Niveles de aprobación de ESFUNO entre los años 2019 y 2020. Facultad de Enfermería Udelar / Approval levels of ESFUNO between the years 2019 and 2020. Faculty of Nursing Udelar / Níveis de aprovação do ESFUNO entre os anos de 2019 e 2020. Faculdade de Enfermagem da Udelar

El presente trabajo muestra los resultados de un estudio de carácter diagnóstico sobre el efecto de la aplicación de una metodología de enseñanza totalmente virtual para el curso ESFUNO de Facultad de Enfermería en el marco de la pandemia por Covid-19. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo y analítico comparando el desempeño académico entre las generaciones del año 2019 y 2020 mediante contraste de proporciones. Se sistematizaron los datos de desempeño estudiantil para la exoneración del curso ESFUNO y los dos primeros períodos de exámenes a partir de la finalización del curso desarrollados desde la implementación del Plan 2016. A partir de los datos obtenidos se pudo observar que predominó la exoneración del curso con un porcentaje para el año 2019 de 56 % y para el año 2020 de 79 % siendo este un aumento significativo (p<0.05). Se observó un aumento significativo de la desvinculación en el año 2020 con respecto al año 2019 (27 % y 19 % respectivamente) (p<0.05). La proporción de estudiantes que salvaron el examen de ESFUNO aumento significativamente en el segundo periodo para el año 2019 (p<0.05) pero no así para el año 2020 (p>0.05). Al comparar la proporción de aprobación del primer periodo entre la generación que cursó en 2019y la generación que cursó en 2020 se observó un aumento significativo para el año 2020 (p<0.05). Finalmente se observó que en el año 2020 hubo una asociación positiva entre aquellos alumnos que sin exonerar tuvieron una nota media (5) y un mayor porcentaje de aprobación del examen. Se concluye que la utilización de la total virtualidad aplicada en el año 2020 en el curso ESFUNO no tuvo un impacto negativo sobre los niveles de aprobación del mismo ya sea a nivel de exoneración como a nivel de aprobación en el primer y segundo periodo de examen.

This work shows the results of a diagnostic study on the effect of the application of a totally virtual teaching methodology for the ESFUNO course of the School of Nursing, in the frame work of the Covid-19 pandemic. A descriptive and analytical observational study was carried out to compare academic performances between the 2019 and 2020 class by comparing proportions. Student performance data were systematized for the ESFUNO exam exemption and the first two exam periods immediately after the end of the course, for all the years since the implementation of the 2016 Plan. From the data obtained, it was observed that the exam exemption prevailed with a 56 % for the 2019 class and for a 79 % for the2020 class, this being a significant increase (p<0.05). A significant increase in disengagement was observed in 2020compared to 2019 (27 % and 19 % respectively) (p<0.05). The proportion of students who saved the ESFUNO exam in the second period, increased significantly for 2019 (p<0.05) but not for 2020 class (p>0.05). When comparing the passing rate during the first period between the 2019 and 2020 classes, a significant increase was observed for 2020 (p<0.05). Finally, it was observed that in 2020 there was a positive association between those students who, without exam exemption, had an average grade (5) and a higher percentage of students passing the exam. It is concluded that the use of the total virtuality applied in the year 2020 for the ESFUNO course did not have a negative impact on the approval rate, either at the exemption level or at the approval level in the first and second period of exam.

O presente trabalho mostra os resultados de um estudo diagnóstico sobre o efeito da aplicação de uma metodologia de ensino totalmente virtual para o curso ESFUNO da Faculdade de Enfermagem no contexto da pandemia Covid-19. Realizou-se um estudo observacional descritivo e analítico comparando o desempenho acadêmico entre as gerações de 2019 e 2020 através da comparação de proporções. Se sistematizaram os dados do desempenho estudantil para aprovação direta do curso ESFUNO e os dois primeiros períodos das provas a partir da finalização do curso desenvolvidos após a implementação do Plano 2016. Pelos dados obtidos, observou-se que houve predomínio da aprovação direta do curso, com uma porcentagem de 56% para o ano de 2019 e de 79 % para o ano de 2020, sendo este um aumento significativo (p<0.05). Observou-se, ainda, no ano de 2020 um aumento significativo da desvinculação do curso quando comparado ao ano de 2019 (27 % e 19 %, respectivamente) (p<0.05). A proporção de estudantes que passaram na prova de ESFUNO aumentou significativamente no segundo período para o ano de 2019 (p<0.05), porém não se observou o mesmo no ano de 2020 (p>0.05). Ao comparar a taxa de aprovação no primeiro período de recuperação entre a geração que cursou no ano de 2019 com a geração que cursou no ano de 2020, se observou um aumento significativo para o ano de 2020 (p<0.05). Finalmente, foi observado que no ano de 2020 houve uma associação positiva entre aqueles alunos que não obtiveram aprovação direta, mas tiveram nota média (5) e maior percentual de aprovação. Conclui-se que a utilização da modalidade totalmente virtual aplicada no ano de 2020 para realização do curso ESFUNO não teve um impacto negativo sobre os níveis de aprovação do mesmo, seja no nível de aprovação direta, como no nível de aprovação no primeiro e segundo períodos de provas.

Longitudinal Study after Sputnik V Vaccination Shows Durable SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies and Reduced Viral Variant Escape to Neutralization over Time.

Recent studies have shown a temporal increase in the neutralizing antibody potency and breadth to SARS-CoV-2 variants in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent individuals. Here, we examined longitudinal antibody responses and viral neutralizing capacity to the B.1 lineage virus (Wuhan related), to variants of concern (VOC; Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta), and to a local variant of interest (VOI; Lambda) in volunteers receiving the Sputnik V vaccine in Argentina. Longitudinal serum samples (N = 536) collected from 118 volunteers obtained between January and October 2021 were used. The analysis indicates that while anti-spike IgG levels significantly wane over time, the neutralizing capacity for the Wuhan-related lineages of SARS-CoV-2 and VOC is maintained within 6 months of vaccination. In addition, an improved antibody cross-neutralizing ability for circulating variants of concern (Beta and Gamma) was observed over time postvaccination. The viral variants that displayed higher escape to neutralizing antibodies with respect to the original virus (Beta and Gamma variants) were the ones showing the largest increase in susceptibility to neutralization over time after vaccination. Our observations indicate that serum neutralizing antibodies are maintained for at least 6 months and show a reduction of VOC escape to neutralizing antibodies over time after vaccination. IMPORTANCE Vaccines have been produced in record time for SARS-CoV-2, offering the possibility of halting the global pandemic. However, inequalities in vaccine accessibility in different regions of the world create a need to increase international cooperation. Sputnik V is a recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine that has been widely used in Argentina and other developing countries, but limited information is available about its elicited immune responses. Here, we examined longitudinal antibody levels and viral neutralizing capacity elicited by Sputnik V vaccination. Using a cohort of 118 volunteers, we found that while anti-spike antibodies wane over time, the neutralizing capacity to viral variants of concern and local variants of interest is maintained within 4 months of vaccination. In addition, we observed an increased cross-neutralization activity over time for the Beta and Gamma variants. This study provides valuable information about the immune response generated by a vaccine platform used in many parts of the world.

Infants Younger Than 6 Months Infected With SARS-CoV-2 Show the Highest Respiratory Viral Loads.

There is a paucity of reports on the characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in infants, because most studies have grouped infants with older children. We analyzed the viral loads of 45318 SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Infants younger than 6 months presented higher viral loads than any other age group. Children older than 6 months showed significantly lower viral loads, similar to those founds in adults. This observation raises new questions regarding the role of infants in the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Extracellular Acidosis and mTOR Inhibition Drive the Differentiation of Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells.

During inflammation, recruited monocytes can differentiate either into macrophages or dendritic cells (DCs); however, little is known about the environmental factors that determine this cell fate decision. Low extracellular pH is a hallmark of a variety of inflammatory processes and solid tumors. Here, we report that low pH dramatically promotes the differentiation of monocytes into DCs (monocyte-derived DCs [mo-DCs]). This process is associated with a reduction in glucose consumption and lactate production, the upregulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain genes, and the inhibition of mTORC1 activity. Interestingly, we also find that both serum starvation and pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 markedly promote the differentiation of mo-DCs. Our study contributes to better understanding the mechanisms that govern the differentiation of monocytes into DCs and reveals the role of both extracellular pH and mTORC1 as master regulators of monocyte cell fate.

DnaJ molecules as potential effectors in Meloidogyne arenaria. An unexplored group of proteins in plant parasitic nematodes.

Plant pathogenic organisms secrete proteins called effectors that recognize, infect and promote disease within host cells. Bacteria, like Pseudomona syringae, use effectors with DnaJ function to disrupt plant defenses. DnaJ proteins (also called Hsp40) are a group of co-chaperone molecules, which assist in the folding of proteins. Despite the described role of DnaJs as effectors in several groups of pathogens, this group of proteins has never been correlated with the infection process in plant parasitic nematodes. In this study, we analyze the importance of DnaJ for plant parasitic nematodes. To do that, we compare the number of DnaJ proteins in nematodes with different lifestyles. Then, we predict the secreted DnaJ proteins in order to detect effector candidates. We found that Meloidogyne species have more secreted DnaJs than the rest of the nematodes analyzed in the study. Particularly, M. arenaria possess the highest proportion of secreted DnaJ sequences in comparison to total DnaJ proteins. Furthermore, we found in this species at least five sequences with a putative nuclear localization signal, three of them with a serine rich region with an unknown function. Then, we chose one of these sequences (MG599854) to perform an expression analysis. We found that MG599854 is over-expressed from 3 days post inoculation onwards in tomato plants. Moreover, MG599854 seems to be enough to produce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana under transient expression conditions. In concordance with our results, we propose that DnaJ proteins are a potential source of effector proteins in plant parasitic nematodes.