Elemental mass spectrometry to study metallo-transcriptomic changes during the in vitro degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Trace elements play crucial roles in cellular biology. Their improper homeostasis may contribute to the progress of eye diseases, exacerbated during ageing. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is progressively deteriorated during age-related neurodegeneration and metal homeostasis may be compromised. In this study, elemental mass spectrometry (MS) was combined with cellular and molecular biology techniques to identify changes in trace elements during the in vitro degeneration of human RPE cells. Cells were collected at 21, 91, and 133 days and processed for RNA sequencing; Ca, Na, P, Mg, and Cu quantification by flow injection analysis and inductively coupled plasma-MS; and protein analysis by immunocytochemistry. Four-month-old RPE cultures showed depigmentation, impaired barrier function, and antioxidant protection, manifesting signs of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Na and P significantly increased in the cytosol of degenerated RPE cells (from 15 ± 20 to 13495 ± 638 ng·µg-1 and from 30.6 ± 9.5 to 116.8 ± 16.8 ng·µg-1, respectively). Mg decreased in both the cytosol and insoluble fraction of cells (from 2.83 ± 0.40 to 1.58 ± 0.56 ng·µg-1 and from 247.57 ± 11.06 to 30 ± 8 ng·g-1, respectively), while P and Cu decreased in the insoluble fraction after 133 days in culture (from 9471 ± 1249 to 4555 ± 985 ng·µg-1 and from 2251 ± 79 to 1054 ± 235 ng·g-1, respectively), along with changes in metal-dependent antioxidant enzymes and Cu transporters. This RPE model reflected metal homeostatic changes, providing additional perspectives on effects of metal regulation during ageing.

Urine collection methods in precontinent children treated at the paediatric emergency department.

AIM: To describe the urine collection methods used in precontinent children presenting at the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) and compare results and contamination rates. METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study that included 1678 urine cultures collected in infants <24 months of age between January 2016 and December 2019. Urine cultures were compared based on collection technique, sex and patient age. RESULTS: In total, 60.4% of samples were collected by clean-catch urine collection (CCUC), 26.4% by urethral catheterisation (UC) and 13.2% by urine bag (UB). Contamination rates were 2.9% (95% CI 1.3, 4.4) for UC, 11.3% (95% CI 9.3, 13.2) for CCUC and 23.4% (95% CI 17.8, 29.0) for UB. Significant differences in contamination rates were found between UC and CCUC in the 6-12-month age group (1.9% [95% CI 0.0-4.0] versus 12.0% [95% CI 7.2-16.8] [p < 0.0009]), and between UC and UB for all ages. CONCLUSIONS: CCUC is the most common method for urine culture collection in infants <24 months of age at the PED in our centre. UC has the lowest contamination rates, but significant differences were only observed between CCUC and UC in the 6-12-month age group. CCUC is a non-invasive alternative for urine collection in infants.

Relevant SARS-CoV-2 viremia is associated with COVID-19 severity: Prospective cohort study and validation cohort.

Early kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 viral load (VL) in plasma determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was evaluated as a predictor of poor clinical outcome in a prospective study and assessed in a retrospective validation cohort. Prospective observational single-center study including consecutive adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between November 2020 and January 2021. Serial plasma samples were obtained until discharge. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to assess SARS-CoV-2 VL. The main outcomes were in-hospital mortality, admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and their combination (Poor Outcome). Relevant viremia (RV), established in the prospective study, was assessed in a retrospective cohort including hospitalized COVID-19 patients from April 2021 to May 2022, in which plasma samples were collected according to clinical criteria. Prospective cohort: 57 patients were included. RV was defined as at least a twofold increase in VL within ≤2 days or a VL > 300 copies/ml, in the first week. Patients with RV (N = 14; 24.6%) were more likely to die than those without RV (35.7% vs. 0%), needed ICU admission (57% vs. 0%) or had Poor Outcome (71.4% vs. 0%), (p < 0.001 for the three variables). Retrospective cohort: 326 patients were included, 18.7% presented RV. Patients with RV compared with patients without RV had higher rates of ICU-admission (odds ratio [OR]: 5.6 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-15.1); p = 0.001), mortality (OR: 13.5 [95% CI: 6.3-28.7]; p < 0.0001) and Poor Outcome (OR: 11.2 [95% CI: 5.8-22]; p < 0.0001). Relevant SARS-CoV-2 viremia in the first week of hospitalization was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, and Poor Outcome. Findings observed in the prospective cohort were confirmed in a larger validation cohort.

Potential Artifacts and Control Experiments in Toxicity Tests of Nanoplastic and Microplastic Particles.

To fully understand the potential ecological and human health risks from nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) in the environment, it is critical to make accurate measurements. Similar to past research on the toxicology of engineered nanomaterials, a broad range of measurement artifacts and biases are possible when testing their potential toxicity. For example, antimicrobials and surfactants may be present in commercially available NMP dispersions, and these compounds may account for toxicity observed instead of being caused by exposure to the NMP particles. Therefore, control measurements are needed to assess potential artifacts, and revisions to the protocol may be needed to eliminate or reduce the artifacts. In this paper, we comprehensively review and suggest a next generation of control experiments to identify measurement artifacts and biases that can occur while performing NMP toxicity experiments. This review covers the broad range of potential NMP toxicological experiments, such as in vitro studies with a single cell type or complex 3-D tissue constructs, in vivo mammalian studies, and ecotoxicity experiments testing pelagic, sediment, and soil organisms. Incorporation of these control experiments can reduce the likelihood of false positive and false negative results and more accurately elucidate the potential ecological and human health risks of NMPs.

Intracranial Virotherapy for a Canine Hemangioma.

Intracranial hemangiomas are rare neoplastic lesions in dogs that usually appear with life-threatening symptoms. The treatment of choice is tumor resection; however, complete resection is rarely achieved. The patient's prognosis therefore usually worsens due to tumor progression, and adjuvant treatments are required to control the disease. Oncolytic viruses are an innovative approach that lyses the tumor cells and induces immune responses. Here, we report the intratumoral inoculation of ICOCAV15 (an oncolytic adenovirus) in a canine intracranial hemangioma, as adjuvant treatment for incomplete tumor resection. The canine patient showed no side effects, and the tumor volume decreased over the 12 months after the treatment, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging using volumetric criteria. When progressive disease was detected at month 18, a new dose of ICOCAV15 was administered. The patient died 31.9 months after the first inoculation of the oncolytic adenovirus. Furthermore, tumor-infiltrated immune cells increased in number after the viral administrations, suggesting tumor microenvironment activation. The increased number of infiltrated immune cells, the long survival time and the absence of side effects suggest that ICOCAV15 could be a safe and effective treatment and should be further explored as a novel therapy for canine hemangiomas.

Humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 by healthy and sick dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Infections of animals with SARS-CoV-2 have recently been reported, and an increase of severe lung pathologies in domestic dogs has also been detected by veterinarians in Spain. Therefore, further descriptions of the pathological processes in those animals that show symptoms similar to those described in humans affected by COVID-19 would be highly valuable. The potential for companion animals to contribute to the continued transmission and community spread of this known human-to-human disease is an urgent issue to be considered. Forty animals with pulmonary pathologies were studied by chest X-ray, ultrasound analysis, and computed tomography. Nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs were analyzed to detect canine pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. An additional twenty healthy dogs living in SARS-CoV-2-positive households were included. Immunoglobulin detection by several immunoassays was performed. Our findings show that sick dogs presented severe alveolar or interstitial patterns with pulmonary opacity, parenchymal abnormalities, and bilateral lesions. The forty sick dogs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 but Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 26 of 33 dogs. Five healthy and one pathological dog presented IgG against SARS-CoV-2. Here we report that despite detecting dogs with α-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, we never obtained a positive RT-qPCR for SARS-SoV-2, not even in dogs with severe pulmonary disease; suggesting that even in the case of canine infection, transmission would be unlikely. Moreover, dogs living in COVID-19-positive households could have been more highly exposed to infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Urine collection methods for infants under 3 months of age in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Methods of urine collection used in precontinent children are a controversial issue. Definitive diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) requires an uncontaminated urine culture. We aimed to describe methods used to collect urine for culture in infants under 3 months of age and compare results and contamination rates. METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study included 721 urine cultures collected from infants <3 months of age at the Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, Madrid, between January 2016 and December 2019. Urine cultures were compared based on collection technique, sex, and patient age. RESULTS: Median patient age was 36 days and 54.6% were male. In total, 592 (82.1%) samples were collected using clean-catch urine stimulation technique (CCUST), 77 (10.7%) by urethral catheterization (UC) and 52 (7.2%) by urine bag (UB). Positive cultures were obtained in 11.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.1, 14.3) of CCUST samples and in 28.6% (95% CI 18.5, 38.7) of UC samples (p<0.001). The contamination rate was 13.7% (95% CI 10.9, 16.4] for CCUST, 23.1% (95% CI 11.6, 34.6) for UB and 5.2% (95% CI 0.2, 10.2) for UC, with statistically significant differences (p=0.007) between UB and UC collection. CONCLUSIONS: CCUST is the most commonly used method in our hospital for collecting urine in infants younger than 3 months. The contamination rate of UC is lower but not significantly different to that of CCUST. Urine collection by CCUST serves as a non-invasive alternative to UC for diagnosis of UTI in infants under 3 months of age in routine clinical practice. Graphical abstract.

Scaling Resistance in Nanophotonics-Enabled Solar Membrane Distillation.

This study compares the scaling behavior of membrane distillation (MD) with that of nanophotonics-enabled solar membrane distillation (NESMD). Previous research has shown that NESMD, due to its localized surface heating driven by photothermal membrane coatings, is an energy-efficient system for off-grid desalination; however, concerns remained regarding the scaling behavior of self-heating surfaces. In this work, bench-scale experiments were performed, using model brackish water, to compare the scaling propensity of NESMD with MD. The results showed NESMD to be highly resistant to scaling; a three times higher salt concentration factor (c/c0) was achieved in NESMD compared to MD without any decline in flux. Analyses of the scaling layer on NESMD membranes revealed that salt deposition was 1/4 of that observed for MD. Scaling resistance in NESMD is attributed to its lower operating temperature, which increases the solubility of common scalants and decreases salt precipitation rates. Precipitation kinetics measurements revealed an order of magnitude faster precipitation under heated conditions (62 °C, k = 8.7 × 10-2 s-1) compared to ambient temperature (22 °C, k = 7.1 × 10-3 s-1). These results demonstrate a distinct advantage of NESMD over MD for the treatment of high scaling potential water, where scaling is a barrier to high water recovery.

Graphene/polymer nanocomposite degradation by ultraviolet light: The effects of graphene nanofillers and their potential for release.

The ultraviolet (UV)-induced degradation of graphene/polymer nanocomposites was investigated in this study. Specifically, the effect of few-layer graphene nanofillers on the degradation of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and the release potential of graphene from the degraded nanocomposite surfaces were assessed. Graphene/TPU (G/TPU) nanocomposites and neat TPU were UV-exposed under both dry and humid conditions in the NIST SPHERE, a precisely controlled, high intensity UV-weathering device. Neat TPU and G/TPU were characterized over the time course of UV exposure using color measurements and infrared spectroscopy, for appearance and chemical changes, respectively. Changes in thickness and surface morphology were obtained with scanning electron microscopy. A new fluorescence quenching measurement approach was developed to identify graphene sheets at the nanocomposite surface, which was supported by contact angle measurements. The potential for graphene release from the nanocomposite surface was evaluated using a tape-lift method followed by microscopy of any particles present on the tape. The findings suggest that graphene improves the service life of TPU with respect to UV exposure, but that graphene becomes exposed at the nanocomposite surface over time, which may potentially lead to its release when exposed to small mechanical forces or upon contact with other materials.

Structure-Property-Toxicity Relationships of Graphene Oxide: Role of Surface Chemistry on the Mechanisms of Interaction with Bacteria.

Graphene oxide (GO) is an antimicrobial agent with tunable surface chemistry. To identify the physicochemical determinants of GO's antimicrobial activity, we generated different modified Hummer's GO materials thermally annealed at 200, 500, or 800 °C (TGO200, TGO500, and TGO800, respectively) to modify the surface oxygen groups on the material. Plating assays show that as-received GO (ARGO) and TGO200, TGO500, and TGO800 reduce Escherichia coli viability by 50% (EC50) at 183, 143, 127, and 86 µg/mL, respectively, indicating higher bacterial toxicity as ARGO is reduced. To uncover the toxicity mechanism of GO, fluorescent dye-based assays were used to measure oxidative stress at the EC50. ARGO showed an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, measured as an increase in 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescence, whereas TGO500 and TGO800 induced an increase in the fluorescence of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) by 30 and 42%, suggesting a decrease in cell permeability. Because of a possible wrapping mechanism, plating assays after post-exposure sonication were performed to explain TGO's low oxidative response and high FDA levels. Results show no difference in colony-forming units, indicating that inhibition of cell growth is a result of the adsorption of bacterial cells on the GO material. By comparing different GO samples at their EC50, this study reveals that reduction of GO alters both the mechanisms of cellular interaction and the degree of toxicity to bacteria.

G2-S16 dendrimer microbicide does not interfere with the vaginal immune system.

It is essential that prophylactic drugs do not interfere with the normal function of the immune system. The use of nanoparticles as vaginal microbicides is a promising prevention strategy against sexually transmitted infections. With that aim, our group is working with the G2-S16, a second generation carbosilane dendrimer with sulfonate groups in the periphery, which has been previously shown to be effective against HIV-1 and HSV-2 infection, and it is now on the road to clinical trials. Our objective in this new study is to assess the effects of G2-S16 on the immune barrier of the female reproductive tract. The expression of differentiation, maturation and activation markers was measured in epithelial cells, dendritic cells, M and GM macrophages, and T cells using RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. The results demonstrate that G2-S16 does not alter the natural immunity of the vagina, strongly supporting the biosafety of this dendrimer for clinical use.

Antitumor virotherapy using syngeneic or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell carriers induces systemic immune response and intratumoral leukocyte infiltration in mice.

Oncolytic virotherapy uses oncolytic viruses that selectively replicate in cancer cells. The use of cellular vehicles with migration ability to tumors has been considered to increase their delivery to target sites. Following this approach, the antitumor efficacy of the treatment Celyvir (mesenchymal stem cells infected with the oncolytic adenovirus ICOVIR-5) has been demonstrated in patients with neuroblastoma. However, the better efficacy of syngeneic or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells as cell carriers and the specific role of the immune system in this therapy are still unknown. In this study we use our virotherapy Celyvir with syngeneic and allogeneic mouse mesenchymal stem cells to determine their antitumor efficacy in a C57BL/6 murine adenocarcinoma model. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from treated mice to new tumor-bearing mice followed by a secondary adoptive transfer to a third group was performed. Similar reduction of tumor growth and systemic activation of the innate and adaptive immune system was observed in groups treated with syngeneic or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells loaded with ICOVIR-5. Moreover, a different pattern of infiltration was observed by immunofluorescence in Celyvir-treated groups. While non-treated tumors presented higher density of infiltrating immune cells in the periphery of the tumor, both syngeneic and allogeneic Celyvir-treated groups presented higher infiltration of CD45+ cells in the core of the tumor. Therefore, these results suggest that syngeneic and allogeneic Celyvir induce systemic activation of the immune system, similar antitumor effect and a higher intratumoral infiltration of leukocytes.

Improved Efficiency of Ibuprofen by Cationic Carbosilane Dendritic Conjugates.

In order to improve the efficiency of the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, cationic carbosilane dendrimers and dendrons with ibuprofen at their periphery or at their focal point, respectively, have been synthesized, and the release of the drug was studied using HPLC. Macrophages were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the ibuprofen-conjugated dendritic systems and compared with mixtures of non-ibuprofen dendritic systems in the presence of the drug. The cationic ibuprofen-conjugated dendron was the compound that showed higher anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces the LPS-induced COX-2 expression and decreases the release of several inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6, and CCL3. These results open new perspectives in the use of these compounds as drug carriers.

[Factors determining irregular attendance to follow-up visits among human immunodeficiency virus patients: results of the hospital survey of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus]. / Determinantes de la asistencia irregular a consulta médica en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: resultados de la Encuesta Hospitalaria de pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, 2002-2012.

INTRODUCTION: To describe the occurrence of non-regular attendance to follow-up visits among HIV patients and to analyze the determining factors. METHODS: One-day survey carried out annually (2002-2012) in public hospitals. Epidemiological, clinical and behavioral data are collected in all HIV-infected inpatients and outpatients receiving HIV-related care on the day of the survey. "Non-regular attendance to a follow-up visit" was defined as sporadic attendance to the medical appointments, according to the judgment of the attending physician. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, and factors associated to non-regular attendance to follow-up visits were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 7,304 subjects were included, of whom 13.7% did not attend medical appointments regularly. Factors directly associated with non-regular attendance were: age between 25-49 years; birth in Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin-America; low educational level; being homeless or in prison; living alone or in closed institutions; being unemployed or retired; being an intravenous drug user; not using a condom at last sexual encounter, and injecting drugs in the last 30 days. Conversely, HIV diagnosis within the last year and being men who have sex with men were factors inversely associated with non-regular attendance to follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: In spite of health care beings free of charge for everyone in Spain, social factors can act as barriers to regular attendance to medical appointments, which, in turn, can endanger treatment effectiveness in some population groups. This should be taken into account when planning HIV policies in Spain.

Effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles on rice: a study involving the antioxidant defense system and in vivo fluorescence imaging.

Previous studies have reported the uptake of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) by plants, but their physiological impacts are not yet well understood. This research was aimed to study the impact of nCeO2 on the oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system in germinating rice seeds. The seeds were germinated for 10 days in nCeO2 suspension at 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg L(-1) concentrations. The Ce uptake, growth performance, stress levels, membrane damage, and antioxidant responses in seedlings were analyzed. Ce in tissues increased with increased nCeO2 concentrations, but the seedlings showed no visible signs of toxicity. Biochemical assays and in vivo imaging of H2O2 revealed that, relative to the control, the 62.5 and 125 mg nCeO2 L(-1) treatments significantly reduced the H2O2 generation in both shoots and roots. Enhanced electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation were found in the shoots of seedlings grown at 500 mg nCeO2 L(-1). Altered enzyme activities and levels of ascorbate and free thiols resulting in enhanced membrane damage and photosynthetic stress in the shoots were observed at 500 mg nCeO2 L(-1). These findings demonstrate a nCeO2 concentration-dependent modification of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system in rice seedlings.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles modify the antioxidative stress enzyme activities and macromolecule composition in rice seedlings.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) have been shown to have significant interactions in plants; however, there are limited reports on their impacts in rice (Oryza sativa). Given the widespread environmental dispersal of nCeO2, it is paramount to understand its biochemical and molecular impacts on a globally important agricultural crop, such as rice. This study was carried out to determine the impact of nCeO2 on the oxidative stress, membrane damage, antioxidant enzymes' activities, and macromolecular changes in the roots of rice seedlings. Rice seeds (medium amylose) were grown for 10 days in nCeO2 suspensions (0-500 mg L(-1)). Results showed that Ce in root seedlings increased as the external nCeO2 increased without visible signs of toxicity. Relative to the control, the 62.5 mg nCeO2 L(-1) reduced the H2O2 generation in the roots by 75%. At 125 mg nCeO2 L(-1), the roots showed enhanced lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage, while at 500 mg L(-1), the nCeO2 increased the H2O2 generation in roots and reduced the fatty acid content. The lignin content decreased by 20% at 500 mg nCeO2 L(-1), despite the parallel increase in H2O2 content and peroxidase activities. Synchrotron µ-XRF confirmed the presence of Ce in the vascular tissues of the roots.

Increasing bromide removal by graphene-silver nanocomposites: Nanoparticulate silver enhances bromide selectivity through direct surface interactions.

Bromide forms toxic brominated disinfection by-products during disinfection. Current bromide removal technologies are often non-specific and costly due to naturally occurring competing anions. A silver-impregnated graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite is reported here that reduced the amount of Ag needed for Br- removal by increasing its selectivity towards Br-. GO was impregnated with ionic (GO-Ag+) or nanoparticulate Ag (GO-nAg) and compared against Ag+ or unsupported nAg to identify molecular level interactions. In nanopure water, Ag+ and nAg had the highest Br- removal (∼0.89 mol Br-/mol Ag+) followed by GO-nAg at 0.77 mol Br-/mol Ag+. However, under anionic competition, the Ag+ removal was reduced to 0.10 mol Br-/mol Ag+ while all nAg forms retained good Br- removal. To understand the removal mechanism, anoxic experiments were performed to prevent nAg dissolution, which resulted in higher Br- removal for all nAg forms compared to oxic conditions. This suggests that reaction of Br- with the nAg surface is more selective than with Ag+. Finally, jar tests showed that anchoring nAg on GO enhances Ag removal during coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation compared to unsupported nAg or Ag+. Thus, our results identify strategies that can be used to design selective and silver-efficient adsorbents for Br- removal in water treatment.

Evaluation of bioaccumulation of nanoplastics, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and graphene family materials.

Bioaccumulation is a key factor in understanding the potential ecotoxicity of substances. While there are well-developed models and methods to evaluate bioaccumulation of dissolved organic and inorganic substances, it is substantially more challenging to assess bioaccumulation of particulate contaminants such as engineered carbon nanomaterials (CNMs; carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene family nanomaterials (GFNs), and fullerenes) and nanoplastics. In this study, the methods used to evaluate bioaccumulation of different CNMs and nanoplastics are critically reviewed. In plant studies, uptake of CNMs and nanoplastics into the roots and stems was observed. For multicellular organisms other than plants, absorbance across epithelial surfaces was typically limited. Biomagnification was not observed for CNTs and GFNs but were observed for nanoplastics in some studies. However, the reported absorption in many nanoplastic studies may be a consequence of an experimental artifact, namely release of the fluorescent probe from the plastic particles and subsequent uptake. We identify that additional work is needed to develop analytical methods to provide robust, orthogonal methods that can measure unlabeled (e.g., without isotopic or fluorescent labels) CNMs and nanoplastics.

Toxicity mechanisms of graphene oxide and cadmium in Microcystis aeruginosa: evaluation of photosynthetic and oxidative responses.

The potential ecotoxicological hazard of gaphene oxide (GO) is not fully clarified for photoautotrophic organisms, especially when the interactions of GO with other environmental toxicants are considered. The objective of the current study was to better understand the mechanisms of toxicity of GO in the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa, and to identify its interactions with cadmium (Cd). The individual and combined contribution of both pollutants in cyanobacteria were evaluated after 96 hours of exposure to GO and/or Cd, using photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic parameters, cellular indicators of peroxidative damage, viability, and intracellular ROS formation as indicators of toxicity. Interactions between GO and Cd were evaluated using Toxic Units based on the EC50 of each parameter evaluated. The results of this study indicate that single concentrations ≥ 5 µg mL-1 of GO and ≥ 0.1 µg mL-1 of Cd induced a decrease in cell biomass and a change in the photosynthetic parameters associated with primary productivity in M. aeruginosa. In the combined experiments, higher GO ratios (≥ 9.1 µg mL-1) in terms of Toxic Units decreased photochemical processes and cellular metabolism, increased oxidative stress, and ultimately affected the size of M. aeruginosa. Finally, the relationship between GO concentration, Cd concentration, and the adsorption capacity of GO with respect to the co-pollutant must be taken into account when assessing the environmental risk of GO in aquatic environments.

[Factors associated with the perception of discrimination: ageism and quality of life of the geriatric population from a bioethical approach] / Factores asociados a la percepción de discriminación: edadismo y calidad de vida de la población geriátrica desde un enfoque bioético.

Introduction: There are a set of conditions that directly affect the quality of life of older adults, causing marginalization and discrimination of this age group. Objective: Determining the factors that affect the perception of discrimination and quality of life of older adults in the province of El Oro, Ecuador. Methods: Observational, descriptive, qualitative-phenomenological, cross-sectional, cross-sectional study in older adults aged 65 years, between September 2019 and November 2020. The sample consisted of 399 older adults. The questionnaire "Biopsychosocial assessment of older adults from a bioethical approach" was used. The following variables were measured: discrimination and self-perception of quality of life. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to examine the association between discrimination, quality of life and the variables under study. Results: 61.7% of the respondents considered that discrimination exists, with ageism predominating. The variable most related to the perception of discrimination of the MAs was the treatment in health care, and the family environment. The quality of life in a significant percentage was unsatisfactory due to: their family environment, poor social integration and dissatisfaction with their health. Conclusions: The quality of life of older adults was unsatisfactory in almost half of the respondents, influenced by the relationship with the family, social integration, and health status. The older adults reported that there is discrimination and ageism in the treatment perceived in the health services and the family environment, in violation of the principles of bioethics.

Introducción: En la vejez se presentan un conjunto de condiciones que afectan directamente la calidad de vida del adulto mayor, ocasionando marginación y discriminación de este grupo etario. Objetivo: Determinar los factores que inciden en la percepción de discriminación y calidad de vida de los adultos mayores de la provincia El Oro, Ecuador. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, cualitativo-fenomenológico, de corte transversal, en adultos mayores de 65 años, entre septiembre del 2019 y noviembre del 2020. La muestra fue 399 adultos mayores. Se utilizó el cuestionario: "Valoración biopsicosocial del adulto mayor desde un enfoque bioético". Se midieron las variables: discriminación y autopercepción de calidad de vida. Se utilizó el análisis de correspondencia múltiple, para examinar la asociación entre discriminación, calidad de vida, y las variables en estudio. Resultados: El 61,7% de los encuestados consideró que existe discriminación, predominando el edadismo. La variable más relacionada a la percepción de discriminación de los AM fue el trato en la atención sanitaria, y el entorno familiar. La calidad de vida en un porcentaje significativo fue insatisfactoria debido a: su entorno familiar, la poca integración social y la insatisfacción con su salud. Conclusiones: La calidad de vida de los adultos mayores fue poco satisfactoria en casi la mitad de los encuestados, influenciada por la relación con la familia, la integración social, y el estado de salud. Los adultos mayores refirieron que existe discriminación, y edadismo en el trato percibido en los servicios de salud, y el entorno familiar, incumpliéndose con los principios de la bioética.