Short-term plastisphere colonization dynamics across six plastic types.

Marine plastic pollution is a major concern worldwide, but the understanding of plastisphere dynamics remains limited in the southern hemisphere. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study in South Australia to investigate the prokaryotic community of the plastisphere and its temporal changes over 4 weeks. We submerged six plastic types (i.e., High-Density Polyethylene [HDPE], Polyvinyl chloride [PVC], Low-Density Polyethylene [LDPE], Polypropylene [PP], Polystyrene [PS] and the understudied textile, polyester [PET]) and wood in seawater and sampled them weekly to characterize the prokaryotic community using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Our results showed that the plastisphere composition shifted significantly over short time scales (i.e., 4 weeks), and each plastic type had distinct groups of unique genera. In particular, the PVC plastisphere was dominated by Cellvibrionaceae taxa, distinguishing it from other plastics. Additionally, the textile polyester, which is rarely studied in plastisphere research, supported the growth of a unique group of 25 prokaryotic genera (which included the potential pathogenic Legionella genus). Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the colonization dynamics of the plastisphere over short time scales and contributes to narrowing the research gap on the southern hemisphere plastisphere.

Short-term characterisation of climatic-environmental variables and microbial community diversity in a high-altitude Andean wetland (Salar de Huasco, Chile).

Microbial community structures are shaped by geochemical factors and their interactions with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere through the processes of chemical mobilisation and mineralisation. High-altitude wetlands and salt flats in the central Andes are characterised by pronounced physicochemical gradients and extreme climatic conditions, representing hotspots of microbial diversity. We here hypothesise about the existence of direct relationships between the local microbiology and the climate cyclicity variables based on meteorological and biogeochemical patterns that develop over a short time scale (five years). We have here analysed the interactions between hydrometeorological and biogeochemical variables and the microbial communities of the Salar de Huasco. These results were obtained by correlating 16S cDNA and DNA gene Illumina sequences with meteorological/satellite data collected both at monitoring stations and by remote sensing between the years 2015 and 2020. The precipitation levels and flooded areas (i.e., areas covered and/or saturated with permanent water) detected in the Salar de Huasco revealed a marked hydric cyclicity that correlated seasonally with intra-annual wet and dry seasons. Overall, at this site, wet periods occurred from December to April, and dry periods from May to November. Meteorological variables such as solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction were well-defined, showing a potential association with the hydrogeology of the area, which is directly related to the wetlands' flooded areas. Finally, the microbial presence and potentially active microbial communities were determined through the sequencing of the 16S gene (DNA and cDNA, respectively), this were associated with climatic seasonality and spatially distributed physical and chemical heterogeneity. Other non-local inter-annual scale processes, such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, modify the physical and chemical context of the wetland, thus forming unique ecological niches in the Andean Mountains.

Restricción del crecimiento intrauterino y enfermedades no transmisibles durante las edades pediátricas

Introducción: En la aparición de las enfermedades crónicas durante las edades pediátricas y la adolescencia, la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino se considera un factor clave. Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino y las enfermedades no trasmisibles durante las edades pediátricas. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa con búsqueda bibliográfica en Pubmed, SciELO, LILACS y Google académico en los últimos cinco años sobre el tema que se trata. Se examinaron artículos originales, de revisión y capítulos de libros. Se utilizaron las palabras clave: retardo del crecimiento fetal, factores de riesgo cardiometabólicoy atención integrada a las enfermedades prevalentes de la infancia. Se descartaron aquellos artículos no pertinentes o que tuvieran deficiencias metodológicas notables. Análisis y síntesis de la información: Se expusieron las definiciones de "pequeño para la edad gestacional" y "restricción del crecimiento intrauterino", se mostró la clasificación más actualizada, se mencionaron las enfermedades que aparecen en la infancia en estos recién nacidos de riesgo y se señalaron sus mecanismos. Conclusiones: El antecedente de restricción del crecimiento intrauterino se relaciona con alteraciones del crecimiento pondoestatural, del neurodesarrollo; el síndrome metabólico; las afecciones cardiovasculares; las enfermedades endocrinas, hepáticas, respiratorias, del sistema inmunológico y renales, los trastornos auditivos y de la visión. Estas afecciones se presentan en etapas tempranas de la vida como la infancia y la adolescencia.

Introduction: In the occurrence of chronic diseases during pediatric ages and adolescence, intrauterine growth restriction is considered a key factor. Objective: To determine the relationship between intrauterine growth restriction and noncommunicable diseases during pediatric ages. Methods: A narrative review was performed with a literature search in Pubmed, SciELO, LILACS and Google Scholar in the last five years on the topic under discussion. Original articles, review articles and book chapters were examined. The keywords used were: fetal growth retardation, cardiometabolic risk factors, integrated care for prevalent childhood diseases. Articles that were not relevant or had notable methodological deficiencies were discarded. Analysis and synthesis of the information: The definitions of "small for gestational age" and "intrauterine growth restriction" were exposed, the most updated classification was shown, the diseases that appear during infancy in these at-risk newborns were mentioned and their mechanisms were pointed out. Conclusions: The history of intrauterine growth restriction is related to alterations of pondoestatural growth, neurodevelopment, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular conditions, endocrine, hepatic, respiratory, immune system, renal, hearing and vision disorders. These conditions surface in early stages of life such as infancy and adolescence.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Persistence of Postpartum Anxiety, Depression, and Comorbidity: A Cohort Study Among Women in Havana Cuba.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence, incidence, and persistence of postpartum anxiety, depression, and comorbid symptoms over the first 6 months postpartum in a cohort of Havana women and to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive power of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at 4 weeks postpartum on depressive and anxiety symptoms at 12 and 24 weeks. METHOD: A cohort study with 273 women in Havana, Cuba. Participants were assessed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum for anxiety, depression, and comorbid symptoms. RESULTS: Prevalence rates were highest at 4 weeks postpartum: 20.0% women reported elevated levels of anxiety and 16.4% reported depressive symptoms. The prevalence of comorbid anxiety and depression was 5.8%. While rates of anxiety steadily decreased to 13.8% at 24 weeks, rates of depression persisted to 24 weeks postpartum with 14.5% still experiencing elevated symptoms. Comorbid anxiety and depression decreased across time. There were limited sensitivity and poor predictive values for both the STAI and the EPDS. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to examine perinatal mental illness in Cuba. While anxiety and depression rates found among Cuban women are lower than those reported in other low-income countries, the rates paralleled high-income countries.

A Case Study for the Recovery of Authentic Microbial Ancient DNA from Soil Samples.

High Throughput DNA Sequencing (HTS) revolutionized the field of paleomicrobiology, leading to an explosive growth of microbial ancient DNA (aDNA) studies, especially from environmental samples. However, aDNA studies that examine environmental microbes routinely fail to authenticate aDNA, examine laboratory and environmental contamination, and control for biases introduced during sample processing. Here, we surveyed the available literature for environmental aDNA projects­from sample collection to data analysis­and assessed previous methodologies and approaches used in the published microbial aDNA studies. We then integrated these concepts into a case study, using shotgun metagenomics to examine methodological, technical, and analytical biases during an environmental aDNA study of soil microbes. Specifically, we compared the impact of five DNA extraction methods and eight bioinformatic pipelines on the recovery of microbial aDNA information in soil cores from extreme environments. Our results show that silica-based methods optimized for aDNA research recovered significantly more damaged and shorter reads (<100 bp) than a commercial kit or a phenol−chloroform method. Additionally, we described a stringent pipeline for data preprocessing, efficiently decreasing the representation of low-complexity and duplicated reads in our datasets and downstream analyses, reducing analytical biases in taxonomic classification.

Late Holocene climate anomaly concurrent with fire activity and ecosystem shifts in the eastern Australian Highlands.

The alpine area of the Australian mainland is highly sensitive to climate and environmental change, and potentially vulnerable to ecosystem tipping points. Over the next two decades the Australian alpine region is predicted to experience temperature increases of at least 1 °C, coupled with a substantial decrease in snow cover. Extending the short instrumental record in these regions is imperative to put future change into context, and potentially provide analogues of warming. We reconstructed past temperatures, using a lipid biomarker palaeothermometer technique and mercury flux changes for the past 3500 years from the sediments of Club Lake, a high-altitude alpine tarn in the Snowy Mountains, southeastern Australia. Using a multi-proxy framework, including pollen and charcoal analyses, high-resolution geochemistry, and ancient microbial community composition, supported by high-resolution 210Pb and AMS 14C dating, we investigated local and regional ecological and environmental changes occurring in response to changes in temperature. We find the region experienced a general warming trend over the last 3500 years, with a pronounced climate anomaly occurring between 1000 and 1600 cal yrs. BP. Shifts in vegetation took place during this warm period, characterised by a decline in alpine species and an increase in open woodland taxa which co-occurred with an increase in regional fire activity. Given the narrow altitudinal band of Australian alpine vegetation, any future warming has the potential to result in the extinction of alpine species, including several endemic to the area, as treelines are driven to higher elevations. These findings suggest ongoing conservation efforts will be needed to protect the vulnerable alpine environments from the combined threats of climate changes, fire and invasive species.

Factores de riesgo perinatales y evolución del neurodesarrollo hasta el primer año de edad

RESUMEN Introducción: La evaluación del neurodesarrollo facilita la intervención oportuna al detectar alteraciones neurosensoriales, cognitivas, motoras y del lenguaje. Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo perinatales y la evolución del neurodesarrollo en los niños hasta el primer año de edad. Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo, retrospectivo, longitudinal, en niños de 1 año con factores de riesgo perinatales, atendidos en la consulta de neurodesarrollo del Hospital Materno Infantil "Dr. Ángel Arturo Aballí", consulta de seguimiento del neurodesarrollo. La muestra quedó conformada por un total de 438 pacientes, distribuida en dos grupos constituidos por 266 con alteraciones del neurodesarrollo y 172 en los que no se detectó ninguna alteración, en los que se compararon las afecciones perinatales ocurridas, los resultados de estudios complementarios y evaluación clínica neurológica a los 6 meses y al año de edad. Se utilizaron las frecuencia absoluta y relativa, Ji-cuadrado y Odds ratio, intervalo de confianza y valor de p< 0,05. Resultados: Entre los factores de riesgo perinatal de alteraciones del neurodesarrollo se halló el sexo masculino 68,4 vs 43,6 % (OR: 2,8; IC: 1,88-4,17), los trastornos metabólicos 13,5 vs 7,6 % (OR: 2,5; IC: 1,32-4,94) y la asfixia perinatal 11,2 vs 1,2 % (OR: 10,8; IC: 2,54-45,82). Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo perinatales relacionados con las alteraciones del neurodesarrollo fueron el sexo masculino, el bajo peso al nacer, la prematuridad, la puntuación de Apgar al 5to. minuto, la sepsis, los trastornos metabólicos, la asfixia perinatal y las convulsiones. Los niños con alteraciones del neurodesarrollo a los tres meses tuvieron una mejoría al año de vida.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Neurodevelopmental assessment facilitates timely intervention by detecting sensorineural, cognitive, motor and language alterations. Objective: Determine the perinatal risk factors and the evolution of neurodevelopment in children up to the first year of age. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal observational study in 1-year-old children with perinatal risk factors, attended in the neurodevelopment consultation of "Dr. Ángel Arturo Aballí" Maternal and Children´s Hospital, which is a neurodevelopmental follow-up consultation. The sample was made up of a total of 438 patients, distributed in two groups consisting of: 266 with neurodevelopmental alterations and 172 with no alterations detected, in which the perinatal conditions that occurred, the results of complementary studies and neurological clinical evaluation at 6 months and one year of age were compared. Absolute and relative frequency, Ji-square and Odds ratio, confidence interval and p< 0.05 value were used. Results: Among the perinatal risk factors for neurodevelopmental alterations were: male sex 68.4 vs 43.6 % (OR: 2.8; CI: 1.88-4.17), metabolic disorders 13.5 vs 7.6 % (OR: 2.5; CI: 1.32-4.94) and perinatal asphyxia 11.2 vs 1.2 % (OR: 10.8; CI: 2.54-45.82). Conclusions: Perinatal risk factors related to neurodevelopmental alterations were male sex, low birth weight, prematurity, Apgar score at 5th minute, sepsis, metabolic disorders, perinatal asphyxia and seizures. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders at three months of birth had an improvement at one year of life.

Epigenética, sexo masculino y enfermedades neonatales

RESUMEN Introducción: Estudios recientes han demostrado diferencias entre el sexo femenino y el masculino y su influencia en aspectos básicos de la biología, los cuales podrían influir a su vez, en la etiología y fisiopatología de enfermedades en la etapa neonatal. Es conocido que los cambios en la regulación epigenética por factores que afectan la exposición del cortisol fetal muestra efectos específicos según el tipo de sexo. Objetivo: Determinar la posible relación entre los cambios epigenéticos, el sexo masculino y las enfermedades neonatales. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en Pubmed, Scielo, LILACS y en la plataforma Clínica Key entre los años 2017-2020, en idioma inglés y español. Se utilizaron diferentes palabras clave como diferencias sexuales, sexo masculino, epigenética y enfermedades neonatales. Análisis e integración de la información: En esta revisión se abordan aspectos como la epigenética en el desarrollo humano y su relación con el sexo, el papel de la placenta y su relación con el sexo fetal, las complicaciones perinatales y su relación con el sexo masculino. Además, se abordan las afecciones respiratorias, las afecciones neurológicas y otras de la etapa neonatal vinculadas con el sexo y la posible relación con los mecanismos epigenéticos. Conclusiones: El sexo masculino es un factor predisponente en la prevalencia de determinadas enfermedades neonatales. La epigenética puede estar involucrada en la aparición de muchas enfermedades neonatales moduladas por el sexo por mecanismos aun no bien esclarecidos. Investigaciones futuras pudieran arrojar mayor conocimiento sobre la etiopatogenia de estas enfermedades y su forma de abordarlas.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Recent studies have confirmed differences among the female and male sex and their influence in basic aspects of biology, which can also impact in the etiology and physiopathology of diseases in the neonatal stage. It is known that changes in the epigenetic regulation due to factors that affect the exposition to fetal cortisol show specific effects according to the type of sex. Objective: Determine the possible relation among the epigenetic changes, male sex and the neonatal diseases. Methods: It was carried out a bibliographic search in Pubmed, Scielo, LILACS and in the platform called Clínica Key, in the period 2017-2020, in English and Spanish languages. The following key words were used: sexual differences, male sex, epignetic and neonatal diseases. Analysis and Integration of the information: This review deals with aspects as epigenetic in human development and its relation with sex, the role of placenta and its relation with fetal sex, perinatal complications and their relation with male sex. In addition, the review also mentions respiratory conditions, neurologic conditions and others of the neonatal stage related with sex and the possible relation with epigenetic mechanisms. Conclusions: Male sex is a predisposing factor in the prevalence of certain neonatal diseases. Epigenetic can be involved in the onset of many neonatal diseases modulated by the sex due to mechanisms that are not clear yet. Future researches might show more knowledge on the etiopathogenesis of these disease and the way to approach them.

Characterization and removal of biofouling from reverse osmosis membranes (ROMs) from a desalination plant in Northern Chile, using Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM supernatant.

Biofouling control in reverse osmosis membranes (ROMs) is challenging due to the high cost of treatments, and reduction in the life of ROMs. This study characterizes the biofouling in the ROMs from a desalination plant and reports its effective removal using the supernatant obtained from Alteromonas sp. strain Ni1-LEM. The characterization of the bacterial community revealed that the most abundant taxa in ROMs were the genera Fulvivirga and Pseudoalteromonas, and unclassified species of the families Flavobacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae. This bacterial community significantly decreased upon treatment with the supernatant from Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM, resulting in the prevalence of the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Furthermore, this bacterial supernatant significantly inhibited cell adhesion of seven benthic microalgae isolated from ROMs as well as promoting cell detachment of the existing microbial biofilms. The study showed that the extracellular supernatant modified the conformation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the biofouling of ROMs without any biocidal effects.

Aquatic Thermal Reservoirs of Microbial Life in a Remote and Extreme High Andean Hydrothermal System.

Hydrothermal systems are ideal to understand how microbial communities cope with challenging conditions. Lirima, our study site, is a polyextreme, high-altitude, hydrothermal ecosystem located in the Chilean Andean highlands. Herein, we analyze the benthic communities of three nearby springs in a gradient of temperature (42-72 °C represented by stations P42, P53, and P72) and pH, and we characterize their microbial diversity by using bacteria 16S rRNA (V4) gene metabarcoding and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries (bacteria and archaea). Bacterial clone libraries of P42 and P53 springs showed that the community composition was mainly represented by phototrophic bacteria (Chlorobia, 3%, Cyanobacteria 3%, at P42; Chlorobia 5%, and Chloroflexi 5% at P53), Firmicutes (32% at P42 and 43% at P53) and Gammaproteobacteria (13% at P42 and 29% at P53). Furthermore, bacterial communities that were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding were characterized by an overall predominance of Chloroflexi in springs with lower temperatures (33% at P42), followed by Firmicutes in hotter springs (50% at P72). The archaeal diversity of P42 and P53 were represented by taxa belonging to Crenarchaeota, Diapherotrites, Nanoarchaeota, Hadesarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota. The microbial diversity of the Lirima hydrothermal system is represented by groups from deep branches of the tree of life, suggesting this ecosystem as a reservoir of primitive life and a key system to study the processes that shaped the evolution of the biosphere.

Instrumento para la pesquisa de los problemas del desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de seis años / Instrument for the screening of psychomotor development's problems in children under six years old

Introducción: En la detección temprana de los problemas del desarrollo resulta importante emplear instrumentos de pesquisa. Objetivo: Describir el diseño de un instrumento para la pesquisa de los problemas del desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de seis años. Métodos: Investigación de desarrollo realizada en La Habana, en niños sanos menores de seis años (n=1 333). El instrumento se diseñó a partir de la estimación de las edades de cumplimiento de un conjunto de pautas de desarrollo. Se estimaron los percentiles 25, 50, 75 y 90 (± IC95 por ciento) de la edad de cumplimiento de 80 pautas del desarrollo psicomotor mediante una regresión logística con transformación inversa. Se comparó el percentil 50 con el de las pautas de otras pruebas similares. El instrumento se diseñó con un método gráfico con el programa Microsoft Excel 2010. Resultados: Se estimaron todos los percentiles en 93,8 por ciento de las pautas seleccionadas; en tres de ellas no fue posible obtener el percentil 25, el 50 o ambos y en dos casos fueron cumplidas por todos los niños, por lo que su comportamiento no fue acorde a un modelo madurativo. En las comparaciones respecto a pruebas foráneas predominaron las pautas cumplidas a edades similares y adelantadas. Conclusiones: El instrumento diseñado constituye una herramienta útil para la pesquisa de los problemas del desarrollo psicomotor en la primera infancia, tanto en la práctica asistencial como en estudios epidemiológicos. Su aplicación en estos escenarios contribuye a elevar la calidad de la atención pediátrica(AU)

Introduction: In the early detection of development problems, it is important to use screening instruments. Objective: To describe the design of an instrument for the screening of psychomotor development's problems in children under six years old. Methods: Development research conducted in Havana, in healthy children under six years old (n= 1 333). The design of instrument was based on the estimation of the ages of compliance related to a set of development guidelines. The 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles (± 95 percent CI) of the compliance age of 80 psychomotor development patterns were estimated by means of a logistic regression with inverse transformation. The 50th percentile was compared with that of other similar tests. The instrument was designed with a graphical method with Microsoft Excel 2010 program. Results: All percentiles were estimated in 93.8 percent of the selected guidelines; in three of them it was not possible to obtain the 25th percentile, the 50th or both, and in two cases they were fulfilled by all the children, so their behavior was not according to a maturational model. In the comparisons with respect to foreign tests, the patterns fulfilled at similar and advanced ages prevailed. Conclusions: The instrument designed is a useful tool for the investigation of psychomotor development problems in early childhood, both in care practice and epidemiological studies, and their application in these scenarios contributes to raising the quality of pediatric care(AU)

Diseño y métodos empleados en la obtención de un instrumento para la pesquisa de problemas del desarrollo psicomotor / Design and methods used in obtaining an instrument for the screening of psychomotor development's problems

Introducción: La aplicación de pruebas de pesquisa en los controles de salud de los niños permite la detección temprana de problemas del desarrollo psicomotor. Objetivo: Describir el diseño y los métodos empleados para obtener un instrumento para la pesquisa de problemas del desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de seis años. Métodos: Investigación de desarrollo realizada entre 2014-2018 y en la que se aplicó un diseño muestral estratificado, trietápico y equiprobabilístico por cada grupo de edad y sexo. Incluyó nueve áreas de salud en igual número de municipios y 256 consultorios. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: niños dispensarizados como sanos, edad entre 15 días y 6,5 años, residencia permanente en el área de atención de los consultorios seleccionados y consentimiento informado de los padres o tutores; se excluyeron aquellos con enfermedades agudas en el momento de la evaluación. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 80 pautas de desarrollo distribuidas en 4 áreas y 25 grupos de edad. Se estudiaron 1 333 niños, el 96,8 por ciento de la muestra estimada. Se evaluaron, como promedio, 53 niños por grupo de edad, el promedio de pautas evaluadas por niño fue de 22. El nivel de educación materna fue elevado. Conclusiones: El diseño y los métodos empleados constituyen una base fiable para el propósito de obtener un instrumento válido para la pesquisa de problemas del desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de seis años, que permite además, obtener información útil desde el punto de vista asistencial y epidemiológico(AU)

Introduction: The application of screening tests in the health controls of children allows the early detection of psychomotor development's problems. Objective: To describe the design and methods used to obtain an instrument for the detection of psychomotor developmental problems in children under six years old. Methods: A development research was carried out between 2014 and 2018, in which a stratified, three-phase and equiprobabilistic sample design was applied by age group and sex. It included nine health areas (polyclinics) in the same number of municipalities and 256 Family doctor-and-nurse's offices. The inclusion criteria were: children classified as healthy, between 15 days and 6.5 years, with permanent residence in the care area of the selected family doctor-and-nurse's offices and with the consent of parents or guardians; those with acute diseases at the time of evaluation were excluded. Results: 80 developmental guidelines were selected, and those were distributed in 4 areas and 25 age groups. A total of 1 333 children were studied representing the 96.8 percent of the estimated sample. On average, 53 children were evaluated by age group; the average of guidelines evaluated per child was 22. The level of maternal education was high. Conclusions: The design and methods used constitute a reliable base with the purpose of obtaining a valid instrument for the research of psychomotor development's problems in children under six years, which also it allows obtaining useful information from the assistance and epidemiological point of view(AU)

Cuban Experience Using Growth and Development as a Positive Indicator of Child Health.

Growth and development is considered the best positive indicator of children's quality of life and well-being. Studies have been carried out in Cuba since the early 20th century and large scale, periodic an-thropometric surveys have been regularly conducted by its National Health System to chart modifications in growth patterns of children and adolescents. These surveys have produced national references for the anthropometric indicators most commonly applied in individual assessment of the health and nutritional status of children and ado-lescents in health care settings. These have also provided data for estimating the magnitude and characteristics of secular growth trends, and for comparing growth of Cuban children with that of children in other countries and with WHO's proposed growth standards. The data have also served as evidence of persisting social gradients. The most important results include, as positive data, the positive secular trend in school-aged children's growth of 9.7 cm between 1919 and 2005, with an average increase of 1.1 cm per decade, and, in preschool children, 1.9 and 1.8 cm in boys and girls, respectively, between 1972 and 2015. More recent studies have detected unfavorable changes associated with a marked increase in adiposity and, therefore, in the prevalence of excess weight and obesity. Another interesting result is the gradual movement toward WHO height-for-age standards in preschool children in Havana, verified in surveys conducted in 2005 and 2015. KEYWORDS Growth and development, growth, child development, children, adolescents, nutrition, obesity, pediatrics, Cuba.

Inhibition of Nitzschia ovalis biofilm settlement by a bacterial bioactive compound through alteration of EPS and epiphytic bacteria

Background: Marine ecosystems contain benthic microalgae and bacterial species that are capable of secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), suggesting that settlement of these microorganisms can occur on submerged surfaces, a key part of the first stage of biofouling. Currently, anti-fouling treatments that help control this phenomenon involve the use of biocides or antifouling paints that contain heavy metals, which over a long period of exposure can spread to the environment. The bacterium Alteromonas sp. Ni1-LEM has an inhibitory effect on the adhesion of Nitzschia ovalis, an abundant diatom found on submerged surfaces. Results: We evaluated the effect of the bioactive compound secreted by this bacterium on the EPS of biofilms and associated epiphytic bacteria. Three methods of EPS extraction were evaluated to determine the most appropriate and efficient methodology based on the presence of soluble EPS and the total protein and carbohydrate concentrations. Microalgae were cultured with the bacterial compound to evaluate its effect on EPS secretion and variations in its protein and carbohydrate concentrations. An effect of the bacterial supernatant on EPS was observed by assessing biofilm formation and changes in the concentration of proteins and carbohydrates present in the biofilm. Conclusions: These results indicate that a possible mechanism for regulating biofouling could be through alteration of biofilm EPS and alteration of the epiphytic bacterial community associated with the microalga.

Rhodobacter sp. Rb3, an aerobic anoxygenic phototroph which thrives in the polyextreme ecosystem of the Salar de Huasco, in the Chilean Altiplano.

The Salar de Huasco is an evaporitic basin located in the Chilean Altiplano, which presents extreme environmental conditions for life, i.e. high altitude (3800 m.a.s.l.), negative water balance, a wide salinity range, high daily temperature changes and the occurrence of the highest registered solar radiation on the planet (> 1200 W m-2). This ecosystem is considered as a natural laboratory to understand different adaptations of microorganisms to extreme conditions. Rhodobacter, an anoxygenic aerobic phototrophic bacterial genus, represents one of the most abundant groups reported based on taxonomic diversity surveys in this ecosystem. The bacterial mat isolate Rhodobacter sp. strain Rb3 was used to study adaptation mechanisms to stress-inducing factors potentially explaining its success in a polyextreme ecosystem. We found that the Rhodobacter sp. Rb3 genome was characterized by a high abundance of genes involved in stress tolerance and adaptation strategies, among which DNA repair and oxidative stress were the most conspicuous. Moreover, many other molecular mechanisms associated with oxidative stress, photooxidation and antioxidants; DNA repair and protection; motility, chemotaxis and biofilm synthesis; osmotic stress, metal, metalloid and toxic anions resistance; antimicrobial resistance and multidrug pumps; sporulation; cold shock and heat shock stress; mobile genetic elements and toxin-antitoxin system were detected and identified as potential survival mechanism features in Rhodobacter sp. Rb3. In total, these results reveal a wide set of strategies used by the isolate to adapt and thrive under environmental stress conditions as a model of polyextreme environmental resistome.

Bacterial Survival under Extreme UV Radiation: A Comparative Proteomics Study of Rhodobacter sp., Isolated from High Altitude Wetlands in Chile.

Salar de Huasco, defined as a polyextreme environment, is a high altitude saline wetland in the Chilean Altiplano (3800 m.a.s.l.), permanently exposed to the highest solar radiation doses registered in the world. We present here the first comparative proteomics study of a photoheterotrophic bacterium, Rhodobacter sp., isolated from this remote and hostile habitat. We developed an innovative experimental approach using different sources of radiation (in situ sunlight and UVB lamps), cut-off filters (Mylar, Lee filters) and a high-throughput, label-free quantitative proteomics method to comprehensively analyze the effect of seven spectral bands on protein regulation. A hierarchical cluster analysis of 40 common proteins revealed that all conditions containing the most damaging UVB radiation induced similar pattern of protein regulation compared with UVA and visible light spectral bands. Moreover, it appeared that the cellular adaptation of Rhodobacter sp. to osmotic stress encountered in the hypersaline environment from which it was originally isolated, might further a higher resistance to damaging UV radiation. Indeed, proteins involved in the synthesis and transport of key osmoprotectants, such as glycine betaine and inositol, were found in very high abundance under UV radiation compared to the dark control, suggesting the function of osmolytes as efficient reactive oxygen scavengers. Our study also revealed a RecA-independent response and a tightly regulated network of protein quality control involving proteases and chaperones to selectively degrade misfolded and/or damaged proteins.

Bacterial Active Community Cycling in Response to Solar Radiation and Their Influence on Nutrient Changes in a High-Altitude Wetland.

Microbial communities inhabiting high-altitude spring ecosystems are subjected to extreme changes in solar irradiance and temperature throughout the diel cycle. Here, using 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing (cDNA) we determined the composition of actively transcribing bacteria from spring waters experimentally exposed through the day (morning, noon, and afternoon) to variable levels of solar radiation and light quality, and evaluated their influence on nutrient recycling. Solar irradiance, temperature, and changes in nutrient dynamics were associated with changes in the active bacterial community structure, predominantly by Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and 35 other Phyla, including the recently described Candidate Phyla Radiation (e.g., Parcubacteria, Gracilibacteria, OP3, TM6, SR1). Diversity increased at noon, when the highest irradiances were measured (3.3-3.9 H', 1125 W m-2) compared to morning and afternoon (0.6-2.8 H'). This shift was associated with a decrease in the contribution to pyrolibraries by Cyanobacteria and an increase of Proteobacteria and other initially low frequently and rare bacteria phyla (< 0.5%) in the pyrolibraries. A potential increase in the activity of Cyanobacteria and other phototrophic groups, e.g., Rhodobacterales, was observed and associated with UVR, suggesting the presence of photo-activated repair mechanisms to resist high levels of solar radiation. In addition, the percentage contribution of cyanobacterial sequences in the afternoon was similar to those recorded in the morning. The shifts in the contribution by Cyanobacteria also influenced the rate of change in nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate, highlighted by a high level of nitrate accumulation during hours of high radiation and temperature associated with nitrifying bacteria activity. We did not detect ammonia or nitrite oxidizing bacteria in situ, but both functional groups (Nitrosomona and Nitrospira) appeared mainly in pyrolibraries generated from dark incubations. In total, our results reveal that both the structure and the diversity of the active bacteria community was extremely dynamic through the day, and showed marked shifts in composition that influenced nutrient recycling, highlighting how abiotic variation affects potential ecosystem functioning.

Inducen cambios relevantes en las estimaciones de la talla los nuevos procedimientos de construcción de curvas de crecimiento / Do new procedures for estimating growth curves introduce outstanding changes in height estimates?

Introducción: El uso de curvas de crecimiento para supervisar el desarrollo físico de los niños es esencial en la práctica pediátrica. Las normas cubanas de talla se elaboraron en la década de los 70 siguiendo procedimientos recomendados en ese momento. En los últimos años se han obtenido métodos estadísticos automatizados capaces de modelar correctamente el proceso del crecimiento. La OMS, en su Estudio Multicéntrico, utilizó el método Box-Cox PowerExponential (BCPE). Es importante determinar si introducir este nuevo procedimiento para construir curvas induce modificaciones en los valores de los perpercentiles que habitualmente se estiman. Objetivo: evaluar las discrepancias entre los valores de los perpercentiles estimados por ambos procedimientos. Material y Métodos: se usaron los datos de longitud en decúbito supino y estatura, de sujetos cubanos menores de 20 años medidos en el primer Estudio Nacional de Crecimiento y Desarrollo (ENCD). Se construyeron curvas usando el método BCPE implementado en el paquete GAMLSS de R. Las diferencias se evaluaron comparando los valores de los perpercentiles suavizados obtenidos por ambos métodos.Resultados: los modelos que mejor ajustaron fueron: para la longitud en decúbito supino, sexo femenino NO (GLµ=10;GLϭ=5;edad0.001); sexo masculino NO(GLlµ=14;GLϭ=6;edad0.006); para estatura, sexo femenino NO(GLµ=16;GLϭ=10;edad0.544); sexo masculino NO(GLµ=16;GLϭ=12;edad0.117). Las estimaciones de los perpercentiles de estatura fueron muy similares con ambos procedimientos. En los perpercentiles extremos de la longitud en decúbito supino se detectaron diferencias, debidas muy probablemente a correcciones introducidas en el cómputo de la desviación estándar durante el procesamiento del ENCD. Conclusiones: para la longitud en decúbito supino se detectaron diferencias, no así en la estatura. Se recomienda el uso del procedimiento automatizado pues disminuye considerablemente la carga subjetiva presente en el método anterior(AU)

Introduction: The use of growth curves to monitor physical development in children is essential for pediatric health care. Cuban height charts were created during the seventies decade following technics recommended at that time. In the last years, statistical methods based computational technics have been obtained a better model pattern for growth process. In particular WHO in the Multicenter Growth Study used the Box-Cox Power Exponential (BCPE) method. It is important to determine whether the application of such procedure in drawing curves introduce changes in the percentiles' estimates commonly used. Objective: To evaluate discrepancies between percentiles' estimates from both methods. Material and methods: supine-decubitus length data and height from Cubans under 20 years old from the first National Growth and Development Study (ENCD) were examined. Perpercentiles were estimated viEl método BCPE a the BCPE method implemented in GAMLSS' package supported in R language. Comparison of smoothed percentiles obtained from both procedures were plotted to evaluate discrepancies. Results: The best fitted models were: for female supine-decubitus lengths the NO (DFµ=10;DFϭ=5;age0.001) and NO(DFµ=14;DFϭ=6;age0.006) for male respectively and NO(DFµ=16;DFϭ=10;age0.544) and NO(DFµ=16;DFϭ=12;age0.117) for female and male height. Height percentiles estimates were closely enough using either method. Some differences were detected for length percentiles, possibly due to computational corrections done while calculating standard deviations of ENCD.Conclusions: Some differences were detected for length percentiles estimations but not for the height. The use of computational procedure is recommended because its considerable reduction of the subjective charge as compare with the method used before(AU)

Inducen cambios relevantes en las estimaciones de la talla los nuevos procedimientos de construcción de curvas de crecimiento / Do new procedures for estimating growth curves introduce outstanding changes in height estimates

Introducción: El uso de curvas de crecimiento para supervisar el desarrollo físico de los niños es esencial en la práctica pediátrica. Las normas cubanas de talla se elaboraron en la década de los 70 siguiendo procedimientos recomendados en ese momento. En los últimos años se han obtenido métodos estadísticos automatizados capaces de modelar correctamente el proceso del crecimiento. La OMS, en su Estudio Multicéntrico, utilizó el método Box-Cox PowerExponential (BCPE). Es importante determinar si introducir este nuevo procedimiento para construir curvas induce modificaciones en los valores de los perpercentiles que habitualmente se estiman. Objetivo: evaluar las discrepancias entre los valores de los perpercentiles estimados por ambos procedimientos. Material y Métodos: se usaron los datos de longitud en decúbito supino y estatura, de sujetos cubanos menores de 20 años medidos en el primer Estudio Nacional de Crecimiento y Desarrollo (ENCD). Se construyeron curvas usando el método BCPE implementado en el paquete GAMLSS de R. Las diferencias se evaluaron comparando los valores de los perpercentiles suavizados obtenidos por ambos métodos. Resultados: los modelos que mejor ajustaron fueron: para la longitud en decúbito supino, sexo femenino NO (GLµ=10;GLÏ­=5;edad0.001); sexo masculino NO(GLlµ=14;GLÏ­=6;edad0.006); para estatura, sexo femenino NO(GLµ=16;GLÏ­=10;edad0.544); sexo masculino NO(GLµ=16;GLÏ­=12;edad0.117). Las estimaciones de los perpercentiles de estatura fueron muy similares con ambos procedimientos. En los perpercentiles extremos de la longitud en decúbito supino se detectaron diferencias, debidas muy probablemente a correcciones introducidas en el cómputo de la desviación estándar durante el procesamiento del ENCD. Conclusiones: para la longitud en decúbito supino se detectaron diferencias, no así en la estatura. Se recomienda el uso del procedimiento automatizado pues disminuye considerablemente la carga subjetiva presente en el método anterior(AU)

Introduction: The use of growth curves to monitor physical development in children is essential for pediatric health care. Cuban height charts were created during the seventies decade following technics recommended at that time. In the last years, statistical methods based computational technics have been obtained a better model pattern for growth process. In particular WHO in the Multicenter Growth Study used the Box-Cox Power Exponential (BCPE) method. It is important to determine whether the application of such procedure in drawing curves introduce changes in the percentiles' estimates commonly used. Objective: To evaluate discrepancies between percentiles' estimates from both methods. Material and methods: supine-decubitus length data and height from Cubans under 20 years old from the first National Growth and Development Study (ENCD) were examined. Perpercentiles were estimated viEl método BCPE a the BCPE method implemented in GAMLSS' package supported in R language. Comparison of smoothed percentiles obtained from both procedures were plotted to evaluate discrepancies. Results: The best fitted models were: for female supine-decubitus lengths the NO (DFµ=10;DFÏ­=5;age0.001) and NO(DFµ=14;DFÏ­=6;age0.006) for male respectively and NO(DFµ=16;DFÏ­=10;age0.544) and NO(DFµ=16;DFÏ­=12;age0.117) for female and male height. Height percentiles estimates were closely enough using either method. Some differences were detected for length percentiles, possibly due to computational corrections done while calculating standard deviations of ENCD. Conclusions: Some differences were detected for length percentiles estimations but not for the height. The use of computational procedure is recommended because its considerable reduction of the subjective charge as compare with the method used before(AU)