The 2023 ACR/EULAR antiphospholipid syndrome classification criteria identify patients at high risk of complications.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the utility of the 2023 ACR/EULAR antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) classification criteria in identifying primary APS patients at high risk of complications. METHODS: In this single-center study, primary APS patients were classified according to both the revised Sapporo criteria and the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria. The risk of complications was assessed using the adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS). RESULTS: Forty-five patients (73% females, median age 49 years) were included. Thirty-six patients met the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria, all of whom also fulfilled the revised Sapporo criteria. Additionally, four out of nine patients not meeting the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria satisfied the revised Sapporo criteria. Agreement rate between the two classification criteria was 91%, with a Cohen's kappa index of 0.66. Patients meeting the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria had significantly higher aGAPSS scores compared to those who did not (13, 8-13 vs. 3, 0-5; p = 0.005). Furthermore, 55% of patients meeting the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria were categorized as high risk based on aGAPSS scores, while those not meeting the criteria were predominantly categorized as low risk (77%). Interestingly, patients not meeting the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria but fulfilling the revised Sapporo criteria had significantly higher aGAPSS scores compared to those not meeting either set of criteria (7, 5-13 vs. 0, 0-1.5; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria effectively identify primary APS patients at increased risk of complications, as indicated by the aGAPSS score. Key Points • Identifying primary APS patients at high risk of complications remains a significant challenge. • The 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria show a correlation with the aGAPSS score, exhibiting the highest correlation with laboratory domains and minimal correlation with clinical domains. • The 2023 ACR/EULAR classification criteria are effective in identifying primary APS patients at high risk of complications.

[Knowledge of mothers of children under 5 years of age about vaccination schedule]. / Conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años acerca del esquema de vacunación.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the level of knowledge of mothers of children under 5 years of age about vaccination schedule. METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and analytical study, carried out in the Family Medicine Unit 1 of Orizaba, Veracruz, in which two questionnaires were applied to mothers of children under 5 years of age, one prepared by PAHO that qualifies attitudes. of parents about vaccines, and another that evaluates knowledge of immunizations. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated; and the association with Pearson's X2 was determined. RESULTS: A total of 138 women were registered, with age limits of 18 to 48 years. The level of knowledge was high (70.3%) and was related to the age, education (p = 0.00) and occupation (p = 0.03) of the mothers. The highest frequencies were for housewives (47.1%), professionals (3.5%), married (60.2%) and of the Catholic religion (81.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the null hypothesis, which indicates that 70.3% have high knowledge about vaccination, and it is associated with the age, education, and occupation of the mothers.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el grado de conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años acerca del esquema de vacunación. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal, observacional, descriptivo y analítico, llevado a cabo en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar 1 de Orizaba, Veracruz, en el que se aplicaron dos cuestionarios a madres de niños menores de 5 años, uno elaborado por la Organización Panamericana de la Salud para calificar las actitudes de los padres acerca de las vacunas, y otro que evalúa el conocimiento de las inmunizaciones. Se estimaron frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes; y se determinó la asociación con X2 de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 138 mujeres, con límites de edad de 18 a 48 años. El grado de conocimiento fue alto (70.3%) y se relacionó con la edad, escolaridad (p = 0.00) y ocupación (p = 0.03) de las madres. Las frecuencias más altas fueron para las amas de casa (47.1%), profesionistas (3.5%), casadas (60.2%) y de religión católica (81.2%). CONCLUSIONES: El 70.3% de las madres de niños menores de 5 años tiene conocimiento alto acerca de la vacunación, y se asocia con su edad, escolaridad y ocupación.

RELACIÓN ENTRE INGESTA ALIMENTICIA Y ESTRÉS ACADÉMICO, REACCIONES FISICAS, PSICOLÓGICAS Y COMPORTAMENTALES EN ESTUDIANTES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE CHIHUAHUA, MÉXICO / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD INTAKE AND ACADEMIC STRESS, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS IN STUDENTS OF THE AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF CHIHUAHUA, MÉXICO

l estrés académico puede presentarse en estudiantes sometidos a diversas exigencias y requisitos universitarios, provocando diferentes reacciones de estrés, físicas, psicológicas y comportamentales, reduciendo su calidad de vida y provocando consecuencias como: depresión, tristeza, fatiga y dolores de cabeza, afectando su estado nutricional. Se investigó la relación entre ingesta de alimentos y estrés académico en estudiantes del cuarto semestre de la Licenciatura en Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. La población de estudio, dado el carácter piloto de la investigación, se realizó mediante muestreo simple, aleatorio, sin reemplazo, con un diseño mixto, descriptivo, comparativo y transversal, utilizándose el cálculo del tamaño muestral con un intervalo de confianza de 95%, resultando N=117; 51 hombres y 66 mujeres entre 19 y 43 años de la generación 2019, a quienes se les aplicó el inventario SISCO de estrés académico. Se encontró mayor frecuencia en situaciones que provocan preocupación y nerviosismo, sobrecarga de tareas y trabajo, inquietud, problemas de concentración, fatiga crónica y apatía. Las estrategias más utilizadas fueron: desarrollo de planes y ejecución de tareas y capacidad asertiva. El 92.2% (n=108) de la población encuestada manifestó preocupación y nerviosismo, resultando 52,1% (n=61) en mujeres y 40.1% (n=47) en hombres. El 38.5% (n=45) de las mujeres entre 21 y 43 años, muestran una mayor relación entre aumentar o reducir el consumo de alimentos en correspondencia con sentimientos de depresión y tristeza. El estrés académico, suele estar relacionado con diferentes manifestaciones psicológicas, físicas y conductuales, que pueden influir directamente en la población estudiantil, afectando gravemente sus hábitos alimenticios y nutricionales

Academic stress can occur in students subjected to various university demands and requirements, causing different, causing different physical, psychological and behavioral reactions. Reducing quality of life and causing consequences such as: depression, sadness, fatigue and headaches, affecting their nutritional status. The relationship between food intake and academic stress was investigated in students in the fourth semester of the Bachelor of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua. The study population, given the pilot nature of the research, was carried out through simple, random sampling, without replacement, with a mixed, descriptive, comparative and transversal design, using the sample size calculation with a 95% confidence interval resulting in N=117; 51 men and 66 women between the ages of 19 and 43, from the 2019 generation, to whom the SISCO inventory of academic stress was applied. A greater frequency was found in situations that cause worry and nervousness, overload of tasks and work, restlessness, concentration problems, chronic fatigue and listlessness. The most used strategies were plan development and execution of tasks and assertive ability. 92.2% (n=108) of the surveyed population expressed concern and nervousness, in 52.1% (n=61) women and 40.1% (n=47) men. The 38.5% (n=45) of women between 21 and 43 years old show a greater relationship between increasing or reducing food consumption in correspondence with feelings of depression and sadness. Academic stress is usually related to different psychological, physical and behavioral manifestations, which can directly influence the student population, seriously affecting their eating and nutritional habits

Adsorption of cadmium (II) on organic xerogel microspheres: effect of adding sepiolite or vermiculite and operating conditions on the adsorption capacity.

The organic xerogel (OX) was synthesized through sol-gel polymerization of formaldehyde and resorcinol in inverse emulsion using Na2CO3 as a catalyst. Meanwhile, OX containing sepiolite (OX-Sep) and vermiculite (OX-Ver) were prepared similarly to OX but adding clays during synthesis. All materials were mesoporous and presented spherical morphology, and the surface of these materials exhibited an acidic character because the concentration of acidic sites was higher than those of basic sites. Cd(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions onto OX, OX-Sep, and OX-Ver was examined, and the OX-Sep showed the highest adsorption capacity towards Cd(II) of 189.7 mg/g, being 1.5, 2, and 36 times higher than that of OX-Ver, OX, and Sep. The OX-Sep capacity for adsorbing Cd(II) was significantly lessened by decreasing the pH from 7 to 4 and raising the ionic strength from 0.01 N to 0.1 N. This trend was ascribed to electrostatic attraction between the Cd+2 in water and the negatively charged surface of OX-Sep. Besides, desorption studies at pH 4 showed that the average desorption percentage of Cd(II) adsorbed on OX-Sep was 80%. The characterization results and the effect of the operating conditions on the adsorption capacity proved that electrostatic attraction and cation exchange play a crucial role in the adsorption mechanism.

Kinetic Evaluation of the Production of Mead from a Non-Saccharomyces Strain.

There is a growing market for craft beverages with unique flavors. This study aimed to obtain a palate-pleasing mead derived from Pichia kudriavzevii 4A as a monoculture. Different culture media were evaluated to compare the fermentation kinetics and final products. The crucial factors in the medium were ~200 mg L-1 of yeast assimilable nitrogen and a pH of 3.5-5.0. A panel of judges favored the mead derived from Pichia kudriavzevii 4A (fermented in a medium with honey initially at 23 °Bx) over a commercial sample produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, considering its appearance, fruity and floral flavors (provided by esters, aldehydes, and higher alcohols), and balance between sweetness (given by the 82.91 g L-1 of residual sugars) and alcohol. The present mead had an 8.57% v/v ethanol concentration, was elaborated in 28 days, and reached a maximum biomass growth (2.40 g L-1) on the same fermentation day (6) that the minimum level of pH was reached. The biomass growth yield peaked at 24 and 48 h (~0.049 g g-1), while the ethanol yield peaked at 24 h (1.525 ± 0.332 g g-1), in both cases declining thereafter. The Gompertz model adequately describes the kinetics of sugar consumption and the generation of yeast biomass and ethanol. Pathogenic microorganisms, methanol, lead, and arsenic were absent in the mead. Thus, Pichia kudriavzevii 4A produced a safe and quality mead with probable consumer acceptance.

Counter-regulatory RAS peptides: new therapy targets for inflammation and fibrotic diseases?

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important cascade of enzymes and peptides that regulates blood pressure, volume, and electrolytes. Within this complex system of reactions, its counter-regulatory axis has attracted attention, which has been associated with the pathophysiology of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. This review article analyzes the impact of different components of the counter-regulatory axis of the RAS on different pathologies. Of these peptides, Angiotensin-(1-7), angiotensin-(1-9) and alamandine have been evaluated in a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo studies, where not only they counteract the actions of the classical axis, but also exhibit independent anti-inflammatory and fibrotic actions when binding to specific receptors, mainly in heart, kidney, and lung. Other functional peptides are also addressed, which despite no reports associated with inflammation and fibrosis to date were found, they could represent a potential target of study. Furthermore, the association of agonists of the counter-regulatory axis is analyzed, highlighting their contribution to the modulation of the inflammatory response counteracting the development of fibrotic events. This article shows an overview of the importance of the RAS in the resolution of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, offering an understanding of the individual components as potential treatments.

NOD2 Responds to Dengue Virus Type 2 Infection in Macrophage-like Cells Interacting with MAVS Adaptor and Affecting IFN-α Production and Virus Titers.

In pathogen recognition, the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and leucine rich repeat receptors (NLRs) have noteworthy functions in the activation of the innate immune response. These receptors respond to several viral infections, among them NOD2, a very dynamic NLR, whose role in dengue virus (DENV) infection remains unclear. This research aimed to determine the role of human NOD2 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells during DENV-2 infection. NOD2 levels in DENV-2 infected THP-1 macrophage-like cells was evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot, and an increase was observed at both mRNA and protein levels. We observed using confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation assays that NOD2 interacts with the effector protein MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein), an adaptor protein promoting antiviral activity, this occurring mainly at 12 h into the infection. After silencing NOD2, we detected increased viral loads of DENV-2 and lower levels of IFN-α in supernatants from THP-1 macrophage-like cells with NOD2 knock-down and further infected with DENV-2, compared with mock-control or cells transfected with Scramble-siRNA. Thus, NOD2 is activated in response to DENV-2 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells and participates in IFN-α production, in addition to limiting virus replication at the examined time points.

Risk factors for therapeutic failure in adults with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection treated with vancomycin in a high-complexity hospital in Cali, Colombia.

Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with therapeutic failure of vancomycin in hospitalized adult patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Conducted in a high complexity hospital in Cali, Colombia. Participants: Adult hospitalized from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021, with MRSA infections with confirmed microbiological isolation. Methods: Cases were patients with therapeutic failure of vancomycin (mortality, poor clinical improvement, change of antibiotic used, early relapse, or persistence of positive blood cultures) and control patients were those who did not present failure. Significant variables from the bivariate analysis were included in a multiple analysis with an asymmetric logistic regression model. Results: A total of 105 patients were included in the study, 28 in the treatment group and 77 in the control group. The median age was 49 years and 59 (56%) of participants were men. The following variables: age (OR 1.034; 95% CI 1.007-1.061, p=0.011), osteomyelitis/ septic arthritis (OR 6.035; 95% CI 2.282-15.956, p=0.000) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (OR 5.971; 95% CI 1.321-26.979, p=0.020) were found to be independent risk factors associated with therapeutic failure of vancomycin. Vancomycin trough levels were not different between cases and controls (OR 0.976; 95% CI 0.911-1.044, p=0.478). Conclusions: When a multiple analysis was performed to control for confounding factors, only 3 variables were found to be significant and were considered risk factors for therapeutic failure of vancomycin in adult patients with MRSA infection: age, MIC, and osteomyelitis/ septic arthritis.

Clinical features of patients with hands arthralgia referred from primary care physicians to rheumatologists: A cohort study.

PURPOSE: Early referral of patients with suspicious of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has an impact on prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hands arthralgia who were referred from primary care physicians (PCP) to the rheumatologist. METHODS: A descriptive, observational, prospective cohort study was performed. We included patients who visited a PCP for the first time for hands arthralgia. Demographics and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA plus seven complementary questions, the time to referral, the pressure needed to provoke pain with an automatic squeeze test machine in the metacarpophalangeal joints of both hands, and the diagnoses established at the last review of medical charts from patients on follow-up were documented. The primary outcome was the referral to a rheumatologist. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were included. The mean age was 49.9 years, 81.6% were women. 30.3% were referred to the rheumatologist. The time to referral was a median of 38 days. The main clinical characteristics associated with referral to the rheumatologist were the "most severe symptoms are present after midnight" (OR=6.29) and the "difficulty with making a fist" (OR=3.67). An isolated "positive squeeze test of metacarpophalangeal joints" was not associated with a referral to the rheumatologist. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with hands arthralgia who attended PCP, those with most severe symptoms after midnight and difficulty making a fist were more likely to be referred to the rheumatology clinic. Isolated positive squeeze tests are not a parameter for referral, it should only be performed if arthralgia is clinically suspected.

Fusariosis in Mexico: A 10-year retrospective series.

Fusarium species represent an opportunistic fungal pathogen. The data in Mexico about Fusarium infections in humans are scarce. Here, we present a retrospective series of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of fusariosis in eight different hospitals in Mexico from January 2010 to December 2019. The diagnosis of proven fusariosis was made according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (EORT/MSG) criteria. A total of 49 cases were identified in our series. Most patients had burn injuries (49%), and 37% had hematological malignancies. Most patients had fire injuries (40%), followed by electric injuries (8%), febrile neutropenia (10%), and pancytopenia (6%). Patients had skin and soft tissue involvement in 49%, followed by blood culture isolation and biopsies from different sites of the body (lung, sinuses, bone tissue, and eyes). Febrile neutropenia (10%) and fungemia (8%) were the most common clinical syndromes in immunosuppressed patients. Most patients received monotherapy (67%), where voriconazole was used in 30% of the cases, followed by conventional amphotericin B (16%), and lipidic formulations of amphotericin B in 10% (either liposomal amphotericin B or amphotericin B lipid complex). Combination therapy was used in 20% of the cases, and the most common combination therapy was triazole plus any lipidic formulation of amphotericin B (10%). Mortality related to Fusarium infection occurred in 22% of patients. Fusariosis is a serious threat. Burn injuries and hematologic malignancies represent the most common causes of infection in this small series from Mexico.

This study describes the epidemiological characteristics of patients with fusariosis from a multicenter cohort in Mexico. These findings provide information from this invasive fungal disease that threatens different countries in Latin America.

[Conocimiento de las madres de niños menores de 5 años sobre la vacunación en la Unidad de Medicina Familiar 1, Orizaba, Veracruz].

Objective: Determine the level of knowledge and acceptance that mothers of children under 5 years of age have about vaccination. Methods: Statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism statistical program. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated for the qual- itative variables, and measures of central tendency and dispersion for numerical variables. The level of knowledge and acceptance of vaccination was associated with the variables using Pearson's Chi-square. Results: The level of knowledge that prevailed was high (70.3%) and was associated with age (p=0.00), education (p=0.00) and occupation (p=0.03). The most frequent occupation was housewife (47.1%), the most frequent schooling was professional education (3.5%), the majority were married women (60.2%) and Catholics (81.2%). Conclusions: The null hypothesis of our study is confirmed, obtaining that 70.3% of the population has high knowledge about vaccination in children under 5 years of age, it was also found that this knowledge is associated with age, schooling and occupation of the mothers participating in this study.

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimiento y aceptación que tienen las madres de niños menores de 5 años sobre la vacunación. Métodos: Se realizo el análisis estadístico en el programa estadístico GraphPad Prism. Se estimaron frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes para las variables cualitativas, y medidas de tendencia central y dispersión para variables numéricas. Se asocio el nivel de conocimiento y aceptación sobre la vacunación con las variables mediante de Chi cuadrada de Pearson. Resultados: El nivel de conocimiento que predomino fue alto (70.3%) y se encontró asociado a la edad (p=0.00), escolaridad (p=0.00) y ocupación (p=0.03). La ocupación más frecuente fue ama de casa (47.1%), la escolaridad con mayor frecuencia fue educación profesional (3.5%), la mayoría fueron mujeres casadas (60.2%) y católicas (81.2%). Conclusiones: Se confirma la hipótesis nula de nuestro estudio obteniendo que el 70.3% de la población tiene un conocimiento alto acerca de la vacunación en niños menores de 5 años, además se encontró que este conocimiento se encuentra asociado a la edad, escolaridad y ocupación de las madres participantes en este estudio.

Binary fluoride and As(V) adsorption in water using pleco fish bone chars.

The present work studied individual and binary adsorption of fluorides and As(V) in water on pleco fish bone chars (BC), as well as the effect of BC mass variation on the adsorption capacity of fluoride and As(V) in water for human consumption. The results of individual adsorption indicated that the adsorption of fluoride and As(V) on BC depends on solution pH. The adsorption capacity of fluorides at an initial concentration of 30 mg L-1 increases approximately 3 times, from 5.9 to 15.3 mg g-1, when decreasing the pH of the solution from 9 to 5, however, for the case of As(V) an antagonistic effect is observed, the adsorption capacity increases 7 times when raising the pH from 5 to 9, from 18.4 to 132.1 µg g-1 at an initial As(V) concentration of 300 µg L-1. Besides, in the binary adsorption, BC showed a higher affinity to adsorb fluoride since its adsorption capacity decreased from 16.55 to 12.50 mg g-1 as the As(V) concentration increased from 0 to 800 µg L-1 in solution. In contrast, As(V) adsorption was severely affected, decreasing from 140.2 to 32.7 µg g-1 when the fluoride concentration in the solution increased from 0 to 100 mg L-1. On the other hand, in the adsorption of groundwater contaminated with fluoride and As(V), it was determined that increasing the mass of BC from 0.5 to 20 g increases the removal percentage, reaching 99.3 and 75.7% removal for fluoride and As(V), respectively, due to the fact that increasing the mass of the adsorbent leads to a larger area and a greater number of sites that allow the adsorption of these contaminants. The thermodynamic study revealed the spontaneity of fluoride and As(V) adsorption, better affinity for fluoride but higher adsorption rate of As(V) on BC. Characterization techniques such as XRD and EDS allowed identifying hydroxyapatite as the mineral phase of BC, which is responsible for the adsorption of BC. By studying the effect of solution pH on the adsorption capacities and the characterization of BC such as XRD, EDS and TGA, it was determined that the mechanisms of fluoride adsorption are by electrostatic attractions and ion exchange, and for As(V) it is by coprecipitation and ion exchange. It was concluded that BC from pleco fish could be an alternative for treating water contaminated by fluorides and As(V).

Tratamiento de la enfermedad de Pompe / Treatment of Pompe Disease

Introducción: La enfermedad de Pompe es un trastorno de origen genético causado por la deficiencia de la enzima alfa-glucosidasa ácida, que se caracteriza por el acumulo anormal de glucógeno en los músculos y otros tejidos, generando una debilidad muscular progresiva, la cual debe ser diagnosticada y tratada de forma oportuna, ya que de esto dependerá el pronóstico, la sobrevida y la funcionalidad de los pacientes con esta condición. Contenidos: El abordaje multidisciplinario incluye tanto una adecuada valoración y soporte nutricional como el inicio del tratamiento modificador de enfermedad a través de la terapia de reemplazo enzimático, que a su vez dependerá de la forma de presentación, la variante genética, el perfil inicial del paciente, las condiciones especiales que puedan existir y las metas propias para cada paciente. Para garantizar un manejo adecuado, se deben realizar estudios de seguimiento con parámetros objetivos, evaluar posibles eventos secundarios e instaurar su manejo en caso de presentarlos. Conclusiones: El pronóstico de esta enfermedad dependerá del inicio oportuno del tratamiento, la implementación de pautas nutricionales adecuadas y el establecimiento del seguimiento de los parámetros clínicos y paraclínicos para cada uno de los pacientes.

Introduction: Pompe disease is a disorder of genetic origin caused by the deficiency of the acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme, which is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of glycogen in the muscles and other tissues, generating progressive muscle weakness, which must be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, since the prognosis, survival, and functionality of patients with this condition will depend on this. Contents: The multidisciplinary approach includes both an adequate evaluation and nutritional support as well as the initiation of disease-modifying treatment through enzyme replacement therapy, which in turn will depend on the form of presentation, the genetic variant, the initial profile of the patient, the special conditions that may exist and the specific goals for each patient. To guarantee adequate management, follow-up studies must be carried out with objective parameters, evaluate possible secondary events and establish their management in case of presenting them. Conclusions: The prognosis of this disease will depend on the timely initiation of treatment, the implementation of adequate nutritional guidelines and the establishment of monitoring of clinical and paraclinical parameters for each of the patients.

IL-8 Secreted by Gastric Epithelial Cells Infected with Helicobacter pylori CagA Positive Strains Is a Chemoattractant for Epstein-Barr Virus Infected B Lymphocytes.

Helicobacter pylori and EBV are considered the main risk factors in developing gastric cancer. Both pathogens establish life-lasting infections and both are considered carcinogenic in humans. Different lines of evidence support that both pathogens cooperate to damage the gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori CagA positive virulent strains induce the gastric epithelial cells to secrete IL-8, which is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils and one of the most important chemokines for the bacterium-induced chronic gastric inflammation. EBV is a lymphotropic virus that persists in memory B cells. The mechanism by which EBV reaches, infects and persists in the gastric epithelium is not presently understood. In this study, we assessed whether Helicobacter pylori infection would facilitate the chemoattraction of EBV-infected B lymphocytes. We identified IL-8 as a powerful chemoattractant for EBV-infected B lymphocytes, and CXCR2 as the main IL-8 receptor whose expression is induced by the EBV in infected B lymphocytes. The inhibition of expression and/or function of IL-8 and CXCR2 reduced the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling and the chemoattraction of EBV-infected B lymphocytes. We propose that IL-8 at least partially explains the arrival of EBV-infected B lymphocytes to the gastric mucosa, and that this illustrates a mechanism of interaction between Helicobacter pylori and EBV.

Cessation of Face Mask Use after COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Diabetes: Prevalence and Determinants.

Studies on the cessation of face mask use after a COVID-19 vaccine in patients with diabetes are not available, despite their greater predisposition to complications. We estimated the prevalence of cessation of face mask use after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with diabetes and identified which factor was most strongly associated with non-use. This was a cross-sectional study in patients with diabetes 18-70 years with at least one dose of vaccine against COVID-19 (n = 288). Participants were asked to respond face-to-face to a questionnaire in a primary care center. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate binary logistic regression were used for analyzing the association between vulnerability, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, vaccine expectations (independent variables), and cessation of use (dependent variable), controlling for sociodemographic, smoking, medical, vaccine, and COVID-19 history. The prevalence of cessation of face masks was 25.3% (95% CI 20.2, 30.5). Not feeling vulnerable to hospitalization increased the odds of non-use (adjusted OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.2, 8.6), while perceiving benefits did the opposite (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.9). The prevalence was low, and only two factors were associated with the cessation of face mask use after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Is Associated with Elevated Hepcidin Levels.

EBV and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cause highly prevalent persistent infections as early as in childhood. Both pathogens are associated with gastric carcinogenesis. H. pylori interferes with iron metabolism, enhancing the synthesis of acute-phase proteins hepcidin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-1 glycoprotein (AGP), but we do not know whether EBV does the same. In this study, we correlated the EBV antibody levels and the serum levels of hepcidin, CRP, and AGP in 145 children from boarding schools in Mexico City. We found that children IgG positive to EBV antigens (VCA, EBNA1, and EA) presented hepcidin, AGP, and CRP levels higher than uninfected children. Hepcidin and AGP remained high in children solely infected with EBV, while CRP was only significantly high in coinfected children. We observed positive correlations between hepcidin and EBV IgG antibodies (p < 0.5). Using the TCGA gastric cancer database, we also observed an association between EBV and hepcidin upregulation. The TCGA database also allowed us to analyze the two important pathways controlling hepcidin expression, BMP−SMAD and IL-1ß/IL-6. We observed only the IL-1ß/IL-6-dependent inflammatory pathway being significantly associated with EBV infection. We showed here for the first time an association between EBV and enhanced levels of hepcidin. Further studies should consider EBV when evaluating iron metabolism and anemia, and whether in the long run this is an important mechanism of undernourishment and EBV gastric carcinogenesis.

Results From La Vida Buena (The Good Life): A Quasi-Experimental Intervention of a Community Health Worker-Led Family-Based Childhood Obesity Program for Latino Children 5-8 Years of Age on the U.S.-Mexico Border.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the 8-week, community health worker (CHW)-led La Vida Buena childhood obesity program among Latino children 5 to 8 years old in a rural county along the U.S.-Mexico border. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study used a community-based participatory research approach to compare the effectiveness of the La Vida Buena (The Good Life) curriculum as compared with a single educational session. We took anthropomorphic measures and administered parent-reported nutrition and physical activity surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The study took place between 2017 and 2020 in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. RESULTS: Change in body mass index (BMI) z-score was negligible for both groups. The parent-reported behavior indicated a shift toward healthier family behaviors and environment in the intervention group. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study adds to the growing literature of CHW-led childhood obesity interventions. The engagement of the CHWs in all aspects of the intervention helped to facilitate important behavior changes. Future interventions should emphasize health and wellness rather than BMI z-score and include community, socioeconomic, and systems-level interventions to promote healthy environments.

Lesiones y muertes no intencionales en el departamento de Antioquia, Colombia. Estudio observacional descriptivo, 2016 y 2017 / Unintentional injuries and deaths in the department of Antioquia, Colombia. An observational descriptive study, 2016 - 2017

Introducción: la Organización Mundial de la Salud considera a las lesiones accidentales o lesiones no intencionales (LNI) como un problema de salud pública por su efecto sobre la discapacidad y mortalidad en la población general. Objetivo: presentar y analizar los datos de LNI y muertes accidentales registrados por el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses en el departamento de Antioquia, durante los años 2016 y 2017. Métodos: estudio descriptivo basado en la información recolectada por el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. Se calcula ron las tasas de lesionados y muertes por 100.000 habitantes/año y el análisis estadístico se realizó con el paquete estadístico SPSS® versión 24.0. Resultados: durante 2016 y 2017 se registró una tasa de morbilidad de LNI de 7,86 y 7,21 casos por 100.000 habitantes, respectivamente, similar a la del promedio nacional. Fue mayor el número de casos en hombres que en mujeres, principalmente entre los 18 y los 34 años. La tasa de mortalidad reportada fue de 10,10 y 11,05 por cada 100.000 habitantes para el mismo periodo. Las LNI fueron más frecuentes en personas con bajo nivel educativo, del área urbana, y el mecanismo traumático más frecuente fue el contundente. Conclusiones: este estudio evidencia disminución en las tasas de LNI y aumento de la mortalidad accidental en Antioquia, comparada con años anteriores. Dicho comportamiento es diferente a lo reportado por la literatura internacional. Se requieren investigaciones que analicen otras fuentes generadoras de información acerca de las LNI, con la finalidad de estimar con mayor precisión la ocurrencia del fenómeno y sus variables asociadas.

Background: The World Health Organization con siders unintentional injuries (UI) as an international public health problem, due to their effect on disability and mortality in the general population. Objective: To present and analyze the data on UI and accidental death collected by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, between 2016 and 2017. Methods: Descriptive study based on the information collected by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. The rates of injuries and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants / year were calculated, and the statistical analysis was made using SPSS® version 24.0. Results: In the years 2016 and 2017, there was a morbidity rate of UI of 7.86 and 7.21 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively, similar to the national average. The number of cases was greater in men than in women, mainly between 18 and 34 years of age. The reported accidental mortality rate was 10.10 and 11.05 per 100,000 inhabitants for the years 2016 and 2017, respectively. The UI were more frequent in people with low educational level, from the urban area, and the most frequent traumatic mechanism was the blunt one. Conclusions: This study shows a reduction in the rates of UI and an increase of the rates of accidental death in Antioquia compared to the previous years. This trend is different to the previously reported on international literature. More studies analyzing other sources of information on variables like UI are needed in this field, in order to precisely estimate the occurrence of this event and its associated variables.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes Using Titania Nanoparticles Supported in Metal-Organic Materials Based on Iron.

Composite materials based on titania nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) called MIL-53 (Fe) ((Fe (III) (OH) (1,4-BDC)), MILs (Materials Institute Lavoisier)), MIL-100 (Fe) (Fe3O(H2O)2OH(BTC)2), and Fe-BTC (iron-benzenetricarboxylate) with different percentages of TiO2 NPs (0.5, 1, and 2.5% wt.) were synthesized using the solvothermal method and used as photocatalytic materials in the degradation of two dyes (Orange II and Reactive Black 5 (RB5)). The pristine and composite materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Raman, UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The 2.5TiO2/MIL-100 composite material showed the best results for the degradation of both dyes (Reactive Black 5 and Orange II dye, 99% and 99.5% degradation in 105 and 150 min, respectively). The incorporation of TiO2 NPs into MOFs can decrease the recombination of the change carrier in the MOF, increasing the photocatalytic activity of a pristine MOF. Results therefore indicated that the synthesized MOF nanocomposites have good potential for wastewater treatment.

Persistent inflammatory pain is linked with anxiety-like behaviors, increased blood corticosterone, and reduced global DNA methylation in the rat amygdala.

Chronic pain increases the risk of developing anxiety, with limbic areas being likely neurological substrates. Despite high clinical relevance, little is known about the precise behavioral, hormonal, and brain neuroplastic correlates of anxiety in the context of persistent pain. Previous studies have shown that decreased nociceptive thresholds in chronic pain models are paralleled by anxiety-like behavior in rats, but there are conflicting ideas regarding its effects on the stress response and circulating corticosterone levels. Even less is known about the molecular mechanisms through which the brain encodes pain-related anxiety. This study examines how persistent inflammatory pain in a rat model would impact anxiety-like behaviors and corticosterone release, and whether these changes would be reflected in levels of global DNA methylation in brain areas involved in stress regulation. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or saline was administered in the right hindpaw of adult male Wistar rats. Behavioral testing included the measurement of nociceptive thresholds (digital anesthesiometer), motor function (open field test), and anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze and the dark-light box test). Corticosterone was measured via radioimmunoassay. Global DNA methylation (enzyme immunoassay) as well as DNMT3a levels (western blotting) were quantified in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and ventral hippocampus. CFA administration resulted in persistent reduction in nociceptive threshold in the absence of locomotor abnormalities. Increased anxiety-like behaviors were observed in the elevated plus maze and were accompanied by increased blood corticosterone levels 10 days after pain induction. Global DNA methylation was decreased in the amygdala, with no changes in DNMT3a abundance in any of the regions examined. Persistent inflammatory pain promotes anxiety -like behaviors, HPA axis activation, and epigenetic regulation through DNA methylation in the amygdala. These findings describe a molecular mechanism that links pain and stress in a well-characterized rodent model.