Postoperative radiotherapy results in 192 epithelial thymic tumours patients with 10 years of follow-up.

PURPOSE: To assess the prognostic factors and patterns of failure of patients consecutively treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for thymic epithelial tumours (TET). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 192 TET patients who were operated and received PORT at a single centre from 1990 to 2019 was retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Most patients had thymoma (77 %, B247%), were classified Masaoka-Koga stage III (35 %) or IV (32 %) and had a R0 (75 %) resection. Radiotherapy was delivered at a median dose of 50.4 Gy (range, 42-66 Gy; ≥ 60 Gy in 17 %), 63 (33 %) patients were treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy and elective nodal radiotherapy was used for 37 %. At a median follow-up of 10.9 years, the 10-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 62 % (95 % CI: 54-70 %) and 47 % (95 % CI: 39-55 %), respectively. Locoregional recurrence (LRR) occurred in 72/192 (38 %) patients, distributed as 6 local, 45 regional and 21 both local and regional. LRR were mainly located to the pleura: 66/72 (92 %) and 16/72 (22 %; 16/192 in total, 8 %) were in-field. Distant relapse (DR) were observed in 30 patients (16 %), resulting in 10-year locoregional (LRC) and distant control rates of 58 % (95 % CI: 50-66 %) and 82 % (95 % CI: 77-88 %), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, Masaoka-Koga stage (HR [hazard ratio]: 1.9; p = 0.001), thymic carcinomas/neuroendocrine tumours (TC) (HR: 1.6; p = 0.045) and ECOG PS > 1 (HR: 1.9; p = 0.02) correlated with poorer OS. Higher Masaoka-Koga stage (HR: 2.6; p < 0.001) associated with a decreased LRC but not R1 status (HR: 1.2; p = 0.5) or WHO histology classification. TC (HR: 3.4; p < 0.001) and a younger age (HR: 2.5; p = 0.02) correlated with DR. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of the TET in our study experienced a LRR, mainly to the pleura, and 8% in total were in-field. The place of radiotherapy should be better defined in higher risk thymoma patients within prospective randomized studies.

A CoII-Hydroxide Complex That Converts Directly to a CoII-Acetamide during Catalytic Nitrile Hydration.

In exploring structural and functional mimics of nitrile hydratases, we report the synthesis of the pseudo-trigonal bipyramidal CoII complexes (K)[CoII(DMF)(LPh)] (1(DMF)), (NMe4)2[CoII(OAc)(LPh)] (1(OAc)), and (NMe4)2[CoII(OH)(LPh)] (1(OH)) (LPh = 2,2',2''-nitrilo-tris-(N-phenylacetamide; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide; -OAc = acetate)). The complexes were characterized using NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography, showing the LPh ligand to bind in a tetradentate tripodal fashion alongside the respective ancillary donor. One of the complexes, 1(OH), is an unusual structural and functional mimic of the Co active site in Co nitrile hydratases. 1(OH) reacted with acetonitrile to yield the CoII-acetamide complex (NMe4)2[CoII(NHC(O)CH3)(LPh)], 2, which was also thoroughly characterized. In the presence of excess hydroxide, 1(OH) was found to catalyze quantitative conversion of the added hydroxide into acetamide. Despite the differences in Co oxidation state in nitrile hydratases and 1(OH) (CoIII versus CoII, respectively), 1(OH) was nonetheless an effective nitrile hydration catalyst, selectively producing acetamide over multiple turnovers.

Evaluación del apgar familiar en las comunidades de Sapahaqui, Laja, Santiago de Huata, Achocalla y Coripata en la gestión 2022 La Paz Bolivia / Evaluation of family apgar in the communities of Sapahaqui, Laja, Santiago de Huata, Achocalla and Coripata in the 2022 management La Paz Bolivia

El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la funcionalidad familiar, a través del cuestionario de APGAR en los diferentes municipios de la ciudad de La Paz del país Bolivia. Entendiendo como funcionalidad familiar a la familia que es capaz de satisfacer las necesidades básicas materiales y espirituales de sus miembros. La investigación utilizó un estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo, mixto transversal, no experimental con una muestra de 249 participantes de 6 comunidades, con el cuestionario de APGAR familiar, instrumento que mide la satisfacción y funcionalidad familiar. Entre los resultados la disfuncionalidad familiar en los 6 municipios de la ciudad de La Paz fue elevada (71%) en comparación con el buen funcionamiento familiar (29%). Los participantes fueron en su mayoría mujeres, adultas jóvenes, agricultores. La percepción de funcionalidad familiar de acuerdo al sexo fue similar en ambos. Las familias que contaban con tres, cuatro y cinco miembros presentaron mayor vulnerabilidad para disfuncionalidad familiar en las familias que tienen más de 3 integrantes.

Psychological Status of the Participants in Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease Colombia.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV2 global pandemic impacted participants in the Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative (API) Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease (ADAD) clinical trial, who faced three stressors: 1) fear of developing dementia; 2) concerns about missing treatment; and 3) risk of SARS-CoV2 infection. OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of psychological disorders among the participants of the API ADAD Colombia clinical study, treated by a holistic mental health team during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of use of mental health team services was explored considering different risk factors, and users and non-users of these services were compared. METHODS: Participants had free and optional access to psychology and psychiatry services, outside of the study protocol. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the frequency of the mental health difficulties. A multivariable logistic regression model has been used to assess associations with using this program. RESULTS: 66 participants were treated by the Mental Health Team from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Before and after the start of the pandemic, the most common psychological problems were anxiety (36.4% before, 63.6% after) and depression (34.8% before, 37.9% after). 70% of users assisted by psychology and 81.6% of those assisted by psychiatry felt that the services were useful for them. Female sex, depression, and anxiety before the pandemic were positively associated with being assisted by either psychology or psychiatry, while the association with hyperlipidemia was negative. CONCLUSIONS: A holistic mental health program, carried out in the context of a study, could mitigate psychopathology during pandemics such as COVID-19.

Low environmental impact remediation of microplastics: Visible-light photocatalytic degradation of PET microplastics using bio-inspired C,N-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts.

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with sizes between 1 µm and 5 mm with a ubiquitous presence in aquatic ecosystems. MPs harm marine life and can cause severe health problems for humans. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that involve the in-situ generation of highly oxidant hydroxyl radicals can be an alternative to fight MPs pollution. Of all the AOPs, photocatalysis has been proven a clean technology to overcome microplastic pollution. This work proposes novel C,N-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts with proper visible-active properties to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs. Photocatalysis was performed in an aqueous medium and at room temperature, evaluating the influence of two pH values (pH 6 and 8). The results demonstrated that the degradation of the PET MPs by C,N-TiO2/SiO2 semiconductors is possible, achieving mass losses between 9.35 and 16.22 %.

Método rápido para determinar el eje cardíaco con D1 y D3 / Fast method to determine the cardiac axis with D1 and D3

El eje cardíaco representa el promedio de la dirección del proceso de activación eléctrica de las células cardíacas, es uno de los parámetros que debe determinarse en la correcta lectura e interpretación del electrocardiograma y es útil no solo como criterio diagnóstico de cardiopatías, sino también como marcador de pronóstico y mortalidad de otras enfermedades. Con el paso de los años han surgido nuevas fórmulas que permiten calcular con mayor exactitud su valor. El método que utiliza D1 y aVF es uno de los más populares, sin embargo, presenta dos puntos no medibles. El primero es entre 0 y -30 grados, y el segundo entre los valores de 90 y 110 grados. Aunque existen propuestas con algoritmos que utilizan otras derivaciones, se exploró un método alternativo con D1 y D3 basados en la fórmula algebraica de la tangente inversa y método matemático para el cálculo exacto del eje cardíaco. Se destaca este como una propuesta de método rápido que mantiene la confiabilidad de la fórmula algebraica para determinar si el eje cardíaco se encuentra dentro de los rangos normales (-30 a 110 grados)

The cardiac axis represents the average of the direction of the electrical activation process of the cardiac cells. It is one of the parameters determined in the correct reading and interpretation of the electrocardiogram. Also, not only is it useful as a diagnostic criterion for heart disease but also as a marker of prognosis and mortality in other diseases. Over the years, new formulas have emerged that allow its value to be calculated more accurately. The method using D1 and aVF is one of the most popular. However, it has two unmeasurable points. The first is between 0 and -30 degrees, and the second is between the values of 90 and 110 degrees. Although there are proposals with algorithms that use other leads, an alternative method was explored with D1 and D3 based on the algebraic formula of the inverse tangent and mathematical method for the exact calculation of the cardiac axis. A quick method is proposed that maintains the reliability of the algebraic formula to determine if the cardiac axis is within the normal ranges (-30 to 110 degrees)

Genetic associations with age at dementia onset in the PSEN1 E280A Colombian kindred.

INTRODUCTION: Genetic associations with Alzheimer's disease (AD) age at onset (AAO) could reveal genetic variants with therapeutic applications. We present a large Colombian kindred with autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) as a unique opportunity to discover AAO genetic associations. METHODS: A genetic association study was conducted to examine ADAD AAO in 340 individuals with the PSEN1 E280A mutation via TOPMed array imputation. Replication was assessed in two ADAD cohorts, one sporadic early-onset AD study and four late-onset AD studies. RESULTS: 13 variants had p<1×10-7 or p<1×10-5 with replication including three independent loci with candidate associations with clusterin including near CLU. Other suggestive associations were identified in or near HS3ST1, HSPG2, ACE, LRP1B, TSPAN10, and TSPAN14. DISCUSSION: Variants with suggestive associations with AAO were associated with biological processes including clusterin, heparin sulfate, and amyloid processing. The detection of these effects in the presence of a strong mutation for ADAD reinforces their potentially impactful role.

Adherencia a las medidas higiénico dietéticas de adultos con diabetes mellitus de Asunción en 2022

Introducción: la adherencia al tratamiento no farmacológico de la diabetes mellitus es un factor clave para evitar o retrasar las complicaciones de esta enfermedad. El cumplimento terapéutico depende de múltiples factores. Objetivo: evaluar la adherencia al tratamiento higiénico dietético en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, sobre todo la nutricional y la actividad física. Se midieron además las variables demográficas y presencia de hipertensión arterial. Metodología: se realizó una entrevista a pacientes adultos de ambos sexos, portadores de diabetes mellitus, que residen en el barrio Sajonia de Asunción, Paraguay, entre mayo y octubre del 2022. Se midieron variables demográficas y clínicas. La adherencia se determinó con el cuestionario de Caro Bautista que consta de 7 preguntas que evalúan las prácticas terapéuticas de los pacientes en la última semana. El estudio contó con la aprobación del Comité de ética de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Resultados: fueron entrevistados 257 personas con el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus, con predominio del sexo femenino (61,4%), 73,9% refería tener ingresos propios y 49% padecía también de hipertensión arterial. El cuestionario detectó que 20,1% seguía una dieta saludable toda la semana, 15,5% realizaba ejercicios físicos diariamente y 14,3% realizaba los monitoreos de sangre capilar regularmente. Conclusión: entre 10 y 22% de los pacientes con diabetes mellitus realiza dieta y ejercicios adecuados, así como monitoreo de la glucemia según las recomendaciones de sus médicos.

Introduction: Adherence to non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes mellitus is a key factor in avoiding or delaying the complications of this disease. Treatment compliance depends on multiple factors. Objective: To evaluate adherence to dietary hygienic treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus, especially nutrition and physical activity. Demographic variables and the presence of arterial hypertension were also measured. Methodology: An interview was conducted with adult male and female patients, carriers of diabetes mellitus, residing in the Sajonia neighborhood of Asunción, Paraguay, between May and October 2022. Demographic and clinical variables were measured. Adherence was determined with the Caro Bautista questionnaire, which consists of seven questions that evaluate the therapeutic practices of patients in the last week. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Results: Two hundred fifty-seven people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were interviewed, with a predominance of females (61.4%), 73.9% reported having their own income and 49% also suffered from arterial hypertension. The questionnaire detected that 20.1% followed a healthy diet all week, 15.5% performed daily physical exercises, and 14.3% performed capillary blood monitoring regularly. Conclusion: Between 10 and 22% of patients with diabetes mellitus perform adequate diet and exercise, as well as glycemia monitoring according to the recommendations of their physicians.

Urological, vascular, and infectious implications of kidney transplant: a single-center experience / Complicaciones urológicas, vasculares e infecciosas del trasplante renal: experiencia en un solo centro

Introduction: Kidney transplant has improved in the last decades due to new technologies and surgical techniques. However, there are still multiple complications associated with this procedure, which can affect the function and viability of the kidney graft. Our aim was to describe the incidence of urological, vascular, and infectious complications in the 1st month after the procedure. Methods: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out. Records of all patients who underwent kidney transplant from 2007 to 2017 were reviewed and data of demographic and surgical variables as well as information of vascular, urological, and infectious complications during the 1st post-operative month were registered and analyzed. Results: A total of 243 patients that required kidney transplant were assessed. The most common chronic kidney disease etiologies were: idiopathic (25.5%), glomerulopathies (24.7%), and hypertension (23.5%). Seventy patients (28.8%) presented a complication, of which 31 were urological, 27 were infectious, and 12 were vascular. In each category, the most frequent complications were the perirenal hematoma, the urinary tract infection, and renal artery stenosis, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of complications found in our center is similar to that reported in the literature and it is significant. It is important for medical personnel to be aware of this data to have a high level of suspicion and make an active search, as an early diagnosis and treatment of these pathologies are crucial to avoid graft loss

Introducción: El trasplante renal ha mejorado en las últimas décadas gracias a las nuevas tecnologías y técnicas quirúrgicas. Sin embargo, aún existen múltiples complicaciones asociadas a este procedimiento, que pueden afectar la función y viabilidad del injerto renal. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la incidencia de complicaciones urológicas, vasculares e infecciosas en el primer mes tras el procedimiento. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal. Se revisaron los expedientes de todos los pacientes que se sometieron a trasplante renal desde 2007 hasta 2017 y se registraron y analizaron datos de variables demográficas y quirúrgicas, así como información de complicaciones vasculares, urológicas e infecciosas durante el primer mes postoperatorio. Resultados: Se evaluaron un total de 243 pacientes que requirieron trasplante renal. Las etiologías de enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) más frecuentes fueron: idiopática (25,5%), glomerulopatías (24,7%) e hipertensión arterial (23,5%). 70 pacientes (28,8%) presentaron alguna complicación, de los cuales 31 fueron urológicos, 27 infecciosos y 12 vasculares. En cada categoría las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron el hematoma perirrenal, la infección del tracto urinario y la estenosis de la arteria renal respectivamente. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de complicaciones encontrada en nuestro centro es similar a la reportada en la literatura y es significativa. Es importante que el personal médico conozca estos datos para tener un alto nivel de sospecha y realizar una búsqueda activa, ya que el diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de estas patologías es fundamental para evitar la pérdida del injerto.

Evaluation of roasting and storage conditions as a strategy to improve the sensory characteristics and shelf life of coffee.

Coffee is one of the most consumed products worldwide. Among the varieties of this product, specialty coffee is a type of coffee that has been growing in the world market. This paper aims to assess the effects that the conditions derived from coffee roasting at different altitude levels have on the quality of the product. It was discovered that processing coffee at a higher altitude level yielded a smaller increase in bitterness. This led to a better Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) score in cupping and, consequently, to better preservation of the coffee quality. The storage time affected the aroma by associating roaster aromas with older coffees. Although the assessed origins had the same NIR spectra, differences in peak intensity lead to variations in the flavor and aroma of the coffee. Furthermore, although green beans prolong quality allowing a SCA score of 84.73 ± 2.81 after 4 months of storage, roasted coffee at higher altitudes could also maintain the quality between production and consumption (SCA score of 80.22 ± 0.91 after 2 months). Finally, this research found that the instrumental equipment helped to find minor changes in the sensorial profile, and with these changes correlated with the sensorial panel, the best conditions to preserve coffee quality were found.

Marine Cyanobacteria as Sources of Lead Anticancer Compounds: A Review of Families of Metabolites with Cytotoxic, Antiproliferative, and Antineoplastic Effects.

The marine environment is highly diverse, each living creature fighting to establish and proliferate. Among marine organisms, cyanobacteria are astounding secondary metabolite producers representing a wonderful source of biologically active molecules aimed to communicate, defend from predators, or compete. Studies on these molecules' origins and activities have been systematic, although much is still to be discovered. Their broad chemical diversity results from integrating peptide and polyketide synthetases and synthases, along with cascades of biosynthetic transformations resulting in new chemical structures. Cyanobacteria are glycolipid, macrolide, peptide, and polyketide producers, and to date, hundreds of these molecules have been isolated and tested. Many of these compounds have demonstrated important bioactivities such as cytotoxicity, antineoplastic, and antiproliferative activity with potential pharmacological uses. Some are currently under clinical investigation. Additionally, conventional chemotherapeutic treatments include drugs with a well-known range of side effects, making anticancer drug research from new sources, such as marine cyanobacteria, necessary. This review is focused on the anticancer bioactivities of metabolites produced by marine cyanobacteria, emphasizing the identification of each variant of the metabolite family, their chemical structures, and the mechanisms of action underlying their biological and pharmacological activities.

Ultrasound changes following controlled mechanical stress in synovial tissue in the hands of healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The physiological response of the synovium to acute mechanical stress has not been extensively studied. This response is interesting in terms of the morphological changes it can cause as any such changes should be taken into account during ultrasound examinations. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of changes in ultrasound images of the synovial joint in the hands of healthy individuals after controlled mechanical stress. METHOD: We included 110 healthy volunteers on whom we carried out two ultrasound examinations of the non-dominant hand: one at baseline and the other after controlled handgrip exercise at 70% of the maximum voluntary contraction. RESULTS: The synovitis scores at baseline and after exercise were 0.472±0.798 and 0.772±1.162 t(109)=-3.791, respectively; p < 0.001. We observed no tenosynovitis in 88.2% of the participants at baseline, while after exercise the percentage fell to 70.9%; x2 (1, N=110) =10.0851, p = 0.0014. CONCLUSION: We conclude that synovitis and tenosynovitis are inducible by physical exercise and are detectable on ultrasound. This should be taken into account during ultrasound examinations for suspicion or follow-up of inflammatory rheumatism.

A neurodegenerative disease landscape of rare mutations in Colombia due to founder effects.

BACKGROUND: The Colombian population, as well as those in other Latin American regions, arose from a recent tri-continental admixture among Native Americans, Spanish invaders, and enslaved Africans, all of whom passed through a population bottleneck due to widespread infectious diseases that left small isolated local settlements. As a result, the current population reflects multiple founder effects derived from diverse ancestries. METHODS: We characterized the role of admixture and founder effects on the origination of the mutational landscape that led to neurodegenerative disorders under these historical circumstances. Genomes from 900 Colombian individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) [n = 376], frontotemporal lobar degeneration-motor neuron disease continuum (FTLD-MND) [n = 197], early-onset dementia not otherwise specified (EOD) [n = 73], and healthy participants [n = 254] were analyzed. We examined their global and local ancestry proportions and screened this cohort for deleterious variants in disease-causing and risk-conferring genes. RESULTS: We identified 21 pathogenic variants in AD-FTLD related genes, and PSEN1 harbored the majority (11 pathogenic variants). Variants were identified from all three continental ancestries. TREM2 heterozygous and homozygous variants were the most common among AD risk genes (102 carriers), a point of interest because the disease risk conferred by these variants differed according to ancestry. Several gene variants that have a known association with MND in European populations had FTLD phenotypes on a Native American haplotype. Consistent with founder effects, identity by descent among carriers of the same variant was frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Colombian demography with multiple mini-bottlenecks probably enhanced the detection of founder events and left a proportionally higher frequency of rare variants derived from the ancestral populations. These findings demonstrate the role of genomically defined ancestry in phenotypic disease expression, a phenotypic range of different rare mutations in the same gene, and further emphasize the importance of inclusiveness in genetic studies.

Substance Use-Related Cognitive Decline in Families with Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the association between neurodegeneration and other substances has not been fully determined. It is of vital importance to evaluate this relationship in populations at high risk of dementia. Since substance use possibly modifies the progression rate of cognitive decline, we studied this association in a unique and well-phenotyped cohort from the University of Antioquia: carriers of the PSEN1-E280A genetic variant. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between substance use and cognitive decline in carriers of the PSEN1-E280A genetic variant. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 94 carriers and 69 noncarriers recruited between January 2019 and April 2020. A psychiatrist interviewed the participants using the Consumption of Alcohol, Cigarettes and other Substances questionnaire. The participants were also submitted to cognitive evaluation. The relationship between cognitive decline and substance use was explored through a mixed effects regression model. RESULTS: There was an association between cigarettes and better performance on tasks related to perceptual organization, verbal fluency, and memory in carriers. Alcohol had a positive or negative effect on memory according to the type of alcoholic beverage. Results on marijuana use were no conclusive. Coffee was associated with progressive improvements in executive function and verbal fluency. CONCLUSION: Cigarette and alcohol were associated with an improvement of some cognitive assessments, possibly by a survival bias. In addition, coffee was related to improvements in executive function and language; therefore, its short-term neuroprotective potential should be studied.

Maternal Motivation: Exploring the Roles of Prolactin and Pup Stimuli.

Motherhood entails increased motivation for pups, which become strong reinforcers and guide maternal behaviours. This depends on steroids and lactogens acting on the brain of females during pregnancy and postpartum. Since virgin female mice exposed to pups are nearly spontaneously maternal, the specific roles of endocrine and pup-derived signals in the induction of maternal motivation remain unclear. This work investigates maternal motivation in dams and virgin female mice, using a novel variant of the pup retrieval paradigm, the motivated pup retrieval test. We also analyse the role of prolactin (PRL) and of stimuli derived from a litter of pups and its mother, in the acquisition of maternal motivation. Experimental design included female mice in 3 conditions: lactating dams, comothers (virgins housed and sharing pup care with dams) and pup-naïve virgins. Females underwent 3 motivated-pup-retrieval trials, with pups displaced behind a 10-cm-high wire-mesh barrier. Dams retrieved with significantly lower latencies than comothers or virgins, indicating that full maternal motivation appears only after pregnancy. Although initially comothers and virgins showed no retrieval, comothers significantly improved throughout the experiment, suggesting an induced sensitization process. Lengthening exposure of comothers to the dyad pups-dam (from 2 to 5 days at the beginning of testing) had no strong effects on maternal sensitization. PRL responsiveness was analysed in these animals using immunohistochemical detection of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (pSTAT5, PRL-derived signalling marker). As expected, dams showed significantly higher pSTAT5 expression in most of the analysed nuclei. Moreover, comothers displayed significantly higher PRL responsiveness than pup-naïve virgins in the medial preoptic nucleus, even if they display similar circulating PRL levels, which are significantly lower than those of dams. Given the instrumental role of this nucleus in the relay and integration of pup-derived stimuli to facilitate proactive maternal responses, this increase in PRL responsiveness likely reflects the mechanism underlying the maternal sensitization process reported in this work. Since the analyses of maternal motivation and PRL signalling in the brain were performed in the same animals, we were able to explore correlation between both set of data. The results shed light on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying maternal motivation and other aspects of maternal behaviour.

Microstructural evolution and corrosion behavior of a laser surface modified cast Co-Cr-Mo-C alloy.

A Co-Cr-Mo-C biomedical alloy was processed by investment casting, and its surface was modified using pulsed laser melting. The modified surface underwent rapid solidification, and the exhibited microstructure as well as its corrosion properties were investigated. It was found that the laser surface modified (LSM) Co-Cr-Mo-C alloy possesses enhanced corrosion resistance when compared with the same alloy in the as-cast condition. Microstructural determinations indicated that the LSM Co-Cr-Mo-C alloy exhibited a lack significant solute segregation and a predominantly cellular morphology as a result of the development of a cellular solid-liquid front. The cellular morphology was characterized by a fine distribution of nano-scale M23 C6 carbides at the intercellular regions. Moreover, the austenite (γ) to athermal ε-martensite transformation was totally suppressed in the cellular solidified regions. In contrast, the as-cast alloy develops a coarse dendritic microstructure with coarse carbides in the interdendritic regions. Solute segregation is also present, as well as athermal ε-martensite (13 pct). It was found that the corrosion resistance of the LSM alloy in the Ringer solution exhibits improved corrosion potential and a reduced corrosion current density (-281 mV and 0.032 µA/cm2 , respectively),when compared with the same alloy in the investment as-cast condition (-356 mV and 0.150 µA/cm2 ).

Staphylinidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Latin America: synopsis, annotated catalog, diversity and distribution.

The taxonomic diversity of species and genera of Staphylinidae and their distribution in Latin America are discussed and listed/tabulated based on published literature. In total, 11,675 species in 1075 genera are reported from Latin America. South America has the most recorded species for Latin America, 7773 including 7079 endemic species. The four subfamilies with the highest total number of genera including endemic genera are Aleocharinae, Staphylininae, Pselaphinae, and Paederinae. All recorded genera and their synonyms are listed alphabetically within the subfamilies of Staphylinidae, providing a catalog of published genera for Latin America. Two hundred forty-four color or black and white images of species representing different genera are provided.

Condiciones de acceso al programa de control prenatal en un centro de primer nivel de atención de la Ciudad de Pasto, Colombia / Conditions of access to an antenatal care program in a primary health care center at Pasto City, Colombia

Introduction: Prenatal care is the main tool for prevention of complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. Nevertheless, rates of deaths and diseases related to gestation remain unacceptably high, especially in developing countries. Objective: To describe the conditions of access to prenatal care in a primary care center in the city of Pasto, Nariño, Colombia. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study. We interviewed twenty-four women with gestational age between 36 and 40 weeks, attending prenatal care at the Pandiaco Health Center, level I of care in Pasto City, Colombia, during the year 2015. The data obtained were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 16.0 for Windows. Results: Approximately 50% of pregnant women had less than four prenatal care visits during pregnancy. Labor, home, children care, and economic burden were referred as the main barriers to regular attendance. Conclusions: Home and children care, and the need to work, represented the main barriers to prenatal care access among the population studied.

Introducción. El control prenatal constituye la principal herramienta para la prevención de las complicaciones del embarazo, el parto y el puerperio. Aun así, las tasas de muerte y enfermedades relacionadas con la gestación continúan siendo inaceptablemente altas, especialmente en los países en vía de desarrollo. Objetivo. Describir las condiciones de acceso al control prenatal, en un centro de primer nivel de atención de la Ciudad de Pasto, Nariño, Colombia. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal. Se encuestaron 204 mujeres con edad gestacional entre 36 y 40 semanas, asistentes a control prenatal en el Centro de Salud Pandiaco, nivel I de atención de la ciudad de PastoColombia, durante el año 2015. Resultados. Aproximadamente el 50% de las gestantes realizó menos de 4 controles prenatales a lo largo del embarazo. El trabajo, las labores del hogar, el cuidado de otros hijos y la incapacidad económica fueron referidas como las principales limitaciones para la asistencia regular. Conclusiones. El cuidado del hogar, la atención de otros hijos y la necesidad de trabajar representaron las principales barreras de acceso al control prenatal en la población estudiada.

El desarrollo de la instrumentación quirúrgica en Colombia / Surgical technician career development in Colombia

El desarrollo de la profesión de la instrumentación quirúrgica en el país ha estado vinculado con la organización de la prestación de servicios de salud y en particular con la práctica médica quirúrgica. Así mismo, se ha sincronizado con los avances en protección específica, nuevas vacunas, y con las innovaciones en bioseguridad y vigilancia epidemiológica en el entorno hospitalario. Estas nuevas realidades plantean diversas exigencias para la formación del Instrumentador Quirúrgico.