The impact of COVID-19 on deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Chile: an analysis of panel data for 16 regions, 2017-2022.

Background: Although several studies have documented the detrimental impacts of global COVID-19 containment measures on individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a comprehensive analysis of mortality rates for these conditions within the Chilean population is notably lacking. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates among individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Chile. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional study was conducted, considering mortality data for specific mental health conditions during the pre-pandemic and pandemic contexts of COVID-19 in Chile. Quantile regression techniques were employed to analyze the existence of differences between the two periods, while non-observable heterogeneity models for panel data methods were used to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 mortality on crude mortality rates. Findings: Statistically significant differences were observed in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease between the pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic periods. Specifically, crude mortality rates decreased by 10% (-0.10 [95% CI: -0.16, -0.05]) during the pandemic period. Furthermore, the number of deaths from COVID-19 during the pandemic period has a very weak incidence of deaths from mental health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Specifically, a unit percentage increase in confirmed cases from COVID-19 would result in a 7% (-0.07 [95% CI: -0.13, -0.001]) decrease in the number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's. These findings are supported by the application of panel regression with one-way random effects models. Interpretation: The study findings indicate a reduction in mortality rates attributed to dementia and Alzheimer's disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. This decline could be attributed to the potential underreporting of mental illness as the cause of death during the pandemic period. Several studies have highlighted that approximately 30% of death certificates fail to document the presence of a dementia syndrome. Moreover, the cause of death recorded for individuals with mental health conditions may be influenced by the physician's familiarity with the patient or reflect the prevailing approach to managing end-stage dementia patients. Funding: This work received no funding.

Demographic fitness of Belminus ferroae (Hemiptera: Triatominae) on three different hosts under laboratory conditions.

Triatominae are widely recognised for their role as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the main biological characteristics of this subfamily is their obligate haematophagous condition. However, previous studies on Belminus herreri and Belminus ferroae suggested that cockroaches are their principal hosts in domiciles. Due to this peculiar behaviour, the aim of this study was to analyse several demographic and reproductive parameters of B. ferroae fed on three different hosts (mice, cockroaches and Rhodnius prolixus) and relate B. ferroae fitness to these alternative hosts. The cohorts were reared under constant conditions. The egg hatching rate was similar for cohorts fed on cockroaches (69.4%) and R. prolixus (63.8%), but was much lower for the cohort fed on mice (16%). The development time from the nymph to adult stage and the average age of first reproduction (α) presented lower values in the cohort fed on cockroaches, which is consistent with the higher population growth rate associated with this host. Demographic parameters [intrinsic rate of natural increase, finite rate of population growth, net reproductive rate and damping ratio] showed statistically significant differences between the cohorts. Analysis of the life history of B. ferroae revealed a higher fitness related to the cockroach. The implications of these results for the origin of the subfamily are discussed.

The sandfly fauna, anthropophily and the seasonal activities of Pintomyia spinicrassa (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeastern Colombia.

This study was conducted to identify the sandfly fauna and the anthropophilic species in a coffee-growing area of Villanueva, Norte de Santander, Colombia, a focus of American cutaneous leishmaniasis, and to analyse the relationship between the most frequent species and rainfall, relative humidity and temperature, with the aim of contributing to epidemiological surveillance in the area. Sandfly collections were performed fortnightly between February 2006-September 2007 using automatic light traps, Shannon traps, protected human bait and aspiration in resting places. A total of 7,051 sandflies belonging to 12 species were captured. Pintomyia spinicrassa (95.7%) predominated. Pintomyia oresbia and Lutzomyia sp. of Pichinde were found in the state of Norte de Santander for the first time. Pi. spinicrassa, Pintomyia nuneztovari, Micropygomyia venezuelensis, Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) scorzai and Lu. (Helcocyrtomyia) sp. were captured on the protected human bait. A significant association between Pi. spinicrassa abundance and the total rainfall and the average temperature and humidity 10 days before the collection was observed. The dominance of Pi. spinicrassa, a recognised vector of Leishmania braziliensis, especially during the dry periods, indicates that the risk of parasite transmission may increase.

Indirect estimation of the need for palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive cross-sectional study using mortality data in the Biobío Region, Chile.

BACKGROUND: People with chronic diseases in their advanced phase require palliative care. This is essential to ensure their quality of life as it ends. However, a very low percentage of patients receive the necessary palliative care. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the planning and provision of palliative care. Despite this, in Chile, palliative care coverage was extended by law to cover nononcological chronic diseases. Implementation of this law is expected to be a significant challenge in terms of material resources, as well as the need for the formation of specialized palliative care teams. Therefore, it is essential to estimate the need for palliative care for all chronic diseases to generate useful input for planning and decision-making in public health. OBJECTIVES: To indirectly estimate the need for palliative care among people with Chronic Oncological Diseases (COD) and Chronic Non-Oncological Diseases (CNOD) during the prepandemic and pandemic context due to COVID-19 in the Biobío Region in Chile. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on mortality data from chronic oncological and nononcological diseases during the prepandemic (2010-2018) and pandemic (2020-2021) contexts due to COVID-19 in a Region of Chile through indirect estimation using minimal estimate, standardized mortality rates and geographically weighted regression. RESULTS: It was estimated that 76.25% of deaths from chronic diseases in the Biobío Region would have required palliative care, which represents 77,618 people who should have been included in these health benefits. The pandemic had a significant effect on the average number of deaths from CNOD. People belonging to this group were more likely to die from COVID-19 than from their baseline disease, unlike the deaths of people from COD, where no significant changes were observed. CONCLUSION: These estimates highlight the potential size of the population requiring palliative care and emphasize the importance of recognizing the rights of individuals with COD and CNOD conditions. It is evident that there is a significant demand for palliative care services, as well as a pressing need for adequate resources, effective management, and strategic planning to cater to the needs of this population. This is particularly crucial in the heavily impacted areas and communes of the Biobío Region, Chile.

Equine wellness care in ambulatory practice.

Clients want dependable veterinary care and to understand how the services will benefit and meet their horse's needs. Wellness visits provide ambulatory practitioners with great opportunities to strengthen the doctor-client-patient bond; effective communication with clients during wellness visits, where new literature or facts can be presented, can offer opportunities for demonstrating the value of having the veterinarian maintain a primary role in disease control. The criteria for selecting vaccines, interpreting FECs, and diagnosing dental pathology require the continued need for veterinary involvement. When providing wellness services, veterinarians should discuss those services, the reasons for them, as well as the possibility of adverse reactions. In so doing, the veterinarian is able to clearly distinguish himself or herself from a technician who is merely giving a "shot." Although some of these services can be performed by clients and lay professionals, the knowledge and training that veterinarians bring to these tasks add benefits to the horse beyond the services provided. For example, by targeting treatment and conveying the goals and limitations of FECs and deworming to clients, the speed at which anthelmintic resistance occurs will be diminished, and veterinarians will regain control over equine parasite management. Additional client education, such as demonstrating dental pathology to clients and how veterinary treatment benefits their horse, will not only improve the health of the horse further but also solidify the veterinarian's role in preventative medicine. While all components of a wellness program were not detailed here, services such as nutritional consultation, blood work, and lameness evaluation should be offered based on the practice's equine population. With the increasing population of geriatric horses, dentistry, nutrition, blood work, and lameness should be assessed annually or biannually. Each practice has its own set of criteria that could be included under the umbrella of "preventative medicine." It is during these times, when the client is most relaxed and not concerned about a serious health problem, that it is easiest to demonstrate the significance of veterinarians in equine wellness care.

Impact of COVID-19 on deaths from respiratory diseases: Panel data evidence from Chile.

The COVID-19 pandemic has relegated pathologies that were previously commonplace to a secondary context. Therefore, it is necessary to study the evolution of these diseases in the presence or absence of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The present study had the following objectives: 1. to evaluate the relationship between the COVID-19 epidemic and the possible decrease in death from respiratory disease (DRd) in Chile; and 2. to study the relationships between meteorological variables and severity of COVID-19 with respect to DRd from January 2018 to February 2021. METHODS: The variable number of DRds in Chile was analyzed considering the monthly records of meteorological variables (temperature, precipitation and humidity) in each region of Chile and the severity of COVID-19 to evaluate the mortality trend before and after the pandemic. For this, different nonobservable heterogeneity models for panel data were used. RESULTS: The variables that affect DRd include the number of deaths from COVID-19, which led to a decrease in DRd (negative effect) when increased, the number of patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU), which led to an increase in DRd (positive effect) when increased, and the minimum temperature, which had a negative effect on DRd. These results are supported by the application of panel regression with one-way random-effects models. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a reduction in the number of DRds other than COVID-19 during the pandemic in Chile. This could be explained by the sanitary measures applied by the Ministry of Health of Chile in relation to mobility restrictions and social distancing, among others. Therefore, DRd decreased in accordance with the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessing the effectiveness of quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile using Bayesian structural time series models.

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, all existing health protocols were tested under the worst health crisis humanity has experienced since the Black Death in the 14th century. Countries in Latin America have been the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 1.5 million people killed. Worldwide health measures have included quarantines, border closures, social distancing, and mask use, among others. In particular, Chile implemented total or partial quarantine measures depending on the number of infections in each region of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effectiveness of these quarantines in relation to the public health measures implemented by government entities at the national level. Objective: The main objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of national- and region-level quarantines in Chile during the pandemic based on information published by the Chilean Ministry of Health, and answers to the following question are sought: Were quarantine measures in Chile effective during the COVID-19 pandemic? Methods: The causal effect between the rates of COVID-19 infections and the population rates in Phase 1 and Phase 2 quarantines in the period from March 2020 to March 2021 in different regions of Chile were evaluated using intervention analyses obtained through Bayesian structural time series models. In addition, the Kendall correlation coefficient obtained through the copula approach was used to evaluate the comovement between these rates. Results: In 75% of the Chilean regions under study (12 regions out of a total of 16), an effective Phase 1 quarantine, which was implemented to control and reduce the number of cases of COVID-19 infection, was observed. The main regions that experienced a decrease in cases were those located in the north and center of Chile. Regarding Phase 2, the COVID-19 pandemic was effectively managed in 31% (5 out of 16) of the regions. In the south-central and extreme southern regions of Chile, the effectiveness of these phases was null. Conclusion: The findings indicate that in the northern and central regions of Chile, the Phase 1 quarantine application period was an effective strategy to prevent an increase in COVID-19 infections. The same observation was made with respect to Phase 2, which was effective in five regions of northern Chile; in the rest of the regions, the effectiveness of these phases was weak or null.

Genome Sequences of 22 T1-like Bacteriophages That Infect Enterobacteriales.

Here, the full genome sequences of 22 T1-like bacteriophages isolated from wastewater are reported. Eight (BlueShadow, Brooksby, Devorator, ElisaCorrea, Reinasaurus, SorkZaugg, Supreme284, ZeroToHero) were isolated on Citrobacter, six on Klebsiella (Chell, FairDinkum, HazelMika, Opt-817, P528, PeteCarol), and eight on Escherichia (Fulano1, Mishu, Opt-719, PhleaSolo, Punny, Poky, Phunderstruck, Sadiya).

Nanoinformatics: an emerging area of information technology at the intersection of bioinformatics, computational chemistry and nanobiotechnology.

After the progress made during the genomics era, bioinformatics was tasked with supporting the flow of information generated by nanobiotechnology efforts. This challenge requires adapting classical bioinformatic and computational chemistry tools to store, standardize, analyze, and visualize nanobiotechnological information. Thus, old and new bioinformatic and computational chemistry tools have been merged into a new sub-discipline: nanoinformatics. This review takes a second look at the development of this new and exciting area as seen from the perspective of the evolution of nanobiotechnology applied to the life sciences. The knowledge obtained at the nano-scale level implies answers to new questions and the development of new concepts in different fields. The rapid convergence of technologies around nanobiotechnologies has spun off collaborative networks and web platforms created for sharing and discussing the knowledge generated in nanobiotechnology. The implementation of new database schemes suitable for storage, processing and integrating physical, chemical, and biological properties of nanoparticles will be a key element in achieving the promises in this convergent field. In this work, we will review some applications of nanobiotechnology to life sciences in generating new requirements for diverse scientific fields, such as bioinformatics and computational chemistry.

Description of the cave organ in three species of the genus Belminus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) by optical and scanning electron microscopy.

The cave organ is a sensory receptor in the antenna pedicel of some Reduviidae. This paper describes this organ for the first time in three species of the genus Belminus, Belminus corredori, Belminus ferroae and Belminus herreri, by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The structures presented a general pattern similar to one reported for other species of Triatominae.

Prediction of confirmed cases of and deaths caused by COVID-19 in Chile through time series techniques: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Chile has become one of the countries most affected by COVID-19, a pandemic that has generated a large number of cases worldwide. If not detected and treated in time, COVID-19 can cause multi-organ failure and even death. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the behavior of the spread of COVID-19 as well as the projection of infections and deaths. This information is very relevant so that public health organizations can distribute financial resources efficiently and take appropriate containment measures. In this research, we compare different time series methodologies to predict the number of confirmed cases of and deaths from COVID-19 in Chile. METHODS: The methodology used in this research consisted of modeling cases of both confirmed diagnoses and deaths from COVID-19 in Chile using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA henceforth) models, Exponential Smoothing techniques, and Poisson models for time-dependent count data. Additionally, we evaluated the accuracy of the predictions using a training set and a test set. RESULTS: The dataset used in this research indicated that the most appropriate model is the ARIMA time series model for predicting the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, whereas for predicting the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Chile, the most suitable approach is the damped trend method. CONCLUSION: The ARIMA models are an alternative to modeling the behavior of the spread of COVID-19; however, depending on the characteristics of the dataset, other methodologies can better predict the behavior of these records, for example, the Holt-Winter method implemented with time-dependent count data.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Natural and Anthropogenic Arsenic Sources in Groundwater Flow Systems.

The presence of arsenic in groundwater constitutes a hazard for the environment and human health, and the determination of its source has become a global challenge, which can be approached by defining the natural background levels (NBL) in conjunction with the indicator kriging method, with the aim of delineating anthropogenically contaminated areas. However, having a unique value of NBL for large areas can generate interpretation errors. This research integrates the determination of the flow systems present in the Calera Aquifer, and the definition of the natural background levels in each flow system by making estimation maps in ArcGIS using two databases, 10 years apart, to evaluate the spatio-temporal variation of arsenic in groundwater. The results indicate a notable increase in the probability of exceeding the arsenic NBL, mainly in the intermediate flow, which may be due to movement resulting from mining activities as well as a mixture of regional and intermediate flows caused by the extraction of water for agriculture and drinking water supplies. The presented values exceed the maximum limits allowed for human consumption, as stated by the World Health Organization.

[Toxic effect of beta-cipermethrin, deltamethrin and fenitrothion in colonies of Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) and Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)]. / Efecto tóxico de beta-cipermetrina, deltametrina y fenitrotión en cepas de Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) y Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae).

INTRODUCTION: The susceptibility to insecticides of triatomine species must be evaluated because of their involvement in the transmission of the Chagas disease. In each region with Chagas endemicity, evaluation of insecticide response is necessary to predict the success of the control campaigns. OBJECTIVE: The baseline susceptibility was determined for the active principles deltamethrin, beta-cypermethrin and fenitrothion in nymphs of first and fifth instar of Triatoma dimidiata and nymphs of first instar of Triatoma maculata. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The insecticide activity in triatomines was evaluated by the technique of topical application. RESULTS: The values of the LD50 in nymphs of first instar for T. maculata, expressed in nanograms per insect (ng/i), were 0.07, 0.05 and 4.12 for deltamethrin, beta-cypermethrin and fenitrothion respectively. The corresponding LD99 values were 1.08, 0.37 and 17.89 ng/i. In T. dimidiata, the LD50 values were 0.44, 0.46 and 16.45 ng/i; the LD99 values were 2.22, 1.97 and 36.07 ng/i. In nymphs of fifth instar T. dimidiata, the LD50 values were 510.7, 1623.6 and 838.9 ng/i; the LD99 values were 9607.5, 11,717.9 and 1525.0 ng/i, respectively. CONCLUSION: In first instar nymphs of T. dimidiata and T. maculata, the pyrethroid insecticides were more effective; in fifth instar nymphs of T. dimidiata, the effectiveness of the pyrethroids and the organophosphate differed in the LD50 comparison--the nymphs required much higher doses compared with the other triatomines and suggested a low susceptibility. The LD99 for the organophosphate (fenitrothion) was significantly lower and may indicate its greater effectiveness in field. Studies of synergistic effects amonst insecticides are important to clarify the role of biochemical mechanisms that determine tolerance to the pyrethroids. Insecticide tolerance represents a new challenge for control campaigns in the Andean and Central American countries where Chagas disease is endemic.

Impact of climate variability in the occurrence of leishmaniasis in northeastern Colombia.

Previous studies have shown that variation in the distribution of vectors associated to the transmission of Leishmania species may be related to climatic changes. However, the potential implications of these ecological changes in human health need to be further defined in various endemic populations where leishmaniasis carries a substantial burden of disease such as in Northeastern Colombia. Herein, we report the impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation climatic fluctuations during 1985-2002 in the occurrence of cases of leishmaniasis in two northeastern provinces of Colombia. During this period, we identified that during El Niño, cases of leishmaniasis increased, whereas during La Niña phases, leishmaniasis cases decreased. This preliminary data show how climatic changes influence the occurrence of leishmaniasis in northeastern Colombia and contributes to the growing body of evidence that shows that the incidence of vector-borne diseases is associated with annual changes in weather conditions.

[Species of Lutzomyia (Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in endemic cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis foci of the department of Santander, in the eastern range of the Colombian Andes]. / Especies de género Lutzomyia (Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) en áreas de transmisión de leishmaniasis tegumentaria y visceral en el departamento de Santander, en la cordillera oriental de los Andes colombianos.

INTRODUCTION: Phlebotomine sand flies are the only known vectors of leishmaniasis and show an interesting biodiversity in the Andean mountain range of South America. We update the registry of species prevalent in the municipalities and endemic areas of the department of Santander, in the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. OBJECTIVE: To present an updated inventory and distribution of the Lutzomyia species in the department of Santander and to discuss some ecological aspects of the principal species of medical importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phlebotomines were collected in 12 municipalities in the years 1998 to 2001 between 19:00-6:00 using CDC miniature light traps, manual aspirators on protected human baits between 18:00 and 20:00, and occasionally by direct aspiration on tree trunks between 8:00-11:00 and resting on walls at different times of the day. RESULTS: 3.972 phlebotomines of 41 species were captured, of which 16 species were new records for this area of the country. In zones of endemic American cutaneous leishmaniasis, L. gomezi, L. trapidoi, L. panamensis, L. ovallesi and L.yuilli were remarkable for their abundance, their presence within dwellings and their epidemiological relevance. In areas of visceral leishmaniasis, the most relevant species was L. longipalpis. CONCLUSION: The significant presence of vectors within human dwellings and the prevalence of human infection are continuing evidence of household transmission of Leishmania as an important public health problem in this department of Colombia.

[Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) at a suburban focus of visceral leishmaniasis in the Chicamocha Canyon, Santander, Colombia]. / Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) en un foco suburbano de leishmaniosis visceral en el Cañón del Chicamocha en Santander, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Between 1998 and 2000, the occurrence of 8 cases of American visceral leishmaniasis in children from a recently established human settlement in Guatiguará, in the municipality of Piedecuesta (Santander, Colombia) indicated the possible presence of Leishmania transmission in this locality. This observation motivated the current entomological investigation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative frequency of Lutzomyia longipalpis inside houses and outdoors, and the natural infection of this vector with Leishmania spp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CDC light traps were used for sampling inside houses and outdoors, and sand flies were collected on human volunteers and domestic animals, and in resting places, during the period from May 1999 through September 2000. Natural infection was determined by PCR, in pools of female Lutzomyia longipalpis. RESULTS: A total of 7,391 phlebotomine sand flies were collected. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), representing 99.5% of captures. In the sand flies collected with CDC light traps, L. longipalpis was more frequently collected indoors than outdoors (p = 0.0001). The total rate of natural infection was 1.93% and a positive correlation was observed between months with higher abundance and the number of infected females entering human dwellings. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that in Guatiguará Lutzomyia longipalpis, shows marked tendency for the indoors, which has important implications for leishmaniasis transmission. Furthermore, transmission risk is increased during the months of higher abundance due to the entry of a higher number of infected females. From the standpoint of control, this behaviour permits the design of strategies to reduce indoor transmission.

[Description of external cuticular setae of head, thorax, legs, abdomen and genitalia of four Triatominae species].

INTRODUCTION: The classification of the cuticular extensions of insects has been proposed as a taxonomic tool; however, the internal and external processes of the cuticular extensions of the Triatominae subfamily have not been fully analyzed and categorized. Objective: To describe the setae from different regions of the outer cuticle of several triatomine species by scanning electron microscopy. Materials and methods: Triatomines were washed and dried, after which different regions of the body from Eratyrus mucronatus, Triatoma maculata, Panstrongylus geniculatus and Belminus ferroae specimens were dissected, mounted on graphite double-sided adhesive tape over metal supports, metalized with gold and micrographed for further analysis. Results: We described nine types of cuticular setae. We found five types of setae in B. ferroae and T. maculata, four in P. geniculatus and only one in E. mucronatus. According to the proposed typology, type 3 seta was the most common in T. maculata, P. geniculatus and E. mucronatus, whereas type 1a predominated in B. ferroae. Conclusion: Type 3 seta was the most common in the Triatomini tribe (T. maculata, E mucronatus and P. geniculatus), whereas type 1a seta was specific to B. ferroae (tribe Bolboderini), suggesting that the surface morphology of the setae may have taxonomic value at tribe taxonomic level.

[Morphological abnormalities in the cibarium of Lutzomyia evansi (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) caught in Trujillo, Venezuela]. / Anomalías morfológicas en los dientes del cibario de Lutzomyia evansi (Diptera: Psychodidae) en el estado Trujillo, Venezuela.

INTRODUCTION: Lutzomyia evansi is a recognized vector of Leishmania infantum in Colombia and Venezuela. OBJECTIVE: To describe and illustrate the morphological abnormalities in Lu. evansi females captured in a rural focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Trujillo, Venezuela. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phlebotomine sand flies were collected using CDC light traps, Shannon traps and aspiration in resting places. The identification was performed according to Young & Duncan (1994) and drawings were made using a microscope with camara lucida . RESULTS: Abnormalities in the cibarium of Lu. evansi were detected in 4 (0.12%) females of the 3,477 adults that were studied. CONCLUSION: Lutzomyia evansi can have uncommon morphological variants associated with an increase in the number of teeth in the cibarium and their arrangement, which may lead to errors in the taxonomic identification of anomalous specimens. The study of such deformities can serve to avoid taxonomic identification errors.

[Prevalence of obesity and altered lipid profile in university students]. / Prevalencia de obesidad y perfil lipídico alterado en jóvenes universitarios.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a serious public health problem because its association with the risk to develop various chronic diseases. Atherogenic dyslipidemia that often accompany obesity is also associated to the metabolic syndrome and to cardiovascular diseases. The transition from adolescence to young adulthood appears to be a period where major changes occur in the lifestyle which contributes to the development of obesity, however, little attention has been given to this transition stage. The inclination to adopt unhealthy behaviors which occurs during early adulthood may be increased on university students because their lifestyle, which is characterized by lack of time to eat a healthy diet, which can make them susceptible to obesity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity and lipid levels abnormalities and their relationship in a group of university students. METHODS: Transversal study of university students aged between 18 and 24 years. Body mass index, waist circumference and blood lipid profile where evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 620 students surveyed about one-third have either overweight or obesity. 86% of students had at least one alteration in the evaluated parameters. Lipid profile results show a high prevalence of minor alterations in levels, particularly in cholesterol linked to low density lipoproteins levels. CONCLUSIONS: University young students have a high prevalence of overweight and plasma lipid levels above the norm, but most are in the low-risk categories. It is necessary to establish early preventive measures aimed at promoting in the university student good eating habits and increased physical activity.

Introducción: La obesidad constituye un grave problema de salud pública por su asociación con los riesgos a desarrollar enfermedades crónicas. La dislipidemia aterogénica que acompaña con frecuencia a la obesidad también está asociada al síndrome metabólico y a las enfermedades cardiovasculares. La transición entre la adolescencia y el adulto es un periodo con modificaciones importantes en el estilo de vida que contribuyen al desarrollo de la obesidad, sin embargo es poca la atención brindada a esta etapa. La tendencia a adoptar comportamientos poco saludables durante esta transición puede incrementarse en los universitarios que llevan un estilo de vida caracterizado por la falta de tiempo para llevar una dieta saludable, haciéndolos susceptibles a desarrollar obesidad. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de la obesidad y de las anormalidades en los niveles de lípidos y su relación en un grupo de universitarios. Métodos: Estudio transversal que evalúa Índice de Masa Corporal, diámetro de cintura y perfil de lípidos en universitarios con un rango de edad de 18 a 24 años. Resultados: De los 620 jóvenes estudiados, aproximadamente un tercio tienen sobrepeso u obesidad. El 86% presentó al menos una alteración en los parámetros evaluados. Los resultados del perfil lipídico muestran alta prevalencia de alteraciones leves, particularmente en los niveles de colesterol ligado a lipoproteínas de baja densidad. Conclusiones: Los jóvenes Universitarios presentan alta prevalencia de lípidos plasmáticos por encima de la norma y exceso de peso. Es necesario establecer medidas preventivas dirigidas a promover en los universitarios buenos hábitos alimenticios y mayor actividad física.

In situ and in silico evaluation of amine- and folate-terminated dendrimers as nanocarriers of anesthetics.

The search for new nano-systems for targeted biomedical applications and controlled drug release has attracted significant attention in polymer chemistry, pharmaceutics, and biomaterial science. Controlled drug delivery has many advantages over conventional drug administration, such as reduction of side effects, maintaining a stable plasma level concentration and improving the quality of life of patients. In this study, PAMAM G5 dendrimers and PAMAM G5-folic acid conjugates (PAMAM G5-FA) are synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Controlled release studies at different pH values show that PAMAM G5-FA is a good candidate as a carrier for tramadol and morphine, while mathematical modeling is conducted, suggesting that the release process is governed by a diffusion mechanism. In addition, using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the structural and energetic properties that facilitate the encapsulation of tramadol and morphine by unmodified and functionalized PAMAM-G5 dendrimers at low, neutral and high pH. Our results correlate well with experimental data, confirming that tramadol and morphine may be encapsulated both by functionalized PAMAM dendrimers and unmodified PAMAM. Moreover, the simulations further reveal that hydrogen-bond and electrostatic interactions govern the affinity the dendrimers for both drugs. This information is envisioned to prove useful for the encapsulation of other drugs and for the design of novel functionalized dendrimers.