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Pulmonary sequestration is an uncommon congenital malformation of the lung, generally diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, corresponding to dysplastic lung tissue not communicating with the rest of vascular or bronchial lung system but receiving an arterial blood supply from systemic arteries. Currently, surgical resection is usually indicated in order to prevent or treat related symptoms or complications, although controversy exists regarding its use in asymptomatic patients and adults. We present the case of a 32-year-old pregnant woman with acute chest pain and vomiting diagnosed with intralobar sequestration at 32+2 weeks of gestation and treated with pulmonary lobectomy after giving birth by cesarean section at 33+0 weeks of gestation.

Walnut cultivation is expanding into regions where water availability for irrigation is lower than crop evapotranspiration. However, information regarding the responses and adaptations of walnut trees to water deficit remains scarce. In this study, we applied three irrigation levels, 100%, 75%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (referred to as T100, T75, and T50, respectively), to Chandler walnut trees over two consecutive seasons. During the second season, we evaluated leaf water-deficit biomarkers, including proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, phenols, and flavonoids, using targeted spectrophotometry. Despite not finding significant differences in biomarker concentrations among the irrigation regimes, we observed variations between different collection times (sprouting, endocarp hardening, and maturity). Furthermore, we assessed the kernel metabolome using untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, profiling seventy-one metabolites across all samples. Notably, forty-one of these metabolites were identified as members of distinct groups, comprising carbohydrates (n = 11), fatty acids (n = 11), organic acids (n = 9), and amino acids (n = 5). Linear mixed models showed no significant differences between the irrigation regimes. However, in the T50 treatment, multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed a higher concentration of osmotic adjustment metabolites, which are potentially associated with protecting oil biosynthesis under high-temperature and water deficit conditions.

Robson Prudente,1 Renata Ferrari,2 Carolina Mesquita,2 Luiz Machado,2 Estefânia Franco,1 Irma Godoy,2 Suzana Tanni2 1Clinical Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumology Area, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumology Area, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Robson PrudenteClinical Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumology Area, Botucatu School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, BrazilEmail robsonapp@gmail.comBackground: Systemic manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are related to increased systemic inflammatory process; however, it is not entirely clear how much they are related and how the systemic inflammation, in particular interleukin-6 (IL-6), is associated with exacerbation and mortality risk.Objective: To evaluate the role of IL-6 in COPD patients over nine years.Study Design and Methods: A total of 133 COPD patients were assessed at baseline between 2004 and 2006 and reassessed after three and nine years through clinical evaluation, comorbidities, hematological blood count and IL-6 analysis.Results: After nine years, 19 patients lost the follow-up and were not possible to identify the date of death of four patients; 12 refused to participate and 1 could not be involved due to recurrent exacerbations. Therefore, 33 patients were included in the reassessment after nine years of follow-up and 92 patients were included in the Cox mortality analysis with IL-6 as a time-dependent covariate. Regarding the inflammatory profile, in patients who survived after nine years, there was a significant increase in IL-6 [0.4 (0.2– 0.8) vs 5.7 (3.4– 11) pg/mL; p < 0.001] and reduction in lymphocyte count [2.1 (1.6– 2.4) vs 1.4 (1.2– 2.1)10^9/L; p < 0.01] with an increase in the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (2.0 ± 0.7 vs 2.7 ± 1.2; p = 0.003). The Cox mortality model did not show a statistical significance influence of IL-6 assessed during the follow-up.Conclusion: There was a progressive increase in IL-6 during the follow-up, however, without influence on mortality.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammation, interleukin-6, severity of illness index, mortality

A new optical method for assigning glass viscosity values in the softening temperature range is presented. In this method, an irregular particle, a few millimeters in size, laying on an alumina plate, is heated up to temperature T, and then remains at this temperature. T should be within the softening temperature range of the glass. There are no external applied shear stresses, the only acting shear forces are those coming from the particle’s own surface energy. At the fixed temperature T, the surface free energy of the sample decreases by viscous flow while its shape evolves from a polyhedron or irregular shape towards a spherical or rounded shape. This shape evolution is recorded using a photographic camera. From each image, the sample’s roundness is determined, obtaining a characteristic time τ from the roundness against time. Simultaneously, using the available software, a value for the viscosity η was calculated, at temperature T, allowing for building sets of T, τ, η, namely three data values. Accordingly, if T, τ are considered as independent variables, a master function η = η (T, τ) can be built. Now, if we measure T, τ data on a glass of an unknown viscosity, the master function makes it possible to assign a η value. When incipient crystallization or liquid–liquid phase separations are present, effective viscosity values are obtained. This method requires a high temperature microscope, as well as tridimmensional samples with a few cubic millimeters of volume. Each isothermal τ determination can take from minutes to several hours. We tested the method with two glasses of known viscosity values: borosilicate glass (VG98) and alumimoborosilicate glass (SG7), both of which are used for radioactive waste immobilization and have assigned log(η) values between 6 and 7.3 with η in Pa s. The discrepancy between the log(η) values assigned here and those values fitted with a VFT function on the values measured for the SG7 and VG98 glasses were within ±14%.

Abstract Background There are approximately 72,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Peru. Non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most important factor for therapeutic failure and the development of resistance. Peru has achieved moderate progress in meeting the 90-90-90 targets, but only 60% of PLHIV receiving ART are virally suppressed. The purpose of this study was to understand ART adherence in the Peruvian context, including developing sociodemographic and clinical profiles, evaluating the clinical management strategies, and analyzing the relationships between the variables and adherence of PLHIV managed at a regional HIV clinic in Lambayeque Province (Northern Peru). Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 180 PLHIV adults, non-randomly but consecutively selected with self-reported ART compliance (78.2% of the eligible population). The PLHIV profile (PLHIV-Pro) and the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) were used to collect sociodemographic information, clinical variables, and data specific to ART adherence. Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was performed. Bivariate analysis was performed with the Mann–Whitney test, Chi square test, and Yates correction. Results The 180 PLHIV sample included 78.9% men, 49.4% heterosexual, 45% with a detectable HIV-1 viral load less than 40 copies/ml, 58.3% not consistently adherent, and only 26.1% receiving Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Efavirenz. Risk factors significant for non-adherence included concurrent tuberculosis, discomfort with the ART regime, and previous pauses in ART. Multivariate analysis of nested models indicated having children is a protector factor for adherence. Conclusions Self-reported adherence appeared to be low and the use of first-line therapy is not being prescribed homogeneously. Factors associated with nonadherence are both medical and behavioral, such as having tuberculosis, pausing ART, or experiencing discomfort with ART. The Peruvian government needs to update national technical standards, monitor medication availability, and provide education to health care professionals in alignment with evidence-based guidelines and international recommendations. Instruments to measure adherence need to be developed and evaluated for use in Latin America.

We evaluate the feasibility of recovering energy from the vibrations of track and sleepers, during passage of a high-speed train, by means of a pendulum harvester. A simple mathematical model of the parametric pendulum is employed to obtain numerical predictions, while measured data of vibration tests during the passage of a Thalys high-speed train are considered as input forcing. Since a sustained rotation is the most energetic motion of a pendulum, the possibility of achieving such state is evaluated, taking into account the influence of initial conditions, damping and other factors. Numerical simulations show that rotating pendulum harvesters with sufficiently low viscous damping could be able to generate a usable average power on the order of 5–6 W per unit. Considering a modular arrangement of devices, such energy is enough to feed variety of rail-side equipment, as wireless sensors or warning light systems. However, a suitable choice of initial conditions could be a difficult task, leading to the need of a control action. Keywords: Energy harvesting, Parametric pendulum, Railroad safety, Train induced vibration

Objective: There are limited sources describing the global burden of emerging diseases. A review of human melioidosis reported by ProMED was performed and the reliability of the data retrieved assessed in comparison to published reports. The effectiveness of ProMED was evaluated as a source of epidemiological data by focusing on melioidosis. Methods: Using the keyword ‘melioidosis’ in the ProMED search engine, all of the information from the reports and collected data was reviewed using a structured form, including the year, country, gender, occupation, number of infected individuals, and number of fatal cases. Results: One hundred and twenty-four entries reported between January 1995 and October 2014 were identified. A total of 4630 cases were reported, with death reported in 505 cases, suggesting a misleadingly low overall case fatality rate (CFR) of 11%. Of 20 cases for which the gender was reported, 12 (60%) were male. Most of the cases were reported from Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia, with sporadic reports from other countries. Conclusions: Internet-based reporting systems such as ProMED are useful to gather information and synthesize knowledge on emerging infections. Although certain areas need to be improved, ProMED provided good information about melioidosis.

Diferenciación cromosómica en tres especies de Leptostemonum (Solanum, Solanaceae) endémicos de islas oceánicas. Los cromosomas de Solanum nelsonii, S. sandwicense (endémicos de las islas Hawaii) y de S. vespertilio (de las islas Canarias) fueron estudiados por medio de tinción clásica, bandeo CMA/DAPI y FISH con sondas para los genes de ADNr de 18-5.8-26S y 5S. El objetivo fue comprobar cambios cromosómicos (número cromosómico, cariotipo, patrones de heterocromatina y loci de ADNr) durante la evolución de estos taxones, en comparación con sus parientes continentales. Una aparente estasis cromosómica fue confirmada para las tres especies, en lo que respecta a número cromosómico y cariotipos. Sin embargo, también se encontró evidencia de cambios de secuencias crípticos, acumulativos. La especiación en estas especies no estaría asociada a grandes rearreglos cromosómicos o poliploidía, sino más bien a divergencia genética.

Melioidosis is an emerging disease in the Americas. This paper reviews confirmed cases, the presence of Burkholderia pseudomallei and the organization of national surveillance policies for melioidosis in South America. Confirmed cases in humans have been reported from Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. The bacterium has been isolated from the environment in Brazil and Peru. The state of Ceará, northeastern region of Brazil, is the only place where specific public strategies and policies for melioidosis have been developed. We also discuss the urgent need for health authorities in South America to pay greater attention to this disease, which has the potential to have a high impact on public health, and the importance of developing coordinated strategies amongst countries in this region.

Novelties for the Flora of Argentina. On the occasion of preparing the Flora of Cordoba, new records for the Argentinean flora have been registered as a result of intensive field trips and the revision of the main herbaria collections of the country. In this paper, three new records for the native flora and 17 for the introduced flora (casual aliens and naturalized species) of Argentina are presented. Descriptions, illustrations and a lectotypification are done. Furthermore, the presence of 10 introduced species is formally documented for the first time

The mature fruits of 10 South American species of Solanum sect. Torva were studied. Cross and longitudinal microtome sections, stained with astra blue/basic fuchsin, were made for microscopic examination. All species present an epidermis formed by a unistrate layer of small, isodiametric cells, with dense content and cellulosic walls. Immediately below, a hypodermis is always found, consisting of a well-defined layer of lignified cells with a single calcium oxalate crystal occupying the whole lumen of each cell. This is followed by one layer of cellulosic, isodiametric cells with dense cytoplasm and then several collenchymatous layers, sometimes with sclerified cell walls. The mesocarp comprises two zones histologically differentiated: an external one (formed by regular, vacuolated, medium-sized cells with small intercellular spaces), and an internal one, commonly juicy, and developing proliferations among the seeds. The fruits analyzed are alike, and despite some particularities, they can be classified as berries in the conventional sense. All the traits examined agree with the ornithochorous dispersal syndrome. The homogeneity in fruit traits may be due to shared habit, habitat and sexual system.Se estudiaron los frutos maduros de 10 especies sudamericanas de Solanum sect. Torva. Se examinaron en microscopio cortes microtómicos transversales y longitudinales teñidos con azul astral/fucsina básica. Todas las especies presentaron una epidermis unistrata de células pequeñas, isodiamétricas, de contenido denso y paredes celulósicas. Inmediatamente por debajo se encontró siempre una hipodermis, formada por una capa bien definida de células lignificadas con un cristal de oxalato de calcio en el lúmen de cada célula. A continuación se halló otra capa de celulas isodiamétricas, celulósicas, de contenido denso, y luego varias capas de colénquima, en ocasiones con paredes esclerificadas. El mesocarpo presentó dos zonas histologicamente diferenciadas: una externa (formada por células regulares, vacuoladas, de tamaño medio y espacios intercelulares pequeños) y una interna, comúnmente jugosa y que prolifera entre las semillas. No obstante algunas particularidades, los frutos analizados son similares entre sí, y se clasificaron como bayas en sentido convencional. Todos los rasgos analizados concuerdan con el síndrome de dispersión ornitócoro. La homogeneidad en los caracteres puede deberse al hábito, hábitat y sistema sexual compartidos.

Se analizaron 37 especies sudamericanas pertenecientes a siete secciones de Solanum subgen. Leptostemonum. Fueron consideradas tanto especies andromonoicas como hermafroditas. Se midió el ancho y el largo de sus frutos y se contó el número de semillas por fruto. Se estudiaron bajo lupa y se ilustraron cortes por la zona media de frutos frescos maduros. Se describieron seis patrones de placentación y tres tipos de semillas. Mediante análisis estadístico, se detectó una relación entre el número de semillas, el tamaño del fruto, el color del fruto y el sistema sexual. Estos resultados sugieren que la andromonoecia afecta al tamaño del fruto y su patrón de placentación, para contener un mayor número de semillas.

The synthesis of ternary electrocatalysts Pt/Ru/Mo type were performed according to the Bönnemann method and characterized by the following techniques: energy dispersive analysis (EDX), X-rays diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and polarization curves (E vs. i) for the oxidation of H2, H2/CO and methanol in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). Catalysts structure consists of highly dispersed nanocrystals in carbon support, with an average particle size of 2 nm. The results of cyclic voltammetry suggest an enhancement of the catalyst electroactivity with the addition of cocatalysts. Polarization curves indicate that Pt/Ru/Mo systems could be employed as electrode material for PEM fuel cell for technological application.