Spinal bestrophin-1 and anoctamin-1 channels have a pronociceptive role in the tactile allodynia induced by REM sleep deprivation in rats.

Bestrophin-1 and anoctamin-1 are members of the calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) family and are involved in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. However, their role in pain hypersensitivity induced by REM sleep deprivation (REMSD) has not been studied. This study aimed to determine if anoctamin-1 and bestrophin-1 are involved in the pain hypersensitivity induced by REMSD. We used the multiple-platform method to induce REMSD. REM sleep deprivation for 48 h induced tactile allodynia and a transient increase in corticosterone concentration at the beginning of the protocol (12 h) in female and male rats. REMSD enhanced c-Fos and α2δ-1 protein expression but did not change activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and KCC2 expression in dorsal root ganglia and dorsal spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of CaCCinh-A01, a non-selective bestrophin-1 blocker, and T16Ainh-A01, a specific anoctamin-1 blocker, reverted REMSD-induced tactile allodynia. However, T16Ainh-A01 had a higher antiallodynic effect in male than female rats. In addition, REMSD increased bestrophin-1 protein expression in DRG but not in DSC in male and female rats. In marked contrast, REMSD decreased anoctamin-1 protein expression in DSC but not in DRG, only in female rats. Bestrophin-1 and anoctamin-1 promote pain and maintain tactile allodynia induced by REM sleep deprivation in both male and female rats, but their expression patterns differ between the sexes.

Presence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Food-Producing and Companion Animals and Wildlife on Small-Holder Farms of Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AR) has led to increasing human and animal morbidity and mortality and negative consequences for the environment. AR among Escherichia coli (EC) is on the rise, with serious concerns about extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC). In the Galápagos Islands, where antimicrobials are available without a prescription, growing demands for food production can drive antimicrobial use. Food producing animals are at the interface of wildlife and environmental health on the smallest human-inhabited Galápagos Island, Floreana. We sought to determine if ESBL-EC were present in Floreana Island farm animal species and nearby wildlife and the relatedness of ESBL-EC isolates identified. Materials and Methods: During July 4-5, 2022, we visited 8 multispecies farms, representing 75% of food-producing animal production on Floreana, and collected 227 fecal samples from farm animals and wildlife. Each sample was plated on MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime (4 µg/mL). Results: ESBL-EC was isolated from 20 (9%) fecal samples collected from pigs (N = 10), chickens (N = 6), wildlife (N = 3), and dog (N = 1). All ESBL-EC isolates were from samples taken at three (38%) of the eight farms. Fifteen (75%) of the ESBL-EC isolates were from a single farm. All ESBL-EC isolates were multidrug resistant. The most prevalent ESBL genes belonged to the blaCTX-M group. Among the typeable isolates from the farm with the largest proportion of ESBL-EC isolates (N = 14), we observed nine unique pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, with identical patterns present across pig and chicken isolates. PFGE patterns in the three farms with ESBL-EC isolates were different. Conclusions: These results lend support for future routine AR monitoring activities at the livestock-wildlife interface in Galápagos to characterize potential interspecies transmission of AR bacteria and AR genes in this unique protected ecosystem, and the related human, animal, and environmental health impacts, and to formulate interventions to reduce AR spread in this setting.

Massive testing in the Galapagos Islands and low positivity rate to control SARS-CoV-2 spread during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic: a story of success for Ecuador and South America.

INTRODUCTION: During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America, countries like Ecuador, Peru and Colombia experienced chaotic scenarios with public health systems collapsing and lack of testing capacity to control the spread of the virus. In main cities like Guayaquil in Ecuador, dramatic situations such as corpses in the streets were internationally broadcasted. METHODS: While the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating South America, SARS-CoV-2 transmission was successfully managed in the Galapagos Islands due to the implementation of a massive screening strategy including hospitalized and community-dwelling populations, and travel restrictions facilitated by its geographical location (972 km from the Ecuadorian continental territory). Floreana Island was one of the few locations in the world that remained COVID-19 free during 2020. RESULTS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the data related to SARS-CoV-2 massive testing campaigns from April to September 2020 in the Galapagos Islands, and found this territory to have the lowest positivity rate in South America (4.8-6.7%) and the highest testing ratio among Ecuadorian provinces (9.87% of the population, which is 2480 out of 25 124 inhabitants) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: This story of success was possible because of the interinstitutional collaboration between the regional government of Galapagos Islands (Consejo de Gobierno), the local authorities (Gobiernos Autonomos Descentralizados de Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela), the regional authorities from Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, the Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos and Universidad de Las Américas.

Assessing Livestock Production Practices on Small-Scale Multi-Species Farms Located on Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands.

Globally to date, established international standards for animal welfare, a priority of sustainable agriculture, have primarily focused on large-scale producers. However, across Latin America, including in Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, smallholder farms play a critical role in food safety and security. We assessed five basic animal welfare measures (feed and water access, shelter availability and housing systems, animal health management, animal behavior, and timely euthanasia) for poultry, pigs, and cattle on Floreana Island, Galápagos. Utilizing assessment standards from multiple US sources and international standards, we developed a questionnaire and used it to conduct in-depth interviews during 4-5 July 2022 with eight participating producers, representing 75% of animal agriculture on Floreana. While we identified opportunities to enhance competencies in animal health management and timely euthanasia, farms performed well in the other assessed measures. Future work should promote knowledge transfer and in-country capacity building in farm biosecurity, access to veterinary care, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and euthanasia methods. Efforts to positively impact smallholder farm livelihoods in Galápagos-one of the most biodiverse and protected ecosystems on the planet-will sustainably support human health through the interconnected realms of animal health and welfare, wildlife and environmental health, and food safety and security.

Maternal adaptations of the pancreas and glucose homeostasis in lactation and after lactation.

During lactation, the maternal physiology adapts to bear the nutritional requirements of the offspring. The exocrine and endocrine pancreas are central to nutrient handling, promoting digestion and metabolism. In concert with prolactin, insulin is a determinant factor for milk synthesis. The investigation of the pancreas during lactation has been scattered over several periods. The investigations that laid the foundation of lactating pancreatic physiology and glucose homeostasis were conducted in the decades of 1970-1980. With the development of molecular biology, newer studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms involved in the endocrine pancreas during breastfeeding. There has been a surge of information recently about unexpected changes in the pancreas at the end of the lactation period and after weaning. In this review, we aim to gather information on the changes in the pancreas and glucose homeostasis during and after lactation and discuss the outcomes derived from the current discoveries.

Corrigendum to: "One health" inspired SARS-CoV-2 surveillance: The Galapagos Islands experience [One Health 11 (2020) 100185].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100185.].

Maternal adaptations of pancreatic islets and glucose metabolism after lactation.

Pancreatic islets adapt to metabolic requirements and the hormonal milieu by modifying their size and hormone secretions. Maternal glucose demands and hormonal changes occur after weaning, to rapidly re-establish bone mineralization. Minimal information exists about glucose metabolism and pancreatic islets after lactation. This study investigated islet morphology and glucose homeostasis for 14 days after lactation in C57BL/6NHHsd mice. Compared to the day of weaning, rapid increases in the islets' area and number of beta cells were found from the first day post-lactation, attaining maximum values on the third day post-weaning. These changes were accompanied by modifications in glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Islet-cell proliferation was already augmented before lactation ceased. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin concentrations increased significantly post-lactation; however, it is unlikely that this enhancement participates in earlier cell proliferation augmentation or in decreasing insulin sensitivity. Islet serotonin content was barely expressed, and serum calcium concentrations decreased. By the 14th day post-weaning, islets' area and glucose homeostasis returned to age-matched virgin mice levels. These findings recognize for the first time that increases in islet area and insulin secretion occur during physiological post-weaning conditions. These results open up new opportunities to identify molecules and mechanisms participating in these processes, which will help in developing strategies to combat diabetes.

"One health" inspired SARS-CoV-2 surveillance: The Galapagos Islands experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide since the outbreak in Wuhan (China) in December 2019, currently infecting over 25 million people and causing more than 800.000 deaths. In Ecuador, up to the 30th of August 2020, overall 113.648 confirmed cases and 6.555 deaths have been declared. Besides overloading of hospital, capacity for molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by the Ministry of Public Health was quickly overwhelmed. In this context, emergency authorization for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR diagnosis was granted to other institutions, like the "Agencia de Regulación y Control para la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena de Galápagos" (ABG), that implemented "LabGal" with support of One Health Research Group from "Universidad de Las Américas" (UDLA). The previous experience of ABG and the One Health Research Group in conducting massive surveillance of zoonotic diseases on livestock was crucial to the success on the control of COVID-19 outbreak at Galapagos Islands by the end of May 2020, when Latin American countries were leading the spread of the pandemic.

Cotton-Tipped Plastic Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Diagnosis to Prevent Supply Shortages.

CDC and WHO guidelines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis only recommend synthetic fiber swabs for nasopharyngeal (NP) sampling. We show that cotton-tipped plastic swabs do not inhibit PCR and have equivalent performance to rayon swabs. Cotton-tipped plastic swabs are massively produced worldwide and would prevent swab supply shortages under the current high SARS-CoV-2 testing demands, particularly in developing countries.

Evaluation of nCoV-QS (MiCo BioMed) for RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal samples using CDC FDA EUA qPCR kit as a gold standard: An example of the need of validation studies.

BACKGROUND: Several qPCR kits are available for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mostly lacking of evaluation due to covid19 emergency. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated nCoV-QS (MiCo BioMed) kit using CDC kit as gold standard. RESULTS: We found limitations for nCoV-QS: 1) lower sensitivity 2) lack of RNA quality control probe. CONCLUSIONS: Validation studies should be implemented for any SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR commercial kit to prevent unreliable diagnosis.

Síndrome compartimental abdominal en el paciente pediátrico: una revisión de la literatura / Abdominal compartment syndrome in the pediatric patient: a review of the literature

Resumen El presente artículo tiene como finalidad realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca del síndrome compartimental abdominal en el paciente pediátrico, para actualizar a la población médica general respecto al tema en cuestión; debido a que no hay actualmente estudios de peso estadístico en cuanto a la patología; además, no hay estudios recientes a nivel nacional. El síndrome compartimental abdominal es una condición clínica seria, que presenta una mortalidad elevada sobre todo en la población pediátrica. El desconocimiento de la patología es el principal factor determinante en la mortalidad; ya que, es fundamental la sospecha médica oportuna para inicio de medidas terapéuticas evitando disfunción orgánica y muerte. Por lo tanto, en el siguiente trabajo, se desarrollarán los puntos fundamentales sobre su incidencia, presentación clínica, factores de riesgo, fisiopatología, abordaje diagnóstico y los distintos abordajes terapéuticos, tanto médicos como quirúrgicos; así como, complicaciones y pronósticos. Sin olvidar el punto clave que es conocer la técnica para la medición de la presión intraabdominal, lo que posibilita la detección precoz de complicaciones y consecuentemente, un accionar terapéutico oportuno.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to carry out a bibliographic review about abdominal compartment syndrome in the pediatric patient, to update the medical population about this topic, because currently there are no studies with enough statistical weight about this pathology. Furthermore, there aren´t recent studies at the national level. Abdominal compartment syndrome is a serious clinical condition that has an elevated mortality rate, especially in the pediatric population. The ignorance of the pathology it is the main determining factor in mortality because it is fundamentally the timely medical suspicion to start therapeutic measures avoiding organ dysfunction and death. Therefore, in the following work, the fundamental points will be developed about its incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, approach and the different therapeutic approaches medical and surgical as well as complications and prognosis. Without forgetting the key point which is knowing the technique for the measurement of intra abdominal pressure, which will allow the early detection of complications and consequently, a timely therapeutic action.

Calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral en mayores de 14 años en la comunidad San Juan bautista, isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile / Quality of life related to oral health in subjects 14 Years or Older, San Juan Bautista community, Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile

El aislamiento geográfico y condiciones medioambientales hacen a la población de Juan Fernández altamente vulnerable, siendo relevante conocer la calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral. Se realizó un estudio transversal en 137 habitantes mayores de 14 años. Se aplicó OHIP-14 para medir calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral previo consentimiento informado. El análisis estadístico fue realizado STATA 12.0. Un 51,8% es población femenina, con una edad media de 42,26 (DE 16,5). Un 91,97%, percibe que la salud oral afecta su calidad de vida, siendo levemente mayor en mujeres. Las molestias psicológicas son una manifestación en 80,29% de los encuestados. Un 75,91% percibe incomodidad por dolor en su boca, 62,77% manifiesta problemas de incapacidad psicológica. Existe mayor impacto en la calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral a medida que aumenta la edad. Por cada año de vida, el valor del OHIP-14 aumenta 0,07 (IC:95% 0,04­0,1). Los resultados obtenidos sugieren la necesidad de generar políticas públicas que consideren la salud oral desde una perspectiva integral, con énfasis en poblaciones altamente vulnerables considerando la mejora en la calidad de vida como un resultado a esperar

Geographic isolation and environmental conditions make the population of Robinson Crusoe Island, in the Juan Fernández archipielago highly vulnerable. It is therefore relevant to know the quality of life related to oral health (QOLRTO). In this report a cross sectional study in 137 inhabitants over 14 years of age was carried out. OHIP-14 was applied to measure QOLRTO, after informed consent was obtained. Statistical analysis was made in STATA 12.0. The population is 51.8% female, mean age 42.26 (SD 16.5) being similar in both sexes. Of the subjects studied, 91.97% perceived that oral health affects their quality of life, being slightly higher in women. Psychological distress was a manifestation in 80.29% of subjects, while 75.91% perceived discomfort and mouth pain, and 62.77% reported psychological disability issues. There is a greater impact of oral health issues with increasing age. For each year of life, the value of the OHIP-14 increased 0.07 (CI 95%, 0.04 to 0.1). The results suggest that public health policies that include a comprehensive oral health perspective, with emphasis on highly vulnerable populations should be considered