The social stratification of internal migration and daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study leverages mobile data for 5.4 million users to unveil the complex dynamics of daily mobility and longer-term relocations in and from Santiago, Chile, during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on socioeconomic differentials. We estimated a relative increase in daily mobility, in 2020, for lower-income compared to higher-income regions. In contrast, longer-term relocation rose primarily among higher-income groups. These shifts indicate nuanced responses to the pandemic across socioeconomic classes. Compared to 2017, economic factors in 2020 had a stronger influence on the decision to relocate and the selection of destinations, suggesting transformations in mobility behaviors. Contrary to previously held beliefs, there was no evidence supporting a preference for rural over urban destinations, despite the surge in emigration from Santiago during the pandemic. This study enhances our understanding of how varying socioeconomic conditions interact with mobility decisions during crises and provides insights for policymakers aiming to enact fair and evidence-based measures in rapidly changing circumstances.

A dataset to assess mobility changes in Chile following local quarantines.

Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions like wearing masks, physical distancing, lockdown, and travel restrictions. Because of their economic and logistical effects, tracking mobility changes during quarantines is crucial in assessing their efficacy and predicting the virus spread. Unlike many other heavily affected countries, Chile implemented quarantines at a more localized level, shutting down small administrative zones, rather than the whole country or large regions. Given the non-obvious effects of these localized quarantines, tracking mobility becomes even more critical in Chile. To assess the impact on human mobility of the localized quarantines, we analyze a mobile phone dataset made available by Telefónica Chile, which comprises 31 billion eXtended Detail Records and 5.4 million users covering the period February 26th to September 20th, 2020. From these records, we derive three epidemiologically relevant metrics describing the mobility within and between comunas. The datasets made available may be useful to understand the effect of localized quarantines in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breaking the breach in Latin America: A pilot study of mechanical thrombectomy in the public healthcare system in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke. Until the beginning of 2020 MT was not funded nor widely implemented at the public healthcare level in Chile. OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of a pilot program created to provide access to public MT in Santiago - Chile. METHODS: Analysis from a prospectively collected database of MT cases performed between September 2017 and September 2019 in one center. A stroke network was developed with a single MT capable stroke center and five primary stroke centers. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. Successful reperfusion was defined as 2 b-3 according to the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale. Safety outcomes include the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were treated over the study period. Their mean age was 62.8 ± 11.8 years and median baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) measurement was 17. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received intra venous thrombolysis. Successful reperfusion was achieved in 95% of the cases. NIHSS at 24 hours showed a median drop of 7 points from baseline (p < 0.00001) and 50% of the follow-up patients were functionally independent at 90 days. Symptomatic Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 5% of the patients and 90-day all case mortality was 11%. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility of a publicly funded MT program in Chile, with similar results as other international randomized control trials.

PPARα and PPARγ regulate the nucleoside transporter hENT1.

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) is an important determinant for nucleoside analog based chemotherapy success. Preliminary data suggest hENT1 regulation by PPARs. Using A2780 cells, we investigated the role of PPARs on hENT1 expression and activity. PPARα and PPARγ agonists, Wy14,643 and RGZ, increased hENT1 expression, but only PPARα activation or overexpression resulted in higher hENT1 transport activity. On the other hand, promoter analysis showed two putative PPRE in hENT1 promoter and luciferase-coupled promoter constructs were generated and analyzed. Our results suggest that PPARα-but not PPARγ-mediated expression regulation of hENT1 is PPRE-dependent. In conclusion, PPARα and PPARγ activation modulate hENT1 expression.

Integrity of the oral tissues in patients with solid-organ transplants.

The relationship between the use of immunosuppressants in solid-organ transplant patients and oral tissue abnormalities has been recognized. The objective of this study was to determine the state of oral tissue integrity in renal, heart, and liver transplant patients who are on continuous medical and dental control. Forty patients of both sexes were clinically evaluated at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile to identify pathologies of oral mucosa, gingival enlargement (GE), decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index, and salivary flow. The average age of the transplant subjects was 49.4 years, and the age range was 19 to 69 years. Most subjects maintained a good level of oral hygiene, and the rate mean of DMFT was 14.7. The degree of involvement of the oral mucosa and GE was low (10%). Unlike other studies, the frequency of oral mucosal diseases and GE was low despite the fact that these patients were immunosuppressed. Care and continuous monitoring seem to be of vital importance in maintaining the oral health of transplant patients.

Hydrogen sulfide production from elemental sulfur by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans in an anaerobic bioreactor.

Feasibility of elemental sulfur reduction by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans in anaerobic conditions in a stirred reactor was studied. Hydrogen was used as energy source, whereas the carbonated species were bicarbonate and yeast extract. Attention was paid to reactor engineering aspects, biofilm formation on the sulfur surface, hydrogen sulfide formation rate and kinetics limitations of the sulfur reduction. D. desulfuricans formed stable biofilms on the sulfur surface. It was found that active sulfur surface availability limits the reaction rate. The reaction rate was first order with respect to sulfur and hydrogen velocity had no effect in the reaction rate for the range 8.2 x 10(-2) to 4.1 x 10(-1) Nm(3) m(-2) min(-1). At a superficial gas velocity (u(G)) = 3.1 x 10(-2) Nm(3) m(-2) min(-1), H(2)S(g) production rate decreased due to a deficient H(2)S stripping. A maximum H(2)S(g) production rate of 2.1 g H(2)S L(-1) d(-1) was achieved during 5 days with an initial sulfur density of 4.7% (w/v).