Search

Abstract Newly approved subunit and mRNA vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) demonstrate effectiveness in preventing severe disease, with protection exceeding 80% primarily through the generation of antibodies. An alternative vaccine platform called self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) holds promise in eliciting humoral and cellular immune responses. We evaluate the immunogenicity of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated saRNA vaccine called SMARRT.RSV.preF, encoding a stabilized form of the RSV fusion protein, in female mice and in non-human primates (NHPs) that are either RSV-naïve or previously infected. Intramuscular vaccination with SMARRT.RSV.preF vaccine induces RSV neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses in naïve mice and NHPs. Importantly, a single dose of the vaccine in RSV pre-exposed NHPs elicits a dose-dependent anamnestic humoral immune response comparable to a subunit RSV preF vaccine. Notably, SMARRT.RSV.preF immunization significantly increases polyfunctional RSV.F specific memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells compared to RSV.preF protein vaccine. Twenty-four hours post immunization with SMARRT.RSV.preF, there is a dose-dependent increase in the systemic levels of inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines associated with the type I interferon response in NHPs, which is not observed with the protein vaccine. We identify a cluster of analytes including IL-15, TNFα, CCL4, and CXCL10, whose levels are significantly correlated with each other after SMARRT.RSV.preF immunization. These findings suggest saRNA vaccines have the potential to be developed as a prophylactic RSV vaccine based on innate, cellular, and humoral immune profiles they elicit.

El presente estudio tiene por objetivo analizar la labor profesional que desempeñan los/las Trabajadores/as Sociales durante su inserción en tres establecimientos educativos públicos de enseñanza básica en la Comuna de Copiapó, Región de Atacama, Chile a los 15 años de la implementación de la Ley de Subvención Escolar Preferencial (SEP). Para ello, se desarrolló un estudio de tipo cualitativo con diseño de estudio de casos y elementos etnográficos con la participación de tres profesionales de Trabajo Social que ejercen funciones en establecimientos educativos públicos de enseñanza básica pertenecientes al Servicio Local de Educación Atacama. La recolección de información se realizó mediante el desarrollo de entrevistas semiestructuradas y revisión documental a partir de lo cual se establecieron tres categorías de análisis, concluyendo que si bien no se evidencian lineamientos laborales establecidos que orienten el quehacer profesional, se identifica que los profesionales ejercen un rol importante en este contexto mediante el desarrollo de prácticas educativas implementadas con los actores de sus comunidades.

Tradicionalmente, desde una posición de izquierda estándar, el egoísmo ha sido rechazado y demonizado por formar parte de un éthos capitalista. El discurso crítico latinoamericano ha heredado esta lectura desde coyunturas revolucionarias y de transformación progresista de los regímenes políticos de la región. Pero la realidad actual nos exige iniciar una serie de consideraciones antropológicas críticas sobre la figura del egoísmo (del “Sí mismo”) para poder entender los nuevos flujos de dinamismo político, sobre todo digital, que son los que definirán en las próximas décadas la suerte de la humanidad. La dimensión más íntima de la subjetividad debe ser nuevamente investigada sin prejuicios para saber comprender las reivindicaciones actuales de las nuevas generaciones y no quedar fuera de esta historia vertiginosa y apasionante.

Pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) are a major contributor to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the molecular mechanisms and functional roles of ROS in PAECs are not well established. In this study, we first used Amplex UltraRed reagent to assess hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation. The result indicated that hypoxic exposure resulted in a significant increase in Amplex UltraRed-derived fluorescence (i.e., H2O2 production) in human PAECs. To complement this result, we employed lucigenin as a probe to detect superoxide (O2−) production. Our assays showed that hypoxia largely increased O2− production. Hypoxia also enhanced H2O2 production in the mitochondria from PAECs. Using the genetically encoded H2O2 sensor HyPer, we further revealed the hypoxic ROS production in PAECs, which was fully blocked by the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone or myxothiazol. Interestingly, hypoxia caused an increase in the migration of PAECs, determined by scratch wound assay. In contrast, nicotine, a major cigarette or e-cigarette component, had no effect. Moreover, hypoxia and nicotine co-exposure further increased migration. Transfection of lentiviral shRNAs specific for the mitochondrial Rieske iron–sulfur protein (RISP), which knocked down its expression and associated ROS generation, inhibited the hypoxic migration of PAECs. Hypoxia largely increased the proliferation of PAECs, determined using Ki67 staining and direct cell number accounting. Similarly, nicotine caused a large increase in proliferation. Moreover, hypoxia/nicotine co-exposure elicited a further increase in cell proliferation. RISP knockdown inhibited the proliferation of PAECs following hypoxia, nicotine exposure, and hypoxia/nicotine co-exposure. Taken together, our data demonstrate that hypoxia increases RISP-mediated mitochondrial ROS production, migration, and proliferation in human PAECs; nicotine has no effect on migration, increases proliferation, and promotes hypoxic proliferation; the effects of nicotine are largely mediated by RISP-dependent mitochondrial ROS signaling. Conceivably, PAECs may contribute to PH via the RISP-mediated mitochondrial ROS.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. is associated with nosocomial infections in intensive care unit patients, resulting in high mortality. Although Acinetobacter spp. represent a serious public health problem worldwide, there are a few studies related to the presence of carbapenemases in health care facilities and other environmental settings in Ecuador. The main aim of this study was to characterize the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. isolates obtained from four hospitals (52) and from five rivers (27) close to Quito. We used the disc diffusion and EDTA sinergy tests to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and the production of metallo β-lactamases, respectively. We carried out a multiplex PCR of gyrB gene and the sequencing of partial rpoB gene to bacterial species identification. We performed molecular screening of nine carbapenem-resistant genes (blaSPM, blaSIM, blaGIM, blaGES, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51, blaOXA-58, and blaOXA-143) by multiplex PCR, followed by identification using sequencing of blaOXA genes. Our findings showed that carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii were the main species found in health care facilities and rivers. Most of the clinical isolates came from respiratory tract samples and harbored blaOXA-23, blaOXA-366, blaOXA-72, blaOXA-65, blaOXA-70, and blaOXA-143-like genes. The river isolates harbored only the blaOXA-51 and probably blaOXA-259 genes. We concluded that the most predominant type of carbapenem genes among isolates were both blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-65 among A. baumannii clinical isolates.

Premature Ventricular Complexes (PVCs) refer to electrical activity arising from ventricles resulting in ventricular contraction independent of the native rhythm. PVCs by themselves are common in the general population but based on the origin of the PVCs, either related to anatomical or electrical substrate, the disease process has a widely varied presentation and prognosis. The clinical presentation of symptoms may vary from being extremely benign, or very severe (malignant). Benign PVCs include those that are asymptomatic or induce very mild symptoms including palpitations, lightheadedness, chest discomfort, or the sensation of skipped beats. The middle range of PVCs present as heart failure or heart failure complicated by PVCs. The malignant variety may present as syncope, or sudden cardiac death. In this review we describe the multiple facets of PVC presentation and strategies of clinical management.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 257–291 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization reported 890,000 HBV-related deaths in 2019, higher than reported previously. There are 10 HBV genotypes (A–J) subdivided into several subgenotypes that differ considerably by geography. Various virologic factors, including genotype and subgenotype, impact the odds of acquiring a chronic HBV infection, the type of treatment prescribed, and the risk of developing hepatocarcinoma. Information on the HBV genotypes and subgenotypes that circulate in Ecuador remains low. To address this gap, the current study took a preliminary look at HBV-infected human samples from this region to identify the most common genotypes and subgenotypes. Samples from 44 patients in the Andean, Coastal, and Amazon regions of Ecuador were amplified and two major genotypes were identified, genotype F (42/44; 95.5%) and genotype E (2 patients; 4.5%). The genotype F subgenotypes were F3 (35/42; 83.33%), F4 (6/42; 14.28%), and F1b (1/42, 2.39%). This is the first epidemiological study to assess the distribution of HBV genotypes in Ecuador. The findings can inform antiviral drug effectivity studies specific to HBV genotypes prevalent in South America.

Objective. This study aimed to determine the performance of infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in eight core components in level 2 and level 3 hospitals across all provinces in Colombia. Methods. This cross-sectional study used self-assessed IPC performance data voluntarily reported by hospitals to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection during 2021. Each of the eight core components of the World Health Organization’s checklist in the Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework contributes a maximum score of 100, and the overall IPC performance score is the sum of these component scores. IPC performance is graded according to the overall score as inadequate (0–200), basic (201–400), intermediate (401–600) or advanced (601–800). Results. Of the 441 level 2 and level 3 hospitals, 267 (61%) reported their IPC performance. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) overall IPC score was 672 (IQR: 578–715). Of the 267 hospitals reporting, 187 (70%) achieved an advanced level of IPC. The median overall IPC score was significantly higher in private hospitals (690, IQR: 598–725) than in public hospitals (629, IQR: 538–683) (P < 0.001). Among the core components, scores were highest for the category assessing IPC guidelines (median score: 97.5) and lowest for the category assessing workload, staffing and bed occupancy (median score: 70). Median overall IPC scores varied across the provinces (P < 0.001). Conclusions. This countrywide assessment showed that 70% of surveyed hospitals achieved a self-reported advanced level of IPC performance, which reflects progress in building health system resilience. Since only 61% of eligible hospitals participated, an important next step is to ensure the participation of all hospitals in future assessments.

Objectives. To assess antibiotic susceptibility of World Health Organization (WHO) priority bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) in blood cultures at the Orinoquía regional hospital in Colombia. Methods. This was cross-sectional study using routine laboratory data for the period 2019–2021. Data on blood samples from patients suspected of a bloodstream infection were examined. We determined: the total number of blood cultures done and the proportion with culture yield; the characteristics of patients with priority bacteria; and the type of bacteria isolated and antibiotic resistance patterns. Results. Of 25 469 blood cultures done, 1628 (6%) yielded bacteria; 774 (48%) of these bacteria were WHO priority pathogens. Most of the priority bacteria isolated (558; 72%) were gram-negative and 216 (28%) were gram-positive organisms. Most patients with priority bacteria (666; 86%) were hospitalized in wards other than the intensive care unit, 427 (55%) were male, and 321 (42%) were ≥ 60 years of age. Of the 216 gram-positive bacteria isolated, 205 (95%) were Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 558 gram-negative priority bacteria isolated, the three most common were Escherichia coli (34%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (20%). The highest resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was to oxacillin (41%). For gram-negative bacteria, resistance to antibiotics ranged from 4% (amikacin) to 72% (ampicillin). Conclusions. Bacterial yield from blood cultures was low and could be improved. WHO priority bacteria were found in all hospital wards. This calls for rigorous infection prevention and control standards and continued surveillance of antibiotic resistance.

The Cupressaceae family includes species considered to be medicinal. Their essential oil is used for headaches, colds, cough, and bronchitis. Cedar trees like Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (C. lawsoniana) are commonly found in urban areas. We investigated whether C. lawsoniana exerts some of its effects by modifying airway smooth muscle (ASM) contractility. The leaves of C. lawsoniana (363 g) were pulverized mechanically, and extracts were obtained by successive maceration 1:10 (w:w) with methanol/CHCl3. Guinea pig tracheal rings were contracted with KCl, tetraethylammonium (TEA), histamine (HIS), or carbachol (Cch) in organ baths. In the Cch experiments, tissues were pre-incubated with D-600, an antagonist of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (L-VDCC) before the addition of C. lawsoniana. Interestingly, at different concentrations, C. lawsoniana diminished the tracheal contractions induced by KCl, TEA, HIS, and Cch. In ASM cells, C. lawsoniana significantly diminished L-type Ca2+ currents. ASM cells stimulated with Cch produced a transient Ca2+ peak followed by a sustained plateau maintained by L-VDCC and store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCC). C. lawsoniana almost abolished this last response. These results show that C. lawsoniana, and its active metabolite quercetin, relax the ASM by inhibiting the L-VDCC and SOCC; further studies must be performed to obtain the complete set of metabolites of the extract and study at length their pharmacological properties.

In this paper, several examples of novel equations and inequalities for various forms of the non-linear term in the Navier–Stokes equations (NSE) are provided. The NSE are formulated from the conservation of linear momentum and mass conservation. However, they are also known to conserve energy, angular momentum, enstrophy in 2D, helicity in 3D, among other important physical quantities (Gresho and Sani, 1998) [1]. Depending on the desired quantity of interest, there are various representations of nonlinear term u⋅∇u(e.g. convective, skew symmetric, rotational etc.) that can be implemented.

Background. Unlike other solid organs, no standardized treatment algorithms exist for intestinal transplantation (ITx). We established a consortium of American ITx centers to evaluate current practices. Methods. All American centers performing ITx during the past 3 y were invited to participate. As a consortium, we generated questions to evaluate and collect data from each institution. The data were compiled and analyzed. Results. Ten centers participated, performing 211 ITx during the past 3 y (range, 3–46; mean 21.1). Induction regimens varied widely. Thymoglobulin was the most common, used in the plurality of patients (85/211; 40.3%), but there was no consensus regimen. Similarly, regimens for the treatment of acute cellular rejection, antibody-mediated rejection, and graft-versus-host disease varied significantly between centers. We also evaluated differences in maintenance immunosuppression protocols, desensitization regimens, mammalian target of rapamycin use, antimetabolite use, and posttransplantation surveillance practices. Maintenance tacrolimus levels, stoma presence, and scoping frequency were not associated with differences in rejection events. Definitive association between treatments and outcomes, including graft and patient survival, was not the intention of this initial collaboration and is prevented by the lack of patient-level data and the presence of confounders. However, we identified trends regarding rejection episodes after various induction strategies that require further investigation in our subsequent collaborations. Conclusions. This initial collaboration reveals the extreme heterogeneity of practices among American ITx centers. Future collaboration will explore patient-level data, stratified by age and transplant type (isolated intestine versus multivisceral), to explore the association between treatment regimens and outcomes.

Los modelos alométricos son de vital importancia ya que permiten estimar la biomasa aérea en cada uno de sus componentes (hojas, ramas, fuste y total) del árbol. El objetivo del estudio fue ajustar modelos alométricos para estimar biomasa aérea por componentes en árboles individuales de Tectona grandis L. f. en Tizimín, Yucatán. La biomasa aérea se estimó mediante el método directo, se derribó en campo un total de 32 individuos, cada árbol se separó por componente; hojas, ramas y fuste y se determinó el peso verde, se extrajeron submuestras de los componentes para determinar la relación peso seco-peso verde. Para obtener la biomasa se multiplicó el peso verde total de cada componente por su relación correspondiente. Para cada componente se ajustaron ecuaciones lineales y no lineales, mediante el método de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios. El modelo no lineal (potencial) mostró mejor ajuste, presentando el componente fuste y total registraron un R2 de 0.96 en T. grandis L. f. La proporción de biomasa en cada uno de sus componentes fue diferente, siendo el fuste el de mayor porcentaje con un 48%, seguido de ramas con 35 y 17% en hojas.

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction is determined by the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) caused by its release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) or by extracellular Ca2+ influx. Major channels involved in Ca2+ influx in ASM cells are L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (L-VDCCs) and nonselective cation channels (NSCCs). Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is an NSCC recently studied in ASM. Mechanical stimuli, such as contraction, can activate TRPV4. We investigated the possible activation of TRPV4 by histamine (His)- or carbachol (CCh)-induced contraction in guinea pig ASM. In single myocytes, the TRPV4 agonist (GSK101) evoked an increase in [Ca2+]i, characterized by a slow onset and a plateau phase. The TRPV4 antagonist (GSK219) decreased channel activity by 94%, whereas the Ca2+-free medium abolished the Ca2+ response induced by GSK101. Moreover, GSK101 caused Na+ influx in tracheal myocytes. GSK219 reduced the Ca2+ peak and the Ca2+ plateau triggered by His or CCh. TRPV4 blockade shifted the concentration–response curve relating to His and CCh to the right in tracheal rings and reduced the maximal contraction. Finally, the activation of TRPV4 in single myocytes increased the Ca2+ refilling of the SR. We conclude that contraction of ASM cells after stimulation with His or CCh promotes TRPV4 activation, the subsequent influx of Ca2+ and Na+, and the opening of L-VDCCs. The entry of Ca2+ into ASM cells via TRPV4 and L-VDCCs contributes to optimal smooth muscle contraction.

El índice del sitio es la estimación principal para evaluar la productividad de un bosque, ya que facilita clasificar los rodales conforme a su potencial productivo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la productividad de Pinus pseudostrobus var. oaxacana a través del método de la curva guía, mediante el ajuste de diferentes modelos de crecimiento forestal. El modelo de Michailoff, estadísticamente presentó el mejor ajuste; sin embargo, el modelo Prodan representa mejor el patrón de crecimiento de P. pseudostrobus var. oaxacana, aunque estadísticamente los modelos son similares, muestra alta significancia en la relación de crecimiento en altura y edad.

The research interest of the scientific community in biofilm-forming microorganisms is growing due to the problems caused by their infections affecting humans and animals, mainly because of the difficulty of the host immune system in eradicating these microbial complex communities and the increasing antimicrobial resistance rates worldwide. This review describes the virulence factors and their interaction with the microbial communities of four well-known and highly biofilm-forming pathogens, more exactly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., and Candida spp. The innate and adaptive immune responses caused by the infection with these microorganisms and their evasion to the host immune system by biofilm formation are discussed in the present work. The relevance of the differences in the expression of certain virulence factors and the immune response in biofilm-associated infections when compared to planktonic infections is usually described as the biofilm architecture protects the pathogen and alters the host immune responses, here we extensively discussed these mechanisms.

The use of immunomodulatory and metabolic modulating drugs has been considered a better strategy to improve the efficacy of conventional treatments against pathogens and metabolic diseases. L-carnitine is relevant in fatty acid metabolism and energy production by β-oxidation, but it also has a beneficial therapeutic immunomodulatory effect. The β-hydroxy-γ-aminophosphonate (β-HPC) was developed, synthesized and studied in different pathologies as a more soluble and stable analog than L-carnitine, which has been studied in bacterial physiology and metabolism; therefore, we set out to investigate the direct effect of β-HPC on the metabolism of N. brasiliensis, which causes actinomycetoma in Mexico and is underdiagnosed. To analyze the effect of β-HPC on the metabolic capacity of the bacterium for the hydrolysis of substrate casein, L-tyrosine, egg yolk, and tween 80, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was employed. It was found that β-HPC increases the metabolic activity of N. brasiliensis associated with increased growth and increased hydrolysis of the substrates tested. By the effect of β-HPC, it was observed that, in the hydrolysis of L-tyrosine, the aromatic ring and functional groups were degraded. At 1515 cm–1, any distinctive signal or peak for this amino acid was missing, almost disappearing at 839, 720, 647, and 550 cm–1. In casein, hydrolysis is enhanced in the substrate, which is evident by the presence of NH, OH, amide, and CO. In casein, hydrolysis is enhanced in the substrate, which is evident by the presence of NH, OH, amide, COO, and P = O signals, characteristic of amino acids, in addition to the increase of the amide I and II bands. In Tween 80 the H-C = and C = C signals disappear and the ether signals are concentrated, it was distinguished by the intense band at 1100 cm–1. Egg yolk showed a large accumulation of phosphate groups at 1071 cm–1, where phosvitin is located. FT-IR has served to demonstrate that β-HPC is a hydrolysis enhancer. Furthermore, by obtaining the spectrum of N. brasiliensis, we intend to use it as a quick comparison tool with other spectra related to actinobacteria. Eventually, FT-IR may serve as a species identification option.

Los tribunales electorales tienen un objetivo de pacificación social; pues se trata de salvaguardar la legitimidad de una determinada forma de organización socio-política. En este sentido, su responsabilidad es cumplir con el principio de transparencia y publicidad como forma de rendición de cuentas y vinculo necesario con quienes recurren a sus servicios. Por ello, y dado el interés político que revisten sus actividades, es deseable establecer parámetros mínimos respecto a la forma de comunicación de los juzgadores electorales con la ciudadanía, lo cual involucra, en su análisis. la búsqueda de equilibrio entre: la ética judicial, transparencia, derecho a la información, rendición de cuentas y libertad de expresión. Este equilibrio se logra bajo los presupuestos del discurso, la ponderación y la argumentación; estructuras previas que posibilitan justificar la excepcionalidad de la secrecía judicial como regla general en el proceso de comunicación previa a la existencia de la cosa juzgada. Ante esto, la trilogía presupuestal propuesta utilitaria sirve como herramienta para determinar los límites del juzgador electoral en la comunicación de sus proyectos de sentencia, previo a su discusión colegiada.

Immune checkpoint therapies (ICT) are promising for treating various cancers, but response rates vary. Here the authors show, in mouse models, that tumor-infiltrating mast cells colocalize with regulatory T cells, coincide with local reduction of MHC-I and CD8 T cells, and is associated with resistance to ICT, which can be reversed by c-kit inhibitor treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect potential animal reservoirs of Escherichia coli carrying the mcr-1 gene in an Ecuadorian household. Methods: The mobile colistin-resistance gene, mcr-1, was first detected in Ecuador in a commensal E. coli isolate from a boy. A cross-sectional study was performed to detect the possible source of colistin-resistant E. coli in the boy’s household. Faecal swabs and soil faecal samples were collected from companion animals. Samples were plated on selective media to isolate colistin-resistant E. coli and isolates were submitted to PCR detection of mcr-1, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multi-locus sequences typing (MLST). Moreover, the genomes of all the isolates were sequenced. Results: Three different colistin-resistant E. coli sequence types (ST3941, 1630 and 2170), corresponding to three PFGE patterns, were obtained from a chicken and two dogs; these isolates were different from the human isolate (ST609). By whole-genome sequencing, the mcr-1.1 gene was found on IncI2 plasmids with very high nucleotide identity. Conclusions: Our results indicate a polyclonal dissemination of mcr-1.1 in the environment surrounding the first MCR-producing E. coli strain reported in Ecuador. Our findings support the idea of lateral dissemination of mcr-1.1 gene between unrelated E. coli isolates.

La presente investigación consiste en un estudio de caso con el objetivo de describir el comportamiento histórico de la estructura poblacional en las provincias de El Oro, Loja y Zamora Chinchipe, que conforman la Región Sur de Ecuador, durante el periodo 1962-2010 y comprender el proceso de envejecimiento. La investigación se basó en la información oficial de los censos de población y vivienda, y se emplearon las variables población general, sexo, área geográfica, ciclos de vida, índices de infancia, juventud, generacional de ancianos, de vejez y de sobreenvejecimiento poblacional. Para determinar el ritmo de crecimiento se calculó la tasa de crecimiento anual geométrica, y para el envejecimiento, las medias, medianas y cuartiles poblacionales. La población de la Región Sur del Ecuador envejeció en 7,6 años, con variaciones significativas a nivel de las provincias: en El Oro envejeció 8,1 años, en Loja, 7,6 años, y en Zamora Chinchipe, 4,5 años. El análisis por ciclos de vida muestra escenarios disímiles que sirven como contexto de los procesos de salud, enfermedad y mortalidad, a pesar que no aborda toda la dinámica poblacional. En general, se evidencia una transición demográfica compleja, asimétrica, en espacios político-geográficos heterogéneos, en donde se han generado históricamente procesos de reproducción biológica-social interrelacionados, pero al mismo tiempo, disímiles.

The high prevalence of nosocomial infections is related to the use of medical insertion devices such as central venous catheters (CVCs). Most of the microorganisms causing nosocomial infections are biofilm producers, this characteristic allows them to adhere to abiotic surfaces and cause initial catheter infections that can lead to bloodstream infections. Our main goal in this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of biofilm among CVC-related infections, particularly among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, in the studies applying different in vitro and in vivo methodologies.All studies reporting clinical isolates from patients with catheter-related nosocomial infections and biofilm evaluation published up to 24 June 2022 in the PubMed and Scopus databases were included. Twenty-five studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review for analysis. Different methodologies were applied in the assessment of biofilm-forming microorganisms including in vitro assays, catheter-infected in vitro, and in vivo mouse models. The present study showed that between 59 and 100% of clinical isolates were able to form biofilms, and the prevalence rate of biofilm formation varied significantly between studies from different countries and regions. Among the clinical isolates collected in our study set, a wide variety of microorganisms including Gram-positive strains, Gram-negative strains, and Candida albicans were found. Many authors studied resistance mechanisms and genes related to biofilm development and surface adherence properties. In some cases, the studies also evaluated biofilm inhibition assays using various kinds of catheter coatings.

Background – Species of Agave and Furcraea (Agavaceae, Asparagaceae s. lat.) are widely cultivated as ornamentals in Mediterranean climates. An increasing number is escaping and naturalising, also in natural habitats in the Canary Islands (Spain). However, a detailed treatment of variously naturalised and invasive species found in the wild in the Canary Islands is not available and, as a result, species identification is often problematic.Methods – The present study is based on many years of fieldwork on the islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Results – Fourteen species and several additional infraspecific taxa of Agave have been identified. In addition to the widely naturalised and invasive Agave americana, A. fourcroydes and A. sisalana (incl. the not previously reported var. armata), the following species of Agave were observed: A. angustifolia (incl. var. marginata), A. attenuata, A. filifera, A. franzosinii, A. lechuguilla, A. macroacantha, A. murpheyi, A. oteroi, A. salmiana (var. ferox and var. salmiana), A. aff. tequilana and A. vivipara. From the genus Furcraea three species were found: F. foetida, F. hexapetala and F. selloana. Several of these newly detected species of Agave and Furcraea are at least locally naturalised. A key for the identification of the representatives of these genera in the study area is presented and all species are illustrated. Additional nomenclatural, taxonomic and ecological notes are also provided.

Comprender la profundización del cauce alrededor de pilares con el paramento inclinado, como consecuencia del fenómeno de socavación local, requiere del análisis de la interacción entre el flujo y la estructura mediante modelos físicos, numéricos y mediciones en campo. A lo largo de los años se ha experimentado mediante la simulación física y mediciones en campo, sin embargo, este trabajo de investigación contribuye, a través de la modelación numérica, al estudio del efecto en la socavación local del cauce que produce la inclinación del paramento del pilar. Se utilizó el software tridimensional ANSYS CFX, el cual tiene la capacidad de simular la dinámica del flujo a través del pilar, llegando a poder visualizar velocidades y dirección de líneas de corriente. Por otro lado, se analizó la relación indirecta que estos parámetros del flujo tienen en la socavación local. El estudio se les realizó a dos formas de pilares: el primero reduce la sección transversal desde la superficie hasta la base, y la segunda forma reduce la sección transversal desde la base hasta la superficie. Los resultados mostraron que el primer tipo de pilar es más favorable para generar socavación local, encontrándose velocidades en la cara del pilar mayores a 50%.

This article exposes the effect bubbles implosion causes on buckets on the liquor from carbonate-ammonia leaching (mixture of water, ammonia and particles in suspension) of ferronickel lateritic ores. Based on the previous results that establish a relationship between the bubbles’ size and the ammonia concentration of the liquor, the microstructure of a Hastelloy C 276 steel blade affected by cavitation was analyzed. It was also obtained that affectations are smaller in the initial area of the bucket than the distal parts, where complete perforations can be produced in the metal, what is associated to the fact that bubbles develop a great size at a concentration of 34% of ammonia in the liquor and implode at the exit of the bucket producing more intense pressure waves than those generated by the bubbles formed at 27% and that implode in the initial zone. It is concluded that the microstructural changes in the bucket material are closely related to the concentration of ammonia in the liquor making pitting, cracks, and cavities larger when the concentration of ammonia is maximum (34%).

Los estudios de carbono muestran claramente la capacidad de los bosques como sumideros de gases de efecto invernadero y contribuyen directamente en mitigar el cambio climático. Por lo anterior, el presente reporte de investigación tuvo como objetivo estimar la biomasa aérea total y el contenido de carbono en Pinus maximinoi H. E. Moore, ajustando ecuaciones alométricas a partir de los datos de un inventario forestal. La biomasa fue el producto del volumen de madera por la densidad básica promedio y la concentración de carbono. El modelo de Meyer modificada presentó coeficientes de determinación altamente confiables de 0.99, con muy bajo error estándar, demostrando alta correlación en la estimación de biomasa aérea total y contenido de carbono en los árboles de P. maximinoi H. E. Moore.

Introducción. La composición arbórea asociada al cacao criollo y la que se desarrolla en los sistemas productivos de cacao, es diferente. Esta información es importante para adoptar futuras estrategias en programas de conservación y mejoramiento. Objetivo. Contribuir al conocimiento sobre la composición arbórea de especies asociadas al cacao criollo en México. Materiales y métodos. Los datos analizados en este estudio incluyeron variables de la estructura horizontal y vertical, además de la diversidad de especies arbóreas asociadas al cacao en diferentes condiciones. Este estudio se realizó durante mayo a septiembre del 2018, en parcelas donde se encontraron árboles de cacao criollo en su hábitat natural de la selva Lacandona y en plantaciones de cacao en tres localidades del Soconusco, en Chiapas, México. En las mismas se contabilizaron y clasificaron taxonómicamente las especies arbóreas. Resultados. Asociadas al cacao criollo en la selva Lacandona se registraron veintiún especies, que se agruparon en diecinueve géneros y trece familias, cuya abundancia, riqueza y densidad fue mayor que la registrada en sistemas productivos de cacao en la región del Soconusco, lo que contribuyó a una diferencia entre ambos ecosistemas con solo dos especies compartidas. Conclusión. La abundancia, riqueza y densidad de especies arbóreas asociadas al cacao criollo fue mayor que la registrada en los sistemas de producción, con disimilitud en sus condiciones. Se registraron diferencias en la localización del cultivo del cacao dentro de la estructura vertical de ambos escenarios estudiados.

Antecedentes: El cáncer de uraco es una de las enfermedades malignas de la vejiga más raras y agresivas. Su incidencia en 2012 era del 0.2% de todos los cánceres de vejiga. Se presenta en estadios avanzados, con una mortalidad del 58% a 22 meses para el estadio IV. Se origina a partir del uraco, una estructura embriológica que está presente en el 32% de la población adulta. Objetivo: Presentar las características clínicas de una serie de casos de cáncer de uraco en una unidad de tercer nivel de atención médica. Método: Serie de casos. Se analizaron los resultados clínicos obtenidos de pacientes con cáncer de uraco de 2011 a 2019. Las variables incluidas fueron edad, sexo, tabaquismo, estadio clínico, tratamiento y evolución. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión. Resultados: Fueron siete pacientes, tres hombres y cuatro mujeres, con una edad media de 54.4 años. El tipo histológico más frecuente fue adenocarcinoma tipo mucinoso. Se realizó cistectomía parcial con linfadenectomía pélvica bilateral a tres pacientes (42.8%), y cistectomía radical más linfadenectomía pélvica bilateral en los otros cuatro (57.2%). Conclusiones: El cáncer de uraco es una enfermedad rara. Sus manifestaciones son tardías y el signo clínico principal es la hematuria. El pronóstico es malo a mediano plazo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. In Ecuador, the first case of COVID-19 was recorded on 29 February 2020. Despite efforts to control its spread, SARS-CoV-2 overran the Ecuadorian public health system, which became one of the most affected in Latin America on 24 April 2020. The Hospital General del Sur de Quito (HGSQ) had to transition from a general to a specific COVID-19 health center in a short period of time to fulfill the health demand from patients with respiratory afflictions. Here, we summarized the implementations applied in the HGSQ to become a COVID-19 exclusive hospital, including the rearrangement of hospital rooms and a triage strategy based on a severity score calculated through an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest computed tomography (CT). Moreover, we present clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data from 75 laboratory tested COVID-19 patients, which represent the first outbreak of Quito city. The majority of patients were male with a median age of 50 years. We found differences in laboratory parameters between intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU cases considering C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and lymphocytes. Sensitivity and specificity of the AI-assisted chest CT were 21.4% and 66.7%, respectively, when considering a score >70%; regardless, this system became a cornerstone of hospital triage due to the lack of RT-PCR testing and timely results. If health workers act as vectors of SARS-CoV-2 at their domiciles, they can seed outbreaks that might put 1,879,047 people at risk of infection within 15 km around the hospital. Despite our limited sample size, the information presented can be used as a local example that might aid future responses in low and middle-income countries facing respiratory transmitted epidemics.

Mycetoma is a chronic infectious disease that can be caused by fungi or bacteria, Madurella mycetomatis and Nocardia brasiliensis are frequent etiologic agents of this disease. Mycetoma produced by bacteria is known as actinomycetoma. In mycetoma produced by fungi (eumycetoma) and actinomycetoma, diagnosis of the disease is based on clinical findings: severe inflammation, with deformities of affected tissues, abscesses, fistulae, sinuses and discharge of purulent material that contains micro colonies of the etiologic agent. Microscopic examination of infected tissue is similar regardless of the offending microbe; hallmark of infected tissue is severe inflammation with abundant neutrophils around micro colonies and granuloma formation with macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic and foamy cells. Even though medical treatment is available for mycetoma patients, amputation, or surgical intervention is frequently needed. The pathogenesis of actinomycetoma is little known, most information was obtained from experimental animal models infected with bacteria. In other experimental mice infections with different microbes, it was demonstrated that nitric oxide is responsible for the intracellular killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by activated macrophages. Nitric oxide is a free radical with potent stimulatory and suppressive effects in innate and adaptive immunity. The unstable nitric oxide molecule is produced by action of nitric oxide synthases on L-arginine. There are three nitric oxide synthases expressed in different cells and tissues, two are constitutively expressed one in neurons, and the other in endothelial cells and one that is inducible in macrophages. Aminoguanidine is a competitive inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Its administration in experimental animals may favor or harm them. We used aminoguanidine in mice infected with Nocardia brasiliensis, and demonstrated that all treated animals were protected from actinomycetoma development. Anti N. brasiliensis antibodies and T cell proliferation were not affected, but inflammation was reduced.

Introducción: La ingeniería de software abarca la obtención de los requerimientos o requisitos del software, el diseño del sistema, la implementación, las pruebas, la instalación, el mantenimiento y la actualización del sistema. La ingeniería de requisitos se enfoca en la definición de lo que se desea producir. Objetivo: Describir las principales características de la ingeniería de requisitos y resaltar su importancia dentro del proceso de desarrollo de software. Método: Revisión documental clásica con ayuda de las palabras clave en sitios de Internet. Análisis crítico de los artículos, estructurando el desarrollo del trabajo en tres secciones: requisitos de software, ingeniería de requisitos y técnicas principales para obtener los requisitos. Desarrollo: La ingeniería de requisitos consiste en la generación de especificaciones correctas que describan con claridad, sin ambigüedades, en forma consistente y compacta, las necesidades de los clientes para la producción de una nueva aplicación informática o la modificación de una existente; su fin es minimizar los problemas relacionados con la deficiente gestión de los requerimientos, lo que puede aumentar los costos y en muchos casos conducir al fracaso de los proyectos. Se exponen y discuten la generación de especificaciones de requisitos, la Ingeniería de requisitos en sí, así como las técnicas principales para obtener requisitos. Conclusiones: La ingeniería de requisitos abarca las actividades de obtención, análisis, validación y documentación de las especificaciones de requisitos, su adecuada gestión permite optimizar el inicio de la fase de diseño, con vistas a que el producto final refleje las reales necesidades del usuario. Palabras clave: requisitos; requerimientos; ingeniería de requisitos; desarrollo de software. Abstract Introduction: Software engineering consists in obtaining software requirements, system designing and implementation, tests, installing, maintaining and actualizing the system. Requirement engineering focus on defining the customer needed specifications to perform by the software system. Objective: Describe the main characteristics of requirements engineering and highlight its importance within the software development process. Methods: A classical documentary review was carried out by selecting publications with the help of keywords on Internet sites. A critical analysis of the articles was carried out. The development of the exposition was structured in three sections. Development: The execution of the process of generating correct specifications that clearly, unambiguously, consistently and compactly describe the needs of users or customers to minimize the problems related to mismanagement of requirements in systems development, it is the center of requirements engineering. There are exposed as well as discussed the concepts related with the subject. From the point of view of the documental analysis the issue is presented by the description and discussion of the process of generating requirements specifications, requirements engineering and the main techniques used to obtain requirements. Conclusions: Requirements engineering involves all the activities related to obtaining, analyzing, validating and documenting the requirements specifications, so its proper management allows reaching an optimal state at the beginning of the software design phase so that the final product reflects the real needs of the user. Keywords: requirements; requirement´s engineering; user software development.

Introduction. Androgen signaling comprises nongenomic and genomic pathways. Nongenomic actions are not related to the binding of the androgen receptor (AR) and occur rapidly. The genomic effects implicate the binding to a cytosolic AR, leading to protein synthesis. Both events are independent of each other. Genomic effects have been associated with different pathologies such as vascular ischemia, hypertension, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Catecholamines play a crucial role in regulating vascular smooth muscle (VSM), airway smooth muscle (ASM), and cardiac muscle (CM) function and tone. Objective. The aim of this review is an updated analysis of the role of androgens in the adrenergic system of vascular, airway, and cardiac myocytes. Body. Testosterone (T) favors vasoconstriction, and its concentration fluctuation during life stages can affect the vascular tone and might contribute to the development of hypertension. In the VSM, T increases α1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) and decreases adenylyl cyclase expression, favoring high blood pressure and hypertension. Androgens have also been associated with asthma. During puberty, girls are more susceptible to present asthma symptoms than boys because of the increment in the plasmatic concentrations of T in young men. In the ASM, β2-ARs are responsible for the bronchodilator effect, and T augments the expression of β2-ARs evoking an increase in the relaxing response to salbutamol. The levels of T are also associated with an increment in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. In the CM, activation of α1A-ARs and β2-ARs increases the ionotropic activity, leading to the development of contraction, and T upregulates the expression of both receptors and improves the myocardial performance. Conclusions. Androgens play an essential role in the adrenergic system of vascular, airway, and cardiac myocytes, favoring either a state of health or disease. While the use of androgens as a therapeutic tool for treating asthma symptoms or heart disease is proposed, the vascular system is warmly affected.

Mitochondria are important organelles that act as a primary site to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, mitochondria play a pivotal role in the regulation of Ca2+ signaling, fatty acid oxidation, and ketone synthesis. Dysfunction of these signaling molecules leads to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH), atherosclerosis, and other vascular diseases. Features of PH include vasoconstriction and pulmonary artery (PA) remodeling, which can result from abnormal proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). These responses are mediated by increased Rieske iron–sulfur protein (RISP)-dependent mitochondrial ROS production and increased mitochondrial Ca2+ levels. Mitochondrial ROS and Ca2+ can both synergistically activate nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) to trigger inflammatory responses leading to PH, right ventricular failure, and death. Evidence suggests that increased mitochondrial ROS and Ca2+ signaling leads to abnormal synthesis of ketones, which play a critical role in the development of PH. In this review, we discuss some of the recent findings on the important interactive role and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial ROS and Ca2+ in the development and progression of PH. We also address the contributions of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory responses and ketone-mediated oxidative stress due to abnormal regulation of mitochondrial ROS and Ca2+ signaling in PH.

Cuatro métodos de evaluación visual del riesgo se aplicaron en 30 árboles urbanos con niveles de riesgo en la ciudad de Talca (Chile). Los métodos utilizados fueron: “Avaliação de árvores de risco na arborização de vias públicas de Nova Olímpia” (método Sampaio), “Internation Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Matheny y Clark” (método ISA[A]), “Best Management Practice BMP/ISA” (método ISA[B]) y “Urban tree risk management USDA Forest Service” (método USF). Los resultados fueron estandarizados para su análisis estadístico, se encontraron diferencias significativas y variaciones en los métodos al aplicar el test no paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis y de Duncan. Se conformaron tres grupos: los métodos Sampaio y USF, que presentaron evaluaciones con riesgo muy alto y alto, respectivamente; el segundo, conformado por USF e ISA(A), presentó evaluaciones de alto a medio riesgo; mientras que un tercer grupo lo conformó ISA(B), con evaluaciones de riesgo bajo. Ya que la ciudad de Talca no cuenta con una metodología propia, se sugiere usar en el área mediterránea de Chile el método ISA(A) o USF, ya que fueron los métodos que presentaron una mejor adecuación a las condiciones locales.

La calidad de planta que se produce en vivero es importante para lograr el establecimiento exitoso de plantaciones forestales. El objetivo del estudio que se describe consistió en evaluar el crecimiento y calidad de plantas de Gmelina arborea, especie que se ha adaptado, fácilmente, a las regiones tropicales húmedas y subhúmedas de México, con diferentes mezclas de sustrato mediante el sistema de producción tradicional en vivero. Se aplicó un diseño experimental completamente al azar, con seis tratamientos, cinco repeticiones y 25 plantas por unidad experimental. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: T1 (50 % tierra +50 % cascabillo de café), T2 (50 % tierra + 50 % aserrín (mezcla de Mangifera indica, Tabebuia rosea y Tabebuia donnell-smithii)), T3 (50 % tierra + 50 % cáscara de cacao), T4 (50 % tierra + 50 % bagazo de caña), T5 (50 % tierra + 50 % estiércol de ganado) y T6 (100 % tierra de monte). Después de 75 días de haber llevado a cabo la siembra, el análisis estadístico mostró diferencias significativas (P≤0.05) entre ellos, en las que el T5 generó los valores más altos en diámetro (8.76 mm), altura (66.08 cm), área foliar (1 097.42 cm2), biomasa total (11.48 g) e índice de calidad de Dickson (1.00). Se concluye que este sustrato produce plantas de calidad de la especie probada.

Curing meat products is an ancient strategy to preserve muscle foods for long periods. Nowadays, cured meat products are widely produced using nitrate and nitrite salts. However, the growing of the clean-label movement has been pushing to replace synthetic nitrate/nitrite salts (indicated as E-numbers in food labels) with natural ingredients in the formulation of processed foods. Although no ideal synthetic nitrate/nitrite replacements have yet been found, it is known that certain vegetables contain relevant amounts of nitrate. Beta vulgaris varieties (Swiss chard/chard, beetroot, and spinach beet, for instance) are widely produced for human consumption and have relevant amounts of nitrate that could be explored as a natural ingredient in cured meat product processing. Thus, this paper provides an overview of the main nitrate sources among Beta vulgaris varieties and the strategic use of their liquid and powder extracts in the production of cured meat products.

Los inhibidores basados en heteroátomos de nitrógeno han mostrado ser uno de los productos químicos eficaces en la inhibición de la corrosión de metales. Este estudio fue llevado a cabo con la teoría de funcionales de la densidad (DFT), utilizando distintos niveles de cálculo. Diversas propuestas fueron evaluadas para estimar los niveles de energía de los orbitales moleculares de frontera (HOMO-LUMO) y su isodensidad. Dichos parámetros fueron considerados para determinar la parte nucleofílica y electrofílica de las moléculas. Finalmente, se llevó a cabo un análisis de la reactividad química con los parámetros de afinidad electrónica, el potencial de ionización, la dureza química y el índice de electrofilicidad; el objetivo fue determinar el efecto sobre la dureza química al cambiar la posición de los sustituyentes.

Objectives: To describe a clinical case of Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring a New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) plasmid in Ecuador and to present a map of reports of NDM isolates in South America. Methods: The modified Hodge test, carbapenem inactivation method, imipenemâEDTA disk method (synergy), and Rapidec Carba NP test were used to identify antibiotic resistance mechanisms. The presence of resistance genes was explored with a conjugation assay, and molecular confirmation of NDM was performed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Plasmid characterization was conducted by PCR-based replicon typing. A literature review was performed in Google Scholar and PubMed to identify reports from South America. Results: An HIV-infected patient, who had never traveled abroad, developed a bloodstream infection caused by K. pneumoniae ST147 harboring the NDM-1 resistance gene in a plasmid from the IncA/C group. Local circulation of NDM has also been described in other South American countries, in particular in Colombia and Brazil, although published scientific records were not found for other countries. Conclusions: This report presents the first evidence of autochthonous circulation of the NDM-1 resistance gene harbored by an IncA/C plasmid isolated from a K. pneumoniae ST147 in Ecuador. Efforts should be implemented to monitor and characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of NDM in Ecuador and other countries of South America. Keywords: NDM, South America, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Antibiotic resistance, Plasmid

The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is a well-known vaccine with almost a century of use, with the apparent capability to improve cytokine production and epigenetics changes that could develop a better response to pathogens. It has been postulated that BCG protection against SARS-CoV-2 has a potential role in the pandemic, through the presence of homologous amino acid sequences. To identify a possible link between BCG vaccination coverage and COVID-19 cases, we used official epidemic data and Ecuadorian Ministry of Health and Pan American Health Organization vaccination information. BCG information before 1979 was available only at a national level. Therefore, projections based on the last 20 years were performed, to compare by specific geographic units. We used a Mann–Kendall test to identify BCG coverage variations, and mapping was conducted with a free geographic information system (QGIS). Nine provinces where BCG vaccine coverage was lower than 74.25% show a significant statistical association (χ2 Pearson’s = 4.800, df = 1, p = 0.028), with a higher prevalence of cases for people aged 50 to 64 years than in younger people aged 20 to 49 years. Despite the availability of BCG vaccination data and the mathematical models needed to compare these data with COVID-19 cases, our results show that, in geographic areas where BCG coverage was low, 50% presented a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases that were young; thus, low-coverage years were more affected.

An experiment with water and ammoniacal liquor at 27% and 34% concentrations of ammonia was carried out in order to determine the pressure dynamics during the formation of bubbles and their movement when causing cavitations in centrifugal pumps. The dynamics of bubbles was calculated numerically by applying the Rayleigh-Plesset equation using the bubble radius and the bubble build-up time. It is concluded that the pressure to form the bubbles at 22 ºC is 10,135.103 Pa for water and 45,468.103 Pa for the ammoniacal liquor at a concentration of 34 %. The radius of the bubbles found in ammoniacal liquor is in the range of 30 to 120 times the original bubble radius while the bubbles formed in water are only in the range of 15 times the original radius value.

Wood lignin composition strongly depends on anatomical features and it has been used as a marker for characterizing major plant groups. Wood heterogeneity in Cactaceae is involved in evolutionary and adaptive processes within this group; moreover, it is highly correlated to the species growth form. Here we studied the lignin structure from different types of woods in four Cactaceae species with different stem morphologies (Pereskia lychnidiflora, tree/fibrous wood; Opuntia streptacantha and Pilosocereus chrysacanthus, tree/succulent fibrous wood; Ferocactus hamatacanthus, cylindrical stem/dimorphic wood) in order to determine their relationship with the wood anatomy in an evolutionary-adaptive context. Dioxane lignin was isolated and analyzed by pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The main linkages are the β-O−4′ ether (67–85%), the β-β′ resinol (10–26%) and the β-5′ and α-O−4′ linkages of the phenylcoumaran structures (≤7%). Spirodienone structures have a considerable abundance (5%) in the dimorphic wood of F. hamatacanthus. In addition, low contents (≤3%) of α,β-diaryl ether, α-oxidized β-O−4′ ether and dibenzodioxocin structures were found. The sinapyl- and coniferyl acetates are not part of the wood lignin in any of the studied species. The low (≤5%) γ-acetylation in the F. hamatacanthus and P. chrysacanthus wood lignin is here interpreted as an evidence of a high specialization of the wood elements in the conduction/storage of water. The lignin of the studied Cactaceae is composed predominantly of guaiacyl and syringyl units (S/G: 0.9–16.4). High abundance of syringyl units (62–94%) in three of the four species is considered as a defense mechanism against oxidative agents, it is a very conspicuous trait in the most succulent species with dimorphic wood. Furthermore, it is also associated with ferulates and the herein called γ-acetylated guaiacyl-syringaresinol complexes acting as nucleation sites for lignification and as cross-links between lignin and carbohydrates at the wide-band tracheid-fiber junctions.

A previous definition of seismogenic zones is required to do a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for areas of spread and low seismic activity. Traditional zoning methods are based on the available seismic catalog and the geological structures. It is admitted that thermal and resistant parameters of the crust provide better criteria for zoning. Nonetheless, the working out of the rheological profiles causes a great uncertainty. This has generated inconsistencies, as different zones have been proposed for the same area. A new method for seismogenic zoning by means of triclustering is proposed in this research. The main advantage is that it is solely based on seismic data. Almost no human decision is made, and therefore, the method is nearly non-biased. To assess its performance, the method has been applied to the Iberian Peninsula, which is characterized by the occurrence of small to moderate magnitude earthquakes. The catalog of the National Geographic Institute of Spain has been used. The output map is checked for validity with the geology. Moreover, a geographic information system has been used for two purposes. First, the obtained zones have been depicted within it. Second, the data have been used to calculate the seismic parameters (b-value, annual rate). Finally, the results have been compared to Kohonen’s self-organizing maps.

Vaccines against dengue virus (DV) are commercially nonexistent. A subunit vaccination strategy may be of value, especially if a safe viral vector acts as biologically active adjuvant. In this paper, we focus on an immunoglobulin-like, independently folded domain III (DIII) from DV 2 envelope protein (E), which contains epitopes that elicits highly specific neutralizing antibodies. We modified the hepatitis B small surface antigen (HBsAg, S) in order to display DV 2 DIII on a virus-like particle (VLP), thus generating the hybrid antigen DIII-S. Two varieties of measles virus (MV) vectors were developed to express DIII-S. The first expresses the hybrid antigen from an additional transcription unit (ATU) and the second additionally expresses HBsAg from a separate ATU. We found that this second MV vectoring the hybrid VLPs displaying DIII-S on an unmodified HBsAg scaffold were immunogenic in MV-susceptible mice (HuCD46Ge-IFNarko), eliciting robust neutralizing responses (averages) against MV (1:1280 NT90), hepatitis B virus (787 mIU/mL), and DV2 (1:160 NT50) in all of the tested animals. Conversely, the MV vector expressing only DIII-S induced immunity against MV alone. In summary, DV2 neutralizing responses can be generated by displaying E DIII on a scaffold of HBsAg-based VLPs, vectored by MV.

La Región Sur del Ecuador está constituida por las provincias de El Oro, Loja y Zamora Chinchipe; ubicadas en el sur del Ecuador, zona fronteriza con el Perú. Conceptualmente, se entiende a estos espacios de división política-territorial, como los sitios en donde se reproduce una población que son sujetos de desarrollo histórico. El presente es un estudio demográ co de caso, de fuente secundaria, en base a los datos o ciales suministrados por el Instituto Ecuatoriano de Estadísticas y Censos, INEC, de los censos poblacionales realizados entre los años 1950 y 2010, periodo de estudio. Se analizaron las variables crecimiento poblacional total, por área geográ ca y por sexo; de la región y en cada provincia. En general, el estudio muestra un incremento poblacional importante en la región, cuya velocidad de crecimiento se ha reducido a lo largo del periodo, con marcadas diferencias entre las provincias; se aprecia que la evolución de las poblaciones urbana y rural ha sido diferente, lo que induce a pensar en un proceso de urbanización progresivo, de migraciones importantes de las poblaciones rurales, dentro de la región o fuera de ella, especialmente aquellas asentadas en la provincia de Loja, de inequidades e injusticias. A pesar que no se aborda la estructura poblacional ni particularidades de la dinámica poblacional, incluidos los movimientos migratorios, se puede decir que responde a la necesidad de argumentar los procesos poblacionales desde la perspectiva de una región.

Amphotericin B is the most potent antimycotic known to date. However due to its large collateral toxicity, its use, although long standing, had been limited. Many attempts have been made to produce derivatives with reduced collateral damage. The molecular mechanism of polyene has also been closely studied for this purpose and understanding it would contribute to the development of safe derivatives. Our study examined polyene action, including chemical synthesis, electrophysiology, pharmacology, toxicology and molecular dynamics. The results were used to support a novel Amphotericin B derivative with increased selectivity: L-histidine methyl ester of Amphotericin B. We found that this derivative has the same form of action as Amphotericin B, i.e. pore formation in the cell membrane. Its reduced dimerization in solution, when compared to Amphotericin B, is at least partially responsible for its increased selectivity. Here we also present the results of preclinical tests, which show that the derivative is just as potent as Amphotericin B and has increased safety.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma by inducing hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling. TNF-α diminishes the L-type voltage dependent Ca2+ channel (L-VDCC) current in cardiac myocytes, an observation that seems paradoxical. In guinea pig sensitized tracheas KCl responses were lower than in control tissues. Serum from sensitized animals (Ser-S) induced the same phenomenon. In tracheal myocytes from nonsensitized (NS) and sensitized (S) guinea pigs, an L-VDCC current (ICa) was observed and diminished by Ser-S. The same decrease was detected in NS myocytes incubated with TNF-α, pointing out that this cytokine might be present in Ser-S. We observed that a small-molecule inhibitor of TNF-α (SMI-TNF) and a TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1) antagonist (WP9QY) reversed ICa decrease induced by Ser-S in NS myocytes, confirming the former hypothesis. U0126 (a blocker of ERK 1/2 kinase) also reverted the decrease in ICa. Neither cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor) nor actinomycin D (a transcription inhibitor) showed any effect on the TNF-α-induced ICa reduction. We found that CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 mRNA and proteins were expressed in tracheal myocytes and that sensitization did not modify them. In cardiac myocytes, ERK 1/2 phosphorylates two sites of the L-VDCC, augmenting or decreasing ICa; we postulate that, in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, TNF-α diminishes ICa probably by phosphorylating the L-VDCC site that reduces its activity through the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway.

El mercado de trabajo mexicano presenta distintos patrones de discriminación hacia las personas con discapacidad. En este trabajo nos centramos en uno de estos aspectos: la brecha de ingresos entre las personas con y sin discapacidad. Con base en los microdatos de la Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares del año 2010, empleamos dos métodos: la descomposición Oaxaca-Blinder y el emparejamiento de Hugo Ñopo. Los resultados muestran un panorama de desigualdad de ingresos que afecta a las personas con discapacidad: las personas sin discapacidad ganan 1,7 veces más que sus pares con discapacidad, de acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos con el primer método y 1,30 veces más al utilizar el segundo. El análisis de descomposición muestra que hasta un 83% de esta brecha podría deberse a la discriminación que pesa sobre las personas con discapacidad y se reduce levemente si se controla por diferencias en la productividad. Con el método de emparejamiento el componente no explicado de la brecha se reduce hasta un 68,5%. Palabras clave Discapacidad. Discriminación. Diferencias salariales. Oaxaca-Blinder. Emparejamiento Ñopo. Enviado: 30.04.2015 Aceptado:10.07.2015 Introduction

Background. Thrombocytopenia is a common hematologic disorder observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Combined peginterferon (PEG-INF) and ribavirin treatment may exacerbate thrombocytopenia in patients with HCV.Objective. The aim of this pilot clinical trial was to assess the efficacy, tolerability and safety of Danazol in thrombocytopenia associated with PEG-INF and ribavirin treatment in patients with HCV.Material and methods. We included patients whose platelets were < 90,000/mm3 and who were undergoing antiviral treatment. Danazol (300–600 mg/day) was administered during and until the end of antiviral therapy [7.6 months (2 to 11 months)]. The monitoring was performed through platelet analysis and liver function tests. A viral load test was done at the beginning and end of treatment. Forty-nine patients receiving a combined therapy of PEG-INF, ribavirin and Danazol increased their platelet levels to 121,081/mm3 (46,000-216,000/mm3); 10.6% of patients gained > 100,000 platelets/mm3, and 71% of patients maintained their initial platelet levels. Sustained viral response (SVR) was achieved in 63% of patients. SVR rates were high in patients with genotype non 1 (78.7%) and decreased in patients with genotype 1 (60.1%). The increase in platelet levels was associated to an increase in fibrinogen levels and a decrease in the activity of ALT. By contrast, patients without SVR presented a delayed response to increased platelet levels and showed no significant improvement in liver function when they received Danazol.Conclusion. Danazol can be used along with PEG-INF and ribavirin to treat thrombocytopenia in patients with HCV.

The emergence of super-toxigenic strains by recombination is a risk from an intensive use of intraspecific aflatoxin (AF) biocontrol agents (BCAs). Periodical alternation with interspecific-BCAs will be safer since they preclude recombination. We are developing an AF-biocontrol system using rice-associated Bacilli reported previously (RABs). More than 50% of RABs inhibited the growth of multiple A. flavus strains, with RAB4R being the most inhibitory and RAB1 among the least. The fungistatic activity of RAB4R is associated with the lysis of A. flavus hyphal tips. In field trails with the top five fungistatic RABs, RAB4R consistently inhibited AF contamination of maize by Tox4, a highly toxigenic A. flavus strain from Louisiana corn fields. RAB1 did not suppress A. flavus growth, but strongly inhibited AF production. Total and HPLC-fractionated lipopeptides (LPs) isolated from culture filtrates of RAB1 and RAB4R also inhibited AF accumulation. LPs were stable in vitro with little loss of activity even after autoclaving, indicating their potential field efficacy as a tank-mix application. A. flavus colonization and AF were suppressed in RAB1- or RAB4R-coated maize seeds. Since RAB4R provided both fungistatic and strong anti-mycotoxigenic activities in the laboratory and field, it can be a potent alternative to atoxigenic A. flavus strains. On the other hand, RAB1 may serve as an environmentally safe helper BCA with atoxigenic A. flavus strains, due its lack of strong fungistatic and hemolytic activities.