Potential Use of Andean Tuber Waste for the Generation of Environmentally Sustainable Bioelectricity.

The growing demand for agricultural products has increased exponentially, causing their waste to increase and become a problem for society. Searching for sustainable solutions for organic waste management is increasingly urgent. This research focuses on considering the waste of an Andean tuber, such as Olluco, as a fuel source for generating electricity and becoming a potential sustainable energy source for companies dedicated to this area. This research used Olluco waste as fuel in single-chamber microbial fuel cells using carbon and zinc electrodes. An electric current and electric potential of 6.4 ± 0.4 mA and 0.99 ± 0.09 V were generated, operating with an electrical conductivity of 142.3 ± 6.1 mS/cm and a pH of 7.1 ± 0.2. It was possible to obtain a 94% decrease in COD and an internal resistance of 24.9 ± 2.8 Ω. The power density found was 373.8 ± 28.8 mW/cm2 and the current density was 4.96 A/cm2. On day 14, the cells were connected in earnest, achieving a power of 2.92 V and generating enough current to light an LED light bulb, thus demonstrating the potential that Olluco waste has to be used as fuel in microbial fuel cells.

Effect of the Healthy Dish Method to Reduce Waist Circumference in Teachers with Abdominal Obesity of a Peruvian University.

Introduction: Obesity has increased steadily in recent decades, becoming a worldwide pandemic. Objective: To determine the effect of the "Healthy Dish" method to reduce waist circumference in teachers with abdominal obesity in a Peruvian University. Methods: Quasi-experimental, prospective study in 43 teachers, divided into 21 in the control group and 22 in the experimental group, who received a two-session workshop on abdominal obesity and the "Healthy Dish" method. The latter was applied for 2 months, monitored 5 days a week, the waist circumference of both groups was measured at one month and at two months and compared. For the statistical analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics or nonparametric statistics were applied (Mann-Whitney U-test, according to the assumption of normality). Results: The predominant age range was 40 to 49 years, women, married, overweight, with a family history of hypertension, cancer and diabetes mellitus. After the intervention, 40.9% of teachers in the experimental group decreased their waist circumference and 54.5% normalized it, while the control group decreased it by 23.8% and 47.6% normalized it. Only 4.54% of teachers in the experimental group showed no change in their waist circumference, compared to 19.0% in the control group, and 9.52% of teachers in the control group increased their waist circumference. Conclusion: The healthy dish method has a positive effect on decreasing waist circumference in teachers with abdominal obesity.

Carbapenemase-Producing Bacteria Isolated from ICU Patients of a Peruvian Government Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis.

Background and Objectives: In Peru, the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is a constant concern in hospitals and has likely increased in frequency during the pandemic. The objective of the study was to analyze the frequency of carbapenemase-producing bacteria resistant to two carbapenems (Imipenem and Meropenem), which were isolated from Peruvian patients in the intensive care unit of the Victor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital in Trujillo (Peru) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The biological samples of the patients hospitalized in the ICU were processed in the Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory of the Víctor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital between May 2021 and March 2022. Antimicrobial sensitivity was determined with the automated system AutoScan-4, and for the identification of the type of carbapenemase, the RESISIT-3 O.K.N K-SET cassettes were used. Results: The results show that 76 cultures (76/129) had resistance to the two carbapenems (imipenem or meropenem), where the most frequent were Klebsiella pneuomoniae (31.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.3%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (14.5%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures showed at least three carbapenemase types (KPC, NDM, and OXA-48), while A. baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Burkholderia cepacia complex presented at least two carbapenemases (NDM and OXA-48). The carbapenemase NDM was detected in Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, and Proteus mirabilis, while KPC was present in all Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca cultures. Conclusions: The samples from patients hospitalized in the Victor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital ICU showed a high prevalence of imipenem- and meropenem-resistant bacteria. These findings are relevant and concerning from the perspective of antibiotic-resistant bacteria monitoring, control, and disinfection. Thus, an appropriate antibiotic policy must be implemented.

Characteristics and long-term outcomes of advanced pleural mesothelioma in Latin America (MeSO-CLICaP).

BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumor, associated with poor prognosis. There is a lack of information about the clinical and pathological features related with survival in the Latin American population. METHODS: The MeSO-CLICaP registry identified 302 patients with advanced MPM diagnosed and treated between January 2008 and March 2016. The Cox model was applied to determine the variables associated with survival. A random forest tree model was built to predict the response to first-line chemotherapy among Latin American patients. RESULTS: The median age was 61.1 years (SD 10.6 years), 191 (63.2%) were men, 65.9% were ever smokers, and 38.7% had previous exposure to asbestos. A total of 237 (78.5%) had epithelioid tumors, and 188 (62.3%) and 114 (37.7%) cases had stage III or IV MPM, respectively. A total of 49 patients (16.2%) underwent pleurectomy, 57 (18.9%) received radiotherapy, and 279 patients received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The overall response rate to first-line chemotherapy was 40.4%, progression-free survival to first-line treatment was 5.7 months (95% CI 4.9-6.5), and 63 (20.8%) patients had pemetrexed maintenance. The median overall survival was 16.8 months (95% CI 13.0-20.5), and multivariate analysis found that stage (P = 0.013), and pleurodesis (P = 0.048), were independent prognostic factors for first-line overall survival. The model to predict response to first-line chemotherapy obtained a 0.98 area under the curve, a sensitivity of 93%, and a specificity of 95% for detecting responders and non-responders. CONCLUSION: This study identifies factors associated with clinical benefit from chemotherapy among advanced MPM Latin American patients, emphasizing the impact of histology and the clinical benefit of chemotherapy on outcomes.

EGFR exon 20 insertion in lung adenocarcinomas among Hispanics (geno1.2-CLICaP).

OBJECTIVES: Contrasting other EGFR mutations (EGFRm) in lung adenocarcinomas, insertions in exon 20 (exon20ins) are generally associated with resistance to targeted therapy, limiting therapeutic options and impoverishing the prognosis compared to other EGFRm. We sought to extensively characterize exon20ins from a large cohort of lung adenocarcinomas in Hispanic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a region-wide, observational longitudinal cohort study to evaluate characteristics and outcomes of patients with exon20ins in lung adenocarcinoma, based on a secondary analysis of electronic records from the Geno1.2-CLICaP Platform and extended genotype testing. Patients from six Latin-American countries were included (Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Mexico). Data obtained included the molecular spectrum (extended genotyping for mutations in BRAF, NRAS, PIK3CA, Her2 and MEK1, as well as for EGFR amplification, ALK and PD-L1 protein expression), clinic-pathologic characteristics, prevalence and outcomes to therapeutic approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 4.005 patients diagnosed with stage III/IV lung adenocarcinoma from 2011 to 2016 were initially screened. Among these, 88 patients had a confirmed exon20 in. and were included; median age was 66-years, 62.5% were females, 64% were never smokers and 39% presented with brain metastases. The H773insH variant was the most frequent, making up 21.6% of cases. A common EGFRm was concomitantly found in 36.4% (del19/L858R), and 8% (G719X/L861Q/S768I) of cases. Five cases had additional mutations in PI3K, KRAS and MEK1, 26% had EGFR amplification and 81.7% had PD-L1 expression 1-50%. Overall response rate to first-line therapy was 28% and overall survival was 16.4 months. Prognosis was positively influenced by the concomitant presence of common EGFRm and response to first-line. Our results suggest that patients with EGFR exon20ins have similar clinical characteristics to those with common EGFRm but a poorer prognosis. Last, the mean PD-L1 expression in this population seems higher than for patients with common EGFRm.

Real-World Treatment Patterns, Survival, and Prediction of CNS Progression in ALK-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with First-Line Crizotinib in Latin America Oncology Practices.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the real-world characteristics, treatment sequencing, and outcomes among Hispanic patients with locally advanced/metastatic ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with crizotinib. METHODS: A retrospective patient review was conducted for several centers in Latin America. Clinicians identified ALK-positive NSCLC patients who received crizotinib and reported their clinical characteristics, treatments, and survival. Overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were described. A Random Forest Tree (RFT) model was constructed to predict brain progression. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were included; median age at diagnosis was 58 years, 60.3% were female, and 93.2% had adenocarcinoma. Eighty-nine percent of patients were never smokers/former smokers, 71.1% had ≥2 sites of metastasis, and 20.5% had brain metastases at diagnosis. The median PFS on first-line crizotinib was 7.07 months (95% CI 3.77-12.37) and the overall response rate was 52%. Of those who discontinued crizotinib, 55.9% progressed in the central nervous system (CNS). The RFT model reached a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88% for prediction of CNS progression. CONCLUSIONS: The overall response rate and the PFS observed in Hispanic patients with ALK-positive NSCLC treated with first-line crizotinib were similar to those in previous reports. An RFT model is helpful in predicting CNS progression and can help clinicians tailor treatments in a resource-limited practice.

Weight Loss-associated Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome, an Unusual Condition in a Peruvian Patient: A Case Report.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction. We report a young male patient with abdominal pain, emesis and history of significant weight loss. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated narrowing of the aortomesenteric angle. The patient underwent conservative medical management, focusing on relieving obstruction and nutritional support.

Ruptura diafragmática traumática: Presentación de un caso / Diaphragmatic Traumatic Rupture: A Case Report

La ruptura diafragmática traumática es una entidad de difícil diagnóstico inicial, por la baja sospecha clínica, lo que lleva a complicaciones como la estrangulación, que tiene una elevada morbimortalidad. Las lesiones traumáticas del diafragma son poco frecuentes, la incidencia global por mecanismo penetrante y cerrado es del 1 % al 6 %. El tiempo de formación de la hernia es muy variable: puede ser inmediata o puede tardar incluso años. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 19 años de edad con evolución del cuadro clínico durante tres, meses antes del diagnóstico radiológico definitivo.

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is a challenging initial diagnosis, due to low clinical suspicion, which leads to complications such as strangulation with has a high morbidity and mortality. Traumatic injuries of the diaphragm are rare; the overall incidence is 1% to 6%. The time of formation of the hernia is very variable: it may be immediate or it may even last years. The case of a 19 year old patient with an evolution of clinical picture during three months before the definitive radiological diagnosis.

Quiste dentígero ubicado en rama mandibular: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Dentigerous cyst located in ramus: report of a case and review of the literature

La cavidad bucal se ve afectada por una variedad de lesiones, dentro de las cuales se encuentran los quistes dentígeros, estos son los quistes de desarrollo más comunes de la mandíbula, frecuentemente asociados con terceros molares retenidos. Son los segundos quistes odontogénicos más comunes después de los quistes radiculares. El quiste deriva del epitelio reducido del esmalte que rodea la corona del diente. Por lo general son descubiertos cuando se toman radiografías para investigar la falta en la erupción de un diente. Afecta con mayor frecuencia al sexo masculino. Usualmente no hay dolor ni molestia asociados con el quiste a menos que se infecte secundariamente. El tratamiento del quiste se basa en la eliminación quirúrgica de la lesión. A continuación se describe un caso clínico de quiste dentígero ubicado en rama mandibular derecha, de gran tamaño y que se caracteriza por generar destrucción de gran parte de la misma

The oral cavity it's affected by a variety of injuries, one of them being the cysts dentigerous, these are the most common cysts of development of the jaw, frequently associated with third molars not erupcioned. They are the second cysts odontogenics more common after the radiculars cysts. The cyst derives from the limited epithelium of the enamel that is around the crown of the tooth. In general they are discovered when is X-ray radiographies are taken to investigate the lack in the eruption of a tooth. It affects with major frequency the males. Usually there is neither pain nor inconvenience associated with the cyst until it becomes infected secondarily. The treatment of the cyst is based on the surgical complete elimination of the injury. A clinical case of dentigerous cyst is described, located in the jaw right branch, of big size and that is characterized for generating destruction of great part of it

Empleo de la toxina botulínica tipo a en el tratamiento del espasmo hemifacial

Los trastornos neuromusculares son afecciones que alteran la vida de cualquier persona, movimientos musculares incontrolados que causan molestias e interfieren en la rutina diaria. Esta revisión bibliográfica se ha llevado a cabo con la finalidad de relacionar uno de los agentes químicos más populares en la actualidad para uso estético, la Toxina Botulínica (Botox), con el tratamiento de una entidad que necesita ser tratada más allá de las banalidades de la belleza, como lo es el Espasmo Hemifacial (EHF). Son las mujeres de la 5 década de la vida quienes tienen el mayor riesgo de sufrir esta enfermedad que afecta a los músculos inervados por el nervio facial, con una incidencia de 7.4 a 14.5 casos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Estos pueden ser tratados con varias alternativas terapéuticas, pero es la Toxina Botulínica una de las más usadas, produciendo relajación en el punto exacto del músculo donde se inyecta, con el beneficio de no interferir en la trasmisión de los impulsos nerviosos, sin embargo uno de sus efectos colaterales más destacados es el botulismo, si se administra a altas dosis. Las opciones para tratar una patología pueden ser innumerables, lo importante es analizar la severidad del caso, el factor riesgo-beneficio, las condiciones sistémicas del paciente y la efectividad, duración y costo del tratamiento.

The neuromuscular disorders are a group of conditions that affect the nerves that control the voluntary muscles and can interfere with the activities of daily living of any given person. One of these disorders is a condition known as Hemifacial Spam (HFS) which is characterized by frequent involuntary contractions of the ipsilateral muscles innervated by the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve). This condition more frequently affects women in the fifth decade of life and its incidence among the general population is 7.4 to 14.5 cases per 100.000 person/years. One of the most common therapeutic approaches for this condition is the use of Botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox). This toxin works by causing the relaxation of the injected muscle reducing the abnormal contractions, though if administered in higher doses than recommended, this therapy could cause a form of botulism.: This toxin produces the paralysis of the myoneural junction causing a neuromuscular blocking effect and reducing abnormal muscle contraction. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of the Botulinum toxin in the treatment of FHS, its effectiveness, side effects, duration and the risk benefits of this therapy.

Prevalencia de dislipidemia en una población de marinos mercantes venezolanos / prevalence of dislipidemia in an poblation of venezuelan sailors was

Determinar la prevalencia de dislipidemia en marinos mercantes en labores de navegación y la relación existente de acuerdo a su posición abordo. la hipercolesterolemia en marinos mercantes ha sido objeto de muy pocos estudios, sólo un trabajo ha reportado una prevalencia de 28 por ciento en ambos sexos. En Latinoamérica no hay estudios al respecto. Durante un año se realizó un estudio transversal, descriptivo en un universo de 400 marinos en labores de navegación como parte del examen periódico anual exigido por la Organización Maritima Internacional, a los cuales entre otros exámenes se les realizó el perfil lipídico. Se diagnosticó dislipidemia mediante un índice CoTHDL > 4,5. Se calcularon los estadísticos descriptivos para todas las variables, se distribuyeron los parámetros estudiados en porcentajes. Se evaluó el 100 por ciento de la población abordo, el promedio de edad fue de 34,1 ñ 8 años con un rango de 18 a 64 años y un valor modal de 33 años. Encontramos una prevalencia de dislipidemia de 86 por ciento. El riesgo cardiovascular determinado mediante el índice CoT/HDL fue mayor de 4,8 para todas las ocupaciones abordo, presentando mayor riesgo los oficiales de máquinas, los jefes de máquina y los pilotos. El 54 por ciento presentó LDL elevado. La prevalencia de hipertrigliceridemia fue de 44 por ceinto y el 34 por ciento presentaron HDL bajo. Existe una alta prevalencia de anormalidades de los lipídos séricos en los marinos mercantes venezolanos. Todas las ocupaciones de marinos estudiadas están sometidas a un alto riesgo de enfermedad arterial coronaria, tomando en cuenta el índice CoT/HDL. Las ocupaciones abordo con mayor riesgo fueron: oficiales de máquinas, jefes de máquinas y pilotos