies compared to primary or experimental research. Meta-research activity correlates positively with clinical trial completion, indicating its role in refining study designs and addressing evidence gaps. These findings highlight the importance of expanding meta-research in underrepresented regions to promote equity in scientific advancement and improve the reliability of biomedical knowledge. This result underscores the need for targeted support for meta-research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited scientific infrastructure and resources for new knowledge generation.

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Introducción. En mamíferos, el control de la temperatura corporal es vital. El estado de consciencia y control motor en humanos, ocurren a una temperatura de 37°C y las desviaciones pueden alterar las propiedades celulares, generando disfunciones fisiológicas. En especies como los roedores (su relación área de superficie/volumen facilita la pérdida de calor) mantienen temperaturas basales cercanas a los 30°C. Distinto es con animales como los paquidermos, cuya temperatura es menor comparada con los humanos. El objetivo es identificar los aspectos fisiológicos de la termorregulación. Descripción de temas tratados. Revisión descriptiva de la literatura de artículos publicados en diferentes bases de datos. La termorregulación es la capacidad del cuerpo para establecer y mantener su temperatura, regulando producción y pérdida de calor para optimizar la eficiencia de procesos metabólicos. El protagonismo lo tiene el sistema nervioso central y su control neuro-hormonal en múltiples niveles. El centro regulador térmico está en el hipotálamo anterior. Este recibe información de los receptores de grandes vasos, vísceras abdominales, médula espinal y de la sangre que perfunde el hipotálamo. Cuando aumenta la temperatura central, el termorregulador activa fibras eferentes del sistema nervioso autónomo, provocando pérdida de calor por convección y evaporación. Ante el descenso de temperatura, la respuesta es disminuir la pérdida de calor (vasoconstricción y menor sudoración); además, incrementar la producción de calor, intensificando la actividad muscular. Conclusión. La termorregulación es liderada por el hipotálamo, quien regula aumento y disminución de la temperatura respondiendo a las necesidades del organismo para llegar a la homeostasis y compensación, enfrentando las alteraciones de la temperatura ambiental

Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed malaria parasite affecting humans worldwide, causing ~5 million cases yearly. Despite the disease’s extensive burden, there are gaps in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which P. vivax invades reticulocytes. In contrast, this crucial step is better understood for P. falciparum, the less widely distributed but more often fatal malaria parasite. This discrepancy is due to the difficulty of studying P. vivax’s exclusive invasion of reticulocytes, which represent 1–2% of circulating cells. Its accurate targeting mechanism has not yet been clarified, hindering the establishment of long-term continuous in vitro culture systems. So far, only three reticulocyte invasion pathways have been characterised based on parasite interactions with DARC, TfR1 and CD98 host proteins. However, exposing the parasite’s alternative invasion mechanisms is currently being considered, opening up a large field for exploring the entry receptors used by P. vivax for invading host cells. New methods must be developed to ensure better understanding of the parasite to control malarial transmission and to eradicate the disease. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on cellular and molecular mechanisms of P. vivax’s merozoite invasion to contribute to a better understanding of the parasite’s biology, pathogenesis and epidemiology.