Toxoplasmosis congénita con enfermedad neurológica severa en un hospital de referencia del Perú

El propósito del presente estudio fue describir las características epidemiológicas, clínicas, y terapéuticas de pacientes con diagnóstico de toxoplasmosis congénita (TC) con enfermedad neurológica severa. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes menores de 1 año con serología IgM positiva para Toxoplasma gondii y compromiso encefálico, ocular y/o auditivo. El estudio se realizó en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño San Borja (INSN-SB) en Lima, Perú. Se evaluaron a 21 pacientes con diagnóstico de TC, el 57,1% fueron del sexo femenino y la mediana de edad al momento del diagnóstico fue 3,1 meses (RIC: 1,7-7,3). Las principales manifestaciones del sistema nervioso central fueron hidrocefalia (76,2%), calcificaciones intracraneales (52,4%), microcefalia (42,9%), y convulsiones (25,6%); la manifestación ocular más frecuente fue la coriorretinitis (38,1%). En conclusión, 64% de los casos de TC tuvieron una o más manifestaciones de enfermedad neurológica severa

A review of the clinical and epidemiological aspects of Guillain-Barré syndrome in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: An Extended Comprehensive Review

Desde 2019, se han venido publicando casos de pacientes con COVID-19 que desarrollaron el Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (GBS). Esta revisión explora mecanismos que expliquen fisiopatología, características clínicas, hallazgos de laboratorio y características imagenológicas en estos pacientes. Metodología: Búsqueda bibliográfica de estudios publicados en NCBI y Scielo, entre diciembre de 2019 y abril de 2022. Resultados: Se encontraron noventa artículos, 53 de los cuales se incluyen esta síntesis. No se encontraron estudios que expliquen una asociación entre GBS y COVID-19. Clínicamente, se encontró arreflexia (56.95%), hiporreflexia (19.44%), debilidad muscular (65.28%), alteración de la marcha (12.5%), hipoestesia (26.39%), parestesia (30.55%) y alteración de la micción (6.94%). Los hallazgos en el líquido cefalorraquídeo incluyeron disociación albumino-citológica (66.67%) y un nivel promedio de proteínas de 140.23 mg/dL (DE: 106.71). Algunos casos mostraron realce de las leptomeninges cervicales, tronco encefálico y nervios craneales en tests de resonancia magnética. La variante predominante de GBS fue polineuropatía desmielinizante inflamatoria aguda (56.94%). Los hallazgos en los estudios de conducción nerviosa incluyeron ausencia de ondas F (61.54%), aumento de la latencia motora distal (80%), disminución de la amplitud motora (93.1%) y disminución de la velocidad de conducción motora (75%). Los nervios principalmente involucrados fueron el tibial (20.21%), peroneal (24.47%), mediano (20.21%) y cubital (18.09%). La alteración más frecuente de los nervios craneales fue parálisis facial bilateral (25%) y unilateral (13.89%).Conclusión: La variante primaria del Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (GBS) fue la Polineuropatía Dismielinizante Inflamatoria Aguda. El análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo reveló una disociación albumino-citológica como el hallazgo más común, y las imágenes en tests de resonancia magnética mostraron incremento de los nervios craneales. Otro hallazgo diferencial fue el menor compromiso del sistema autónomo.Since 2019, cases of patients with COVID-19 who developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) have been reported. This review explores mechanisms that explain pathophysiology, clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging characteristics in these patients.Methodology: A bibliographic search was made of studies on the topic published in NCBI and Scielo, between December 2019 and April 2022.Results: Ninety articles were found, 53 of which were included in this article. No studies were found that explain an association between GBS and COVID19. Specific clinical manifestations found were areflexia (56.95%), hyporeflexia (19.44%), muscle weakness (65.28%), gait disturbance (12.5%), hypoesthesia (26.39%), paresthesia (30.55%), and micturition disturbance (6.94%). The CSF findings included albumin-cytological dissociation (66.67%), and an average protein level of 140.23 mg/dL (SD: 106.71). Some cases reported enhancement of the cervical leptomeningeal, brainstem and cranial nerves on magnetic resonance imaging tests. The predominant variant of GBS was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (56.94%). The findings in the nerve conduction studies were the absence of F waves (61.54%), increased distal motor latency (80%), decreased motor amplitude (93.1%), and decreased motor conduction velocity (75%). In addition, the nerves mainly involved were the tibial (20.21%), peroneal (24.47%), median (20.21%), and ulnar (18.09%). The most frequent alteration of cranial nerves was bilateral (25%) and unilateral (13.89%) facial palsy.Conclusion: The primary GBS variant was Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed albumin-cytological dissociation as the most common finding, and MRI tests showed cranial nerves enhancements. An additional differential feature was the lower commitment of the autonomous system

The Third International Symposium on Fungal Stress – ISFUS

Stress is a normal part of life for fungi, which can survive in environments considered inhospitable or hostile for other organisms. Due to the ability of fungi to respond to, survive in, and transform the environment, even under severe stresses, many researchers are exploring the mechanisms that enable fungi to adapt to stress. The International Symposium on Fungal Stress (ISFUS) brings together leading scientists from around the world who research fungal stress. This article discusses presentations given at the third ISFUS, held in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil in 2019, thereby summarizing the state-of-the-art knowledge on fungal stress, a field that includes microbiology, agriculture, environmental science, ecology, biotechnology, medicine, and astrobiology

Investigation of a photovoltaic system and the financial feasibility of its implementation for the generation of electric power demand in the facilities of a company that is dedicated to the sale of vehicles, Costa Rica, 2021

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo desarrollar un proyecto teórico que permita determinar la conveniencia de la utilización de energías no convencionales para satisfacer la demanda de consumo de energía eléctrica, utilizando paneles fotovoltaicos en las instalaciones de una empresa que se dedica a la venta de Vehículos, en el año  2021. Bajo este contexto es donde aplica la creación, generación y conocimiento de nuevas alternativas que se ajusten a las necesidades actuales de la sociedad, tomando como herramienta la investigación y tecnología disponibles.  En este proyecto se investigará específicamente la tecnología que implica el panel fotovoltaico como generador de recurso de forma sostenible para consumo de las instalaciones, cuáles son las medidas a considerar para la implementación, las estimaciones financieras que determinaran la rentabilidad que puede generar el proyecto como tal, adicional, como estos resultados pueden influir en los flujos de caja de la empresa y los objetivos ambientales planteados en su estrategia de negocio.The objective of this research is to develop a theoretical project that allows determining the convenience of the use of unconventional energy to satisfy the demand for electricity consumption, using photovoltaic panels in the facilities of an enterprise of sale of Vehicles, Costa Rica,  in the second quarter of 2021. Costa Rica, a country known for its natural wealth, commitment to the environment and generator of good practices, always promoting a circular and sustainable economy, in that same north suggests and urges all members of society to take initiatives that involve everyone and all Costa Ricans and those who have taken the country as their home, or, for economic development, to look for alternatives that contribute to growth, that guarantee comprehensive development today, using resources responsibly without compromising them for future inhabitants. . It is under this context that the creation, generation and knowledge of new alternatives that adjust to the current needs of society are applied, taking research as a tool, and using technology as a possible solution to many of the processes that we carry out daily. In this project, the technology that involves the photovoltaic panel as a generator of resource in a sustainable way for consumption of the facilities will be specifically investigated, what are the implications or measures to consider for the implementation of a project, the financial estimates that will determine the profitability that can generate the project as such, additional, as these results can influence the cash flows of the company and the environmental objectives set out in its business strategy

Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3–7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease

Surgeons' perspectives on artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making in trauma and emergency contexts: results from an international survey

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction in medicine and surgery. AI-based applications can offer tools to examine high-volume data to inform predictive analytics that supports complex decision-making processes. Time-sensitive trauma and emergency contexts are often challenging. The study aims to investigate trauma and emergency surgeons' knowledge and perception of using AI-based tools in clinical decision-making processes. Methods: An online survey grounded on literature regarding AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was advertised to 917 WSES members through the society's website and Twitter profile. Results: 650 surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the survey. Results depict the presence of technology enthusiasts and skeptics and surgeons' preference toward more classical decision-making aids like clinical guidelines, traditional training, and the support of their multidisciplinary colleagues. A lack of knowledge about several AI-related aspects emerges and is associated with mistrust. Discussion: The trauma and emergency surgical community is divided into those who firmly believe in the potential of AI and those who do not understand or trust AI-enabled surgical decision-making aids. Academic societies and surgical training programs should promote a foundational, working knowledge of clinical AI

Time for a paradigm shift in shared decision-making in trauma and emergency surgery? Results from an international survey

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) between clinicians and patients is one of the pillars of the modern patient-centric philosophy of care. This study aims to explore SDM in the discipline of trauma and emergency surgery, investigating its interpretation as well as the barriers and facilitators for its implementation among surgeons. Methods Grounding on the literature on the topics of the understanding, barriers, and facilitators of SDM in trauma and emergency surgery, a survey was created by a multidisciplinary committee and endorsed by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The survey was sent to all 917 WSES members, advertised through the society’s website, and shared on the society’s Twitter profile. Results A total of 650 trauma and emergency surgeons from 71 countries in five continents participated in the initiative. Less than half of the surgeons understood SDM, and 30% still saw the value in exclusively engaging multidisciplinary provider teams without involving the patient. Several barriers to effectively partnering with the patient in the decision-making process were identified, such as the lack of time and the need to concentrate on making medical teams work smoothly. Discussion Our investigation underlines how only a minority of trauma and emergency surgeons understand SDM, and perhaps, the value of SDM is not fully accepted in trauma and emergency situations. The inclusion of SDM practices in clinical guidelines may represent the most feasible and advocated solutions