Eco-alternative treatments for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae biofilms from shrimp industry through Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and Guava (Psidium guajava) extracts: A road for an Ecuadorian sustainable economy.

Understanding how environmental variables influence biofilm formation becomes relevant for managing Vibrio biofilm-related infections in shrimp production. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of temperature, time, and initial inoculum in the biofilm development of these two Vibrio species using a multifactorial experimental design. Planktonic growth inhibition and inhibition/eradication of Vibrio biofilms, more exactly V. parahaemolyticus (VP87 and VP275) and V. cholerae (VC112) isolated from shrimp farms were evaluated by Eucalyptus and Guava aqueous leaf extracts and compared to tetracycline and ceftriaxone. Preliminary results showed that the best growth conditions of biofilm development for V. parahaemolyticus were 24 h and 24°C (p <0.001), while V. cholerae biofilms were 72 h and 30°C (p <0.001). Multivariate linear regression ANOVA was applied using colony-forming unit (CFU) counting assays as a reference, and R-squared values were applied as goodness-of-fit measurements for biofilm analysis. Then, both plant extracts were analyzed with HPLC using double online detection by diode array detector (DAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) for the evaluation of their chemical composition, where the main identified compounds for Eucalyptus extract were cypellogin A, cypellogin B, and cypellocarpin C, while guavinoside A, B, and C compounds were the main compounds for Guava extract. For planktonic growth inhibition, Eucalyptus extract showed its maximum effect at 200 µg/mL with an inhibition of 75% (p < 0.0001) against all Vibrio strains, while Guava extract exhibited its maximum inhibition at 1600 µg/mL with an inhibition of 70% (p < 0.0001). Both biofilm inhibition and eradication assays were performed by the two conditions (24 h at 24°C and 72 h at 30°C) on Vibrio strains according to desirability analysis. Regarding 24 h at 24°C, differences were observed in the CFU counting between antibiotics and plant extracts, where both plant extracts demonstrated a higher reduction of viable cells when compared with both antibiotics at 8x, 16x, and 32x MIC values (Eucalyptus extract: 1600, 3200, and 6400 µg/mL; while Guava extract: 12800, 25600, and 52000 µg/mL). Concerning 72 h at 30°C, results showed a less notorious biomass inhibition by Guava leaf extract and tetracycline. However, Eucalyptus extract significantly reduced the total number of viable cells within Vibrio biofilms from 2x to 32x MIC values (400-6400 µg/mL) when compared to the same MIC values of ceftriaxone (5-80 µg/mL), which was not able to reduce viable cells. Eucalyptus extract demonstrated similar results at both growth conditions, showing an average inhibition of approximately 80% at 400 µg/mL concentration for all Vibrio isolates (p < 0.0001). Moreover, eradication biofilm assays demonstrated significant eradication against all Vibrio strains at both growth conditions, but biofilm eradication values were substantially lower. Both extract plants demonstrated a higher reduction of viable cells when compared with both antibiotics at 8x, 16x, and 32x MIC values at both growth sets, where Eucalyptus extract at 800 µg/mL reduced 70% of biomass and 90% of viable cells for all Vibrio strains (p < 0.0001). Overall results suggested a viable alternative against vibriosis in the shrimp industry in Ecuador.

[Clinicopathological profile of patients with hepatobiliary cancers at two main referral hospitals in Lima, Peru]. / Perfil clínico-patológico de pacientes con cáncer hepatobiliar en dos hospitales de referencia en Lima, Perú.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe the clinicopathological profile of patients diagnosed with liver, bile ducts or gallbladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2017, 89 patients (57% female; mean age: 62 years-old) with these cancers were diagnosed at two national hospitals in Lima, Peru. RESULTS: Most patients (64%) had advanced stages of disease. Anemia was more frequent in patients with bile duct and liver cancer and in advanced stages. Hypertension (HTN) was frequent among liver cancer patients (32%). The analysis by age showed that HTN was more frequent in patients over 50 years. Likewise, people under 50 years had more frequent history of previous infections (50%), Hepatitis B (HBV) being the most common. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the baseline clinicopathological characteristics of a malignancy poorly studied in Peru.

Perfil clínico-patológico de pacientes con cáncer hepatobiliar en dos hospitales de referencia en Lima, Perú / Clinicopathological profile of patients with hepatobiliary cancers at two main referral hospitals in Lima, Peru

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características clínico-patológicas de individuos diagnosticados de cáncer de hígado, vías biliares o vesícula. Materiales y métodos: Entre el 2006 y 2017, se diagnosticaron 89 pacientes (57% mujeres; media: 62 años) con estos canceres en dos hospitales nacionales de Lima, Perú. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que, independientemente del tipo de cáncer, 64% de los participantes habían sido diagnosticados en estadios avanzados. La anemia fue más frecuente en los pacientes con cáncer de vías biliares e hígado y en estadios avanzados. Se observó mayor frecuencia (32%) de hipertensión arterial (HTA) en el grupo con cáncer de hígado. El análisis por edad mostró que en los pacientes mayores de 50 años la HTA fue más frecuente. Asimismo, sujetos menores de 50 años reportaron antecedentes de infecciones previas en mayor frecuencia (50%), siendo Hepatitis B (HBV) la más común. Conclusiones: Este estudio describe las características clínico-patológicas de base de una neoplasia poco estudiada en el ámbito nacional.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the clinicopathological profile of patients diagnosed with liver, bile ducts or gallbladder cancer. Materials and methods: Between 2006 and 2017, 89 patients (57% female; mean age: 62 years-old) with these cancers were diagnosed at two national hospitals in Lima, Peru. Results: Most patients (64%) had advanced stages of disease. Anemia was more frequent in patients with bile duct and liver cancer and in advanced stages. Hypertension (HTN) was frequent among liver cancer patients (32%). The analysis by age showed that HTN was more frequent in patients over 50 years. Likewise, people under 50 years had more frequent history of previous infections (50%), Hepatitis B (HBV) being the most common. Conclusions: This study describes the baseline clinicopathological characteristics of a malignancy poorly studied in Peru.

[Distribution and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis in Aysén 2010-2016]. / Distribución y factores de riesgo de equinococosis quística humana en Aysén 2010-2016.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, cystic echinococcosis is endemic throughout the country and hyperendemic in some regions such as La Araucanía and Aysén and continues to be a neglected public health problem. AIM: To estímate the risk of human hydatidosis in Aysén, studying the relationship of notifications and hospital discharge rates with social and environmental factors, such as population, multidimensional poverty index, urbanization, average temperature, average rainfall and sheep population. METHODS: Poisson regressions were used to study the factors associated with notifiable diseases and hospital discharge rates and the Besag-York-Mollie model for relative risk. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Aysén has a high risk, between 2 and 19 times that expected for the region. A significant underreporting of cases was found. The model of hospital discharges had a good fit showing the positive influence of the human and bovine population and the positive effect of temperature. An effect of the multidimensional poverty index was also detected, which is mainly affected by education and working conditions. Excepting one locality, the areas of greatest risk correspond to the eastern cordon of the Aysén region.

Distribución y factores de riesgo de equinococosis quística humana en Aysén 2010-2016 / Distribution and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis in Aysén 2010-2016

INTRODUCCIÓN: En Chile, la equinococosis quística o hidatidosis es endémica a lo largo de todo el país e hiperendémica en algunas regiones como La Araucanía y Aysén y sigue siendo un problema de salud pública desatendido. OBJETIVO: Estimar el riesgo de hidatidosis humana en Aysén, estudiando la relación de las notificaciones y egresos con factores sociales y ambientales, tales como población, índice de pobreza multidimensional, urbanización, temperatura media, precipitación media y población ganadera ovina. METODOLOGÍA: Se utilizaron regresiones de Poisson para estudiar los factores asociados a enfermedades de notificación obligatoria y egresos y el modelo Besag-York-Mollie para el riesgo relativo. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Aysén tiene un alto riesgo de hidatidosis humana, entre 2 y 19 veces el esperado para la región. Se encontró una importante sub-notificación de casos. El modelo de los egresos hospitalarios tuvo un buen ajuste mostrando la influencia positiva de la población humana y ovina y el efecto positivo de la temperatura. También se detectó un efecto del índice de pobreza multidimensional sobre los casos y egresos hospitalarios, que es principalmente afectado por la educación y de condiciones de trabajo. Exceptuando la comuna de O'Higgins, las zonas de mayor riesgo corresponden al cordón oriental de la Región de Aysén.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, cystic echinococcosis is endemic throughout the country and hyperendemic in some regions such as La Araucanía and Aysén and continues to be a neglected public health problem. AIM: To estímate the risk of human hydatidosis in Aysén, studying the relationship of notifications and hospital discharge rates with social and environmental factors, such as population, multidimensional poverty index, urbanization, average temperature, average rainfall and sheep population. METHODS: Poisson regressions were used to study the factors associated with notifiable diseases and hospital discharge rates and the Besag-York-Mollie model for relative risk. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Aysén has a high risk, between 2 and 19 times that expected for the region. A significant underreporting of cases was found. The model of hospital discharges had a good fit showing the positive influence of the human and bovine population and the positive effect of temperature. An effect of the multidimensional poverty index was also detected, which is mainly affected by education and working conditions. Excepting one locality, the areas of greatest risk correspond to the eastern cordon of the Aysén region.

[Distribution and risk factors of hydatidosis in an administrative region of Chile between 2010 and 2016]. / Distribución y factores de riesgo de hidatidosis en la Región del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins entre 2010 y 2016.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, hydatidosis is endemic throughout the country and hyperendemic in some regions. It continues to be a public health problem that has been neglected and little addressed at the national level. In the Region of Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, reported cases and hospital discharges still show high values, this area being representative of medium risk. AIM: To estimate the risk of human hydatidosis in this region, studying the relationship of notifications and hospital discharge rates with social and environmental factors such as population, poverty index, schooling, literacy, average temperature, average rainfall and sheep population size. METHODS: Poisson regressions were used to study the factors associated with reported cases and hospital discharge rates and the BYM model for relative risk. RESULTS: We found that the factors most related to absolute risk were the schooling index as a protective factor and the average temperatures as an enhancing factor. The sheep population size was also a relevant factor, especially when analyzing the distribution of relative risk. The areas of greatest risk in the region were La Estrella, Marchigue, Litueche, Santa Cruz and Lolol according to discharge rates, adding Pumanque and Peralillo according to notifications. These reveal a distribution of the zones of risk of hydatidosis towards the coastal mountain range in this region. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The more relevant factors associated to hydatidosis were schooling index, temperature an sheep population.

Distribución y factores de riesgo de hidatidosis en la Región del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins entre 2010 y 2016 / Distribution and risk factors of hydatidosis in an administrative region of Chile between 2010 and 2016

Resumen Introducción: En Chile, la hidatidosis, endémica a lo largo de todo el país e hiperendémica en algunas regiones, sigue siendo un problema de salud pública desatendido y poco abordado por el Estado. En la Región del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, los casos reportados y los egresos hospitalarios aún muestran valores elevados, siendo esta zona representativa de riesgo medio. Objetivo: Estimar el riesgo de hidatidosis humana en esta región, estudiando la relación de las notificaciones y egresos con factores sociales y ambientales, tales como población, índice de pobreza, índice de escolaridad, alfabetización, temperatura media, precipitación media y masa ganadera ovina. Metodología: Se utilizaron regresiones de Poisson para estudiar los factores asociados a enfermedades de notificación obligatoria y egresos y el modelo Besag-York-Mollie para el riesgo relativo. Resultados: Los factores más relacionados con el riesgo absoluto fueron el índice de escolaridad como factor protector y las temperaturas medias como factor potenciador. La población ovina fue también un factor relevante especialmente al analizar la distribución del riesgo relativo. Las zonas de mayor riesgo en la región fueron La Estrella, Marchigüe, Litueche, Santa Cruz y Lolol según egresos, agregando a Pumanque y Peralillo según notificaciones. Éstas revelan una distribución de las zonas de riesgo de hidatidosis hacia la cordillera de la costa en esta región. Conclusiones: En esta región los principales predictores de riesgo de hidatidosis son el índice de escolaridad, la temperatura y la población ovina.

Background: In Chile, hydatidosis is endemic throughout the country and hyperendemic in some regions. It continues to be a public health problem that has been neglected and little addressed at the national level. In the Region of Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, reported cases and hospital discharges still show high values, this area being representative of medium risk. Aim: To estimate the risk of human hydatidosis in this region, studying the relationship of notifications and hospital discharge rates with social and environmental factors such as population, poverty index, schooling, literacy, average temperature, average rainfall and sheep population size. Methods: Poisson regressions were used to study the factors associated with reported cases and hospital discharge rates and the BYM model for relative risk. Results: We found that the factors most related to absolute risk were the schooling index as a protective factor and the average temperatures as an enhancing factor. The sheep population size was also a relevant factor, especially when analyzing the distribution of relative risk. The areas of greatest risk in the region were La Estrella, Marchigue, Litueche, Santa Cruz and Lolol according to discharge rates, adding Pumanque and Peralillo according to notifications. These reveal a distribution of the zones of risk of hydatidosis towards the coastal mountain range in this region. Discussion/Conclusion. The more relevant factors associated to hydatidosis were schooling index, temperature an sheep population.

Duelo, duelo patológico y terapia interpersonal / Grief, complicated grief and interpersonal psychotherapy

Introducción: El duelo es una reacción emocional normal ante la pérdida de un ser querido o de un estatus humano determinado. El duelo complicado es un constructo independiente que describe un cuadro clínico de mayor duración y gravedad luego de una determinada pérdida y que se considera cualitativamente distinto a los trastornos del afecto. La terapia interpersonal (TI) aborda cuatro elementos principales, uno de ellos el duelo. Objetivo: Revisar la literatura existente sobre duelo, duelo patológico y tratamiento con terapia interpersonal. Resultados: Algunos estudios sugieren el logro de efectos adecuados al emplear TI para el manejo de la depresión y otras entidades psiquiátricas, pero son pocos los que se centran en reacciones de duelo propiamente dicho o de duelo patológico. Conclusiones: La mayoría de estudios de TI no distinguen entre duelo normal y patológico, así como otras entidades psiquiátricas; por lo tanto, se desconoce su utilidad en estos casos y se requiere mayor investigación que contemple estas diferencias para obtener conclusiones más firmes...

Introduction: Grief is a natural reaction human beings face when a loved onedies or a particular status is lost. Complicated grief (CG) is an independent construct that describes greater severity and longer duration as a consequence of a particular loss, which is qualitatively different from mood disorders. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IP) uses four main elements to approach patients, one of which is grief. Objective: To review the scientific literature regarding grief, complicated grief and its treatment with IP. Results: There are some studies that support the use of IP in the treatment of depression and other psychiatric conditions, but only a few have addressed grief or CG directly. Conclusions: Most IP studies do not make the distinction between normal grief, CG and other mood and anxiety disorders. Thus, its real usefulness when facing this scenario is unknown. More research having in mind these differences would yield stronger conclusions...

Polihidroxialcanoatos en actinomicetos nativos de suelos colombianos / Polyhydroxyalkanoate of Actinomycetes native from Colombian soils

Los polihidroxialcanoatos (PHA) son polímetros considerados como fuente de materiales biorenovables, biodegradables y plásticos con amplios usos industriales, pero los altos costos de producción detienen su aplicación a gran escala. En el presente trabajo, fueron aisladas 10 cepas de Actinomicetos de 60 muestras de suelo rizosférico proveniente de diferentes zonas de la región de Boyacá, Colombia. Observaciones preliminares utilizando el colorante azul de Nilo permitió identificar en tres cepas la presencia de gránulos intracelulares fluorescentes del tipo PHA. Las tres cepas fueron cultivadas en dos medios para obtener cantidades significativas de PHA, encontrándose que la cepa 7F era la que presentaba una producción importante. Después de la purificación, cuantificación e identificación se determino un rendimiento del 27,48% en peso seco, lo que significa una buena productividad. Mediante pruebas bioquímicas y análisis molecular la cepa 7F fue identificada como Streptomyces subrutilus.

The polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are considered as source of renewable-resource-based, biodegradable materials and plastics of a wide range industrial uses, but high production costs impede large-scale implementation. In this paper, we induced the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in actinomycetes isolated from Colombian soil, the microorganism with highest production and accumulation of biopolymer was isolated and identified. With Nile blue dye, we determined in three of the ten strains isolated, the presence of intracellular fluorescent granules type polyhydroxyalkanoate. The three strains were cultured for obtained significant amounts of PHA. The strain named 7F had the highest production. After purification, identification and quantification we determined a yield of 27.48% in dry weight, which means a good productivity. This strain was identified as Streptomyces subrutilus, though biochemical's reactions and Gene Bank.