The midgut epithelium of mosquitoes adjusts cell proliferation and endoreplication to respond to physiological challenges.

BACKGROUND: Hematophagous mosquitoes transmit many pathogens that cause human diseases. Pathogen acquisition and transmission occur when female mosquitoes blood feed to acquire nutrients for reproduction. The midgut epithelium of mosquitoes serves as the point of entry for transmissible viruses and parasites. RESULTS: We studied midgut epithelial dynamics in five major mosquito vector species by quantifying PH3-positive cells (indicative of mitotic proliferation), the incorporation of nucleotide analogs (indicative of DNA synthesis accompanying proliferation and/or endoreplication), and the ploidy (by flow cytometry) of cell populations in the posterior midgut epithelium of adult females. Our results show that the epithelial dynamics of post-emergence maturation and of mature sugar-fed guts were similar in members of the Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles genera. In the first three days post-emergence, ~ 20% of cells in the posterior midgut region of interest incorporated nucleotide analogs, concurrent with both proliferative activity and a broad shift toward higher ploidy. In mature mosquitoes maintained on sugar, an average of 3.5% of cells in the posterior midgut region of interest incorporated nucleotide analogs from five to eight days post-emergence, with a consistent presence of mitotic cells indicating constant cell turnover. Oral bacterial infection triggered a sharp increase in mitosis and nucleotide analog incorporation, suggesting that the mosquito midgut undergoes accelerated cellular turnover in response to damage. Finally, blood feeding resulted in an increase in cell proliferation, but the nature and intensity of the response varied by mosquito species and by blood source (human, bovine, avian or artificial). In An. gambiae, enterocytes appeared to reenter the cell cycle to increase ploidy after consuming blood from all sources except avian. CONCLUSIONS: We saw that epithelial proliferation, differentiation, and endoreplication reshape the blood-fed gut to increase ploidy, possibly to facilitate increased metabolic activity. Our results highlight the plasticity of the midgut epithelium in mosquitoes' physiological responses to distinct challenges.

Satisfacción laboral de los profesionales de enfermería en un hospital de segundo nivel, en la Ciudad de México / Job satisfaction of nursing professionals in a second level hospital, in Mexico City

Objetivo: Analizar la satisfacción laboral de los profesionales de enfermería en un hospital de segundo nivel de la Ciudad de México. Marco teórico: La satisfacción laboral es un estado emocional positivo basado en la percepción subjetiva del propio trabajo, de acuerdo con la actitud frente al mismo, así como con las creencias y valores de la persona. Material y métodos: Estudio de carácter cuantitativo, no experimental, transversal, prolectivo, descriptivo y diagnóstico. La variable estudiada fue la satisfacción laboral. El universo se conformó por 530 profesionales de enfermería y la muestra por 200 de ellos. Resultados: 52.50% del personal de enfermería está satisfecho con su trabajo, 63.50% consideran que el trabajo que realizan es de mucho valor y 40% piensan que ocasionalmente carecen del tiempo necesario para realizar sus actividades. Discusión: 52.50% del personal de enfermería está satisfecho con su trabajo, lo que contrasta con la investigación de Pérez Fonseca y cols., en la cual se reporta 83.10% del personal de enfermería insatisfecho. Conclusiones: Los profesionales de enfermería del hospital de segundo nivel están satisfechos con el trabajo que realizan. Sin embargo, conviene monitorear de forma continua las áreas que causan insatisfacción para corregirlas en favor del personal de enfermería y de los pacientes

Objective: To analyze job satisfaction in nursing professionals at a second level hospital in Mexico City. Theoretical Framework: Job satisfaction is a positive emotional state based on the subjective perception of one's own work, according to the attitude toward it, as well as the person's beliefs and values. Material and methods: Quantitative, experimental, transversal, prolective, descriptive and diagnostic study. The variable was job satisfaction. The universe was confirmed by 530 nursing professionals, and the sample by 200 nursing professionals. Results: 52.50% of the nursing staff were satisfied with their work, 63.50% considered that the work they do is of great value, and 40% believed that occasionally they lack the necessary time to carry out their activities. Discussion: 52.50% of the nursing staff were satisfied with their work, which differs from the research by Pérez Ma. y Cols. that report 83.10% of dissatisfied staff. Conclusions: Nursing professionals at a second level hospital were satisfied with the work they do. However, it would be advisable to continuously monitor the areas that cause dissatisfaction in order to improve them in favor of the nursing staff and patient.

Pronación: Tecnología de enfermería que produce bienestar en el cuidado de los pacientes COVID-19, en el Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González en la Ciudad de México / Pronation: A nursing technology that promotes wellbeing among COVID-19 patients at General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez in México City

Introduction: pronation is a procedure used at the Intensive Care Unit with patients presenting Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) with severe hypoxemia. Bibliographical references clearly support the application of this procedure due to the improvement it produces in oxygenation and the increased survival rate in patients. The main foundation behind this technology is that Ventral Decubitus (VD) promotes an improved redistribution of ventilation toward the dorsal regions of the lung, which are mainly collapsed during Dorsal Decubitus. Nursing staff have used this procedure because VD has proven to be a strategy with a useful and accessible impact over respiratory physiology. Objective: to analyze Pronation as a nursing technology and its promotion of COVID-19 patients' wellbeing at the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, in Mexico City. Material and methods: a nonexperimental, quantitative, cross-sectional, prolective, descriptive study to analyze pronation, as a nursing technology that promotes wellbeing in the care of COVID-19 patients at General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, in Mexico City. Pronation as a nursing technology was the variable being measured. The universe was 530 nursing professionals working at the Hospital. The population and sample were 52 nursing specialists working with COVID-19 patients, representing 9.81% of the Universe. Results: as for training and experience with Pronation, 50% of the staff consider they have received sufficient training in regards to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but they are still under training. Additionally, 84.62 % consider that Pronation promotes a remarkable recovery in the patients, with oxygen saturations between 80 to 100 %; 71.16 % believe that patients do show hemodynamic instability due to the position shift, but not in every case; and 80.77 % consider they make sure their patients do not develop pressure ulcers, given that 65.39 % practice patient hygiene and movement to prevent such ulcers. Discussion: from the interviewed staff, 50.01 % consider they have received sufficient training regarding COVID and the pronation of patients. This is consistent with Hernandez et al., who describe the need of a team trained specifically on the procedure, preferably comprised of Nurses specialized in Intensive Care. Likewise, 84.62% of staff members believe Pronation improves oxygen saturation in patients from 80% to 100%, this is contrasted with Barrantes and Vargas, who indicate that if Pronation does not result in 5% improvement in oxygen saturation, the patient must be returned to dorsal decubitus. Conclusion: ventilation in prone position is a pulmonary protective action used for over 30 years that produces an evident and continuous improvement in blood oxygenation and the respiratory physiology. Therefore, nursing specialists caring for COVID-19 patients recommend its use.

Introducción: la pronación es una maniobra utilizada en las unidades de cuidados intensivos, en pacientes que presentan síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (SDRA), cuando la hipoxemia es severa. Apoyada por una sólida evidencia científica, tiene impacto en la forma en que se ventila a los pacientes como parámetro de seguridad, esto aumenta la supervivencia. Objetivo: analizar la pronación, como tecnología de enfermería, que produce bienestar en el cuidado de los pacientes COVID-19, en el Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, en la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos: estudio de carácter cuantitativo, no experimental, transversal, prospectivo, descriptivo. Variable medida: la pronación, como tecnología de enfermería. El universo 530 profesionales de enfermería que trabajan en el hospital, muestra: 52 especialistas de enfermería que trabajan con pacientes COVID-19. Resultados: en relación a la capacitación y experiencia en pronación, el 50% del personal manifiestan que sí recibieron suficiente capacitación sobre el virus SARS-CoV-2, aunque siguen capacitándose en ésta área; el 84.62 % consideran que en la pronación, los pacientes mejoran bastante, saturando entre el 80 y 100 % de oxígeno y el 80.77 % siempre cuidan que los pacientes no tengan úlceras por presión.Discusión: el 50.01 % del personal entrevistado manifiesta que sí recibió suficiente capacitación sobre la COVID-19 para pronar a los pacientes, lo que es semejante a la investigación de Hernández GD., et al.¹ Conclusión: la ventilación en posición prono es una medida de protección pulmonar utilizada hace más de 30 años que produce una mejoría evidente y sostenida de la oxigenación de la sangre y en la fisiología respiratoria, por lo que los especialistas de enfermería que atiende pacientes COVID-19 recomiendan su aplicación, pues está asociada al aumento de probabilidad de supervivencia.

Chronic disease epidemiology, cancer and mobile global approaches to disease prevention.

The focus of this symposium was worldwide prevention of chronic disease through the use of inexpensive Internet pathways, as demonstrated with the Supercourse project, and other initiatives, including promoting mobile phone technology (m-health). This symposium highlighted the need to use the Supercourse to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. It also highlighted several components of the Supercourse library, including the former Soviet Union network, the Latin American network, and some other initiatives.

Estrogen replacement raises rat CRP without evidence of complement activation.

Given current controversies regarding anti- and pro-inflammatory effects of estrogen, there is a need to explore relationships between gonadal hormones and inflammation using appropriate animal models. It has been proposed that rats are not appropriate for such research since, contrary to the effect of estrogen in humans, earlier animal studies had reported that estrogen downregulates serum C-reactive protein (rCRP) levels in the rat. With these considerations in mind, we re-examined the effects of estrogen withdrawal and replacement on CRP expression and complement activation in the rat. F-344 rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy or sham surgery at 9-10 months of age. Four months later, ovariectomized rats were treated with traditional high-dose 17beta-estradiol (Hi-E2) capsules, lower-dose (Lo-E2) 17beta-estradiol capsules, or placebo capsules for 7 days prior to sacrifice. Levels of plasma rat C-reactive protein (rCRP) were significantly lower in ovariectomized vs. sham-operated animals (415.5 +/- 10.6 vs. 626.6 +/- 23.0 mg/L, p < 0.001). Estrogen replacement significantly raised rCRP levels in ovariectomized animals (690.0 +/- 28.0 mg/L in Lo-E2 and 735.5 +/- 35.8 mg/L in Hi-E2, respectively, p < 0.001). Plasma rCRP levels correlated significantly with both hepatic rCRP (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) and serum estradiol (r = 0.70, p < 0.001) levels. However, no significant differences were observed in indices of complement activation (C4b/c) or CRP-complement complex generation (rCRP-C3 complex). In the mature female rat, ovariectomy reduces and estrogen replacement raises rCRP. Effects of estrogen on plasma rCRP induction are mediated, at least in part, through hepatic mechanisms and do not appear to require or be associated with complement activation.

[Solid malignant neoplasms in the first year of life]. / Neoplasias sólidas malignas durante el primer año de vida.

BACKGROUND: Solid malignant tumors occurring during the first year of life are rare. In Mexico, cancer is the tenth leading cause of mortality in this age group. However there is insufficient information about the characteristics of these children. This report aims to present our experience in a single hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in all patients diagnosed with solid malignant tumors during the first year of life who were treated in our institution during the previous 5 years. The variables analyzed were age at diagnosis, sex, birth weight, congenital malformations, time since onset of presenting features, type of neoplasm, treatment modalities, overall survival and sequelae. RESULTS: We analyzed 45 patients; the mean age at diagnosis was 150 days and the time since onset of presenting features ranged from 1-180 days. The most frequent tumors found were neuroblastoma (31%), nephroblastoma (13%) and retinoblastoma (13%). Two thirds of the patients presented with advanced stages. Complete tumoral resection was achieved in 55% of the patients, chemotherapy was administered in 80% and radiotherapy in only 2%. Complications after treatment were observed in 24% of the patients. The overall survival was 81% at 66 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Because cancer is rare in this age group and most of the patients had advanced disease at diagnosis, pediatricians should be more aware of these tumors to increase their early detection. In addition, multicenter studies should be performed to develop better treatment protocols that would improve prognosis and quality of life in these patients.

Sero-prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis and Taenia solium taeniasis in California, USA.

OBJECTIVES: Taenia solium Cysticercosis is a leading cause of epilepsy and neurological disability in the developing world. It is caused by ingestion of the eggs of the tapeworm, T. solium Taeniasis. The prevalence of either T. solium Cysticercosis or T. solium Taeniasis in the United States in populations at risk is poorly understood. The primary objectives of this study are to perform the first study of the sero-prevalence of T. solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis in an at-risk community in the USA, specifically rural Southern California; identify T. solium Taeniasis positive individuals, and treat positive individuals for the tapeworm T. solium Taeniasis. METHODS: Community based sero-prevalence study of antibodies to T. solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis in 449 subjects living in a federally funded, predominantly Hispanic residential community; and in two migrant farm worker camps in rural Ventura County, California, USA. For this study, fingerstick blood samples were obtained. Serum immunoblots for both T. solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis were performed. RESULTS: The sero-prevalence of T. solium Cysticercosis was 1.8% and the sero-prevalence of T. solium Taeniasis by serum immunoblot was 1.1%. Taenia solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis antibodies were not detected in children. The sero-prevalence of T. solium Taeniasis was highest in the migrant farm worker community. Handwashing frequency was correlated with T. solium Taeniasis sero-positivity. CONCLUSION: The sero-prevalence of T. solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis in this population, as detected by serum immunoblot, approximates the prevalence in some endemic areas of Latin America. Importantly, most patients likely had prior exposure, not active infection. This study establishes for the first time, the relative sero-prevalence of T. solium Cysticercosis and T. solium Taeniasis in at-risk populations in the United States.

Efficacy and Safety of Quinfamide versus Secnidazole in the Management of Amoebic Non-Dysenteric Colitis in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of single doses of quinfamide and secnidazole in the treatment of amoebic non-dysenteric colitis in children. DESIGN: This was a prospective, longitudinal, double-blind, randomised, comparative study. SETTING: The participants were students or relatives of students at two urban elementary schools in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged between 2 and 15 years of age with cysts of Entamoeba histolytica in stool samples for 3 consecutive days as detected by Faust's concentration method were enrolled in this study. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Single doses of quinfamide 4.3 mg/kg or secnidazole 30 mg/kg were administered. Patients were asked about the acceptability of the flavour of the drugs. Efficacy was evaluated by the presence or absence of E. histolytica cysts in stool samples on the fifth, sixth and seventh days after administration of the drugs. Adverse events were evaluated by direct questioning of patients. RESULTS: 734 patients were evaluated by coproparasitoscopy, of whom 239 (32.6%) had E. histolytica cysts. 112 patients were randomised to receive quinfamide and 127 to receive secnidazole. Differences in age, bodyweight, size and gender distribution were not statistically significant between the groups. 108 patients (96%) in the quinfamide group and 15 patients (12%) in the secnidazole group reported the flavour as good (p < 0.0001). 95 patients (85%) in the quinfamide group and 93 patients (73%) in the secnidazole group had negative stool samples at the end of treatment (p = 0.04). Nausea (p < 0.0001), abdominal pain (p < 0.05) and unpleasant taste (i.e. metallic taste 3 to 5 days after administration of secnidazole) in mouth (p < 0.0001) were more common in the secnidazole group than in the quinfamide group. CONCLUSIONS: Quinfamide is an excellent option for amoebic non-dysenteric colitis because of its high parasitoscopic efficacy, minimum adverse effects and good acceptance by children. The single-dose schedule guarantees completion of treatment.

[A new technic for examining breast amputation specimens. Results of 11 cases of Paget's disease of breast]. / Une nouvelle technique d'examen des pièces d'amputation mammaire. Résultats concernant onze cas de maladie de Paget mammaire.

Mammectomy specimens fixed to maintain their anatomical shape may be cut in slices parallel to the thoracic wall. The resulting histologic slides (serially cut or single) always show all the ducts. With a comparatively small number of slides, the galactophoric system may be explored as a whole from the nipple to the surgical section. This technic is especially efficient to establish the extent of the intraductal lesions of the Paget's disease, their relation with the nipple and with a possibly associated invasive cancer. It leads to propose three groups of related lesions, the disease of the nipple being constant: 1 - an infiltrating cancer unrelated to the intraductal cancer. 2 - an infiltrating cancer associated to part of the ducts involved by intraductal cancer, several ducts in a distant part of the breast being involved too by intraductal carcinoma. 3 - intraductal cancer without invasive cancer. These facts and the topography of the intraductal carcinoma are inconsistent with the conception of cells from an invasive cancer reaching the epidermis of the nipple by spreading through the ducts.