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The Institute of Prevision Social (IPS), social security of Paraguay is responsible for the complete provision of diseases treatment of the worker and his family. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent diseases in our country. Aim: To determine the direct health cost of DM outpatient treatment (medications and medical visits) of IPS in 2018. Methods: Observational, descriptive, transverse. Data were collected on the type and quantity of antidiabetic medication consumed and the number of visits per patient with type 1 and 2 DM, of the computer registry: "SIH" from January to December 2018, available at all IPS centers in the country. Results: 67,664 patients who received antidiabetic medication were included. Female 50.5%, age 64.5 ± 21.53 years. 79.7% use oral medication (1 or more drugs.) 30.3% use insulins (alone or in combination). In order of frequency, the most commonly used drugs are: Metformin 73% Glimepiride 41%, Insulin NPH 20% Basal insulin analogues 16%, Regular Insulin 5.4% Sitagliptin. 2% and ultrarapid analogs 1.8% of the total population. One visit per patient was averaged every 3.7 months with the internist, family doctor or endocrinologist; cost of $ 7,14/visit (stipulated by the Paraguayan Society of Internal Medicine), which yields an annual cost of outpatient visits of $2,166,720. The estimated annual cost used in antidiabetic medications was $ 3,842,977: Basal insulin analogs $ 1,802,808, NPH insulin $ 811,260, Ultrarapid insulin analogs $ 568,788, , Metformin $ 330,249, Sitagliptin $ 167,754, Glimepiride $ 103,656, Human rapid insulin 58,433 $; averaging a cost per patient of $ 89 per year. Conclusion: The high costs generated by the disease, even without the calculation of hospitalizations, complications, work disability, suggests the need to promote primary prevention policies for DM. On the other hand, the optimization of health resources, using cost/effective medication, could help reduce health expenditure in our institution. Disclosure: S.P. Arzamendia: None. F. Romero: None. E. Valinotti: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A vast amount of potentially useful information such as description of patient symptoms, family, and social history is recorded as free-text notes in electronic health records (EHRs) but is difficult to reliably extract at scale, limiting their utility in research. This study aims to assess whether an "out of the box" implementation of open-source large language models (LLMs) without any fine-tuning can accurately extract social determinants of health (SDoH) data from free-text clinical notes., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using EHR data from the Mass General Brigham (MGB) system, analyzing free-text notes for SDoH information. We selected a random sample of 200 patients and manually labeled nine SDoH aspects. Eight advanced open-source LLMs were evaluated against a baseline pattern-matching model. Two human reviewers provided the manual labels, achieving 93% inter-annotator agreement. LLM performance was assessed using accuracy metrics for overall, mentioned, and non-mentioned SDoH, and macro F1 scores., Results: LLMs outperformed the baseline pattern-matching approach, particularly for explicitly mentioned SDoH, achieving up to 40% higher Accuracy mentioned . openchat_3.5 was the best-performing model, surpassing the baseline in overall accuracy across all nine SDoH aspects. The refined pipeline with prompt engineering reduced hallucinations and improved accuracy., Conclusions: Open-source LLMs are effective and scalable tools for extracting SDoH from unstructured EHRs, surpassing traditional pattern-matching methods. Further refinement and domain-specific training could enhance their utility in clinical research and predictive analytics, improving healthcare outcomes and addressing health disparities., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Mass General Brigham (MGB) Institutional Review Board approved the study protocol (2020P001486). Consent to participate was not deemed required for this observational investigation. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: Dr. Desai reports serving as Principal Investigator on investigator-initiated grants to the Brigham and Women’s Hospital from Novartis, Vertex, and Bayer on unrelated projects.Other authors do not have any competing interests to disclose. Other authors do not have any competing interests to disclose., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

A novel breastfeeding mobile app was created. We aim to determine if patients who utilize the app will have longer breastfeeding duration, improved breastfeeding self-efficacy scores at 1-year follow-up, and higher exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months postpartum. Participants were randomized, with 45 to the intervention and 48 to the control groups. Surveys were administered at 32-36-week gestation and 1 year postpartum. On average, women in the intervention group breastfed for 10.1 (SD ± 3.5) months compared to 8.9 (SD ± 4.1) months in the control group ( p  = .320). A Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated a higher proportion of participants who breastfed for longer durations in the intervention group ( p  = .241). The change in self-efficacy was not statistically different in the two groups. The exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum is 81.3 percent in the intervention group and 60.0 percent in the control group ( p  = .277). While there is no statistical difference in breastfeeding outcomes, participant feedback suggests that features such as feeding-trackers, real-time lactation support, and moderated peer groups may enhance its impact. Future research should focus on refining these elements, recruiting larger samples, and minimizing loss-to-follow-up to fully assess the potential of mobile-based breastfeeding interventions.

Sarcoptic mange has been described in domestic South American camelids (SACs), exported to non-Andean countries, and in wild SAC in their natural habitat. Reports on the incidence of this infestation in llamas or alpacas raised in their original location, on the other hand, are missing. The present study aimed to detect and characterize cases of sarcoptic mange in herds of llamas (Lama glama) raised in the high plateau region (Puna) of the province of Jujuy, Argentina. Mange-compatible lesions were found in 2 out of 45 examined llama herds, in which 7 and one affected animals were detected. Six llamas had an alopecic presentation, represented by hairless foci, accompanied by small dry crusts and a slightly greyish tone in the skin, while the other 2 showed a parakeratotic presentation, characterized by large crusts with serosanguineous drainage, in different parts of the body. Histopathology of skin biopsies revealed scarce mixed inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis and few acari in the epidermis, or abundant infiltrate and numerous acari, accompanying these two presentations, respectively. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings, as well as sequencing of a cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene fragment confirmed in all cases that the etiological agent was Sarcoptes scabiei. Interviews with the producers allowed the conclusion that the alopecic presentation corresponded to animals that had received some type of informal acaricide treatment. The parakeratotic form, on the other hand, corresponded to untreated animals, strongly suggesting that this is the typical manifestation of sarcoptic mange in llamas. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first clinical, histopathological, parasitological, and molecular description of sarcoptic mange in llamas raised in the Andean region. This study also highlights the need for a complete anamnesis to reach an accurate diagnosis, and for validated protocols for the treatment of this disease in SACs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) are wild South American camelids (SACs) protected by law in Argentina, and information on pathogens that infect them is scarce. In this study, an adult vicuña found dead in the province of Salta was examined, and evidence of infection by Sarcocystis sp. protozoans was sought. Infection of skeletal muscles by S. aucheniae, with the production of macroscopic sarcocysts, a disease known as SAC sarcocystosis, has been described in the other three SACs - llamas, alpacas, and guanacos - but its occurrence in vicuñas has so far remained unknown. In the analyzed individual, many macroscopic cysts compatible with S. aucheniae were found upon necropsy in the muscular tissue of the neck and diaphragm. Analysis of 18 S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene sequences by BLAST searches and construction of phylogenetic trees demonstrated that the etiological agent was S. aucheniae. Our results show for the first time that vicuñas act as intermediate hosts in the life cycle of this parasite. In addition, this study provides the first cox-1 sequences for S. aucheniae isolates from the four SAC species acting as intermediate hosts and suggests that this marker could be useful for genotypification of this parasite species. The impact of SAC sarcocystosis on the health, well-being, and fitness of vicuñas, and the relevance of vicuña infections in the epidemiology of S. auchaniae, remain to be elucidated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

An outbreak of Psoroptes sp.-caused mange was detected in a llama herd of Larcas, Jujuy province, Argentina. Infested llamas showed alopecia, erythema, hyperpigmentation, hyperkeratosis, and inflammation of the ear pinnae, as well as crusts and serous, serosanguineous, or purulent drainage with unpleasant smell in the external ear canal. Microscopic evaluation of skin scrapings revealed 0.5- to 0.7-mm-long acari identified as Psoroptes sp. based on their morphology. Histology showed a typical allergic reaction with perivascular to periadnexal mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences analyzed from the sampled acari clustered into a single P. ovis clade including sequences isolated from rabbits and bighorn sheep, with P. natalensis as a sister taxon that infested bighorn sheep from the USA. Phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome b sequences showed three well-supported clades, one of which contained the sequences of the Larcas llamas and US bighorn sheep isolates. This is the first report on P. ovis infestation of llamas raised in their original location. Investigations on mange etiological agents acting on South American camelids and their distribution are necessary to implement control strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of these parasitic infections., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Disholcaspis Dalla Torre & Kieffer, 1910 is reviewed for the first time in Mexico. A total of 23 species have been studied, 12 previously known species, 11 new species, and one new synonym: D. brasoae Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. callosa Pujade-Villar, Kinsey† & Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. carpenteri Pujade-Villar, Cuesta-Porta & Melika, sp. nov., D. cinerosa (Bassett, 1881) (= D. pallens Kinsey, 1938 syn. nov.), D. cordifoliae Cuesta-Porta, Pujade-Villar & Kinsey†, sp. nov., D. crystalae Pujade-Villar, 2018, D. cummingi Pujade-Villar, Melika & Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. familiaris Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. hermesi Cuesta-Porta, Pujade-Villar & Melika, sp. nov., D. insulana Kinsey, 1938, D. laetae Kinsey, 1937, D. largior Kinsey, 1938, D. mexicana (Beutenmüller, 1911), D. nayeliae Cuesta-Porta, Melika & Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. potosina Kinsey, 1937, D. pulla Kinsey, 1937, D. punicea Pujade-Villar, Kinsey† & Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. purlans Kinsey, 1937, D. purpurea Kinsey, 1937, D. puta Kinsey†, Cuesta-Porta & Pujade-Villar, sp. nov., D. raptor Pujade-Villar, Kinsey † & Cuesta-Porta, sp. nov., D. regina Kinsey, 1937, and D. unicolor Kinsey, 1920. We provide the descriptions of the new species, the re-descriptions of the previously known species, diagnoses and the first key to species for the Mexican Disholcaspis.

Objective: To describe an AI model to facilitate adult cochlear implant candidacy prediction based on basic demographical data and standard behavioral audiometry., Methods: A machine-learning approach using retrospective demographic and audiometric data to predict candidacy CNC word scores and AzBio sentence in quiet scores was performed at a tertiary academic center. Data for the model were derived from adults completing cochlear implant candidacy testing between January 2011 and March 2023. Comparison of the prediction model to other published prediction tools and benchmarks was performed., Results: The final dataset included 770 adults, encompassing 1045 AzBio entries, and 1373 CNC entries. Isophoneme scores and word recognition scores exhibited strongest importance to both the CNC and AzBio prediction models, followed by standard pure tone average and low-frequency pure tone average. The mean absolute difference between the predicted and actual score was 15 percentage points for AzBio sentences in quiet and 13 percentage points for CNC word scores, approximating anticipated test-retest constraints inherent to the variables incorporated into the model. Our final combined model achieved an accuracy of 87 % (sensitivity: 90 %; precision: 80 %)., Conclusion: We present an adaptive AI model that predicts adult cochlear implant candidacy based on routine behavioral audiometric and basic demographical data. Implementation efforts include a public-facing online prediction tool and accompanying smartphone program, an embedded notification flag in the electronic medical record to alert providers of potential candidates, and a program to retrospectively engage past patients who may be eligible for cochlear implantation based on audiogram results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest MLC receives research support from Advanced Bionics Corp, Cochlear Ltd, and MED-EL GmbH. No funding or input from commercial entities occurred in association with this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To analyse the relationship between Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and the association between EAT or MedDiet adherence at baseline with AF recurrence after ablation., Methods and Results: We included 199 patients from the PREDIMAR trial (PREvención con DIeta Mediterránea de Arritmias Recurrentes), in a single centre in this substudy. All of them had a computed tomography with EAT measurement. Lifestyle and clinical characteristics were obtained at baseline. The traditional MedDiet pattern was defined according to the MedDiet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Any documented AF > 30 s after ablation was considered a recurrence. Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were run to assess the cross-sectional association of MedDiet with EAT, and of EAT with the AF type at baseline. Also, Cox regression models were used to prospectively assess the associations of MedDiet adherence and EAT with AF recurrences after ablation. Median EAT was 135 g (interquartile range: 112-177), and the mean MedDiet score was 7.75 ± 2 points. A higher MEDAS ≥ 7 that was associated with lower odds of an EAT ≥ 135 g [multivariable odds ratio (mOR) = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.22-0.91; P = 0.025] was significantly associated with persistent AF after adjusting for traditional risk factors (mOR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.03-4.79; P = 0.042). No significant associations were observed between EAT ≥ 135 g and the risk of atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences after ablation [multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (mHR) = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.72-1.94; P = 0.512], or between MEDAS ≥ 7 and AF recurrence (mHR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.47-1.31; P = 0.344)., Conclusion: In patients with AF, higher adherence to MedDiet is associated with a significantly lower amount of EAT. Epicardial adipose tissue ≥ 135 g was significantly associated with persistent AF., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The copromicroscopic identification of gastrointestinal parasites is a common, cost-effective method vital to understanding host-parasite interactions. However, its efficacy depends on effective preservation of the samples. In this study, we compare the preservation of ethanol and formalin preserved gastrointestinal parasites collected from a wild population of Costa Rican capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator). Fecal samples were collected, halved, and stored in either 10% formalin or 96% ethanol at ambient temperature, then microscopically screened for the presence of parasites. Parasites were morphologically identified and rated based on their preservation using a newly developed rubric. We identified more parasitic morphotypes in formalin-preserved samples but found no difference in the number of parasites per fecal gram (PFG) between mediums. There was no difference in the PFG of two most prevalent parasite morphotypes, Filariopsis barretoi larvae and Strongyle-type eggs, and while Filariopsis larvae were better preserved in formalin, strongyle eggs showed no preservation difference between mediums. Our results support the suitability of both ethanol and formalin for morphological parasite identification in samples stored over 1 year, describe the morphological changes and challenges associated with parasite degradation, and highlight the potential for future studies to use both morphological and molecular methods in non-invasively collected samples., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Patients with bone diseases often experience increased bone fragility. When bone injuries exceed the body's natural healing capacity, they become significant obstacles. The global rise in the aging population and the escalating obesity pandemic are anticipated to lead to a notable increase in acute bone injuries in the coming years. Our research developed a novel DLP resin for 3D printing, utilizing poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) and various monomers through the PET-RAFT polymerization method. To enhance the performance of bone scaffolds, triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) were incorporated into the printed structure, promoting porosity and pore interconnectivity without reducing the mechanical resistance of the printed piece. The gyroid TPMS structure was the one that showed the highest mechanical resistance (0.94 ± 0.117 and 1.66 ± 0.240 MPa) for both variants of resin composition. Additionally, bioactive particles were introduced to enhance the material's biocompatibility, showcasing the potential for incorporating active compounds for specific applications. The inclusion of bioceramic particles produces an increase of 13% in bioactivity signal for osteogenic differentiation (alkaline phosphatase essay) compared to that of control resins. Our findings highlight the substantial improvement in printing precision and resolution achieved by including the photoabsorber, Rose Bengal, in the synthesized resin. This enhancement allows for creating intricately detailed and accurately defined 3D-printed parts. Furthermore, the TPMS gyroid structure significantly enhances the material's mechanical resistance, while including bioactive compounds significantly boosts the polymeric resin's biocompatibility and bioactivity (osteogenic differentiation).

Background: Persistent headache is a frequent symptom after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and there is currently limited knowledge about its clinical spectrum and predisposing factors. A subset of patients may be experiencing new daily persistent headache (NDPH) after COVID-19, which is among the most treatment-refractory primary headache syndromes., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Latin America to characterize individuals with persistent headache after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to identify factors associated with NDPH. Participants over 18 years old who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and reported persistent headache among their symptoms completed an online survey that included demographics, past medical history, persistent headache clinical characteristics, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Based on participants' responses, NDPH diagnostic criteria were used to group participants into NDPH and non-NDPH groups. Participant data was summarized by descriptive statistics. Student's t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used according to the distribution of quantitative variables. For categorical variables, Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used according to the size of expected frequencies. Binomial logistic regression using the backward stepwise selection method was performed to identify factors associated with NDPH., Results: Four hundred and twenty-one participants from 11 Latin American countries met the inclusion criteria. One in four participants met the NDPH diagnostic criteria. The mean age was 40 years, with most participants being female (82%). Over 90% of the participants reported having had mild/moderate COVID-19. Most participants had a history of headache before developing COVID-19 (58%), mainly migraine type (32%). The most predominant clinical characteristics in the NDPH group were occipital location, severe/unbearable intensity, burning character, and radiating pain (p < 0.05). A higher proportion of anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, myalgia, mental fog, paresthesia, nausea, sweating of the face or forehead, and ageusia or hypogeusia as concomitant symptoms were reported in participants with NDPH (p < 0.05). Palpebral edema as a concomitant symptom during the acute phase of COVID-19, occipital location, and burning character of the headache were risk factors associated with NDPH., Conclusion: This is the first study in Latin America that explored the clinical spectrum of NDPH after SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated factors. Clinical evaluation of COVID-19 patients presenting with persistent headache should take into consideration NDPH., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A hallmark of various psychiatric disorders is biased future predictions. Here we examined the mechanisms for biased value learning using reinforcement learning models incorporating recent findings on synaptic plasticity and opponent circuit mechanisms in the basal ganglia. We show that variations in tonic dopamine can alter the balance between learning from positive and negative reward prediction errors, leading to biased value predictions. This bias arises from the sigmoidal shapes of the dose-occupancy curves and distinct affinities of D1- and D2-type dopamine receptors: changes in tonic dopamine differentially alters the slope of the dose-occupancy curves of these receptors, thus sensitivities, at baseline dopamine concentrations. We show that this mechanism can explain biased value learning in both mice and humans and may also contribute to symptoms observed in psychiatric disorders. Our model provides a foundation for understanding the basal ganglia circuit and underscores the significance of tonic dopamine in modulating learning processes., Competing Interests: Competing interest statement The authors declare no competing interests.

Challenges in quantifying how force affects bond formation have hindered the widespread adoption of mechanochemistry. We used parallel tip-based methods to determine reaction rates, activation energies, and activation volumes of force-accelerated [4+2] Diels-Alder cycloadditions between surface-immobilized anthracene and four dienophiles that differ in electronic and steric demand. The rate dependences on pressure were unexpectedly strong, and substantial differences were observed between the dienophiles. Multiscale modeling demonstrated that in proximity to a surface, mechanochemical trajectories ensued that were distinct from those observed solvothermally or under hydrostatic pressure. These results provide a framework for anticipating how experimental geometry, molecular confinement, and directed force contribute to mechanochemical kinetics.

Remodeling of the bone marrow microenvironment in chronic inflammation and in aging reduces hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. To assess the mechanisms of this functional decline of HSC and find strategies to counteract it, we established a model in which the Sfrp1 gene was deleted in Osterix+ osteolineage cells (OS1Δ/Δ mice). HSC from these mice showed severely diminished repopulating activity with associated DNA damage, enriched expression of the reactive oxygen species pathway and reduced single-cell proliferation. Interestingly, not only was the protein level of Catenin beta-1 (bcatenin) elevated, but so was its association with the phosphorylated co-activator p300 in the nucleus. Since these two proteins play a key role in promotion of differentiation and senescence, we inhibited in vivo phosphorylation of p300 through PP2A-PR72/130 by administration of IQ-1 in OS1Δ/Δ mice. This treatment not only reduced the b-catenin/phosphop300 association, but also decreased nuclear p300. More importantly, in vivo IQ-1 treatment fully restored HSC repopulating activity of the OS1Δ/Δ mice. Our findings show that the osteoprogenitor Sfrp1 is essential for maintaining HSC function. Furthermore, pharmacological downregulation of the nuclear b-catenin/phospho-p300 association is a new strategy to restore poor HSC function.

Spontaneous animal behaviour is built from action modules that are concatenated by the brain into sequences 1,2 . However, the neural mechanisms that guide the composition of naturalistic, self-motivated behaviour remain unknown. Here we show that dopamine systematically fluctuates in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) as mice spontaneously express sub-second behavioural modules, despite the absence of task structure, sensory cues or exogenous reward. Photometric recordings and calibrated closed-loop optogenetic manipulations during open field behaviour demonstrate that DLS dopamine fluctuations increase sequence variation over seconds, reinforce the use of associated behavioural modules over minutes, and modulate the vigour with which modules are expressed, without directly influencing movement initiation or moment-to-moment kinematics. Although the reinforcing effects of optogenetic DLS dopamine manipulations vary across behavioural modules and individual mice, these differences are well predicted by observed variation in the relationships between endogenous dopamine and module use. Consistent with the possibility that DLS dopamine fluctuations act as a teaching signal, mice build sequences during exploration as if to maximize dopamine. Together, these findings suggest a model in which the same circuits and computations that govern action choices in structured tasks have a key role in sculpting the content of unconstrained, high-dimensional, spontaneous behaviour., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Malaria-endemic areas are not spared from the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leading to co-infection scenarios where overlapping symptoms impose serious diagnostic challenges. Current knowledge on Plasmodium spp. and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) co-infection in pregnant women remains limited, especially in Latin America, where Plasmodium vivax infection is highly prevalent., Methods: This is a case series of five pregnant women with P. vivax and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection hospitalized in two main malaria referral centers of the Capital District and Bolivar state, Venezuela between March 13, 2020 and December 31, 2021., Results: Clinical and laboratory data from five pregnant women with a mean age of 22 years were analyzed; three of them were in the third trimester of pregnancy. Comorbidities included obesity in two cases, hypertension in one, and asthma in one. Three out of five patients had severe to critical COVID-19 disease. Dry cough, fever, chills, and headache were the most frequent symptoms reported. Laboratory analyses showed elevated aspartate/alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels, thrombocytopenia, and severe anemia as the most relevant abnormalities. The mean period between symptom onset and a positive molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 infection or positive microscopy for Plasmodium spp. was 4.8 ± 2.5 days and 2.8 ± 1.6 days, respectively. The mean hospital stay was 5.4 ± 7 days. Three women recovered and were discharged from the hospital. Two women died, one from cerebral malaria and one from respiratory failure. Three adverse fetal outcomes were registered, two miscarriages and one stillbirth., Conclusion: This study documented a predominance of severe/critical COVID-19 disease and a high proportion of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes among pregnant women with malaria and COVID-19 co-infection. More comprehensive prospective cohort studies are warranted to explore the risk factors, management challenges, and clinical outcomes of pregnant women with this co-infection., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Free-ranging vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) are handled in some areas of the Andean high plateau region following an ancestral practice known as chaku, which consists in their transient capture and shearing of their fiber for commercialization. In this study, 807 vicuñas captured during 12 chaku events that took place in 2019 in the province of Jujuy, Argentina, were examined for typical mange skin lesions. Twenty-eight of the examined vicuñas presented alopecia with erythema, exudation, hyperkeratosis, and/or bleeding scarred lesions, mostly in the chest, rear and front legs, and inguinal zone. Most of the cases (82%) appeared in Laguna Cucho at 4900 masl, where 23% of the animals presented these skin reactions. Microscopic evaluation of skin scrapings revealed the presence of a great number of 0.1- to 0.4-mm-long mites of different life cycle stages, morphologically compatible with the species Sarcoptes scabiei. This etiological agent was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing of a cox-1 species-specific segment. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies showed extensive infiltration of the dermis with lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, hyperplasia at different stages, epidermis degeneration, and hyperkeratosis. This is the first characterization of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging vicuñas by clinical examination, mite morphology, histopathological studies, and molecular confirmation in the region. Mange hampers the welfare of vicuñas and the economy of the local communities that organize chaku events since infested vicuñas cannot be sheared. Its long-term effects are unknown but it might affect the fitness and survival of this iconic South American camelid., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A detailed description of the non-linear effects in silicon is needed when designing ring resonators in the silicon platform. The optical field propagating in the ring waveguide is strongly absorbed due to two-photon-absorption (TPA) and free-carrier-absorption (FCA), which become more prominent with increasing the input power in the ring. We present a new approach for the modelling of non-linear effects in silicon based ring resonators. We have numerically solved the non-linear problem coupling the variation of refractive index and loss due to TPA, FCA , self-heating and Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) theory for trap-assisted recombination process. The model is validated by reproducing experimental measurements on a ring and a racetrack resonator having different Q-factors and waveguide cross-sections. As a result, we show that the SRH recombination is the origin of the dependence of free carrier lifetime on the power circulating in the ring and how this dependence is affected by the surface trap density and trap energy level. The model is then applied to the calculation of the maximum power that can incident the silicon rings designed for the Si PIC mirror of a hybrid III-V/Si widely tunable laser.

The Agouti gene (ASIP) is one of the most important genes for coat color determination in mammals. It has a complex structure with several promoters and alternative non-coding first exons that are transcribed into mRNAs with different 5'UTR. These mRNA isoforms regulate the temporal and spatial expression of the gene, producing diverse pigmentation patterns. Here, we studied ASIP transcriptional variants and their expression in the skin of llamas with different coat color phenotypes. We also described the ASIP locus, including promoter usage and the splicing events that originate each transcript variant. Using 5'RACE-PCR we isolated seven ASIP transcripts with alternative 5'UTR, where exons 1A, 1A', 1C, 1D, and a novel non-coding exon 1A" were identified. Additionally, new alternative spliced forms were found. The diversity of ASIP 5'UTRs is originated by a complex pattern of alternative promoter usage, multiple transcription start sites and splicing events that include exon skipping and alternative 3' splicing site selection. We found that ASIP was highly expressed in llamas with white and brown phenotypes while black animals presented very low expression. The main responsible for this difference was a fusion transcript between ASIP and NCOA6 genes, which was present in the skin of white and brown llamas but not in the black ones. The rest of ASIP transcripts presented very low expression in the skin, indicating that the main regulation point for ASIP gene expression is at the transcriptional level. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the 5'UTRs sequences suggest that alternative transcripts could be regulated differently at the protein synthesis level., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

On 5 February 2021, we observed the first instance of female-committed infanticide followed by cannibalism in a long-studied (> 35 years) population of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) in the Santa Rosa Sector of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The events leading up to and including the infanticide and cannibalism were observed and documented ad libitum, with segments digitally recorded, and a post-mortem necropsy performed. Here we detail our observations and evaluate the events within the framework of leading adaptive explanations. The infanticide may have been proximately motivated by resource competition or group instability. The circumstances of the observed infanticide provided support for the resource competition, adoption avoidance, and social status hypotheses of infanticide, but not for the exploitation hypothesis, as neither the perpetrator nor her kin consumed the deceased infant. The subsequent cannibalism was performed by juveniles who observed the infanticide and may have been stimulated by social facilitation and their prior experience of meat consumption as omnivores. To our knowledge, cannibalism has been documented only once before in C. imitator, in an adjacent study group, with the two cases sharing key similarities in the context of occurrence and manner of consumption. These observations add to our growing knowledge of the evolutionary significance of infanticide and its importance as a reproductive strategy in nonhuman primates., (© 2021. Japan Monkey Centre.)

The potential presence of spore-forming bacteria related to the Bacillus cereus group in Mexican chili powder elaborated from Capsicum annuum L. is of commercial and clinical interest, because chili powder is an essential spice in the Mexican diet and in diets around the globe. To facilitate detection and isolation of members of this group of spore-forming bacteria from Mexican chili powder samples, we identified colonies that grew on agar medium selective for Bacillus cereus sensu lato, supplemented with polymyxin B (10 µg/mL) and ampicillin (10 to 100 µg/mL). The presumptive B. cereus ( s.l. ) isolates were tested using a tRNA Cys -PCR-based approach and the results identified species related phylogenetically to B. cereus , B. thuringiensis, and B. toyonensis . Their toxigenic potential was assessed by serological tests to detect enterotoxins (Nhe and Hbl) and by PCR targeting the hemolysin BL ( hbl ) component C ( hblC ) and non-hemolytic enterotoxin component A ( nheA ). The antibiotic profiles of the isolates showed a high resistance to β-lactams (100% of the isolates), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%), tetracycline (90%), erythromycin (77%), clindamycin (74%), and chloramphenicol (42%). Our results indicate the presence of B. cereus s.l. with toxigenic characteristics in Mexican chili powder. Because of the potential for these organisms to cause disease through their production of various toxins, and resistance to antibiotics, we recommend that a microbiological risk assessment must be considered in the Mexican regulatory requirements.

Introduction: The studies on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 help to identify erroneous concepts and inadequate practices related to the disease. This baseline information is essential to design effective strategies and improve adherence to prevention measures., Objective: To identify the COVID-19-related KAP in Venezuelan patients screened at the Hospital Universitario de Caracas triage tent., Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 215 patients between April 25th and May 25th, 2020, with in-person interviews using a KAP survey., Results: Most surveyed patients (53.5%) were asymptomatic. Most of them, both from the symptomatic and the asymptomatic groups, had adequate knowledge about the symptoms and transmission of the disease and the majority said they were practicing quarantine, frequent handwashing, and the use of face masks in public areas. However, the daily replacement of cloth face masks was more frequent in the asymptomatic group whereas replacement every three days was more frequent in the symptomatic group. Finally, more than half of the participants admitted having been in crowded places, a common practice among the symptomatic compared to the asymptomatic patients., Conclusions: This is the first KAP study in Venezuela about COVID-19. Knowledge and practices among Venezuelans could be improved by strengthening education and training programs. This information from the early phase of the pandemic in Venezuela may contribute to the design of COVID-19 promotion and prevention strategies.

Background: Young adult men who have sex with men (YMSM) are at increased risk for HIV, especially minority YMSM. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a breakthrough daily pill to prevent HIV. Consistent adherence is key to PrEP effectiveness, which is why the CDC recommends adherence support be provided to all PrEP patients. Mobile health can overcome barriers to the delivery of adherence support, particularly for YMSM who may be most in need of it due, at least in part, to their young age., Methods: We created a culturally- and developmentally-sensitive PrEP adherence mobile app (called "Dot") that was tailored for culturally-diverse young adult MSM. After formative research and usability testing, we conducted a 6-week pre-post study to evaluate the impact of Dot on self-reported PrEP adherence, PrEP treatment self-efficacy, PrEP knowledge, and intention to practice safe sex among culturally-diverse YMSM, age 20-29., Results: At 6 weeks, there were significant improvements in PrEP adherence, PrEP self-efficacy, and intention to practice safe sex. PrEP knowledge scores did not significantly change., Conclusions: The Dot app proved feasible and effective at improving PrEP adherence among culturally-diverse YMSM. Moreover, the app had a high-degree of user appeal, which is foundational to success of an mhealth intervention., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/mhealth-20-51). Dr. Weitzman reports grants from National Institutes of Health, during the conduct of the study. Dr. Zhou reports grants from Environment and Health Group, during the conduct of the study. Dr. Kogelman received funds from the NIH grant that supported this research. She reports other funds from Gilead Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work. Gilead makes the only medication currently approved for PrEP. Ms. Rodarte reports grants from National Institutes of Health, during the conduct of the study. Ms. Romero Vicente reports grants from Environment and Health Group, outside the submitted work. Ms. Rodarte reports grants from National Institutes of Health, during the conduct of the study. Dr. Levkoff is Vice President of Environment and Health, which received an NIH SBIR grant that funded the study being described here. She received funds from this grant to work on the project., (2021 mHealth. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are increasing among older adults concomitant with a rise in divorce after the age of 50 years. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a web-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/STD risk reduction intervention for divorced and separated women aged more than 50 years., Research Design and Methods: Two hundred nineteen divorced or separated women, aged 50 years and older, participated in 60-day randomized pre-post control group study. Recruitment occurred via health agencies in Boston and Columbia, SC, and Craigslist advertisements placed in Boston, Columbia, Charleston, New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami., Results: Intervention group reported greater intention to practice safe sex compared to the control group (B = .55, p = .03). Intention to practice safe sex differed by perceived stress (B = .15, p = .005), with no difference between control and intervention groups for those with low levels of stress. For high levels of stress, intervention group reported greater intention to practice safe sex compared to controls. Sexual risk was reduced by 6.10 points (SD: 1.10), and self-efficacy for sexual discussion was increased by 2.65 points (SD: 0.56) in the intervention group., Discussion and Implications: A web-based intervention represents a promising tool to reduce HIV/STD risk among older women. Offering HIV/STD education in the context of other topics of interest to at-risk older women, such as divorce, may solve the problem of at-risk older women not seeking out prevention information due to lack of awareness of their heightened risk., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose of Review: In this article, the different sleep-related movement disorders are discussed with special attention given to restless legs syndrome (RLS)., Recent Findings: The differential diagnosis of sleep-related movement disorders can often be challenging; therefore, it is essential to have accurate information to make a correct diagnosis. This article focuses on RLS, highlighting the change in the paradigm of initial treatment, the role played by iron (pathophysiologic and therapeutic), and how to approach possible complications occurring with long-term treatment., Summary: RLS is one of the most common neurologic conditions, and it is common in clinical practice to find patients experiencing symptoms suggestive of RLS. Neurologists must be careful and thorough in the diagnosis, excluding RLS mimics. The decisions regarding which specific sleep-related movement disorder is present and how it should be treated are important because in certain cases, especially in RLS, adverse effects and long-term complications are frequently reported with the use of certain drugs.

Cancer remains a primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its incidence continues to increase. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is tumour recurrence. Surgery is the gold standard in the treatment of most tumours. However, cancer surgery can lead to the release of tumour cells into the systemic circulation. Surgical stress and several perioperative factors have been suggested to boost tumour growth, thereby increasing the risk of metastatic recurrence. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that anaesthetics and adjuvants administered during the perioperative period may impact cancer recurrence and survival. This document summarises the current evidence regarding the effects of anaesthetic drugs and analgesic techniques on the immune system, systemic inflammatory response and tumour cells, as well as their impact on cancer recurrence., (© the authors; licensee ecancermedicalscience.)

American foulbrood (AFB) caused by Paenibacillus larvae is the most destructive honeybee bacterial disease and its dissemination via commercial bee pollen is an important mechanism for the spread of this bacterium. Because Mexico imports bee pollen from several countries, we developed a tRNA Cys -PCR strategy and complemented that strategy with MALDI-TOF MS and amplicon-16S rRNA gene analysis to evaluate the presence of P. larvae in pollen samples. P. larvae was not detected when the tRNA Cys -PCR approach was applied to spore-forming bacterial colonies obtained from three different locations and this result was validated by bacterial identification via MALDI-TOF MS. The genera identified in the latter analysis were Bacillus (fourteen species) and Paenibacillus (six) species. However, amplicon-16S rRNA gene analysis for taxonomic composition revealed a low presence of Paenibacillaceae with 0.3 to 16.2% of relative abundance in the commercial pollen samples analyzed. Within this family, P. larvae accounted for 0.01% of the bacterial species present in one sample. Our results indicate that the tRNA Cys -PCR, combined with other molecular tools, will be a useful approach for identifying P. larvae in pollen samples and will assist in controlling the spread of the pathogen.

In the article mentioned above an author's name was misspelled.

Multidrug-resistant microorganisms are of great concern to public health. Genetic mobile elements, such as plasmids, are among the most relevant mechanisms by which bacteria achieve this resistance. We obtained an Escherichia coli strain CM6, isolated from cattle presenting severe diarrheic symptoms in the State of Querétaro, Mexico. It was found to contain a 70kb plasmid (pMEX01) with a high similarity to the pHK01-like plasmids that were previously identified and described in Hong Kong. Analysis of the pMEX01 sequence revealed the presence of a bla CTX-M-14 gene, which is responsible for conferring resistance to multiple β-lactam antibiotics. Several genes putatively involved in the conjugative transfer were also identified on the plasmid. The strain CM6 is of high epidemiological concern because it not only displays resistance to multiple β-lactam antibiotics but also to other kinds of antibiotics., (Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Objective: The contralateral limbs of patients with unilateral lymphedema in the lower limbs (LLs) can exhibit abnormal lymphatic circulation, even in the absence of lymphedema. This idea is based on a number of reports that have studied isolated cases using lymphoscintigraphy. It is likely that these patients previously had some form of lymphopathy, and the lymphedema arose after the action of some external factor. However, there are no studies in the literature that adequately assess the asymptomatic contralateral limbs of these patients or address the prevalence and characteristics of the abnormal lymphatic circulation in these limbs. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of abnormal lymphatic circulation in the asymptomatic contralateral limbs of patients with unilateral lymphedema of the LL., Methods: Forty-three patients from the angiology and vascular surgery ward of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco with unilateral lymphedema of the LL underwent lymphoscintigraphy. All patients received a subcutaneous injection of 0.2 mL (74 MBq) of a solution of dextran 70 labeled with technetium Tc 99m in the first interdigital space of each foot. Images were obtained on two occasions: 10 minutes and 1 hour after the injection. The study design was transversal prospective., Results: Among the 43 asymptomatic LLs, 30 (70%) showed abnormal lymphatic circulation. The lymphoscintigraphic abnormalities found were the following: reduced visualization of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes during 1 hour (83%), collateral circulation (30%), visualization of the inguinal and pelvic lymph nodes after at least 1 hour (30%), visualization of the popliteal lymph nodes (20%), dilation and lymphatic tortuosity (20%), and dermal backflow (10%)., Conclusions: In this study,70% of the patients with unilateral lymphedema of the LL had some form of lymphopathy in the contralateral limb during the lymphoscintigraphic examination. These findings could favor the early treatment of these patients to prevent the disease from progressing to its most severe stage., (Copyright © 2017 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Design: Retrospective case series., Purpose: To determine the incidence of cervical radiculopathy requiring operative intervention by level and to report on the methods of treatment., Overview of Literature: Cervical radiculopathy is a common cause of pain and can result in progressive neurological deficits. Although the pathology is well understood, the actual incidence of cervical radiculopathy at particular spinal levels ultimately requiring operative intervention is unknown., Methods: A large consecutive series of patients operated on by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of cervical radiculopathy at each level was defined for every patient. Procedures used for operative treatment were noted. Health related quality of life (HRQL) scores were collected both pre-operatively and postoperatively., Results: There were 1305 primary and 115 revision operations performed. The most common primary procedures performed were anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF, 50%) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF, 28%). The most commonly affected levels were C6 (66%) and C7 (62%). Reasons for revision were pseudarthrosis (27%), clinical adjacent segment pathology (CASP, 63%), persistent radiculopathy (11%), and hardware-related (2.6%). The most common procedures performed in the revision group were posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF, 42%) and ACDF (40%). The most commonly affected levels were C7 (43%) and C5 (30%). Among patients that had their index surgery at our institution, the revision rate was 6.4%. In both primary and revision cases there was a significant improvement in Neck Disability Index and visual analogue scale scores postoperatively. Postoperative HRQL scores in the revision cases were significantly worse than those in the primary cases (p <0.01)., Conclusions: This study provides the largest description of the incidence of cervical radiculopathy by level and operative outcomes in patients undergoing cervical decompression. The incidence of CASP was 4.2% in 3.3 years in this single institution series.

The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) was indiscriminately hunted for more than 400 years and, by the end of 1960s, it was seriously endangered. At that time, a captive breeding program was initiated in Argentina by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) with the aim of preserving the species. Nowadays, vicuñas are managed in captivity and in the wild to obtain their valuable fiber. The current genetic status of Argentinean vicuña populations is virtually unknown. Using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers, we assessed levels of genetic diversity of vicuña populations managed in the wild and compared it with a captive population from INTA. Furthermore, we examined levels of genetic structure and evidence for historical bottlenecks. Overall, all populations revealed high genetic variability with no signs of inbreeding. Levels of genetic diversity between captive and wild populations were not significantly different, although the captive population showed the lowest estimates of allelic richness, number of mitochondrial haplotypes, and haplotype diversity. Significant genetic differentiation at microsatellite markers was found between free-living populations from Jujuy and Catamarca provinces. Moreover, microsatellite data also revealed genetic structure within the Catamarca management area. Genetic signatures of past bottlenecks were detected in wild populations by the Garza Williamson test. Results from this study are discussed in relation to the conservation and management of the species.

Ring resonator modulators (RRM) combine extreme compactness, low power consumption and wavelength division multiplexing functionality, making them a frontrunner for addressing the scalability requirements of short distance optical links. To extend data rates beyond the classically assumed bandwidth capability, we derive and experimentally verify closed form equations of the electro-optic response and asymmetric side band generation resulting from inherent transient time dynamics and leverage these to significantly improve device performance. An equivalent circuit description with a commonly used peaking amplifier model allows straightforward assessment of the effect on existing communication system architectures. A small signal analytical expression of peaking in the electro-optic response of RRMs is derived and used to extend the electro-optic bandwidth of the device above 40 GHz as well as to open eye diagrams penalized by intersymbol interference at 32, 40 and 44 Gbps. Predicted peaking and asymmetric side band generation are in excellent agreement with experiments.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) strongly regulate myostatin expression in mammals via glucocorticoid response elements (GREs), and bioinformatics methods suggest that this regulatory mechanism is conserved among many vertebrates. However, the multiple myostatin genes found in some fishes may be an exception. In silico promoter analyses of the three putative rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) myostatin promoters have failed to identify putative GREs, suggesting a divergence in myostatin function. Therefore, we hypothesized that myostatin mRNA expression is not regulated by glucocorticoids in rainbow trout. In this study, both juvenile rainbow trout and primary trout myoblasts were treated with cortisol to examine the effects on myostatin mRNA expression. Results suggest that exogenous cortisol does not regulate myostatin-1a and -1b expression in vivo, as myostatin mRNA levels were not significantly affected by cortisol treatment in either red or white muscle tissue. In red muscle, myostatin-2a levels were significantly elevated in the cortisol treatment group relative to the control, but not the vehicle control, at both 12 h and 24 h post-injection. As such, it is unclear if cortisol was acting alone or in combination with the vehicle. Cortisol increased myostatin-1b expression in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Further work is needed to determine if this response is the direct result of cortisol acting on the myostatin-1b promoter or through an alternative mechanism. These results suggest that regulation of myostatin by cortisol may not be as highly conserved as previously thought and support previous work that describes potential functional divergence of the multiple myostatin genes in fishes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Cognitive control deficits are commonly seen in Depression of Bipolar Disorder (BDd) and Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (UDd). Because failure to differentiate BDd from UDd has significant clinical consequences we aimed to identify differential patterns of neural activity in BDd versus UDd underlying response inhibition and motor control in adolescents., Methods: Functional MRI was used to compare 12 BDd adolescents (mean age= 15.5±1.2) with age- and sex-matched ten UDd and ten healthy control (HC) adolescents during the performance of well-validated Go/NoGo task. NoGo response inhibition versus Go motor control blocks was used in whole-brain analysis and results were corrected for multiple comparisons., Results: There were no significant behavioral or neuroimaging findings between adolescents with BDd and UDd. However, both groups relative to HC showed significantly higher left superior temporal and left caudate activity during the NoGo condition. Moreover, left anterior cingulate (ACC) activity relative to HC was significantly higher only in BDd - not UDd - adolescents during the NoGo condition, and left caudate activity was higher only in UDd - not BDd - adolescents during the Go condition. In addition, several neural regions including dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) were positively correlated with increased reaction time in UDd - not BDd - adolescents., Conclusions: Despite some similarities, neural correlates of depression are different in BDd and UDd relative to HC, and greater recruitment of ACC resources during response inhibition can help distinguish BDd.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscle strength in septic patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV)., Methods: Sixteen septic patients requiring MV and having 1 or more organ failure other than respiratory dysfunction were enrolled within 48 hours from admission to the intensive care unit. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was administered twice a day on brachial biceps and vastus medialis (quadriceps) of 1 side of the body until MV withdrawal. Blinded investigators measured arm and thigh circumferences, biceps thickness by ultrasonography, and muscle strength after awakening with Medical Research Council scale., Results: Two patients died before strength evaluation and were excluded from the analysis. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied for 13 days (interquartile range, 7-30 days). Biceps (P = .005) and quadriceps (P = .034) strengths were significantly higher on the stimulated side at the last day of NMES. Improvement was mainly observed in more severe and weaker patients. Circumference of the nonstimulated arm decreased at the last day of NMES (P = .015), whereas no other significant differences in limb circumferences or biceps thickness were observed., Conclusion: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation was associated with an increase in strength of the stimulated muscle in septic patients requiring MV. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be useful to prevent muscle weakness in this population., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the use of the sugarcane biopolymer membrane in femoral vein patch angioplasty on dogs., Methods: Eight dogs were submitted to bilateral femoral vein patch angioplasty with a sugarcane biopolymer membrane patch on one side and an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) patch on the contralateral side. This research was performed at Experimental Surgical Research Laboratory of the Centro de Ciências da Saúde at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. The dogs underwent new surgery at 180 days after the patch angioplasty in order to harvest the femoral vein. All the animals were evaluated by clinical examination, measure of femoral vein diameter, venogram, and Doppler fluxometry. The material harvested was sent for histologic study. Each animal served as its own control., Results: In all veins of both groups, there were no cases of infection, rupture, or pseudoaneurysm formation and thrombosis. In both groups, a chronic inflammatory reaction was observed, with lymphocytes, neutrophils, and fibrosis in the outer surface of the patches. Fibrosis was seen in the inner surfaces of all the patches. In e-PTFE patches, invasion by fibroblasts occurred., Conclusions: The sugarcane biopolymer membrane can be used as a patch in femoral vein angioplasty on dogs., Clinical Relevance: The sugarcane biopolymer membrane is easily synthesized with a low cost of production. This membrane has been used in many areas of experimental surgery as in the healing of skin wounds, in urinary reconstruction, in reconstruction of tympanic membrane, and as an arterial substitute, but there is no report of its use as a vein substitute. In order to evaluate the possibility of using the sugarcane biopolymer membrane in venous reconstructive surgery, this study analyzed its utilization in femoral vein patch angioplasty., (Copyright © 2012 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The goal of this study was to perform a seroepidemiological investigation and to identify risk factors associated with infection of Chlamydophila abortus of sheep herds in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. The study was conducted with samples of 274 ewes with ages equal to or higher than 24 months in 25 herds and in 23 towns located in three regions of the state (Sertão, Agreste and Eastern Alagoas). Anti-C. abortus antibodies were detected using the microcomplement fixation test. The risk factors, were determined based on questionnaires consisting of objective questions, about the farmer and general characteristics of the herd like size, sanitary situation and reproductive management. Among 274 sera samples analyzed for C. abortus, 59 (21.5%) were positive with titers ≥32, 187 (68.3%) negative and 28 (10.2%) suspect with titers ≥16. In the 23 towns studied, 20 had positive animals. Among herds 21 (77.7%) of had positive animals. The only variable which appeared to be significant in the multivariate analysis was the region, and Sertão was the most significant (p<0.001; OR=3.48; T.I. 1.79 - 6.76). Results indicate that infection by Chlamydophila abortus is widespread on sheep farms in the State of Alagoas. Others studies, however, have to be conducted to isolate the agent in order to confirm the role of the bacteria is reproductive disturbances in sheeps. In addition to that, control and prophylactic measures along with health promoting programs have to be encouraged on the studied farms so that infection reates are reduced.

Faecal samples from llamas (n=708), vicuñas (n=171) and guanacos (n=4) were obtained between December 2004 and May 2009 in three Provinces of Northwest Argentina (Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca) to know the distribution, prevalence and intensity of Lamanema chavezi infection in these South American camelid species (SACs). Faeces were examined by a sedimentation-flotation technique using a Cl(2)Zn+ClNa solution (specific gravity=1.59). Eggs of L. chavezi occurred in 30.3% of 89 llama herds and in 18.5% of 708 llamas sampled with a mean intensity of 271.8 eggs/g (EPG) of faeces (range 20-2120). The highest values for all parameters of the infection were registered in llamas from Catamarca Province. Significant differences (P<0.001, Fisher's exact test) were detected only for the lower prevalence in llamas from Jujuy respect to those from the other two Provinces. The overall individual prevalence of L. chavezi in llamas was lower than in reports from adult domestic camelids of neighbour countries while mean intensity was higher. The individual prevalence of L. chavezi in guanacos was 75.0%, with a mean intensity of 66.0 EPG (range 40-120) while no vicuñas were detected as infected. Most of infected SACs were located at the phytogeographical region of Andean Patagonic Domain with a dispersion ranging between 22 degrees 10' and 26 degrees 40' South latitude.

Faecal samples from mostly adult llamas (n=626), vicuñas (n=161) and guanacos (n=4) were obtained between December 2004 and July 2008 in three Provinces of Northwest Argentina in order to study the prevalence of Eimeria macusaniensis and Eimeria ivitaensis. Faeces were examined by a flotation technique using a Cl(2)Zn+ClNa solution (specific gravity=1.59). Oocysts of E. macusaniensis occurred in 88.3% of 77 llama herds and in 50.3% of 626 llamas sampled whereas oocysts of E. ivitaensis occurred in only four llamas (herd and llama prevalence of 5.2% and 0.6%, respectively). The individual prevalence of E. macusaniensis in vicuñas and guanacos were of 14.3% and 25.0%, respectively. E. ivitaensis was not detected in these latter species. The results showed a prevalence of E. macusaniensis higher than previously reported in adult domestic camelids (llamas and alpacas). In contrast, the very low prevalence of E. ivitaensis in llamas and its absence in wild camelids (vicuñas and guanacos) was remarkable. Differences between prevalence of both coccidian species are discussed.

A secreted phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from Streptomyces violaceoruber A-2688, previously identified by us, is the first PLA(2) identified in prokaryotes. Genome sequence data of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) indicates that the bacterium carries two genes encoding hypothetical PLA(2)s, which exhibit 100 and 78% identity, respectively, to the S. violaceoruber PLA(2). In this study, we named the former and latter proteins as the first and second PLA(2)s, respectively. When the second PLA(2) was expressed in Escherichia coli cells, it formed an inclusion body. The present study demonstrates a method to purify it to homogeneity without the disappearance of the enzymatic activity: the inclusion body was washed with sodium deoxycholate and dissolved in the presence of 2 M urea at pH 12, then refolded by the dilution method. The refolding of enzyme was confirmed by the circular dichroism spectrum. The second PLA(2) purified to homogeneity had the same specific activity as that of the S. violaceoruber PLA(2) and the yield was approximately 6.8 mg/L culture. The second PLA(2) exhibits similar enzymatic properties to the S. violaceoruber PLA(2), except that the former enzyme does not utilize phophatidic acid as a substrate. The surface electrostatic potential of the S. coelicolor PLA(2) model, which is created by the computer-homology modeling, suggests that the positively charged surface of the enzyme does not affect the substrate specificity.