Plasmodium falciparum alters the trophoblastic barrier and stroma villi organization of human placental villi explants.

BACKGROUND: The sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes in the placenta, and the resulting inflammatory response affects maternal and child health. Despite existing information, little is known about the direct impact of P. falciparum on the placental barrier formed by trophoblast and villous stroma. This study aimed to assess placental tissue damage caused by P. falciparum in human placental explants (HPEs). METHODS: HPEs from chorionic villi obtained of human term placentas (n = 9) from normal pregnancies were exposed to P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IE) for 24 h. HPEs were embedded in paraffin blocks and used to study tissue damage through histopathological and histochemical analysis and apoptosis using TUNEL staining. Culture supernatants were collected to measure cytokine and angiogenic factors and to determine LDH activity as a marker of cytotoxicity. A subset of archived human term placenta paraffin-embedded blocks from pregnant women with malaria were used to confirm ex vivo findings. RESULTS: Plasmodium falciparum-IE significantly damages the trophoblast layer and the villous stroma of the chorionic villi. The increased LDH activity and pathological findings such as syncytial knots, fibrin deposits, infarction, trophoblast detachment, and collagen disorganization supported these findings. The specific damage to the trophoblast and the thickening of the subjacent basal lamina were more pronounced in the ex vivo infection. In contrast, apoptosis was higher in the in vivo infection. This disparity could be attributed to the duration of exposure to the infection, which significantly varied between individuals naturally exposed over time and the 24-h exposure in the ex vivo HPE model. CONCLUSION: Exposure to P. falciparum-IE induces a detachment of the syncytiotrophoblast, disorganization of the stroma villi, and an increase in apoptosis, alterations that may be associated with adverse results such as intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight.

Evaluación del Síndrome de burnout en la Secretaría de Educación Departamental de Norte de Santander (Colombia) / Evaluation of the Burnout Syndrome in the Departmental Education Secretariat of Norte de Santander (Colombia)

RESUMEN Objetivo Identificar la prevalencia del síndrome de burnout en el recurso humano de la Secretaría de Educación Departamental (SED) de Norte de Santander (Colombia) durante el año 2020. Métodos Se aplicó el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) a una muestra de 366 trabajadores. Resultados Este estudio muestra que los funcionarios son personas que actualmente no presentan el síndrome, pero se obtuvo una puntuación del 6% en referencia a la tendencia media y el 4% pertenecen a la tendencia alta. Se evidencia una futura aparición de síntomas asociados a estrés, agotamiento emocional, irritabilidad, frustración y depresión. Del 4% (13 personas) que dio tendencia alta al síndrome de burnout, el 54% corresponden al género femenino y 46%, al masculino, y en cuanto al cargo, 12 personas son docentes y 1 persona es directivo. Conclusiones La SED manifiesta un desconocimiento del síndrome y una diferencia con respecto al concepto del estrés.

ABSTRACT Objective Identify the prevalence of the burnout syndrome in the human resource of the Departmental Education Secretariat (SED, by its initials in Spanish) of Norte de Santander (Colombia) during 2020. Methods The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was applied to a sample of 366 workers. Results This study shows that officials are people who do not currently have the syndrome, but a score of 6% is presented in reference to the average trend and 4% belong to the high trend. A future appearance of symptoms associated with stress, emotional exhaustion, irritability, frustration, and depression was evidenced. Out of the 4% (13 people) who gave a high tendency to burnout syndrome, 54% correspond to the female gender and 46% to the male, and in terms of position, 12 people are teachers and 1 person is a manager. Conclusions The SED manifests a lack of knowledge of the syndrome and a difference with respect to the concept of stress.