Spatial Distribution Patterns of Bacterioplankton in the Oxygen Minimum Zone of the Tropical Mexican Pacific.

Microbial communities within oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are crucial drivers of marine biogeochemical cycles; however, we still lack an understanding of how these communities are distributed across an OMZ. We explored vertical (from 5 to 500 m depth) and horizontal (coast to open ocean) distribution of bacterioplankton and its relationships with the main oceanographic conditions in three transects of the tropical Mexican Pacific OMZ. The distribution of the microbial diversity and the main clades changed along the transition from oxygen-rich surface water to the OMZ core, demonstrating the sensitivity of key bacterial groups to deoxygenation. The euphotic zone was dominated by Synechococcales, followed by Flavobacteriales, Verrucomicrobiales, Rhodobacterales, SAR86, and Cellvibrionales, whereas the OMZ core was dominated by SAR11, followed by SAR406, SAR324, SAR202, UBA10353 marine group, Thiomicrospirales and Nitrospinales. The marked environmental gradients along the water column also supported a high potential for niche partitioning among OMZ microorganisms. Additionally, in the OMZ core, bacterial assemblages from the same water mass were more similar to each other than those from another water mass. There were also important differences between coastal and open-ocean communities: Flavobacteriales, Verrucomicrobiales, Rhodobacterales, SAR86, and Cellvibrionales were more abundant in coastal areas, while Synechococcales, SAR406, SAR324, SAR202, UBA10353 marine group, and Thiomicrospirales were more abundant in the open ocean. Our results suggest a biogeographic structure of the bacterioplankton in this OMZ region, with limited community mixing across water masses, except in upwelling events, and little dispersion of the community by currents in the euphotic zone.

[Clinical features of patients with Basedow Graves disease seen at a university hospital]. / Caracterización de pacientes controlados por enfermedad de Basedow Graves en un hospital universitario.

BACKGROUND: Basedow Graves disease (BGD) is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism. The characteristics of patients seen at a university hospital may differ from those described in the general population. AIM: To describe the clinical features of patients with BGD seen at a university hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records of all patients seen at our hospital between 2009 and 2014 with the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism or BGD. Clinical features, laboratory results and treatments were recorded. RESULTS: We reviewed clinical records of 272 patients; 15 had to be excluded due to incomplete data. BGD was present in 77.9% (n = 212). The mean age of the latter was 42 years (range 10-81) and 76% were women. Ninety six percent were hyperthyroid at diagnosis and thyroid stimulating hormone was below 0.1 mIU/L in all patients. Median free thyroxin and triiodothyronine levels were 3.26 ng/dl and 3.16 ng/ml, respectively. Thyrotropin-receptor antibodies were positive in 98.5% and 85.7% had positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Graves orbitopathy (GO) was clinically present in 55% of patients. Of this group, 47% had an active GO, 26% had a moderate to severe disease and 7.8% had sight-threatening GO. As treatment, 26% received radioiodine, 44% anti-thyroid drugs exclusively, 28% underwent thyroidectomy and 2% did not require therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients, we observed a greater frequency of severe eye disease and a high rate of surgical management. This finding could be explained by referral to highly qualified surgical and ophthalmological teams.

Tumor location, but not H3.3K27M, significantly influences the blood-brain-barrier permeability in a genetic mouse model of pediatric high-grade glioma.

Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) occur with strikingly different frequencies in infratentorial and supratentorial regions. Although histologically these malignancies appear similar, they represent distinct diseases. Recent genomic studies have identified histone K27M H3.3/H3.1 mutations in the majority of brainstem pHGGs; these mutations are rarely encountered in pHGGs that arise in the cerebral cortex. Previous research in brainstem pHGGs suggests a restricted permeability of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). In this work, we use dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to evaluate BBB permeability in a genetic mouse model of pHGG as a function of location (cortex vs. brainstem, n = 8 mice/group) and histone mutation (mutant H3.3K27M vs. wild-type H3.3, n = 8 mice/group). The pHGG models are induced either in the brainstem or the cerebral cortex and are driven by PDGF signaling and p53 loss with either H3.3K27M or wild-type H3.3. T2-weighted MRI was used to determine tumor location/extent followed by 4D DCE-MRI for estimating the rate constant (K (trans) ) for tracer exchange across the barrier. BBB permeability was 67 % higher in cortical pHGGs relative to brainstem pHGGs (t test, p = 0.012) but was not significantly affected by the expression of mutant H3.3K27M versus wild-type H3.3 (t-test, p = 0.78). Although mice became symptomatic at approximately the same time, the mean volume of cortical tumors was 3.6 times higher than the mean volume of brainstem tumors. The difference between the mean volume of gliomas with wild-type and mutant H3.3 was insignificant. Mean K (trans) was significantly correlated to glioma volume. These results present a possible explanation for the poor response of brainstem pHGGs to systemic therapy. Our findings illustrate a potential role played by the microenvironment in shaping tumor growth and BBB permeability.

Assessing Utility of 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring to Distinguish Pediatric Populations Presenting with Elevated Blood Pressure in Rhode Island.

This retrospective study aimed to assess the value of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in distinguishing primary from secondary hypertension in pediatric patients. Our study was conducted on 293 patients referred to a pediatric nephrology clinic over 11 years. Various ABPM parameters were analyzed, including daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, and blood pressure load. Among the participants, 74% were normotensive (white-coat hypertension), 21.5% had primary hypertension, and 4.4% had secondary hypertension. There were no significant differences in the analyzed variables between primary and secondary hypertension groups. Our findings suggest that ABPM might not reliably differentiate between the two in this cohort. As white-coat hypertension becomes more prevalent, ABPM remains a valuable tool in preventing unnecessary workups in children without sustained hypertension. However, our study did not identify specific endpoints for distinguishing primary from secondary hypertension.

Dynamics of the methanogenic archaea in tropical estuarine sediments.

Methanogenesis may represent a key process in the terminal phases of anaerobic organic matter mineralization in sediments of coastal lagoons. The aim of the present work was to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of methanogenic archaea in sediments of tropical coastal lagoons and their relationship with environmental changes in order to determine how these influence methanogenic community. Sediment samples were collected during the dry (February, May, and early June) and rainy seasons (July, October, and November). Microbiological analysis included the quantification of viable methanogenic archaea (MA) with three substrates and the evaluation of kinetic activity from acetate in the presence and absence of sulfate. The environmental variables assessed were temperature, pH, Eh, salinity, sulfate, solids content, organic carbon, and carbohydrates. MA abundance was significantly higher in the rainy season (10(6)-10(7) cells/g) compared with the dry season (10(4)-10(6) cells/g), with methanol as an important substrate. At spatial level, MA were detected in the two layers analyzed, and no important variations were observed either in MA abundance or activity. Salinity, sulfate, solids, organic carbon, and Eh were the environmental variables related to methanogenic community. A conceptual model is proposed to explain the dynamics of the MA.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Blood Glucose Response to High-intensity Interval Exercise in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Exercise-induced hyperglycemia is recognized in type 1 diabetes (T1D) clinical guidelines, but its association with high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) in acute studies is inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, we examined the available evidence of blood glucose responses to HIIE in adults with T1D. The secondary, aim was to examine predictors of blood glucose responses to HIIE. We hypothesized that there would be no consistent effect on blood glucose from HIIE, unless examined in the context of participant prandial status. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using key words related to T1D and HIIE. Studies were required to include at least 6 participants with T1D with a mean age >18 years, involve an HIIE intervention, and contain pre- and postexercise measures of blood glucose. Analyses of extracted data were performed using a general inverse variance statistical method with a random effects model and a weighted multiple regression. RESULTS: Nineteen interventions from 15 reports were included in the analysis. A mean overall blood glucose decrease of -1.3 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.3 to -0.2 mmol/L) was found during exercise, albeit with high heterogeneity (I2=84%). When performed after an overnight fast, exercise increased blood glucose by +1.7 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.0 mmol/L), whereas postprandial exercise decreased blood glucose by -2.1 mmol/L (95% CI, -2.8 to -1.4 mmol/L), with a statistically significant difference between groups (p<0.0001). No associations with fitness (p=0.4), sex (p=0.4), age (p=0.9), exercise duration (p=0.9), or interval duration (p=0.2) were found. CONCLUSION: The effect of HIIE on blood glucose is inconsistent, but partially explained by prandial status.

Distribution of pesticides and PCBs in sediments of agricultural drains in the Culiacan Valley, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Agriculture is one of the most important economic activities in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Culiacan Valley is an extensive agricultural region characterized by a variety of crops with high-yield productions. In this study, concentrations of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphorus (OPs) pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were determined in sediments of the agricultural drainage system of Culiacan Valley. Overall, 32 compounds were detected, with concentrations widely ranging from 0.03 to 1 294 ng g(-1) dry weight. OCP concentrations (15) ranged from 0.1 to 20.19 ng g(-1) dw. OP concentrations (8) ranged from 0.03 to 1294 ng g(-1) dw, and diazinon was the compound with the highest concentration. PCB concentrations were also determined and varied from 0.05 to 3.29 ng g(-1) dw. Other compounds detected included permethrin, triadimefon, and fipronil. The central zone registered the higher concentrations and the greatest number of compounds, which could be related to the occurrence of horticultural fields in this zone. According to sediment quality guidelines, the compounds exceeding the probable effect level were γ-HCH, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, while the pesticides above the maximum permissible concentration were endosulfan, azinphos methyl, diazinon, dichlorvos, and permethrin. Although Sinaloa is an important agricultural crop producer in northwest Mexico, there are not many studies dealing with pesticide distribution in agricultural areas.

Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of montelukast in mild to moderate respiratory symptoms of patients with long COVID: E-SPERANZA COVID Project study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect the globe. After 18 months of the SARS-CoV-2 emergence, clinicians have clearly defined a subgroup of patients with lasting, disabling symptoms. While big strides have been made in understanding the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the pathophysiology of long COVID is still largely unknown, and evidence-based, effective treatments for this condition remain unavailable. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of 10 mg oral montelukast every 24 h versus placebo in improving quality of life associated with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms in patients with long COVID as measured with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire. The secondary objectives will evaluate the effect of montelukast versus placebo on improving exercise capacity, COVID-19 symptoms (asthenia, headache, mental confusion or brain fog, ageusia, and anosmia), oxygen desaturation during exertion, functional status, and mortality. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Phase III, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. We will include 18- to 80-year-old patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild to moderate respiratory symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention (experimental treatment with 10 mg/day montelukast) or the control group (placebo group), during a 28-day treatment. Follow-up will finish 56 days after the start of treatment. The primary outcome will be health-related quality of life associated with respiratory symptoms according to the COPD Assessment Test 4 weeks after starting the treatment. The following are the secondary outcomes: (a) exercise capacity and oxygen saturation (1-min sit-to-stand test); (b) Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale; (c) other symptoms: asthenia, headache, mental confusion (brain fog), ageusia, and anosmia (Likert scale); (d) use of healthcare resources; (e) mortality; (f) sick leave duration in days; and (g) side effects of montelukast. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the IDIAPJGol (reference number 21/091-C). The trial results will be published in open access, peer-reviewed journals and explained in webinars to increase awareness and understanding about long COVID among primary health professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04695704 . Registered on January 5, 2021. EudraCT number 2021-000605-24. Prospectively registered.

Feasibility and reliability of a physical fitness tests battery for adults with intellectual disabilities: The SAMU DIS-FIT battery.

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disability (ID) have lower performances in physical fitness (PF) tests than people without ID, a situation that exists during all the life stages. However, the assessment of the FP of persons with ID often uses instruments that were designed for non-disabled people. AIM: To check the reliability and feasibility of 8 PF tests in adults with mild to moderate ID. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a test-retest design in a maximum interval of 2 weeks with 240 adults (160 men and 80 women) with mild to moderate ID in order to assess the feasibility and reliability of the following 8 tests: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), the timed up & go test (TUG), the deep trunk flexion test (DTF), the hand grip test (HG), the timed stand test (TST), the 30-s sit-up (SUP) test, and the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The complete battery was called the SAMU-Disability Fitness Battery (SAMU-DISFIT). The psychometric properties of the battery, feasibility, reliability, the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. RESULTS: The TUG, DTF, HG, TST, and 6MWT showed an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) from fair to high reliability. Only the SUP test in men had an ICC lower than 0.7 and high SEM values. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties provide robust data on the use of the SAMU-DISFIT battery in people with ID and can be considered a useful tool for assessing PF in adults with mild to moderate ID in future research.

[Safety of conservative treatment of gastric perforation due to fish bone ingestion]. / Seguridad del tratamiento conservador de la perforación gástrica por espinas de pescado.

Intake of foreign bodies is the second most frequent indication for urgent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Once in the stomach, foreign bodies are usually spontaneously eliminated. However, a small percentage of large or sharp objects become stuck in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Fish bones represent a substantial number of ingested foreign bodies. We present two cases of fish bone intake producing gastric perforation satisfactorily resolved with endoscopy. Perforation is considered an absolute spcontraindication for upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Cases such as those reported herein indicate that the decision to perform endoscopic treatment should always be individualized since punctiform perforations - especially if associated with a parietal and peritoneal inflammatory reaction that helps to close the perforation spontaneously - can be treated non-surgically.

Feasibility and Reliability of a Physical Fitness Test Battery in Individuals with Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder that occurs because of an abnormal division between cells that results in an extra copy of chromosome 21. Some studies show that physical exercise in people with DS increases some cognitive capacities, such as memory, and improves the quality of life. AIM: The main aim of this study was to perform an analysis of the reliability and feasibility of the SAMU-Disability Fitness (DISFIT) battery in adults with DS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a test-retest design was performed in a maximum interval of 2 weeks in 37 subjects (11 women and 26 men) aged between 21 and 58 years old with DS. Eight field-based fitness tests were proposed to assess the physical fitness (PF) of adults with DS: Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the Deep Trunk Flexibility test (DTF), the Hand Grip test (HG), the Timed Stand Test (TST), the 30-s Sit-Up (SUP) and the 6-Min Walk Test (6MWT). RESULTS: The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) in all the tests was good and high (>0.80), except for the 6MWT, whose reliability was fair. CONCLUSION: The SAMU-DISFIT battery is a reliable and feasible physical fitness battery which has been created with the purpose of establishing tests which measure the four basic components of PF (flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness and motor fitness) in adults with DS.

ACVR1 R206H cooperates with H3.1K27M in promoting diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma pathogenesis.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an incurable pediatric brain tumor, with approximately 25% of DIPGs harboring activating ACVR1 mutations that commonly co-associate with H3.1K27M mutations. Here we show that in vitro expression of ACVR1 R206H with and without H3.1K27M upregulates mesenchymal markers and activates Stat3 signaling. In vivo expression of ACVR1 R206H or G328V with H3.1K27M and p53 deletion induces glioma-like lesions but is not sufficient for full gliomagenesis. However, in combination with PDGFA signaling, ACVR1 R206H and H3.1K27M significantly decrease survival and increase tumor incidence. Treatment of ACVR1 R206H mutant DIPGs with exogenous Noggin or the ACVR1 inhibitor LDN212854 significantly prolongs survival, with human ACVR1 mutant DIPG cell lines also being sensitive to LDN212854 treatment. Together, our results demonstrate that ACVR1 R206H and H3.1K27M promote tumor initiation, accelerate gliomagenesis, promote a mesenchymal profile partly due to Stat3 activation, and identify LDN212854 as a promising compound to treat DIPG.

Tiroiditis subaguda posterior a la administración de la vacuna COVID-19. Presentación de tres casos clínicos / Subacute thyroiditis following COVID-19 vaccine administration. Presentation of three clinical cases

La tiroiditis subaguda (TSA) es un trastorno inflamatorio autolimitado de la glándula tiroides. Es más común en mujeres y se caracteriza por dolor cervical, síntomas inflamatorios sistémicos y disfunción tiroidea. La TSA se ha asociado a una infección viral previa, generalmente respiratoria o enteral. Múltiples virus se han relacionado con TSA. Desde mayo de 2020 se reportaron casos de TSA relacionados con la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Describimos 3 casos de SAT después de la vacuna COVID-19. Dos casos fueron inoculados con vacuna SARS-CoV-2 inactivada (CoronaVac) y uno con vacuna de ARNm Pfizer-BioNTech. Los síntomas clínicos comenzaron pocas semanas después de la inoculación. Presentaron dolor cervical anterior, fiebre, astenia y tirotoxicosis transitoria. En todos los casos la evolución fue favorable. Hasta donde sabemos, estos son los primeros casos de SAT posteriores a la vacuna COVID-19 descritos en Chile.

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limited inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland. The disease is more common in women and is characterized by neck pain, systemic symptoms, and thyroid dysfunction. SAT It has been associated with viral, respiratory or enteral infection. Multiple viruses had been related to SAT. Since May 2020, cases of SAT related to SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported. We describe 3 cases of SAT following COVID-19 vaccine. Two cases were inoculated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) and one with mRNA vaccine Pfizer­BioNTech. The clinical symptoms began few weeks after inoculation. They presented with neck pain, fever, general malaise and transient thyrotoxicosis. All cases revered spontaneously. To our knowledge, these are the first cases of SAT following COVID-19 vaccine described in Chile.

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation for Treatment of Congenital Antral Web.

Congenital antral webs are a rare but relevant cause of gastric outlet obstruction in infants and children. The condition may lead to feeding refusal, vomiting, and poor growth. Due to the relative rarity of the disease, cases of congenital antral web are frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosed with significant delay as physicians favorably pursue diagnoses of pyloric stenosis and gastric ulcer disease, which are more prevalent. We report a case of an eight-month-old female who presented with persistent non-bilious emesis, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive and was discovered to have an antral web. The web was successfully treated with endoscopic balloon dilation, which resolved her symptoms. Two years later, the patient remains asymptomatic and is thriving with weight at the 75th percentile for her age.

Histone H3.3K27M Represses p16 to Accelerate Gliomagenesis in a Murine Model of DIPG.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a highly aggressive pediatric brainstem tumor genetically distinguished from adult GBM by the high prevalence of the K27M mutation in the histone H3 variant H3.3 (H3F3A). This mutation reprograms the H3K27me3 epigenetic landscape of DIPG by inhibiting the H3K27-specific histone methyltransferase EZH2. This globally reduces H3K27me2/3, critical repressive marks responsible for cell fate decisions, and also causes focal gain of H3K27me3 throughout the epigenome. To date, the tumor-driving effects of H3.3K27M remain largely unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that H3.3K27M cooperates with PDGF-B in vivo, enhancing gliomagenesis and reducing survival of p53 wild-type (WT) and knockout murine models of DIPG. H3.3K27M expression drives increased proliferation of tumor-derived murine neurospheres, suggesting that cell-cycle deregulation contributes to increased malignancy in mutant tumors. RNA sequencing on tumor tissue from H3.3K27M-expressing mice indicated global upregulation of PRC2 target genes, and a subset of newly repressed genes enriched in regulators of development and cell proliferation. Strikingly, H3.3K27M induced targeted repression of the p16/ink4a (CDKN2A) locus, a critical regulator of the G0-G1 to S-phase transition. Increased levels of H3K27me3 were observed at the p16 promoter; however, pharmacologic reduction of methylation at this promoter did not rescue p16 expression. Although DNA methylation is also present at this promoter, it is not K27M dependent. Intriguingly, inhibition of DNA methylation restores p16 levels and is cytotoxic against murine tumor cells. Importantly, these data reveal that H3.3K27M-mediated p16 repression is an important mechanism underlying the proliferation of H3.3K27M tumor cells, as in vivo cdkn2a knockout eliminates the survival difference between H3.3K27M and H3.3WT tumor-bearing mice.Implications: This study shows that H3.3K27M mutation and PDGF signaling act in concert to accelerate gliomagenesis in a genetic mouse model and identifies repression of p16 tumor suppressor as a target of H3.3K27M, highlighting the G1-S cell-cycle transition as a promising therapeutic avenue. Mol Cancer Res; 15(9); 1243-54. ©2017 AACR.

Quantitative risk assessment of WSSV transmission through partial harvesting and transport practices for shrimp aquaculture in Mexico.

This quantitative risk assessment provided an analytical framework to estimate white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) transmission risks in the following different scenarios: (1) partial harvest from rearing ponds and (2) post-harvest transportation, assuming that the introduction of contaminated water with viral particles into shrimp culture ponds is the main source of viral transmission risk. Probabilities of infecting shrimp with waterborne WSSV were obtained by approaching the functional form that best fits (likelihood ratio test) published data on the dose-response relationship for WSSV orally inoculated through water into shrimp. Expert opinion defined the ranges for the following uncertain factors: (1) the concentrations of WSSV in the water spilled from the vehicles transporting the infected shrimp, (2) the total volume of these spills, and (3) the dilution into culture ponds. Multiple scenarios were analysed, starting with a viral load (VL) of 1×102mL-1 in the contaminated water spilled that reached the culture pond, whose probability of infection of an individual shrimp (Pi) was negligible (1.7×10-7). Increasing the VL to 1×104.5mL-1 and 1×107mL-1 yielded results into very low (Pi=5.3×10-5) and high risk (Pi=1.6×10-2) categories, respectively. Furthermore, different pond stocking density (SD) scenarios (20 and 30 post-larvae [PL]/m2) were evaluated, and the probability of infection of at least one out of the total number of shrimp exposed (PN) was derived; for the scenarios with a low VL (1×102mL-1), the PN remained at a negligible risk level (PN, 2.4×10-7 to 1.8×10-6). For most of the scenarios with the moderate VL (1×104.5mL-1), the PN scaled up to a low risk category (PN, 1.1×10-4 to 5.6×10-4), whereas for the scenarios with a high VL (1×107mL-1), the risk levels were high (PN, 2.3×10-2 to 3.5×10-2) or very high (PN, 1.1×10-1 to 1.6×10-1) depending on the volume of contaminated water spilled in the culture pond (VCWSCP, 4 or 20L). In the sensitivity analysis, for a SD of 30 PL/m2, it was shown that starting with a VL of 1×105mL-1 and a VCWSCP of 12L, the PN was moderate (1.05×10-3). This was the threshold for greater risks, given the increase in either the VCWSCP or VL. These findings supported recommendations to prevent WSSV spread through more controlled transportation and partial harvesting practices.

[Cardiovascular risk percentiles avoid overestimation or underestimation of risk calculated by the SCORE risk function]. / La adopción de los percentiles de riesgo cardiovascular evita la sobreestimación o infraestimación del riesgo cardiovascular calculado con el SCORE.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk evaluation is of the utmost importance for treatment of patients with cardiovascular risk factors. There are various scales or equations and they can be adapted to a particular population to try to avoid over or under estimation of risk. We propose risk percentiles as a new method of adapting risk scoring systems to our population. METHODS: A cross sectional study of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the province of Palencia (ERVPA: Cardiovascular Risk Study in Palencia) was conducted. Age, gender, blood pressure, total cholesterol, tobacco consumption and diabetes were evaluated. 514 subjects aged 20 - 79 taken from the general population were studied in 9 health centers from Palencia (Spain). Fatal cardiovascular risk was measured with SCORE project equations. Percentiles were calculated and compared to both equations and a Spearman's correlation coefficient and a kappa agreement coefficient were calculated. RESULTS: The percentages of high risk range from 0% in young subjects to 92% in males over the age of 70 and 67% in females over the age of 70. The concordance with high risk country equations has a kappa coefficient of 0.741. Concordance varies greatly with age and gender. On comparing the percentiles, the concordance between both equations is almost absolute. CONCLUSIONS: Adopting risk percentiles as a method of cardiovascular risk evaluation permits us to adapt any risk equation to a particular area and avoids underestimation or overestimation of risk. Risk percentiles allow us to extrapolate absolute risk for any age.

Genetic variation in the interleukin-8 gene promoter and vaginal concentrations of interleukin-8 are not associated with bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) may play a role in the activation of the vaginal immune system during bacterial vaginosis. However, contradictory results were obtained regarding the involvement of IL-8 in the immunological response during bacteria vaginosis. These apparently contradictory results could be due to different genetic variations of the study groups. Since some gene polymorphisms may affect the level of IL-8 production, the aim of this study was to determine whether the frequency IL-8 promoter alleles and levels of IL-8 in vaginal fluid are associated with bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. Genotyping for IL-8 polymorphisms in the promoter region of the gene was performed in 34 pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis matched for gestational age with 38 pregnant women without vaginosis. Additionally, vaginal IL-8 levels were assayed by the dual monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The frequencies of the three polymorphisms were not significantly different between control women and women with bacterial vaginosis. In addition, there was no linkage disequilibrium between the polymorphisms. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in median vaginal levels of IL-8 between both groups. Neither the frequencies of IL-8 polymorphic alleles nor levels of IL-8 in vaginal fluid were associated with bacterial vaginosis.