Cytomolecular trends in Chamaecrista Moench (Caesalpinioideae, Leguminosae) diversification.

Chamaecrista is a Pantropical legume genus of the tribe Cassieae, which includes six other genera. In contrast to most of the other Cassieae genera, Chamaecrista shows significant variability in chromosome number (from 2n = 14 to 2n = 56), with small and morphologically similar chromosomes. Here, we performed a new cytomolecular analysis on chromosome number, genome size, and rDNA site distribution in a molecular phylogenetic perspective to interpret the karyotype trends of Chamaecrista and other two genera of Cassieae, seeking to understand their systematics and evolution. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that Chamaecrista is monophyletic and can be divided into four major clades corresponding to the four sections of the genus. Chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 14, 16 (section Chamaecrista) to 2n = 28 (sections Absus, Apoucouita, and Baseophyllum). The number of 5S and 35S rDNA sites varied between one and three pairs per karyotype, distributed on different chromosomes or in synteny, with no obvious phylogenetic significance. Our data allowed us to propose x = 7 as the basic chromosome number of Cassieae, which was changed by polyploidy generating x = 14 (sections Absus, Apoucouita, and Baseophyllum) and by ascending dysploidy to x = 8 (section Chamaecrista). The DNA content values supported this hypothesis, with the genomes of the putative tetraploids being larger than those of the putative diploids. We hypothesized that ascending dysploidy, polyploidy, and rDNA amplification/deamplification are the major events in the karyotypic diversification of Chamaecrista. The chromosomal marks characterized here may have cytotaxonomic potential in future studies.

Interplay between OXA-10 ß-Lactamase Production and Low Outer-Membrane Permeability in Carbapenem Resistance in Enterobacterales.

The OXA-10 class D ß-lactamase has been reported to contribute to carbapenem resistance in non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli; however, its contribution to carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales is unknown. In this work, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), whole genome sequencing (WGS), cloning experiments, kinetic assays, molecular modelling studies, and biochemical assays for carbapenemase detection were performed to determine the impact of OXA-10 production on carbapenem resistance in two XDR clinical isolates of Escherichia coli with the carbapenem resistance phenotype (ertapenem resistance). WGS identified the two clinical isolates as belonging to ST57 in close genomic proximity to each other. Additionally, the presence of the blaOXA-10 gene was identified in both isolates, as well as relevant mutations in the genes coding for the OmpC and OmpF porins. Cloning of blaOXA-10 in an E. coli HB4 (OmpC and OmpF-deficient) demonstrated the important contribution of OXA-10 to increased carbapenem MICs when associated with porin deficiency. Kinetic analysis showed that OXA-10 has low carbapenem-hydrolysing activity, but molecular models revealed interactions of this ß-lactamase with the carbapenems. OXA-10 was not detected with biochemical tests used in clinical laboratories. In conclusion, the ß-lactamase OXA-10 limits the activity of carbapenems in Enterobacterales when combined with low permeability and should be monitored in the future.

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on Colombian anesthesiologists: Survey study / Impacto de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 en anestesiólogos colombianos. Estudio de encuesta

Abstract Introduction: The practice of anesthesiology during the COVlD-i9/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a psychological impact, and has been associated with ethical dilemmas, work overload, and occupational risk. Objective: To understand different problems affecting anesthesiologists, in particular with regards to professional ethics in the decision-making process, increased personal workload, and the potential risk in terms of their own safety and health, as a consequence of working during the COVlD-19 pandemic. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. A survey was administered to anesthesiologists members of the Colombian Society of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation (S.C.A.R.E.), to enquire about work hours, occupational safety, prevention standards and strategies, and ethical aspects involved in decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 218 anesthesiologist participated in the survey. Most of the respondents felt that there was not a significant increase in their workload, except for those in critical care (42.5 %; n = 17). Most of the participants believe that leisure time is not enough. 55.96 % (n = 122) of the participants said they felt moderately safe with the biosecurity measures, but with a higher risk of contagion versus other practitioners, with 72.9 % (n = 159) responding that they used their own money to buy personal protection equipment (PPE). There was also evidence that one fourth of the respondents has faced ethical dilemmas during the resuscitation of SARS-CoV-2 - infected patients. Conclusions: The information gathered is a preliminary approach to the situation arising in Colombia as a result of the pandemic; it is clear that anesthesiologists perceive higher associated lack of safety due to different factors such as higher risk of infection, shortage of PPEs and burnout, inter alia. Hence we believe that it is fundamental to acknowledge the work of all anesthesiologists and understand the impact that the pandemic has had on this group of professionals.

Resumen Introducción: El ejercicio de la anestesiología durante la pandemia por COVID-i9/SARS-CoV-2 ha tenido un impacto psicológico y ha estado asociado a dilemas éticos, aumento en la sobrecarga y riesgo laboral. Objetivo: Comprender distintos problemas en los que se han visto envueltos los médicos anestesiólogos, en especial los relacionados con su ética profesional en el proceso de tomar decisiones, el aumento en la carga personal y el posible riesgo de su seguridad y salud como consecuencia de su labor durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal. Por medio de una encuesta, aplicada a anestesiólogos afiliados a la Sociedad Colombiana de Anestesiología y Reanimación (S.C.A.R.E.), se indagó acerca de jornadas laborales, seguridad laboral, normas y estrategias de prevención, y aspectos éticos vinculados con la toma de decisiones durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Resultados: Participaron 218 anestesiólogos. La mayoría de los encuestados consideró que no hubo aumento significativo en su carga laboral, excepto aquellos que ejercen en cuidado crítico (42,5 %; n = 17). La mayoría de los participantes consideran que el tiempo de descanso no es suficiente. Un 55,96 % (n = 122) de los participantes, refieren sentirse moderadamente seguros con las medidas de bioseguridad, pero con un mayor riesgo de contagio frente a otros profesionales, con un 72,9 % (n = 159) y manifestaron haber invertido de sus propios recursos para la adquisición de elementos de protección personal (EPP). Así mismo, se evidenció que una cuarta parte de los entrevistados se ha enfrentado a dilemas éticos durante la reanimación de pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2. Conclusiones: La información obtenida hace un acercamiento inicial a la problemática generada en Colombia por la pandemia, donde es evidente que los anestesiólogos perciben una mayor inseguridad asociada, debido a diversos factores como mayor riesgo de infección, insuficiencia de EPP y burnout, entre otros. Por ende, creemos que es fundamental reconocer el trabajo de todos los anestesiólogos, y comprender el impacto que la pandemia ha tenido en estos profesionales.

Plants and intestinal parasitosis: a review on ethnopharmacological use by the Kantaruré-Batida indigenous community of Brazil / Plantas y parasitosis intestinal: una revisión sobre el uso etnofarmacológico de la comunidad indígena Kantaruré-Batida de Brasil

Indigenous knowledge is one of the most notable traditional sources about plants used to treat diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the botanical features and to investigate the pharmacological properties of plants used by the Kantaruré-Batida community to treat intestinal parasitosis. Botanical characterization was performed based on integrative review andon access to 'Flora do Brasil' platform, whereas plants' pharmacological properties were investigated through systematic review. Among the 21 ethnospecies used, 48% were described as having activity against intestinal parasites. Although 52% had no such activity described, other properties can account for their use, that indicates that further studies are required. Therefore, this review reinforces the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge as tool to guide antiparasitic agent trials.

El conocimiento indígena es una de las fuentes tradicionales más notables sobre las plantas utilizadas para tratar enfermedades. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue describir las características botánicas e investigar las propiedades farmacológicas de las plantas utilizadas por la comunidad Kantaruré-Batida para tratar la parasitosis intestinal. La caracterización botánica se realizó con base en una revisión integradora y en el acceso a la plataforma "Flora do Brasil", mientras que las propiedades farmacológicas de las plantas se investigaron mediante una revisión sistemática. Entre las 21 etnoespecies utilizadas, se describió que el 48% tenía actividad contra los parásitos intestinales. Aunque el 52% no tenía tal actividad descrita, otras propiedades pueden explicar su uso, lo que indica que se requieren más estudios. Por lo tanto, esta revisión refuerza la importancia de valorar el conocimiento indígena como herramienta para guiar los ensayos de agentes antiparasitarios.

The Polyomavirus Episteme: A Database for Researchers.

Polyomaviridae members are DNA viruses that infect a variety of species. Since the first polyomavirus was isolated in 1953, technological advancements have led to the discovery of many polyomaviruses in multiple species. The Polyomavirus Episteme curates data about each polyomavirus, drawing from public databases to present known taxonomic, genomic, and clinical information about polyomaviruses.

Seguridad de los pacientes: opinión docente en relación a la incorporación en el plan de estudio / Patient safety: teaching opinion regarding the incorporation in the study plan

Objetivos: conocer la opinión de las/os enfermeras/os docentes de la Universidad Tecnológica de Chile, Sede Rancagua, en relación a la incorporación del tema de Seguridad de los Pacientes, en el Plan de Estudio de la Carrera de Enfermería.Materiales y métodos: investigación cualitativa, descriptiva, exploratoria e interpretativa a través de un estudio intrínseco de caso. La muestra fue no probabilística, intencionada, de casos por criterios y por conveniencia, conformada por 5 enfermeras docentes de la Universidad. Los datos se recogieron mediante entrevistas en profundidad y su respectivo análisis a través de la reducción, identificación, segmentación de unidades de significado y agrupación en categorías descriptivas. Para finalizar, la validez fue por medio de los criterios de rigor, triangulado además por investigadores.Resultados: en el Nivel 1 del análisis, se encontraron 170 unidades de significado de importancia para el estudio, agrupadas en 41 categorías emergentes, las que originan 7 núcleos temáticos en el Nivel 2 y un dominio cualitativo en el Nivel 3: "Aportes de las/os enfermeras/os de la Universidad Tecnológica de Chile, Sede Rancagua, en relación al concepto seguridad del paciente".Conclusiones: la seguridad del paciente es un tópico que toda/o enfermera/o tiene incorporado en su quehacer profesional, el cual debe incluirse en la formación a través de las prácticas clínicas, simulación y casos clínicos, además de ser evaluado mediante simulación clínica y demostración de procedimiento. Facilita su incorporación la coordinación entre los docentes de las diversas asignaturas para tener lineamientos claros..(AU)

Objectives: to know the opinion of the teaching nurses of the Technological University of Chile, Sede Rancagua, in relation to the incorporation of the subject of Patient Safety, in the Nursing Career Study Plan. Materials and methods: qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and interpretative research through an intrinsic case study. The sample was non-probabilistic, intentional, of cases by criteria and for convenience, formed by 5 teaching nurses of the University, previous signature of the Informed Consent Form. Regarding the technique of data collection, it was through in-depth interviews and their respective analysis through the reduction, identification, segmentation of units of meaning and grouping into descriptive categories. Finally, the validity was by means of rigor criteria, also triangulated by researchers. Results: in Level 1 of the analysis, 170 meaning units of importance for the study were found, grouped in 41 emergent categories, which originate 7 thematic nuclei in Level 2 and a qualitative domain in Level 3: "Contributions of the / nurses of the Technological University of Chile, Sede Rancagua, in relation to the concept of patient safety". Conclusions:patient safety is a topic that every nurse has incorporated into his professional work, which must be included in the training through clinical practices, simulation and clinical cases, in addition to being evaluated through clinical simulation and demonstration of procedure. Co-ordination among the teachers of the various subjects facilitates its incorporation to have clear guidelines..(AU)

Elastografía esplénica como predictor de varices esofágicas / Spleen elastography as a predictor of esophageal varices

El propósito del estudio fue evaluar el rendimiento diagnóstico de la elastografía esplénica y otros métodos no invasivos para detectar varices esofágicas de alto riesgo en pacientes con cirrosis. La verificación de la existencia de varices se realizó con endoscopia digestiva alta que es el gold standard. Se incluyeron 40 pacientes con reciente diagnóstico de cirrosis los cuales fueron evaluados con ecografía Doppler portal, elastografía hepática, elastografía esplénica, endoscopia y que cumplieron con los siguientes criterios: no antecedentes de sangrado digestivo, no tratamiento con betabloqueantes, no trombosis de la porta. Se realizó un estudio transversal, unicéntrico desde abril del 2017 hasta agosto del 2018. Los datos se presentan organizados en tablas de frecuencia. La comparación con el standard incluyo el uso de chi cuadrado y obtuvimos curvas ROC para presentar los datos de sensibilidad y especificidad. La elastografía demostró ser un buen estudio predictivo de la presencia de várices esofágicas (AUC 0,84 ; IC 95%: 0,71 - 0,97), seguido del diámetro del bazo (AUC 0,81 ; IC 95%: 0,66 - 0,96), mientras que el índice de congestividad (AUC 0,46 ; IC 95%: 0,27 - 0,64) y la elastografía hepática (AUC 0,39 ; IC 95%: 0,21 - 0,58) fueron los parámetros con menor precisión, el punto de corte de 3,8 m/seg en la elastografía esplénica fue capaz de identificar las varices de alto riesgo con una sensibilidad del 90,9% . La elastografía esplénica y el diámetro del bazo alcanzaron mayor rendimiento diagnostico en comparación a la elastografía hepática para identificar varices esofágicas de alto riesgo

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of splenic elastography and other non-invasive methods to detect high-risk esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis. Verification of the existence of varicose veins was performed with upper digestive endoscopy, which is the gold standard. Forty patients with a recent diagnosis of cirrhosis were included, who were evaluated with portal Doppler ultrasound, hepatic elastography, splenic elastography, endoscopy and who fulfilled the following criteria: no history of digestive bleeding, no treatment with beta-blockers, no thrombosis of the portal. A cross-sectional, unicentric study was conducted from August 2018 to April 2017. The data are presented organized in frequency tables. The comparison with the standard included the use of chi square and we obtained ROC curves to present the sensitivity and specificity data. Elastography proved to be a good predictive study of the presence of esophageal varices (AUC 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.97), followed by spleen diameter (AUC 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66 - 0.96), while the congestivity index (AUC 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27 - 0.64) and hepatic elastography (AUC 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21) - 0.58) were the parameters with less precision, the cutoff point of 3.8 m / sec in splenic elastography was able to identify high risk varicose veins with a sensitivity of 90.9%. Splenic elastography and spleen diameter achieved a higher diagnostic yield compared to hepatic elastography to identify high risk esophageal varices.

Long pentraxin PTX3 mediates acute inflammatory responses against pneumococcal infection.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen responsible for more than 2 million deaths annually worldwide. The airway epithelium acts as the first-line of defense against pneumococcal infections by regulating acute inflammation against invading pneumococcus. Despite the intact adaptive immunity, failure in early defense due to loss of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and/or acute phase proteins (APPs) results in detrimental damage and death. C-reactive protein (CRP), the first found APP, is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins and an important soluble PRR for pneumococcus. CRP and another short pentraxin, serum amyloid P, are critical for acute defense against pneumococcal infection. However, the role of the long pentraxin PTX3 in regulating pneumococcal infections is unknown. In this study, PTX3 expression was upregulated by pneumococcus in epithelial cells and in lungs of mice. In addition, PTX3 potentiated pneumococcal inflammation; overexpression of PTX3 enhanced pneumococcus-induced cytokine expression, whereas knock-down of PTX3 with siPTX3 inhibited the cytokine expression. Furthermore, PTX3 deficiency indeed ameliorated acute inflammation and protected mice against death following pneumococcal infection. Pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin was responsible for PTX3 expression and upregulated PTX3 expression via JNK MAPK signaling. These data implicate PTX3 as a novel therapeutic target for the control of acute inflammation by pneumococcus.

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy in a solid organ transplant recipient.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is endemic in Japan, the Caribbean and in South American countries such as Ecuador. This virus is the cause of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a myelopathy characterised by chronic progressive paraparesis, spasticity and urinary symptoms. We report the case of a 40-year-old man who received a kidney transplant from a living donor and developed HAM/TSP, 24 months after transplant. The diagnosis was confirmed by detection of HTLV-1 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid by the ELISA and Western Blot tests. For myelopathy, the patient was treated with pulse methylprednisolone, but had poor response to treatment. We recommend that all patients receiving transplants and their donors who come from endemic countries be given a mandatory screening for HTLV-1 through an ELISA test, in an effort to inform candidates for renal transplantation of the potential risk of infection and the development of this disease.

Desempenho de escolares em testes de atenção e funções executivas: estudo comparativo / Students performance in attention tests and executive functions: a comparative study

INTRODUÇÃO: Funções executivas e atenção constituem funções corticais importantes para o processo de aprendizagem e estão envolvidas com o desenvolvimento das habilidades escolares de leitura, escrita e cálculo, além de possibilitar o engajamento do indivíduo em ações do seu cotidiano. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo buscou comparar o desempenho em funções executivas, atenção e desempenho acadêmico de crianças com e sem dificuldade de aprendizagem, de ambos os sexos, e faixa etária entre 10-11 anos, do quinto ano de uma escola pública MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo 27 crianças que foram avaliadas usando os instrumentos para a atenção: Teste de Cancelamento e Trail Making Test parte A; para as funções executivas; Trail Making Test - parte B, Stroop Color Word Test e Torre de Londres; para avaliação da capacidade intelectual: Matrizes Progressivas de Raven. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados encontrados indicam que crianças com queixas escolares apresentam desempenho inferior nos instrumentos que avaliam funções executivas e atenção quando comparadas a crianças sem dificuldades.

INTRODUCTION: Executive functions and attention are important cortical functions to the learning process and are involved with the development of educational skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as allowing the individual engaging in their daily actions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between executive functions, attention and academic performance of children with and without learning disabilities, of both sexes and aged between 10-11 years, the fifth year of a public school. METHOD: The study included 27 children who were evaluated using the instruments for attention: Cancellation Test and Trail Making Test Part A; for executive functions; Trail Making Test - Part B, Stroop Color Word Test and Tower of London; to assess the intellectual capacity: Raven Progressive Matrices. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results indicate that children with learning disorders have underperformed the instruments that evaluate executive functions and attention when compared to children without difficulties.