Changes in Skeletal Muscle Protein Metabolism Signaling Induced by Glutamine Supplementation and Exercise.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of resistance exercise training (RET) and/or glutamine supplementation (GS) on signaling protein synthesis in adult rat skeletal muscles. METHODS: The following groups were studied: (1) control, no exercise (C); (2) exercise, hypertrophy resistance exercise training protocol (T); (3) no exercise, supplemented with glutamine (G); and (4) exercise and supplemented with glutamine (GT). The rats performed hypertrophic training, climbing a vertical ladder with a height of 1.1 m at an 80° incline relative to the horizontal with extra weights tied to their tails. The RET was performed three days a week for five weeks. Each training session consisted of six ladder climbs. The extra weight load was progressively increased for each animal during each training session. The G groups received daily L-glutamine by gavage (one g per kilogram of body weight per day) for five weeks. The C group received the same volume of water during the same period. The rats were euthanized, and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from both hind limbs were removed and immediately weighed. Glutamine and glutamate concentrations were measured, and histological, signaling protein contents, and mRNA expression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Supplementation with free L-glutamine increased the glutamine concentration in the EDL muscle in the C group. The glutamate concentration was augmented in the EDL muscles from T rats. The EDL muscle mass did not change, but a significant rise was reported in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the fibers in the three experimental groups. The levels of the phosphorylated proteins (pAkt/Akt, pp70S6K/p70S6K, p4E-BP1/4E-BP1, and pS6/S6 ratios) were significantly increased in EDL muscles of G rats, and the activation of p4E-BP1 was present in T rats. The fiber CSAs of the EDL muscles in T, G, and GT rats were increased compared to the C group. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in the 26 proteasome activity of EDL muscles from T rats. CONCLUSION: Five weeks of GS and/or RET induced muscle hypertrophy, as indicated by the increased CSAs of the EDL muscle fibers. The increase in CSA was mediated via the upregulated phosphorylation of Akt, 4E-BP1, p70S6k, and S6 in G animals and 4E-BP1 in T animals. In the EDL muscles from T animals, a decrease in proteasome activity, favoring a further increase in the CSA of the muscle fibers, was reported.

Identification and molecular characterization of Orfvirus infection in occupationally exposed women inSouth America

Abstract Contagious Ecthyma (CE) is a severe exanthematous dermatitis caused by the Orf virus (ORFV) that mainly affects domestic small ruminants such as sheep and goats. It is a worldwide-distributed occupational zoonosis, particularly infecting those in close contact with animals or animal products such as shepherds, farmers and veterinarians, among others. In the present work, we report the first human CE case confirmed in Argentina. A phylogenetic analysis based on four gene sequences of the isolated strain responsible for the disease showed that this isolate grouped with other ORFV sequences that caused reported CE cases in sheep from the same Argentine province. We also sequenced a sample from a Chilean human case reported in 2017, whose phylogenetic analysis showed that it groups together with other Argentine isolates from locations close to the border with Chile. Keywords: Contagious Ecthyma; Dermatitis; Human Orf; Zoonosis; Molecular characterization.

Resumen El ectima contagioso (EC) es una dermatitis exantemática grave causada por el virus Orf (ORFV), que afecta mayormente a pequeños rumiantes domésticos, como ovinos y caprinos. Es una zoonosis ocupacional con distribución mundial, infecta a humanos en estrecho contacto con animales o sus productos, como granjeros, esquiladores y veterinarios, entre otros. En este trabajo se informa el primer caso humano de EC confirmado en Argentina. Un análisis filogenético basado en cuatro genes de la cepa responsable de este caso mostró que el aislamiento agrupa con otras secuencias de ORFV que causaron casos en ovinos en la misma provincia argentina. También se secuenció una muestra del caso de ectima humano reportado en Chile en 2017 y el análisis filogenético mostró que dicho aislamiento forma un grupo con otros aislamientos argentinos de localidades cercanas a la frontera con Chile. Palabras clave: Ectima contagioso; Dermatitis; Orf en humanos; Zoonosis; Caracterización molecular.

Determinants of self-efficacy of driving behavior among young adults in the UAE: Impact of gender, culture, and varying environmental conditions in a simulated environment.

Research on traffic accidents have acknowledged that human error is the leading cause of road accidents around the world. In the UAE, those aged between 18 and 30 years are involved in the most accidents. As a result, this study examines the perception, attitude and driving behavior of young adults in the UAE. Virtual Reality (VR) was used to examine driving behavior because it offers alternatives to assess driving behavior with a high degree of immersive experience in a safe and replicable environment. Participants drove through a virtual environment that resembled the urban environment of Abu Dhabi in the UAE, which included six traffic events. A sample of 12 females and 27 males also completed a pre and post-simulation questionnaire to report and evaluate their personal driving experience in Abu Dhabi. The volunteer group represented young drivers with limited driving experience and diverse cultural backgrounds. Results indicated that male drivers were less adhering to safe driving behavior compared to females. Even though both males and females exceeded the designated speed limit, males traveled longer distances over the limit. Additionally, it was found that young drivers tend to overestimate their skills with factors like gender, cultural background, and driving experience being key contributors. The results indicate that traffic authorities should take into consideration different approaches in the formulation of policies related to young drivers with periodic reassessment of skills and training to enhance the safety of driving in the UAE and the region.

Changes in skeletal muscle protein metabolism signaling induced by glutamine supplementation and esxercise

Aim: To evaluate the effects of resistance exercise training (RET) and/or glutamine supplementation (GS) on signaling protein synthesis in adult rat skeletal muscles. Methods: The following groups were studied: (1) control, no exercise (C); (2) exercise, hypertrophy resistance exercise training protocol (T); (3) no exercise, supplemented with glutamine (G); and (4) exercise and supplemented with glutamine (GT). The rats performed hypertrophic training, climbing a vertical ladder with a height of 1.1 m at an 80° incline relative to the horizontal with extra weights tied to their tails. The RET was performed three days a week for five weeks. Each training session consisted of six ladder climbs. The extra weight load was progressively increased for each animal during each training session. The G groups received daily L-glutamine by gavage (one g per kilogram of body weight per day) for five weeks. The C group received the same volume of water during the same period. The rats were euthanized, and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from both hind limbs were removed and immediately weighed. Glutamine and glutamate concentrations were measured, and histological, signaling protein contents, and mRNA expression analyses were performed. Results: Supplementation with free L-glutamine increased the glutamine concentration in the EDL muscle in the C group. The glutamate concentration was augmented in the EDL muscles from T rats. The EDL muscle mass did not change, but a significant rise was reported in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the fibers in the three experimental groups. The levels of the phosphorylated proteins (pAkt/Akt, pp70S6K/p70S6K, p4E-BP1/4E-BP1, and pS6/S6 ratios) were significantly increased in EDL muscles of G rats, and the activation of p4E-BP1 was present in T rats. The fiber CSAs of the EDL muscles in T, G, and GT rats were increased compared to the C group. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in the 26 proteasome activity of EDL muscles from T rats. Conclusion: Five weeks of GS and/or RET induced muscle hypertrophy, as indicated by the increased CSAs of the EDL muscle fibers. The increase in CSA was mediated via the upregulated phosphorylation of Akt, 4E-BP1, p70S6k, and S6 in G animals and 4E-BP1 in T animals. In the EDL muscles from T animals, a decrease in proteasome activity, favoring a further increase in the CSA of the muscle fibers, was reported.

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with critical COVID-19

BackgroundWe previously reported inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity in 1-5% of unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and auto-antibodies against type I IFN in another 15-20% of cases. MethodsWe report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3,269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19 (1,301 previously reported and 1,968 new patients), and 1,373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. A quarter of the patients tested had antibodies against type I IFN (234 of 928) and were excluded from the analysis. ResultsNo gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI:1.5-528.7, P=1.1x10-4), in analyses restricted to biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR=3.70 [95%CI:1.3-8.2], P=2.1x10-4). Adding the recently reported TYK2 COVID-19 locus strengthened this enrichment, particularly under a recessive model (OR=19.65 [95%CI:2.1-2635.4]; P=3.4x10-3). When these 14 loci and TLR7 were considered, all individuals hemizygous (n=20) or homozygous (n=5) for pLOF or bLOF variants were patients (OR=39.19 [95%CI:5.2-5037.0], P=4.7x10-7), who also showed an enrichment in heterozygous variants (OR=2.36 [95%CI:1.0-5.9], P=0.02). Finally, the patients with pLOF or bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD]=43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P=1.68x10-5). ConclusionsRare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old.

Tracing the trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern between December 2020 and September 2021 in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Several variants of concern (VOCs) explain most of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic waves in Europe. We aimed to dissect the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in the Canary Islands (Spain) between December 2020 and September 2021 at a micro-geographical level. We sequenced the viral genome of 8,224 respiratory samples collected in the archipelago. We observed that Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Delta (B.1.617.2 and sub-lineages) were ubiquitously present in the islands, while Beta (B.1.351) and Gamma (P.1/P.1.1) had a heterogeneous distribution and were responsible for fewer and more controlled outbreaks. This work represents the largest effort for viral genomic surveillance in the Canary Islands so far, helping the public health bodies in decision-making throughout the pandemic.

BB0562 is a nutritional virulence determinant with lipase activity important for Borrelia burgdorferi infection and survival in fatty acid deficient environments.

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi relies on uptake of essential nutrients from its host environments for survival and infection. Therefore, nutrient acquisition mechanisms constitute key virulence properties of the pathogen, yet these mechanisms remain largely unknown. In vivo expression technology applied to B. burgdorferi (BbIVET) during mammalian infection identified gene bb0562, which encodes a hypothetical protein comprised of a conserved domain of unknown function, DUF3996. DUF3996 is also found across adjacent encoded hypothetical proteins BB0563 and BB0564, suggesting the possibility that the three proteins could be functionally related. Deletion of bb0562, bb0563 and bb0564 individually and together demonstrated that bb0562 alone was important for optimal disseminated infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice by needle inoculation and tick bite transmission. Moreover, bb0562 promoted spirochete survival during the blood dissemination phase of infection. Gene bb0562 was also found to be important for spirochete growth in low serum media and the growth defect of Δbb0562 B. burgdorferi was rescued with the addition of various long chain fatty acids, particularly oleic acid. In mammals, fatty acids are primarily stored in fat droplets in the form of triglycerides. Strikingly, addition of glyceryl trioleate, the triglyceride form of oleic acid, to the low serum media did not rescue the growth defect of the mutant, suggesting bb0562 may be important for the release of fatty acids from triglycerides. Therefore, we searched for and identified two canonical GXSXG lipase motifs within BB0562, despite the lack of homology to known bacterial lipases. Purified BB0562 demonstrated lipolytic activity dependent on the catalytic serine residues within the two motifs. In sum, we have established that bb0562 is a novel nutritional virulence determinant, encoding a lipase that contributes to fatty acid scavenge for spirochete survival in environments deficient in free fatty acids including the mammalian host.

Early elevated NT-proBNP but not troponin I is associated with severe bronchiolitis in infants.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore and to compare the association between the NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI) at early stages of acute bronchiolitis with echocardiographic alterations, clinical severity and outcomes. METHODS: A single centre, prospective observational study including previously healthy infants aged 1-12 months with bronchiolitis admitted to a tertiary hospital from April 2019 to March 2020. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic evaluation at the same time point within 12 h of hospital admission. NT-proBNP > 1121 pg/ml and hs-cTnI > 26 ng/L were considered elevated. The primary outcome measure was the association of raised cardiac biomarkers with the need for PICU admission. RESULTS: We enrolled 40 infants with median levels of NT-proBNP of 1176 (520-3030) pg/ml and hs-cTnI of 11.5 (5-21) ng/L at the time of hospital admission. Raised levels of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnI in 50% and 20% of cases, respectively. Of them, 15 (37%) required PICU admission during the hospitalization. Increased NT-proBNP was associated with PICU admission (adjusted OR 9.5 (CI95% 1.4-64); p = 0.020), prolonged hospitalization (ß = 2.7; p = 0.012) and duration of oxygen administration (ß = 2.7; p = 0.004) in the multivariate analysis. There were no differences in hs-cTnI levels regarding PICU admission (p = 0.866). Increased hs-cTnI levels were only associated with oxygen administration duration (Spearman rho = 0.38; p = 0.017), but this association disappeared in the multivariate analysis. Only NT-proBNP was associated with echocardiographic parameters of myocardial dysfunction (p < 0.001), and pulmonary hypertension (p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: Early elevated NT-proBNP but not hs-cTnI could be used as a biomarker for myocardial strain and disease severity in bronchiolitis.

Monitoring the rise of the SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in Tenerife (Spain) since mid-December 2020

Starting in December 2020, a sharp increase of COVID-19 cases occurred in Tenerife compared to the rest of the Canary Islands (Spain). Because of the direct touristic connections between Tenerife and the UK, and the rapid transmission and dominance of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant of concern (VOC-202012/01) by the end of November 2020 in South England, here we measured the proportion of B.1.1.7 cases occurring between the 18th of December 2020 and the 25th of February 2021. Out of the 2,091 COVID-19 positive nasopharyngeal swab samples assessed, 226 showed a spike gene target failure (SGTF). Subsequent viral genome sequencing further confirmed that 93.2% of them corresponded to the B.1.1.7 lineage. Furthermore, a rapid increase in the proportion of SGTF variants was detected in up to 10.7% of positive cases during the Christmas season despite stricter measures for containing the transmission were imposed in Tenerife in the period. These results support the local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage in Tenerife since late December 2020 although it is not yet dominant.

Cardiac arrhythmias associated with volume-assured pressure support mode in a patient with autonomic dysfunction and mitochondrial disease.

NONE: A 15-year-old boy with autonomic dysfunction and mitochondrial disease was diagnosed with sleep-related hypoventilation at 6 years of age and treated with bilevel positive airway pressure therapy. At 12 years of age, treatment was transitioned to volume-assured pressure support (VAPS) due to clinical evidence of respiratory muscle weakness. Subsequent titration polysomnogram revealed the emergence of cardiac arrhythmia (isolated premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, and trigeminy) while on VAPS mode that improved after transition to bilevel positive airway pressure therapy. During the titration study, higher tidal volumes correlated with increased pressures and the presence of arrhythmia. Prior to initiation of VAPS therapy, the patient had normal electrocardiogram evaluations. This case highlights the potential relationship between VAPS therapy and cardiac arrhythmias, especially in patients with underlying conditions with associated cardiac abnormalities, such as autonomic dysfunction and mitochondrial disease. While using VAPS mode, patients should be closely monitored for cardiac rhythm abnormalities.

Miniscrew insertion sites of infrazygomatic crest and mandibular buccal shelf in different vertical craniofacial patterns: A cone-beam computed tomography study / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#To identify optimal areas for the insertion of extra-alveolar miniscrews into the infrazygomatic crest (IZC) and mandibular buccal shelf (MBS), using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in patients with different craniofacial patterns. @*Methods@#CBCT reconstructions of untreated individuals were used to evaluate the IZC and MBS areas. The participants were divided into three groups, based on the craniofacial pattern, namely, brachyfacial (n = 15; mean age, 23.3 years), mesofacial (n = 15; mean age, 19.24 years), and dolichofacial (n = 15; mean age, 17.79 years). In the IZC, the evaluated areas were at 11, 13, and 15 mm above the buccal cusp tips of the right and left first molars. In the MBS, the evaluated areas were at the projections of the first molars’ distal roots and second molars’ mesial and distal roots, at a 4- and 8-mm distance from the cementoenamel junction. Intergroup comparisons were performed with analysis of variance and the Tukey test. @*Results@#There was no statistically significant difference in the IZC bone thickness among the groups. For MBS bone availability, some comparisons revealed no difference; meanwhile, other comparisons revealed increased MBS bone thickness in the brachyfacial (first molars distal roots) and dolichofacial (second molars mesial and distal roots) patterns. @*Conclusions@#There was no significant difference in the IZC bone thickness among the groups. The facial skeletal pattern may affect the availability of ideal bone thickness for the insertion of extra-alveolar miniscrews in the MBS region; however, this variability is unlikely to be clinically meaningful.

Bone dehiscence formation during orthodontic tooth movement through atrophic alveolar ridges.

OBJECTIVES: To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in bone dehiscence formation before and after orthodontic tooth movement through an atrophic alveolar ridge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This longitudinal retrospective study evaluated pretreatment and posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography imaging of 15 adult patients. Twenty-five teeth were moved through the atrophic alveolar bone, whereas 25 teeth not subjected to translational movement were considered controls. The distances between the cementoenamel junction and the alveolar bone crest were assessed at the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual surfaces of all of these teeth. Data were compared using the Wilcoxon test. The Spearman correlation test and multivariate linear regression analysis were also performed. RESULTS: In general, crestal bone height was reduced around 0.5 mm in all groups in every direction. Median buccal dehiscence increased significantly (+2.25 mm) (P < .05) in teeth moved through the atrophic ridge. Control teeth also had buccal crest loss (+0.83 mm), but this was not statistically different from that of the experimental teeth. Lingual dehiscence increased significantly for the experimental (+0.17 mm) and control (+0.65 mm) groups. Mesial bone height decreased more in the control group (-0.44mm) than in the experimental group (-0.14mm). There was moderate correlation between amount of tooth movement and alveolar bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: The null hypothesis was rejected as dehiscence increased after tooth movement through an atrophic alveolar ridge, mainly in the buccal plate.

Increasing SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR testing capacity by sample pooling

ObjectivesLimited testing capacity has characterized the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, hampering a timely control of outbreaks and the possibilities to reduce the escalation of community transmissions. Here we investigated the potential of using pooling of samples followed by one-step retrotranscription and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to increase SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity. MethodsWe first evaluated different sample pooling (1:5, 1:10 and 1:15) prior to RNA extractions followed by standard RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis. The pool size achieving reproducible results in independent tests was then used for assessing nasopharyngeal samples in a tertiary hospital during August 2020. ResultsWe found that pool size of five samples achieved the highest sensitivity compared to pool sizes of 10 and 15, showing a mean ({+/-} SD) Ct shift of 3.5 {+/-} 2.2 between the pooled test and positive samples in the pool. We then used a pool size of five to test a total of 895 pools (4,475 prospective samples) using two different RT-qPCR kits available at that time. The Real Accurate Quadruplex corona-plus PCR Kit (PathoFinder) reported the lowest mean Ct ({+/-} SD) shift (2.2 {+/-} 2.4) among the pool and the individual samples. The strategy allows detecting individual samples in the positive pools with Cts in the range of 16.7-39.4. ConclusionsWe found that pools of five samples combined with RT-qPCR solutions helped to increase SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity with minimal loss of sensitivity compared to that resulting from testing the samples independently.

Sensitivity of different RT-qPCR solutions for SARS-CoV-2 detection

ObjectiveThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues imposing a demand for diagnostic screening. In anticipation that the recurrence of outbreaks and the measures for lifting the lockdown worldwide may cause supply chain issues over the coming months, we assessed the sensitivity of a number of one-step retrotranscription and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) solutions to detect SARS-CoV-2. MethodsWe evaluated six different RT-qPCR alternatives for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 diagnosis based on standard RNA extractions. That of best sensitivity was also assessed with direct nasopharyngeal swab viral transmission medium (VTM) heating, overcoming the RNA extraction step. ResultsWe found a wide variability in the sensitivity of RT-qPCR solutions that associated with a range of false negatives from as low as 2% (0.3-7.9%) to as much as 39.8% (30.2-50.2). Direct preheating of VTM combined with the best solution provided a sensitivity of 72.5% (62.5-81.0), in the range of some of the solutions based on standard RNA extractions. ConclusionsWe evidenced sensitivity limitations of currently used RT-qPCR solutions. Our results will help to calibrate the impact of false negative diagnoses of COVID-19, and to detect and control new SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and community transmissions.

Fast SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR in preheated nasopharyngeal swab samples

The current reference for COVID-19 diagnosis is based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on RNA extracts using one-step retrotranscription and quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Based on the urgent need for high-throughput COVID-19 screening, we tested the performance of three alternative, simple and affordable protocols to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2, overcoming the long and tedious RNA extraction step. Although with an average increase of 6.1 ({+/-} 1.6) cycles compared to standard tests with RNA extracts, we show that RT-qPCR yielded consistent results in nasopharyngeal swab samples that were subject to a direct 70{degrees}C incubation for 10 min. Our findings provide viable options to overcome any supply chain issue and help to increase the throughput of diagnostic tests by using any qPCR device, thereby complementing standard COVID-19 testing.

Burden of influenza-associated respiratory hospitalizations in the Americas, 2010-2015.

BACKGROUND: Despite having influenza vaccination policies and programs, countries in the Americas underutilize seasonal influenza vaccine, in part because of insufficient evidence about severe influenza burden. We aimed to estimate the annual burden of influenza-associated respiratory hospitalizations in the Americas. METHODS: Thirty-five countries in the Americas with national influenza surveillance were invited to provide monthly laboratory data and hospital discharges for respiratory illness (International Classification of Diseases 10th edition J codes 0-99) during 2010-2015. In three age-strata (<5, 5-64, and ≥65 years), we estimated the influenza-associated hospitalizations rate by multiplying the monthly number of respiratory hospitalizations by the monthly proportion of influenza-positive samples and dividing by the census population. We used random effects meta-analyses to pool age-group specific rates and extrapolated to countries that did not contribute data, using pooled rates stratified by age group and country characteristics found to be associated with rates. RESULTS: Sixteen of 35 countries (46%) contributed primary data to the analyses, representing 79% of the America's population. The average pooled rate of influenza-associated respiratory hospitalization was 90/100,000 population (95% confidence interval 61-132) among children aged <5 years, 21/100,000 population (13-32) among persons aged 5-64 years, and 141/100,000 population (95-211) among persons aged ≥65 years. We estimated the average annual number of influenza-associated respiratory hospitalizations in the Americas to be 772,000 (95% credible interval 716,000-829,000). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza-associated respiratory hospitalizations impose a heavy burden on health systems in the Americas. Countries in the Americas should use this information to justify investments in seasonal influenza vaccination-especially among young children and the elderly.

Evaluation of frequency of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii,Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. and transmission routes in sheep from Humid Pampa, Argentina.

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of ovine specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. and to estimate different transmission routes of these infections. One hundred and thirty Texel sheep and their 117 Texel lambs were included in the study. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to T. gondii, N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. using IFAT. Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence was 10.00% in sheep (IC95%: 4.80-15.20%), being higher in adult sheep (≥12 year) than in younger sheep (OR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.50). N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. seroprevalences were 1.54% (IC95%: 0.00-5.70) and 72.09% (IC95%: 67.70-82.70), respectively, with no association between age and seropositivity in sheep (P>0.05). T. gondii seroprevalence in lambs was 4.27% (IC95%: 0.61-7.94). No association between T. gondii serological status in sheep and their lambs was detected (P = 0.07). Two T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. seropositive lambs were euthanized and T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. DNA was detected by PCR in their tissues. In conclusion, the increase of T. gondii seropositivity in relationship with sheep age and the lack of association between sheep-lamb serological status, suggest that horizontal infection is the main transmission route in this flock as reported before. Due to the low number of N. caninum-seropositive ewes no assumptions can be done about the impact of this parasite in this flock. According with previous reports, the main transmission route for Sarcocystis spp. in this species in the present study was horizontal.

Bienestar Psicológico y Budismo: experiencias y significados en practicantes de Budismo en el Perú / Psychological wellbeing and Buddhism: practitioner's experiences and meanings of Buddhism in Peru

El objetivo de esta investigación fue explorar las experiencias y significados del bienestar psicológico en practicantes de la división joven del Budismo de Nichiren Daishonin en el Perú. Se contó con la participación de 10 jóvenes, 5 mujeres y 5 hombres entre 20 y 32 años de edad, practicantes del Budismo de Nichiren Daishonin residentes de Lima Metropolitana. Empleando un diseño cualitativo, la información recabada tomó como referencia los sistemas conversacionales propuestos por González Rey (2006). El presente estudio muestra que todas las experiencias y significados de los jóvenes participantes cuentan con la presencia de los seis factores propuestos por Ryff y Keyes (1995) para alcanzar el bienestar. Señala al budismo como un medio o camino por el cual los participantes han llegado a alcanzar el bienestar psicológico o la Revolución Humana. Este concepto presente en las conversaciones conducidas es percibido como la mejora de la calidad de vida y desarrollo personal de los budistas. Finalmente, se identificó la importancia del componente comunitario en los practicantes de budismo ya que es considerado como un factor esencial para alcanzar el bienestar psicológico.

The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences and meanings of psychological well being among practitioners of the young division of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism in Peru. The sample consisted in 10 people (5 women and 5 men) ranging from 20 to 32 years old, who were Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism followers and lived in Lima City. The study was conducted through a qualitative approach, and the conversational system proposal created by González Rey (2006) was used as a tool to gather information. The results show that all six factors proposed by Ryff and Keyes (1995) to achieve wellness are found in the participants' experiences and meanings. Therefore, Buddhism is displayed as a means by which participants have sought to achieve psychological wellbeing or the Human Revolution. This concept came up in the conducted conversations, and it is thought to improve Buddhists' quality of life and personal development. Finally, this research highlights the importance of the community component, since it is considered essential in order to achieve psychological well-being.

The effect of prolonged storage and disinfection on the dimensional stability of 5 vinyl polyether silicone impression materials

PURPOSE: Vinyl polyether silicone (VPES) has a different composition from other elastomeric impression materials as it combines vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) and polyether (PE). Therefore, it is important to study its properties and behavior under different test conditions. This study investigated the dimensional stability of 5 VPES consistencies when stored for up to 2 weeks, with and without using a standard disinfection procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 discs of each VPES consistency (total 200) were made using a stainless steel die and ring as described by ANSI /ADA specification No. 19. 20 discs of each material were immersed in a 2.5% buffered glutaraldehyde solution for 30 minutes. Dimensional stability measurements were calculated immediately after fabrication and repeated on the same discs after 7 and 14 days of storage. The data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA with a significance level set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: The discs mean contraction was below 0.5% at all test times ranging from 0.200 ± 0.014 to 0.325 ± 0.007. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference after 2-week storage between the disinfected and non-disinfected groups (P < .001). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the materials at the time of fabrication, the contraction of the materials increased with storage for 1 and 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: The dimensional changes of VPES impression discs after disinfection and prolonged storage complied with ANSI/ADA standard. The tested VPES impression materials were dimensionally stable for clinical use after disinfection for 30 minutes in glutaraldehyde and storage for up to 2 weeks.