Título del artículo:

Jumping in ballet a systematic review of kinetic and kinematic parameters

AIMS: Understanding the biomechanics of jumping in ballet dancers provides an opportunity to optimize performance and mitigate injury risk. This systematic review aimed to summarize research investigating kinetics and kinematics of jumping in ballet dancers. METHODS: PubMed (MEDLINE), SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies published before December 2020. Studies were required to investigate dancers specializing in ballet, assess kinetics or kinematics during take-off or landing, and be published in English. RESULTS: A total of 3,781 articles were identified, of which 29 met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies investigated take-off (kinetics: n = 6; kinematics: n = 4) and 23 studies investigated landing (kinetics: n = 19; kinematics: n = 12). Included articles were categorized into six themes: Activity Type (n = 10), Environment and Equipment (n = 10), Demographics (n = 8), Physical Characteristics (n = 3), Injury Status (n = 2), and Skill Acquisition and Motor Control (n = 1). Peak landing vertical ground reaction force (1.4-9.6 times body weight) was most commonly reported. Limited evidence suggests greater ankle involvement during the take-off of ballet jumps compared to countermovement jumps. There is also limited evidence indicating greater sagittal plane joint excursions upon landing in ballet dancers compared to nondancers, primarily through a more extended lower extremity at initial contact. Only 4 articles investigated male ballet dancers, which is a notable gap in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review can be used by dance science and medicine practitioners to improve their understanding of jumping in ballet dancers.

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Medical Problems of Performing Artists

Título del artículo:

Student Permanence in E-learning Postgraduate Programs: a case Study

The primary objective of this research study is to examine the factors that affect student permanence in a virtual methodology postgraduate academic program at a Colombian university. A literature review on student permanence in higher education programs is performed and a perception exercise is developed and applied to students. The situations that affect academic continuity are determined and strategies are generated to promote student permanence and graduation. The results show that the factors that have the greatest impact on student permanence are personal, socioeconomic, and academic, while technological and institutional factors are less relevant. It is concluded that the motivations that lead students to drop out of their studies are diverse and complex and that different strategies are needed to increase student permanence. This includes strengthening the capabilities of educational institutions to analyze internal and external scenarios to improve education quality and successful completion of academic programs.

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Formacion Universitaria

Título del artículo:

Global variations in the prevalence, treatment, and impact of atrial fibrillation in a multi-national cohort of 153 152 middle-aged individuals

Aims: To compare the prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG)-documented atrial fibrillation (or flutter) (AF) across eight regions of the world, and to examine antithrombotic use and clinical outcomes. Methods and results: Baseline ECGs were collected in 153 152 middle-aged participants (ages 35-70 years) to document AF in two community-based studies, spanning 20 countries. Medication use and clinical outcome data (mean follow-up of 7.4 years) were available in one cohort. Cross-sectional analyses were performed to document the prevalence of AF and medication use, and associations between AF and clinical events were examined prospectively. Mean age of participants was 52.1 years, and 57.7% were female. Age and sex-standardized prevalence of AF varied 12-fold between regions; with the highest in North America, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia (270-360 cases per 100 000 persons); and lowest in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (30-60 cases per 100 000 persons) (P < 0.001). Compared with low-income countries (LICs), AF prevalence was 7-fold higher in middle-income countries (MICs) and 11-fold higher in high-income countries (HICs) (P < 0.001). Differences in AF prevalence remained significant after adjusting for traditional AF risk factors. In LICs/MICs, 24% of participants with AF and a CHADS2 score ≥1 received antithrombotic therapy, compared with 85% in HICs. AF was associated with an increased risk of stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 2.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.52] and death (HR 2.97; 95% CI 2.25-3.93); with similar rates in different countries grouped by income level. Conclusions: Large variations in AF prevalence occur in different regions and countries grouped by income level, but this is only partially explained by traditional AF risk factors. Antithrombotic therapy is infrequently used in poorer countries despite the high risk of stroke associated with AF.

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Cardiovascular Research

Título del artículo:

Health-Related Quality of Life and Mortality in Heart Failure The Global Congestive Heart Failure Study of 23000 Patients From 40 Countries

BACKGROUND: Poor health-related quality of life (HRQL) is common in heart failure (HF), but there are few data on HRQL in HF and the association between HRQL and mortality outside Western countries. METHODS: We used the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–12 (KCCQ-12) to record HRQL in 23 291 patients with HF from 40 countries in 8 different world regions in the G-CHF study (Global Congestive Heart Failure). We compared standardized KCCQ-12 summary scores (adjusted for age, sex, and markers of HF severity) among regions (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher score indicating better HRQL). We used multivariable Cox regression with adjustment for 15 variables to assess the association between KCCQ-12 summary scores and the composite of all-cause death, HF hospitalization, and each component over a median follow-up of 1.6 years. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 65 years; 61% were men; 40% had New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms; and 46% had left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. Average HRQL differed between regions (lowest in Africa [mean± SE, 39.5±0.3], highest in Western Europe [62.5±0.4]). There were 4460 (19%) deaths, 3885 (17%) HF hospitalizations, and 6949 (30%) instances of either event. Lower KCCQ-12 summary score was associated with higher risk of all outcomes; the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for each 10-unit KCCQ-12 summary score decrement was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.17–1.20) for death. Although this association was observed in all regions, it was less marked in South Asia, South America, and Africa (weakest association in South Asia: HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03–1.14]; strongest association in Eastern Europe: HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.21–1.42]; interaction P<0.0001). Lower HRQL predicted death in patients with New York Heart Association class I or II and III or IV symptoms (HR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.14–1.19] and HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.12–1.17]; interaction P=0.13) and was a stronger predictor for the composite outcome in New York Heart Association class I or II versus class III or IV (HR 1.15 [95% CI, 1.13–1.17] versus 1.09 [95% CI, [1.07–1.11]; interaction P<0.0001). HR for death was greater in ejection fraction ≥40 versus <40% (HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.20–1.26] and HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.13–1.17]; interaction P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: HRQL is a strong and independent predictor of all-cause death and HF hospitalization across all geographic regions, in mildly and severe symptomatic HF, and among patients with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

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Circulation

Título del artículo:

Protein sumoylation is crucial for phagocytosis in entamoeba histolytica trophozoites

Posttranslational modifications provide Entamoeba histolytica proteins the timing and signaling to intervene during different processes, such as phagocytosis. However, SUMOylation has not been studied in E. histolytica yet. Here, we characterized the E. histolytica SUMO gene, its product (EhSUMO), and the relevance of SUMOylation in phagocytosis. Our results indicated that EhSUMO has an extended N-terminus that differentiates SUMO from ubiquitin. It also presents the GG residues at the C-terminus and the ΨKXE/D binding motif, both involved in target protein contact. Addition-ally, the E. histolytica genome possesses the enzymes belonging to the SUMOylation-deSUMOylation machinery. Confocal microscopy assays disclosed a remarkable EhSUMO membrane activity with convoluted and changing structures in trophozoites during erythrophagocytosis. SUMOylated proteins appeared in pseudopodia, phagocytic channels, and around the adhered and ingested erythrocytes. Docking analysis predicted interaction of EhSUMO with EhADH (an ALIX family protein), and immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays revealed that the association increased during phagocytosis; whereas the EhVps32 (a protein of the ESCRT-III complex)-EhSUMO interaction appeared stronger since basal conditions. In EhSUMO knocked-down trophozoites, the bizarre membranous structures disappeared, and EhSUMO interaction with EhADH and EhVps32 diminished. Our results evidenced the presence of a SUMO gene in E. histolytica and the SUMOyla-tion relevance during phagocytosis. This is supported by bioinformatics screening of many other proteins of E. histolytica involved in phagocytosis, which present putative SUMOylation sites and the ΨKXE/D binding motif.

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International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Título del artículo:

Renal Impairment and Risk of Acute Stroke: The INTERSTROKE Study

Background: Previous studies reported an association of renal impairment with stroke, but there are uncertainties underpinning this association. Aims: We explored if the association is explained by shared risk factors or is independent and whether there are regional or stroke subtype variations. Methods: INTERSTROKE is a case-control study and the largest international study of risk factors for first acute stroke, completed in 27 countries. We included individuals with available serum creatinine values and calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Renal impairment was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to determine the association of renal function with stroke. Results: Of 21,127 participants, 41.0% were female, the mean age was 62.3 ± 13.4 years, and the mean eGFR was 79.9 ± 23.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. The prevalence of renal impairment was higher in cases (22.9% vs. 17.7%, p < 0.001) and differed by region (p < 0.001). After adjustment, lower eGFR was associated with increased odds of stroke. Renal impairment was associated with increased odds of all stroke (OR 1.35; 95% CI: 1.24-1.47), with higher odds for intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.35-1.89) than ischemic stroke (OR 1.29; 95% CI: 1.17-1.42) (pinteraction 0.12). The largest magnitudes of association were seen in younger participants and those living in Africa, South Asia, or South America (pinteraction < 0.001 for all stroke). Renal impairment was also associated with poorer clinical outcome (RRR 2.97; 95% CI: 2.50-3.54 for death within 1 month). Conclusion: Renal impairment is an important risk factor for stroke, particularly in younger patients, and is associated with more severe stroke and worse outcomes.

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Neuroepidemiology

Título del artículo:

Bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed systems around the world - Bed agglomeration and collapse: A comprehensive review

Thermochemical conversion by gasification process is one of the most relevant technologies for energy recovery from solid fuel, with an energy conversion efficiency better than other alternatives like combustion and pyrolysis. Nevertheless, the most common technology used in the last decades for thermochemical conversion of solid fuel through gasification process, such as coal, agriculture residues or biomass residues are the fluidized bed or bubbling fluidized bed system. For these gasification technologies, an inert bed material is fed into reactor to improve the homogenization of the particles mixture and increase the heat transfer between solid fuel particles and the bed material. The fluidized bed reactors usually operate at isothermal bed temperatures in the range of 700–1000 °C, providing a suitable contact between solid and gas phases. In this way, chemical reactions with high conversion yield, as well as an intense circulation and mixing of the solid particles are encouraged. Moreover, a high gasification temperature favours carbon conversion efficiency, increasing the syngas production and energy performance of the gasifier. However, the risk of eutectic mixtures formation and its subsequent melting process are increased, and hence the probability of bed agglomeration and the system collapse could be increased, mainly when alkali and alkaline earth metals-rich biomasses are considered. Generally, bed agglomeration occurs when biomass-derived ash reacts with bed material, and the lower melting temperature of ash components promotes the formation of highly viscous layers, which encourages the progressive agglomerates creation, and consequently, the bed collapse and system de-fluidization. Taking into account the relevance of this topic to ensure the normal gasification process operating, this paper provides several aspects about bed agglomeration, mostly for biomass gasification systems. In this way, chemistry and mechanism of bed agglomeration, as well as, some methods for in-situ detection and prediction of the bed agglomeration phenomenon are reviewed and discussed.

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International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Título del artículo:

Novel arylidene malonate derivative, KM-34, showed neuroprotective effects on in vitro and in vivo models of ischemia/reperfusion

Cerebral ischemia constitutes the most frequent type of cerebrovascular disease. The reduction of blood supply to the brain initiates the ischemic cascade starting from ionic imbalance to subsequent glutamate excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, eventually causing neuronal death. Previously, the authors have demonstrated the in vitro cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of a new arylidene malonate derivative, KM-34, against oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide, glutamate or Fe3+/ascorbate. Here, we examined for the first time the neuroprotective effect of KM-34 on ischemia/reperfusion models. In vitro, treatment with 10 and 50 μM KM-34 reduced the cellular death (propidium iodide incorporation) induced by oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in rat organotypic hippocampal slices cultures. In vivo, stroke was induced in male Wistar rats through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 23 h of reperfusion. KM-34 was orally administered 105 min after MCAO onset. We noticed that 1 mg/kg KM-34 reduced infarct volume and neurological score, and increased the latency to fall in the Hanging Wire test compared to vehicle-treated ischemic animals. While ischemic and sham-operated groups showed similar horizontal locomotor activity, vertical counts decreased after MCAO, suggesting that vertical movements are more sensitive to the ischemic injury. Treatment with KM-34 also alleviated the mitochondrial impairment (ROS generation, swelling and membrane potential dissipation) induced by transient MCAO but not significant alterations were found in oxidative stress parameters. Overall, the study provides preclinical evidences confirming the neuroprotective effects of a novel synthetic molecule and paved the way for future investigations regarding its therapeutic potential against brain ischemia/reperfusion injury.

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European Journal of Pharmacology

Título del artículo:

Nanoemulsions with chloroaluminium phthalocyanine and paromomycin for combined photodynamic and antibiotic therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) and paromomycin sulfate (PM) can be effective against New World Leishmania species involved in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The aim of this study is to assay the skin permeation and the antileishmanial effects of a nanoemulsion (NE) containing both ClAlPc and PM in experimental CL by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Material and Methods: Cremophor ELP/castor oil-based NEs were prepared by a low-energy method and characterized for their physicochemical parameters. The NEs were used to deliver both ClAlPc and PM to leishmania cells. The in vitro toxicity of NEs were tested in vitro against L. (V.) braziliensis and THP-1 cells. The in vivo toxicity was assessed in non-infected BALB/c mice. Ex-vivo permeation and retention studies using healthy mice skin were also conducted. Finally, the in vivo activity of NE-PM+ClAlPc after PDT was tested in BALB/c mice infected with parasites. Results: NEs are colloidally stable with average droplet diameter of 30 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.2, and zeta potential near zero. Both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes treated with NE-PM, NE-ClAlPc and NE-PM+ClAlPc were inhibited at >50%, >95%, >88%, respectively, after PDT with a phototoxic index (PI) >1.2. No skin ClAlPc permeation was observed. In contrast, PM skin permeation was 80-fold higher using PM-loaded NE formulation in comparison to aqueous PM solution. Topical treatment with NE formulations showed no signs of local toxicity or genotoxicity. In addition, concentrations of PM between 27.3 - 292.5 μM/25 mg of tissue were detected in different organs. In vivo, the NE-PM+ClAlPc treatment did not reduce skin lesions. Conclusion: The Cremophor ELP/castor oil NE formulation increases the permeation of PM through the skin and can be used to co-deliver PM plus ClAlPc for combined PDT protocols. However, the lack of efficacy in the in vivo model evidences that the therapeutical scheme has to be improved.

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Infection and Chemotherapy

Título del artículo:

Hamman’s syndrome in an adolescent with asthma crisis

BACKGROUND: Pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum. It may appear after surgical procedures, trauma, or spontaneous. This last one is related with situations where the intra-alveolar pressure is increased, as in the Valsalva maneuvers, coughing, vomiting, among others. Asthma is a very frequent factor associated with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. It is developed due to the distension of the airways to the bronchial obstruction where the alveolar rupture occurs. It is a rare disease with a lot of differential diagnoses. The most common symptoms are chest pain, dyspnea and pain in the neck. The physical examination can show edema in the neck and subcutaneous emphysema. The initial study should be performed with chest radiography but up to the 30% could be normal, in this case it must be confirmed with chest tomography. The evolution is good and the treatment is generally conservative. CLINICAL CASE: A 17-year-old female patient with moderate asthmatic attack, acute bronchitis with pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, for which it was indicated bronchodilator, corticosteroid and antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare condition, with signs and symptoms that may suggest various diagnostic options, so clinical suspicion and diagnostic guidance are vital to prescribe the effective treatment.

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Medicina Interna de Mexico

Título del artículo:

Educational alternation: A challenge to protect the health and life of the school community

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Revista Cuidarte

Título del artículo:

Disagreement between PCR and serological diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood donors from a Colombian endemic region

Introduction: Chagas\' disease is the leading cause of infectious myocarditis worldwide. This infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is usually life-long and asymptomatic; however, the third part of infected people can develop severe or even fatal cardiomyopathy. As the parasitemia in the chronic phase is both low-grade and intermittent, T. cruzi infection is principally detected by serology, although this method has sensitivity and specificity limitations. Objective: To determine the level of agreement between serologic and molecular tests in 658 voluntary blood donors from six provinces in the Colombian department of Santander. Materials and methods: We evaluated an array of diagnostic technologies by cross-section sampling performing a serological double diagnostic test for T. cruzi antibody detection (Chagas III ELISA™, BiosChile Group, and ARCHITECT Chagas CMIA™, Abbott), and DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We collected the demographic, clinical, and epidemiological information of participants. The sample size was calculated using Epidat™ and the statistical analysis was done with Stata 12.1™. Results: PCR was six times more sensitive in detecting T. cruzi infection than ELISA/CMIA with prevalence values of 1.8% (12/658) and 0.3% (2/658), respectively, and kappa=0.28 (95%CI: -0.03 - 0.59). In contrast, serology showed a sensitivity of 16.7% (95%CI: 2.09 -48.4) and a specificity of 100% (95%CI: 99.4 - 100). All seropositive samples were found to be positive by PCR. Conclusions: The implementation of PCR as a complementary method for screening donors could reduce the probability of false negative and the consequent risk of transfusional-transmission of Chagas\' disease, especially in endemic regions.

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Biomedica

Título del artículo:

In vitro antimicrobial effect of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine nanoemulsion on periodontal bacteria

Context: Nowadays, complementary therapies are necessary for a major removal of microbial subgingival biofilm in the conventional treatment of periodontitis. Research has suggested the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a promising therapy to manage oral cavity infections. This project proposes a new combination of photosensitizer chloroaluminum phthalocyanine and nanoemulsion as a strategy for improving bioactivity. The main purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nanoemulsion ClAlPc (ClAlPc-NE) on relevant periodontal bacteria before and after PDT. Materials and Methods: The phototoxic and antibacterial effect of ClAlPc-NE was evaluated against epithelial cells derived from an African green monkey kidney using the colorimetric method with salt tetrazolium 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2.5-Diphenyltetrazolium bromide (Merck) and periodontopathogen bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 33384), and Prevotella intermedia (ATCC 25611) using the plate microdilution method according to Tavares et al., 2018, respectively. The light source used for the PDT was a LED laser (400-700 nm); the cells were irradiated for 2 min using 4.83 joules/cm2. Results: Antibacterial effect of NE-PcAlCl against P. intermedia with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.63 μM after TFD was determined. In the case of P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans, no biological activity was found after PDT (MIC > 20 μM) under-evaluated experimental conditions. On the other hand, the ClAlPc-free and ClAlPc-NE cells were phototoxic on epithelial cells. Conclusion: The results helped to identify the potential use of ClAlPc-NE to inhibit the periodontal bacterial and additional studies are being developed.

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Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology

Título del artículo:

A Commentary on “COVID-19 impact on Surgical Training and Recovery Planning (COVID-STAR) - A cross-sectional observational study”

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International Journal of Surgery

Título del artículo:

Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) has adequate psychometric properties in Colombian general practitioners during COVID-19 pandemic

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General Hospital Psychiatry

Título del artículo:

Associations of Fish Consumption with Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality among Individuals with or without Vascular Disease from 58 Countries

Importance: Cohort studies report inconsistent associations between fish consumption, a major source of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids, and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Whether the associations vary between those with and those without vascular disease is unknown. Objective: To examine whether the associations of fish consumption with risk of CVD or of mortality differ between individuals with and individuals without vascular disease. Design, Setting, and Participants: This pooled analysis of individual participant data involved 191558 individuals from 4 cohort studies - 147645 individuals (139827 without CVD and 7818 with CVD) from 21 countries in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study and 43413 patients with vascular disease in 3 prospective studies from 40 countries. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by multilevel Cox regression separately within each study and then pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. This analysis was conducted from January to June 2020. Exposures: Fish consumption was recorded using validated food frequency questionnaires. In 1 of the cohorts with vascular disease, a separate qualitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess intake of individual types of fish. Main Outcomes and Measures: Mortality and major CVD events (including myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, or sudden death). Results: Overall, 191558 participants with a mean (SD) age of 54.1 (8.0) years (91666 [47.9%] male) were included in the present analysis. During 9.1 years of follow-up in PURE, compared with little or no fish intake (≤50 g/mo), an intake of 350 g/wk or more was not associated with risk of major CVD (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86-1.04) or total mortality (HR, 0.96; 0.88-1.05). By contrast, in the 3 cohorts of patients with vascular disease, the HR for risk of major CVD (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96) and total mortality (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.91) was lowest with intakes of at least 175 g/wk (or approximately 2 servings/wk) compared with 50 g/mo or lower, with no further apparent decrease in HR with consumption of 350 g/wk or higher. Fish with higher amounts of ω-3 fatty acids were strongly associated with a lower risk of CVD (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97 per 5-g increment of intake), whereas other fish were neutral (collected in 1 cohort of patients with vascular disease). The association between fish intake and each outcome varied by CVD status, with a lower risk found among patients with vascular disease but not in general populations (for major CVD, I2= 82.6 [P =.02]; for death, I2= 90.8 [P =.001]). Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this pooled analysis of 4 cohort studies indicated that a minimal fish intake of 175 g (approximately 2 servings) weekly is associated with lower risk of major CVD and mortality among patients with prior CVD but not in general populations. The consumption of fish (especially oily fish) should be evaluated in randomized trials of clinical outcomes among people with vascular disease.

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JAMA Internal Medicine

Título del artículo:

Prospective evaluation of the association between varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men over 40 years of age

We investigated the association between varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men over the age of 40 years. A total of 296 outpatients were evaluated. Prostate volume was measured with transrectal ultrasound. Varicocele was diagnosed by physical examination and ultrasound. Prostatic hyperplasia was defined as prostate volume greater than or equal to 40 ml. Two groups were compared: patients with prostate volume less than 40 ml and patients with prostate volume greater than or equal to 40 ml. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of mean age, post-void residual, International Prostate Symptom Score and PSA. The percentage of patients with clinical varicocele in the group with a volume less than 40 ml and the group with a volume equal to or greater than 40 ml was 38.2% and 47.7% respectively (p =.12). There were no differences between the two groups in the percentage of patients with clinical or subclinical varicocele (43.2% vs. 52.2%, respectively, p =.12). No differences were found in the percentage of patients with varicocele when comparing men with prostates smaller than 40 ml and greater than or equal to 40 ml.

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Andrologia

Título del artículo:

Enhancement of Phycobiliprotein Accumulation in Thermotolerant Oscillatoria sp. Through Media Optimization

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are a group of brilliant pigment proteins found in cyanobacteria and red algae; their synthesis and accumulation depend on several factors such as the type of strain employed, nutrient concentration, light intensity, light regimes, and others. This study evaluates the effect of macronutrients (citrate buffer, NaNO3, K2HPO4, MgSO4, CaCl2, Na2CO3, and EDTA) and the concentration of trace metals in BG-11 media on the accumulation of PBPs in a thermotolerant strain of Oscillatoria sp. The strain was grown in BG-11 media at 28 °C with a light:dark cycle of 12:12 h at 100 μmol m-2 s-1 for 15 days, and the effect of nutrients was evaluated using a Plackett-Burman Design followed by optimization using a response surface methodology. Results from the concentration of trace metals show that it can be reduced up to half-strength in its initial concentration without affecting both biomass and PBPs. Results from the Plackett-Burman Design revealed that only NaNO3, Na2CO3, and K2HPO4 show a significant increase in PBP production. Optimization employed a central Non-Factorial Response Surface Design with three levels and four factors (34) using NaNO3, Na2CO3, K2HPO4, and trace metals as variables, while the other components of BG-11 media (citrate buffer, MgSO4, CaCl2, and EDTA) were used in half of their initial concentration. Results from the optimization show that interaction between Na2CO3 and K2HPO4 highly increased PBPs\' concentration, with values of 15.21, 3.95, and 1.89 (% w/w), respectively. These results demonstrate that identifying and adjusting the concentration of critical nutrients can increase the concentration of PBPs up to two times for phycocyanin and allophycocyanin while four times for phycoerythrin. Finally, the reduction in non-key nutrients\' concentration will reduce the production costs of colorants at an industrial scale and increase the sustainability of the process.

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ACS Omega

Título del artículo:

Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and quinolones in Escherichia coli isolated from broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance of 176 Escherichia coli strains isolated from broiler chicken organs. The strains were challenged with beta-lactam, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, observing resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics (97.7%) and quinolones (86.7%). The results showed that 71.6% of the isolates phenotypically expressed the production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLB). By PCR, resistance genes for beta-lactams blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M1 and Amp-C and resistance genes for quinolones qnrA, qnrB, qnrS were determined. The genes AmpC (74%), blaCTX-M (65%), blaSHV (65%), blaTEM (50%), qnrB (86.4%) and qnrS (11.9%) were found. The qnrA gene was not evident in the samples analysed. The results obtained revealed a large percentage of resistance to the studied antibiotics and the presence of resistance genes in isolates from poultry for human consumption, which constitutes a risk for Public Health.

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Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru

Título del artículo:

Effect of ibuprofen on the establishment of the gestation of in vitro produced bovine embryos

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the administration of ibuprofen in the establishment of the gestation of bovine embryos produced in vitro. In total, 85 Bos taurus x B. indicus heifers were used as embryo recipients, which were subjected to a protocol of synchronization of oestrus and ovulation with the insertion of an intravaginal progesterone implant (Sincrogest®) for eight days, plus the application of 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate (Sincrodiol®). To the removal of the implant, 500 µg sodium cloprostenol (Sincrocio®), 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (Sincro eCG®), plus the administration of 1 mg of oestradiol cypionate (SincroCP®,) were applied. One hour before embryo transfer, 5 mg/kg of ibuprofen IM was applied. No significant difference was observed in the gestation rate of the control group (47.5%) and the ibuprofen group (35.5%). It is concluded that the administration of ibuprofen in B. taurus x B. indicus heifers one hour before the transfer of the embryos in vitro had no effect on the establishment of gestation.

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Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru

Título del artículo:

Glycemic index, glycemic load, and cardiovascular disease and mortality

BACKGROUND Most data regarding the association between the glycemic index and cardiovascular disease come from high-income Western populations, with little information from non-Western countries with low or middle incomes. To fill this gap, data are needed from a large, geographically diverse population. METHODS This analysis includes 137,851 participants between the ages of 35 and 70 years living on five continents, with a median follow-up of 9.5 years. We used country-specific food-frequency questionnaires to determine dietary intake and estimated the glycemic index and glycemic load on the basis of the consumption of seven categories of carbohydrate foods. We calculated hazard ratios using multivariable Cox frailty models. The primary outcome was a composite of a major cardiovascular event (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) or death from any cause. RESULTS In the study population, 8780 deaths and 8252 major cardiovascular events occurred during the follow-up period. After performing extensive adjustments comparing the lowest and highest glycemic-index quintiles, we found that a diet with a high glycemic index was associated with an increased risk of a major cardiovascular event or death, both among participants with preexisting cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 1.82) and among those without such disease (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.34). Among the components of the primary outcome, a high glycemic index was also associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes. The results with respect to glycemic load were similar to the findings regarding the glycemic index among the participants with cardiovascular disease at baseline, but the association was not significant among those without preexisting cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS In this study, a diet with a high glycemic index was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

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New England Journal of Medicine

Título del artículo:

Tuberculosis and the heart

Acquired tuberculosis continues to be a challenge worldwide. Although tuberculosis has been considered a global public health emergency, it remains poorly controlled in many countries. Despite being primarily a pulmonary disease, tuberculosis could involve the heart. This systematic review is part of the \"Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Infectious Diseases Involving the Heart\" (the NET-Heart Project) initiative from the Interamerican Society of Cardiology. This project aims to review the cardiovascular involvement of these heterogeneous diseases, advancing original algorithms to help healthcare providers diagnose and manage cardiovascular complications. In tuberculosis, pericardium involvement is relatively common, especially in AIDS, and tuberculosis is the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis in endemic countries. Myocarditis and aortitis by tuberculosis are rare. Clinical manifestations of cardiovascular involvement by tuberculosis differ from those typically found for bacteria or viruses. Prevailing systemic symptoms and the pericarditis diagnostic index should be taken into account. An echocardiogram is the first step for diagnosing cardiovascular involvement; however, several image modalities can be used, depending on the suspected site of infection. Adenosine deaminase levels, gamma interferon, or polymerase chain reaction testing could be used to confirm tuberculosis infection; each has a high diagnostic performance. Antituberculosis chemotherapy and corticosteroids are treatment mainstays that significantly reduce mortality, constriction, and hospitaliza-tions, especially in patients with HIV. In conclusion, tuberculosis cardiac involvement is frequent and could lead to heart failure, constrictive pericarditis, or death. Early detection of complications should be a cornerstone of overall management.

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Journal of the American Heart Association

Título del artículo:

Reliability of the scale of barriers for cardiac rehabilitation in the colombian population

Cardiac rehabilitation is supported by the highest level of scientific evidence. However, less than 25% of those eligible to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program initiate it; and of these, 50% drop out prematurely. A modified Spanish Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale (CRBS) has been translated, culturally adapted and validated in Colombia, however, the reliability remains to be evaluated. This study aimed to determine the internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the CRBS in a Colombian population. In total, 193 patients (67% men, average age = 65 ± 12 years) completed the scale twice, with an average of eight days between applications. Cronbach’s Alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. The internal consistency of the Colombian version of the CRBS was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84). The ICC of the CRBS was 0.69 (95% CI 0.61–0.76); 0.78 (95% CI 0.71–0.84) when the CRBS was completed by interview; and 0.47 (95% CI 0.21–0.67) when the CRBS was self-reported. The reliability of the interview version of the CRBS was substantial in the Colombian population; however, the reliability of the self-report version was lower. The use of this scale will allow developing strategies to increase participation and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs.

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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Título del artículo:

High flow arteriovenous malformation in a young adult: Case report

Introduction. Arteriovenous malformations are relative rare and infrequent injuries. Their main characteristic is an abnormal increase in the number of blood vessels as a result of defective vascular development. They represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the treating physician. Their incidence in the general population is around 1.5%. Some therapeutic options include selective embolization, surgical resection, or both. The purpose of this article is to report a case of an infrequent pathology and to perform a literature review on the topic to shed light on its diagnosis. Case report. The case involves a young adult patient who inquired about the presence of a mass in the right buttock with six years of evolution. It was erroneously diagnosed as a lipoma, as a result of which the patient was taken to surgery without performing preliminary diagnostic images. During surgery, the patient went into hypovolemic shock. Afterwards, the mass was documented as a profound arteriovenous malformation. Discussion. Such malformations are rarely found in the lower limbs, as in this case. These injuries may be clinically diagnosed, but knowledge or suspicion on the existence of this entity is required, because such injuries might not be clinically visible, which implies that they may go unnoticed or be erroneously diagnosed. Conclusion. Even though it is an infrequent pathology, it may have substantial clinical, physical, psychological and aesthetic implications, which implies that it is indispensable to perform adequate imaging-based procedures to enable its adequate diagnosis and management.

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MedUNAB

Título del artículo:

Genotypic and functional characterization of mutations in the reverse transcriptase domain of the hepatitis B virus P gene in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus receiving antiretrovirals

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Iatreia