2002-2003 Conservatory All-Stars

A Hank Ellman Memorial Concert, sponsored by Sonny Ellma

Variantes en los genes TNFA, IL6 e IFNG asociadas con la gravedad del dengue en una muestra de población colombiana

Introduction: The genetic makeup of the host contributes to the clinical profile of dengue. This could be due to the effect of variants in the genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines.Objective: To evaluate the association between the variants of three polymorphisms in TNFA, IL6 and IFNG candidate genes with dengue severity in a sample of Colombian population.Materials and methods: We evaluated the rs1800750, rs2069843, and rs2069705 polymorphisms in TNFA, IL6 and IFNG candidate genes, respectively, in 226 patients with dengue infection. The genotypes were typed using both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). To determine the risk of different dengue phenotypes, we compared allele frequencies with chi-square and genotypes and haplotypes using logistic regression. Finally, these analyzes were adjusted with data from self-identification or the ancestral genetic component.Results: The A allele in the rs2069843 polymorphism, adjusted by self-identification, was associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever cases in Afro-Colombians. In the entire sample, this polymorphism, adjusted by the ancestral genetic component, was reproducible. In addition, there were significant associations between GGT and GAC allelic combinations of rs1800750, rs2069843, and rs2069705 in dengue hemorrhagic fever patients, with and without adjustment by ancestral genetic component. Additionally, the AGC allelic combination produced 58.03 pg/ml of interleukin-6 more than the GGC combination, regardless of European, Amerindian and African genetic components.Conclusions: The variants of GGT and GAC polymorphisms of rs1800750, rs2069843, and rs2069705 in the TNFA, IL6 and IFNG genes, respectively, were correlated with the susceptibility to dengue severity in a sample of Colombian population.Introducción. La composición genética del huésped determina, entre otros aspectos, el perfil clínico del dengue, lo cual se debería al efecto de variantes en los genes que codifican citocinas proinflamatorias.Objetivo. Evaluar la asociación entre las variantes de tres polimorfismos en los genes candidatos TNFA, IL6 e IFNG con la gravedad del dengue en una población colombiana.Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron los polimorfismos rs1800750, rs2069843 y rs2069705 de los genes TNFA, IL6 e IFNG, respectivamente, en 226 pacientes con dengue. Los genotipos se tipificaron usando la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y los polimorfismos de la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, RFLP). Para determinar el riesgo de diferentes fenotipos del dengue, se compararon las frecuencias alélicas con la prueba de ji al cuadrado, y los genotipos y los haplotipos, con regresión logística. Por último, los análisis se ajustaron utilizando datos de autoidentificación o del componente genético ancestral.Resultados. El alelo A del rs2069843, ajustado por autoidentificación, se asoció con casos de dengue hemorrágico en afrocolombianos. En la muestra completa, dicho polimorfismo, ajustado por componente genético ancestral, fue reproducible. Además, hubo asociaciones significativas entre las combinaciones alélicas GGT y GAC de los rs1800750, rs2069843 y rs2069705 en pacientes con dengue hemorrágico, con ajuste por componente genético ancestral y sin él. Además, la combinación alélica AGC produjo 58,03 pg/ml más de interleucina 6 que la GGC, independientemente de los componentes genéticos europeo, amerindio y africano.Conclusión. Las variantes de los polimorfismos GGT y GAC de los rs1800750, rs2069843 y rs2069705 en los genes TNFA, IL6 e IFNG, respectivamente, se correlacionaron con la gravedad del dengue en esta muestra de población colombiana

IL-6 serum levels predict severity and response to tocilizumab in COVID-19: An observational study

Background: Patients with coronavirus disaese 2019 (COVID-19) can develop a cytokine release syndrome that eventually leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Because IL-6 is a relevant cytokine in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the blockade of its receptor with tocilizumab (TCZ) could reduce mortality and/or morbidity in severe COVID-19. Objective: We sought to determine whether baseline IL-6 serum levels can predict the need for IMV and the response to TCZ. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical information and laboratory findings, including IL-6 levels, were collected approximately 3 and 9 days after admission to be matched with preadministration and postadministration of TCZ. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions and survival analysis were performed depending on outcomes: need for IMV, evolution of arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, or mortality. Results: One hundred forty-six patients were studied, predominantly males (66%); median age was 63 years. Forty-four patients (30%) required IMV, and 58 patients (40%) received treatment with TCZ. IL-6 levels greater than 30 pg/mL was the best predictor for IMV (odds ratio, 7.1; P < .001). Early administration of TCZ was associated with improvement in oxygenation (arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio) in patients with high IL-6 (P = .048). Patients with high IL-6 not treated with TCZ showed high mortality (hazard ratio, 4.6; P = .003), as well as those with low IL-6 treated with TCZ (hazard ratio, 3.6; P = .016). No relevant serious adverse events were observed in TCZ-treated patients. Conclusions: Baseline IL-6 greater than 30 pg/mL predicts IMV requirement in patients with COVID-19 and contributes to establish an adequate indication for TCZ administrationThis study was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant nos. RD16/0011/0012 and PI18/ 0371 to I.G.A., grant no. PI19/00549 to A.A., and grant no. SAF2017-82886-R to F.S.-M.) and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The study was also funded by ‘‘La Caixa Banking Foundation’’ (grant no. HR17-00016 to F.S.-M.) and ‘‘Fondos Supera COVID19’’ by Banco de Santander and CRUE. None of these sponsors have had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publicatio

Capitulo 6. Ciencias Administrativas, Contables, Económicas y de Negocio

La informalidad laboral es uno de los principales problemas que aquejan a la&nbsp;economía&nbsp;colombiana, según el DANE “para el trimestre marzo – mayo de 2019 la proporción de ocupados informales fue del 48, 1%, resultados que arrojó un estudio en 23 ciudades y áreas metropolitanas principales del País” (p4). Ese casi 50% de informalidad, por supuesto que es un problema de gran significancia de afectación para cualquier economía, ya que este es uno de los flagelos que&nbsp;reduce la productividad de un País, por ende, afecta su crecimiento y desarrollo económico.&nbsp; Paul Krugman (2010), Premio Nobel de Economía de 2008, postula que “la capacidad de un país de mejorar su nivel de vida a lo largo del tiempo depende casi que por entero de su capacidad de aumentar su producción por trabajador” (p.23)

Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad

Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad, surge después de la pandemia y su imposibilidad de socializar “en persona” con los compañeros de eventuales encuentros, porque la Comprensión Lectora tenía que reinventarse para su nueva reflexión cognitiva, adaptación contextual y reconstrucción del conocimiento. Este renovado enfoque de la realidad postpandemia, concebido en el marco de la educación intercultural comunitaria, busca potencializar los entornos naturales, sociales y culturales como recursos de aprendizaje multidisciplinario a través del lenguaje animado de los cuentos. En este marco, había que dinamizar la asignatura de Comunicación Oral y Escrita, que se dicta en los Primeros Niveles de los Centros de Apoyo de Otavalo, Cayambe, Latacunga y Riobamba, mediante un eje transversal donde los estudiantes escriban fundamentados en valores de la cosmovisión andina, considerando que provienen de varios lugares de la sierra y amazonía ecuatoriana. Todo surgió del encuentro presencial de un sábado cualquiera donde los estudiantes realizaban ejercicios narrativos, logrando una apreciable respuesta de imaginación, más emotiva que la clásica tarea de las Unidades, tanto así que, pasados unos días, seguían llegando sus escritos a mi correo. Entonces nos pusimos manos a la obra, cada estudiante tendría dos opciones como Actividad Integradora, la primera consistía en escribir un cuento de su propia inspiración, y la segunda analizar un clásico para comentar sus valores y antivalores. La mayor parte de estudiantes decidió escribir su propio cuento, de donde se escogieron algunas participaciones que podrían considerarse originales, para una edición que, respetando la transcripción de la tradición oral que prima en los sectores comunitarios, nos concretamos en revisar la puntuación y ortografía para publicarlos. Con esto buscamos innovar la Actividad Integradora, por algo más práctico y operativo para configurar los Objetos de Aprendizaje que buscamos. Así nació, en medio del camino, este libro de Cuentos de nunca acabar. Aproximaciones desde la interculturalidad, que ponemos en sus manos. Hernán Hermosa Mantilla Quito, junio de 202

B‐Flow and B‐Mode Ultrasound Imaging in Carotid Fibromuscular Dysplasia

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous ultrasound studies in fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) have largely reported on color flow imaging, power Doppler, and Doppler flow augmentation. We here report on arterial wall imaging findings by B‐flow and B‐mode in patients with carotid FMD. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed ultrasonographic findings in subjects with known or suspected FMD. All patients were evaluated with a standardized imaging protocol including Doppler, B‐mode, and B‐flow. Vessel wall abnormalities were classified as normal, luminal irregularities, or classical beading (fusiform dilatations). RESULTS We identified 23 patients and 33 carotid arteries were found to be abnormal, of which 10 had classical beading and 23 showed endoluminal irregularities. Bilateral disease was present in 10/23 patients. In the classical beading cases, B‐mode revealed isoechoic ridges, which protruded into the lumen, alternating with dilated arterial segments, which were also clearly demonstrated by B‐flow imaging. In cases with endoluminal irregularities, B‐mode and B‐flow showed isoechoic subendothelial irregular thickening, which did not lead to a fusiform dilatory appearance of the artery. The average distal internal carotid artery peak systolic velocity of arteries with classical beading (123 ± 29 cm/second) was significantly greater than that of arteries with mild irregularities (94 ± 34 cm/second) (P = .024). CONCLUSION Morphological arterial wall changes of FMD were well depicted by careful B‐flow and B‐mode imaging of the distal internal carotid artery. We would like to emphasize the utility of B‐flow and B‐mode in the noninvasive evaluation of FMD

State of biological knowledge of subfamily Stenodermatinae (Gervais, 1856) : cytogenetic review in an evolutionary context

La subfamilia Stenodermatinae, endémica del neotrópico, posee gran diversidad biogeográfica, morfológica, ecológica, entre otros. Desde el punto de vista citogenético, la mayoría de los géneros de Stenodermatinae (Phyllostomidae), en comparación con algunos clados de mamíferos, presentan cariotipos con una marcada variabilidad, la cual es evidente a nivel intergenérico. La citogenética evolutiva estudia la arquitectura cromosómica de las especies actuales por medio de una comparación de sus cariotipos. Estos datos, interpretados sobre una hipótesis filogenética, puede permitir realizar inferencias acerca de los cambios que se han producido a lo largo de la historia evolutiva de las especies. En este trabajo se plantea un estudio enfocado desde diversas perspectivas (i.e., citogenética, filogenética y biogeográfica), con el objetivo de interpretar y analizar la evolución cromosómica en Stenodermatinae en el contexto de la información biológica existente, a diferentes niveles taxonómicos. La matriz confeccionada con información cariotípica de 66 especies de Stenodermatinae incluyó datos sobre el 2n y SCDS, la cual se utilizó para realizar una reconstrucción ancestral de dichos caracteres. La información cariotípica se vinculó con la información de distribución de las especies, a los fines de observar cómo se distribuye la variabilidad citogenética en el grupo. Sugerimos una marcada variabilidad cromosómica para la subfamilia Stenodermatinae y proponemos un cariotipo ancestral de 2n=30-30, NF=56 SCDS= XY. Finalmente exponemos la necesidad de seguir produciendo conocimiento acerca de la citogenética de los grupos con el fin de analizarlos de forma interdisciplinar.The Stenodermatinae subfamily, endemic to the Neotropics, has great biogeographic, morphological, and ecological diversity, among others. From the cytogenetic point of view, most of the genera of Stenodermatinae (Phyllostomidae), in comparison with some clades of mammals, present karyotypes with a marked variability, which is evident at the intergeneric level. Evolutionary cytogenetics studies the chromosomal architecture of current species through a comparison of their karyotypes. These data, interpreted on a phylogenetic hypothesis, can allow inferences to be made about the changes that have occurred throughout the evolutionary history of species. This work presents a study focused from various perspectives (i.e., cytogenetics, phylogenetics and biogeography), with the aim of interpreting and analyzing chromosomal evolution in Stenodermatinae in the context of existing biological information, at different taxonomic levels. The matrix made with karyotypic information from 66 Stenodermatinae species included data on 2n and SCDS, which was used to perform an ancestral reconstruction of these characters. The karyotypic information was linked with the information on the distribution of the species, in order to observe how the cytogenetic variability is distributed in the group. We suggest a marked chromosomal variability for the Stenodermatinae subfamily and propose an ancestral karyotype of 2n = 30-30, NF = 56 SCDS = XY. Finally, we expose the need to continue producing knowledge about the cytogenetics of groups in order to analyze them in an interdisciplinary way

Topography of Vertebral Artery Origin Plaques: Characteristics and Determinants

Atherosclerotic plaques located at the vertebral artery ostium (VAo) are a mechanism for posterior circulation stroke, but little is known about VAo plaque topography and formation. In this study, we describe the topography of atherosclerotic plaques involving the origin of the vertebral artery (VA). Cross-sectional analyses of extracranial duplex studies were performed, and VAo plaques were classified based on their topography in 3 groups: (1) exclusively at the VA ostium; (2) predominantly subclavian, with extension into the vertebral ostium; and (3) predominantly ostial, with extension into the subclavian artery). Chi-square and analysis of variance tests were performed to investigate the association between VAo plaque topography and continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A total of 99 of 481 (21%) ultrasound duplex studies showed VAo plaques. The majority of the plaques (60%) were found to extend from the subclavian to the ostium. Plaques occurred more frequently at the medial wall of the VAo. No vascular risk factors were associated with plaque formation; however, women were more likely to have plaques involving predominantly or exclusively the VAo (P = .004). We describe 3 different patterns of VAo involvement in patients with ostial atherosclerotic VA disease. VAo plaques occurred almost exclusively at the medial wall of the vessel. Women had more plaques involving predominantly the origin. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the clinical significance of these findings