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COVID-19; Hepatitis B; Tenofovir COVID-19; Hepatitis B; Tenofovir COVID-19; Hepatitis B; Tenofovir Background and Aims HIV-positive patients on tenofovir hydroxyl fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine have a lower risk of COVID-19 and hospitalization than those given other treatments. Our aim was to analyze the severity of COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on TDF or entecavir (ETV). Methods Spanish hospital databases (n = 28) including information regarding adult CHB patients on TDF or ETV for the period February 1st to November 30th 2020 were searched for COVID-19, defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction, and for severe COVID-19. Results Of 4736 patients, 117 had COVID-19 (2.5%), 67 on TDF and 50 on ETV. Compared to patients on TDF, those on ETV showed (p

Resumen Introduccion La efectividad del tratamiento del virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) parece ser menor en usuarios de drogas por via parenteral (UDVP). Analizamos la influencia de diversos factores como los trastornos psiquiatricos y la terapia de sustitucion con opiaceos (TSO) en el tratamiento con antivirales de accion directa (AAD) de este colectivo. Pacientes y metodos Trescientos treinta y dos pacientes UDVP fueron tratados con AAD en 12 hospitales de Espana entre 2004 y 2020. Se catalogaron, si se disponia del dato, en consumidores recientes y pasados (segun si el ultimo consumo fue en los ultimos 3 anos) y se recogieron diversas variables, evaluandose la efectividad del tratamiento segun la carga viral 12 semanas tras la finalizacion del tratamiento con el parametro «respuesta viral sostenida» (RVS12). Resultados El 23,4% eran consumidores recientes y el 27,7% estaban en TSO. El 41,5% presentaban algun diagnostico de enfermedad psiquiatrica. La RVS12 fue del 84,04%, ascendiendo al 96,21% al excluir del analisis a los pacientes que perdieron el seguimiento (12,7%). La RVS12 fue significativamente inferior debido a un aumento de la perdida de seguimiento en consumidores recientes, aquellos en TSO, los que habian estado en prision los ultimos 5 anos y pacientes naive, asi como en el trastorno de ansiedad generalizada y consumidores de benzodiacepinas. Conclusiones La efectividad del tratamiento del VHC con AAD en UDVP es similar a la poblacion general si se consigue un adecuado seguimiento. Es importante realizar un seguimiento mas estrecho en pacientes en TSO, consumidores recientes y aquellos con enfermedad psiquiatrica.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 3 fibrosis are thought to remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virological response. We investigated this risk in a large cohort of patients with well-defined stage 3 fibrosis. METHODS We performed a multicentre, ambispective, observational study of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after treatment with direct-acting antivirals started between January and December 2015. Baseline stage 3 was defined in a two-step procedure: we selected patients with transient elastography values of 9.5-14.5 kPa and subsequently excluded those with nodular liver surface, splenomegaly, ascites or collaterals on imaging, thrombopenia or esophago-gastric varices. Patients were screened twice-yearly using ultrasound. RESULTS The final sample comprised 506 patients (median age, 57.4 years; males, 59.9%; diabetes, 17.2%; overweight, 44.1%; genotype 3, 8.9%; HIV coinfection, 18.4%; altered liver values, 15.2%). Median follow-up was 33.7 (22.1-39.1) months. Five hepatocellular carcinomas and 1 cholangiocarcinoma were detected after a median of 29.4 months (95% CI: 26.8-39.3), with an incidence of 0.47/100 patients/year (95% CI: 0.17-1.01). In the multivariate analysis, only males older than 55 years had a significant higher risk (hazard ratio 7.2 [95% CI: 1.2-41.7; P = .029]) with an incidence of 1.1/100 patients/year (95% CI: 0.3-2.8). CONCLUSIONS In a large, well-defined cohort of patients with baseline hepatitis C stage-3 fibrosis, the incidence of primary liver tumours was low after sustained virological response and far from the threshold for cost-effectiveness of screening, except in males older than 55 years.

Background: Affordable and effective diagnostic and treatment monitoring algorithms are urgently needed to achieve the global elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: A total of 274 patients were treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in the Spanish Hospital of Albacete between 2004 and 2020. This study compared the enzyme-immunoassay technique for HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) with the determination of RNA of HCV (HCV RNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in monitoring treatment with DAA, setting the lower limit of detection of HCVcAg < 3 fmol/L and RNA < 10 IU/mL. In all cases, the P value of differences associated with the contrast test was less than or equal to 0.05. Results: We evaluated the viral loads of our patients before treatment, during their treatment, and after its completion. The HCV RNA quantification at diagnosis was 2309327 IU/mL. The mean HCVcAg load was 5972 fmol/L. There was a strong correlation between HCVcAg levels and RNA levels with a Spearman rho of 0.832 (P < 0.01). The HCVcAg sensitivity at diagnosis was 99%, but the specificity could not be calculated because there were no true negatives or false positives at this point. Twelve weeks after treatment, in patients with treatment failure, we obtained a mean of 19084 IU/mL for RNA, while for HCVcAg, the mean was 103 fmol/L. At this time point, we also found a strong correlation between HCVcAg levels and HCV RNA levels with a Spearman rho of 0.775 (P < 0.01). Finally, the virological cure was achieved in 99% of our patients. The results for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 100%, 99.87%, 86.33%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: HCVcAg determination is an excellent alternative to HCV RNA in the assessment of treatment response. This is particularly relevant in lower- and middle-income countries and resource-limited settings where the high cost of labor, equipment, and reagents can prohibit molecular testing.

The effectiveness of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment seems to be lower in people who inject drugs (PWID). We analyze the influence of various factors as psychiatric disorders and opioid substitution therapy (OST) on the treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in this collective.Three hundred thirty-two PWID patients were treated with DAA in 12 Spanish hospitals between 2004 and 2020. They were catalogued in recent and former consumers (if the last consumption was in the last 3 years) and several variables were included, evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment according to the viral load 12 weeks after the end of the treatment with the parameter «sustained viral response» (SVR12).23.4% were recent consumers and 27.7% were on OST. The 41.5% had any diagnosis of psychiatric disorder. SVR12 was 84.04%, ascending to 96.21% when excluded from the analyses the patients lost to follow-up (12.7%). SVR12 was lower due to an increase in the loss to follow-up in recent consumers and other factors like OST, being in prison the last 5 years, naïve patients, generalized anxiety disorder and benzodiazepine consumption.The effectiveness of the HCV treatment with DAA in PWID is similar than in general population in patients whit an appropriate follow-up. It is important to maintain a closer follow-up in patients on OST, recent consumers and those with psychiatric disorders.

Many of the large number of underground works constructed or under construction in recent years are in unfavorable terrains facing unusual situations and construction conditions. This is the case of the subject under study in this paper: a tunnel excavated in evaporitic rocks that experienced significant karstification problems very quickly over time. As a result of this situation, the causes that may underlie this rapid karstification are investigated and a novel methodology is presented in civil engineering where the use of saturation indices for the different mineral specimens present has been crucial. The drainage of the rock massif of El Regajal (Madrid-Toledo, Spain, in the Madrid-Valencia high-speed train line) was studied and permitted the in-situ study of the hydrogeochemical evolution of water flow in the Miocene evaporitic materials of the Tajo Basin as a full-scale testing laboratory, that are conforms as a whole, a single aquifer. The work provides a novel methodology based on the calculation of activities through the hydrogeochemical study of water samples in different piezometers, estimating the saturation index of different saline materials and the dissolution capacity of the brine, which is surprisingly very high despite the high electrical conductivity. The circulating brine appears unsaturated with respect to thenardite, mirabilite, epsomite, glauberite, and halite. The alteration of the underground flow and the consequent renewal of the water of the aquifer by the infiltration water of rain and irrigation is the cause of the hydrogeochemical imbalance and the modification of the characteristics of the massif. These modifications include very important loss of material by dissolution, altering the resistance of the terrain and the increase of the porosity. Simultaneously, different expansive and recrystallization processes that decrease the porosity of the massif were identified in the present work. The hydrogeochemical study allows the evolution of these phenomena to be followed over time, and this, in turn, may facilitate the implementation of preventive works in civil engineering.

The Sustainable Development Goals promulgate access to sanitation and hygiene for all and the end to open defecation in the framework of the human right to sanitation. Tanzania has one of the lowest levels of access to sanitation, with increasing open defecation. Ending open defecation has been identified as a top priority for reducing global inequalities in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene). In this context, the coordinated work of NGOs, universities and governments developed a hygiene and sanitation programme (UMATA), whose methodologies and lessons learnt are ready to be scaled up. This research analyses the information collected from more than 21,000 households and discusses the challenges of monitoring and tracking the degree of achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the human right to sanitation. A characterisation of the hygiene and sanitation situation and the degree of adoption of different latrine types was assessed before (baseline) and after (follow-up) the implementation of the UMATA programme using the WHO/UNICEF JMP (Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene) metrics and approach. This allowed evaluating the efficacy of the strategy implemented in Tanzania to reduce open defecation that led to a decrease from 40.7% to 9.70% in the monitored period. Finally, we discuss the critical economic factors affecting the adoption and sustainability of improved sanitation systems.

ResumenSe realizó un estudio epidemiológico de brucelosis en 516 majadas caprinas o mixtas (caprinos/ovinos) de las 3 regiones agroecológicas de la provincia de Formosa, Argentina. Mediante las pruebas de aglutinación en placa con antígeno tamponado y de fijación del complemento en suero se estudiaron un total de 25.401 caprinos y 2.453 ovinos. Además, se realizaron cultivos bacteriológicos y PCR en muestras de leche de cabras de 3 majadas con brucelosis y abortos recientes. Se detectó brucelosis en 4 de los 9 departamentos de la provincia, la prevalencia global fue del 2% y la intrapredial varió entre el 1 y el 40%. La proporción de majadas positivas fue del 3,6, el 12 y el 36% para las regiones este, centro y oeste, respectivamente. Se aisló Brucella melitensis bv. 1 de cabras por primera vez en la provincia. La PCR amplificó fragmentos esperados de 827 pb correspondiente al gen omp2ab (Brucella spp.) y de 731 pb correspondiente al inserto IS711 (B. melitensis). La detección de anticuerpos en ovinos que cohabitan con caprinos sugiere que las infecciones habrían sido causadas por B. melitensis, lo que constituye un riesgo adicional para la salud pública. Los programas de control y erradicación de la brucelosis deberían considerar las majadas mixtas como una sola unidad epidemiológica. Los resultados indican que la brucelosis por B. melitensis bv. 1 es altamente endémica en las regiones centro y oeste de la provincia de Formosa.AbstractAn epidemiological study of brucellosis was carried out in 516 goats and mixed flocks (goat/sheep) from the three agro-ecological regions of Formosa province, Argentina. Serum samples from a total of 25401 goats and 2453 sheeps were analyzed using buffered plate agglutination test (BPAT) and complement fixation test (CFT). Bacteriological and PCR analyses on milk samples from goats in three flocks with a history of brucellosis and recent abortions were also performed. Brucellosis was detected in four of the nine departments of the province with an overall prevalence of 2% and an intra-flock prevalence ranging between 1% and 40%. The proportion of infected flocks was 3.6%, 12% and 36% for the eastern, central and western regions, respectively. Brucella melitensis bv. 1 was isolated efrom goats for the first time in the province. The expected fragments of 827bp from the omp2ab gene (Brucella spp.) and 731bp from the insert IS711 (B. melitensis) were amplified by PCR. Detection of antibodies by BPAT and FCT in sheep cohabiting with goats suggests that infections could have been caused by B. melitensis, posing an additional risk to public health. Control and eradication programs for brucellosis should consider mixed flocks as a single epidemiological unit. The results indicate that brucellosis by B. melitensis bv1 is highly endemic in the central and western regions of Formosa province.

Con el objeto de evaluar el efecto del consumo de Leucaena sp sobre la carga parasitaria gastrointestinal de terneros destetados, se lle-vó a cabo un ensayo durante 105 días en el departamento Pilagás (Formosa, Argentina). Se seleccionaron 30 terneros y se los dividió en dos lotes: 15 terneros con Leucaena (TRAT c/L) y 15 sin Leucaena (TRAT s/L). El ensayo se desarrolló en un sistema de pastoreo directo donde los animales fueron infestados naturalmente. El lote TRAT c/L pastoreó en una intersiembra de L. leucocephala con Brachiaria brizantha. El grupo TRAT s/L, lo hizo sólo con B. brizantha. Se determinó la cantidad de huevos de parási-tos por gramo (HPG), cultivo e identificación de larvas, valores de hematocrito (Hto) y peso vivo. Los principales géneros recuperados en el coprocultivo fueron: Haemonchus y Trichostrongylus, siguiendo en orden decreciente Bunostomum, Oesophagostomum, Cooperia y Strongyloides. A partir del segundo muestreo, los animales que presentaron valores de Hto ≤ 22% debieron ser tratados con albendazol ya que estaba comprometi-do su estado de salud. Durante el ensayo un solo ternero del TRAT c/L debió ser trata-do, mientras que 9 individuos correspondientes al TRAT s/L requirieron tratamiento. En cuanto a la evolución de HPG, se observaron diferencias significativas en el segundo y cuarto muestreo (p valor de 0,3 y 0,006 respectivamente) a favor del TRAT s/L. Se con-cluye que bajo las condiciones de la presente experiencia, los resultados demostraron un efecto del consumo de L. leucocephala sobre la disminución de HPG, lo que amerita la realización de futuras experiencias para un mejor conocimiento de la alternativa de con-trol integrado de estos parásitos. The present study was carried out during 105 days in Pilagás (Formosa, Argentina) to evaluate the effect of Leucaena sp consumed by weaned calves on the gastrointestinal parasitic load. Thirty calves were divided into two groups: grazing Leucaena (TREATED with/L; n=15) or without consumption of Leucaena (TREATED without/L; n=15). This essay was performed in a direct grazing system and animals were naturally infected under the conditions of Pilagás forage. Animals in the TREATED with/L group grazed in an interseeding of Leucaena leucocephala with Brachiaria brizantha while the TREATED without/L group grazed only on B. brizantha. Eggs per gram (EPG) were determined from feces. Fecal culture and identification of larvae were also performed for each experimental group. Hemotocrit (Ht) was measured and animals were weight. The main genera recovered in the fecal samples were: Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, and Bunostomum. Oesophagostomum, Cooperia and Strongyloides were less abundant. Since the second sampling, animals with Ht ≤ 22% required albendazole administration since health was compromised. During the whole study, only one calf under TREATED with/L required treatment, whereas in the other group (TREATED without/L) nine animals needed treatment. In relation to EPG, significant differences were registered for the second and forth sampling (p value of 0.3 and 0.006, respectively) in favor of TREATED without/L group. We conclude that under the conditions for the present study, L. leucocephala intake exerts an effect over EPG. Therefore, future assays should be performed for a better understanding regarding an alternative integral control of parasites. IPAF NEA Fil: Figueroa, Claudia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto para la Agricultura Familiar. Región NEA; Argentina Fil: Mancebo, Orlando Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Formosa. Provincia de Formosa. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Formosa. Universidad Nacional de Formosa. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Formosa; Argentina Fil: Scribano, Victor Luciano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria El Colorado. Agencia De Extensión Rural Laguna Blanca; Argentina Fil: Rigonatto, Teresita. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra Enfermedades Parasitarias; Argentina

Diversos estudios han establecido que existe una relación directa entre la motivación y el rendimiento académico. La confluencia de estos dos factores resulta relevante en la formación del alumnado universitario, por esta razón, se decidió implantar en 2010 el Plan Bolonia, cuyo fin es aumentar la eficacia y calidad de la enseñanza, sustituyendo al Plan 2000. Este estudio tiene como objetivo, comprobar si estas mejoras son realmente eficaces, suponiendo un avance con respecto al plan 2000. Para esta investigación, se ha seleccionado a 103 estudiantes universitarios elegidos al azar, de ambos planes de estudios. Los resultados obtenidos han desmitificado los objetivos del Plan Bolonia,obteniendo una media de 5.01 en Motivación frente al 5.08 de Motivación del Plan 2000. Esto conlleva a que el Rendimiento académico sea más elevado en el Plan 2000, consiguiendo una media de 7.16 respecto al 6.71 del Plan Bolonia., Several studies have established that exists a direct relationship between Motivation and Academic Achievement. The confluence of these two factors is eminent in the university students’ education. For this reason, in 2010, the Bologna Plan is deployed as purpose to increase the efficiency and the quality of education, by replacing Plan 2000. This study aims to verify if those improvements are really effectives, assuming an advance with regard to Plan 2000. For this investigation, 103 university students have been selected at random, of both curriculums. The results obtained have demystified the Bologna Plan’s objectives, obtaining an average of 5.01 in Motivation against 5.08 of Plan 2000’s Motivation. All of these mean that Academic achievement is higher in Plan 2000, getting an average of 7.16, in respect of 6.71 of Bologna Plan’s Academic achievement., Proyecto de Innovación Docente "ReiDoCrea". Departamento de Psicología Social. Universidad de Granada.

An ELISA test was used to determine the persistence of antibody levels in horses following treatment for Trypanosoma evansi. In 17 horses with T. evansi from two farms treated and cured with quinapyramine sulphate, ELISA antibody levels fell progressively post-treatment, but remained with positive results for 22.6 months in one horse, 12.8 months in a second, 4.1 months in another four and 2.3 months in three, whilst the rest became negative at 2.3 months. In two horses that suffered a post-treatment infection relapse the decrease in ELISA levels was only temporary, and a new increase in antibody levels was proven. The follow-up of these antibody levels could prove useful in clinical cases and in epidemiological studies, as well as for assessing the efficacy of drug treatment Fil: Monzon, Carlos Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Formosa. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina Fil: Mancebo, Orlando Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Formosa. Facultad de Recursos Naturales; Argentina Fil: Russo, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Formosa. Facultad de Recursos Naturales; Argentina

Tritrichomonas foetus infection was investigated in 76 pregnant and 64 non-pregnant cows slaughtered in the local abbattoir and in two different lots of first-service heifers that were found to be non-pregnant 60 days post breeding (PB). In live and slaughtered animals, mucus samples were obtained from the vagina and from the vagina and uterus, respectively, using a "screw-head scraper rod". In pregnant cows, samples of amniotic and allantoid fluid were also collected, as well as samples from the stomach contents of the fetuses. All samples were cultured in Modified Plastridge Medium. T. foetus was isolated from three pregnant and two non-pregnant slaughtered cows. Parasites were recovered from the vagina of these five cows, as well as from the uterus in two cases and from the fetus in one case. Lot I of first-service heifers consisted of 323 females from eight different farms. Bulls infected with T. foetus from these farms were culled or treated, and heifers found empty at diagnosis of pregnancy were culled. Lot II consisted of 120 heifers from a single farm where T. foetus was controlled only in bulls. All heifers from Lot I were T. foetus negative. In Lot II, 12 of 120 heifers (10%) were T. foetus positive. In ten of these the parasites were observed once, in one at 60 days PB, in seven at 160 days PB and in two at 240 days PB; in the remaining two infected heifers, an irregular pattern of isolation persisted during 300 days PB. On the basis of these results, control methods are discussed and analysed.

In a total of 165 blood samples from horses in the Province of Formosa (Argentina), the diagnosis for equine trypanosomosis (T. evansi) was made using Giemsa-stained smears (GSS), wet blood films (WBF), Strout's concentration method (SCM), haematocrit centrifuge technique (HCT), buffy coat method (BCM) and mouse inoculation of blood (MBI). Trypanosoma evansi was demonstrated in 52 samples. Mouse inoculation gave a sensitivity of 88.2%; HCT 71.1%; BCM 63.4%; WBF 53.8%; SCM 46.1% and GSS 45.6%. No single method alone was totally effective. The haematocrit centrifuge technique, mouse inoculation of blood and Giemsa-stained smears were proposed as the most effective diagnostic combination.