Dietary patterns, social determinants, and emotions during COVID-19 confinement in Panama: An online survey.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate health and nutrition behaviors among the Panamanian population during the confinement period corresponding to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey for data collection with a total of 2475 participants over the age of 18 using an online survey. We also completed 64 face-to-face interviews. After data validation, 1561 surveys were included in the study. Most respondents were women (74.2%) between 18 and 49 years old. Among the respondents, 83.3% had a university education level, and 49.9% reported a monthly family income of fewer than 1000 USD. In addition, more than 50% self-reported as overweight or obese. Results: We identified three dietary patterns: a healthy, a non-healthy, and a mixed dietary pattern. The respondents with healthy and nonhealthy dietary patterns reported better socioeconomic conditions than participants from the mixed dietary pattern. Individuals with mixed dietary patterns had lower incomes, less education, and higher unemployment rates. Regarding emotions, we found that women experienced more negative emotions, such as fear, worry, and anxiety, during the lockdown period. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate that the mobility restriction measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic could have affected dietary patterns by exacerbating existing inequalities. Directing resources toward promoting healthy nutrition strategies with the most significant positive impacts on public health is a priority, especially in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is not just any FODMAP diet: Hispanic adaptation of the FODMAP diet and a reintroduction guide / Esta no es una dieta FODMAP cualquiera: adaptación hispana de la dieta FODMAP y una guía de reintroducción

Short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and rapidly fermented by bacteria. Fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) content of a wide range of foods has been measured. However, the list of foods allowed, as well as the quantities of FODMAP each food differ between studies, making the management of the low FODMAP diet difficult.The aim of this research was to propose a FODMAP diet guide culturally adapted to different Hispanic countries for dietitians-nutritionists and nutrition experts, to facilitate the management of patients who benefit from this diet.A consortium of FODMAP diet experts was created among Spanish-speaking countries. Dieticians from 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) and Spain elaborated a low FODMAP diet adjusted each to the gastronomic culture of their own country. They also created a list of foods to be reintroduced in phase 2 (or reintroduction phase) of the FODMAP diet, along with typical recipes from the country.Twelve low FODMAP diets with their corresponding reintroduction phase were designed, each adapted to the commonly consumed foods and recipes of each country. The adaptation of the diet to local gastronomy is pertinent, as it may increase the likelihood of durable adherence and better response to symptomatology.There are limitations in developing tables of FODMAP-rich and FODMAP-poor foods. The cut-off levels of FODMAP content are not clearly defined. More studies are needed to reach a unified consensus, as inconsistency in the data provided between studies has been found in relation to the FODMAP diet.(AU)

Los carbohidratos de cadena corta y los alcoholes de azúcar se absorben mal en el intestino delgado y las bacterias los fermentan rápidamente. Se ha medido el contenido de oligo, di, monosacáridos y polioles fermentables (FODMAP) de una amplia gama de alimentos. Sin embargo, la lista de alimentos permitidos, así como las cantidades de FODMAP de cada alimento, difieren entre estudios, lo que dificulta el manejo de la dieta baja en FODMAP.El objetivo de esta investigación fue proponer una guía dietética FODMAP adaptada culturalmente a diferentes países hispanos para facilitar a dietistas-nutricionistas y expertos en nutrición el manejo de los pacientes que se benefician de la dieta baja en FODMAP.Se creó un consorcio de expertos en dieta FODMAP entre países de habla hispana. Dietistas de 11 países latinoamericanos (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Panamá, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela) y España elaboraron una dieta baja en FODMAP ajustada cada una a la cultura gastronómica del país. También crearon una lista de alimentos para ser reintroducidos en la fase 2 (o fase de reintroducción) de la dieta FODMAP, junto con recetas típicas del país.Se diseñaron doce dietas bajas en FODMAP con su correspondiente fase de reintroducción, cada una adaptada a los alimentos y recetas de consumo común de cada país. La adaptación de la dieta a la gastronomía local fue pertinente, ya que puede aumentar la adherencia a la dieta y una mejor respuesta a la sintomatología.Existen limitaciones en el desarrollo de tablas de alimentos ricos y pobres en FODMAP. Los niveles de corte del contenido de FODMAP no están claramente definidos. Se necesitan más estudios para alcanzar un consenso unificado, ya que se ha encontrado inconsistencia en los datos proporcionados en estudios relacionados con la dieta FODMAP.(AU)

Construction and phenotypic characterization of HIV type 1 functional envelope clones of subtypes G and F.

Subtype G has been estimated to represent the fourth most prevalent clade in the HIV-1 pandemic and subtype F is widely circulating in parts of South America (frequently within BF recombinant forms) and in Romania. However, functional envelope clones of these subtypes are lacking, which are needed for studies on antibody-mediated neutralization, coreceptor usage, and efficiency of viral entry inhibitor drugs. Here we report the construction, neutralization properties, and coreceptor usage of HIV-1 functional envelope clones of subtypes G (n = 15) and F (n = 7). These clones were obtained through RT-PCR amplification of HIV-1 gp160 from plasma RNA, and were used for pseudovirus production. All 15 subtype G-enveloped pseudoviruses were resistant to neutralization by gp120-targeted broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) b12 and 2G12, while a majority were neutralized by gp41-targeted MAbs 2F5 and 4E10. With regard to the subtype F envelopes, all seven pseudoviruses were resistant to 2F5 and b12, six were resistant to G12, and six were neutralized by 4E10. Coreceptor usage testing revealed that 21 of 22 envelopes were CCR5-tropic, including all 15 subtype G envelopes, seven of which were from patients with CD4(+) T cell counts <200/ml. These results confirm the broadly neutralizing activity of 4E10 on envelope clones across all tested group M clades, including subtypes G and F, reveal the resistance of most subtype F-enveloped pseudoviruses to broadly neutralizing MAbs b12, 2G12, and 2F5, and suggest that, similarly to subtype C, CXCR4 tropism is uncommon in subtype G, even at advanced stages of infection.

Identification of a new HIV type 1 BF intersubtype circulating recombinant form (CRF44_BF) in Chile.

HIV-1 BF intersubtype recombinants are frequent in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, where among a high diversity of BF unique recombinant forms (URFs), eight circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) have been characterized. Here, we describe a new one, designated CRF44_BF, identified in HIV-1 samples from Chile. In a previous report, where partial pol sequences of 136 HIV-1 infections of Chilean subjects were analyzed, a phylogenetic cluster of HIV-1 recombinant BF viruses from 10 individuals, with coincident intersubtype recombination points, was detected. One virus of this cluster had been characterized along its near full-length genome. A second one, from an epidemiologically unlinked HIV-1-infected subject, is described here. Both genomes share identical mosaic structures, consisting of a predominantly subtype F1 genome with three fragments of subtype B. Coincident breakpoints and phylogenetic clustering of the newly identified CRF44_BF with CRF12_BF, CRF17_BF, and CRF38_BF support a common origin of different CRF_BFs identified in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

Antiretroviral drug resistance and phylogenetic diversity of HIV-1 in Chile.

This study reports the analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) coding sequences from 136 HIV-1-infected subjects from Chile, 66 (49%) of them under antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. The prevalence of mutations conferring high or intermediate resistance levels to ARVs was 77% among treated patients and 2.5% among drug-naïve subjects. The distribution of resistance prevalence in treated patients by drug class was 61% to nucleoside RT inhibitors, 84% to nonnucleoside RT inhibitors, and 46% to PR inhibitors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 115 (85%) subjects were infected with subtype B viruses, 1 with a subtype F1 virus, and 20 (15%) carried BF intersubtype recombinants. Most BF recombinants grouped into two clusters, one related to CRF12_BF, while the other could represent a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). In conclusion, this is the first report analysing the prevalence of ARV resistance which includes patients under HAART from Chile. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the PR-RT coding sequences reveals the presence of BF intersubtype recombinants.

The analysis of near full-length genome sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 BF intersubtype recombinant viruses from Chile, Venezuela and Spain reveals their relationship to diverse lineages of recombinant viruses related to CRF12_BF.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) BF intersubtype recombinant viruses are common in Argentina and Uruguay, where CRF12_BF and related recombinants are frequently found, and, in a lower proportion, in Brazil. Full-length genome sequences have been characterized in several of these recombinant viruses. Here, we analyze six newly derived near full-length genome sequences of BF recombinant viruses, three from Chile, one from Venezuela and two from Spain. Five of them had known epidemiological links to Argentina. Genomes were amplified by PCR from plasma RNA or from peripheral blood mononuclear cells' DNA. Mosaic structures and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed by bootscanning, neighbour-joining phylogenetic trees and by examination of subtype signature nucleotides. One virus from Spain had a mosaic structure fully coincident with CRF12_BF. The others had unique mosaic structures, except the viruses from two Chilean sisters infected vertically from the same mother, who showed identical recombination patterns. Each of the unique recombinants had one to six breakpoints coincident with CRF12_BF and three also had two or three breakpoints coincident with a previously characterized unique recombinant from Argentina (A025) related to CRF12_BF. A phylogenetic tree of concatenated subtype F segments supported the relationship of five recombinants with CRF12_BF. In trees of partial subtype F and B segments, four recombinants clustered with A025. The examination of CRF12_BF signature amino acids and nucleotides supported the common ancestry of all the analyzed viruses. Based on these results, a model of generation of HIV-1 BF recombinants of Argentinean ancestry by successive rounds of recombination along diverse lineages deriving from a common BF recombinant ancestor related to CRF12_BF is proposed.

[Identification of B and F human immunodeficiency virus subtypes in Chilean patients]. / Identificación de subtipos B y F de VIH-1 en pacientes chilenos.

BACKGROUND: Type I human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is characterized by a great genetic variability. There are three groups of virus throughout the world: O, N and M. Group M is responsible for AIDS pandemic and is subdivided in 9 genetic subtypes. Most viral strains in South America are subtype B. AIM: To determine the frequency of HIV subtypes in Chilean patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Genetic analysis of C2-V3-C3 region of the gene env in HIV strains coming from 77 Chilean subjects infected by different means. DNA heteroduplex mobility assay was used to determine HIV subtypes. RESULTS: Sixty eight cases were infected with subtype B (88.3%) and nine cases were infected with subtype F (11.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Subtype B is the predominant HIV in Chile, but subtype F is also present.

Prevalencia de chlamdia trachomatis en conjuntivitis neonatal determinada mediante las técnicas de inmuno-fluorescencia y amplificación génica / Indirect fluorescence and genic amplification for the determination of chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in neonatal conjunctivitis

Backgrund: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common identifiable infectious agents in neonatal conjunctivitis. It also causes pneumonitis, that is preceded by conjunctivitis in one third of cases. Aim: To asses the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in newborns with conjunctivitis. Patients and methods: In 162 newborns, coming from 14 Primary Health Centers from Santiago de Chile, C. trachomatis was detected by indirect fluorescence and two polymerase chain reaction (PCR 1 and 2), wich amplified different sequences from the common endogenous plasmid. Those patients with positive indirect fluorescence and PCR 2 were definedas infected: Results: The prevalence of C. trachomatis was 8 percent, and the distribution of the positive cases was similar in the different Health Centers. Other isolates were: S. aureus (9.8 percent), S. pneumoniae (8 percent), S. viridans (6.2 percent) y H. influenzae (5.5 percent). Conclusions: The prevalence of C. trachomatis in neonatal conjunctivitis in Chile is similar to that of developed countries. Therefore, C. trachomatis should be considered in the election of antimicrobials for the treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis, to avoid ocular and respiratory complications