Aedes aegypti oviposition dynamics in towns with low human population density in yungas and dry chaco, Salta, Argentina.

We assessed the presence of Aedes aegypti in five ecorregions of Salta province and compared the oviposition activity of Ae. aegypti using ovitraps in towns of two contrasting ecoregions (yungas and Chaco dry forests) in the province of Salta, Argentina, a major contrast in these ecoregions are rain patterns and altitude. Our aim was to estimate how oviposition activities were associated with the ecoregion and site scale local environmental variables. Mosquito oviposition activity was monitored weekly during the summer using ovitraps. Predictor variables were ecoregion, town, and meteorological variables. The effect of the predictor variables was measured on the response variables using multi-model inference. Besides yungas, the presence of Aedes aegypti was confirmed in towns of dry Chaco and High Monte. The only factor that had a significant effect on the presence of eggs in the ovitraps was the ecoregion, with the frequency of positives being higher in yungas. For the number of eggs, the ecoregion, the night temperature of the first week and the NDVI would explain said variable. Overall, results indicate that the variations between towns would be more related with their ecological and climatic characteristics than with the more immediate meteorological variations.

Identification of the novel HLA-C*05:279 allele in a Spanish renal transplant recipient.

Identification of the novel HLA-C*05:279 allele that differs from C*05:01:01:11 by two nucleotide substitutions.

Characterization of the novel HLA-A*33:237 allele by sequencing-based typing.

A novel HLA-A*33 allele, officially designated HLA-A*33:237, was identified by next-generation sequencing.

Diesel exhaust particles exposure exacerbates pro-thrombogenic plasma features ex-vivo after cerebral ischemia and accelerates tPA-induced clot-lysis in hypertensive subjects.

The combustion of fossil fuels, mainly by diesel engines, generates Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEP) which are the main source of Particulate Matter (PM), a major air pollutant in urban areas. These particles are a risk factor for stroke with 5.6% of cases attributed to PM exposure. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of DEP exposure on clot formation and lysis in the context of stroke. An ex-vivo clot formation and lysis turbidimetric assay has been conducted in human and mouse plasma samples from ischemic stroke or control subjects exposed to DEP or control conditions. Experimental DEP exposure was achieved by nasal instillation in mice, or by ex-vivo exposure in human plasma. Results show consistent pro-thrombogenic features in plasma after human ischemic stroke and mouse cerebral ischemia (distal MCAo), boosted by the presence of DEP. Otherwise, thrombolysis times were increased after ischemia in chronically exposed mice but not in the DEP exposed group. Finally, subjects living in areas with high PM levels presented accelerated thrombolysis compared to those living in low polluted areas. Overall, our results point at a disbalance of the thrombogenic/lytic system in presence of DEP which could impact on ischemic stroke onset, clot size and thrombolytic treatment.

Humoral and Cellular Immunology in Human Prostate Cancer: Plasma Cells and T and B Lymphocytes / Inmunología Humoral y Celular en el Cáncer de Próstata Humano: Células Plasmáticas y Linfocitos T y B

SUMMARY: In solid and malignant tumors, innate and adaptive immunity are combined in antitumor responses. This study aimed to analyze the activation of plasma cells and the correlation between the infiltration of B and T lymphocytes with the degree of malignancy or Gleason grade in human prostate biopsies diagnosed with cancer. Prostate cancer biopsies were obtained from the Clinical Hospital of Universidad de Chile (n=70), according to the bioethical norms of the institution. Histological sections of 5µm thickness were processed for immunohistochemistry with primary antibodies against BL and total TL (HRP/DAB). Recognition and quantification were performed under a Leica DM750 optical microscope. Microsoft Excel and GraphPad software were used for the statistical study. Correlation coefficient (Pearson) and mean comparison tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn) and p≤ 0.05 were developed. B and T lymphocyte populations were inversely interregulated in prostate cancer (Gleason) (r= -0.46). Their relationship with Gleason grade is variable according to lymphocyte type (LB vs. Gleason r= -0.0.47 and LT vs. Gleason r= -0.21). Histological diagnosis of prostate cancer correlates with a predominance of LT. The malignancy of the pathology correlates with a predominance of LTs, according to the Gleason grade. The increased knowledge of B and T lymphocyte infiltration and plasma cell activation could be used to better target clinical trials on treatments based on immune system responses. Immunotherapy could be a new paradigm to apply better antitumor therapy strategies.

En tumores sólidos y malignos, la inmunidad innata y adaptativa se combinan en respuestas antitumorales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la activación de células plasmáticas y la correlación entre la infiltración de linfocitos B y T con el grado de malignidad o grado de Gleason en biopsias de próstata humana diagnosticadas con cáncer. Las biopsias de cáncer de próstata se obtuvieron del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile (n=70), de acuerdo con las normas bioéticas de la institución. Secciones histológicas de 5 µm de espesor fueron procesadas para inmunohistoquímica con anticuerpos primarios contra LB y LT total (HRP/DAB). El reconocimiento y las cuantificaciones se realizaron bajo un microscopio óptico Leica DM750. Para el estudio estadístico se utilizaron los programas Microsoft Excel y GraphPad. Se desarrollaron pruebas de coeficiente de correlación (Pearson) y comparación de medias (Kruskal-Wallis y Dunn) y p≤ 0.05. Los resultados muestran que las poblaciones de linfocitos B y T están inversamente interreguladas en el cáncer de próstata (r= -0,4578). Su relación con el grado de Gleason es variable según el tipo de linfocito (LB vs Gleason r= -0,47* y LT vs Gleason r= -0,21). Se concluye que la malignidad del cáncer de próstata se correlaciona con un predominio de LT, versus el grado de Gleason. El mayor conocimiento de la infiltración de linfocitos B y T y la activación de células plasmáticas podría aprovecharse para una mejor orientación de ensayos clínicos en tratamientos basados en las respuestas del sistema inmunitario. La inmunoterapia podría ser un nuevo paradigma para aplicar mejores estrategias de terapias antitumorales.

Population mental health in Burma after 2021 military coup: online non-probability survey.

BACKGROUND: Humanitarian crises and armed conflicts lead to a greater prevalence of poor population mental health. Following the 1 February 2021 military coup in Burma, the country's civilians have faced humanitarian crises that have probably caused rising rates of mental disorders. However, a dearth of data has prevented researchers from assessing the extent of the problem empirically. AIMS: To better understand prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders among the Burmese adult population after the February 2021 military coup. METHOD: We fielded an online non-probability survey of 7720 Burmese adults aged 18 and older during October 2021 and asked mental health and demographic questions. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 to measure probable depression and anxiety in respondents. We also estimated logistic regressions to assess variations in probable depression and anxiety across demographic subgroups and by level of trust in various media sources, including those operated by the Burmese military establishment. RESULTS: We found consistently high rates of probable anxiety and depression combined (60.71%), probable depression (61%) and probable anxiety (58%) in the sample overall, as well as across demographic subgroups. Respondents who 'mostly' or 'completely' trusted military-affiliated media sources (about 3% of the sample) were significantly less likely than respondents who did not trust these sources to report symptoms of anxiety and depression (AOR = 0.574; 95% CI 0.370-0.889), depression (AOR = 0.590; 95% CI 0.383-0.908) or anxiety (AOR = 0.609; 95% CI 0.390-0.951). CONCLUSIONS: The widespread symptoms of anxiety and depression we observed demonstrate the need for both continuous surveillance of the current situation and humanitarian interventions to address mental health needs in Burma.

Moderating effects of impulsivity and morning cortisol on the genotype-phenotype relationship of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young adults.

Dysregulation of the morning cortisol response in young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been shown to underlie several of the alterations present in their lives. Thus, the interaction of this mechanism with genetic and behavioural characteristics could explain a large proportion of the aetiology of ADHD in this population. For these reasons, the present study explores the associations of 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified as significant (after correction for multiple comparisons) in the aetiology of ADHD with an assessment of morning cortisol and impulsivity traits in a group of 120 adults aged 18-24 years. Participants were recruited through private centres of neuropsychology and psychiatry, as well as through events in local universities. Morning cortisol within 30 min of awakening and motor impulsivity traits were shown to moderate the effect of SNP rs10129500 on the severity of the symptoms of ADHD measured by the Adult Self-Report Scale. This variant associated with cortisol-binding globulin would explain the low concentrations of this hormone found in young adults with high symptoms of ADHD, which is accentuated when there are high levels of impulsivity. The proposed model allows for transferring the theoretical relationships between the dimensions that explain the aetiology of ADHD to an applied exploratory model with good performance.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of spontaneous vaginal delivery vs elective cesarean delivery for maternal outcomes in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: In worldwide literature, it has been found that cesarean deliveries represent higher costs and are associated with maternal morbidity and other complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of elective cesarean delivery compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery in short-term maternal outcomes for low-risk obstetrical population in Colombia. STUDY DESIGN: A cost-effectiveness study using a healthcare-system perspective was performed in 2019 in Colombia. The reference population were women with full-term and low-risk pregnancy, either by spontaneous vaginal delivery or elective cesarean delivery under medical or nonmedical indications. An analytical decision model (decision tree) was designed for maternal outcomes. The time horizon was 42 days postpartum, and the health effects were measured by Quality Adjusted Life Years. A review of the literature and a validation process by a national expert committee were conducted to determine the maternal outcomes and estimate their probabilities. Costs were estimated with a top-down analysis, an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated, and finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: Within a 42-day time horizon, it was found that spontaneous vaginal delivery is the less-expensive and more-effective mode of delivery, it showed a reduction in costs (324 USD) and a gain in Quality Adjusted Life Years (0.03) compared with elective cesarean delivery. Our analysis suggests that spontaneous vaginal delivery is the dominant alternative compared with elective cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous vaginal delivery showed to be the cost-effective mode of delivery for low-risk obstetrical population in Columbia. These results are useful not only for obstetricians but for decision makers, who should encourage nationwide health policies in favor of spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Cobertura y barreras de la vacunación contra la varicela en niños que consultaron a la Fundación Salud Bosque / Coverage of and Barriers to Varicella Vaccination in Children at Fundación Salud Bosque / Cobertura e barreiras à vacinação contra varicela em crianças que consultaram a Fundação Salud Bosque

Introducción. Desde la introducción de la vacuna contra la varicela a Colombia no se ha logrado una cobertura mayor al 90%. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las barreras de vacunación contra varicela en niños. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo realizado en la Fundación Salud Bosque; se estudiaron 27 pacientes, 18 hombres (67%) y 9 mujeres (33%), incluyendo menores de 18 años con varicela, y excluyendo pacientes con enfermedades ampollosas distintas a varicela y quemaduras. Se hizo una caracterización demográfica. Para las variables cuantitativas se emplearon promedios y desviación estándar, y para las cualitativas la razón de proporción con Stata V12®. Resultados. La incidencia de varicela fue del 0.2%, solo 9 pacientes (33%) habían recibido la primera dosis de la vacuna, ninguno la segunda dosis. El 92.5% requirió incapacidad; el 89% analgésicos; el 63% antihistamínicos y el 26% antibióticos. Discusión. El estudio realizado demuestra una incidencia significativamente menor en contraste con otras cohortes internacionales. En Colombia no se ha alcanzado la cobertura de la vacunación contra la varicela lograda en Uruguay, Costa Rica, Estados Unidos, Australia, Europa y Taiwán dadas las mismas barreras en su aplicación, mientras que en África no se ha introducido la vacuna contra la varicela porque existen otras prioridades como la desnutrición, la malaria y la infección por Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana. Conclusiones. La cobertura de la vacunación no se ha logrado por barreras modificables que incrementan la incidencia y carga de la enfermedad por costos debido a incapacidad, manejo farmacológico y ausentismo escolar. Palabras clave: Cobertura de Vacunación; Incidencia; Niño; Vacuna contra la Varicela; Varicela.

Introduction. Ever since the introduction of the varicella vaccine in Colombia, coverage has not surpassed 90%. The objective of this work is to identify the barriers to varicella vaccination in children. Methodology. A descriptive study conducted at Fundación Salud Bosque. 27 patients were studied - 18 males (67%) and 9 females (33%) - including children under 18 years of age with varicella, and excluding patients with blistering diseases other than varicella and burns. A demographic characterization was conducted. Averages and standard deviations were used for quantitative variables, and the proportion ratio was used for qualitative variables with Stata V12®. Results. The incidence of varicella was 0.2%. Only 9 patients (33%) had received the first dose of the vaccine, and none had received the second dose. 92.5% required sick leave, 89% required painkillers, 63% required antihistamines, and 26% required antibiotics. Discussion. The conducted study shows a significantly lower incidence compared to other international cohorts. Colombia has not achieved the varicella vaccination coverage of Uruguay, Costa Rica, the United States, Australia, Europe and Taiwan due to the barriers to applying it. Meanwhile, the varicella vaccine has not been introduced in Africa because there are other priorities, such as malnutrition, malaria and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Conclusions. Vaccination coverage has not been achieved because of modifiable barriers that increase the incidence and burden of the disease due to costs of sick leave, pharmacological treatment and school absenteeism. Keywords: Vaccination Coverage; Incidence; Child; Chickenpox Vaccine; Chikenpox.

Introdução. Desde a introdução da vacina contra varicela na Colômbia, não foi alcançada uma cobertura superior a 90%. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar as barreiras à vacinação contra varicela em crianças. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo realizado na Fundação Salud Bosque. Foram estudados 27 pacientes, 18 homens (67%) e 9 mulheres (33%), incluindo crianças menores de 18 anos com varicela e excluindo pacientes com outras doenças bolhosas que não varicela e queimaduras. Foi feita uma caracterização demográfica. Média e desvio padrão foram utilizados para as variáveis quantitativas e, para variáveis qualitativas, a razão de proporção com Stata V12®. Resultados. A incidência de varicela foi de 0.2%, apenas 9 pacientes (33%) receberam a primeira dose da vacina, nenhum a segunda dose. 92,5% requeriam atestado; 89% analgésicos; 63% anti-histamínicos e 26% antibióticos. Discussão. O estudo realizado mostra uma incidência significativamente menor em comparação com outras coortes internacionais. A Colômbia não tem atingido a cobertura vacinal contra a varicela alcançada no Uruguai, Costa Rica, Estados Unidos, Austrália, Europa e Taiwan, dadas as mesmas barreiras em sua aplicação, enquanto na África a vacina contra a varicela não foi introduzida porque existem outras prioridades como a desnutrição, a malária e a infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana. Conclusões. A cobertura vacinal não foi alcançada dadas as barreiras modificáveis que aumentam a incidência e carga da doença devido aos custos por atestados, manejo farmacológico e absenteísmo escolar. Palavras-chave: Cobertura Vacinal; Incidência; Criança; Vacina contra Varicela; Varicela

Efficacy of a Vibrating Crib Mattress to Reduce Pharmacologic Treatment in Opioid-Exposed Newborns: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Pharmacologic agents are often used to treat newborns with prenatal opioid exposure (POE) despite known adverse effects on neurodevelopment. Alternative nonpharmacological interventions are needed. Objective: To examine efficacy of a vibrating crib mattress for treating newborns with POE. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this dual-site randomized clinical trial, 208 term newborns with POE, enrolled from March 9, 2017, to March 10, 2020, were studied at their bedside throughout hospitalization. Interventions: Half the cohort received treatment as usual (TAU) and half received standard care plus low-level stochastic (random) vibrotactile stimulation (SVS) using a uniquely constructed crib mattress with a 3-hour on-off cycle. Study initiated in the newborn unit where newborns were randomized to TAU or SVS within 48 hours of birth. All infants whose symptoms met clinical criteria for pharmacologic treatment received morphine in the neonatal intensive care unit per standard care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The a priori primary outcomes analyzed were pharmacotherapy (administration of morphine treatment [AMT], first-line medication at both study sites [number of infants treated], and cumulative morphine dose) and hospital length of stay. Intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. Results: Analyses were performed on 181 newborns who completed hospitalization at the study sites (mean [SD] gestational age, 39.0 [1.2] weeks; mean [SD] birth weight, 3076 (489) g; 100 [55.2%] were female). Of the 181 analyzed infants, 121 (66.9%) were discharged without medication and 60 (33.1%) were transferred to the NICU for morphine treatment (31 [51.7%] TAU and 29 [48.3%] SVS). Treatment rate was not significantly different in the 2 groups: 35.6% (31 of 87 infants who received TAU) and 30.9% (29 of 94 infants who received SVS) (P = .60). Adjusting for site, sex, birth weight, opioid exposure, and feed type, infant duration on the vibrating mattress in the newborn unit was associated with reduction in AMT (adjusted odds ratio, 0.88 hours per day; 95% CI, 0.81-0.93 hours per day). This translated to a 50% relative reduction in AMT for infants who received SVS on average 6 hours per day. Among 32 infants transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for morphine treatment who completed treatment within 3 weeks, those assigned to SVS finished treatment nearly twice as fast (hazard ratio, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.01-3.81), resulting in 3.18 fewer treatment days (95% CI, -0.47 to -0.04 days) and receiving a mean 1.76 mg/kg less morphine (95% CI, -3.02 to -0.50 mg/kg) than the TAU cohort. No effects of condition were observed among infants treated for more than 3 weeks (n = 28). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this clinical trial suggest that SVS may serve as a complementary nonpharmacologic intervention for newborns with POE. Reducing pharmacotherapy with SVS has implications for reduced hospitalization stays and costs, and possibly improved infant outcomes given the known adverse effects of morphine on neurodevelopment. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02801331.

Pharmacogenomic profile of actionable molecular variants related to drugs commonly used in anesthesia: WES analysis reveals new mutations.

Background: Genetic interindividual variability is associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and affects the response to common drugs used in anesthesia. Despite their importance, these variants remain largely underexplored in Latin-American countries. This study describes rare and common variants found in genes related to metabolism of analgesic and anaesthetic drug in the Colombian population. Methods: We conducted a study that included 625 Colombian healthy individuals. We generated a subset of 14 genes implicated in metabolic pathways of common medications used in anesthesia and assessed them by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Variants were filtered using two pipelines: A) novel or rare (minor allele frequency-MAF <1%) variants including missense, loss-of-function (LoF, e.g., frameshift, nonsense), and splice site variants with potential deleterious effect and B) clinically validated variants described in the PharmGKB (categories 1, 2 and 3) and/or ClinVar databases. For rare and novel missense variants, we applied an optimized prediction framework (OPF) to assess the functional impact of pharmacogenetic variants. Allelic, genotypic frequencies and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were calculated. We compare our allelic frequencies with these from populations described in the gnomAD database. Results: Our study identified 148 molecular variants potentially related to variability in the therapeutic response to 14 drugs commonly used in anesthesiology. 83.1% of them correspond to rare and novel missense variants classified as pathogenic according to the pharmacogenetic optimized prediction framework, 5.4% were loss-of-function (LoF), 2.7% led to potential splicing alterations and 8.8% were assigned as actionable or informative pharmacogenetic variants. Novel variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Allelic frequency comparison showed that the Colombian population has a unique pharmacogenomic profile for anesthesia drugs with some allele frequencies different from other populations. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated high allelic heterogeneity among the analyzed sampled, enriched by rare (91.2%) variants in pharmacogenes related to common drugs used in anesthesia. The clinical implications of these results highlight the importance of implementation of next-generation sequencing data into pharmacogenomic approaches and personalized medicine.

Prospective study of thyroid function in the first year of life in infants with Down syndrome.

Current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Guidelines recommend monitoring thyroid function in infants with Down syndrome (DS) at birth, 6 and 12 months, and annually thereafter. This study aimed to determine whether these guidelines are optimal for early diagnosis and treatment of (subclinical) hypothyroidism. Enrolled infants with DS less than age 7 months, born at ≥ 30 weeks gestation to monitor thyroid function test (TFT). A filter paper (FP) blood sample was analyzed for TSH and total T4 at ages 2 and 4 weeks and monthly thereafter until 12 months. Subjects with abnormal FP sample and confirmatory serum TFT for hypothyroidism promptly started treatment. Subjects with thyroid dysfunction identified had thyroid antibodies measured at diagnosis and 12 months. Descriptive statistics determined average time to diagnosis of abnormal TFT. Sixteen (30%) of 54 subjects were diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, the majority with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) and 1 with hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis occurred in 6 (11%), 9 (17%), and 12 (22.2%) infants in the first 30, 60, and 90 days of life (DOL), respectively. Eight infants had an abnormal NBS and half were diagnosed with a thyroid disorder by DOL 8 and the remainder prior to 4 months. Among subjects with a normal NBS, four were diagnosed at a mean of 104 days and three at a mean of 101 days prior to the 6-month and 12-month routine screens, respectively.  Conclusion: Based on current AAP guidelines, thyroid disorder diagnosis would have been delayed in nearly 20% of the subjects. An additional TFT screen at 1 and 3 months can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. What is Known: • Current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Guidelines recommend thyroid function tests (TFT) in infants with Down syndrome (DS) at birth and 6 and 12 months. • Peer- reviewed retrospective studies report an increased incidence of hypothyroidism in infants with DS undetected by the newborn screen (NBS) and prior to 6 months. What is New: • This prospective study monitored TFT in infants with DS at age 2 weeks and monthly throughout the first year of life. • The findings in this study support additional TFT screens at 1 and 3 months in infants with DS.

Cell surface markers for mesenchymal stem cells related to the skeletal system: A scoping review.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been described as bone marrow stromal cells, which can form cartilage, bone or hematopoietic supportive stroma. In 2006, the International Society for Cell Therapy (ISCT) established a set of minimal characteristics to define MSCs. According to their criteria, these cells must express CD73, CD90 and CD105 surface markers; however, it is now known they do not represent true stemness epitopes. The objective of the present work was to determine the surface markers for human MSCs associated with skeletal tissue reported in the literature (1994-2021). To this end, we performed a scoping review for hMSCs in axial and appendicular skeleton. Our findings determined the most widely used markers were CD105 (82.9%), CD90 (75.0%) and CD73 (52.0%) for studies performed in vitro as proposed by the ISCT, followed by CD44 (42.1%), CD166 (30.9%), CD29 (27.6%), STRO-1 (17.7%), CD146 (15.1%) and CD271 (7.9%) in bone marrow and cartilage. On the other hand, only 4% of the articles evaluated in situ cell surface markers. Even though most studies use the ISCT criteria, most publications in adult tissues don't evaluate the characteristics that establish a stem cell (self-renewal and differentiation), which will be necessary to distinguish between a stem cell and progenitor populations. Collectively, MSCs require further understanding of their characteristics if they are intended for clinical use.

Flow-through laminar anodes with variable interlaminar distance to modulate the current density of urine-fed bio-electrochemical systems.

Three-dimensional (3D) porous anodes used in urine-powered bio-electrochemical applications usually lead to the growth of electro-active bacteria on the outer electrode surface, due to limited microbial access to the internal structure and lack of permeation of culture medium through the entire porous architecture. In this study, we propose the use of 3D monolithic Ti4O7 porous electrodes with controlled laminar structures as microbial anodes for urine-fed bio-electrochemical systems. The interlaminar distance was tuned to modulate the anode surface areas and, thus, the volumetric current densities. To profit from the true area of the electrodes, urine feeding was performed as a continuous flow through the laminar architectures. The system was optimized according to the response surface methodology (RSM). The electrode interlaminar distance and the concentration of urine were selected as independent variables, with the volumetric current density as the output response to optimize. Maximum current densities of 5.2 kA.m-3 were produced from electrodes with 12 µm-interlaminar distance and 10 %v/v urine concentrations. The present study demonstrates the existence of a trade-off between the accesibility to the internal electrode structure and the effective usage of the surface area to maximize the volumetric current density when diluted urine is used as flowing-through feeding fuel.

Cuidado de enfermería al paciente pediátrico con tetralogía de Fallot intervenido quirúrgicamente: una revisión de alcance / Nursing care of the surgically operated pediatric patient with Tetralogy of Fallot: a scoping review

Resumen Introducción: los niños con tetralogía de Fallot afrontan grandes desafíos durante su etapa posoperatoria, por lo cual es necesario que el personal de enfermería reconozca los mecanismos involucrados en este proceso con el fin de contribuir a que estos alcancen un nivel de adaptación fisiológico y psicosocial integrado. Objetivo: establecer las intervenciones de enfermería para niños en posoperatorio paliativo o correctivo de tetralogía de Fallot. Materiales y método: a través de la metodología propuesta por Fawcett et al. y el Instituto Joanna Briggs, se realizó una búsqueda en diez bases de datos y motores de búsqueda de artículos publicados del 2014 al 2019 utilizando dos fórmulas: Pediatric AND Tetralogy of Fallot AND Postoperative y Pediatric AND Tetralogy of Fallot AND Postoperative AND Psychosocial Adaptation. Resultados: se obtuvieron 1.901 estudios, de los cuales 56 cumplieron todos los criterios de elegibilidad. Los resultados se estructuraron según el plan de atención de enfermería y se enmarcaron en los modos de adaptación y necesidades del modelo de adaptación de Callista Roy. Con la información obtenida, se construyeron doce diagnósticos NANDA correspondientes al modo de adaptación fisiológico y once al modo psicosocial. Conclusión: existe información relevante que permite establecer las intervenciones de cuidado desde el campo de acción para enfermería en este contexto de unidad de cuidado intensivo pediátrico, ya que se obtuvieron intervenciones para abordar todas las necesidades que el modelo epistemológico plantea.

Abstract Introduction: children with tetralogy of Fallot face great challenges during their postoperative stage, so it is necessary for nurses to recognize the mechanisms involved in this process, in order to help them reach an integrated physiological and psychosocial level of adaptation. Objective: to establish nursing interventions for children in palliative or corrective postoperative tetralogía de Fallot. Materials and method: using the methodology proposed by Fawcett et al. and the Joanna Briggs Institute, we searched 10 databases and search engines for articles published from 2014 to 2019 using 2 formulas: Pediatric AND Tetralogy of Fallot AND Postoperative; and Pediatric AND Tetralogy of Fallot AND Postoperative AND Psychosocial Adaptation. Results: 1.901 studies were obtained, of which 56 met all eligibility criteria. The results were structured according to the nursing care plan, and were framed within the modes of adaptation and needs of Callista Roy’s adaptation model. With the information obtained, 12 NANDA diagnoses corresponding to the physiological mode of adaptation and 11 to the psychosocial mode were constructed. Conclusion: There is relevant information that allows us to establish care interventions from the field of action for nursing in this paediatric intensive care unit context, as interventions were obtained to address all the needs that the epistemological model proposes.

Performance of the INTERGROWTH-21st and World Health Organization fetal growth charts for the detection of small-for-gestational age neonates in Latin America.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of INTERGROWTH-21st (IG-21st ) and World Health Organization (WHO) fetal growth charts to identify small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) neonates, as well as their specific risks for adverse neonatal outcomes. METHODS: Multicenter cross-sectional study including 67 968 live births from 10 maternity units across four Latin American countries. According to each standard, neonates were classified as SGA and FGR (birth weight <10th and less than third centiles, respectively). The relative risk (RR) and diagnostic performance for a low APGAR score and low ponderal index were calculated for each standard. RESULTS: WHO charts identified more neonates as SGA than IG-21st (13.9% vs 7%, respectively). Neonates classified as having FGR by both standards had the highest RR for a low APGAR (RR, 5.57 [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.99-7.78]), followed by those who were SGA by both curves (RR, 3.27 [95% CI, 2.52-4.24]), while neonates with SGA identified by WHO alone did not have an additional risk (RR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.55-1.39]). Furthermore, the diagnostic odds ratio for a low APGAR was higher when IG-21st was used. CONCLUSION: In a population from Latin America, the WHO charts seem to identify more SGA neonates, but the diagnostic performance of the IG-21st charts for low APGAR score and low ponderal index is better.

Studying membrane fusion using supported lipid bilayers on superparamagnetic beads.

The fusion between two lipid membranes is a ubiquitous mechanism in cell traffic and pathogens invasion. Yet it is not well understood how two distinct bilayers overcome the energy barriers towards fusion and reorganize themselves to form a unique continuous bilayer. The magnitudes and numbers of these energy barriers are themselves an open question. To tackle these issues, we developed a new tool that allows to control the forces applied between two supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) deposited on superparamagnetic beads. By applying a magnetic field, the beads self-organize along field lines in chains of beads and compress the two membranes on the contact zone. Using the diffusion of fluorescently labelled lipids from one bilayer to the other allows us to identify fusion of the bilayers in contact. We applied increasing forces on SLBs and increased the occurrence of fusion. This experimental system allows the simultaneous study of tens of facing bilayers in a single experiment and mitigates the stochasticity of the fusion process. It is thus a powerful tool to test the various parameters involved in the membrane fusion process.

Telemedicina en pediatría para el manejo de enfermedades crónicas y de grupos vulnerables / Telemedicine in Pediatrics for Managing Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Groups

Introducción: La telemedicina es una herramienta para los servicios de atención en pediatría, ya que permite el seguimiento de los pacientes pediátricos en el manejo de enfermedades crónicas y de grupos vulnerables; disminuye los costos y mejora el acceso a los servicios de salud. Objetivo: Explorar, por medio de una revisión sistemática de la literatura, la efectividad de la teleconsulta en el manejo de enfermedades crónicas y grupos vulnerables en la población pediátrica. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura, utilizando los términos MESH pediatrics AND telehealth AND primary care AND control care en las bases Medline PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct. Se incluyeron metaanálisis, revisiones sistemáticas, experimentos clínicos controlados, estudios de cohortes, casos y controles, realizados desde 1998 hasta julio de 2021. Se obtuvieron 54 estudios para la revisión final. Resultados: Los principales resultados de la búsqueda arrojaron beneficios a nivel del control de enfermedades crónicas, control posterior al egreso de la unidad de cuidado intensivo, poscirugía pediátrica, cuidado paliativo, enfermedades mentales, acceso a los servicios de salud de población proveniente de regiones apartadas. Se encontró un beneficio para prevenir las visitas al servicio de urgencias. Conclusiones: La telemedicina tiene una diversidad de utilidades e intervenciones como herramienta de la salud. Se ha encontrado evidencia científica robusta para la atención de enfermedades crónicas y/o seguimiento en pediatría. Asimismo, la prestación de servicios en la modalidad de telemedicina en pediatría debe incluirse en los procesos de atención y guías de práctica clínica de la especialidad(AU)

Introduction: Telemedicine is a tool for pediatric care services, since it allows monitoring of pediatric patients in the management of chronic diseases and vulnerable groups; lowers costs and improves access to health services. Objective: To explore, through a systematic review of the literature, the effectiveness of teleconsultation in the management of chronic diseases and vulnerable groups in the pediatric population. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out, using the MESH terms pediatrics AND telehealth AND primary care AND control care in Medline PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct databases. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, controlled clinical trials, cohort, case-control studies, conducted from 1998 to July 2021, were included. Fifty-four studies were obtained for the final review. Results: The main results of the search showed benefits at the level of chronic disease control, control after discharge from the intensive care unit, pediatric post-surgery, palliative care, mental illness, access to health services for populations from remote regions. A benefit was found in preventing visits to the Emergency Department. Conclusions: Telemedicine has a diversity of utilities and interventions as a health tool. Robust scientific evidence has been found for the care of chronic diseases and/or follow-up in pediatrics. Likewise, the provision of services in the telemedicine modality in pediatrics should be included in the care processes and clinical practice guidelines of the specialty(AU)

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Chain-Related α (MICA) STR Polymorphisms in COVID-19 Patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 disease presents different phenotypes of severity. Comorbidities, age, and being overweight are well established risk factors for severe disease. However, innate immunity plays a key role in the early control of viral infections and may condition the gravity of COVID-19. Natural Killer (NK) cells are part of innate immunity and are important in the control of virus infection by killing infected cells and participating in the development of adaptive immunity. Therefore, we studied the short tandem repeat (STR) transmembrane polymorphisms of the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA), an NKG2D ligand that induces activation of NK cells, among other cells. We compared the alleles and genotypes of MICA in COVID-19 patients versus healthy controls and analyzed their relation to disease severity. Our results indicate that the MICA*A9 allele is related to infection as well as to symptomatic disease but not to severe disease. The MICA*A9 allele may be a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic disease.