Aporte de hojarasca en la estación de monitoreo de biodiversidad, Centro de Investigaciones Amazónicas Macagual.

Se estimó la producción de hojarasca total, en la estación de monitoreo de biodiversidad del Centro de Investigaciones Amazónicas Macagual (CIAM), la cual abarca diferentes tipos de cobertura. Se utilizaron 20 trampas de 1m2 para colectar el material caído, se cuantificó mensualmente entre abril y septiembre de 2008. La hojarasca se llevó al laboratorio del herbario HUAZ, se separó en hojas, ramas, flores y material no identificado, se pesó en fresco y seco. Se tomaron además datos climáticos como precipitación, temperatura y humedad relativa. La producción de hojarasca fue de 4.8 Mg/ha/año; representadas en hojas 70%, ramas 13.5%, flores 0.27% y material no determinado 16.25%. Las hojas se determinaron hasta el nivel de familia, género y morfoespecies para las no determinadas. No se encontró una diferencia significativa en la producción de hojarasca en las diferentes coberturas durante el periodo de estudio. A las 6 especies con mayor aporte de hojarasca se le analizaron los macronutrientes como N, P, K y C

Development of caecaloids to study host-pathogen interactions: new insights into immunoregulatory functions of Trichuris muris extracellular vesicles in the caecum.

The caecum, an intestinal appendage in the junction of the small and large intestines, displays a unique epithelium that serves as an exclusive niche for a range of pathogens including whipworms (Trichuris spp.). While protocols to grow organoids from small intestine (enteroids) and colon (colonoids) exist, the conditions to culture organoids from the caecum have yet to be described. Here, we report methods to grow, differentiate and characterise mouse adult stem cell-derived caecal organoids, termed caecaloids. We compare the cellular composition of caecaloids with that of enteroids, identifying differences in intestinal epithelial cell populations that mimic those found in the caecum and small intestine. The remarkable similarity in the intestinal epithelial cell composition and spatial conformation of caecaloids and their tissue of origin enables their use as an in vitro model to study host interactions with important caecal pathogens. Thus, exploiting this system, we investigated the responses of caecal intestinal epithelial cells to extracellular vesicles secreted/excreted by the intracellular helminth Trichuris muris. Our findings reveal novel immunoregulatory effects of whipworm extracellular vesicles on the caecal epithelium, including the downregulation of responses to nucleic acid recognition and type-I interferon signalling

Equine poisoning by coffee husk (Coffea arabica L.)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Brazil, coffee (<it>Coffea arabica</it>) husks are reused in several ways due to their abundance, including as stall bedding. However, field veterinarians have reported that horses become intoxicated after ingesting the coffee husks that are used as bedding. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether coffee husk consumption causes intoxication in horses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six horses fed coast cross hay <it>ad libitum </it>were given access to coffee husks and excitability, restlessness, involuntary muscle tremors, chewing movements and constant tremors of the lips and tongue, excessive sweating and increased respiration and heart rates were the most evident clinical signs. Caffeine levels were measured in the plasma and urine of these horses on two occasions: immediately before the coffee husks were made available to the animals (T0) and at the time of the clinical presentation of intoxication, 56 h after the animals started to consume the husks (T56). The concentrations of caffeine in the plasma (p < 0.001) and urine (p < 0.001) of these animals were significantly greater at T56 than at T0.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It was concluded that consumption of coffee husks was toxic to horses due to the high levels of caffeine present in their composition. Therefore, coffee husks pose a risk when used as bedding or as feed for horses.</p

Thermoelectric properties of topological chains coupled to a quantum dot

Topological one-dimensional superconductors can sustain zero energy modes protected by diferent kinds of symmetries in their extremities. Observing these excitations in the form of Majorana fermions is one of the most intensive quests in condensed matter physics. We are interested in another class of one-dimensional topological systems in this work, namely topological insulators. Which present symmetry-protected end modes with robust properties and do not require the low temperatures necessary for topological superconductivity. We consider a device in the form of a single electron transistor coupled to the simplest kind of topological insulators, namely chains of atoms with hybridized sp orbitals. We study the thermoelectric properties of the device in the trivial, non-trivial topological phases and at the quantum topological transition of the chains. We show that the device’s electrical conductance and the Wiedemann–Franz ratio at the topological transition have universal values at very low temperatures. The conductance and thermopower of the device with diatomic sp-chains, at their topological transition, give direct evidence of fractional charges in the system. The former has an anomalous low-temperature behavior, attaining a universal value that is a consequence of the double degeneracy of the system due to the presence of zero energy modes. On the other hand, the system can be tuned to exhibit high values of the thermoelectric fgure of merit and the power factor at high temperatures.Campus San Juan de Luriganch

Schistosoma mansoni Stomatin Like Protein-2 Is Located in the Tegument and Induces Partial Protection against Challenge Infection

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease causing serious chronic morbidity in tropical countries. Together with the publication of the transcriptome database, a series of new vaccine candidates were proposed based on their functional classification. However, the prediction of vaccine candidates from sequence information or even by proteomics or microarrays data is somewhat speculative and there remains the considerable task of functional analysis of each new gene/protein. In this study, we present the characterization of one of these molecules, a stomatin like protein 2 (SmStoLP-2). Sequence analysis predicts signals that could contribute to protein membrane association and mitochondrial targeting, which was confirmed by differential extractions of schistosome tegument membranes and mitochondria. Additionally, confocal microscope analysis showed SmStoLP-2 present in the tegument of 7-day-old schistosomula and adult worms. Studies in patients living in endemic areas for schistosomiasis revealed high levels of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgA anti-SmStoLP-2 antibodies in individuals resistant to reinfection. Recombinant SmStoLP-2 protein, when used as vaccine, induced significant levels of protection in mice. This reduction in worm burden was associated with a typical Th1-type immune response. These results indicate that SmStoLP-2 could be useful in association with other antigens for the composition of a vaccine against schistosomiasis

C7a, a Biphosphinic Cyclopalladated Compound, Efficiently Controls the Development of a Patient-Derived Xenograft Model of Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a highly aggressive disease that occurs in individuals infected with the human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Patients with aggressive ATLL have a poor prognosis because the leukemic cells are resistant to conventional chemotherapy. We have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a biphosphinic cyclopalladated complex {Pd2 [S(−)C2, N-dmpa]2 (μ-dppe)Cl2}, termed C7a, in a patient-derived xenograft model of ATLL, and investigated the mechanism of C7a action in HTLV-1-positive and negative transformed T cell lines in vitro. In vivo survival studies in immunocompromised mice inoculated with human RV-ATL cells and intraperitoneally treated with C7a led to significantly increased survival of the treated mice. We investigated the mechanism of C7a activity in vitro and found that it induced mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, caspase activation, nuclear condensation and DNA degradation. These results suggest that C7a triggers apoptotic cell death in both HTLV-1 infected and uninfected human transformed T-cell lines. Significantly, C7a was not cytotoxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and HTLV-1-infected individuals. C7a inhibited more than 60% of the ex vivo spontaneous proliferation of PBMC from HTLV-1-infected individuals. These results support a potential therapeutic role for C7a in both ATLL and HTLV-1-negative T-cell lymphomas

Relatório de condições sistemáticas de pacientes adultos. : Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de Antioquia, 2011

Introduction: The goal of this research project was to determine the prevalence and concordance of reports of a group of systemic conditions by means of Dental/Medical Records (mrs) and telephonic surveys (TS) in patients consulting at two adults’ clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Antioquia. Methods: Cross-sectional study (n = 104). We evaluated clinical records and registered the 10 most frequent systemic diseases according to the epidemiological data in Medellin (Colombia). We used TS to corroborate previous information on the mrs. We measured the prevalence of the diseases and determined a concordance level between the results of mr and ts through a kappa index with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI); according to different variables. Results: The most prevalent systemic disease was ocular disease (58% ts and 30% mr, statistically significant p &lt; 0.001) and the less prevalent one was hyperthyroidism (3% mr and 5% ts, no statistically significant). Kappa analyses showed the weakest concordance in the case of hyperthyroidism (0.22; 95%CI -0.38-0.82) and in case of ocular disease (0.37; 95%ci 0.20- 0.72). Variability in the prevalence and kappa indexes was observed related to gender, type of clinic and age interval. Conclusions: Variations in the reported prevalence between the mr and ts were found. This situation may be explained as originating in difficulties completing medical antecedents, which cause an underreporting in the MR.Introducción: el objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la prevalencia y la concordancia en el reporte de condiciones sistémicas entre la historia clínica odontológica (hc) y la entrevista telefónica (et), en los pacientes que asisten a dos clínicas del adulto de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Antioquia. Métodos: estudio transversal (n = 104). Se evaluaron las hc y se registraron las diez condiciones sistémicas más frecuentes según registros epidemiológicos de Medellín. Se realizó et para verificar información de las hc. Se calcularon prevalencias y el nivel de concordancia entre resultados de la hc y la et mediante el índice kappa y su intervalo de confianza al 95% (ic95%), según variables. Resultados: la condición sistémica más prevalente fue la enfermedad ocular (58% según et y 30% según hc y diferencias significativas p &lt; 0,001), y la menos prevalente fue el hipertiroidismo (3% según hc y 5% según et, sin diferencias significativas). El análisis kappa mostró que las concordancias más débiles se presentaron para el hipertiroidismo (0,22; ic95%-0,38-0,82) y la enfermedad ocular (0,37; ic95% 0,20-0,72). Se evidenciaron variaciones en los índices de concordancia de acuerdo con sexo, clínica y edad. Conclusiones: existen variaciones en las prevalencias reportadas por hc y por et debidas a dificultades a la hora de diligenciar los antecedentes médicos personales, que produjeron un subregistro en la hc. &nbsp;Introdução: o objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar a prevalência e a concordância no relatório de condições sistêmicas entre o prontuário médico odontológico e a entrevista telefônica (et) nos pacientes que vão a duas clínicas do adulto da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de Antioquia. Métodos: estudo transversal (n = 104). Avaliaram-se os prontuários e se registraram as dez condições sistêmicas mais frequentes segundo registros epidemiológicos de Medellín. Realizou-se et para verificar informação dos prontuários. Calcularam-se prevalências e o nível de concordância entre resultados do prontuário e da et mediante o índice kappa e seu intervalo de confiança a 95% (ic95%), segundo variáveis. Resultados: a condição sistêmica mais prevalente foi a doença ocular (58% segundo et e 30% segundo prontuários e diferenças significativas p &lt; 0,001), e a menos prevalente foi o hipertireoidismo (3% segundo prontuários e 5% segundo et, sem diferenças significativas). A análise kappa mostrou que as concordâncias mais fracas se apresentaram para o hipertireoidismo (0,22; ic95%-0,38-0,82) e a doença ocular (0,37; ic95%0,20-0,72). Evidenciaram- se variações nos índices de concordância de acordo com sexo, clínica e idade. Conclusões: existem variações nas prevalências relatadas pelo prontuário e pela et devidas a dificuldades na hora de diligenciar os antecedentes médicos pessoais, que produziram um sub-registro no prontuário

Health-related quality of life and functionality in primary caregiver of surviving pediatric COVID-19

ObjectivesTo prospectively assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), global functionality, and disability in primary caregivers of surviving children and adolescents after COVID-19.MethodsA longitudinal observational study was carried out on primary caregivers of surviving pediatric post-COVID-19 patients (n = 51) and subjects without COVID-19 (n = 60). EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and 12-question WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) were answered for both groups. The univariate regression analysis was carried out using SPSS (v 20) and significance was established at 5%.ResultsThe median duration between COVID-19 diagnosis in children and adolescents and longitudinal follow-up visits was 4.4 months (0.8–10.7). The median age of children and adolescents caregivers with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 was similar to primary caregivers of subjects without laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 [43.2 (31.6–60.9) vs. 41.5 (21.6–54.8) years, p = 0.08], as well as similar female sex (p = 1.00), level of schooling (p = 0.11), social assistance program (p = 0.28), family income/month U$ (p = 0.25) and the number of household’s members in the residence (p = 0.68). The frequency of slight to extreme problems (level ≥ 2) of the pain/discomfort domain according to EQ-5D-5L score was significantly higher in the former group [74% vs. 52.5%, p = 0.03, OR = 2.57 (1.14–5.96)]. The frequency of disability according to WHODAS 2.0 total score was similar to those without disability and unknown (p = 0.79); however, with a very high disability in both groups (72.5% and 78.3%). Further analysis of primary caregivers of children and adolescents with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) [n = 12/51 (23%)] compared to those without PCC [n = 39/51(77%)] revealed no differences between demographic data, EQ-5D-5L and WHODAS 2.0 scores in both groups (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionWe longitudinally demonstrated that pain/discomfort were predominantly reported in approximately 75% of primary caregiver of COVID-19 patients, with high disability in approximately three-quarters of both caregiver groups. These data emphasized the prospective and systematic caregiver burden evaluation relevance of pediatric COVID-19

Genetic diagnosis of congenital hypopituitarism by a target gene panel: novel pathogenic variants in GLI2, OTX2 and GHRHR

Aim: Congenital hypopituitarism has an incidence of 1:3500–10,000 births and is defined by the impaired production of pituitary hormones. Early diagnosis has an impact on management and genetic counselling. The clinical and genetic heterogeneity of hypopituitarism poses difficulties to select the order of genes to analyse. The objective of our study is to screen hypopituitarism genes (candidate and previously related genes) simultaneously using a target gene panel in patients with congenital hypopituitarism. Methods: Screening of 117 subjects with congenital hypopituitarism for pathogenic variants in 26 genes associated with congenital hypopituitarism by massively parallel sequencing using a customized target gene panel. Results: We found three novel pathogenic variants in OTX2 c.295C>T:p.Gln99*, GLI2 c.1681G>T:p.Glu561* and GHRHR c.820_821insC:p.Asp274Alafs*113, and the previously reported variants in GHRHR c.57+1G>A and PROP1 [c.301_302delAG];[c.109+1G>A]. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a custom-designed panel is an efficient method to screen simultaneously variants of biological and clinical relevance for congenital GH deficiency. A genetic diagnosis was possible in 5 out of 117 (4%) patients of our cohort. We identified three novel pathogenic variants in GHRHR, OTX2 and GLI2 expanding the spectrum of variants associated with congenital hypopituitarism