Analysis of thrombogenicity under flow reveals new insights into the prothrombotic state of patients with post-COVID syndrome

Background: Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affects millions of people worldwide, causing a multitude of symptoms and impairing quality of life months or even years after acute COVID-19. A prothrombotic state has been suggested; however, underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. / Objectives: To investigate thrombogenicity in PCS using a microfluidic assay, linking microthrombi, thrombin generation, and the von Willebrand factor (VWF):a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with a Thrombospondin Type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) axis. / Methods: Citrated blood was perfused through microfluidic channels coated with collagen or an antibody against the VWF A3 domain, and thrombogenicity was monitored in real time. Thrombin generation assays were performed and α(2)-antiplasmin, VWF, and ADAMTS13 activity levels were also measured. / Results: We investigated thrombogenicity in a cohort of 21 patients with PCS with a median time following symptoms onset of 23 months using a dynamic microfluidic assay. Our data show a significant increase in platelet binding on both collagen and anti-VWF A3 in patients with PCS compared with that in controls, which positively correlated with VWF antigen (Ag) levels, the VWF(Ag):ADAMTS13 ratio (on anti-VWF A3), and inversely correlated with ADAMTS13 activity (on collagen). Thrombi forming on collagen presented different geometries in patients with PCS vs controls, with significantly increased thrombi area mainly attributable to thrombi length in the patient group. Thrombi length positively correlated with VWF(Ag):ADAMTS13 ratio and thrombin generation assay results, which were increased in 55.5% of patients. α(2)-Antiplasmin levels were normal in 89.5% of patients. / Conclusion: Together, these data present a dynamic assay to investigate the prothrombotic state in PCS, which may help unravel the mechanisms involved and/or establish new therapeutic strategies for this condition

SITUACIÓN ECONÓMICA DE LAS MIPYMES DE ABARROTES EN XALOZTOC, TLAXCALA MÉXICO Y SU CAPITALIZACIÓN

This article describes the realization of a situational analysis of the financial culture and the financing´s sources currently used by MiPyme from the grocery stores sector in the municipality of Xaloztoc, Tlaxcala and a proposal is presented with the alternatives to which they can have access with better conditions, the financing that has high interest costs and a series of requirements to be fulfilled and at the same time the part of the financial culture that the MiPyme of the grocery sector raised since the endogenous and decentralization paradigm of each MiPyme, where the local (territorial) emerges as an alternative for economic growth and social welfare. This analysis was curried out through the application of questionnaires, interviews, detail observation methods in order to obtain truthful  and reliable data, which were subsequently analyzed through correlations using the SPSS statistical program which give us results that serve as the basis for granting a proposal appropriate to the conditions of the grocery sector, to help them obtain results that generate a positive impact as a company and a greater use of a monetary resources in order to generate a competitive advantages.En este artículo se describe la realización de un análisis situacional de la cultura financiera y las fuentes de financiamiento utilizadas en la actualidad por las MiPymes del sector de abarrotes en el Municipio de Xaloztoc Tlaxcala y se presenta una propuesta con las alternativas a las que pueden tener acceso con mejores condiciones, el financiamiento que tiene altos costos de interés y una serie de requisitos a cumplir y al mismo tiempo se identifica la parte de cultura financiera de la que carecen las MiPymes del sector de abarrotes planteado desde el paradigma endógeno y de descentralización de cada MiPyme, donde lo local (territorial) emerge como alternativa para el crecimiento económico y el bienestar social. Dicho análisis se llevó a cabo a través de la aplicación de cuestionarios, entrevistas, métodos de observación a detalle con el objetivo de obtener datos veraces y fiables que posteriormente se analizaron mediante correlaciones utilizando el programa estadístico SPSS, lo cual nos arroja resultados que sirven de base para otorgar una propuesta adecuada a las condiciones del sector de abarrotes, que les ayude a obtener resultados que les genere un impacto como empresa positivo y un mayor aprovechamiento de los recursos monetarios con el fin de generar una ventaja competitiva

Coastal Development of Daugavgrîva Island, Located Near the Gulf of Riga

Natural as well as anthropogenic processes impact greatly sensitive coastal areas all over the world. The spectrum of natural processes involved can be classified as meteorological, geologi-cal, marine, and lithodynamic. The Baltic Sea with its Gulf of Riga is an area in which combined sea erosion and accumulation processes, as well as alluvial processes, play significant roles in the coastal development. Major anthropogenic processes include impacts from ports and coastal protection structures, such as Riga Port hydraulic structures, fairway channels and coastal de-fence items. During summer also additional pressure of recreational activities has increased the effect on the coastal beach. Levelling data, historical cartographical material and beach sedimen-tary material granulometric analysis were used to describe natural and anthropogenic effects on development of the coastal beach of Daugavgrîva Island

Plan de negocio restaurante multicultural fusión gourmet

El plan de negocio de un restaurante multicultural consistirá en brindar a las personas, experiencias únicas en el mundo de la gastronomía y el entretenimiento en la ciudad de Pasto, se recreará ambientes con tres culturas distinguidas por la calidad de preparaciones gastronómicas como lo es la cultura italiana, mexicana y peruana. Además el restaurante multicultural no será solo un restaurante, Fusión Gourmet se convertirá en un escenario donde se expongan diferentes muestras culturales de las regiones anteriormente mencionadas. Un gran trabajo de merchandising acompañará la adecuación de los ambientes del restaurante, donde las personas que visiten el establecimiento encontrarán la decoración representativa de cada cultura, la música y danza típica de los países temáticos acompañados indudablemente de la exquisita gastronomía internacional. Fusión Gourmet contará con la presencia de tres ambientes culturales, haciendo énfasis a la cultura italiana, mexicana y peruana, estas tres culturas se escogieron ya que son las más apetecidas por el mercado meta según investigaciones de mercado y además son las que presentan una tendencia más favorable en el mundo gastronómico internacional. Esto lo explica Claudia Hernández, ejecutiva de ACODRES, “Todo va de acuerdo con los gustos, pero los preferidos creo que pueden ser los de comida peruana por estar en auge, o la mexicana por la variedad de restaurantes que la ofrecen, sin dejar atrás la mediterránea o italiana” (Acodres, 2012)

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators attenuate platelet activation and aggregation in blood of healthy donors and COVID-19 patients

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators reduce agonist-induced platelet activation and function. CFTR modulators, such as ivacaftor, present a promising therapeutic strategy in thrombocytopathies, including severe COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3HJykd

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators attenuate platelet activation and aggregation in blood of healthy donors and COVID-19 patients

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators reduce agonist-induced platelet activation and function. CFTR modulators, such as ivacaftor, present a promising therapeutic strategy in thrombocytopathies, including severe COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3HJykd

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways