Health impact of the Tajogaite volcano eruption in La Palma population (ISVOLCAN study): rationale, design, and preliminary results from the first 1002 participants.

BACKGROUND: The eruption of the Tajogaite volcano began on the island of La Palma on September 19, 2021, lasting for 85 days. This study aims to present the design and methodology of the ISVOLCAN (Health Impact on the Population of La Palma due to the Volcanic Eruption) cohort, as well as the preliminary findings from the first 1002 enrolled participants. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with random selection of adult participants from the general population, with an estimated sample size of 2600 individuals. The results of the first 857 participants are presented, along with a group of 145 voluntary participants who served as interveners during the eruption. Data on epidemiology and volcano exposure were collected, and participants underwent physical examinations, including anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, spirometry, and venous blood extraction for toxicological assessment. RESULTS: In the general population (n = 857), descriptive analysis revealed that the participants were mostly middle-aged individuals (50.8 ± 16.4), with a predominance of females. Before the eruption, the participants resided at a median distance of 6.7 km from the volcano in the Western region and 10.9 km in the Eastern region. Approximately 15.4% of the sample required evacuation, whose 34.8% returning to their homes on average after 3 months. A significant number of participants reported engaging in daily tasks involving cleaning of volcanic ash both indoors and outdoors. The most reported acute symptoms included ocular irritation, insomnia, mood disorders (anxiety-depression), and respiratory symptoms. Multivariate analysis results show that participants in the western region had a higher likelihood of lower respiratory tract symptoms (OR 1.99; 95% CI:1.33-2.99), depression and anxiety (OR 1.95; 95% CI:1.30-2.93), and insomnia (OR 2.03; 95% CI:1.33-3.09), compared to those in the eastern region. CONCLUSION: The ongoing follow-up of the ISVOLCAN cohort will provide valuable insights into the short, medium, and long-term health impact related to the material emitted during the Tajogaite eruption, based on the level of exposure suffered by the affected population.

A Quinoa Protein Hydrolysate Fractionated by Electrodialysis with Ultrafiltration Membranes Improves Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in a Mouse Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

SCOPE: Quinoa intake exerts hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in animals and humans. Although peptides from quinoa inhibit key enzymes involved in glucose homeostasis in vitro, their in vivo antidiabetic properties have not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study evaluated the effect of oral administration of a quinoa protein hydrolysate (QH) produced through enzymatic hydrolysis and fractionation by electrodialysis with ultrafiltration membrane (EDUF) (FQH) on the metabolic and pregnancy outcomes of Lepdb/+ pregnant mice, a preclinical model of gestational diabetes mellitus. The 4-week pregestational consumption of 2.5 mg mL-1 of QH in water prevented glucose intolerance and improves hepatic insulin signaling in dams, also reducing fetal weights. Sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of the defatted FQH (FQHD) identified 11 peptides 6-10 amino acids long that aligned with the quinoa proteome and exhibited putative anti-dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-IV) activity, confirmed in vitro in QH, FQH, and FDQH fractions. Peptides homologous to mouse and human proteins enriched for biological processes related to glucose metabolism are also identified. CONCLUSION: Processing of quinoa protein may be used to develop a safe and effective nutritional intervention to control glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Further studies are required to confirm if this nutritional intervention is applicable to pregnant women.

Regional disparities of prostate cancer mortality in Ecuador: an examination of trends and correlates from 2004 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Ecuadorian men. However, there is a lack of information regarding the evolution of prostate cancer mortality rates in Ecuador and its regions in the last few decades. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report prostate cancer mortality rates in Ecuador and its geographical areas and observe the evolution of these rates between 2004 and 2019. METHODS: An observational ecological study was conducted, analysing data for prostate cancer deaths from 2004 to 2019 in Ecuador. Age standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated per 100,000 men using the world standard population with the direct method proposed by SEGI. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to examine mortality trends. We used a Cluster Map to explore relationships among regions between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: Ecuador reported 13,419 deaths by prostate cancer between 2004 and 2019, with the Coastal region accounting for 49.8% of the total deaths. The mean age at death was 79 years (± 10 years), 91.7% were elderly (more than 65 years old) and had primary education (53%). Deaths by prostate cancer were more frequently reported among mestizos (81.4%). There were no significant variations in these percentages in Ecuador and its regions during the study period. Carchi province had the highest mortality rate in 2005 and 2019 (> 13 deaths per 100,000). Heterogeneity in the evolution of mortality rates was reported among the provinces of Ecuador. Azuay decreased in the first few years, and then increased from 2010 to 2019, whereas Guayas and Pichincha decreased throughout the whole period. CONCLUSION: Although prostate cancer mortality rates in Ecuador have remained stable over the past few decades, there are significant disparities among the different regions. These findings suggest the need for the development of national and provincial registration measures, integrated healthcare actions, and targeted interventions to reduce the burden of prostate cancer in the Ecuadorian population.

Soil solution data from Bohemian headwater catchments record atmospheric metal deposition and legacy pollution.

Soil solution chemistry depends largely on mineralogy and organic matter properties of soil horizons with which they interact. Differing lithologies within a given catchment area can influence variability in soil cation exchange capacities and affect solute transport. Zero-tension and tension lysimeters were used to evaluate the fast transport of solutes in the topsoil vs. slow diffusional matrix flow at the subsoil of three contrasting lithology catchments in a mid-elevation mountain forest. Our aim was to test the feasibility of lysimeters' hydrochemical data as a gauge for legacy subsoil pollution. Due to contrasting lithologies, atmospheric legacy pollution prevailing at the soil-regolith interface is differently yet consistently reflected by beryllium, lead, and chromium soil solution concentrations of the three catchments. Geochemical (dis)equilibrium between the soil and soil matrix water governed the hydrochemistry of the soil solutions at the time of collection, potentially contributing to decreased dissolved concentrations with increased depths at sites with higher soil pH. A complementary isotopic δ18O runoff generation model constrained potential seasonal responses and pointed to sufficiently long water-regolith interactions as to permit important seasonal contributions of groundwater enriched in chemical species to the topsoil levels. Our study also reflects subsoil equilibration with atmospheric solutes deposited at the topsoil and thus provides guidance for evaluating legacy pollution in soil profiles derived from contrasting lithology.

How much do Latin American medical students know about radiology? Latin-American multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Radiology is a useful tool for diagnosis and intervention in medical practice, and all the components within the teaching-learning process of this subject during undergraduate studies influence successful knowledge application. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the level of knowledge in radiology of students in the last two years of medical school and curricular characteristics of their courses in seven Latin American countries. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out on medical students of 7 Latin American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru) in their final two years of medical school, using an online questionnaire validated by experts and adapted for each country that assessed knowledge and curricular characteristics in radiology subject. Scores were assigned according to the number of correct answers for the knowledge test. The T-test, and regression analysis with one-way ANOVA were used to search for relationships between the level of knowledge and other variables. RESULTS: A total of 1514 medical students participated in this study. All countries had similar participation (n > 200); most participants were women 57.8%. The country with the highest knowledge score was Brazil. Male, sixth year (internship) and from public universities students had higher knowledge score (n < 0.05). Participants, who considered radiology more important, and who reported higher compliance with teaching staff with the proposed syllabus, and programmed classes, obtained better scores (n < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Latin American medical students included in this study have a regular overall level of knowledge of Radiology, apparently influenced by curricular differences such as class and academic program compliance. Efforts to better understand and improve academic training are indispensable. LIMITATIONS: The study was subject to selection bias determined by non-probability convenience sampling. The questionnaire assessed only theoretical knowledge and the evaluation system was designed by the investigators.

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load Analysis at Low and High Altitude: A Case Study from Ecuador.

SARS-CoV-2 has spread throughout the world, including remote areas such as those located at high altitudes. There is a debate about the role of hypobaric hypoxia on viral transmission and COVID-19 incidence. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral load among patients living at low (230 m) and high altitude (3800 m) in Ecuador was completed. Within these two communities, the total number of infected people at the time of the study was 108 cases (40.3%). The COVID-19 incidence proportion at low altitude was 64% while at high altitude was 30.3%. The mean viral load from those patients who tested positive was 3,499,184 copies/mL (SD = 23,931,479 copies/mL). At low altitude (Limoncocha), the average viral load was 140,223.8 copies/mL (SD = 990,840.9 copies/mL), while for the high altitude group (Oyacachi), the mean viral load was 6,394,789 copies/mL (SD = 32,493,469 copies/mL). We found no statistically significant differences when both results were compared (p = 0.056). We found no significant differences across people living at low or high altitude; however, men and younger populations had higher viral load than women older populations, respectively.

A Comparative Analysis of a Self-Reported Adverse Events Analysis after Receiving One of the Available SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Schemes in Ecuador.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of pressure on health systems worldwide. Mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has reduced morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite their safety profiles, vaccines, as with any other medical product, can cause adverse events. Yet, in countries with poor epidemiological surveillance and monitoring systems, reporting vaccine-related adverse events is a challenge. The objective of this study was to describe self-reported vaccine adverse events after receiving one of the available COVID-19 vaccine schemes in Ecuador. A cross-sectional analysis based on an online, self-reported, 32-item questionnaire was conducted in Ecuador from 1 April to 15 July 2021. Participants were invited by social media, radio, and TV to voluntarily participate in our study. A total of 6654 participants were included in this study. Furthermore, 38.2% of the participants reported having at least one comorbidity. Patients received AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sinovac vaccines, and these were distributed 38.4%, 31.1%, and 30.5%, respectively. Overall, pain or swelling at the injection site 17.2% (n = 4500) and headache 13.3% (n = 3502) were the most reported adverse events. Women addressed events supposedly attributable to vaccination or immunization [ESAVIs] (66.7%), more often than men (33.2%). After receiving the first dose of any available COVID-19 vaccine, a total of 19,501 self-reported ESAVIs were informed (87.0% were mild, 11.5% moderate, and 1.5% severe). In terms of the vaccine type and brand, the most reactogenic vaccine was AstraZeneca with 57.8%, followed by Pfizer (24.9%) and Sinovac (17.3%). After the second dose, 6776 self-reported ESAVIs were reported (87.1% mild, 10.9% moderate, and 2.1% severe). AstraZeneca vaccine users reported a higher proportion of ESAVIs (72.2%) in comparison to Pfizer/BioNTech (15.9%) and Sinovac Vaccine (11.9%). Swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue were the most common ESAVIs for the first as well as second doses. In conclusion, most ESAVIs were mild. AstraZeneca users were more likely to report adverse events. Participants without a history of COVID-19 infection, as well as those who received the first dose, were more prone to report ESAVIs.

Female homicides and femicides in Ecuador: a nationwide ecological analysis from 2001 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence is a major public health concern arising from the structural discrimination of women and girls. In 2014, Ecuador criminalized acts of femicide in response to a growing crisis across the region. As no epidemiological studies on the state of female homicides and femicides have been published, we estimated patterns of female homicides and femicides nationally and the burden through economic cost per years of life lost, between 2001 and 2017. METHODS: Using aggregated data from the National Institute of Census and Statistics and police records we estimated the annual mortality rates, cumulative incidence and prevalence odds ratios for female homicides and femicides, from 2001 to 2017. The impact of aggressions, assaults and violence on years of life lost due to premature mortality was estimated using the Human Capital method. RESULTS: Over the period, at least 3236 cases of female homicides and femicides were reported. The highest murder rate occurred in the province of Sucumbíos (6.5 per 100,000) and in the Putumayo canton (12.5 per 100,000). The most common way to murder their victims was using firearms (38%). The highest odds ratio was estimated for women aged between 25 and 29, at 4.5 (3.9-5.1), of primary school attainment at 17.2 (14.6-20.3) and of Afro-Ecuadoran descent 18.1 (10.5-30.9). Female homicide-related costs reached, on average, $35 million per year and more than $500 million lost from 2001 to 2017. CONCLUSIONS: The high rates, distribution and cost indicate that investments are urgently needed to address the structural causes and reduce the impact of female homicides and femicides in Ecuador; thereby protecting the livelihood and well-being of their women and girls.

The close interaction between hypoxia-related proteins and metastasis in pancarcinomas.

Many primary-tumor subregions exhibit low levels of molecular oxygen and restricted access to nutrients due to poor vascularization in the tissue, phenomenon known as hypoxia. Hypoxic tumors are able to regulate the expression of certain genes and signaling molecules in the microenvironment that shift it towards a more aggressive phenotype. The transcriptional landscape of the tumor favors malignant transformation of neighboring cells and their migration to distant sites. Herein, we focused on identifying key proteins that participate in the signaling crossroads between hypoxic environment and metastasis progression that remain poorly defined. To shed light on these mechanisms, we performed an integrated multi-omics analysis encompassing genomic/transcriptomic alterations of hypoxia-related genes and Buffa hypoxia scores across 17 pancarcinomas taken from the PanCancer Atlas project from The Cancer Genome Atlas consortium, protein-protein interactome network, shortest paths from hypoxia-related proteins to metastatic and angiogenic phenotypes, and drugs involved in current clinical trials to treat the metastatic disease. As results, we identified 30 hypoxia-related proteins highly involved in metastasis and angiogenesis. This set of proteins, validated with the MSK-MET Project, could represent key targets for developing therapies. The upregulation of mRNA was the most prevalent alteration in all cancer types. The highest frequencies of genomic/transcriptomic alterations and hypoxia score belonged to tumor stage 4 and positive metastatic status in all pancarcinomas. The most significantly associated signaling pathways were HIF-1, PI3K-Akt, thyroid hormone, ErbB, FoxO, mTOR, insulin, MAPK, Ras, AMPK, and VEGF. The interactome network revealed high-confidence interactions among hypoxic and metastatic proteins. The analysis of shortest paths revealed several ways to spread metastasis and angiogenesis from hypoxic proteins. Lastly, we identified 23 drugs enrolled in clinical trials focused on metastatic disease treatment. Six of them were involved in advanced-stage clinical trials: aflibercept, bevacizumab, cetuximab, erlotinib, ipatasertib, and panitumumab.

Transcriptional regulation of cyclophilin D by BMP/Smad signaling and its role in osteogenic differentiation.

Cyclophilin D (CypD) promotes opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) which plays a key role in both cell physiology and pathology. It is, therefore, beneficial for cells to tightly regulate CypD and MPTP but little is known about such regulation. We have reported before that CypD is downregulated and MPTP deactivated during differentiation in various tissues. Herein, we identify BMP/Smad signaling, a major driver of differentiation, as a transcriptional regulator of the CypD gene, Ppif. Using osteogenic induction of mesenchymal lineage cells as a BMP/Smad activation-dependent differentiation model, we show that CypD is in fact transcriptionally repressed during this process. The importance of such CypD downregulation is evidenced by the negative effect of CypD 'rescue' via gain-of-function on osteogenesis both in vitro and in a mouse model. In sum, we characterized BMP/Smad signaling as a regulator of CypD expression and elucidated the role of CypD downregulation during cell differentiation.

Dynamic spectrum of ectopic lymphoid B cell activation and hypermutation in the RA synovium characterized by NR4A nuclear receptor expression.

Ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS) can develop in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue, but the precise pathways of B cell activation and selection are not well understood. Here, we identify a synovial B cell population characterized by co-expression of a family of orphan nuclear receptors (NR4A1-3), which is highly enriched in RA synovial tissue. A transcriptomic profile of NR4A synovial B cells significantly overlaps with germinal center light zone B cells and an accrual of somatic hypermutation that correlates with loss of naive B cell state. NR4A B cells co-express lymphotoxins α and ß and IL-6, supporting functions in ELS promotion. Expanded and shared clones between synovial NR4A B cells and plasma cells and the rapid upregulation with BCR stimulation point to in situ differentiation. Together, we identify a dynamic progression of B cell activation in RA synovial ELS, with NR4A transcription factors having an important role in local adaptive immune responses.

Pulmonary Inflammatory Response in Lethal COVID-19 Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets and Drugs in Phases III/IV Clinical Trials.

Background: It is imperative to identify drugs that allow treating symptoms of severe COVID-19. Respiratory failure is the main cause of death in severe COVID-19 patients, and the host inflammatory response at the lungs remains poorly understood. Methods: Therefore, we retrieved data from post-mortem lungs from COVID-19 patients and performed in-depth in silico analyses of single-nucleus RNA sequencing data, inflammatory protein interactome network, and shortest pathways to physiological phenotypes to reveal potential therapeutic targets and drugs in advanced-stage COVID-19 clinical trials. Results: Herein, we analyzed transcriptomics data of 719 inflammatory response genes across 19 cell types (116,313 nuclei) from lung autopsies. The functional enrichment analysis of the 233 significantly expressed genes showed that the most relevant biological annotations were inflammatory response, innate immune response, cytokine production, interferon production, macrophage activation, blood coagulation, NLRP3 inflammasome complex, and the TLR, JAK-STAT, NF-κB, TNF, oncostatin M signaling pathways. Subsequently, we identified 34 essential inflammatory proteins with both high-confidence protein interactions and shortest pathways to inflammation, cell death, glycolysis, and angiogenesis. Conclusion: We propose three small molecules (baricitinib, eritoran, and montelukast) that can be considered for treating severe COVID-19 symptoms after being thoroughly evaluated in COVID-19 clinical trials.

Genotyped indigenous Kiwcha adults at high altitude are lighter and shorter than their low altitude counterparts.

BACKGROUND: Anthropometric measures have been classically used to understand the impact of environmental factors on the living conditions of individuals and populations. Most reference studies on development and growth in which anthropometric measures were used were carried out in populations that are located at sea level, but there are few studies carried out in high altitude populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric and body composition in autochthonous Kiwcha permanently living at low and high altitudes. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of anthropometric and body composition between genetically matched lowland Kiwcha from Limoncocha (n = 117), 230 m in the Amazonian basin, and high-altitude Kiwcha from Oyacachi (n = 95), 3800 m in Andean highlands. Student's t-test was used to analyze the differences between continuous variables, and the chi-square test was performed to check the association or independence of categorical variables. Fisher's exact test or Spearman's test was used when the variable had evident asymmetries with histograms prior to the selection of the test. RESULTS: This study shows that high altitude men are shorter than their counterparts who live at low altitude, with p = 0.019. About body muscle percentage, women at high altitudes have less body muscle percentage (- 24.8%). In comparison, men at high altitudes have significantly more muscle body mass percentage (+ 13.5%) than their lowland counterparts. Body fat percentage was lower among low altitude women (- 15.5%), and no differences were found among men. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to be performed in two genotyped controlled matching populations located at different altitudes to our best knowledge. The anthropometric differences vary according to sex, demonstrating that high altitude populations are, in general, lighter and shorter than their low altitude controls. Men at high altitude have more muscled bodies compared to their lowland counterparts, but their body age was older than their actual age.

High-altitude is associated with better short-term survival in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have attempted to elucidate the relationship between chronic hypoxia and SARS-CoV-2 infection. It seems that high-altitude is associated with lower COVID-19 related mortality and incidence rates; nevertheless, all the data came from observational studies, being this the first one looking into prospectively collected clinical data from severely ill patients residing at two significantly different altitudes. METHODS: A prospective cohort, a two-center study among COVID-19 confirmed adult patients admitted to a low (sea level) and high-altitude (2,850 m) ICU unit in Ecuador was conducted. Two hundred and thirty confirmed patients were enrolled from March 15th to July 15th, 2020. RESULTS: From 230 patients, 149 were men (64.8%) and 81 women (35.2%). The median age of all the patients was 60 years, and at least 105 (45.7%) of patients had at least one underlying comorbidity, including hypertension (33.5%), diabetes (16.5%), and chronic kidney failure (5.7%). The APACHE II scale (Score that estimates ICU mortality) at 72 hours was especially higher in the low altitude group with a median of 18 points (IQR: 9.5-24.0), compared to 9 points (IQR: 5.0-22.0) obtained in the high-altitude group. There is evidence of a difference in survival in favor of the high-altitude group (p = 0.006), the median survival being 39 days, compared to 21 days in the low altitude group. CONCLUSION: There has been a substantial improvement in survival amongst people admitted to the high-altitude ICU. Residing at high-altitudes was associated with improved survival, especially among patients with no comorbidities. COVID-19 patients admitted to the high-altitude ICU unit have improved severity-of-disease classification system scores at 72 hours.

A comparative analysis of lung function and spirometry parameters in genotype-controlled natives living at low and high altitude.

BACKGROUND: The reference values for lung function are associated to anatomical and lung morphology parameters, but anthropometry it is not the only influencing factor: altitude and genetics are two important agents affecting respiratory physiology. Altitude and its influence on respiratory function has been studied independently of genetics, considering early and long-term acclimatization. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate lung function through a spirometry study in autochthonous Kichwas permanently living at low and high-altitude. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study of spirometry differences between genetically matched lowland Kichwas from Limoncocha (230 m) at Amazonian basin and high-altitude Kichwas from Oyacachi (3180 m) in Andean highlands. The sample size estimates permitted to recruited 118 patients (40 men and 78 women) from Limoncocha and 95 (39 men and 56 women) from Oyacachi. Chi-square method was used to analyze association or independence of categorical variables, while Student's t test was applied to comparison of means within quantitative variables. ANOVA, or in the case that the variables didn't meet the criteria of normality, Kruskal Wallis test were used to compare more than two groups. RESULTS: The FVC and the FEV1 were significantly greater among highlanders than lowlanders (p value < 0.001), with a proportion difference of 15.2% for men and 8.5% for women. The FEV1/FVC was significantly higher among lowlanders than highlanders for men and women. A restrictive pattern was found in 12.9% of the participants. CONCLUSION: Residents of Oyacachi had greater FVC and FEV1 than their peers from Limoncocha, a finding physiologically plausible according to published literature. Lung size and greater ventilatory capacities could be an adaptive mechanism developed by the highlander in response to hypoxia. Our results support the fact that this difference in FVC and FEV1 is a compensatory mechanism towards lower barometric and alveolar partial pressure of oxygen pressure.

Race and sex differences in HDL peroxide content among American adults with and without type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a critical role in protection against atherosclerosic and cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In addition to contributing to clearing excess vascular cholesterol, HDL particles exhibit antioxidative functions, helping to attenuate adverse effects of oxidized low-density lipoproteins. However, these beneficial properties can be undermined by oxidative stress, inflammation, and unhealthy lifestyles and diet, as well as influenced by race and sex. Thus, when assessing cardiovascular risk, it is important to consider multifactorial aspects of HDL, including antioxidant activity rather than just total amount and type of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) particles. Because prior research showed HDL peroxide content (HDLperox) can be inversely associated with normal anti-oxidant HDL activity, elevated HDLperox may serve as a bioindicator of HDL dysfunction. METHODS: In this study, data from a large national cohort of Americans was utilized to determine the impact of sex, race, and diabetes status on HDLperox in middle-aged and older adults. A previously developed cell-free fluorometric method was utilized to quantify HDLperox in serum depleted of apo-B containing lipoproteins. RESULTS: In keeping with predictions, white men and diabetics exhibited HDLperox in the atypical upper range, suggestive of less functional HDL. White men had higher HDLperox levels than African American males (13.46 ± 6.10 vs. 10.88 ± 5.81, p < .001). There was also a significant main effect of type 2 diabetes (F(1,1901) = 14.9, p < .0001). Overall, African Americans evinced lower HDLperox levels, despite more obesity (10.3 ± 4.7 vs.11.81 ± 5.66 for Whites) suggesting that other aspects of lipid metabolism and psychosocial factors account for the higher prevalence of ASCVD in African Americans. CONCLUSION: This research helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of HDL function in a racially and metabolically diverse adult population. HDLperox content was significantly different in adults with type 2 diabetes, and distinctive in nondiabetic White males, and suggests other processes account for the higher prevalence of ASCVD among African Americans.

Optimism and Health Self-Perception-Related Differences in Indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at Low and High Altitude: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Ortiz-Prado, Esteban, Katherine Simbaña-Rivera, Diego Duta, Israel Ochoa, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Eduardo Vasconez, Kathia Carrasco, Manuel Calvopiña, Ginés Viscor, and Clara Paz. Optimism and health self-perception-related differences in indigenous Kiwchas of Ecuador at low and high altitude: a cross-sectional analysis. High Alt Med Biol. 23:26-36, 2022. Background: Living at high altitude causes adaptive responses at every physiological and molecular level within the human body. Emotional and psychological short- or long-term consequences, including mood changes, higher mental overload, and depression prevalence, as well as increased risk to commit suicide have been reported among highlanders. The objective of this report is to explore the differences in self-reported dispositional optimism and health perception among sex-, age-, and genotype-controlled indigenous Kiwcha natives living at two different altitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the comparison of means of subscales and summary scores of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) self-reported questionnaire and the Life Orientation Test-Revised was conducted among 219 adults Kiwchas living at low (230 m) and high altitude (3,800 m) in Ecuador. Results: High-altitude dwellers presented lower scores in all the studied dimensions of SF-36 and the total score. Differences were found for the role limitation sphere due to vitality (p = 0.005), mental health (p = 0.002), and social functioning (p = 0.005). In all the cases, participants living at low altitudes scored higher than those living at high altitudes. Lowland women were more optimistic than their high-altitude counterparts. Conclusions: We observe that populations located at high altitudes have more unfavorable self-reported health states. Although our results depict the existence of significant differences in the health status of indigenous peoples living at different altitudes, further studies are needed to explain in depth the sociodemographic and/or environmental factors that might underlie these differences.

Waterborne diseases and ethnic-related disparities: A 10 years nationwide mortality and burden of disease analysis from Ecuador.

Background: Despite worldwide progress in terms of clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge, some middle and most of low-income countries are still experiencing many diseases transmitted using unsafe water and the lack of sanitation. Methods: To understand the impact of all waterborne diseases (WBD) registered in Ecuador. We performed a population-based analysis of all cases and deaths due to WBD in Ecuador based on the national public databases of hospital discharges as a proxy of incidence, in-hospital mortality, and countrywide general mortality rates from 2011 to 2020. Results: In Ecuador, mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry) had the greatest morbidity rate (141/100,000), followed by indigenous (63/100,000) and self-determined white patients (21/100,000). However, in terms of mortality, indigenous population have the greatest risk and rates, having a 790% additional mortality rate (2.6/100,000) than the reference group (self-determined white populations) at 0.29/100,000. The burden of disease analysis demonstrated that indigenous had the highest burden of disease caused by WBD with 964 YLL per every 100,000 people while mestizos have 360 YYL per 100,000 and self-determined white Ecuadorians have 109 YYL per 100,000. Conclusions: In Ecuador, waterborne diseases (WBD) are still a major public health problem. We found that indigenous population had higher probability of getting sick and die due to WBD than the rest of the ethnic groups in Ecuador. We also found that younger children and the elderly are more likely to be admitted to the hospital due to a WBD. These epidemiological trends are probably associated with the lower life expectancy found among Indigenous than among the rest of the ethnic groups, who die at least, 39 years earlier than the self-determined white populations, 28 years earlier than Afro-Ecuadorians and 12 years earlier than the mestizos.

LDL particle size and antioxidant HDL function improve after sustained virological response in patients with chronic HCV.

HCV infection is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events. Mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. In our study, twenty HCV patients (median age 60.5 years, 65% male and 80% with cirrhosis) were evaluated prior, during and after direct-acting antiviral treatment. Ninety percent of patients achieved sustained virological response (SVR). Significant changes were observed in LDL particle size index, measured by LDL-C/apoB ratio, which increased after treatment (p = 0.023). In addition, HDL antioxidant capacity improved gradually from 34.4% at baseline to 42.4% at 4 weeks (p = 0.011), 65.9% at end of treatment EOT (p = 0.002) and remained elevated at 12-week (p = 0.001) after EOT compared to baseline values. Our findings suggest that a shift to a less atherogenic lipid profile may be a possible mechanism associated with CV risk reduction in patients with HCV infection achieving SVR.

The IL-1 Family and Its Role in Atherosclerosis.

The IL-1 superfamily of cytokines is a central regulator of immunity and inflammation. The family is composed of 11 cytokines (with agonist, antagonist, and anti-inflammatory properties) and 10 receptors, all tightly regulated through decoy receptor, receptor antagonists, and signaling inhibitors. Inflammation not only is an important physiological response against infection and injury but also plays a central role in atherosclerosis development. Several clinical association studies along with experimental studies have implicated the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines and its receptors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Here, we summarize the key features of the IL-1 family, its role in immunity and disease, and how it helps shape the development of atherosclerosis.