Solar Energy in Argentina

There is a large gap between the vast solar resources and the magnitude of solar energy deployment in Argentina. In the case of photovoltaics, the country only reached the 1000 GWh electricity generated yearly landmark in 2020. Solar thermal technology is even less developed, in part due to the low natural gas prices resulting from political strategies that aim to soften the impact of an unstable economy on family budgets. This review describes this gap by summarizing the current state of Argentine solar energy. We summarize the fundamental legal and strategic tools which are available for solar energy deployment, survey the penetration of solar energy into the country?s energy landscape, identify national contributions to the local value chain, and review past and present research and development achievements. Both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies show a historical fluctuation between local technology development and imported technology and know-how. Finally, a discussion on the main ingredients required to abridge Argentina?s solar gap indicates that stronger, consistent long-term strategies are required in Argentina in order to take advantage of the present window of opportunity, and to play a considerable role in the global energy transition.Fil: Bragagnolo, Julio A.. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Taretto, Kurt Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; ArgentinaFil: Navntoft, Christian. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentin

Prevalence of Early B-Cell Factor 1 Gene rs4704963 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (T>C) in a Population of Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Obesity

Introducción: En estudios previos, se determinó para una población con agravamiento de la diabetes tipo 2 con obesidad (DBT+Ob) que sufría estrés una prevalencia del polimorfismo de nucleótido único (SNP) rs4704963 (T > C) del gen Early B-Cell Factor 1 (EBF1) del 16,5%. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de este SNP en pacientes con DBT+ Ob que acuden al Hospital Ramos Mejía de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos .Aires y establecer si dicho polimorfismo se asocia con el estrés o la ocurrencia de eventos coronarios agudos. Material y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, prospectivo, sobre prevalencia del polimorfismo en 53 pacientes con DBT+Ob e índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre 28 y 41, atendidos en el citado hospital en un período de 15 meses. A cada paciente se le computó una escala de estrés percibido, además de evaluarlo mediante la escala de acontecimientos vitales estresantes. Para el análisis estadístico, se realizaron las pruebas de Chi cuadrado y se calcularon los odds ratio (OR). Resultados: La población evaluada (53 pacientes) tuvo una media de edad de 60,2 ±9,77 años; 47,2% fueron hombres. De ellos, 8 individuos (15,1%) presentaron el SNP y todos fueron heterocigotas. Quince sujetos (28,3%) tuvieron síndrome isquémico agudo (SIA) y de estos solo uno (6,6%) tenía el SNP. No se halló relación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia del SNP y la aparición de SIA (p = 0,282). Catorce pacientes (26,4%) presentaron estrés crónico moderado o grave, y no hubo relación entre este hallazgo y la presencia del SNP (p = 0,979). Conclusiones: La prevalencia del SNP rs4704963 (T > C) del gen EBF1 en la población de DBT+Ob estudiada fue del 15,1% y no se halló relación estadísticamente significativa del SNP con el estrés ni con el SIA.Background: Previous studies established that in a population with exacerbation of type 2 diabetes with obesity (DBT+Ob) suffering from stress, the prevalence of early B-Cell Factor 1 (EBF1) gene rs4704963 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (T>C) is 16.5%. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this SNP in patients with DBT+Ob attending Hospital Ramos Mejía of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and to ascertain whether this polymorphism is associated with stress or acute coronary events. Methods: An observational, prospective study on the prevalence of rs4704963 SNP was performed in 53 patients with DBT+Ob and body mass index between 28 and 41, seen in Hospital Ramos Mejía for a period of 15 months. Each patient was evaluated with a stressful life events scale and a perceived stress scale. The chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 53 patients were included in the study. Mean population age was 60.2±9.77 years and 47.2% were men. Among these patients, 8 (15.1%) presented SNP and all were heterozygous. Fifteen patients (28.3%) had acute ischemic syndrome (AIS), and among these, only one (6.6%) had SNP. No statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of SNP and AIS (p=0.282). Fourteen patients (26.4%) presented moderate or severe chronic stress, and there was no relationship between this finding and the presence of SNP (p=0.979). Conclusions: The prevalence of EBF1 gene rs4704963 SNP (T>C) in the DBT+Ob population was 15.1%. No statistically significant association was found between SNP and stress or AIS.Fil: Principato, Mario. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Castilla Lozano, Maria del Rocio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Duarte, Alejandra Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Bragagnolo, Julio César. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Ortensi, Graciela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Von Wulffen, María Alejandra. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Carbajales, Justo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Acunzo, Rafael Salvador. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; Argentin

Statins but Not Aspirin Reduce Thrombotic Risk Assessed by Thrombin Generation in Diabetic Patients without Cardiovascular Events: The RATIONAL Trial

The systematic use of aspirin and statins in patients with diabetes and no previous cardiovascular events is controversial. We sought to assess the effects of aspirin and statins on the thrombotic risk assessed by thrombin generation (TG) among patients with type II diabetes mellitus and no previous cardiovascular events.Prospective, randomized, open, blinded to events evaluation, controlled, 2×2 factorial clinical trial including 30 patients randomly allocated to aspirin 100 mg/d, atorvastatin 40 mg/d, both or none. Outcome measurements included changes in TG levels after treatment (8 to 10 weeks), assessed by a calibrated automated thrombogram. At baseline all groups had similar clinical and biochemical profiles, including TG levels. There was no interaction between aspirin and atorvastatin. Atorvastatin significantly reduced TG measured as peak TG with saline (85.09±55.34 nmol vs 153.26±75.55 nmol for atorvastatin and control groups, respectively; p = 0.018). On the other hand, aspirin had no effect on TG (121.51±81.83 nmol vs 116.85±67.66 nmol, for aspirin and control groups, respectively; p = 0.716). The effects of treatments on measurements of TG using other agonists were consistent.While waiting for data from ongoing large clinical randomized trials to definitively outline the role of aspirin in primary prevention, our study shows that among diabetic patients without previous vascular events, statins but not aspirin reduce thrombotic risk assessed by TG.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00793754

Guidelines for the treatment of the diabetes mellitus type 2. Argentine Society of Diabetes

Objetivos: 1) actualizar la Guía de Tratamiento de la Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 de la Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes publicada en el año 2010; 2) proveer al equipo de salud una herramienta actualizada para el manejo terapéutico de las personas con esta patología. Materiales y métodos: se convocó a un grupo de expertos, miembros titulares de la Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes, para analizar los trabajos disponibles en distintas fuentes, clasificándolos de acuerdo a su nivel de evidencia (Tabla 2), éste podrá observarse en negrita al final del párrafo correspondiente; sobre esta base se modificó la guía 2010 actualizando sus contenidos. Se designó un comité de redacción responsable de la compaginación final del documento. Conclusiones: los cambios en el estilo de vida continúan siendo la primera opción terapéutica, la metformina es la droga de primera línea, si no existen contraindicaciones para su uso o intolerancia, cualquiera de las otras familias de fármacos antidiabéticos, la insulina y sus análogos pueden usarse como monoterapia o asociadas entre sí teniendo en cuenta sus contraindicaciones, siempre y cuando no se utilicen juntas aquellas con mecanismos de acción similar. Los algoritmos 1 y 2 pueden considerarse la síntesis de la propuesta actual, elaborada para orientar la toma de decisiones respecto del tratamiento de la DMT2.Objectives: 1) update the Guidelines for the Treatment of the Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 of the Argentine Society of Diabetes, published in 2010; 2) provide to the health team updated guidance for the therapeutic management of people with this disease. Material and methods: a group of experts, full members of the Argentine Society of Diabetes, was convened to analyze the papers available from different sources, classifying them according to their level of evidence (Table 2), written in bold at the end of the paragraph; on this basis the 2010 guideline was modified to update contents. A drafting committee responsible for the final layout of the document was appointed. Conclusions: changes in lifestyle remain the first therapeutic option, metformin is the drug of first line, if there are no contraindications for use or intolerance, any of the other families of antidiabetic drugs, insulin and insulin analogs, can be used as monotherapy or associated, taking into account their contraindications and not using together those with similar action mechanisms. Algorithms 1 and 2 can be considered the synthesis of the current proposal.Facultad de Ciencias MédicasCentro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicad

Prevalence of Early B-Cell Factor 1 Gene rs4704963 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (T>C) in a Population of Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Obesity

Background: Previous studies established that in a population with exacerbation of type 2 diabetes with obesity (DBT+Ob)suffering from stress, the prevalence of early B-Cell Factor 1 (EBF1) gene rs4704963 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)(T>C) is 16.5%.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this SNP in patients with DBT+Ob attending HospitalRamos Mejía of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and to ascertain whether this polymorphism is associated with stressor acute coronary events.Methods: An observational, prospective study on the prevalence of rs4704963 SNP was performed in 53 patients with DBT+Oband body mass index between 28 and 41, seen in Hospital Ramos Mejía for a period of 15 months. Each patient was evaluatedwith a stressful life events scale and a perceived stress scale.The chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistical analysis.Results: A total of 53 patients were included in the study. Mean population age was 60.2±9.77 years and 47.2% were men.Among these patients, 8 (15.1%) presented SNP and all were heterozygous. Fifteen patients (28.3%) had acute ischemicsyndrome (AIS), and among these, only one (6.6%) had SNP. No statistically significant relationship was found between thepresence of SNP and AIS (p=0.282). Fourteen patients (26.4%) presented moderate or severe chronic stress, and there wasno relationship between this finding and the presence of SNP (p=0.979).Conclusions: The prevalence of EBF1 gene rs4704963 SNP (T>C) in the DBT+Ob population was 15.1%. No statisticallysignificant association was found between SNP and stress or AIS.Introducción: En estudios previos, se determinó para una población con agravamiento de la diabetes tipo 2 con obesidad(DBT+Ob) que sufría estrés una prevalencia del polimorfismo de nucleótido único (SNP) rs4704963 (T > C) del gen EarlyB-Cell Factor 1 (EBF1) del 16,5%.Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de este SNP en pacientes con DBT+ Ob que acuden al Hospital Ramos Mejía de la CiudadAutónoma de Buenos .Aires y establecer si dicho polimorfismo se asocia con el estrés o la ocurrencia de eventos coronariosagudos.Material y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, prospectivo, sobre prevalencia del polimorfismo en 53 pacientescon DBT+Ob e índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre 28 y 41, atendidos en el citado hospital en un período de 15 meses. Acada paciente se le computó una escala de estrés percibido, además de evaluarlo mediante la escala de acontecimientos vitalesestresantes.Para el análisis estadístico, se realizaron las pruebas de Chi cuadrado y se calcularon los odds ratio (OR).Resultados: La población evaluada (53 pacientes) tuvo una media de edad de 60,2 ±9,77 años; 47,2% fueron hombres. De ellos,8 individuos (15,1%) presentaron el SNP y todos fueron heterocigotas. Quince sujetos (28,3%) tuvieron síndrome isquémicoagudo (SIA) y de estos solo uno (6,6%) tenía el SNP. No se halló relación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia delSNP y la aparición de SIA (p = 0,282). Catorce pacientes (26,4%) presentaron estrés crónico moderado o grave, y no huborelación entre este hallazgo y la presencia del SNP (p = 0,979).Conclusiones: La prevalencia del SNP rs4704963 (T > C) del gen EBF1 en la población de DBT+Ob estudiada fue del 15,1%y no se halló relación estadísticamente significativa del SNP con el estrés ni con el SIA

End of the study assessment of thrombin generation in patients randomized to aspirin and in patients randomized to atorvastatin.

<p>PTG, peak thrombin generation; LT, lag time.</p

Study flowchart.

<p>Study flowchart.</p

Baseline characteristics of patients randomized to receive atorvastatin or control.

<p>Baseline characteristics of patients randomized to receive atorvastatin or control.</p

Baseline characteristics of patients randomized to receive aspirin or control.

<p>Baseline characteristics of patients randomized to receive aspirin or control.</p

Baseline levels of thrombin generation in patients randomized to aspirin and atorvastatin.

<p>PTG, peak thrombin generation; LT, lag time.</p