Coupling of Modes in Step-Index Plastic Optical Fibers by Using D-Shape Technique.

This article presents a technique for reducing the stabilization length of steady-state modes in step-index plastic optical fibers (POFs), which is significant for sensor networks, Internet of Things, signal processing, and data fusion in sensor systems. The results obtained with the com- putational tool developed suggest that the D-shape created in the POF effectively reduces the stabi- lization length of the modes and, by extension, minimizes the dispersion effects of the modes by filtering out high-order modes. Applying the analysis to commercial POFs, the authors experimen- tally verified a reduction in the stabilization length of modes from 27 to 10 m and from 20 m to 5 m. Reducing the mode stabilization length minimizes the bit error rate (BER) in short-length SI-POF- based optical links operating at 250 Mbp/s. A reduction from 7.6 × 10-7 to 3.7 × 10-10 was achieved.

Association between lipid profile and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) removes cholesterol, an essential component in lipid rafts, and this cholesterol removal can regulate protein attachment to lipid rafts, modulating their functionality in the immune cell response. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can alter the lipid profile, there is little information on the role of HDL-c and other lipids in prognostic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Mexican population. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of HDL-c and lipid profile on severity and survival of 102 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 first wave. Our findings, derived from univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models, highlighted age and hypertension as significant predictors of survival (HR = 1.04, p = 0.012; HR = 2.78, p = 0.027), while gender, diabetes, and obesity showed no significant impact. Triglycerides and HDL-c levels notably influenced mortality, with elevated triglycerides and lower HDL-c associated with higher mortality risk (p = 0.032). This study underscores the importance of lipid profiles alongside traditional risk factors in assessing COVID-19 risk and outcomes. It contributes to the understanding of COVID-19 patient management and emphasizes the need for further investigation into the role of dyslipidemia in influencing COVID-19 prognosis, potentially aiding in refined risk stratification and therapeutic strategies.

Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene: A Machine Learning Approach.

The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process is widely used in the industry to eliminate sulfur compounds from fuels. However, removing dibenzothiophene (DBT) and its derivatives is a challenge. Here, the key aspects that affect the efficiency of catalysts in the HDS of DBT were investigated using machine learning (ML) algorithms. The conversion of DBT and selectivity was estimated by applying Lasso, Ridge, and Random Forest regression techniques. For the estimation of conversion of DBT, Random Forest and Lasso offer adequate predictions. At the same time, regularized regressions have similar outcomes, which are suitable for selectivity estimations. According to the regression coefficient, the structural parameters are essential predictors for selectivity, highlighting the pore size, and slab length. These properties can connect with aspects like the availability of active sites. The insights gained through ML techniques about the HDS catalysts agree with the interpretations of previous experimental reports.

Primary intracranial peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: lessons from an exceptionally rare neoplasm. Illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: The primary intracranial peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET) is a lesion subtype within the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. pPNETs are extremely uncommon pathologies, accounting for 0.03% of intracranial tumors and 1% to 2% of Ewing sarcoma cases. Given its histological aspect similar to other highly proliferative malignant neuroectodermal neoplasms, pPNET merits extensive workup for accurate diagnosis and treatment. OBSERVATIONS: A 36-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a 1-year history of headaches in the right frontoparietal area, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and a history of the resection of a tumor labeled as a meningioma 5 years before admission. He was neurologically intact. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogeneous focal lesion of 25 × 35 × 23 mm with a necrotic center and neoformative appearance in the right frontal cortex. The patient underwent multimodal treatment with gross-total resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Histopathological examination results supported the diagnosis of pPNET. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient had no new-onset symptoms, and brain imaging revealed absent signs of tumor recurrence. LESSONS: The present case describes an extraordinary pPNET case, initially confounded as a clear cell meningioma. Managing pPNET requires thorough investigation, careful differentiation from similar neuroectodermal lesions, and multimodal treatment to improve the patient's prognosis.

Optimizing industrial transport with a connected automated vehicle demonstrator for assembly systems and end-of-line production.

In recent years, the automotive industry has witnessed significant progress in the development of automated driving technologies. The integration of advanced sensors and systems in vehicles has led to the emergence of various functionalities, such as driving assistance and autonomous driving. Applying these technologies on the assembly line can enhance the efficiency, safety, and speed of transportation, especially at end-of-line production. This work presents a connected automated vehicle (CAV) demonstrator for generating autonomous driving systems and services for the automotive industry. Our prototype electric vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and systems for perception, localization, navigation, and control. We tested various algorithms and tools for transforming the vehicle into a self-driving platform, and the prototype was simulated and tested in an industrial environment as proof of concept for integration into assembly systems and end-of-line transport. Our results show the successful integration of self-driving vehicle platforms in the automotive industry, particularly in factory halls. We demonstrate the localization, navigation, and communication capabilities of our prototype in a demo area. This work anticipates a significant increase in efficiency and operating cost reduction in vehicle manufacturing, despite challenges such as current low traveling speeds and high equipment costs. Ongoing research aims to enhance safety for higher vehicle speeds, making it a more viable business case for manufacturers, considering the increasing standardization of automated driving equipment in cars. The main contribution of this paper lies in introducing the general concept architecture of the integration of automated driving functionalities in end-of-line assembly and production systems. Showing a case study of the effective development and implementation of such functionalities with a CAV demonstrator in a more standardized industrial operational design domain.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms role in COVID-19 severity: Results of a Mexican patients' cohort.

Vitamin D status has been involved with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) severity. This may be mediated by vitamin D metabolism regulatory genes. Of interest is the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, which has been previously associated with other inflammatory and respiratory diseases. In order to investigate the role of VDR gene polymorphisms in COVID-19 severity and outcome, a total of 292 COVID-19 patients were classified according to severity in moderate (n = 56), severe (n = 89) and critical (n = 147) and, according to outcome in survivor (n = 163) and deceased (n = 129), and analysed for FokI and TaqI VDR gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction enzyme digestion. The FokI and TaqI single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were not associated with COVID-19 severity or mortality individually but when analysed by haplotype, TC was associated with an increased risk of presenting critical COVID-19. Additionally, FokI CT genotype was more frequent in COVID-19 patients with hypertension, and T allele carriers presented higher aspartate aminotransferase levels. Our results suggest a relationship between VDR FokI and TaqI SNPs and COVID-19 severity in Mexican population. Although there are some previous reports of VDR polymorphisms in COVID-19, this represents the first report in Latin American population. Further studies on other populations are encouraged.

Whole-body MRI in oncology: A comprehensive review.

Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (WB-MRI) has cemented its position as a pivotal tool in oncological diagnostics. It offers unparalleled soft tissue contrast resolution and the advantage of sidestepping ionizing radiation. This review explores the diverse applications of WB-MRI in oncology. We discuss its transformative role in detecting and diagnosing a spectrum of cancers, emphasizing conditions like multiple myeloma and cancers with a proclivity for bone metastases. WB-MRI's capability to encompass the entire body in a singular scan has ushered in novel paradigms in cancer screening, especially for individuals harboring hereditary cancer syndromes or at heightened risk for metastatic disease. Additionally, its contribution to the clinical landscape, aiding in the holistic management of multifocal and systemic malignancies, is explored. The article accentuates the technical strides achieved in WB-MRI, its myriad clinical utilities, and the challenges in integration into standard oncological care. In essence, this review underscores the transformative potential of WB-MRI, emphasizing its promise as a cornerstone modality in shaping the future trajectory of cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Enfermedad pulmonar por Mycobacterium intracellulare, un reto diagnóstico. Reporte de caso / Lung disease due to Mycobacterium intracellulare. A diagnostic challenge, Case report

La incidencia de infección por micobacterias no tuberculosas (MNT) y el número de casos han ido en aumento, especialmente en mujeres y personas mayores, teniendo en los Estados Unidos entre el 2008 y 2015 una incidencia de 4.16 a 6.69 por 100000 entre las mujeres y de 12.70 a 18.37 por 100000, entre los mayores de 65 años. "Los pacientes con compromiso estructural del parénquima pulmonar, antecedente de inmunosupresión o inmunodeficiencia tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar infección por MNT". Sin embargo, se han presentado informes de pacientes inmunocompetentes en asociación con opacidades nodulares y bronquiectasias. Se trata de una mujer de 79 años con antecedente de tuberculosis pulmonar documentada en dos oportunidades: último proceso infeccioso en el año 2021. Recibió manejo por seis meses de esquema vigente con tetraconjugado. Actualmente acude a consulta con cuadro clínico de más de seis meses de evolución dados por pérdida de peso de más del 10 % en un año, disnea a moderados esfuerzos y tos con expectoración purulenta. Al examen físico se encontró índice de masa corporal (IMC) bajo, tórax hipoexpansible con estertores tipo crépitos en ambos hemitórax. En la tomografía de tórax se evidenciaron bronquiectasias generalizadas, algunas áreas de árbol en gemación y lesiones cavitadas. Se consideró la realización de fibrobroncoscopia con lavado broncoalveolar documentándose baciloscopias negativas, con cultivo positivo para micobacteria no tuberculosa. Se solicitó tipificación de micobacterias con coloración de Kinyoun, y pruebas bioquímicas a partir de cepas de cultivo del lavado broncoalveolar, con reporte positivo para Mycobacterium intracellulare. Se inició por lo tanto manejo con azitromicina 500 mg, rifampicina 600 mg y etambutol 975 mg diarios. Los profesionales sanitarios deben ser conscientes de la posible infección por MNT sobre todo existiendo afectación estructural pulmonar previa, basando el tratamiento en la sospecha clínica y/o las circunstancias epidemiológicas.

The incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection and the number of cases have been increasing, especially in women and the elderly, having EE. Between 2008 and 2015 an incidence of 4.16 to 6.69 per 100,000 among women and from 12.70 to 18.37 per 100,000 among those over 65. "Patients with structural involvement of the pulmonary parenchyma, history of immunosuppression or immunodeficiency have a higher risk of developing NTM infection". However, immunocompetent patients have been reported in association with nodular opacities and bronchiectasis. This is a 79-year-old woman with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis documented on 2 occasions: the last infectious process in 2021. It received management for 6 months of the current tetraconjugate schema. He is currently in consultation with a clinical picture of more than 6 months of evolution given by weight loss of more than 10% in a year, dyspnea to moderate efforts and cough with purulent expectoration. Physical examination revealed low body mass index (BMI) and, a hypoexpandable thorax with a crescent-like sternum in both hemithorax. Chest tomography revealed widespread bronchiectasis, some groaning tree areas and cavitated lesions. Bronchoscopy fibro bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage has been reported negative bacilloscopies, positive culture for non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. Mycobacteria typing, Kinyoun coloration, and biochemical tests were requested from bronchoalveolar lavage culture strains with positive reports for Mycobacterium intracellulare. Management was therefore initiated with azithromycin 500 mg, rifampin 600 mg and ethambutol 975mg daily. Healthcare professionals should be aware of possible NTM infection especially existing prior lung structural involvement based on clinical suspicion and/or epidemiological circumstances.

Mechanisms and Applications of Citral's Antimicrobial Properties in Food Preservation and Pharmaceuticals Formulations.

Citral is a monoterpene constituted by two isomers known as neral and geranial. It is present in different plant sources and recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In recent years, investigations have demonstrated that this compound exhibited several biological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, by in vitro and in vivo assays. Additionally, when incorporated into different food matrices, citral can reduce the microbial load of pathogenic microorganisms and extend the shelf life. This compound has acceptable drug-likeness properties and does not present any violations of Lipinski's rules, which could be used for drug development. The above shows that citral could be a compound of interest for developing food additives to extend the shelf life of animal and vegetable origin foods and develop pharmaceutical products.

Quality assurance for magnetic resonance angiography of the chest in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism during iodinated contrast shortage in the emergency department setting.

Objectives: COVID-19 lockdowns resulted in a global shortage of iodinated contrast media. Therefore, alternative imaging protocols were devised to evaluate patients arriving to the emergency department (ED) with suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE). This quality assurance (QA) aims to compare diagnostic potential between alternative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) protocol over the gold standard computed tomography angiography (CTA) by evaluating MRA imaging quality, scanner type/imaging sequence, and any risk of misdiagnosis in patients with symptoms of PE. Material and Methods: This retrospective study compromised of 55 patients who arrived to ED and underwent MRA of the chest for suspicion of PE during the months of May to June 2022. Data regarding their chief complaints, imaging sequence, and MRA results were collected. Two fellowship-trained faculty radiologists reviewed the MRA scans of the patients and scored the quality using a Likert scale. Results: Two patients were positive for PE and 53 patients showed negative results. Regarding the scan quality issues, motion was noted in 80% of the 55 studies that we reviewed. Significant associations (P < 0.009) between Likert scale scores and initial complaint category were found. The characteristic symptoms associated with suspicion of PE, namely, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough were distributed among the 1 and 2 categories, reflecting the most optimal vessel opacification scores. We found no risk of misdiagnosis after reviewing the electronic medical record for follow-up appointments within 6 months of ED visit. Conclusion: Patients were screened for PE with MRA as an alternative imaging tool during times of contrast shortage. Further, evaluation of MRA with CTA, side by side, in a larger patient population is required to increase the validity of our QA study.

Severe cryptogenic bronchiolitis: Case report.

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a progressive fibrotic process that predominantly affects the small airways and is identified as constrictive bronchiolitis by pathologists. It is commonly associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), lung transplant, exposure to inhaled toxins, post-infectious processes, autoimmune diseases, and sometimes, no known cause. In the latter case, it is referred to as cryptogenic bronchiolitis obliterans. A 52-year-old Hispanic man with a medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease was referred to the pulmonary department due to experiencing dyspnea on exertion, intermittent dry cough, and progressive limitation of activities of daily living. Spirometry revealed severe obstructive changes, and chest high-resolution computed tomography showed ground-glass opacities with nodular infiltrates in the upper lobes, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The patient underwent a lung surgical biopsy of the right upper and lower lobes, which revealed extensive constrictive bronchiolitis. Due to the patient's worsening general condition, bilateral lung transplantation succeeded without any further complications. Following the transplantation, the patient showed good recovery and functional improvement. Bronchiolitis obliterans, or constrictive bronchiolitis, has a variable natural history. It is associated with a higher risk of mortality in allogenic HSCT. When BO is secondary to inhalation of toxic gases, it is usually nonprogressive and limited to toxin exposure. Autoimmune diseases or cryptogenic bronchiolitis are rare and have a heterogeneous clinical course. To make a proper diagnosis, clinical history, radiologic and histologic findings must be considered.

HLA-G 14 bp Ins/Del (rs66554220) Variant Is Not Associated with Breast Cancer in Women from Western Mexico.

HLA-G is a physiology and pathologic immunomodulator detrimentally related to cancer. Its gene is heavily transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally regulated by variants located in regulator regions like 3'UTR, being the most studied Ins/Del of 14-bp (rs66554220), which is known to influence the effects of endogen cell factors; nevertheless, the reports are discrepant and controversial. Herein, the relationship of the 14-bp Ins/Del variant (rs66554220) with breast cancer (BC) and its clinical characteristics were analyzed in 182 women with non-familial BC and 221 disease-free women as a reference group. Both groups from western Mexico and sex-age-matched (sm-RG). The rs66554220 variant was amplified by SSP-PCR and the fragments were visualized in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The variant rs66554220 was not associated with BC in our population. However, we suggest the Ins allele as a possible risk factor for developing BC at clinical stage IV (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.16-7.96, p = 0.01); nevertheless, given the small stratified sample size (n = 11, statistical power = 41%), this is inconclusive. In conclusion, the 14-bp Ins/Del (rs66554220) variant of HLA-G is not associated with BC in the Mexican population, but might be related to advanced breast tumors. Further studies are required.

2-Photon imaging of fluorescent proteins in living swine.

A common point of failure in translation of preclinical neurological research to successful clinical trials comes in the giant leap from rodent models to humans. Non-human primates are phylogenetically close to humans, but cost and ethical considerations prohibit their widespread usage in preclinical trials. Swine have large, gyrencencephalic brains, which are biofidelic to human brains. Their classification as livestock makes them a readily accessible model organism. However, their size has precluded experiments involving intravital imaging with cellular resolution. Here, we present a suite of techniques and tools for in vivo imaging of porcine brains with subcellular resolution. Specifically, we describe surgical techniques for implanting a synthetic, flexible, transparent dural window for chronic optical access to the neocortex. We detail optimized parameters and methods for injecting adeno-associated virus vectors through the cranial imaging window to express fluorescent proteins. We introduce a large-animal 2-photon microscope that was constructed with off-the shelf components, has a gantry design capable of accommodating animals > 80 kg, and is equipped with a high-speed digitizer for digital fluorescence lifetime imaging. Finally, we delineate strategies developed to mitigate the substantial motion artifact that complicates high resolution imaging in large animals, including heartbeat-triggered high-speed image stack acquisition. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated in sample images acquired from pigs transduced with the chloride-sensitive fluorescent protein SuperClomeleon.

Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Comprehensive Review.

ABSTRACT: Appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) is the most common adult appendiceal malignant tumor, constituting 16% of gastrointestinal NENs. They are versatile tumors with varying morphology, immunohistochemistry, secretory properties, and cancer genomics. They are slow growing and clinically silent, to begin with, or present with features of nonspecific vague abdominal pain. Most acute presentations are attributed clinically to appendicitis, with most cases detected incidentally on pathology after an appendectomy. Approximately 40% of them present clinically with features of hormonal excess, which is likened to the functional secretory nature of their parent cell of origin. The symptoms of carcinoid syndrome render their presence clinically evident. However, slow growing and symptomatically silent in its initial stages, high-grade neuroendocrine tumors and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the appendix are aggressive and usually have hepatic and lymph node metastasis at presentation. This review article focuses on imaging characteristics, World Health Organization histopathological classification and grading, American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union or International Cancer Control, European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society staging, European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society standardized guidelines for reporting, data interpretation, early-stage management protocols, and advanced-stage appendiceal NENs. Guidelines are also set for the follow-up and reassessment. The role of targeted radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and high-dose somatostatin analogs in treating advanced disease are discussed, along with types of ablative therapies and liver transplantation for tumor recurrence. The search for newer location-specific biomarkers in NEN is also summarized. Regarding the varying aggressiveness of the tumor, there is a scope for research in the field, with plenty of data yet to be discovered.

Long-term prognostic value of quantitative-flow-ratio-concordant revascularization in stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Confirming the prognostic value of global QFR and evaluating the long-term prognosis of QFR-concordant therapy in stable coronary artery disease. BACKGROUND: Wire-based functional evaluation of coronary disease is linked to patient's prognosis. Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR) is a newer index of computational physiology, linked to clinical outcomes and prognosis at 1 year follow-up. Long-term prognosis of QFR-concordant revascularization in stable coronary artery disease is however unknown hitherto. METHODS: Consecutive patients with stable coronary disease undergoing coronary angiography were included. Centralized and blinded QFR analysis of three coronary territories was performed. Three vessel QFR (3vQFR) was defined as the sum of the basal QFR of each coronary territory. QFR-concordant revascularization was met if all significant lesions (QFR ≤ 0.80) were revascularized and all non-significant lesions (QFR > 0.80) were not; otherwise, the case was defined as QFR-discordant revascularization. Patient-oriented composite end-point (POCE) of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and unscheduled revascularization was the primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 803 patients from six high-volume centers were included. Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class II angina was the most frequent (48.9%) clinical presentation. Median of follow-up was 68.8 months. 3vQFR was an independent predictor of POCE (HR 1.79 CI95% 1.01-3.18), with 2.75 as optimal cut-off value, irrespective of the therapy received. QFR-discordant revascularization (QFR+/Revascularization- or QFR-/Revascularization+) was an independent predictor of POCE in multivariate analysis (HR 1.65, CI 95% 1.03-2.64). CONCLUSION: Global burden of epicardial coronary atherosclerosis, as evaluated by 3vQFR, as well as QFR-discordant therapy are independent predictors of adverse clinical outcome at long-term follow-up in stable coronary artery disease.

Clinical and molecular description of two cases of neonatal diabetes secondary to mutations in PDX1.

Summary: Pancreatic dysgenesis (PD) is a rare congenital disease, with less than 100 cases reported in the literature. In most cases, patients are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is made incidentally. In this report, we present the case of two brothers with a history of intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, hyperglycemia, and poor weight gain. The diagnosis of PD and neonatal diabetes mellitus was made by an interdisciplinary team composed of an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist, and a geneticist. Once the diagnosis was made, treatment with an insulin pump, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, and supplementation with fat-soluble vitamins was decided. The use of the insulin infusion pump facilitated the outpatient treatment of both patients. Learning points: Pancreatic dysgenesis is a relatively rare congenital anomaly; most of the time, patients are asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally. The diagnosis of pancreatic dysgenesis and neonatal diabetes mellitus should be made with an interdisciplinary team. Due to its flexibility, the use of an insulin infusion pump facilitated the management of these two patients.

Association of the HLA-G rs66554220 variant with non-segmental vitiligo and its clinical features in Northwestern Mexico population.

Introduction: The HLA-G molecule functions as a critical immunomodulatory checkpoint, its expression is significantly associated with pathological processes that may be responsible in part for autoimmune conditions such as non-segmental vitiligo (NS-V), characterized by chronic skin depigmentation. In this sense, the rs66554220 (14 bp ID) variant located in the 3'UTR, implicated in the regulation of HLA-G production, is associated with autoimmune diseases. Aim: To evaluate the role of the HLA-G rs66554220 variant in NS-V and its clinical features in Northwestern Mexicans. Material and methods: We genotyped the rs66554220 variant by SSP-PCR in 197 NS-V patients and 198 age-sex matched non-related healthy individuals (HI). Results: Del allele and genotype Del/Ins were the most prevalent in both study groups (NS-V/HI = 56%/55% and 46.70%/46.46%, respectively). Despite lacking association between the variant and NS-V, we found an association of the Ins allele in different inheritance models with familial clustering, onset of the illness, universal clinical subtype and Koebner's phenomenon. Conclusions: The rs66554220 (14 bp ID) variant is not a risk factor for NS-V in the Mexican population studied. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the topic in the Mexican population and worldwide that includes clinical features related with this HLA-G genetic variant.

Concordancia entre cinco criterios de síndrome metabólico en adolescentes de una zona altoandina del Perú / Concordance between five criteria of metabolic syndrome in teenagers from a Peruvian high andes region

RESUMEN Objetivo. Determinar la concordancia entre cinco criterios diagnósticos de síndrome metabólico (SM) entre adolescentes residentes de una zona altoandina del Perú. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal con datos secundarios de un estudio de intervención en dos escuelas públicas en el año 2019. Participaron 397 adolescentes que residen en la ciudad de Cajamarca ubicada en la región andina del Perú. Se aplicaron cinco criterios diagnósticos: Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) modificados por Cook, de la Federación Internacional de Diabetes (IDF), de la American Heart Association (AHA), de Ferranti, y de la Organización Mundial de Salud (OMS). Se estimaron las prevalencias puntuales y de intervalo con los cinco criterios. Se estimó el coeficiente de concordancia de Kappa con su respectivo intervalo de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). Resultados. El criterio de Ferranti identificó un 17,1% (IC 95%: 13,4 a 20,8) de adolescentes con SM, seguido del criterio de la ATP-III con 4,3% (IC 95%: 2,3 a 6,3); los demás criterios identificaron una menor frecuencia. La mejor concordancia fue encontrada entre los criterios de la AHA y la ATP-III (k = 0,905), los criterios de la OMS e IDF tuvieron un coeficiente de 0,628. Los cinco criterios coincidieron en clasificar como SM a seis adolescentes (1,5%). Conclusiones. Los criterios de la AHA y la ATP-III modificados por Cook tuvieron una concordancia casi perfecta, que se mantuvo en ambos sexos. Los criterios ATP-III, de Ferranti, IDF, AHA y OMS concuerdan en menos del 2% en identificar SM en el mismo grupo de adolescentes.

ABSTRACT Objective. To determine the concordance between five diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (MS) among teenagers from a Peruvian high Andes region. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out with secondary data from an intervention study in two public schools in 2019. We included 397 teenagers who lived in the city of Cajamarca, in the Andean region of Peru. We applied the criteria from the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) modified by Cook, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the American Heart Association (AHA), Ferranti, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The point prevalence and interval prevalence were estimated with the five criteria. The Kappa concordance coefficient with an 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was estimated. Results. The Ferranti criterion identified 17.1% (95%CI: 13.4 to 20.8) of teenagers with MS, followed by the ATP-III criterion with 4.3% (95%CI: 2.3 to 6.3); the other criteria identified a lower frequency. The best concordance was found between the AHA and ATP-III criteria (k = 0.905); the WHO and IDF criteria had a coefficient of 0.628. The five criteria coincided in classifying six adolescents (1.5%) as MS. Conclusions. The AHA and ATP-III criteria modified by Cook had almost perfect concordance, which was also found for both sexes. The ATP-III, Ferranti, IDF, AHA and WHO criteria agree in less than 2% when identifying MS in the same group of adolescents.

Forcing vine regrowth under different irrigation strategies: effect on polyphenolic composition and chromatic characteristics of cv. Tempranillo wines grown in a semiarid climate.

One of the effects of climate change in warm areas is the asynchrony between the dates of the technological and the phenolic maturity of grapes. This is important because the quality and color stability of red wines are directly related to the content and distribution of phenolic compounds. A novel alternative that has been proposed to delay grape ripening and make it coincide with a seasonal period more favorable for the formation of phenolic compounds is crop forcing. This consists of severe green pruning after flowering, when the buds of the following year have already differentiated. In this way, the buds formed during the same season are forced to sprout, initiating a new delayed cycle. The aim of the present work is to study the effect on the phenolic composition and color of wines elaborated from vines fully irrigated (C), grown using conventional non-forcing (NF) and forcing (F) techniques (C-NF and C-F), and wines from vines subjected to regulated irrigation (RI), grown using NF and F techniques (RI-NF and RI-F). The trial was carried out in an experimental vineyard of the Tempranillo variety located in a semi-arid area (Badajoz, Spain) in the 2017-2019 seasons. The wines (four by treatment) were elaborated and stabilized according to the classic methodologies for red wine. All wines had the same alcohol content, and malolactic fermentation was not carried out in any of them. Anthocyanin profiles were analyzed by HPLC, and total polyphenolic content, anthocyanin content, catechin content, the contribution to color due to co-pigmented anthocyanins, and various chromatic parameters were also determined. Although a significant effect of year was found for almost all the parameters analyzed, a general increasing trend in F wines was found for most of them. The anthocyanin profile of F wines was found to differ from that of C wines, especially in delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, and peonidin content. These results indicate that by using the forcing technique it was possible to increase the polyphenolic content by ensuring that the synthesis and accumulation of these substances occurred at more suitable temperatures.

Meibomian gland development: Where, when and how?

The Meibomian gland (MG) is an indispensable adnexal structure of eye that produces meibum, an important defensive component for maintaining ocular homeostasis. Normal development and maintenance of the MGs is required for ocular health since atrophic MGs and disturbances in composition and/or secretion of meibum result in major ocular pathologies, collectively termed as Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Currently available therapies for MGD merely provide symptomatic relief and do not treat the underlying deficiency of the MGs. Hence, a thorough understanding of the timeline of MG development, maturation and aging is required for regenerative purposes along with signaling molecules & pathways controlling proper differentiation of MG lineage in mammalian eye. Understanding the factors that contribute to the development of MGs, developmental abnormalities of MGs, and changes in the quality & quantity of meibum with developing phases of MGs are essential for developing potential treatments for MGD. In this review, we compiled a timeline of events and the factors involved in the structural and functional development of MGs and the associated developmental defects of MGs during development, maturation and aging.