Self-Supported Spray-Coated NiFe-LDH Catalyst on a Stainless Steel Substrate for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

In the quest for more efficient and cost-effective electrocatalytic systems, careful selection of catalysts and substrates plays a pivotal role. This study introduces an approach by synthesizing and depositing NiFe-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) catalysts on commercial AISI 304 substrates by using a low-temperature spray-coating technique. Through systematic investigations, the influence of processing conditions, such as the synthesis, ultrasonic power for having a stable nanoparticle's dispersion, and spray cycle optimization on the electrochemical and morphological properties of the coatings, is thoroughly explored. The results showcase exceptional catalytic performance, achieving an overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA/cm2, with enhanced stability even at high current densities of 500 mA/cm2. The study highlights the significance of meticulous processing optimization and presents a scalable methodology that holds great potential for developing catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) and facilitates their integration into industrial processes.

Genotyping-by-sequencing reveals a high number and quality of single nucleotide polymorphisms in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) from the Peruvian Andes.

Guinea pigs are a major source of animal protein for Peruvian Andean families. Despite the economic and cultural relevance of guinea pigs, their genomic characterization has been scarcely addressed. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) has emerged as an affordable alternative to genotyping of livestock and native animals. Here, we report the use of GBS for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery of traditionally raised guinea pigs from six regions of the Peruvian Andes and one group of breeding animals. The paired-end (2 × 150 bp) sequencing of 40 guinea pig DNA samples generated a mean of 6.4 million high-quality sequencing reads per sample. We obtained an average sequencing depth of 10× with an 88.5% mapping rate to the Cavia porcellus reference genome. A total of 279 965 SNPs (102 SNPs/Mbp) were identified after variant calling and quality filtering. Based on this SNP set, we assessed the genetic diversity and distance within our selected guinea pig populations. An overall average minor allele frequency of 0.13, an observed heterozygosity of 0.31, an expected heterozygosity of 0.35, and an F-value of 0.1 were obtained, while the SNP-based neighbor-joining tree suggests a closer genetic relationship between individuals from geographically close locations. We showed that GBS is a cost-effective tool for SNP discovery and genetic characterization of Peruvian guinea pig populations. Therefore, it may be considered as a suitable and affordable tool for genomic characterization of poorly studied native animal species.

Anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies in patients with polyarteritis nodosa.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-phospatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) antibodies have been described in cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) in association with specific manifestations. OBJECTIVES: To determine aPS/PT antibodies in patients with PAN and its correlation with clinical manifestations. METHODS: Cross-sectional comparative study including PAN patients and 20 controls (10 Microscopic Polyangiitis [MPA] and 10 Behçet's disease [BD]). Clinical and demographic variables, treatment, serologic markers, prognosis, activity and damage indexes were evaluated. aPS/PT, anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (anti-B2GP1) antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were determined. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with PAN were included, 11 (79%) women, with disease duration of 207 months, and mostly inactive disease. Only one patient with PAN and one with BD were positive for aPS/PT IgG. LA was the most frequent antibody identified. One patient with MPA and one with BD were positive for aCL IgM; one with MPA for anti-B2GP1 IgG, and one with PAN for anti-B2GP1 IgM. CONCLUSIONS: aPS/PT antibodies are not frequent in patients with longstanding inactive PAN.

Anti-Phosphatidylserine/Prothrombin antibodies in patients with Polyarteritis Nodosa. / Anticuerpos antifosfatidilserina/protrombina en pacientes con poliarteritis nodosa.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) antibodies have been described in cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) in association with specific manifestations. OBJECTIVES: To determine aPS/PT antibodies in patients with PAN and its correlation with clinical manifestations. METHODS: Cross-sectional comparative study including PAN patients and 20 controls (10 Microscopic Polyangiitis [MPA] and 10 Behçet's disease [BD]). Clinical and demographic variables, treatment, serological markers, prognosis, activity and damage indexes were evaluated. aPS/PT, anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 (anti-B2GP1) antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were determined. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with PAN were included, 11 (79%) women, with disease duration of 207 months, and mostly inactive disease. Only one patient with PAN and one with BD were positive for aPS/PT IgG. LA was the most frequent antibody identified. One patient with MPA and one with BD were positive for aCL IgM; one with MPA for anti-B2GP1 IgG, and one with PAN for anti-B2GP1 IgM. CONCLUSIONS: aPS/PT antibodies are not frequent in patients with longstanding inactive PAN.

Correction to: Validation of a renal risk score in a cohort of ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with severe kidney damage.

The footnote of Figure 2 in the published original version of the above article went missing and the correct figure is presented in this article.

Validation of a renal risk score in a cohort of ANCA-associated vasculitis patients with severe kidney damage.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the renal risk score in a cohort of patients with advanced kidney damage. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with biopsy-proven ANCA glomerulonephritis with >12 months of follow-up were studied. The renal risk score was calculated and evaluated by survival analysis for time of renal survival. Cohort-specific clinical, histopathologic, and post-treatment factors associated with renal survival were determined by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Kidney biopsies were classified as focal, crescentic, mixed, and sclerotic classes in 6 (8%), 4 (6%), 25 (35%), and 37 (51%) patients, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year renal survival rates were 79%, 73%, and 68%, respectively. Patients were segregated by the risk score in low- (18%), medium- (47%), and high-risk (35%) groups. Patients in the low-risk group had 36-, 60-, and 84-month renal survival of 100%; those in the medium risk 85% (95% CI 72-92), 81% (95% CI 66-95), and 76% (95% CI 60-92), respectively; and those in the high risk 37% (95% CI 17-57), 26% (95% CI 7-45), and 18% (95% CI 1-36), respectively. Six (43%) of the 14 patients in the high-risk group recovered renal function after the initial episode, and 2 (14%) remained dialysis-free. Other parameters associated with renal survival included age, proteinuria, general symptoms, cellular crescents, glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial lesions, best post-treatment eGFR, and renal relapses. CONCLUSIONS: We validated the renal risk score as a prognostic tool in a cohort with predominantly mixed and sclerotic histologic categories. Since patients in the high-risk group still benefited from immunosuppressive therapy, this score should be used in conjunction with other predictive parameters to aid therapeutic decisions.Key Points• The ANCA renal risk score is validated in a cohort with advanced kidney damage.• Patients in the high-risk group still benefited from immunosuppressive therapy.• Parameters not included in the risk score are associated with renal survival and may be useful.

Treatment of nasal myiasis with ivermectin irrigation.

We describe a case of nasal myiasis due to Musca domestica in a 97-year-old Peruvian farmer with a previously undiagnosed mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Initial attempts to remove the fly larvae using manual extraction with a toothed forceps and normal saline irrigation were unsuccessful. On subsequent nasal irrigation with ivermectin solution, the patient self-expulsed approximately 50 larvae within 15 min. He also received a course of oral ivermectin. A post-treatment CT scan revealed clear sinuses. Here, we propose that ivermectin irrigation is a simple and effective treatment for nasal myiasis.

[Disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis with joint involvement in a woman with type 2 diabetes]. / Esporotricosis cutánea diseminada con compromiso articular en una mujer con diabetes tipo 2.

Disseminated sporotrichosis is a rare presentation of this mycosis. Although it has been described in immunocompetent individuals, there is often T cell-mediated immune compromise. We report the case of a woman with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes who developed disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis. The course of the disease presented several complications including hepatitis secondary to itraconazole and knee arthritis with culture positive for Sporothrix schenckii during treatment with saturated solution of potassium iodide. The case discussion includes aspects of the pathogenesis of disseminated sporotrichosis and management of the infection and its complications.

Esporotricosis cutánea diseminada con compromiso articular en una mujer con diabetes tipo 2 / Disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis with joint involvement in a woman with type 2 diabetes

La esporotricosis diseminada es una presentación infrecuente de esta micosis. Aunque ha sido descrita en sujetos inmunocompetentes, con frecuencia existe compromiso de la inmunidad mediada por células T. Reportamos el caso de una mujer con diabetes tipo 2 no controlada que desarrolló esporotricosis cutánea diseminada. El curso de la enfermedad presentó varias complicaciones que incluyeron hepatitis secundaria a itraconazol y artritis de la rodilla con cultivo positivo para Sporothrix schenckii durante el tratamiento con solución saturada de ioduro de potasio. La discusión del caso incluye aspectos de la patogénesis de la esporotricosis diseminada y el manejo de la infección y sus complicaciones.

Disseminated sporotrichosis is a rare presentation of this mycosis. Although it has been described in immunocompetent individuals, there is often T cell-mediated immune compromise. We report the case of a woman with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes who developed disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis. The course of the disease presented several complications including hepatitis secondary to itraconazole and knee arthritis with culture positive for Sporothrix schenckii during treatment with saturated solution of potassium iodide. The case discussion includes aspects of the pathogenesis of disseminated sporotrichosis and management of the infection and its complications.

[Oral blastomycosis, laryngeal papillomatosis and esophageal tuberculosis]. / Blastomicosis oral, papilomatosis laríngea y tuberculosis esofágica.

Esophageal involvement is an extremely rare complication of tuberculosis even in countries with high prevalence of infection. We report the case of a 57 year-old hiv-seronegative patient with simultaneous diagnoses of oral blastomycosis and laryngeal papillomatosis. Both were confirmed by anatomopathological analysis. The esophageal biopsy revealed granulomatous esophagitis with necrosis and ziehl-neelsen stain showed acid-fast alcohol resistant bacilli suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient's history included pulmonary tuberculosis twice and previous abandonment of therapy. Thus, it was necessary to use oral itraconazole combined with second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs administered through a gastrostomy tube. The clinical development was favorable.

Blastomicosis oral, papilomatosis laríngea y tuberculosis esofágica / Oral blastomycosis, laryngeal papillomatosis and esophageal tuberculosis

El compromiso esofágico es una complicación infrecuente de la tuberculosis incluso en países con alta prevalencia de infección. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 57 años no seropositivo al virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), con diagnóstico simultáneo de blastomicosis en cavidad oral y papilomatosis laríngea, ambas confirmadas por anatomía patológica. La biopsia de esófago reveló esofagitis granulomatosa con necrosis; la tinción de Ziehl-Neelsen mostró bacilos ácido-alcohol resistente, sugerentes de tuberculosis. El antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar en dos oportunidades y abandono de tratamiento determinó el inicio de tratamiento antituberculoso de segunda línea a través de un tubo de gastrostomía, más itraconazol vía oral. La evolución fue favorable.

Esophageal involvement is an extremely rare complication of tuberculosis even in countries with high prevalence of infection. We report the case of a 57 year-old hiv-seronegative patient with simultaneous diagnoses of oral blastomycosis and laryngeal papillomatosis. Both were confirmed by anatomopathological analysis. The esophageal biopsy revealed granulomatous esophagitis with necrosis and ziehl-neelsen stain showed acid-fast alcohol resistant bacilli suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient’s history included pulmonary tuberculosis twice and previous abandonment of therapy. Thus, it was necessary to use oral itraconazole combined with second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs administered through a gastrostomy tube. The clinical development was favorable.

Rhinoscleroma: eight Peruvian cases.

Rhinoscleroma is a rare infection in developed countries; although, it is reported with some frequency in poorer regions such as Central Africa, Central and South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East, India and Indonesia. Nowadays, rhinoscleroma may be erroneously diagnosed as mucocutaneos leishmaniasis, leprosy, paracoccidioidomycosis, rhinosporidiasis, late syphilis, neoplasic diseases or other upper airway diseases. From 1996 to 2003, we diagnosed rhinoscleroma in eight patients attended in the Dermatologic and Transmitted Diseases service of "Cayetano Heredia" National Hospital, in Lima, Peru. The patients presented airway structural alterations producing nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and, in one patient, laryngeal stenosis. Biopsy samples revealed large vacuolated macrophages (Mikulicz cells) in all patients. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid for four to 12 weeks was used in seven patients and oxytetracycline 500 mg qid for six weeks in one patient. After follow-up for six to 12 months the patients did not show active infection or relapse, however, all of them presented some degree of upper airway stenosis. These cases are reported because of the difficulty diagnosing the disease and the success of antibiotic treatment.

Rhinoscleroma: eight Peruvian cases / Rinoscleroma: oito casos peruanos

Rhinoscleroma is a rare infection in developed countries; although, it is reported with some frequency in poorer regions such as Central Africa, Central and South America, Eastern and Central Europe, Middle East, India and Indonesia. Nowadays, rhinoscleroma may be erroneously diagnosed as mucocutaneos leishmaniasis, leprosy, paracoccidioidomycosis, rhinosporidiasis, late syphilis, neoplasic diseases or other upper airway diseases. From 1996 to 2003, we diagnosed rhinoscleroma in eight patients attended in the Dermatologic and Transmitted Diseases service of "Cayetano Heredia" National Hospital, in Lima, Peru. The patients presented airway structural alterations producing nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and, in one patient, laryngeal stenosis. Biopsy samples revealed large vacuolated macrophages (Mikulicz cells) in all patients. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg bid for four to 12 weeks was used in seven patients and oxytetracycline 500 mg qid for six weeks in one patient. After follow-up for six to 12 months the patients did not show active infection or relapse, however, all of them presented some degree of upper airway stenosis. These cases are reported because of the difficulty diagnosing the disease and the success of antibiotic treatment.

O rinoscleroma é uma infecção rara nos países desenvolvidos, no entanto, tem sido relatado com alguma freqüência nas regiões pobres da Africa Central, América Central e do Sul, Europa Central e Oriental, Oriente Médio, índia e Indonésia. A doença pode ser erroneamente diagnosticada como leishmaniose mucocutânea, hanseníase, paracoccidioidomicose, rinosporidiose, sífilis tardia, neoplasias ou outras doenças que afetam a via respiratória superior. No período de 1996 a 2003, foram diagnosticados oito casos de rinoscleroma no serviço de Doenças Dermatológicas e Infecciosas do Hospital Nacional "Cayetano Heredia", em Lima, Peru. Os pacientes apresentaram alterações estruturais das vias respiratórias, caracterizadas por estenose da nasofaringe e orofaringe, e em um paciente, a nível da laringe. As biópsias mostraram macrófagos com grandes vacúolos (células de Mikulicz). A ciprofloxacina 500 mg de 12/12 horas por quatro a 12 semanas foi usada em sete pacientes e oxitetraciclina 500 mg de 6/6 horas por seis semanas em um paciente. Durante o acompanhamento por seis a 12 meses todos os pacientes apresentaram cura clínica, sem recaída, embora exibissem algum grau de estenose na via respiratória superior. O motivo do relato deve-se ao fato desta doença constituir um grande desafio diagnóstico e pelo sucesso alcançado com o tratamento antibiótico.

Sexual behavior in travelers visiting Cuzco.

BACKGROUND: In South America, little is known about sexual behavior and risk factors for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among travelers and among local people sexually interacting with travelers. There is evidence that, in Peru, significant sexual interaction between these groups exists. METHOD: An anonymous written questionnaire was administered to travelers in the airport and bus stations before they left Cuzco. RESULTS: Of the travelers,5.6% engaged in sexual activity with a new partner during their stay in Cuzco. Sexual intercourse with other travelers was most common (76/140, 54.3%), followed by sex with local partners (57/140, 40.7%), and with commercial sex workers (3/140, 2.15%). Consistent condom use was reported by 97/140 (69.3%). In the multivariate analysis, the following variables were independently associated with casual sex: male gender, single marital status, age between 15 and 35 years, non-United States travelers (NUSTs), traveling alone or with friends, length of stay more than 30 days, homosexual or bisexual orientation, and expectation of having sex before traveling. Homosexual and bisexual travelers had 3 or more new sexual partners more frequently than heterosexual travelers (4/8, 18/129, OR=6.17 (1.16

First molecular evidence of new Bartonella spp. in fleas and a tick from Peru.

Fleas, lice, and ticks collected in Peru in a suburban area of Cusco in November 1998 were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Bartonella DNA using primers amplifying a fragment of the intergenic spacer region (ITS) gene. Three new Bartonella genotypes were detected in Pulex fleas self-collected from the beds and clothes of schoolchildren and adults. A fourth new genotype was also detected from a tick found on a sheep in the same area. One of the genotypes is closely related to B. vinsoni subsp. berkhoffii, and the others seem to originate from unknown Bartonella species, whose medical importance has yet to be clarified.

Eficacia y tolerancia de cefepima en infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad / Effectiveness and tolerance of cefepima in infections acquired in the community

Se evaluó la eficacia y tolerancia de cefepima, una cefalosporina de cuarta generación, en infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad siguiendo un diseño abierto y no controlado en cuatro hospitales en Lima, Perú. Entre mayo y noviembre de 1997, se tuvo 31 pacientes: 10 con infecciones de la piel y tejidos blandos, 16 con infecciones del tracto urinario alto y 5 con neumonía lobar. Se obtuvo la cura clínica en todos los pacientes con infecciones del tracto urinario y neumonía lobar; y en 8 pacientes con infecciones de la piel y tejidos blandos. Todos los pacientes lograron cura bacteriológica. Cefepima fue bien tolerada. Concluimos que cefepima es una alternativa en el manejo de las infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad.

Rinoescleroma reporte de cinco casos clínicos / Rinoescleroma reports of five clinical cases

Se evaluaron cinco pacientes con un rango de edad de 25-60 años, tres de sexo femenino y 2 de sexo masculino, todos de condición socioeconómica baja, 3 de ellos naturales de provincias. El tiempo de enfermedad varió de 6 meses a 10 años, caracterizado por compromiso de vías aéreas superiores (obstrucción nasal, estridor laríngeo, tos y expectoración esporádica), historia previa de tratamiento antibióticos y otros medicamentos sintomáticos. El diagnóstico se baso en a:) examen otorrinolaringológico, evidenciando en todos los pacientes infiltrado granulomatoso con exudado, alteraciones de la estructura con obstrucción de luz en nasofaringe u orofaringe, b) Biopsia de lesión, todos los pacientes presentaron procesos granulomatoso crónico con células sugerentes de rinoescleroma. c) Cultivo de secreción, siendo positivo en 3/5 de los pacientes, se aisló Klebsiella sp, Klebsiella rhinoescleromatis y Klebsiella ozaenae, según la histria clínica dos pacientes recibieron tratamiento antibiótico previo, pudiendo haber negativizado el cultivo. Tres pacientes recibieron ciprofloxacino 500 mg dos veces por día por un tiempo de 4 a 12 semanas, un cuarto paciente recibió ciprofloxacina por siete meses y un paciente recibió tetraciclina 500 mg cuatro veces al día por 6 semanas. El seguimiento de 3 semanas a un año muestra evolución favorable, desaparición y mejoría de la sintomatología y negativización de los cultivos.

Brote epidémico de enfermedad de Carrión en el Valle Sagrado de los Incas (Cuzco) / Outbreak of Bartonella infections in the Santuary Valley from the Incas (Cuzco)

Por primera vez se presentó una epidemia grave de la fase aguda anemizante de la enfermedad de Carrión en el Valle Sagrado de los Incas. Por ello, entre abril y junio de 1998 se estudió en forma prospectiva un total de 26 pacientes afectados por dicha fase, quienes estuvieron internados en el Hospital Regional del Cuzco. Todos ellos fueron confirmados con frotis positivo para Bartonella bacilliformis; además 6 de ellos tuvieron cultivo positivo para Bartonella bacilliformis. La edad promedio fue de 20 años (rango 21 días a 65 años). De ellos el 54 por ciento (14/26) fueron menores de 14 años. La totalidad de los pacientes procedía del Valle Sagrado de los Incas: 12 de Urubamba, 8 de Calca, 5 de Quispicanchis y uno de Cuzco. El tiempo de enfermedad promedio fue de 8 días (rango 2-22 días). De los síntomas y signos destacan: taquicardia 100 por ciento, taquipnea 97 por ciento, malestar general 85 por ciento, fiebre 81 por ciento, visceromegalia 75 por ciento, cefalea 73 por ciento, anemia severa 71 por ciento, ictericia 62 por ciento, artralgias 46 por ciento, púrpura 40 por ciento, linfoadenomegalia 25 por ciento, compromiso neurológico 31 por ciento, shock al ingreso 15 por ciento, etc. El promedio de hematocrito fue de 18.9 por ciento (rango 9-40). El 77 por ciento (19/26) presentó leucocitosis > 10,000 cel/ml, plaquetopenia el 19 por ciento (5/26), la media del incremento de bilirrubinas fue de 8.7 mg por ciento. El 100 por ciento recibió algún antibiótico solo o combinado, 57 por ciento a base de cloramfenicol (CAF) más penicilina y el 19 por ciento sólo CAF. Además el 85 por ciento (22/26) recibió transfusión sanguínea (rango 1-10 unidades) y el 66 por ciento corticoides endovenosos. Durante la evolución algunos pacientes presentaron complicaciones: 6 convulsiones, 5 anasarca, 5 púrpura (petequias, epístaxis), 4 derrame pericárdico, 4 salmonellosis, 3 neumonía, 2 toxoplasmosis, 2 artritis, 2 meningismo, 1 neumonía por Neumocystis carinii, 1 herpes diseminado. El 77 por ciento (20/26) tuvo una evolución favorable y el 23 por ceinto (6/26) falleció. Se ha encontrado en casas rurales de Pisac, Calca y Ollantaytambo a la Lutzomyia peruensis, probable vector implicado en la transmisión del presente brote.