Engaging the Guatemala Scientific Diaspora: The Power of Networking and Shared Learning.

The underdevelopment of the higher education system in Guatemala and the fragility of its science and technology (S&T) contexts have compelled a significant number of talented Guatemalan scientists to be trained, educated, and employed abroad. The relocation of such skilled human power to different countries and regions has resulted in a growing Guatemalan Scientific Diaspora (GSD). Until recently, the emigration of scientists from the Global South to scientifically advanced countries in the North was studied as it negatively impacted the countries of origin. However, technological upgrades and globalization have progressively shifted the paradigm in which such scientific diasporas interact and connect, thus enabling them to influence their home countries positively. Due to the lack of knowledge-based evidence and functioning connecting platforms, the value and potential of the GSD in their involvement in proposing solutions to complex socio-economic, environmental, and other challenges faced by Guatemalan society remain unknown. Moreover, the lack of interaction of relevant stakeholders (S&T policy agents, international partners, higher education institutions and research centers, industry, and relevant not governmental organizations) represents a pervasive obstacle to the untapped impact of the GSD in the country. This study outlines the Guatemalan scientific diasporas' networking as a mechanism for building research excellence and intellectual capital. This force could respond to the need to strengthen the national science capacities and meet the demands for knowledge production and access to broader sectors of society. This research applied qualitative methodology that, through the conduction of focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with members of the Guatemalan scientific community and relevant key stakeholders, delved into the existence and articulation of the GSD and potential stages for their engagement with their country of origin. Findings highlight the importance of digital and technological pathways that might leverage the GSD's knowledge and experience, channeling skills, and international connections for better interaction with the Guatemalan society. Furthermore, the discussion addresses how technology might turn brain drain into brain circulation, enabling the articulation of the GSD as a viable opportunity to generate collaboration between scientists abroad and local actors, ultimately impacting the building and development of Guatemalan science and national research capacities.

α-Glucosidase Inhibition and Antibacterial Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Ecuadorian Species Clinopodium taxifolium (Kunth) Govaerts.

The phytochemical investigation of both volatile and fixed metabolites of Clinopodium taxifolium (Kunth) Govaerts (Lamiaceae) was performed for the first time. It allowed the isolation and characterization of the essential oil and six known compounds: carvacrol (1), squalane (2), uvaol (3), erythrodiol (4), ursolic acid (5), and salvigenin (6). Their structures were identified and characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), and corroborated by literature. The essential oil of the leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation in two different periods and analyzed by GC-MS and GC coupled to Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). A total of 54 compounds were detected, of which 42 were identified (including trace constituents). The major constituents were carvacrol methyl ether (18.9-23.2%), carvacrol (13.8-16.3%) and, carvacryl acetate (11.4-4.8%). The antibacterial activities were determined as Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus luteus. The hexane and methanol extracts exhibited activity only against Klebsiella pneumoniae (250 and 500 µg/mL respectively), while the ethyl acetate extract was inactive. The hypoglycemic activity was evaluated by the in vitro inhibition of α-glucosidase. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract showed strong inhibitory activity with IC50 = 24.88 µg/mL, however methanolic and hexanic extracts showed weak activity. As a pure compound, only ursolic acid showed a strong inhibitory activity, with IC50 = 72.71 µM.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la endocarditis infecciosa en un hospital general: Indicadores y morbi-mortalidad / Surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis in a general hospital: Indications for and morbi-mortality

Objetivos: Describir las indicaciones de tratamiento quirúrgico de la endocarditis infecciosa, el momento de indicación quirúrgica, tipo de cirugía y morbi-mortalidad post-operatoria. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de Endocarditis Infecciosa (EI) definido según los Criterios de Duke, que no respondieron al tratamiento médico y que además contaban con indicación de tratamiento quirúrgico de acuerdo a la evaluación de los especialistas del Servicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, desde enero del 2000 a diciembre de 2013. Se revisaron las historias clínicas y se determinaron las características clínicas de la población, indicaciones quirúrgicas, momento y tipo de cirugía, mortalidad y complicaciones. Resultados: De 27 pacientes con diagnóstico de EI e indicación de tratamiento quirúrgico, el 74,07% tuvo indicación de cirugía por riesgo de embolismo, el 70,37% por insuficiencia cardiaca refractaria a tratamiento médico y el 51,85% por infección no controlada. El 77,78% tuvo indicación de cirugía de urgencia y el 22,22% indicación de cirugía de emergencia. El 25,93% de los pacientes fue intervenido quirúrgicamente. A 6 pacientes se les realizó cambio valvular. Un paciente falleció luego de la cirugía y otros 3 presentaron complicaciones post-quirúrgicas...

Objectives: To describe the indications for surgical management of infective endocarditis (IE), timing of surgical intervention, type of surgery and post-operative morbi-mortality. Methods: Retrospective study that enrolled patients with IE following Duke´s criteria that did not respond to medical treatment, with indications for surgical management based on an evaluation by cardiothoracic specialists of Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia from January 2008 to December 2013. Clinical charts were reviewed in search for indications for surgical management of IE, timing of surgical intervention, type of surgery and post-operative morbi-mortality. Results: A total of 27 patients were diagnosed with IE during the study period; 40.7% had indications for surgical intervention due to risk of embolization; 70.37% for heart failure not responding to medical treatment and 51.85% for uncontrolled infection; 77.78% had indication for urgent intervention and 22.2% of emergency intervention. A total of 25.93% Objectives: To describe the indications for surgical management of infective endocarditis (IE), timing of surgical intervention, type of surgery and post-operative morbi-mortality. Methods: Retrospective study that enrolled patients with IE following Duke´s criteria that did not respond to medical treatment, with indications for surgical management based on an evaluation by cardiothoracic specialists of Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia from January 2008 to December 2013. Clinical charts were reviewed in search for indications for surgical management of IE, timing of surgical intervention, type of surgery and post-operative morbi-mortality...