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Introduction: Alzheimer disease risk polymorphisms have been studied in patients with dementia, but have not yet been explored in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in our population; nor have they been addressed in relation to cognitive variables, which can be predictive biomarkers of disease. Objective: To evaluate cognitive performance and presence of polymorphisms of the genes SORL1(rs11218304), PVRL2(rs6859), CR1(rs6656401), TOMM40(rs2075650), APOE (isoforms ε2, ε3, ε4), PICALM(rs3851179), GWAS_14q(rs11622883), BIN1(rs744373), and CLU(rs227959 and rs11136000) in patients with MCI and healthy individuals. Methodology: We performed a cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive study of a prospective cohort of participants selected by non-probabilistic sampling, evaluated with neurological, neuropsychological, and genetic testing, and classified as cognitively healthy individuals and patients with MCI. Cognition was evaluated with the Neuronorma battery and analysed in relation to the polymorphic variants by means of measures of central tendency, confidence intervals, and nonparametric statistics. Results: We found differences in performance in language and memory tasks between carriers and non-carriers of BIN1, CLU, and CR1 variants and a trend towards poor cognitive performance for PICALM, GWAS_14q, SORL1, and PVRL2 variants; the APOE and TOMM40 variants were not associated with poor cognitive performance. Discussion: Differences in cognitive performance associated with these polymorphic variants may suggest that the mechanisms regulating these genes could have an effect on cognition in the absence of dementia; however, this study was exploratory and hypotheses based on these results must be explored in larger samples. Resumen: Introducción: Los polimorfismos de riesgo para el desarrollo de enfermedad de Alzheimer se han estudiado en pacientes con demencia, pero aún no se han explorado en trastorno neurocognitivo leve (TNL) en nuestra población, ni se han considerado en relación con variables cognitivas, las cuales pueden ser biomarcadores predictivos de enfermedad. Objetivo: Evaluar los desempeños cognitivos y los polimorfismos en los genes SORL1(rs11218304), PVRL2(rs6859), CR1(rs6656401), TOMM40(rs2075650), APOE(isoformas ε2, ε3, ε4), PICALM(rs3851179), GWAS_14q(rs11622883), BIN(rs744373), CLU (rs227959 y rs11136000) en pacientes con TNL y en sujetos sanos. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, exploratorio y transversal, en una cohorte prospectiva de participantes seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico, evaluados por neurología, neuropsicología y genética, y clasificados como cognitivamente sanos y pacientes con TNL, según criterios. La cognición se evaluó por medio de la batería Neuronorma y se analizó en relación con las variantes polimórficas por medio de medidas de tendencia, intervalos de confianza y estadísticos no paramétricos. Resultados: Se identificaron diferencias en los desempeños en tareas de lenguaje y memoria en relación con las variantes de BIN1, CLU y CR1, junto con tendencias en las variantes de PICALM, GWArs, SORL y PVRL2, mientras que en APOE y TOMM40 no se encontraron tendencias. Discusión: Las tendencias en los desempeños cognitivos en relación con variantes polimórficas podrían indicar que, en ausencia de demencia, los mecanismos que regulan estos genes podrían tener un efecto sobre la cognición; sin embargo, esta aproximación tiene un carácter exploratorio y sus resultados permiten generar hipótesis que requieren ser exploradas en muestras de mayor tamaño.

Electric vehicles (EV) have gained global attention due to increasing oil prices and rising concerns about transportation-related urban air pollution and climate change. While mass adoption of EVs has several economic and environmental benefits, large-scale deployment of EVs on the low-voltage (LV) urban distribution networks will also result in technical challenges. This paper proposes a simple and easy to implement single-phase EV charging coordination strategy with three-phase network supply, in which chargers connect EVs to the less loaded phase of their feeder at the beginning of the charging process. Hence, network unbalance is mitigated and, as a result, EV hosting capacity is increased. A new concept, called Maximum EV Hosting Capacity (HC $_{max}$ ) of low voltage distribution networks, is introduced to objectively assess and quantify the enhancement that the proposed phase-shifting strategy could bring to distribution networks. The resulting performance improvement has been demonstrated over three real UK residential networks through a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study using Matlab and OpenDSS tools. With the same EV penetration level, the under-voltage probability was reduced in the first network from 100% to 54% and in the second network from 100% to 48%. Furthermore, percentage voltage unbalance factors in the networks were successfully restored to their original values before any EV connection.

Levels of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 and chemical speciation of PM10 and PM2.5 were measured during the MILAGRO campaign (1st to 31st March 2006, but extended in some cases until 6th April) at four urban, one suburban, two rural background and two rural sites, with different degree of industrial influence, in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and adjacent regions. PM10 and PM2.5 daily levels varied between 50–56μg/m3 and 24–46μg/m3 at the urban sites, 22–35μg/m3 and 13–25μg/m3 at the rural sites, and 75μg/m3 and 31μg/m3 at the industrial hotspot, lower than those recorded at some Asian mega-cities and similar to those recorded at other Latin American cities. At the urban sites, hourly PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations showed a marked impact of road traffic emissions (at rush hours), with levels of coarse PM remaining elevated during daytime. At the suburban and rural sites different PM daily patterns were registered according to the influence of the pollution plume from MCMA, and also of local soil resuspension. The speciation studies showed that mineral matter accounted for 25–27% of bulk PM10 at the urban sites and a higher proportion (up to 43%) at the suburban and rural sites. This pattern is repeated in PM2.5, with 15% at urban and 28% at suburban and rural sites. Carbonaceous compounds accounted for a significant proportion at the urban and industrial sites (32–46% in PM10, and 51–55% in PM2.5), markedly reduced at the suburban and rural sites (16–23% in PM10, and 30% in PM2.5). The secondary inorganic aerosols accounted for 10–20% of bulk PM10 at urban, suburban, rural and industrial sites, with a higher proportion (40%) at the industrial background site. A relatively high proportion of nitrate in rural sites was present in the coarse fraction. Typically anthropogenic elements (As, Cr, Zn, Cu, Pb, Sn, Sb, Ba, among others) showed considerably high levels at the urban sites; however levels of particulate Hg and crustal trace elements (Rb, Ti, La, Sc, Ga) were generally higher at the suburban site. Principal component analysis identified three major common factors: crustal, regional background and road traffic. Moreover, some specific factors were obtained for each site.

With the purpose of estimating the source contributions of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) to the atmosphere at three different sites in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, 92 ambient air samples were measured from February 23 to March 22 of 1997. Light- and heavy-duty vehicular profiles were determined to differentiate the NMHC contribution of diesel and gasoline to the atmosphere. Food cooking source profiles were also determined for chemical mass balance receptor model application. Initial source contribution estimates were carried out to determine the adequate combination of source profiles and fitting species. Ambient samples of NMHC were apportioned to motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapor, handling and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas), asphalt operations, painting operations, landfills, and food cooking. Both gasoline and diesel motor vehicle exhaust were the major NMHC contributors for all sites and times, with a percentage of up to 75%. The average motor vehicle exhaust contributions increased during the day. In contrast, LP gas contribution was higher during the morning than in the afternoon. Apportionment for the most abundant individual NMHC showed that the vehicular source is the major contributor to acetylene, ethylene, pentanes, n-hexane, toluene, and xylenes, while handling and distribution of LP gas was the major source contributor to propane and butanes. Comparison between CMB estimates of NMHC and the emission inventory showed a good agreement for vehicles, handling and distribution of LP gas, and painting operations; nevertheless, emissions from diesel exhaust and asphalt operations showed differences, and the results suggest that these emissions could be underestimated.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of vulvovaginal dermatosis is not known in Mexico. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency and distribution of vulvovaginal dermatosis in the Dermatology Department of the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González located in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective and descriptive study that included data of patients of any age that underwent biopsy of the vulvar region in the time period of 1979 to 2015, in the Dermatology Department of the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez. RESULTS: A total of 354 histologic reports of the vulvar region were included. The five most frequent diagnoses were vulvar melanosis, epidermoid cyst, condyloma acuminatum and cutaneous changes due to HPV, lichen sclerosus and lichen planus. We found a high frequency of pigmented lesions (n = 117), the most frequent pigmented lesion was vulvar melanosis. The frequency of malignant and premalignant neoplasms was low. CONCLUSIONS: We found a frequency of benign and cystic lesions similar to that reported in worldwide literature; the most frequent lesions found in our study were pigmented lesions of the vulva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the case of a 24-year-old female patient with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, who presented to our department with cutaneous manifestations. She has torpid evolution, and gastrointestinal and renal complications. Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a small vessel vasculitis that affects mainly pediatric patients, characterized by the tetrad of palpable purpura, abdominal pain, arthralgia or arthritis and kidney injury. It is a systemic disease with IgA. It is usually selflimiting, but in some cases serious complications may appear, mainly chronic kidney disease. Steroid treatment is recommended only in severe cases. Early recognition of the disease and the multidisciplinary management prevent fatal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Patologia Revista Latinoamericana is the property of Asociacion Latinoamericana de Patologia/Asociacion Mexicana de Patologia/Consejo Mexicano de Medicos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: The basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a very common heterogeneous malignant neoplasm, its histopathology has a strong similarity with some benign neoplasms of follicular origin; therefore it is necessary to establish a correct diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of immunohistochemical markers CK AE1/AE3, p53, Ki-67 and CD34 in solid and adenoid basal cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive study (N=59) was done; paraffin-embedded tissue blocks with diagnosis of BCC were included, n=39 solid type and n=20 adenoid type, the immunohistochemistry technique with antibodies CK AE1/AE3, p53, Ki-67 and CD34 was performed, the results were analyzed semi-quantitatively by two examiners previously standardized assessing the intensity and quantity expression of each marker. RESULTS: The expression of CK AE1-AE3 was of 100% in intensity and quantity in both histopathological subtypes, the marker CD34 in solid BCC was presented predominantly in the stroma below the lesion, in the adenoid CBC it was expressed between the nests of the neoplasm, the antibodies CK AE1/AE3, p53, CD34 and Ki-67 had not significant differences in their localization. CONCLUSIONS: While p53 and Ki-67 are very helpful to determine the prognosis of the neoplasm, they are not decisive when it comes to differentiate between histopathological subtypes of BCC; on the contrary, CD34 could be useful as a marker to help distinguish between histopathological subtypes, this due to the topographical differences expressed between both neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Patologia Revista Latinoamericana is the property of Asociacion Latinoamericana de Patologia/Asociacion Mexicana de Patologia/Consejo Mexicano de Medicos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract  The precision of optical imaging to study free surface dynamics is analyzed. The damping of a liquid bridge free surface oscillation is used to validate this method. Images are acquired with a digital camera at relatively high frame rates and processed by several techniques. Oscillations with amplitudes of about 20 times smaller than the pixel size are measured, which allows one to reach the nanometer scale in the analysis. The experimental results presented in this paper constitute the first quantitative validation of optical imaging to study free surface dynamics at the nanometer scale. As a secondary goal, we propose an image processing technique based on the local thresholding criterion to determine the free surface position with sub-pixel resolution. This yields more precision (less noise) than the standard technique when considering very small oscillations. Further improvement of the results is obtained by a simple smoothing technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pedagogical experience with adolescent students in 9 th, 10 th, and 11 th of basic education levels (H.S.) in the Astronomy class is narrated herein; astronomy field practices, conceptualization exercises, audiovisual aids, construction of paper model spaceships, and visits to specialized sites, among other activities. In the process, relevant facts of the education of scientific attitude in the students stand out. A Center of scientific interest, where the passion for the study of physics is motivated has been created. The Ovidio Decroly legacy guides this process; highlighting globalization, base ideas and force ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperthyroid patients are characterized by accelerated bone turnover leading to bone mass loss. The aim of this study was to assess changes in quantitative ultrasound [QUS] parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), and biochemical markers of bone turnover in patients prior to and after the onset of hyperthyroid treatment. A 2-yr longitudinal study was performed on 10 women recently diagnosed with Grave's disease after starting antithyroid therapy. Six patients were postmenopausal. All patients showed evidence of thyrotoxicosis as indicated by suppressed serum TSH and high levels of total serum thyroxine. They received antithyroid therapy (methimazole and/or 131I radiodine). QUS parameters were measured using an Achilles ultrasound unit and BMD was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Thyroid hormones and markers of bone turnover were determined at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 mo after the onset of treatment. Stiffness, broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and speed of sound (SOS) were low at baseline compared to normal values for the same age range and increased after 2 yr of treatment. A significant increase in BMD of the lumbar spine, total skeleton, and skeletal regions (legs) was also observed after treatment. Recovery of stiffness was almost complete at 12 mo. No significant elevation was observed between 12 and 24 mo. Stiffness increased 7.6%, 10.4%, and 10.4% after 6 mo (p < 0.02), after 1 yr (p < 0.02), and after 2 yr, respectively. No significant increase in SOS and BUA was observed between 12 and 24 mo. Furthermore, recovery of total skeleton and lumbar spine BMD continued throughout the study. Successful antithyroid therapy produced a rapid increase in QUS parameters (Stiffness) and spine BMD and femoral neck during the first year of treatment and a slower increment in total skeleton (up to 24 mo). Overall, ad integrum restitution was not observed in QUS or BMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spore yields were measured for various fungal entomopathogens grown in six nutritionally different liquid media with low and high carbon concentrations (8 and 36 g l−1, respectively) at carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios of 10:1, 30:1 and 50:1. Six fungi were tested: two Beauveria bassiana strains, three Paecilomyces fumosoroseus strains and one Metarhizium anisopliae strain. Spore yields were examined after 2, 4 or 7 days growth. In general, highest spore yields were obtained in media containing 36 g/l and a C:N ratio of 10:1. After 4 days growth, highest spore yields were measured in the three Paecilomyces isolates (6.9–9.7 × 108 spores ml−1). Spore production by the B. bassiana isolates was variable with one isolate producing high spore yields (12.2 × 108 spores ml−1) after 7 days growth. The M. anisopliae isolate produced low spore concentrations under all conditions tested. Using a commercial production protocol, a comparison of spore yields for the coffee berry borer P. fumosoroseus and a commercial B. bassiana isolate showed that highest spore concentrations (7.2 × 108 spores ml−1) were obtained with the P. fumosoroseus isolate 2-days post-inoculation. The ability of the P. fumosoroseus strain isolated from the coffee berry borer to rapidly produce high concentrations of spores prompted further testing to determine the desiccation tolerance of these spores. Desiccation studies showed that ca. 80% of the liquid culture produced P. fumosoroseus spores survived the air-drying process. The virulence of freshly produced, air-dried and freeze-dried coffee berry borer P. fumosoroseus blastospores preparations were tested against silverleaf whiteflies (Bemisia argentifolii). While all preparations infected and killed B. argentifolii, fresh and air-dried preparations were significantly more effective. These results suggest that screening potential fungal biopesticides for amenability to liquid culture spore production can aid in the identification of commercially viable isolates. In this study, P. fumosoroseus was shown to possess the production and stabilization attributes required for commercial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between cisplatin treatment and diabetes mellitus was analyzed retrospectively in 219 patients with locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer treated in two consecutive trials with cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy. It was found that 11 patients (5%) developed diabetes mellitus during the treatment period, two cases presenting as hyperosmolar coma. The literature contains only sporadic descriptions of cases of hyperosmolar coma related to cisplatin chemotherapy. The present study was initiated owing to a case of hyperosmolar coma observed by us. We suggest that glycemia levels in patients receiving chemotherapy with a cisplatin-based regimen should be monitored regularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidative activities of protein hydrolysates prepared from industrial defatted rapeseed meal using various proteolytic enzymes. The hydrolysate generated by Alcalase displayed the highest ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50 0.02 mg/ml) as well as high inhibitory capacity against lipid oxidation in a liposomal model. The Alcalase hydrolysate was fractionated using stepwise solid-phase extraction into three fractions (SP10, SP30, SP60), of which the hydrophobic fractions possessed the highest ACE-inhibitory activity. Subjecting these fractions to ultra filtration with 3000 Da molecular weight cut off (MWCO) membrane revealed that ACE-inhibitory activity was concentrated in the permeate. The ACE-inhibitory peptides in Alcalase hydrolysate exhibited good stability in an in vitro digestion model using human gastric and duodenal fluids. Kinetics studies gave moderate Ki values (0.2–0.3 mg/ml) and an uncompetitive pattern of ACE inhibition for the Alcalase hydrolysate and peptide fractions. Our results indicate the defatted rapeseed meal is a potential source of ACE-inhibitory compounds for use in functional foods.

Antecedentes: La fibrosis es una complicación que genera afectación funcional, estética y psicológica. En el presente caso se demuestra que la pirfenidona es efectiva como manejo de la fibrosis tisular. Objetivo: Presentar el caso de una paciente de 55 años de edad con fibrosis cervical después de tiroidectomía total y disección cervical, secundario a nódulo Bethesda IV. Resultados: Después de nueve meses de tratamiento con pirfenidona se objetivó mejora total de movilidad y calidad de vida. Conclusión: El tratamiento con pirfenidona es efectivo para disminuir la fibrosis cervical y es seguro para su uso médico en pacientes que lo requieran.

Los Trastornos del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal (TEAF) constituyen una serie de manifestaciones clínicas que incluyen déficits en el crecimiento, tanto físicos, conductuales como cognitivos. Estos déficits interfieren en el desarrollo del lenguaje, del habla y de la comunicación. El presente estudio busca examinar las características lingüísticas y comunicativas en 19 casos de personas con TEAF con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y los 17 años. Para ello se utilizaron las pruebas PEABODY y CELF-5. En cuanto a los resultados de la prueba PEABODY se obtuvo una puntuación media de grupo calificada como moderadamente baja. En la prueba CELF-5, todos los índices se ubicaron por debajo de la media, en todas las habilidades lingüísticas. Parece, por tanto, que la población con TEAF presenta un perfil de alteraciones lingüísticas y comunicativas que repercute en su desempeño en los diferentes contextos de desarrollo. Estas limitaciones afectan de manera significativa en la forma en la que esta población se desenvuelve en las interacciones sociales y en su día a día.

Tauopathies are characterized by the abnormal buildup of tau protein, with early oligomeric forms associated with neurodegeneration and the later neurofibrillary tangles possibly conferring neuroprotection. The molecular mechanisms governing the formation of these tau species are unclear. Lately, there has been an increased focus on examining the interactions between tau and other proteins, along with their influence on the aggregation of tau. Our previous work revealed EFhd2’s association with pathological tau in animal models and tauopathy brains. Herein, we examined the impact of EFhd2 on monomeric and filamentous tau in vitro. The results demonstrated that EFhd2 incubation with monomeric full length human tau (hTau40) formed amorphous aggregates, where both EFhd2 and hTau40 colocalized. Moreover, EFhd2 is entangled with arachidonic acid (ARA)-induced filamentous hTau40. Furthermore, EFhd2-induced aggregation with monomeric and filamentous hTau40 is EFhd2 concentration dependent. Using sandwich ELISA assays, we assessed the reactivity of TOC1 and Alz50—two conformation-specific tau antibodies—to EFhd2-hTau40 aggregates (in absence and presence of ARA). No TOC1 signal was detected in EFhd2 aggregates with monomeric hTau40 whereas EFhd2 aggregates with hTau in the presence of ARA showed a higher signal compared to hTau40 filaments. In contrast, EFhd2 aggregates with both monomeric and filamentous hTau40 reduced Alz50 reactivity. Taken together, our results illustrate for the first time that EFhd2, a tau-associated protein, interacts with monomeric and filamentous hTau40 to form large aggregates that are starkly different from tau oligomers and filaments. Given these findings and previous research, we hypothesize that EFhd2 may play a role in the formation of tau aggregates. Nevertheless, further in vivo studies are imperative to test this hypothesis.

Introduction: Pediatric extreme hydrocephalus (PEH) is a complex condition with uncertain prognostic outcomes. Objectives: In this study, we analyze the long-term change in cerebral parenchymal thickness of pediatric patients with extreme hydrocephalus after shunting. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with PEH treated at the General Hospital of Mexico from 2009 to 2016. Cerebral parenchymal thickness was measured in computed tomography studies before surgical intervention, at 5 months, and 4 years post-surgery. The average change in thickness in millimeters was analyzed, and its normalized value was assessed using the Wilcoxon test and the R2 of a linear function. Results: Twelve patients, including 5 females and 7 males, were studied. Nine cases were congenital, while the remaining 3 cases were 6 months, 7, and 10-years-old. At 5.2 months PostOp., patients showed an average increase of 160% in cerebral parenchymal thickness, which increased to 270% at 4.3 years. However, 4 cases (33.3%) had an increase of < 10% from the original thickness. One patient at 4.3 years exhibited a 594% increase compared to the baseline. In the congenital cases, pre-operative thickness had a good correlation (R2 = 0.70) with post-operative thickness, but pre-operative age of patients did not correlate with post-operative thickness (R2 = 0.03). Conclusions: In this study, 3 out of 12 cases of PEH showed a long-term increase of > 200% compared to preoperative thickness. Even in cases of extreme hydrocephalus, significant long-term improvement can occur. Rapid treatment of these cases is crucial to increase the likelihood of improvement.

This breeding project, initiated at the United States Potato Genebank (USPG) in collaboration with Peruvian partners Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria (INIA), International Potato Center, Peru (CIP), and local farmers, sought to enhance cold hardiness and frost tolerance in native potato cultivars in Peru. The Andes and Altiplano are often affected by frost, which causes significant reduction in yield; creating varieties with superior resilience is a critical undertaking. The goal was to transfer outstanding non-acclimated cold tolerance and acclimation capacity found in wild potato species Solanum commersonii (cmm). Breeding families segregating for cold hardiness were created using (a) a somatic hybrid cmm + haploid Solanum tuberosum (tbr) (cv. Superior, US variety from Wisconsin) as male and (b) seven cultivars native to Peru of the species S. tuberosum sbsp. andigenum (adg) as females. All plant materials were part of the USPG germplasm collection. Sexual seeds of each family were sent to Peru for evaluations under the natural conditions of the Andean highlands and Altiplano. The plants were assessed for their response to frost, and genotypes showing exceptional tolerance were selected. Plants were also evaluated for good tuber traits and yield. Initial planting involving ~2,500 seedlings in five locations resulted in selecting 58 genotypes with exceptional frost tolerance, good recovery capacity after frost, and good tuber traits. Over the years, evaluations continued and were expanded to replicated field trials in the harsher conditions of the Altiplano (Puno). All trials confirmed consistency of frost tolerance over time and location, tuber quality, and yield. After 8 years, two advanced clones were considered for cultivar release because of their exceptional frost tolerance and superior field productivity that outyielded many of the established cultivars in the region. In November 2018, a new native cultivar named Wiñay, a Quechua word meaning “to grow” was released in Peru. In 2022, a second cultivar followed with the name Llapanchispaq (meaning “for all of us”). This project evidenced that a multinational and all-encompassing approach to deploy valuable genetic diversity can work and deliver effective results. This is even more significant when outcomes can promote food security and sustainability in very vulnerable regions of the world.

Pupil dilation has been associated with the effort required to perform various cognitive tasks. At the lexical level, some studies suggest that this neurophysiological measure would provide objective, real-time information during word processing and lexical access. However, due to the scarcity and incipient advancement of this line of research, its applicability, use, and sensitivity are not entirely clear. This scoping review aims to determine the applicability and usefulness of pupillometry in the study of lexical access by providing an up-to-date overview of research in this area. Following the PRISMA protocol, 16 articles were included in this review. The results show that pupillometry is a highly applicable, useful, and sensitive method for assessing lexical skills of word recognition, word retrieval, and semantic activation. Moreover, it easily fits into traditional research paradigms and methods in the field. Because it is a non-invasive, objective, and automated procedure, it can be applied to any population or age group. However, the emerging development of this specific area of research and the methodological diversity observed in the included studies do not yet allow for definitive conclusions in this area, which in turn does not allow for meta-analyses or fully conclusive statements about what the pupil response actually reflects when processing words. Standardized pupillary recording and analysis methods need to be defined to generate more accurate, replicable research designs with more reliable results to strengthen this line of research.

ABSTRACT For decades, cells of the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus were thought to lack a dedicated elongation machinery. However, S. aureus cells were recently shown to elongate before division, in a process that requires a shape elongation division and sporulation (SEDS)/penicillin-binding protein (PBP) pair for peptidoglycan synthesis, consisting of the glycosyltransferase RodA and the transpeptidase PBP3. In ovococci and rod-shaped bacteria, the elongation machinery, or elongasome, is composed of various proteins besides a dedicated SEDS/PBP pair. To identify proteins required for S. aureus elongation, we screened the Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library, which contains transposon mutants in virtually all non-essential staphylococcal genes, for mutants with modified cell shape. We confirmed the roles of RodA/PBP3 in S. aureus elongation and identified GpsB, SsaA, and RodZ as additional proteins involved in this process. The gpsB mutant showed the strongest phenotype, mediated by the partial delocalization from the division septum of PBP2 and PBP4, two penicillin-binding proteins that synthesize and cross-link peptidoglycan. Increased levels of these PBPs at the cell periphery versus the septum result in higher levels of peptidoglycan insertion/crosslinking throughout the entire cell, possibly overriding the RodA/PBP3-mediated peptidoglycan synthesis at the outer edge of the septum and/or increasing stiffness of the peripheral wall, impairing elongation. Consequently, in the absence of GpsB, S. aureus cells become more spherical. We propose that GpsB has a role in the spatio-temporal regulation of PBP2 and PBP4 at the septum versus cell periphery, contributing to the maintenance of the correct cell morphology in S. aureus.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive clinical pathogen, which is currently the second cause of death by antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide. For decades, S. aureus cells were thought to be spherical and lack the ability to undergo elongation. However, super-resolution microscopy techniques allowed us to observe the minor morphological changes that occur during the cell cycle of this pathogen, including cell elongation. S. aureus elongation is not required for normal growth in laboratory conditions. However, it seems to be essential in the context of some infections, such as osteomyelitis, during which S. aureus cells apparently elongate to invade small channels in the bones. In this work, we uncovered new determinants required for S. aureus cell elongation. In particular, we show that GpsB has an important role in the spatio-temporal regulation of PBP2 and PBP4, two proteins involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, contributing to the maintenance of the correct cell morphology in S. aureus.

AimTo characterize the lung microbiome in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with Antisynthetase Syndrome (ASSD) according to anti-Jo1 autoantibody positivity and evaluate the correlation with differential cell count and other bacterial genera in BALF.MethodsWe sequenced the 16S ribosomal RNA gene in the BALF of anti-Jo1-positive (JoP, n=6) and non-Jo1-positive (NJo, n=17) patients, and the differential cell count in BALF was evaluated. The Spearman’s correlation was calculated for the quantitative variables and abundance of bacterial species.ResultsThe Veillonella genus showed a significant decrease (p

Abstract Several factors are associated with the severity of the respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. Although viral factors are one of the most studied, in recent years the role of the microbiota and co-infections in severe and fatal outcomes has been recognized. However, most of the work has focused on the microbiota of the upper respiratory tract (URT), hindering potential insights from the lower respiratory tract (LRT) that may help to understand the role of the microbiota in Influenza disease. In this work, we characterized the microbiota of the LRT of patients with Influenza A using 16S rRNA sequencing. We tested if patients with different outcomes (deceased/recovered) and use of antibiotics differ in their microbial community composition. We found important differences in the diversity and composition of the microbiota between deceased and recovered patients. In particular, we detected a high abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Granulicatella, in patients either deceased or with antibiotic treatment. Also, we found antibiotic treatment correlated with lower diversity of microbial communities and with lower probability of survival in Influenza A patients. Altogether, the loss of microbial diversity could generate a disequilibrium in the community, potentially compromising the immune response increasing viral infectivity, promoting the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria that, together with altered biochemical parameters, can be leading to severe forms of the disease. Overall, the present study gives one of the first characterizations of the diversity and composition of microbial communities in the LRT of Influenza patients and its relationship with clinical variables and disease severity.

BACKGROUND: the ideal method to diagnose medulloblastomas is magnetic resonance. Radiological characteristics, age, sex, and customary localization have been studied before. The diagnosis may be underestimated in atypical presentations. OBJECTIVES: correlate characteristics by magnetic resonance and histopathological lineage. Identify age, sex, and localization of presentation in a given time. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: tables of frequency were made to classify patients' age and sex, and medulloblastoma localizations. For radiological and histopathological correlation χ² and Spearman's correlation were used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 magnetic resonances from patients with diagnosis of medulloblastoma at Hospital General de México in the period from January 2013 through January 2016 were examined. the variables evaluated were: age, sex, medulloblastoma localization, histopathological report, and radiological characteristics. RESULTS: of 29 pathological diagnoses of medulloblastoma, 21 magnetic resonance studies were examined: 9 adults (seven between 21 and 39 years of age and two over 40 years of age) and 12 persons under 21 years of age; 16 were men (7 < 21 years of age, 9 > 21 years of age) and 5 women (4 < 21 years of age and one 24 years of age). The primary localization was infratentorial, with supratentorial extension in two cases. Of the infratentorial tumors, five were in the vermis, seven in the right cerebral hemisphere, five in the left cerebral hemisphere, and two in the tentorium. The most common radiological characteristics were solid appearance, heterogeneous enhancement, and lobulated edges. CONCLUSIONS: The usual age of onset of medulloblastomas is before 21 years, but we found two patients over 40. The most typical localization is infratentorial and the percentage of supratentorial extension is low. They show a predilection for the male gender. The radiological characteristics were similar in all the study cases, and we identified no significant correlation between radiological characteristics and histological lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La infección de vías urinarias se encuentra dentro de las complicaciones infecciosas más frecuentes para el grupo etario mayor de 65 años. Esto tiene gran relevancia, ya que durante los últimos años se ha presentado un crecimiento significativo de este grupo poblacional, en comparación con los demás grupos. Se tiene conocimiento de que el principal mecanismo patológico es por vía ascendente, exacerbada por otros factores inherentes a los ancianos, como pH alcalino, reducción del flujo urinario e inmunosenescencia. Los agentes etiológicos más relevantes son las bacterias pertenecientes a la familia de gramnegativos, principalmente Escherichia coli. Debido a su alta frecuencia y el limitado conocimiento acerca de esta patología en la persona mayor, representa un reto diagnóstico para todo el personal de urgencias debido a su alta morbilidad y aparición junto a diferentes comorbilidades que impiden un adecuado enfoque clínico. Por tal motivo continúa siendo necesario un abordaje integral desde el triaje del servicio de urgencias de forma temprana e individualizada.

This paper presents two cases of fixed-cutaneous sporotrichosis acquired in a laboratory by two researchers working with S. schenckii. The first case was located in anterior upper third in the right, without history of trauma. It was initially decided to conduct an observational study on patient with a pregnancy of 25 weeks of gestation. Treatment was started three months after child-birth, with good response. The second case presented a nodule in right palm, three weeks before he suffered stab wounds by breaking a tube with S. schenckii. A review of the literature is done on sporotrichosis accidentally acquired in laboratory and considerations regarding the risks and measures to be adopted by those working with microorganisms, either for diagnostic or research purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Financial distress is thought to be a key reason why small-medium enterprise (SME) owners experience higher levels of mental health conditions compared with the broader population. Business advisors who form trusting, high-quality relationships with their SME clients, are therefore well placed to: (1) help prevent/reduce key sources of financial distress, (2) better understand the business and personal needs of their clients and, (3) recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions and encourage help-seeking where appropriate. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of relationship building training (RBT) combined with mental health first aid (MHFA) training for business advisors with MHFA alone, on the financial and mental health of their SME-owner clients. Methods This is a single blind, two-arm randomised controlled trial. Participants will be business advisors who provide information, guidance and/or assistance to SME owner clients and are in contact with them at least 3 times a year. The business advisors will invite their SME-owner clients to complete 3 online surveys at baseline, 6- and 12-months. Business advisors will be randomised to one of two conditions, using a 1:1 allocation ratio: (1) MHFA with RBT; or (2) MHFA alone, and complete 3 online surveys at baseline, 2- and 6-months. Primary outcomes will be measured in the business advisors and consist of the quality of the relationship, stigmatizing attitude, confidence to offer mental health first aid, quality of life and provision of mental health first aid. Secondary outcomes will be measured in the SME owners and includes trust in their business advisors, the quality of this relationship, financial wellbeing, financial distress, psychological distress, help-seeking behaviour, and quality of life. To complement the quantitative data, we will include a qualitative process evaluation to examine what contextual factors impacted the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the training. Discussion As there is evidence for the connections between client trust, quality of relationship and financial and mental wellbeing, we hypothesise that the combined RBT and MHFA training will lead to greater improvements in these outcomes in SME owners compared with MHFA alone. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT04982094 . Retrospectively registered 29/07/2021. The study started in February 2021 and the recruitment is ongoing.

Abstract β2-adrenoreceptor (β2AR) agonists have been associated with a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) and are hypothesized to decrease expression of both alpha-synuclein mRNA (Snca) and protein (α-syn). Effects of β2AR agonist clenbuterol on the levels of Snca mRNA and α-syn protein were evaluated in vivo (rats and mice) and in rat primary cortical neurons by two independent laboratories. A modest decrease in Snca mRNA in the substantia nigra was observed after a single acute dose of clenbuterol in rats, however, this decrease was not maintained after multiple doses. In contrast, α-syn protein levels remained unchanged in both single and multiple dosing paradigms. Furthermore, clenbuterol did not decrease Snca in cultured rat primary cortical neurons, or decrease Snca or α-syn in mice. Additionally, compared to the single-dose paradigm, repeat dosing resulted in substantially lower levels of clenbuterol in plasma and brain tissue in rodents. Based on our observations of a transient decrease in Snca and no effect on α-syn protein in this preclinical study, these data support the conclusion that clenbuterol is not likely a viable disease-modifying strategy for PD.

Background: No dairy breed or crossbreed has superior overall performance in all environments; therefore, it is necessary to determine which crossbreed is the most suitable for the Mexican tropic and what proportion of European breed is optimum for reproduction. Objective: To assess the effect of the proportion of Bos taurus (Bt) genes on reproductive performance of Holstein×Zebu (HZ) and Brown Swiss×Zebu (BZ) cows, and compare reproductive performance of these genotypes in a dual-purpose production system. Methods: Cows were maintained in a rotational grazing system on African star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus) in Veracruz, Mexico. Cows were milked twice daily. Calves were kept tied to the side of their dams while the cows were milked. Results: The percentage of Bt genes did not affect (p>0.05) fertility traits (age at first calving, days to first service after calving, services per conception, conception rate at first service, days open until conception, gestation length, and calving interval) of BZ cows. In contrast, HZ cows with less than 75% Holstein (H) genes were 0.3 years younger (p