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Purpose: We report the case of a 33-year-old male who presented with unilateral central serous retinopathy three days after the injection of a COVID-19 vaccine. Observations: A 33-year-old healthy Hispanic male referred to the ophthalmology service due to blurry vision and metamorphopsia in the right eye without any flashes, floaters, eye redness or pain. The patient reported that 69 hours prior to presentation he received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. He denied any past ocular history or pertinent medical history. He does not take any medicines and denies stressful factors in his life. The clinical examination and imaging tests were consistent with central serous retinopathy that resolved in three months. Conclusions and importance: This is the first report of an ocular complication potentially associated with a COVID-19 vaccination. Our case contributes information of a side effect potentially related to this new vaccine.

Based on the risk and resilience model, the current study examined the effect of ethnicity-related stressors (perceived discrimination, stereotype confirmation concern, and own-group conformity pressure) and ethnic identity (centrality, private regard, public regard, and other-group orientation) on the well-being of 171 Latino American college students. The study also examined the moderating role of ethnic identity on the relationship between ethnicity-related stressors and well-being. Findings showed that stereotype confirmation concern significantly predicted less well-being, whereas a positive ethnic identity predicted greater well-being. Ethnic identity also moderated the effect of ethnicity-related stressors on well-being. Different patterns emerged for the moderating effect of different ethnic identity dimensions and different ethnicity-related stressors. Findings are discussed in terms of the acculturative and ethnic diversity context of the college students. (Contains 2 notes, 3 tables, and 3 figures.)

Abstract Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and during infection and inflammation. Here we identify, by using combinatorial reporter mice, a rare ILC progenitor (ILCP) population, resident to the small intestinal lamina propria (siLP) in adult mice. Transfer of siLP-ILCP into recipients generates group 1 ILCs (including ILC1 and NK cells), ILC2s and ILC3s within the intestinal microenvironment, but almost exclusively group 1 ILCs in the liver, lung and spleen. Single cell gene expression analysis and high dimensional spectral cytometry analysis of the siLP-ILCPs and ILC progeny indicate that the phenotype of the group 1 ILC progeny is also influenced by the tissue microenvironment. Thus, a local pool of siLP-ILCP can contribute to pan-ILC generation in the intestinal microenvironment but has more restricted potential in other tissues, with a greater propensity than bone marrow-derived ILCPs to favour ILC1 and ILC3 production. Therefore, ILCP potential is influenced by both tissue of origin and the microenvironment during development. This may provide additional flexibility during the tuning of immune reactions.

El diagnostico gold estándar (GSDP) para COVID-19 es amplificación del ARN viral mediante retrotranscripción y reacción en cadena de polimerasa en tiempo real (RT-qPCR), utilizando una muestra de hisopado nasofaríngeo (NPS), procesada con una extracción de ARN tradicional. Respecto a la muestra, se han utilizado algunas sustituciones en el proceso diagnóstico, como muestras de saliva y secreción nasofaríngea con auto toma sin necesidad de utilizar hisopo con el objetivo para disminuir el tiempo, el costo de estas pruebas y principalmente reducir el riesgo biológico del personal sanitario. El dato utilizado de la RT-qPCR para su positividad o negatividad es el valor del ciclo umbral (Ct), pudiendo este dato aportar según algunos estudios una importante herramienta como valor pronostico en el contexto clínico epidemiológico del paciente, incidiendo en la toma de decisiones terapéuticas del personal sanitario, con un posible impacto positivo en la evolución clínica de los pacientes, sin embargo varios de los estudios publicados demuestran baja o en algunos casos ninguna relación significativa entre el valor del Ct y la evolución clínica del paciente. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la relación entre el umbral de ciclo (Ct) de la RTqPCR y la clínica de COVID-19 en pacientes ambulatorios. METODOLOGIA: Se procesaron 479 muestras de pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, la amplificación se realizó por dos protocolos ya estandarizados de RT-qPCR de los genes E y RdRp de SARS CoV2, 4 muestras positivas se secuenciaron por NGS para confirmación diagnóstica. Se evaluaron los factores relacionados (signos y síntomas) con la carga viral SARS-CoV-2. Se determinó la carga viral, con base en la reacción de RT-qPCR y el valor umbral (CT). Se estratifico dos grupos; carga viral alta (Ct30). Los datos se registraron en una planilla de excel, posteriormente fueron analizados con el software estadístico R 4.4.1. de Project for Statistical Computing. Se consideró significativos valores de p≤0,05, se midió la fuerza de la asociación con el Odds Ratio y sus intervalos de confianza (IC 95 %). RESULTADOS: De 479 muestras procesadas, 87 muestras fueron positivas, las variables mayor gravedad(N:3) y letalidad(N:1) agruparon en el Ct< 30, solo un paciente grave se agrupo en el Ct>30. El resto (N:84) sin mortalidad o gravedad se agruparon de forma similar en ambos grupos Ct30, en todos los casos con una débil o ninguna relación significancia respecto al umbral Ct (p ≥ 0.05). De igual forma no se observó un impacto significativo de la vacuna en el valor de Ct. CONCLUSIÓN: La utilidad del Ct como predictor de gravedad de COVID-19 y para otras infecciones virales respiratorias debería ser sometida a estudios más rigurosos, mientras tanto dada la información disponible y los resultados del presente estudio se confirman que la utilidad del umbral Ct en el pronóstico clínico de los pacientes COVID-19 se acompaña de ciertas limitaciones. En cualquier caso, si se utiliza el valor Ct como factor pronóstico de pacientes COVID-19, debe hacerse con precaución y conscientes de las limitaciones.

Desde la década de los noventa del siglo xx, la industria del calzado se ha visto afectada por los procesos de apertura económica asociados al Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (tlcan), y después por las crisis económicas (1997, 2008 y por la pandemia del Covid-19); en todos los casos se ha podido reponer, dado su arraigo, considerando tanto su localización en el municipio de Guadalajara desde tiempos de la Colonia como el saber-hacer que permanece en el mercado laboral, así como las redes productivas en su cadena de valor. En esta última se identifican aglomeraciones tanto de empresas de calzado como de diseño, así como sus flujos, que pueden transmitirse como medios de comunicaciones más densos, rápidos y baratos. Los beneficios pueden ser las economías externas a escala (Vázquez, 2005), mayor competitividad (Porter, 1998) y, por lo tanto, detener la decadencia de la industria del calzado.

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate patients’ satisfaction of mixed prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional evaluation of satisfaction in patients receiving mixed prenatal care that includes in-person and virtual visits. All women who gave a written consent between June and July 2021 were included. The survey was based on the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS) scale which evaluated seven dimensions of satisfaction: access and facilities, effectiveness, information, technical skills, participation, relationship, and general satisfaction. Results: the overall satisfaction on mixed prenatal care was 3.28 ± 0.71. The mean SAPS score was 33.88 (SD = 5.56). In total, 144 patients (65%) preferred the mixed prenatal care. The mean maternal age of 221 included pregnant women was 30 years and the mean gestational age at the first appointment was 24 weeks. Overall, 88.2% of patients had up to 6 visits among virtual and in-person. Patients with non-health insurance had lower rates of satisfaction when compared with pregnant women with national health insurance (p=0.026). Conclusions: women receiving the mixed prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic reported a high level of satisfaction. In general, pregnant women would recommend mixed prenatal care.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze current scientific production on the use of the theoretical-methodological precepts of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Care/Clinical Caritas Process. Methods: quantitative, exploratory, descriptive study using data from 1979 to 2023 in the Scopus database. Analysis was carried out using VOSviewer software. Results: the 73 studies included establish a network of collaboration among 221 authors from 155 institutions in 18 countries, who discuss the development of ethical behavior in nursing staff, through technical improvement, implementation, and validation of instrumental strategies capable of measuring and evaluating the quality of holistic and empathetic care. The Theory of Human Caring contributes to nursing training and care, and Process Clinical Caritas-Veritas is useful for the different possibilities of practice and education. Conclusions: it is important to strengthen with more empirical data a nursing work model centered on individual human care, supporting the evolution of scientific nursing knowledge.

This study focused on optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions (XPC: pulse cycle of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 s on/off; XUP: ultrasound power of 80, 90, and 100%; and XET: extraction time of 2, 4, and 6 min) for maximizing the content of soluble phenols (TSPs) and flavonoids (FLAs) from a native Mexican pigmented corn kernel powder through response surface methodology (RSM). Under the Box–Behnken design conditions, the UAE of TSPs ranged from 27.72 to 34.87 mg/g, while FLA content ranged from 16.59 to 27.28 mg/g. The highest content for TSPs was under 4 min XET, 1:1 s on/off XPC, and 100% XUP, while for flavonoids it was under 6 min XET, 2:1 s on/off XPC, and 80% XUP. According to RSM analysis, the optimal UAE conditions for TSPs were found to be XET 3.15 min, 1.58 s on/off XPC, and 100% XUP, and an XET of 4.18 min, 3 s on/off XPC, and 80% XUP were the best experimental conditions for FLAs with a predictive TSP of 35.07 mg/g and FLA of 27.51 mg/g. These data were adjusted in a second-order polynomial model and experimentally validated (TSP = 34.06 mg/g and 27.04 mg/g). Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH methods) for optimal UAE for TSPs and FLAs. The antioxidant extract from the native Mexican pigmented corn kernel powder can be used for diverse industrial applications. Thus, the UAE is an effective and sustainable technology for recovering bioactive compounds from maize-based materials.

Abstract Objective We describe the development and structure of a novel mobile application in a mixed model of prenatal care, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we assess the acceptability of this mobile app in a cohort of patients. Methods First, we introduced a mixed model of prenatal care; second, we developed a comprehensive, computer-based clinical record to support our system. Lastly, we built a novel mobile app as a tool for prenatal care. We used Flutter Software version 2.2 to build the app for Android and iOS smartphones. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the acceptability of the app. Results A mobile app was also built with the main attribute of being connected in real-time with the computer-based clinical records. The app screens detail information about activities programmed and developed in the prenatal care according to gestational age. A downloadable maternity book is available and some screens show warning signs and symptoms of pregnancy. The acceptability assessment was mostly rated positively regarding the characteristics of the mobile app, by 50 patients. Conclusion This novel mobile app was developed as a tool among pregnant patients to increase the information available about their pregnancies in the provision of a mixed model of prenatal care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was fully customized to the needs of our users following the local protocols. The introduction of this novel mobile app was highly accepted by the patients.

The synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles for diverse applications is an active research area that involves physical and chemical methods, which typically are expensive, involve hazardous chemical reagents, use complex equipment and synthesis conditions, and consume large amounts of time and energy. Thus, green synthesis methods have emerged as eco-friendly and easy alternatives for inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, particularly the use of plant-based extracts from fruit juice, leaves, seeds, peel, stem, barks, and roots, which act as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and circular economy principles. Therefore, diverse inorganic nanoparticles have been synthesized using plant-based extracts, including gold, silver, titanium dioxide, zinc, copper, platinum, zirconium, iron, selenium, magnesium, nickel, sulfur, cobalt, palladium, and indium nanoparticles, which exhibit different biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, dye degradation, cytotoxic, analgesic, sedative, wound-healing, skin protection, sensor development, and plant-growth-promoting effects. Therefore, this review summarizes the advantages and limitations of plant-based extracts as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents for inorganic nanoparticle green synthesis.

Em América do Sul o camu-camu vêm sendo domesticado, no entanto, para seu cultivo ainda são poucas as informações técnicas para garantir sua adaptabilidade e produtividade em locais com estação seca bem definida. O objetivo neste estudo foi caracterizar a distribuição espacial do sistema radicular e determinar a profundidade efetiva (PE) das raízes em plantas de camu-camu com e sem cobertura vegetal morta (CVM) em condições de terra firme. Num pomar foram escolhidas ao acaso 3 plantas com 3, 5 e 7 anos, cada. Logo foi colocada CVM composta de capim (Trachypogon plumosus) em uma planta de cada idade na projeção da copa. Após 12 meses o volume e PE das raízes nas plantas de 3 anos com CVM foi de 200 mm3 e 0,3 m, e sem CVM foi de 500 mm3 e 0,48 m, respectivamente. Nas plantas com 5 anos foi de 4000 mm3 e 0,43 m com CVM, e sem CVM foi de 6000 mm3 e 0,64 m; e nas plantas com 7 anos o volume e PE das raízes com CVM foram de 12000 mm3 e 0,58 m, e sem CVM de 10000 mm3 e 0,71 m, respectivamente. A profundidade efetiva equivalente ao 80% da concentração das raízes foi menor com o uso de cobertura vegetal morta, o que é muito importante para a cultura do camu-camu, pois permite aplicar uma lâmina de água mais precisa e eficiente por meio da irrigação.

Despite the extensive research already done on laminar flows with porous boundaries, polar flows bounded by cylinders have not yet been studied. This paper investigates the polar laminar flow for an incompressible fluid located in a porous annular pipe and driven by suction-injection at the walls. The fluid being confined between the cylinders with zero axial velocity, it is proven that the flow takes place in the polar plane with conservation of mass if an incoming flow exists in the same plane to compensate the mass of fluid extorted by suction. So, one of the cylinders undergoes the suction, and the other the injection. Suitable boundary conditions for both cylinders are then found. The problem depends on the Reynolds number, the pipe gap ratio, and the pore density and surface ratios. The method of solution utilizes the shooting technique including the Runge-Kutta and Newton-Raphson algorithms. Radial flows are found as a possible solution. When the flow is not radial, the patterns of the acceptable streamlines highlight a particular zone in which the fluid is at rest, bounded by two singular streamlines and the downstream cylinder. The flow velocity is determined. Physical understandings of the flow are derived.

Brunfelsia grandiflora is a South American solanaceae widely used since long ago for its recognized medicinal properties. We have recently reported its chemical composition, showing a relevant number of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity, and proved the cytoprotective and antioxidative stress potential of B. grandiflora in cultured endothelial cells. Since B. grandiflora extracts have shown effects on the central nervous system, the present study was designed to show the potential cytoprotective capacity and the antioxidative stress potential of phenolic extracts from the plant on cultured neuron-like cells, as a model to reduce the presentation or effects of chronic diseases of the nervous system. To this end, we studied its reactive oxygen species (ROS)-reducing capacity, its antioxidant defense mechanisms, and some molecular markers involved in redox balance and apoptosis. The results show that cell survival and most changes in biomarkers related to oxidative status, ROS, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and reductase, malondialdehyde, and caspase 3/7 activity, and molecular expression of cell death-related genes (BAX, BNIP3, and APAF1), NFκB, SOD, and NRF2 (genes from oxidative stress—antioxidants) induced by oxidative stress were prevented by either co- or pretreatment of neuron-like cells with B. grandiflora extracts (25–200 µg/mL). The results demonstrate the chemoprotective potential of the plant and support its medicinal use.

Age-dependent reduction in reproductive success can arise due to multiple factors including a deterioration of reproductive physiology. Senescing males have been shown to produce ejaculates with poor sperm quality, which impinges on male reproductive success. In addition to individual age, gamete age can also affect male reproductive success. Accordingly, variance in male reproductive success can be due to pre-meiotic (referring to individual age) and post-meiotic senescence (sperm age). Here, we tested whether male senescence and sperm cell aging have additive or interactive effects on male reproductive success in a bird with a promiscuous mating system, the North African houbara bustard. To assess the effect of pre-meiotic aging, we compared male reproductive success between two age classes (3-6- and 12–16-year-old). To infer the effect of post-meiotic aging, male ejaculates were collected at three-time intervals following a common initial collection (day 1, 5, and 10). Therefore, day 1 ejaculates are supposed to contain younger sperm than day 5 and 10 ejaculates. Following controlled artificial inseminations, reproductive success was assessed using three fitness-linked traits (hatching success, chick growth rate and survival). In addition to reproductive output, we also assessed whether pre- and post-meiotic aging affected a wide range of sperm and ejaculate traits. In agreement with previous reports, we found that males in the older age class produced less sperm with poorer motility compared to young individuals. However, contrary to the prediction, we found that ejaculates collected at day 5 and 10 tended to have better sperm traits such as motility and velocity. The results on sperm traits were generally mirrored in the effect on reproductive success since young males produced offspring that grew faster and had better survival during the first month of life, and eggs fertilized by sperm collected at day 5 had the highest hatching success. In any of the models, there was evidence for interactive effects of male and sperm age. Overall, these results confirm the role of pre-meiotic aging on male reproductive success. The lack of evidence for sperm aging could come from the experimental design but might also reflect the pattern of mating frequency in a species with a lek-based mating system.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is largely refractory to current immunotherapeutic interventions. The lack of efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies in CRC reflects the complex nature of the unique intestinal immune environment, which serves to maintain barrier integrity against pathogens and harmful environmental stimuli while sustaining host-microbe symbiosis during homeostasis. With their expression by barrier epithelial cells, the cytokines interleukin-25 (IL-25) and IL-33 play key roles in intestinal immune responses, and have been associated with inappropriate allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and cancer pathology. Studies in the past decade have begun to uncover the important roles of IL-25 and IL-33 in shaping the CRC tumour immune microenvironment, where they may promote or inhibit tumorigenesis depending on the specific CRC subtype. Notably, both IL-25 and IL-33 have been shown to act on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), but can also stimulate an array of other innate and adaptive immune cell types. Though sometimes their functions can overlap they can also produce distinct phenotypes dependent on the differential distribution of their receptor expression. Furthermore, both IL-25 and IL-33 modulate pathways previously known to contribute to CRC tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, tumour stemness, invasion and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of IL-25 and IL-33 in CRC tumorigenesis, with specific focus on dissecting their individual function in the context of distinct subtypes of CRC, and the potential prospects for targeting these pathways in CRC immunotherapy.

Functionalization of polysaccharide-based packaging incorporating inorganic nanoparticles for food preservation is an active research area. This review summarizes the use of polysaccharide-based materials functionalized with inorganic nanoparticles (TiO2, ZnO, Ag, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Zr, MgO, halloysite, and montmorillonite) to develop hybrid packaging for fruit, vegetables, meat (lamb, minced, pork, and poultry), mushrooms, cheese, eggs, and Ginkgo biloba seeds preservation. Their effects on quality parameters and shelf life are also discussed. In general, treated fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, and G. biloba seeds markedly increased their shelf life without significant changes in their sensory attributes, associated with a slowdown effect in the ripening process (respiration rate) due to the excellent gas exchange and barrier properties that effectively prevented dehydration, weight loss, enzymatic browning, microbial infections by spoilage and foodborne pathogenic bacteria, and mildew apparition in comparison with uncoated or polysaccharide-coated samples. Similarly, hybrid packaging showed protective effects to preserve meat products, cheese, and eggs by preventing microbial infections and lipid peroxidation, extending the food product’s shelf life without changes in their sensory attributes. According to the evidence, polysaccharide-hybrid packaging can preserve the quality parameters of different food products. However, further studies are needed to guarantee the safe implementation of these organic–inorganic packaging materials in the food industry.

Introducción. En el presente trabajo se describe el perfil de mutación y se analizan los distintos mecanismos responsables de las mutaciones en las primeras 6 secuencias completas del genoma de SARS-CoV-2 a partir de muestras de pacientes salvadoreños con diagnóstico de COVID-19. Objetivo. Analizar el perfil de mutaciones de acuerdo a los mecanismos que dan origen a las mutaciones presentes en SARS-CoV-2. Metodología. Se realizó un análisis de los cambios en las secuencias del genoma de SARS-CoV-2 utilizando como referencia la secuencia Wuhan (NC_045512.2), una vez conocidas las mutaciones, se procedió a tabular y generar gráficos de los SNPs y los genes afectados, además se analizó los posibles mecanismos descritos responsables de generar las mutaciones analizadas. Resultados. El análisis reveló que las mutaciones encontradas han sido reportadas a nivel mundial, sin embargo, las secuencias presentan mayor semejanza con los cambios descritos en Norte América, sumado a ello, el análisis global permitió clasificarlas en el caldo GISAID GH, y linaje pangolín B.1.2 y B.1.370, ambos linajes con una alta prevalencia en EUA, lo cual refuerza la hipótesis del origen norteamericano de las secuencias salvadoreñas. El patrón de cambios del genoma de SARS-CoV-2 en El Salvador, sugiere que las mutaciones son debidas a la acción de las desaminasas APOBEC (transición C>T) y ADARs (transición A>G), al efecto de especies reactivas de oxígeno (ROS) (transversión G>T), a errores propios del complejo replicación transcripción (RTC) que escapan a la corrección de la actividad exonucleasa de NSP14 y eventos de recombinación.

The objective is to prepare a manual of accounting and tax procedures for the treatment of post-employment benefits in heavy cargo transportation companies in the Canton La Troncal under IFRS for SMEs and the disclosure of information on employee benefits. Non-experimental descriptive type with field design. Entrepreneurs focus on compliance with tax obligations in order to avoid sanctions by the tax administration such as fines, closures, suspension of activities, confiscations or seizures, leaving accounting in the background. It is important to hire an independent actuary qualified by the control bodies for the calculation of the mathematical actuarial reserve of the reserves for employer retirement and eviction, it is these professionals who have the necessary expertise to assess labor liabilities.