Social environment and anogenital distance length phenotype interact to explain testosterone levels in a communally rearing rodent: Part 1: The male side.

In vertebrates, male testosterone levels vary across the year being generally higher during the mating season relative to the offspring rearing season. However, male testosterone levels may also be associated with male anogenital distance (AGD) length (a proxy of prenatal androgen exposition), and influenced by the social group environment. In social species, it has been proposed that high levels of testosterone could be incompatible with the development of an amicable social environment. Thus, in these species, it is predicted that males have relatively low levels of testosterone. Our goal was to examine the potential association between male serum testosterone levels, season, male AGD length, and the social environment in the rodent Octodon degus under natural conditions. We quantified male serum testosterone levels during the mating and offspring rearing seasons, and we determined the number of females and males in each social group, as well as the composition of groups, in terms of the AGD length of the female and male group mates, from 2009 to 2019. Our results revealed that male testosterone levels covary with season, being highest during the offspring rearing season. Additionally, male testosterone levels vary with male AGD length, and female and male social group environments. More importantly, male degus exhibit low levels of testosterone that are indistinguishable from female levels during offspring rearing season. Similar to other highly social mammals, where males and females live together year-round, male amicable behavior could be the best male mating strategy, thus leading to a reduction in circulating testosterone levels.

Social environment and anogenital distance length phenotype interact to explain testosterone levels in a communally rearing rodent: Part 2: The female side.

Testosterone is known as a "male" hormone; however, females also synthetize testosterone, which influences female sexual and aggressive behavior. In female vertebrates, as in males, testosterone levels can vary seasonally. However, female testosterone levels may also be related with female anogenital distance (AGD) length phenotype (a proxy of prenatal androgen exposure), and the social group environment. We used data from a long-term rodent study (2009-2019) in a natural population of degus (Octodon degus) to examine the potential associations between female serum testosterone levels, season, female AGD phenotype, and social group composition. We quantified female serum testosterone levels during the mating and offspring rearing seasons, and we determined the number of females and males in social groups, as well the composition of groups, in terms of the AGD of the female and male group mates. Our results indicate that female testosterone levels vary with season, being highest during the offspring rearing season. Additionally, female testosterone levels were associated with the number of male group-members and the AGD of male group-members but were not associated with female social environment and focal female AGD phenotype. Together, our results suggest that female testosterone levels are sensitive to intersexual interactions. Our results also reveal that female and male testosterone levels do not differ between the sexes, a finding previously reported only in rock hyraxes. We discuss how the complex social system of degus could be driving this physiological similarity between the sexes.

Fracturas del extremo distal del radio en el esqueleto inmaduro: estudio epidemiológico en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell / Fraturas da extremidade distal do rádio no esqueleto imaturo: estudo epidemiológico no Hospital Pereira Rossell / Fracture of the distal end of the radius in children: epidemiological study at the Pereira Rossell Hospital Center

Objetivo principal: Conocer la epidemiologia de las fracturas del cuarto distal del radio en el esqueleto en crecimiento y el tratamiento realizado en el CHPR en los años 2017 y 2018. Objetivos específicos: Valorar re-desplazamiento, necesidad de re manipulación, complicaciones, re-fractura. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes de 0 a 14 años con fractura de radio distal (fisaria, metafisaria y suprametafisaria) valorados en el CHPR entre 1 enero del 2017 y 31 diciembre del 2018. Criterios de exclusión: pacientes con radiografía normal, fracturas en miembros con malformaciones, infecciones óseas, patología tumoral maligna o benigna. Obtención de datos: Valoración de radiografías de puño y antebrazo realizadas en el CHPR en 2017 y 18, iniciales y evolutivas. Se analizaron: edad, sexo, fecha fractura, topografía de la fractura, desplazamiento inicial, tratamiento, evolución radiográfica y complicaciones. Resultados: se incluyeron 662 pacientes. Siendo en su mayoría de género masculino (65%), con una media de 9 años, miembro derecho (61%), en los meses de verano (36%). En cuanto a la topografía se evidenció una frecuencia mayor en fracturas tipo rodete y metafisarias (31.72% y 31.57%), seguido por suprametafisaria (18.43%) y fisaria (18.28%). El tratamiento realizado fue ortopédico en el 86.56% de los casos, mientras que quirúrgico fue el 12.84%, en su gran mayoría con alambres de Kirschner (11,2%). El tiempo de inmovilización promedio fue de 6 semanas, con un porcentaje de complicaciones del 14.05% del total de las fracturas. Conclusiones: Se valoraron las características de los pacientes y fracturas de radio distal en el CHPR en los años 2017 y 18, siendo un total de 662 fracturas, en las que su mayoría se realizó tratamiento ortopédico con un índice de complicaciones que ronda el 14%, siendo mayor cuanto mayor es el desplazamiento inicial de la fractura.

Objetivo principal: Conhecer a epidemiologia das fraturas do quarto distal do rádio no esqueleto em crescimento e o tratamento realizado no CHPR nos anos de 2017 e 2018. Objetivos específicos: Avaliar re-deslocamento, necessidade de remanipulação, complicações, refratura. Metodologia: Estudo observacional descritivo retrospectivo. Critérios de inclusão: pacientes de 0 a 14 anos com fratura do rádio distal (fisário, metafisário e suprametafisário) avaliados no CHPR entre 1º de janeiro de 2017 e 31 de dezembro de 2018. Critérios de exclusão: pacientes com radiografias normais, fraturas em membros com malformações, osso infecções, patologia tumoral maligna ou benigna. Coleta de dados: Avaliação das radiografias de punho e antebraço realizadas no CHPR em 2017 e 18, inicial e evolutiva. Foram analisados: idade, sexo, data da fratura, topografia da fratura, deslocamento inicial, tratamento, evolução radiográfica e complicações. Resultados: 662 pacientes foram incluídos. Sendo maioritariamente do sexo masculino (65%), com média de 9 anos, membro direito (61%), nos meses de verão (36%). Em relação à topografia, foi evidenciada maior frequência nas fraturas da borda e metafisárias (31,72% e 31,57%), seguidas das suprametafisárias (18.43%) e fisárias (18.28%). O tratamento realizado foi ortopédico em 86.56% dos casos, enquanto cirúrgico em 12.84%, sendo a maioria com fios de Kirschner (11,2%). O tempo médio de imobilização foi de 6 semanas, com percentual de complicações de 14.05%. Conclusões: Foram avaliadas as características dos pacientes e fraturas do rádio distal no CHPR nos anos de 2017 e 18, com um total de 662 fraturas (0,9 por dia), em que a maioria foi submetida a tratamento ortopédico com índice de complicações que fica em torno de 14%, sendo maior quanto maior for o deslocamento inicial da fratura.

Title: Fractures of the distal end of the radius in the immature skeleton. Epidemiological study at the Pereira Rossell Hospital Center. Main objective: To know the epidemiology of fractures of the distal fourth of the radius in the growing skeleton and the treatment carried out in the CHPR in the years 2017 and 2018. Specific objectives: To assess re-displacement, need for re-manipulation, complications, re- fracture. Methodology: Retrospective descriptive observational study. Inclusion criteria: patients aged 0 to 14 years with distal radius fracture (physeal, metaphyseal and suprametaphyseal) evaluated at the CHPR between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Exclusion criteria: patients with normal radiographs, fractures in limbs with malformations, bone infections, malignant or benign tumor pathology. Data collection: Assessment of fist and forearm X-rays performed at the CHPR in 2017 and 18, initial and evolutionary. The following were analyzed: age, sex, fracture date, fracture topography, initial displacement, treatment, radiographic evolution and complications. Results: 662 patients were included. Being mostly male (65%), with an average of 9 years, right limb (61%), in the summer months (36%). Regarding the topography, a higher frequency was evidenced in rim and metaphyseal fractures (31.72% and 31.57%), followed by suprametaphyseal (18.43%) and physeal (18.28%). The treatment performed was orthopedic in 86.56% of the cases, while surgical was 12.84%, mostly with Kirschner wires (11.2%). The average immobilization time was 6 weeks, with a percentage of complications of 14.05%. Conclusions: The characteristics of the patients and fractures of the distal radius in the CHPR in the years 2017 and 18 were evaluated, with a total of 662 fractures (0.9 per day), in which the majority underwent orthopedic treatment with an index of complications that is around 14%, being greater the greater the initial displacement of the fracture.

Medición de la situación de inseguridad alimentaria a nivel del hogar en los municipios de cobertura del Ejercicio Profesional Supervisado de la Escuela de Nutrición de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala / Measurement of the situation of food insecurity at the household level in the municipalities covered by the Supervised professional Exercise of the School of Nutrition of the San Carlos of Guatemala

La inseguridad alimentaria (INSA) es la condición que resulta de un acceso incierto o nulo a alimentos nutricionalmente adecuados socialmente aceptables y/o insuficiente ingestión de alimentos. Las causas de la INSA son múltiples y difieren en cada país, entre ellas están inadecuado acceso, y disponibilidad a los alimentos nutricionalmente adecuados y a los capitales de desarrollo. Según los resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida del 2014, la INSA afecta a más de la mitad de la población guatemalteca con repercusiones en su calidad de vida y desarrollo. El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar el nivel de INSA en hogares de los 29 municipios pertenecientes a 12 departamentos de cobertura del EPS de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Se realizó un estudio de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal, utilizando la metodología de recolección, validación y análisis de información establecida en el Manual de la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA). La muestra fue de 2,750 hogares, obtenida por medio de un muestreo probabilístico para poblaciones finitas. Los datos analizados fueron desagregados según sexo y edad de jefe de hogar, lugar de residencia, número de miembros en el hogar y presencia de menores de 18 años. La investigación mostró que, al momento de la entrevista, 2,035 (74%) [72.3, 75.7] hogares fueron clasificados en situación de INSA. Se presentó un mayor porcentaje de INSA en los hogares del área rural (85% [82.5, 87.4]) y en los hogares con niños menores de 18 años (80% [78.0, 81.5]). También se observó que, a mayor número de miembros del hogar, mayor porcentaje de INSA. Con los resultados obtenidos, se pretende motivar la implementación de estrategias que coadyuven a mejorar la situación de INSA en la población.

Food insecurity (FI) is the condition that results from uncertain or no access to socially acceptable, nutritionally adequate foods and/or insufficient food intake. The causes of FI are multiple and differ in each country, among them are inadequate access and availability to adequate nutritional foods and development capital. According to the results of the 2014 National Survey of Living Conditions, FI affects more than half of the Guatemalan population.The objective of the research was to determine the level of FI at household level of the 29 municipalities belonging to 12 departments covered by the Nutrition Supervised Professional Practice of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, through a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, using the collection, validation and analysis of information established in the Manual of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale. The sample was 2,750 households, obtained by means of a probabilistic sampling for finite populations. The data analyzed were disaggregated according to the sex and age of the head of the household, place of residence, number of members in the household, and presence of children under 18 years of age. The investigation showed that, at the time of the interview, 2,035 (74%) [72.3, 75.7] households were classified as FI. There was a higher percentage of FI in households in rural areas (85% [82.5, 87.4]) and in households with children under 18 years of age (80% [78.0, 81.5]). It is intended that the results of this study contribute to motivate the implementation of strategies that help to improve the situation of FI in the evaluated population.

Reporte de caso de una niña de 9 años de edad con una fractura acetabular fisaria desplazada tratada quirúrgicamente: 5 años de seguimiento / Case report of an acetabular displaced physeal fracture in a 9-year-old girl treated surgically: follow-up of 5 years / Relato de caso de uma menina de 9 anos com fractura de acetábulo desviada tratada cirurgicamente: seguimento de 5 anos

Las fracturas acetabulares con compromiso del cartílago trirradiado (CTR) en pacientes pediátricos son muy poco frecuentes, difíciles de diagnosticar y complejas de tratar; pudiendo dejar graves secuelas. Generalmente son producto de accidentes de tránsito de alta energía cinética. Debido a su baja prevalencia no hay grandes series en la bibliografía y por ende tampoco existe un consenso terapéutico. Realizamos una puesta a punto del tema a propósito de un atípico caso de una niña de 9 años con una fractura del acetábulo con compromiso del CTR, producido por un traumatismo de baja energía cinética. Registramos su diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico, evaluamos su resultado clínico - radiológico y funcional mediante el Hip Harris Score (HHS) al final de su seguimiento de 5 años.

Acetabular fractures with compromise of the triradiate cartilage (TRC) in pediatric patients are very rare, difficult to diagnose and complex to treat, also can leave serious consequences. They are generally product of high energy kinematics. Due to its low prevalence, there are no large series in the literature and therefore there is no therapeutic consensus. We carried out a recapitulation of the subject regarding an atypical case of a 9-year-old girl with an acetabulum fracture with compromise of the TRC, produced by a low kinetic energy trauma. We recorded the diagnosis and surgical treatment, and also, we evaluated the clinical-radiological and functional results through the Hip Harris Score (HHS) at the end of their 5-year follow-up.

As fraturas acetabulares com compromisso da cartilagem trirradiada (TRC) em pacientes pediátricos são muito poco frecuentes, de difícil diagnóstico e complexas de tratar; e podem deixar sérias consequências. Geralmente são o produto de acidentes de trânsito de alta energia cinética. Devido à sua baixa prevalência, não há grandes séries na literatura e, portanto, não há consenso terapêutico. Realizamos uma atualização do tema referente a um caso atípico de uma menina de 9 anos com fratura de acetábulo com comprometimento do CTR, produzida por um trauma de baixa energia cinética. Registramos seu diagnóstico e tratamento cirúrgico, avaliamos seus resultados clínico-radiológicos e funcionais por meio do Hip Harris Score (HHS) ao final de seu seguimento de 5 anos.

From Bayes-optimal to heuristic decision-making in a two-alternative forced choice task with an information-theoretic bounded rationality model.

Bayes optimal and heuristic decision-making schemes are often considered fundamentally opposed to each other as a framework for studying human choice behavior, although recently it has been proposed that bounded rationality may provide a natural bridge between the two when varying information-processing resources. Here, we investigate a two-alternative forced choice task with varying time constraints, where subjects have to assign multi-component symbolic patterns to one of two stimulus classes. As expected, we find that subjects' response behavior becomes more imprecise with more time pressure. However, we also see that their response behavior changes qualitatively. By regressing subjects' decision weights, we find that decisions allowing for plenty of decision time rely on weighing multiple stimulus features, whereas decisions under high time pressure are made mostly based on a single feature. While the first response pattern is in line with a Bayes-optimal decision strategy, the latter could be considered as an instantiation of heuristic decision-making with cue discounting. When fitting a bounded rational decision model with multiple feature channels and varying information-processing capacity to subjects' responses, we find that the model is able to capture subjects' behavioral change. The model successfully reflects the simplicity of heuristics as well as the efficiency of optimal decision making, thus acting as a bridge between the two approaches.

Bounded rational response equilibria in human sensorimotor interactions.

The Nash equilibrium is one of the most central solution concepts to study strategic interactions between multiple players and has recently also been shown to capture sensorimotor interactions between players that are haptically coupled. While previous studies in behavioural economics have shown that systematic deviations from Nash equilibria in economic decision-making can be explained by the more general quantal response equilibria, such deviations have not been reported for the sensorimotor domain. Here we investigate haptically coupled dyads across three different sensorimotor games corresponding to the classic symmetric and asymmetric Prisoner's Dilemma, where the quantal response equilibrium predicts characteristic shifts across the three games, although the Nash equilibrium stays the same. We find that subjects exhibit the predicted deviations from the Nash solution. Furthermore, we show that taking into account subjects' priors for the games, we arrive at a more accurate description of bounded rational response equilibria that can be regarded as a quantal response equilibrium with non-uniform prior. Our results suggest that bounded rational response equilibria provide a general tool to explain sensorimotor interactions that include the Nash equilibrium as a special case in the absence of information processing limitations.

Nash equilibria in human sensorimotor interactions explained by Q-learning with intrinsic costs.

The Nash equilibrium concept has previously been shown to be an important tool to understand human sensorimotor interactions, where different actors vie for minimizing their respective effort while engaging in a multi-agent motor task. However, it is not clear how such equilibria are reached. Here, we compare different reinforcement learning models to human behavior engaged in sensorimotor interactions with haptic feedback based on three classic games, including the prisoner's dilemma, and the symmetric and asymmetric matching pennies games. We find that a discrete analysis that reduces the continuous sensorimotor interaction to binary choices as in classical matrix games does not allow to distinguish between the different learning algorithms, but that a more detailed continuous analysis with continuous formulations of the learning algorithms and the game-theoretic solutions affords different predictions. In particular, we find that Q-learning with intrinsic costs that disfavor deviations from average behavior explains the observed data best, even though all learning algorithms equally converge to admissible Nash equilibrium solutions. We therefore conclude that it is important to study different learning algorithms for understanding sensorimotor interactions, as such behavior cannot be inferred from a game-theoretic analysis alone, that simply focuses on the Nash equilibrium concept, as different learning algorithms impose preferences on the set of possible equilibrium solutions due to the inherent learning dynamics.

Socially unstable conditions experienced during development prime female Octodon degus to shape the phenotype of their own offspring.

Because residents and immigrants from group living species may experience fitness costs associated with permanent changes in group membership, we examined the hypothesis that females experiencing socially unstable or socially stable conditions during development compensate these costs by shaping the phenotype of their own offspring differently. Groups of adult females experiencing either socially stable or unstable conditions in the early social environment were assigned to either socially stable or unstable conditions in the social environment as adults. We quantified affiliative and agonistic interactions among the females during pregnancy and lactation of the focal female, maternal and allomaternal care, hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) acute stress response, and early offspring growth. Social instability during breeding enhanced agonistic interactions among adult females, and offspring that experienced socially unstable conditions exhibited enhanced offspring care, regardless of adult environments. Neither social behavior, offspring care, acute stress physiology, nor early growth was influenced by early or adult social stability conditions. These findings imply that socially unstable conditions prime developing females to shape the phenotype of their offspring to prevent negative effects of socially unstable environments.

Revisión bibliográfica para determinar calidad de vida y satisfacción, de pacientes con encefalopatía crónica no evolutiva sometidos a cirugía multinivel / Literature review to determine quality of life and satisfaction of patients with non-progressive chronic encephalopathy undergoing multilevel surgery / Revisão da literatura para determinar a qualidade de vida e a satisfação de pacientes com encefalopatia crônica não progressiva submetidos à cirurgia multinível

La calidad de vida relacionada a la salud se refiere a la percepción que tienen los sujetos sobre su estado de salud, y las actividades realizadas para mantener o mejorar la salud en su contexto sociocultural. La encefalopatía crónica no evolutiva es una lesión estática no progresiva que constituye la primera causa de disfunción motora en niños. La historia natural de la marcha y la función en esta población es el deterioro con el paso del tiempo. El tratamiento estándar es la cirugía multinivel. Objetivo: determinar los resultados sobre satisfacción, percepción de función y percepción de calidad de vida en niños con encefalopatía crónica no evolutiva luego de realizada la cirugía multinivel. Metodología: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de la literatura. Resultados: se seleccionaron 10 artículos de metodologías heterogéneas que cumplen con los criterios de inclusión. Los resultados arrojan una mejora en la percepción de función y calidad de vida. Conclusiones: es necesario ahondar más en la investigación sobre los resultados de la cirugía y en abordajes que incorporen la mirada de los pacientes y sus cuidadores.

Health-related quality of life refers to the perception that subjects have about their state of health, and the activities carried out to maintain or improve health in their sociocultural context. Chronic non-progressive encephalopathy is a non-progressive static lesion that is the leading cause of motor dysfunction in children. The natural history of gait and function in this population is deterioration over time. The standard treatment is multilevel surgery. Objective: to determine the results on satisfaction, perception of function and perception of quality of life in children with non-progressive chronic encephalopathy after multilevel surgery. Methodology: a bibliographic review of the literature was carried out. Results: 10 articles with heterogeneous methodologies that meet the inclusion criteria were selected. The results show an improvement in the perception of function and quality of life. Conclusions: it is necessary to delve deeper into research on the results of surgery and on approaches that incorporate the point of view of patients and their caregivers.

A qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde refere-se à percepção que os sujeitos têm sobre seu estado de saúde e as atividades realizadas para manter ou melhorar a saúde em seu contexto sociocultural. A encefalopatia crônica não progressiva é uma lesão estática não progressiva que é a principal causa de disfunção motora em crianças. A história natural da marcha e da função nesta população é a deterioração ao longo do tempo. O tratamento padrão é a cirurgia multinível. Objetivo: determinar os resultados sobre satisfação, percepção de função e percepção de qualidade de vida em crianças com encefalopatia crônica não progressiva após cirurgia multinível. Metodologia: foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica da literatura. Resultados: foram selecionados 10 artigos com metodologias heterogêneas que atendem aos critérios de inclusão. Os resultados mostram uma melhora na percepção de função e qualidade de vida. Conclusões: é necessário aprofundar as pesquisas sobre os resultados da cirurgia e sobre as abordagens que incorporem o olhar do paciente e de seu cuidador.

Multiclass Classification Based on Combined Motor Imageries.

Motor imagery (MI) allows the design of self-paced brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which can potentially afford an intuitive and continuous interaction. However, the implementation of non-invasive MI-based BCIs with more than three commands is still a difficult task. First, the number of MIs for decoding different actions is limited by the constraint of maintaining an adequate spacing among the corresponding sources, since the electroencephalography (EEG) activity from near regions may add up. Second, EEG generates a rather noisy image of brain activity, which results in a poor classification performance. Here, we propose a solution to address the limitation of identifiable motor activities by using combined MIs (i.e., MIs involving 2 or more body parts at the same time). And we propose two new multilabel uses of the Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) algorithm to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio, namely MC2CMI and MC2SMI approaches. We recorded EEG signals from seven healthy subjects during an 8-class EEG experiment including the rest condition and all possible combinations using the left hand, right hand, and feet. The proposed multilabel approaches convert the original 8-class problem into a set of three binary problems to facilitate the use of the CSP algorithm. In the case of the MC2CMI method, each binary problem groups together in one class all the MIs engaging one of the three selected body parts, while the rest of MIs that do not engage the same body part are grouped together in the second class. In this way, for each binary problem, the CSP algorithm produces features to determine if the specific body part is engaged in the task or not. Finally, three sets of features are merged together to predict the user intention by applying an 8-class linear discriminant analysis. The MC2SMI method is quite similar, the only difference is that any of the combined MIs is considered during the training phase, which drastically accelerates the calibration time. For all subjects, both the MC2CMI and the MC2SMI approaches reached a higher accuracy than the classic pair-wise (PW) and one-vs.-all (OVA) methods. Our results show that, when brain activity is properly modulated, multilabel approaches represent a very interesting solution to increase the number of commands, and thus to provide a better interaction.

Analyzing Abstraction and Hierarchical Decision-Making in Absolute Identification by Information-Theoretic Bounded Rationality.

In the face of limited computational resources, bounded rational decision theory predicts that information-processing should be concentrated on actions that make a significant contribution in terms of the utility achieved. Accordingly, information-processing can be simplified by choosing stereotypic actions that lead to satisfactory performance over a range of different inputs rather than choosing a specific action for each input. Such a set of similar inputs with similar action responses would then correspond to an abstraction that can be harnessed with possibly negligible loss in utility, but with potentially considerable savings in information-processing effort. Here we test this prediction in an identification task, where human subjects were asked to estimate the roundness of ellipses varying from a straight line to a perfect circle. Crucially, when reporting their estimates, subjects could choose between three different levels of precision corresponding to three levels of abstraction in a decision-making hierarchy. To induce changes in level selection, we manipulated the information-processing resources available at the perceptual and action stages by varying the difficulty of identifying the stimulus and by enforcing different response times in the action stage. In line with theoretical predictions, we find that subjects adapt their abstraction level depending on the available resources. We compare subjects' behavior to the maximum efficiency predicated by the bounded rational decision-making model and investigate possible sources of inefficiency.

Caracterización antropométrica, nivel de actividad física y estilos de vida saludables en el personal docente, administrativo y de servicio de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala / Anthropometric characterization, level of physical activity and healthy lifestyles in the teaching, administrative and service personnel of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala

En la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) el personal docente, administrativo y de servicio presenta un alto riesgo de padecer enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, problema de salud pública que se ha incrementado a nivel mundial, asociado al sedentarismo, dietas inadecuadas, tabaquismo, consumo de alcohol y drogas; por lo que el estudio persiguió realizar la caracterización antropométrica, nivel de actividad física y estilos de vida saludables del personal. El estudio descriptivo transversal se hizo en 69 docentes y 56 personas administrativas y de servicio. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios: International Physical Activity Questionnarie (IPAQ) abreviado y de evaluación de estilos de vida saludable, se determinó el índice de masa corporal (IMC), porcentaje de grasa y circunferencia de cintura. El IMC promedio para ambos grupos se encuentra en sobrepeso, para el personal docente de 25.4 IC 95% [24.3, 26.4] y el personal administrativo y de servicio de 27.0 IC 95% [26.1, 27.9], con un porcentaje de grasa promedio saludable según edad y sexo, y una circunferencia de cintura dentro de los parámetros. Con relación a los hábitos alimentarios, más del 90% de la muestra realiza tres tiempos de comida, existe un bajo consumo de frutas, verduras y agua según las recomendaciones. Del consumo de alcohol y tabaco, se observa una baja frecuencia de consumo. Según IPAQ, el 58% del personal docente y el 66% del personal administrativo y de servicio estudiados, son inactivos. Es necesario aumentar las facilidades del personal para realizar actividad física y orientar hacia el cambio de hábitos alimentarios para promover estilos de vida saludable

In the Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy of the University San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC) it has been observed that teaching, administrative, and service personnel have a high risk of suffering from chronic diseases. This a public health problem, that has increased worldwide, is associated with sedentary lifestyle, inadequate diets, smoking, consumption of alcohol and drugs; for which the study sought to carry out the anthropometric characterization, level of physical activity and healthy lifestyles of the Faculty personnel. This transversal descriptive study was doneto69 teachers and 56 administrative and service staff. The questionnaires applied were the Abbreviated International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), an evaluation of healthy lifestyles, a body mass index (BMI), a percentage of fat, and a waist circumference measurement. The average BMI for both groups results in overweight, obtaining for teaching staff 25.4 CI 95% [24.3, 26.4], and for administrative and service staff 27.0 CI 95% [26.1, 27.9], with a percentage of healthy average fat according to age and sex, and a waist circumference within the parameters. Regarding the eating habits, more than 90% of the sample performs three times of meals Also, there is a low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and water according to the recommendations. From the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, a low frequency of consumption is observed. According to IPAQ, 58% of the teaching staff and 66% of the administrative and service staff studied are inactive. It is necessary to increase the facilities of the personnel to carry out physical activity and to orient towards the change of alimentary habits to promote healthy lifestyles

Masculinized females produce heavier offspring in a group living rodent.

Alternative morphotypes have been reported less frequently in females than in males. An exception to this rule is the gradient of phenotypical masculinization reported in some female mammals, in which feminized and masculinized females represent two opposite ends along this gradient. These phenotypical differences originate during prenatal development as the consequence of maternal effects. Feminized and masculinized females differ in several traits, including morphological, physiological, behavioural and reproductive traits. Differences previously reported in reproductive traits between feminized and masculinized females come mostly from mechanistic studies performed in the laboratory, and not necessarily on social species. As a result, it is unclear to what extent these reported differences between female alternative morphotypes materialize in wild, natural populations. We quantified the effect of female alternative morphotype on female reproductive traits in a natural population of Octodon degus, a highly social rodent. We assessed female alternative morphotype through a continuous gradient of anogenital distance. Thus, feminized females were close to the short end of anogenital distance, while masculinized females were close to the long end of this gradient. We also tested the hypothesis that the social environment interacts with female morphotype to influence female reproductive traits. In female degus, only body weight affected litter size, where heavier females weaned more offspring. Masculinized females delivered male-biased litters and weaned heavier offspring. Lastly, masculinized females gave birth later in the breeding season compared to feminized females. Contrary to previous claims, our findings do not support that masculinized females are less fertile than feminized females. Moreover, masculinized females produced heavier, potentially higher quality offspring compared with feminized females.

The modulating role of group stability on fitness effects of group size is different in females and males of a communally rearing rodent.

Group size may influence fitness benefits and costs that emerge from cooperative and competitive interactions in social species. However, evidence from plural breeding mammals indicates that group size is insufficient to explain variation in direct fitness, implying other attributes of social groups were overlooked. We studied the natural population of a social rodent during 5 years to test the hypothesis that social stability - in terms of group composition - modulates the effects of increasing number of breeding females (a proxy of communal rearing) and males on the number of offspring weaned (sired) and on the number of offspring weaned (sired) surviving to breeding age (two proxies of direct fitness). We quantified the effects of social stability (measured as changes in female or male group members between mating and the onset of lactation) on these fitness measures. We used live trapping, telemetry and DNA markers to determine social and fitness measures. Social stability in degus was variable in terms of the number of changes in group composition across groups. Low stability was mostly due to mortality and emigration of group members. Results supported a modulating role of social stability on the relationship between group size and the number of offspring weaned (sired). Stability in female and male group composition were both modulators of fitness to females and males. The modulatory role of stability was sex specific, where high social stability was often fitness beneficial to the females. Instead, low social stability was fitness enhancing to the males.

Postnatal Development of the Degu (Octodon degus) Endocrine Stress Response Is Affected by Maternal Care.

Maternal stress and care significantly affect offspring's future behavior and physiology. Studies in laboratory rats have shown that maternal stress decreases maternal care and that low rates of certain maternal behaviors cause offspring to develop hyperreactive stress responses. Plurally breeding rodents that practice communal care, such as degus (Octodon degus), may be able to buffer some of these effects since offspring receive care from multiple females. Directly after parturition, 0% (Control group), 50% (Mixed group), or 100% (CORT group) per cage of pair-housed female degus were implanted with 21-day release cortisol pellets. The amount of maternal care provided by females was determined from video recordings during the next 3 weeks. Females with cortisol implants did not alter rates of maternal care. However, females recently introduced to captivity had low rates of pup contact and pup retrievals compared to females of captive origin. When pups reached 4 weeks of age, we determined their baseline and stress-induced cortisol levels, in addition to assessing their negative feedback efficacy and adrenal sensitivity. Pups from mothers recently introduced to captivity had weak negative feedback. Within captive pups, those from CORT mothers weighed less compared to pups from either Control or Mixed mothers. Captive CORT pups also had weak adrenal sensitivity compared to captive Control pups. These findings demonstrate that maternal care and glucocorticoid elevation impact certain components of the degu pup stress response, but that plural breeding with communal care may buffer some of these effects.

[Colonic Lipomatosis: report of a case and review of the literature]. / Lipomatosis colónica: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Colonic lipomas are a rare entity, even lessfrequent colonic lipomatosis (lipohyperplasia) of which we only found very few reports in literature (five cases). We report a case of colonic lipomatosis in a young adult that manifested as acute diverticulitis with perforation and rectalpolyposis requiring surgical resolution.

Maternal stress and plural breeding with communal care affect development of the endocrine stress response in a wild rodent.

Maternal stress can significantly affect offspring fitness. In laboratory rodents, chronically stressed mothers provide poor maternal care, resulting in pups with hyperactive stress responses. These hyperactive stress responses are characterized by high glucocorticoid levels in response to stressors plus poor negative feedback, which can ultimately lead to decreased fitness. In degus (Octodon degus) and other plural breeding rodents that exhibit communal care, however, maternal care from multiple females may buffer the negative impact on pups born to less parental mothers. We used wild, free-living degus to test this hypothesis. After parturition, we manipulated maternal stress by implanting cortisol pellets in 0%, 50-75%, or 100% of adult females within each social group. We then sampled pups for baseline and stress-induced cortisol, negative feedback efficacy, and adrenal sensitivity. From groups where all mothers were implanted with cortisol, pups had lower baseline cortisol levels and male pups additionally had weaker negative feedback compared to 0% or 50-75% implanted groups. Contrary to expectations, stress-induced cortisol did not differ between treatment groups. These data suggest that maternal stress impacts some aspects of the pup stress response, potentially through decreased maternal care, but that presence of unstressed mothers may mitigate some of these effects. Therefore, one benefit of plural breeding with communal care may be to buffer post-natal stress.

Comparison of sensorimotor rhythms in EEG signals during simple and combined motor imageries over the contra and ipsilateral hemispheres.

Imaginary motor tasks cause brain oscillations that can be detected through the analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. This article aims at studying whether or not the characteristics of the brain activity induced by the combined motor imagery (MI) of both hands can be assumed as the superposition of the activity generated during simple hand MIs. After analyzing the sensorimotor rhythms in EEG signals of five healthy subjects, results show that the imagination of both hands movement generates in each brain hemisphere similar activity as the one produced by each simple hand MI in the contralateral side. Furthermore, during simple hand MIs, brain activity over the ipsilateral hemisphere presents similar characteristics as those observed during the rest condition. Thus, it is shown that the proposed scheme is valid and promising for brain-computer interfaces (BCI) control, allowing to easily detect patterns induced by combined MIs.

Metástasis en colon de un carcinoma ductal primario de mama.

Colonic metastasis of breast cancer are extremely infrequent, being ductal subtype the most rarely affects the digestive tract, compared to lobular subtype. We present a case report of a colonic metastasis of ductal breast cancer; found in the context of a screening colonoscopy. Besides we perform an article research about digestive tract metastasis of primary breast cancer, finding very few published cases among the literature about this ductal subtype behavior.