A comparison assessment of landfill waste incineration and methane capture in the central region of Mexico.

This article aims to conduct a techno-economic feasibility assessment of producing energy by waste incineration and methane capture in the central region of Mexico. Three scenarios at different efficiency rates were considered: 50, 80 and 100%. For the methane project, yields and power capacity were determined using the potential generation rate and the degradable organic carbon content through the LandGEM model. For incineration, the waste calorific potential and the average moisture content were used to estimate the achievable electrical performance. The estimated annual energy was 35,018 GWh for methane, compared to 537.71 GWh for incineration. Both projects reported financial economic feasibilities when evaluated at a discount rate of 12%. Incineration reported an net present value of US$49,942,534 and an internal rate of return of 26% in contrast to US$4,054,109 and 17% for the methane project. Although the payback period for incineration was lower than for methane, its levelized cost of energy was significantly higher. These results are intended to assist the decision-making process when planning and developing waste management strategies under principles of circular economy in Mexico and similar regions worldwide.

Situación legal de la atención farmacéutica en residencias de ancianos en España / Legal Situation of Pharmaceutical Care in Nursing Homes in Spain

ntroducción: La mayor esperanza de vida está pro-duciendo un aumento de la población de personas mayores de 65 años. Este grupo de población se caracteriza por un elevado consumo de medica-mentos y de asistencia sanitaria, permaneciendo muchos de ellos en centros residenciales donde son cubiertas todas sus necesidades. El perfil farmacoterapéutico de estos pacientes suele ser complejo debido a la polimedicación y a las pato-logías crónicas que padecen. Es aquí donde entra en juego el papel del farmacéutico a través de servicios asistenciales. El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar la situación legal, a través del estudio de la normativa específica española que regula la atención farmacéutica en centros sociosanitarios.Método: Revisión de la situación legal de la aten-ción farmacéutica en centros sociosanitarios en EspañaResultados: En España, el marco legal básico se encuentra en el Real Decreto Ley 16/2012 que esta-blece la obligación de tener un servicio de farmacia para los centros sociosanitarios que tengan cien o más camas en régimen de asistidos, mientras que aquellos con menos camas tendrán que tener-lo vinculado a un hospital o a una farmacia. Sin embargo, cada Comunidad Autónoma establece un régimen propio de funcionamiento, a través de su normativa específica.Conclusiones: Existen diferencias en la regulación de los centros sociosanitarios en cuanto a presta-ciones, funciones y servicios farmacéuticos corres-pondiente a cada Comunidad Autónoma (AU)

Introduction: Longer life expectancy is producing an increase among the population of people over the age of 65. This population group is charac-terized by a high consumption of medicines and healthcare, living many of them in residential facili-ties where all their needs are covered.The pharmacotherapeutic profile of these patients is usually complex due to their polymedication and the chronic pathologies they suffer. Here is where the role of the pharmacist comes into play with healthcare services. The aim of this review is to analyze the legal situation by studying the specific Spanish regulations that rule the pharmaceutical care in social and health care centers.Method: Review of the legal situation of pharma-ceutical care in social-health centers in Spain.Results: In Spain, the basic legal framework is found in Royal Decree Law 16/2012, which estab-lishes the obligation to have a pharmacy service for social care centers with one hundred beds or more in assisted care, while those with fewer beds must be linked to a hospital or pharmacy. However, each Autonomous Community establishes its own oper-ating regime through its specific regulations.Conclusions: There are differences in the regula-tion of social and healthcare centers in terms of benefits, functions and pharmaceutical services corresponding to each Autonomous Community (AU)

Reduced solvent and reagent amounts: effect on carbonyl dinitrophenylhydrazone measurements at low concentrations.

This work aims to advance towards a more affordable laboratory procedure for sample treatment to determine carbonyl compounds by derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). The proposal is based on reducing the amount of DNPH and solvents. A simple addition of standard carbonyls in a solution containing DNPH to prepare hydrazone standards is described and evaluated. Tedious recrystallization steps are avoided. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, tolualdehyde and hexanal, as carbonyl models, were quantified using a DNPH concentration of 400 µg mL-1 and 3.8 mM H2SO4 and by keeping for 24 hours at room temperature. Analytical coefficients of variation between 10 and 25% were found from the analysis of blanks under intermediate conditions (two different devices, very different concentrations of DNPH and analysis on two days). From these values of relative standard deviations and background levels, quantification limits were estimated between 15 and 40 ng mL-1. The reduction of reagent amounts allows the operator to better control the background levels in the use of DNPH, as well as making the method more cost-effective and easy to use. In short, it leads to a more sustainable adaptation of the classical method. The versatility in analytical application was tested to estimate the levels of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone in very different types of environmental samples. In particular, outdoor and indoor samples were collected in filters and impregnated cartridges, respectively. Moreover, tars in 2-propanol and particulate matter from gasification processes were also tested.

De novo transcriptome assembly for two color types of the marine sponge Mycale (Carmia) cecilia.

Despite the ecological importance and the potential pharmacological application of the sponge Mycale (Carmia) cecilia, it is uncertain whether the body-color variation, even in individuals coexisting in the same area, is due to intraspecific phenotypic plasticity or corresponds to taxonomic divergence. This uncertainty is relatively common in several Porifera groups, which lack the resolution of morphological diagnostic characters and slow-evolving mitochondrial genomes as occurs in early splitting lineages. We sequenced the RNA of six individuals with two different body-color (green-morphotype and red-morphotype) collected at the same time side by side. High-throughput sequencing of cDNA libraries produced ~ 129 million reads with a length of 150 bp. Each morphotype was assembled separately owing to the low overlapping in the global assembly. Metatranscriptome de novo assembly of the trimmed and normalized reads produced 461 thousand transcripts for the green-morphotype and 342 thousand for the red-morphotype (respectively). Over 30% of the transcripts contained Open Reading Frames (ORFs) with functional significance. BUSCO analysis of the ORFs of putative poriferan origin (31.3% green or 30.4% red) indicated that our assemblies are 60% complete. This is the first attempt to evaluate the morphological diversity in the species M. (C.) cecilia and the phylum Porifera at the transcriptomic level. Due to the minimum overlap of the assembly and that, the red-morphotype diverged significantly from the green-morphotype (original color of M. (C.) cecilia). Therefore, we suggest that the red-morphotype should undergo a complete taxonomic investigation and its taxonomic status be reviewed. We expect that the transcriptome assembly metrics can be useful for comparing other transcriptome assemblies of non-model organisms.

Roberts Syndrome With a Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

ABSTRACT: Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a rare craniofacial anomaly associated with tetraphocomelia, growth and mental retardation, cardiac and renal abnormalities. The RBS is caused by homozygous mutation in the ESCO2 gene on chromosome 8p21. In this report, the authors describe a 5-year-old female infant with RBS and bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate, an extremely rare condition.

Unexpected reactivity related to support effects during xylose hydrogenation over ruthenium catalysts.

Xylose is a major component of hemicelluloses. In this paper, its hydrogenation to xylitol in aqueous medium was investigated with two Ru/TiO2 catalysts prepared with two commercial TiO2 supports. A strong impact of the support on catalytic performance was evidenced. Ru/TiO2-R led to fast and selective conversion of xylose (100% conversion in 2 h at 120 °C with 99% selectivity) whereas Ru/TiO2-A gave a slower and much less selective transformation (58% conversion in 4 h at 120 °C with 17% selectivity) with the formation of several by-products. Detailed characterization of the catalysts with ICP, XRD, FTIR, TEM, H2 chemisorption, N2 porosimetry, TPR and acid-base titration was performed to elucidate the role of each support. TiO2-R has a small specific surface area with large ruthenium nanoparticles in weak interaction with the TiO2 support and no acidity, whereas TiO2-A is a mesoporous material with a large specific surface area that is mildly acidic, and bears small ruthenium particles in strong interaction with the TiO2 support. The former was very active and selective for xylose hydrogenation to xylitol whereas the latter was less active and poorly selective. Moreover, careful analysis of the reaction products also revealed that anatase TiO2 can catalyze undesired side-reactions such as xylose isomerisation to various pentoses, and therefore the corresponding unexpected polyols (arabitol, ribitol) were produced during xylose conversion by hydrogenation. In a first kinetic approach, a simplified kinetic model was built to compare quantitatively intrinsic reaction rates of both catalysts. The kinetic constant for hydrogenation was 20 times higher for Ru/TiO2-R at 120 °C.

La biopsia líquida en el diagnóstico y monitoreo de pacientes oncológicos: Oportunidades y retos en Latinoamérica / Liquid biopsy in the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer patients: opportunities and challenges in Latin America

Resumen En los últimos años el estudio de los ácidos nucleicos circulantes ha tenido grandes avances en el campo de la oncología, lo que ha permitido avanzar de forma importante en las aplicaciones clínicas de la biopsia líquida en diferentes áreas como el pronóstico, la estadificación, la predicción de recurrencia, la selección y monitorización de tratamientos, entre otros. Lo anterior se debe en gran parte al desarrollo de nuevas y mejores tecnologías, algunas de las cuales incluso han sido autorizadas para el diagnóstico y seguimiento clínico de ciertos tipos de cáncer. No obstante, la utilización de la biopsia líquida como herramienta de apoyo clínico sigue siendo objeto de estudio. Debido a la importancia que ha cobrado este avance tecnológico a nivel mundial, se realizó una revisión de literatura con el fin de establecer el estado actual del uso de biopsia líquida en oncología, así como sus aplicaciones clínicas actuales, con un énfasis en Latinoamérica.

Abstract In recent years, the study of circulating nucleic acids has made great progress in the field of oncology, allowing for significant advances in clinical applications of liquid biopsy in diverse areas such as prognosis, staging, recurrence prediction, selection and monitoring of treatments, among others. This advance is largely due to the development of new and better technologies, some of which have even been validated for the diagnosis and clinical follow-up of certain types of cancer. However, the use of liquid biopsy as an additional tool in clinical oncology remains under study. Given the worldwide importance of this technological advance, a literature review was conducted to establish the current status of the use of liquid biopsy in oncology, as well as its current clinical applications, with a particular focus on Latin America.

Analysis of the Cost-Effectiveness of Liquid Biopsy to Determine Treatment Change in Patients with Her2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is highly prevalent worldwide and leads to high health-care costs. HER2-positive subtype represents 30% of all breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. Patients treated with anti-HER2 therapies frequently develop resistance and require pharmacological treatment change. Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive and an easily accessible technique, with high sensitivity and specificity, to detect molecular treatment resistance even before the onset of clinical manifestations and can thus be used to reduce unnecessary anti-HER2 treatment costs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using liquid biopsy (ctDNA detection) to determine treatment change in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in Colombia. METHODOLOGY: We performed an economic evaluation using decision tree modeling and deterministic analyses based on literature search for first and second lines of treatment (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, docetaxel, and TDM1); resistance; outcomes; and sensitivity and specificity of tests detecting molecular resistance. The effectiveness was measured using quality-adjusted life year (QALY) score, and costs were obtained from databases with national validity, suppliers, the Colombian Drug Price Information System (SISMED), and local studies. RESULTS: The use of liquid biopsy (ctDNA detection) with conventional treatment was more expensive and less effective than conventional treatment without liquid biopsy (US $177,985.35 and 0.533889206 QALY, respectively). The incremental cost with liquid biopsy was US $7,333.17 and the incremental effectiveness was 0.00042256 QALY relative to the conventional method. CONCLUSION: Including liquid biopsy in the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer was considered currently inapplicable in Colombia because it was not cost effective. Our results open a window of opportunity to improve the development and implementation of ctDNA testing in Colombia, potentially reducing current costs. More evidence is required on the utility of this test, depending on the financial capacity of Colombia and other countries.

Importancia de una propuesta para la implementación de un programa de tamizaje neonatal expandido en Colombia / Importance of a Proposal for Implementing an Expanded Neonatal Screening Program in Colombia / Importância de uma proposta para a implementação de um programa de triagem neonatal ampliada na colômbia

Resumen: El tamizaje neonatal expandido permite la detección temprana de diversos errores innatos del metabolismo. En Colombia, las condiciones para llevar adelante un programa nacional de alto impacto en salud pública están dadas. A través de una búsqueda bibliográfica sobre el tema en diferentes países, se realizó una disertación sobre la implementación de un programa nacional de tamizaje neonatal. Esto con el fin de plantear una propuesta de tamizaje neonatal expandido por espectrometría de masas en tándem en Colombia, completo, conciso, detallado y acorde con la legislación colombiana, las necesidades y las características de la población. Implementar un programa nacional de este tipo supone un gran impacto en la salud pública y debe ser liderado por el Estado, con la participación y apoyo de profesionales de salud, academia, asociaciones de pacientes e industria farmacéutica.

Abstract: Expanded neonatal screening allows early detection of various inborn errors of metabolism. In Colombia, the conditions to carry out a national program with a high impact on public health are in place. Through a review of the international literature on the subject, this reflection on the implementation of a national neonatal screening program brings forward a complete, concise, detailed proposal for tandem mass spectrometry-expanded neonatal screening in Colombia that conforms to the legislation and the needs and characteristics of the population. Implementing such a national program has a great impact on public health and must be led by the State, with the participation and support of health professionals, academia, patient associations, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Resumo: A triagem neonatal ampliada permite que vários erros inatos do metabolismo sejam identificados precocemente. Na Colômbia, as condições para a realização de um programa nacional com alto impacto na saúde pública estão disponíveis. Por meio de uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o assunto em diferentes países, foi realizada uma dissertação sobre a implementação de um programa nacional de triagem neonatal. A fim de apresentar uma proposta de triagem neonatal ampliada por espectrometria de massas em tandem na Colômbia, completa, concisa, detalhada e de acordo com a legislação colombiana, as necessidades e as características da população. A implementação de um programa nacional desse tipo tem um grande impacto na saúde pública e deve ser liderada pelo Estado, com a participação e o apoio de profissionais da saúde, da academia, das associações de pacientes e da indústria farmacêutica.

Exenatide regulates pancreatic islet integrity and insulin sensitivity in the nonhuman primate baboon Papio hamadryas.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exenatide improves glycemic control by several and not completely understood mechanisms. Herein, we examined the effects of chronic intravenous exenatide infusion on insulin sensitivity, ß cell and α cell function and relative volumes, and islet cell apoptosis and replication in nondiabetic nonhuman primates (baboons). At baseline, baboons received a 2-step hyperglycemic clamp followed by an l-arginine bolus (HC/A). After HC/A, baboons underwent a partial pancreatectomy (tail removal) and received a continuous exenatide (n = 12) or saline (n = 12) infusion for 13 weeks. At the end of treatment, HC/A was repeated, and the remnant pancreas (head-body) was harvested. Insulin sensitivity increased dramatically after exenatide treatment and was accompanied by a decrease in insulin and C-peptide secretion, while the insulin secretion/insulin resistance (disposition) index increased by about 2-fold. ß, α, and δ cell relative volumes in exenatide-treated baboons were significantly increased compared with saline-treated controls, primarily as the result of increased islet cell replication. Features of cellular stress and secretory dysfunction were present in islets of saline-treated baboons and absent in islets of exenatide-treated baboons. In conclusion, chronic administration of exenatide exerts proliferative and cytoprotective effects on ß, α, and δ cells and produces a robust increase in insulin sensitivity in nonhuman primates.

Efecto de la aplicación de microfiltración tangencial sobre la concentración de proteínas de calostro bovino como una fuente alimenticia y medicinal / Effect of the application of tangential microfiltration on the concentration of bovine colostrum proteins as a food and medicinal source

El calostro bovino es una secreción mamaria que se genera aproximadamente siete días antes del parto para alimentar al becerro. El contenido de sus componentes puede llegar a ser 100 veces mayor que en la leche cruda y estudios de otros autores señalan los beneficios alimenticios y medicinales que este presenta. En tal virtud, se estudió el efecto de la aplicación de microfiltración tangencial sobre la concentración de proteínas de calostro bovino como una fuente alimenticia y medicinal. El estudio consideró vacas de la raza Holstein y sus entrecruzamientos, desarrolladas en el cantón Cayambe. Los análisis químicos (grasa, proteína total, inmunoglobulinas totales, lactosa, sólidos totales y sólidos no grasos) fueron analizados en un equipo MilkoScan, los microbiológicos (contaje de células somáticas y contaje total) en un analizador Bacto Scan, la cuantificación de inmunoglobulina G con un cromatógrafo líquido Varian y la influencia de la aplicación de microfiltración tangencial con membranas de 0,45 µm de poro. Los resultados mostraron que en la mayoría de los casos las concentraciones de los parámetros en estudio a las primeras horas presentaron elevados valores (23 a 76 % de aumento con respecto a las 36 horas). El análisis factorial mostró que las condiciones de crianza y las horas después del parto, son los factores que mayormente influyeron sobre los parámetros físico-químicos. Finalmente, la microfiltración concentró la inmunoglobulina G en un 27 %, este concentrado podría ser empleado en la elaboración de nuevos productos que presenten beneficios a la salud de los humanos.

The complete mitogenome of the Eastern Pacific sponge Aplysina gerardogreeni (Demospongiae, Verongida, Aplysinidae).

We report the first mitochondrial genome of a Verongid sponge, Aplysina gerardogreeni from the Pacific Ocean. This has 19,620 bp and includes 14 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs genes, and 25 tRNAs genes. The gene arrangement was similar to the one found in two Caribbean Aplysina mitogenomes previously reported. Comparative analyses revealed a few substitutions among congeneric mitogenomes. The mitogenome of A. gerardogreeni could be useful to study the evolution of Verongimorpha group and also to identify adequate genes for its molecular systematics.

Latin American Study of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer LACAM: A Genomic Epidemiology Approach.

Purpose: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome is responsible for ~5-10% of all diagnosed breast and ovarian cancers. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Latin America (LA). The main objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive understanding of the genomic epidemiology of HBOC throughout the establishment of The Latin American consortium for HBOC-LACAM, consisting of specialists from 5 countries in LA and the description of the genomic results from the first phase of the study. Methods: We have recruited 403 individuals that fulfilled the criteria for HBOC from 11 health institutions of Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. A pilot cohort of 222 individuals was analyzed by NGS gene panels. One hundred forty-three genes were selected on the basis of their putative role in susceptibility to different hereditary cancers. Libraries were sequenced in MiSeq (Illumina, Inc.) and PGM (Ion Torrent-Thermo Fisher Scientific) platforms. Results: The overall prevalence of pathogenic variants was 17% (38/222); the distribution spanned 14 genes and varied by country. The highest relative prevalence of pathogenic variants was found in patients from Argentina (25%, 14/57), followed by Mexico (18%, 12/68), Guatemala (16%, 3/19), and Colombia (13%, 10/78). Pathogenic variants were found in BRCA1 (20%) and BRCA2 (29%) genes. Pathogenic variants were found in other 12 genes, including high and moderate risk genes such as MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, and PALB2. Additional pathogenic variants were found in HBOC unrelated genes such as DCLRE1C, WRN, PDE11A, and PDGFB. Conclusion: In this first phase of the project, we recruited 403 individuals and evaluated the germline genetic alterations in an initial cohort of 222 patients among 4 countries. Our data show for the first time in LA the distribution of pathogenic variants in a broad set of cancer susceptibility genes in HBOC. Even though we used extended gene panels, there was still a high proportion of patients without any detectable pathogenic variant, which emphasizes the larger, unexplored genetic nature of the disease in these populations.

Efectividad de un protocolo de entrenamiento nórdico sobre la fuerza explosiva en futbolistas del Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros / Effectiveness of a Nordic training protocol on muscle power in soccer players of Club Deportivo la Equidad Seguros

Resumen Introducción . El entrenamiento nórdico ha sido estudiado para optimizar el gesto deportivo y prevenir lesiones en fútbol. Sin embargo, no se han reportado estudios que evidencien su efectividad sobre la fuerza explosiva del deporte. Objetivo. Determinar la efectividad de un protocolo de entrenamiento nórdico sobre la fuerza explosiva de miembros inferiores en futbolistas. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un ensayo controlado y aleatorizado en el que 26 futbolistas masculinos fueron elegidos para hacer parte de un grupo intervención (n=12) y un grupo control (n=14). Al grupo intervención se le aplicó un protocolo de entrenamiento nórdico, mientras que el control realizó un programa de fortalecimiento convencional. Se evaluaron la fuerza explosiva de miembros inferiores, a través del Test de Bosco y Abalakov en una plataforma de salto, y el ángulo de mayor reclutamiento muscular del bíceps femoral durante la ejecución del ejercicio nórdico mediante de electromiografía de superficie. Resultados. Los dos grupos fueron homogéneos. Se evidenció una mejora en los componentes de la fuerza explosiva (p<0.05) para las variables de velocidad de despegue, de reclutamiento motor y de ángulo de registro del pico de reclutamiento motor en el grupo de intervención. Conclusión. La aplicación de un programa de entrenamiento en futbolistas demostró ser efectiva al influir de manera positiva en las variables involucradas en la fuerza explosiva.

Abstract Introduction: Nordic training has been designed to optimize the sporting movement and prevent injuries in soccer players. However, there are no reports on studies that demonstrate its effectiveness on the explosive power of such sport. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a Nordic training protocol on the explosive force of lower limbs in soccer players. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled study was performed, in which 26 male players were chosen to be part of an intervention group (n=12) and a control group (n=14). The intervention group was applied a Nordic training protocol, while the control group followed a conventional strengthening program. The explosive force of lower limbs was evaluated through the Bosco and Abalakov tests on a jumping platform, as well as the angle of greater biceps femoris muscle recruitment while performing the Nordic exercise through surface electromyography. Results: Both groups were homogeneous. An improvement was evident in the components of the explosive force (p<0.05) for takeoff speed, the motor recruiting and the peak registration of angle recruitment variables in the intervention group. Conclusion: The implementation of a training program in soccer players proved to be effective by positively influencing the variables involved in the explosive force.

Virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae prevalence in a selected pediatric population with acute asthma exacerbation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of viral and atypical bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children experiencing asthma exacerbation and compare positive and negative subjects with regard to exacerbation severity, need for hospitalization, and treatment. METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine asthmatic children aged 2-15 years old who were admitted to emergency rooms in Bogota, Colombia for acute asthma exacerbation were interviewed. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were taken for DNA and RNA extraction. M. pneumoniae and virus were detected by PCR using specific primers. RESULTS: The prevalence of M. pneumoniae and viral infection in the study population was 12.4% and 83.7%, respectively. All subjects positive for M. pneumoniae were also positive for viral infection. Rhinovirus was the most frequently detected viral agent. No significant differences in severity of asthma exacerbations or in need for hospitalization between the virus or M. pneumoniae positive and negative groups were observed. A significantly lower percentage of M. pneumoniae positive subjects had used inhaled steroids over the six months prior to asthma exacerbation compared to M. pneumoniae negative subjects (38.1% vs. 68.2%), suggesting that inhaled corticosteroids may have a protective effect against M. pneumoniae infections. CONCLUSIONS: The M. pneumoniae and virus prevalence found in this study were similar to those described in the literature. The 100% co-infection rate observed suggests that viral infection can predispose patients to M. pneumoniae infection, and that this interaction may trigger asthmatic exacerbation. Further studies should be done to confirm the protective effect of inhaled corticosteroids on M. pneumoniae infection in patients with asthma exacerbations.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the giant electric ray, Narcine entemedor (Elasmobranchii: Torpediniformes).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the giant electric ray is 17,081 bp long (GenBank accession KM386678) and includes 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, 13 protein-coding genes, an origin of replication, 2 non-coding regions. The mitochondrial gene arrangement is similar to that found in other batoids. The control region possessed a set of tandem repeats. Start codon ATG and stop codon TAA/T were found in most protein-coding genes. The base composition of the genome is 36.2% A, 29.9% T, 21.9% C, and 11.9% G.

The mitochondrial genome of the banded guitarfish, Zapteryx exasperata (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880), possesses a non-coding duplication remnant region.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the banded guitarfish is 17,310 bp long and includes 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 13 protein-coding genes, a replication origin and a control region (GenBank accession number KM370325). Gene arrangement is similar to that found in other batoids. An extra non-coding region was found between the genes coding for transfer RNA proline and threonine possessing a set of tandem repeat motifs pointing to its origin as a duplication remnant. Start codon ATG and stop codon TAA/T were found in most protein-coding genes. The base composition of the genome is 32.3% A, 30.2% T, 24.3% C and 13.1% G.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the beaubrummel Damselfish, Stegastes flavilatus (Pisces: Perciformes, Pomacentridae).

The mitogenome of the beaubrummel damselfish, Stegastes flavilatus Gill, 1862 (Genebank accession number KP136922), has a total length of 16,816 bp. It encodes 13 protein-coding, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Base composition is 28.6% A, 26.0% T, 29.8% C, and 15.7% G and 45.5% GC content. The gene arrangement was found to be the same of other pomacentrid mitogenomes.

Chronic continuous exenatide infusion does not cause pancreatic inflammation and ductal hyperplasia in non-human primates.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of exenatide (EXE) treatment on exocrine pancreas of nonhuman primates. To this end, 52 baboons (Papio hamadryas) underwent partial pancreatectomy, followed by continuous infusion of EXE or saline (SAL) for 14 weeks. Histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, Computer Assisted Stereology Toolbox morphometry, and immunofluorescence staining were performed at baseline and after treatment. The EXE treatment did not induce pancreatitis, parenchymal or periductal inflammatory cell accumulation, ductal hyperplasia, or dysplastic lesions/pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. At study end, Ki-67-positive (proliferating) acinar cell number did not change, compared with baseline, in either group. Ki-67-positive ductal cells increased after EXE treatment (P = 0.04). However, the change in Ki-67-positive ductal cell number did not differ significantly between the EXE and SAL groups (P = 0.13). M-30-positive (apoptotic) acinar and ductal cell number did not change after SAL or EXE treatment. No changes in ductal density and volume were observed after EXE or SAL. Interestingly, by triple-immunofluorescence staining, we detected c-kit (a marker of cell transdifferentiation) positive ductal cells co-expressing insulin in ducts only in the EXE group at study end, suggesting that EXE may promote the differentiation of ductal cells toward a ß-cell phenotype. In conclusion, 14 weeks of EXE treatment did not exert any negative effect on exocrine pancreas, by inducing either pancreatic inflammation or hyperplasia/dysplasia in nonhuman primates.

Prevalencia de variantes en el gen de la apolipoproteína E (APOE) en adultos de la población general del área urbana de Medellín (Antioquia) / Prevalence of Variants in the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Gene in a General Population of Adults from an Urban Area of Medellin (Antioquia)

Objetivos: Determinar las frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas del gen de la apolipoproteína E (APOE) en adultos de Medellín durante el año 2010. Métodos: Se tomó una muestra representativa de la población adulta de Medellín, mediante un muestreo polietápico estratificado por conglomerados. Se realizó genotipificación para APOE a cada uno de los sujetos participantes. En el análisis de frecuencias y asociación, se tuvo en cuenta el diseño muestral. Resultados: Las frecuencias de los alelos E2, E3 y E4 de APOE fueron del 3,9, el 92,0 y el 4,1% respectivamente. Las frecuencias genotípicas fueron: 2/2, el 0,2%; 2/3, el 6,8%; 2/4, el 0,6%; 3/3, el 85,0%; 3/4, el 7,2%, y 4/4, el 0,3%. Conclusiones: Las frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas de APOE en adultos de Medellín tienen una distribución similar a las reportadas en poblaciones suramericanas, y son datos que tienen valor para conocer el impacto poblacional de estas variantes genéticas en distintos trastornos psiquiátricos.

Objective: To determine the allelic and genotype frequencies of apolipoproteine E (APOE) gene in a representative sample of the adult population of Medellin in 2010. Methods: A representative sample of the adult population of Medellin, was obtained by means of a multi-stage, stratified, conglomerate based sampling method. APOE genotyping was carried out on each of the participants. The sampling design was taken into consideration for the frequencies and association analysis. Results: The frequencies of the APOE alleles E2, E3 and E4 were 3.9, 92.0 and 4.1%, respectively. The frequencies of the different APOE genotypes were as follows: 2/2, 0.2%; 2/3, 6.8%; 2/4, 0.6%; 3/3, 85.0%; 3/4, 7.2%, and 4/4, 0.3%. Conclusions: The allelic and genotype frequencies of APOE in an adult population of Medellin did not differ substantially from other series reported in South America. These data are important to determine the real impact of APOE on the population risk of several psychiatric diseases.