Outcomes of COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Patients With Non-dialysis CKD.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus 2 has generated significant impact on global health worldwide. COVID-19 can cause pneumonia and organ injury. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with increased mortality in previous epidemics, but there is a paucity of data regarding actual risks for non-dialysis CKD patients with COVID-19. Methods: Multicenter, observational cohort study including 136 non-dialysis CKD patients and 136 age- and sex-matched controls that required hospitalization due to COVID-19. Patients with end-stage renal disease, a kidney transplant or without registered baseline glomerular filtration rate prior to COVID-19 infection were excluded. CKD and acute kidney injury (AKI) were defined according to KDIGO criteria. Results: CKD patients had higher white blood cell count and D-dimer and lower lymphocyte percentage. No differences were found regarding symptoms on admission. CKD was associated with higher rate of AKI (61 vs. 24.3%) and mortality (40.4 vs. 24.3%). Patients with AKI had the highest hazard for death (AKI/non-CKD HR:7.04, 95% CI:2.87-17.29; AKI/CKD HR:5.25, 95% CI: 2.29-12.02), followed by CKD subjects without AKI (HR:3.39, 95% CI:1.36-8.46). CKD status did not condition ICU admission or length of in-hospital stay. Conclusions: CKD patients that require hospitalization due to COVID-19 are exposed to higher risk of death and AKI.

Efficacy of an Aquatic Exercise Program for 3 Cases of Rett Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To examine functional, physiological effects of participating in an aquatic exercise program by 3 girls, diagnosed with Rett syndrome (RS), to explore areas for possible new research. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS: RS is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, which causes multiple disabilities and serious impairments in neuromotor and cognitive abilities. Three girls (4, 6, and 7 years), diagnosed stage III RS, participated in 20 months of aquatic exercise, with individually tailored, full body exercises, progressively targeting functional, cardiorespiratory, muscle, and flexibility training. Assessments included resting and exercise heart rates, anthropometric measures, functional, clinical aspects, and psychosocial abilities. CONCLUSIONS: The participants improved functional ability, mood status, relations with family and schoolmates, joint mobility, muscle strength, and endurance during functional activities. Periodic evaluation of exercise heart rates averaged an increase in intensity of 33% above baseline, indicating cardiorespiratory stimulus. This pilot program provides clinical rationale for future studies and clinical interventions for RS children.

A Novel Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Classification and Its Relationship With Physical Fitness in Spanish Older Adults: The PHYSMED Study.

BACKGROUND: As there is no gold-standard methodology to classify older people in relation to physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), this paper aimed to propose a classification combining PA and SB. METHODS: Within a broader study, 433 subjects, aged 55 years and older (57% females) from Madrid and Majorca, were evaluated for PA and SB by means of validated questionnaires. Physical fitness was analyzed objectively using the EXERNET test battery. Cluster analyses were used to establish behavioral patterns, combining PA and SB. RESULTS: Males spent more time doing regular PA but less time walking and working at home than females (P < .001). Comparing the groups (inactive and high sedentary, inactive and low sedentary, active and high sedentary, and active and low sedentary), the worst aerobic endurance (P < .001) and lower body strength (P < .05) were obtained in males from both inactive groups. Agility was highest in the active and low sedentary group (P < .05). No significant differences were observed in females. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed classification is valid, as it classifies subjects according to their PA and SB, and outcomes are related to objectively measured fitness. It could facilitate the work of public health authorities, researchers, and physicians.

Mineral metabolism disorders, vertebral fractures and aortic calcifications in stable kidney transplant recipients: The role of gender (EMITRAL study).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between mineral metabolism disorders, bone fractures and vascular calcifications in kidney transplant recipients has not been established. METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional study in 727 stable recipients from 28 Spanish transplant clinics. Mineral metabolism parameters, the semi-quantification of vertebral fractures and abdominal aortic calcifications were determined centrally. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD3<15ng/ml) was more common in female recipients at CKD-T stages I-III (29.6% vs 44.4%; p=0.003). The inverse and significant correlation between 25OHD3 and PTH was gender-specific and women exhibited a steeper slope than men (p=0.01). Vertebral fractures (VFx) with deformity grade ≥2 were observed in 15% of recipients. Factors related to VFx differed by gender; in males, age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.06) and CsA treatment (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.6-6.3); in females, age (OR 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12) and PTH levels (OR per 100pg/ml increase: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.043-1.542). Abdominal aortic calcifications were common (67.2%) and related to classical risk factors but not to mineral metabolism parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is more common among female kidney transplant recipients at earlier CKD-T stages, and it contributes to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Prevalent vertebral fractures are only related to high serum PTH levels in female recipients.

Antimicrobial evaluation of quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine nanoparticles against clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria.

Peritonitis is a disease caused by bacterial strains that have become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics. The development of alternative therapeutic compounds is the focus of extensive research, so novel nanoparticles (NPs) with activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria should be developed. In this study, the antibacterial activity of quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine (QA-PEI) NPs was evaluated against Streptococcus viridans, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Escherichia coli. To appraise the antibacterial activity, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration and bactericidal assays were utilised with different concentrations (1.56-100 µg/ml) of QA-PEI NPs. Moreover, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and annexin V/propidium iodide toxicity assays were performed in cell cultures. MICs for S. maltophilia and E. coli isolates were 12.5 and 25 µg/ml, respectively, whereas the MIC for S. viridans was 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the growth curve assays revealed that these QA-PEI NPs at a concentration of 12.5 µg/ml significantly inhibited bacterial growth for the bacterial isolates studied. On the other hand, QA-PEI NPs lacked significant toxicity for cells when used at concentrations up to 50 µg/ml for 48 h. The present findings reveal the potential therapeutic value of this QA-PEI NPs as alternative antibacterial agents for peritonitis, especially against Gram-negative bacteria.

Comparison of the carbon footprint of different patient diets in a Spanish hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Mitigating climate change requires management strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in any sector, including the health system. Carbon footprint calculations should play a key role in quantifying and communicating these emissions. Food is among the categories with low accuracy because the carbon footprint for food is still under development. We aimed to quantify the carbon footprint of different diets. METHODS: Average carbon footprint for a normal diet was based on detailed composition data in Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital (Huelva, Spain). In addition, the carbon footprints of 17 other therapeutic diets were estimated using a streamlined variation of each diet published by Benidorm Clinical Hospital (Spain). RESULTS: The carbon footprint was calculated for 18 hospital diets for a variety of patients. The reference menu corresponds to the normal diet provided to patients who do not have special dietary requirements. This menu has a low carbon footprint of 5.083 CO2 eq/day. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital diets contribute to the carbon footprint of a hospital. The type of diet has a significant impact on the greenhouse gas emissions. A Mediterranean diet is associated with lower environmental impact than diets with more meat, in particular red meat.

Calibration of an outdoor distributed camera network with a 3D point cloud.

Outdoor camera networks are becoming ubiquitous in critical urban areas of the largest cities around the world. Although current applications of camera networks are mostly tailored to video surveillance, recent research projects are exploiting their use to aid robotic systems in people-assisting tasks. Such systems require precise calibration of the internal and external parameters of the distributed camera network. Despite the fact that camera calibration has been an extensively studied topic, the development of practical methods for user-assisted calibration that minimize user intervention time and maximize precision still pose significant challenges. These camera systems have non-overlapping fields of view, are subject to environmental stress, and are likely to suffer frequent recalibration. In this paper, we propose the use of a 3D map covering the area to support the calibration process and develop an automated method that allows quick and precise calibration of a large camera network. We present two cases of study of the proposed calibration method: one is the calibration of the Barcelona Robot Lab camera network, which also includes direct mappings (homographies) between image coordinates and world points in the ground plane (walking areas) to support person and robot detection and localization algorithms. The second case consist of improving the GPS positioning of geo-tagged images taken with a mobile device in the Facultat de Matemàtiques i Estadística (FME) patio at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).

Aliskiren prevents the toxic effects of peritoneal dialysis fluids during chronic dialysis in rats.

The benefits of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with end-stage renal failure are short-lived due to structural and functional changes in the peritoneal membrane. In this report, we provide evidence for the in vitro and in vivo participation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the signaling pathway leading to peritoneal fibrosis during PD. Exposure to high-glucose PD fluids (PDFs) increases damage and fibrosis markers in both isolated rat peritoneal mesothelial cells and in the peritoneum of rats after chronic dialysis. In both cases, the addition of the RAAS inhibitor aliskiren markedly improved damage and fibrosis markers, and prevented functional modifications in the peritoneal transport, as measured by the peritoneal equilibrium test. These data suggest that inhibition of the RAAS may be a novel way to improve the efficacy of PD by preventing inflammation and fibrosis following peritoneal exposure to high-glucose PDFs.

Oxygen uptake of overweight and obese children at different stages of a progressive treadmill test: Consumo de oxígeno de niños y niñas con sobrepeso y obesos en los diferentes estadios de una prueba progresiva en un tapiz rodante.

INTRODUCTION: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risks but it is difficult to assess in obese children. The objective of this study was to develop an equation to estimate VO2 (mL/kg/min) and to check the % of tests that were maximal according to recommended criteria. METHODS: Stress tests were analyzed of 222 subjects (94 male and 128 female with a BMI above the 85 percentile for age and sex), and repeated 4 months later. Mean age was 9.4 ± 1.1 years and weighed 52.4 ± 13.3 kg. Body fat % (40.5 + 6.2) was determined by DXA (Hologic QDR 4500W). The protocol on the treadmill started with a warm up at 2.5 and 3 mph with a slope of 0% and 2%. The speed was kept at 3 mph for all the stages and the slope was increased 2% every 2 minutes. Statistical analysis (descriptive, t-test and ANOVAS 2×2×2) was done with SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: Only 35% of the tests were maximal. The equation calculates was Y = 2.6x + 22.3 (x = protocol stage). Data pre and post treatment were not statistically different DISCUSSION: Increments in VO2 were consistent despite subject diversity (sex, % body fat, physical fitness, treatment). CONCLUSION: To be able to estimate VO2 at the different stages of the test without complex equipment or specialized staff, will facilitate the performance of stress tests on a daily basis.

Control de culícidos con el empleo de Bacillus thuringiensis SH-14 var. israelensis en criaderos permanentes de la localidad de Fomento, provincia Sancti Spíritus, Cuba / Control of culicides by using Bacillus thuringiensis SH-14 var isrraelensis in permanent breeding places of Fomento, province of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Se realizó una evaluación ecológica de tendencia temporal retrospectiva y descriptiva del período 1999-2000, en 8 cuerpos de agua de la localidad de Fomento, provincia Sancti Spíritus. Para evaluar la efectividad y permanencia del biolarvicida, se utilizaron datos de muestreos sistemáticos y de acciones de control de los programas provinciales de vigilancia y lucha antivectorial, recogidos en los expedientes de cada criadero en la Unidad Municipal de Higiene y Epidemiología de la localidad. Se aplicaron dosis de 10 ml de ingrediente activo por metro cuadrado, alcanzándose la reducción y estabilización de los índices larvales y de adultos en cebo humano, de importantes especies vectoras de malaria, filariais, y fiebre del Nilo occidental. Se comprobó la extensión del rango de recuperación larval hasta las 3 semanas

[Control of culicides by using Bacillus thuringiensis SH-14 var. israelensis in permanent breeding places of Fomento, province of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba]. / Control de culícidos con el empleo de Bacillus thuringiensis SH-14 var israelensis en criaderos permanentes de la localidad de Fomento, provincia Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

An ecological evaluation of retrospective and descriptive temporary trend was conducted from 1999 to 2000 .in 8 water bodies of Fomento, province of Sancti Spiritus. To evaluate the effectiveness and permanence of the biolarvicide, there were used data of systematic samplings and of control actions of the provincial surveillance and antivectorial fight programs taken from the records of each breeding place in the Municipal Unit of Higiene and Epidemiology of the locality. Doses of 10 ml of active ingredient per square meter were administered. It was attained the reduction and stabilization of the larval and adult indices in human primer of important species which are vectors of malaria, phyliriasis, and Western Nile's fever. The extension of the larval recovery range up to 3 weeks was proved.

Efectos de Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) sobre huevos de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) en insectario / Effects of Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Aedes aegypti (Díptera: Culicidae) eggs in an insectarium

Se evaluó por primera vez en Cuba la acción de Tapinoma melanocephalum, una especie de hormiga causante de daños en cultivos agrícolas, en un insectario de Entomología Médica sobre las puestas de huevos de Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti en las colonias de crías y en el lugar de almacenamiento. La colonia de hormigas procedía de una población natural estudiada que se estableció en el insectario. Los huevos respondían a 2 épocas de oviposición distintas (recién puestos entre las 24 h y almacenados durante 8 meses). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron una mayor depredación de T. melanocephalum sobre los huevos de Aedes aegypti recién puestos (Z= 9,1; p< 0,0001) .La acción depredadora de Tapinoma melanocephalum sobre las puestas de huevos de Aedes aegypti, se debe tener en cuenta en la colonización de este mosquito.

The action of Tapinoma melanocephalum, an ant species causing damages to agriculture, on Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti eggs was evaluated for the first time in Cuba at an insectarium of Medical Entomology in the breeding colonies and the storage place. The ants colony came from a studied natural population established inside the insectarium. Eggs belonged to two different oviposition times: (a) laid within the previous 24 h. and (b) stored in the lab for 8 months. The results obtained showed a higher predation of T. melanocephalum over the newly laid Aedes aegypti eggs (Z=9.1; p <0.0001). The predating action of Tapinoma melanocephalum on Aedes aegypti eggs should be considered in the colonization of this mosquito.

Peroxidación lipídica y antioxidantes en la preservación de semen: una revisión / Lipidic peroxidation and antioxidants in the preservation of semen: a review

En los organismos aeróbicos el oxígeno es esencial para la vida, pero puede ser tóxico cuando se presentan situaciones favorables en las que sí hay una producción exagerada de especies de oxígeno reactivas (ROS): anión superóxido (O2-) e hidroxilo (-OH), y por la generación del peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2) que es una especie reactiva del O2 y puede ser precursora de los radicales libres. Las ROS contribuyen al daño molecular y estructural que se presenta en una serie de padecimientos en donde la capacidad antioxidante del organismo es rebasada y por lo tanto incapaz de inactivar las ROS, dando lugar al proceso llamado estrés oxidante. El daño provocado en la membrana celular es inducido por los radicales libres que llevan a la lipoperoxidación. El proceso de congelación y descongelación del semen reduce el porcentaje de espermatozoides vivos, afectando con la movilidad y la viabilidad, y por lo tanto la fertilidad del gameto, fenómeno atribuido a diversos factores, incluyendo los cambios de temperatura y al efecto de las ROS. Durante el metabolismo las mitocondrias del espermatozoide generan ROS que son inactivadas por los mecanismos antioxidantes. Para contrarrestar los efectos de la ROS generados por mecanismos no fisiológicos o en exceso se ha empleado una variedad de antioxidantes, pretendiendo anular o minimizar sus efectos. El objetivo de esta revisión es identificar las causas que dañan a las células espermáticas en la preservación de semen y los sistemas de defensa antioxidante enzimáticos y no enzimáticos

Efecto de los inhibidores del desarrollo en insectos contra Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) / Effect to insect development inhibitors against Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Se realizó un estudio en condiciones de laboratorio donde se evaluó la efectividad de 2 reguladores del crecimiento de insectos, diflubenzuron y metopreno, contra larvas de Culex quinquefasciatus, un mosquito indicador de la presencia de aguas contaminadas, persistente picador nocturno en zonas urbanas y transmisor de filariasis humana. El diseño experimental contempló la realización de 3 bioensayos para cada cepa y producto, y la utilización de grupos controles y factores abióticos controlados. Los principales resultados mostraron que ambos productos fueron efectivos contra esta especie, destacándose el diflubenzuron por una mayor actividad biológica (p < 0,01). estos resultados posibilitan mejorar el saneamiento ambiental contra este mosquito mediante la inclusión de estos compuestos de programas de lucha integrada

Aspectos de la densidad larval de Culex nigripalpus Theobald, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) en condiciones naturales / Aspects of larval density of Culex nigripalpus Theobald, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) under natural conditions

Se realizó un estudio con el objetivo de determinar la densidad poblacional larval de Culex nigripalpus, vector de diferentes enfermedades parasitarias y virales en la región neotropical. Se estudiaron dos poblaciones procedentes de las provincias La Habana y Ciudad de La Habana en el período comprendido entre noviembre de 1986 y noviembre de 1987. Las mayores densidades poblacionales de esta especie aparecieron en los meses de diciembre de 1986 (838,2 larvas/m2) y noviembre de 1987 (495 larvas/m2) en Santa Cruz del Norte (La Habana) y en los meses de noviembre de 1986 (343,2 larvas/m2), enero de 1987 (232,65 larvas/m2) y febrero de 1987 (580,8 larvas/m2) en el Parque Lenin (Ciudad de La Habana)

Análisis de los resultados de la campaña de erradicación del mosquito aedes aegypti en el municipio Consolación del Sur / Analysis of the results of aedes aegypti eradication campaign in Consolación del Sur district

Se analizaron los resultados de la Campaña de Erradicación del Mosquito Aedes aegypti en el municipio Consolación del Sur en Pinar del Río, en el periodo del 1ro de agosto de 1981 hasta el 28 de diciembre de 1984, el cual comprendió la etapa intensiva y los 18 primeros ciclos de la etapa de consolidación. Se tabularon los datos y se elaboraron estadisticamente, se detectó una disminución significativa del número de focos de Aedes aegypti a partir de la etapa intensiva, se encontró en esta etapa la cifra mayor de focos de dicha especie, y que no existen diferencias significativas entre la zona urbana y rural. A su vez se observó un mayor número y distribución de focos en la zona rural. En estos momentos esta especie ha sido erradicada del municipio Consolidación del Sur

Resistencia de Musca doméstica linnaeuss 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) a insecticidas organofosforados en una granja avícola, provincia La Habana / Resistance of Musca domestica linnaeus 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) to organophosphorate insecticides in a poultry farm, La Habana province

Con la metodología de la OMS se realizaron pruebas de resistencia a los insecticidas malation, diacinon y fention. Se detectó un factor de resistencia de 89 ante el malation y tolerancia a diacinon y fention, en una cepa de Musca doméstica procedente de una granja avícola, provincia La Habana

Estudio de la sensibilidad al dimilin (diflubenzuron) en una cepa de Aedes (s) aegypti linneaus, 1762 y de Culex (c) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 criadas en el laboratorio / Study of dimilin (diflubenzuron) sensitivity in a strain of Aedes (s) aegypti linneaus, 1762 and of Culex (c) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 raised in the laboratory

Se estudió el nivel de sensibilidad en larvas de Aedes (s) aegypti Linneaus, 1762 y de Culex (c) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 al dimilin (diflubenzuron-urea) con cepas procedentes de Güines, en la provincia de La Habana, las cuales fueron cultivadas en el laboratorio. Las pruebas se realizaron en el periodo comprendido de marzo de 1982 a marzo de 1983. El método utilizado fue el normalizado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud en 1980. Se detectó una suscripción del A. aegypti al producto utilizado con valores de CL50 y CL95 de 0,045 mg/L y 0,255 mg/L respectivamente y una resistencia fisiológica en Culex quinquefasciatus

Evaluación del diflubenzuron-urea, regulador del crecimiento de los insectos en condiciones naturales simuladas en culex (c) quinquefasciatus say, 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae) / Evaluation of diflybenzurone-urea, growth regulator of insects under simulated natural conditions in culex (c) quinquefasciatus say, 1823 (Diptera: culicidae)

Se realizaron pruebas en condiciones naturales simuladas con 2 dosis de diflubenzuron-urea (dimilin o TH-6040) en larvas de Culex (C.) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Díptera: Culicidae) de tercer estadío avanzado o principio de cuarto, procedentes de la Provincia de La Habana, las cuales fueron cultivadas en el laboratorio. Las pruebas se efectuaron en el período de marzo de 1983 a marzo de 1984, según la metodología de la OMS, 1975, a temperatura ambiente. Los resultados nos muestran que con una dosis de 0,448 kg IA/ha se obtuvo una efectividad residual de 9 días