Inverse association between diabetes and altitude: a cross-sectional study in the adult population of the United States.

ObjectiveTo determine whether geographical elevation is inversely associated with diabetes, while adjusting for multiple risk factors.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis of publicly available online data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2009. Final dataset included 285,196 US adult subjects. Odds ratios were obtained from multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis.ResultsAmong US adults (≥20 years old), the odds ratio for diabetes was 1.00 between 0 and 499 m of altitude (reference), 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.01) between 500 and 1,499 m, and 0.88 (0.81-0.96) between 1,500 and 3,500 m, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption, self-reported physical activity, current smoking status, level of education, income, health status, employment status, and county-level information on migration rate, urbanization, and latitude. The inverse association between altitude and diabetes in the US was found among men [0.84 (0.76-0.94)], but not women [1.09 (0.97-1.22)].ConclusionsAmong US adults, living at high altitude (1,500-3,500 m) is associated with lower odds of having diabetes than living between 0 and 499 m, while adjusting for multiple risk factors. Our findings suggest that geographical elevation may be an important factor linked to diabetes

A journey from molecule to physiology and in silico tools for drug discovery targeting the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel

The heat and capsaicin receptor TRPV1 channel is widely expressed in nerve terminals of dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and trigeminal ganglia innervating the body and face, respectively, as well as in other tissues and organs including central nervous system. The TRPV1 channel is a versatile receptor that detects harmful heat, pain, and various internal and external ligands. Hence, it operates as a polymodal sensory channel. Many pathological conditions including neuroinflammation, cancer, psychiatric disorders, and pathological pain, are linked to the abnormal functioning of the TRPV1 in peripheral tissues. Intense biomedical research is underway to discover compounds that can modulate the channel and provide pain relief. The molecular mechanisms underlying temperature sensing remain largely unknown, although they are closely linked to pain transduction. Prolonged exposure to capsaicin generates analgesia, hence numerous capsaicin analogs have been developed to discover efficient analgesics for pain relief. The emergence of in silico tools offered significant techniques for molecular modeling and machine learning algorithms to indentify druggable sites in the channel and for repositioning of current drugs aimed at TRPV1. Here we recapitulate the physiological and pathophysiological functions of the TRPV1 channel, including structural models obtained through cryo-EM, pharmacological compounds tested on TRPV1, and the in silico tools for drug discovery and repositioning

Experimental Assessment of a Forward-Collision Warning System Fusing Deep Learning and Decentralized Radio Sensing

This paper presents the idea of an automatic forward-collision warning system based on a decentralized radio sensing (RS) approach. In this framework, a vehicle in receiving mode employs a continuous waveform (CW) transmitted by a second vehicle as a probe signal to detect oncoming vehicles and warn the driver of a potential forward collision. Such a CW can easily be incorporated as a pilot signal within the data frame of current multicarrier vehicular communication systems. Detection of oncoming vehicles is performed by a deep learning (DL) module that analyzes the features of the Doppler signature imprinted on the CW probe signal by a rapidly approaching vehicle. This decentralized CW RS approach was assessed experimentally using data collected by a series of field trials conducted in a two-lanes high-speed highway. Detection performance was evaluated for two different DL models: a long short-term memory network and a convolutional neural network. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of the envisioned forward-collision warning system based on the fusion of DL and decentralized CW RS

Genetic potential of S1 lines derived from native maize populations of Tamaulipas, Mexico

This study is designed to evaluate and select the best S1 maize top cross lines to continue their process of inbreeding. Nineteen top crosses samples were examined from three contrasting environments (two places from Tamaulipas and one place from the Central High Valleys of Mexico) during 2008. These S1 lines were derived from native populations of four ecological zones of Tamaulipas; one tester from the High Valleys was used. Some top crosses had high yield as well as favorable agronomic traits, though these varied between environments. Some had better performance in Northern Tamaulipas, mainly the tropical groups 1 and 2 that are from hot and dry climates. In the High Valleys these groups had lower yields compared with the top crosses groups 3 and 4. Group 1, the top cross of I-C3001-2915-2 with high yield in the Central and Northern Tamaulipas environments (2.4 and 5.8 t ha-1, respectively) was outstanding. In the High Valleys, the top crosses from group 3 (from the Tamaulipas Huasteca, a hot, and humid climate zone) had yields of 7.4 to 8.5 t ha-1 and from group 4, the top cross of IV-C4031-2939-5(C) yielded 8.8 t ha-1. The S1 lines being evaluated show potential for those top crosses with better grain yield and earliness, indicating good combining ability. It has been suggested that the S1 lines are better to continue the inbreeding process, planning test crosses and field assessments in the environments where they had better performance

Phylogenomic classification and the evolution of Clonal complex 5 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Western Hemisphere

Clonal complex 5 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CC5-MRSA) includes multiple prevalent clones that cause hospital-associated infections in the Western Hemisphere. Here, we present a phylogenomic study of these MRSA to reveal their phylogeny, spatial and temporal population structure, and the evolution of selected traits. We studied 598 genome sequences, including 409 newly generated sequences, from 11 countries in Central, North, and South America, and references from Asia and Europe. An early-branching CC5-Basal clade is well-dispersed geographically, is methicillin-susceptible and MRSA predominantly of ST5-IV such as the USA800 clone, and includes separate subclades for avian and porcine strains. In the early 1970s and early 1960s, respectively, two clades appeared that subsequently underwent major expansions in the Western Hemisphere: a CC5-I clade in South America and a CC5-II clade largely in Central and North America. The CC5-I clade includes the ST5-I Chilean/Cordobes clone, and the ST228-I South German clone as an early offshoot, but is distinct from other ST5-I clones from Europe that nest within CC5-Basal. The CC5-II clade includes divergent strains of the ST5-II USA100 clone, various other clones, and most known vancomycin-resistant strains of S. aureus, but is distinct from ST5-II strain N315 from Japan that nests within CC5-Basal. The recombination rate of CC5 was much lower than has been reported for other S. aureus genetic backgrounds, which indicates that recurrence of vancomycin resistance in CC5 is not likely due to an enhanced promiscuity. An increased number of antibiotic resistances and decreased number of toxins with distance from the CC5 tree root were observed. Of note, the expansions of the CC5-I and CC5-II clades in the Western Hemisphere were preceded by convergent gains of resistance to fluoroquinolone, macrolide, and lincosamide antibiotics, and convergent losses of the staphylococcal enterotoxin p (sep) gene from the immune evasion gene cluster of phage ΦSa3. Unique losses of surface proteins were also noted for these two clades. In summary, our study has determined the relationships of different clades and clones of CC5 and has revealed genomic changes for increased antibiotic resistance and decreased virulence associated with the expansions of these MRSA in the Western Hemisphere.Fil: Challagundla, Lavanya. University of Mississippi; Estados UnidosFil: Reyes, Jinnethe. Universidad El Bosque; ColombiaFil: Rafiqullah, Iftekhar. University of Mississippi; Estados UnidosFil: Sordelli, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Echaniz-Aviles, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pùblica; MéxicoFil: Velazquez-Meza, Maria E.. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública; MéxicoFil: Castillo-Ramírez, Santiago. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Fittipaldi, Nahuel. University of Toronto; Canadá. Public Health Ontario Laboratory; CanadáFil: Feldgarden, Michael. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Chapman, Sinéad B.. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Estados UnidosFil: Calderwood, Michael S.. Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Carvajal, Lina P.. Universidad El Bosque; ColombiaFil: Rincon, Sandra. Universidad El Bosque; ColombiaFil: Blake, Hanson. University of Texas; Estados UnidosFil: Planet, Paul J.. University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Arias, Cesar A.. Universidad El Bosque; Colombia. University of Texas; Estados UnidosFil: Diaz, Lorena. Universidad El Bosque; ColombiaFil: Robinson, D. Ashley. University of Mississippi; Estados Unido

SISTEMA DE TELEASISTENCIA MÉDICA TIPO SCADA PARA EL MONITOREO DE PACIENTES UTILIZANDO TECNOLOGÍA GSM

ResumenSe presenta un sistema de teleasistencia médica tipo SCADA (Supervisión, Control y Adquisición de Datos) inalámbrico que permite el monitoreo de signos vitales del paciente utilizando tecnología de bajo costo, siendo un sistema flexible para que pueda ser adquirido. El sistema se encarga de supervisar al paciente mediante el monitoreo de los signos vitales y tomar acciones para generar un control de proceso que se encuentra a cierta distancia, esto es enviando una alarma cuando el paciente se encuentra fuera de los rangos. Se desarrolló un dispositivo versátil que puede funcionar con diferentes sensores de forma remota entregando una señal para procesamientos posteriores, donde se almacena el historial de las mediciones, permitiendo realizar y presentar una gráfica para la visualización del usuario. Los signos vitales del paciente son adquiridos y enviados vía remota, utilizando el protocolo de comunicación GSM (Sistema Global para las comunicaciones Móviles).Palabra(s) Clave: Comunicación GSM, SCADA, Signos vitales, Telemonitoreo. SCADA MEDICAL TELECARE SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PATIENTS USING GSM TECHNOLOGYAbstractA wireless SCADA medical teleassistance system is available that allows the monitoring of vital patient signs using low cost technology. The system is responsible for monitoring the patient by monitoring vital signs and taking actions to generate a process control that is at a distance, this is sending an alarm when the patient is out of range. A versatile device was developed that can work with different sensors remotely delivering a signal for later processing, where the history of the measurements is stored, allowing to make and present a graph for the visualization of the user. The patient’s vital signs are acquired and sent via remote, using the GSM communication protocol.Keywords: GSM communications, SCADA, Telemonitoring, Vital signs

Clima organizacional en el Hospital Nacional Polic?a Nacional del Per? Luis Nicasio S?enz

El estudio tuvo por finalidad desarrollar una propuesta de mejora del clima organizacional en el Hospital PNP Luis N. S?enz. La metodolog?a empleada fue cuantitativa, de dise?o no experimental, transversal, descriptivo y propositivo. El instrumento de investigaci?n empleado fue el cuestionario de Clima Organizacional Validation the organizational climate measure Malcom G. Patterson, et. All. (2005) adaptado por Pd D. Kety J?uregui, mide la variable Clima organizacional. La recolecci?n de datos se realiz? a trav?s de la Web, luego se realiz? el procesamiento de datos con los programas de Excel y SPSS version24. Los resultados evidenciaron un clima organizacional bueno en 80% y muy bueno 20%; considerando la calificaci?n muy buena como meta en las dimensiones estudiadas, se obtuvo 32% en procesos internos, 20% en relaciones humanas, 18% en metas relacionales y 9.3% en sistemas abierto; identificando debilidades en las subdimensiones en las que obtuvieron calificaci?n de regular, apoyo de supervisi?n 24%, innovaci?n 27% y claridad 12.7%. Por lo tanto, la propuesta de mejora se plantea sobre las subdimensiones de apoyo de supervisi?n, innovaci?n, claridad en las metas; consisten en actividades conjuntas basadas en el an?lisis cualitativo de entrevistas realizadas al grupo poblacional donde se encontr? las debilidades en clima organizacional

Improved Alere Determine Lipoarabinomannan Antigen Detection Test for the Diagnosis of Human and Bovine Tuberculosis by Manipulating Urine and Milk

Tuberculosis (TB) disease still kills 1-person every 21-seconds. Few TB diagnostic tests are considered truly appropriate for point of care settings. The WHO-endorsed immunodiagnostic Alere Determine Lipoarabinomannan Ag-test (LAM-test) detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex LAM in urine, and its use is recommended for TB diagnosis among HIV co-infected individuals with low CD4 T-cell counts. Here we found that a simple 15-minute enzymatic treatment at room temperature of LAM-spiked urine with \xCE\xB1-mannosidase (for human TB), and LAM-spiked milk with combined lactase and caseinase (for bovine TB), enhanced 10-fold the detection levels of the LAM-test and thus, improved the detection of LAM by the LAM-test in urine and milk that otherwise could be missed in the field. Future separate clinical research studies specifically designed to address the potential of these findings are required

Composite Adenocarcinoma and Carcinoid Gastric Tumor in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis and Pernicious Anemia

A 42-year-old Hispanic female was referred for investigation of unexplained weight loss. Initial upper endoscopy showed atrophic gastritis. Repeat endoscopy one year later revealed the presence of mixed composite tumor consisting of gastric adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumors. Treatment was accomplished by surgical excision. Such cases are extremely rare and few such reports are available in the literature. We discuss the pathologies and means by which these tumors are classified and treated