Search

The taxonomic study of the Chilean Ennomini genera is still in its early stages. Within this group, the maculation patterns of Chilean species are uniform and often inadequate for distinguishing between many species, compounded by a lack of taxonomic revisions focused on the genera within the tribe. In this study, the genus Digonis Butler, 1882, is reviewed and redefined based on characteristics of wing patterns and genitalia. Digonis comprises the following five species: D. aspersa Butler, 1882, D. cervinaria (Blanchard, 1852), D. punctifera Butler, 1882, D. gungnir Ramos-González & Parra, sp. nov., and D. apocrypha Ramos-González & Parra, sp. nov. Additionally, D. cuprea Butler, 1882 is synonymized with D. cervinaria (Blanchard, 1852), and all varieties of D. punctifera Butler, 1882, and D. cuprea are synonymized with their respective species. Furthermore, two new genera are introduced: Phasmadigonis Ramos-González & Parra, gen. nov., erected for P. alba (Butler, 1882), comb. nov., and Gugnelve Ramos-González & Parra, gen. nov., established for G. butleri Ramos-González & Parra, sp. nov. With the species and genus descriptions, a comparative diagnosis, genitalia illustrations for all species, and wing venation for each genus are provided.

The Andean Region, spanning from 23° S to 55° S, including the South American Transition Zone, harbours many unique species but faces significant human-induced pressures. It encompasses two biodiversity hotspots, underscoring the importance of understanding its biota for effective conservation. Notably, the Andean Region boasts one of the world’s largest concentrations of endemic geometrid moths, vital for ecosystem services and potential as bioindicators. However, limited expertise and comprehensive knowledge hinder their applications. No synthesis of this region’s Geometridae exists, unlike well-documented Palearctic and Nearctic regions. Geometridae information in the Andean Region is fragmented, mostly from small-scale studies. Consequently, we conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA protocol, analyzing 151 scientific articles. We assessed topics in five categories: studied taxa, methodologies, evolution, biogeography, and ecology. While evolution and ecology were well-studied, there was a bias towards taxonomic and immature state studies, neglecting other ecological and evolutionary questions. Biogeographic studies were infrequent, often local. Catching methods, morphological analysis, and museological studies were predominant, being cost-effective. Emerging methodologies include genetics, population studies, phylogenetic comparisons, and geometric morphometrics. Keyword analysis revealed common concepts such as taxonomy, Geometridae, immature stages, Chile, Lepidoptera, herbivory, Ecuador, Neotropical Region, Systematics, and Ennominae. In conclusion, we urge prioritizing ecological research on geometrid moths’ interactions with other taxa, especially mutualistic and predation interactions. Enhanced efforts are needed for biogeographic patterns, phylogenetic studies, and systematic assessments of incertae sedis taxa and those assigned to Palearctic genera.

An emerging area of research on the diversification of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is that of queer and trans (QT) students who are interested in STEM education and disciplines. The purpose of our study was to identify differences in high school mathematics educational experiences by sexual orientation and gender identity. We used mathematics identity and Leyva’s STEM as a White cisheteropatriarchal space (WCHPS) as our theoretical frameworks to guide our study. Using data from Waves 1 and 2 of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, our exploratory analyses uncovered significant differences between QT and HC students’ mathematics identity. Regression results showed that ideological and relational dimensions of WCHPS in Grade 9 play a significant role in Grade 11 QT students’ mathematics identity. Given the exploratory approach for our study, we aim for our research to begin critical conversations in mathematics education concerning QT students to promote more enriching and welcoming learning environments.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) delivered to the primary motor cortex (M1) can increase cortical excitability, entrain neuronal firing patterns, and increase motor skill acquisition in simple motor tasks. The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of tACS applied to M1 over three consecutive days of practice on the motor learning of a challenging overhand throwing task in young adults. The secondary aim was to examine the influence of tACS on M1 excitability. This study implemented a double-blind, randomized, SHAM-controlled, between-subjects experimental design. A total of 24 healthy young adults were divided into tACS and SHAM groups and performed three identical experimental sessions that comprised blocks of overhand throwing trials of the right dominant arm concurrent with application of tACS to the left M1. Performance in the overhand throwing task was quantified as the endpoint error. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were assessed in the right first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to quantify changes in M1 excitability. Endpoint error was significantly decreased in the post-tests compared with the pre-tests when averaged over the three days of practice (p = 0.046), but this decrease was not statistically significant between the tACS and SHAM groups (p = 0.474). MEP amplitudes increased from the pre-tests to the post-tests (p = 0.003), but these increases were also not different between groups (p = 0.409). Overall, the main findings indicated that tACS applied to M1 over multiple days does not enhance motor learning in a complex task to a greater degree than practice alone (SHAM).

ObjectiveTo quantify changes in the burden of bladder cancer (BC) inpatient health care in Chile between 2001 and 2019, focusing on the impact of public policies and the type of medical insurance (public or private) held by patients. MethodsWe retrospectively collected national data on hospital discharges and calculated raw and adjusted hospitalization rates for the period of 2001 to 2019 categorized by sex and age. Additionally, we analyzed length of hospital stays, outcomes of surgical interventions, and discharge conditions based on the type of medical insurance — public: FONASA; private: ISAPRE. We also evaluated the impact of public policies such as the GES (“garantías explícitas en salud”) program, which ensures opportunities and access to medical attention, financial protection, and quality of care for a subset of diseases. ResultsA total of 34 100 hospital discharges were analyzed. Most patients were men (71%), and median age was 69 years. Of the patients, 91.3% had some kind of medical insurance, either private or public. Within this subset, 71.3% had public medical insurance (FONASA) and 23.2% had private medical insurance (ISAPRE). Patients on FONASA had significantly higher levels of overall surgery-related mortality (0.83% vs. 0.2%) and significantly longer median hospital stays (4 days vs. 2 days) compared to patients on ISAPRE. Following the implementation of the GES program in 2013, we observed an increase in transurethral resections and a reduction in radical cystectomies among publicly insured patients. ConclusionsThe type of medical insurance has a significant impact on the burden of BC-related inpatient health care in Chile, reflecting a significant disparity in terms of health care. The implementation of public policies such as the GES program can play a key role in reducing this gap between public and private medical insurance systems, especially in underdeveloped countries.

Abstract Background Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rodent-borne zoonosis in the Americas, with up to 50% mortality rates. In Argentina, the Northwestern endemic area presents half of the annually notified HPS cases in the country, transmitted by at least three rodent species recognized as reservoirs of Orthohantavirus. The potential distribution of reservoir species based on ecological niche models (ENM) can be a useful tool to establish risk areas for zoonotic diseases. Our main aim was to generate an Orthohantavirus risk transmission map based on ENM of the reservoir species in northwest Argentina (NWA), to compare this map with the distribution of HPS cases; and to explore the possible effect of climatic and environmental variables on the spatial variation of the infection risk. Methods Using the reservoir geographic occurrence data, climatic/environmental variables, and the maximum entropy method, we created models of potential geographic distribution for each reservoir in NWA. We explored the overlap of the HPS cases with the reservoir-based risk map and a deforestation map. Then, we calculated the human population at risk using a census radius layer and a comparison of the environmental variables’ latitudinal variation with the distribution of HPS risk. Results We obtained a single best model for each reservoir. The temperature, rainfall, and vegetation cover contributed the most to the models. In total, 945 HPS cases were recorded, of which 97,85% were in the highest risk areas. We estimated that 18% of the NWA population was at risk and 78% of the cases occurred less than 10 km from deforestation. The highest niche overlap was between Calomys fecundus and Oligoryzomys chacoensis. Conclusions This study identifies potential risk areas for HPS transmission based on climatic and environmental factors that determine the distribution of the reservoirs and Orthohantavirus transmission in NWA. This can be used by public health authorities as a tool to generate preventive and control measures for HPS in NWA.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the tibiotalar joint is associated with a high degree of morbidity, being comparable with final stages of renal and heart failure. The incidence of OA of the tibiotalar joint is as high as 47.7 per 100,000 habitants, of whom most of them will need a surgical intervention to improve their quality of life. Up to date evidence supports the use of the total ankle arthroplasty for its management. A great effort has been made to elucidate the factors associated with failure of the total ankle prothesis, until now no attempt has been made to look for factors associated with the need of surgical reintervention, beyond revision of the prothesis. Methods: Prospective cohort study in patients with tibiotalar OA operated between 2015 and 2022, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, excluding revision prothesis and lost to follow-up. Reintervention was considered as any complication, related to the prothesis, that needed a surgical intervention that was not planned. We performed a multivariate logistic regression model with 13 variables (diabetes, hypertension, tabaquism, age, etiology, hind foot alignment, subtalar OA, talonavicular OA, calcaneocuboid OA, pes planus, cavo varus, previous subtalar arthrodesis and surgical time). Confounding effect was assessed with the change of the odds ratio of the principal independent variable, by adding or subtracting potentially confounder variables into the model. The variables that were statistically non-significant and those variables that do not cause confusion effect, were discarded. Goodness of fit was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the discrimination of the model with the ROC curve. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used for survival analysis. Results: 105 total ankle arthoplasties were included, the statistically significant variables were: take-down etiology OR = 171.73 (CI: 6.87 - 4294.95, p < 0.01), post-traumatic etiology OR = 14.56 (CI: 1.98 - 107.04, p < 0.01) and surgical time OR = 0.96 (CI: 0.92 - 0.99, p = 0.04), while age OR = 1.02 (CI: 0.96 - 1.09, p = 0.57) and cavo varus OR = 4.75 (CI: 0.71 - 31.93, p = 0.11), wereincluded in the model because of its confounding effect. Goodness of fit demonstrates that the data fit the model adequately (p = 0.84). The ROC curve demonstrates 89.03% discriminatory power. The survival rate at 8 years was 80.39%, median of survival rate was not determined, because longer follow-up was needed. Conclusion: The take-down and post-traumatic etiology can be considered as important risk factors for requiring a surgical reintervention. Patients with a take-down etiology that have a cavo varus deformity and higher age, have a higher risk to require a surgical reintervention. Longer surgical time can be considered as a protective factor for needing a surgical reintervention. At 8 years 20.61% of patients will need a surgical reintervention, related to their Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Bunion Introduction/Purpose: In Hallux Valgus (HV) surgery, the open technique has traditionally been used, which implies aggressive and extensive approaches, not without complications. The goal of surgical treatment of HV is to correct the anatomical deformity and achieve a satisfactory long-term result, without interrupting the biomechanics and weight-bearing function of the first metatarsophalangeal joint complex. In recent years, the use of minimally invasive techniques (MIS) has been a valid alternative due to less soft tissue trauma. The purpose of this study is to compare short-medium term clinical results of the MIBA technique versus the traditional open technique in patients with mild-moderate HV. Methods: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial of patients with HV, operated between January 2019 - January 2022, with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. A total of 39 patients were included; 20 MIBA and 19 with the open technique (Chevron osteotomy). It was evaluated if there were statistically significant differences between: demographic variables; radiologic measurements: Intermetatarsal Angle (IMA); Metatarsal Length (ML); visual analog scale (VAS); Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) metatarsophalangeal- interphalangeal (MTP-IP) and operative wound healing through Photographic Wound Assessment Tool (PWAT) and ASEPSIS score were analyzed. The radiologic measurements and functional scores were collected preoperatively, at 2-6 weeks and 1-year follow-up, while wound scores were at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1-year follow-up. Results: There were no significant differences concerning age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or smoking between both groups. The average follow-up time of the MIBA group was 14 months and the open technique group 12.9 months. In relation of postoperative soft tissue, MIBA group showed significant differences at 6 weeks in PWAT score (0.06 ± 0.24) but no statistically significant differences at 3 weeks and 1 year of follow-up. There were no significant differences in IMA and ML values at 6 months (p=0.57 vs 0.40) and 1 year (p=0.35 vs 0.11). Regarding functional scores, no significant differences were found preoperatively, at 6 months, and 1-year follow-up. Complications in both groups did not have significant differences either. Conclusion: The MIBA technique is a reliable alternative to the classical technique, with significant differences at 6 weeks in a better evolution of postoperative soft tissue according to the PWAT score, but correcting in the medium term. Concerning radiological, functional outcomes and complications, no significant differences were found at 1-year follow-up. Further follow-up and casuistry are necessary to obtain definitive results.

Category: Trauma; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The importance of the deltoid ligament in the congruency of the tibiotalar joint is well known. The current trend is to repair it in cases of acute injuries in the context of ankle fractures, however, there is no information on how it should be reconstructed. The objective of this study was to compare different deltoid ligament repair types in an ankle fracture cadaveric model. Methods: 16 cadaveric foot-ankle-distal tibia specimens were used to conduct the study. All samples were prepared as a supination external rotation ankle fracture model. An axial load and cyclic axial rotations were applied on every specimen using a specifically designed frame. This test was performed without deltoid injury, with deltoid injury and finally with the ligament reconstructed. The reconstruction was performed in 4 different ways (anterior, posterior, middle, combined) using 4 specimens per group. Medial clear space (MCS) was measured for each condition on simulated weight-bearing and gravity stress radiographs. Reflective markers were utilized in tibia and talus, registering through a motion analysis system the kinematics, to record the tibiotalar uncoupling. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. Results: In all cases, the MCS increased significantly on gravity stress radiographs after damaging the deltoid ligament. There was no increase in the MCS on load radiographs. After repair, in all cases, the MCS was normalized. Kinematically, after damage the tibiotalar uncoupling increased significantly, decreasing after repair. All repairs significantly corrected the tibiotalar uncoupling, observing a significantly increased coupling effect (increased stiffness) with the combined repair. Conclusion: Our results show that deltoid repair recovers the tibiotalar coupling mechanism in an ankle fracture model. We suggest that the ideal repair should aim to repair the middle aspect of the deltoid ligament. The combined repair may lead to postoperative stiffness. Clinical studies are needed to prove these results and show clinically improved outcomes.

Abstract Background Although most of Panamá is free from malaria, localized foci of transmission persist, including in the Guna Yala region. Government-led entomological surveillance using an Entomological Surveillance Planning Tool (ESPT) sought to answer programmatically relevant questions on local entomological drivers of transmission and gaps in protection to guide local vector control decision-making. Methods The ESPT was used to design a sampling plan to answer priority programmatic questions about the appropriateness of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and spaces and times where humans remain exposed to Anopheles bites (gaps in protection) in the communities of Permé and Puerto Obaldía, Guna Yala. Adult Anopheles were sampled at three time points via human landing catches (HLCs) during the rainy and dry seasons (2018/2019). Human behaviour observations (HBOs) were conducted alongside HLCs to examine intervention use, indoor versus outdoor activity, and sleeping patterns. HLC and HBO data were integrated to evaluate HBO-adjusted human biting rate (HBR). Results A total of 7,431 adult Anopheles were collected across both sites. Of the 450 specimens molecularly confirmed to species-level, 75.5% (n = 340) were confirmed as Anopheles Nyssorhynchus albimanus, followed by Anopheles (Ny.) aquasalis. Anopheles host seeking activity was demonstrated to be primarily exophagic throughout all sampling periods and in both communities. When adjusted with HBOs, exposure to mosquito bites was predominantly indoors and overnight in Permé (Nov, Mar), compared to predominantly outdoors in Puerto Obaldía (Nov, Mar, Jul). Differences in site-specific human-vector exposure profiles were due to contrasting cultural and lifestyle practices between Permé and Puerto Obaldía (possibly partly influenced by the absence of electricity in Permé), and lower LLIN use in Permé. This evidence supported a previously planned LLIN campaign alongside a social behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategy in the Guna Yala Comarca (Jul 2019), which increased LLIN use. In turn, this led to a reduction of indoor exposure to mosquito bites, and a shift to predominant outdoor exposure to mosquito bites. Conclusion ESPT-based question-driven planning and the integration of HBOs, intervention, and HLC data generated evidence towards answering the programmatic questions. This evidence enabled the characterization of site-specific human-vector exposure profiles, and the quantification of remaining gaps in protection. These data also provide important insights into remaining gaps in protection that must be addressed to further reduce human exposure to mosquito bites at these sites.

Abstract Background Chagas disease is considered to be endemic in up to 40% of the territory of Colombia, and to date 27 triatomine species have been reported the country. The purpose of this study was to update the geographical distribution of triatomine species in Colombia and assess the species richness patterns and their altitudinal distribution. Methods Occurrence data were compiled between 2007 and 2020, including from reports of entomological surveillance from the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS), the Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT) at Universidad de Los Andes and a review of the literature. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to describe general species richness patterns of the Triatominae subfamily. To establish the altitudinal distribution of the triatomine species, ranges were obtained from reports with unique elevation values. A generalized linear model was fitted, based on a Poisson distribution, to test the relation between triatomine species richness and Chagas disease cases (2012–2019). Results An updated geographical and altitudinal distribution for triatomine species in Colombia was established, with 507 municipalities added to the previously known distributions. The greatest triatomine richness in Colombia was found to be concentrated in the northeastern region of the country, extending towards the center to the departments of Arauca, Casanare and Meta. Regarding the altitudinal distribution, the study revealed that the species Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma dimidiata have the greatest altitudinal ranges. The data also suggest a positive relation between species richness and number of Chagas disease cases reported per department. Conclusions Altitudinal ranges for 17 triatomine species found in Colombia are presented. Species richness and species composition patterns are also described, and areas with a higher risk of transmission based on the relation found with Chagas disease cases are highlighted. This updated distribution reveals that Panstrongylus geniculatus is the triatomine with the largest presence by municipalities in Colombia, being reported in 284 municipalities, followed by Rhodnius prolixus in 277 municipalities. Graphical Abstract

Brain neurodegenerative diseases are central nervous system (CNS) affections typically common in older adults. A new therapeutic approach for them consists of providing specific drugs to the CNS through blood circulation; however, the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB) prevents almost 100% of neurotherapeutics from reaching the brain. There are indications that Focused Ultrasound (FUS), temporarily placed in the BBB, can achieve a controlled increase in temperature at its focus, allowing temporary, localized, and reversible opening of this barrier, which facilitates the temporary delivery of specific drugs. This work presents a FUS-based protocol for the local, temporary, and reversible opening of the BBB in Wistar rats. The proposed protocol specifies certain power, treatment times, and duty cycle to controllably increase the temperature at the region of interest, i.e., the substantia nigra. Numerical simulations using commercial software based on the finite element method were carried out to determine the optimal size of the craniotomies for nearly full-acoustic transmission. Experiments in rats were performed with the parameters used during computational simulations to determine the adequate opening of the BBB. For this, craniotomies of different sizes were made at coordinates of the substantia nigra, and FUS was applied from the exterior. The opening of the BBB was evaluated using Evans Blue (EB) as an indicator of the crossing of the dye from the blood vessels to brain tissue. Numerical simulations demonstrated a major distance reached by the ultrasound focus with a bigger diameter. Experimental results show the local, temporary, and reversible opening of the BBB through a 10 mm diameter craniotomy, which effectively allowed placing the ultrasound focus over the substantia nigra, unlike a 6 mm diameter craniotomy in which there is a deviation of the focus through that window. Moreover, from these results, it was also determined that the disruption of the BBB was reversible, with an opening duration of 6 h after FUS application. The experimental work developed in this study resulted in a minimally invasive method for the temporary opening of the BBB.

Abstract The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has already claimed millions of lives and remains one of the major catastrophes in the recorded history. While mitigation and control strategies provide short term solutions, vaccines play critical roles in long term control of the disease. Recent emergence of potentially vaccine-resistant and novel variants necessitated testing and deployment of novel technologies that are safe, effective, stable, easy to administer, and inexpensive to produce. Here we developed three recombinant Newcastle disease virus (rNDV) vectored vaccines and assessed their immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in mice and hamsters. Intranasal administration of rNDV-based vaccine candidates elicited high levels of neutralizing antibodies. Importantly, the nasally administrated vaccine prevented lung damage, and significantly reduced viral load in the respiratory tract of vaccinated animal which was compounded by profound humoral immune responses. Taken together, the presented NDV-based vaccine candidates fully protected animals against SARS-CoV-2 challenge and warrants evaluation in a Phase I human clinical trial as a promising tool in the fight against COVID-19.

Introduction: The local peripheral combination of analgesic drugs with herbal derivatives may have beneficial effects. Information on the action mechanism of these interactions between drugs is scarce. Therefore, the main of the present study was to determine the pharmacological interaction and action mechanism of the combination α-Bisabolol and diclofenac.Methods: Rats were injected in the dorsal surface of the right hind paw with 1% formalin. Rats received subcutaneous injections in the dorsal surface of paw of vehicles or increasing doses of α-Bisabolol, diclofenac or their combination before formalin injection into the paw. Antinociception of the α-Bisabolol + diclofenac combination was evaluated with and without the local treatment of naloxone, metformin, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 1H- (1,2,4)-oxadiazolo (4,2-a) quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), glibenclamide, glipizide, 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium, apamin, or charybdotoxin.Results: α-Bisabolol, diclofenac or α-Bisabolol-diclofenac combinations produced significant antinociception in the rat (p < 0.05). The experimental effective dose (ED) value of 109.2 µg/paw was different significantly of the theoretical effective dose (ED) of 245.7 µg/paw (synergism). Blockers significantly reverted the antinociception produced by the synergistic combination of α-Bisabolol and diclofenac.Discussion: Data showed a synergism of the α-Bisabolol-diclofenac combination and the activation of the opioid receptor-Nitric Oxide–cyclic GMP–K+ channels pathway and a biguanide-dependent mechanism in order to produce the potentiation of its peripheral antinociception in the formalin test.

Discurso de bienvenida para los alumnos de nuevo ingreso a la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad Anáhuac

Objective: To identify the impact caused by the use of assisted reproduction treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), artificial insemination and ovulation-inducing drugs on the incidence of ectopic pregnancy, defined as the implantation of a fertilized ovum in a place other than the endometrium in the uterine cavity, the fallopian tube being the most frequent location. Ectopic pregnancy is considered a serious health problem for the female population of reproductive age, since it hinders fertility and increases the risk of maternal death, the main complication being hypovolemic shock associated with rupture of the ectopic gestation. Mechanism: The databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for published studies on the incidence of ectopic pregnancy related to the use of fertility treatments. The following keywords were used: “Reproductive techniques”, “Ectopic pregnancy”, “Risk factors”, and “Infertility”. Findings in Brief: The incidence of ectopic gestations increased from 2.1% to 9.4% of pregnancies following assisted reproductive techniques. Drugs related to ovarian stimulation have been reported to increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy by up to 7.9% for clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins and 6% for aromatase inhibitors (letrozole). The use of in vitro fertilization brought an increased risk of up to 9.3 times, to a rate of 9.4% in the case of the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 8.6% for embryo transfer, compared to the rates reported in natural pregnancies (1.9%). Conclusion: Surveillance, follow-up and identification of risk factors associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) by medical professionals are essential to timely detect ectopic pregnancy, avoid serious complications, or otherwise identify the best ART to provide patients with the lowest risk of ectopic gestations, as ART remains a valuable option for many couples who wish to conceive.

Intracortical facilitation (ICF) is a paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measurement used to quantify interneuron activity in the primary motor cortex (M1) in healthy populations and motor disorders. Due to the prevalence of the technique, most of the stimulation parameters to optimize ICF quantification have been established. However, the underappreciated methodological issue of the time between ICF trials (inter-trial interval; ITI) has been unstandardized, and different ITIs have never been compared in a paired-pulse TMS study. This is important because single-pulse TMS studies have found motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude reductions over time during TMS trial blocks for short, but not long ITIs. The primary purpose was to determine the influence of different ITIs on the measurement of ICF. Twenty adults completed one experimental session that involved 4 separate ICF trial blocks with each utilizing a different ITI (4, 6, 8, and 10 s). Two-way ANOVAs indicated no significant ITI main effects for test MEP amplitudes, condition-test MEP amplitudes, and therefore ICF. Accordingly, all ITIs studied provided nearly identical ICF values when averaged over entire trial blocks. Therefore, it is recommended that ITIs of 4–6 s be utilized for ICF quantification to optimize participant comfort and experiment time efficiency.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like type 2 diabetes (T2D), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders caused by systemic inflammation, intestinal dysbiosis, and diminished antioxidant ability, leading to oxidative stress and compromised insulin sensitivity across vital organs. NCDs present a global health challenge characterized by lengthy and costly pharmacological treatments. Complementary and alternative medicine using herbal therapies has gained popularity. Approximately 350,000 plant species are considered medicinal, with 80% of the world’s population opting for traditional remedies; however, only 21,000 plants are scientifically confirmed by the WHO. The Rubiaceae family is promissory for preventing and treating MetS and associated NCDs due to its rich content of metabolites renowned for their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties. These compounds influence transcription factors and mitigate chronic low-grade inflammation, liver lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, making them a cost-effective non-pharmacological approach for MetS prevention and treatment. This review aims to collect and update data that validate the traditional uses of the Rubiaceae family for treating MetS and associated NCDs from experimental models and human subjects, highlighting the mechanisms through which their extracts and metabolites modulate glucose and lipid metabolism at the molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels.

Perineal and pelvic floor muscles play an important role in continence by providing mechanical support to pelvic organs. It is also known that the pubococcygeus muscle (PcM) contracts in the storage phase and is inactive during voiding, while the bulbospongiosus muscle (BsM) is active during the voiding phase. Recent evidence suggested an additional role of these muscles in supporting urethral closure in rabbits. However, the individual role of perineal and pelvic muscles as urethral sphincters is not well-defined. Here we evaluated the individual, sequential and synergistic roles of the PcM and BsM in assisting urethral closure and defined the optimal electrical stimulation parameters that can effectively contract these muscles and increase the urethral pressure (Pura) in young nulliparous animals (n = 11). Unilateral stimulation of either the BsM or PcM at 40 Hz induced modest increases in average Pura (0.23 ± 0.10 and 0.07 ± 0.04 mmHg, respectively). Investigation on the changes in Pura evoked by stimulation frequencies between 5 and 60 Hz show that sequential contralateral PcM-BsM activation at 40 Hz induced a 2-fold average Pura increase (0.23 ± 0.07 mmHg) compared to that evoked by PcM stimulation. Simultaneous activation of PcM and BsM at 40 Hz also showed an increased average Pura (0.26 ± 0.04 mmHg), with a 2-fold increase in average Pura observed during the unilateral sequential PcM-BsM stimulation at 40 Hz (0.69 ± 0.2 mmHg). Finally, stimulation at 40 Hz of the bulbospongiosus nerve (BsN) induced an approximate 4-fold increase in average Pura (0.87 ± 0.44 mmHg; p < 0.04) compared to that elicited by BsM stimulation, confirming that direct nerve stimulation is more effective. Together, this study shows that in the female rabbit, both perineal and pelvic muscles support of the urethral function during continence, and that unilateral stimulation of the BsN at 40–60 Hz is sufficient to achieve maximal secondary sphincter activity. The results also support the potential clinical value of neuromodulation of pelvic and perineal nerves as bioelectronic therapy for stress urinary incontinence.

RESUMEN Antecedentes Aunque la mayor parte de Panamá está libre de malaria, aun persisten focos de transmisión localizados, dentro de ellos la región de Guna Yala. La vigilancia entomológica liderada por el gobierno utilizando la Herramienta de Planificación de Vigilancia Entomológica (HPVE), tuvo como objetivo responder a preguntas programáticas relevantes para lograr una mejor comprensión de los factores entomológicos de transmisión locales y las brechas en la protección que, repercuten en la transmisión persistente de la malaria para guiar la toma de decisiones de control de vectores. Métodos En las localidades de Permé y Puerto Obaldía dentro de la región de Guna Yala, Panamá, se recolectaron Anopheles adultos en tres intervalos de tiempo fijos utilizando Capturas de Cebo Humano (CCH), Capturas con Trampas de Luz CDC (TL-CDC) y Capturas con Aplicación de Piretroides (CAP) durante las temporadas lluviosas y secas. Los mosquitos fueron identificados a nivel de especie mediante métodos moleculares. Se realizaron pruebas de susceptibilidad al fenitrotión en la especie principal del vector. Resultados En total, se recolectaron 7.537 adultos de Anopheles en ambos sitios. De los 493 especímenes con confirmación a nivel de especie, dos tercios (n = 340) fueron identificados como Nyssorhynchus albimanus, seguido de Anopheles aquasalis. En general, las tasas de picadura humanas (TPH)) de Anopheles fueron más altas en exteriores que en interiores, y fueron más altas en Permé que en Puerto Obaldía: la TPH nocturna en el exterior osciló entre 2,71 picaduras por persona por noche (ppn) (Puerto Obaldía) y 221,00 ppn (Permé), mientras que la TPN nocturna en el interior osciló entre 0,70 ppn (Puerto Obaldía) y 81,90 ppn (Permé). Generalmente, el punto más alto de picaduras se produjó durante las primeras horas de la noche. El rendimiento de las trampas de luz CDC fue significativamente más bajo, que el de las CCH. Por lo anterior, la TL CDC fue removida como método de captura después de la primera ronda de colectas. Las CAP dieron como resultado solo tres Anopheles en reposo en interiores recolectados. La resistencia de Ny. albimanus al fenitrotión fue confirmada, con solo 65,5% de mortalidad en el tiempo diagnóstico. Conclusión El comportamiento exofágico y vespertino del vector Anopheles, la ausencia de comportamiento de reposo en interiores y la presencia de resistencia al insecticida de intervención primaria, demuestran las limitaciones de la estrategia actual contra la malaria, incluyendo el Rociado Residual Intradomiciliario (RRI) y los Mosquiteros Impregnados con Insecticida de Larga Duración (MTILD) y marcan tanto las brechas en la protección como los factores que promueven la transmisión persistente de la malaria en Guna Yala. Estos hallazgos destacan la necesidad de una vigilancia entomológica continua y dirigida, basada en preguntas programáticas, que genere evidencia entomológica para informar una estrategia adaptativa de eliminación de la malaria.

Abstract Background Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are arboviruses of significant public health importance that are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. In Colombia, where dengue is hyperendemic, and where chikungunya and Zika were introduced in the last decade, more than half of the population lives in areas at risk. The objective of this study was to characterize Aedes spp. vectors and study their natural infection with dengue, Zika and chikungunya in Ibagué, a Colombian city and capital of the department of Tolima, with case reports of simultaneous circulation of these three arboviruses. Methods Mosquito collections were carried out monthly between June 2018 and May 2019 in neighborhoods with different levels of socioeconomic status. We used the non-parametric Friedman, Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests to compare mosquito density distributions. We applied logistic regression analyses to identify associations between mosquito density and absence/presence of breeding sites, and the Spearman correlation coefficient to analyze the possible relationship between climatic variables and mosquito density. Results We collected Ae. aegypti in all sampled neighborhoods and found for the first time Ae. albopictus in the city of Ibagué. A greater abundance of mosquitoes was collected in neighborhoods displaying low compared to high socioeconomic status as well as in the intradomicile compared to the peridomestic space. Female mosquitoes predominated over males, and most of the test females had fed on human blood. In total, four Ae. aegypti pools (3%) were positive for dengue virus (serotype 1) and one pool for chikungunya virus (0.8%). Interestingly, infected females were only collected in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status, and mostly in the intradomicile space. Conclusions We confirmed the co-circulation of dengue (serotype 1) and chikungunya viruses in the Ae. aegypti population in Ibagué. However, Zika virus was not detected in any mosquito sample, 3 years after its introduction into the country. The positivity for dengue and chikungunya viruses, predominance of mosquitoes in the intradomicile space and the high proportion of females fed on humans highlight the high risk for arbovirus transmission in Ibagué, but may also provide an opportunity for establishing effective control strategies. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background The global impact of Zika virus in Latin America has drawn renewed attention to circulating mosquito-borne viruses in this region, such as dengue and chikungunya. Our objective was to assess socio-ecological factors associated with Aedes mosquito vector density as a measure of arbovirus transmission risk in three cities of potentially recent Zika virus introduction: Ibagué, Colombia; Manta, Ecuador; and Posadas, Argentina, in order to inform disease mitigation strategies. Methods We sampled Aedes mosquito populations in a total of 1086 households, using indoor and peridomestic mosquito collection methods, including light traps, resting traps, traps equipped with chemical attractant and aspirators. For each sampled household, we collected socio-economic data using structured questionnaires and data on microenvironmental conditions using iButton data loggers. Results A total of 3230 female Aedes mosquitoes were collected, of which 99.8% were Aedes aegypti and 0.2% were Aedes albopictus. Mean female Aedes mosquito density per household was 1.71 (standard deviation: 2.84). We used mixed-effects generalized linear Poisson regression analyses to identify predictors of Aedes density, using month, neighborhood and country as random-effects variables. Across study sites, the number of household occupants [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.14], presence of entry points for mosquitoes into the household (IRR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.30–1.76) and presence of decorative vegetation (IRR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.22–1.88) were associated with higher Aedes density; while being in the highest wealth tertile of household wealth (IRR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66–0.92), knowledge of how arboviruses are transmitted (IRR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89–1.00) and regular emptying of water containers by occupants (IRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.92) were associated with lower Aedes density. Conclusions Our study addresses the complexities of arbovirus vectors of global significance at the interface between human and mosquito populations. Our results point to several predictors of Aedes mosquito vector density in countries with co-circulation of multiple Aedes-borne viruses, and point to modifiable risk factors that may be useful for disease prevention and control. Graphical Abstract

Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations are frequently found among NSCLC patients. Second-generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Afatinib is frequently used in this population of patients achieving better results than cytotoxic chemotherapy in terms of survival and progression. Afatinib-related cardiotoxicity has been rarely reported. Here we comment on a clinical case of a Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Afatinib-induced in an NSCLC patient.

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Introduction: The diagnosis of low-energy syndesmotic injuries continues to be a challenge, and there is no standard for it. Being the dynamic exams, the ones with the best performance. With the development of Weight-Bearing computerized tomography (WBCT), the understanding of their lesion patterns has improved, however, there is high variability in the syndesmotic anatomy between different individuals, with asymmetry parameters in up to 89% of healthy syndesmosis. therefore the best element to evaluate them is the healthy contralateral ankle and compare these parameters. However, what are the normal values in our population, or the possible anatomical differences according to different age groups, in the morphology of the syndesmal notch of our patients, nor that there is a real symmetry between both ankles. Methods: Retrospective analysis of comparative bilateral ankle WBCT in healthy patients from March 2018 to July 2021 according to the parameters: anterior, posterior and central syndesmal distance, fibular rotation, sagittal translation and area. All patients with comparative bilateral ankle weight-bearing CT taken since January 2018 to August 2021, patients without history of ankle injuries, were included in the analysis. That have required a comparative bilateral WBCT to study another pathology. Patients with a history of acute or chronic ankle or syndesmal injuries, patients with degenerative ankle joint injuries, with severe misalignments > 10° in varus or valgus, incomplete or non-comparative study were excluded. Results: 150 patients with comparative bilateral WBCT were evaluated. Among the ankles evaluated with WB CT in a comparative manner, it is established that there were no significant differences between both ankles of subjects with healthy ankles (Wilcoxon Test) in anterior syndesmal distance (SD), posterior SD, central SD, syndesmal area (p > 0.05). While fibular rotation and sagittal translation showed significant differences between the measurements in healthy ankles, evaluated with comparative bilateral WB CT in independent evaluations (p < 0.05). Regarding the differences by age range established for the different syndesmotic reduction parameters, for the different subgroups of patients under 40 years of age, 40 and 60 years of age and over 60 years of age, no significant differences were generated between them (Wilcoxon test). Conclusion: We have established normal ranges for measurements in the syndesmal anatomy in axial slices during weight bearing CT, as well as that there are no differences between the right and left ankle in healthy ankles in anterior, posterior and central syndesmal distance, or syndesmal area. Being these parameters, the most suitable as internal control for patients with suspected syndesmotic injury regardless of the age of the patients.

Category: Other; Ankle; Hindfoot; Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to adapt and validate the English version of the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) into Chilean Spanish according to the WHO guidelines. Methods: Cross-sectional study where through 897 surveys of patients with non-trauma surgical orthopaedic pathologies, internal consistency, validity and acceptability were evaluated, including correlation with the short form 36 (SF-36) medical score. Results: The preliminary version resulted from the forward and back-translation and a pilot administration. The validation response rate was 99,66%. The SMFA-CL had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.962). The dysfunction and discomfort items showed a value of 0,952 and 0,884 respectively, eliminating one item in the dysfunction sub-scale. The principal component analysis was forced to four factors explaining 55.5% of the variance. SMFA-CL sub-scales significantly correlated with SF-36 components and subcomponents. Conclusion: The first version of the SMFA-CL version (Spanish-Chilean) scale is reported. This culturally adapted score, demonstrated a high rate of reliability, validity and ability to objectively evaluate foot and ankle pathologies.

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sclerotherapy using NBCA (Histoacryl Blue®; B. Braun, Melgungen, Germany), with or without hydrodissection, for the treatment of simple renal cysts. Materials and Methods: Patients who presented to an interventional radiology clinic for the diagnosis of symptomatic renal cysts which had previously been identified at an outpatient clinic were selected for inclusion in this study. A total of 28 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, based on whether or not they underwent hydrodissection along with ultrasound-guided NBCA-based sclerotherapy. Sonographs were performed at 0, 7, and 180 days post-procedure to record the residual volume of the renal cysts and to determine the efficacy of the procedure. Results: A total of 32 cysts in 28 patients were treated with sclerotherapy, 18 (64%) females and 10 (36%) males. The average age of the patients was 61.8 years (range: 33–89 years). All patients reported an improvement in symptoms associated with the existing renal cysts at 7 and 180 days post-procedure, and at 7 days post-procedure a statistically significant reduction in cyst volume was observed (all patients: 96.8%; group A: 96%; group B: 97.6%). The reduced cyst volume was still observed 180 days post-procedure (all patients: 98.6%; group A: 98.2%; group B: 98.9%). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups. Conclusion: There is a significant and persistent reduction in the volume of renal cysts, in addition to an improvement of the associated symptoms, after treatment with NBCA-based sclerotherapy, with or without hydrodissection.

Abstract Background Peanut smut is a disease caused by the fungus Thecaphora frezii Carranza & Lindquist to which most commercial cultivars in South America are highly susceptible. It is responsible for severely decreased yield and no effective chemical treatment is available to date. However, smut resistance has been identified in wild Arachis species and further transferred to peanut elite cultivars. To identify the genome regions conferring smut resistance within a tetraploid genetic background, this study evaluated a RIL population {susceptible Arachis hypogaea subsp. hypogaea (JS17304-7-B) × resistant synthetic amphidiploid (JS1806) [A. correntina (K 11905) × A. cardenasii (KSSc 36015)] × A. batizocoi (K 9484)4×} segregating for the trait. Results A SNP based genetic map arranged into 21 linkage groups belonging to the 20 peanut chromosomes was constructed with 1819 markers, spanning a genetic distance of 2531.81 cM. Two consistent quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified qSmIA08 and qSmIA02/B02, located on chromosome A08 and A02/B02, respectively. The QTL qSmIA08 at 15.20 cM/5.03 Mbp explained 17.53% of the phenotypic variance, while qSmIA02/B02 at 4.0 cM/3.56 Mbp explained 9.06% of the phenotypic variance. The combined genotypic effects of both QTLs reduced smut incidence by 57% and were stable over the 3 years of evaluation. The genome regions containing the QTLs are rich in genes encoding proteins involved in plant defense, providing new insights into the genetic architecture of peanut smut resistance. Conclusions A major QTL and a minor QTL identified in this study provide new insights into the genetic architecture of peanut smut resistance that may aid in breeding new varieties resistant to peanut smut.

Abstract We examine a fractional discrete nonlinear Schrodinger dimer, where the usual first-order derivative in the time evolution is replaced by a non integer-order derivative. The dimer is nonlinear (Kerr) and $${\mathcal{{PT}}}$$ PT -symmetric, and for localized initial conditions we examine the exchange dynamics between both sites. By means of the Laplace transformation technique, the linear $${{\mathcal{{PT}}}}$$ PT dimer is solved in closed form in terms of Mittag–Leffler functions, while for the nonlinear regime, we resort to numerical computations using the direct explicit Grunwald algorithm. In general, we see that the main effect of the fractional derivative is to produce a monotonically decreasing time envelope for the amplitude of the oscillatory exchange. In the presence of $${\mathcal{{PT}}}$$ PT symmetry, the oscillations experience some amplification for gain/loss values below some threshold, while beyond threshold, the amplitudes of both sites grow unbounded. The presence of nonlinearity can arrest the unbounded growth and lead to a selftrapped state. The trapped fraction decreases as the nonlinearity is increased past a critical value, in marked contrast with the standard (non-fractional) case.

Abstract Pelvic floor muscle stretch injury during pregnancy and birth is associated with the incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a condition that affects 30–60% of the female population and is characterized by involuntary urine leakage during physical activity, further exacerbated by aging. Aging and multiparous rabbits suffer pelvic nerve and muscle damage, resulting in alterations in pelvic floor muscular contraction and low urethral pressure, resembling SUI. However, the extent of nerve injury is not fully understood. Here, we used electron microscopy analysis of pelvic and perineal nerves in multiparous rabbits to describe the extent of stretch nerve injury based on axon count, axon size, myelin-to-axon ratio, and elliptical ratio. Compared to young nulliparous controls, mid-age multiparous animals showed an increase in the density of unmyelinated axons and in myelin thickness in both nerves, albeit more significant in the bulbospongiosus nerve. This revealed a partial but sustained damage to these nerves, and the presence of some regenerated axons. Additionally, we tested whether electrical stimulation of the bulbospongiosus nerve would induce muscle contraction and urethral closure. Using a miniature wireless stimulator implanted on this perineal nerve in young nulliparous and middle age multiparous female rabbits, we confirmed that these partially damaged nerves can be acutely depolarized, either at low (2–5 Hz) or medium (10–20 Hz) frequencies, to induce a proportional increase in urethral pressure. Evaluation of micturition volume in the mid-age multiparous animals after perineal nerve stimulation, effectively reversed a baseline deficit, increasing it 2-fold (p = 0.02). These results support the notion that selective neuromodulation of pelvic floor muscles might serve as a potential treatment for SUI.

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by severe and frequent pain related to menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhea is a major problem worldwide since its prevalence ranges from 28% to 94% in some populations. Studies in specific populations of changes in the prevalence of dysmenorrhea over time have been scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence and characteristics of primary dysmenorrhea between two independent populations of Mexican university women over time (2010 versus 2020). Methods: An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was completed by two independent groups of students. Variables from the two studies were extracted and compared between them. The degree of dysmenorrheic pain was assessed by a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from “no pain” to “the worst pain imaginable”. Study A included 1539 women (published in 2010), and Study B included 2154 women (realized in 2020). Results: A total of 3693 students were surveyed. Dysmenorrhea prevalence was established in 62.4% (n = 961) in survey A and 78.9% (n = 1699) in survey B (p < 0.05). The pain means were 54.1 ± 23.4 mm and 64.0 ± 20.6 mm for Studies A and B, respectively (p < 0.05). Moderate-severe pain was reported by 753 (78.4%) women in Study A and 1546 (91.0%) women in Study B. Significantly more students from Study B (90.4%) had limitations in daily activities due to dysmenorrhea compared to women from Study A (65.0%) (p < 0.05). School absenteeism in Study B (50.6%) was significantly higher than that in Study A (27.4%) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and the presence of symptoms in students showed statistically significant increases over time (2010 versus 2020). Similarly, due to the symptoms of dysmenorrhea, school absenteeism increased significantly, and daily activities were progressively affected.

Hypertension is a main cause of death in the United States with more than 103 million adults affected. While pharmacological treatments are effective, blood pressure (BP) remains uncontrolled in 50–60% of resistant hypertensive subjects. Using a custom-wired miniature electrode, we previously reported that deep peroneal nerve stimulation (DPNS) elicited acute cardiovascular depressor responses in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Here, we further study this effect by implementing a wireless system and exploring different stimulation parameters to achieve a maximum depressor response. Our results indicate that DPNS consistently induces a reduction in BP and suggests that renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) is altered by this bioelectronic treatment. To test the acute effect of DPNS in awake animals, we developed a novel miniaturized wireless microchannel electrode (w-μCE), with a Z-shaped microchannel through which the target nerves slide and lock into the recording/stimulation chamber. Animals implanted with w-μCE and BP telemetry systems for 3 weeks showed an average BP of 150 ± 14 mmHg, which was reduced significantly by an active DPNS session to 135 ± 8 mmHg (p < 0.04), but not in sham-treated animals. The depressor response in animals with an active w-μCE was progressively returned to baseline levels 14 min later (164 ± 26 mmHg). This depressor response was confirmed in restrained fully awake animals that received DPNS for 10 days, where tail-cuff BP measurements showed that systolic BP in SHR lowered 10% at 1 h and 16% 2 h after the DPNS when compared to the post-implantation baseline. Together, these results support the use of DPN neuromodulation as a possible strategy to lower BP in drug-resistant hypertension.

Within the framework of the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is a race against time to find therapies for the outbreak to be controlled. Since vaccines are still tedious to develop and partially available for low-income countries, passive immunity based on egg-yolk antibodies (IgY) is presented as a suitable approach to preclude potential death of infected patients, based on its high specificity/avidity/production yield, cost-effective manufacture, and ease of administration. In the present study, IgY antibodies against a recombinant RBD protein of SARS-CoV-2 were produced in specific-pathogen-free chickens and purified from eggs using a biocompatible method. In vitro immunoreactivity was tested, finding high recognition and neutralization values. Safety was also demonstrated prior to efficacy evaluation, in which body weight, kinematics, and histopathological assessments of hamsters challenged with SARS-CoV-2 were performed, showing a protective effect administering IgY intranasally both as a prophylactic treatment or a post-infection treatment. The results of this study showed that intranasally delivered IgY has the potential to both aid in prevention and in overcoming COVID-19 infection, which should be very useful to control the advance of the current pandemic and the associated mortality.

This study presents a multivariate study regarding Bitcoin and its interactions with other financial assets of different classes. This is done by adjusting a multivariate semi heavy-tailed distribution to portfolios containing indexes, currencies, and commodities and one cryptocurrency. Later, a rolling window is deployed to obtain the dynamic parameters of the distribution in a weekly basis. With a Markowitz specification problem, the optimal portfolio weights are computed dynamically using the parameters of the multivariate NIG distribution as inputs. The results provide evidence that correlations of Bitcoin with other assets may provide certain degree of diversification to portfolios; nevertheless, the high volatility of this asset makes it unpractical to employ in significant weights. This paper is relevant for researchers and practitioners as it provides a new tool to manage portfolios with cryptocurrencies and more reliable weights to the asset allocation.

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Axial alignment (rotation) in total ankle replacement has come to surgeons' attention in recent publications. Unfortunately, most of the previously published data present information from non weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) scans or lack a correlation with patient-reported outcomes (PROs). To the author's knowledge, axial alignment is not completely understood in its current form and its relation to PROs. Therefore, our objective is to propose a standardization in measurements of axial alignment in prosthesis components under weight-bearing CT examination and to correlate it with patient-reported outcomes. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, our prospectively collected surgical database was queried for patients undergoing Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA). Patients were included if they had preoperative weight-bearing X-rays, non-WBCT scan, pain evaluation (VAS pain score), preoperative functional scales (SF-36, SFMA, FAAOS, and FAAM) and underwent TAA using an Infinity Prosthesis with standard instrumentation. Patients were excluded if they had less than a one-year postoperative period, had revision surgery, or declined to participate. Twenty five patients met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All patients were brought back to the clinic for weight-bearing CT scan, pain evaluation, repeat functional scales, and to sign informed consent for the specific needs of this study. Three fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists realized all measurements in two time-frames (coronal, sagittal and axial alignment), separated for one month each. Cohen's inter and intraclass coefficients were calculated to estimate the amount of agreement that occurred by chance. Results: Average age was 64.5 years, Average BMI was 28. Good to excellent intraobserver reliability (ICC 0.891 , 0.750, 0.902 respectively) and good interobserver reliability (ICC 0.822) were reported. Component malrotation was seen in five patients (20%), defined as a relative axial rotation between components of 5 degrees or greater. There was a statistically significant correlation between coronal, sagittal and axial alignment measurements and FAAM scale (p

ABSTRACT Objective: To generate high-quality data comparing the clinical efficacy and safety profile between monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (M-TURP) and bipolar plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PK-TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: Prospective, randomized, single-blinded study conducted in a tertiary-care public institution (Dec/2014-Aug/2016). Inclusion criteria: prostate of

En este trabajo se analiza, a partir de experimentos de laboratorio, la influencia que tienen sobre las erosiones resultantes junto a un estribo de puente la presencia de un muro guía conformado por pilotes, hincados a lo largo de una trayectoria determinada por un cuarto de elipse. Las tareas experimentales se realizaron en un canal de sección rectangular con fondo constituido por arena uniforme. El estribo representado fue prismático de paredes verticales. Se hicieron 17 ensayos, en los cuales se varió la transparencia (T), longitud y ubicación del muro guía, con el objeto de contrastar las erosiones obtenidas junto al estribo con aquellas encontradas para el mismo estribo sin presencia de protección alguna. Los resultados sugieren que la máxima profundidad de erosión depende de los tres aspectos analizados. Se pudo observar la tendencia decreciente de las erosiones en la medida que la transparencia del muro disminuyó. Cuando los muros se dispusieron junto a la margen del canal, las reducciones en la máxima profundidad de erosión fueron significativas, incluso para la menor de las longitudes analizadas (47%). Cuando los muros se vincularon con la cara de aguas arriba del estribo (para T = 0%), las erosiones se desarrollaron junto al extremo del muro, por lo que en la medida que se aumentó su longitud, las mayores profundizaciones del lecho se alejaron más del estribo. Para esta última localización, los muros transparentes (T ~ 49%) condujeron a erosiones semejantes a la situación sin protección.

Abstract Background Studying the behavioral response of blood-sucking disease-vector insects to potentially repellent volatile compounds could shed light on the development of new control strategies. Volatiles released by human facial skin microbiota play different roles in the host-seeking behavior of triatomines. We assessed the repellency effect of such compounds of bacterial origin on Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus, two important vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America. Methods Using an exposure device, insects were presented to human odor alone (control) and in the presence of three individual test compounds (2-mercaptoethanol, dimethyl sulfide and 2-phenylethanol, the latter only tested in R. prolixus) and the gold-standard repellent NN-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET). We quantified the time the insects spent in the proximity of the host and determined if any of the compounds evaluated affected the behavior of the insects. Results We found volatiles that significantly reduced the time spent in the proximity of the host. These were 2-phenylethanol and 2-mercaptoethanol for R. prolixus, and dimethyl sulfide and 2-mercaptoethanol for T. infestans. Such an effect was also observed in both species when DEET was presented, although only at the higher doses tested. Conclusions The new repellents modulated the behavior of two Chagas disease vectors belonging to two different triatomine tribes, and this was achieved using a dose up to three orders of magnitude lower than that needed to evoke the same effect with DEET. Future efforts in understanding the mechanism of action of repellent compounds such as 2-mercaptoethanol, as well as an assessment of their temporal and spatial repellent properties, could lead to the development of novel control strategies for these insect vectors, refractory to DEET.

Chronic carotid sinus nerve (CSN) electrical modulation through kilohertz frequency alternating current improves metabolic control in rat models of type 2 diabetes, underpinning the potential of bioelectronic modulation of the CSN as a therapeutic modality for metabolic diseases in humans. The CSN carries sensory information from the carotid bodies, peripheral chemoreceptor organs that respond to changes in blood biochemical modifications such as hypoxia, hypercapnia, acidosis, and hyperinsulinemia. In addition, the CSN also delivers information from carotid sinus baroreceptors—mechanoreceptor sensory neurons directly involved in the control of blood pressure—to the central nervous system. The interaction between these powerful reflex systems—chemoreflex and baroreflex—whose sensory receptors are in anatomical proximity, may be regarded as a drawback to the development of selective bioelectronic tools to modulate the CSN. Herein we aimed to disclose CSN influence on cardiovascular regulation, particularly under hypoxic conditions, and we tested the hypothesis that neuromodulation of the CSN, either by electrical stimuli or surgical means, does not significantly impact blood pressure. Experiments were performed in Wistar rats aged 10–12 weeks. No significant effects of acute hypoxia were observed in systolic or diastolic blood pressure or heart rate although there was a significant activation of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system. We conclude that chemoreceptor activation by hypoxia leads to an expected increase in sympathetic activity accompanied by compensatory regional mechanisms that assure blood flow to regional beds and maintenance of hemodynamic homeostasis. Upon surgical denervation or electrical block of the CSN, the increase in cardiac sympathetic nervous system activity in response to hypoxia was lost, and there were no significant changes in blood pressure in comparison to control animals. We conclude that the responses to hypoxia and vasomotor control short-term regulation of blood pressure are dissociated in terms of hypoxic response but integrated to generate an effector response to a given change in arterial pressure.

Category: Sports; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Surgical treatment remains the standard of care for active patients with acute midsubstance Achilles tendon ruptures. Clinical decisions must be made, often under circumstances of limited resources. The objective of our study was to describe a reduced cost minimally invasive surgical technique. The use of suture anchor increases the tensile strength of the repair, allowing to prevent tendon lengthening and re-ruptures during early rehabilitation, but these present a high cost and are not exempt from complications such as pullout, local irritation and bone edema. A simple and low-cost alternative that allows us to replace the function of the anchors is to drill a bone tunnel in the calcaneus and pass a high-resistance suture through it. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective review of 12 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture treated with the modified Dresden-Calcaneal Tunnel technique, between January 2019 and August 2020 and followed up for 6 months. Clinical outcome was assessed using the AOFAS, FAOS and SF-36 scores. Complications, and time to return to work and light sport activity were assessed. Results: The AOFAS score was 94 +/- 5, FAOS 95% +/- 2 and SF-36 92 +/- 4 at 6 months postoperatively. The recovery time of the patients was 10-18 weeks. The postoperative recovery time to exercise was 16-24 weeks. There was only 2 cases with discomfort in relation to the suture knot near to the calcaneal tunnel, but both case refers spontaneous relief at the second month postoperative. Conclusion: This new and minimally invasive technique could be a more cost-effective option in the management of acute Achilles tendon rupture with good functional outcomes. These strategy presents a low occurrence of complications, permit a strong fixation, avoid sural nerve entrapment and respect the biologic environment.

The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between the inefficiency of furrow irrigation, the geometric characteristics of agricultural plots and the depletion of the aquifer conditions of the Laguna Bustillos basin (Chihuahua, Mexico) in recent decades (1991-2012). The main results were: a) the analysis of geometric characteristics showed that the Mennonite properties have the least favorable conditions for the use of furrow irrigation; b) the index of inefficiency of furrow irrigation demonstrated the existence of agricultural plots that exceed 2.5 to 13 times the maximum allowed length; c) the analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution of the depletion of the aquifer showed that the areas with higher depletion (up to -80 m depth) are located mainly in Mennonite properties; d) it was shown that the index of inefficiency of furrow irrigation is directly related to the geometrical properties of agricultural plots and the level of depletion of the aquifer. It is clear that reversing this problem will require a land-use plan that includes the geometric reconfiguration of agricultural plots or the use of new technologies such as sprinkler and drip irrigation, as well as territorial strategies that increase the areas of natural and artificial recharge of the aquifer.

Four new species belonging to the genera Hoplosauris Butler, Butleriana Parra, Warrenaria Parra, and Fueguina Parra from south-central Chile are described. The species are H. morenoi Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., B. phoenix Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., W. onca Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., and F. araucana Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n. The genus Aloba Warren is reassigned to tribe Trichopterygini and A. carolinae Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n. is described. Comparative diagnosis for all new species are provided, and illustrations of genitalia and the wing venation of the males for all new described species are given.

The discovery and description of the role of microRNAs has become very important, specifically due to their participation in the regulation of proteins and transcription factors involved in the development of cancer. microRNA-7 (miR-7) has been described as a negative regulator of several proteins involved in cancer, such as YY1 and KLF4. We have recently reported that YY1 and KLF4 play a role in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and that the expression of KLF4 is regulated by YY1. Therefore, in this study we analyzed the role of miR-7 in NHL through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4. qRT-PCR showed that there is an inverse expression of miR-7 in relation to the expression of YY1 and KLF4 in B-NHL cell lines. The possible regulation of YY1 and KLF4 by miR-7 was analyzed using the constitutive expression or inhibition of miR-7, as well as using reporter plasmids containing the 3 ‘UTR region of YY1 or KLF4. The role of miR-7 in NHL, through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4 was determined by chemoresistance and migration assays. We corroborated our results in cell lines, in a TMA from NHL patients including DLBCL and follicular lymphoma subtypes, in where we analyzed miR-7 by ISH and YY1 and KLF4 using IHC. All tumors expressing miR-7 showed a negative correlation with YY1 and KLF4 expression. In addition, expression of miR-7 was analyzed using the GEO Database; miR-7 downregulated expression was associated with pour overall-survival. Our results show for the first time that miR-7 is implicate in the cell migration and chemoresistance in NHL, through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4. That also support the evidence that YY1 and KLF4 can be a potential therapeutic target in NHL.