Plant-based compositions for the treatment of local and topical bacterial infections: a patent review.

Aim: To examine recent patents related to plants with antimicrobial effects. Methods: Our investigation was carried out using the Espacenet database, searching patents related to International Patent Classification (IPC) codes A61P31/04, and A61K36/00 between 2008 and 2023. Results: The study began with 360 patents, of which 15 were found to be duplicates; 144 were not related to the research topic and six were not available. Then, 48 patents were related to other administration routes. The final selection was 47 patents related to local administration compositions. The potential for these herbal compositions to be marketed as over-the-counter medicines was evident. Conclusion: Developing new plant-origin anti-infective agents could provide promising solutions for combating resistant infections and offer accessible treatment options.

Case Report: Duodenal Papillary Stenosis Secondary to Strongyloides stercoralis Infection in a Non-Immunocompromised Host.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is a common infection in tropical and subtropical regions and is considered one of the "neglected tropical diseases." Owing to its life cycle, this infection can remain undetectable for years, preventing an early diagnosis and prompt treatment. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented to us with a history of nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, and weight loss and, after initial radiologic and laboratory workup, was diagnosed with a periampullary mass with no secondary spread. She underwent an uneventful pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, and on histopathological study of the lesion, a diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection was confirmed. This case stands out because of the importance of keeping S. stercoralis infections as a differential diagnosis of periampullary masses, particularly when the patient comes from regions where S. stercoralis is prevalent.

Positive identity predicts psychological wellbeing in Chilean youth: A double-mediation model.

Positive youth development (PYD) allows the youth to be comprehended from their potential, strengths and assets, in contrast to the traditional deficit view that focuses on their weaknesses. The PYD model promotes constructive behaviours in youth by highlighting the positive attributes usually found during the transition from childhood to adulthood to achieve healthy and optimal development in later life. Overall, PYD comprises five key competence (5C), the flourishing models and forty developmental assets. In the present study, a structural equation model is tested with the Chilean dataset of the PYD project on the premise that Positive Identity is the core internal developmental asset explaining Psychological wellbeing and that Confidence and Character are mediators of the relationship between Positive Identity and Psychological Wellbeing. The sample comprised 261 participants (n Women = 189, n Men = 72), Mean Age = 22 years old, who were approached by an online survey uploaded to Qualtrics. The measures of the study included: The Developmental assets Scale, the Short-form of the Five Cs included in the PYD and the Mental Health Continuum Short-Form. The results indicated a good model fit (ß = 1.74, Z total = 10.63, χ 2 = 424.95, df = 277, χ2/df = 1.53, p < 0.001, Robust CFI = 0.945, Robust RMSEA = 0.049, 90% CI (0.040, 0.058), AIC = 17689.91, saBIC = 17719.08 and SRMR = 0.061), highlighting the relevance of studying Latin-American adolescents and young 's wellbeing in times of COVID-19, as the participants' Positive Identity significantly predicted their Psychological Wellbeing, and simultaneously, this relationship was mediated by both their level of Confidence and Character.

Oxygen saturation as a predictor of mortality in hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 in a public hospital in Lima, Peru.

INTRODUCTION: Peru is among the top ten countries with the highest number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases worldwide. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical features of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 and to determine the prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to Hospital Cayetano Heredia; a tertiary care hospital in Lima, Peru. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 369 patients (median age 59 years [IQR:49-68]; 241 (65.31%) male) were included. Most patients (68.56%) reported at least one comorbidity; more frequently: obesity (42.55%), diabetes mellitus (21.95%), and hypertension (21.68%). The median duration of symptoms prior to hospital admission was 7 days (IQR: 5-10). Reported in-hospital mortality was 49.59%. By multiple Cox regression, oxygen saturation (SaO2) values of less than 90% on admission correlated with mortality, presenting 1.86 (95%CI: 1.02-3.39), 4.44 (95%CI: 2.46-8.02) and 7.74 (95%CI: 4.54-13.19) times greater risk of death for SaO2 of 89-85%, 84-80% and <80%, respectively, when compared to patients with SaO2 >90%. Additionally, age >60 years was associated with 1.88 times greater mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygen saturation below 90% on admission is a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. In settings with limited resources, efforts to reduce mortality in COVID-19 should focus on early identification of hypoxemia and timely access to hospital care.

Clinical features and prognostic factors related to mortality in hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 in a public hospital in Lima, Peru / Características clínicas y factores asociados a mortalidad en pacientes adultos hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un hospital público de Lima, Perú. / Características clínicas e fatores associados à mortalidade em pacientes adultos internados pelo COVID-19 em um hospital público de Lima, Peru.

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected the national health system in Peru, and despite the many strategies implemented to control the epidemic, the collapse of the sanitary system was imminent. We performed a retrospective cohort from the clinical records of adult patients with COVID-19 admitted in Hospital Cayetano Heredia (Lima, Peru), between March and June 2020. A total of 369 patient charts were included for analysis; 241 (65.31%) were male and the median age was 59 years (IQR: 49-68). Most patients (68.56%) reported at least one comorbidity; more frequently: obesity (42.55%), diabetes mellitus (21.95%), and hypertension (21.68%). The median duration of symptoms prior to hospital admission was 7 days (IQR: 5-10). Reported in-hospital mortality was 49.59%. By multiple Cox regression, oxygen saturation (SaO2) level at admission was the main predictor of patient mortality, with SaO2 levels of 84-80% and <80% had 4.44 (95%CI 2.46-8.02) and 7.74 (95%CI 4.54-13.19) times greater risk of death, respectively, when compared to patients with SaO2 >90%. Additionally, older age (>60 years old) was associated with 1.9 times greater mortality. Our study finds SaO2 at admission and older age to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. These findings suggest a delay in early detection of hypoxemia in the community, therefore, we propose the implementation of monitoring for hypoxemia among outpatients with COVID-19 as well as appropriate and timely oxygen therapy in admission.  

La pandemia por COVID-19 ha representado un duro golpe al sistema sanitario peruano, y las estrategias implementadas para el control de la epidemia han sido insuficientes en el contexto de colapso del sistema de salud. Se realizó una cohorte retrospectiva a partir de la revisión de las historias clínicas de pacientes adultos hospitalizados por COVID-19, entre marzo y junio de 2020, en el Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima- Perú. Se analizó 369 historias clínicas, 241 (65.31%) pacientes eran del sexo masculino y la mediana de edad era de 59 años (RIC: 49-68). El 68.56% presentaba al menos una comorbilidad, siendo las más frecuentes obesidad (42.55%), diabetes mellitus (21.95%) e hipertensión arterial (21.68%). La mediana de duración de síntomas previo al ingreso hospitalario fue de 7 días (RIC: 5-10). La mortalidad intrahospitalaria encontrada fue del 49.59%. En el análisis multivariado, la saturación de oxígeno al ingreso al hospital fue el principal factor predictor de mortalidad. Se observó un marcado incremento de mortalidad; encontrándose que la SatO2 de 84-80% y <80% tuvieron 4.44 (IC95% 2.46-8.02) y 7.74 (IC95% 4.54- 13.19) veces mayor riesgo de muerte, respectivamente, en comparación con pacientes con SatO2 basal >90%. Adicionalmente, la edad mayor a 60 años se asocia a 1.90 veces mayor mortalidad. Nuestro estudio muestra que la edad mayor a 60 años y el nivel de hipoxemia presente al momento de la admisión al hospital son factores asociados de forma independiente a la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Los hallazgos sugieren una demora en detección de hipoxemia en la comunidad, por lo que se propone reforzar el sistema de monitoreo e identificación temprana de hipoxemia en pacientes con COVID-19, asociada a un soporte oxigenatorio en el momento oportuno.

A pandemia do COVID-19 representou um duro golpe no sistema de saúde peruano, e as estratégias implementadas para controlar a epidemia foram insuficientes no contexto do colapso do sistema de saúde. Foi realizada uma coorte retrospectiva com base na revisão dos prontuários de pacientes adultos internados pelo COVID-19, entre março e junho de 2020, no Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima-Peru. Foram analisados ​​369 prontuários, 241 (65,31%) pacientes eram do sexo masculino e a idade média foi de 59 anos (RIC: 49-68). 68,56% apresentavam pelo menos uma comorbidade, sendo as mais frequentes obesidade (42,55%), diabetes mellitus (21,95%) e hipertensão (21,68%). A duração mediana dos sintomas antes da internação foi de 7 dias (RIC: 5-10). A mortalidade hospitalar encontrada foi de 49,59%. Na análise multivariada, a saturação de oxigênio na admissão hospitalar foi o principal preditor de mortalidade. Um aumento acentuado na mortalidade foi observado; constatando que SatO2 de 84-80% e <80% tinha 4,44 (IC95% 2,46-8,02) e 7,74 (IC95% 4,54-13,19) vezes maior risco de morte, respectivamente, em comparação com pacientes com SatO2 basal> 90%. Além disso, a idade acima de 60 anos está associada a uma mortalidade 1,90 vezes maior. Nosso estudo mostra que a idade superior a 60 anos e o nível de hipoxemia presente no momento da admissão no hospital são fatores independentemente associados à mortalidade hospitalar. Os resultados sugerem um atraso na detecção de hipoxemia na comunidade, motivo pelo qual se propõe fortalecer o sistema de monitoramento e identificação precoce de hipoxemia em pacientes com COVID-19, associados ao suporte à oxigenação no momento apropriado.

Peripheral ganglia in healthy rats as target structures for the evaluation of PSMA imaging agents.

BACKGROUND: The recent implementation of PET with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-specific radiotracers into the clinical practice has resulted in the significant improvement of accuracy in the detection of prostate carcinoma (PCa). PSMA-expression in ganglia has been regarded as an important pitfall in prostate carcinoma-PET diagnostics but has not found any practical use for diagnosis or therapy. METHODS: We explored this phenomenon and demonstrated the applicability of peripheral ganglia in healthy rats as surrogates for small PSMA positive lesions for the preclinical evaluation of diagnostic PCa PET probes. Healthy rats were measured with PET/CT using the tracers [18F]DCFPyL, [Al18F]PSMA-11 and [68Ga]PSMA-11. Sections of ganglia were stained with an anti-PSMA antibody. [18F]DCFPyL uptake in ganglia was compared to that in LNCaP tumor xenografts in mice. RESULTS: Whereas [18F]DCFPyL and [68Ga]PSMA-11 were stable in vivo and accumulated in peripheral ganglia, [Al18F]PSMA-11 suffered from fast in vivo deflourination resulting in high bone uptake. Ganglionic PSMA expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. [18F]DCFPyL uptake and signal-to-noise ratio in the superior cervical ganglion was not significantly different from LNCaP xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated the non-inferiority of the novel model compared to conventionally used tumor xenografts in immune compromised rodents with regard to reproducibility and stability of the PSMA signal. Furthermore, the model involves less expense and efforts while it is permanently available and avoids tumor-growth associated animal morbidity and distress. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first tumor-free model suitable for the in vivo evaluation of tumor imaging agents.

Er-Doped Nanostructured BaTiO3 for NIR to Visible Upconversion.

Photoluminescent mechanisms in erbium-doped barium titanate nanoparticle systems were studied. Er3+ ions were introduced into the BaTiO3 lattice by the sol-gel method. The resulting Er3+ concentration was between 0% and 5%, with Ba/Ti ratios of 1.008 and 0.993. The stoichiometry of Ba and Ti concentrations in the lattice influenced the doping mechanism and placement of erbium ions in the lattice structure. Our research shows the existence of a strong correlation between Ba/Ti ratios, erbium concentration, phase structure and doping site location on the upconversion photoluminescence mechanisms. Competing upconversion emissions ²H11/2/4S3/2→4I15/2 at 523 and 548 nm respectively and other photoluminescent mechanisms as 4I9/2→4I11/2 around 4000 nm (2500 cm-1) were studied using Raman and emission spectroscopy. The upconversion process is predominant over other photoluminescent decay when the material presents high distortion in the surrounding activator.

Multiscale Approach to the Study of the Electronic Properties of Two Thiophene Curcuminoid Molecules.

We studied the electronic and conductance properties of two thiophene-curcuminoid molecules, 2-thphCCM (1) and 3-thphCCM (2), in which the only structural difference is the position of the sulfur atoms in the thiophene terminal groups. We used electrochemical techniques as well as UV/Vis absorption studies to obtain the values of the HOMO-LUMO band gap energies, showing that molecule 1 has lower values than 2. Theoretical calculations show the same trend. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were studied by using electrochemistry, showing that the interaction with gold reduces drastically the HOMO-LUMO gap in both molecules to almost the same value. Single-molecule conductance measurements show that molecule 2 has two different conductance values, whereas molecule 1 exhibits only one. Based on theoretical calculations, we conclude that the lowest conductance value, similar in both molecules, corresponds to a van der Waals interaction between the thiophene ring and the electrodes. The one order of magnitude higher conductance value for molecule 2 corresponds to a coordinate (dative covalent) interaction between the sulfur atoms and the gold electrodes.

Síndrome de burnout en personal sanitario del Hospital Santiago de Jinotepe, Carazp. Nicaragua. enero 2014

Se realizó un estudio analítico de factores de riesgo, en personal médico y de enfermería del Hospital Santiago de Jinotepe, Carazo, Nicaragua, en el mes de Enero 2014. Se planteó identificar dichos factores en una población de 233trabajadores sanitarios. Los datos fueron obtenidos a través de una encuesta anónima y auto administrada y dividida en dos cuestionarios, uno sobre características sociodemográficas y el otro el Maslach Burnout Inventory, cuestionario mundialmente utilizado y validado para estudiar el síndrome de burnout.Se identificaron como factores de riesgo asociados al síndrome de burnoutel sexo femenino (OR= 2.19, Chí cuadrado = 5.61, p= 0.01), el estado civil soltero,separado y divorciado (OR= 0.22, Chí cuadrado= 50.67, p= 0.00), mayor número de horas diarias de trabajo (OR= 4.73, Chí cuadrado= 27.52, p= 0.00), el horario de trabajo mixto (OR= 4.24, Chí cuadrado= 19.46, p= 0.00001), una mayor carga de trabajo semanal (OR= 14.06 Chí cuadrado = 67.44, p= 0.00), el trabajar en otrainstitución (OR= 2.85, Chí cuadrado = 7.42, p= 0.006), y trabajar mayor número dehoras en otra institución (OR= 9.11, Chí cuadrado = 9.53, p= 0.002).Se determinó una prevalencia del síndrome de 0.7 (71 %), afectando mayoritariamente a enfermeras y en menor proporción a médicos y auxiliares de enfermería. La esfera más afectada fue la de Realización personal con 40 %, seguidade cansancio emocional (25 %) y des personalización (20 %).El síndrome de burnout moderado apareció en el 62 % y el síndrome deburnout alto en el 9 % de los estudiados.

Small animal imaging and examination by micro-CT.

Micro-computed tomography imaging technology allows for the whole-mount investigation of skeletal structures in preclinical specimens at both fetal and postnatal time points. The imaging process is nondestructive to the specimen and can be performed at various resolutions to derive the region of interest information most relevant to individual researchers. In addition to qualitative imaging of skeletal samples, accurate and desirable metrics such as bone mineral density (BMD), discrete cortical and trabecular bone analysis, and milligrams hydroxyapatite per unit volume (mgHA/cc) are also achievable depending upon scanner platform. Additional benefits to the method include digitally archivable files, in vivo and ex vivo scanning options, and volumetric or slice-thru presentation of data in standard histological or oblique orientations. Some drawbacks to the method include long scan times at higher spatial resolutions, large file sizes, and limitation to imaging of highly dense biological structures (i.e., bone), though several groups have attempted to expand the modality to include soft tissue imaging in ex vivo specimens.