Título del artículo:

Individual Factors Associated with the Consumption of Illicit Substances: a Review of Reviews

Introduction: According to national studies, the use of illicit drugs is growing in Colombia. With this, the prevalence of substance use disorders and the set of health effects related to this practice also increases. Knowledge of the factors associated with the use of illicit drugs is necessary to guide the comprehensive care of the phenomenon. Methods: This is a systematic review of reviews on factors associated with the consumption of illicit drugs with seven databases and evaluation of the quality of the manuscripts according to AMSTAR. Results: Information was extracted from 38 reviews on individual factors associated with the use of illicit drugs. Demographic factors are associated with consumption through other factors. There is evidence of the association between mental and behavioural disorders and personality disorders. Conclusions: The likelihood of consumption of illicit substances and disorders due to their use is affected by a set of personal factors including sociodemographic characteristics, mental health conditions, sexual behaviour, legal drug use, age of onset and risk perception.

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Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria

Título del artículo:

Nanosensors in clinical development of CAR-T cell immunotherapy

Immunotherapy using CAR-T cells is a new technological paradigm for cancer treatment. To avoid severe side effects and tumor escape variants observed for conventional CAR-T cells approach, adaptor CAR technologies are under development, where intermediate target modules redirect immune cells against cancer. In this work, silicon nanowire field-effect transistors are used to develop target modules for an optimized CAR-T cell operation. Focusing on a library of seven variants of E5B9 peptide that is used as CAR targeting epitope, we performed multiplexed binding tests using nanosensor chips. These peptides had been immobilized onto the sensor to compare the transistor signals upon titration with anti-La 5B9 antibodies. The correlation of binding affinities and sensor sensitivities enabled a selection of candidates for the interaction between CAR and target modules. An extremely low detection limit was observed for the sensor, down to femtomolar concentration, outperforming the current assay of the same purpose. Finally, the CAR T-cells redirection capability of selected peptides in target modules was proven successful in an in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. Our results open the perspective for the nanosensors to go beyond the early diagnostics in clinical cancer research towards developing and monitoring immunotherapeutic treatment, where the quantitative analysis with the standard techniques is limited.

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Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Título del artículo:

WORK-BASED ISOMETRIC EXERCISES EFFECT ON BLOOD PRESSURE: THE EEFIT STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of two workplace isometric exercise interventions on blood pressure in hypertensive adults. DESIGN AND METHOD: A randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial conducted in hypertensive (>130 mmHg systolic blood pressure (SBP)) 35 to 65 years old in work places in Colombia. Participants were assigned to either of two interventions: isometric handgrip dynamometer training at 30% of maximum strength (HGD) or wall squat (WS), or to a control group following standard recommendations. The interventions were performed at the participant\'s workplace and consisted of 4 sets of 2 minutes of sustained isometric contraction with 2 minutes\' rest between sets, 3 times per week for 12 weeks. SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured using an automatic device (Omron) with a standardized protocol before and after the 12-week intervention. RESULTS: Pre and post measurements were completed by 105 hypertensive participants: mean age of 45 years (SD 9.5), 63.8% of which were men. In the HGD group (n = 38) there were significant decreases in SBP [Pre: 141 mmHg (SD 7.8), Post: 127 mmHg (SD 9.1) (p < 0.001)], and in DBP [Pre: 87 mmHg (SD 5.8), Post: 82 mmHg (SD 9.5) (p < 0.001)]. There were also significant decreases in the WS-group (n = 35) in SBP [Pre: 139 mmHg (SD 7.5), Post: 126 mmHg (SD 12.4) (p < 0.001)], and in DBP [Pre: 86 mmHg (SD 5.2), Post 82 mmHg (SD 8.1) (p < 0.001)]. In the control group (n = 32), there were no significant changes in either in SBP [Pre: 140 mmHg (SD 8.4), Post: 137 mmHg (SD 12.9)], or DBP [Pre: 86 mmHg (SD 5.0), Post: 85 mmHg (SD 8.0) (p = 0.71)]. CONCLUSIONS: Both workplace isometric training interventions resulted in significant and clinically relevant reductions in blood pressure in subjects with high blood pressure. The combination of effectiveness, modest time commitment (42 minutes per week) and ease with which the interventions can be implemented in the workplace setting makes them both attractive and practical options with minimal barriers for participation. Furthermore, WS can be performed without any equipment.

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Journal of hypertension

Título del artículo:

Impact of an educational intervention on the self-care agency among Nursing students

Objective: to determine the impact of an educational intervention through Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and based on Orem’s Self-Care Theory on the self-care agency in Nursing students from two Colombian universities. Method: a multicentre quasi-experimental before-and-after study conducted on 2019. The population included the 56 students of the first Nursing semester from two Colombian universities. The “Hacia el cuidado de la vida” (“Towards Life Care”) intervention was conducted, with 12 two-hour sessions during 13 weeks on mental and spiritual self-care, healthy lifestyles, body self-care and social self-care through PBL. Sociodemographic and academic variables were measured, as well as consumer habits. The Self-Care Agency was measured at baseline (B) and at the last session (P) through the ASA-B scale (very low: 1-24, low: 25-48, good: 49-72 or very good: 73-96scores). Descriptive andbivariate statistics were applied. Results: forty (40) persons completed the study; 82.1% were female, with 18 years as median age. The overall score in the ASA-B scale was increased overall in a statistically significant way [B: X= 71.1 (SD= 0.73)andP: X= 75.6 (SD= 1.07); p< 0.001] and in 18-to-20-year old single women, with a score of 11 in knowledge test in first or second quartile, past history of using alcohol or energy drinks (p< 0.05). There was no variation in score in terms of affiliation to sport teams, student federations or religious groups. Conclusion: the educational intervention based on the self-care theory and PBL applied to students in their first Nursing semester improved their self-care agency.

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Metas de Enfermeria

Título del artículo:

Effect­of­corpus­luteum­irrigation­assessed­by­Doppler­ultrasound­on­the­gestation­percentage­of­embryo recipient­Holstein­cows

The luteal vasculature plays a critical role in corpus luteum (CL) function and provides important information on the physiology and pathophysiology of this structure. To quantify the blood flow of the luteal tissue, Doppler ultrasound is used to detect the flow of red blood cells through the blood vessels. The objective of the present study was to determine the degree of irrigation of the CL evaluated by Doppler ultrasound on the day (D0) of embryo transfer (ET) and 25 days post-transfer and its relationship with the percentage of early gestation in Holstein recipient cows. Thirty multiparous, non-lactating Holstein cows were used as in vitro embryo recipients. The blood supply rate of the CL and the percentage of gestation were evaluated. The corpora lutea were categorized into 1 (high), 2 (medium) and 3 (low) according to the degree of blood supply. The percentage of cows with these degrees of CL irrigation on the day of transfer were 50% (15/30), 23.3% (7/30) and 27.7% (8/30). On day 25 post-transfer they were 33.3% (10/30), 43.3% (13/30) and 23.3% (7/30), respectively. Additionally, the percentage of early gestation (25 days post-transfer) was evaluated for grades 1, 2 and 3 of CL blood supply, whose results were: 20% (6/30), 6.6% (2/30) and 0%, respectively. It was possible to conclude that the Holstein breed recipients classified in high degree of CL blood irrigation, presented better (P < 0.05) percentage of gestation of embryos of in vitro origin.

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Taurus

Título del artículo:

Exploring the Evolution of the Topics and Research Fields of Territorial Development from a Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis

Countries with great deficiencies in development, research, and innovation are investing resources to advance in this aspect; meanwhile, it is necessary to advance in initiatives that promote local development, through the correct use and management of endogenous territorial capacities to achieve economic, social, and environmental development, and this is where the territorial development approach has intervened during the last decades. To obtain an understanding of the evolution of the research field on territorial development, a study of research topics and groups of research topics is implemented from subscription-based data sources (Scopus, Science direct, Ebsco, and Web of Science) and open access (Lens and Dimension platforms). Keyword co-occurrence techniques were implemented, and indicators of link strength and density-centrality of clusters were used to abstract patterns of change within the field of study. The evolution of the area, trends, and issues related to territorial development are identified in the different databases, mapping a discipline that still lacks comparative publications between research results at different scales.

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Sustainability (Switzerland)

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Pre-operative factors associated with short- and long-term outcomes in the patient with inguinal hernia: What does the current evidence say?

Hernia repair is one of the most frequent interventions in surgery worldwide. The approach to abdominal wall and inguinal hernias remains a challenge due to emerging evidence on aspects such as timely diagnosis, use of innovative techniques or post-surgical care. However, pre-operative preparation is also a factor that substantially affects the absolute success rate of this type of condition. Time management between diagnosis and intervention, control of diseases that increase intra-abdominal pressure, weight and nutritional status, are some of the many elements to be considered in this type of patients before surgery. Considering that this condition carries high health care costs, especially in case of recurrence, has a risk of complications and affects the individual\'s functional capacity, the objective of this review is to synthesize evidence on the role of these factors on the short- and long-term outcome of inguinal hernia management, and to make suggestions on the general approach to this type of patients.

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Annals of Medicine and Surgery

Título del artículo:

Sensitivity and efficiency of RNA sample pooling for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2

Background: In spite of the worth of pool testing in public health, data on the sensitivity and efficiency of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) pool testing for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in middle and low-income countries are limited. Methods: We mixed single specimens of extracted RNA positive for the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) gene by RT-qPCR with negative specimens, in pools of 4 (n=89), 8 (n=92), 16 (n=102), and 32 (n=105) specimens each. We estimated the average change in cycle threshold (Ct) for each pool size and added it to the Ct values of the first 1,350 tests in our lab, to obtain dilution-corrected Ct values. We estimated pool sensitivity as the proportion of samples with dilution-corrected Ct >40, and used it in simulations of the efficiency (tests used/true case detected) of binary split pool testing. Results: We tested 388 pools. Average Ct changes were 2.21, 2.51, 3.27, and 3.94 cycles, for pools of 4, 8, 16, and 32 specimens, respectively. Corresponding pool tests sensitivities were 91.1%, 89.6%, 85.8% and 82.5%. Pool testing was substantially more efficient than individual testing. For prevalence of 0.5% to 2.0%, the efficiency of pools of ≥8 specimens was 30% to 280% higher, and the number of people tested was 4.4 to 13.9 times higher than those of individual testing. Conclusions: Binary split pool testing substantially increases the number of people tested and the number of true cases detected per test used. This strategy is key to curtail the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, by increasing efficiency in the identification and isolation of symptomatic and asymptomatic infected individuals.

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Journal of Public Health and Emergency

Título del artículo:

The Anti-Coronavirus Therapies (ACT) Trials: Design, Baseline Characteristics, and Challenges

Background: Effective treatments for COVID-19 are urgently needed, but conducting randomized trials during the pandemic has been challenging. Methods: The Anti-Coronavirus Therapy (ACT) trials are parallel factorial international trials that aimed to enroll 3500 outpatients and 2500 inpatients with symptomatic COVID-19. The outpatient trial is evaluating colchicine vs usual care, and aspirin vs usual care. The primary outcome for the colchicine randomization is hospitalization or death, and for the aspirin randomization, it is major thrombosis, hospitalization, or death. The inpatient trial is evaluating colchicine vs usual care, and the combination of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily and aspirin 100 mg once daily vs usual care. The primary outcome for the colchicine randomization is need for high-flow oxygen, need for mechanical ventilation, or death, and for the rivaroxaban plus aspirin randomization, it is major thrombotic events, need for high-flow oxygen, need for mechanical ventilation, or death. Results: At the completion of enrollment on February 10, 2022, the outpatient trial had enrolled 3917 patients, and the inpatient trial had enrolled 2611 patients. Challenges encountered included lack of preliminary data about the interventions under evaluation, uncertainties related to the expected event rates, delays in regulatory and ethics approvals, and in obtaining study interventions, as well as the changing pattern of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The ACT trials will determine the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapy with colchicine, and antithrombotic therapy with aspirin given alone or in combination with rivaroxaban, across the spectrum of mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. Lessons learned from the conduct of these trials will inform planning of future trials.

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CJC Open

Título del artículo:

IDH–wild-type glioblastoma cell density and infiltration distribution influence on supramarginal resection and its impact on overall survival: a mathematical model

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have proposed resection of the T2 FLAIR hyperintensity beyond the T1 contrast enhancement (supramarginal resection [SMR]) for IDH–wild-type glioblastoma (GBM) to further improve patients’ overall survival (OS). GBMs have significant variability in tumor cell density, distribution, and infiltration. Advanced mathematical models based on patient-specific radiographic features have provided new insights into GBM growth kinetics on two important parameters of tumor aggressiveness: proliferation rate (ρ) and diffusion rate (D). The aim of this study was to investigate OS of patients with IDH–wild-type GBM who underwent SMR based on a mathematical model of cell distribution and infiltration profile (tumor invasiveness profile). METHODS Volumetric measurements were obtained from the selected regions of interest from pre- and postoperative MRI studies of included patients. The tumor invasiveness profile (proliferation/diffusion [ρ/D] ratio) was calculated using the following formula: ρ/D ratio = (4π/3)2/3 × (6.106/[VT21/3 − VT11/3])2, where VT2 and VT1 are the preoperative FLAIR and contrast-enhancing volumes, respectively. Patients were split into subgroups based on their tumor invasiveness profiles. In this analysis, tumors were classified as nodular, moderately diffuse, or highly diffuse. RESULTS A total of 101 patients were included. Tumors were classified as nodular (n = 34), moderately diffuse (n = 34), and highly diffuse (n = 33). On multivariate analysis, increasing SMR had a significant positive correlation with OS for moderately and highly diffuse tumors (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–0.99; p = 0.02; and HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99; p = 0.04, respectively). On threshold analysis, OS benefit was seen with SMR from 10% to 29%, 10% to 59%, and 30% to 90%, for nodular, moderately diffuse, and highly diffuse, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The impact of SMR on OS for patients with IDH–wild-type GBM is influenced by the degree of tumor invasiveness. The authors’ results show that increasing SMR is associated with increased OS in patients with moderate and highly diffuse IDH–wild-type GBMs. When grouping SMR into 10% intervals, this benefit was seen for all tumor subgroups, although for nodular tumors, the maximum beneficial SMR percentage was considerably lower than in moderate and highly diffuse tumors.

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Journal of Neurosurgery

Título del artículo:

“Candy shaped vertebrae” as a form of presentation of spinal deformities in a patient with Cleidocranial syndrome

Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD) or Cleidocranial dysostosis is a very rare, under-diagnosed pathology caused by a variable degree of expression of a dominant gene. It is characterized by skeletal malformations, which can be expressed in different clinical and imagenologic findings, with a classic triad; late closure of cranial sutures, hypoplasia or aplasia of clavicles and dental abnormalities. We present a case of a 46 years old male, with no previous medical history, who presented to emergency department with a 4-month dorso-lumbar axial pain with no other symptoms. Imaging studies and clinical findings revealed characteristics compatible with CCD, with an unusual malformation of the vertebral bodies “candy shaped vertebrae”.

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Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery: Advanced Techniques and Case Management

Título del artículo:

Prevalence of ABCB1 3435C>T polymorphism in the Cuban population

Objectives: ABCB1 gene polymorphisms can modify P-glycoprotein function with clinical consequences. Methods: The 3435C>T polymorphism prevalence was analyzed using oligonucleotide probes and next-generation sequencing in 421 unrelated healthy individuals living in Cuba. Data were stratified by gender, ethnic background and residence. The genotype and allelic frequencies were determined. Results: The genotype distribution met the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium assumption. The allelic frequency was 63.5% for the 3435C variant. The genotype frequencies were 41.1% for CC, 44.9% for CT and 14.0% for TT. The allele and genotype distributions differed between individuals living in La Habana and Santiago de Cuba (p<0.05) when ethnic background was analyzed. The allelic distribution was similar among Admixed and Black subjects, and they differed from Caucasians. The CC genotype was equally distributed among Admixed and Black subjects, and they differed from Caucasians. The TT genotype frequency differed between Caucasians and Admixed. The CT genotype was distributed differently among the three groups. Similar distribution was obtained in Brazilians, whereas some similarities were observed in African, Spanish and Chinese populations, consistent with the mixed Cuban ethnic origin. Conclusions: This is the first report on allele and genotype frequencies of the 3435C>T polymorphism in Cuba, which may support personalized medicine programs.

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Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy

Título del artículo:

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Colombian Penitentiary Staff: An Interdisciplinary View of a High-Risk Occupation

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk factors have been measured under different conditions, there is some missing information related to specific occupations, such as penitentiary staff which due to their characteristics could have an increased cardiovascular risk. Objective: To determine cardiovascular risk factors on military staff from penitentiary institutions in Santander—Colombia. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 182 workers. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, serum lipid profile, and glucose levels were measured. Univariate and bivariate analyses were carried out to establish differences between individuals. Results: Anthropometric and biochemical measures showed that 71.3% participants were overweight or obese, 29.4% presented high blood pressure with increased levels of total cholesterol (27.5%), triglycerides (40.7%), glucose (9.3%), and 84.1% presented low levels of HDL cholesterol. Bivariate analysis found a negative correlation between BMI and HDL cholesterol (p <.05) and a positive correlation between BMI with triglycerides (p <.01), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p <.01). Conclusion: The studied military population presented increased levels of cardiovascular risk in comparison with a similar group in age, gender of nonmilitary individuals. However, it is important to carry out comparative studies between military staff in order to determine the prevalence and other risk predicting factors present in this specific population.

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Hispanic Health Care International

Título del artículo:

Factors Associated with the Consumption of Illicit Drugs: a Review of Reviews

The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the consumption of illicit drugs with stronger evidence in the personal, interpersonal, and contextual domains. For this reason, a review of reviews was carried out using international quality guidelines such as PRISMA and AMSTAR, searching in six databases and yielding 7782 articles in the initial search. In the end, 45 quantitative and qualitative reviews were included. Evidence of personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors was found that could be useful for the investigation of the most specific factors according to particular settings. Ecological approaches can be meaningful as integrative frameworks for this evidence.

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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Título del artículo:

Exploring empathy in first-semester nursing students using the empathy quotient (EQ)

Introduction: Empathy either considered as a dimension or a competence is crucial for the development of our social species, particularly in a situation as special as the care of others. Objectives: To determine the quotient of empathy of the first semester students of nursing at the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia hosts Bucaramanga and its relations with the variables sex, age, social condition and city of origin. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the quotient of empathy using the EQ test Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright in all students in the first semester (N: 100). The relationship with the variables sex, age, social stratum and origin were determined by t test and F test, as well as ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: No statistical differences were found between the quotients of empathy of the sexes, age, social condition or city of origin, but variations in the distribution of the data were observed. Was determined a negative relationship between age and social condition with the quotients of empathy. Conclusions: The mean of the quotient of empathy of the population of nursing students from first semester was of 40,3 locating it in a middle position, the study group was quite heterogeneous, with a development low to medium of empathy. Strategies are necessary throughout his professional career for the development of empathy in this population of students since the vast majority will get your professional degree before reaching the brain maturity.

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Revista Cuidarte

Título del artículo:

Zika in gestation. Impact on execution skills and maturity age in infants

Introduction: Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, but it can also occur through an intrauterine infection before delivery, and the virus passes to the fetus. Objective: describe the level of impairment in performance skills and maturation age of brave boys and girls of the future program with neonatal Zika virus infection. Materials and Methods: Research is framed with a quantitative correlational approach supported by field research and non-experimental design, with a sample of 15 infants aged 3, 4 and 5 years. The data collection technique used was the Abbreviated Scale. Results: Regarding the areas evaluated with respect to maturational age, it was found that the weighting of motor skills and praxis found a correlation coefficient of 0.601 (moderate) and in the sample of performance skills of 3-year-old children. With gestational zika, a correlation of 0.853 (strong) was obtained. Discussion: Zika virus infection in boys and girls, acquired during pregnancy, strongly limits the execution skills typical of maturational age in this population. Conclusions: there is a correlation between infants with gestational zika and strong involvement in the actions or behaviors that a patient has in moving and physically interacting with activities, objects and thus performing a learned motor activity.

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Revista Cuidarte

Título del artículo:

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a Self-Concept Scale for a Colombian University Population

The purpose of the research was to obtain psychometric evidence of a measuring self-concept with the university population of a Colombian city, called EVA-42 and previously developed by the authors based on the Shavelson self-concept model. To do this, a cluster sampling of 500 university students to whom the EVA-42 was applied digitally was carried out. Indicators of goodness of fit were estimated using CFA and correlations between the subscales of the EVA-42 and another instrument for measuring self-concept called AF5; Likewise, reliability coefficients were estimated by internal consistency and scales were established using centiles. The AFC results support a penta-factorial structure with CMIN / DF = 1.758, RMSEA =. 039, TLI =. 950, CFI =. 958 and NFI =. 908, as well as Spearman-Brown values and α>. 8 for reliability of all subscales. It is concluded that the instrument is adequate for measuring self-concept with the Colombian university population.

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Ansiedad y Estres

Título del artículo:

Fitness Changes in Adolescent Girls Following In-School Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise: Interaction With Birthweight

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of a supervised in-school combined resistance and aerobic training program in adolescent girls and investigate whether responses differ according to birthweight. Methods: Participants (girls aged 13–17 y) were randomized either to an intervention replacing physical education (PE) classes with 2 × 60-minute training sessions per week (n = 58) or to a control group that continued to attend 2 × 60 minutes per week of curriculum PE (n = 41). We measured muscular fitness (handgrip, standing long jump, and sit-ups), cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run), skinfolds, and lean body mass preintervention and postintervention and determined effect size (Hedge’s g) differences between changes in these measures. We also compared changes within lower (<3000 g) and normal birthweight intervention and PE control subgroups. Results: The intervention group showed greater improvements in all the fitness measures and lean body mass (g = 0.22–0.48) and lower skinfold increases (g = 0.41) than PE controls. Within the intervention group, improvements in all fitness measures were larger in lower birthweight (g = 0.53–0.94) than in normal birthweight girls (g = 0.02–0.39). Conclusion: Replacing curriculum PE with supervised training improved muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition outcomes in adolescent females. Our findings suggest an enhanced adaptive response to training in participants with lower birthweight which warrants further investigation.

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Pediatric Exercise Science

Título del artículo:

Who is meeting the strengthening physical activity guidelines by definition: A cross-sectional study of 253 423 English adults?

The current UK physical activity guidelines recommend that adults aged 19 to 65 years perform activity to strengthen muscle and bone a minimum of twice weekly. The number of adults meeting strengthening activity guidelines is lower than for aerobic activity, but estimates vary between studies partly due to differences in how muscle-strengthening activity is defined. We aimed to provide estimates for strengthening activity prevalence in English adults based on a nationally representative sample of n = 253,423 18-65-year-olds. We attempted to quantify the variation in estimates attributable to differences in the way strengthening activity is defined. Finally, we aim to provide a brief descriptive epidemiology of the factors associated with strengthening activity. Adults met guidelines for aerobic activity if they reported the activity equivalent to >150 min/week moderate-intensity exercise. Respondents met strengthening guidelines if they reported at least two bouts per week of strengthening activity. We defined strengthening activity, first, according to criteria used in the Health Survey for England (HSE). Second, we counted bouts of strengthening activities for which we could find evidence of health-related benefits (Evidence). Third, we included bouts of strengthening activity as defined in current UK physical activity guidelines (Guideline). Two-thirds (67%) of adults met guidelines for aerobic activity (69% of men, 65% of women). Less than one-third (29% of men and 24% of women) met guidelines for the HSE definition of strengthening activity. Under the Evidence definition, 16% of men and 9% of women met strengthening guidelines. Using the most-stringent definition (Guideline) just 7.3% of men and 4.1% of women achieved the recommendations for strengthening activity. We found females and older adults (50–65 years) were less likely to meet guidelines for aerobic, strengthening, and combined aerobic plus strengthening activity. The prevalence of meeting activity guidelines was lower in adults from more deprived areas (compared with the least deprived); Adults with lower academic qualifications (Level 1) were less likely to meet activity guidelines than those educated to Level 4 (Degree Level) or higher. Having a limiting disability was associated with a lower prevalence of meeting activity guidelines. Associations between socio-demographic measures and the prevalence of adults meeting activity guidelines were stronger for strengthening activity than for aerobic 51(or combined aerobic plus strengthening) activity Compared with aerobic activity, fewer adults engage in strengthening activity regardless of how it is defined. The range in estimates for how many adults meet strengthening activity guidelines can be explained by variations in the definition of ‘strengthening’ that are used and the specific sports or activities identified as strengthening exercise. When strengthening activity is included, the proportion of English adults meeting current physical activity guidelines could be as high as 1 in 3 but possibly as low as just 1 in 20. A harmonized definition of strengthening activity, that is aligned with physical activity guidelines, is required to provide realistic and comparable prevalence estimates.

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PLoS ONE

Título del artículo:

New PEPTIR-2.0 Peptide Designed for Use as Recognition Element in Electrochemical Biosensors with Improved Specificity towards E. coli O157:H7

The detection of pathogens through alternative methodologies based on electrochemical biosensors is being studied. These devices exhibit remarkable properties, such as simplicity, specificity, and high sensitivity in monitoring pathogens. However, it is necessary to continue conducting studies that adequately improve these characteristics, especially the recognition molecule. This work aims to design and evaluate a new peptide, named PEPTIR-2.0, as a recognition molecule in electrochemical biosensors to detect E. coli O157:H7 in water. PEPTIR-2.0 was obtained from modifications of the PEPTIR-1.0 peptide sequence, which was previously reported and exhibited excellent properties for detecting and quantifying this pathogenic microorganism. PEPTIR-1.0 is a peptide analogous to the TIR (Translocated Intimin Receptor) protein capable of interacting with the Intimin outer membrane. The basis of this study was to obtain, by using bioinformatics tools, a molecule analogous to PEPTIR-1.0 that maintains its three-dimensional structure but increases the hydrophobic interactions between it and Intimin, since these intermolecular forces are the predominant ones. The designed PEPTIR-2.0 peptide was immobilized on screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles. The detection capacity of E. coli O157:H7 in water was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of other microorganisms, such as P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and non-pathogenic E. coli. The results showed that PEPTIR-2.0 confers remarkable specificity to the biosensor towards detecting E. coli, even higher than PEPTIR-1.0.

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Molecules

Título del artículo:

The Vagus Nerve Somatosensory-evoked Potential in Neural Disorders: Systematic Review and Illustrative Vignettes

Objective. To review the scientific publications reporting vagal nerve somatosensory-evoked potential (VSEP) findings from individuals with brain disorders, and present novel physiological explanations on the VSEP origin. Methods. We did a systematic review on the papers reporting VSEP findings from individuals with brain disorders and their controls. We evaluated papers published from 2003 to date indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scielo databases. We extracted the following information: number of patients and controls, type of neural disorder, age, gender, stimulating/recording and grounding electrodes as well as stimulus side, intensity, duration, frequency, and polarity. Information about physiological parameters, neurobiological variables, and correlation studies was also reviewed. Representative vignettes were included to add support to our conclusions. Results. The VSEP was studied in 297 patients with neural disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective memory impairment, major depression, and multiple sclerosis. Scalp responses marked as the VSEP showed high variability, low validity, and poor reproducibility. VSEP latencies and amplitudes did not correlate with disease duration, unified PD rating scale score, or heart function in PD patients nor with cerebrospinal fluid β amyloid, phosphor-τ, and cognitive tests from patients with mental disorders. Vignettes demonstrated that the VSEP was volume conduction propagating from muscles surrounding the scalp recording electrodes. Conclusion. The VSEP is not a brain-evoked potential of neural origin but muscle activity induced by electrical stimulation of the tragus region of the ear. This review and illustrative vignettes argue against assessing the parasympathetic system using the so-called VSEP.

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Clinical EEG and Neuroscience

Título del artículo:

Measuring and predicting personal and household Black Carbon levels from 88 communities in eight countries

Black Carbon (BC) is an important component of household air pollution (HAP) in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), but levels and drivers of exposure are poorly understood. As part of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, we analyzed 48-hour BC measurements for 1187 individual and 2242 household samples from 88 communities in 8 LMICs (Bangladesh, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe). Light absorbance (10−5 m−1) of collected PM2.5 filters, a proxy for BC concentrations, was calculated via an image-based reflectance method. Surveys of household/personal characteristics and behaviors were collected after monitoring. The geometric mean (GM) of personal and household BC measures was 2.4 (3.3) and 3.5 (3.9)·10−5 m−1, respectively. The correlation between BC and PM2.5 was r = 0.76 for personal and r = 0.82 for household measures. A gradient of increasing BC concentrations was observed for cooking fuels: BC increased 53% (95%CI: 30, 79) for coal, 142% (95%CI: 117, 169) for wood, and 190% (95%CI: 149, 238) for other biomass, compared to gas. Each hour of cooking was associated with an increase in household (5%, 95%CI: 3, 7) and personal (5%, 95%CI: 2, 8) BC; having a window in the kitchen was associated with a decrease in household (−38%, 95%CI: −45, −30) and personal (−31%, 95%CI: −44, −15) BC; and cooking on a mud stove, compared to a clean stove, was associated with an increase in household (125%, 95%CI: 96, 160) and personal (117%, 95%CI: 71, 117) BC. Male participants only had slightly lower personal BC (−0.6%, 95%CI: −1, 0.0) compared to females. In multivariate models, we were able to explain 46–60% of household BC variation and 33–54% of personal BC variation. These data and models provide new information on exposure to BC in LMICs, which can be incorporated into future exposure assessments, health research, and policy surrounding HAP and BC.

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Science of the Total Environment

Título del artículo:

Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix, a Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Abdominal Pain. Case Report

Introduction. Acute abdominal pain is a frequent cause of consultation to emergency services. Its incidence is about 5%, of which 10%-25% of patients require surgical treatment. Primary appendiceal neoplasms are infrequent. They currently represent 1% of malignant neoplasms of gastrointestinal origin. They are predominant in women and must be suspected in patients with risk factors. The objective is to understand the importance of timely diagnosis in approaching patients with acute abdominal pain. Case report. A woman with clinical condition of 5 days of abdominal pain. Marked cystic dilation of the cecal appendix with linear and nodular calcifications on its wall and interior found in a tomography of the abdomen. Intraoperatively, a right hemicolectomy was performed with a histological result of mucinous neoplasm of the appendix (serrated adenoma) with loss of the muscularis mucosae, classifying it as a low grade adenocarcinoma. Discussion. Appendiceal tumors represent 1% of malignant neoplasms of gastrointestinal origin, with an incidental finding (0.7-1.4%) in appendectomy procedures. The diagnosis is histopathological, and prognosis is related to its classification. It is important to know, identify and suspect this pathology due to its infrequency, which can improve the patient\'s prognosis. Conclusion. Appendiceal tumors are infrequent and should be included in the group of pathologies that cause acute abdominal pain.

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MedUNAB

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Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli O96:H19 is an Emergent Biofilm- Forming Pathogen

Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) is a diarrheagenic E. coli pathotype carrying a virulence plasmid that encodes a type III secretion system (TTSS) directly implicated in bacterial cell invasion. Since 2012, EIEC serotype O96:H19 has been recognized in Europe, Colombia, and most recently Uruguay. In addition to the invasion phenotype, the strains isolated from Colombian children with moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis had a strong biofilm formation phenotype, and as a result, they are referred to as biofilm-forming enteroinvasive E. coli (BF-EIEC). The objective of this study was to characterize the biofilm formation phenotype of the BF-EIEC O96:H19 strain 52.1 isolated from a child with moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis in Colombia. Random mutagenesis using Tn5 transposons identified 100 mutants unable to form biofilm; 20 of those had mutations within the pgaABCD operon. Site-directed mutagenesis of pgaB and pgaC confirmed the importance of these genes in N-acetylglucosamine- mediated biofilm formation. Both biofilm formation and TTSS-mediated host cell invasion were associated with host cell damage on the basis of cytotoxic assays comparing the wild type, invasion gene mutants, and biofilm formation mutants. Multilocus sequence typing-based phylogenetic analysis showed that BFEIEC strain 52.1 does not cluster with classic EIEC serotype strains. Instead, BF-EIEC strain 52.1 clusters with EIEC serotype O96:H19 strains described in Europe and Uruguay. In conclusion, BF-EIEC O96:H19, an emerging pathogen associated with moderate-to-severe acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years of age in Colombia, invades cells and has a strong biofilm formation capability. Both phenotypes are independently associated with in vitro cell cytotoxicity, and they may explain, at least in part, the higher disease severity reported in Europe and Latin America.

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Journal of Bacteriology

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Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunological Basis of the Placebo Effect: Potential Applications beyond Pain Therapy

The placebo effect can be defined as the improvement of symptoms in a patient after the administration of an innocuous substance in a context that induces expectations regarding its effects. During recent years, it has been discovered that the placebo response not only has neurobiological functions on analgesia, but that it is also capable of generating effects on the immune and endocrine systems. The possible integration of changes in different systems of the organism could favor the well-being of the individuals and go hand in hand with conventional treatment for multiple diseases. In this sense, classic conditioning and setting expectations stand out as psychological mechanisms implicated in the placebo effect. Recent advances in neuroimaging studies suggest a relationship between the placebo response and the opioid, cannabinoid, and monoaminergic systems. Likewise, a possible immune response conditioned by the placebo effect has been reported. There is evidence of immune suppression conditioned through the insular cortex and the amygdala, with noradrenalin as the responsible neurotransmitter. Finally, a conditioned response in the secretion of different hormones has been determined in different studies; however, the molecular mechanisms involved are not entirely known. Beyond studies about its mechanism of action, the placebo effect has proved to be useful in the clinical setting with promising results in the management of neurological, psychiatric, and immunologic disorders. However, more research is needed to better characterize its potential use. This review integrates current knowledge about the psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune basis of the placebo effect and its possible clinical applications.

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International Journal of Molecular Sciences