Monitoring and tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Asturias, Spain.

Mutational analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can quantify the relative importance of variants over time, enable dominant mutations to be identified, and facilitate near real-time detection, comparison and tracking of evolving variants. SARS-CoV-2 in Asturias, an autonomous community of Spain with a large ageing population, and high levels of migration and tourism, was monitored and tracked from the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020 until its decline and stabilization in August 2021, and samples were characterized using whole genomic sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Data held in the GISAID database were analysed to establish patterns in the appearance and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 strains. Only 138 non-synonymous mutations occurring in more than 1 % of the population with SARS-CoV-2 were found, identifying ten major variants worldwide (seven arose before January 2021), 19 regional and one local. In Asturias only 17 different variants were found. After vaccination, no further regional major variants were found. Only half of the defined variants circulated and no new variants were generated, indicating that infection control measures such as rapid diagnosis, isolation and vaccination were efficient.

Comparison of in-house SARS-CoV-2 genome extraction procedures. A need for COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the methods used to diagnose COVID-19, those based on genomic detection by q(RT)-PCR are the most sensitive. To perform these assays, a previous genome extraction of the sample is required. The dramatic increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2 detection assays has increased the demand for extraction reagents hindering the supply of commercial reagents. Homemade reagents and procedures could be an alternative. Nasopharyngeal samples were extracted by seven different methods as well as the automatic method MagNaPure96, to detect SARS-CoV-2. All protocols show sensitivity higher than 87 %, in comparison with reference method, for detecting SARS-CoV-2 as well as human ß- globin. Our results support that these procedures, using common and cheap reagents, are effective to extract RNA (from SARS-CoV-2) or DNA (from human ß-globin) genome from nasopharyngeal swabs. Furthermore, these procedures could be easily adopted by routine diagnostic laboratories to implement detection methods to help to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of Sepsis Flow Chip for identification of Gram-negative bacilli and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes directly from positive blood cultures.

Blood stream infections are serious conditions associated with high morbi-mortality. In this study, the new Sepsis Flow Chip (SFC) assay for identification of Gram-negative bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance genes was evaluated in positive blood cultures (BCs). SFC is a microarray with a broad panel comprising the most frequent causative agents of sepsis and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with them. A total of 100 prospective BCs, positive for Gram-negative bacilli, were assessed in the routine of the clinical microbiology laboratory and also applying the SFC assay. Moreover, 19 BCs spiked with well-characterized enterobacterial isolates, harboring antimicrobial resistance genes, were analyzed by the latter. Among the monomicrobial BCs (90), the concordance between SFC identification and the reference method was 94.4%; however, it achieved 100% when SFC was combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry after 4-h incubation. Regarding polymicrobial BCs (10), 15 out of the 22 bacteria present (68.2%) were correctly identified, including all contained in 50% of the cultures. With regard to antimicrobial resistance genes, 98.8%, 98.9%, and 99% concordance was obtained for blaCTX-M, blaOXA-48, and blaVIM, respectively, in comparison with polymerase chain reaction amplification. SFC assay gives results in only 4 h and showed a high concordance rate with the reference method. Although further evaluation studies are necessary, SFC assay implementation, together with antimicrobial stewardship programs, could contribute to improve the therapeutic approaches and to reduce the morbi-mortality, length of hospital stay, and healthcare-associated costs in patients with sepsis.

Synthesis and biological activity of polyalthenol and pentacyclindole analogues.

A series of indole sesquiterpenes analogues of polyalthenol and pentacyclindole have been synthesized starting from ent-halimic acid in order to test their biological activity. These analogues include diverse oxidation levels at the sesquiterpenyl moiety and different functionalization on the indole ring. All synthetic derivatives were tested against a representative panel of Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains, and the human solid tumour cell lines A549 (non-small cell lung), HBL-100 (breast), HeLa (cervix), SW1573 (non-small cell lung), T-47D (breast) and WiDr (colon). Overall, the compounds presented activity against the cancer cell lines. The resulting lead, displaying a polyalthenol scaffold, showed GI50 values in the range 1.2-5.7 µM against all cell lines tested.

Sesquiterpenyl indoles.

The natural product sesquiterpenyl indoles are structural hybrids from farnesyl pyrophosphate and tryptophan or its precursors, often with unusual and complex structural features, many of them with interesting biological activities. In this review the compounds of this class known until now are classified, a biosynthetic approach of each group is proposed and a review of the synthesis or synthetic approaches is communicated.

Exploración de conocimientos sobre el autoexamen mamario / Exploring knowledge about breast self-examination

La finalidad del presente trabajo fue profundizar en el conocimiento de una población femenina sobre las técnicas para realizar el autoexamen mamario. Se realizó un estudio transversal retrospectivo en el consultorio No. 4 perteneciente al Policlínico Principal de Urgencia "Epifanio Rojas Gil" del municipio San Luis, Pinar del Río. Se encuestaron 100 mujeres en el período entre julio y diciembre del 2001. Se valoraron las vías de aprendizaje de estas técnicas y frecuencia con que las realizaban. También se valoraron los conocimientos sobre la naturaleza benigna o maligna de los nódulos mamarios y sobre las relación entre el cáncer de mama y la lactancia materna. Los resultados se expresaron en porcentajes y demostraron que existe desconocimiento sobre el autoexamen de mama en el mayor número de las mujeres encuestadas, fundamentalmente en la técnica correcta así como en el efecto protector de la lactancia materna contra el cáncer mamario(AU)

Exploración de conocimientos sobre el autoexamen mamario / Exploring knowledge about breast self-examination

La finalidad del presente trabajo fue profundizar en el conocimiento de una población femenina sobre las técnicas para realizar el autoexamen mamario. Se realizó un estudio transversal retrospectivo en el consultorio No. 4 perteneciente al Policlínico Principal de Urgencia Epifanio Rojas Gil del municipio San Luis, Pinar del Río. Se encuestaron 100 mujeres en el período entre julio y diciembre del 2001. Se valoraron las vías de aprendizaje de estas técnicas y frecuencia con que las realizaban. También se valoraron los conocimientos sobre la naturaleza benigna o maligna de los nódulos mamarios y sobre las relación entre el cáncer de mama y la lactancia materna. Los resultados se expresaron en porcentajes y demostraron que existe desconocimiento sobre el autoexamen de mama en el mayor número de las mujeres encuestadas, fundamentalmente en la técnica correcta así como en el efecto protector de la lactancia materna contra el cáncer mamario(AU)

he purpose of the present work was to deepen in the knowledge of a feminine population on the techniques to carry out the mammary autoexamen. He/she was Not carried out a retrospective traverse study in the clinic. 4 belonging to the Main Policlínico of Urgency Red Epifanio Gil of the municipality San Luis, Pinegrove of the River. 100 women were interviewed in the period between July and December of the 2001. The roads of learning of these techniques and frequency were valued with which they carried out them. The knowledge were also valued on the benign or wicked nature of the mammary nodules and on the relationship among the cancer of he/she suckles and the maternal nursing. The results were expressed in percentages and they demonstrated that ignorance exists on the autoexamen of he/she suckles in the biggest number in the interviewed women, fundamentally in the correct technique as well as in the protective effect of the maternal nursing against the mammary cancer(AU)