Geometric Structures Induced by Deformations of the Legendre Transform.

The recent link discovered between generalized Legendre transforms and non-dually flat statistical manifolds suggests a fundamental reason behind the ubiquity of Rényi's divergence and entropy in a wide range of physical phenomena. However, these early findings still provide little intuition on the nature of this relationship and its implications for physical systems. Here we shed new light on the Legendre transform by revealing the consequences of its deformation via symplectic geometry and complexification. These findings reveal a novel common framework that leads to a principled and unified understanding of physical systems that are not well-described by classic information-theoretic quantities.

Functional Status of Patients over 65 Years Old Intervened on for a Hip Fracture One Year after the Operation.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the functional status one year after a hip fracture surgery and the influence of sarcopenia and other clinical factors at the time of admission. METHOD: Prospective observational study with 135 patients over 65 years of age. Functional status of basic (modified Katz) and instrumental activities (Lawton and Brody) and walking ability (Functional Ambulation Classification, FAC) was measured on admission, at discharge, and telephonically one year later. The risk or positive screening of sarcopenia (SARC-F) and cognitive status (Pfeiffer), as well as clinical variables, were evaluated. RESULTS: 72% of patients are women; 36% have a risk of sarcopenia (Sarc-F ≥ 4), and 43% have moderate-severe cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer ≥ 5). Walking capacity at one year was closer to the values at admission more often in women than in men (0.2 ± 1.3 points vs. 0.9 ± 1.6; p = 0.001), as well as in patients without risk of sarcopenia versus sarcopenic patients (0.3 ± 1.2 points vs. 0.7 ± 1.7; p = 0.001), although their evolution did not show significant differences (p = 0.183). Instrumental activities after one year have not been recovered (1.7 ± 2.5 points; p = 0.032), and patients at risk of sarcopenia showed worse values (1.7 ± 1.9 points vs. 3.7 ± 2.7; p < 0.001) and worse evolution (p = 0.012). The evolution of basic activities varied according to the risk of sarcopenia (0.6 ± 1.4 points vs. 1.4 ± 2.1; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Functional status at one year is related to the functional status at admission, the positive screening of sarcopenia, sex, and cognitive impairment of the patient. Knowing at the time of admission an estimate of the functional status at one year will help to reinforce the individual treatment of patients with a worse prognosis.

Unprecedented diterpene skeletons isolated from vascular plants in the last twenty years (2001-2021).

Every year there are hundreds of reports about the isolation of undescribed terpenoids based on novel functionalizations of known carbocyclic skeletons series. However, on some occasions the compounds obtained have a carbocyclic skeleton that does not correspond with the series established, in these peculiar opportunities, in addition to finding an undescribed natural product, is obtained an unprecedented carbocyclic skeleton, whose biogenesis must necessarily involve other additional steps that explain its formation. This review accounts for the reports of seventy-nine unprecedented diterpene skeletons (corresponding to one-hundred-three undescribed diterpenoids) isolated from vascular plants in the last two decades. According to the genus, Euphorbia and Salvia are the most prolific in reports of unprecedented diterpene skeletons with a total of twenty, and nine skeletons, respectively. If the findings are expressed in terms of the family, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae have the highest number of reports of undescribed diterpene skeletons, with twenty-seven and twenty-two, respectively. Finally, fifty-three skeletons are derived from higher diterpenoids (2-12, 68, 69, 86, 104-109, 158-161, 186, 189, 222, 250-255, 285-298, 403-404, 415, 416, and 436), twenty are derived from lower diterpenoids (135, 136, 192-194, 225-229, 363-370, 397, and 425), and six (96, 97, 147, 148, 205, and 206) are derived from skeletons whose biogenesis has not yet been established, or at least, cannot be formally included within the groups mentioned above. This article comprehensively highlights the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for each of the one-hundred-three undescribed compounds with unprecedented diterpene skeletons and summarizes their most significant biological activities.

Preparation of a ε-caprolactonic diterpenoid derivate by unexpected oxidative cleavage/lactonization of 2-oxoaustroeupatol.

From aerial parts of Austroeupatorium inulifolium was isolated the ent-nor-furano triol labdane austroeupatol 1. The compound 1 was treated with IBX showing an unexpected selectivity at the potentially oxidizable sites of the substrate yielding the 2-oxoaustroeupatol (2) and 2,19-dioxoaustroeupatol (3). The treatment of 2 with sodium periodate yields a heterocyclic derivative (ε-caprolactone derivate 4) formed by oxidative cleavage and unexpected intramolecular attack of the hydroxymethylene (C-19) oxygen to the ketonic carbon (C-2). A plausible mechanistic pathway for the obtention of compound 4 is proposed.

Evaluation of Medical Care for Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Primary Care in Mexico: Observational Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The present study evaluated the quality of medical care for patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HBP), and both pathologies (DM+HBP) within a public health system in Mexico. METHODS: 45,498 patients were included from 2012 to 2015. All information was taken from the electronic medical record database. Each patient record was compared against the standard to test the quality of medical care. RESULTS: Glycemia with hypertension goals reached 29.6% in DM+HBP, 48.6% in DM, and 53.2% in HBP. The goals of serum lipids were reached by 3% in DM+HBP, 5% in DM, and 0.2% in HBP. Glycemia, hypertension, and LDL cholesterol reached 0.04%. 15% of patients had an undiagnosed disease. Clinical follow-up examinations reached 20% for foot examination and clinical eye examination. Specialty referrals reached 1% in angiology or cardiology. CONCLUSION: Goals for glycemic and hypertension reached 50% in the overall population, while serum lipids, clinical follow-up examinations, and referral to a specialist were deficient. Patients who had both diseases had more consultations, better control for hypertension and lipids, but inferior glycemic control. Overall, quality care for DM and/or HBP has not been met according to the standards.

Helenin from Stevia lucida. The first report of this natural eudesmanolide mixture in Eupatorieae tribe.

From aerial parts of Stevia lucida Lagasca was isolated the natural mixture of isomeric eudesmanolides helenin. The identification and quantification of the constituents of helenin (alantolactone 1 and isoalantolactone 2, ratio 3:7) was performed through the quantitative analysis of its 1D and 2D NMR spectra.

Efficacy of 13 Commercial Household Aerosol Insecticides Against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) From Morelos, Mexico.

In Mexico, Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary vector of Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses. Control programs include community participation using personal protection such as household aerosol insecticides. In both, urban or rural areas, the use of aerosol insecticides is a common practice to avoiding mosquito biting. Thus, information on the efficacy of commercial products must be available. This study reports the efficacy of 13 household aerosol insecticides against Ae. aegypti from an endemic dengue area in Mexico. To test each insecticide, six netting cages, containing 10 non-blood fed female mosquitoes each one, were placed in different locations inside a bedroom. Readings at 30 min and 24 h after exposure were recorded. No products showed 100% mortality after 30 min of exposure. Only three products killed the 100% of the individuals 24 h after exposure. Results showed a high mortality variance among insecticides. Location in the room also impacts the insecticide efficacy. Mosquitoes located inside cabinets or with behind an obstacle (preventing an accurate insecticide exposure) showed lower mortalities. Products and spraying methods could and should be improved.

Repellency of 29 Synthetic and Natural Commercial Topical Insect Repellents Against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Mexico.

In Mexico, the use of repellents to prevent insects from landing and biting is a common practice. However, variation in the efficiency of natural and synthetic repellents has been observed. In this study, we evaluated the repellency and protection time of 16 synthetic and 13 natural-based commercial products against Aedes aegypti (L.) from an endemic dengue area (Jojutla, Morelos) in Central Mexico. The "arm exposure" cage test was used to assess the efficacy of the repellents. Tests were conducted by three adult volunteers. Results showed that DEET (N, N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) repellents provided the highest protection and duration times against Ae. aegypti. However, low repellency and short-time protection was observed (when compared with the manufacturers' protection times). Natural-based products did not repel (either landing or biting) mosquitoes for >30 min. These results show that most of the repellent products did not provide satisfactory levels of personal protection against mosquito bites. Frequent reapplication of repellents (synthetic and natural-based) may compensate for their short duration of action. Repellent efficacy data must be integrated into the decision-making process for an optimal response to the local (or specific region) situation.

Structure Determination and Mechanism of Formation of a seco-Moreliane Derivative Supported by Computational Analysis.

Basic hydrolysis of a dichloromethane extract of Stevia lucida yielded (4R,5S,7R,9R,10R,11R)-7,9-dihydroxylongipin-2-en-1-one (1), which was oxidized and subjected to acidic conditions to generate the new seco-moreliane derivative 3. The structure of 3 was established based on NMR data interpretation and confirmed computationally. A plausible mechanism for the carbocationic rearrangement of the trione 2 to the seco-moreliane 3 was supported by DFT computations.

Day-to-Day Population Movement and the Management of Dengue Epidemics.

Dengue is a growing public health problem in tropical and subtropical cities. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, and the main strategy for epidemic prevention and control is insecticide fumigation. Effective management is, however, proving elusive. People's day-to-day movement about the city is believed to be an important factor in the epidemiological dynamics. We use a simple model to examine the fundamental roles of broad demographic and spatial structures in epidemic initiation, growth and control. We show that the key factors are local dilution, characterised by the vector-host ratio, and spatial connectivity, characterised by the extent of habitually variable movement patterns. Epidemic risk in the population is driven by the demographic groups that frequent the areas with the highest vector-host ratio, even if they only spend some of their time there. Synchronisation of epidemic trajectories in different demographic groups is governed by the vector-host ratios to which they are exposed and the strength of connectivity. Strategies for epidemic prevention and management may be made more effective if they take into account the fluctuating landscape of transmission intensity associated with spatial heterogeneity in the vector-host ratio and people's day-to-day movement patterns.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characterization of Laboratory-Confirmed Autochthonous Cases of Zika Virus Disease in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Since 2014, autochthonous circulation of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas was detected (Easter Island, Chile). In May 2015, Brazil confirmed autochthonous --transmission and in October of that year Colombia reported their first  cases. Now more than 52 countries have reported cases, including Mexico. To deal with this contingency in Mexico, several surveillance systems, in addition to systems for vector-borne diseases were strengthened with the participation of all health institutions. Also, the Ministry of Health defined an Action Plan against ZIKV for the whole country. METHODS: We analyzed 93 autochthonous cases of ZIKV disease identified by Epidemiological Surveillance System for Zika Virus in Mexico. All autochthonous cases confirmed by laboratory since November 25, 2015 to February 19, 2016 were included. A description of clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 93 cases of ZIKV disease are presenting and, we describe the Action Plan against this public health emergency.  RESULTS: The distribution of cases by sex was 61 men and 32 women; mean age was 35 years old (S.D. 15, range 6-90). The main clinical features in the 93 cases were fever (96.6%), rash (93.3%), non-purulent conjunctivitis (88.8%), headache (85.4%), and myalgia (84.3%). No deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: The ZIKV epidemic poses new challenges to public health systems. The information provided for basic, clinical, and epidemiological research, in addition to the data derived from epidemiological surveillance is essential. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding mechanisms of transmission, complications, and impact of this virus.

Elimination of Onchocerciasis from Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Mexico is one of the six countries formerly endemic for onchocerciasis in Latin America. Transmission has been interrupted in the three endemic foci of that country and mass drug distribution has ceased. Three years after mass drug distribution ended, post-treatment surveillance (PTS) surveys were undertaken which employed entomological indicators to check for transmission recrudescence. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In-depth entomologic assessments were performed in 18 communities in the three endemic foci of Mexico. None of the 108,212 Simulium ochraceum s.l. collected from the three foci were found to contain parasite DNA when tested by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA), resulting in a maximum upper bound of the 95% confidence interval (95%-ULCI) of the infective rate in the vectors of 0.035/2,000 flies examined. This is an order of magnitude below the threshold of a 95%-ULCI of less than one infective fly per 2,000 flies tested, the current entomological criterion for interruption of transmission developed by the international community. The point estimate of seasonal transmission potential (STP) was zero, and the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval for the STP ranged from 1.2 to 1.7 L3/person/season in the different foci. This value is below all previous estimates for the minimum transmission potential required to maintain the parasite population. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results from the in-depth entomological post treatment surveillance surveys strongly suggest that transmission has not resumed in the three foci of Mexico during the three years since the last distribution of ivermectin occurred; it was concluded that transmission remains undetectable without intervention, and Onchocerca volvulus has been eliminated from Mexico.

Spatial modulation and topological current in holographic QCD matter.

We investigate an impact of the axial-vector interaction on the spatial modulation of quark matter. A magnetic field coupled with baryon density leads to a topological axial current so that the effect of the axial-vector interaction is then crucially enhanced. Using the Sakai-Sugimoto model, we have found that contrary to a naive expectation, the spatially modulated phase is less favored for a stronger magnetic field, which is realized by the presence of topological current.