Relevancia epidemiológica y clínica de la técnica elisa para SARS-COV-2 en Tegucigalpa y Comayaguela, Honduras / Epidemiological and clinical relevance of the ELISA Technique for SARS-COV-2 in Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela, Honduras

El virus SARS-CoV-2, es responsable de la enfermedad COVID-19; para su detección indirecta se utilizan inmunoensayos que cuantifican anticuerpos séricos contra algunas de sus proteínas. Objetivo: documentar resultados de la técnica ELISA, para la identificación cualitativa de anticuerpos contra SARS-CoV-2 en sujetos de Tegucigalpa y Comayagüela y la determinación de relevancia epidemiológica y clínica que presenta esta prueba. Material y Métodos: estudio correlacional transversal de 596 sujetos, a quienes se les practicó ELISA para la determinación de anticuerpos contra el SARS-CoV-2. Se recolectó datos epidemiológicos y clínicos del 13 de mayo al 31 de agosto 2020. Resultados: se analizó datos de 492 sujetos, 271 mujeres y 221 hombres, 313 de Tegucigalpa y 179 de Comayagüela. La edad media fue de 42.1 años; 253 tuvieron nexo epidemiológico negativo y 239 fueron positivos, se identificaron 88 profesiones, con base en la clasificación del Departamento de Trabajo de Estados Unidos y se categorizaron en grupos de riesgo bajo, medio y alto. Se encontraron 12 síntomas clínicos y 2 enfermedades concomitantes. De acuerdo al resultado de la prueba ELISA, los resultados se estructuraron en cuatro grupos: IgM e IgG negativos, IgM positivos, IgM e IgG positivos e IgG positivos, los que se asociaron con las variables epidemiológicas y clínicas. Los habitantes de Comayagüela presentaron mayor número de casos de ELISA positiva en comparación con los de Tegucigalpa. 1Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, UNAH. 2 Laboratorios Molina, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. 3 Western International School, San Pedro Sula. 4 Grupo de Investigación Historia. 5 Dirección General de Documentos Normativos, SESAL. 6 Grupo de Investigación Historia. 7 Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, UNAH. Autor corresponsal: Mayra Gabriela Handal Lorenzana. mayr_gt@hotmail.com Recibido: 15/04/2021 Aceptado: 28/06/2021 Conclusiones: no hubo difer encia entr e edad (p=0.528) y sexo (p=0.245) en cuanto a los resultados del ELISA. Un tercio de los sujetos a los que se detectó algún anticuerpo no refirieron nexo epidemiológico. Las profesiones u ocupaciones más afectadas fueron las de riesgo medio y los síntomas identificados más frecuentes fueron fiebre, cefalea y odinofagia.

Clot activators and anticoagulant additives for blood collection. A critical review on behalf of COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM.

In the clinical laboratory, knowledge of and the correct use of clot activators and anticoagulant additives are critical to preserve and maintain samples in optimal conditions prior to analysis. In 2017, the Latin America Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI) commissioned the Latin American Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE-LATAM) to study preanalytical variability and establish guidelines for preanalytical procedures to be applied by clinical laboratories and health care professionals. The aim of this critical review, on behalf of COLABIOCLI WG-PRE-LATAM, is to provide information to understand the mechanisms of the interactions and reactions that occur between blood and clot activators and anticoagulant additives inside evacuated tubes used for laboratory testing. Clot activators - glass, silica, kaolin, bentonite, and diatomaceous earth - work by surface dependent mechanism whereas extrinsic biomolecules - thrombin, snake venoms, ellagic acid, and thromboplastin - start in vitro coagulation when added to blood. Few manufacturers of evacuated tubes state the type and concentration of clot activators used in their products. With respect to anticoagulant additives, sodium citrate and oxalate complex free calcium and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelates calcium. Heparin potentiates antithrombin and hirudin binds to active thrombin, inactivating the thrombin irreversibly. Blood collection tubes have improved continually over the years, from the glass tubes containing clot activators or anticoagulant additives that were prepared by laboratory personnel to the current standardized evacuated systems that permit more precise blood/additive ratios. Each clot activator and anticoagulant additive demonstrates specific functionality, and both manufacturers of tubes and laboratory professional strive to provide suitable interference-free sample matrices for laboratory testing. Both manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic devices and laboratory professionals need to understand all aspects of venous blood sampling so that they do not underestimate the impact of tube additives on laboratory testing.

A bioinspired metal-organic approach to cross-linked functional 3D nanofibrous hydro- and aero-gels with effective mixture separation of nucleobases by molecular recognition.

The direct reaction between Cu(CH3COO)2 and uracil-1-acetic acid in water gives rise to the formation of a hydrogel consisting of entangled nanometric ribbons of a crystalline antiferromagnetic 1D Cu(ii) coordination polymer (CP) decorated with biocompatible uracil nucleobases. This hydrogel is the precursor for the preparation of a meso/macroporous ultralight aerogel that shows a remarkable Young's modulus. As a proof-of-concept of the molecular recognition capability of the terminal uracil moieties anchored at Cu(ii) CP chains, this material has been tested as the selective stationary phase for the separation of nucleobase derivatives in HPLC columns.

Diseño de un filtro de arena lento para la remoción de aguas con contaminantes fecales del acuífero pampeano / Design of a slow sand filter for the removal of water with fecal pollutants from the Pampean aquifer

INTRODUCCIÓN Los filtros de arena lentos (FDAL) son una tecnología que se desarrolló hace más de dos siglos con la finalidad de remover la turbidez del agua superficial para suministrarla a la población de Escocia. Con el transcurso de los años se efectuaron hallazgos en otros lugares, que demostraron que, además, se eliminaban microrganismos enteropatógenos que viven en el agua sin necesidad de adicionar compuestos químicos y sin realizar otros procesos de filtración antes o después del tratamiento. OBJETIVOS Diseñar y construir un sistema a escala piloto de un FDAL y probarlo en condiciones reales de uso, evaluando su capacidad de remoción de contaminantes fecales del agua subterránea del acuífero pampeano. MÉTODOS El filtro piloto fue diseñado con materiales de fácil acceso y bajo costo. Se buscó que su construcción no requiriera mano de obra especializada, a fin de poder replicar fácilmente este tipo de tecnología en otras comunidades con problemas de carácter biológico en el agua de consumo. El manejo y la revisión de las variables del filtro para su adecuado funcionamiento fueron de baja complejidad, por lo que se comprobó su cómoda operación. RESULTADOS Se determinó el tiempo de maduración del biofilm en el FDAL (tiempo necesario para una remoción total de E. Coli). Asimismo, se midieron variables del proceso de filtración (por ejemplo, temperatura ambiental). El filtro removió completamente E. Coli del agua a partir del día 65 desde su puesta en marcha y hasta el día 90 (fin del experimento). DISCUSIÓN Se diseñó, construyó y puso en funcionamiento un FDAL a escala piloto que remueve bacterias fecales hasta 0 bact/100 ml, obteniendo agua de calidad potable según norma del CAA (Código Alimentario Argentino). La maduración del biofilm se completó el día 65 de trabajo, obteniendo a la salida del sistema agua potable microbiológicamente. Las fluctuaciones de velocidades de filtración dentro de los límites establecidos no interfirieron en los resultados de remoción de coliformes fecales. El sistema requirió poco mantenimiento y acompañamiento durante el tiempo de trabajo, haciendo evidente su fácil y práctico funcionamiento. Los valores de concentración de bacterias fecales a la entrada fluctuaron de manera abrupta en algunos momentos, igualmente el filtro demostró que puede someterse a estos cambios y seguir obteniendo agua libre de E. coli. Las variaciones de temperatura y pH se generaron debido a factores ambientales externos, el crecimiento bacteriano no interfirió en estos parámetros.

Multistimuli Response Micro- and Nanolayers of a Coordination Polymer Based on Cu2 I2 Chains Linked by 2-Aminopyrazine.

A nonporous laminar coordination polymer of formula [Cu2 I2 (2-aminopyrazine)]n is prepared by direct reaction between CuI and 2-aminopyrazine, two industrially available building blocks. The fine tuning of the reaction conditions allows obtaining [Cu2 I2 (2-aminopyrazine)]n in micrometric and nanometric sizes with same structure and composition. Interestingly, both materials show similar reversible thermo- and pressure-luminescent response as well as reversible electrical response to volatile organic solvents such as acetic acid. X-ray diffraction studies under different conditions, temperatures and pressures, in combination with theoretical calculations allow rationalizing the physical properties of this compound and its changes under physical stimuli. Thus, the emission dramatically increases when lowering the temperature, while an enhancement of the pressure produces a decrease in the emission intensity. These observations emerge as a direct consequence of the high structural flexibility of the Cu2 I2 chains which undergo a contraction in CuCu distances as far as temperature decreases or pressure increases. However, the strong structural changes observed under high pressure lead to an unexpected effect that produces a less effective CuCu orbital overlapping that justifies the decrease in the intensity emission. This work shows the high potential of materials based on Cu2 I2 chains for new applications.

Anamnesis y su relevancia, a propósito de un caso: isquemia arterial por aneurisma poplíteo / Anamnesis and their relevance, a case report: popliteal fossa mass

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MasterChem: cooking 2D-polymers.

2D-polymers are still dominated by graphene and closely related materials such as boron nitride, transition metal sulphides and oxides. However, the rational combination of molecules with suitable design is already showing the high potential of chemistry in this new research field. The aim of this feature article is to illustrate, and provide some perspectives, the current state-of-the-art in the field of synthetic 2D-polymers showing different alternatives to prepare this novel type of polymers based on the rational use of chemistry. This review comprises a brief revision of the essential concepts, the strategies of preparation following the two general approaches, bottom-up and top-down, and a revision of the promising seminal properties showed by some of these nanomaterials.

Halo and Pseudohalo Cu(I)-Pyridinato Double Chains with Tunable Physical Properties.

The properties recently reported on the Cu(I)-iodide pyrimidine nonporous 1D-coordination polymer [CuI(ANP)]n (ANP = 2-amino-5-nitropyridine) showing reversible physically and chemically driven electrical response have prompted us to carry a comparative study with the series of [CuX(ANP)]n (X = Cl (1), X = Br (2), X = CN (4), and X = SCN (5)) in order to understand the potential influence of the halide and pseudohalide bridging ligands on the physical properties and their electrical response to vapors of these materials. The structural characterization of the series shows a common feature, the presence of -X-Cu(ANP)-X- (X = Cl, Br, I, SCN) double chain structure. Complex [Cu(ANP)(CN)]n (4) presents a helical single chain. Additionally, the chains show supramolecular interlinked interactions via hydrogen bonding giving rise to the formation of extended networks. Their luminescent and electrical properties have been studied. The results obtained have been correlated with structural changes. Furthermore, the experimental and theoretical results have been compared using the density functional theory (DFT). The electrical response of the materials has been evaluated in the presence of vapors of diethyl ether, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), CH2Cl2, HAcO, MeOH, and EtOH, to build up simple prototype devices for gas detectors. Selectivity toward gases consisting of molecules with H-bonding donor or acceptor groups is clearly observed. This selective molecular recognition is likely due to the 2-amino-5-nitropyridine terminal ligand.

Varón de 81 años con dolor y tumefacción en región pectoral derecha / 81-year-old man with pain and swelling in the right side of the chest

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Reversible stimulus-responsive Cu(I) iodide pyridine coordination polymer.

We present a structurally flexible copper-iodide-pyridine-based coordination polymer showing drastic variations in its electrical conductivity driven by temperature and sorption of acetic acid molecules. The dramatic effect on the electrical conductivity enables the fabrication of a simple and robust device for gas detection. X-ray diffraction studies and DFT calculations allow the rationalisation of these observations.

Plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in healthy retired racing Greyhounds.

BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a cardiac biomarker whose plasma concentration is high in some dogs with cardiopulmonary disease. NT-proBNP is a diagnostic tool that can be used to help determine if a patient has congestive heart failure. Greyhounds have functional heart murmurs, relative cardiomegaly, and high serum cTnI concentration. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP in healthy Greyhounds and compare it to non-Greyhound dogs. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated healthy client-owned dogs including retired racing Greyhounds and non-Greyhounds. Plasma was obtained and transferred into tubes containing a protease inhibitor and submitted for a specific NT-proBNP ELISA assay. RESULTS: The plasma NT-proBNP concentration in Greyhounds was significantly higher than in non-Greyhound control dogs (946 vs 632 pmol/L; P < .005); 46% of Greyhounds had NT-proBNP > 1000 pmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma NT-proBNP concentration in Greyhounds is high and should be interpreted with caution.

Antígenos HLA de clase ii en pacientes con artritis reumatoide ecuatorianos y asociación con el factor reumatoide, anticuerpos anti-citrulinados y nódulos reumatoides / HLA antigens class ii in patients with ecuadorian rheumatoid arthritis and association with the rheumatoid factor, anti-citrulinated antibodies and rheumatoid nodules

Objetivo Determinar los antígenos de Clase II en 52 pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) y 52 controles, y establecer la asociación de los antígenos de Clase II DRB1* con el factor reumatoide (FR), anticuerpos anti-péptido cíclico citrulinados (anti-CCP) y nódulos reumatoides. Material y Métodos Estudio de casos y controles, realizado en pacientes del Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso y José Carrasco Arteaga de la ciudad de Cuenca-Ecuador; se incluyeron 52 pacientes con AR que cumplen los criterios del Colegio Americano de Reumatología (ACR) y 52 controles. Se identificaron a través de la Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa (PCR), los diferentes tipos de HLA que tienen cada uno de los 52 pacientes con AR y controles. Se buscó asociación de los HLA-DR1* con la AR y las pruebas de laboratorio: FR, anticuerpos anti-CCP y con nódulos reumatoides. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el cálculo de OR (IC 95%) y 2 de Pearson con corrección de Fisher y la información se procesó en SPSS v15. Resultados Los alelos más frecuentes fueron HLA-DRB1*09 (17,3%) OR 3,42 (IC95% 1,21 ­ 10,14) y HLADRB1*04 (32,7%) OR 1,81 (IC95% 0,93 ­ 3,55). Tanto el factor reumatoide como los anticuerpos anti-péptido cíclico citrulinados estuvieron presentes en el 82,7% de pacientes con artritis reumatoide y los nódulos reumatoides se detectaron en el 19,2% de pacientes con AR. Se encontró asociación entre los nódulos reumatoides con valores altos de FR y anti-CCP y estos a su vez con los alelos HLA-DRB1*14 y HLADRB1*04. La mayoría de pacientes con alelos HLA-DRB1*09 con predominio heterocigoto tuvieron anticuerpos anti-CCP y FR positivo. Conclusión La presencia de los alelos HLA-DRB1*04 y HLADRB1*09 está relacionada con la susceptibilidad de presentar AR en pacientes ecuatorianos, además se relaciona con valores elevados de factor reumatoide y anticuerpos anti-péptido cíclico citrulinados.

Objective To determine Class II antigens in 52 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 52 controls and establish the association of Class II antigens DRB1* with rheumatoid anti- cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) rheumatoid factor (RF), and antibodies rheumatoid nodules. Methods and Materials Case and control study in patients from the Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso and José Carrasco Arteaga of Cuenca-Ecuador; 52 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who satisfy the criteria of ACR-American College of Rheumatology and 52 healthy patients. The different types of HLA from each 52 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and controls were identified through PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction. Association of HLA-DR1* with rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated and rheumatoid nodules. The statistical analysis was done by the OR (IC 95%) and 2 of Pearson with Fisher correction and the information was processed in SPSS v15. Results The most frequency alleles were HLA-DRB1*09 (17,3%) OR 3,42 (IC95% 1,21 ­ 10,14) and HLADRB1*04 (32,7%) OR 1,81 (IC95% 0,93 ­ 3,55). The rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were presented in 82,7% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid nodules was detected in the 19.2% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis . An association between rheumatoid nodules with high values of rheumatoid factor and anti-ccp and these in turn with HLA-DRB1*14 y HLA-DRB1*04 alleles were found. The majority of patients with HLA-DRB1*09 alleles with heterozygote predomination had positive anti-ccp and rheumatoid factor. Conclusion The presence of HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*09 alleles is related with the susceptibility of present rheumatoid arthritis in Ecuadorian patients, and it is related with higher values of rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide.

Targeted obstetric haemorrhage programme improves incoming resident confidence and knowledge.

Postpartum haemorrhage is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening obstetrical emergency amenable to simulation. An educational programme consisting of a lecture and high-fidelity simulation exercise was given to incoming obstetrics and gynaecology (OB) and family medicine (FM) residents. Residents reported pre- and post-intervention confidence scores on a 1-5 Likert scale and a subset completed a postpartum haemorrhage knowledge assessment. Residents reported significant improvements in confidence in parameters involved in diagnosis and management of postpartum haemorrhage. The postpartum haemorrhage test mean scores significantly increased (57.4 ± 9.6% vs 77.1 ± 7.9%, p < 0.01) and were significantly correlated to confidence scores (Spearman's coefficient of 0.651, p < 0.001). In conclusion, an education programme that incorporates high-fidelity simulation of postpartum haemorrhage improves the confidence and knowledge of incoming residents and appears to be an effective educational approach.

Síntesis de teriiridinas 4-fenil sustituídas y u potencial uso en la determinaación de mercurio / Synthesis of 4-phenyl-substituted-terpyridines and their potentil use for the ddetermination of mercryy / Síntese d substiituídas 4-fenil-terpyridines e sua posterior utilização na determinação de mercúrio

En este trabajo se reporta la síntesis de terpiridinas bajo la metodología de Kröhnke. Las terpiridinas obtenidas por este método, se analizaron por espectroscopia UV-Vis y de fluorescencia, y su respuesta a la presencia de varios metales en diferentes concentraciones fue evaluada para sistemas en solución acuosa. Los resultados muestran que la terpiridina TpyOH es altamente promisoria en la detección de mercurio bajo las condiciones experimentales reportadas.

This paper reports the synthesis of terpyridines using the Kröhnke methodology. The terpyridines obtained by this method were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorescence, and its response to the presence of various metals at different concentrations was evaluated in aqueous systems. The results show that the terpyridine TpyOH is highly promising for the detection of mercury under the experimental conditions reported.

Este trabalho relata a síntese de terpyridines baixo a metodologia de Kröhnke. Os terpyridines obtidos por este método foram analisadas por espectroscopia UV- Vis e de fluorescência, e a sua resposta à presença de vários metais em diferentes concentrações foi avaliada em sistemas aquosos. Os resultados mostram que o terpyridine TpyOH é altamente promissor para a detecção de mercúrio sob as condições experimentais relatados.

Use of domperidone in the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis: a clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of domperidone, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. Ninety-eight dogs were treated with single-agent domperidone at 1mg/kg twice a day orally for 1 month. Clinical, serological, biochemical and immunological examinations were conducted for the following 12 months. Domperidone was effective in controlling and reducing clinical signs and antibody titre. Significant decreases in reciprocal serum antibodies were seen in 74.3% of the dogs with mild clinical signs and 40% of the dogs became seronegative. In dogs with several clinical signs and high antibody titres, clinical improvement occurred in 86% of animals and the reciprocal serum antibody titres decreased in 38% of these dogs. A significant increase was noted in the immune cellular status, as measured by the leishmanin skin test and a lymphocyte proliferation assay.

Isolation and development of haematopoietic progenitor cells from peripheral blood of adult and newborn pigs.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), already described in human beings, are fibroblast-like cells that exhibit a CD34 marker specific for haematopoietic stem cells. In this work we have demonstrated the presence of PSCs in the peripheral blood of pigs, a species frequently used in transplantation studies as an animal model for human diseases. Differentiation into haematopoietic colonies (granulomacrophagic colonies, erythroid colonies and mixed colonies) has been carried out with the peripheral blood of adult and newborn pigs, using solely human commercial media. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were cultured in semisolid methylcellulose based media enriched with recombinant human cytokines, achieving granulomacrophagic-colony forming unit (GM-CFU) and mixed-colony forming unit (Mix-CFU) growth with erythroblastic lineage proliferation in the presence of erythropoietin (Epo). In all the samples CFU growth was associated with the presence of recombinant human cytokine. No evidence of proliferation in control plates without cytokines was found. From liquid medium culture, a population of macrophages and CD34+ fibroblast like cells were retrieved 21 days after sowing. These findings allow us to think about the direct application of this simple and standardised method in several work fields such as the study of pharmacological effects of many drugs over the haematopoietic line and in the study of new strategies in cellular therapy for some human diseases.

Study and culture of haematopoietic progenitor cells from peripheral blood in rats, hamsters and mice.

The aim of this work was to isolate and cultivate a subpopulation of pluripotent stem cells present in peripheral blood of different animal species, frequently used in laboratory studies (mice, rats and hamsters). Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), already described in human beings, are fibroblast-like cells that exhibit a CD34 marker, specific for haematopoietic stem cells. Commonly used human commercial media were investigated for culturing animal PSCs. These findings suggest that this simple and standardized methodology may be applicable in several fields such as the study of the pharmacological effects of drugs on the haematopoietic line and the study of new strategies in cellular therapy for some human diseases.