Carbon dot-based biosensors for the detection of communicable and non -communicable diseases.

Due to their fascinating chemical, optical, electrical, and biological properties carbon dots (CDs or CDots), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted attention in biosensing as they can greatly improve the detection limit, sensitivity, and selectivity of biosensors. In general, CDs, CQDs, and GQDs are a class of carbon-based nanomaterials that are characterized by extraordinary fluorescence, a size less than 10 nm, high stability, low toxicity, and being easy to synthesize and presenting functional groups in their surface area that vary according to their synthesis source. In this review, a general description of the main methods and precursors reported in the scientific literature for the synthesis of CDs, CQDs, and GQDs are presented, as well as the chemical, optical, electrical, and biological properties that stand out the most from them; moreover, the main objective of this review is to summarize the application of these carbonaceous nanomaterials in biosensors for the detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The article summarizes the applications of CDs, CQDs, and GQDs according to the group of diseases they detected using the international classification of diseases in its 10th edition (ICD-10). To facilitate the reader's access to significant information from these biosensors, several tables summarize the information associated with the type of biomarker, the working ranges, and the biosensor assembly.

Manejo de la hiperglicemia en un hospital de primer nivel de atención / Management of hyperglycemia in a first level care hospital

Resumen Objetivo: Describir el tratamiento en un hospital de primer nivel de pacientes que consultaron el servicio de urgencias por hiperglucemia, el manejo previo y su probable relación con nuevas hiperglucemias. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional de corte transversal con seguimiento de un año en pacientes mayores de 18 años con hiperglucemia que consultaron en el servicio de urgencias entre septiembre-2016 y agosto-2017. Se revisaron las historias clínicas y se establecieron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, y farmacológicas. Se empleó estadística descriptiva, X 2 y modelos de regresión logística binaria (P<0.05). Resultados: Se presentaron 86 pacientes con hiperglucemia (edad media de 52.1±14.93 años). Se encontró que en el 58,1% de casos había un diagnóstico previo de diabetes mellitus; 87,2% fueron tratados con insulina cristalina y el 47,0% de los pacientes consultaron nuevamente por una crisis de hiperglucemia en los seis meses posteriores al egreso. Conclusión: Existe alta proporción de pacientes con hiperglucemias no cetónicas, no hiperosmolares que desconocían presentar diabetes mellitus. Además, casi la mitad de los pacientes consultan nuevamente por crisis de hiperglucemia en los siguientes seis meses después del alta.

Abstract Objective: Describe the treatment in a first-level hospital of patients who consulted the emergency department for hyperglycemia, the previous management and its probable relationship with new hyperglycemia. Materials and methods: Observational cross-sectional study with a one-year follow-up in patients over 18 years of age with hyperglycemia who consulted in the emergency department between September-2016 and August-2017. The medical records were reviewed and sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacological variables were established. Descriptive statistics, X2 and binary logistic regression models (P <0.05) were used. Results: There were 86 patients with hyperglycemia (mean age 52.1 ± 14.93 years). It was found that in 58.1% of cases there was a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; 87.2% were treated with crystalline insulin and 47.0% of the patients consulted again for a hyperglycemic crisis in the six months after discharge. Conclusion: There is a high proportion of patients with non-ketonic, non-hyperosmolar hyperglycemia who were unaware of having diabetes mellitus. In addition, almost half of the patients consult again for a hyperglycemic attack in the following six months after discharge.

Body mass data set for 1,317 bird and 270 mammal species from Colombia.

Body mass is one of the most important phenotypic attributes in animal ecology and life history. This trait is widely used in the fields of ecology and macroevolution, since it influences physiology, morphological functions, and a myriad of ecological and social interactions. In this data set, our aim was to gather a comprehensive bird and mammal body mass data set from northern South America. We report body mass, discriminated by sex, for 42,022 individual birds and 7,441 mammals representing 1,317 bird species (69% of Colombia's avifauna) and 270 mammal species (51% of Colombian mammals) from the Neotropics. The data were sourced from vouchers collected between 1942 and 2020 and from individuals captured and released at banding stations over the last two decades for birds (2000-2020) and the last decade for mammals (2010-2020), by 10 research groups and institutions in Colombia. This data set fills gaps identified in other similar databases, as it focuses on northern South America, a highly diverse Neotropical region often underrepresented in morphological data sets. We provide wide taxonomic coverage for studies interested in information both at regional and local scales. There are no copyright restrictions; the present data paper should be appropriately cited when data are used for publication. The authors would appreciate learning about research projects, teaching exercises, and other uses given to this data set and are open to contribute in further collaborations using these data.

Composition and distribution of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) on Colombian and Peruvian birds: New data on louse-host association in the Neotropics.

The diversity of permanent ectoparasites is likely underestimated due to the difficulty of collecting samples. Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are permanent ectoparasites of birds and mammals; there are approximately 5,000 species described and many more undescribed, particularly in the Neotropics. We document the louse genera collected from birds sampled in Peru (2006-2007) and Colombia (2009-2016), from 22 localities across a variety of ecosystems, ranging from lowland tropical forest and Llanos to high elevation cloud forest. We identified 35 louse genera from a total of 210 bird species belonging to 37 avian families and 13 orders. These genera belong to two suborders and three families of lice: Amblycera, families Menoponidae (present on 131 bird species) and Ricinidae (39 bird species); and Ischnocera, family Philopteridae (119 bird species). We compared our bird-louse associations with data in Price et al. (2003) and recently published Neotropical studies. The majority of bird-louse associations (51.9%) were new, with most of these coming from Passeriformes, the most diverse avian order, with the most poorly known louse fauna. Finally, we found geographical variation in louse infestation and prevalence rates. With this study, we report the first comprehensive documentation of bird-louse associations for Colombia and substantially increase the known associations documented for Peru.

Utilización de fármacos antihipertensivos, efectividad e inercia clínica en pacientes / Antihypertensive drug use, efficacy, and clinical inertia in patients

Resumen Introducción: la hipertensión arterial es una de las principales causas de enfermedad cardiovascular. Se encuentra una limitada caracterización local de su tratamiento en nuestra población. Metodología: estudio de corte transversal sobre la prescripción de fármacos antihipertensivos, la efectividad del tratamiento y la inercia clínica en pacientes atendidos en 2014. Se estableció la efectividad según el Sevent Report of the Joint National Committee y se definió inercia clínica como la falta de modificaciones para alcanzar la meta terapéutica. Se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas y farmacológicas. Se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística. Resultados: de un total de 4.195 pacientes, se obtuvo una muestra aleatoria de 309, el 54,7% eran mujeres y 52,8% tenían más de 60 años. Los antihipertensivos más utilizados fueron losartán e hidroclorotiazida (20,8% cada uno). Se halló un control de cifras tensionales en el 75,3% de un total de 675 consultas y de las 167 visitas que no presentaron control tensional se evidenció inercia clínica en 47,9%. Tener prescrito concomitantemente un antidiabético se asoció con menor probabilidad de que se presentara inercia clínica (p=0,032; OR: 0,21; IC95%: 0,051-0,879). Conclusión: la proporción de pacientes que no logran las metas de control de tensión arterial y la frecuencia de inercia clínica es menor que en otras series de pacientes.

Abstract Introduction: Arterial hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. The characteristics of its treatment in the population at a local level are relatively unknown. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the prescribing of antihypertensive drugs, the efficacy of the treatment, as well as the clinical inertia in patients seen in the year 2014. The efficacy was established according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee, and clinical inertia was defined as lack of modifications to achieve the therapeutic aim. Sociodemographic and pharmacological variables were included in the logistical regression models. Results: Out of a total sample of 4,195 patients, a randomised sample of 309 patients was obtained, of which 54.7% were women, and 52.8% were over 60 years of age. The antihypertensive drugs most used were losartan and hydrochlorothiazide (20.8% each). Blood pressure control was observed in 75.3% of a total of 675 clinical visits, and of the 167 visits where the blood pressure was not controlled, there was evidence of clinical inertia in 47.9%. To have a concomitant antidiabetic drug prescribed was associated with a lower possibility of there being clinical inertia (P=.032; OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.051-0.879). Conclusion: The proportion of patients that do not achieve the targets of blood pressure control, as well as the frequency of clinical inertia, are lower than those found in other patient series.

Oral health status and bariatric surgery / Estado de saúde oral e cirurgia bariátrica

Obesity is considered to be a chronic disease associated with early medical complications including: respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic,psychological and social changes. Over recent decades, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of obesity among the population.Obesity has significant metabolic and systemic immune and inflammatory effects. Bariatric surgery has emerged as a treatment for morbid obesity. Oral changes following bariatric surgery were determined. One man and one woman, with initial Body Mass Indexes of 53-34 and 42-26 kg/m2 respectively, were followed for two years after undergoing Fobi Capella surgery. Dietary complications (frequent vomiting), nutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, calcium, folic acid and zinc) and xerostomia, sensitivity, and periodontitis were seen in both cases. Demineralization and infiltration of fillings evolved into erosion and an endodontic lesion (case 1) and mobility with consequent tooth loss (case 2). Problems with gingival bleeding, dental caries and dental mobility are directly related to compromising the absorptive area and/or the dietary behaviour of the individual after carrying out bariatric surgery.

A obesidade é considerada uma doença crônica associada a complicações médicas precoces como: alterações respiratórias, cardiovasculares, metabólicas, psíquicas e sociais. Nas últimas décadas, a obesidade tem apresentado um aumento considerável da sua incidência na população. A obesidade apresenta efeitos metabólicos e imunológicos e inflamatórios sistêmicos significativos. A cirurgia bariátrica tem sido visto como um tratamento para obesidade mórbida. Alterações bucais após cirurgia bariátrica foram avaliados. Um homem e uma mulher, com Índices de Massa Corporal iniciais de 53-34 e 42-26 kg/m2, respectivamente, foram acompanhados por dois anos após ser submetidos à cirurgia Fobi Capella. Seqüelas alimentares (vômito freqüente), deficiências de nutrientes (ferro, vitamina B12, cálcio, ácido fólico e zinco) e xerostomia, sensibilidade, e periodontite foram observados em ambos os casos. Desmineralização e infiltração de restaurações evoluíram para erosão e uma lesão endodôntico (caso 1), e mobilidade com conseqüente perda de dentes (caso 2). Problemas com sangramento gengival, cárie e mobilidade dentária são relacionados diretamente a uma diminuição na área para absorção e/ou o comportamento alimentar do indivíduo após cirurgia bariátrica.

Influence of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on vitamin C, myeloperoxidase, and oral clinical manifestations: a 2-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery influences the intake and absorption of nutrients, which, when associated with vomiting, can damage the oral cavity. The serum concentrations of vitamin C and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and oral clinical manifestations were examined in patients 2 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS: Clinical prospective study with control group (CG; n = 26), assessed only once, and the bariatric group (BG; n = 26), assessed in the basal period and at 12 and 24 months after surgery. The mean ages in the CG and BG were 37.8 ± 1.51 and 39.6 ± 1.93 years, respectively, and their body mass indices were 22.07 ± 0.29 and 45.62 ± 1.46 kg/m(2), respectively. RESULTS: At 12 months after surgery, increased episodes of vomiting (P < .001) and dental hypersensitivity (P = .012) were observed, with a reduction in the saliva-buffering capacity of 21.3% ± 2.9% (P = .004). At 24 months after RYGB, a significant reduction in serum vitamin C was detected (32.9% ± 5.3%, P < .001), and MPO values were higher than in the basal period (P = .032). With regard to oral hygiene habits, 92.3% of patients reported frequent tooth brushing and 96.1% used fluoride, which were similar across the 2 years. However, dental hypersensitivity (P = .048) was significantly increased than baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that vitamin C deficiency and increased vomiting after gastric bypass for morbid obesity may contribute to increased periodontal disease. The fact that it is impossible to determine which factor or factors (diet, poor compliance with supplementation, vomiting, poor oral hygiene) contributed to the dental problems in these patients is a shortcoming of the report.