A flavin-based extracellular electron transfer mechanism in diverse Gram-positive bacteria.

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) describes microbial bioelectrochemical processes in which electrons are transferred from the cytosol to the exterior of the cell1. Mineral-respiring bacteria use elaborate haem-based electron transfer mechanisms2-4 but the existence and mechanistic basis of other EETs remain largely unknown. Here we show that the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes uses a distinctive flavin-based EET mechanism to deliver electrons to iron or an electrode. By performing a forward genetic screen to identify L. monocytogenes mutants with diminished extracellular ferric iron reductase activity, we identified an eight-gene locus that is responsible for EET. This locus encodes a specialized NADH dehydrogenase that segregates EET from aerobic respiration by channelling electrons to a discrete membrane-localized quinone pool. Other proteins facilitate the assembly of an abundant extracellular flavoprotein that, in conjunction with free-molecule flavin shuttles, mediates electron transfer to extracellular acceptors. This system thus establishes a simple electron conduit that is compatible with the single-membrane structure of the Gram-positive cell. Activation of EET supports growth on non-fermentable carbon sources, and an EET mutant exhibited a competitive defect within the mouse gastrointestinal tract. Orthologues of the genes responsible for EET are present in hundreds of species across the Firmicutes phylum, including multiple pathogens and commensal members of the intestinal microbiota, and correlate with EET activity in assayed strains. These findings suggest a greater prevalence of EET-based growth capabilities and establish a previously underappreciated relevance for electrogenic bacteria across diverse environments, including host-associated microbial communities and infectious disease.

Flow Cytometry and Molecular Techniques Could Complement Morphological Detection of Leukemic Infiltration in Ascitic Fluids: A Case Report.

Extramedullary involvement of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is infrequent, and ascitic infiltration is even more unusual. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman diagnosed with NPM1-mutated AML that debuted with ascites, for which morphological studies of the ascitic fluid did not detect leukemic infiltration, maybe due to technical problems in the sample preparation. Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) detected a blast population compatible with AML, and allele-specific PCR detected NPM1-mutated transcripts. Body fluid infiltrations are an infrequent initial manifestation or sign of progression in AML. As far as we know, this is the first reported case of an NPM1-mutated AML that debuted with ascites, and also the first description of the utilization of molecular techniques to detect the leukemic origin of the ascites. This case highlights that, given that allele-specific PCR and MFC increase the sensitivity of morphological studies, these techniques should be routinely applied in the study of any kind of effusion detected in an AML patient.

Ibuprofen removal by a microfiltration membrane bioreactor during the startup phase.

The behavior of ibuprofen (IBU) during the startup phase of a microfiltration membrane bioreactor (MBR) was determined. A full-scale experimental installation treating real urban wastewater was used for the study. The MBR was composed of an anoxic and an aerobic bioreactors working in pre-denitrification configuration, followed of a membrane reactor. A full mass balance was carried out to estimate the contribution of biotransformation and sorption to biomass to the overall removal of the IBU. During the startup phase of the MBR system there were significant oscillations of the operational variables, mainly of the sludge retention time (SRT); nevertheless, the capacity of the system for IBU removal was very high, with yields of over 94%, despite reaching minimum SRT values of 4.15 d. The main IBU removal occurs in the aerobic reactor, both in the liquid phase and the one associated with the sludge, while in the anoxic bioreactor the removal was scarce, although a certain transfer of IBU from the liquid phase to the sludge took place under anoxic conditions. Despite the high IBU removal yields during startup, the SRT was the most influential variable in IBU removal, an effect observed in all bioreactors, particularly in the anoxic one.

Penalizing fathers who use family-friendly measures. A comparative study with university students from Ghana and Spain.

This article provides experimental empirical evidence on the penalization of a father of high professional status who decides to use a family friendly measure (FFM) offered by his company. A cross-cultural sample of university students (in the field of Business Administration and Economics) from Ghana and Spain was used to evaluate a hypothetical male employee who after the birth of their child either used a reduction of the working day or worked traditional hours. We compared the results with those obtained for an identical female employee. We considered several variables that mediated the effect of using the FFM on the behavior proxy items. We also considered the participants' (explicit and implicit) attitudes towards fathers caring for their babies. We obtained strong empirical evidence on the penalization of a father who uses a reduction of the working day. However, and contrary to expectations, in Spain this penalty experienced by the father was similar to that experienced by the mother, while in Ghana it was greater.

Stability Analysis of Anthocyanins Using Alcoholic Extracts from Black Carrot (Daucus Carota ssp. Sativus Var. Atrorubens Alef.).

Anthocyanins are used for food coloring due their low toxicity and health benefits. They are extracted from different sources, but black carrot has higher anthocyanin content compared with common fruits and vegetables. Here, we study alcoholic anthocyanin extracts from black carrot to enhance their stability. The objective of our research is to determine if microencapsulation with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is a feasible option for preventing black carrot anthocyanin degradation. Extraction solvents were solutions of (1) ethanol/acetic acid and (2) ethanol/citric acid. Samples were purified through a resin column and microencapsulated using TEOS. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of samples were obtained, and degradation studies were performed under different conditions of UV radiation, pH and temperature. Antioxidant activity was evaluated with radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and electrochemical cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). Color evaluation on food models were performed with CIE Lab at the beginning of experiments and after 25 days of storage. Results indicate that the more stable extracts against pH media changes are samples obtained with ethanol/acetic acid solution as extraction solvent. Extract purification through resin and TEOS microencapsulation had no significant effect on extract stability. In conclusion, although TEOS microencapsulation has proven to be effective for some dried materials from natural extracts in our previous research, we do not recommend its use for black carrot extracts considering our results in this particular case.

The Molecular Basis for Binding of an Electron Transfer Protein to a Metal Oxide Surface.

Achieving fast electron transfer between a material and protein is a long-standing challenge confronting applications in bioelectronics, bioelectrocatalysis, and optobioelectronics. Interestingly, naturally occurring extracellular electron transfer proteins bind to and reduce metal oxides fast enough to enable cell growth, and thus could offer insight into solving this coupling problem. While structures of several extracellular electron transfer proteins are known, an understanding of how these proteins bind to their metal oxide substrates has remained elusive because this abiotic-biotic interface is inaccessible to traditional structural methods. Here, we use advanced footprinting techniques to investigate binding between the Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 extracellular electron transfer protein MtrF and one of its substrates, α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, at the molecular level. We find that MtrF binds α-Fe2O3 specifically, but not tightly. Nanoparticle binding does not induce significant conformational changes in MtrF, but instead protects specific residues on the face of MtrF likely to be involved in electron transfer. Surprisingly, these residues are separated in primary sequence, but cluster into a small 3D putative binding site. This binding site is located near a local pocket of positive charge that is complementary to the negatively charged α-Fe2O3 surface, and mutational analysis indicates that electrostatic interactions in this 3D pocket modulate MtrF-nanoparticle binding. Strikingly, these results show that binding of MtrF to α-Fe2O3 follows a strategy to connect proteins to materials that resembles the binding between donor-acceptor electron transfer proteins. Thus, by developing a new methodology to probe protein-nanoparticle binding at the molecular level, this work reveals one of nature's strategies for achieving fast, efficient electron transfer between proteins and materials.

Organ preservation review: history of organ preservation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the history of organ preservation and place into this context the current trends in preservation. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple large retrospective studies have analyzed cold preservation solutions in an attempt to determine superiority with largely negative results. Experimental and some clinical studies have examined machine perfusion of procured grafts, in both hypothermic and normothermic contexts with variable, but promising, results. Lastly, there are experimental efforts to evaluate mesenchymal stem cell therapy on rehabilitation of marginal donor organs. SUMMARY: New trends in organ preservation may soon translate into more efficient use of the limited donor pool.

Experimental study and geometrical method to design bio-inspired robotic kinematic chains of inching-locomotion caterpillars.

Inching-locomotion caterpillars (ILAR) show impressive environmental adaptation, having high dexterity and flexibility. To design robots that mimic these abilities, a novel bioinspired robotic design (BIROD) method is presented. The method is composed by an algorithm for geometrical kinematic analysis (GEKINS) to standardize the proportional dimensions according to the insect's anatomy and obtain the kinematic chains. The approach is experimentally applied to analyze the locomotion and kinematic chain of these specimens:Geometridae-two pair of prolegs (represents 35 000 species) andPlusiinae-three pair of prolegs (represents 400 species). The obtained data indicate that the application of the proposed method permits to locate the attachment mechanisms, joints, links, and to calculate angular displacement, angular average velocity, number of degrees of freedom, and thus the kinematic chain.Geometridaein contrast toPlusiinae, shows a longer walk-stride length, a lower number of single-rotational joints in 2D (3 DOF versus 4 DOF), and a lower number of dual-rotational joints in 3D (6 DOF versus 8 DOF). The application of BIROD and GEKINS provides the forward kinematics for 35 400 ILAR species and are expected to be useful as a preliminary phase for the design of bio-inspired arthropod robots.

Bio-inspired design of hard-bodied mobile robots based on arthropod morphologies: a 10-year systematic review and bibliometric analysis.

This research presents a 10-year systematic review based on bibliometric analysis of the bio-inspired design of hard-bodied mobile robot mechatronic systems considering the anatomy of arthropods. These are the most diverse group of animals whose flexible biomechanics and adaptable morphology, thus, it can inspire robot development. Papers were reviewed from two international databases (Scopus and Web of Science) and one platform (Aerospace Research Central), then they were classified according to: year of publication (January 2013 to April 2023), arthropod group, published journal, conference proceedings, editorial publisher, research teams, robot classification according to the name of arthropod, limb's locomotion support, number of legs/arms, number of legs/body segments, limb's degrees of freedom, mechanical actuation type, modular system, and environment adaptation. During the screening, more than 33000 works were analyzed. Finally, a total of 174 studies (90 journal-type, 84 conference-type) were selected for in-depth study: Insecta - hexapod (53,8%), Arachnida - octopods (20.7%), Crustacea - decapods (16,1%), and Myriapoda - centipedes and millipedes (9,2%). The study reveals that the most active editorials are the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Springer, MDPI, and Elsevier, while the most influential researchers are located in the USA, China, Singapore, and Japan. Most works pertained to spiders, crabs, caterpillars, cockroaches, and centipedes. We conclude that "arthrobotics" research, which merges arthropods and robotics, is constantly growing and includes a high number of relevant studies with findings that can inspire new methods to design biomechatronic systems.

Anatomical Engineering and 3D Printing for Surgery and Medical Devices: International Review and Future Exponential Innovations.

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has recently gained importance in the medical industry, especially in surgical specialties. It uses different techniques and materials based on patients' needs, which allows bioprofessionals to design and develop unique pieces using medical imaging provided by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, the Department of Biology and Medicine and the Department of Physics and Engineering, at the Bioastronautics and Space Mechatronics Research Group, have managed and supervised an international cooperation study, in order to present a general review of the innovative surgical applications, focused on anatomical systems, such as the nervous and craniofacial system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, genitourinary system, and musculoskeletal system. Finally, the integration with augmented, mixed, virtual reality is analyzed to show the advantages of personalized treatments, taking into account the improvements for preoperative, intraoperative planning, and medical training. Also, this article explores the creation of devices and tools for space surgery to get better outcomes under changing gravity conditions.

Myopericarditis Complicated With Cardiac Tamponade Due to Campylobacter fetus Infection.

About 90% of cases of acute pericarditis have an idiopathic or viral etiology. In some cases, it is possible to identify high-risk patients for whom hospital admission and specific etiology research are mandatory for adequate treatment. Bacterial pericarditis is uncommon and responsible for less than 1% of cases. Only 10 cases of pericarditis due to Campylobacter fetus have been documented worldwide. This case highlights the importance of good cardiac imaging, with the right clinical and microbiology-integrated approach in high-risk cases of pericardial disease.

Environ 90 % des cas de péricardite aiguë sont d'étiologie idiopathique ou virale. Dans certains cas, il est possible de déterminer les patients exposés à un risque élevé pour qui l'admission à l'hôpital et la recherche d'une étiologie précise sont indispensables pour offrir le bon traitement. La péricardite bactérienne est rare et représente moins de 1 % des cas. Seuls 10 cas de péricardite à Campylobacter fetus ont été consignés dans le monde. Ce cas illustre l'importance d'une bonne imagerie cardiaque selon une bonne approche clinique et microbiologique intégrée chez les cas exposés à un risque élevé de maladies péricardiques.

Post-Chemotherapy Rebound Thymic Hyperplasia Mimicking Relapse in Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an unusual form of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Surgical management is essential; however, adjuvant therapy is recommended for advanced stages of cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old woman with textured silicone implants placed 7 years earlier, presented with breast nodules. Physical examination and computed tomography (CT) revealed a left parasternal mass, 2 left-breast nodules, and axillary lymphadenopathies. A soft-tissue lesion in the anterior mediastinum consistent with thymic remnants was detected. BIA-ALCL was diagnosed based on ultrasound-guided core biopsies of an axillary lymph node and a breast nodule. She underwent total bilateral capsulectomy and received anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. End-of-treatment positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan at 4 months showed no evidence of disease, except for the persistence of the mediastinal lesion (Deauville score 4). Three months later, a new PET-CT scan showed enlargement of the lesion and increased radiotracer uptake, suggesting metabolic progression. A mediastinal biopsy was performed and rebound thymic hyperplasia (RTH) was observed in the histopathologic study. Once complete remission (CR) was achieved, the patient was followed up continually and has shown no signs of relapse to date. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are required to determine the best adjuvant therapy for advanced BIA-ALCL. RTH may be suspected when thymic enlargement without the involvement of other areas is observed in patients with cancer. Mediastinal biopsy is mandatory to rule out relapse.

Genetic Variants in Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Associated With Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Acute Urticaria/Angioedema.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the main triggers of drug hypersensitivity reactions, probably due to their high consumption worldwide. The most frequent type of NSAID hypersensitivity is NSAID cross-hypersensitivity, in which patients react to NSAIDs from different chemical groups in the absence of a specific immunological response. The underlying mechanism of NSAID cross-hypersensitivity has been linked to cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 inhibition causing an imbalance in the arachidonic acid pathway. Despite NSAID-induced acute urticaria/angioedema (NIUA) being the most frequent clinical phenotype, most studies have focused on NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease. As NSAID cross-hypersensitivity reactions are idiosyncratic, only appearing in some subjects, it is believed that individual susceptibility is under the influence of genetic factors. Although associations with polymorphisms in genes from the AA pathway have been described, no previous study has evaluated the potential role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) variants. This enzyme catalyzes the initial hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids to release AA, which can be subsequently metabolized into eicosanoids. Here, we analyzed for the first time the overall genetic variation in the cPLA2 gene (PLA2G4A) in NIUA patients. For this purpose, a set of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in PLA2G4A were selected using data from Europeans subjects in the 1,000 Genomes Project, and genotyped with the iPlex Sequenom MassArray technology. Two independent populations, each comprising NIUA patients and NSAID-tolerant controls, were recruited in Spain, for the purposes of discovery and replication, comprising a total of 1,128 individuals. Fifty-eight tagSNPs were successfully genotyped in the discovery cohort, of which four were significantly associated with NIUA after Bonferroni correction (rs2049963, rs2064471, rs12088010, and rs12746200). These polymorphisms were then genotyped in the replication cohort: rs2049963 was associated with increased risk for NIUA after Bonferroni correction under the dominant and additive models, whereas rs12088010 and rs12746200 were protective under these two inheritance models. Our results suggest a role for PLA2G4A polymorphisms in NIUA. However, further studies are required to replicate our findings, elucidate the mechanistic role, and evaluate the participation of PLA2G4A variants in other phenotypes induced by NSAID cross-hypersensitivity.

An elusive electron shuttle from a facultative anaerobe.

Some anaerobic bacteria use insoluble minerals as terminal electron acceptors and discovering the ways in which electrons move through the membrane barrier to the exterior acceptor forms an active field of research with implications for both bacterial physiology and bioenergy. A previous study suggested that Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 utilizes a small, polar, redox active molecule that serves as an electron shuttle between the bacteria and insoluble acceptors, but the shuttle itself has never been identified. Through isolation and synthesis, we identify it as ACNQ (2-amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a soluble analog of menaquinone. ACNQ is derived from DHNA (1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid) in a non-enzymatic process that frustrated genetic approaches to identify the shuttle. Both ACNQ and DHNA restore reduction of AQDS under anaerobic growth in menaquinone-deficient mutants. Bioelectrochemistry analyses reveal that ACNQ (-0.32 VAg/AgCl) contributes to the extracellular electron transfer (EET) as an electron shuttle, without altering menaquinone generation or EET related cytochrome c expression.

Synthesis of Au@Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Efficient Electrocatalyst for Methanol Electro-Oxidation.

Bimetallic Au@Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with Pt monolayer shell are of much interest for applications in heterogeneous catalysts because of enhanced catalytic activity and very low Pt-utilization. However, precisely controlled synthesis with uniform Pt-monolayers and stability on the AuNPs seeds remain elusive. Herein, we report the controlled deposition of Pt-monolayer onto uniform AuNPs seeds to obtain Au@Pt core-shell NPs and their Pt-coverage dependent electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation. The atomic ratio between Au/Pt was effectively tuned by varying the precursor solution ratio in the reaction solution. The morphology and atomic structure of the Au@Pt NPs were analyzed by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microcopy (HR-STEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results demonstrated that the Au@Pt core-shell NPs with Pt-shell thickness (atomic ratio 1:2) exhibit higher electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation reaction, whereas higher and lower Pt ratios showed less overall catalytic performance. Such higher catalytic performance of Au@Pt NPs (1:2) can be attributed to the weakened CO binding on the Pt/monolayers surface. Our present synthesis strategy and optimization of the catalytic activity of Au@Pt core-shell NPs catalysts provide promising approach to rationally design highly active catalysts with less Pt-usage for high performance electrocatalysts for applications in fuel cells.

Electrochemical Study of a Hybrid Polymethyl Methacrylate Coating using SiO2 Nanoparticles toward the Mitigation of the Corrosion in Marine Environments.

The demand for hydrophobic polymer-based protective coatings to impart high corrosion resistance has increased recently. The increase of the hydrophobicity in a hybrid coating is a new challenge, for that reason and in order to protect a metallic surface of oxidant agents, a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) coating with the addition of a different amount of silicon dioxide (SiO2) was developed. The hybrid coating was applied on a sample of stainless steel AISI 304 by the dip-coating method. The characterization of the coatings was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and with a scanning electrochemical microscopy. The best coatings were PMMA and PMMA + SiO2 0.01% that exhibits a real impedance in the Nyquist diagram of 760 and 427,800 MΩ⋅cm2, respectively, and the modulus of the real impedance in the Bode diagram present values of 2.2 × 108 and 3.3 × 108 Ω⋅cm2. Moreover, the phase angle presents constant values around 75° to 85° and 85° for the PMMA and PMMA + SiO2 0.01%, respectively. Moreover, the values of the real resistance for the PMMA + SiO2 0.01% coating present values in the order of Mega-ohms despite the coating exhibits an artificial defect in their surface. The contact angle test showed that the hydrophobicity of the hybrid PMMA + SiO2 0.01% coating is higher than that of the pure PMMA coatings. The hybrid PMMA + SiO2 coatings developed in this work are a very interesting and promising area of study in order to develop efficient products to protect metallic surfaces from corrosion phenomenon.

Nanoscale membranes that chemically isolate and electronically wire up the abiotic/biotic interface.

By electrochemically coupling microbial and abiotic catalysts, bioelectrochemical systems such as microbial electrolysis cells and microbial electrosynthesis systems synthesize energy-rich chemicals from energy-poor precursors with unmatched efficiency. However, to circumvent chemical incompatibilities between the microbial cells and inorganic materials that result in toxicity, corrosion, fouling, and efficiency-degrading cross-reactions between oxidation and reduction environments, bioelectrochemical systems physically separate the microbial and inorganic catalysts by macroscopic distances, thus introducing ohmic losses, rendering these systems impractical at scale. Here we electrochemically couple an inorganic catalyst, a SnO2 anode, with a microbial catalyst, Shewanella oneidensis, via a 2-nm-thick silica membrane containing -CN and -NO2 functionalized p-oligo(phenylene vinylene) molecular wires. This membrane enables electron flow at 0.51 µA cm-2 from microbial catalysts to the inorganic anode, while blocking small molecule transport. Thus the modular architecture avoids chemical incompatibilities without ohmic losses and introduces an immense design space for scale up of bioelectrochemical systems.

Factores asociados a complicaciones después de duodenopancreatectomía cefálica (cirugía de Whipple) en un centro especializado / Factors associated with postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple Procedure) in a specialized center

RESUMEN Introducción: La cirugía de Whipple, también conocida como duodenopancreatectomía cefálica (DPC), es un procedimiento muy usado para varios tipos de cáncer peri ampular. Objetivos: Establecer los factores asociados a la evolución con complicaciones post DPC en el Servicio de Cirugía de Páncreas del Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins en Lima, Perú. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, cuantitativo, analítico, transversal y retrospectivo en 81 pacientes durante el período comprendido entre enero de 2017 hasta diciembre de 2019, quienes fueron sometidos a una DPC. La variable dependiente fueron las complicaciones postquirúrgicas y las independientes fueron indicadores preoperatorios, perioperatorios y post operatorios. Se revisaron las historias clínicas. Se realizó regresión logística para hallar los OR crudos y ajustados. Resultados: La media de la edad fue 65,97±10,14 y el sexo más frecuente fue el masculino. La complicación más frecuente fue la fístula pancreática (34,6%). Los factores asociados a complicaciones post DPC fueron el sexo masculino (ORa: 4,46, IC95%: 1,35-14,77), ampuloma (ORa: 6,92, IC95%: 1,75-27,48) y la consistencia blanda del páncreas (ORa: 4,52, IC95%: 0,07-0,58). Conclusiones: Los factores asociados a complicaciones en la evolución post DPC fueron el sexo masculino, el ampuloma, y la consistencia blanda del páncreas.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Whipple procedure, also known as pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), is a widely used procedure for several types of peri-ampullary cancer. Objectives: To establish the factors associated with postoperative complications after PD in the Pancreas Surgery Service of the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: An observational, quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was carried out on 81 patients during the period from January 2017 to December 2019, who underwent PD. The dependent variable was postoperative complications and the independent variables were preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative variables. The medical records were reviewed. Logistic regression was performed to find the crude and adjusted ORs. Results: The mean age was 65.97±10.14 and the majority of patients were male. The most common postoperative complication was pancreatic fistula (34.6%). Factors associated with postoperative complications after PD were male sex (aOR: 4.46, 95% CI: 1.35-14.77), ampullary cancer (aOR: 6.92, 95% CI: 1.75-27.48), and soft consistency of the pancreas (aOR: 4.52, 95% CI: 0.07-0.58). Conclusions: The factors associated with postoperative complications after PD were male sex, ampulloma, and soft consistency of the pancreas.

Outer membrane cytochromes/flavin interactions in Shewanella spp.-A molecular perspective.

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is intrinsically associated with the core phenomena of energy harvesting/energy conversion in natural ecosystems and biotechnology applications. However, the mechanisms associated with EET are complex and involve molecular interactions that take place at the "bionano interface" where biotic/abiotic interactions are usually explored. This work provides molecular perspective on the electron transfer mechanism(s) employed by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Molecular docking simulations were used to explain the interfacial relationships between two outer-membrane cytochromes (OMC) OmcA and MtrC and riboflavin (RF) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), respectively. OMC-flavin interactions were analyzed by studying the electrostatic potential, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface properties, and the van der Waals surface of the OMC proteins. As a result, it was proposed that the interactions between flavins and OMCs are based on geometrical recognition event. The possible docking positions of RF and FMN to OmcA and MtrC were also shown.

Déficit de vitamina D en niños y adolescentes que reciben tratamiento antiepiléptico. Estudio descriptivo / Vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents receiving antiepileptic treatment. Descriptive study

Resumen Introducción: la hipovitaminosis D es un problema prevalente en la población general y muy frecuente en niños; relacionado a diferentes patologías o factores como el uso de medicamento antiepilépticos (MAEs), principalmente aquellos inductores enzimáticos del citocromo P450, ampliamente relacionados con la salud ósea. Razón por la que este estudio busca determinar la distribución de insuficiencia de Vitamina D en niños tratados farmacológicamente para la epilepsia, así como establecer factores asociados basándose en características sociodemográficas, clínicas y terapéuticas. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, transversal, retrospectivo con 103 pacientes con epilepsia en manejo con MAEs, asistentes a la consulta de neuropediatría en un hospital de tercer nivel, se tomó información de las historias clínicas de niños entre 0 y 18 años durante enero del 2016 y junio del 2019. Se construyó un modelo multivariado en relación a la presencia de insuficiencia de vitamina D y valores normales de esta. Resultados: el 44,7% presentaron insuficiencia de vitamina D, mientras 6,8% de pacientes presentó deficiencia, de los cuales 4 tenían historia de fracturas. Se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa con la insuficiencia en pacientes que residen en área rural (ORa=4,2 (IC95=1,3-13,4) p=0,013), pertenecen a nivel socio económico bajo (Ora=2,9 (IC95%=1,1-77) p=0,030) y padecen epilepsia refractaria (Ora=3,1 (IC95%=1-8,7) p=0,033). Conclusiones: la hipovitaminosis D es frecuente en paciente con epilepsia en manejo farmacológico con MAE. La insuficiencia se asoció con epilepsia refractaria, nivel socioeconómico bajo y provenir de área rural, por lo que se recomienda vigilancia rutinaria de los niveles de vitamina D y suplementación en aquellos pacientes con déficit. MÉD.UIS.2022;35(1): 71-9

Abstract Hypovitaminosis D is a prevalent problem in the general population and very common in children; related to different pathologies or factors such as the use of antiepileptic drugs (MAEs), mainly those enzymatic inducers of cytochrome P450, broadly related with bone health. Reason why this study seeks to determine the distribution of vitamin D insufficiency in children with epilepsy in pharmacological treatment and to establish associated factors based on sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics. Methodology: descriptive, cross- sectional, retrospective study with 103 patients with epilepsy in management with MAEs, attending the neuropaediatric consultation in a third-level hospital, information was taken from the medical records of children between 0 and 18 years of age during January 2016 and June 2019. A multivariate model was built in relation to the presence of vitamin D insufficiency and its normal values. Results: 44.7% of patients had vitamin D insufficiency, while 6.8% had deficiency, of which 4 had a history of fractures. A statistically significant association with insufficiency was found in patients residing in rural areas (ORa=4.2 (IC95=1.3-13.4) p=0.013), they belong to a low socio-economic level (Ora=2.9 (95% CI=1.1-77) p=0.030) and suffering from refractory epilepsy (Ora=3.1 (95% CI=1-8.7) p=0.033). Conclusions: hypovitaminosis D is frequent in a patient with epilepsy under pharmacological management with MAE. Insufficiency was associated with refractory epilepsy, low socioeconomic status and coming from rural areas, so routine monitoring of vitamin D levels is recommended in those patients with deficits. MÉD.UIS.2022;35(1): 71-9