Phage therapy: resurrecting a historical solution for the contemporary challenge of rising antibiotic resistance in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance in Latin America is a growing concern in both human and non-human animal populations. The economic burden that is likely to be imposed through increased resistance will cause further strains on public health systems and the population at large. AREAS COVERED: We propose the rapid adoption and implementation of phage therapy as a necessary addition to the medical arsenal to help mitigate antimicrobial resistance, with an emphasis on considering the potential benefits that highly biodiverse countries such as Ecuador may have on phage discovery. However, programs may count on limited government support and/or facilitation, which could slow progress. EXPERT OPINION: We highlight the need for educational campaigns to be implemented in parallel with the development of phage therapy programs, particularly to implement these novel treatments in rural and indigenous communities.

Tackling the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of cellulose nanofibers from the banana rachis: A new food packaging alternative.

Cellulose nanofibrils from the banana rachis are a good alternative as packaging materials, food packaging, stabilizing agents, and functional food ingredients. To address the potential effects of ingested banana rachis cellulose nanofibrils (BR-CNFs), their toxicity in vitro and in vivo was evaluated using Caco-2 intestinal cells and mice, respectively. The results showed that BR-CNFs did not cause cytotoxic effects at the concentrations evaluated on Caco-2 cells. In addition to cytotoxicity tests, genotoxicity assays using comet assay indicated that Caco-2 cells showed no DNA damage at the concentrations of CNFs tested. Finally, acute in vivo cytotoxicity assays indicated that mice showed no sign of pathogenesis or lesions in the liver, kidney, or small intestine when treated with a single dose of BR-CNFs. Moreover, when the mice were treated daily for a month with BR-CNFs no hyperplasia or hypertrophy was observed in any of the organs evaluated. Additionally, biochemical parameters such as blood chemistry, creatinine, liver enzymes, and renal function showed that the BR-CNFs do not cause organ damage. Overall, this study shows that BR-CNFs are neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic. In conclusion, these studies are essential to guarantee the safety of this high value-added product in the food industry.

Mental, neurological and substance use disorders among the Latino migrant population in the United States who visited the Health Windows and Mobile Health Units in 2021.

Background: Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of wellbeing in which people are aware of their own abilities to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute to their community. Among the minority groups that may be vulnerable to experiencing greater risks for their physical and mental health and full development is the migrant population. The mobile population's migration experience, from their place of origin to destination translates into psychosocial problems and clearly stressful conditions which could be resolved using certain coping strategies. Accordingly, numerous epidemiological studies have found differences in the prevalence of mental health problems between migrants and native-born residents of destination countries, as well as between migrants and their non-migrant co-nationals. Purpose: To describe sociodemographic characteristics of the Latino migrant population in the United States who visited the Health Windows (HW) and Mobile Health Units (MHU) in 2021, who may have been at risk for mental, neurological or substance use disorders and agreed to a screening for signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. Method: Users of the HW and MHU were offered preventive health services and completed a mental health screening. These variables were registered in SICRESAL. If their results showed signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, they were screened by credentialed professionals from the Psychology Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Screened individuals received a diagnosis and specialized care remotely and/or online with the MHU and HW network partners. To analyze sociodemographic variables corresponding to neurological or substance induced mental illness among the Latino migrant population in the United States who visited the Ventanillas de Salud (VDS)/Health Windows (HW), and Unidades Móviles de Salud (UMS)/Mobile Health Units (MHU), during 2021; contingency tables were created showing percentages and chi square with a significant p < 0.05. Findings: During 2021 HW and MHU completed a total of 794 mental health screenings of which 84% were completed at HW. Further, 59% were women with an average age of 43, ranging from 7 to 86 years of age. Twenty percent 20% of the population who voluntarily agreed to screening yielded a positive result for some type of mental health symptom or problem. This percentage (37%) was greater among those who consulted MHU. With respect to age, results showed that youth were at greatest risk for mental health problems. Among the screened population, the independent variables, type of Health Window attended, gender, age group, and place of origin are related to the existence of some type of mental health symptom or problem yielding a significance level of <0.05 for depression and anxiety symptoms. Discussion and prospects: In this study, as in others, the migrant population that visited the HW and UMS in 2021 reported a greater risk of mental health problems, with symptoms related to depression and anxiety among the socio-demographic variables of gender, age group, and place of origin. Thus, these symptoms relate to being a female aged between 18 and 38 and originating from Mexico. Finally, the possibility of screening the migrant population for signs and symptoms of mental health conditions that attended the Health Windows or Mobile Health Units during 2021, made it possible to refer them to psychology or psychiatry services and improve the quality of life of those who accessed the services and, consequently, that of their families and communities. Limitations: The main limitation is associated with the information source since we worked with secondary data and relied on the information provided by those who attended both the HW and the MHU.

Molecular characterization of Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli reveals multiple genogroups associated with clinical traits in dogs from urban areas of Colombia.

Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli are vector-borne pathogens that infect blood cells and produce the diseases Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) and Babesiosis in dogs. Considering the lack of studies on these pathogens in Colombia, this study aims to determine the molecular prevalence and genetic characterization of E. canis and Babesia spp., in dogs from the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga (MAB), Santander, a region with one of the greatest pet densities in Colombia. One hundred eighty-five dogs were surveyed and analyzed through molecular, clinical, and hematological approaches. The molecular detection of E. canis and Babesia spp., was performed by conventional PCR targeting the dsb and 18S rRNA genes, respectively. To identify genogroups, E. canis positive samples underwent a hemi-nested PCR of the trp36 gene, and the PCR products were subsequently sequenced. Molecular analyses showed a prevalence of 13% (24/185; CI 95%, 8.1 - 18.0%) and 1.09% (2/185; CI 95,% -0.43 - 2.6%) for E. canis and B. vogeli respectively, as well as the presence of the genogroups US (USA), BR (Brazil), and CR (Costa Rica), in 62.5, 16.6, and 16.6% of E. canis positive samples, respectively. Values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets, erythrocytes, white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocytes, and eosinophils showed significant differences between animals infected with the different genogroups of E. canis (p< 0.05). In contrast, hematocrit values, hemoglobin, platelets, red blood cells, and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) were lower in B. vogeli positive animals. Statistical analysis indicated that E. canis infection was associated with specific socioeconomic sectors as well as with some household features (p< 0.05). In conclusion, our results present evidence of the circulation of multiple genogroups of E. canis in the MAB, which is associated with different geographical origins and clinical traits. Epidemiological analyses suggest a need to increase molecular surveillance and prevention campaigns especially in lower socioeconomic sectors.

Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) and Mobile Health Units (MHU): A binational collaborative models.

Over the years, the Mexican population in the United States has faced high prevalence of health-related inequalities and disadvantages and represents one of the most vulnerable migrant groups in the country. To help reduce the gaps in health care for the Mexican population, the Mexican government, in collaboration with strategic allies from various sectors, launched the Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) strategy, which was subsequently reinforced through the Mobile Health Units (MHU) care model. Both the VDS strategy and the MHU care model are intended to contribute to the development of initiatives, projects, and actions in health that will benefit the Mexican community living in the United States, which lacks or has difficulty accessing health services. This article provides a descriptive, analytical analysis of the VDS strategy and the MHU care model, as unique collaborative models, which can be replicated, and have achieved a positive impact on the health of Mexican and other Hispanic communities in the United States, at both the individual and community level.

Enzootic Trypanosoma cruzi infection by Rhodnius prolixus shows transmission to humans and dogs in Vichada, Colombia.

Background: Rhodnius prolixus is considered the most relevant Trypanosoma cruzi vector in Colombia and Venezuela due it is responsible for domestic transmission in both countries. However, a wild population of this species is distributed in the eastern plains of the Orinoco region and Amazonia jungle, where its epidemiological importance has not been sufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to assess epidemiological parameters of T. cruzi transmission in the Department of Vichada, Colombia. Methods: We determined the characteristics of T. cruzi transmission using entomological studies in domestic and sylvatic ecotopes. We analyzed the T. cruzi infection in triatomine insects, identified blood meal sources, and conducted a serological determination of T. cruzi infection in scholar-aged children, domestic dogs, and wild hosts. Results: Fifty-four triatomine bugs, 40 T. maculata and 14 R. prolixus were collected in peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes. Infected R. prolixus was observed in La Primavera, Santa Rosalia, and Cumaribo municipalities. All the T. maculata bugs were not infected. Serological analysis indicated that two of 3,425 children were T. cruzi positive. The seroprevalence in domestic dogs was 10,5% (49/465). Moreover, 22 synanthropic mammals were sampled, being Didelphis marsupialis the most common. TcI genotype was detected in seropositive dogs, R. prolixus, and D. marsupialis. Conclusion: The present work describes extra domestic R. prolixus and D. marsupialis in a sylvatic T. cruzi transmission cycle with transmission to humans and domestic dogs in Colombia's Vichada Department.

Cross-sector co-creation of a community-based physical activity program for breast cancer survivors in Colombia.

Benefits of physical activity (PA) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) are well established. However, programs to promote PA among BCS tailored to real-world contexts within low- to middle-income countries are limited. Cross-sector co-creation can be key to effective and scalable programs for BCS in these countries. This study aimed to evaluate the networking process to engage multisector stakeholders in the co-creation of a PA program for Colombian BCS called My Body. We employed a mixed-methods design including semistructured interviews, workshops and a social network analysis of centrality measures to assess stakeholders' engagement, resources and skills enabling the collaborative work, challenges, outcomes and lessons learned. The descriptive analysis and the centrality measures of the network revealed that 19 cross-sector stakeholders engaged in the My Body collaborative network. Through ongoing communication and cooperation, My Body built relationships between the academic lead institutions (local and international), and local and national public, private and academic institutions working in public health, sports and recreation, social sciences and engineering fields. The outcomes included the co-creation of the community-based PA program for BCS, its implementation through cross-sector synergies, increased relationships and communications among stakeholders, and successful dissemination of evidence and project results to the collaboration partners and other relevant stakeholders and community members. The mixed-methods assessment enabled understanding of ways to advance cross-sector co-creation of health promotion programs. The findings can help to enable continued development of sustainable cross-sector co-creation processes aimed at advancing PA promotion.

Collaborative work among stakeholders and researchers from different governmental sectors and disciplinary fields can be key to design and implement effective and scalable programs to promote physical activity (PA) among breast cancer survivors (BCS). This might be particularly critical in low- to middle-income countries where the implementation of evidence-based health-promoting programs tailored to real-world contexts are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the networking process to engage multisector stakeholders in the co-creation of a PA program for Colombian BCS. We employed qualitative methods and social network analyses to assess stakeholders' engagement, resources and skills enabling the collaborative work, challenges, outcomes and lessons learned. The co-creation of the program improved synergies between research, policy and practice. Communication through several channels including e-mail and workshops was the key resource to advance the collaborative work. Stakeholders underscored that cross-sector networking allowed allocating resources and achieving shared goals. Sustainable cross-sector collaborative processes are key for health promotion.

Pulmonary Inflammatory Response in Lethal COVID-19 Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets and Drugs in Phases III/IV Clinical Trials.

Background: It is imperative to identify drugs that allow treating symptoms of severe COVID-19. Respiratory failure is the main cause of death in severe COVID-19 patients, and the host inflammatory response at the lungs remains poorly understood. Methods: Therefore, we retrieved data from post-mortem lungs from COVID-19 patients and performed in-depth in silico analyses of single-nucleus RNA sequencing data, inflammatory protein interactome network, and shortest pathways to physiological phenotypes to reveal potential therapeutic targets and drugs in advanced-stage COVID-19 clinical trials. Results: Herein, we analyzed transcriptomics data of 719 inflammatory response genes across 19 cell types (116,313 nuclei) from lung autopsies. The functional enrichment analysis of the 233 significantly expressed genes showed that the most relevant biological annotations were inflammatory response, innate immune response, cytokine production, interferon production, macrophage activation, blood coagulation, NLRP3 inflammasome complex, and the TLR, JAK-STAT, NF-κB, TNF, oncostatin M signaling pathways. Subsequently, we identified 34 essential inflammatory proteins with both high-confidence protein interactions and shortest pathways to inflammation, cell death, glycolysis, and angiogenesis. Conclusion: We propose three small molecules (baricitinib, eritoran, and montelukast) that can be considered for treating severe COVID-19 symptoms after being thoroughly evaluated in COVID-19 clinical trials.

College integration and social class.

What is the impact of social class on college integration? Higher education institutions are becoming more diverse, yet the integration of underprivileged students remains a challenge. Using a social network approach, we analyze the general integration of low socioeconomic status (SES) students, as well as how segregated by class these friends are. The object of analysis is the extreme case of an elite university that, based on a government loan program (Ser Pilo Paga), opened its doors to many low-SES students in a very unequal country, Colombia. Using a mixed methods perspective, including a survey, 61 in depth interviews, and ethnographic observation, we analyze friendship networks and their meanings, barriers, and facilitators. Contrary to the literature, we find that low-SES students had, on average, the same number of connections and were no more isolated than students from upper social classes. Also, low-SES students' networks were not more segregated, even if relations with the upper classes were less likely and required more relational work than with middle or lower class friends. This high level of social integration stemmed from the intense relational work that low-SES students engage in, so as to fit in. Middle class friends act as a catalyst that can enable cross-class friendships.

The epidemiological follow-up process for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in migrant shelters on the northern border of Mexico from July to December 2020: Between contagion underestimation and containment.

Background: Elements associated with an increased risk factor for the contagion of COVID-19 in shelters include the turnover and overcrowding of people, time spent in communal areas, daily supply needs, water availability, and sanitation levels. The "Report on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrants and Refugees," shows that factors such as the shortage of food, supplies, water, sanitizing materials, spaces for healthy distancing, financial resources for rent and essential services, and the lack of medical or psychological care complicated providing care for migrants and applicants seeking international protection. Objective: We describe shelter operations regarding the detection and follow-up of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases showing mild symptoms among the migrant population housed in the border cities under study. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with study subjects (people in charge, managers, coordinators, shelter directors) from 22 migrant shelters, and 30 with key informants. We studied the cities of Tijuana (Baja California), Nogales (Sonora), Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua), Piedras Negras (Coahuila), and Heroica Matamoros (Tamaulipas). The research was based on a qualitative methodological design with an ethnographic approach. The information collected was transcribed and systematized into two tables or analytical templates, one for interviews with study subjects, and another for interviews with key actors. Findings: Overall, seventy-eight registered shelters provided accommodation services for migrants in the five cities the study focused on: thirty-seven in Tijuana, five in Nogales, twenty-two in Ciudad Juárez, eight in Piedras Negras, and five plus a camp (six in total) in Matamoros. The major concentration of shelters was in Tijuana (47.4%) and Ciudad Juárez (28.2%). At the beginning of the pandemic, only a few shelter facilities met quarantine and isolation guidelines, such as having separate bathrooms and sufficient space to isolate the "asymptomatic" and "confirmed" from close "contacts". The lack of isolation space and the inability to support the monitoring of patients with COVID-19 posed a challenge for those housed in shelters, forcing many shelters to close or continue operating behind closed doors to avoid becoming a source of infection during the pandemic. Discussion and outlook: Contrary to speculation, during the onset of the pandemic northern border migrant shelters did not become sources of COVID-19 infection. According to the data analyzed from 78 shelters only seven had confirmed cases, and the classification of "outbreak" was applied only in two facilities. Contagion control or containment was successful as the result of following a preventive containment logic, including the isolation of all suspected but unconfirmed cases, without a clear understanding of the human and financial resources required to maintain isolation areas. However, shelters in the study implemented protocols for epidemiological surveillance, control, and prevention with elements that interfered with monitoring spaces, and processes that caused oversights that resulted in underestimating the number of cases. Limitations: Due to travel restrictions imposed to prevent and contain coronavirus infections it was impossible to stay on-site in the cities studied, except for Tijuana, or carry-out recordings of migrants' views in shelters.

Molecular surveillance of resistance to pyrethroids insecticides in Colombian Aedes aegypti populations.

INTRODUCTION: In Colombia, organochloride, organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides are broadly used to control Aedes aegypti populations. However, Colombian mosquito populations have shown variability in their susceptibility profiles to these insecticides, with some expressing high resistance levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we analyzed the susceptibility status of ten Colombian field populations of Ae. aegypti to two pyrethroids; permethrin (type-I pyrethroid) and lambda-cyhalothrin (type-II pyrethroid). In addition, we evaluated if mosquitoes pressured with increasing lambda-cyhalothrin concentrations during some filial generations exhibited altered allelic frequency of these kdr mutations and the activity levels of some metabolic enzymes. RESULTS: Mosquitoes from all field populations showed resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin. We found that resistance profiles could only be partially explained by kdr mutations and altered enzymatic activities such as esterases and mixed-function oxidases, indicating that other yet unknown mechanisms could be involved. The molecular and biochemical analyses of the most pyrethroid-resistant mosquito population (Acacías) indicated that kdr mutations and altered metabolic enzyme activity are involved in the resistance phenotype expression. CONCLUSIONS: In this context, we propose genetic surveillance of the mosquito populations to monitor the emergence of resistance as an excellent initiative to improve mosquito-borne disease control measures.

Social cohesion emerging from a community-based physical activity program: A temporal network analysis.

Community-based physical activity programs, such as the Recreovía, are effective in promoting healthy behaviors in Latin America. To understand Recreovías' challenges and scalability, we characterized its social network longitudinally while studying its participants' social cohesion and interactions. First, we constructed the Main network of the program's Facebook profile in 2013 to determine the main stakeholders and communities of participants. Second, we studied the Temporal network growth of the Facebook profiles of three Recreovía locations from 2008 to 2016. We implemented a Time Windows in Networks algorithm to determine observation periods and a scaling model of cities' growth to measure social cohesion over time. Our results show physical activity instructors as the main stakeholders (20.84% nodes of the network). As emerging cohesion, we found: (1) incremental growth of Facebook users (43-272 nodes), friendships (55-2565 edges), clustering coefficient (0.19-0.21), and density (0.04-0.07); (2) no preferential attachment behavior; and (3) a social cohesion super-linear growth with 1.73 new friendships per joined user. Our results underscore the physical activity instructors' influence and the emergent cohesion in innovation periods as a co-benefit of the program. This analysis associates the social and healthy behavior dimensions of a program occurring in natural environments under a systemic approach.

La afiliación al sistema de salud de personas migrantes venezolanas en Colombia / The Affiliation to the Health System among Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia

Resumen: Introducción:El acceso de las personas migrantes venezolanas al sistema de salud es fundamental para su supervivencia y bienestar futuro. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los niveles de afiliación a dicho sistema de las personas venezolanas en las áreas urbanas de Colombia por periodos de arribo, así como los factores sociodemográficos y laborales asociados. Metodología: Se realiza análisis cuantitativo de tipo estadístico descriptivo e inferencial, a partir de la Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares 2018, la cual aporta datos representativos para Colombia y sus 13 ciudades más importantes. Se utilizan los módulos de migración, de variables sociodemográficas del hogar y de ocupación relativos a la población de 14 a 65 años. Resultados:Únicamente 24,5 % de dichos migrantes están inscritos al sistema de salud en contraste a 93 % de las personas colombianas. Los niveles de afiliación se redujeron de 82 % entre las personas venezolanos que arribaron en 2013 o antes a 10 % entre los que llegaron en 2017-2018. Las personas venezolanas afiliadas al sistema de salud son una población selecta en términos sociodemográficos; más joven, más educada, con mayor participación laboral y mayores ingresos que la población nativa en Colombia. La baja inserción de las personas migrantes venezolanas en empleos con contrato escrito restringe dicha afiliación. Conclusiones: Las personas venezolanas en Colombia tienen muy limitada la inscripción al sistema de salud. A pesar de que este es un derecho protegido por los marcos jurídicos internacional y nacional, estas personas enfrentan barreras económicas, políticas y sociales para ejercer ese derecho en Colombia.

Abstract: Introduction: Venezuelan migrants' access to the health system is fundamental to their survival and future well-being. This article aims to analyze the level of affiliation to the health care system of these migrants in the urban areas in Colombia by arrival periods and the associated sociodemographic and labor factors. Methodology: To this end, quantitative analysis is done based on descriptive and inferential statistical analyses of the 2018 Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares, which is a representative survey for Colombia and its 13 more important urban areas. We use the modules on migration, sociodemographic variables of the household and occupation relative to the population aged 14 to 65. Results: Only 24,5% of Venezuelan migrants are affiliated with any health care provider in contrast to 93% of Colombians. The levels of affiliation diminished from 82% among Venezuelans who arrived in 2013 or before to 10% among Venezuelans who arrived in 2017-2018. Venezuelans registered in the health system are a select population in sociodemographic terms; younger, more educated, with more labor participation and higher income than the native population in Colombia. The low insertion of Venezuelan immigrants in jobs with a written contract restricts this enrollment. Conclusions:The Venezuelans in Colombia have a very limited affiliation with the health system. Even though this is a right protected by international and national legal frameworks, Venezuelans encounter economic, political, and social barriers to exercise it in Colombia.

In silico Analyses of Immune System Protein Interactome Network, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Tissues, and Artificial Neural Networks Reveal Potential Therapeutic Targets for Drug Repurposing Against COVID-19.

Background: There is pressing urgency to identify therapeutic targets and drugs that allow treating COVID-19 patients effectively. Methods: We performed in silico analyses of immune system protein interactome network, single-cell RNA sequencing of human tissues, and artificial neural networks to reveal potential therapeutic targets for drug repurposing against COVID-19. Results: We screened 1,584 high-confidence immune system proteins in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells, finding 25 potential therapeutic targets significantly overexpressed in nasal goblet secretory cells, lung type II pneumocytes, and ileal absorptive enterocytes of patients with several immunopathologies. Then, we performed fully connected deep neural networks to find the best multitask classification model to predict the activity of 10,672 drugs, obtaining several approved drugs, compounds under investigation, and experimental compounds with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics. Conclusion: After being effectively analyzed in clinical trials, these drugs can be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Scripts can be downloaded at https://github.com/muntisa/immuno-drug-repurposing-COVID-19.

Molecular surveillance reveals bats from eastern Colombia infected with Trypanosoma theileri and Trypanosoma wauwau-like parasites.

Several species of trypanosomes can infect bats (Chiroptera), but current information about bat trypanosomes in Colombia is scarce. The objectives of this study were to estimate the infection rate and to characterize the trypanosome species infecting bats from three rural regions near the municipality of Cumaribo in Vichada, Colombia. Blood samples were collected from 39 bats. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and analyzed using nuclear genetic markers (SSU rDNA, ITS rDNA, and cathepsin genes) to discriminate among trypanosome species. Trypanosomes were detected in 66.7 % (26/39) of blood samples using PCR; 61.5 % (24/39) of infections were identified as Trypanosoma theileri and 5.1 % (2/39) as T. wauwau-like parasites. The phylogeographic analysis revealed that our T. theileri sequences were associated with the TthIIB genotype from cattle in Brazil and Venezuela. The T. wauwau-like parasites represent a new genotype of the species and were found in Molossus molossus and Platyrrhinus helleri bats. These data represent the first evidence of this trypanosome in both Colombia, and in these species of bats. Bat infections with T. theileri suggest an important role of these hosts in maintaining this genotype, probably acquired by ingesting insect vectors. The T. wauwau-like genotype in new mammalian host species supports the 'bat seeding' hypothesis of the T. cruzi clade. The epidemiological and evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.

Effects of a Physical Activity Program Potentiated with ICTs on the Formation and Dissolution of Friendship Networks of Children in a Middle-Income Country.

This paper assesses the potential cohesion effect of a physical activity (PA) school-based intervention potentiated using text messages (SMS) through analyzing longitudinally the friendship network structure and the mechanisms of the formation and dissolution of friendships. Three schools (n = 125 participants) in Bogotá, Colombia, were randomly assigned into three groups: Modulo Activo Recreo Activo (MARA) + SMS (networks 1 and 2), MARA (networks 3 and 4), and control (no intervention: networks 5-7). We collected socio-economic, health-related, network structure, and intervention satisfaction variables in the baseline and after 10 weeks on July-November 2013. For each classroom network, we conducted four models using a temporal and static network approach to assess (1) temporal social network changes, (2) friendship homophily, (3) friendship formation and dissolution mechanisms, and (4) effect of SMS on the networks' cohesion. We found that (1) social cohesion emerged in the four intervened networks that were measured over time with transitivity and homophily driven by clustering, (2) the intervention affected the mechanisms of friendship formation and dissolution, and (3) MARA + SMS on average created more social cohesion and 3.8 more friendships than the program alone. Potentially, school-based interventions with information and communication technologies (ICT) such as MARA + SMS could encourage social cohesion among children. The particular characteristics of each school network need to be considered when developing school-based interventions.

Clinical, molecular, and epidemiological characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a comprehensive literature review.

Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. The current classification of coronaviruses recognizes 39 species in 27 subgenera that belong to the family Coronaviridae. From those, at least 7 coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. Four of these viruses can cause common cold-like symptoms. Those that infect animals can evolve and become infectious to humans. Three recent examples of these viral jumps include SARS CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS CoV-2 virus. They are responsible for causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the most recently discovered coronavirus disease during 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. The rapid spread of the disease has taken the scientific and medical community by surprise. Latest figures from 20 May 2020 show more than 5 million people had been infected with the virus, causing more than 330,000 deaths in over 210 countries worldwide. The large amount of information received daily relating to COVID-19 is so abundant and dynamic that medical staff, health authorities, academics and the media are not able to keep up with this new pandemic. In order to offer a clear insight of the extensive literature available, we have conducted a comprehensive literature review of the SARS CoV-2 Virus and the Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19).

Benchmarking seeding strategies for spreading processes in social networks: an interplay between influencers, topologies and sizes.

The explosion of network science has permitted an understanding of how the structure of social networks affects the dynamics of social contagion. In community-based interventions with spill-over effects, identifying influential spreaders may be harnessed to increase the spreading efficiency of social contagion, in terms of time needed to spread all the largest connected component of the network. Several strategies have been proved to be efficient using only data and simulation-based models in specific network topologies without a consensus of an overall result. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to benchmark the spreading efficiency of seeding strategies related to network structural properties and sizes. We simulate spreading processes on empirical and simulated social networks within a wide range of densities, clustering coefficients, and sizes. We also propose three new decentralized seeding strategies that are structurally different from well-known strategies: community hubs, ambassadors, and random hubs. We observe that the efficiency ranking of strategies varies with the network structure. In general, for sparse networks with community structure, decentralized influencers are suitable for increasing the spreading efficiency. By contrast, when the networks are denser, centralized influencers outperform. These results provide a framework for selecting efficient strategies according to different contexts in which social networks emerge.

Together for Health: An Initiative to Access Health Services for the Hispanic/Mexican Population Living in the United States.

A disproportionately small percentage of the Hispanic/Mexican population in the United States has adequate access to health services, which decreases quality of life at both the individual and community levels. In addition, it increases risk for preventable diseases through insufficient screening and management. The Mexican Section of the U.S./Mexico Border Health Commission, in efforts to address barriers to accessing preventive health care services for vulnerable populations, launched the initiative Juntos por la Salud (JPLS) that offers health promotion and disease prevention services to Hispanics living in and around 11 U.S. metropolitan cities via mobile health units. This paper presents a descriptive analysis of the JPLS initiative and potential positive impact it has had in reducing barriers faced by the Hispanic population. JPLS screens and provides referrals to primary care services to establish a medical home and has the potential to reduce health care costs in a high-risk population through education and timely health screenings.

Vector competence analysis of two Aedes aegypti lineages from Bello, Colombia, reveals that they are affected similarly by dengue-2 virus infection.

Dengue is the second most prevalent vector-borne disease after malaria in Colombia. It is caused by dengue virus, an arbovirus that exhibits high epidemic power, which is evidenced by its occurrence in more than 80% of the country, largely because of the extensive dispersion of the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. The existence of two lineages of Ae. aegypti has been proposed based on genetic differences at the mitochondrial level, and they have been reported to circulate in similar proportions in the municipality of Bello (Colombia). It has been suggested that the differentiation of these lineages could influence features such as vector competence (VC) and life table. With the aim of testing this hypothesis, female mosquitoes from both lineages collected from Bello were orally challenged with dengue virus serotype 2 (strain D2-HAN) to measure infection, dissemination, survival and fecundity. Analysis of VC showed an increase in viral titer over time; however, no significant differences were observed between the lineages. The survival rate was not different between the infected lineages, but comparing lineages, it was lower in infected mosquitoes, which may affect the intensity of transmission. Finally, we conclude that the genetic differentiation of Ae. aegypti into lineages did not confer differences in epidemiological status when the mosquitoes were infected with this D2 serotype strain.