Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi in Eight Blood Banks in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The true prevalence of Chagas disease in Mexico is unknown. However, it has been estimated that 1.1-4 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, which represents a potential risk for transmission of the disease via contaminated blood. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the Chagas disease seroprevalence in donors from eight blood banks in the north of Mexico City, and the northeast of the State of Mexico. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum samples from blood donors (n = 515,038) were tested to detect the presence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in eight blood banks. The serologic screening test was performed in each of the blood banks. To confirm the seropositive blood donors, only two out of the eight blood banks used a test with a different principle with the aim of identifying anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies. All tests were validated by the Mexican Institute for Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred and ten blood donors were seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi, which represents a 0.23% seroprevalence (95% CI 0.22-0.25%). Of the seropositive blood donors, 97.03 % resided in the northeast area of the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and southern part of the State of Hidalgo. CONCLUSIONS: Active transmission of Chagas disease may be occurring in non-endemic regions in the northeast of the State of Mexico.

Experimental intoxication of Brahman (Bos indicus) heifers with Enterolobium cyclocarpum fruits.

Enterolobium cyclocarpum is a poisonous plant distributed throughout the Americas. The E. cyclocarpum fruits have high toxic potential for cattle in Colombia and the clinical signs and pathological lesions are ill-defined. To begin address this issue, twelve Brahman heifers were administered E. cyclocarpum fruits and the evolution of clinical signs were recorded. Blood was collected to establish biochemical and hematological parameters. Animals were euthanized between 4 and 15 days after the initial dose was given, and tissue samples were routinely processed and stained by Hematoxylin-Eosin. The severity of clinical signs and tissue lesions were correlated with the dose of E. cyclocarpum fruits. Clinical signs included fever, tachypnea, sialorrhea, jaundice, tympanism, and diarrhea. Skin lesions were consistent with photosensitization. Hematological and biochemical tests showed increased hematocrit, neutropenia, increased serum fibrinogen, elevated hepatic enzymes and azotemia. Histology revealed panlobular cytoplasmic vacuolization and extensive foci of necrosis in the liver. The skin, fore-stomach, abomasum and intestine revealed microcirculatory, inflammatory and ulcerative changes. Protein casts and tubular epithelium vacuolization were found in kidney. Depending on the toxicosis intensity, it is concluded that E. cyclocarpum fruits may cause two clinical and pathological forms of poisoning in Brahman heifers. First, a severe intoxication at repeated exposition with high (20 g/kg/d) or low (10 g/kg/d) dose that affected the digestive and tegumentary systems and the kidney. Second, a mild to moderate form with a single low dose (10 g/kg/d) that affected in lower grades the same systems/organs.

Non-severe immunosuppression might be associated with a lower risk of moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19: A pilot study.

The role of immunosuppression among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has not been elucidated and management may be challenging. This observational study included confirmed COVID-19 patients. The primary endpoint was the development of moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Time to moderate-severe ARDS, the need for mechanical or noninvasive ventilation (MV/NIV), death, and a composite of death or MV/NIV were secondary endpoints. Of 138 patients included, 27 (19.6%) were immunosuppressed (IS) and 95 (68.8%) were male, with a median (IQR) age of 68 (54-78) years. A significantly lower proportion of IS patients (25.9%) compared to non-IS patients (52.3%) developed moderate-severe ARDS, in both unadjusted (0.32; 95% CI, 0.13-0.83; p = .017) and adjusted (aOR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.80; p = .019) analyses. After stratifying by pathologies, only IS patients with autoimmune diseases remained significant (aOR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.98; p = .046). Nonsignificant trends toward a longer time to moderate or severe ARDS, a lower need for MV/NIV, and a lower risk of death or MV/NIV were detected among IS. In our cohort of COVID-19 patients, nonsevere immunosuppression was associated with a lower risk of moderate-severe ARDS, especially among AD. This suggests a potential protective effect from a hypothesized hyper-inflammatory response.

Content of the Saponin Protodioscin in Brachiaria spp. from the Eastern Plains of Colombia.

Protodioscin is used as a marker of saponin content that could cause hepatotoxicity in ruminants. In Brachiaria spp. from two regions of the Colombian Eastern Plains (east mountain range of the Andean-"piedemonte" and Ariari River Valley) were determined this metabolite at 14 and 28 days post-cutting under different climatic conditions. No protodioscin was detected in B. dictyoneura or B. humidicola. In B. brizantha, B. decumbens and B. ruziziensis x B. decumbens x B. brizantha (hybrid), protodioscin content corresponded to an interaction between species, post-cutting time and season. Concentrations ≥1% (minimum toxic level) were recorded in B. decumbens and the hybrid, and to a lesser extent in B. brizantha. The concentration of protodioscin was higher at 28 days, when the pastures are suitable for consumption. B. brizantha accumulated the lowest saponin concentration, whereas the hybrid had the highest levels, particularly in the "piedemonte" and during drought (3.37%). Dry season favored the protodioscin concentration in B. decumbens (in river valley) and in the hybrid (in "piedemonte"). In the latter, there was a positive correlation with temperature and a negative with humidity, which are typical characteristics of dry periods. This is the first report of protodioscin content in the hybrid.

Residuos de fármacos en alimentos de origen animal: panorama actual en Colombia / Resíduos de fármacos nos alimentos de origem animal: panorama atual na Colômbia / Drugs residues in foods of animal origin: actual prospect in Colombia

De acuerdo con los organismos mundiales de referencia, los residuos de fármacos en alimentos de origen animal son considerados como un factor de riesgo en la salud pública y como limitante en el desarrollo económico de cualquier país. Estas razones junto con el avance de metodologías analíticas cada vez más sensibles, han hecho que los requisitos de sanidad e inocuidad exigidos en los alimentos sean cada vez más estrictos, especialmente cuando el destino de los productos es la exportación. Colombia, en su continua intención por aumentar las ventas de sus productos en el exterior, se ha visto en la necesidad de reformar normas existentes, generar nuevas reglamentaciones, y renovar su capacidad tecnológica, con el fin de controlar los residuos de fármacos en alimentos de origen pecuario y de esta forma cumplir con las exigencias demandadas por los países con los que desea negociar. La presente revisión, expone aspectos importantes relacionados con esta clase de residuos: su regulación nacional e internacional, los principales efectos potenciales que tienen sobre la salud humana, la evaluación del riesgo, los métodos más comunes con los cuales pueden ser detectados y el estado actual de la investigación y el control de estos residuos en Colombia.

According to worldwide reference organizations, drugs residues in animal products are risk factors in public health and economic limit on any country. Besides, quality requirements demanded in exported food are higher with development of more sensible analytical methods. Promotion of native products to international markets is fundamental in Colombian policies; in deed it has been necessary reforming procedures, generating new regulations, and renewing technological capacity to control drug residues in food of animal origin in order to fulfill requirements demanded from interested countries. This review exposes several aspects related to drug residues on animal tissues: national and international regulations, effects on human health, analytical methods for detect them, risk assessment, control and current research in Colombia.

De acordo com os órgãos mundiais de referência, os resíduos de fármacos nos alimentos de origem animal são considerados como um fator de risco na saúde publica como limitante no desenvolvimento econômico de quaisquer pais. Estas razões junto com avanço das metodologias analíticas, tem feito que as exigências a sanidade e na inocuidade dos alimentos sejam mais severas, especialmente quando o destino dos produtos é a exportação. Colômbia, na sua procura por aumentar suas vendas no exterior, tem visto a necessidade de mudar as normas existentes, gerar novas regras e renovar sua tecnologia, com o propósito de controlar os resíduos de fármacos nos alimentos de origem animal e assim preencher com as exigências dos países consumidores dos seus produtos. Esta revisão apresenta aspectos relacionados com este tipo de resíduos: sua normatividade nacional e internacional, os efeitos potenciais que eles têm sobre a saúde humana, a avaliação do risco, os métodos mais freqüentes com que podem ser determinados e o estado atual das pesquisas no controle destes resíduos na Colômbia.

Prevalence of Fusarium species of the Liseola section on selected Colombian animal feedstuffs and their ability to produce fumonisins.

A total of 57 samples of feedstuffs commonly used for animal nutrition in Colombia (corn, soybean, sorghum, cottonseed meal, sunflower seed meal, wheat middlings and rice) were analyzed for Fusarium contamination. Fusarium fungi were identified at species level by means of conventional methods and the ability to produce fumonisins of the most prevailing species was determined. A total of 41 of the feedstuffs analyzed (71.9%) were found to contain Fusarium spp. Most contaminated substrates were corn (100%), cottonseed meal (100%), sorghum (80%), and soybean (80%). Wheat middlings and rice showed lower levels of contamination (40% and 20%, respectively), while no Fusarium spp. could be isolated from sunflower seed meal. The most prevalent species of Fusarium isolated were F. verticilliodes (70.8%), F. proliferatum (25.0%), and F. subglutinans (4.2%). All of them correspond to section Liseola. Production of fumonisins on corn by the isolated Fusarium was screened through liquid chromatography. Almost all strains of F. verticilliodes (97.1%) produced FB1 (5.6-25, 846.4 mg/kg) and FB2 (3.4-7507.5 mg/kg). Similarly, almost all strains of F. proliferatum (91.7%) produced fumonisins but at lower levels than F. verticilliodes (FB1 from 6.9 to 3885.0 mg/kg, and FB2 from 34.3 to 373.8 mg/kg), while F. subglutinans did not produce these toxins. This is the first study in Colombia describing toxigenic Fusarium isolates from animal feedstuffs.

Estudio anátomo-tomográfico correlativo del trasfondo de la fosa pterigomaxilar aplicado a la microcirugía transantromaxilar / Anatomic and tomographic appearence of the pterygomaxilar fossa and related spuees applique to transantromaxilar microsurgery

Por cuanto los autores se fijan como objetivo, exponer los fundamentos bioestructurales aplicados a la interpretación de la microcirugía transantromaxilar de la FPP, desarrollan la investigación en material cadavérico y en estudios por imágenes seccionantes en el vivo. La interpretación de topografía, situación, ubicación y particularidades regionales otorga como resultado, la posibilidad de sistematizar todos los elementos conexos al diseño de la vía y demostrarlos en una secuencia de: cabezas óseas, huesos aislados, tacos óseos y reconocimientos de partes blandas. Para ello, la sección y disección adecuada son la metodología empleada. Los resultados del estudio del material cadavérico y sus conclusiones se correlacionan con imágenes tomográficas de individuos sin patología aparente regional, a fin de efectuar un aporte de una anatomía quirúrgica aplicada y demostrativa de las indicaciones, trayecto y destino del abordaje. Hipotéticamente, por el entorno anatómico, se plantea la factibilidad de la extensión de la vía a otras regiones

Estudio anátomo-tomográfico correlativo del trasfondo de la fosa pterigomaxilar aplicado a la microcirugía transantromaxilar / Anatomic and tomographic appearence of the pterygomaxilar fossa and related spuees applique to transantromaxilar microsurgery

Por cuanto los autores se fijan como objetivo, exponer los fundamentos bioestructurales aplicados a la interpretación de la microcirugía transantromaxilar de la FPP, desarrollan la investigación en material cadavérico y en estudios por imágenes seccionantes en el vivo. La interpretación de topografía, situación, ubicación y particularidades regionales otorga como resultado, la posibilidad de sistematizar todos los elementos conexos al diseño de la vía y demostrarlos en una secuencia de: cabezas óseas, huesos aislados, tacos óseos y reconocimientos de partes blandas. Para ello, la sección y disección adecuada son la metodología empleada. Los resultados del estudio del material cadavérico y sus conclusiones se correlacionan con imágenes tomográficas de individuos sin patología aparente regional, a fin de efectuar un aporte de una anatomía quirúrgica aplicada y demostrativa de las indicaciones, trayecto y destino del abordaje. Hipotéticamente, por el entorno anatómico, se plantea la factibilidad de la extensión de la vía a otras regiones