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The reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in various aspects of male reproductive function, for spermatozoa to acquire the ability to fertilize. However, the increase in ROS generation, both due to internal and external factors, can induce oxidative stress, causing alterations in the structure and function of phospholipids and proteins. In the nucleus, ROS attack DNA, causing its fragmentation and activation of apoptosis, thus altering gene and protein expression. Accumulating evidence also reveals that endogenously produced ROS can act as second messengers in regulating cell signalling pathways and in the transduction of signals that are responsible for regulating spermatogonia self‐renewal and proliferation. In the epididymis, they actively participate in the formation of disulphide bridges required for the final condensation of chromatin, as well as in the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins contained in the fibrous sheath of the flagellum, stimulating the activation of progressive motility in epididymal spermatozoa. In this review, the role of small amounts of ROS during spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal stress disrupts reproductive function in females and males. These alterations have primarily been related to maternal corticosteroid fetal programming due to the stress response, affecting the fetus and causing long-lasting effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prenatal stress on male and female fertility. Dams were exposed to stress by immersion in cold water twice a day for the last week of gestation (days 15–21). In the adulthood, sperm quality, mature follicles, sexual hormones and fertility were assessed in female and male progeny. The results in prenatally stressed females showed lower body weight, longer estrous cycles, lower estradiol and progesterone, and lower number of pups. In prenatally stressed males, lower body weight, increased testicular cell death, as well as decreased testosterone levels, sperm quality, and fertility were observed. Aside from these effects, corticosterone levels in prenatally stressed males and females increased. These results show that prenatal stress can markedly influence infertility in adult female and male progeny. Abbreviations: 3β-HSD: 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; CRH: corticotropin releasing hormone; DEX: dexamethasone; ERα: estrogen receptor alpha; H-E: hematoxylin-eosine; HPA: hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal; KISS: Kisspeptin; ORW: ovarian relative weight; PBS: phosphates; PS: prenatally stressed; PRW: prostatic relative weight; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SRW: seminal relative weight; TdT: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-end labelling; TRW: testicular relative weight; URW: uterine relative weight [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic stress induces decreased sperm motility, viability and concentration in stressed males. Also, stress modifies oxidative status and causes apoptosis in testes, as well as a decrease in the epithelial area of seminiferous tubules. However, there are no studies that analyze the alterations caused by stress in testicular cells. Thus, in this study, alterations in the morphology of testicular germ cells caused by different days of chronic stress were assessed. Adult male rats were exposed to stress by immersion in cold water (ICW) daily for 3, 8, 20 or 50 consecutive days. Plasma testosterone and corticosterone were also assessed. Results showed that chronic stress causes loss of germ cells, and alteration of spermatogenesis. Seminiferous tubules from stressed males showed several degenerative signs, such as vacuoles in the basal epithelium, with picnotic indicia; moderate to severe exfoliation of degenerative germinal cells in the tubule lumen was also observed. These alterations were observed in all days of stress in a gradual way, from day 3–50. Testosterone levels were decreased at all those times, and corticosterone concentrations were increased on the same days. These results show that chronic stress causes severe damage to germ cells, which can account for infertility problems in males. These alterations are related to a decrease in testosterone as well as an increase in corticosterone caused by stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression, anxiety and stress are multifactorial affective disorders that could manifest through a set of symptoms, both physical and psychological, that affect the quality of life and performance of people who suffer from them. In this sense, the present research had the objective of evaluating depression, anxiety and stress in students of the Faculty of Engineering of a Peruvian public university when returning to face-to-face classes. The research was developed under a quantitative approach and is of a non-experimental design of the descriptive cross-sectional type. The sample consisted of 244 students who responded to the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, an instrument with adequate psychometric properties. According to the results, the students presented low levels of depression and anxiety. However, they showed moderate levels of stress. On the other hand, it was found out that the three variables were directly and significantly related. In the same way, it was found that there were statistically significant differences regarding the levels of depression, anxiety and stress related to gender, age group, family responsibilities and professional career. Finally, it was concluded that there were symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in students of the Faculty of Engineering of a Peruvian public university when returning to face-to-face classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple effects of stress on health have been reported; however, reproductive alterations in oocytes and cumulus cells have not been fully described. In females, chronic stress has been shown to produce alterations in the estrous cycle, to decrease oocyte in vivo maturation, and to increase the percentage of abnormal oocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the oocytes from chronically stressed female rats could recover and mature in vitro by providing them with all the necessary culture conditions, as well as to evaluate the functionality of the GAP junctions, and the viability and DNA integrity of the cumulus cells, which are crucial for the complete maturation and development of the oocyte. For this, rats were stressed daily by cold water immersion (15 °C) during 15 min for 30 consecutive days. Corticosterone serum levels in rats increased as an indicator of stress. Chronic stress decreased the percentage of in vitro matured oocytes because the cumulus cells presented irreparable damage to their DNA that led to their death, being unable to establish bidirectional communication with the oocyte for its meiotic resumption through the GAP junctions, which were also damaged. These findings could partially explain an association between stress and infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational field research was conducted in order to determine the nutritional status, consumption of milk and serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in students of 1st, 3rd and 5th grades of the "Rafael Antonio Gonzalez" school in Mesa Bolívar in 2007. The population consisted of 171 students. We determined the sample with a simple random stratified method, yielding 47% of school enrollment, corresponding to 80 children distributed by grade: 21 children in 1st, 28 in 3rd, 31 in 5th, aged 6 to 12 years old. The amount and frequency of consumption of dairy products, with an "ad hoc" questionnaire designed containing 10 items related to the frequency of consumption, quantity and type of dairy product. Nutritional assessment was carried out by means of the combination of indicators (weight for height and height for age) using the tables of evaluation of the World Health Organization. Values were determined in serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. The students had 32,6% of malnutrition, both boys (6-10 years and 11-12 years) and girls (8-12 years) had an adequate percentage of low calcium daily intake(77.16%, 28. 57% and 38.96%, respectively) and 60% had hypocalcemia. There is statistical significance between serum calcium and phosphorus with an average daily intake of calcium (p 0.05 and p 0.04). There was no statistically significant relationship between dairy products consumption and nutritional status of schoolchildren. The nutritional status of schoolchildren does not depend on daily consumption of dairy products, however, that consumption does affect serum calcium and phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has a significant impact on the hematopoietic system and hemostasis. Leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia are associated with increased severity and even death in COVID-19 cases. Objective: The aim is to examine the laboratory results of COVID-19 patients from a hospital in the Peruvian Amazon and their clinical prognosis. Material and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out whose purpose was to identify the laboratory tests of patients with COVID-19 and mortality in a hospital in Ucayali, Peru during the period from March 13 to May 9, 2020, selecting a total of 127 with Covid-19. Mean and the standard deviation was described for age, leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, RDW-SD; median and interquartile range for the variables lymphocyte, RN / L, fibrinogen, CRP, D-dimer, DHL, hematocrit, monocytes, eosinophils. Results: No differences were observed in this population regarding death and sex (OR: 1.31; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.87), however, it was observed that, for each one-year increase, the probability of death increased by 4% (PR: 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.05). The IRR (Incidence Risk Ratio) analysis for the numerical variables showed results strongly associated with hematological values such as Leukocytes (scaled by 2500 units) (IRR: 1.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.13), neutrophils (scaled by 2500 units) (IRR: 1.08; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.13), on the contrary, it is observed that the increase of 1000 units in lymphocytes, the probability of dying decreased by 48% (IRR: 0.52; 95% CI 0.38 to 071). Conclusions: Parameters such as leukocytes, neutrophils and D-dimer were statistically much higher in patients who died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Recently, a significant relationship between stress and reproductive failure in women was reported; being one of the possible causes of infertility. The World Health Organization recognizes infertility as a global public health issue; therefore, the interest in understanding the main causes of this issue has increased over the last few decades. Thus, many studies have reported that stress can adversely alter the functionality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis; as well as being one of the reasons of subfertility in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Therefore, it can be assumed that stress is closely related to poor in vitro fertilization outcomes. In chronically stressed female rats, irregular estrous cyclicity, increased corticosterone levels, decreased oocyte viability, and increased percentage of abnormal oocytes were obtained in all estrous cycle phases, resulting in reduced oocyte maturation during proestrus. Oocyte maturation disturbed by chronic stress is a crucial factor by which chronic stress disrupts female reproduction. Background: Stress has been considered as one of the causes of decreased reproductive function in women. However, direct evidence of the effect of chronic stress on oocytes depending on estrous cycle phases is limited. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of chronic stress on the viability, integrity, and maturation of rat oocytes depending on estrous cycle phases, specifically proestrus, estrus, and diestrus. Methods: For this purpose, adult female rats were stressed daily by cold water immersion (15 °C) for 30 consecutive days. Results: In chronically stressed female rats, irregular estrous cyclicity, increased corticosterone levels, decreased oocyte viability, and an increased percentage of abnormal oocytes were obtained in all the estrous cycle phases, resulting in reduced oocyte maturation during proestrus. Conclusion: Oocyte maturation disturbed by chronic stress is a crucial factor by which chronic stress disrupts female reproduction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in humans has been an important tool for the treatment of infertility. The number of treatments performed in Latin America has been increasing, and Mexico is the third country with the most assisted reproduction cycles performed in the region. However, Mexico lacks a national regulation for assisted reproduction. Therefore, it is necessary to implement regulations that allow for a safe clinical practice based on ethics which can be available to any social group. Main body: The aim of this review was to examine the existing legislation that regulates human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico, but also to examine the legal analysis of the policies, laws, and regulations in effect in some countries in Latin America, North America, and Europe. For this, seven databases were consulted, and 34 articles from 2004 to 2021 referring to the practice of ART within the legal framework and the anthropological analysis that this entails were analyzed. Eight documents were also consulted such as the Mexican General Health Law of the Official Journal of the Federation (February 7, 1984) with its last published reform (DOF 01-06-2021). And three official agency websites were also consulted. No specific legislation was found for human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico; however, assisted reproduction clinics are ruled under some agreements implemented by national organizations such as the Mexican Association of Reproductive Medicine and, at the Latin America level, the Latin America Network of Assisted Reproduction (abbreviated REDLARA in Spanish); in addition, the practice of ART is considered, although not explicitly, in the General Health Law. Conclusion: In Mexico, there is no legal regulation in charge of assisted reproduction practices, which is why there is an urgent need to establish human assisted reproduction laws without incurring discriminatory and unconstitutional acts, and at the same time, be in accordance with scientific advances. This will allow a considerable reduction in the violation of human rights. Plain language summary: The emergence of ART in humans has been an important tool for the treatment of infertility. It is reported that one in four couples in developing countries has fertility problems. In 2009, the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) established ART as "all treatments or procedures involving in vitro manipulation of oocytes, sperm or embryos for the purpose of establishing a pregnancy". The number of treatments performed in Latin America has been increasing, and Mexico is the third country with the most assisted reproduction cycles performed in the region. However, Mexico lacks a national regulation for human assisted reproduction. This has caused Mexico to become a medical tourism paradise, which increases the possibility of abuses, fraud, and clinical risks. In addition, it allows each institution offering assisted reproduction services, whether public or private, to establish arbitrary requirements for inclusion. Thus, the emergence of a regulation that allows a safe clinical practice based on ethics, which will also make this reproductive tool available to any social group, is a social need. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine the existing legislation that regulates human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico, but also to examine the legal analysis of the policies, laws, and regulations in use in some countries in Latin America, North America, and Europe, as well as highlighting the importance of working on the establishment of regulations that allow for safe and ethically based clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetive. To describe the perceptions and knowledge about COVID-19. Material and Method: Cross-sectional study, an online survey of 314 participants was conducted, the questionnaire consists of 9 multiplechoice questions, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The average age of the respondents was 26.9 years, the sample comprised more women 161 (51.3%) than men and almost 89% of the respondents belonged to undergraduate, the place of origin of the Covid-19 was well known 94.30%, for half of the respondents 159 (50.6%) it is not a zoonotic disease, concerning the COVID-19 prevention measures the majority of the respondents consider that handwashing is an of the main prevention measures. Conclusion: CAP studies are important for a better understanding of the perception and knowledge of COVID-19. The study revealed that respondents generally have some general knowledge about SARSCoV- 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of anemia in pregnant women and his association with foods intake, nutritional state and socio-economic variables has been analyzed. The sample was about 299 women that assist to a prenatal consultation in the health center Libertador Municipality, State of Merida 2009, in ages between 13 and 45 years. The obtained data was: haemoglobin and haematocrit of the three pregnancy quarters, parity, instruction level, occupation, incomes and foods expenditure. It was applyed a survey of "foods intake frequency" and it was determined Alimentary Insecurity Risk (RIA) and the IMC to the knowledge their nutritional state. 25, 75% of the women are anemics with values of HB< of 10.9 mg/dL, predominant in the ages of 13 and 30 years (21,07%), with an statistic significance between the parity and the anemia presence, a high Risk of Alimentari Insecurity (RIA) and a predominance of overweight in all the studied group (IMC: With anemia 27,44 ± 4,57 and with no presence of anemia 28,25 ± 6,25). The anaemic women consumed milk, cheese and chicken, fruits like papaya and orange, corn arepas, coffee, tea and sodas; It wasn't present consume of vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and chard. The no-anemic women consumed yogurt, fish, liver, wheat bread; it wasn't consume of coffee, tea and sodas. It was found an statistic significance between the consume of cauliflower and chard in the no-anemic women and orange, milk and tea in the anemic ones (p < 0,05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study, was based on the design and validation of an instrument to determine the managemental profile of the Dietician. The instrument applied was the GERSAL, (Management in Health), with 6 managemental dimensions: personal resources or abilities,leadership, personal performance while working in teams, managemental and organizational culture, professional improvement, and professional performance, to 50 dieticians of 5 public Institutions of the State, from March to May 2007. GERSAL, was tested using factorial analysis of main components and Varimax Rotation. These demonstrated to be high and significant, Cronbach (0.92), two halves (0.75), Guttman (0.85) and Spearman Brown (0.86). The factorial analysis demonstrated the existence of 6 present managemental dimensions. The greater score in the total of the scale, was for the dieticians of the University of the Andes (ULA), presenting the highest scores in the dimensions of personal development, managemental culture and personal development while working in teams. Those of the Instituto Autónomo de Alimentación y el Instituto Nacional de Nutrición (Independent Institute of Feeding and the National Institute of Nutrition), obtained high scores in professional improvement, managemental culture and personal resources, as well as all members of the Ministry of Education in the dimension of leadership. The behavior of GERSAL revealed that men present higher personal scores in resources and abilities than women. It was demonstrated that GERSAL is a useful and reliable measuring instrument of easy application, quantification and interpretation and it is possible to apply to similar samples in the area of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetivo: diseñar y validar un inrtrumento para determinar el perfil gerencial de los profesionales de la nutrición. Materiales: estudio transversal analítico, en 50 nutricionistas de cinco instituciones del estado Mérida a los cuales se aplicó instrumento parar,edir perfil gerencial, denominado GERSAL (Gerencia en Salud), de 101 ítems, con seis dimensiones gerernciales: recursos o habilidades personales, liderazgo, trabajo en equipo, cultura gerencial y organizacional, rejOramiento profesional, y desempeño profesional. GERSAL fue sometido a análisis factorial de componentes principales y rotación Varimax. Se determinaron los coeficientes de confiabilidad de la escala, Cronbach, Dos Mitades, Guttman y Spearman. Resultados: los coeficientes de ~onfiabilidad demostraron ser altos y significativos, Cronbach (.92), Dos Mitades (.75), Guttman (.85) y S~earman Brown (.86). El análisis factorial demostró la existencia de seis dimensiones gerenciales presentes en la escala. Los nutricionistas de la Universidad de Los Andes (ULA) obtuvieron mayores puntajes en laf dimensiones de desarrollo personal, cultura gerencial y trabajo en equipo; Los del Instituto Nacional de Nutricón (INN) obtuvieron puntajes altos en mejoramiento profesional, liderazgo, cultura gerencial y recursos perso ales. El mayor puntaje obtenido fue para los profesionales delINN, seguido por los profesionales de la ULA. Conclusiones: se pudo afirmar q e la escala GERSAL es un instrumento de medición útil y confiable de fácil aplicación, cuantificación e interpretación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]