Training through malaria research: building capacity in good clinical and laboratory practice in Liberia

Background: Limited health research capacities (HRC) undermine a country’s ability to identify and adequately respond to local health needs. Although numerous interventions to strengthen HRC have been conducted in Africa, there is a need to share the lessons learnt by funding organizations, institutes and researchers. The aim of this report is to identify best practices in HRC strengthening by describing a training programme conducted between 2016 and 2017 at the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Hospital (SJCH) in Monrovia (Liberia). Methods: A call for trainees was launched at the SJCH, the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Author‑ ity (LMHRA), the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Mother Pattern College of Health Sciences (MPCHS) and community members. Selected trainees participated in four workshops on Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP), standard operating procedures (SOP) and scientifc communication, as well as in a 5-months eLearning mentoring programme. After the training, a collectively-designed research project on malaria was conducted. Results: Twenty-one of the 28 trainees (14 from the SJCH, 3 from LMHRA, one from MPCHS, and 10 community representatives) completed the programme satisfactorily. Pre- and post-training questionnaires completed by 9 of the trainees showed a 14% increase in the percentage of correct answers. Trainees participated in a mixed-methods crosssectional study of Plasmodium falciparum infection among pregnant women at the SJCH. Selected trainees dissemi‑ nated activities and research outcomes in three international meetings and three scientifc publications. Conclusion: This training-through-research programme successfully involved SJCH staf and community members in a practical research exercise on malaria during pregnancy. The challenge is to ensure that the SJCH remains active in research. Harmonization of efectiveness indicators for HRC initiatives would strengthen the case for investing in such eforts

The Receptor-Like Kinase SOL2 Mediates CLE Signaling in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis sol2 mutants showed CLV3 peptide resistance. Twenty-six synthetic CLE peptides were examined in the clv1, clv2 and sol2 mutants. sol2 showed different levels of resistance to the various peptides, and the spectrum of peptide resistance was quite similar to that of clv2. SOL2 encoded a receptor-like kinase protein which is identical to CORYNE (CRN). GeneChip analysis revealed that the expression of several genes was altered in the sol2 root tip. Here, we suggest that SOL2, together with CLV2, plays an important role in the regulation of root meristem development through the CLE signaling pathway

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose regulation in Spain: the [email protected] Study

Introduction: atherosclerosis, blood vessel disease, is the main cause of cardiovascular disease associated with aging; comprising modifiable risk factors that increase because of this when it exists.Objective: to evaluate atherogenic markers and metabolic syndrome in older adults, with cardiovascular risk living in urban areas, Pinar del Río province. Methods: observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, from the service of Clinical Laboratory at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Teaching General Hospital  Pinar del Río with 60 years old and older patients from the urban areas, during the period 2013 - 2014. The target group included 588 patients. The sample comprised 100 patients who have at least two risk factors previously established for this study.Results: ample predominance of women (61.0 %), the risk factors of higher incidence were hypertension 67 %, and sedentary lifestyle 65 %, followed by obesity 48 %, diabetes mellitus 40 % along with smoking habit 32 %, obese with increased diameters of waist circumference 48 %, and dyslipidemia 49 %, those with high glycemic values in fasting 50 % of the sample. It was considered that 63 % of the patients studied suffer from metabolic syndrome.Conclusions: a high number of white-skin women, the predominant risk factors were hypertension followed by sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes mellitus and smoking habit. Approximately half of the sample was obese with increased diameters of the waist circumference, a large part suffered from dyslipidemia and half of them showed high fasting blood glucose levels. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was detected.IIntroducción: aterosclerosis, enfermedad de los vasos sanguíneos, principal causa de enfermedad cardiovascular vinculada al envejecimiento, con factores de riesgo modificables que se incrementan cuando esta existe.Objetivo: evaluar marcadores aterogénicos y síndrome metabólico en adultos mayores, con riesgo cardiovascular residentes en zonas urbanas de la provincia Pinar del Río.Métodos: estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, servicio de Laboratorio Clínico Hospital General Docente “Abel Santamaría Cuadrado” Pinar del Río, pacientes de 60 años y más de zonas urbanas, durante período 2013 - 2014. Universo de 588 pacientes. Muestra de 100 pacientes que posean mínimo de dos factores de riesgo establecidos con anterioridad para este estudio.Resultados: amplio predominio de las mujeres (61 %). Factores de riesgo de mayor incidencia hipertensión arterial 67 %, y sedentarismo 65 %, seguidos por obesidad 48 %, diabetes mellitus 40 % y hábito de fumar 32 %, obesos con diámetros aumentados de la circunferencia de la cintura 48 %, presentaban dislipidemia 49 % y tenían elevados valores de glucemia en ayunas el 50 % de la muestra. Se consideró que 63 % de los pacientes estudiados presentaron síndrome metabólico.Conclusiones: elevado número de mujeres de piel blanca, con factor de riesgo predominante de hipertensión arterial seguido por sedentarismo, obesidad, diabetes mellitus y hábito de fumar. Alrededor de la mitad de la muestra fueron obesos con diámetros aumentados de la circunferencia de la cintura, gran parte presentaban dislipidemia y la mitad altos valores de glucemia en ayunas. Se detecta prevalencia de síndrome metabólico

Las relaciones entre hermanos en la legislación de alcance territorial de la Castilla bajomedieval: de la protección al conflicto

Studies on the family in medieval Castile have not paid enough attention to relationships between family members. On the few occasions they have done so, the analysis has tended to focus on a vertical approach; consequently, little effort has been made to comprehend the ties between brothers and sisters in the Castilian Middle Ages. This paper aims to provide a closer look at this topic by means of an examination of Castilian royal legislation, trying to define the social content of brotherhood, as well as to reveal those fraternal liaisons concerning protection or conflict found in normative texts.Los estudios sobre la familia medieval en Castilla no han prestado especial atención a las relaciones intrafamiliares. Y cuando lo han hecho ha sido para analizarlas desde una perspectiva vertical, sin detenerse demasiado en comprender las que unieron a los hermanos y hermanas del medievo castellano. En este trabajo se propone una primera aproximación al tema analizando la legislación real castellana, tratando de delimitar el contenido social otorgado a la hermandad, así como las situaciones de protección o conflicto entre hermanos que se recogen en los textos normativos

Prospective individual patient data meta-analysis of two randomized trials on convalescent plasma for COVID-19 outpatients

Data on convalescent plasma (CP) treatment in COVID-19 outpatients are scarce. We aimed to assess whether CP administered during the first week of symptoms reduced the disease progression or risk of hospitalization of outpatients. Two multicenter, double-blind randomized trials (NCT04621123, NCT04589949) were merged with data pooling starting when = 50 years and symptomatic for <= 7days were included. The intervention consisted of 200-300mL of CP with a predefined minimum level of antibodies. Primary endpoints were a 5-point disease severity scale and a composite of hospitalization or death by 28 days. Amongst the 797 patients included, 390 received CP and 392 placebo; they had a median age of 58 years, 1 comorbidity, 5 days symptoms and 93% had negative IgG antibody-test. Seventy-four patients were hospitalized, 6 required mechanical ventilation and 3 died. The odds ratio (OR) of CP for improved disease severity scale was 0.936 (credible interval (CI) 0.667-1.311); OR for hospitalization or death was 0.919 (CI 0.592-1.416). CP effect on hospital admission or death was largest in patients with <= 5 days of symptoms (OR 0.658, 95%CI 0.394-1.085). CP did not decrease the time to full symptom resolution

Las Repercusiones de la Revolución Francesa en el Virreinato de Nueva España

Tesi de Llicenciatura per a la obtenció del Grau d'Història. Departament d'Antropologia Cultural i Història d'Amèrica i Àfrica Universitat de Barcelona. Director: Miquel Izard.198