Evaluation of Ilex guayusa and Piper marginatum Extract Cytotoxicity on Human Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND: Amelogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary disorder affecting dental enamel. Among its phenotypes, hypocalcified AI is characterized by mineral deficiency, leading to tissue wear and, consequently, dental sensitivity. Excessive fluoride intake (through drinking water, fluoride supplements, toothpaste, or by ingesting products such as pesticides or insecticides) can lead to a condition known as dental fluorosis, which manifests as stains and teeth discoloration affecting their structure. Our recent studies have shown that extracts from Colombian native plants, Ilex guayusa and Piper marginatum, deposit mineral ions such as phosphate and orthophosphate into the dental enamel structure; however, it is unknown whether these extracts produce toxic effects on the dental pulp. OBJECTIVE: To assess cytotoxicity effects on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) exposed to extracts isolated from I. guayusa and P. marginatum and, hence, their safety for clinical use. METHODS: Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry techniques were employed. For Raman spectroscopy, hDPSCs were seeded onto nanobiochips designed to provide surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS effect), which enhances their Raman signal by several orders of magnitude. After eight days in culture, I. guayusa and P. marginatum extracts at different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ppm) were added. Raman measurements were performed at 0, 12, and 24 h following extract application. Fluorescence microscopy was conducted using an OLIMPUS fv1000 microscope, a live-dead assay was performed using a kit employing a BD FACS Canto TM II flow cytometer, and data analysis was determined using a FlowJo program. RESULTS: The Raman spectroscopy results showed spectra consistent with viable cells. These findings were corroborated using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry techniques, confirming high cellular viability. CONCLUSIONS: The analyzed extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity, suggesting that they could be safely applied on enamel for remineralization purposes. The use of nanobiochips for SERS effect improved the cell viability assessment.

Rice Husk with PLA: 3D Filament Making and Additive Manufacturing of Samples for Potential Structural Applications.

Additive manufacturing has garnered significant attention as a versatile method for fabricating green and complex composite materials. This study delves into the fabrication of polymer composites by employing polylactic acid (PLA) in conjunction with rice husk as a reinforcing filler. The filaments were made by an extruded filament maker and then were used to make tensile and impact samples by another extrusion technology, fused deposition modeling (FDM). The structural and morphological characteristics of the composite materials were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy SEM. Results show that both the filament and samples are very reliable in producing polymer parts with this rice husk solid waste. This research contributes to increasing materials' circularity and potentially creating a local social economy around rice production, where this waste is not much used.

Isolation of native cadmium-tolerant bacteria and fungi from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) - Cultivated soils in central Colombia.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals for human health. It can be present in multiple food products, including cocoa cultivated in regions with high soil Cd concentrations. A strategy to minimize Cd uptake by cacao trees is using cadmium-tolerant bacteria (CdtB) and filamentous fungi (CdtF) to reduce Cd availability in soils. We isolated culturable CdtB and CdtF from different locations in a cocoa-producing region in central Colombia. A total of 42 CdtB and 30 CdtF morphotypes were isolated from locations with varying natural Cd concentrations. In vitro characterizations showed that in addition to their resistance to Cd, bacteria and fungi are involved in the nutrient cycling of N, P, and C in the soil. Bacterial morphotypes from genera Pseudomonas and Burkholderia grew in concentrations up to 140 mg kg-1 Cd. Among the isolated fungi, P. igniaria, Metarhizium sp., and Annulohypoxylon sp. were the most resistant, with the highest average Cd bioaccumulation, Cd remotion, and tolerance. We present new information about the native culturable bacterial morphotypes associated with cacao plants and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Cd-TF associated with cacao crops. Our results expand the knowledge about culturable CdtB and CdtF in cacao-cultivated soils and their interaction with key soil elements, with the potential to develop integrated soil management strategies.

Enhancing Thermomechanical Strength and Thermal Stability of Poly(dicyclopentadiene) Composites through Cost-Effective Fly Ash Reinforcement for Structural and Impact Applications.

Poly(dicyclopentadiene) (poly-DCPD) is a thermoset with potential for high-performance applications. In this research, epoxy resin was blended with different concentrations of fly ash class F particles at 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, and 50.0 wt.%, aiming to improve its use as a high-volume structural material by decreasing costs and reducing its negative environmental impact through using fly ash particles. A planetary Thinky mixer was used to initially mix the resin with the curing agent, followed by incorporating a Grubbs catalyst. The microstructures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where particles were found to be homogeneously distributed over the polymer matrix. The thermomechanical behavior was evaluated via curing, compression, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). Nanoindentation tests were also conducted. Fly ash was found to decelerate the curing of the resin through the release of calcium ions that enhanced the exothermic reaction.

Probiotic growth-stimulating capacity and antimicrobial activities of aqueous extracts of Lentinus crinitus (L.) Fr (polyporales, basidiomycota).

Lentinus crinitus (L.) Fr is a wild macrofungus that is popular as antimicrobial and various biological activities. This study aims to determine the capacity growth stimulation of Lactobacillus paracasei and antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts of L. crinitus obtained from wild basidiomata, mycelial biomass by liquid fermentation and spent mushroom substrate obtained by solid-state fermentation. The antimicrobial activity was investigated against bacterial and fungal pathogens and growth stimulation L. paracasei probiotic bacterium. The total carbohydrate and ß-glucan contents of the extracts were determined using colorimetric analysis. The aqueous extracts obtained showed inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The aqueous extract obtained from wild basidiomata, and mycelial biomass showed the highest percentage of stimulation of L. paracasei growth in 48 h. The extracts obtained from L. crinitus have antimicrobial potential and stimulating capacity of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei. Additionally, different biotechnological techniques such as liquid and solid-state fermentation can be used to obtain aqueous extracts.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in a patient with HIV treated with eculizumab: A case report.

Thrombotic microangiopathy defines a group of pathologies characterized by microvascular dysfunction with the concurrence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and organ damage. It represents the most frequent microvascular manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report the case of a man in the seventh decade of life with a recent diagnosis of infection by HIV, who develops hemolytic uremic syndrome, requiring continuous renal replacement therapy and plasma replacement therapy, without response, ADAMTS13 with preserved activity, ruling out other etiologies (infectious, metabolic, and genetic) with successful response to eculizumab.

Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Increased Adoption and Improved Outcomes: Is Laparoscopy Still Justified?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of postoperative 30-day complications between laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MI-PD)-either LPD or RPD-is noninferior to open pancreaticoduodenectomy in terms of operative outcomes. However, a direct comparison of the two minimally invasive approaches has not been rigorously performed. METHODS: Patients who underwent MI-PD were abstracted from the 2014 to 2019 pancreas-targeted American College of Surgeons National Sample Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) dataset. Optimal outcome was defined as absence of postoperative mortality, serious complication, percutaneous drainage, reoperation, and prolonged length of stay (75th percentile, 11 days) with no readmission. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare optimal outcome of RPD and LPD. RESULTS: A total of 1540 MI-PDs were identified between 2014 and 2019, of which 885 (57%) were RPD and 655 (43%) were LPD. The rate of RPD cases/year significantly increased from 2.4% to 8.4% ( P =0.008) from 2014 to 2019, while LPD remained unchanged. Similarly, the rate of optimal outcome for RPD increased during the study period from 48.2% to 57.8% ( P <0.001) but significantly decreased for LPD (53.5% to 44.9%, P <0.001). During 2018-2019, RPD outcomes surpassed LPD for any complication [odds ratio (OR)=0.58, P =0.004], serious complications (OR=0.61, P =0.011), and optimal outcome (OR=1.78, P =0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RPD adoption increased compared with LPD and was associated with decreased overall complications, serious complications, and increased optimal outcome compared with LPD in 2018-2019.

Partition Constant of Binary Mixtures for the Equilibrium between a Bulk and a Confined Phase.

It is well-known that the thermodynamic, kinetic and structural properties of fluids, and in particular of water and its solutions, can be drastically affected in nanospaces. A possible consequence of nanoscale confinement of a solution is the partial segregation of its components. Thereby, confinement in nanoporous materials (NPM) has been proposed as a means for the separation of mixtures. In fact, separation science can take great advantage of NPM due to the tunability of their properties as a function of nanostructure, morphology, pore size, and surface chemistry. Alcohol-water mixtures are in this context among the most relevant systems. However, a quantitative thermodynamic description allowing for the prediction of the segregation capabilities as a function of the material-solution characteristics is missing. In the present study we attempt to fill this vacancy, by contributing a thermodynamic treatment for the calculation of the partition coefficient in confinement. Combining the multilayer adsorption model for binary mixtures with the Young equation, we conclude that the liquid-vapor surface tension and the contact angle of the pure substances can be used to predict the separation ability of a particular material for a given mixture to a semiquantitative extent. Moreover, we develop a Kelvin-type equation that relates the partition coefficient to the radius of the pore, the contact angle, and the liquid-vapor surface tensions of the constituents. To assess the validity of our thermodynamic formulation, coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations were performed on models of alcohol-water mixtures confined in cylindrical pores. To this end, a coarse-grained amphiphilic molecule was parametrized to be used in conjunction with the mW potential for water. This amphiphilic model reproduces some of the properties of methanol such as enthalpy of vaporization and liquid-vapor surface tension, and the minimum of the excess enthalpy for the aqueous solution. The partition coefficient turns out to be highly dependent on the molar fraction, on the interaction between the components and the confining matrix, and on the radius of the pore. A remarkable agreement between the theory and the simulations is found for pores of radius larger than 15 Å.

Additive manufacturing against the Covid-19 pandemic: a technological model for the adaptability and networking.

This investigation analyzes the main contributions that additive manufacturing (AM) technology provides to the world in fighting against the pandemic COVID-19 from a materials and applications perspective. With this aim, different sources, which include academic reports, initiatives, and industrial companies, have been systematically analyzed. The AM technology applications include protective masks, mechanical ventilator parts, social distancing signage, and parts for detection and disinfection equipment (Ju, 2020). There is a substantially increased number of contributions from AM technology to this global issue, which is expected to continuously increase until a sound solution is found. The materials and manufacturing technologies in addition to the current challenges and opportunities were analyzed as well. These contributions came from a lot of countries, which can be used as a future model to work in massive collaboration, technology networking, and adaptability, all lined up to provide potential solutions for some of the biggest challenges the human society might face in the future.

Serodiagnosis and Risk Factors Associated with Infectious Agents of Reproductive Diseases in Bovines of Chiquinquirá, District of Boyacá (Colombia).

The productivity of cattle farms is affected by infectious and noninfectious factors that generate economic losses and cause reproductive failure represented by low conception rates, embryonic mortality, abortions, and fetal mummification. The infectious agents that most impact the reproductive health of the bovine species from conception to birth are bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) causing infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (PI3), Neospora caninum and Leptospira spp. The objective of this study was to diagnose the presence of BoHV-1, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), PI3, Neospora caninum, and Leptospira spp. by serology and identify the risk factors associated with infectious agents of reproductive interest in bovines of Boyacá (Colombia). A descriptive cross-sectional study was developed, with simple random sampling, where a sample size of 601 female cattle of Holstein, Jersey, and Normande breeds of different age groups was determined. Blood samples were taken and processed using the indirect ELISA technique (SYNBIOTICS®, SERELISA® BVD p80 Ab Mono Blocking, Ingezim R.12.NC.K, PRIMACHECK VPI-3®) and the MAT test for the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis. The data were processed with the statistical program Epi Info™. The highest apparent seroprevalence was established for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (61.1%), followed by BVD (37.6%), PI3 (40.9%), neosporosis (51.1%), and leptospirosis (14.8%). Variables such as age >4 years and Holstein breed for IBR and >4 years for BVD were established risk factors. Considering our results, we suggest implementing prevention and control plans that include vaccination as a prophylactic measure and biosecurity tools that reduce the probability of contagion and transmission of pathogens.

Useful tools for integrating noise maps about noises other than those of transport, infrastructures, and industrial plants in developing countries: Casework of the Aburra Valley, Colombia.

The behavior of environmental noise in developing countries is conditioned by characteristics that are not only linked to transport, infrastructures, and industrial plants in the annuity (common representation in noise maps), but also to other types of sources and periodicities that can influence significantly in noise levels. For this reason, this work proposes different temporal analyzes during the annuity that can be linked to the noisy activities typical of developing tropical countries. To do this, a noise monitoring network composed of seven monitors representing different sources present in the Aburrá Valley (AV) in Colombia is analyzed with measurements of LAeq, every hour, in a period between August 2016 and July 2019. The results show that AV noise is strongly influenced by leisure activities related to high-power sound systems, different celebrations, and continuous noise from car traffic that affect the population mainly on weekends and nights. This work marks a clear path to precisely address noise pollution in the action plans of developing countries.

A new composite made from Luffa Cylindrica and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA): Mechanical and structural characterization for its use as Mouthguard (MG).

The use of Mouthguards (MGs) in contact sports is an interesting biomedical topic. MGs are protective personal equipment made principally from the copolymer ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). EVA is a thermoplastic whose thickness and rigidity are variables of concern for a good shock energy absorption capability in an MG. A natural fiber polymer composite is an interesting attempt for tackling these variables. Luffa cylindrica (luffa) is a sponge gourd that grows in 3D structure, which is used mainly as an ornament, a filling, or is trimmed for its use as a bathing product. In this work, a new EVA-luffa composite (EVLc) was made from commercial EVA sheets and luffa mat acting as reinforcement. FTIR, DSC, and TGA tests of EVA revealed its nature compared to literature data. A mechanical testing was applied to eight EVLc ASTM D-638 type V dumbbells (D1-D8) that showed low tensile strength values compared to EVA resistance ranges in literature. SEM images of EVLc's D1-D8 confirmed good adhesion between the reinforcement and matrix without surface treatment, and a descriptive statistical analysis indicated an intrinsic variation.

Sex Differences in the Association of Pretransfusion Hemoglobin Levels with Brain Structure and Function in the Preterm Infant.

OBJECTIVE: To assess sex-specific differences in early brain structure and function of preterm infants after red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center subset of infants with a birth weight <1000 g and gestational age 22-29 weeks were enrolled from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Neonatal Research Network Transfusion of Prematures Trial. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration obtained directly before each transfusion (pretransfusion Hb [ptHb]) was obtained longitudinally throughout each infant's neonatal intensive care unit stay and used as a marker of degree of anemia (n = 97). Measures of regional brain volumes using magnetic resonance imaging were obtained at ∼40 weeks postmenstrual age or at hospital discharge, if earlier (n = 29). Measures of brain function were obtained at 12 months corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant & Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (n = 34). RESULTS: PtHb was positively correlated with neonatal cerebral white matter volume in males (B = +0.283; P = .006), but not females (B = -0.099; P = .713), resulting in a significant sex interaction (P = .010). Bayley-III gross motor scores and a pooled mean score were significantly lower in association with higher ptHb in females (gross motor score: B = -3.758; P = .013; pooled mean score: B = -1.225; P = .030), but not males (gross motor score: B = +1.758; P = .167; pooled mean score: B = +0.621; P = .359). Higher ptHb was associated with descriptively lower performance on multiple Bayley-III subscales in females, but not in males. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates sex-specific associations between an early marker of anemia and RBC transfusion status (ie, ptHb) with both neonatal white matter volume and early cognitive function at age 12 months in preterm infants.

Barriers to HIV and Hepatitis C care for people who inject drugs in Colombia.

People who inject drugs (PWIDs) are a key population targeted in global efforts to increase HIV and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment retention. Colombia has experienced a significant increase in the incidence of HIV and HCV attributed to the alarming rise in injection drug use. The primary aim of this study was to identify factors influencing access to HIV and HCV care among PWIDs. Survey domains consisted of (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) history of HIV-HCV testing and infection status; (3) the 13-item questionnaire developed by Awad and colleagues to explore barriers to HIV and HCV testing, (4) the Barriers to Medical Care questionnaire; and (5) the Risk Assessment Battery. A total of 171 subjects completed the survey. A high proportion of participants reported past year testing for HIV (87%) and HCV (72.8%). However, most respondents elicited numerous barriers to obtaining information, referrals, and insurance coverage for accessing HIV and/or HCV care. Further studies are needed to identify scalable public health measures to overcome these barriers.

Seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle from Sotaquirá, Colombia.

Worldwide distributed Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) represents a high risk of infection in most bovine farms, in which it is associated with gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive diseases. The purpose of this research was to establish the seroprevalence and the main risk factors associated with the presentation of BVDV in the municipality of Sotaquirá, Colombia. Samples were taken from 1000 cattle of Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey, Normande Gyr and Holstein x Gyr. Epidemiological surveys were implemented, reproductive and management variables were taken into consideration. Indirect ELISA was performed to detect specific antibodies against BVDV using the commercial kit SERELISA® BVD p80 Ab Mono Blocking. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against BVDV was 42.5% (425/1000), where the Gyr breed (59.1% apparent prevalence (AP); 60.3% real prevalence (PR)) and the age group > 4 years (53.0% PA; 54.4% PR) presented the highest seroprevalences. A significant statistical association was found for the breed, age, management practices evaluated and the presentation of PI3 (p ≤ 0.05). Age group > 4 years, Normande breed, presentation of PI3 and grazing lease were established as risk factors associated with BVDV in the herds. These infections are mainly associated with dairy cattle and herds with many animals, so it is important to consider vaccination plans as a preventive system and follow up on the most common diseases.

In-situ characterization of discharge products of lithium-oxygen battery using Flow Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy.

The increasing interest in lithium-oxygen batteries (LOB), having the highest theoretical energy densities among the advanced lithium batteries, has triggered the search for in-situ characterization techniques, including Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy (EC-AFM). In this work we addressed the characterization of the formation and decomposition of lithium peroxide (Li2O2) on a carbon cathode using a modified AFM technique, called Flow Electrochemical Atomic Force Microscopy (FE-AFM), where an oxygen-saturated solution of the non-aqueous lithium electrolyte is circulated through a liquid AFM cell. This novel technique does not require keeping the AFM equipment inside a glove-box, and it allows performing a number of experiments using the same substrate with different electrolytes without disassembling the cell. We study the morphology of Li2O2 on graphite carbon using lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as electrolyte under different operational conditions, in order to compare our results with those reported using other electrolytes and in-situ and ex-situ EC-AFM.

Magnet Injuries in Children: An Analysis of the National Poison Data System from 2008 to 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To examine, using the National Poison Data System (the data warehouse for poison control centers in the US), magnet foreign body injuries in pediatric patients. We sought to report demographic data, outcome data, and case trends between 2008 and 2019. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the National Poison Data System for patients younger than 19 years of age with a magnet "exposure," which poison centers define as an ingestion, inhalation, injection, or dermal exposure to a poison. RESULTS: A total of 5738 magnet exposures were identified. Most were male (3169; 55%), <6 years old (3572; 62%), with an unintentional injury (4828; 84%). There were 222 patients (3.9%) with a confirmed medical "effect," defined as signs, symptoms, and clinical findings not including therapeutic interventions (eg, endoscopy). There was a 33% decrease in cases from 418 (2008-2011) to 281 per year (2012-2017) after high-powered magnet sets were removed from the market. Calls subsequently increased 444% to 1249 per year (2018-2019) after high-powered magnet sets re-entered the market. Cases from 2018 and 2019 increased across all age groups and account for 39% of magnet cases since 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases in magnet injuries correspond to time periods in which high-powered magnet sets were sold, including a 444% increase since 2018. These results reflect the increased need for preventative or legislative efforts.

Optimal Pancreatic Surgery: Are We Making Progress in North America?

OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to assess North American trends in the management of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP), and to quantify the delivery of optimal pancreatic surgery. BACKGROUND: Morbidity after pancreatectomy remains unacceptably high. Recent literature suggests that composite measures may more accurately define surgical quality. METHODS: The 2013 to 2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files were queried to identify patients undergoing PD (N = 16,222) and DP (N = 7946). Patient, process, procedure, and 30-day postoperative outcome variables were analyzed over time. Optimal pancreatic surgery was defined as the absence of postoperative mortality, serious morbidity, percutaneous drainage, and reoperation while achieving a length of stay equal to or less than the 75th percentile (12 days for PD and 7 days for DP) with no readmissions. Risk-adjusted time-trend analyses were performed using logistic regression, and the threshold for statistical significance was P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The use of minimally invasive PD did not change over time, but robotic PD increased (2.5 to 4.2%; P < 0.001) and laparoscopic PD decreased (5.8% to 4.3%; P < 0.02). Operative times decreased (P < 0.05) and fewer transfusions were administered (P < 0.001). The percentage of patients with a drain fluid amylase checked on postoperative day 1 increased (P < 0.001), and a greater percentage of surgical drains were removed by postoperative day 3 (P < 0.001). Overall morbidity (P < 0.02), mortality (P < 0.05), and postoperative length of stay (P = 0.002) decreased. Finally, the rate of optimal pancreatic surgery increased for PD (53.7% to 56.9%; P < 0.01) and DP (53.3% to 58.5%; P < 0.001), and alspo for patients with pancreatic cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: From 2013 to 2017, pre, intra, and perioperative pancreatectomy processes have evolved, and multiple postoperative outcomes have improved. Thus, in 4 years, optimal pancreatic surgery in North America has increased by 3% to 5%.

[Atypical presentation of the Wellens electrocardiographic pattern associated with coronary bifurcation lesión]. / Presentación atípica del patrón electrocardiográfico de Wellens asociado con lesión de bifurcación coronaria.

We present a patient who was admitted to the emergency room due to unstable angina, with an initial electrocardiogram without signs of acute ischemia and a favorable clinical evolution. During hospitalization, she developed the Wellens electrocardiographic pattern, noted in the literature as an infrequent, poorly identified finding and with an ominous prognosis. This electrocardiographic pattern is described in precordial derivatives, suggesting a significant lesion of a principal epicardial artery; our patient had similar electrocardiographic alterations in the high lateral leads, in whom the coronary bifurcation lesion not previously described in this scenario was confirmed.