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In a scenario of accelerated global climate change, the continuous growth of the world population, and the excessive use of chemical fertiliser, the search for sustainable alternatives for agricultural production is crucial. The present study was conducted to evaluate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics of two yeast strains, Candida guilliermondii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and the physicochemical characteristics of nanometric capsules and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3-NPs) for the formulation of nanobiofertilisers. The physiological and productive effects were evaluated in a greenhouse assay using lettuce plants. The results showed that C. guilliermondii exhibited higher tricalcium phosphate solubilisation capacity, and R. mucilaginosa had a greater indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content. The encapsulation of C. guilliermondii in sodium alginate capsules significantly improved the growth, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic rate of the lettuce plants. Physicochemical characterisation of the Fe2O3-NPs revealed a particle size of 304.1 nm and a negative Z-potential, which indicated their stability and suitability for agricultural applications. The incorporation of Fe2O3-NPs into the capsules was confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis, which showed the presence of Fe as the main element. In summary, this study highlights the potential of nanobiofertilisers containing yeast strains encapsulated in sodium alginate with Fe2O3-NPs to improve plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency as a path toward more sustainable agriculture.
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Gymnema sylvestre (GS) and berberine (BBR) are natural products that have demonstrated therapeutic potential for the management of obesity and its comorbidities, as effective and safe alternatives to synthetic drugs. Although their anti-obesogenic and antidiabetic properties have been widely studied, comparative research on their impact on the gene expression of adipokines, such as resistin (Res), omentin (Ome), visfatin (Vis) and apelin (Ap), has not been reported. METHODOLOGY: We performed a comparative study in 50 adult Mexican patients with obesity treated with GS or BBR for 3 months. The baseline and final biochemical parameters, body composition, blood pressure, gene expression of Res, Ome, Vis, and Ap, and safety parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: BBR significantly decreased (p < 0.05) body weight, blood pressure and Vis and Ap gene expression and increased Ome, while GS decreased fasting glucose and Res gene expression (p < 0.05). A comparative analysis of the final measurements revealed a lower gene expression of Ap and Vis (p < 0.05) in patients treated with BBR than in those treated with GS. The most frequent adverse effects in both groups were gastrointestinal symptoms, which attenuated during the first month of treatment. CONCLUSION: In patients with obesity, BBR has a better effect on body composition, blood pressure, and the gene expression of adipokines related to metabolic risk, while GS has a better effect on fasting glucose and adipokines related to insulin resistance, with minimal side effects.
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Adipoquinas , Berberina , Composición Corporal , Gymnema sylvestre , Obesidad , Resistina , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Obesidad/tratamiento farmacológico , Obesidad/metabolismo , Adipoquinas/sangre , Adipoquinas/metabolismo , Composición Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Berberina/farmacología , Resistina/sangre , Resistina/metabolismo , Apelina , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Nicotinamida Fosforribosiltransferasa/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Citocinas/sangre , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Glucemia/efectos de los fármacos , Glucemia/metabolismo , Lectinas , Proteínas Ligadas a GPI/metabolismo , Proteínas Ligadas a GPI/genética , Fármacos Antiobesidad/farmacología , Fármacos Antiobesidad/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Rosehip fruits, characterized by their high concentrations of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity (AA), have been traditionally used to make jams, infusions, and juices. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the stability of rosehip juice by determining the concentrations of bioactive compounds and total phenols and the AA using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The stability of the juice was evaluated with three treatments and different storage conditions, namely, unpasteurized-refrigerated, pasteurized-room temperature, and pasteurized-refrigerated, and measurements were taken for eight months. Individual and total phenolic compounds, evaluated by chromatographic methods, reported differences until the end of this study. The total phenolic compounds by Folin-Ciocalteu method presented an average decrease of 57% in the three treatments in relation to the initial conditions. On the other hand, the ascorbic acid content decreased considerably, disappearing at week six. Furthermore, for the unpasteurized-refrigerated and pasteurized-refrigerated samples, a correlation was found between flavonols, total phenols, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity determined by the TEAC method. For the pasteurized-room temperature samples, correlations were found between the levels of several flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acid, total phenols, and ascorbic acid and the antioxidant activity determined by the CUPRAC method. The stability of the compounds was mainly correlated with the storage conditions of the juice and not with pasteurization. The highest stability was observed for the unpasteurized-refrigerated and pasteurized-refrigerated samples. Although the concentrations of the compounds evaluated decreased during this study, significant levels of AA persisted, providing beneficial characteristics for consumer health.
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Antioxidantes , Jugos de Frutas y Vegetales , Fenoles , Rosa , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/análisis , Jugos de Frutas y Vegetales/análisis , Rosa/química , Fenoles/análisis , Fenoles/química , Ácido Ascórbico/análisis , Ácido Ascórbico/química , Fitoquímicos/química , Fitoquímicos/análisis , Frutas/química , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/análisisRESUMEN
Background: Vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection has been somewhat limited due to the widespread dissemination of the Omicron variant, its subvariants, and the immune response dynamics of the naturally infected with the virus. Methods: Twelve subjects between 3-17 years old (yo), vaccinated with two doses of CoronaVac®, were followed and diagnosed as breakthrough cases starting 14 days after receiving the second dose. Total IgGs against different SARS-CoV-2 proteins and the neutralizing capacity of these antibodies after infection were measured in plasma. The activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with peptides derived from the proteins from the wild-type (WT) virus and Omicron subvariants by flow cytometry, as well as different cytokines secretion by a Multiplex assay. Results: 2 to 8 weeks post-infection, compared to 4 weeks after 2nd dose of vaccine, there was a 146.5-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers against Omicron and a 38.7-fold increase against WT SARS-CoV-2. Subjects showed an increase in total IgG levels against the S1, N, M, and NSP8 proteins of the WT virus. Activated CD4+ T cells showed a significant increase in response to the BA.2 subvariant (p<0.001). Finally, the secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ cytokines showed a discreet decrease trend after infection in some subjects. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population vaccinated with an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine produced an increase in neutralizing antibodies against Omicron and increased specific IgG antibodies for different SARS-CoV-2 proteins. CD4+ T cell activation was also increased, suggesting a conserved cellular response against the Omicron subvariants, whereas Th1-type cytokine secretion tended to decrease. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04992260.
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Anticuerpos Neutralizantes , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/sangre , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/inmunología , COVID-19/inmunología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/inmunología , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/administración & dosificación , Citocinas/inmunología , Citocinas/sangre , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Vacunación , Estudios de SeguimientoRESUMEN
Understanding how emerging infectious diseases spread within and between countries is essential to contain future pandemics. Spread to new areas requires connectivity between one or more sources and a suitable local environment, but how these two factors interact at different stages of disease emergence remains largely unknown. Further, no analytical framework exists to examine their roles. Here we develop a dynamic modelling approach for infectious diseases that explicitly models both connectivity via human movement and environmental suitability interactions. We apply it to better understand recently observed (1995-2019) patterns as well as predict past unobserved (1983-2000) and future (2020-2039) spread of dengue in Mexico and Brazil. We find that these models can accurately reconstruct long-term spread pathways, determine historical origins, and identify specific routes of invasion. We find early dengue invasion is more heavily influenced by environmental factors, resulting in patchy non-contiguous spread, while short and long-distance connectivity becomes more important in later stages. Our results have immediate practical applications for forecasting and containing the spread of dengue and emergence of new serotypes. Given current and future trends in human mobility, climate, and zoonotic spillover, understanding the interplay between connectivity and environmental suitability will be increasingly necessary to contain emerging and re-emerging pathogens.
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Dengue , Dengue/epidemiología , Dengue/transmisión , Dengue/virología , Humanos , Brasil/epidemiología , México/epidemiología , Animales , Virus del Dengue/fisiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/virología , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/transmisión , Ambiente , Migración Humana , Aedes/virologíaRESUMEN
Twenty Saanen third parturition dairy goats were used in an on-farm 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that ran for 12 weeks, with two grazing regimes and two concentrate types. The grazing regimes evaluated were an extensive silvopastoral native rangeland (SPR) and grazing in an abandoned agricultural land (AAL). Grazing happened between 9:00 and 17:00 h. The two types of concentrate supplement were a high protein concentrate (HP = 180 g CP/kg DM and 13 MJ ME/kg DM) or high energy concentrate (HE = 110 g CP/kg DM and 14.3 MJ ME/kg DM). Goats were milked once a day, providing 250 g of concentrate supplement per goat and day. Animal variables were fat and protein corrected milk yield recorded every day, and milk composition determined for two consecutive days at the end of each experimental week. Flora in the experimental paddocks was characerised and sampled, including grasses, shrubs, trees, legumes and cacti. The data was analysed with the R software using a mixed model with day nested in period as random effect and goat as repeated measure. The SPR had greater (P = 0.002) fat and protein corrected milk yield than AAL, with no differences between concentrate type and no interaction (P > 0.05). There was an interaction (P < 0.01) between grazing regime and concentrate type for fat content in milk, where a reduction in fat content was notorious in the SPR regime. Protein content of milk was greater (P < 0.01) in SPR with no significant effects of concentrate type or the interaction. The number of plant species in SPR was greater. The native silvopastoral system supplemented with the high energy concentrate was the strategy with higher milk yield, and protein and milk fat content, although the interaction between grazing regime and supplement was significant only for milk fat content.
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Alimentación Animal , Industria Lechera , Dieta , Suplementos Dietéticos , Cabras , Lactancia , Leche , Animales , Cabras/fisiología , México , Alimentación Animal/análisis , Leche/química , Femenino , Suplementos Dietéticos/análisis , Dieta/veterinaria , Industria Lechera/métodos , Fenómenos Fisiológicos Nutricionales de los Animales , Crianza de Animales Domésticos/métodosRESUMEN
This study evaluated three continuous grazing systems: Brachiaria Brizantha, Clitoria ternatea and naturalized pastures, complemented with commercial concentrate and C. ternatea silage on milk yield, nutrient use and enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Nine multiparous cows of local Zebu breeds, with an average weight of 448 ± 87 kg, were used. The chemical composition of the food was determined. Live weight, milk production, and quality were assessed. Furthermore, serum urea, urea nitrogen, creatinine and glucose in blood were monitored, and nitrogen use efficiency were calculated. Enteric methane (CH4) emissions were estimated using Tier-2 methodology. A 3 × 3 latin square experimental design was applied. The grazing systems of B. brizantha and C. ternatea had the greater live weights of 465.8 and 453.3 kg/cow, although the latter is similar to naturalized pasture. Milk production and quality were not affected by grazing system, with the exception of the non-fat solids, where the C. ternatea system was lower (102.2 g/kg) than the other grazing systems. The crude protein and N intake, and N excretion in feces and urine were lower in naturalized pasture systems (1139.0 g/day). N outputs in milk was high in the C. ternatea system (56.3 g/cow/day). The naturalized pastures systems showed the better feed use efficiency (25.7%) compared to others. Serum urea and blood urea nitrogen were greater in B. brizantha followed by C. ternatea. Enteric CH4 emissions were indifferent among grazing systems when expressed as a percentage of greenhouse gases (7.1%). In conclusion, the grazing C. ternatea supplemented with commercial concentrate and C. ternatea silage maintains milk production and quality, reduced cow/day emissions (by 2.5%) and lowered energy losses as methane.
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Alimentación Animal , Lactancia , Metano , Leche , Animales , Bovinos/fisiología , Metano/análisis , Metano/metabolismo , Femenino , Lactancia/fisiología , Leche/química , Leche/metabolismo , Alimentación Animal/análisis , Dieta/veterinaria , Crianza de Animales Domésticos/métodos , Ensilaje/análisis , Fenómenos Fisiológicos Nutricionales de los Animales , Brachiaria , Nitrógeno/metabolismo , Nitrógeno/análisis , Nutrientes/análisis , Nutrientes/metabolismo , Fabaceae/químicaRESUMEN
Solanum tuberosum is one of the most widely cropped plant species worldwide; unfortunately, drought is one of the major constraints on potato productivity because it affects the physiology, biochemical processes, and yield. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has exhibited beneficial effects on plants during drought. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of AMF inoculation on two genotypes of potato plants exposed to water stress, and the photosynthetic traits, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and exudation of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) of potato plants inoculated with two strains of AMF, Claroideoglomus claroideum (CC) and Claroideoglomus lamellosum (HMC26), were evaluated. Stomatal conductance exhibited a similar trend in the CC and HMC26 treatments for both potato genotypes; moreover, the photosynthetic rate significantly increased by 577.9% between the 100% soil humidity (S0) and 40% soil humidity (S2) stress levels for the VR808 genotype under the CC treatment. The activities of the enzymes catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) showed similar trends. In this study, there were different responses among genotypes and treatments. Inoculation with CC under S2 stress levels is a promising potential approach for improving potato growth under drought conditions.
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Aluminum (Al) toxicity and phosphorus (P) deficiency are widely recognized as major constraints to agricultural productivity in acidic soils. Under this scenario, the development of ryegrass plants with enhanced P use efficiency and Al resistance is a promising approach by which to maintain pasture production. In this study, we assessed the contribution of growth traits, P efficiency, organic acid anion (OA) exudation, and the expression of Al-responsive genes in improving tolerance to concurrent low-P and Al stress in ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Ryegrass plants were hydroponically grown under optimal (0.1 mM) or low-P (0.01 mM) conditions for 21 days, and further supplied with Al (0 and 0.2 mM) for 3 h, 24 h and 7 days. Accordingly, higher Al accumulation in the roots and lower Al translocation to the shoots were found in ryegrass exposed to both stresses. Aluminum toxicity and P limitation did not change the OA exudation pattern exhibited by roots. However, an improvement in the root growth traits and P accumulation was found, suggesting an enhancement in Al tolerance and P efficiency under combined Al and low-P stress. Al-responsive genes were highly upregulated by Al stress and P limitation, and also closely related to P utilization efficiency. Overall, our results provide evidence of the specific strategies used by ryegrass to co-adapt to multiple stresses in acid soils.
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Background: Clavicle fractures are among the most common upper limb fractures in adults, with the midshaft region being the most frequently affected site. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) has emerged as an alternative to the traditional open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) technique, offering potential advantages. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to explore the results of this technique in the existing literature, with emphasis on the occurrence of surgical complications and functional outcomes and also to provide a comprehensive comparison of MIPO and ORIF in the management of midshaft clavicle fractures. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the complication incidence and clinical outcomes of MIPO for midshaft clavicle fractures. We searched PubMed/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases without language or date restrictions. Studies focusing on midshaft clavicle fractures treated with MIPO were included, while other clavicle fractures and nonclinical studies were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies criteria and the Risk of Bias Tool 2 Cochrane tool. Data synthesis included qualitative analysis, and if applicable, quantitative analysis and meta-analysis. Adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines ensured reporting quality. Results: A total of 107 studies were initially identified, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included for data extraction. These studies involved the evaluation of 714 clavicles treated with the MIPO technique. Of the 714 MIPO cases, 11 cases of implant failure, 5 nonunions, 2 infections, and 28 cases with neurological impairment were observed. Quantitative analysis comparing MIPO with ORIF revealed that MIPO had significantly shorter surgery time (mean difference -12.95, 95% confidence interval [-25.27 to -0.63], P = .04) and lower occurrence of numbness (odds ratio 0.29, 95% CI [0.15-0.56], P = .0002) compared to ORIF. Time to bone union, functional outcomes, and other complications were similar between MIPO and ORIF at the final follow-up. An overall moderate risk of bias was found across the studies. Conclusion: The MIPO technique yields good and comparable results to ORIF for midshaft clavicle fractures. Additionally, the MIPO technique may offer advantages such as reduced surgical time and lower chances of neurological impairment.
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OBJECTIVES: Estimate the effects of non-pharmacological interventions used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the quality of life, measured by Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). METHODS: A survey on 1,506 heads of households from Chile in May of 2022. Respondents were asked basic socioeconomic questions and a version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire that was used to calculate the evolution of HRQoLs. Comparisons of means in HRQoLs measures before the pandemic, at the peak of restrictions, and at the moment of the survey were performed. RESULTS: The average HRQoL of the population before the pandemic was similar to other countries in the region (0.96). At the peak of restrictions (June 2020-August 2021), the average HRQoL decreased to 0.87 (-9%). At the time of survey (May 2022), the average HQRoL was 0.91 (4%). Assuming the recovery trend continued, pre-pandemic HRQoLs would be reached by January 2024. Altogether, the pandemic would have reduced QALYs by 0.2 in average. The effect is larger and the recovery slower among women. Our estimates imply that the restrictions to manage the pandemic came at a cost of 2.4 months of life years for the average (surviving) person, 1.8 months for men and 3.4 for women. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that COVID-19 had worse effects on life quality than previously thought. These effects are more significant among women than among men. Efforts to improve life quality and speed up its recovery could have large positive consequences for the population.
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COVID-19 , Calidad de Vida , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Años de Vida Ajustados por Calidad de Vida , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Estado de SaludRESUMEN
Lettuce is a vegetable that contributes vitamins, minerals, fibre, phenolic compounds and antioxidants to the human diet. In the search for improving production conditions and crop health, the use of microorganisms with plant growth-promoting capabilities, such as soil yeasts (PGPY), in conjunction with nanotechnology could offer sustainable development of agroecosystems. This study evaluated the synthesis of health-promoting bioactive compounds in lettuce under the application of soil yeast and an iron nanoparticle (NP-Fe2O3) encapsulated in alginate beads. Two yeast strains, Candida guillermondii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and a consortium of both yeasts were used in the presence and absence of Fe2O3-NPs. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified via HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF and antioxidant activity. Ten phenolic compounds were identified, highlighting the chicoric acid isomer and two quercetin glycosides with high concentrations of up to 100 µg g-1 in treatments with C. guillermondii. Treatments with R. mucilaginosa and NPs-Fe2O3 presented an increase in antioxidant activity, mainly in TEAC, CUPRAC and DPPH activities in leaves, with significant differences between treatments. Therefore, the use of encapsulated soil yeasts is a viable alternative for application in vegetables to improve the biosynthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds in lettuce and other crops.
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West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen in Europe where it represents a new public health threat. While climate change has been cited as a potential driver of its spatial expansion on the continent, a formal evaluation of this causal relationship is lacking. Here, we investigate the extent to which WNV spatial expansion in Europe can be attributed to climate change while accounting for other direct human influences such as land-use and human population changes. To this end, we trained ecological niche models to predict the risk of local WNV circulation leading to human cases to then unravel the isolated effect of climate change by comparing factual simulations to a counterfactual based on the same environmental changes but a counterfactual climate where long-term trends have been removed. Our findings demonstrate a notable increase in the area ecologically suitable for WNV circulation during the period 1901-2019, whereas this area remains largely unchanged in a no-climate-change counterfactual. We show that the drastic increase in the human population at risk of exposure is partly due to historical changes in population density, but that climate change has also been a critical driver behind the heightened risk of WNV circulation in Europe.
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Culicidae , Fiebre del Nilo Occidental , Virus del Nilo Occidental , Animales , Humanos , Fiebre del Nilo Occidental/epidemiología , Cambio Climático , Europa (Continente)/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Dengue fever, a prevalent and rapidly spreading arboviral disease, poses substantial public health and economic challenges in tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Predicting infectious disease outbreaks on a countrywide scale is complex due to spatiotemporal variations in dengue incidence across administrative areas. To address this, we propose a machine learning ensemble model for forecasting the dengue incidence rate (DIR) in Brazil, with a focus on the population under 19 years old. The model integrates spatial and temporal information, providing one-month-ahead DIR estimates at the state level. Comparative analyses with a dummy model and ablation studies demonstrate the ensemble model's qualitative and quantitative efficacy across the 27 Brazilian Federal Units. Furthermore, we showcase the transferability of this approach to Peru, another Latin American country with differing epidemiological characteristics. This timely forecast system can aid local governments in implementing targeted control measures. The study advances climate services for health by identifying factors triggering dengue outbreaks in Brazil and Peru, emphasizing collaborative efforts with intergovernmental organizations and public health institutions. The innovation lies not only in the algorithms themselves but in their application to a domain marked by data scarcity and operational scalability challenges. We bridge the gap by integrating well-curated ground data with advanced analytical methods, addressing a significant deficiency in current practices. The successful transfer of the model to Peru and its consistent performance during the 2019 outbreak in Brazil showcase its scalability and practical application. While acknowledging limitations in handling extreme values, especially in regions with low DIR, our approach excels where accurate predictions are critical. The study not only contributes to advancing DIR forecasting but also represents a paradigm shift in integrating advanced analytics into public health operational frameworks. This work, driven by a collaborative spirit involving intergovernmental organizations and public health institutions, sets a precedent for interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global health challenges. It not only enhances our understanding of factors triggering dengue outbreaks but also serves as a template for the effective implementation of advanced analytical methods in public health.
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Dengue , Humanos , Adulto Joven , Adulto , Dengue/epidemiología , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , Salud Pública/métodos , Clima , Aprendizaje AutomáticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The utilization of subjective questionnaires for assessing conservative treatment in knee osteoarthritis may present challenges in identifying differences due to inadequate statistical power. Objective tools, such as three-dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis, are accurate and reproducible methods. However, no high-quality studies assessing the effects of intra-articular viscosupplementation (VS) have been published. Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate gait kinematics of patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis after VS. METHODS: Forty-two patients were randomized to receive either VS or saline injection (placebo). They underwent 3D kinematic gait analysis before and at 1, 6, and 12 weeks after treatment and knee angles during stance phase were determined. Patients and the healthcare team responsible for data collection, processing, and analysis were blinded to group allocation. Between-group comparisons were conducted using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, the VS increased the maximum knee extension (3.2° (0.7-5.7)) and decreased the maximum knee flexion (-3.6° (-6.1 to -1.2)) on the sagittal plane at 1 week. At 6 weeks, the VS group sustained a reduced maximum knee flexion (-2.6° (-5.2 to 0.0)). On the axial plane, the VS group demonstrated an increase in maximum internal rotation at 12 weeks (3.9° (0.3 to 7.7)). The VS group exhibited reduced single-leg stance time at 1 week and increased total stance time at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: VS led to short- and long-term kinematic improvements in the sagittal and axial planes, leading to a gait pattern closer to that observed in individuals with less severe osteoarthritic knees.
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Marcha , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla , Rango del Movimiento Articular , Viscosuplementación , Humanos , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/fisiopatología , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/tratamiento farmacológico , Femenino , Masculino , Método Doble Ciego , Persona de Mediana Edad , Inyecciones Intraarticulares , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Viscosuplementación/métodos , Marcha/fisiología , Anciano , Articulación de la Rodilla/fisiopatología , Viscosuplementos/administración & dosificación , Viscosuplementos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Vegetation in East Antarctica, such as moss and lichen, vulnerable to the effects of climate change and ozone depletion, requires robust non-invasive methods to monitor its health condition. Despite the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to acquire high-resolution data for vegetation analysis in Antarctic regions through artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, the use of multispectral imagery and deep learning (DL) is quite limited. This study addresses this gap with two pivotal contributions: (1) it underscores the potential of deep learning (DL) in a field with notably limited implementations for these datasets; and (2) it introduces an innovative workflow that compares the performance between two supervised machine learning (ML) classifiers: Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and U-Net. The proposed workflow is validated by detecting and mapping moss and lichen using data collected in the highly biodiverse Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 135, situated near Casey Station, between January and February 2023. The implemented ML models were trained against five classes: Healthy Moss, Stressed Moss, Moribund Moss, Lichen, and Non-vegetated. In the development of the U-Net model, two methods were applied: Method (1) which utilised the original labelled data as those used for XGBoost; and Method (2) which incorporated XGBoost predictions as additional input to that version of U-Net. Results indicate that XGBoost demonstrated robust performance, exceeding 85% in key metrics such as precision, recall, and F1-score. The workflow suggested enhanced accuracy in the classification outputs for U-Net, as Method 2 demonstrated a substantial increase in precision, recall and F1-score compared to Method 1, with notable improvements such as precision for Healthy Moss (Method 2: 94% vs. Method 1: 74%) and recall for Stressed Moss (Method 2: 86% vs. Method 1: 69%). These findings contribute to advancing non-invasive monitoring techniques for the delicate Antarctic ecosystems, showcasing the potential of UAVs, high-resolution multispectral imagery, and ML models in remote sensing applications.
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Inteligencia Artificial , Tecnología de Sensores Remotos , Tecnología de Sensores Remotos/métodos , Ecosistema , Dispositivos Aéreos No Tripulados , Regiones AntárticasRESUMEN
Introduction: Respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, mainly in children, immunocompromised people, and the elderly. Several respiratory viruses can induce intestinal inflammation and alterations in intestinal microbiota composition. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is one of the major respiratory viruses contributing to infant mortality in children under 5 years of age worldwide, and the effect of this infection at the gut level has not been studied. Methods: Here, we evaluated the distal effects of HMPV infection on intestinal microbiota and inflammation in a murine model, analyzing several post-infection times (days 1, 3, and 5). Six to eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally with HMPV, and mice inoculated with a non-infectious supernatant (Mock) were used as a control group. Results: We did not detect HMPV viral load in the intestine, but we observed significant changes in the transcription of IFN-γ in the colon, analyzed by qPCR, at day 1 post-infection as compared to the control group. Furthermore, we analyzed the frequencies of different innate and adaptive immune cells in the colonic lamina propria, using flow cytometry. The frequency of monocyte populations was altered in the colon of HMPV -infected mice at days 1 and 3, with no significant difference from control mice at day 5 post-infection. Moreover, colonic CD8+ T cells and memory precursor effector CD8+ T cells were significantly increased in HMPV-infected mice at day 5, suggesting that HMPV may also alter intestinal adaptive immunity. Additionally, we did not find alterations in antimicrobial peptide expression, the frequency of colonic IgA+ plasma cells, and levels of fecal IgA. Some minor alterations in the fecal microbiota composition of HMPV -infected mice were detected using 16s rRNA sequencing. However, no significant differences were found in ß-diversity and relative abundance at the genus level. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the alterations in intestinal immunity following respiratory infection with HMPV infection. These effects do not seem to be mediated by direct viral infection in the intestinal tract. Our results indicate that HMPV can affect colonic innate and adaptive immunity but does not significantly alter the microbiota composition, and further research is required to understand the mechanisms inducing these distal effects in the intestine.
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Metapneumovirus , Infecciones por Paramyxoviridae , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio , Niño , Ratones , Humanos , Animales , Preescolar , Anciano , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , ARN Ribosómico 16S , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Inmunidad Adaptativa , Inflamación , Inmunoglobulina ARESUMEN
Drought is a major challenge for agriculture worldwide, being one of the main causes of losses in plant production. Various studies reported that some soil's bacteria can improve plant tolerance to environmental stresses by the enhancement of water and nutrient uptake by plants. The Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest place on earth, harbors a largely unexplored microbial richness. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of various Bacillus sp. from the hyper arid Atacama Desert in the improvement in tolerance to drought stress in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata, cv. "Super Milanesa") plants. Seven strains of Bacillus spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of the Chilean endemic plants Metharme lanata and Nolana jaffuelii, and then identified using the 16s rRNA gene. Indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity were assessed. Lettuce plants were inoculated with Bacillus spp. strains and subjected to two different irrigation conditions (95% and 45% of field capacity) and their biomass, net photosynthesis, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, oxidative damage, proline production, and phenolic compounds were evaluated. The results indicated that plants inoculated with B. atrophaeus, B. ginsengihumi, and B. tequilensis demonstrated the highest growth under drought conditions compared to non-inoculated plants. Treatments increased biomass production and were strongly associated with enhanced N-uptake, water status, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic activity. Our results show that specific Bacillus species from the Atacama Desert enhance drought stress tolerance in lettuce plants by promoting several beneficial plant traits that facilitate water absorption and nutrient uptake, which support the use of this unexplored and unexploited natural resource as potent bioinoculants to improve plant production under increasing drought conditions.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Latissimus dorsi transfer is a surgical procedure that can be used for treating posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. The procedure leads to improved shoulder function via alterations in the force vector couple around the shoulder. However, there is still no consensus on the biomechanical changes resulting from latissimus dorsi transfer. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature on 3D motion analysis studies evaluating the effects of latissimus dorsi transfer on shoulder kinematics. The available data on segment and joint range of motion was extracted and subject to meta-analysis when consistent across the studies. FINDINGS: Our meta-analysis of pre- and post-operative studies revealed a significant improvement in forward flexion and abduction following latissimus dorsi transfer. When comparing the latissimus transferred shoulder with an uninjured contralateral side the meta-analysis found no significant difference in flexion range of motion, while abduction and external rotation was significantly higher in the uninjured shoulders. The overall risk of bias was moderate to high. High heterogeneity was found in the reporting of data, which limited our ability to perform a meta-analysis across the studies for all interest outcomes. INTERPRETATIONS: Our findings suggest that latissimus dorsi transfer for posterosuperior rotator cuff tears effectively improves shoulder flexion and abduction. External rotation is also expected to improve but at inferior levels as compared to the unaffected side. However, the heterogeneity of the reported data on 3D motion analysis studies highlights the need for better standardization in research and reporting as to conclude the impact of different joints.
Asunto(s)
Lesiones del Manguito de los Rotadores , Articulación del Hombro , Músculos Superficiales de la Espalda , Humanos , Hombro/cirugía , Lesiones del Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Transferencia Tendinosa/métodos , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Músculos Superficiales de la Espalda/cirugía , Articulación del Hombro/cirugía , Rango del Movimiento Articular , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Dengue is expanding globally, but how dengue emergence is shaped locally by interactions between climatic and socio-environmental factors is not well understood. Here, we investigate the drivers of dengue incidence and emergence in Vietnam, through analysing 23 years of district-level case data spanning a period of significant socioeconomic change (1998-2020). We show that urban infrastructure factors (sanitation, water supply, long-term urban growth) predict local spatial patterns of dengue incidence, while human mobility is a more influential driver in subtropical northern regions than the endemic south. Temperature is the dominant factor shaping dengue's distribution and dynamics, and using long-term reanalysis temperature data we show that warming since 1950 has expanded transmission risk throughout Vietnam, and most strongly in current dengue emergence hotspots (e.g., southern central regions, Ha Noi). In contrast, effects of hydrometeorology are complex, multi-scalar and dependent on local context: risk increases under either short-term precipitation excess or long-term drought, but improvements in water supply mitigate drought-associated risks except under extreme conditions. Our findings challenge the assumption that dengue is an urban disease, instead suggesting that incidence peaks in transitional landscapes with intermediate infrastructure provision, and provide evidence that interactions between recent climate change and mobility are contributing to dengue's expansion throughout Vietnam.