Streptococcus agalactiae virulence factors isolated from bovine mastitis and antibiotic treatment response.

AIMS: This study aims to characterize the virulence factors of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from bovine mastitis and their potential association with the antibiotic treatment response. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four different profiles were identified among the 181 S. agalactiae strains using polymerase chain reaction, of which hyl B and cylE were found in 100% of the isolated strains, followed by cfb (99.5%), scpB (40.3%), and lmb (15.5%). The cell invasion assay showed that lmb-positive strains exhibited higher invasion ability than lmb-negative. There was a significant association (P = 0.018) between lmb gene and cows that required more than one treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that intramammary infections caused by lmb-carrier S. agalactiae strains did not adequately respond to the antibiotics administered, likely because of the presence of this virulence factor, which potentially favours the cell invasion capacity of these strains.

Neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an updated review / Manifestaciones neurológicas asociadas con la infección por SARS-CoV-2: una revisión actualizada

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the group of seven coronaviruses that affect humans, and its infection causes the COVID-19 disease. The association between the COVID-19 condition and risk factors of neurological manifestations is unclear to date. This review aims to update the main neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease. First, we present the hypothesis of the neuroinvasion mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Then, we discuss the possible symptoms related to patients with COVID-19 infection in the central and peripheral nervous systems, followed by the perspectives of diagnosis and treatment of possible neurological manifestations. The hypothesis of the neuroinvasion mechanism includes direct routes, as the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier or the ACE2 receptor pathway role, and indirect pathways, such as malfunctions of the immune system and vascular system dysregulation. Various studies report COVID-19 consequences, such as neuroanatomic alterations and cognitive impairment, besides peripheral conditions, such as anosmia, ageusia, and Guillain Barré Syndrome. However, the heterogeneity of the studies about neurologic damage in patients after COVID-19 infection precludes any generalization of current findings. Finally, new studies are necessary to understand the adequate diagnosis, therapeutic method of early treatment, and risk group of patients for neurological manifestations of COVID-19 post-infection.

Resumen El SARS-CoV-2 es un virus de ARN monocatenario que pertenece al grupo de los siete coronavirus que afectan a los humanos y cuya infección causa la enfermedad COVID-19. La asociación entre la infección por COVID-19 y factores de riesgo de manifestaciones neurológicas aún no está clara. Esta revisión tiene como objetivo actualizar la descripción de las principales manifestaciones neurológicas asociadas a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Presentamos la hipótesis de los mecanismos de neuroinvasión del SARS-CoV-2. Luego discutimos los posibles síntomas asociados a los pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en el sistema nervioso central y periférico y, posteriormente, las perspectivas de diagnóstico y tratamiento de las posibles manifestaciones neurológicas. La hipótesis del mecanismo de neuroinvasión incluye rutas directas cuando el virus cruza la barrera hematoencefálica o tiene acción vía del receptor ACE2 y vías indirectas tales como el mal funcionamiento del sistema inmunitario y la desregulación del sistema vascular. Diversos estudios reportan consecuencias del COVID-19, como la presencia de alteraciones neuroanatómicas y deterioro cognitivo, además de condiciones periféricas como anosmia, ageusia y Síndrome de Guillain Barré. La heterogeneidad de los estudios sobre el daño neurológico en pacientes después de la infección por COVID-19 impide cualquier generalización de los hallazgos actuales. Finalmente, son necesarios nuevos estudios enfocándose en comprender el diagnóstico adecuado, el método terapéutico de tratamiento temprano y el grupo de riesgo para las manifestaciones neurológicas de la pos infección por COVID-19.

North American tree migration paced by climate in the West, lagging in the East.

Tree fecundity and recruitment have not yet been quantified at scales needed to anticipate biogeographic shifts in response to climate change. By separating their responses, this study shows coherence across species and communities, offering the strongest support to date that migration is in progress with regional limitations on rates. The southeastern continent emerges as a fecundity hotspot, but it is situated south of population centers where high seed production could contribute to poleward population spread. By contrast, seedling success is highest in the West and North, serving to partially offset limited seed production near poleward frontiers. The evidence of fecundity and recruitment control on tree migration can inform conservation planning for the expected long-term disequilibrium between climate and forest distribution.

Continent-wide tree fecundity driven by indirect climate effects.

Indirect climate effects on tree fecundity that come through variation in size and growth (climate-condition interactions) are not currently part of models used to predict future forests. Trends in species abundances predicted from meta-analyses and species distribution models will be misleading if they depend on the conditions of individuals. Here we find from a synthesis of tree species in North America that climate-condition interactions dominate responses through two pathways, i) effects of growth that depend on climate, and ii) effects of climate that depend on tree size. Because tree fecundity first increases and then declines with size, climate change that stimulates growth promotes a shift of small trees to more fecund sizes, but the opposite can be true for large sizes. Change the depresses growth also affects fecundity. We find a biogeographic divide, with these interactions reducing fecundity in the West and increasing it in the East. Continental-scale responses of these forests are thus driven largely by indirect effects, recommending management for climate change that considers multiple demographic rates.

Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness Through Creative Storytelling: A Randomized Controlled Trial of This Is My Brave.

This Is My Brave (TIMB) is a contact-based mental illness stigma reduction program set in theaters. A randomized controlled trial of TIMB, compared the effect of TIMB videos to a comparison and control condition video. Pre- and post-surveys (153 adults) assessed mental illness stigma, beliefs about recovery and empowerment, and willingness to seek treatment. Univariate ANCOVAs revealed participants in the TIMB video condition experienced a greater reduction in perceived difference from people with mental illnesses than the comparison and control groups. Participants in the comparison and TIMB video conditions experienced greater reductions in social distance than the control group. Contrary to our hypothesis, participants in the TIMB video condition did not endorse improved beliefs about recovery and empowerment as compared to the comparison and control groups. These findings provide evidence for TIMB as an effective program for stigma reduction, particularly reducing perceived difference from people with mental illnesses and decreasing desired social distance.

Utilidad del valor de procalcitonina y proteína C reactiva en niños con quemaduras / Utility of procalcitonin and c reactive protein in children with burns

Antecedentes. Son múltiples los recursos utilizados en el manejo de niñosquemados,debido a la respuesta inflamatoria secundaria a quemadurases necesario determinar la ausencia o presencia de infecciones asociadas, ya que constituyen la principal causa de muerte en pacientes quemados pediátricos. El uso de la procalcitonina y proteína C reactivasirven de apoyo en el seguimiento y diagnóstico de infecciones. Objetivo. Determinarla utilidad de procalcitonina y proteína C reactivacomo reactantes agudos en niños quemados. Métodos. Se revisaron 74 pacientes pediátricos quemados en el hospital Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, del año 2015. Fue undiseño no experimental, de tipo descriptivo, de corte trasversal. Resultados.Los niños atendidos por quemaduras fueron masculinos con 56,75% y femenino del 43,25%. Con mayor frecuencia estuvieron los pacientes entre 0-3 años de edad con 56,75%; y de este el masculino tuvo el 33,78% comparado con el femenino del 22,97%, la mayoría de quemaduras fue secundaria a líquidos calientes (68,92%). La afectación de superficie corporal quemada estuvo entre 10 a <20% (64,86%) y fueron del grado II de profundidad (66,21%). El índice de gravedad tuvo un 51,35% como grave. Conclusiones.Las pruebas de PCR y PCT como reactantes de fase aguda no mostraron un valor significativo de utilidad que pudiera relacionar u orientar dicho resultado con el Índice de Gravedad, evidenciando que en este grupo de pacientes no influyó en el manejo terapéutico en las diferentes fases descritas.

Background.There are multiple resources used in the management of burned children; due to the inflammatory response secondary to burns, it is necessary to determine the absence or presence of associated infections, since they are the main cause of death in burned pediatric patients. The use of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, support the follow-up and diagnosis of infections. Objective.To determine the utility of procalcitonin and C reactive protein as acute reactants in burned children. Methods.We reviewed 74pediatric patients burned at the hospital Dr. Francisco de Icaza Bustamante, January 1-December 31, 2015. It was a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-cut design. Result.The children treated for burns were male with 56.75% and female with 43,25%. Morefrequent were patients between 0-3 years of age with 56,75%; and of this the masculine had 33,78%compared to the feminine of 22,97%, the majority of burns was secondary to hot liquids (68,92%). The affectation of burned corporal surface was between 10 to <20% (64,86%) and theywere of degree II of depth (66,21%). The severity index had 51,35% as serious.Conclusions. PCR and PCT tests as acute phase reactants did not show a significant value of utility that could relate or guide the result with the Severity Index, evidencing that in this group of patients it did not influence the therapeutic management in the different phases described.

Examining the Impact of This Is My Brave on Mental Illness Stigma and Willingness to Seek Help: A Pilot Study.

This Is My Brave (TIMB) is a contact-based mental illness stigma reduction program, set in theaters, meant to reduce stigma, increase beliefs about empowerment and recovery, and improve attitudes towards treatment seeking for mental health concerns. The authors conducted the first empirical evaluation of TIMB using a pre-post survey design. Approximately 481 audience members of TIMB performances were invited to complete a survey of stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness, beliefs about recovery and empowerment, and willingness to seek treatment at pre-and post-performance. Analyses of responses from 372 participants using paired samples t-tests revealed changes in the desired direction on all variables from pre-test to post-test. Audience members experienced a decrease in stigma, improvements in beliefs about recovery and empowerment, and greater willingness to seek treatment. TIMB is a promising stigma-reduction program and there is a need for a more detailed investigation of the program's impact using more rigorous methodology.

Prácticas de lectura y escritura académicas en un programa de fonoaudiología / Reading and Writing Academic Practices in a Language and Speech Pathology Syllabus

La mayoría de trabajos de investigación que se han desarrollado sobre el tema en Latinoamérica, atribuyen a los mismos estudiantes sus problemas de lectura y escritura, considerando factores de tipo cognitivo o sociocultural, de modo que son escasos los trabajos que intentan comprender este fenómeno desde lo que sucede en las aulas de clase universitarias. En este artículo se presen-tan algunos resultados de una investigación cuyo objetivo fue caracterizar las prácticas de lectura y escritura académicas en cuatro asignaturas profesionales del programa de Fonoaudiología de una universidad pública colombiana. Este estudio cualitativo se realizó a través de observacio-nes directas y registros en video de clases, entrevistas a docentes y análisis de los programas de asignaturas seleccionadas. Se encontró que las docentes promueven diversas prácticas de lectura y escritura con propósitos como apoyar el aprendizaje y realizar la evaluación tanto de los conte-nidos profesionales, como de los procesos lectores y escritores. También se evidenció que ofrecen a sus estudiantes algunos apoyos para las tareas de lectura y escritura que asignan, aunque lo que proponen en los programas de asignatura y lo que refieren durante las entrevistas, refleja que no necesariamente las profesoras ayudan a sus pupilos de manera intencional. La reflexión sobre los resultados arrojados por este trabajo podría permitir a los programas académicos de Fonoaudio-logía, y al gremio en general, redimensionar la relación entre aprendizaje, lectura y escritura en el ámbito universitario.

The most of research papers, developed about this topic in Latin America, have been attributed to students, their reading and writing problems that are considered socio cultural factors and cognitive, factors this way the research works which have tried to understand this phenomenon since what happens in University classes. In this article some investigation results are presented, whose main aim was to characterize reading and writing practices in four professional subjects of language and speech pathology syllabus in a public university. This qualitative study was carried out through direct observation, video films in classes,interviews with the teachers and selected subject syllabuses. Among the results, it has been found that the teachers promote several rea-ding and writing practices with different purposes, such as helping the learning and making eva-luation as professional contents as reading and writing process. Also, it shows that teachers give to their students some supports for developing Reading and writing tasks assigned, although there is a gap between their purposes in signature program and their answers in the interview, it reflects that teachers do not necessarily help their students intentionally.The reflection about this investigation resultas would permit to the academic programs of language and speech pathology, and the group in general to resize the relationship among learning, reading and writing in the university field.

Caracterización de células mononucleares en semen de hombres infértiles / Characterization of mononuclear cells in non- fertile men's sperm

Con el objetivo de describir las subpoblaciones de células mononucleares presentes en el semen de pacientes infértiles, se realizó un estudio descriptivo en 78 hombres miembros de parejas infértiles, con leucocitospermia, leucocitos peroxidasa-positivos en semen mayor o igual a 1x10(6) leucocitos/ml, que acudieron a la consulta del Instituto Nacional de Endocrinología (37) y a la del Hospital Abel Santamaría Cuadrado en Pinar del Río (41) entre 1999 y 2001. Se realizó un estudio con anticuerpos que reconocían distintas especificidades celulares, tales como macrófagos, células B, algunas células T activadas, todos los linfocitos T, células NK, linfocitos CD8+, y linfocitos CD4+. Los resultados fueron diferentes de otros estudios revisados, mostrando un predominio de células T y células presentadoras de antígenos. La presencia de ambos tipos celulares indicó la posibilidad de establecer una reacción inflamatoria con liberación de citoquinas dañinas para los parámetros del espermograma y la movilización de células con iguales efectos, no cuantificadas rutinariamente. En poblaciones distintas, donde la prevalencia de infecciones y hábitos tóxicos e irritantes que provocan leucocitospermia son muy diferentes, también pueden observarse diferencias de los patrones celulares en semen.

With the purpose of describing mononuclear-cell subpopulations existing innon-fertile men's sperm with leucoytospermia, a descriptive study was performed with 78 men members of infertile couples, with leucocytospermia, peroxidase-positive leucocytes greater than or equal to 1 x 10(6) leucocytes/ml., who attended the office of the National Endocrinology Institute (37) and the office of Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Hospital in Pinar del Río (41), 1999-2000. The study was carried out with antibodies which recognized different cellular particulars, such as macrofages, B cells, some activated T cells, all T lymphocytes, NK cells, CD8+ lymphocytes, CD4+ lymphocytes. The results were different from other revised studies, showing predominance of T cells and antigen-presenting cells. The presence of both types of cells suggesed the chances of establishing an inflammatory reaction with harmful cytocine release for the spermogram parameters, and the mobilisation of cells with the same effects, not quantified routinely. In different populations, where the prevalence of infections and toxic and irritant habits causing leucoytospermia are very different, much difference can be seen in sperm cellular patterns.

Proposta de intervenção para redução da prevalência da hipertensão arterial na comunidade da Equipe I Vilela- Barbacena- Minas Gerais

A Hipertensão Arterial é um dos principais agravos à saúde no Brasil por constituir-se importante fator de risco para a ocorrência de eventos mórbidos por doenças cardiovasculares, cerebrais e renais. Estudos epidemiológicos sobre a Hipertensão Arterial são fundamentais para conhecer a distribuição da exposição e do adoecimento e as condições que influenciam a dinâmica de risco e controle na comunidade. O presente projeto de intervenção tem por objetivo a elaboração de um plano de ação para a redução da prevalência de Hipertensão Arterial na comunidade da equipe I Vilela, do Município de Barbacena - Minas Gerais. Participaram deste estudo 262 pacientes hipertensos acompanhados pela ESF. Foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema para a fundamentação teórica e elaboração do plano de intervenção. O principal resultado esperado é a redução da prevalência da Hipertensão Arterial, visto ser esta uma das doenças que mais tem contribuido para o surgimento de outras complicações e o aumento da mortalidade na nossa região