Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Registered Female Sex Workers in Northern Mexico

Background Little is known about the epidemiology of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in female sex workers (FSWs) in Mexico. Goal The goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of C trachomatis infection in registered FSWs from northern Mexico and to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with the infection. Study Design An enzyme immunoassay was used to test 354 FSWs in three northern Mexican cities for cervical C trachomatis infection. All participants were registered in a government health office. Recruitment was consecutive and voluntary. The association between clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of FSWs and C trachomatis infection was evaluated. Results The overall prevalence of C trachomatis infection among participants in the three cities was 12.4%. Women of low socioeconomic level and those younger than 25 years were the most frequently infected. Among FSWs in Durango, a higher frequency of C trachomatis infection was found for those who did not use condoms. Conclusion C trachomatis is an important pathogen in the sexually transmitted diseases of registered FSWs in northern Mexico

Pre-treatment and extraction techniques for recovery of added value compounds from wastes throughout the agri-food chain

The enormous quantity of food wastes discarded annually force to look for alternatives for this interesting feedstock. Thus, food bio-waste valorisation is one of the imperatives of the nowadays society. This review is the most comprehensive overview of currently existing technologies and processes in this field. It tackles classical and innovative physical, physico-chemical and chemical methods of food waste pre-treatment and extraction for recovery of added value compounds and detection by modern technologies and are an outcome of the COST Action EUBIS, TD1203 Food Waste Valorisation for Sustainable Chemicals, Materials and Fuels

Estudio de la penetración de agente antiinfecciosos en macrófagos utilizando eritrocitos portadores

[ES] El primer objetivo de este trabajo ha sido realizar una completa revisión bibliográfica acerca de la problemática en el tratamiento de las infecciones intracelulares. También se recogen los distintos tipos de sistemas portadores existentes en la actualidad y las ventajas que éstos aportan en el tratamiento de estas infecciones, ya que facilitan el acceso de los agentes antiinfeciosos al interior celular. El segundo objetivo de este trabajo ha sido la puesta a punto y validación de distintas técnicas analíticas que permitan la cuantificación de los fármacos estudiados en diferentes tipos de muestras biológicas, como eritrocitos, macrófagos, plasma y tejidos. Se han puesto a punto una técnica de HPLC-fluorescencia para la cuantificación de amicacina, una técnica de HPLC-ultravioleta para la cuantificación de zidovudina en eritrocitos, y una técnica de UPLC-MS/MS para la cuantificación de zidovudina en plasma y tejidos. El tercer objetivo de este trabajo ha sido la puesta a punto y optimización de métodos que permitan la encapsulación en eritrocitos de rata de los fármacos seleccionados. Para la encapsulación de amicacina se ha utilizado una técnica de diálisis hipotónica que ha sido puesta a punto previamente en nuestro laboratorio. Posteriormente, esta técnica se ha optimizado para la encapsulación del antirretroviral zidovudina. Para ello se ha estudiado la influencia de diferentes factores como la cantidad inicial de fármaco, el tiempo de diálisis, y la relación de volúmenes diálisis/tampón hipotónico, tanto en el rendimiento de encapsulación como en las propiedades hematológicas de los eritrocitos. Finalmente, el cuarto objetivo de este trabajo ha sido el estudio de la penetración de amicacina y zidovudina en macrófagos tanto in vitro como in vivo, así como los cambios en la farmacocinética y en la distribución tisular de estos fármacos en ratas cuando se administran incorporados en eritrocitos portadores por vía intraperitoneal, en comparación con su utilización en forma libre.[EN] The first objective of this study was to perform a complete review about the problems in the treatment of intracellular infections. It also reflects the different types of delivery systems currently available and the benefits they bring in the treatment of these infections, as they facilitate access antiinfeciosos agents into the cell. The second objective of this work has been making point and validation of analytical techniques that allow quantification of the drugs studied in different types of biological samples such as erythrocytes, macrophages, plasma and tissues. They have perfected a technique of HPLC-fluorescence for the quantification of amikacin, a technique of HPLC-UV for quantification of zidovudine in red blood cells and a technique for quantifying UPLC-MS/MS zidovudine in plasma and tissues. The third objective of this work has been the development and optimization of methods for the encapsulation in erythrocytes of rats of selected drugs. For the encapsulation of amikacin has been used a hypotonic dialysis technique has been set-up previously in our laboratory. Subsequently, this technique has been optimized for encapsulation of the antiretroviral zidovudine. To do this we have studied the influence of different factors including the initial amount of drug, time on dialysis, and dialysis volume ratio / hypotonic buffer in both the encapsulation efficiency and in hematological properties of erythrocytes. Finally, fourth objective of this work was to study the penetration of amikacin and zidovudine in macrophages both in vitro and in vivo, as well as changes in the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of these drugs in rats when administered by carriers incorporated into erythrocytes intraperitoneally, compared with its use in free form

Escuelas experimentales autogestionadas Participación de los padres. Estudio Comparativo1

The present work, made within the Research Project ¿The new forms of relationship between Society, State and Education in the Province of San Luis. The educational transformation in the 90¿s¿ comparatively shows how experimental schools in the Province of San Luis build a participative space for the parents. The conceptual framework from which these analysis are made constitutes a review of conceptualizations that make it possible to show the new forms of relationship between Society, State and Education since the implementation of neo liberal economic policies. We have attempted to analyze empirically the way in which these schools build the space for the participation of the parents. We have investigated two activities by interviewing the parents: meetings called by the school and the attendance of parents to the school without being summoned. We were also interested in knowing the parents¿ degree of conformity with the school and their knowledge regarding the way in which these educational institutions are financed. The schools chosen ¿those in which the comparative analysis was centered, respond partially to the description that decree Nº 2562 issued by the Executive Power expresses in one of its considerates: ¿that it is a matter of utmost urgency to promote high quality alternatives of educational offers in the poorest areas of the province¿.El presente trabajo, realizado desde el Proyecto de Investigación «Las nuevas relaciones entre Sociedad, Estado y Educación en la provincia de San Luis. La transformación educativa en los 90¿», muestra comparativamente cómo se construye el espacio participativo de los padres en escuelas experimentales autogestionadas de la Provincia de San Luis. El marco conceptual desde donde se realizan los análisis, constituye una revisión de conceptualizaciones que permiten mostrar las nuevas relaciones entre Sociedad, Estado y Educación, a partir de la implementación de políticas económicas neoliberales. Se intentó analizar empíricamente cómo construyen estas escuelas el espacio para la participación de los padres, en dos actividades que indagamos a través de entrevistas a los padres: reuniones convocadas por la escuela y asistencia del padre sin convocatoria institucional. También nos interesó conocer la conformidad de los padres con la escuela y su conocimiento sobre la forma en que estas instituciones escolares son financiadas. Las escuelas elegidas -en las que se centró el análisis comparativo- responden parcialmente a la descripción que el Decreto del Poder Ejecutivo Nº 2562 expresa en uno de sus considerandos: «Que es imperante fomentar alternativas de oferta educativa de calidad en zonas de la provincia mas marginadas»

Escuelas experimentales autogestionadas Participación de los padres. Estudio Comparativo1

The present work, made within the Research Project ¿The new forms of relationship between Society, State and Education in the Province of San Luis. The educational transformation in the 90¿s¿ comparatively shows how experimental schools in the Province of San Luis build a participative space for the parents. The conceptual framework from which these analysis are made constitutes a review of conceptualizations that make it possible to show the new forms of relationship between Society, State and Education since the implementation of neo liberal economic policies. We have attempted to analyze empirically the way in which these schools build the space for the participation of the parents. We have investigated two activities by interviewing the parents: meetings called by the school and the attendance of parents to the school without being summoned. We were also interested in knowing the parents¿ degree of conformity with the school and their knowledge regarding the way in which these educational institutions are financed. The schools chosen ¿those in which the comparative analysis was centered, respond partially to the description that decree Nº 2562 issued by the Executive Power expresses in one of its considerates: ¿that it is a matter of utmost urgency to promote high quality alternatives of educational offers in the poorest areas of the province¿.El presente trabajo, realizado desde el Proyecto de Investigación «Las nuevas relaciones entre Sociedad, Estado y Educación en la provincia de San Luis. La transformación educativa en los 90¿», muestra comparativamente cómo se construye el espacio participativo de los padres en escuelas experimentales autogestionadas de la Provincia de San Luis. El marco conceptual desde donde se realizan los análisis, constituye una revisión de conceptualizaciones que permiten mostrar las nuevas relaciones entre Sociedad, Estado y Educación, a partir de la implementación de políticas económicas neoliberales. Se intentó analizar empíricamente cómo construyen estas escuelas el espacio para la participación de los padres, en dos actividades que indagamos a través de entrevistas a los padres: reuniones convocadas por la escuela y asistencia del padre sin convocatoria institucional. También nos interesó conocer la conformidad de los padres con la escuela y su conocimiento sobre la forma en que estas instituciones escolares son financiadas. Las escuelas elegidas -en las que se centró el análisis comparativo- responden parcialmente a la descripción que el Decreto del Poder Ejecutivo Nº 2562 expresa en uno de sus considerandos: «Que es imperante fomentar alternativas de oferta educativa de calidad en zonas de la provincia mas marginadas»

Metformin prevents experimental gentamicin-induced nephropathy by a mitochondria-dependent pathway.

International audienceThe antidiabetic drug metformin can diminish apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in endothelial cells and prevent vascular dysfunction even in nondiabetic patients. Here we tested whether it has a beneficial effect in a rat model of gentamicin toxicity. Mitochondrial analysis, respiration intensity, levels of reactive oxygen species, permeability transition, and cytochrome c release were assessed 3 and 6 days after gentamicin administration. Metformin treatment fully blocked gentamicin-mediated acute renal failure. This was accompanied by a lower activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, together with a decrease of lipid peroxidation and increase of antioxidant systems. Metformin also protected the kidney from histological damage 6 days after gentamicin administration. These in vivo markers of kidney dysfunction and their correction by metformin were complemented by in vitro studies of mitochondrial function. We found that gentamicin treatment depleted respiratory components (cytochrome c, NADH), probably due to the opening of mitochondrial transition pores. These injuries, partly mediated by a rise in reactive oxygen species from the electron transfer chain, were significantly decreased by metformin. Thus, our study suggests that pleiotropic effects of metformin can lessen gentamicin nephrotoxicity and improve mitochondrial homeostasis