Workplace burnout and health issues among Colombian correctional officers.

Introduction Correctional employees typically work under adverse conditions that may enhance the occurrence of different negative psychological states. Burnout constitutes a high-risk phenomenon that may affect people's physical/mental health and welfare, especially in vulnerable occupational groups. Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize the burnout profile of correctional officers, and to associate their burnout profile with health issues and lifestyle factors. Methods The full sample was composed of 219 Colombian correctional officers with a mean age of 30.18 years. A questionnaire composed of three sections was employed: demographic data, burnout, and health information. Results A high proportion of participants reported burnout indicators, also significantly correlated to their health indicators and lifestyle factors. Cluster analyses were used in order to characterize the burnout/age (model A) and burnout/age/psychological disturbance (model B) profiles of correctional officers. Furthermore, significant differences were found when comparing frequencies of alcohol consumption and physical exercise (lifestyle indicators) and perceived social support of officers depending on their profile. Conclusions the discussion focused on the negative impact of burnout on health, and on the importance of strengthening occupational programs aimed at reducing the impact of hazardous working conditions that contribute to the development of burnout, and to the arise different mid and long-term health complains among correctional workers

Short electrodynamic tethers

ED bare theters are best systems to deorbit S/C at end of service. For near polar orbits, usual tethers kept vertical by the gravity gradient, yield too weak magnetic drag. Here we propose keeping tethers perpendicular to the orbital plane. they mus be rigid and short for structural reasons, requiring power supply like Ion thrusters. terher tube-booms that can be rolled up on a drum would lie on each side of the S/C. One boom, carying in idle Hollow Cathode, collects electrons; the opposite boom's HC ejects electrons

Next generation of selenocyanate and diselenides with upgraded leishmanicidal activity

Nowadays, leishmaniasis is still treated with outdated drugs that present several obstacles related to their high toxicity, long duration, parenteral administration, high costs and drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for safer and more effective novel drugs. Previous studies indicated that selenium compounds are promising derivatives for innovative therapy in leishmaniasis treatment. With this background, a new library of 20 selenocyanate and diselenide derivatives were designed based on structural features present in the leishmanicidal drug miltefosine. Compounds were initially screened against promastigotes of L. major and L. infantum and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in THP-1 cells. Compounds B8 and B9 were the most potent and less cytotoxic and were further screened for the intracellular back transformation assay. The results obtained revealed that B8 and B9 showed EC50 values of 7.7 µM and 5.7 µM, respectively, in L. major amastigotes, while they presented values of 6.0 µM and 7.4 µM, respectively, against L. infantum amastigotes. Furthermore, they exerted high selectivity (60 70) towards bone marrow-derived macrophages. Finally, these compounds exhibited higher TryR inhibitory activity than mepacrine (IC50 7.6 and 9.2 µM, respectively), and induced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in macrophages. These results suggest that the compounds B8 and B9 could not only exert a direct leishmanicidal activity against the parasite but also present an indirect action by activating the microbicidal arsenal of the macrophage. Overall, these new generation of diselenides could constitute promising leishmanicidal drug candidates for further studies

Good practice regarding smoking cessation management in Spain: Challenges and opportunities for primary care physicians and nurses

INTRODUCTION We analyze the activities carried out by primary care (PC) physicians and nurses with respect to smoking cessation and evaluate their self-reported training, knowledge, and behavior. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted including 1514 PC physicians and nurses from June 2016 to March 2017, in Spain. The main variable was Good Practice (GP) in attention to smokers. To identify associated factors, a multilevel logistic regression model was used adjusted for sex, age, type of center, contract, years of employment, tobacco consumption, and self-reported training/knowledge. RESULTS Of the 792 physicians and 722 nurses, 48.6% referred to GP in smoking cessation management. The finding related to: being a non-smoker (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.5) or ex-smoker (OR= 1.4; 95% CI: 1.02-2.1), having a good level of knowledge (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4) and training (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.8-3.2), and, to a lesser extent, being female (OR=1.3; 95% CI: 1.03-1.7), and work experience >10 years (OR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.03-1.9). The main GP barriers were: lack of time (45.5%), organizational problems (48.4%), and 35.4% lack of training. CONCLUSIONS The GP of PC physicians and nurses regarding smoking cessation management is related to being non-smokers or ex-smokers, and having sufficient training and knowledge. Lack of time and organizational problems were considered to be the main barriers. The promotion of training activities in the Spanish National Health Service with the support of scientific societies is required

Relationship between IGF-1 and body weight in inflammatory bowel diseases: Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), represented by ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn''s disease (CD), are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, what leads to diarrhea, malnutrition, and weight loss. Depression of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis (GH-IGF-1 axis) could be responsible of these symptoms. We demonstrate that long-term treatment (54 weeks) of adult CD patients with adalimumab (ADA) results in a decrease in serum IGF-1 without changes in serum IGF-1 binding protein (IGF1BP4). These results prompted us to conduct a preclinical study to test the efficiency of IGF-1 in the medication for experimental colitis. IGF-1 treatment of rats with DSS-induced colitis has a beneficial effect on the following circulating biochemical parameters: glucose, albumin, and total protein levels. In this experimental group we also observed healthy maintenance of colon size, body weight, and lean mass in comparison with the DSS-only group. Histological analysis revealed restoration of the mucosal barrier with the IGF-1 treatment, which was characterized by healthy quantities of mucin production, structural maintenance of adherers junctions (AJs), recuperation of E-cadherin and ß-catenin levels and decrease in infiltrating immune cells and in metalloproteinase-2 levels. The experimentally induced colitis caused activation of apoptosis markers, including cleaved caspase 3, caspase 8, and PARP and decreases cell-cycle checkpoint activators including phosphorylated Rb, cyclin E, and E2F1. The IGF-1 treatment inhibited cyclin E depletion and partially protects PARP levels. The beneficial effects of IGF-1 in experimental colitis could be explained by a re-sensitization of the IGF-1/IRS-1/AKT cascade to exogenous IGF-1. Given these results, we postulate that IGF-1 treatment of IBD patients could prove to be successful in reducing disease pathology. © 2021 The Author

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

NEXTGENDEM: información genética, geoespacial y supercomputación para mejorar la gestión de especies y espacios en Macaronesia

Project NEXTGENDEM (MAC2/4.6d/236, https://lupus.itccanarias.org/nextgendem/es/) complements multiple research disciplines to provide verified and validated scientific data that help managers make more informed conservation decisions. As a result of the mobilization and enrichment of the sample and data banks of the Jardín Botánico Canario “Viera y Clavijo” -UA CSIC and the Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário de Cabo Verde, tools will be developed for the estimation of phylogenetic diversity of the terrestrial endemic flora of these islands, the approximation to the molecular taxonomic identification of samples, phylogenetic reconstruction, and territorial analysis merging biotic and abiotic variables. Our main objective is to organise, analyse and apply the most relevant scientific knowledge to guide in situ and ex situ actions to improve the conservation status of the flora of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) and Santiago (Cape Verde), although we plan to incorporate other Macaronesian territories in future projectsEl proyecto NEXTGENDEM (MAC2/4.6d/236, https://lupus.itccanarias.org/nextgendem/es/) complementa múltiples disciplinas de investigación para proporcionar datos científicos contrastados y validados que faciliten a los gestores la toma de decisiones de conservación más informadas. A consecuencia de la movilización y el enriquecimiento de los bancos de muestras y datos del Jardín Botánico Canario ¿Viera y Clavijo¿ ¿ UA CSIC y del Instituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário de Cabo Verde, se pondrán a punto herramientas para la estimación de la diversidad filogenética de la flora terrestre insular, la aproximación a la identificación taxonómica molecular de muestras, la reconstrucción de filogenias, y el análisis territorial integrado con variables bióticas y abióticas. Nuestro objetivo principal es organizar, analizar y aplicar el conocimiento científico más relevante para guiar actuaciones in situ y ex situ que mejoren el estado de conservación de las floras de Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias) y Santiago (Cabo Verde), aunque prevemos incorporar otros territorios macaronésicos en futuros proyecto

Study of CD27 and CCR4 Markers on Specific CD4+ T-Cells as Immune Tools for Active and Latent Tuberculosis Management

The immunological characterization of different cell markers has opened the possibility of considering them as immune tools for tuberculosis (TB) management, as they could correlate with TB latency/disease status and outcome. CD4+ T-cells producing IFN-γ+ with a low expression of CD27 have been described as an active TB marker. In addition, there are unknown homing receptors related to TB, such as CCR4, which might be useful for understanding TB pathogenesis. The aim of our study is focused on the assessment of several T-cell subsets to understand immune-mechanisms in TB. This phenotypic immune characterization is based on the study of the specific immune responses of T-cells expressing CD27 and/or CCR4 homing markers. Subjects enrolled in the study were: (i) 22 adult patients with active TB, and (ii) 26 individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). Blood samples were drawn from each patient. The expression of CD27 and/or CCR4 markers were analyzed within CD4+ T-cells producing: (i) IFN-γ+, (ii) TNF-α+, (iii) TNF-α+IFN-γ+, and (iv) IFN-γ+ and/or TNF-α+. The percentage of CD27− within all CD4+ T-cell populations analyzed was significantly higher on active TB compared to LTBI after PPD or ESAT-6/CFP-10 stimulation. As previously reported, a ratio based on the CD27 median fluorescence intensity (MFI) was also explored (MFI of CD27 in CD4+ T-cells over MFI of CD27 in IFN-γ+CD4+ T-cells), being significantly increased during disease (p < 0.0001 after PPD or ESAT-6/CFP-10 stimulation). This ratio was also assessed on the other CD4+ T-cells functional profiles after specific stimulation, being significantly associated with active TB. Highest diagnostic accuracies for active TB (AUC ≥ 0.91) were achieved for: (i) CD27 within IFN-γ+TNF-α+CD4+ T-cells in response to ESAT-6/CFP-10, (ii) CD27 and CCR4 markers together within IFN-γ+CD4+ T-cells in response to PPD, and (iii) CD27 MFI ratio performed on IFN-γ+TNF-α+CD4+ T-cells after ESAT-6/CFP-10 stimulation. The lowest diagnostic accuracy was observed when CCR4 marker was evaluated alone (AUC ≤ 0.77). CD27 and CCR4 expression detection could serve as a good method for immunodiagnosis. Moreover, the immunological characterization of markers/subset populations could be a promising tool for understanding the biological basis of the disease

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362