cAMP regulates the progesterone receptor gene expression through the protein kinase A pathway during decidualization in human immortalized endometrial stromal cells.

Decidualization, a crucial process for successful pregnancy establishment and maintenance, involves endometrial stromal cell differentiation. This process is orchestrated by estradiol (E2), progesterone, and other stimuli that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. The intracellular progesterone receptor (PR), encoded by the PGR gene, has a key role in decidualization. This study aimed to understand the role of sex steroids and cAMP in regulating PGR expression during the in vitro decidualization of the human immortalized endometrial stromal cell line, T-HESC. We subjected the cells to individual and combined treatments of E2, medroxyprogesterone (MPA), and cAMP. Additionally, we treated cells with PR and estrogen receptor antagonists and a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. We evaluated the expression of PGR isoforms and decidualization-associated genes by RT-qPCR. Our findings revealed that cAMP induced PGR-B and PGR-AB expression by activating the PKA signaling pathway, while MPA downregulated their expression through the PR. Furthermore, downstream genes involved in decidualization, such as those coding for prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP1), and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), exhibited positive regulation via the cAMP-PKA pathway. Remarkably, MPA-activated PR signaling induced the expression of IGFBP1 and DKK1 but inhibited that of PRL. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the PKA signaling pathway induces PGR gene expression during in vitro decidualization of the T-HESC human endometrial stromal cell line. This study has unraveled some of the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing PGR expression during this fundamental process for implantation and pregnancy maintenance.

Epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco: What has changed during the last 30 years?

OBJECTIVE: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is considered the major cause of epilepsy in endemic regions. In the rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco prevalence of NCC among people with epilepsy (PWE) was 27.4%, according to a population-based survey carried out in 1994. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Epilepsy Associated with Tonic-Clonic Seizures (EATCS) and to evaluate the prevalence of NCC among PWE in the rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco after 30 years. METHODS: Twenty-two rural communities (total population 12 852) were involved in the study. PWE in the study area were ascertained by multiple sources and the diagnosis was confirmed by a neurologist. All PWE identified were invited to undergo brain CT scan examination and diagnosis of NCC was sought according to the revised Del Brutto criteria. RESULTS: Seventy-eight PWE (30 men, 38.4%; mean age at onset was 12.7 ± 13.2 years) with EATCS were identified giving a crude prevalence of 6.1/1000 (95% CI: 4.7-7.3). Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the study was interrupted in 2020 and only 36 PWE (46%) of the whole sample underwent CT scan examination. Of these, 8 (22.2%) fulfilled the criteria for NCC of whom 6 (75%) presented only single or multiple calcifications. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study reassessing the prevalence of NCC among PWE after 30 years, in the same rural area and using a population-based design. T. solium is still endemic in the Bolivian Chaco where more than 20% of EATCS may be attributable to NCC. Our findings show a substantially unchanged prevalence of NCC over the past 30 years despite improved knowledge, underlining the need for active intervention programs to control T. solium transmission in this area. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Neurocysticercosis is still endemic in the Bolivian Chaco. The proportion of epilepsy attributable to neurocysticercosis is about 22%. Systematic efforts towards elimination of neurocysticercosis in these areas should be implemented.

New Organotin (IV) Compounds Derived from Dehydroacetic Acid and Thiosemicarbazides: Synthesis, Rational Design, Cytotoxic Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Simulation.

Organotin complexes were prepared through a one-pot reaction with three components by reacting thiosemicarbazide or 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide or 4-phenylthiosemicarbazide, dehydroacetic acid (DHA) and dibutyl, diphenyl, dicyclohexyl, and bis[(trimethylsilyl)methyl]tin(IV) oxides; all complexes were characterized by infrared (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The 119Sn NMR revealed chemical shifts corresponding to a pentacoordinated environment in solution. The X-ray crystallography of the two complexes evidenced the formation of monomeric complexes with a pentacoordinated geometry around tin via three donor atoms from the ligand, the sulfur of the thiol, the nitrogen of the imine group, and the oxygen of the pyran ring. The geometries of the five-coordinated complexes 3a (Bu2SnL3), 3c (Ph2SnL3), and 3d (Cy2SnL3) acid were intermediate between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal, and complex 1a (Bu2SnL1) adopted a bipyramidal trigonal geometry (BPT). The sulforhodamine B assay assessed the cytotoxicity of organotin(IV) complexes against the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 (human mammary adenocarcinoma) cell lines and one normal COS-7 (African green monkey kidney fibroblast). The IC50 values evidenced a significant antiproliferative effect on cancer cells; the complexes were more potent than the positive cisplatin control and the corresponding ligands, dehydroacetic acid thiosemicarbazone (L1), dehydroacetic acid-N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone (L2), and dehydroacetic acid-N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone (L3). The IC50 values also indicated that the organotin(IV) complexes were more cytotoxic against the triple-negative breast cell line MDA-MB-231 than MCF-7, inducing significant morphological alterations. The interactions of organotin(IV) 1c (Ph2SnL1), 1d (Cy2SnL1), and 1e (((CH3)3SiCH2)2SnL1) were evaluated with ss-DNA by fluorescence; intensity changes of the fluorescence were indicative of the displacement of ethidium bromide (EB), confirming the interaction of the organotin(IV) complexes with ss-DNA; the results showed a DNA binding affinity. The thermodynamic parameters obtained through isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the interaction of 1c (Ph2SnL1), with ss-ADN, was exothermic. Molecular docking studies also demonstrated that the organotin(IV) complexes were intercalated in DNA by conventional hydrogen bonds, carbon-hydrogen bonds, and π-alkyl interactions. These complexes furthermore showed a greater affinity towards DNA than cisplatin.

The Effect of Metformin and Carbohydrate-Controlled Diet on DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in the Endometrium of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease associated with infertility and metabolic disorders in reproductive-aged women. In this study, we evaluated the expression of eight genes related to endometrial function and their DNA methylation levels in the endometrium of PCOS patients and women without the disease (control group). In addition, eight of the PCOS patients underwent intervention with metformin (1500 mg/day) and a carbohydrate-controlled diet (type and quantity) for three months. Clinical and metabolic parameters were determined, and RT-qPCR and MeDIP-qPCR were used to evaluate gene expression and DNA methylation levels, respectively. Decreased expression levels of HOXA10, GAB1, and SLC2A4 genes and increased DNA methylation levels of the HOXA10 promoter were found in the endometrium of PCOS patients compared to controls. After metformin and nutritional intervention, some metabolic and clinical variables improved in PCOS patients. This intervention was associated with increased expression of HOXA10, ESR1, GAB1, and SLC2A4 genes and reduced DNA methylation levels of the HOXA10 promoter in the endometrium of PCOS women. Our preliminary findings suggest that metformin and a carbohydrate-controlled diet improve endometrial function in PCOS patients, partly by modulating DNA methylation of the HOXA10 gene promoter and the expression of genes implicated in endometrial receptivity and insulin signaling.

Pentacoordinated Organotin(IV) Complexes as an Alternative in the Design of Highly Efficient Optoelectronic and Photovoltaic Devices: Synthesis and Photophysical Characterization.

The synthesis of four pentacoordinated organotin(IV) complexes prepared in a one-pot reaction from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine and organotin oxides is reported. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, MS, 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR techniques. The compound based on 2,2-diphenyl-6-aza-1,3-dioxa-2-stannanaphtho[1,2-h]pyrido[3,2-d]cyclononene revealed the formation of a monomeric complex with a distorted five-coordinated molecular geometry intermediate between the trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal. In order to find possible applications in photovoltaic devices, hybrid films of organotin(IV) complexes embedded in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with graphene were deposited. The topographic and mechanical properties were examined. The film with the complex integrated into the cyclohexyl substituent has high plastic deformation, with a maximum stress of 1.69 × 107 Pa and a Knoop hardness of 0.061. The lowest values of 1.85 eV for the onset gap and 3.53 eV for the energy gap were obtained for the heterostructure having the complex with the phenyl substituent. Bulk heterojunction devices were fabricated; these devices showed ohmic behavior at low voltages and a space-charge-limited current (SCLC) conduction mechanism at higher voltages. A value of 0.02 A was found for the maximum carried current. The SCLC mechanism suggests hole mobility values of between 2.62 × 10-2 and 3.63 cm2/V.s and concentrations of thermally excited holes between 2.96 × 1018 and 4.38 × 1018 m-3.

Consenso para el manejo práctico de la urticaria en atención primaria

Introduction: urticaria has a high impact on the quality of life of patients with this condition. While there are multiple evidence-based guidelines, these tend to be aimed at providing management recommendations for specialists rather than primary care physicians, who are usually the first to care for patients with urticaria. Objective: to develop a consensus document aimed at presenting evidence-based recommendations to help general practitioners, family doctors, pediatricians, internists and emergency physicians provide timely care for patients with urticaria, facilitating its diagnosis and timely care, and thus avoiding delays for the patients. Methods: international urticaria guidelines with recommendations based on the GRADE system were used as the source of information. Delegates of the interested scientific societies were convened, and, through structured meetings, treatment barriers and possible solutions for the application of the recommendations in primary care were identified. Results: the main barriers for primary care physicians in applying the guidelines were identified: confusion in the diagnosis, proper timing of treatment, first-line medications, and management of special situations. Possible consensus solutions were proposed for each identified barrier. Conclusion: this consensus document contains recommendations for the management and treatment of acute and chronic urticaria which help primary care physicians provide timely and effective treatment for patients with this disease. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2722).

Prevalence of epilepsy in the rural area of the Bolivian Gran Chaco: Usefulness of telemedicine and impact of awareness campaigns.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of epilepsy with Tonic-Clonic (TC) seizures in rural areas of the Bolivian Gran Chaco and to evaluate the usefulness of telemedicine in this context. METHODS: The study was carried out in the Isozo Area, southern-eastern Bolivia. Twenty-five rural communities with a population of 8258 inhabitants were included in the survey. Trained community-health workers administered a validated single screening question to the householders (stage I). A second face-to-face questionnaire was administered to each positive subject (stage II). At stage II subjects were also screened using the smartphone app "Epilepsy Diagnosis Aid". Subjects screened positive at stage II underwent a complete neurological examination to confirm the diagnosis (stage III). Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, some subjects have been evaluated through a digital platform (Zoom®). RESULTS: One-thousand two-hundred and thirteen interviews were performed at stage I, corresponding to a total screened population of 6692 inhabitants. Thirty-eight screened positive were identified at stage I and II and of these, 28 people with epilepsy were identified, giving an overall prevalence of 4.2/1000 (95% CI 2.6-5.7). Prevalence rate steeply increased with age reaching a peak of 7.9/1000 in the population aged 20-29 years without significant differences between women and men. For almost 50% of the screened positive subjects, confirmation of epilepsy by a neurologist at stage III was achieved through simple videoconsultation. After a simultaneous awareness campaign, 22 self-reported PWE requested a consultation and, among them, 11 had a diagnosis of epilepsy confirmed. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows a prevalence estimate close to those reported for LMIC. Simple videoconsultation and specific apps may be valuable tools in epidemiological research. Awareness campaigns are important allies for a full case identification, particularly in contexts where higher rates of stigma are recorded.

Body mass index implications in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and placental histopathological alterations.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Intrahepatic cholestasis is a frequent disease during pregnancy. It is unknown if liver function alterations produce specific placental lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate placental histopathological changes in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and to explore correlations between the placental histopathology and hepatic function alteration or patient comorbidities, and body mass index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included women with ICP, most of them showing comorbidities such as overweight/obesity, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. They were attended at the National Institute of Perinatology in Mexico City for three years. Placental histopathological alterations were evaluated according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement. Data was analyzed using Graph-Pad Prism 5. RESULTS: The results indicated that the placenta of ICP patients showed many histopathological alterations; however, no correlations were observed between the increase in bile acids or liver functional parameters and specific placental lesions. The most frequent comorbidities found in ICP patients were obesity, overweight and preeclampsia. Surprisingly, high percentage of ICP patients did not respond to UDCA treatment independently of the BMI group to which they belonged. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that ICP contribute to placental lesions. In addition, in patients with normal weight, an increase of chorangiosis and a reduced accelerated villous maturation without syncytial knots were observed in comparison with overweight and obese patients. It is necessary to improve the medical strategies in the treatment and liver disfunction surveillance of ICP patients.

Development of Radiosterilized Porcine Skin Electrosprayed with Silver Nanoparticles Prevents Infections in Deep Burns.

Extensive burns represent a significant challenge in biomedicine due to the multiple systemic and localized complications resulting from the major skin barrier loss. The functionalization of xenografts with nanostructured antibacterial agents proposes a fast and accessible application to restore barrier function and prevent localized bacterial contamination. Based on this, the objective of this work was to functionalize a xenograft by electrospray deposition with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to evaluate its antibiofilm and cytotoxic effects on human fibroblasts. Initially, AgNPs were synthesized by a green microwave route with sizes of 2.1, 6.8, and 12.2 nm and concentrations of 0.055, 0.167, and 0.500 M, respectively. The AgNPs showed a size relationship directly proportional to the concentration of AgNO3, with a spherical and homogeneous distribution determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The surface functionalization of radiosterilized porcine skin (RPS) via electrospray deposition with the three AgNP concentrations (0.055, 0.167, and 0.500 M) in the epidermis and the dermis showed a uniform distribution on both surfaces by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The antibiofilm assays of clinical multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed significant effects at the concentrations of 0.167 and 0.500 M, with a log reduction of 1.3 and 2.6, respectively. Additionally, viability experiments with human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) exposed to AgNPs released from functionalized porcine skin showed favorable tolerance, with retention of viability more significant than 90% for concentrations of 0.05 and 0.167 M after 24 h exposure. Antibacterial activity combined with excellent biocompatibility makes this biomaterial a candidate for antibacterial protection by inhibiting bacterial biofilms in deep burns during early stages of development.

Long-Standing International Cooperation in Parasitology Research: A Summary of 35 Years of Activities in the Bolivian Chaco.

The Bolivian Chaco is a semiarid region with a low population density, situated in the southeast part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Here, despite the improvements of the last 15 years, poverty remains high in rural areas, where social vulnerability is widespread. The Guaraní ethnic group often lives in isolated communities with a low standard of hygiene and sanitation. This epidemiological scenario favors the spread of transmissible diseases, including several parasitic infections belonging to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) group. In this area, a long-standing research activity, built upon the synergism between local and foreign institutions, has been established since the late 1980s and helps to fill in the knowledge gap about the epidemiology dynamics of soil-transmitted helminths, vector-borne parasites, and other parasitic diseases. A 35-year history of cooperation programs in parasitology research has contributed to informing local health authorities of the NTD burden in the Bolivian Chaco and, ultimately, supports local healthcare providers in the management of parasitic diseases.

Multicentric and Observational Study of Omalizumab for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Real-Life in Colombia.

Background: Although chronic urticaria (CU) is a common, cause of medical consulting both in general practitioners and allergist specialists worldwide, there is little information about its behavior and management in Latin America. Currently, national and international guidelines recommend using Omalizumab for cases refractory to management with antihistamines. Despite advances in the knowledge of Omalizumab for the management of CU, although there are few studies in underdeveloped countries, there are many studies evaluating the impact of Omalizumab treatment. There is not clinical information related with CSU-Omalizumab in patient settled in the Caribbean area. This research aims to evaluate the management of CU with Omalizumab in a real-life scenario in Colombia. Methodology: We conducted an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study with patient recruitment between 2014 and 2017 of individuals diagnosed with Chronic Urticaria (CU) treating allergology specialists in five Colombian cities. We included patients with CU who failed to achieve disease control after treatment for 4 weeks with fourfold doses of second-generation H1-antihistamines, as recommended by the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines and who received treatment with Omalizumab. Results: We included 123 patients, 73.1% (n = 90) were women. The mean age was 47.1 years (Standard Deviation, SD: 16.2). The median of the total months of disease evolution was 30 (IQR = 13-58). 81.3 % (n = 100) of patients were diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticarial (CSU). 4.8% (n = 6) had inducible CU (CIndU), and 13.8% (n = 17) reported mixed urticaria (spontaneous CU with at least one inducible component). Regarding emotional factors, 34.9% (n = 43) of subjects indicated anxiety symptoms, 34.1% (n = 42) had exacerbations associated with stress, and 14.6% (n = 18) manifested episodes of sadness. The percentage of patients with CSU controlled according to medical criteria at 3 months with Omalizumab were 80% (n = 80/100) and at 6 months 87% (n = 87/100). The frequency of adverse events was 29.2% (n = 36), with headache being the most frequent adverse event. Conclusions: This real-life study with Omalizumab at CU describes percentages of effectiveness and safety similar to those observed in pivotal and real-life studies conducted in other regions around the world.

Current findings in endometrial microbiome: impact on uterine diseases.

Microbiome or microbiota is essential to regulate many mammalian physiological processes, including reproduction. Like other organs or tissues, the upper female reproductive tract used to be considered as devoid of microorganisms; however, a non-infection-related bacterial community was discovered in the uterus from humans and other mammals, and its composition is related to reproductive success. The dysbiosis of endometrial microbiota is associated with benign and malign uterine diseases. Hence, this review addressed the current knowledge about uterine microbiota alterations and their association with common endometrial diseases, including endometrial polyposis, endometriosis, uterine myomatosis, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer. There is a specific bacterial community in the endometrium in the most-analyzed uterine diseases. However, the constant finding consists in a reduced abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, while there is an increased abundance of Proteobacteria (such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus), Bacteroidetes (Prevotella, for example), and Actinobacteria (as Gardnerella), in contrast to healthy endometrium. Besides, we discussed the future usefulness of the endometrial microbiota components as biomarkers to diagnose uterine diseases and their probable clinical outcomes. In addition, we analyzed their potential use as probiotics since they could provide an alternative or complement to existing therapies.

Desempeño en las Tareas del Test de Boston vs. Prueba para la Evaluación del Procesamiento del Lenguaje en el Adulto (PEPLA) Aplicadas a Adultos mayores de Bogotá, Colombia / Performance in the Tasks of the Test of Boston vs. Test for Evaluation of Language Processing en the Adult (PEPLA) Applied to Adults in Bogotá, Colombia

El artículo tiene como objetivo general comparar el desempeño de las tareas del test de Boston y de la Prueba para la evaluación del procesamiento del lenguaje en el adulto (PEPLA) en adultos mayores de 60 años en Bogotá, Colombia. Para ello se evalúa con la Prueba para la Evaluación del Procesamiento del Lenguaje en el Adulto (PEPLA) y el test de Boston, a 11 adultos mayores de 60 años, pertenecientes a la ciudad de Bogotá, la aplicación de las pruebas se llevó a cabo mediante el ejercicio de telepráctica, con la aplicación Google Meet. Se presenta el análisis e interpretación de los resultados estadísticos obtenidos en el software R que mediante la opción prueba t, se compararon las variables A y B. La variable A representa las tareas del test de Boston, la variable B representa las tareas de la prueba PEPLA. Allí se evidenciaron valores que representa si las variables son estadísticamente significativas o no. Se concluyó que las tareas del test de Boston y PEPLA guardan niveles de desempeño similares, es por esta razón que PEPLA ofrece un avance para la población colombiana y es pertinente que se realicen las modificaciones para su validación

To compare the performance of the tasks of the Boston test and the Test for the assessment of language processing in adults (PEPLA) in adults over 60 years in Bogotá, Colombia. It is evaluated with the Test for the Evaluation of Language Processing in the Adult (PEPLA) and the Boston test, 11 adults over 60 years old, belonging to the city of Bogotá, the application of the tests was carried out by means of the telepractic exercise, with the Google Meet application. The analysis and interpretation of the statistical results obtained in the R software is presented, which by means of the t-test option, variables A and B were compared. Variable A represents the tasks of the Boston test, variable B represents the tasks of the test PEPLA. There, values were evidenced that represent whether the variables are statistically significant or not. It was concluded that the tasks of the Boston and PEPLA test have similar performance levels, it is for this reason that PEPLA offers an advance for the Colombian population and it is pertinent that the pertinent modifications be made for its validation

CesL Regulates Type III Secretion Substrate Specificity of the Enteropathogenic E. coli Injectisome.

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a complex molecular device used by several pathogenic bacteria to translocate effector proteins directly into eukaryotic host cells. One remarkable feature of the T3SS is its ability to secrete different categories of proteins in a hierarchical manner, to ensure proper assembly and timely delivery of effectors into target cells. In enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, the substrate specificity switch from translocator to effector secretion is regulated by a gatekeeper complex composed of SepL, SepD, and CesL proteins. Here, we report a characterization of the CesL protein using biochemical and genetic approaches. We investigated discrepancies in the phenotype among different cesL deletion mutants and showed that CesL is indeed essential for translocator secretion and to prevent premature effector secretion. We also demonstrated that CesL engages in pairwise interactions with both SepL and SepD. Furthermore, while association of SepL to the membrane does not depended on CesL, the absence of any of the proteins forming the heterotrimeric complex compromised the intracellular stability of each component. In addition, we found that CesL interacts with the cytoplasmic domains of the export gate components EscU and EscV. We propose a mechanism for substrate secretion regulation governed by the SepL/SepD/CesL complex.

Design of Promising Heptacoordinated Organotin (IV) Complexes-PEDOT: PSS-Based Composite for New-Generation Optoelectronic Devices Applications.

The synthesis of four mononuclear heptacoordinated organotin (IV) complexes of mixed ligands derived from tridentated Schiff bases and pyrazinecarboxylic acid is reported. This organotin (IV) complexes were prepared by using a multicomponent reaction, the reaction proceeds in moderate to good yields (64% to 82%). The complexes were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, 1H, 13C, and 119Sn nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analysis. The spectroscopic analysis revealed that the tin atom is seven-coordinate in solution and that the carboxyl group acts as monodentate ligand. To determine the effect of the substituent on the optoelectronic properties of the organotin (IV) complexes, thin films were deposited, and the optical bandgap was obtained. A bandgap between 1.88 and 1.98 eV for the pellets and between 1.23 and 1.40 eV for the thin films was obtained. Later, different types of optoelectronic devices with architecture "contacts up/base down" were manufactured and analyzed to compare their electrical behavior. The design was intended to generate a composite based on the synthetized heptacoordinated organotin (IV) complexes embedded on the poly(3,4-ethylenedyoxithiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). A Schottky curve at low voltages (<1.5 mV) and a current density variation of as much as ~3 × 10-5 A/cm2 at ~1.1 mV was observed. A generated photocurrent was of approximately 10-7 A and a photoconductivity between 4 × 10-9 and 7 × 10-9 S/cm for all the manufactured structures. The structural modifications on organotin (IV) complexes were focused on the electronic nature of the substituents and their ability to contribute to the electronic delocalization via the π system. The presence of the methyl group, a modest electron donor, or the non-substitution on the aromatic ring, has a reduced effect on the electronic properties of the molecule. However, a strong effect in the electronic properties of the material can be inferred from the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents like chlorine, able to reduce the gap energies.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on frail health systems of low- and middle-income countries: The case of epilepsy in the rural areas of the Bolivian Chaco.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put some health systems under pressure, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed at evaluating the impact of COVID-19 emergency on the management of people with epilepsy (PWE) living in the rural communities of the Gran Chaco area of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected a sample of PWE living in the rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco. A standardized questionnaire was developed, consisting of six questions addressing drug availability, drug discontinuation, personnel responsible for drug retrieval during the lockdown, and the presence of seizures in the two months preceding the interview. Questionnaires were administered by community health workers of the rural health centers in September 2020. RESULTS: Seventy PWE (38 men, 54.3%; mean age 26.9 ±â€¯16.7) were interviewed. During the lockdown the large majority of them (n = 51, 73.9%) reported an irregular medication intake mainly due to the lack of antiseizure medications in the local health posts, leading to an increase in seizure frequency. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has unmasked the frailty of the Bolivian health system, especially for the management of chronic diseases such as epilepsy in the rural communities.

An Indo-Pacific coral spawning database.

The discovery of multi-species synchronous spawning of scleractinian corals on the Great Barrier Reef in the 1980s stimulated an extraordinary effort to document spawning times in other parts of the globe. Unfortunately, most of these data remain unpublished which limits our understanding of regional and global reproductive patterns. The Coral Spawning Database (CSD) collates much of these disparate data into a single place. The CSD includes 6178 observations (3085 of which were unpublished) of the time or day of spawning for over 300 scleractinian species in 61 genera from 101 sites in the Indo-Pacific. The goal of the CSD is to provide open access to coral spawning data to accelerate our understanding of coral reproductive biology and to provide a baseline against which to evaluate any future changes in reproductive phenology.

Usefulness of a smartphone application for the diagnosis of epilepsy: Validation study in high-income and rural low-income countries.

INTRODUCTION: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the diagnosis of epilepsy should be made by Non-Physician Health Workers (NPHW) who are widely available in these settings. Recently a smartphone app (Epilepsy Diagnosis Aid) has been developed and validated to be used by NPHW, in order to confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy. The aim of our study was to perform a validation of the app in two different contexts: a hospital-based setting of a high-income country (HIC) and a population-based setting of the rural communities of a LMIC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the hospital-based setting, the app was administered to a sample of patients with epilepsy (PWE) and to a sample of subjects affected by syncope attending the epilepsy center of the University of Catania. For the population-based setting, performed in the rural communities of the Gran Chaco region in Bolivia,the app was administered by NPHW to a sample of PWE previously identified. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the diagnosis of epilepsy. RESULTS: In the hospital-setting, the app was administered to 100 PWE and 20 syncopes. A probability score > 80 showed a sensitivity of 76% (95%CI 66.4-84) and a specificity of 100% (95%CI 83.2-100) for the diagnosis of epilepsy; higher values were found for active epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures. In the rural-setting, the app was administered to 38 PWE, giving a sensitivity of 92.1% (95%CI 78.6-98.3). CONCLUSION: The app for epilepsy could represent a valuable instrument, which can be easily employed by trained NPHW to diagnose epilepsy in primary health-care settings of LMIC.

Low coral bleaching prevalence at the Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex, northwestern Philippines during the 2016 thermal stress event.

Here, we examined the coral bleaching responses during the 2016 thermal stress event and post-bleaching changes in coral communities in the heavily disturbed reefs of the Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex (BARC), northwestern Philippines. Less than 25% of colonies bleached, with 77% attributed to five genera (Dipsastrea, Porites, Fungia, Seriatopora, and Montipora). Coral bleaching prevalence was associated with site location, coral composition, and coral abundance, suggesting that small-scale variation (<20 km) in coral communities (taxa and density) influences spatial variation in coral bleaching prevalence. There was no noticeable change in coral composition and cover two years after the bleaching event as exposure to chronic disturbance likely selected for the dominance of stress tolerant coral taxa and communities. Results show that the 2016 thermal stress event caused coral bleaching but with low prevalence at the BARC, which suggests that disturbed reefs may provide spatial refuge to coral communities from thermal stress.

Expression of Membrane Progesterone Receptors in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium of Women with Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is one of the most frequent gynecological diseases in reproductive age women, but its etiology is not completely understood. Endometriosis is characterized by progesterone resistance, which has been explained in part by a decrease in the expression of the intracellular progesterone receptor in the ectopic endometrium. Progesterone action is also mediated by nongenomic mechanisms via membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) that belong to the class II members of the progesterone and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression at mRNA and protein levels of mPR members in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Total RNA and total protein were isolated from control endometrium (17 samples), eutopic endometrium (17 samples), and ectopic endometrium (9 samples). The expression of PAQR7 (mPRα), PAQR8 (mPRß), and PAQR6 (mPRδ) at mRNA and protein levels was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot, whereas PAQR5 (mPRγ) gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis between comparable groups was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons test with a confidence interval of 95 %. The analysis of gene expression showed that PAQR7 and PAQR5 expression was lower in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium as compared to the endometrium of women without endometriosis, whereas the expression of PAQR8 and PAQR6 was only reduced in eutopic endometrium. Furthermore, mPRα and mPRß protein content was decreased in the ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Our results demonstrate a decrease in the expression and protein content of mPRs in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis, which could contribute to the progesterone resistance observed in patients with this disease.