Searching for common patterns in parasite ecology: species and host contributions to beta-diversity in helminths of South African ungulates and fleas of South American rodents.

We searched for common patterns in parasite ecology by investigating species and host contributions to the beta-diversity of infracommunities (=assemblages of parasites harboured by a host individual) in helminths of three species of South African ungulates and fleas of 11 species of South American rodents, assuming that a comparison of patterns in distinctly different parasites and hosts would allow us to judge the generality or, at least, commonness of these patterns. We used data on species' composition and numbers of parasites and asked whether (i) parasite species' attributes (life cycle, transmission mode, and host specificity in helminths; possession of sclerotized combs, microhabitat preference, and host specificity in fleas) or their population structure (mean abundance and/or prevalence) and (ii) host characteristics (sex and age) affect parasite and host species' contributions to parasite beta-diversity (SCBD and HCBD, respectively). We found that parasite species' morphological and ecological attributes were mostly not associated with their SCBD. In contrast, parasite SCBD, in both ungulates and rodents, significantly increased with either parasite mean abundance or prevalence or both. The effect of host characteristics on HCBD was detected in a few hosts only. In general, parasite infracommunities' beta-diversity appeared to be driven by variation in parasite species rather than the uniqueness of the assemblages harboured by individual hosts. We conclude that some ecological patterns (such as the relationships between SCBD and parasite abundance/prevalence) appear to be common and do not differ between different host-parasite associations in different geographic regions, whereas other patterns (the relationships between SCBD and parasite species' attributes) are contingent and depend on parasite and host identities.

Host specificity of flea parasites of mammals from the Andean Biogeographic Region.

Host specificity of fleas affects their biodiversity that plays a major role in determining the potential transmission routes by pathogens through vertebrate hosts, including humans. In the Biogeographic Andean region, numerous systematic and ecological studies have been conducted, revealing a high diversity of flea taxa of mammals and the presence of pathogenic organisms transmitted by fleas; however, the degree of preference with which each flea species associates with a mammal host remains poorly understood in this region. Herein, host specificity in mammal fleas from the Andean region was analysed. We employed the number of host species for each flea species and the index of host specificity STD *. Following the literature, 144 species and 13 subspecies of fleas (31 genera and 10 families) have been described in the Andean biogeographic region; 76 taxa are endemic to this region. To carry out the analyses of host specificity, we considered 1759 records of fleas collected from 124 species and 59 genera of wild and domestic mammals, mostly rodent species (85.9%). Our results indicate that typical Andean fleas are genus or family host specific (mostly STD * less than 3.0). More diverse mammal hosts are parasitized by more diverse flea genera and families and these hosts are phylogenetically related. Otherwise, these hosts are associated with different flea lineages, suggesting the interaction of ecological and evolutionary mechanisms (host-switching, ecological adaptations and co-evolutionary alternation). The fields of disease ecology and One Health are considering the host specificity of arthropod vectors as an important point to understand the mechanisms of emergence and re-emergence of diseases. Our results allow us to estimate the risk of diseases involving fleas in the Andean region.

The species composition of local flea assemblages at a small scale in two South American regions is predominantly driven by niche-based mechanisms.

We applied a step-down factor analysis (SDFA) and multi-site generalised dissimilarity modelling (MS-GDM) to local flea communities harboured by small mammals (i.e., collected at small sampling sites over a short time period) in two South American regions (Patagonia and the Northwestern Argentina) with the aim of understanding whether these communities were assembled via niche-based or dispersal-based processes. The SDFA allows us to determine whether clusters of flea assemblages across different types of climates, vegetation and soils can be distinguished (suggesting niche-based assembly). MS-GDM allows us to determine whether a substantial proportion of the variation in flea species turnover is explained by specific climate-associated, vegetation-associated and soil-associated variables (indicating niche-based assembly) or host turnover (indicating dispersal-based assembly). Mapping of assemblages on climate, vegetation and soil maps, according to their loadings on axis 1 or axis 2 of the SDFA, did not provide clear-cut results. Clusters of similar loadings could be recognized within some, but not other, climate, vegetation and soil types. However, MS-GDM demonstrated that the effect of environmental variables (especially air temperature) on flea compositional turnover was much stronger than that of host turnover, indicating the predominance of niche-based processes in local community assembly. A comparison of our results with those on the mechanisms that drive species assembly in regional communities allows us to conclude that local and regional communities result from the joint action of niche-based and dispersal-based processes, with the former more important at a smaller spatial scale and the latter at a larger spatial scale.

«Enfermedad verde¼: el reto diagnóstico del glaucoma. Reporte de caso / "Green disease": the diagnostic challenge in glaucoma. Case report

Presentamos un caso clínico de glaucoma conocido como «enfermedad verde¼ y discutimos el reto diagnóstico documentado en la literatura por medio de un reporte de caso clínico. La individualización y evaluación interdimensional de los pacientes tanto con sospecha como con diagnóstico de glaucoma es clave, ya que el uso de diferentes técnicas de examen ayuda a disminuir los diagnósticos erróneos, teniendo en cuenta que las ayudas diagnósticas son un complemento al criterio médico.

We present a clinical case of glaucoma known as the "green disease" and discuss the diagnostic challenge documented in the literature through a clinical case report. The individualization and interdimensional evaluation of patients with both suspicion and diagnosis of glaucoma is key, since the use of different examination techniques helps to reduce misdiagnoses, taking into account that diagnostic aids are a complement to medical criteria.

Efficacy and safety of antipsychotics and antidepressants in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The recommendations of the current guidelines are based on low quality evidence. Periodic updating is required, taking recent evidence into consideration. OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the best available clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants and antipsychotics in patients with anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Systematic review (CRD42020150577). We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Ovid(Cochrane), EMBASE and LILACS for randomised clinical trials performed in patients with anorexia nervosa that evaluated the use of second-generation antipsychotics or oral antidepressants, at any dose and for any length of time, in outpatient and/or hospital treatment, taking weight (body mass index), psychopathological entities and safety as results. RESULTS: Five studies were included, with four assessed as having a high risk of bias. The evidence indicates that patients receiving treatment with olanzapine or fluoxetine tend to stay in treatment programmes for longer. Olanzapine showed favourable results (one study) in terms of weight gain, but did not show the same results in psychopathology, where the evidence is contradictory. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with previous reviews, our work allows us to conclude that there is contradictory information on the efficacy of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Future work should focus on developing clinical trials of high methodological quality.

Eficacia y seguridad de antipsicóticos y antidepresivos en el tratamiento de la anorexia nerviosa: revisión sistemática / Efficacy and Safety of Antipsychotics and Antidepressants in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: a Systematic Review

RESUMEN Introducción: Las recomendaciones de las guías vigentes están basadas en evidencia de baja calidad. Se requiere su actualización periódica considerando la evidencia reciente. Objetivo: Sintetizar la mejor evidencia clínica disponible sobre eficacia y seguridad de antidepresivos y antipsicóticos de segunda generación en pacientes con anorexia nerviosa. Métodos: Revisión sistemática (CRD42020150577). Se buscaron en PubMed, SCOPUS, Ovid(Cochrane), EMBASE y LILACS los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados realizados en pacientes con anorexia nerviosa que evaluasen el uso de antipsicóticos de segunda generación o antidepresivos orales a cualquier dosis y por cualquier tiempo en el tratamiento ambulatorio y/u hospitalario tomando como resultados el peso (índice de masa corporal), las entidades psicopatológicas y la seguridad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 5 estudios, 4 catalogados como con alto riesgo de sesgo. La evidencia indica que los pacientes que reciben tratamiento con olanzapina o fluoxetina tienden a mantenerse por más tiempo dentro de los programas de tratamiento. La olanzapina mostró resultados favorables (un estudio) en cuanto al aumento de peso, pero no mostró los mismos resultados en psicopatología, donde la evidencia es contradictoria. Conclusiones: En concordancia con las revisiones anteriores, nuestro trabajo permite concluir que hay información contradictoria sobre la eficacia de los psicofármacos para la anorexia nerviosa. El trabajo futuro debe enfocarse en desarrollar ensayos clínicos de alta calidad metodológica.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The recommendations of the current guidelines are based on low quality evidence. Periodic updating is required, taking recent evidence into consideration. Objective: To synthesise the best available clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants and antipsychotics in patients with anorexia nervosa. Methods: Systematic review (CRD42020150577). We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Ovid(Cochrane), EMBASE and LILACS for randomised clinical trials performed in patients with anorexia nervosa that evaluated the use of second-generation antipsychotics or oral antidepressants, at any dose and for any length of time, in outpatient and/or hospital treatment, taking weight (body mass index), psychopathological entities and safety as results. Results: Five studies were included, with four assessed as having a high risk of bias. The evidence indicates that patients receiving treatment with olanzapine or fluoxetine tend to stay in treatment programmes for longer. Olanzapine showed favourable results (one study) in terms of weight gain, but did not show the same results in psychopathology, where the evidence is contradictory. Conclusions: In accordance with previous reviews, our work allows us to conclude that there is contradictory information on the efficacy of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Future work should focus on developing clinical trials of high methodological quality.

The relationship between multidimensional poverty, income poverty and youth depressive symptoms: cross-sectional evidence from Mexico, South Africa and Colombia.

Whereas monetary poverty is associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms in young people, poverty is increasingly understood as a multidimensional problem. However, it is yet to be understood how the associations between different dimensions of poverty and youth mental health differ across countries. We examine the relationship between multidimensional, as well as income poverty, and depressive symptoms in young people (age 11-25 years) across three middle-income countries. Based on harmonised data from surveys in Colombia, Mexico and South Africa (N=16 173) we constructed a multidimensional poverty index that comprised five deprivations We used Poisson regression to examine relationships between different forms of poverty with depressive symptoms across the countries. Multidimensional poverty was associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms in the harmonised dataset (IRR (incidence rate ratio)=1.25, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.42), in Mexico (IRR=1.34, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.64) and Colombia (IRR=2.01, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.10) but not in South Africa, a finding driven by a lack of associations between child labour and health insurance coverage with depressive symptoms. There was only an association with income poverty and depressive symptoms in South Africa, not in Colombia or Mexico. Depressive symptoms were associated with individual deprivations such as school lag, child labour and lack of access to health services in the harmonised dataset, but not with household deprivations, such as parental unemployment and housing conditions, though the opposite pattern was observed in South Africa. Our findings suggest that the importance of specific dimensions of poverty for mental health varies across countries, and a multidimensional approach is needed to gain insights into the relationship between youth depression and poverty.

Effects of host factors on the dynamics of fleas (Siphonaptera) in Sigmodontinae rodents (Cricetidae) from El Espinal Ecoregion, Argentina.

We investigated the patterns of flea infestation in wild populations of eight Sigmodontinae rodent species: Akodon azarae, Calomys callidus, Calomys venustus, Holochilus chacarius, Necromys lasiurus, Oligoryzomys flavescens, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Oxymycterus rufus. Rodents were captured in systematic trapping sessions carried out along 2 years at two localities from El Espinal Ecoregion, Argentina. Mean flea intensity, occurrence (presence/absence) of flea infestation, richness and diversity were compared for different ages, body condition, sex and rodent tribes (Akodontini, Oryzomyini and Phyllotini). A total of 376 fleas of the following species and subspecies were collected: Craneopsylla minerva wolffhuegeli, Polygenis (Neopolygenis) pradoi, Polygenis (Polygenis) axius axius, and Polygenis (Polygenis) byturus. The most important factor driving flea infestation was the rodent tribe, with Phyllotini showing the highest values of occurrence, abundance and species richness. Only C. m. wolffhuegeli was affected by the sex of the host. Age and body condition of the hosts did not affect flea infestation. Our results contribute to knowledge of the ecology of fleas on rodent hosts in El Espinal Ecoregion. The relevance of host taxonomy as driver of flea dynamics highlight the importance of considering host community structures at the time of studying the ecology of parasites.

Music therapy and music medicine interventions with adult burn patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pain is one of the most common and most difficult symptoms to manage in adult burn patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Insufficient or unsuccessful pain management can negatively affect physiological, psychological, and social health in burn patients, both during and after hospitalization. Music therapy and music medicine interventions have been shown to positively affect pain and mental health in this population. This systematic review and meta-analysis provide an update of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) using music therapy or music medicine interventions in adult burn patients. METHODS: A variety of databases were searched from their beginning to June 2020, including PsycINFO and PsycArticles (via APAsycNET), PubMed and MEDLINE (via OvidSP), Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Data of all articles meeting the inclusion criteria were extracted, organized, and processed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using Q-test and I2 statistics. RESULTS: 10 RCTs with a total of 1061 participants were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction of pain (I2 = 96.03%, P < 0.001), anxiety (I2 = 98.85%, P < 0.002), and improved relaxation (I2 = 87.19%, P < 0.001) favoring music interventions compared to control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of music interventions for adult burn patients. However, more high-quality RCTs are needed to safely establish guidelines for music therapists and other health care professionals in using music for health purposes with this population.

The Effect of Music Therapy on Perceived Pain, Mental Health, Vital Signs, and Medication Usage of Burn Patients Hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study Protocol.

Background: Burn patients experience major physiological and psychological stressors during treatment and rehabilitation, including elevated levels of pain, anxiety, stress, or depression. Music interventions inclusive of music therapy (MT) have been shown to improve such symptoms, but rigorous clinical trials investigating specific music therapy methods in adult burn patients are scarce. Methods: This is a single center Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) protocol with two parallel arms. Participants are 81 adult burn patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá in Colombia. The intervention consists of a Music Assisted Relaxation (MAR) protocol, a music therapy technique composed of entrained live music combined with a guided relaxation and/or the use of imagery. The effects of the MAR will be compared to a control group (treatment as usual) over a period of maximum 2 weeks or six interventions. The primary outcome measure is perceived background pain, as measured with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after each intervention. Secondary outcomes are anxiety and depression levels; vital signs; and the use of pain medication. Additionally, some patients in the intervention group will be invited to participate in electroencephalography, electromyography, and electrocardiography recordings during the MAR. Discussion: This study protocol follows the SPIRIT guidelines for defining items of clinical trials and is the first study in Colombia to evaluate the effects of music therapy for adult burn patients. With this RCT it is hoped to gather new knowledge about the potential of music therapy to help critical care patients cope and recover from their injuries during the hospitalization in the ICU. Trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04571255. Protocol version: V1.0, May 24th 2021.

Fleas and ticks in armadillos from Argentinean Patagonia: Diversity, abundance and distribution.

In Argentina, quantitative information on the composition and structure of assemblages of arthropod parasites in Xenarthra is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the community of arthropod parasites of Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy in the Argentinean Patagonia. A total of 1300 ectoparasites (1224 fleas and 76 ticks) were collected from both host species. Seven different species were found, namely Phthiropsylla agenoris, Malacopsylla grossiventris, Hectopsylla broscus, Tunga penetrans, Tunga perforans (Siphonaptera), Amblyomma pseudoconcolor and Amblyomma auricularium s.l. (Ixodida). Four species were present in both host armadillos (P. agenoris, M. grossiventris, H. broscus and A. pseudoconcolor). Phthiropsylla agenoris was the most prevalent and abundant ectoparasite showing significant differences in prevalences, mean intensities and mean abundance. Malacopsylla grossiventris only showed significant differences in mean intensity. The structure and composition of the ectoparasite assemblage and the high values of ectoparasites aggregation recorded in the Patagonian armadillos strongly suggest that these associations are stable throughout their geographical distribution.

Efficacy and Safety of Antipsychotics and Antidepressants in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: a Systematic Review. / Eficacia y seguridad de antipsicóticos y antidepresivos en el tratamiento de la anorexia nerviosa: revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: The recommendations of the current guidelines are based on low quality evidence. Periodic updating is required, taking recent evidence into consideration. OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the best available clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants and antipsychotics in patients with anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Systematic review (CRD42020150577). We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Ovid(Cochrane), EMBASE and LILACS for randomised clinical trials performed in patients with anorexia nervosa that evaluated the use of second-generation antipsychotics or oral antidepressants, at any dose and for any length of time, in outpatient and/or hospital treatment, taking weight (body mass index), psychopathological entities and safety as results. RESULTS: Five studies were included, with four assessed as having a high risk of bias. The evidence indicates that patients receiving treatment with olanzapine or fluoxetine tend to stay in treatment programmes for longer. Olanzapine showed favourable results (one study) in terms of weight gain, but did not show the same results in psychopathology, where the evidence is contradictory. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with previous reviews, our work allows us to conclude that there is contradictory information on the efficacy of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Future work should focus on developing clinical trials of high methodological quality.

Taxonomic revision of the flea genus AgastopsyllaJordan & Rothschild 1923 (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae).

Fleas of Argentina are receiving renewed systematic interest, but the identification of many species associated with small mammals can be problematic. We review the taxonomy of the flea genus Agastopsylla including the re-description of two species and one subspecies, and designate neotype and neallotype for Agastopsylla hirsutior, neotype for Agastopsylla nylota nylota from the "Colección Mamíferos Lillo Anexos" (CMLA), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina, and neotype and neallotype for Agastopsylla pearsoni from the Natural History Museum (London, U.K.). Additionally, a key to identification of the species of Agastopsylla and a distribution map of the species of the genus are included.

Solid cancer risk dependence on the Pasquill-Gifford atmospheric stability classes in a radiological event.

In a radiological event, the lack of preliminary information about the site of explosion and the difficulty in predicting the accurate path and distribution of radioactive plumes makes it difficult to predict expected health effects of exposed individuals. So far, in such a health evaluation, radiation-induced stochastic health effects such as cancer are not included. The Pasquill-Gifford atmospheric classes generally allow connecting atmospheric stability with dispersion of radioactive contaminants to the environment. In this work, an environmental release of radioactive Cs-137 was simulated and the resulting relative risk for solid cancer incidence among the affected population calculated. The HotSpot health physics code was used to simulate the radioactive atmospheric dispersion and calculate the Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE), which was then used to estimate the relative risk of cancer incidence. The main results from this work suggest that the relative cancer risk and atmospheric stability classes are linked by differences in the TEDE. Such a finding may support triage, because it adds additional information on the potentially affected population at the early stages of an emergency response.

Distribución geográfica del cambio en mortalidad neonatal según bajo peso al nacer, Colombia 2008-2017 / Geographic distribution of the change in neonatal mortality by low-birthweight, Colombia 2008-2017

Resumen Introducción: Reducir las desigualdades sociales y geográficas en mortalidad neonatal es propósito de la agenda del desarrollo sostenible. Objetivo: Analizar la tendencia geográfica a nivel departamental del cambio en la mortalidad neonatal según bajo peso en Colombia entre 2008 y 2017. Metodología: Estudio ecológico basado en registros de estadísticas vitales del DANE. Mediante el modelo lineal mixto generalizado se analizaron de forma conjunta mortalidad neonatal y diferencias absoluta y relativa según bajo peso al nacer siguiendo la tipología de Blakely. La variación geográfica entre departamentos se analizó mediante Medianas de Razón de Mortalidad (MRM) y mapas. Resultados: A nivel nacional entre 2008-2010 y 2015-2017 la mortalidad neonatal ajustada disminuyó en 0,67 (IC95% 0,52-0,81) muertes y el exceso de muertes entre nacidos de bajo peso en 4,92 (IC95% 3,53-6,33) muertes por cada mil nacidos vivos; la razón de mortalidad no varió entre periodos (RRM 1,03; IC95% 0,97-1,09). Este patrón de cambio es deseable según tipología de Blakely. Sin embargo, en diez departamentos la mortalidad y diferencias según bajo peso no disminuyeron. Durante el periodo 2015-2017 la variación departamental en mortalidad neonatal fue de MRM = 2,13 (IC95% 1,63-2,64) sin cambio entre periodos; la mortalidad neonatal fue mayor en departamentos periféricos. Conclusión: Pese a los avances a nivel nacional en reducción de la mortalidad neonatal, un tercio de los departamentos donde se registró una cuarta parte de los nacimientos no mostró cambios deseables. La alta variabilidad territorial observada plantea la necesidad de implementar estrategias de vigilancia e intervención con foco tanto en factores perinatales como en locación geográfica para lograr disminuir brechas en supervivencia del recién nacido.

Abstract Introduction: Reducing social and geographical inequalities in neonatal mortality is the purpose of the sustainable development agenda. Objective: To analyze the geographical trend at the departmental level of the change in neonatal mortality according to low weight in Colombia between 2008 and 2017. Methods: An ecological study based on vital statistics records. Through the generalized mixed linear model, neonatal mortality and absolute and relative differences were analyzed together according to low birthweight following Blakely's typology. The geographical variation between departments was analyzed using Median Mortality Ratio (MRM) and maps. Results: At the national level between 2008-2010 and 2015-2017 adjusted neonatal mortality decreased by 0.67 (95% CI 0.52-0.81) deaths and excess deaths among low birth weight births decreased by 4.92 (IC95 % 3.53-6.33) deaths per thousand live births; mortality rate did not change significantly (RRM 1.03; 95% CI 0.97-1.09). This pattern of change is desirable according to Blakely's typology. However, in ten departments mortality and differences according to low birth weight did not decrease. During the 2015-2017 period, the departmental variation in neonatal mortality was quantified in MRM = 2.13 (95% CI 1.63-2.64) without change between periods; Neonatal mortality was higher in peripheric departments. Conclusion: Despite advances at the national level in reducing neonatal mortality, onethird of the departments where a quarter of births were registered showed no desirable changes. The high territorial variability observed raises the need to implement surveillance and intervention strategies with a focus on both perinatal factors and geographic location to reduce gaps in newborn survival.

Características epidemiológicas de pacientes con enfermedad oclusiva venosa retiniana en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá Colombia / Epidemiological characteristics of patients with retinal vein occlusive disease at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá Colombia

Método: la población objetivo fueron los pacientes que asistieron por urgencias al hospital entre enero/2014 y diciembre/2018 y recibieron diagnóstico de oclusión venosa de la retina. Se realizó un registro y tabulación de los aspectos más relevantes Resultados: Se incluyeron 63 pacientes, con edad media de 57 años. Los antecedentes más frecuentemente referidos fueron hipertensión arterial (51%), dislipidemia y diabetes mellitus. 4.8% reportaron antecedente de glaucoma. 60.3% ocurrieron en el ojo derecho y el tipo más frecuente fué oclusión de vena central de la retina (65,1%). Los hallazgos encontrados al examen oft almológico fueron dilatación y tortuosidad venosa (100%), hemorragias retinianas (98.4%) y edema macular (61,9%). El 39.7% presentó agudeza visual cuenta dedos Conclusión: La población estudiada se comportó análogamente a lo descrito en la literatura, con distribución similar por género, aumento de la incidencia con la edad e hipertensión arterial como factor de riesgo más relevante. El edema macular se asocia con pérdida más signifi cativa de la agudeza visual. Es importante realizar un estudio más amplio para caracterizar la patología a nivel nacional

Background: Venous occlusive disease of the retina is the second most frequently associated retinal vascular disease with visual loss. Th e increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases is associated with an increase in the presentation of complications derived from these Objective: Characterize the population of patients with retinal occlusive venous disease of the San Ignacio University Hospital Study design: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study Method: the target population were patients who attended the hospital for emergencies between January/2014 and December/2018, and received a diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion. A registry and tabulation of the most relevant aspects were carried out Results: 63 patients were included, with a mean age of 57 years. Th e most frequently reported antecedents were hypertension (51%), dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. 4.8% reported a history of glaucoma. 60.3% occurred in the right eye and the most frequent type was central retinal vein occlusion (65.1%). Th e fi ndings found on ophthalmological examination were venous dilation and tortuosity (100%), retinal hemorrhages (98.4%), and macular edema (61.9%). 39.7% presented visual acuity with fi nger counts Conclusion: Th e study population behaved similarly to that described in the literature, with a similar distribution by sex, increased incidence with age, and hypertension as the most relevant risk factor. Macular edema is associated with a more signifi cant loss of visual acuity. It is important to carry out a larger study to characterize the pathology at a national level

Detección de bacterias de los géneros Ehrlichia Anaplasma y Rickettsia en garrapatas rhipicephalus Sanguineus sl en Pergamino Argentina / Detection of Bacteria of the Genera Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Rickettsia in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l Ticks in the City of Pergamino, Argentina

Las rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis y anaplasmosis son causadas por bacterias gramnegativas intracelulares obligadas y transmitidas por artrópodos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar especies de garrapatas presentes en caninos de la ciudad de Pergamino y detectar presencia de patógenos de los géneros Ehrlichia, Anaplasma y Rickettsia. MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron 21 garrapatas Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l obtenidas de caninos de diferentes ambientes de la ciudad de Pergamino. Las muestras fueron analizadas mediante PCR, amplificando un fragmento del gen gltA para Rickettsia spp. y del 16SrRNA para los géneros Ehrlichia/Anaplasma. RESULTADOS: Se detectó positividad a Rickettsia spp. en el 4,76%, identificándose por secuenciación a la especie Rickettsia massiliae. Para la familia Anaplasmataceae se detectó positividad para Ehrlichia canis (23,8%) y Anaplasma platys (19,04%). CONCLUSIONES: Se trata del primer reporte de patógenos de interés zoonótico y/o veterinario pertenecientes a los géneros Rickettsia, Ehrlichia y Anaplasma en garrapatas Rh. sanguineus s.l para el norte de la provincia de Buenos Aires

Actitudes, conocimientos y prácticas de internos de medicina frente a la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en Medellín, Colombia / Attitudes, knowledge and practices of internal medicine against the voluntary interruption of pregnancy in Medellin Colombia

Resumen La interrupción voluntaria del embarazo es una opción legal en algunos países bajo circunstancias especiales. Se quiso explorar las actitudes, los conocimientos y las prácticas de internos de medicina frente a la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en Medellín-Colombia. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte. Se analizaron variables sociodemográficas, actitudes, conocimientos y prácticas frente a la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables. La información se analizó con el software SPSS® versión 21.0. Se obtuvo consentimiento informado y aprobación del comité de ética universitario. El principal motivo para realizar la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo, fue por riesgo para la salud mental de la madre. Acerca de la objeción de conciencia el 54,7 % la tiene, 21 % objetó conciencia durante el pregrado y el 86,7 % conoce correctamente el proceso a seguir para hacerlo. La totalidad de los encuestados identifica las circunstancias en las cuales el aborto está despenalizado en Colombia, el 96 % conoce el objetivo de la sentencia C355 y el 41 % desconoce que no se establece edad gestacional para practicarla. De los internos que presenciaron IVE el 25,7 % tuvo una repercusión emocional severa con recuerdos frecuentes de lo ocurrido y el 48,7% tristeza con otras emociones.

Abstract Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (VIP) is legal under special circumstances in some countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the skills, knowledge and attitudes about VIP in medical interns from a private university in Colombia. A cross-sectional study with primary data collection was preformed. A descriptive analysis was done for the variables; socio-demographic, skills, knowledge and attitudes about VIP. The SPSS® software, version 21.0, was used for the statistical analysis. A written consent was signed and approved by the research ethics committee. The primary circumstance to practice a VIP was if the mother´s mental health was at risk. 54,7 % of the interns endorsed having a conscientious objection and 21 % applied it during their internship year. 86,7 % of the students answered correctly about how to proceed in a VIP case. All of them identified the special circumstances, in which VIP can be done in Colombia, and 96 % recognized the law, but only 41 % knew details about gestational time limits. 25,7 % of the students report having emotional consequences after witnessing a VIP; 48,7 % presented with depressed mood.

First molecular detection of Mycoplasma suis in the pig louse Haematopinus suis (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) from Argentina.

Porcine haemoplasmosis caused by Mycoplasma suis affects the global pig industry with significant economic losses. The main transmission route of M. suis is through the blood and some haematophagous arthropods, like flies and mosquitoes, could be the vectors to this pathogen. However, the presence of M. suis in pig haematophagous ectoparasites in natural conditions has not yet been studied. The most frequent ectoparasite in pigs is the blood-sucking louse Haematopinus suis, an obligate and permanent parasite. Therefore, this work aims to study the occurrence of M. suis in H. suis samples from both domestic and wild pig populations from Argentina; using the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 98 sucking lice, collected from domestic and wild pigs from Buenos Aires Province in central Argentina, were examined. We found M. suis DNA in 15 H. suis samples (15.30%). Positive lice were detected from all studied populations. This is the first report of M. suis presence in H. suis, being also the first detection in a pig ectoparasite species. We conclude that H. suis could serve as a mechanical vector for M. suis. This information not only extends the knowledge about the pathogen spectrum potentially transmitted by H. suis, but may be also useful in epidemiological studies about Mycoplasma.

Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) with public health relevance in domestic pigs (Artiodactyla: Suidae) from Argentina.

The presence of fleas can have a great negative impact on the productivity and well-being of the animals, and can contribute towards propagation of causative pathogens of important diseases in animals and humans. Fleas and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) are a known association. However, knowledge about fleas on pigs in Argentina is scarce. In this country, swine farming has become one of the main components of livestock production. This activity is primarily carried out by smallholder farmers, involving a potential risk to humans of acquiring pathogens. Our study was developed in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, in a region where there is strong swine livestock activity. We provide the first record for Argentina of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) and Pulex irritans Linnaeus, 1758 in domestic pigs, and the first data for the country of parasitological indexes of fleas in pigs. Ctenocephalides felis felis and P. irritans cause discomfort, nuisance, allergic reactions, and anaemia, and are known as vectors of several pathogens with importance for public health. The high prevalence and abundance of C. felis felis and P. irritans observed in pigs from Azul, Buenos Aires, are significant, and the absence of them in other studied localities could correspond to environmental characteristics. This paper expands the knowledge about the flea diversity associated with S. scrofa in Argentina and contributes to the knowledge of the ecology and biology of two cosmopolitan fleas and with public health relevance. This information is important for future epidemiological studies, as well as to establish prevention and control measures where appropriate.