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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2005.11.021 Byline: Diana Valencia (a), Richard J. O'Connell (a), Dimitar Sasselov (b) Keywords: Extrasolar planets; Interiors; Terrestrial planets Abstract: Planetary formation models predict the existence of massive terrestrial planets and experiments are now being designed that should succeed in discovering them and measuring their masses and radii. We calculate internal structures of planets with one to ten times the mass of the Earth (Super-Earths) to obtain scaling laws for total radius, mantle thickness, core size and average density as a function of mass. We explore different compositions and obtain a scaling law of RaM.sup.0.267-0.272 for Super-Earths. We also study a second family of planets, Super-Mercuries with masses ranging from one mercury-mass to ten mercury-masses with similar composition to the Earth's but with a larger core mass fraction. We explore the effect of surface temperature and core mass fraction on the scaling laws for these planets. The scaling law obtained for the Super-Mercuries is RaM.sup.[approximately equal to]0.3. Author Affiliation: (a) Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA (b) Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Department of Astronomy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Article History: Received 17 February 2005; Revised 25 October 2005

Background: Colombia experienced a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in 2015-2016. To assist with planning for medical and supportive services for infants affected by prenatal ZIKV infection, we used a model to estimate the number of pregnant women infected with ZIKV and the number of infants with congenital microcephaly from August 2015 to August 2017.Methods: We used nationally reported cases of symptomatic ZIKV disease among pregnant women and information from the literature on the percent of asymptomatic infections to estimate the number of pregnant women with ZIKV infection occurring August 2015-December 2016. We then estimated the number of infants with congenital microcephaly expected to occur August 2015-August 2017. To compare to the observed counts of infants with congenital microcephaly due to all causes reported through the national birth defects surveillance system, the model was time limited to produce estimates for February-November 2016.Findings: We estimated 1140-2160 (interquartile range [IQR]) infants with congenital microcephaly in Colombia, during August 2015-August 2017, whereas 340-540 infants with congenital microcephaly would be expected in the absence of ZIKV. Based on the time limited version of the model, for February-November 2016, we estimated 650-1410 infants with congenital microcephaly in Colombia. The 95% uncertainty interval for the latter estimate encompasses the 476 infants with congenital microcephaly reported during that approximate time frame based on national birth defects surveillance.Interpretation: Based on modeled estimates, ZIKV infection during pregnancy in Colombia could lead to 3-4 times as many infants with congenital microcephaly in 2015-2017 as would have been expected in the absence of the ZIKV outbreak.Funding: This publication was made possible through support provided by the Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development under the terms of an Interagency Agreement with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determine the effectiveness of treatment and the frequency of clinical inertia in the management of hypertension in Colombian patients. A retrospective study with prospective follow-up of individuals on antihypertensive medication who were treated on medical consultation for 1 year was conducted in 20 Colombian cities. Clinical inertia was considered when no modification of therapy occurred despite not achieving control goals. A total of 355 hypertensive patients were included. From a total of 1142 consultations, therapy was effective in 81.7% of cases. In 18.3% of the cases, the control goal was not achieved, and of these, 81.8% were considered clinical inertia. A logistic regression showed that the use of antidiabetics (odds ratio: 2.31; 95% confidence interval: 1.290–4.167; P = .008) was statistically associated with an increased risk of clinical inertia. With a determination of the frequency of inertia and the high effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment, valuable information can be provided to understand the predictors of clinical inertia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tropaeolum majus L. is a plant rich in bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates and their secondary metabolites isothiocyanates. • Nasturtium intervention reduces lipid metabolism biomarkers in prediabetic subjects. • The edible plant nasturtium reduces oxidized LDL and cardiovascular risk indexes. • Benzyl isothiocyanate reduces cardiovascular risk indexes and oxidized LDL. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) is a plant rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolyzed metabolites isothiocyanates (ITCs), which modulate signaling pathways related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. This randomized crossover trial explored the effect of intervention with a freeze-dried nasturtium drink on insulin response and lipid profile in prediabetic subjects. Ten (10) patients were randomly assigned to the following treatments: NT (nasturtium) and PLC (placebo) for 4 weeks and after this time the treatments were crossed for another 4 weeks. Biomarkers related to insulin resistance and lipid profile were measured at the beginning and the end of the intervention with each treatment. The consumption of 15 g NT (681 μmol of benzyl glucosinolate)/dose week for four (4) weeks resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of LDL cholesterol (LDLc), Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), Castelli's risk index I and II (TC/HDLc, and LDLc/HDLc) and Atherogenic Coefficient (non-HDLc)/HDLc). The results suggest that the nasturtium consumption might have a modulating effect on biomarkers related to cardiovascular disease, altered in subjects with chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. This study is the first in vivo study to explore the chronic effect of T. majus consumption in patients with prediabetes and shows the importance of continuing to explore this effect in studies with a larger number of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of microcephaly and central nervous system (CNS) defects during the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Colombia and proportion attributable to congenital ZIKV infection.Study Design: Clinical and laboratory data for cases of microcephaly and/or CNS defects reported to national surveillance between 2015 and 2017 were reviewed and classified by a panel of clinical subject matter experts. Maternal and fetal/infant biologic specimens were tested for congenital infection and chromosomal abnormalities. Infants/fetuses with microcephaly and/or CNS defects (cases) were classified into broad etiologic categories (teratogenic, genetic, multifactorial, and unknown). Cases classified as potentially attributable to congenital ZIKV infection were stratified by strength of evidence for ZIKV etiology (strong, moderate, or limited) using a novel strategy considering birth defects unique or specific to ZIKV or other infections and laboratory evidence.Results: Among 858 reported cases with sufficient information supporting a diagnosis of microcephaly or CNS defects, 503 were classified as potentially attributable to congenital ZIKV infection. Of these, the strength of evidence was considered strong in 124 (24.7%) cases; moderate in 232 (46.1%) cases; and limited in 147 (29.2%). Of the remaining, 355 (41.4%) were attributed to etiologies other than ZIKV infection (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes 1 and herpes 2 viruses only, n = 32 [3.7%]; genetic, n = 16 [1.9%]; multifactorial, n = 42 [4.9%]; unknown, n = 265 [30.9%]).Conclusions: Fifty-eight percent of cases of microcephaly and/or CNS defects were potentially attributable to congenital ZIKV infection; however, the strength of evidence varied considerably. This surveillance protocol might serve as a model approach for investigation and etiologic classification of complex congenital conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The free-living amoebae of the Naegleria genus have a typical 20S proteasome. • The chymotrypsin-like activity is the most active in Naegleria spp. • The proteasomal activity participates in the proliferation of Naegleria species. • The 20S proteasome mediates the morphology of the cysts of Naegleria spp. The Naegleria are ubiquitous free-living amoebae and are characterized by the presence of three phases in their biological cycle: trophozoite, cyst and flagellate. Of this genus, only Naegleria fowleri has been reported as pathogenic to humans. The proteasome is a multi-catalytic complex and is considered to be the most important structure responsible for the degradation of intracellular proteins. This structure is related to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and, in pathogenic microorganisms, to the modulation of their virulence. Until now, the proteasome and its function have not been described for the Naegleria genus. In the current study, using bioinformatic analysis, protein sequences homologous to those reported for the subunits of the 20S proteasome in other organisms were found, and virtual modelling was used to determine their three-dimensional structure. The presence of structural and catalytic subunits of the 20S proteasome was detected by Western and dot blot assays. Its localization was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy to be mainly in the cytoplasm, and a leading role of the chymotrypsin-like catalytic activity was determined using fluorogenic peptidase assays and specific proteasome inhibitors. Finally, the role of the 20S proteasome in the proliferation and differentiation of Naegleria genus trophozoites was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, which include brain and eye abnormalities. The clinical importance of detection of Zika virus RNA in amniotic fluid is unknown.Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe patterns of Zika virus RNA testing of amniotic fluid relative to other clinical specimens and to examine the association between Zika virus detection in amniotic fluid and Zika-associated birth defects. Our null hypothesis was that Zika virus detection in amniotic fluid was not associated with Zika-associated birth defects.Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of women with amniotic fluid specimens submitted to Colombia's National Institute of Health as part of national Zika virus surveillance from January 2016 to January 2017. Specimens (maternal serum, amniotic fluid, cord blood, umbilical cord tissue, and placental tissue) were tested for the presence of Zika virus RNA with the use of a singleplex or multiplex real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay. Birth defect information was abstracted from maternal prenatal and infant birth records and reviewed by expert clinicians. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the frequency of Zika-associated birth defects (defined as brain abnormalities [with or without microcephaly, but excluding neural tube defects and their associated findings] or eye abnormalities) by frequency of detection of Zika virus RNA in amniotic fluid.Results: Our analysis included 128 women with amniotic fluid specimens. Seventy-five women (58%) had prenatally collected amniotic fluid; 42 women (33%) had amniotic fluid collected at delivery, and 11 women (9%) had missing collection dates. Ninety-one women had both amniotic fluid and other clinical specimens submitted for testing, which allowed for comparison across specimen types. Of those 91 women, 68 had evidence of Zika virus infection based on detection of Zika virus RNA in ≥1 specimen. Testing of amniotic fluid that was collected prenatally or at delivery identified 39 of these Zika virus infections (57%; 15 [22%] infections were identified only in amniotic fluid), and 29 infections (43%) were identified in other specimen types and not amniotic fluid. Among women who were included in the analysis, 89 had pregnancy outcome information available, which allowed for the assessment of the presence of Zika-associated birth defects. Zika-associated birth defects were significantly (P<.05) more common among pregnancies with Zika virus RNA detected in amniotic fluid specimens collected prenatally (19/32 specimens; 59%) than for those with no laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection in any specimen (6/23 specimens; 26%), but the proportion was similar in pregnancies with only Zika virus RNA detected in specimens other than amniotic fluid (10/23 specimens; 43%). Although Zika-associated birth defects were more common among women with any Zika virus RNA detected in amniotic fluid specimens (ie, collected prenatally or at delivery; 21/43 specimens; 49%) than those with no laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection (6/23 specimens; 26%), this comparison did not reach statistical significance (P=.07).Conclusion: Testing of amniotic fluid provided additional evidence for maternal diagnosis of Zika virus infection. Zika-associated birth defects were more common among women with Zika virus RNA that was detected in prenatal amniotic fluid specimens than women with no laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection, but similar to women with Zika virus RNA detected in other, nonamniotic fluid specimen types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NTZ isolated treatment induced an increase in α and β-tubulin. • FLB isolated treatment induced an increase in α-tubulin and a decrease in β-tubulin. • The drugs combination exposure induced an increase in actin and β-tubulin detection. • The drugs combination exposure resulted in morphological alterations of the parasite's tegument. Cysticercosis is the presence of Taenia solium larval stage in tissues such as central nervous system, skin, muscles and eye globe. The current treatment is based on albendazole and praziquantel which already present resistance reports. Therefore, the search for alternative treatments is paramount. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of flubendazole and nitazoxanide on cytoskeleton proteins from Taenia crassiceps cysticerci, an experimental model for cysticercosis. Cysticerci were cultured in RPMI supplemented medium containing nitazoxanide and/or flubendazole. 24 h after the exposure the cysticerci were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy and for protein analysis of the cytoskeleton. The proteins were detected through 1D electrophoresis and identified through Western Blot. Nitazoxanide exposure increased tubulin and actin quantifications in T. crassiceps cysticerci. While flubendazole alone and the drugs combinations induced an increase in α-tubulin and actin and decreased β-tubulin quantifications in the parasite. Morphological changes such as swelling and rupture of vesicle, stiff membrane, decrease in movements were observed when the cysticerci were incubated with the different compounds. In conclusion the drugs induced significative impact in the parasite's cytoskeleton and may be considered as alternative treatments for cysticercosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Insulin resistance and defects in other related glycemic traits are common findings in the context of Metabolic Syndrome. Although genetic factors are clearly implied in susceptibility, and some gene variants have been identified mainly in populations of European ancestry, little is known about this aspect in admixed populations. The association of insulin resistance, β -cell function, fasting insulin and glucose levels with 48 gene variants, previously related to metabolic syndrome components, and with the ancestral genetic composition, estimated on 50 ancestry informative markers, was evaluated in 417 individuals from the Colombian admixed population. The Native American genetic ancestry was associated with a low β -cell function (odds ratio (OR) of 1.73 and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.07–2.81, p = 0.026). Significant genotypic associations were obtained (q-value < 0.05) for gene variants in ACE (rs4340; OR (95% CI): 2.79 (1.58–4.91), insulin resistance; mean difference (95% CI): 0.273 (0.141; 0.406), fasting insulin), ADIPOR2 (rs11061971; OR (95% CI): 0.14 (0.04–0.48), low β -cell function), MTNR1B (rs10830963; mean difference (95% CI): 0.032 (0.013; 0.051), fasting glucose) and GCK (rs4607517; mean difference (95% CI): 0.038 (0.020;0.056) and rs1799884; mean difference (95% CI): 0.027 (0.013–0.041), fasting glucose). Also the well-known gene variants rs7903146 in TCF7L2, and rs17817449 in FTO , were nominally associated with hyperglycemia (rs7903146), as well as with higher fasting insulin levels (rs17817449). Our findings indicate that gene variants in ACE , ADIPOR2 , MTNR1B , GCK , TCF7L2 and FTO , are associated with glycemic traits in the admixed Colombian population, while a higher Native American genetic component is related to lower β -cell function. Highlights • Native American ancestry is a risk factor for low β -cell function. • Gene variant rs11061971 is associated with better β -cell function. • Gene variants in or near GCK , MTNR1B and TCF7L2 are associated with hyperglycemia. • Gene variant rs4340 of ACE is associated with Insulin resistance and higher insulin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]