Epidemiology behavior of leptospirosis in Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba (Colombia).

The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology of leptospirosis in rural areas of Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba, Colombia, a convenience sampling was carried out on 13 farms. The sample size was 325 reproductive age cows, 11 canine samples, and 20 humans. The samples were subjected to MAT analysis with 11 serogroups of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Once the MAT results were received, urine samples were collected from 78 cows, along with 39 water samples, for bacteriological cultures and PCR for the 16S rRNA gene in L. interrogans sensu lato. Positive PCR samples were sequenced to determine the possible genome species. The leptospirosis seroprevalence was 74.5% in the cattle, 70.0% in the dogs, and 45.5% in the humans. Although isolation was not achieved, L. interrogans sensu lato was detected by PCR in three urine samples and in a sample of wastewater. The sequencing confirmed the circulation of pathogenic species. The high prevalence of antibodies for L. interrogans sensu lato and the molecular evidence led to the inference that the rural areas of Ciénaga de Oro are endemic and that cattle can act as renal carriers and contaminate water sources, which increases the risk of contracting leptospirosis.

Performance at maximum figure of merit for a Brownian Carnot refrigerator.

This paper focuses on the coefficient of performance (COP) at maximum χ^{R} figure of merit for a Brownian Carnot-like refrigerator, within the context of the low-dissipation approach. Our proposal is based on the Langevin equation for a Brownian particle bounded to a harmonic potential trap, which can perform Carnot-like cycles at finite time. The theoretical approach is related to the equilibrium ensemble average of 〈x^{2}〉_{eq} which plays the role of a statelike equation, x being the Brownian particle position. This statelike equation comes from the macroscopic version of the corresponding Langevin equation for a Brownian particle. We show that under quasistatic conditions the COP has the same expression as the macroscopic Carnot refrigerator, while for irreversible cycles at finite time and under symmetric dissipation the optimal COP is the counterpart of Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency as also obtained for irreversible macroscopic refrigerators.

Carnot, Stirling, and Ericsson stochastic heat engines: Efficiency at maximum power.

This work uses the low-dissipation strategy to obtain efficiency at maximum power from a stochastic heat engine performing Carnot-, Stirling- and Ericsson-like cycles at finite time. The heat engine consists of a colloidal particle trapped by optical tweezers, in contact with two thermal baths at different temperatures, namely hot (T_{h}) and cold (T_{c}). The particle dynamics is characterized by a Langevin equation with time-dependent control parameters bounded to a harmonic potential trap. In a low-dissipation approach, the equilibrium properties of the system are required, which in our case, can be calculated through a statelike equation for the mean value 〈x^{2}〉_{eq} coming from a macroscopic expression associated with the Langevin equation.

Unmanned aerial platform-based multi-spectral imaging for field phenotyping of maize.

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in unmanned aerial platforms (UAP) have provided research opportunities in assessing land allocation and crop physiological traits, including response to abiotic and biotic stresses. UAP-based remote sensing can be used to rapidly and cost-effectively phenotype large numbers of plots and field trials in a dynamic way using time series. This is anticipated to have tremendous implications for progress in crop genetic improvement. RESULTS: We present the use of a UAP equipped with sensors for multispectral imaging in spatial field variability assessment and phenotyping for low-nitrogen (low-N) stress tolerance in maize. Multispectral aerial images were used to (1) characterize experimental fields for spatial soil-nitrogen variability and (2) derive indices for crop performance under low-N stress. Overall, results showed that the aerial platform enables to effectively characterize spatial field variation and assess crop performance under low-N stress. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data derived from spectral imaging presented a strong correlation with ground-measured NDVI, crop senescence index and grain yield. CONCLUSION: This work suggests that the aerial sensing platform designed for phenotyping studies has the potential to effectively assist in crop genetic improvement against abiotic stresses like low-N provided that sensors have enough resolution for plot level data collection. Limitations and future potential uses are also discussed.

Direct genetic, maternal genetic, and heterozygosity effects on weaning weight in a Colombian multibreed beef cattle population.

The (co)variance components of BW at weaning (WW) were estimated for a Colombian multibreed beef cattle population. A single-trait animal model was used. The model included the fixed effect of contemporary group (sex, season, and year), and covariates including age of calf at weaning, age of cow, individual and maternal heterozygosity proportions, and breed percentage. Direct genetic, maternal genetic, permanent environmental, and residual effects were included as random effects. Direct, maternal, and total heritabilities were 0.23 +/- 0.047, 0.15 +/- 0.041, and 0.19, respectively. The genetic correlation between direct and maternal effects was -0.42 +/- 0.131, indicating that there may be antagonism among genes for growth and genes for maternal ability, which in turn suggests that improving WW by direct and maternal EPD may be difficult. A greater value for the direct heterosis effect compared with the maternal heterosis effect was found. Furthermore, the greater the proportion of Angus, Romosinuano, and Blanco Orejinegro breeds, the less the WW.

Diferencias en calidad de vida asociado a la apariencia nasal en pacientes operados de rinoplastia comparado con grupo control: validez del instrumento rhinoplasty outcome evaluation / Evaluation of the rhinoplasty outcome evaluation among chilean participants

Background: The Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) is an instrument to assess the cosmetic and functional aspects of the nose from the patient's perspective. Its construct validity in Chilean subjects has been published previously. Aim: To compare the ROE scores in different groups of participants. Material and Methods: The questionnaire was applied to patients waiting for a rhinoplasty, patients hospitalized for other causes and medical students. Results: The overall reliability of the scale was 84.8 percent. Significant differences between groups in the total scores of four out of six items were observed. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the ROE is adequate to evaluate the satisfaction with nasal appearance and function among Chilean individuals.

Objetivo: El Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) es un instrumento específico para la evaluación cosmética y funcional de la nariz desde la perspectiva del paciente, desarrollado originalmente en inglés. El objetivo del presente estudio es comparar las distribuciones en distintas poblaciones. Material y Método: El instrumento validado en español chileno ROE fue sometido a prueba para evaluar su validez de criterio comparando los resultados de la escala en pacientes programados que deseaban someterse a rinoplastía versus 2 grupos control: 1) Pacientes hospitalizados por otras causas y 2) Estudiantes de medicina. La validez de constructo ya ha sido publicada por los creadores de la escala. Para la comparación de variables se utilizaron las pruebas t de Student, ANOVA, Wilcoxon, Kruskall Wallis, prueba exacta de Fisher o χ² según correspondiera. Para todas las pruebas se utilizó un nivel alfa de 5 por ciento. Resultados: Se aplicó la encuesta a 45 pacientes. La edad promedio de la muestra fue de 35,4 años. La confiabilidad de la escala fue de 84,78 por ciento. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el puntaje total (p = 0,0047) en 4 de los 6 ítems. Conclusión: Los resultados preliminares de nuestro estudio sugieren que la versión en Español del Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation es útil para evaluar la satisfacción con la apariencia nasal en chilenos.

Influencia de la apariencia de las mamas en la calidad de vida: diferencias entre población preoperatoria de mamoplastía de reducción y población control / Criterion validity of a questionnaire to assess quality of life associated to the appearance of breasts in women

Objetivo: El Breast Q Reduction and Mastopexy Module es un instrumento específico para la evaluación de calidad de vida asociado a mamas desde la perspectiva del paciente, recientemente validado para uso en español en Chile. Cuenta con evaluación pre y postoperatoria. El objetivo del presente estudio es conocer la validez de criterio al comparar las distribuciones en distintas poblaciones de individuos así como la diferencia del puntaje entre el pre y postoperatorio. Materiales y Métodos: El instrumento validado en español Breast Q Reduction-Mastopexy Module fue sometido a prueba para evaluar su validez de criterio comparando los resultados de la escala en pacientes que deseaban someterse a cirugía versus 2 grupos control, uno de pacientes hospitalizados por otra causa y otro de estudiantes de medicina. Resultados: Se aplicó la encuesta a 46 mujeres, 6 pacientes preoperatorios de mamoplastía de reducción, 20 alumnas de medicina y 20 pacientes hospitalizadas por otra causa. Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las pacientes y los grupos control en los dominios autoimagen corporal (p = 0,0001), desempeño social (p = 0,0035) y síntomas físicos (p = 0,0058), no se observaron diferencias en el dominio de sexualidad (p = 0,1432), sin embargo, sólo 4/6 pacientes contestaron la encuesta ya que las otras 2 declararon no tener vida sexual. Conclusiones: Estos resultados preliminares sugieren que la versión en español del Breast Q Reduction-Mastopexy Module es un instrumento útil para evaluar calidad de vida asociada a las mamas en mujeres chilenas.

Background: The Breast QoL Reduction and Mastopexy Module assesses quality of life associated to breast appearance from the point of view of the patient. Its Spanish version was recently validated in Chile. Aim: To assess the criterion validity of the instrument applying it in different populations of women and in the pre and post-operative periods. Material and Methods: The questionnaire was applied to six women subjected to reduction mammoplasty in the pre and post-operative period. It was also applied to 20 women hospitalized for other causes and 20 female medical students. Results: There were significant differences between operated women and their non-operated counterparts in the domains body self-image, social performance and physical symptoms. No differences in sexuality were found. However this last question was answered only by four operated patients, since two declared not to have sex life. Conclusions: The questionnaire is useful to assess quality of life associated to the appearance of breasts.

Rinoplastía: resultados desde la perspectiva del paciente. Validación lingüística y psicométrica del Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation Instrument / Validation of the spanish version of the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation

Background: The Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation is a questionnaire that assesses, form the point of view of the patient, the functional and cosmetic outcome of rhinoplasty. It has six items for esthetic and functional domains, using Likert type questions with five alternatives. The scale ranges from 6 that is the worst outcome to 30, the best. Aim: To translate and validate the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation, to be used in Chile. Material and Methods: The linguistic validation guidelines of the MAPI/TRUST Research Institute were used. The instrument was translated from English to Spanish, counter translated and applied to a pilot sample of five patients. The internal stability was assessed using Cronbach alpha. Results: The five female patients in whom the questionnaire was applied were aged 22 +/- 4 years, had 15 +/- 2 years of studies and their body mass index was 23 +/- 4 kg/m². Cronbach alpha was 84 percent. The scale changed from 10 points in the preoperative period to 17 points in the postoperative period. Conclusions: The Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation is a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate the results of rhinoplasty.

Introducción: El Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation es un instrumento específico para la evaluación cosmética y funcional de la nariz desde la perspectiva del paciente; publicado originalmente en inglés, cuenta con 6 ítems pertenecientes a dominios estéticos y funcionales administrados en preguntas tipo Likert de 5 puntos. El puntaje de la escala puede tomar un valor que va de 6 a 30 puntos, donde el puntaje de 6 es la peor satisfacción con la nariz y 30 la mejor imaginable. El objetivo del presente estudio es traducir y validar este instrumento al español para su uso en Chile. Materiales y Métodos: Se utilizaron las guías de validación lingüística del MAPI/TRUST Research Institute. El proceso de validación requirió la traducción inglés-español, contra traducción español-inglés, conciliación inglés-inglés y aplicación de la escala en 5 pacientes. La estabilidad interna se evaluó con el alfa de Cronbach, se utilizó estadística descriptiva y analítica para analizar los resultados. Resultados: Las 5 pacientes evaluadas tuvieron una edad promedio de 22 +/- 4 años, IMC 23 +/- 4 kg/m² y 15 +/- 2 años de estudio, todas de sexo femenino. La estabilidad interna de la escala fue de 84 por ciento (alfa de Cronbach). Se logró evidenciar que los resultados obtenidos entre el preoperatorio y el postoperatorio de las pacientes, variaron de 10 a 17 puntos, con una mediana de 14 puntos. Conclusiones: El instrumento Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation es un instrumento válido, confiable y reproducible para la evaluación de los resultados de la rinoplastía, desde la perspectiva de los pacientes chilenos hispanoparlantes.

Medición de los resultados desde la perspectiva del paciente en cirugía de contorno corporal: creación del instrumento Body-QoL / Development of an instrument to evaluate the results of plastic surgery from the perspective of the patient

Background: Body remodeling surgical procedures requires an assessment from the client's point of view in terms of esthetic satisfaction. Aim: To develop an instrument of assess body remodeling surgical results from the point of view of the patient. Material and Methods: A literature search for assessment methods was carried out. Posteriorly, in depth interviews and focus groups with plastic surgeons and patients subjected to plastic surgery procedures were performed. With this information, a conceptual framework was established to devise the instrument. Results: Sixteen patients and five plastic surgeons participated in the interviews and focus groups. The domains included in the conceptual framework were outfit and body image, affective and sexual life, self-image and esteem, social relationships and physical symptoms. Conclusions: The conceptual framework for the instrument is ready and the psychometric evaluation is the next step in its development.

Objetivo: Desarrollar un nuevo instrumento de resultados desde la perspectiva del paciente, diseñado para medir la satisfacción de éstos en relación a procedimientos de cirugía de contorno corporal, como li-poescultura, abdominoplastía, lifting corporal, lifting de muslos y brazos. Material y Método: Revisión de la literatura, entrevistas en profundidad a pacientes, grupos focales de discusión de expertos a cirujanos plásticos y pacientes sometidos a cirugías de contorno corporal con lo que se desarrolló un marco conceptual en relación a los resultados considerados importantes para la imagen corporal. Resultados: Dieciséis pacientes y cinco cirujanos plásticos fueron entrevistados. Los dominios identificados para el marco conceptual incluyeron vestimenta e imagen corporal, vida afectiva y sexual, autoimagen y autoestima, relaciones sociales y síntomas físicos. Conclusiones: Una vez completada la evaluación psicométrica, el instrumento Body-QoL y subescalas proporcionará una herramienta confiable para cirujanos plásticos, investigadores y pacientes para medir el impacto y la eficacia de los procedimientos de remodelamiento corporal, desde la perspectiva del paciente. Nivel de Evidencia: 1-Estudio cualitativo, generación de instrumentos de medición de resultado desde la perspectiva del paciente.

Posterior penetrating injury in the rabbit eye: effect of blood and ferrous ions.

The effects of intravitreal injections of blood or ferrous chloride solutions on experimental posterior penetrating eye injury in the rabbit are described. An 8-mm standard posterior penetrating wound, without additional manipulation, healed without retinal detachment or membrane formation. Injection into the vitreous cavity of blood or ferrous chloride solution in addition to the wound resulted in fibroblastic proliferation with membrane formation. A critical amount of blood or iron solution was associated with marked traction and traction retinal detachment. Severe inflammation in association with the development of thick intravitreal membranes was also observed in eyes receiving the ferrous chloride solutions, the extent of which was related to the severity of the retinal detachment. These results show that iron is an important stimulus to inflammation and to intravitreal fibroblastic proliferation in rabbit eyes with posterior penetrating eye injuries.

Usher syndrome: results of a screening program in Colombia.

Otological, ophthalmological and genetic studies were performed in 46 patients with Usher syndrome, identified through a screening program in Colombia. Of them, 69.6% had Usher syndrome type I, 26.1% type II, and 4.3% type III. Thirty-three patients showed profound deafness (71.7%), while 13 (28.3%) had moderate to severe hearing loss. The ophthalmologic manifestations showed marked variability. Although the majority of the patients had serious ocular impairment before age 20, 32.6% had good central visual acuity. The prevalence of Usher syndrome in Colombia, estimated at 3.2/100,000, warrants the implementation of screening programs in schools for the deaf and for the blind. Our study confirms that Usher syndrome shows no geographic or racial variation and that the disorder has a wide variability of expression and genetic heterogeneity. The large size of the families we have detected may provide important opportunities for further genetic studies, particularly in terms of the assignment of the locus and gene mapping.

Infecciones por Vibrio parahaemolyticus e intoxicaciones por algas: problemas emergentes de salud pública en Chile / Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections and algal intoxications as emergent public health problems in Chile

There is interest in the paradigm that relates environmental sea changes to the emergence of diseases that affect both aquatic organisms in the sea and human beings. The emergence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus as an important cause of epidemic summer diarrhea in 2004 and 2005, confined mainly to the tenth region in Chile, could be a manifestation of this trend. This and other areas of the country have also experienced several outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrheal shellfish poisoning (DSP) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) caused by harmful algal blooms (HAB) of Alexandrium catenella, Dinophysis acuta and Pseudonitzchia species, respectively. The short historical record of these pathological phenomena in Chile suggests that they are increasing in frequency and expanding their geographical range. The V parahaemolyticus isolates responsible for the Chilean outbreaks correspond mainly to the pandemic strain O3:K6. HAB found in Chile and the intoxications caused by them have similar biological characteristics to those described in other areas of the world. The tenth region, the area where these problems are emerging, produces approximately 80-90% of the shellfish consumed in Chile and a large proportion of the shellfish that is exported. Prevention of these public health problems can be attained by developing policies that increase environmental surveillance for Vibrios and toxic algae, improve the epidemiological surveillance of acute diarrhea and algal intoxications after the ingestion of raw bivalves, and educate the population on the mode of transmission of these diseases. Scientific capacity and laboratories need to be developed to widen the limited knowledge of the biology of Vibrio and toxic algae and the environmental factors that favor their emergence as public health and economic problems in Chile.

Hantavirus en Chile: revisión y análisis de casos desde 1975 / Hantavirus in Chile: a review and case analysis since 1975

Since the identification of the first case of Hantavirus infection in Chile in 1995, a great advance in the knowledge of the disease natural history has occurred. There is evidence to suppose that the infection by Andes virus in suburban areas of Argentina and Chile, whose natural reservoir is Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, has been present but unidentified for a long time. We describe a serologically proven case occurred in 1975. The clinical presentation of the disease slightly differs from that described for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), caused by Sin Nombre virus in the USA. There is a wider range of presentation forms including, besides HPS, mild and asymptomatic cases, a greater proportion of renal involvement and pediatric cases. Therefore the epidemiological scenario would be an endemic disease with fluctuations that follow changes in rodent population and their interactions with humans