Antibacterial ability of different activated irrigation after root canal preparation: intratubular analyses.

This study assessed the intratubular antibacterial ability of different activated irrigations after chemical mechanical preparation. Seventy-two palatal root canals of upper molars were infected with Enterococcus faecalis for 4 weeks, and then initial bacterial collection from the main root canal was performed. The root canals were prepared by using a WaveOne Gold large (45/.05) and distributed into 6 groups according to the activation of the final irrigation: ultrasonic activation (UA), XP-Endo Finisher (25/.00), XP Clean (25/.02), EasyClean (25/.04) in reciprocating motion and continuous rotary motion (ECRot), and conventional irrigation. After final irrigation, another bacterial collection from the main root canal was performed, and the root was sectioned transversely in three-thirds and stained for analysis by confocal laser microscopy. Intratubular bacteria were collected through dentin powder and plated for bacterial viability analysis. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed by using analysis of variance and repeated measures analysis of variance, respectively, both at 5% significance. ECRot had higher antibacterial ability than UA (p<0.05), and both were superior to the other groups (p<0.05) in both methodologies. It can be concluded that activation of final irrigation enhances the disinfection of the root canal system, and activators have different efficacies.

Eugeniasarahchazaroi (Myrtaceae, Myrteae), a new species from the cloud forest of Mexico.

Following the description of Eugenianaraveana in 2016 from the cloud forest of the Cofre de Perote volcano, Mexico, the doubt about the existence of another unlocalized and sympatric species of Eugenia remained. After years of searching, the second endemic species of the Cofre de Perote volcano, Eugeniasarahchazaroi, is presented here. It belongs to the section Umbellatae, and is described, illustrated, and compared with E.naraveana and E.coetzalensis, recently described from Veracruz, the second state with the highest diversity of Eugenia in Mexico. The species is only known from the type locality and is classified in the Critically Endangered CR B1+B2(a,biii) category of the IUCN Red List conservation assessments.

Recent HIV infection and annualized HIV incidence rates among sexual and gender minorities in Brazil and Peru (ImPrEP seroincidence study): a cross-sectional, multicenter study.

Background: HIV incidence estimation is critical for monitoring the HIV epidemic dynamics and the effectiveness of public health prevention interventions. We aimed to identify sexual and gender minorities (SGM) with recent HIV infections, factors associated with recent HIV infection, and to estimate annualised HIV incidence rates. Methods: Cross-sectional multicentre study in HIV testing services in Brazil and Peru (15 cities). Inclusion criteria: 18+ years, SGM assigned male at birth, not using pre-/post-exposure prophylaxis. We identified recent HIV infection using the Maxim HIV-1 LAg-Avidity EIA assay as part of a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA). Annualized HIV incidence was calculated using the UNAIDS/WHO incidence estimator tool. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate factors associated with recent HIV infection. Trial registration: NCT05674682. Findings: From 31-Jan-2021 to 29-May-2022, 6899 individuals participated [Brazil: 4586 (66.5%); Peru: 2313 (33.5%)]; 5946 (86.2%) cisgender men, 751 (10.9%) transgender women and 202 (2.9%) non-binary/gender diverse. Median age was 27 (IQR: 23-34) years. HIV prevalence was 11.4% (N = 784/6899); 137 (2.0%) SGM were identified with recent HIV infection. The overall annualized HIV incidence rate was 3.88% (95% CI: 2.86-4.87); Brazil: 2.62% (95% CI: 1.78-3.43); Peru: 6.69% (95% CI: 4.62-8.69). Participants aged 18-24 years had higher odds of recent HIV infection compared to those aged 30+ years in both countries. Interpretation: Our results highlight the significant burden of HIV epidemic among SGM in large urban centres of Brazil and Peru. Public health policies and interventions to increase access to effective HIV prevention methods such as PrEP are urgently needed in Latin America. Funding: Unitaid, WHO (Switzerland), Ministry of Health from Brazil and Peru.

Sustainable Process for Tortilla Production Using Ohmic Heating with Minimal Impact on the Nutritional Value, Protein, and Calcium Performance.

The nixtamalization process used for tortilla production entails extended processing time and generates pollutant effluents. Ohmic heating (OH) is an emerging technology that uses an alternating electric current for rapid and uniform food heating and mitigates effluent concerns. However, gaps exist in nutrient bioavailability studies. In this work, we assessed OH's impact on tortilla nutritional value, protein, and calcium using a rat model. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were fed one of four diets for 21 days: raw corn (RC) as an experimental control, OH-processed tortillas (OHTs), traditionally processed tortillas (TPTs), commercial tortillas (CTs), and a casein diet (CD) as a growth control. Despite similar protein and macronutrient profiles, OH significantly enhanced insoluble fiber content. The weight gain sequence was OHTs > TPTs > CTs > RC. OHTs exhibited superior protein digestibility (88.52%), which was 3% higher than other diets. The serum albumin (2.63-2.73 g/dL) indicated moderate malnutrition due to the tortilla's lower protein content. Nonetheless, the protein efficiency ratio (1.2-1.74) showed no significant difference from TPTs. Bone characteristics and fracture strength resembled the tortilla-fed groups, surpassing RC. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the OHT and TPT diets improved male rat bone thickness and crystallinity. The findings suggest the potential for OH as an eco-friendly tortilla production method, maintaining nutritional value comparable to traditional methods.

Same-day initiation of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among gay, bisexual, and other cisgender men who have sex with men and transgender women in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru (ImPrEP): a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicentre implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Although gay, bisexual, and other cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women have the highest HIV burden in Latin America, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation is poor. We aimed to assess the feasibility of same-day oral PrEP delivery in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. METHODS: Implementation PrEP (ImPrEP) was a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicentre PrEP implementation study conducted in Brazil (14 sites), Mexico (four sites), and Peru (ten sites). MSM and transgender women were eligible to participate if they were aged 18 years or older, HIV-negative, and reported one or more prespecified criteria. Enrolled participants received same-day initiation of daily oral PrEP (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [300 mg] coformulated with emtricitabine [200 mg]). Follow-up visits were scheduled at week 4 and quarterly thereafter. We used logistic regression models to identify factors associated with early loss to follow-up (not returning after enrolment), PrEP adherence (medication possession ratio ≥0·6), and long-term PrEP engagement (attending three or more visits within 52 weeks). This study is registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, U1111-1217-6021. FINDINGS: From Feb 6, 2018, to June 30, 2021, 9979 participants were screened and 9509 were enrolled (Brazil n=3928, Mexico n=3288, and Peru n=2293). 543 (5·7%) participants were transgender women, 8966 (94·3%) were cisgender men, and 2481 (26·1%) were aged 18-24 years. There were 12 185·25 person-years of follow-up. 795 (8·4%) of 9509 participants had early loss to follow-up, 6477 (68·1%) of 9509 were adherent to PrEP, and 5783 (70·3%) of 8225 had long-term PrEP engagement. Transgender women (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% CI 1·20-2·14), participants aged 18-24 years (1·80, 1·49-2·18), and participants with primary education (2·18, 1·29-3·68) had increased odds of early loss to follow-up. Transgender women (0·56, 0·46-0·70), participants aged 18-24 years (0·52, 0·46-0·58), and those with primary education (0·60, 0·40-0·91) had lower odds of PrEP adherence. Transgender women (0·56, 0·45-0·71), participants aged 18-24 years (0·56, 0·49-0·64), and those with secondary education (0·74, 0·68-0·86) had lower odds of long-term PrEP engagement. HIV incidence was 0·85 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0·70-1·03) and was higher for transgender women, participants from Peru, those aged 18-24 years, Black and mixed-race participants, and participants who were non-adherent to PrEP. INTERPRETATION: Same-day oral PrEP is feasible for MSM and transgender women in Latin America. Social and structural determinants of HIV vulnerability need to be addressed to fully achieve the benefits of PrEP. FUNDING: Unitaid, WHO, and Ministries of Health in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. TRANSLATIONS: For the Portuguese and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Gallic, ellagic acids and their oral combined administration induce kidney, lung, and heart injury after acute exposure in Wistar rats.

Gallic (GA) and ellagic (EA) acids are present in foods, medicinal plants, teas, and dietary supplements. An acute toxicological study was conducted by oral administration of both compounds alone (200, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) and combined (2000 mg/kg) and their effects on the electron transport chain (ETC) and the ROS production in kidney mitochondria further evaluated. All treatments induced a dose-dependent heart, lung, and kidney injury. However, the intensity of these effects varied according to the substance, with greater cardiac and renal toxicity for EA and pulmonary injury for GA, while the combination attenuated the toxicity of the isolated molecules. All substances inhibited the activity of complexes II, III, and IV of the ETC from renal mitochondria. However, no changes were observed regarding mitochondrial ROS production. These compounds have a non-negligible inherent deleterious potential, so their uncontrolled use at high doses (≥200 mg/kg) could cause undesirable effects.

MTA-Based Cements: Biocompatibility and Effects on the Gene Expression of Collagen Type 1 and TGF-ß1.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate the biocompatibility of Neomineral Trioxide Aggregate (Neo-MTA), MTA Repair High Plasticity (MTA-HP), and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate-Angelus white (MTA-Ang) in fibroblasts of human dental pulp. Materials and Methods: Morphology was evaluated after 24 h of incubation. LIVE/DEAD assay and cell adhesion tests were performed at 24 h of treatment. Cell proliferation assays (MTSs) and Annexin V were performed at 48 h incubation with different treatments. The expression of Col-1 and TGF-ß1 was tested by endpoint PCR at 5 days of treatment. Results: Morphological changes were observed in all groups. Neo-MTA and MTA-Ang were associated with increased cell viability, and all materials induced apoptosis, with a higher percentage in the MTA-HP group than in the other groups. In the LIVE/DEAD assay, there was more damage to the cell membrane in the group of cells treated with MTA-HP than in the other groups. Conclusion: Neo-MTA and MTA-Ang presented similar biocompatibility, and both showed greater biocompatibility than MTA-HP. MTA-HP and MTA-Ang increased Col-1A gene expression, and Neo-MTA and MTA-Ang increased TGF-ß1 gene expression in a similar way.

Pro-angiogenic potential of a functionalized hydrogel scaffold as a secretome delivery platform: An innovative strategy for cell homing-based dental pulp tissue engineering.

Angiogenesis is a key process that provides a suitable environment for successful tissue engineering and is even more crucial in regenerative endodontic procedures, since the root canal anatomy limits the development of a vascular network supply. Thus, sustainable and accelerated vascularization of tissue-engineered dental pulp constructs remains a major challenge in cell homing approaches. This study aimed to functionalize a chitosan hydrogel scaffold (CS) as a platform loaded with secretomes of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) and evaluate its bioactive function and pro-angiogenic properties. Initially, the CS was loaded with SHED secretomes (CS-S), and the release kinetics of several trophic factors were assessed. Proliferation and chemotaxis assays were performed to analyze the effect of functionalized scaffold on stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) and the angiogenic potential was analyzed through the Matrigel tube formation assay with co-cultured of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and SCAPs. SHEDs and SCAPs expressed typical levels of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers. CS-S was able to release the trophic factors in a sustained manner, but each factor has its own release kinetics. The CS-S group showed a significantly higher proliferation rate, accelerated the chemotaxis, and higher capacity to form vascular-like structures. CS-S provided a sustained and controlled release of trophic factors, which, in turn, improved proliferation, chemotaxis and all angiogenesis parameters in the co-culture. Thus, the functionalization of chitosan scaffolds loaded with secretomes is a promising platform for cell homing-based tissue engineering.

The 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, attenuates long-lasting pain in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice.

Psoriasis pain is a common symptom underestimated and rarely evaluated in psoriasis clinical trials. This work aimed to investigate whether the development of secondary chronic allodynia and hyperalgesia in the imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mice model could be modulated by anti-inflammatory agents and compound 48/80 (C48/80) and to determine whether the activation of 5-HT1A receptor modulates these nociceptive behaviours. C57BL/6 male mice were treated with 5% IMQ for 7 days. The paw withdrawal responses to von Frey filaments (10 and 250 mN) were used to assess the allodynia and hyperalgesia. Nociceptive behaviours were also evaluated using ketorolac 15 mg/kg s.c., adalimumab 10 mg/kg s.c. and C48/80 10 mg/kg i.p. Then, the serum serotonin and the impact of 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg s.c), a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, on long-lasting pain were examined. Mice receiving IMQ showed enhanced nociception, which decreased with all tested compounds. The serum serotonin in the IMQ group showed a significant decrease (947.042 ng/ml) regarding the control group (1143.68 ng/ml). The pretreatment with 8-OH-DPAT alleviated pain-related behaviours. These results suggest that the long-lasting pain resulting from psoriasis inflammation is also associated with the serotonergic system. The 5-HT1A receptor should be further explored as a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis pain modulation.

Age-related Variations at the Cementodentinal Junction: An Ex Vivo Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the age-related anatomical changes that take place at the cementodentinal junction (CDJ). METHODS: Eighty-four teeth were extracted; 42 samples came from patients ranging in age from 18 to 30 years, and 42 came from patients aged from 40 to 60 years. Upper and lower and anterior and posterior teeth were included. Longitudinal slices were made, and 1% toluidine blue was used to stain all the samples prior to microscopic examination. Anatomical landmarks (apical foramen [AF], apical vertex, and cementoenamel junction) in the apical third were identified, and a pre-calibrated software package was employed to take digital measurements. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: The data obtained showed that there were anatomical variations in the apical third in the older patients and that these changes were related to the age of the patient. Narrower root canals and smaller CDJ diameters were found in older patients' samples. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that instrumentation and obturation should take place 1 mm from the AF in older patients, and not 0.5 mm, as is usually recommended.

Mathematical Model for Describing Corn Grain Dehydration Kinetics after a Nixtamalization Process.

In this research, the mathematical model associated with the hydrothermal dehydration process of Nixtamalized Corn Grains (NCG) with different Steeping Time (ST) values, allows the fitting of experimental data with initial moisture M0 and the equilibrium moisture ME as a function of Isothermal Dehydration Time (IDT). The moisture percentage for any time t and dehydration rate (isolines M(t) and isolines vI respectively) of the NCG is shown by means of matrix graphics as a simultaneous function of IDT and ST. The relationship between initial dehydration rate v0 and initial moisture M0 establishes as a function of ST. Also, the mathematical model associated with the solution of the second Fick's law allows calculating the diffusivity rate vk (H2O molecules out of NCG) and verify that the rate of change in moisture and the dynamical proportionality constant k has a non-linear dependence on the IDT and that k is directly proportional to Deff. The k values strongly relate to ST and the calcium ions percentage into NCG according to solubility lime values into cooking water (or nejayote) as a function of decreasing temperature when ST increases.

Cultivable Yeast Microbiota from the Marine Fish Species Genypterus chilensis and Seriolella violacea.

Because of its outstanding biological and industrial importance, many efforts have been made to characterize the mycobiota of new environments and their biochemical and biotechnological potentials. Gut mycobiota can be a source of novel yeasts with the potential to be used as probiotics or have industrial applications. In this work, we characterized two as-yet unexplored yeast communities from the intestinal content of the cultured marine Chilean fishes Genypterus chilensis (G. chilensis) and Seriolella violacea (S. violacea). Yeasts were isolated through culture, identified by sequencing their ITS region, and characterized their enzymatic profile with API®ZYM. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was identified in both fish species. For the first time, Candida palmioleophila, Candida pseudorugosa, Cystobasidium slooffiae, and a member of the Yamadazyma genus were also identified and described as part of the normal fish gut-microbiota. Furthermore, the diverse enzymatic profile exhibited by some of these isolates suggests that it may be possible to develop novel applications for them, such as new probiotics and other biotechnological applications.

Effect of human dental pulp stem cell conditioned medium in the dentin-pulp complex regeneration: A pilot in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Dental trauma, restorative operative procedures and/or caries lesions can expose the dental pulp. Facing this clinical condition, where the maintenance of the dentin-pulp complex vitality is imperative, is challenging in Dentistry. Dental pulp stem cells conditioned medium contains trophic factors that could help in this task. This in vivo pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of the human dental pulp stem cells conditioned medium on the dental pulp tissue response to vital pulp therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Concentrated conditioned medium was obtained by incubating characterized human dental pulp stem cells with fresh culture medium. Pulp exposures performed at the first upper molars (n = 20) of Wistar rats were directly capped with: MTA or MTA + Conditioned Medium. Four and 8 weeks later, the samples were qualitatively analyzed in histological sections (H&E). RESULTS: When the conditioned medium was associated with MTA, there were a high percentage of samples presenting formation of dentin bridges and small percentage of pulp tissue with inflammatory signs in both experimental times. The conditioned medium improved the organization of the newly formed hard tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The association of dental pulp stem cell conditioned medium with MTA showed beneficial effects on dentin-pulp complex regeneration and has promising potential for studies in regenerative dentistry.

Morphological and molecular characterization of an Elaeis oleifera (H.B.K) Cortes germplasm collection located in Ucayali, Peru.

The African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) is a crop that is widely distributed in tropical regions around the world; however, this crop is subject to limitations such as rapid trunk growth and susceptibility to bud rot and red ring diseases particularly in South America. To overcome these limitations, national breeding and conservation programs have been established, and there is a need to identify parental palms from natural populations of the American oil palm (E. oleifera H.B.K. Cortes) with desirable yield and morphological traits (i.e., yield production and bunch number) and with high genetic diversity. However, in Peru the morphological and genetic data related to this important crop is limited. In this study, we characterized the morphological and yield and estimated the genetic diversity using 12 neutral microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) across 72 oil palm individuals belonging to the E. oleifera germplasm collection located in the tropical region of Ucayali, Peru. Our results showed that morphological and yield traits explained approximately 40.39% of the variability within the Peruvian germplasm. Furthermore, Yield Production was highly correlated with two yield traits: Bunch Number (0.67) and Average weight per bunch (0.78). Based on the yield and morphological traits, a clustering analysis was performed and three phenotypic groups were identified (1, 2 and 3) in which groups 1 and 3 showed high scores associated primarily with yield traits. Microsatellite markers revealed 143 alleles, 11.92 ± 4.72 alleles per locus (A) and an expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.69 ± 0.045. A structural analysis identified three populations (k = 3), that were not related to the phenotypic groups. Interestingly, a multiple allele background was identified within the groups using multilocus and phylogenetic relationship analyses. This is the first Peruvian report regarding E. oleifera that shows preliminary data of the morphological and yield traits and genetic data, and highlight the importance of this information to set up future steps to national breeding strategies and improve the conservation of genetic material of E. oleifera. Overall, these novel findings could contribute to the development of the local oil palm industry in Peru.

Development and characterization of a new chitosan-based scaffold associated with gelatin, microparticulate dentin and genipin for endodontic regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: An ideal scaffold for endodontic regeneration should allow the predictableness of the new tissue organization and limit the negative impact of residual bacteria. Therefore, composition and functionalization of the scaffold play an important role in tissue bioengineering. The objective of this study was to assess the morphological, physicochemical, biological and antimicrobial properties of a new solid chitosan-based scaffold associated with gelatin, microparticulate dentin and genipin. METHODS: Scaffolds based on chitosan (Ch); chitosan associated with gelatin and genipin (ChGG); and chitosan associated with gelatin, microparticulate dentin and genipin (ChGDG) were prepared by using the freeze-drying method. The morphology of the scaffolds was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The physicochemical properties were assessed for biodegradation, swelling and total released proteins. The biological aspects of the scaffolds were assessed using human cells from the apical papilla (hCAPs). Cell morphology and adhesion to the scaffolds were evaluated by SEM, cytotoxicity and cell proliferation by MTT reduction-assay. Cell differentiation in scaffolds was assessed by using alizarin red assay. The antimicrobial effect of the scaffolds was evaluated by using the bacterial culture method, and bacterial adhesion to the scaffolds was observed by SEM. RESULTS: All the scaffolds presented porous structures. The ChCDG had more protein release, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of hCAPs, and bacteriostatic effect on Enterococcus faecalis than Ch and ChGG (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The chitosan associated with gelatin, microparticulate dentin and genipin has morphological, physicochemical, biological and antibacterial characteristics suitable for their potential use as scaffold in regenerative endodontics.

Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of the penetration of an epoxy resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules after calcium hydroxide dressing.

This study assessed the penetration of an epoxy resin-based sealer into dentinal tubules of root canals previously medicated with calcium hydroxide. Sixteen palatal root canals of upper molars were instrumented and distributed into two groups: (G1) root canals medicated with calcium hydroxide and obturated after its removal; (G2) root canals obturated without the use of dressing. Sealer mixed with rhodamine B provided fluorescence for confocal laser scanning microscopy. Measurements of area and linear penetration of the sealer were assessed in three thirds by ImageJ software. The data were statistically compared by Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn's and Mann-Whitney U tests (P < 0.01). The calcium hydroxide decreased the penetration of the sealer. The coronal and middle thirds had similar areas and linear penetrations in both groups, whereas the apical third had less penetration. In conclusion, the penetration of the epoxy resin-based sealer is influenced by the calcium hydroxide dressing used between appointments.

Physical and Biological Properties of a Chitosan Hydrogel Scaffold Associated to Photobiomodulation Therapy for Dental Pulp Regeneration: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

BACKGROUND: The regeneration of dental pulp, especially in cases of pulp death of immature teeth, is the goal of the regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) that are based on tissue engineering principles, consisting of stem cells, growth factors, and scaffolds. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) showed to improve dental pulp regeneration through cell homing approaches in preclinical studies and has been proposed as the fourth element of tissue engineering. However, when a blood clot was used as a scaffold in one of these previous studies, only 30% of success was achieved. The authors pointed out the instability of the blood clot as the regeneration shortcoming. Then, to circumvent this problem, a new scaffold was developed to be applied with the blood clot. The hypothesis of the present study was that an experimental injectable chitosan hydrogel would facilitate the three-dimensional spatial organization of endogenous stem cells in dental pulp regeneration with no interference on the positive influence of PBMT. METHODS: For the in vitro analysis, stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) were characterized by flow cytometry and applied in the chitosan scaffold for evaluating adhesion, migration, and proliferation. For the in vivo analysis, the chitosan scaffold was applied in a rodent orthotopic dental pulp regeneration model under the influence of PBMT (660 nm; power output of 20 mW, beam area of 0.028 cm2, and energy density of 5 J/cm2). RESULTS: The scaffold tested in this study allowed significantly higher viability, proliferation, and migration of SCAPs in vitro when PBMT was applied, especially with the energy density of 5 J/cm2. These results were in consonance to those of the in vivo data, where pulp-like tissue formation was observed inside the root canal. CONCLUSION: Chitosan hydrogel when applied with a blood clot and PBMT could in the future improve previous results of dental pulp regeneration through cell homing approaches.

Criterios de retorno al trabajo y determinación del valor de vulnerabilidad por Covid-19 / Criteria for returning to work and determination of the vulnerability value for Covid-19

Resumen: Objetivo: Establecer criterios médicos de retorno al trabajo en personal con riesgo de complicaciones por Covid-19. Material y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática para identificar las condiciones y las características clínicas que influyen en el riesgo de desarrollar Covid-19 grave. Resultados: Se ha demostrado incremento del riesgo en obesidad, edad >60 años, diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, enfermedad cardiovascular, enfermedad renal crónica y cáncer. Solamente en diabetes se ha estudiado si el control previo influye. Se proponen condiciones específicas y el nivel de riesgo epidemiológico para el retorno al trabajo. Conclusiones: El retorno laboral de estos grupos debe priorizarse buscando favorecer el control de la enfermedad, identificando el estado de salud que incrementa el riesgo y protegiendo el derecho al trabajo. Se presentan recomendaciones para guiar la reincorporación al trabajo.

Abstract: Objective: To establish medical criteria for return to work to people with increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19. Materials and methods. We performed a systematic review to identify the conditions and clinical characteristics that influence the risk of developing severe Covid-19. Results: Increased risk has been shown in obesity, age >60 years old, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer. Only in diabetes it has been studied whether prior control influences. Specific medical conditions and epidemiological risk level for return to work are proposed. Conclusions: Return to work of vulnerable groups should be prioritized, seeking to promote disease control, identifying health conditions that increase risk, and protecting the right to work. We present recommendations to guide the return to work.

Gene expression profile involved in signaling and apoptosis of osteoblasts in contact with cellulose/MWCNTs scaffolds.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the expression profile of genes involved in signaling, intracellular and extracellular Ca+2 concentration and apoptosis pathways of osteoblasts in contact with a scaffold made of a composite of BCN/MWCNTs. Osteoblasts were cultivated on BCN, MWCNTs and their mixtures. Osteoblast RNA was extracted for sintering cDNA to amplify genes of interest by PCR; intra- and extracellular calcium (Ca2+) was also quantified. Regarding the genes that participate in the regulation paths (MAPK and NF-KB), it was found that only the expression of NF-KB was affected in all treatments. The expression of VEGFA increased, except in the treatment of high concentration of MWCNTs, where remained unchanged. The expression of genes Apaf-1 and Bcl-2/Bax and TP53 increased as compared to the control (except for TP53 in BC and C1/MWCNTs) indicating that cells are responding to the presence of BCN-MWCNTs composites scaffolds. The results suggest that osteoblast developed a modification in the expression profile of genes that actively participate in cellular processes such as proliferation, vasculogenesis and apoptosis, which may be modulated by the increase of intra- and extracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Left ventricular phosphorylation patterns of Akt and ERK1/2 after triiodothyronine intracoronary perfusion in isolated hearts and short-term in vivo treatment in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) intracoronary perfusion in isolated hearts and short-term administration in rats on the left ventricular (LV) phosphorylation patterns of Akt and ERK1/2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cardiodynamic and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Left ventricles were used for histomorphometric and Western blot analyses. Short-term hyperthyroidism was established by T3 (500 µg.kg-1.d-1; subcutaneous injection) for 1 (T31d), 3 (T33d), and 10 (T310d) days. RESULTS: Isolated hearts receiving T3 perfusion did not modify LV developed pressure, +dP/dtmax, -dP/dtmin, heart rate, and coronary perfusion pressure compared with vehicle-perfused hearts. P-ERK1/2 and p-Akt levels in LV tissues after 5, 15, or 60 min of T3 or vehicle perfusion were similar. Compared with their time-matched controls, isolated hearts of T33d and T310d rats exhibited LV hypertrophy and increased absolute values of +dP/dtmax and -dP/dtmin (i.e., positive inotropic and lusitropic effects). P-ERK1/2 decreased in LV tissues of T31d and T310d but not in those of T33d rats, and p-Akt levels augmented in left ventricles of T33d and stayed unaltered in those of T31d and T310d rats. CONCLUSION: T3 intracoronary perfusion did not alter cardiodynamics and hemodynamics nor influence the activation of Akt and ERK of normal hearts. Accordingly, the rapid non-genomic effects of T3 were not evident. Short-term T3 treatment provoked cardiac hypertrophy coincidental with increased LV function and associated with transient Akt activation and cyclic ERK1/2 inhibition; which implies activation of physiological hypertrophy signaling and deactivation of pathological hypertrophy signaling, respectively.