Origin and Control Strategies of Biofilms in the Cultural Heritage

Biodeterioration is defined as the undesirable change in the properties of materials caused by the activity of biological agents. This process is complex and involves alterations in the physicochemical and mechanical properties by the action of organisms and depends on the microorganisms involved, type of substrate, and environmental conditions. The biodeterioration of cultural heritage is the physical or chemical damage caused by microorganisms on objects, monuments, or buildings that belong to the cultural heritage. Among the main materials that can be affected are: stone, metal, ceramic, polymers, and other materials. Among the main undesirable effects to these materials are: discoloration, dissolution, rupture, and efflorescence among others. Biofilms represent the usual form of growth of bacteria and consist of communities of microorganisms that grow attached to an inert surface or a living tissue, surrounded by an extracellular matrix that they themselves synthesize. The importance of biodeterioration by biofilms is mainly related to changes in pH values, ionic concentrations, oxide-reduction reactions in the biofilm thickness, and in the interface with the substrate and enzymatic degradation. This chapter presents evidence of the participation of biofilms and associated mechanisms in biodeterioration as well as the main prevention and control strategies

La renovación de la palabra en el bicentenario de la Argentina : los colores de la mirada lingüística

El libro reúne trabajos en los que se exponen resultados de investigaciones presentadas por investigadores de Argentina, Chile, Brasil, España, Italia y Alemania en el XII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Lingüística (SAL), Bicentenario: la renovación de la palabra, realizado en Mendoza, Argentina, entre el 6 y el 9 de abril de 2010. Las temáticas abordadas en los 167 capítulos muestran las grandes líneas de investigación que se desarrollan fundamentalmente en nuestro país, pero también en los otros países mencionados arriba, y señalan además las áreas que recién se inician, con poca tradición en nuestro país y que deberían fomentarse. Los trabajos aquí publicados se enmarcan dentro de las siguientes disciplinas y/o campos de investigación: Fonología, Sintaxis, Semántica y Pragmática, Lingüística Cognitiva, Análisis del Discurso, Psicolingüística, Adquisición de la Lengua, Sociolingüística y Dialectología, Didáctica de la lengua, Lingüística Aplicada, Lingüística Computacional, Historia de la Lengua y la Lingüística, Lenguas Aborígenes, Filosofía del Lenguaje, Lexicología y Terminología

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Peptidic sequence “HSEAETGPP” is recognized by the sera of pars planitis patients

Purpose: HLA class II, p-36 protein, heat shock protein and retinal antigens have been associated with pars planitis (PP), but their participation in the development of the disease are unknown. A search for new molecules related to PP is necessary. This work focused on the identification of peptides recognized by PP patient sera using the phage display method. Methods: Sera of PP patients were used to isolate peptides fused to M13-phage pIII protein. The response of PP and healthy sera to peptides was determined by ELISA. PCR amplification and sequencing of peptide-encoding fragments from clones with high recognition by PP sera were used to characterize displayed peptides. Results: One hundred clones were randomly selected from a phage display library after three panning rounds using serum proteins from a PP patient. The immunologic response level of 100 clones selected were determined with a major number of patients, it was found that one clone was recognized stronger in PP patients sera than in healthy sera (PP vs. healthy; P < 0.05). The peptide-encoding region of this clone was sequenced and translated. The peptide sequence corresponded to HSEAETGPP. An identical amino acid sequence to HSEAETGPP is found in the human proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 which has not been related with eye diseases. Conclusion: These results suggest that the peptide HSEAETGPP is associated with PP

Alteraciones en el tracto urinario durante la infección con Proteus mirabilis que expresa la toxina codificada en plásmido (Pet)

The plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet) is one of the most studied Enterobacteriaceae autotransporters produced by the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC). It is responsible of morphological changes in enterocytes during EAEC infection. Recently, Pet was found in the genome of the Proteus mirabilis RTX339 strain [P. mirabilis (Pet+)]. P. mirabilis causes complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients having urinary catheters and structural or functional abnormalities. In this study, an UTI was induced in BALB/c female mice with the P. mirabilis (Pet+) strain. Mice infected by P. mirabilis (Pet+) showed bacterial colonization in bladder and kidney, from the second up to the tenth day post-infection. Morphological changes were evidenced by histology. Multiple exfoliated rounded cells were observed in the bladder transitional epithelium, as well as, structural cell alterations in the kidney cortex. The presence of Pet into exfoliated and parenchymal cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Cytoskeleton alterations were observed in those sites where Pet was detected. Pet expressed by P. mirabilis (Pet+) strain, contributes to its pathogenicity, affecting urinary tissues during the course of the infection. La toxina Pet (plasmid-encoded toxin) producida por Escherichia coli (EAEC) es uno de los autotransportadores más estudiados en la familia Enterobacteriaceae.Es responsable de cambios morfológicos enenterocitos durante la infección por EAEC. Recientemente, Pet fue encontrada en el genoma de una cepa de Proteus mirabilis RTX339 [P. mirabilis (Pet+)]. P. mirabilis causa infección en el tracto urinario (ITU) en pacientes que usan catéteres o que presentan anomalías estructurales o funcionales. En este estudio una ITU con P. mirabilis (Pet+) fue inducida en ratones hembras BALB/c. Los ratones infectados con P. mirabilis (Pet+) muestran una colonización bacteriana en vejiga y riñón desde el segundo hasta el día decimo de la infección. Los cambios morfológicos fueron evidenciados por histología. Se observaron múltiples células exfoliadas del epitelio de transición de la vejiga, así como alteraciones morfológicas en la corteza renal. Se confirmó la presencia de Pet en las células exfoliadas y en las del parénquima por microscopíaconfocal. Las alteraciones del citoesqueleto fueron observadas en los sitios donde se detectó Pet. La toxina Pet expresada por la cepa de P. mirabilis (Pet+) contribuye a la patogenicidad y afecta tejidos urinarios durante el curso de la infección

América Latina : sociedad, política y salud en tiempos de pandemia

Actualmente es indiscutible que la pandemia de COVID-19 es el acontecimiento contemporáneo de salud más importante. Ha irrumpido con fuerza en la cotidianidad de los países, ciudades, comunidades y familias. Sin embargo, parece necesario tener presente que es un advenimiento en progreso y no tenemos certeza sobre el curso que tomará y cuales serán sus ulteriores efectos. Esto significa que cualquier reflexión sobre COVID-19 es preliminar. Con el transcurrir de los últimos seis meses la pandemia se ha convertido en tema obligado en las primeras planas de los periódicos. Ha desatado un debate en el cual muchos se sienten con la competencia para opinar, apoyar o rechazar la actuación de los gobiernos. Ante los cuestionamientos los gobiernos han creado su propia narrativa sobre lo que están haciendo. La pandemia es en este sentido un tema altamente politizada. La epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 confluye con otro proceso de largo alcance que es la transformación de inspiración neoliberal de los sistemas de salud desde por lo menos tres o cuatro décadas. Otro proceso en los orígenes de la epidemia es el acelerado deterioro del medio ambiente y el calentamiento global que está trastocando los ecosistemas en todo el planeta. En su determinación está entonces la confluencia de tres grandes procesos que caracterizan a la globalización. Éstos a su vez se irradian en toda la sociedad y tienen efectos sobre otros procesos. Del prólogo de Asa Cristina Laurel

ESICM LIVES 2016: part two : Milan, Italy. 1-5 October 2016.

Meeting abstrac

Notes for genera – Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10--15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of `Ainsworth Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi' in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the ``Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi'' published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. De Not. (Art. 59)