Modern anthropogenic drought in Central Brazil unprecedented during last 700 years.

A better understanding of the relative roles of internal climate variability and external contributions, from both natural (solar, volcanic) and anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing, is important to better project future hydrologic changes. Changes in the evaporative demand play a central role in this context, particularly in tropical areas characterized by high precipitation seasonality, such as the tropical savannah and semi-desertic biomes. Here we present a set of geochemical proxies in speleothems from a well-ventilated cave located in central-eastern Brazil which shows that the evaporative demand is no longer being met by precipitation, leading to a hydrological deficit. A marked change in the hydrologic balance in central-eastern Brazil, caused by a severe warming trend, can be identified, starting in the 1970s. Our findings show that the current aridity has no analog over the last 720 years. A detection and attribution study indicates that this trend is mostly driven by anthropogenic forcing and cannot be explained by natural factors alone. These results reinforce the premise of a severe long-term drought in the subtropics of eastern South America that will likely be further exacerbated in the future given its apparent connection to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Psychopathy traits and their association with depression, anxiety and sociodemographic factors in Peruvian medical students

Introduction: Psychopathic traits harm the professional development and interpersonal relations of the general population, including healthcare professionals. This can be seen not only in already licensed physicians, but it may also be evidenced since their formative years as medical students. Objective: To evaluate the presence of psychopathic traits in a sample of Peruvian medical students and determining whether there is an association between sociodemographic and mental health (depression and anxiety) characteristics on the levels of psychopathic traits. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 497 students of a Peruvian medical school. Through online questionnaires, the following instruments were self-administered: Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Results: 19.7% of the participants were in the psychopathic group. The variables associated with a higher frequency of belonging to the psychopathic group were male sex (aPR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.58-2.79, p < 0.05), having clinically relevant depressive (aPR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.41-2.96, p < 0.05) and anxious symptoms (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01-2.09, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Medical students of the sample studied show a high prevalence of psychopathy traits. The variables associated with a higher frequency of belonging to the psychopathic group were male sex, having clinically relevant depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. More involvement on behalf of the medical school is necessary as to the identification of the psychopathic traits in medical students.

Introducción: Los rasgos psicopáticos perjudican el desarrollo profesional y las relaciones interpersonales de la población general, incluidos los profesionales de la salud. Esto se puede ver no solo en médicos ya graduados, sino que también se puede evidenciar desde sus años formativos como estudiantes de medicina. Objetivo: Evaluar la presencia de rasgos psicopáticos en una muestra de estudiantes de medicina peruanos y determinar si existe asociación entre características sociodemográficas y de salud mental (depresión y ansiedad) sobre los niveles de rasgos psicopáticos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en 497 estudiantes de una facultad de medicina peruana. A través de cuestionarios en línea, se autoadministraron los siguientes instrumentos: Escala de Psicopatía de Autoinforme de Levenson (LSRP), Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente-9 (PHQ-9) y Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada-7 (GAD-7). Resultados: El 19,7% de los participantes pertenecían al grupo de rasgos psicopáticos. Las variables asociadas a una mayor frecuencia de pertenecer al grupo psicopático fueron el sexo masculino (RPa = 2,10, IC 95%: 1,58-2,79, p < 0,05), tener síntomas depresivos (RPa = 2,05, IC 95%: 1,41-2,96, p < 0,05) y ansiosos (RPa = 1,46, IC 95%: 1,01-2,09, p < 0,05) clínicamente relevantes. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes de medicina de la muestra estudiada presentan una alta prevalencia de rasgos psicopáticos. Las variables asociadas a una mayor frecuencia de pertenecer al grupo psicopático fueron el sexo masculino, tener síntomas depresivos y ansiosos clínicamente relevantes. Es necesaria una mayor participación por parte de las facultades de medicina en cuanto a la identificación de los rasgos psicopáticos en sus estudiantes.

Streptomyces sp. 6E3 antimicrobial activity isolated from mineral concentrate. / Actividad antimicrobiana de Streptomyces sp. 6E3 aislado de concentrado de mineral.

The objectives of this study were to determine the antimicrobial activity of a culture of Streptomyces sp. 6E3 isolated from minerals against different pathogenic strains, to produce an extract and to estimate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the fractions against methicillin-resistant Staphylococ cus aureus (MRSA). Streptomyces sp. 6E3 showed antimicrobial activity primarily against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Five of the six fractions presented antimicrobial activity and the most effective gave a MIC of 0.88 ug / mL against S. aureus ATCC 33862, 0.44 ug / mL against S. aureus ATCC 43300 and 1.76 ug / mL vs. a S. aureus MRSA strain. Streptomyces sp. 6E3 has an antimicrobial potential against S. aureus strains resistant to methicillin and non-resistant, being of interest carrying out of more studies on its active metabolites.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la actividad antimicrobiana de un cultivo de Streptomyces sp. 6E3 aislado de minerales frente a diferentes cepas patógenas, producir un extracto y estimar la concen tración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) de las fracciones contra Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM). La cepa Streptomyces sp. 6E3 mostró actividad antimicrobiana principalmente contra Staphy lococcus aureus (S. aureus). Cinco de las seis fracciones presentaron actividad antimicrobiana y la más efectiva dio una CMI de 0,88 ug/mL frente a S. aureus ATCC 33862, 0,44 ug/mL frente a S. aureus ATCC 43300 y 1,76 ug/mL frente a S. aureus cepa SARM. Streptomyces sp. 6E3 tiene un potencial antimicrobiano frente a cepas de S. aureus resistentes a meticilina y no resistentes, siendo de interés la realización de más estudios sobre sus metabolitos activos.

Actividad antimicrobiana de Streptomyces sp. 6E3 aislado de concentrado de mineral* / Streptomyces sp. 6E3 antimicrobial activity isolated from mineral concentrate

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la actividad antimicrobiana de un cultivo de Streptomyces sp. 6E3 aislado de minerales frente a diferentes cepas patógenas, producir un extracto y estimar la concen tración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) de las fracciones contra Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM). La cepa Streptomyces sp. 6E3 mostró actividad antimicrobiana principalmente contra Staphy lococcus aureus (S. aureus). Cinco de las seis fracciones presentaron actividad antimicrobiana y la más efectiva dio una CMI de 0,88 ug/mL frente a S. aureus ATCC 33862, 0,44 ug/mL frente a S. aureus ATCC 43300 y 1,76 ug/mL frente a S. aureus cepa SARM. Streptomyces sp. 6E3 tiene un potencial antimicrobiano frente a cepas de S. aureus resistentes a meticilina y no resistentes, siendo de interés la realización de más estudios sobre sus metabolitos activos.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to determine the antimicrobial activity of a culture of Streptomyces sp. 6E3 isolated from minerals against different pathogenic strains, to produce an extract and to estimate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the fractions against methicillin-resistant Staphylococ cus aureus (MRSA). Streptomyces sp. 6E3 showed antimicrobial activity primarily against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Five of the six fractions presented antimicrobial activity and the most effective gave a MIC of 0.88 ug / mL against S. aureus ATCC 33862, 0.44 ug / mL against S. aureus ATCC 43300 and 1.76 ug / mL vs. a S. aureus MRSA strain. Streptomyces sp. 6E3 has an antimicrobial potential against S. aureus strains resistant to methicillin and non-resistant, being of interest carrying out of more studies on its active metabolites.

Medieval Climate Variability in the eastern Amazon-Cerrado regions and its archeological implications.

The South American Monsoon System is responsible for the majority of precipitation in the continent, especially over the Amazon and the tropical savannah, known as 'Cerrado'. Compared to the extensively studied subtropical and temperate regions the effect of the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) on the precipitation over the tropics is still poorly understood. Here, we present a multiproxy paleoprecipitation reconstruction showing a consistent change in the hydrologic regime during the MCA in the eastern Amazon and 'Cerrado', characterized by a substantial transition from humid to drier conditions during the Early (925-1150 C.E.) to Late-MCA (1150-1350 C.E.). We compare the timing of major changes in the monsoon precipitation with the expansion and abandonment of settlements reported in the archeological record. Our results show that important cultural successions in the pre-Columbian Central Amazon, the transition from Paredão to Guarita phase, are in agreement with major changes in the hydrologic regime. Phases of expansion and, subsequent abandonment, of large settlements from Paredão during the Early to Late-MCA are coherent with a reduction in water supply. In this context we argue that the sustained drier conditions during the latter period may have triggered territorial disputes with Guarita leading to the Paredão demise.

Síndrome de Cotard, catatonía y depresión: reporte de un caso / Cotard's syndrome, catatonia and depression: A case report

El síndrome de Cotard es una condición psiquiátrica relativamente infrecuente y de características clínicas a veces dramáticas. El paciente niega la existencia de algunas partes de su cuerpo, o incluso, su propia existencia. Inicialmente descrito por Jules Cotard en 1880, este síndrome ha pasado por varias vicisitudes conceptuales a lo largo de su historia. Actualmente las delusiones de negación o nihilistas se consideran como sinónimos del síndrome de Cotard, en tanto que la presencia de síntomas catatónicos ha sido generalmente descrita como poco frecuente. Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 47 años con trastorno depresivo mayor que desarrolló un síndrome de Cotard y catatonía; el paciente mejoró consistentemente con venlafaxina 150 mg/día, aripiprazol 15 mg/día y diazepam 40 mg/día después de cuatro semanas. El artículo se complementa con una revisión de la literatura en torno al síndrome.

Cotard's syndrome is a relatively rare psychiatric condition, with sometimes dramatic clinical characteristics. The patient so diagnosed denies the existence of some parts of his body, or even, his or her own existence. Initially described by Jules Cotard in 1880, the history of this syndrome has gone through a variety of conceptual vicissitudes. Nowadays, denying or nihilist delusions are considered as a synonym of Cotard's syndrome, while the presence of catatonic symptoms has been described as fairly infrequent. The case of a 47-year-old male patient with major depressive disorder who developed Cotard's syndrome and catatonia is presented; he was treated with venlafaxine 150 mg/day, aripiprazole 15 mg/day and diazepam 40 mg/day, showing a consistent improvement after four weeks. A literature review about Cotard syndrome complements the case discussion.