Facultative endosymbionts modulate the aphid reproductive performance on wheat cultivars differing in contents of benzoxazinoids.

BACKGROUND: Facultative bacterial endosymbionts have the potential to influence the interactions between aphids, their natural enemies, and host plants. Among the facultative symbionts found in populations of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae in central Chile, the bacterium Regiella insecticola is the most prevalent. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether infected and cured aphid lineages exhibit differential responses to wheat cultivars containing varying levels of the benzoxazinoid DIMBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one), which is a xenobiotic compound produced by plants. Specifically, we examined the reproductive performance responses of the most frequently encountered genotypes of Sitobion avenae when reared on wheat seedlings expressing low, medium, and high concentrations of DIMBOA. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm ) in cured lineages of Sitobion avenae genotypes exhibits a biphasic pattern, characterized by the lowest rm and an extended time to first reproduction on wheat seedlings with medium levels of DIMBOA. In contrast, the aphid genotypes harbouring Regiella insecticola display idiosyncratic responses, with the two most prevalent genotypes demonstrating improved performance on seedlings featuring an intermediate content of DIMBOA compared to their cured counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study represents the first investigation into the mediating impact of facultative endosymbionts on aphid performance in plants exhibiting varying DIMBOA contents. These findings present exciting prospects for identifying novel targets for aphid control by manipulating the presence of aphid symbionts. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fatty alcohols, a minor component of the tree tobacco surface wax, are associated with defence against caterpillar herbivory.

Despite decades of research resulting in a comprehensive understanding of epicuticular wax metabolism, the function of these almost ubiquitous metabolites in plant-herbivore interactions remains unresolved. In this study, we examined the effects of CRISPR-induced knockout mutations in four Nicotiana glauca (tree tobacco) wax metabolism genes. These mutations cause a wide range of changes in epicuticular wax composition, leading to altered interactions with insects and snails. Three interaction classes were examined: chewing herbivory by seven caterpillars and one snail species, phloem feeding by Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) and oviposition by Bemisia tabaci (whitefly). Although total wax load and alkane abundance did not affect caterpillar growth, a correlation across species, showed that fatty alcohols, a minor component of N. glauca surface waxes, negatively affected the growth of both a generalist caterpillar (Spodoptera littoralis) and a tobacco-feeding specialist (Manduca sexta). This negative correlation was overshadowed by the stronger effect of anabasine, a nicotine isomer, and was apparent when fatty alcohols were added to an artificial lepidopteran diet. By contrast, snails fed more on waxy leaves. Aphid reproduction and feeding activity were unaffected by wax composition but were potentially affected by altered cutin composition. Wax crystal morphology could explain the preference of B. tabaci to lay eggs on waxy wild-type plants relative to both alkane and fatty alcohol-deficient mutants. Together, our results suggest that the varied responses among herbivore classes and species are likely to be a consequence of the co-evolution that shaped the specific effects of different surface wax components in plant-herbivore interactions.

Drug-Related Poisonings among Chilean Adult Population.

Background: Poisonings is a preventable public health problem that globally affects the population. We aimed to characterize drug-related acute poisonings occurred in Chile between the years of 2016 and 2020. Methods: A retrospective study of poisonings among hospitalized patients was carried out. Data were obtained from the Medical Outcome Statistical Report database. Inclusion criteria were cases of patients admitted into either public or private healthcare settings with diagnosis of drug-related poisoning according to the WHO ICD-10 codes T30-T50. Statistical analyses were run to establish either significant associations or differences between variables selected in the study. Results: Overall, 12,975 poisonings were identified during the 2016-2020 period. These events corresponded to 0.16% of all national hospital admissions in the study period. Women represented 71.1% of the cases. 76.7% of events were related to intentional poisonings while 7.3% and 16% were accidental and undetermined poisonings respectively. 44.6% of accidental and intentional poisonings occurred at the age of 18-29 yr old. Benzodiazepines (22.8%), antidepressants (11.2%), and acetaminophen (5.1) were the most common drugs associated with poisonings. Average length of hospitalization was between 3.3 and 8.2 days. 0.6% of poisonings resulted in deaths. Conclusion: Poisonings were characterized by patients' sex and age, circumstance of exposure, length of hospitalization, and outcome. Poisoning rates were stable along the years with a slight decrease in 2020. Intentional poisonings among young women and men were more common. Most of the cases had favorable outcome for patients.

Resistance against Leucoptera sinuella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) among hybrid clones of Populus spp. in central Chile.

Leucoptera sinuella (Reutti) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) is a leaf miner specialist on Salicaceae recently introduced to Chile and Argentina, where it is causing economic damage to poplar plantations. We report a field survey in a poplar nursery naturally infested showing that regardless of the poplar hybrid taxon, high variability in resistance was observed among clones within families for oviposition and leaf-mining damage. A group of susceptible and resistant hybrid poplar clones was then selected for a laboratory evaluation of oviposition (antixenosis) and leaf-mining damage (antibiosis) on potted, rooted shoot cuttings. The concentration of condensed tannins (CTs) and salicinoid phenolic glucosides (SPGs) of the leaves of the selected clones from the laboratory study was also measured. Total oviposited eggs were positively correlated with leaf area, with the lowest oviposition on TMxT 11372 clone. The lowest percentage of mined leaf area was obtained for clones TMxT 11372, TMxT 11463, and TDxD 17574, but surprisingly no correlation between the percentage of mined leaf area and concentration of CTs and SPGs was found. Resistant poplar hybrids of our study could be suitable for breeding programs aimed for L. sinuella integrated pest management.

Respiratory, Cardiac, and Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Postacute Sequelae of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Lima, Peru.

Background: Few studies have examined the burden of postacute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC) in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to characterize PASC with self-reported questionnaires and clinical examinations of end-organ function in Lima, Peru. Methods: From January to July 2021, we recruited participants at least 8 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis from a case registry in Lima, Peru. We evaluated participants for PASC with questionnaires, neuropsychiatric evaluations, chest X-ray, spirometry, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. We used multivariable models to identify risk factors for PASC. Results: We assessed 989 participants for PASC at a median 4.7 months after diagnosis. Clinically significant respiratory symptoms were reported by 68.3% of participants, particularly those who had been severely ill during acute COVID-19, and were associated with cardiac findings of ventricular hypertrophy or dilation on echocardiogram. Neuropsychiatric questionnaires were consistent with depression in 20.7% and cognitive impairment in 8.0%. Female sex and older age were associated with increased risk of respiratory (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.36 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.69-3.31] and aOR, 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00-1.03], respectively) and neuropsychiatric sequelae (aOR, 2.99 [95% CI, 2.16-4.18] and aOR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01-1.03], respectively). Conclusions: COVID-19 survivors in Lima, Peru, experienced frequent postacute respiratory symptoms and depression, particularly among older and female participants. Clinical examinations highlighted the need for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation among persons with severe COVID-19; psychosocial support may be required among all COVID-19 survivors.

Carcinogenic drug exposure among health-sector workers: the need for exposure assessment and surveillance.

Antineoplastic drugs (ANDs) used for chemotherapy can cause secondary cancers in treated patients and can pose carcinogenic risks to health-sector workers anywhere along these drugs' life cycle in a facility, from production to patient administration. Several PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers (CCs) have experience addressing these hazards in the health sector. The objectives of this report are four-fold: 1) Provide an overview of longstanding research and prevention efforts, led by PAHO/WHO and its Occupational Health CCs, aimed at reducing the burden of occupational cancer in the Americas; 2) Discuss how robust AND exposure assessment and educational/outreach work by PAHO CCs can form the basis of exposure mitigation efforts among health-sector workers; 3) Through the presentation of original AND exposure assessment data from a pharmaceutical compounding facility in Chile, highlight relatively inexpensive methods by which such data can be generated; and 4) Discuss how effective, periodic environmental surveillance in healthcare facilities results in the identification of AND contamination in the work environment and enables the implementation of low-cost, high-impact interventions to reduce the risk of occupational cancer in health-sector workers, including in limited-resource settings. The risk of health-sector worker exposure to ANDs and other hazardous drugs is an important issue for inclusion within PAHO/WHO's broader efforts at reducing the impact of occupational cancer in the Americas. This report demonstrates that a wide range of accessible AND-exposure mitigation strategies are feasible at both a facility and a national policy level across the hemisphere.

Los medicamentos antineoplásicos empleados en quimioterapia pueden causar distintos tipos de tumores secundarios en pacientes tratados y presentar riesgos cancerígenos para los trabajadores del sector de la salud en cualquier momento del ciclo de vida de estos medicamentos en las instalaciones, desde su producción hasta su administración al paciente. Varios centros colaboradores de la OPS/OMS tienen experiencia en cuanto a cómo abordar estos peligros en el sector de la salud. Este informe persigue cuatro objetivos: 1) ofrecer una visión general de la labor de investigación y prevención de larga data, liderada por la OPS/OMS y sus centros colaboradores de salud ocupacional, encaminada a reducir la carga del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas; 2) abordar cómo una evaluación sólida de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y la labor educativa y divulgativa de los centros colaboradores de la OPS pueden sentar las bases de los esfuerzos de mitigación de la exposición en los trabajadores del sector de la salud; 3) mediante la presentación de datos originales sobre la evaluación de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos en una instalación de compuestos farmacéuticos en Chile, destacar métodos relativamente asequibles gracias a los cuales se pueden recopilar dichos datos; y 4) examinar cómo la vigilancia ambiental efectiva y periódica en los centros de salud permite detectar casos de contaminación de medicamentos antineoplásicos en el entorno de trabajo y facilita la ejecución de intervenciones de bajo costo y alto impacto para reducir el riesgo de cáncer ocupacional en los trabajadores del sector de la salud, incluso en entornos de recursos limitados.El riesgo de exposición de los trabajadores del sector de la salud a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y otros medicamentos peligrosos es una cuestión importante para su inclusión en los esfuerzos más amplios de la OPS/OMS para reducir los efectos del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas. En este informe se demuestra que una amplia gama de estrategias accesibles de mitigación de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos es factible tanto a nivel de las instalaciones como de las políticas nacionales en toda la Región.

Os medicamentos antineoplásicos usados para quimioterapia podem causar cânceres secundários em pacientes tratados e apresentar riscos carcinogênicos aos profissionais de saúde em qualquer momento do ciclo de vida desses fármacos dentro de um estabelecimento, desde sua produção até a administração ao paciente. Vários centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS têm experiência em lidar com esses riscos no setor de saúde. Este relatório tem quatro objetivos: 1) fornecer uma visão geral dos esforços de longa data em pesquisa e prevenção liderados pela OPAS/OMS e por seus centros colaboradores de saúde ocupacional, cuja meta é reduzir a carga do câncer ocupacional nas Américas; 2) discutir como uma avaliação robusta da exposição aos antineoplásicos e o trabalho de extensão/educacional dos centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS podem embasar os esforços de mitigação da exposição entre os profissionais de saúde; 3) por meio da apresentação de dados originais de avaliação da exposição a antineoplásicos obtidos de uma central de manipulação de medicamentos no Chile, destacar métodos relativamente econômicos para gerar esse tipo de dados; e 4) discutir como a vigilância ambiental eficaz e periódica em estabelecimentos de saúde resulta na identificação de contaminação por antineoplásicos no ambiente de trabalho e permite a implementação de intervenções de baixo custo e alto impacto para reduzir o risco de câncer ocupacional em profissionais de saúde, inclusive em contextos de recursos limitados.O risco de exposição dos profissionais de saúde aos medicamentos antineoplásicos e outros fármacos perigosos é uma questão importante a ser incluída nos esforços mais amplos da OPAS/OMS de reduzir o impacto do câncer ocupacional nas Américas. Este relatório demonstra a viabilidade de uma ampla gama de estratégias acessíveis de mitigação da exposição aos antineoplásicos, tanto no nível das instituições quanto no âmbito de políticas nacionais em todo o hemisfério.

Carcinogenic drug exposure among health-sector workers: the need for exposure assessment and surveillance

[ABSTRACT]. Antineoplastic drugs (ANDs) used for chemotherapy can cause secondary cancers in treated patients and can pose carcinogenic risks to health-sector workers anywhere along these drugs’ life cycle in a facility, from production to patient administration. Several PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers (CCs) have experience addressing these hazards in the health sector. The objectives of this report are four-fold: 1) Provide an over- view of longstanding research and prevention efforts, led by PAHO/WHO and its Occupational Health CCs, aimed at reducing the burden of occupational cancer in the Americas; 2) Discuss how robust AND exposure assessment and educational/outreach work by PAHO CCs can form the basis of exposure mitigation efforts among health-sector workers; 3) Through the presentation of original AND exposure assessment data from a pharmaceutical compounding facility in Chile, highlight relatively inexpensive methods by which such data can be generated; and 4) Discuss how effective, periodic environmental surveillance in healthcare facilities results in the identification of AND contamination in the work environment and enables the implementation of low-cost, high-impact interventions to reduce the risk of occupational cancer in health-sector workers, includ- ing in limited-resource settings. The risk of health-sector worker exposure to ANDs and other hazardous drugs is an important issue for inclu- sion within PAHO/WHO’s broader efforts at reducing the impact of occupational cancer in the Americas. This report demonstrates that a wide range of accessible AND-exposure mitigation strategies are feasible at both a facility and a national policy level across the hemisphere.

[RESUMEN]. Los medicamentos antineoplásicos empleados en quimioterapia pueden causar distintos tipos de tumores secundarios en pacientes tratados y presentar riesgos cancerígenos para los trabajadores del sector de la salud en cualquier momento del ciclo de vida de estos medicamentos en las instalaciones, desde su produc- ción hasta su administración al paciente. Varios centros colaboradores de la OPS/OMS tienen experiencia en cuanto a cómo abordar estos peligros en el sector de la salud. Este informe persigue cuatro objetivos: 1) ofrecer una visión general de la labor de investigación y prevención de larga data, liderada por la OPS/OMS y sus centros colaboradores de salud ocupacional, encaminada a reducir la carga del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas; 2) abordar cómo una evaluación sólida de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y la labor educativa y divulgativa de los centros colaboradores de la OPS pueden sentar las bases de los esfuerzos de mitigación de la exposición en los trabajadores del sector de la salud; 3) mediante la presentación de datos originales sobre la evaluación de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplási- cos en una instalación de compuestos farmacéuticos en Chile, destacar métodos relativamente asequibles gracias a los cuales se pueden recopilar dichos datos; y 4) examinar cómo la vigilancia ambiental efectiva y periódica en los centros de salud permite detectar casos de contaminación de medicamentos antineoplási- cos en el entorno de trabajo y facilita la ejecución de intervenciones de bajo costo y alto impacto para reducir el riesgo de cáncer ocupacional en los trabajadores del sector de la salud, incluso en entornos de recursos limitados. El riesgo de exposición de los trabajadores del sector de la salud a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y otros medicamentos peligrosos es una cuestión importante para su inclusión en los esfuerzos más amplios de la OPS/OMS para reducir los efectos del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas. En este informe se demuestra que una amplia gama de estrategias accesibles de mitigación de la exposición a los medicamen- tos antineoplásicos es factible tanto a nivel de las instalaciones como de las políticas nacionales en toda la Región.

[RESUMO]. Os medicamentos antineoplásicos usados para quimioterapia podem causar cânceres secundários em pacientes tratados e apresentar riscos carcinogênicos aos profissionais de saúde em qualquer momento do ciclo de vida desses fármacos dentro de um estabelecimento, desde sua produção até a administração ao paciente. Vários centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS têm experiência em lidar com esses riscos no setor de saúde. Este relatório tem quatro objetivos: 1) fornecer uma visão geral dos esforços de longa data em pesquisa e prevenção liderados pela OPAS/OMS e por seus centros colaboradores de saúde ocupacional, cuja meta é reduzir a carga do câncer ocupacional nas Américas; 2) discutir como uma avaliação robusta da exposição aos antineoplásicos e o trabalho de extensão/educacional dos centros colaboradores da OPAS/ OMS podem embasar os esforços de mitigação da exposição entre os profissionais de saúde; 3) por meio da apresentação de dados originais de avaliação da exposição a antineoplásicos obtidos de uma central de manipulação de medicamentos no Chile, destacar métodos relativamente econômicos para gerar esse tipo de dados; e 4) discutir como a vigilância ambiental eficaz e periódica em estabelecimentos de saúde resulta na identificação de contaminação por antineoplásicos no ambiente de trabalho e permite a implementação de intervenções de baixo custo e alto impacto para reduzir o risco de câncer ocupacional em profissionais de saúde, inclusive em contextos de recursos limitados. O risco de exposição dos profissionais de saúde aos medicamentos antineoplásicos e outros fármacos perigosos é uma questão importante a ser incluída nos esforços mais amplos da OPAS/OMS de reduzir o impacto do câncer ocupacional nas Américas. Este relatório demonstra a viabilidade de uma ampla gama de estratégias acessíveis de mitigação da exposição aos antineoplásicos, tanto no nível das instituições quanto no âmbito de políticas nacionais em todo o hemisfério.

To tolerate drought or resist aphids? A new challenge to plant science is on the horizon.

Aphids are important herbivorous insects that can cause significant crop damage, leading to yield reduction and economic loss. One avenue being explored to reduce aphid impacts is the development of aphid-resistant plants. Under projected climate scenarios, it is expected that plants will be exposed to greater biotic and abiotic stress, including increased herbivorous insect infestation and exposure to prolonged periods of environmental stress, particularly drought. In response to these projections, plant-aphid interactions under drought conditions have been a subject of growing interest; however, few studies have looked at the impact of drought stress on plant resistance to aphids despite the potential importance for plant breeding. Here, we examine the latest scientific advances regarding variation in plant resistance to aphids under drought, emphasizing underlying mechanisms and functional trade-offs and propose a conceptual model relating plant tolerance to drought with plant resistance to aphids.

Carcinogenic drug exposure among health-sector workers: the need for exposure assessment and surveillance / Exposición a medicamentos cancerígenos en trabajadores del sector de la salud: necesidad de evaluación y vigilancia de la exposición / Exposição a fármacos carcinogênicos entre profissionais de saúde: necessidade de avaliação e vigilância da exposição

ABSTRACT Antineoplastic drugs (ANDs) used for chemotherapy can cause secondary cancers in treated patients and can pose carcinogenic risks to health-sector workers anywhere along these drugs' life cycle in a facility, from production to patient administration. Several PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers (CCs) have experience addressing these hazards in the health sector. The objectives of this report are four-fold: 1) Provide an overview of longstanding research and prevention efforts, led by PAHO/WHO and its Occupational Health CCs, aimed at reducing the burden of occupational cancer in the Americas; 2) Discuss how robust AND exposure assessment and educational/outreach work by PAHO CCs can form the basis of exposure mitigation efforts among health-sector workers; 3) Through the presentation of original AND exposure assessment data from a pharmaceutical compounding facility in Chile, highlight relatively inexpensive methods by which such data can be generated; and 4) Discuss how effective, periodic environmental surveillance in healthcare facilities results in the identification of AND contamination in the work environment and enables the implementation of low-cost, high-impact interventions to reduce the risk of occupational cancer in health-sector workers, including in limited-resource settings. The risk of health-sector worker exposure to ANDs and other hazardous drugs is an important issue for inclusion within PAHO/WHO's broader efforts at reducing the impact of occupational cancer in the Americas. This report demonstrates that a wide range of accessible AND-exposure mitigation strategies are feasible at both a facility and a national policy level across the hemisphere.

RESUMEN Los medicamentos antineoplásicos empleados en quimioterapia pueden causar distintos tipos de tumores secundarios en pacientes tratados y presentar riesgos cancerígenos para los trabajadores del sector de la salud en cualquier momento del ciclo de vida de estos medicamentos en las instalaciones, desde su producción hasta su administración al paciente. Varios centros colaboradores de la OPS/OMS tienen experiencia en cuanto a cómo abordar estos peligros en el sector de la salud. Este informe persigue cuatro objetivos: 1) ofrecer una visión general de la labor de investigación y prevención de larga data, liderada por la OPS/OMS y sus centros colaboradores de salud ocupacional, encaminada a reducir la carga del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas; 2) abordar cómo una evaluación sólida de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y la labor educativa y divulgativa de los centros colaboradores de la OPS pueden sentar las bases de los esfuerzos de mitigación de la exposición en los trabajadores del sector de la salud; 3) mediante la presentación de datos originales sobre la evaluación de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos en una instalación de compuestos farmacéuticos en Chile, destacar métodos relativamente asequibles gracias a los cuales se pueden recopilar dichos datos; y 4) examinar cómo la vigilancia ambiental efectiva y periódica en los centros de salud permite detectar casos de contaminación de medicamentos antineoplásicos en el entorno de trabajo y facilita la ejecución de intervenciones de bajo costo y alto impacto para reducir el riesgo de cáncer ocupacional en los trabajadores del sector de la salud, incluso en entornos de recursos limitados. El riesgo de exposición de los trabajadores del sector de la salud a los medicamentos antineoplásicos y otros medicamentos peligrosos es una cuestión importante para su inclusión en los esfuerzos más amplios de la OPS/OMS para reducir los efectos del cáncer ocupacional en la Región de las Américas. En este informe se demuestra que una amplia gama de estrategias accesibles de mitigación de la exposición a los medicamentos antineoplásicos es factible tanto a nivel de las instalaciones como de las políticas nacionales en toda la Región.

RESUMO Os medicamentos antineoplásicos usados para quimioterapia podem causar cânceres secundários em pacientes tratados e apresentar riscos carcinogênicos aos profissionais de saúde em qualquer momento do ciclo de vida desses fármacos dentro de um estabelecimento, desde sua produção até a administração ao paciente. Vários centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS têm experiência em lidar com esses riscos no setor de saúde. Este relatório tem quatro objetivos: 1) fornecer uma visão geral dos esforços de longa data em pesquisa e prevenção liderados pela OPAS/OMS e por seus centros colaboradores de saúde ocupacional, cuja meta é reduzir a carga do câncer ocupacional nas Américas; 2) discutir como uma avaliação robusta da exposição aos antineoplásicos e o trabalho de extensão/educacional dos centros colaboradores da OPAS/OMS podem embasar os esforços de mitigação da exposição entre os profissionais de saúde; 3) por meio da apresentação de dados originais de avaliação da exposição a antineoplásicos obtidos de uma central de manipulação de medicamentos no Chile, destacar métodos relativamente econômicos para gerar esse tipo de dados; e 4) discutir como a vigilância ambiental eficaz e periódica em estabelecimentos de saúde resulta na identificação de contaminação por antineoplásicos no ambiente de trabalho e permite a implementação de intervenções de baixo custo e alto impacto para reduzir o risco de câncer ocupacional em profissionais de saúde, inclusive em contextos de recursos limitados. O risco de exposição dos profissionais de saúde aos medicamentos antineoplásicos e outros fármacos perigosos é uma questão importante a ser incluída nos esforços mais amplos da OPAS/OMS de reduzir o impacto do câncer ocupacional nas Américas. Este relatório demonstra a viabilidade de uma ampla gama de estratégias acessíveis de mitigação da exposição aos antineoplásicos, tanto no nível das instituições quanto no âmbito de políticas nacionais em todo o hemisfério.

[Epidemiological Characterization of Benzodiazepine and Antidepressant Poisonings in Chile]. / Intoxicaciones por benzodiacepinas y antidepresivos, una realidad preocupante.

INTRODUCTION: Poisonings are a worldwide preventable public health problem that affects the general population. OBJECTIVE: To epidemiologically characterize BZ and AD poisonings registered in Chile between 2002 and 2019. METHODS: An observational retrospective study of poisonings registered in the medical outcome report system of the Chilean Ministry of Health was conducted. The World Health Organization International Classification of Disease codes T42.2, T43.0 and T43.2 were included. RESULTS: 22,807 poisonings associated with BZ or AD were identified, representing 0.08% of all hospitalizations. Poisoning rates distribution were established at regional and national level. There were 9.8% of accidental events, 63.7% of intentional events, and 26.5% of undetermined cases. The highest accidental and intentional poisoning rates were estimated at the ages of 0 to 4 and 15 to 19 years old respectively. Poisoned patients remained hospitalized on average for 3.4 days. 0.3% of cases were related to death of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Poisoning events were characterized according to the studied variables. National poisoning rates decreased over the years with prevalence of those intentional events linked to women. Efforts should be made in creating poisoning prevention campaigns focused on age-based groups in the general population.

Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes intoxicados admitidos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos de un hospital en Chile / Retrospective study of poisoned patients admitted to a hospital's pediatric intensive care unit in Chile

Introducción. Las intoxicaciones pediátricas son un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar las intoxicaciones pediátricas que fueron atendidas en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP) de un hospital en Chile. Población y métodos. Se revisaron las fichas clínicas de pacientes diagnosticados con intoxicación e ingresados a la UCIP entre los años 2013 y 2017. Resultados. Un total de 105 casos fueron identificados, lo que representa un 3 % del total de ingresos registrados en el período estudiado. La mediana de edad de los pacientes resultó ser de 10 años. El 73,3 % de los casos correspondieron a pacientes de sexo femenino. El 51 % de los casos se asociaron a intoxicaciones intencionales y el 83 % fue causado por exposición a medicamentos. Los medicamentos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron los antidepresivos (11,2 %), analgésicos no esteroides (10,7 %). La ingesta fue la vía de exposición más común (93 %). El promedio de estadía de los pacientes en UCIP fue de 1,3 días. Dos pacientes ingresaron en la UCI: uno requirió intubación y otro hemodiálisis. Se determinaron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el sexo del paciente y la circunstancia de exposición, y entre la condición psiquiátrica del paciente y el número de sustancias tóxicas ingeridas. Conclusión. La mayoría de las intoxicaciones atendidas en la UCIP fueron intencionales y correspondieron a pacientes de sexo femenino, a quienes se les asoció alguna patología psiquiátrica. Los grupos de medicamentos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron los antidepresivos y los antiinflamatorios no esteroides.

Introduction. Pediatric poisoning is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to establish the characteristics of pediatric cases of poisoning seen at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a hospital in Chile. Population and methods. The medical records of patients diagnosed with poisoning and admitted to the PICU between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Results. A total of 105 cases were identified, who account for 3% of all admissions recorded in the study period. Patients' median age was 10 years. In total, 73.3% of cases were female patients; 51% of cases were associated with intentional poisoning; and 83% were caused by drug exposure. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants (11.2%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10.7%). Intake was the most frequent route of exposure (93%). The average length of stay in the PICU was 1.3 days. One patient required intubation and another required hemodialysis in the PICU. Statistically significant relationships were established between patient sex and the circumstance of exposure and between the patient's psychiatric condition and the number of toxic substances ingested. Conclusion. Most poisoning cases seen at the PICU were intentional and occurred in female patients, who had a psychiatric condition. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

Diagnostic Performance Assessment of Saliva RT-PCR and Nasopharyngeal Antigen for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Peru.

Widely available and reliable testing for SARS-CoV-2 is essential for the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the diagnostic performance of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) performed on saliva and the SD Biosensor STANDARD Q antigen test performed on nasopharyngeal swab compared to the reference standard, nasopharyngeal swab (NP) RT-PCR. We enrolled participants living and/or seeking care in health facilities in North Lima, Peru from November 2020 to January 2021. Consenting participants underwent same-day RT-PCR on both saliva and nasopharyngeal swab specimens, antigen testing on a nasopharyngeal swab specimen, pulse oximetry, and standardized symptom assessment. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for the nasopharyngeal antigen and saliva RT-PCR compared to nasopharyngeal RT-PCR. Of 896 participants analyzed, 567 (63.3%) had acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19. The overall sensitivity and specificity of saliva RT-PCR were 85.8% and 98.1%, respectively. Among participants with and without acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19, saliva sensitivity was 87.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Saliva sensitivity was 97.4% and 56.0% among participants with cycle threshold (CT) values of ≤30 and >30 on nasopharyngeal RT-PCR, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal antigen were 73.2% and 99.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of the nasopharyngeal antigen test was 75.1% and 12.5% among participants with and without acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19, and 91.2% and 26.7% among participants with CT values of ≤30 and >30 on nasopharyngeal RT-PCR, respectively. Saliva RT-PCR achieved the WHO-recommended threshold of >80% for sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, while the SD Biosensor nasopharyngeal antigen test did not. IMPORTANCE In this diagnostic validation study of 896 participants in Peru, saliva reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) had >80% sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 among all-comers and symptomatic individuals, while the SD Biosensor STANDARD Q antigen test performed on nasopharyngeal swab had <80% sensitivity, except for participants whose same-day nasopharyngeal RT-PCR results showed cycle threshold values of <30, consistent with a high viral load in the nasopharynx. The specificity was high for both tests. Our results demonstrate that saliva sampling could serve as an alternative noninvasive technique for RT-PCR diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. The role of nasopharyngeal antigen testing is more limited; when community transmission is low, it may be used for mass screenings among asymptomatic individuals with high testing frequency. Among symptomatic individuals, the nasopharyngeal antigen test may be relied upon for 4 to 8 days after symptom onset, or in those likely to have high viral load, whereupon it showed >80% sensitivity.

Retrospective study of poisoned patients admitted to a hospital's pediatric intensive care unit in Chile. / Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes intoxicados admitidos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos de un hospital en Chile.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric poisoning is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to establish the characteristics of pediatric cases of poisoning seen at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a hospital in Chile. POPULATION AND METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed with poisoning and admitted to the PICU between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 105 cases were identified, who account for 3% of all admissions recorded in the study period. Patients' median age was 10 years. In total, 73.3% of cases were female patients; 51% of cases were associated with intentional poisoning; and 83% were caused by drug exposure. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants (11.2%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10.7%). Intake was the most frequent route of exposure (93%). The average length of stay in the PICU was 1.3 days. One patient required intubation and another required hemodialysis in the PICU. Statistically significant relationships were established between patient sex and the circumstance of exposure and between the patient's psychiatric condition and the number of toxic substances ingested. CONCLUSIONS: Most poisoning cases seen at the PICU were intentional and occurred in female patients, who had a psychiatric condition. The most common drugs identified were antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Introducción.Las intoxicaciones pediátricas son un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar las intoxicaciones pediátricas que fueron atendidas en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP) de un hospital en Chile. Población y métodos. Se revisaron las fichas clínicas de pacientes diagnosticados con intoxicación e ingresados a la UCIP entre los años 2013 y 2017. Resultados. Un total de 105 casos fueron identificados, lo que representa un 3 % del total de ingresos registrados en el período estudiado. La mediana de edad de los pacientes resultó ser de 10años. El 73,3% de los casos correspondieron a pacientes de sexo femenino. El 51% de los casos se asociaron a intoxicaciones intencionales y el 83% fue causado por exposición a medicamentos. Los medicamentos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron los antidepresivos (11,2 %), analgésicos no esteroides (10,7 %). La ingesta fue la vía de exposición más común (93 %). El promedio de estadía de los pacientes en UCIP fue de 1,3 días. Dos pacientes ingresaron en la UCI: uno requirió intubación y otro hemodiálisis. Se determinaron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el sexo del paciente y la circunstancia de exposición, y entre la condición psiquiátrica del paciente y el número de sustancias tóxicas ingeridas. Conclusión. La mayoría de las intoxicaciones atendidas en la UCIP fueron intencionales y correspondieron a pacientes de sexo femenino, a quienes se les asoció alguna patología psiquiátrica. Los grupos de medicamentos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron los antidepresivos y los antiinflamatorios no esteroides.

A mutation increases the specificity to plant compounds in an insect chemosensory protein.

Host plant recognition are highly dependent on chemosensory perception, which involves chemosensory proteins (CSPs) that bind key chemical compounds the host plants. In this work, we hypothesize that two closely related aphid taxa, which differ in diet breadth, also differ in their CSPs. We detected a non-synonymous difference (lysine for asparagine) between M. persicae sensu stricto (Mpp) and the subspecies M. p. nicotianae (Mpn) in the sequence of a CSP (CSP5). We modeled in silico the binding capacity of both CSP5s variants with 163 different potential ligands from their host plants (120 unique from tobacco, 29 unique from peach, and 14 common ligands). After docking analysis with all ligands, we selected the three best ligands for each variant to perform molecular dynamics (tobacco: 2-cyclopentene-1,4-dione, salicylaldehyde, and benzoic acid; peach: phenol, valeric acid, and benzonitrile). The binding energy of the MpnCSP5 model to the studied ligands was, in all cases, lower than with the MppCSP5 model. The ligands from the host plants showed more stable binding with MpnCSP5 than with MppCSP5. This result suggests that the set of CSPs studied among M. persicae s. str. and M. p. nicotianae are very similar, but focusing on the CSP5 protein, we found a single key mutation that increases affinities for host compounds for M. p. nicotianae, which might have contributed to the specialization to tobacco. This study provides new insights into an evolutionary trend toward specificity in a binding protein.

Genome sequencing of a predominant clonal lineage of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae.

The English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, is a cosmopolitan pest that feeds on cereals, provoking substantial yield losses by injuring plant tissue and by vectoring plant viruses. Here we report a highly complete, de novo draft genome of the grain aphid using long-read sequencing. We generated an assembly of 2740 contigs with a N50 of 450 kb. We compared this draft genome with that of other aphid species, inspecting gene family evolution, genome-wide positive selection, and searched for horizontal gene transfer events. In addition, we described a recent copy number variant expansion of gene families involving aconitase, ABC transporter, and esterase genes that could be associated with resistance to insecticides and plant chemical defenses. This S. avenae genome obtained from a predominant invasive genotype can provide a framework for studying the spatial-temporal success of these clonal lineages in invaded agroecosystems.

Prevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibodies Among Market and City Bus Depot Workers in Lima, Peru.

We report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody positivity among market and city bus depot workers in Lima, Peru. Among 1285 vendors from 8 markets, prevalence ranged from 27% to 73%. Among 488 workers from 3 city bus depots, prevalence ranged from 11% to 47%. Self-reported symptoms were infrequent.

Residuos farmacéuticos domiciliarios en el medio ambiente: de la preocupación a la acción

[Extracto]. Al editor: Los autores queremos hacer un llamado de atención a la comunidad sobre un tema de salud pública que silenciosamente afecta a todos los seres vivos. Se trata de la presencia de contaminantes emergentes (CE) (ej. plaguicidas, cosméticos, nanomateriales, fármacos, entre otros) en el medioambiente. Los CE se caracterizan por su persistencia, bioconcentración, bioacumulación, biomagnificación, y movilidad ambiental. Los efectos de los CE sobre la salud humana y otros seres vivos es motivo de estudio desde hace poco tiempo, por ello en latinoamérica mayormente no se dispone de normativa legal que regule este tema. En países como, Brasil, Canadá, España, Francia, Inglaterra, Portugal y Uruguay se han realizado investigaciones que determinan la presencia de algunos CE en la entrada y salida de las plantas depuradoras de aguas servidas, demostrándose que no es posible su completa eliminación. El problema radica en que se desconoce su toxicidad y la de sus metabolitos, que en ocasiones es mayor. Entre los CE detectados en estos estudios, destacan los siguientes fármacos: carbamazepina, atenolol, sulfadiazina, paracetamol, eritromicina, ácido salicílico, diclofenaco, ibuprofeno, 17 β-estradiol, progesterona y levonorgestrel.

Bacillus subtilis (Bacillales, Bacillaceae) Spores Affect Survival and Population Growth in the Grain Aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Relation to the Presence of the Facultative Bacterial Endosymbiont Regiella insecticola (Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae).

The grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) is one of the most important cereal pests, damaging crops through sap sucking and virus transmission. Sitobion avenae harbors the secondary endosymbiont Regiella insecticola, which is highly prevalent in populations in south-central Chile and other regions of the world. In order to develop ecological alternatives for biological control, we studied the effect of applying the spores of a strain of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis on the survival and fecundity of the most prevalent genotype of S. avenae in central Chile. The strain selected was one that in previous studies had shown the ability to outcompete other bacteria. Using clones of this aphid genotype infected and uninfected with R. insecticola, we found that applying B. subtilis spores through artificial diets and spraying on leaves decreased both adult survival and nymph production. The detection of spores within the aphid body was negatively correlated with nymph production and was lower in the presence of R. insecticola when applied in diets. B. subtilis spores applied on leaves reduced the number of aphids, an effect that was stronger on aphids harboring R. insecticola. A possible interaction between endosymbiotic bacteria and bacterial antagonists within the aphid body is discussed.

Global patterns in genomic diversity underpinning the evolution of insecticide resistance in the aphid crop pest Myzus persicae.

The aphid Myzus persicae is a destructive agricultural pest that displays an exceptional ability to develop resistance to both natural and synthetic insecticides. To investigate the evolution of resistance in this species we generated a chromosome-scale genome assembly and living panel of >110 fully sequenced globally sampled clonal lines. Our analyses reveal a remarkable diversity of resistance mutations segregating in global populations of M. persicae. We show that the emergence and spread of these mechanisms is influenced by host-plant associations, uncovering the widespread co-option of a host-plant adaptation that also offers resistance against synthetic insecticides. We identify both the repeated evolution of independent resistance mutations at the same locus, and multiple instances of the evolution of novel resistance mechanisms against key insecticides. Our findings provide fundamental insights into the genomic responses of global insect populations to strong selective forces, and hold practical relevance for the control of pests and parasites.