Composición de los macroinvertebrados según la calidad del agua en turberas de altura, Costa Rica / Composition of macroinvertebrates according to water quality in high altitude peatbogs, Costa Rica

Resumen Introducción: En Costa Rica, las turberas de altura se localizan en la Cordillera de Talamanca de 2 400 a 3 200 m. Se forman a partir de depósitos de materia orgánica en descomposición, con oxígeno reducido y baja disponibilidad de nutrientes. Objetivo: Evaluar la variación en la composición de macroinvertebrados acuáticos según parámetros fisicoquímicos de calidad del agua superficial en turberas de altura, Costa Rica. Métodos: Se colocaron 32 sustratos artificiales en las turberas para ser colonizados por macroinvertebrados. Se realizaron evaluaciones fisicoquímicas mensuales del agua superficial en ocho turberas con visitas mensuales durante la estación lluviosa. Se utilizaron los índices ICA-NSF y BMWP-CR para evaluar la calidad del agua. Resultados: Se registraron un total de diez familias correspondientes a siete géneros. Las familias más representativas fueron Chironomidae y Limnephilidae. La calidad del agua se clasificó según el ICA-NSF como de "calidad media" y como de "calidad regular a mala" según el BMWP-CR. Conclusiones: Las turberas de altura son ecosistemas poco estudiados, esta investigación evidencia la necesidad de diseñar metodologías e índices que evalúen la fauna acuática. Las turberas son diferentes entre sí, y las familias de macroinvertebrados encontrados son tolerantes a las características fisicoquímicas del agua. Es necesario realizar estudios periódicos que evalúen la calidad del agua y su relación con los macroinvertebrados acuáticos para entender la dinámica de las turberas, generar conocimiento e incrementar su protección.

Abstract Introduction: In Costa Rica, high peatbogs are located in the Cordillera de Talamanca from 2 400 to 3 200 m. They are formed from deposits of decomposing organic matter, with reduced oxygen and low nutrient availability. Objective: To evaluate the variation in the composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates according to physicochemical parameters of superficial water quality in high altitude peatbogs, Costa Rica. Methods: 32 artificial substrates were placed in the peatbogs to be colonized by macroinvertebrates. Monthly physicochemical evaluations of surface water were performed in eight peatbogs with monthly visits during the rainy season. The ICA-NSF and BMWP-CR indexes were used to evaluate the water quality. Results: A total of ten families corresponding to seven genera were recorded. The most representative family was Chironomidae and Limnephilidae. Water quality was classified according to the ICA-NSF as "medium quality" and as "regular to poor quality" according to BMWP-CR. Conclusions: The high peatbogs are poorly studied ecosystems; this research shows the need to design methodologies and indices to evaluate the aquatic fauna. The peatbogs are different from each other, and the families of macroinvertebrates found are tolerant to the physicochemical characteristics of the water. Periodic studies that evaluate water quality and its relationship with aquatic macroinvertebrates are necessary to understand the dynamics of peatlands, generate knowledge and increase their protection.

Dyssynergic Defecation Concerning Proctalgia Fugax: An Observational Study

Introduction: There is no clarity about manometric findings in patients with proctalgia fugax; evidence shows different results. This study aims to evaluate dyssynergic defecation through anorectal manometry in Colombian patients in two gastroenterology centers in Bogotá, Colombia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study in adult patients with proctalgia fugax undergoing anorectal manometry and treated in two gastroenterology centers in Bogotá between 2018 and 2020. Results: 316 patients were included, predominantly women (65%), with a median age of 45.2 (range: 18-78; standard deviation [SD]: 28.3). Four percent of patients had hypertonicity, 50% were normotonic, and 46% were hypotonic. Regarding manometric parameters, 50% had normal pressure, and 46% had anal sphincter hypotonia; 76% had a normal voluntary contraction test. Dyssynergic defecation was documented in 5% of patients, and the most frequent was type I, followed by type III. A rectoanal inhibitory reflex was identified in all patients, 42% with altered sensory threshold and 70% with abnormal balloon expulsion. There was an agreement between the results of the anorectal manometry and the subjective report of the digital rectal exam by the head nurse who performed the procedure. Conclusions: The data obtained in the present study suggest that proctalgia is not related to the elevated and sustained basal contracture of the sphincter but neither to the alteration in voluntary contraction since most patients have typical values.

Introducción: Actualmente, no hay claridad acerca de los hallazgos manométricos en pacientes con proctalgia fugaz, y la evidencia muestra diferentes resultados. Se plantea como objetivo en el presente estudio evaluar la presencia de disinergia defecatoria con manometría anorrectal en pacientes colombianos en dos centros de gastroenterología en Bogotá, Colombia. Metodología: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal en pacientes adultos sometidos a manometría anorrectal con proctalgia fugaz y atendidos en dos centros de gastroenterología de la ciudad de Bogotá entre el 2018 y el 2020. Resultados: Se incluyó a 316 pacientes, predominantemente mujeres (65%), con mediana de edad 45,2 (rango: 18-78; desviación estándar [DE]: 28,3). El 4% de los pacientes presentaban hipertonicidad, el 50% eran normotónicos y el 46%, hipotónicos. En cuanto a parámetros manométricos, el 50% tenía presión normal y el 46%, hipotonía de esfínter anal. El 76% tuvo una prueba de contracción voluntaria normal. En 5% pacientes se documentó disinergia defecatoria, y la más frecuente fue el tipo I, seguido del tipo III. En todos los pacientes se identificó reflejo recto anal inhibitorio, 42% con alteración en umbral sensitivo y 70% con expulsión de balón anormal, y hubo concordancia entre los resultados de la manometría anorrectal y el reporte subjetivo del tacto rectal de la jefe de enfermería que realizó el procedimiento. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos en el presente estudio sugieren que la proctalgia no está relacionada con la contractura basal elevada y sostenida del esfínter, pero tampoco con la alteración en la contracción voluntaria, ya que la mayoría de los pacientes presentan valores normales.

EPPO ontology: a semantic-driven approach for plant and pest codes representation.

The agricultural industry and regulatory organizations define strategies and build tools and products for plant protection against pests. To identify different plants and their related pests and avoid inconsistencies between such organizations, an agreed and shared classification is necessary. In this regard, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) has been working on defining and maintaining a harmonized coding system (EPPO codes). EPPO codes are an easy way of referring to a specific organism by means of short 5 or 6 letter codes instead of long scientific names or ambiguous common names. EPPO codes are freely available in different formats through the EPPO Global Database platform and are implemented as a worldwide standard and used among scientists and experts in both industry and regulatory organizations. One of the large companies that adopted such codes is BASF, which uses them mainly in research and development to build their crop protection and seeds products. However, extracting the information is limited by fixed API calls or files that require additional processing steps. Facing these issues makes it difficult to use the available information flexibly, infer new data connections, or enrich it with external data sources. To overcome such limitations, BASF has developed an internal EPPO ontology to represent the list of codes provided by the EPPO Global Database as well as the regulatory categorization and relationship among them. This paper presents the development process of this ontology along with its enrichment process, which allows the reuse of relevant information available in an external knowledge source such as the NCBI Taxon. In addition, this paper describes the use and adoption of the EPPO ontology within the BASF's Agricultural Solutions division and the lessons learned during this work.

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis.

During metamorphosis, the olfactory system of anuran tadpoles undergoes substantial restructuring. The main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity of Xenopus laevis tadpoles is associated with aquatic olfaction and transformed into the adult air-nose, while a new adult water-nose emerges in the middle cavity. Impacts of this metamorphic remodeling on odor processing, behavior, and network structure are still unexplored. Here, we used neuronal tracings, calcium imaging, and behavioral experiments to examine the functional connectivity between the epithelium and the main olfactory bulb during metamorphosis. In tadpoles, olfactory receptor neurons in the principal cavity project axons to glomeruli in the ventral main olfactory bulb. These projections are gradually replaced by receptor neuron axons from the newly forming middle cavity epithelium. Despite this reorganization in the ventral bulb, two spatially segregated odor processing streams remain undisrupted and behavioral responses to waterborne odorants are unchanged. Contemporaneously, new receptor neurons in the remodeling principal cavity innervate the emerging dorsal part of the bulb, which displays distinct wiring features. Glomeruli around its midline are innervated from the left and right nasal epithelia. Additionally, postsynaptic projection neurons in the dorsal bulb predominantly connect to multiple glomeruli, while half of projection neurons in the ventral bulb are uni-glomerular. Our results show that the "water system" remains functional despite metamorphic reconstruction. The network differences between the dorsal and ventral olfactory bulb imply a higher degree of odor integration in the dorsal main olfactory bulb. This is possibly connected with the processing of different odorants, airborne vs. waterborne.

The Long-Term Effect of Medically Enhancing Melanin Intrinsic Bioenergetics Capacity in Prematurity.

BACKGROUND: The ability of the human body to produce metabolic energy from light modifies fundamental concepts of biochemistry. OBJECTIVE: This review discusses the relationships between the long-accepted concept is that glucose has a unique dual role as an energy source and as the main source of carbon chains that are precursors of all organic matter. The capability of melanin to produce energy challenges this premise. METHODS: The prevalent biochemical concept, therefore, needs to be adjusted to incorporate a newly discovered state of Nature based on melanin's ability to dissociate water to produce energy and to re-form water from molecular hydrogen and oxygen. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our findings regarding the potential implication of QIAPI-1 as a melanin precursor that has bioenergetics capabilities. CONCLUSION: Specifically, we reported its promising application as a means for treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The instant report focuses on the long-term treatment medical effects of melanin in treating ROP.

Survey on hypoglycemia among insulin-treated patients with diabetes: The Colombian International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool population / Encuesta sobre hipoglucemia en pacientes con diabetes tratados con insulina: la población colombiana del International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool

INTRODUCTION: The non-interventional International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool (IO-HAT) study assessed the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with insulin-treated diabetes across nine countries, including a cohort of patients in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hypoglycemia incidence among patients with insulin-treated diabetes was assessed across 26 sites in Colombia. Hypoglycaemic events (any, nocturnal or severe) were reported in self-assessment questionnaires (SAQ) and patient diaries based on capillary blood glucose measurement or symptoms. Retrospective events (severe events 6 months before baseline and any event 4 weeks before baseline) were recorded in SAQ, Part 1, and prospective events (4 weeks from baseline) were recorded in SAQ, Part 2, and patient diaries. Differences in hypoglycemia incidence reported in the retrospective and prospective periods were assessed using two-sided tests. RESULTS: Of the 664 patients assessed, 213 had type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 451 had type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nearly all patients experienced at least one hypoglycaemic event in the prospective period (97.1% T1D; 93.3% T2D). Rates of hypoglycemia (events per personyear, PPY) were higher prospectively than retrospectively for any hypoglycemia (T1D: 121.6 vs. 83.2, p<0.001; T2D: 28.1 vs. 24.6, p=0.127) and severe hypoglycemia (T1D: 15.3 vs. 9.2, p=0.605; T2D: 9.5 vs. 3.5 p=0.040). CONCLUSION: These results, the first from a patient-reported dataset on hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients with diabetes in Colombia, show that patients reported higher rates of any hypoglycemia during the prospective period. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02306681.

Introducción. En el estudio no intervencionista International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool (IO-HAT), se evalúo la incidencia de hipoglucemia en pacientes diabéticos tratados con insulina en nueve países, incluido Colombia. Materiales y métodos. La incidencia de hipoglucemia entre pacientes diabéticos tratados con insulina se evaluó en 26 centros médicos en Colombia. Los episodios de hipoglucemia determinados con base en la medición de la glucemia capilar o en los síntomas se reportaron en el cuestionario de autoevaluación (Self-Assessment Questionnaire, SAQ) y en el diario del paciente. Los episodios retrospectivos (episodios graves y cualquiera ocurrido 6 meses y 4 semanas antes del inicio del estudio, respectivamente) se registraron en el SAQ, parte 1, y los eventos prospectivos (4 semanas desde el inicio), en el SAQ, parte 2, y en el diario del paciente. Las diferencias en la incidencia de la hipoglucemia entre los períodos retrospectivo y prospectivo se evaluaron mediante una prueba de dos colas. Resultados. De los 664 pacientes evaluados, 213 tenían diabetes de tipo 1 y 451 tenían diabetes de tipo 2. Casi todos los pacientes experimentaron al menos un episodio de hipoglucemia en el período prospectivo (97,1 %, diabetes de tipo 1, y 93,3 %, diabetes de tipo 2). Los índices de hipoglucemia (episodios año-persona) fueron mayores prospectivamente que retrospectivamente para cualquier tipo de hipoglucemia (diabetes de tipo 1: 121,6 Vs. 83,2; p<0,001; la diabetes de tipo 2: 28,1 Vs. 24,6; p=0,127) y para la hipoglucemia grave (diabetes de tipo 1: 15,3 Vs. 9,2; p=0,605; diabetes de tipo 2: 9,5 Vs. 3,5; p=0,040). Conclusión. Estos resultados, que constituyen el primer conjunto de datos sobre hipoglucemia informados por pacientes diabéticos colombianos tratados con insulina, evidenciaron tasas más altas para ambos tipos de hipoglucemia durante el período prospectivo. Número de registro del ensayo clínico: NCT02306681

Survey on hypoglycemia among insulin-treated patients with diabetes: The Colombian International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool population / Encuesta sobre hipoglucemia en pacientes con diabetes tratados con insulina: la población colombiana del International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool

Abstract Introduction: The non-interventional International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool (IO-HAT) study assessed the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with insulin-treated diabetes across nine countries, including a cohort of patients in Colombia. Materials and methods: Hypoglycemia incidence among patients with insulin-treated diabetes was assessed across 26 sites in Colombia. Hypoglycaemic events (any, nocturnal or severe) were reported in self-assessment questionnaires (SAQ) and patient diaries based on capillary blood glucose measurement or symptoms. Retrospective events (severe events 6 months before baseline and any event 4 weeks before baseline) were recorded in SAQ, Part 1, and prospective events (4 weeks from baseline) were recorded in SAQ, Part 2, and patient diaries. Differences in hypoglycemia incidence reported in the retrospective and prospective periods were assessed using two-sided tests. Results: Of the 664 patients assessed, 213 had type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 451 had type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nearly all patients experienced at least one hypoglycaemic event in the prospective period (97.1% T1D; 93.3% T2D). Rates of hypoglycemia (events per person- year, PPY) were higher prospectively than retrospectively for any hypoglycemia (T1 D: 121.6 vs. 83.2, p<0.001; T2D: 28.1 vs. 24.6, p=0.127) and severe hypoglycemia (T 1D: 15.3 vs. 9.2, p=0.605; T 2 D: 9.5 vs. 3.5 p=0.040). Conclusion: These results, the first from a patient-reported dataset on hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients with diabetes in Colombia, show that patients reported higher rates of any hypoglycemia during the prospective period.

Resumen Introducción. En el estudio no intervencionista International Operations Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool (IO-HAT), se evalúo la incidencia de hipoglucemia en pacientes diabéticos tratados con insulina en nueve países, incluido Colombia. Materiales y métodos. La incidencia de hipoglucemia entre pacientes diabéticos tratados con insulina se evaluó en 26 centros médicos en Colombia. Los episodios de hipoglucemia determinados con base en la medición de la glucemia capilar o en los síntomas se reportaron en el cuestionario de autoevaluación (Self-Assessment Questionnaire, SAQ) y en el diario del paciente. Los episodios retrospectivos (episodios graves y cualquiera ocurrido 6 meses y 4 semanas antes del inicio del estudio, respectivamente) se registraron en el SAQ, parte 1, y los eventos prospectivos (4 semanas desde el inicio), en el SAQ, parte 2, y en el diario del paciente. Las diferencias en la incidencia de la hipoglucemia entre los períodos retrospectivo y prospectivo se evaluaron mediante una prueba de dos colas. Resultados. De los 664 pacientes evaluados, 213 tenían diabetes de tipo 1 y 451 tenían diabetes de tipo 2. Casi todos los pacientes experimentaron al menos un episodio de hipoglucemia en el período prospectivo (97,1 %, diabetes de tipo 1, y 93,3 %, diabetes de tipo 2). Los índices de hipoglucemia (episodios año-persona) fueron mayores prospectivamente que retrospectivamente para cualquier tipo de hipoglucemia (diabetes de tipo 1: 121,6 Vs. 83,2; p<0,001; la diabetes de tipo 2: 28,1 Vs. 24,6; p=0,127) y para la hipoglucemia grave (diabetes de tipo 1: 15,3 Vs. 9,2; p=0,605; diabetes de tipo 2: 9,5 Vs. 3,5; p=0,040). Conclusión. Estos resultados, que constituyen el primer conjunto de datos sobre hipoglucemia informados por pacientes diabéticos colombianos tratados con insulina, evidenciaron tasas más altas para ambos tipos de hipoglucemia durante el período prospectivo.

The Role of Melanin to Dissociate Oxygen from Water to Treat Retinopathy of Prematurity.

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disorder that commonly afflicts premature infants who are born prior to 31weeks of gestation or with a body weight less than 1250 grams (about 2.75 pounds). Another risk factor is excessive oxygen in incubators, which can lead to blindness. A compounding factor is that survival rates for premature infants are rising with concomitantly more cases of ROP. We have reported an unsuspected intrinsic property of melanin to dissociate water. This capability can be considered an alternative treatment option for adult and neonatal diseases. It is known that exogenous surfactant administration suppresses bronchopulmonary dysplasia and consequent death, randomized, controlled trials with various respiratory interventions did not show any significant reductions in morbidity and mortality rates. During a descriptive study about the three leading causes of blindness in the world, the ability of melanin to transform light energy into chemical energy through the dissociation of water molecule was unraveled. Initially, during 2 or 3 years; we tried to link together our findings with the widely accepted metabolic pathways already described in molecular pathway databases, which have been developed to collect and organize the current knowledge on metabolism scattered across a multitude of scientific evidence. OBSERVATIONS: The current report demonstrates the main problems that afflict premature babies with an emphasis on the growth of abnormal vessels in the retina, the explanation for which is unknown until date. We also reported a case of a baby who suffered digestive and respiratory problems with a brain haemorrhage that was successfully treated by laser photocoagulation. We hypothesise that most likely this effect was due to the melanin level and melanin itself produces oxygen via dissociating with water molecules. CONCLUSION: We postulate that the intrinsic effect of melanin may easily convert visible and invisible light into chemical energy via a water dissociation reaction similar to the one in plant's chlorophyll, and markedly elevated with diagnosis and treatment of the complications related to premature babies.

Unsuspected Intrinsic Property of Melanin to Dissociate Water Can Be Used for the Treatment of CNS Diseases.

Retinal adhesion mechanisms in mammals are quite complex and multifactorial in nature. To date, these mechanisms are incompletely understood due to a variety of chemical, physical, and physiological forces impinging upon retinal tissue: retinal pigment epithelium, nearby tissues as sclera and vitreous, the subretinal space, and the highly complex interphotoreceptor matrix that fills subretinal space. The adhesion of the retina to the choroid, rather than anatomical, is a dynamic process, as the retina detaches a few minutes after life ceases. The adhesion mechanisms described in the literature, such as intraocular pressure and the oncotic pressure of the choroid that seems to push the retina towards the choroid, the delicate anatomical relationships between the rod and cone photoreceptors, the retinal pigment epithelium, the existence of a complex material called interphotoreceptor matrix, as well as other metabolic and structural factors, still cannot explain the remarkable features observed in the adhesion mechanisms between the photoreceptor layer and retinal pigment epithelium cells. The unexpected intrinsic property of melanin to absorb light energy and transform it into chemically based free energy can explain normal adhesion of the sensory retina to the pigment epithelium. In this article, we explore and highlight this explanation, which states that it is definitely able to provide a new treatment avenue against devastating neurodegenerative properties.

Spectroscopic determination of relative Brønsted acidity as a predictor of reactivity in aprotic ionic liquids.

A simple titration technique utilizing pyridine as a FTIR spectroscopy probe is demonstrated to successfully predict relative Brønsted acid-limited reaction rates in different ionic liquid (IL) environments. Relative acidity is shown to vary across three aprotic ILs in a manner that is specific to the particular acid-IL pairing.

Increased dry-season length over southern Amazonia in recent decades and its implication for future climate projection.

We have observed that the dry-season length (DSL) has increased over southern Amazonia since 1979, primarily owing to a delay of its ending dates (dry-season end, DSE), and is accompanied by a prolonged fire season. A poleward shift of the subtropical jet over South America and an increase of local convective inhibition energy in austral winter (June-August) seem to cause the delay of the DSE in austral spring (September-November). These changes cannot be simply linked to the variability of the tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Although they show some resemblance to the effects of anthropogenic forcings reported in the literature, we cannot attribute them to this cause because of inadequate representation of these processes in the global climate models that were presented in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report. These models significantly underestimate the variability of the DSE and DSL and their controlling processes. Such biases imply that the future change of the DSE and DSL may be underestimated by the climate projections provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report models. Although it is not clear whether the observed increase of the DSL will continue in the future, were it to continue at half the rate of that observed, the long DSL and fire season that contributed to the 2005 drought would become the new norm by the late 21st century. The large uncertainty shown in this study highlights the need for a focused effort to better understand and simulate these changes over southern Amazonia.

Lesiones anorrectales en pacientes HIV positivo y con SIDA: 12 años de experiencia clínica / Anorectal injuries in VIH seropositive and AIDS patients: 12 years of clinical experience

Se presenta grupo de 45 pacientes seropositivos al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, portadores anorrectal, que fueron separados en dos grupos: los HIV + (42,2 por ciento) y los con SIDA clínico (57,8 por ciento). Todos fueron de sexo masculino, jóvenes (edad promedio 32,2 años), siendo los factores de riesgo más frecuentes la homosexualidad (66,6 por ciento) y bisexualidad (22,2 por ciento). En los HIV+ la lesión más frecuente fue la considerada dentro de la de tipo común (47,3 por ciento), mientras que en los pacientes con SIDA clínico fue la ocasionada por inmunosupresión (50 por ciento). La patología común más frecuente en ambos grupos fue la enfermedad hemorroidaria. La enfermedad de transmisión sexual, también en ambos grupos, más frecuente fueron los condilomas. La respuesta al tratamiento en el grupo HIV+ fue óptima y/o buena en todos los casos. En los pacientes con SIDA clínico se observó evolución regular y mala, cuestión que resultó más frecuente en los sometidos a manejo quirúrgico (60 por ciento) que en los manejo médico (10 por ciento)

Técnica de marsupialización en quiste pilonidal: 7 años de experiencia / Marsupialization technique in pilonidal cyst: 7 years of experience

Se presenta trabajo retrospectivo, en 64 pacientes portadores de quiste pilonidal en los que se realizó la técnica de marsupialización. La mayoría eran mujeres (56,2 por ciento), con el promedio de edad de 22,8 años. El tiempo de evolución previo a la consulta fue de 24 meses en promedio y la sintomatología más frecuente fue el aumento de volumen (92,1 por ciento) y dolor (65,6 por ciento). No hubo morbilidad post-operatoria. El seguimiento se logró en el 87 por ciento de los pacientes. La cicatrización completa se observó como promedio a los 25 días y la recidiva ffue de 3,1 por ciento a los 12 y 20 meses. En nuestra experiencia la marsupialización en quistes pilonidales, simples o complejos, resulta ser una técnica sencilla y con buenos resultados