[Obstacles and enablers for the use of barrier methods to avoid HIV/AIDS transmission]. / Obstáculos y facilitadores para el uso de métodos de barrera para la transmisión de VIH/SIDA.

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in HIV/AIDS transmission rates world-wide Aim: To explore obstacles and facilitators in the use of barrier methods for the prevention of HIV/AIDS among Chilean young people between 20 and 29 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the second semester of the year 2020, 134 young Chileans answered an online questionnaire with open-ended questions about barrier methods. A qualitative methodology that considered the main techniques of grounded theory for data analysis was used. RESULTS: There are individual, interpersonal, sociocultural, and structural factors that operate as obstacles and facilitators for the use of barrier methods to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: There are culturally embedded beliefs among young people, such as, a perception of invulnerability caused by not being part of risk groups, among others, that affect self-care.

Obstáculos y facilitadores para el uso de métodos de barrera para la transmisión de VIH/SIDA

Background: There is an increase in HIV/AIDS transmission rates world-wide Aim: To explore obstacles and facilitators in the use of barrier methods for the prevention of HIV/AIDS among Chilean young people between 20 and 29 years of age. Material and Methods: During the second semester of the year 2020, 134 young Chileans answered an online questionnaire with open-ended questions about barrier methods. A qualitative methodology that considered the main techniques of grounded theory for data analysis was used. Results: There are individual, interpersonal, sociocultural, and structural factors that operate as obstacles and facilitators for the use of barrier methods to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: There are culturally embedded beliefs among young people, such as, a perception of invulnerability caused by not being part of risk groups, among others, that affect self-care.

Location and course of the mandibular canal in dentate patients: morphometric study using cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The morphometric characteristics of the mandibular canal (MC) may vary according to the characteristics of the population studied. Correct location of the MC is fundamental for the indication and planning of different dental treatments, and it is therefore essential to have clinical parameters indicating its approximate location. The aim of this study was to describe the location and course of the MC by morphometric relations in the mandibular body, from the mental foramen to distal of the first molar, in dentate adult patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 55 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of male and female patients, aged over 18 years and with fully dentate to the first molar. In each CBCT we selected five coronal sections (A-E) of the mandibular body at different levels using the teeth as references. We determined different morphometric measurements in each section to relate the MC with the corticals of the mandibular body (m1, m2, m3, m4), their orientation to lingual (F) and the thickness of the mandibular corticals (B1, B2 and B3). RESULTS: The distance between the MC and the alveolar crests was greater in males than in females in all the sections. In general, in all the hemiarches, the MC courses away from the vestibular cortical of the mandible (and in some cases significantly towards the lingual cortical) from anterior to posterior in the mandibular body. In the left hemiarch of dentate females the MC describes a descent in the molar zone within the mandibular body. Any intervention in the mandible must be carried out with extreme caution to avoid damaging the vasculo-nervous bundle which passes through the MC. CONCLUSIONS: Cone-beam computed tomography is the best tool currently available for the planning and execution of surgical procedures, and is the only tool in clinical use which allows the precise course of the MC to be identified.

Targeting Neuroinflammation to Treat Alzheimer's Disease.

Over the past few decades, research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has focused on pathomechanisms linked to two of the major pathological hallmarks of extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptides and intra-neuronal formation of neurofibrils. Recently, a third disease component, the neuroinflammatory reaction mediated by cerebral innate immune cells, has entered the spotlight, prompted by findings from genetic, pre-clinical, and clinical studies. Various proteins that arise during neurodegeneration, including beta-amyloid, tau, heat shock proteins, and chromogranin, among others, act as danger-associated molecular patterns, that-upon engagement of pattern recognition receptors-induce inflammatory signaling pathways and ultimately lead to the production and release of immune mediators. These may have beneficial effects but ultimately compromise neuronal function and cause cell death. The current review, assembled by participants of the Chiclana Summer School on Neuroinflammation 2016, provides an overview of our current understanding of AD-related immune processes. We describe the principal cellular and molecular players in inflammation as they pertain to AD, examine modifying factors, and discuss potential future therapeutic targets.

Evidences of Polymorphism Associated with Circadian System and Risk of Pathologies: A Review of the Literature.

The circadian system is a supraphysiological system that modulates different biological functions such as metabolism, sleep-wake, cellular proliferation, and body temperature. Different chronodisruptors have been identified, such as shift work, feeding time, long days, and stress. The environmental changes and our modern lifestyle can alter the circadian system and increase the risk of developing pathologies such as cancer, preeclampsia, diabetes, and mood disorder. This system is organized by transcriptional/tranductional feedback loops of clock genes Clock, Bmal1, Per1-3, and Cry1-2. How molecular components of the clock are able to influence the development of diseases and their risk relation with genetic components of polymorphism of clock genes is unknown. This research describes different genetic variations in the population and how these are associated with risk of cancer, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemias, and also mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disease, excessive alcohol intake, and infertility. Finally, these findings will need to be implemented and evaluated at the level of genetic interaction and how the environment factors trigger the expression of these pathologies will be examined.

Classification and Use of Natural and Anthropogenic Soils by Indigenous Communities of the Upper Amazon Region of Colombia.

Outsiders often oversimplify Amazon soil use by assuming that abundantly available natural soils are poorly suited to agriculture and that sporadic anthropogenic soils are agriculturally productive. Local perceptions about the potentials and limitations of soils probably differ, but information on these perceptions is scarce. We therefore examined how four indigenous communities in the Middle Caquetá River region in the Colombian Amazon classify and use natural and anthropogenic soils. The study was framed in ethnopedology: local classifications, preferences, rankings, and soil uses were recorded through interviews and field observations. These communities recognized nine soils varying in suitability for agriculture. They identified anthropogenic soils as most suitable for agriculture, but only one group used them predominantly for their swiddens. As these communities did not perceive soil nutrient status as limiting, they did not base crop-site selection on soil fertility or on the interplay between soil quality and performance of manioc genetic resources.

Circadian System and Melatonin Hormone: Risk Factors for Complications during Pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a complex and well-regulated temporal event in which several steps are finely orchestrated including implantation, decidualization, placentation, and partum and any temporary alteration has serious effects on fetal and maternal health. Interestingly, alterations of circadian rhythms (i.e., shiftwork) have been correlated with increased risk of preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia. In the last few years evidence is accumulating that the placenta may have a functional circadian system and express the clock genes Bmal1, Per1-2, and Clock. On the other hand, there is evidence that the human placenta synthesizes melatonin, hormone involved in the regulation of the circadian system in other tissues. Moreover, is unknown the role of this local production of melatonin and whether this production have a circadian pattern. Available information indicates that melatonin induces in placenta the expression of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, prevents the injury produced by oxidative stress, and inhibits the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) a gene that in other tissues is controlled by clock genes. In this review we aim to analyze available information regarding clock genes and clock genes controlled genes such as VEGF and the possible role of melatonin synthesis in the placenta.

Effect of sublethal concentrations of waterborne copper on lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant response in Gambusia holbrooki.

The aim of the current research was to assess the possible influence of copper sulphate contamination on the antioxidant enzymatic defenses and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Quadruplicated lots of this fish were exposed to three increasing sub-lethal concentrations of Cu (0.10; 0.17 and 0.25mgCu/L) and a control without Cu for 20 days. Previous to laboratory acclimation, 8 fish were taken to define the initial population. At the end of the trials, 12 fish/sex/treatment were sampled for the determination of levels of copper in gills, metallothioneins (MTs) content, total lipids, fatty acids profiles and antioxidant enzymatic activity, as well as lipid peroxidation. Most of the antioxidant enzymatic defenses assayed were not activated and lipid peroxidation decreased significantly in fish exposed to any concentration of copper applied. This leads us to presume the existence of a protective mechanism against peroxidation other than the enzymatic antioxidant defense, which could be related to the observed increase of copper content in the gills.

Fleas associated with non-flying small mammal communities from northern and central Chile: with new host and locality records.

Fleas associated with small mammals from seven localities from northern and central Chile were assessed. We captured 352 small mammals belonging to 12 species from which we obtained 675 fleas belonging to 15 different species. The most frequently captured flea species were Neotyphloceras crassispina crassispina (n = 198) and N. chilensis (n = 175). High values of flea species richness and diversity were found in Fray Jorge National Park (NP), a north-central Chilean site, whereas the highest values of mean abundance (MA) and prevalence were found in three diverse sites that include Los Molles River, a high altitude site located in north-central Chile, Fray Jorge NP and Dichato, in south-central Chile. On the other hand, high values of flea richness and diversity were found on two rodent species, Abrothrix olivacea and A. longipilis, whereas the highest values of MA and prevalence were found on Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, A. longipilis and Phyllotis xanthopygus. A total of three new host recordings, nine new localities and nine new host species and locality recordings are reported. Also, this study represents the first known record of Tetrapsyllus (Tetrapsyllus) comis in Chile and the first ecological analysis of Neotyphloceras chilensis.

Detección de VPH en boca y cérvix de pacientes con diagnóstico citológico sugestivo de infección genital / HPV detection in the mouth and cervix of patients with histological diagnosis suggestive of genital infection

En este trabajo se evaluó la presencia de VPH en la cavidad bucal (mediante oroscopia y citología oralexfoliativa) y su relación con la infección genital en mujeres con diagnóstico citológico sugestivo de infección por VPH. La muestra consistió en 60 pacientes a quienes se les realizó oroscopia, citología y determinación viral en boca y cérvix por PCR, utilizando los iniciadores genéricos MY09/MY11 y MPCR. Se detectó ADN de VPH en las mucosas oral y genital en 48,33 % y 73,3% de las pacientes, respectivamente, obteniéndose una concordancia de 44,2% (k=0,44 indicando grado de acuerdo moderado). Los tipos virales más frecuentes fueron de bajo riesgo, especialmente el tipo 6, encontrado en 86,2% de las muestras bucales y 65,9% de las muestras cervicales, solo o en combinación con otros tipos debajo (11) o de alto riesgo oncogénico (16, 18, 33), con una concordancia de 10,45% (k=0,1 indicando grado de acuerdo muy bajo); sin embargo, particularmente en relación al tipo 6, hubo una concordancia de 75,86% (k=0,7 indicando grado de acuerdo alto). La citología de la cavidad bucal tuvo una sensibilidad de 3,5 % y especificidad de 93,6 %. Para la oroscopia, la sensibilidad fue de 27,6 % y la especificidad de 74,2 %. Los resultados señalan que la infección por VPH en cavidad bucal de pacientes con infección genital pudiera ser frecuente. La baja concordancia global entre los tipos virales sugiere que la infección por VPH en boca y cérvix presenta un comportamiento biológico diferente(AU)

This work evaluated HPV infection in the oral cavity (using oroscopy and exfoliative oral cytology) and its relation to genital infection in women with cytological diagnosis suggestive of HPV infection. The sample consisted of 60 patients who underwent oroscopy, cytology and viral determination in mouth and cervix by PCR using generic primers MY09/MY11 and MPCR. HPV DNA was detected in oral and genital mucosa in 48.33% and73.3% of patients, respectively, yielding a concordance of 44.2% (k=0.44, moderate agreement). The most common viral types were low risk, especially type 6,found in 86.2% of oral samples and 65.9% of cervical specimens, alone or in combination with other types of low (11) or high oncogenic risk (16, 18, 33), with a concordance of 10.45% (k = 0.1, insignificant agreement). However, in relation to type 6, there was a concordance of 75.86% (k=0.7, high agreement). The cytology of the oral cavity had a sensitivity of 3.5% and a specificity of93.6%. For oroscopy, sensitivity was 27.6% and specificity was 74.2%. The results indicate that HPV infection in the oral cavity of patients with genital infection could be frequent. The low concordance between HPV types suggests that HPV infection in the mouth and cervix has a different biological behavior(AU)

Balancing hygienization and anaerobic digestion of raw sewage sludge.

The anaerobic digestion of raw sewage sludge was evaluated in terms of process efficiency and sludge hygienization. Four different scenarios were analyzed, i.e. mesophilic anaerobic digestion, thermophilic anaerobic digestion and mesophilic anaerobic digestion followed by a 60 °C or by an 80 °C hygienization treatment. Digester performance (organic matter removal, process stability and biogas yield) and the hygienization efficiency (reduction of Escherichia coli, somatic coliphages and F-specific RNA phages) were the main examined factors. Moreover, a preliminary economical feasibility study of each option was carried out throughout an energy balance (heat and electricity). The obtained results showed that both thermophilic anaerobic digestion and mesophilic anaerobic digestion followed by a hygienization step were able to produce an effluent sludge that fulfills the American and the European legislation for land application. However, higher removal efficiencies of indicators were obtained when a hygienization post-treatment was present. Regarding the energy balance, it should be noted that all scenarios have a significant energy surplus. Particularly, positive heat balances will be obtained for the thermophilic anaerobic digestion and for the mesophilic anaerobic digestion followed by 60 °C hygienization post-treatment if an additional fresh-sludge/digested sludge heat exchanger is installed for energy recovery.

[HPV detection in the mouth and cervix of patients with histological diagnosis suggestive of genital infection]. / Detección de VPH en boca y cérvix de pacientes con diagnóstico citológico sugestivo de infección genital.

This work evaluated HPV infection in the oral cavity (using oroscopy and exfoliative oral cytology) and its relation to genital infection in women with cytological diagnosis suggestive of HPV infection. The sample consisted of 60 patients who underwent oroscopy, cytology and viral determination in mouth and cervix by PCR using generic primers MY09/MY11 and MPCR. HPV DNA was detected in oral and genital mucosa in 48.33% and 73.3% of patients, respectively, yielding a concordance of 44.2% (k=0.44, moderate agreement). The most common viral types were low risk, especially type 6, found in 86.2% of oral samples and 65.9% of cervical specimens, alone or in combination with other types of low (11) or high oncogenic risk (16, 18, 33), with a concordance of 10.45% (k = 0.1, insignificant agreement). However, in relation to type 6, there was a concordance of 75.86% (k=0.7, high agreement). The cytology of the oral cavity had a sensitivity of 3.5% and a specificity of 93.6%. For oroscopy, sensitivity was 27.6% and specificity was 74.2%. The results indicate that HPV infection in the oral cavity of patients with genital infection could be frequent. The low concordance between HPV types suggests that HPV infection in the mouth and cervix has a different biological behavior.

Melatonin reduces membrane rigidity and oxidative damage in the brain of SAMP8 mice.

We evaluated the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and membrane fluidity in brain cells and mitochondrial membranes obtained from senescence-accelerated (SAMP(8)) and senescence-resistant (SAMR(1)) mice at 5 and 10 months of age. Moreover, we studied whether chronic treatment from age 1 to 10 months with melatonin stabilizes membrane fluidity. Fluidity was measured by polarization changes of 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene-p-toluene sulfonate. Results showed that in untreated animals at 5 months of age, synaptosomal and mitochondrial fluidity was decreased in SAMP(8) compared to SAMR(1), as was the cathepsin D/B ratio, indicating dysfunction of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Moreover, we detected synaptosomal rigidity and programmed cell death capability in both groups at 10 months of age. Mitochondrial fluidity, however, did not show a significant age-dependent change but was lower in SAMP(8) than in SAMR(1) at the 5- and 10-month time points. Melatonin administration prevented rigidity in the mitochondrial membrane and seemed to decrease age-related autophagy-lysosomal alterations. These data suggest that melatonin may act to slow down the aging process because of its ability to enhance membrane fluidity and maintain structural pathways.

An experimental study for biological nitrogen removal and control strategies in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR).

The aim of this work is to present an overview about an experimental study for biological nitrogen removal implemented in a pilot-scale plant, located in the Universidad Del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. This plant was studied in two different periods. The first period, which was carried out in 90 days, was dedicated to study the influence of the daily variations on the influent and effluent wastewater, and prove some control routines for nitrogen removal. In the second period, which was carried out in 120 days, the removal process was optimized with the addition of acetic acid as an external carbon source, and the implementation of the final control strategy was performed based on the results of the previous period.

Infectious haemolytic anaemia causes jaundice outbreaks in seawater-cultured coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), in Chile.

In the last 9 years, epizootics of an icterus condition has affected coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), reared in seawater cages in southern regions of Chile. At necropsy, fish from field cases exhibited signs of jaundice accompanied by pale light-brown livers and dark spleens. Histopathological and haematological results indicated that these fish presented haemolytic anaemia. After microbiological examination no bacterial or viral agents could be identified as aetiological agents of this disease. In an infectivity trial, coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), were inoculated intraperitoneally with a filtrate of an organ homogenate (0.45 microm) from a diseased coho salmon and held for 60 days in tanks supplied with fresh water. The disease was only reproduced in coho salmon in which mortalities, beginning at day 23 post-inoculation (p.i.), reached a cumulative value of 24% at day 27 p.i. This condition was transmitted to non-inoculated cohabiting coho salmon suggesting that it is a waterborne disease. Thus, this icteric condition is caused by an infectious form of haemolytic anaemia, probably of viral aetiology, and coho salmon are more susceptible than either Atlantic salmon or rainbow trout.

Características clínicas de lactantes con eventos agudos amenazantes de la vida / Clinical characteristics of toddlers with apparent-life threatening events

Introducción: Los eventos aparentemente amenazantes de la vida son causa frecuente de consulta, hospitalización y determinan la realización de estudios prolongados y costosos. El objetivo de este estudio es describir las características de nuestros pacientes, establecer los principales diagnósticos, evaluar su evolución durante el primer año de vida y determinar si alguno de ellos falleció de muerte súbita. Materiales y Métodos: Se estudiaron 120 pacientes que se hospitalizaron en la Unidad de Lactantes y Nutrición del Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, entre mayo del 2001 y junio del 2004 y que al alta además se controlaran en el Policlínico de Seguimiento de Apneas. De acuerdo a las recomendaciones de la Sociedad Americana de Pediatría se estudiaron con exámenes generales tales como hemograma, gases y electrolitos plasmáticos y, de acuerdo a la orientación clínica, otros estudios, como pH metría esofágica de 24 horas, exámenes metabólicos, inmunofluorescencia para agentes de infecciones respiratorias, ecografía encefálica y EEG. Se realizó un monitoreo cardiorrespiratorio de 24 horas con el cual se objetivó la presencia de apneas. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el programa Stat View. Resultados: Un 52 por ciento eran hombres, la edad promedio fue de 2,5 meses y 48 por ciento eran recién nacidos. Las formas de presentación fueron: apneas (76 por ciento), cianosis (75 por ciento), hipotonía (36 por ciento) y palidez (23 por ciento). Un 37,8 por ciento de los pacientes presentó reflujo gastroesofágico; 14,4 por ciento infección respiratoria; 13,5 por ciento apnea idiopática; 10,8 por ciento síndrome convulsivo y un 6,3 por ciento apneas del prematuro. Ningún paciente falleció durante el primer año de vida y todos dejaron de hacer apneas antes de los 11 meses. Conclusiones: Las causas más frecuentes de ALTE son el reflujo gastroesofágico e infecciones respiratorias. Durante el período de seguimiento ningún paciente falleció, por lo que parece no haber relación entre apneas del lactante y síndrome de muerte súbita.

Quasi-immune response of Penaeus japonicus to penaeid rod-shaped DNA virus (PRDV).

A quasi-immune response was demonstrated in kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus infected naturally or experimentally with PRDV (penaeid rod-shaped DNA virus, also called white spot syndrome virus or WSSV), the causative agent of PAV (penaeid acute viremia). In the first step of this study, natural survivors 4 mo after a PAV outbreak demonstrated 94 % relative percent survival (RPS) upon experimental PRDV challenge. Mortalities after challenge were confirmed by PRDV detection to be due to PAV using a PCR method. In the second step, experimental PAV survivors were produced by intramuscular (IM) injection of PRDV into naive shrimp subsequently reared collectively in a tank (A group) or individually in chamber units (B group). Survival was 41 and 90% in the A and B groups, respectively. A subsequent IM re-challenge of these PRDV survivor groups with PRDV made 32 d after the first challenge revealed a protective response with high RPS of 77 and 64%, respectively. These high survival rates suggested that PAV survivors (natural or experimental) were able to resist PRDV infection and that the resistance was not due to selection of naturally resistant shrimp during a PAV outbreak, but due to enhancement of an immune-like system (quasi-immune response) after exposure to PRDV. No PRDV neutralizing activity was revealed in the serum of the 4 mo natural survivors of the PRDV outbreak. However, it was found in their serum 17 d after they had been experimentally challenged with PRDV.

Kallmann syndrome (hypogonadotropism-anosmia) and Klippel-Feil anomaly in the same patient.

A 27-year-old female is described with Kallman syndrome and Klippel-Feil anomaly. This is thought to be the first report of the coexistence of these two conditions in the same patient.

Evidence that AEC syndrome and Bowen--Armstrong syndrome are variable expressions of the same disease.

Several clinical disorders combine ectodermal dysplasia (ED) and cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). These conditions have been recognized as a group of diseases with a narrow phenotypic spectrum and multiple points of overlap. We report a patient with a clinical diagnosis of AEC syndrome (ankyloblepharon, ectodermal defects, and CL/P) who additionally has some features observed in a different ED-CL/P disorder, Bowen-Armstrong syndrome. Because of this clinical overlap, we suggest that AEC syndrome and Bowen-Armstrong syndrome may be variable manifestations of the same pathologic entity.