Influence of water electrolysis on hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages of anaerobic digestion at room temperature: Kinetic and metabolic analysis.

Batch cultures were performed to study hydrolysis and methanogenesis in the presence of an electric field at room temperature (i.e., 23 °C). Kinetic and metabolic analyses using RuO2/Ti electrodes were carried out in short reaction times to avoid biofilm formation, allowing the evaluation of the effect of O2 and H2 produced on anaerobic digestion during the imposition of three electric fields: 1.21, 1.45, and 1.64 V/cm. Results highlighted that at 1.21 V/cm, the electrolysis produced 0.0753 mg O2/L·min, where facultative microorganisms consumed 21 % oxygen, enhancing the hydrolysis phase by 52 %. Additionally, methane production was noticeably improved with an activity of 0.89 ± 0.02 g COD-CH4/g VSS·d, meaning 39 % higher than the control. The imposition of an electric field showed promising results since the methanogenic activity at room temperature was very close to the activities observed in conventional reactors at 35 °C.

Hypertension and renal disease programming: focus on the early postnatal period.

The developmental origin of hypertension and renal disease is a concept highly supported by strong evidence coming from both human and animal studies. During development there are periods in which the organs are more vulnerable to stressors. Such periods of susceptibility are also called 'sensitive windows of exposure'. It was shown that as earlier an adverse event occurs; the greater are the consequences for health impairment. However, evidence show that the postnatal period is also quite important for hypertension and renal disease programming, especially in rodents because they complete nephrogenesis postnatally, and it is also important during preterm human birth. Considering that the developing kidney is vulnerable to early-life stressors, renal programming is a key element in the developmental programming of hypertension and renal disease. The purpose of this review is to highlight the great number of studies, most of them performed in animal models, showing the broad range of stressors involved in hypertension and renal disease programming, with a particular focus on the stressors that occur during the early postnatal period. These stressors mainly include undernutrition or specific nutritional deficits, chronic behavioral stress, exposure to environmental chemicals, and pharmacological treatments that affect some important factors involved in renal physiology. We also discuss the common molecular mechanisms that are activated by the mentioned stressors and that promote the appearance of these adult diseases, with a brief description on some reprogramming strategies, which is a relatively new and promising field to treat or to prevent these diseases.

Occurrence of Chemical Contaminants in Peruvian Produce: A Food-Safety Perspective.

The presence of chemical contaminants in agricultural products is a continued food-safety challenge in Peru. This country has robust agriculture potential, but its output of fruits and vegetables is severely impacted by massive mining activities, as well as poor farming practices, including the use of polluted irrigation water, misuse of pesticides, and inadequate postharvest conditions. This review examines the current scientific knowledge on the levels of pesticide residues, heavy metals, and mycotoxins on crops produced in Peru. The available data shows that several crop varieties are contaminated with these classes of chemical contaminants, and at levels that exceed the national and international permissible limits. The abundance of chemical contaminants in produce indicates a relevant food-safety issue, which increases the risks of chronic human diseases, like cancer-a leading cause of death in Peru. Finally, this review presents recommendations to address these contamination problems in produce grown in the Andean country.

Influence of metronidazole on activated sludge activity.

Metronidazole is potentially carcinogenic to humans and it has been detected in wastewaters. The Wastewater Treatment Plants using biological processes have been highly impacted by the emergent compounds of recalcitrant type, and the knowledge about that issue is quite relevant. Therefore, this paper was focused on how metronidazole influences the kinetics and metabolic behaviour of nitrification and heterotrophic activity on activated sludge in batch cultures. Eight concentrations of metronidazole in the range of 5-100 mg/L were evaluated, in the presence of 2109 ± 129 mg VSS/L. The increment of initial metronidazole concentration caused a decline on COD and ammonium removal efficiencies, nitrate production yields, as well as in the substrate-specific consumption rates. Metronidazole (MDZ) had a greater impact on heterotrophic activity than nitrifying activity; also, it had a greater inhibitory effect on nitrite oxidation than ammonium oxidation. The activated sludge was not able to biotransform metronidazole; however, the azole compound significantly affected the physiology of it. The inhibition of ammonium oxidation was non-competitive (qmax = 120 mg NH4+-N consumed/gVSS-d, and Ki = 41.5 mg MDZ/L) and the initial metronidazole concentration that inhibited 50% of nitrifying activity (IC50) was 43 mg MDZ/L.

Food safety in Peru: A review of fresh produce production and challenges in the public health system.

Peru has a commodities-based economy where agriculture plays an essential role in the nation's development. Among agricultural products, fruits and vegetables are foundational to Peruvian culture and a healthy and nutritious diet. Produce is also the primary income source for thousands of small-scale farmers and producers throughout the country. Peru has significant potential to export agricultural and value-added products. Nevertheless, the Peruvian food chain has weak food safety and quality standards, limiting access to international markets. The inherent lack of food safety surveillance and management systems negatively affects public health. In the past decade, fresh and raw produce has been associated with several foodborne outbreaks worldwide, resulting in significant health and economic losses. This alarming situation for public health officials and regulators has called for the strengthening of produce safety standards and food safety risk management for safer food and to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses. This review summarizes the current status of produce safety in Peru and explores opportunities (e.g., policy, university capacity development) toward a safer food system.

Inhibition of Endothelin system during the postnatal nephrogenic period in the rat. Its relationship with hypertension and renal disease in adulthood.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of a high sodium (HS) diet on blood pressure and renal function in male adult rats that have been treated with a dual Endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) during their early postnatal period (day 1 to 20 of life). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in four groups: CNS: control rats with normosodic diet; ERANS: ERA-treated rats with normosodic diet; CHS: control rats with high sodium diet; ERAHS: ERA-treated rats with HS diet. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was recorded before and after the diet and 24-hour metabolic cage studies were performed. AQP2 and α-ENac expressions were measured by western blot and real time PCR in the renal medulla. Vasopressin (AVP) pathway was evaluated by measuring V2 receptor and adenylyl cyclase 6 (AC6) expression and cAMP production in the renal medulla. Pre-pro ET-1mRNA was also evaluated in the renal medulla. Only rats that had been treated with an ERA during their postnatal period increased their SBP after consumption of a HS diet, showing an impaired capacity to excrete sodium and water, i.e. developing salt sensitivity. This salt sensitivity would be mediated by an increase in renomedullary expression and activity of AQP2 and α-ENaC as a consequence of increased AC6 expression and cAMP production and/or a decreased ET-1 production in the renal medulla. The knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the perinatal programming of salt sensitive hypertension will allow the development of reprogramming strategies in order to avoid this pathology.

Altered expression of Aquaporin-2 in one-kidney, one-clip hypertension.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the regulation of Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channel in the kidney of one-kidney, one-clip rats (Goldblatt-1 model). In addition, some mechanisms that underlie the role of AQP2 in the Goldblatt-1 model were evaluated. MAIN METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in three groups: control two-kidney, no clip (C, 2 K-NC); nephrectomized one-kidney, no clip (N, 1 K-NC) and Goldblatt one-kidney, one-clip (G, 1 K-1C). AQP2 expression (by westernblot, real time PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence), vasopressin V2 receptor expression (by real time PCR), cAMP concentration, NFkB and TonEBP (cytosol to nucleus ratio) were evaluated in the renal medulla. KEY FINDINGS: AQP2 expression, V2 receptor expression and cAMP concentration were decreased in the renal medulla of 1 K-1C rats, NFkB translocation was favoured towards the nucleus suggesting its activation while TonEBP translocation was not altered in this model of hypertension. SIGNIFICANCE: In this model of hypertension the decrease of AQP2 expression could be a mechanism that counteracts the high blood pressure promoting water excretion and this may be consequence of decreased vasopressin sensitivity and/or the increased activity of NFkB at renomedullary collecting duct level. Given that renovascular hypertension is among the most common causes of secondary hypertension, it is important to elucidate all the relevant mechanisms involved in the generation or in the compensation of the hypertensive state in order to improve the diagnoses and treatment of the patients.

Competencias adquiridas en investigación y Salud Pública en la especialidad de Enfermería Familiar y Comunitaria en la Comunidad Valenciana / Skills acquired in research and public health in the specialty of family and community nursing in the Valencian Community

Objetivo: Valorar la adquisición de competencias en investigación y Salud Pública de los especialistas en Enfermería Familiar y Comunitaria. Método: Estudio descriptivo y analítico sobre población de enfermeros especialistas asociados a la Sociedad Enfermera Valenciana de Atención Primaria. Medido con cuestionario anónimo y autoadministrado sobre actividades implementadas y tiempo de rotación en el periodo de formación. Cuestionario realizado y revisado en base al programa formativo de la especialidad. Resultados: Responden 16 de los 41 especialistas. Existe representación de las cuatro promociones que han acabado su formación y siete unidades docentes nacionales. Los resultados muestran alta heterogeneidad en las actividades desarrolladas en la formación. La estancia media en Salud Pública es de 7,07 semanas, con rango de 0 a 16 semanas. El número de sesiones educativas medio es de 2,69 en los dos años. La media de proyectos de investigación es de 1,19. Conclusión: El resultado muestra un proceso de especialización con carencias formativas en las competencias de investigación y Salud Pública que podrían subsanarse. Algunos profesionales afirman que acaban la especialización sin desarrollar actividades de investigación y con rotatorios que no alcanzan los mínimos propuestos. No se observa proceso de mejora en las cuatro promociones estudiadas (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the acquisition of skills in research and public health specialists in family and community nursing. Method: Descriptive and analytical study on a population of specialist nurse members of with the Valencian Primary Nurse Society. Measured with anonymous self-administered questionnaire on activities implemented and turnaround time in the training period. The questionnaire was conducted and reviewed based on the training programme of the specialty. Results: Sixteen of the 41 specialists responded. The four year groups of nurses who had finished their training were represented as well as seven national teaching units. The results show high heterogeneity in the activities developed in the training. The average rotation in public health is 7.07 weeks, with range of 0 to 16 weeks. The mean number of educational sessions is 2.69 in the two years. The average number of research projects is 1.19. Conclusion: The result shows a specialisation process with training gaps in the skills of research and public health that could be remedied. Some practitioners claim that they finish their specialisation without undertaking research activities or completing the minimum proposed shifts. There is no process of improvement in the four year groups studied (AU)

Skills acquired in research and public health in the specialty of family and community nursing in the Valencian Community. / Competencias adquiridas en investigación y Salud Pública en la especialidad de Enfermería Familiar y Comunitaria en la Comunidad Valenciana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acquisition of skills in research and public health specialists in family and community nursing. METHOD: Descriptive and analytical study on a population of specialist nurse members of with the Valencian Primary Nurse Society. Measured with anonymous self-administered questionnaire on activities implemented and turnaround time in the training period. The questionnaire was conducted and reviewed based on the training programme of the specialty. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 41 specialists responded. The four year groups of nurses who had finished their training were represented as well as seven national teaching units. The results show high heterogeneity in the activities developed in the training. The average rotation in public health is 7.07 weeks, with range of 0 to 16 weeks. The mean number of educational sessions is 2.69 in the two years. The average number of research projects is 1.19. CONCLUSION: The result shows a specialisation process with training gaps in the skills of research and public health that could be remedied. Some practitioners claim that they finish their specialisation without undertaking research activities or completing the minimum proposed shifts. There is no process of improvement in the four year groups studied.

¿Por qué las personas ingresan a la delincuencia organizada? Análisis del fenómeno en Santiago de Cali / Why do some individuals join the world of organized crime? An analysis of this phenomenon in Santiago de Cali / Por que as pessoas entram no crime organizado? Análise do fenômenoem Santiago de Cali

El objetivo general es establecer las causas que inciden para que una persona ingrese a la delincuencia organizada en Santiago de Cali. Debido a la naturaleza del problema, se acude a una metodología cualitativa, que facilitó la recolección de información a través de la técnica de entrevista y el cruce de información estadística, como material de apoyo para sustentar el análisis. Con la estadística consolidada entre el 2008 y el 2013, por el Centro de Investigaciones Criminológicas de la Policía Nacional, se describe el fenómeno y los rasgos característicos de quienes lo integran en la ciudad. Para construir la perspectiva cualitativa, el instrumento técnico se aplicó a cuatro personas que fueron condenadas y recluidas en la cárcel de Cali. Los resultados muestran que la delincuencia organizada es un sector con capacidad para generar violencia e inseguridad dentro y fuera del municipio, está conformada en su mayoría por hombres jóvenes-adultos, sin profesión u oficio formal, y las estructuras afectan el patrimonio económico, la vida, integridad y libertad de las personas. Los relatos de los entrevistados evidenciaron que la escasez de recursos, la disfuncionalidad familiar, la influencia delincuencial, la cultura de ilegalidad y la economía del crimen los desviaron de procesos de vida sanos, de modo que se involucraron en conductas socialmente reprochables, que se reforzaron en el medio ilegal. Se concluye que las deficiencias estructurales y la proyección de las personas en la actividad criminal explican su vinculación con esta problemática.

The general objective is to determine the causes that influence and make some individuals join organized crime in Santiago de Cali. Due to the nature of this problem, a qualitative methodology that has made information gathering easier through the interviewing technique and the crossing of statistic data was used as support material to sustain the analysis. With the help of statistics covering the period between 2008 and 2013, as consolidated by the National Police Center for Criminological Investigations, this phenomenon and the typical features of those cases pertaining to this classification in the city of Cali are described. In order to construct the qualitative outlook, the technical instrument was applied to four individuals having been convicted and incarcerated in the Cali prison. The results obtained show that organized crime is a sector possessing great ability to create violence and insecurity both inside and outside the municipality of Cali; it is composed mostly of youngsters and adults with no profession, job or formal occupation, and their structures affect not only economic property and assets of both public and private nature but also people's life, integrity and freedom. The accounts of the interviewees reveal that lack or scarcity of economic resources, family dysfunction, the influence of criminals and delinquents, the culture of illegality and organized crime economy have deviated them from healthy life conducts and processes, therefore led them to get involved in socially reprehensible behaviors and acts that happened to be reinforced and strengthened in this illegal environment. It has been concluded that both structural deficiencies and individuals' projection in the criminal activity explain their involvement in this problem area.

O objetivo geral é estabelecer as causas que afetam para que uma pessoa entre ao crime em Santiago de Cali. Devido à natureza do problema, utiliza-se a metodologia qualitativa, que facilitou a recolha da informaçãoatravés da técnica da entrevista e do cruzamento da informaçãoestatística, como o material de suporte para sustentar a análise. Com as estatísticas consolidadas entre 2008 e 2013, pelo Centro de Pesquisas Criminológicas da Polícia Nacional, descreve-se o fenômeno e os elementos característicos daqueles que o integram na cidade. A fim de construir a perspectiva qualitativa, o instrumento técnico foi aplicado a quatro pessoas que foram condenadas e encarceradas na prisão de Cali. Os resultados amostram que o crime organizado é um setor com capacidade para gerar violência e insegurança dentro e fora da municipalidade, é conformada em sua maioria por homens jovens-adultos, sem uma profissãoou oficio formal, e as estruturas afetam o patrimônioeconômico, a vida, a integridade e a liberdade das pessoas. As histórias dos entrevistados demonstraram que a escassez dos recursos, a disfuncionalidade familiar, a influência criminal, a cultura da ilegalidade e a economia do crime os desviaram de processos saudáveis de vida, de modo que envolverem-se nas condutas socialmente repreensíveis, que foram reforçadasem meios ilegais. Conclui-se que as deficiênciasestruturais e a projeção das pessoas na atividade criminal explicam seu envolvimento com este problema.

Promoting tobacco cessation and smoke-free workplaces through community outreach partnerships in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: Puerto Rico (PR) has a lower smoking prevalence than the United States (14.8% vs. 21.2%, respectively); nevertheless, the five leading causes of death are associated with smoking. There is a need to implement evidence-based tobacco control strategies in PR. OBJECTIVES: The Outreach Pilot Program (OPP) was designed to engage communities, health professionals, and researchers in a network to advance health promotion activities and research to increase the use of the PR Quitline (PRQ) among smokers and promoting policies in support of smoke-free workplaces. METHODS: Using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods, the OPP mobilized a network of community and academic partners to implement smoking cessation activities including referrals to the PRQ, adoption of evidence-based smoking cessation programs, and promotion of smoke-free legislation. RESULTS: Eighty organizations participated in the OPP. Collaborators implemented activities that supported the promotion of the PRQ and smoke-free workplaces policy and sponsored yearly trainings, including tobacco control conferences. From 2005 to 2008, physician referrals to the PRQ increased from 2.6% to 7.2%. The number of annual smokers receiving cessation services through the PRQ also increased from 703 to 1,086. The OPP shepherded a rigorous smoke-free law through participation in the development, promotion, and implementation of the smoke-free workplaces legislation as well as the creation of the PR Tobacco Control Strategic Plan, launched in 2006. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrates the feasibility of developing a successful and sustainable community-based outreach program model that enlists the participation of academic researchers, community organizations, and health care providers as partners to promote tobacco control.

Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Catharanthus roseus.

Introduction. Catharanthus roseus (L.) is used in some countries to treat diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of extracts from the flower, leaf, stem, and root in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Methods. Roots, leaves, flowers, and stems were separated to obtain organic and aqueous extracts. The blood glucose lowering activity of these extracts was determinate in healthy and alloxan-induced (75 mg/Kg) diabetic mice, after intraperitoneal administration (250 mg/Kg body weight). Blood samples were obtained and blood glucose levels were analyzed employing a glucometer. The data were statistically compared by ANOVA. The most active extract was fractioned. Phytochemical screen and chromatographic studies were also done. Results. The aqueous extracts from C. roseus reduced the blood glucose of both healthy and diabetic mice. The aqueous stem extract (250 mg/Kg) and its alkaloid-free fraction (300 mg/Kg) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced blood glucose in diabetic mice by 52.90 and 51.21%. Their hypoglycemic activity was comparable to tolbutamide (58.1%, P < 0.05). Conclusions. The best hypoglycemic activity was presented for the aqueous extracts and by alkaloid-free stem aqueous fraction. This fraction is formed by three polyphenols compounds.

Attitudes towards homosexual and lesbians among Puerto Rican Public Health graduate students.

The objective of this study is to identify the attitude toward the homosexuals and lesbians among graduate students of General Public Health and Health Education Program at School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. A descriptive-92 graduate students of the correlational design was used to carry out the study participated in the study General Public Health and Health Education programs. The data collection was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and t-test student) were used to data analysis. The 82.6% of the participants had a prejudiced attitude toward the homosexuals and the lesbians. The 79.3% presented a low distance level. There is a significant association among the social distance, homosexual and lesbian educational exposure and the years of studies. To develop appropriate strategies to foment the acceptance and eliminate the prejudice toward the homosexuals and lesbians in the participants, what will impact in a better way of providing quality health services.

SOCS up-regulation mobilizes autologous stem cells through CXCR4 blockade.

The chemokine CXCL12 influences self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell precursors in bone marrow by directing them toward specific stromalcell components. CXCL12 up-regulates members of the SOCS family through JAK/STAT activation, a mechanism that attenuates chemokine responses. SOCS expression may thus modulate retention of hematopoietic precursors (Sca-1(+) c-Kit(+)Lin(-) cells) in bone marrow. We show that in bovine growth hormone transgenic mice and in growth hormone-treated mice, SOCS up-regulation correlated with a large number of Sca-1(+) c-Kit(+)Lin(-) cells in blood. Retroviral transduction of SOCSs blocked in vitro migration of Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+)Lin(-) cells, as well as their capacity to reconstitute lethally irradiated mice. Furthermore, in lethally irradiated mice reconstituted with bone marrow infected by a tetracycline-regulated, SOCS-expressing lentiviral vector, doxycycline treatment promoted rapid, extensive precursor mobilization to the periphery. The results indicate that by blocking CXCR4-mediated functions, SOCSs modulate hematopoietic precursor cell retention in bone marrow, and suggest the therapeutic interest of SOCS manipulation in several pathologic situations.

Aspectos relacionados al cumplimiento de medicamentos en un grupo de encargados(as) de niños y adolescentes con epilepsia / Aspects related to drug adherence in a group of caregivers of children and adolescents with epilepsy

The purpose of this study was to describe the aspects related with the adherence of medicine in patients with epilepsy diagnosis. The non probabilistic sample was composed by fifty-four parents or legal guardians of children/adolescents with epilepsy. A self-report instrument was utilized in this study and the design was based on Health Belief Model. Descriptive statistics were utilized (mean, median, frequencies and percents) to describe the results and crosstabs tables to describe specific relations between variables. It was found that the parents/legal guardians reported that they administered their children's medications as prescribed. However, the two aspects that most affect the adherence with the treatment were that the participant forgot the medicine administration and the time between each medical appointment. We conclude that the adherence problem is complex and involved a lot of individual, social, psychological, structural, attitudes, beliefs, type of medical services factors, among others. These factors will be studied more emphatically in futures studies.

Perceptions assessment of a group of Puerto Rican pregnant adolescents regarding the susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers of teenage pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: This assessment was aimed at describing the perceptions of a group of Puerto Rican pregnant adolescents regarding the susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers of adolescents pregnancy. METHOD: A non probabilistic sample of 71 adolescents that receive prenatal services at a hospital in the greater metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe the population. RESULTS: A 50.7 per cent of the participants had a moderated high susceptibility perception and 53.5 per cent had a high severity perception. In general, 70.4 per cent of the participants perceived that the prenatal care during the adolescent pregnancy is highly beneficial and 60.0 per cent had a low barriers perceptions. CONCLUSION: The assessment specifically demonstrated the need to create permanent educational programs in hospitals and schools. It is important that the health professionals develop basic educational strategies to procure effective behavior modification in adolescents.