Nationwide Genomic Surveillance and Response to COVID-19: The VA SeqFORCE and SeqCURE Consortiums.

Background: The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has dedicated significant resources toward countering the COVID-19 pandemic. Sequencing for Research Clinical and Epidemiology (SeqFORCE) and Sequencing Collaborations United for Research and Epidemiology (SeqCURE) were developed as clinical and research consortiums, respectively, focused on the genetic COVID-19 surveillance. Observations: Through genetic sequencing, VA SeqFORCE and SeqCURE collaborations contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic response and scientific understanding. Future directions for each program include the assessment of the unique impact of COVID-19 on the veteran population, as well as the adaptation of these programs to future infectious disease threats. We foresee the use of these established platforms beyond infectious diseases. Conclusions: VA SeqFORCE and SeqCURE were established as clinical and research programs dedicated to sequencing COVID-19 as part of ongoing clinical and surveillance efforts. In the future, we anticipate that having these programs embedded within the largest integrated health care system in the US will enable the study of pathogens and pandemics beyond COVID-19 and at an unprecedented scale. The investment in these programs will form an integral part of our nation's response to emerging infectious diseases, with future applications to precision medicine and beyond.

Effects of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) on glycemic markers in animal models of diabetes: A systematic review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is traditionally used by different populations of Africa, América, Asia, and Europa to control diabetes. Although its action has been evaluated in several preclinical rodent trials, they have not been systematically analyzed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of using okra in the treatment of diabetes in experimental rodent models. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Controlled and randomized rodent animal trials with induced diabetes published between January 2000 and January 2021 were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included studies comprising the descriptors: animal species, diabetes induction method, intervention time, part of okra fruit used (whole, seeds, or peels), and dose as well as observed effects on biochemical and metabolic parameters. The systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement, Cochrane bias risk tool (SYRCLE's RoB tool), and registered for systematic review protocols (PROSPERO). RESULTS: A total of 326 articles were identified and after the exclusion of studies with gestational animal models, non-rodent animals, and non-diabetic animals, 11 studies involving 388 rodents were selected for the synthesis of results. The diabetes induction methods included streptozotocin, streptozotocin-nicotinamide, alloxan monohydrate, insulin resistance by high-fat diets or formulation described in AIN - 76, and feeding with high-fat food. Both Wistar albino rats, Sprague-Dawley males, and rats of both sexes of the Long-Evans lineage as well as male albino mice and C57BL females were included in the experiments. Studies showed that extracts of the fruit, the fresh fruit, or its various fractions had positive effects on the following markers: glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, HOMA-IR, oral glucose tolerance test, and blood glucose, in acute (2 and 24 h), and chronic (up to 4 months) treatment. CONCLUSION: An important hypoglycemic effect of okra in its various fractions on induced diabetes was observed by different authors. Moreover, okra promoted improvement in metabolic markers such as insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and bodyweight loss.

The effect of time since stroke, gender, age, and lesion size on thalamus volume in chronic stroke: a pilot study.

Recent stroke studies have shown that the ipsi-lesional thalamus longitudinally and significantly decreases after stroke in the acute and subacute stages. However, additional considerations in the chronic stages of stroke require exploration including time since stroke, gender, intracortical volume, aging, and lesion volume to better characterize thalamic differences after cortical infarct. This cross-sectional retrospective study quantified the ipsilesional and contralesional thalamus volume from 69 chronic stroke subjects' anatomical MRI data (age 35-92) and related the thalamus volume to time since stroke, gender, intracortical volume, age, and lesion volume. The ipsi-lesional thalamus volume was significantly smaller than the contra-lesional thalamus volume (t(68) = 13.89, p < 0.0001). In the ipsilesional thalamus, significant effect for intracortical volume (t(68) = 2.76, p = 0.008), age (t(68) = 2.47, p = 0.02), lesion volume (t(68) = - 3.54, p = 0.0008), and age*time since stroke (t(68) = 2.46, p = 0.02) were identified. In the contralesional thalamus, significant effect for intracortical volume (t(68) = 3.2, p = 0.002) and age (t = - 3.17, p = 0.002) were identified. Clinical factors age and intracortical volume influence both ipsi- and contralesional thalamus volume and lesion volume influences the ipsilesional thalamus. Due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, additional research is warranted to understand differences in the neural circuitry and subsequent influence on volumetrics after stroke.

The wound healing effect of aqueous extract from Piper amalago L. in diabetic patient.

Diabetes patients present a complex healing process due to several factors directly linked to their pathology. The use of medicinal plants that aid in tissue repair can bring great benefits to such individuals. This case report describes how the topical application of the aqueous extract produced from the leaves of Piper amalago L. was used to aid the healing of a lacerated wound in the left thumb of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aqueous extract of the leaves of Piper amalago L. was prepared in boiling water. During the boiling process the dried leaves were submerged in the boiling water and left for five min. The injured thumb was submerged in the solution and the leaves were placed on the injury. The action of the aqueous extract obtained from the leaves of P. amalago was shown to be promising in the healing of a wound in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The topical application of the aqueous extract produced from the leaves of P. amalago assisted in the healing of a lacerated wound in the left thumb of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of 15 days.

Effects of Glutamine and Alanine Supplementation on Central Fatigue Markers in Rats Submitted to Resistance Training.

Recent evidence suggests that increased brain serotonin synthesis impairs performance in high-intensity intermittent exercise and specific amino acids may modulate this condition, delaying fatigue. This study investigated the effects of glutamine and alanine supplementation on central fatigue markers in rats submitted to resistance training (RT). Wistar rats were distributed in: sedentary (SED), trained (CON), trained and supplemented with alanine (ALA), glutamine and alanine in their free form (G + A), or as dipeptide (DIP). Trained groups underwent a ladder-climbing exercise for eight weeks, with progressive loads. In the last 21 days, supplementations were offered in water with a 4% concentration. Albeit without statistically significance difference, RT decreased liver glycogen, and enhanced the concentrations of plasma glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), hypothalamic serotonin, and ammonia in muscle and the liver. Amino acids affected fatigue parameters depending on the supplementation form. G + A prevented the muscle ammonia increase by RT, whereas ALA and DIP augmented ammonia and glycogen concentrations in muscle. DIP also increased liver ammonia. ALA and G + A reduced plasma FFA, whereas DIP increased this parameter, free tryptophan/total tryptophan ratio, hypothalamic serotonin, and the serotonin/dopamine ratio. The supplementations did not affect physical performance. In conclusion, glutamine and alanine may improve or impair central fatigue markers depending on their supplementation form.

Evidencia científica del tratamiento ortopodológico en pie afectado por artritis reumatoide / Evidence of orthopodiatric treatment affected by rheumatoid arthritis on foot

Antecedentes: La artritis reumatoide afecta más a mujeres. La prevalencia en nuestro país es de 0.5%. Se debe abordar mediante un equipo multidisciplinar. Los signos característicos en el pie son sinovitis de las articulaciones, entesitis, nódulos reumatoides y vasculitis. Las modalidades de tratamiento conservador son: ortesis, calzado, estiramientos, terapia manual e incluso ejercicios terapéuticos mediante Tai-chi. Objetivos: Valorar la evidencia científica sobre el tratamiento conservador del pie reumático mediante ortesis plantares y calzado terapéutico. Conocer los últimos avances y que opción es la más indicada para tratar esta patología que afecta al pie. Material y métodos: Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica de los últimos 15 años en Pubmed. Resultados: Se ha encontrado relación entre el dolor de antepié, subluxación metatarsofalángica y erosión del cartílago articular con el aumento de presión a nivel metatarsal plantar lo que justifica la realización de tratamiento ortopodológico encaminado a reducir la misma. El tratamiento conservador está enfocado a la utilización de ortesis y de zapato terapéutico para mejorar el dolor, la marcha y la funcionalidad. Hay evidencia científica para tratar la metatarsalgia con diferentes tipos de ortesis, que no solo ayudan a mejorar el dolor sino que además reducen el nº de articulaciones inflamadas. La combinación con zapato terapéutico con o sin modificaciones externas produce mejores resultados. Conclusión: Existe escasa evidencia científica sobre el uso de tratamiento ortopodológico para el pie reumático pero se han encontrado algunos artículos que avalan su eficacia, por lo que es imprescindible realizar estudios en este campo (AU)

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis affects more women. The prevalence in our country is 0.5%. It should be approached by a multidisciplinary team. Characteristic foot signs' are synovitis of joints, enthesitis, rheumatoid nodules and vasculitis. The conservative treatment modalities are: orthotics, footwear, stretching, manual therapy and therapeutic exercises even by Tai-chi. Objectives: To evaluate the scientific evidence on the conservative treatment of rheumatoid foot with orthotics and therapeutic footwear. Aware of progress and that is the most suitable option for treating this disease that affects the feet. Material and methods: We carried out a literature review of the past 15 years in Pubmed. Results: We found the relationship between pain forefoot metatarsophalangeal subluxation and erosion of articular cartilage with increasing pressure to plantar metatarsal level which justifies conducting orthosis treatment aimed at reducing it. Conservative treatment is aimed at the use of orthoses and shoe therapy to improve pain, gait and functionality. There is scientific evidence for treating metatarsalgia with different types of orthotics that not only help improve the pain but also reduce the number of swollen joints. The combination with therapeutic shoe with or without external changes produces better results. Conclusion: There is little scientific evidence on the use of orthosis treatment for rheumatoid foot but found some articles that support its effectiveness, so it is essential to carry out studies in this field (AU)

Does the sound of a barking dog activate its corresponding visual form? An fMRI investigation of modality-specific semantic access.

Much remains to be learned about the neural architecture underlying word meaning. Fully distributed models of semantic memory predict that the sound of a barking dog will conjointly engage a network of distributed sensorimotor spokes. An alternative framework holds that modality-specific features additionally converge within transmodal hubs. Participants underwent functional MRI while covertly naming familiar objects versus newly learned novel objects from only one of their constituent semantic features (visual form, characteristic sound, or point-light motion representation). Relative to the novel object baseline, familiar concepts elicited greater activation within association regions specific to the presentation modality. Furthermore, visual form elicited activation within high-level auditory association cortex. Conversely, environmental sounds elicited activation in regions proximal to visual association cortex. Both conditions commonly engaged a putative hub region within lateral anterior temporal cortex. These results support hybrid semantic models in which local hubs and distributed spokes are dually engaged in service of semantic memory.

Lesion symptom mapping of manipulable object naming in nonfluent aphasia: can a brain be both embodied and disembodied?

Embodied cognition offers an approach to word meaning firmly grounded in action and perception. A strong prediction of embodied cognition is that sensorimotor simulation is a necessary component of lexical-semantic representation. One semantic distinction where motor imagery is likely to play a key role involves the representation of manufactured artefacts. Many questions remain with respect to the scope of embodied cognition. One dominant unresolved issue is the extent to which motor enactment is necessary for representing and generating words with high motor salience. We investigated lesion correlates of manipulable relative to nonmanipulable name generation (e.g., name a school supply; name a mountain range) in patients with nonfluent aphasia (N = 14). Lesion volumes within motor (BA4, where BA = Brodmann area) and premotor (BA6) cortices were not predictive of category discrepancies. Lesion symptom mapping linked impairment for manipulable objects to polymodal convergence zones and to projections of the left, primary visual cortex specialized for motion perception (MT/V5+). Lesions to motor and premotor cortex were not predictive of manipulability impairment. This lesion correlation is incompatible with an embodied perspective premised on necessity of motor cortex for the enactment and subsequent production of motor-related words. These findings instead support a graded or "soft" approach to embodied cognition premised on an ancillary role of modality-specific cortical regions in enriching modality-neutral representations. We discuss a dynamic, hybrid approach to the neurobiology of semantic memory integrating both embodied and disembodied components.

Relación entre el tamaño de los macroquistes de Sarcocystis aucheniae y su viabilidad en Canis familiaris / Relationship between the size of macrocysts of Sarcocysistis Aucheniae and its viability in Canis Familiaris

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar si el tamaño de los macroquistes de Sarcocystis aucheniae afectan la viabilidad y potencial biótico en los caninos domésticos. Se utilizaron 24 cachorros cruzados de 2.5 meses de edad, con pesos promedio de 2.6 kg., debidamente desparasitados y alimentados con una dieta casera exenta de carnes. Se obtuvo macrosquistes de S. aucheniae del cuello de alpacas y llamas en un camal local, clasificándolos en macroquistes grandes (>5 mm) y pequeños (1-3 mm). Diez cachorros fueron oralmente infectados con 500 macroquistes grandes (MG) y 12 cachorros con 500 macroquistes pequeños (MP), en ambos casos por dos días consecutivos. Además, 6 perros quedaron sin infectar como grupo control. Se recolectó diariamente muestras fecales a partir del 8º día post-infección y por un periodo de 22 días. Las muestras se analizaron por el método de flotación con solución de Sheather para determinar la presencia de ooquistes o esporoquistes de Sarcocystis sp. y el método de Stoll modificado para cuantificar su número por gramo de heces. Los resultados mostraron que animales infectados con MP presentaron una carga de esporoquistes 3.6 veces superior que aquellos infectados con MG; así mismo, el periodo prepatente promedio fue de 16.5 y 11.5 para los MG y MP, respectivamente.

The objective of the study was to determine weather the size of Sarcocystis aucheniae macrocysts affect its viability and biotic potential in domestic canines. A total of 26 crossbred puppies, 2.5 month of age, 2.6 kg of body weight, were used. Puppies were dewormed and fed with a diet extent of meat. Macrocysts of S. aucheniae were obtained from alpaca and llama´s neck in the local slaughterhouse. Cysts were classified according to size in large (>5 mm) and small (1-3 mm) cysts. Ten puppies were orally infected with 500 large macrocysts (MG) and 12 puppies with 500 small macrocysts (MP), for 2 consecutive days, whereas 6 puppies were kept as controls. Fecal samples were daily collected and analyzed by the flotation method using the Sheather solution to determinethe presence of oocysts and sporocysts of Sarcocystis sp. and the modified Stoll method to quantify the number of sporocysts per gram of feces. The results showed that the burden of sporocysts was 3.6 times more in puppies infected with MP than in those infected with MG. Furthermore, the average prepatent period was 16.5 and 11.5 days for MG and MP respectively.

Evaluación de una nueva formulación de ivermectina de larga acción contra sarna sarcóptica de alpacas en Junín / Evaluation of a new formulation of ivermectina of long action against mange sarcoptica of Junin's alpacas

Se realizó una prueba experimental de campo, con el fin de evaluar la eficacia y el efecto residual de una ivermectina de larga acción contra la sarna sarcóptica en alpacas criadas a 4,300 msnm en la sierra de Junín (Unidad de Producción Cochas, SAIS Túpac Amaru). Estas alpacas se encontraban infestadas naturalmente por Sarcoptes scabiei var. auchenia, y la mayoría presentaba dermatitis costosa y fístulas profundas. La evaluación se realizó en 2 grupos compuestos por 10 animales cada uno y distribuidos aleatoriamente. Grupo I: tratados con ivermectina. L. A. (ALPAMEC L.A.), vía subcutánea a la dosis de 0.2 mg/kg de peso vivo. Grupo II: controles no tratados. En los dos grupos se evaluó el porcentaje de ácaros vivos obtenidos por raspados cutáneos de cada animal, en los días 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 y 75 días posteriores al tratamiento. En función al número de ácaros vivos se halló el porcentaje de efectividad en el grupo tratado y se evaluó la evolución clínica de las lesiones. Los resultados mostraron que la ivermectina de larga acción presentó una efectividad del 98, 100, 100, 100 y 100 a los 15, 30, 45, 60 y 75 días post tratamiento en el Grupo I. La evaluación clínica de las lesiones permitió observar un notable desprendimiento de costras en los animales en los 15 días posteriores; asimismo, el 70 por ciento de la población no presentó costras a los 30 y 45 días posteriores, y cerca del 50 por ciento de los animales tratados evidenciaron crecimiento de fibra en las áreas afectadas a los 60 y 75 días post tratamiento, mientras que los restantes no presentaban ...

Presencia de enteroparásitos en lechuga (lactusa sativa) en establecimientos de consumo público de alimentos en el Cercado de Lima / Presence of enteroparasites (Lactuca sativa) in restaurants of Lima downtown

Parasitic diseases are one of the most serious problems in Public health among the food borne diseases, mainly due to the high morbidity. Enteroparasitic diseases, especially those related to protozoa have a high prevalence in Peru, mostly affecting children and immunosupressed people through water and food contaminated with infective larvi forms, this purpose of this study was to determinate the degree of enteroparasite contamination in raw vegetables that are served in Lima downtown restaurants a total of 105 lettuce (Lactuca sativa) samples from restaurants specialized in local food, marinated fish (ceviche), and roasted chicken were collected. Samples were processed using the sedimentation method and direct observation, plus the modified Ziehl Neelsen method. The level of contamination was 12,4 more less 6,3% (Giardia Sp.: 1,9%; Isospora SP.: 3,8%; Crystosposridium parvum: 6,7%). It is recommended the continuous monitoring of restaurants by official authorities of the Ministry of Health and local municipalities.

Las enfermedades parasitarias constituyen uno de los más graves problemas de salud pública dentro de las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos, principalmente por su alta morbilidad. Las enteroparasitosis y dentro de ellas las producidas por protozoos presentan una alta prevalencia en el Perú, afectando mayormente a niños e inmunosuprimidos, a través del agua y alimentos contaminados con las formas parasitarias infectantes. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el grado de contaminación por enteroparásitos en verduras crudas expendidas en restaurantes del Cercado de Lima. Se recolectaron 105 muestras de lechuga (Lactuca sativa) de restaurantes de comida criolla, de cebicherías y de pollerías. Las muestras fueron procesadas por el método de sedimentación y observación directa, así como por la técnica de coloración de Ziehl Neelsen modificado, encontrándose un 12,4 más menos 6,3% de contaminación enteroparasitarias (1,9% para Giardia sp., 3,8% para Isospora sp., y 6,7% para Crystosporidium parvum). Por los resultados hallados en el presente estudio se recomienda el monitoreo continuo a todo establecimiento de consumo público de alimentos a cargo de entidades competentes como las municipalidades y el Ministerio de Salud.