OCURRENCIA DE GRANULITAS EN EL SECTOR SEPTENTRIONAL DE LA CORDILLERA OCCIDENTAL DE COLOMBIA

El siguiente artículo presenta una nueva unidad compuesta por rocas metamórficas de alto grado localizada en la parte norte de los Andes colombianos: la Granulita de Pantanillo. Esta unidad está expuesta cerca de Santa Fé de Antioquia (Departamento de Antioquia), donde el valle del río Cauca divide las cordilleras Occidental y Central. Las granulitas son expuestas en el lado occidental de la falla Cauca-Almaguer, que es la falla más occidental del sistema Cauca-Romeral. Esta falla representa el límite principal entre litosferas continental y oceánica en los Andes colombianos. Las principales paragénesis minerales determinadas en estas rocas son Pl + Amp (Hbl?) + Ol + Opx +Spl (hercinite) + opacos, Pl + Cpx + Opx, y Pl + Qtz + Opx + Cpx. Estas asociaciones minerales son indicativas de alto grado, condiciones de la facies granulita y relativamente baja P. La composición química de la Granulita de Pantanillo varía entre basaltos toleíticos de alto Mg y basalto komatiiticos. Los diagramas de elementos traza son planos, similares al N-MORB, pero más empobrecidos, un rasgo indicativo de un protolito plutónico, aunque el protolito volcánico no puede descartarse. Diagramas de discriminación tectónica basados en elementos traza sugieren que el protolito de las granulitas pudo haber sido formado en un arco toleítico. Una datación 40Ar/39Ar en roca total de la Ganulita de Pantanillo arrojó una edad de 216,2 ± 14,2 Ma y una datación K/Ar en anfíbol dio una edad de 360,7 ± 12,4 Ma. Sin embargo, el bajo contenido de potasio en las muestras hace que las edades no sean confiables. La posibilidad de exceso de argón en las muestras es bastante probable, por lo que el significado geológico de las dataciones es incierto en el momento.   Palabras clave: Granulita, Pantanillo, basalto komatiitico, Cordillera Occidental.The following paper introduces a new unit composed of high-grade metamorphic rocks in the northern part of the Colombian Andes: the Pantanillo Granulite. The unit is exposed near Santa Fe de Antioquia (Antioquia Province), where the Cauca River Valley divides the Western and Central Cordilleras. The granulites are exposed in the western side of the Cauca-Almaguer Fault, which is the westernmost fault of the Cauca-Romeral system. This fault represents the main boundary between continental and oceanic lithospheres in the Colombian Andes. The chief mineral parageneses determined in these rocks are Pl + Amp (hbl?) + Ol + Opx + Spl (hercynite) + opaques, Pl + Cpx + Opx, and Pl + Qtz + Opx + Cpx. These mineral associations are indicative of high- grade, granulite-facies conditions at relatively low P. The chemical composition of antanillo Granulite ranges between high-Mg tholeiitic basalt and komatiitic basalt. Trace-element diagrams are flat, similar to N-MORB, but somewhat depleted, a feature indicative of a plutonic protolith, although a volcanic one cannot be precluded. Tectonic discrimination diagrams based on trace elements suggest the granulite’s protolith may have been formed in a tholeiitic arc. Whole-rock 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Pantanillo Granulite yielded 216.2 ± 14.2 Ma and K/Ar dating of amphibole yielded 360.7 ± 12.4 Ma. However, the very low content of potassium in these samples renders the ages practically useless. The possibility of excess argon in the  amples is quite probable, so the geological meaning of the datings is uncertain at the moment   Keywords:  granulite, Pantanillo, komatiitic basalt, Western Cordiller

OCURRENCIA DE GRANULITAS EN EL SECTOR SEPTENTRIONAL DE LA CORDILLERA OCCIDENTAL DE COLOMBIA

El siguiente artículo presenta una nueva unidad compuesta por rocas metamórficas de alto grado localizada en la parte norte de los Andes colombianos: la Granulita de Pantanillo. Esta unidad está expuesta cerca de Santa Fé de Antioquia (Departamento de Antioquia), donde el valle del río Cauca divide las cordilleras Occidental y Central. Las granulitas son expuestas en el lado occidental de la falla Cauca-Almaguer, que es la falla más occidental del sistema Cauca-Romeral. Esta falla representa el límite principal entre litosferas continental y oceánica en los Andes colombianos. Las principales paragénesis minerales determinadas en estas rocas son Pl + Amp (Hbl?) + Ol + Opx +Spl (hercinite) + opacos, Pl + Cpx + Opx, y Pl + Qtz + Opx + Cpx. Estas asociaciones minerales son indicativas de alto grado, condiciones de la facies granulita y relativamente baja P. La composición química de la Granulita de Pantanillo varía entre basaltos toleíticos de alto Mg y basalto komatiiticos. Los diagramas de elementos traza son planos, similares al N-MORB, pero más empobrecidos, un rasgo indicativo de un protolito plutónico, aunque el protolito volcánico no puede descartarse. Diagramas de discriminación tectónica basados en elementos traza sugieren que el protolito de las granulitas pudo haber sido formado en un arco toleítico. Una datación 40Ar/39Ar en roca total de la Ganulita de Pantanillo arrojó una edad de 216,2 ± 14,2 Ma y una datación K/Ar en anfíbol dio una edad de 360,7 ± 12,4 Ma. Sin embargo, el bajo contenido de potasio en las muestras hace que las edades no sean confiables. La posibilidad de exceso de argón en las muestras es bastante probable, por lo que el significado geológico de las dataciones es incierto en el momento.   Palabras clave: Granulita, Pantanillo, basalto komatiitico, Cordillera Occidental.The following paper introduces a new unit composed of high-grade metamorphic rocks in the northern part of the Colombian Andes: the Pantanillo Granulite. The unit is exposed near Santa Fe de Antioquia (Antioquia Province), where the Cauca River Valley divides the Western and Central Cordilleras. The granulites are exposed in the western side of the Cauca-Almaguer Fault, which is the westernmost fault of the Cauca-Romeral system. This fault represents the main boundary between continental and oceanic lithospheres in the Colombian Andes. The chief mineral parageneses determined in these rocks are Pl + Amp (hbl?) + Ol + Opx + Spl (hercynite) + opaques, Pl + Cpx + Opx, and Pl + Qtz + Opx + Cpx. These mineral associations are indicative of high- grade, granulite-facies conditions at relatively low P. The chemical composition of antanillo Granulite ranges between high-Mg tholeiitic basalt and komatiitic basalt. Trace-element diagrams are flat, similar to N-MORB, but somewhat depleted, a feature indicative of a plutonic protolith, although a volcanic one cannot be precluded. Tectonic discrimination diagrams based on trace elements suggest the granulite’s protolith may have been formed in a tholeiitic arc. Whole-rock 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Pantanillo Granulite yielded 216.2 ± 14.2 Ma and K/Ar dating of amphibole yielded 360.7 ± 12.4 Ma. However, the very low content of potassium in these samples renders the ages practically useless. The possibility of excess argon in the  amples is quite probable, so the geological meaning of the datings is uncertain at the moment   Keywords:  granulite, Pantanillo, komatiitic basalt, Western Cordiller

Circulating AQP4 Levels in Patients with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a major cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in elderly patients. Growing evidence suggests a potential role of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in amyloid-beta-associated diseases, including CAA pathology. Our aim was to investigate the circulating levels of AQP4 in a cohort of patients who had suffered a lobar ICH with a clinical diagnosis of CAA. AQP4 levels were analyzed in the serum of 60 CAA-related ICH patients and 19 non-stroke subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CAA-ICH cohort was divided according to the time point of the functional outcome evaluation: mid-term (12 +/- 18.6 months) and long-term (38.5 +/- 32.9 months) after the last ICH. Although no differences were found in AQP4 serum levels between cases and controls, lower levels were found in CAA patients presenting specific hemorrhagic features such as >= 2 lobar ICHs and >= 5 lobar microbleeds detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, CAA-related ICH patients who presented a long-term good functional outcome had higher circulating AQP4 levels than subjects with a poor outcome or controls. Our data suggest that AQP4 could potentially predict a long-term functional outcome and may play a protective role after a lobar ICH

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory rheumatism: results from a retrospective follow-up study of 283 adult and child cases in La Virginia, Risaralda, Colombia [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Objective: There are limited studies in Latin America regarding the chronic consequences of the Chikungunya virus (CHIK), such as post-CHIK chronic inflammatory rheumatism (pCHIK-CIR). We assessed the largest cohort so far of pCHIK-CIR in Latin America, at the municipality of La Virginia, Risaralda, a new endemic area of CHIK in Colombia. Methods: We conducted a cohort retrospective study in Colombia of 283 patients diagnosed with CHIK that persisted with pCHIK-CIR after a minimum of 6 weeks and up to a maximum of 26.1 weeks. pCHIK cases were identified according to validated criteria via telephone. Results: Of the total CHIK-infected subjects, 152 (53.7%) reported persistent rheumatological symptoms (pCHIK-CIR). All of these patients reported joint pains (chronic polyarthralgia, pCHIK-CPA), 49.5% morning stiffness, 40.6% joint edema, and 16.6% joint redness. Of all patients, 19.4% required and attended for care prior to the current study assessment (1.4% consulting rheumatologists). Significant differences in the frequency were observed according to age groups and gender. Patients aged >40 years old required more medical attention (39.5%) than those ≤40 years-old (12.1%) (RR=4.748, 95%CI 2.550-8.840). Conclusions: According to our results, at least half of the patients with CHIK developed chronic rheumatologic sequelae, and from those with pCHIK-CPA, nearly half presented clinical symptoms consistent with inflammatory forms of the disease. These results support previous estimates obtained from pooled data of studies in La Reunion (France) and India and are consistent with the results published previously from other Colombian cohorts in Venadillo (Tolima) and Since (Sucre)

Post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory rheumatism: Results from a retrospective follow-up study of 283 adult and child cases in La Virginia, Risaralda, Colombia

Objective: There are limited studies in Latin America regarding the chronic consequences of the Chikungunya virus (CHIK), such as post-CHIK chronic inflammatory rheumatism (pCHIK-CIR). We assessed the largest cohort so far of pCHIK-CIR in Latin America, at the municipality of La Virginia, Risaralda, a new endemic area of CHIK in Colombia. Methods: We conducted a cohort retrospective study in Colombia of 283 patients diagnosed with CHIK that persisted with pCHIK-CIR after a minimum of 6 weeks and up to a maximum of 26.1 weeks. pCHIK cases were identified according to validated criteria via telephone. Results: Of the total CHIK-infected subjects, 152 (53.7%) reported persistent rheumatological symptoms (pCHIK-CIR). All of these patients reported joint pains (chronic polyarthralgia, pCHIK-CPA), 49.5% morning stiffness, 40.6% joint edema, and 16.6% joint redness. Of all patients, 19.4% required and attended for care prior to the current study assessment (1.4% consulting rheumatologists)

70º Aniversario de la declaración universal de derechos humanos. La protección internacional de los Derechos Humanos en cuestión

Segundo volúmen de la Colección Perspectivas Iberoamericanas sobre la justicia. La Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas cumple, el 10 de diciembre de 2018, setenta años. La simbólica fecha obliga a los investigadores en derechos humanos a reflexionar críticamente sobre los avances y límites de un complejo sistema de normas y, sobre todo, de valores culturales sustentados en la matriz liberal occidental. Desde entonces, ha habido indiscutibles avances institucionales y normativos, como la creación del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, varios pactos y declaraciones complementarias, órganos específicos, tribunales internacionales, jurisprudencia, constituciones estatales, una infinidad de instituciones basadas en esta “ética mínima universal” que, contradictoriamente, no logró evitar un conjunto de catástrofes humanitarias y de vulneración de derechos. La primera década del siglo XX trae un reflejo limitante al consenso de la posguerra, pues la agresividad de los Estados hegemónicos, en alianza con intereses privados transnacionales, pone en jaque la capacidad del sistema protector frente a guerras humanitarias e internacionales. tratados económicos de nueva generación aquellos que excluyen por completo a la democracia del proceso de negociación.A Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos das Nações Unidas completa, em 10 de diciembre de 2018, setenta años. A data simbólica exige dos pesquisadores em direitos humanos uma reflexão crítica a respeito dos avanços y dos limites de um sistema complexo de normas e, principalmente, de valores culturales apoiados na matriz liberal ocidental. De lá para cá, houve indiscutível avanço institucional e normativo, do qual é exemplo a criação do Conselho de Direitos Humanos, diversos pactos e declarações complementarios, órgão específicos, tribunais internacionais, jurisprudência, constituições dos States, uma infinidade de instituições pautadas nesse “mínimo ético universal” que, contraditoriamente, não conseguiu evitar um conjunto de catástrofes humanitárias e de violação de direitos. A primeira década do século XX traz uma reflexão limite para o consenso do pós-guerra, pois a agressividade dos States hegemônicos, em aliança com interesses private transnacionais, põe em check a capacidade do sistema protectivo diante das guerras humanitárias e dos tratados internacionais econômicos de nueva generación aqueles que excluem completamente a democracia do processo negociador

European surveillance for enterovirus D68 during the emerging North-American outbreak in 2014

BACKGROUND: In August and September 2014, unexpected clusters of enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68) infections associated with severe respiratory disease emerged from North-America. In September, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) asked European countries to strengthen respiratory sample screening for enterovirus detection and typing in cases with severe respiratory presentations. OBJECTIVES: To provide a detailed picture of EV-D68 epidemiology in Europe by conducting a retrospective and prospective laboratory analysis of clinical specimens. STUDY DESIGN: An initiative supported by the European Society for Clinical Virology (ESCV) and ECDC was launched to screen for EV-D68 in respiratory specimens between July 1st and December 1st 2014 in Europe and to sequence the VP1 region of detected viruses for phylogenetic analytic purposes. RESULTS: Forty-two institutes, representing 51 laboratories from 17 European countries, analyzed 17,248 specimens yielding 389 EV-D68 positive samples (2.26%) in 14 countries. The proportion of positive samples ranged between 0 and 25% per country. These infections resulted primarily in mild respiratory disease, mainly detected in young children presenting with wheezing and in immuno-compromised adults. The viruses detected in Europe are genetically very similar to those of the North-American epidemic and the majority (83%) could be assigned to clade B. Except for 3 acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases, one death and limited ICU admissions, no severe cases were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The European study showed that EV-D68 circulated in Europe during summer and fall of 2014 with a moderate disease burden and different pathogenic profile compared to the North-American epidemic

Cabbage and fermented vegetables: From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT1R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.</p