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PREMISE: Evolution of cross-pollination efficiency depends on the genetic variation of flower traits, the pollen vector, and flower trait matching between pollen donors and recipients. Trait matching has been almost unexplored among nonheterostylous species, and we examined whether the match of anther length in pollen donors and stigma length in pollen recipients influences the efficiency of cross-pollination. To explore potential constraints for evolutionary response, we also quantified genetic variation and covariation among sepal length, petal length and width, stamen length, style length, and herkogamy. METHODS: We created 58 experimental arrays of Turnera velutina that varied in the extent of mismatch in the position of anthers and stigmas between single-flowered plants. Genetic variation and correlations among flower traits were estimated under greenhouse conditions. RESULTS: Style length, but not herkogamy, influenced the efficiency of cross-pollination. Plants with stamen length that matched the style length of other plants were more efficient pollen donors, whereas those with the style protruding above the stamens of other plants were more efficient pollen recipients. Significant broad-sense heritability (0.22 > hB 2 < 0.42) and moderate genetic correlations (0.33 > r < 0.85) among floral traits were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that anther-stigma mismatch between flowers contributed to variation in the efficiency of cross-pollination. The genetic correlations between stamen length and other floral traits suggests that any change in cross-pollination efficiency would be driven by changes in style rather than in stamen length.
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Flores , Polen , Polinización , Flores/fisiología , Flores/anatomía & histología , Flores/genética , Polen/fisiología , Polen/genética , Variación Genética , FenotipoRESUMEN
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels are often elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). FGF23 and inflammation are common characteristics in CKD, and both are associated with worse disease progression and the occurrence of complications. The existence of an interaction between FGF23 and inflammation has been suggested, each of which influences the expression and activity of the other, leading to a vicious feedback loop with adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and mortality. In this work, we determined circulating FGF23 levels in a group of patients with CKD stages 3 and 4 subjected to elective femoral endarterectomy due to established peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition resulting from an athero-inflammatory process, and we studied its associations with different inflammatory markers and mediators. We evaluated its association with serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL10, as well as with the gene expression levels of these parameters and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM) 17 in femoral vascular tissue and peripheral blood circulating cells (PBCCs). We also analyzed its association with serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Finally, we determined the vascular immunoreactivity of protein TNFα in a subgroup of patients. FGF23 concentrations were independently associated with circulating and PBCC mRNA levels of TNFα. Worst kidney function and diabetes were also found to be contributing to FGF23 levels. Patients with higher levels of FGF23 also had greater vascular immunoreactivity for TNFα.
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Factor-23 de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos , Factores de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos , Enfermedad Arterial Periférica , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica , Humanos , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/sangre , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/metabolismo , Enfermedad Arterial Periférica/sangre , Enfermedad Arterial Periférica/metabolismo , Enfermedad Arterial Periférica/etiología , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Factores de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos/sangre , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/sangre , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismo , Biomarcadores/sangre , Proteína C-Reactiva/metabolismo , Proteína ADAM17/metabolismo , Proteína ADAM17/sangre , Proteína ADAM17/genética , Interleucina-6/sangre , Interleucina-10/sangre , Inflamación/sangre , Inflamación/metabolismoRESUMEN
Mass spectrometry-based plant metabolomics is frequently used to identify novel natural products or study the effect of specific treatments on a plant's metabolism. Reliable sample handling is required to avoid artifacts, which is why most protocols mandate shock freezing of plant tissue in liquid nitrogen and an uninterrupted cooling chain. However, the logistical challenges of this approach make it infeasible for many ecological studies. Especially for research in the tropics, permanent cooling poses a challenge, which is why many of those studies use dried leaf tissue instead. We screened a total of 10 extraction and storage approaches for plant metabolites extracted from maize leaf tissue across two cropping seasons to develop a methodology for agroecological studies in logistically challenging tropical locations. All methods were evaluated based on changes in the metabolite profile across a 2-month storage period at different temperatures with the goal of reproducing the metabolite profile of the living plant as closely as possible. We show that our newly developed on-site liquid-liquid extraction protocol provides a good compromise between sample replicability, extraction efficiency, material logistics, and metabolite profile stability. We further discuss alternative methods which showed promising results and feasibility of on-site sample handling for field studies.
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BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous loops are one of the main therapeutic alternatives to address the absence of recipient vessels in lower extremity microsurgical reconstruction. However, there is no consensus on whether to perform them in one or two surgical stages. The objective of this work is to determine whether the outcome of lower limb free flaps anastomosed to vascular loops depends on the number of surgical stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines, on vascular loops and free flaps in lower limb. Survival rate, as well as major and minor complications were studied. A forest plot and Pearson's chi-square were used for statistical analysis. Study quality was assessed in duplicate using Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool. This study was registered on PROSPERO. RESULTS: Thirty-two articles using free flaps anastomosed to vascular loops in lower limb, either one or two-stage, were selected. A total of 296 flaps were included, 52% (n = 154) in one and 48% (n = 142) in two surgical times. No statistically significant differences were found in the survival rate (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 0.62; 5.47, p = .09 and p = .344) or major complications (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.31; 1.57, p = .56 and p = .92) of flaps between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to the available evidence, the outcome of free flaps anastomosed to vascular loops in the lower limb does not depend on the number of surgical stages they undergo. Although there is some heterogeneity in the groups studied, the decision on the number of procedures to be performed should be determined by the surgeon, concerning the clinical situation of the patient, as well as to the vascular, bone and soft tissue status of the extremity.
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Colgajos Tisulares Libres , Humanos , Extremidad Inferior/cirugía , Tempo OperativoRESUMEN
The growth of international trade, coupled with an expansion of large-scale pine plantations in South America during the second half of the twentieth century, has significantly increased the opportunities for the invasion of forest insects. Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) are a large and diverse group of insects, commonly recognized as one of the most important tree mortality agents in coniferous forests worldwide and an important group among invasive forest species. In this study, we combined data from field sampling with published records of established non-native pine bark beetles, to describe their distribution and invasion history in pine plantations across southern South America, reviewing the available information on their phenology and host range. We obtained records of established populations of six Eurasian species distributed in two major regions: the southwest region comprises plantations in Chile and the Argentine Patagonia, with four bark beetle species: Hylastes ater, Hylastes linearis, Hylurgus ligniperda, and Orthotomicus laricis; the northeastern zone includes northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, and includes three bark beetle species: Cyrtogenius luteus, H. ligniperda, and O. erosus. The establishment of non-native populations across the study area began in the 1950s, and from the 1980s onwards, there has been an exponential increase in introductions. We predict that several of these species will continue spreading across South America and that new species will continue arriving. We highlight the importance of international collaboration for early detection and management of non-native pine bark beetles.
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Escarabajos , Pinus , Gorgojos , Animales , Comercio , Corteza de la Planta , Internacionalidad , Especies Introducidas , ChileRESUMEN
Antimitotic agents are one of the more successful types of anticancer drugs, but they suffer from toxicity and resistance. The application of approved drugs to new indications (i.e., drug repurposing) is a promising strategy for the development of new drugs. It relies on finding pattern similarities: drug effects to other drugs or conditions, similar toxicities, or structural similarity. Here, we recursively searched a database of approved drugs for structural similarity to several antimitotic agents binding to a specific site of tubulin, with the expectation of finding structures that could fit in it. These searches repeatedly retrieved frentizole, an approved nontoxic anti-inflammatory drug, thus indicating that it might behave as an antimitotic drug devoid of the undesired toxic effects. We also show that the usual repurposing approach to searching for targets of frentizole failed in most cases to find such a relationship. We synthesized frentizole and a series of analogs to assay them as antimitotic agents and found antiproliferative activity against HeLa tumor cells, inhibition of microtubule formation within cells, and arrest at the G2/M phases of the cell cycle, phenotypes that agree with binding to tubulin as the mechanism of action. The docking studies suggest binding at the colchicine site in different modes. These results support the repurposing of frentizole for cancer treatment, especially for glioblastoma.
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Antimitóticos , Antineoplásicos , Antimitóticos/farmacología , Tubulina (Proteína)/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Relación Estructura-Actividad , Colchicina/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/química , Moduladores de Tubulina/química , Ensayos de Selección de Medicamentos Antitumorales , Proliferación Celular , Sitios de UniónRESUMEN
The layered transition-metal dichalcogenide material 1T-TaS2 possesses successive phase transitions upon cooling, resulting in strong electron-electron correlation effects and the formation of charge density waves (CDWs). Recently, a dimerized double-layer stacking configuration was shown to form a Peierls-like instability in the electronic structure. To date, no direct evidence for this double-layer stacking configuration using optical techniques has been reported, in particular through Raman spectroscopy. Here, we employ a multiple excitation and polarized Raman spectroscopy to resolve the behavior of phonons and electron-phonon interactions in the commensurate CDW lattice phase of dimerized 1T-TaS2. We observe a distinct behavior from what is predicted for a single layer and probe a richer number of phonon modes that are compatible with the formation of double-layer units (layer dimerization). The multiple-excitation results show a selective coupling of each Raman-active phonon with specific electronic transitions hidden in the optical spectra of 1T-TaS2, suggesting that selectivity in the electron-phonon coupling must also play a role in the CDW order of 1T-TaS2.
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Endotoxin, a component of the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, is a trigger for dysregulated inflammatory response in sepsis. Extracorporeal purification of endotoxin, through adsorption with polymyxin B, has been studied as a therapeutic option for sepsis. Previous studies suggest that it could be effective in patients with high endotoxin levels or patients with septic shock of moderate severity. Here, we perform a retrospective, single-centre cohort study of 93 patients suffering from abdominal septic shock treated with polymyxin-B hemoperfusion (PMX-HP) between 2015 and 2020. We compared deceased and surviving patients one month after the intervention using X2 and Mann-Whitney U tests. We assessed the data before and after PMX-HP with a Wilcoxon single-rank test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis. There was a significant reduction of SOFA score in the survivors. The expected mortality using APACHE-II was 59.62%, whereas in our sample, the rate was 40.9%. We found significant differences between expected mortality and real mortality only for the group of patients with an SOFA score between 8 and 13. In conclusion, in patients with abdominal septic shock, the addition of PMX-HP to the standard therapy resulted in lower mortality than expected in the subgroup of patients with intermediate severity of illness.
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INTRODUCTION: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020. Superinfections were defined as appeared ≥48h. Bacterial and fungal infections were included, and sources were ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI), primary bloodstream infection (BSI), secondary BSI, and urinary tract infection (UTI). We performed a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis of the risk factors. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirteen patients were included. We documented 174 episodes in 95 (44.6%) patients: 78 VA-LRTI, 66 primary BSI, 9 secondary BSI and 21 UTI. MDROs caused 29.3% of the episodes. The median time from admission to the first episode was 18 days and was longer in MDROs than in non-MDROs (28 vs. 16 days, p<0.01). In multivariate analysis use of corticosteroids (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.4-16.9, p 0.01), tocilizumab (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p 0.03) and broad-spectrum antibiotics within first 7 days of admission (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.1, p<0.01) were associated with superinfections. Patients with superinfections presented respect to controls prolonged ICU stay (35 vs. 12 days, p<0.01) but not higher in-hospital mortality (45.3% vs. 39.7%, p 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Superinfections in ICU patients are frequent in late course of admission. Corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotics are identified as risk factors for its development.
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COVID-19 , Sepsis , Sobreinfección , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Sobreinfección/tratamiento farmacológico , COVID-19/complicaciones , COVID-19/epidemiología , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Sepsis/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Introduction: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections. Methods: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020. Superinfections were defined as appeared ≥48h. Bacterial and fungal infections were included, and sources were ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI), primary bloodstream infection (BSI), secondary BSI, and urinary tract infection (UTI). We performed a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis of the risk factors. Results: Two-hundred thirteen patients were included. We documented 174 episodes in 95 (44.6%) patients: 78 VA-LRTI, 66 primary BSI, 9 secondary BSI and 21 UTI. MDROs caused 29.3% of the episodes. The median time from admission to the first episode was 18 days and was longer in MDROs than in non-MDROs (28 vs. 16 days, p<0.01). In multivariate analysis use of corticosteroids (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.416.9, p 0.01), tocilizumab (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.15.9, p 0.03) and broad-spectrum antibiotics within first 7 days of admission (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.25.1, p<0.01) were associated with superinfections. Patients with superinfections presented respect to controls prolonged ICU stay (35 vs. 12 days, p<0.01) but not higher in-hospital mortality (45.3% vs. 39.7%, p 0.13). Conclusions: Superinfections in ICU patients are frequent in late course of admission. Corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotics are identified as risk factors for its development.(AU)
Introducción: Nuestro trabajo describe la frecuencia de sobreinfecciones en pacientes con COVID-19 en UCI e identifica factores de riesgo asociados con su aparición. Secundariamente, evaluamos la estancia en UCI, mortalidad intrahospitalaria y analizamos un subgrupo de infecciones causadas por microorganismos multirresistentes (MDR). Métodos: Estudio realizado entre marzo y junio de 2020. Definimos como sobreinfección a aquellas que aparecieron ≥48h del ingreso. Incluimos las causadas por bacterias y hongos y evaluamos la infección respiratoria asociada a la ventilación mecánica (IRAVM), bacteriemia primaria, bacteriemia secundaria e infección del tracto urinario. Se realizó un análisis multivariante de los factores de riesgo. Resultados: Incluimos 213 pacientes, documentándose 174 episodios de sobreinfección en 95 casos (44,6%): IRAVM 78 episodios, bacteriemia primaria 66, bacteriemia secundaria 9 e ITU 21. Los MDR causaron el 29,3% de los episodios. La mediana de tiempo hasta el primer episodio fue de 18 días, siendo mayor en las causadas por MDR vs. no MDR (28 vs. 16, p<0,01). El análisis multivariante identificó la administración de corticoides (OR 4,9 IC 95% 1,4-16,9), tocilizumab (OR 2,4 IC 95% 1,1-5,9) y antibióticos de amplio espectro (OR 2,5 IC 95% 1,2-5,1) como factores de riesgo asociados. Los pacientes con sobreinfección presentaron una estancia en UCI más prolongada (35 vs. 12 días, p <0,01) pero no mayor mortalidad intrahospitalaria (45,3% vs. 39,7%, p 0,13). Conclusiones: Las sobreinfecciones en los pacientes con COVID-19 aparecen tardíamente. La administración de corticoides, tocilizumab y antibióticos de amplio espectro se asocia con su aparición.(AU)
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Humanos , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Infecciones , Mortalidad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Pandemias , Enfermedades TransmisiblesRESUMEN
Objetivo: analizar la asociación de las características sociodemográficas, la obesidad pregestacional, la ganancia ponderal excesiva durante la gestación y las características del parto, con el riesgo de sufrir una hemorragia posparto (HPP).Método: estudio descriptivo, transversal, retrospectivo realizado con mujeres cuyos partos acontecieron en el año 2018 en un hospital de segundo nivel. Se incluyeron mujeres gestantes con parto único, con un recién nacido vivo, a término, con parto vaginal y con un completo control gestacional en el hospital. Se recogió información de la historia clínica acerca de la edad y el origen de la mujer, el índice de masa corporal pregestacional, la ganancia ponderal durante la gestación y diferentes variables relacionadas con el parto. La variable resultado fue la HPP (> 500mL).Resultados: se incluyeron N= 831 mujeres. La edad media fue de 31,8 años (DE:5,38), el 62,7% era española; el 64,6%, multípara; el 41,7% presentaba sobrepeso/obesidad pregestacional; el 26,2%, una ganancia ponderal excesiva durante la gestación; el 89,3% tuvo un parto eutócico y el 70,4% de los alumbramientos fue dirigido. Veinte mujeres presentaron HPP (2,4%). No se halló asociación con ninguna característica de las estudiadas a excepción del tipo de alumbramiento (p= 0,039). Las pacientes con alumbramiento no-espontáneo presentaron mayor riesgo de sufrir HPP: 5,39 veces más (1,13-25,75; p= 0,022) cuando el alumbramiento era dirigido y 5,29 (1,3-21,69; p= 0,013) cuando era manual.Conclusiones: ni los factores sociodemográficos ni las características antropométricas pre y posgestacionales influyen en la aparición de HPP. Un alumbramiento no-espontáneo aumenta el riesgo de HPP hasta cinco veces más. Estos datos deben ser interpretados con cautela.(AU)
Objective: to analyse the association of sociodemographic characteristics, pre-pregnancy obesity, excessive weight gain during pregnancy and characteristics of delivery with the risk of suffering a post-partum haemorrhage (PPH).Method: a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with women who gave birth during 2018 in a second level hospital. The study included pregnant women with single birth of a live newborn at term, with vaginal delivery and complete pregnancy monitoring at hospital. The following information was collected from the clinical record: age and origin of the mother, pre-pregnancy body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, and different variables associated with delivery. The outcome variable was PPH (> 500mL).Results: the study included N= 831 women; their mean age was 31.8 years (SD:5.38), 62.7% were Spanish; 64.6% were multiparous; 41.7% presented pre-pregnancy overweight / obesity; 26.2% had an excessive weight gain during pregnancy; 89,3% had natural deliveries and 70,4% of deliveries were directed. Twenty women presented PPH (2.4%). No association was found with any of the characteristics studied, except for type of delivery (p= 0.039). Patients with non-spontaneous delivery presented higher risk of suffering PPH; 5.39 times more (1.13-25.75; p= 0.022) when delivery was directed and 5.29 (1.3-21.69; p= 0.013) when it was manual.Conclusions: neither sociodemographic factors nor pre and post-pregnancy anthropometric characteristics have influence on the development of PPH. Non-spontaneous delivery increases the risk of PPH up to five times more. These data must be interpreted cautiously.(AU)
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Obesidad , Hemorragia Posparto , Salud Materna , Edad Materna , Epidemiología Descriptiva , Estudios Transversales , Estudios Retrospectivos , EspañaRESUMEN
Introduction: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections. Methods: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020. Superinfections were defined as appeared ≥48 h. Bacterial and fungal infections were included, and sources were ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI), primary bloodstream infection (BSI), secondary BSI, and urinary tract infection (UTI). We performed a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis of the risk factors. Results: Two-hundred thirteen patients were included. We documented 174 episodes in 95 (44.6%) patients: 78 VA-LRTI, 66 primary BSI, 9 secondary BSI and 21 UTI. MDROs caused 29.3% of the episodes. The median time from admission to the first episode was 18 days and was longer in MDROs than in non-MDROs (28 vs. 16 days, p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis use of corticosteroids (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.4-16.9, p 0.01), tocilizumab (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p 0.03) and broad-spectrum antibiotics within first 7 days of admission (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.1, p < 0.01) were associated with superinfections. Patients with superinfections presented respect to controls prolonged ICU stay (35 vs. 12 days, p < 0.01) but not higher in-hospital mortality (45.3% vs. 39.7%, p 0.13). Conclusions: Superinfections in ICU patients are frequent in late course of admission. Corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotics are identified as risk factors for its development.
Introducción: Nuestro trabajo describe la frecuencia de sobreinfecciones en pacientes con COVID-19 en UCI e identifica factores de riesgo asociados con su aparición. Secundariamente, evaluamos la estancia en UCI, mortalidad intrahospitalaria y analizamos un subgrupo de infecciones causadas por microorganismos multirresistentes (MDR). Métodos: Estudio realizado entre marzo y junio de 2020. Definimos como sobreinfección a aquellas que aparecieron ≥48 h del ingreso. Incluimos las causadas por bacterias y hongos y evaluamos la infección respiratoria asociada a la ventilación mecánica (IRAVM), bacteriemia primaria, bacteriemia secundaria e infección del tracto urinario. Se realizó un análisis multivariante de los factores de riesgo. Resultados: Incluimos 213 pacientes, documentándose 174 episodios de sobreinfección en 95 casos (44,6%): IRAVM 78 episodios, bacteriemia primaria 66, bacteriemia secundaria 9 e ITU 21. Los MDR causaron el 29,3% de los episodios. La mediana de tiempo hasta el primer episodio fue de 18 días, siendo mayor en las causadas por MDR vs. no MDR (28 vs. 16, p < 0,01). El análisis multivariante identificó la administración de corticoides (OR 4,9 IC 95% 1,4-16,9), tocilizumab (OR 2,4 IC 95% 1,1-5,9) y antibióticos de amplio espectro (OR 2,5 IC 95% 1,2-5,1) como factores de riesgo asociados. Los pacientes con sobreinfección presentaron una estancia en UCI más prolongada (35 vs. 12 días, p < 0,01) pero no mayor mortalidad intrahospitalaria (45,3% vs. 39,7%, p 0,13). Conclusiones: Las sobreinfecciones en los pacientes con COVID-19 aparecen tardíamente. La administración de corticoides, tocilizumab y antibióticos de amplio espectro se asocia con su aparición.
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Resumo: Introdução: Os universitários de Ciências da Saúde se tornaram especialmente afetados pela pandemia do vírus Sars-CoV-2. As angústias intrinsicamente relacionadas à Covid-19 foram somadas aos impactos referentes às mudanças acontecidas nas instituições acadêmicas, particularmente a mudança para o ensino on-line, uma metodologia que pode gerar desconforto aos estudantes, além de vários obstáculos relacionados ao ensino e à aprendizagem, o que pode ter repercussões traumáticas importantes na saúde mental dessa população. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a carga mental provocada pela pandemia da Covid-19, como um evento traumático ao ponto de desencadear transtornos psiquiátricos, como o transtorno do estresse pós-traumático (Tept), em universitários. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal e quantitativo, com orientação analítico-descritiva, mediante preenchimento de formulário digital anônimo, iniciado após prévia aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Os sujeitos foram estudantes de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde de uma universidade estadual localizada na Região Sudeste do Brasil. A amostra foi constituída por 618 estudantes. Resultado: Foram respondidos 618 formulários pelos estudantes que pertenciam aos cursos de Educação Física (28,8%), Medicina (25,4%), Odontologia (18,1%), Ciências Biológicas (15,2%) e Enfermagem (12,5%). A presença de sintomas de estresse pós-traumático verificados pela Escala de Impacto do Evento-Revisada (IES-R) obteve prevalência de 32,7% (n = 202) entre os estudantes universitários das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Conclusão: Houve impacto significativo na saúde mental dos universitários com presença de sintomas depressivos, ansiedade e estresse acima dos encontrados na literatura científica, e, consequentemente, constatou-se alta na prevalência do Tept.
Abstract: Introduction: Health Sciences university students were especially affected by the Sars-CoV-2 virus pandemic. The anxieties intrinsically related to Covid-19 were added to the impacts related to the changes that have taken place in academic institutions, particularly the change to online teaching, a methodology that can generate discomfort for students, in addition to several obstacles related to teaching and learning, which can have important traumatic effects on the mental health of this population. Objective: To assess the mental health burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as a traumatic event capable of triggering psychiatric disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in university students. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and quantitative study, of analytical-descriptive nature, carried out by filling out an anonymous digital form, initiated after prior approval by the Research Ethics Committee. The subjects were students of Biological and Health Sciences at a State University located in the southeastern region of Brazil. The sample consisted of 618 students. Results: 618 forms were answered by students attending the courses of Physical Education (28.8%), Medicine (25.4%), Dentistry (18.1%), Biological Sciences (15.2%) and Nursing (12.5%). The presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms assessed by the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) obtained a prevalence of 32.7% (n = 202) among university students from Biological and Health Sciences courses. Conclusions: There was a significant impact on the mental health of university students, with the presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress above those found in the scientific literature and, consequently, a high prevalence of PTSD.
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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. New therapeutic strategies are aimed to modulate the athero-inflammatory process that partially orchestrates underlying vascular damage. Peripheral blood circulating cells include different immune cells with a central role in the development of the atherogenic inflammatory response. The anti-aging protein α-Klotho has been related to protective effects against CVD. KL is expressed in monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes where it exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, we analyse the relationships of the levels of inflammatory markers with the expression of the KL gene in PBCCs and with the serum levels of soluble KL in atherosclerotic vascular disease. For this, we conducted a cross-sectional single-center case-control study including a study group of 76 CVD patients and a control group of 16 cadaveric organ donors without medical antecedent or study indicating CVD. Vascular artery fragments and whole blood and serum samples were obtained during elective or organ retrieval surgery. Serum levels of sKL, TNFα and IL10, and gene expression levels of KL, TNF, IL10, NFKB1, DNMT1, and DNMT3A in PBCCs were measured. In these cells, we also determined KL promoter methylation percentage. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were employed to visualize atherosclerotic lesions and to measure IL10 and TNFα levels in vascular fragments. Patients with CVD presented higher values of proinflammatory markers both at systemic and in the vasculature and in the PBCCs, compared to the control group. In PBCCs, CVD patients also presented lower gene expression levels of KL gene (56.4% difference, P < 0.001), higher gene expression levels of DNMT1 and DNMT3A (P < 0.0001, for both) and a higher methylation status of in the promoter region of KL (34.1 ± 4.1% vs. 14.6 ± 3.4%, P < 0.01). In PBCCs and vasculature, KL gene expression correlated inversely with pro-inflammatory markers and directly with anti-inflammatory markers. sKL serum levels presented similar associations with the expression levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in PBCCs. The differences in KL expression levels in PBCCs and in serum sKL levels with respect to control group was even greater in those CVD patients with macroscopically observable atheromatous plaques. We conclude that promoter methylation-mediated downregulation of KL gene expression in PBCCs is associated with the pro-inflammatory status in atherosclerotic vascular disease.
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Aterosclerosis , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Aterosclerosis/genética , Biomarcadores , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Estudios Transversales , Glucuronidasa/metabolismo , Humanos , Inflamación/genética , Inflamación/metabolismo , Interleucina-10 , Proteínas Klotho , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genéticaRESUMEN
Herbicides can drift from intended plants onto non-target species. It remains unclear how drift impacts plant functional traits that are important for fitness. To address this gap, we conducted an experiment where fast cycling Brassica rapa plants were exposed to one of three drift concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 10%) of synthetic-auxin dicamba. We evaluated damage to and capacity of floral and vegetative traits to recover as well as lifetime fitness by comparing treated plants to controls. Response to dicamba exposure was concentration-dependent across all traits but varied with trait type. At 0.5% dicamba, three out of five floral traits were affected, while at 1% dicamba, four floral traits and one out of two vegetative traits were negatively impacted. At 10% dicamba all floral and vegetative traits were stunted. Overall, floral traits were more responsive to all dicamba drift concentrations than vegetative traits and displayed a wide range of variation ranging from no response (e.g., pistil length) to up to 84% reduction (ovule number). However, despite floral traits were more affected across the dicamba drift concentrations they were also more likely to recover than the vegetative traits. There was also variation among lifetime traits; the onset of flowering was delayed, and reproductive fitness was negatively affected in a concentration-dependent manner, but the final biomass and total flower production were not affected. Altogether, we show substantial variation across plant traits in their response to dicamba and conclude that accounting for this variation is essential to understand the full impact of herbicide drift on plants and the ecological interactions these traits mediate.
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Brassica rapa , Herbicidas , Brassica rapa/genética , Dicamba/toxicidad , Flores , Herbicidas/toxicidad , Ácidos IndolacéticosRESUMEN
Tenorio syndrome (TNORS) (OMIM #616260) is a relatively recent disorder with very few cases described so far. Clinical features included macrocephaly, intellectual disability, hypotonia, enlarged ventricles and autoimmune diseases. Molecular underlying mechanism demonstrated missense variants and a large deletion encompassing RNF125, a gene that encodes for an U3 ubiquitin ligase protein. Since the initial description of the disorder in six patients from four families, several new patients were diagnosed, adding more evidence to the clinical spectrum. In this article, we described 14 additional cases with deep phenotyping and make an overall review of all the cases with pathogenic variants in RNF125. Not all patients presented with overgrowth, but instead, most patients showed a common pattern of neurodevelopmental disease, macrocephaly and/or large forehead. Segregation analysis showed that, though the variant was inherited in some patients from an apparently asymptomatic parent, deep phenotyping suggested a mild form of the disease in some of them. The mechanism underlying the development of this disease is not well understood yet and the report of further cases will help to a better understanding and clinical characterization of the syndrome.
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Anomalías Múltiples/diagnóstico , Anomalías Múltiples/genética , Estudios de Asociación Genética , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Fenotipo , Alelos , Sustitución de Aminoácidos , Bases de Datos Genéticas , Facies , Estudios de Asociación Genética/métodos , Variación Genética , Genotipo , Humanos , Síndrome , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligasas/genética , Secuenciación del ExomaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: We present outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 undergoing appendectomy in order to aid in clarification of current controversies regarding safety of therapeutic options for emergency surgical diseases in patients with SARS-CoV-2. Peru has the greatest number of per capita deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 of any country and is one of few with a COVID-dedicated hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included all adult patients with acute appendicitis admitted to an urban, public, COVID-dedicated hospital over two months. Baseline characteristics and post-operative outcomes at 28 days are reported. RESULTS: 58 patients, 35 male and 23 female, ages 15-73 years with SARS-CoV-2 as diagnosed by IgM (12%), IgG (19%) or both (69%) and acute appendicitis as diagnosed using the Alvarado Score and confirmed intraoperatively were enrolled. All patients presented with right lower quadrant pain, 86% with leukocytosis, 88% with nausea/emesis and no patients with respiratory complaints. All patients underwent open appendectomy, 90% under regional anesthesia. Average operative time was 54±25 min, length of stay 2.5±1.5 days. 14% of patients had a post-operative complication, all were minor, four (7%) incisional surgical site infections, one (2%) organ space, and three (5%) incisional seromas, no deaths or serious complications. CONCLUSION: Open surgical management of acute appendicitis with regional anesthesia in adults with pre-operative diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is feasible and not associated with an increased frequency or severity of post-operative complications, longer operative time, or extended hospitalization as compared to reports in similar patients without SARS-CoV-2.
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Schuurs-Hoeijmakers syndrome (SHMS) or PACS1 Neurodevelopmental disorder is a rare disorder characterized by intellectual disability, abnormal craniofacial features and congenital malformations. SHMS is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease caused by pathogenic variants in the PACS1 gene. PACS1 is a trans-Golgi-membrane traffic regulator that directs protein cargo and several viral envelope proteins. It is upregulated during human embryonic brain development and has low expression after birth. So far, only 54 patients with SHMS have been reported. In this work, we report on seven new identified SHMS individuals with the classical c.607C > T: p.Arg206Trp PACS1 pathogenic variant and review clinical and molecular aspects of all the patients reported in the literature, providing a summary of clinical findings grouped as very frequent (≥75% of patients), frequent (50-74%), infrequent (26-49%) and rare (less than ≤25%).
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Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo/genética , Proteínas de Transporte Vesicular/genética , Anomalías Múltiples/genética , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/genética , Masculino , Mutación/genética , Fenotipo , SíndromeRESUMEN
The aims of the present study were: (i) to describe the structural and functional attributes of young male Portuguese basketball players aged 12-16 years and (ii) to generate normative data according to chronological age and years from peak height velocity. A total of 281 male Portuguese young basketball players between the ages of 12 and 16 years were assessed in this study. Chronological age, maturity parameters (maturity offset and predicted age at peak height velocity), morphological (body mass, height, and skinfolds and length), and fitness (sprint, change of direction ability, jump, and upper body strength) attributes were measured. Descriptive statistics were determined for the age and maturity status, and the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were chosen as reference values. Descriptive and normative values of the players' morphological and fitness attributes, stratified by age and maturity status, are provided. The normative values of age at peak height velocity (category YAPHV = 0) showed that regional basketball players presented average values (50th percentile) of 169.8 cm for height, 173.3 cm for arm span, 55.6 kg for body mass, 3.34 s for the 20-m speed test, 10.31 s for the T-test, 4.75 m for the 2-kg medicine ball throw, 66.9 kg for the combined right and left handgrip strength, and 30.1 and 35.9 cm for jump height in the countermovement jump (CMJ) and CMJ with arm swing, respectively. In conclusion, these results may be helpful to quantify and control an athlete's performance over time and to adjust strength and conditioning programs to biological demands.
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Delay discounting involves choosing between a small, immediate reward, and a larger but delayed one. As the delay between choice and large reward gets longer, people with ADHD tend to become impulsive faster than controls, indicated by a switch in preference from the large to the smaller reward. Choosing the smaller reward when the larger is considered reward maximizing is labeled impulsive behaviour. It is well documented that increased delays between choice and reward affects choice preference in both humans and other animals. Other variables such as the inter-trial interval or trial length are observed to have an effect on human discounting, but their effect on discounting in other animals is largely assumed rather than tested. In the current experiment, we tested this assumption. One group of rats was exposed to increasing delays between choosing the large reward and receiving it, while another group experienced longer inter-trial intervals that were equal in length to the delays in the other group. This ensured that trial length was controlled for in delay discounting, but that the delay function and inter-trial intervals could be manipulated and measured separately. Results showed that while the delay between choice and reward caused impulsive behaviour in rats, the length of the inter-trial interval (and by extension trial length) had no impact on choice behaviour. A follow-up experiment found this to be the case even if the length of the inter-trial interval was signaled with audio cues. These results suggest that rats, and possibly animals in general, are insensitive to time between trials, and therefore cannot easily represent human counterparts on the task.