Use of microsatellites in Rhodnius ecuadoriensis to determine population structure and migration patterns in Ecuador.

El entender el comportamiento migratorio de triatominos entre los ambientes silvestres hacia zonas habitadas es crucial para la lucha contra la Enfermedad de Chagas. Los marcadores basados en ADN muestran ventaja para desarrollar dicho fenómeno específicamente la plasticidad en microsatélites, que en un principio fueron desarrollados para estudiar a Rhodnius pallescens y que posteriormente mostraron ser efectivos en Rhodnius ecuadoriensis. En donde no solamente su análisis es congruente con el origen evolutivo de la clina pallescens-colombiensis-ecuadoriensis, sino que además permite observar patrones de migración en R. ecuadoriensis dentro de las provincias del Ecuador. La migración humana está relacionada directamente con la de los insectos, dicho movimiento se puede constatar en la homogeneidad que existe entre los triatominos encontrados en Loja con aquellos ubicados en Manabí.Understanding the migratory behavior of triatominae (insects) between wild environments towards inhabited áreas is crucial for avoiding the spread of Chagas disease. The DNA based markers show an advantage in developing this phenomenon, specifically microsatellite-based markers, which were initially developed to study Rhodnius pallescens and subsequently proved to be effective in Rhodnius ecuadoriensis. Its analysis is not only consistent with the evolutionary origin of the clina pallescens- colombiensis- ecuadoriensis, but it also allows observing patterns of migration in R. ecuadoriensis within the provinces of Ecuador. Human migration is directly related to that of the insects, this movement can be seen in the homogeneity that exists between the bugs found in Loja with those located in Manabí

Primeiro estudo de duas espécies de Aspergillus isolada de manguezais de Equador

Mangroves forests are located in tropical and subtropical regions, its adaptation and distribution in coastal regions is influenced by temperature, humidity, tidal and saline fluctuations. Therefore, there are exposed to multiple environmental fluctuations. Mangroves are inhabited by wildlife but also is supported by a diverse community of microorganisms, including fungi. Several fungi in mangroves have multiple ecological roles as saprotrophs or as an opportunistic pathogen, many of them are also used in the industry, as the genus Aspergillus, that are important in the biomedicine, industrial and environmental applications. In this study we isolated species of fungi from mangrove stems and propagules. They were identified by both morphological and by its molecular characteristics.  Here, we report the first isolated of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus aculeatus from mangrove in Ecuador. Research such as these highlights the importance to determine the role of fungi in mangrove ecosystem.Los bosques de manglar están distribuidos en las zonas costeras de las regiones tropicales y subtropicales de todo el mundo, siendo especies tolerantes a altas temperaturas, humedad, mareas y las fluctuaciones salinas. Por lo tanto, se ven expuestos a múltiples fluctuaciones y condiciones ambientales extremas. El ecosistema de manglar no solo es hábitat de vida silvestre, sino que también es colonizado por diversas comunidades de microorganismos, como los hongos. Varios de estos hongos tienen múltiples funciones ecológicas, ya sea saprófitos o patógenos oportunistas. Actualmente el interés de estudiar estos microorganismos radica en su potencial biotecnológico dada su capacidad para tolerar ambientes hostiles. Ejemplo de ello son algunas especies del género Aspergillus, las cuales son utilizadas en biomedicina, industrial y la bioremediación. En el presente estudio se aislaron e identificaron de acuerdo con sus características morfológicas y moleculares especies de hongos del género Aspergillus. En este estudio se reportan los primeros aislados de Aspergillus niger y Aspergillus aculeatus de manglares en Ecuador. Investigaciones como ésta resaltan la importancia de determinar el rol de los hongos en el ecosistema de manglar.As florestas de mangue estão distribuídas em áreas costeiras de regiões tropicais e subtropicais ao redor do mundo, sendo espécies tolerantes a altas temperaturas, umidade, marés e flutuações salinas. Portanto, eles estão expostos a múltiplas flutuações e condições ambientais extremas. O ecossistema de mangue não é apenas um habitat para a vida selvagem, mas também é colonizado por diversas comunidades de microrganismos, como fungos. Vários desses fungos têm múltiplas funções ecológicas, sendo patógenos saprófitos ou oportunistas. Atualmente, o interesse em estudar esses microrganismos está em seu potencial biotecnológico devido à sua capacidade de tolerar ambientes hostis. Um exemplo disso, são algumas espécies do gênero Aspergillus, que são utilizadas na biomedicina, indústria e biorremediação. No presente estudo, espécies de fungos do gênero Aspergillus foram isoladas e identificadas de acordo com suas características morfológicas e moleculares. Neste estudo, são relatados os primeiros isolados de Aspergillus niger e Aspergillus aculeatus em manguezais de Equador. Pesquisas como essa destacam a importância de determinar o papel dos fungos no ecossistema de mangu

Descripción de la Pandemia por COVID-19 en las Parroquias Samborondón, Daule y Durán

In Ecuador, the highest number of daily infections due to SARS-CoV-2 occurred in Guayaquil between April 4th and May 3th. The objective of this study is to perform a descriptive analysis of the quantitative PCR tests in real-time in Samborondón, Daule, and Durán during the months of April to August in the UEESBiolab laboratory. The results according to gender indicated that men register a greater number of positive cases compared to the female gender. People with an age within the Economically Active Population (EAP) were the ones who attended the test the most and who were positive in 13.9%. Additionally, for positive results, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference between groups for variables gender, age, canton, and parish. Finally, an increase in positive patients is observed in rural areas during this first wave of infection, with the rural population of Samborondón with the highest number of infections.En Ecuador, el mayor número de contagios diarios  por SARS-CoV-2 ocurrió en Guayaquil entre el 4 de abril al 3 de mayo. Este estudio, tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis descriptivo de las pruebas PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real en las parroquias de Samborondón, Daule y Durán durante los meses de abril a agosto en el laboratorio UEESBiolab. Los resultados en función del género indicaron que, los hombres registran un mayor número de casos positivos en comparación al género femenino. Las personas con una edad dentro de la Población Económicamente Activa (PEA) fueron los que más acudieron a realizarse la prueba y que resultaron positivos en un 13,9 %.  Adicionalmente, para los resultados positivos se comprobó que no existe diferencia estadística significativa entre grupos para variables género, edad, cantón y parroquia. Finalmente, se observa un incremento de los pacientes positivos en zonas rurales durante esta primera ola de infección, siendo con mayor número de contagios la población rural de Samborondón

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III: Normative data for Spanish-speaking pediatric population

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III (PPVT-III) in Spanish-speaking pediatric populations. METHOD: The sample consisted of 4,373 healthy children from nine countries in Latin America (Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico) and Spain. Each participant was administered the PPVT-III as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. PPVT-III scores were normed using multiple linear regressions and standard deviations of residual values. Age, age2, sex, and mean level of parental education (MLPE) were included as predictors in the analyses. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models showed main effects for age in all countries, such that scores increased linearly as a function of age. In addition, age2 had a significant effect in all countries, except Guatemala and Paraguay. Models showed that children whose parent(s) had a MLPE >12 years obtained higher scores compared to children whose parent(s) had a MLPE ≤12 years in all countries, except for Cuba, Peru, and Puerto Rico. Sex affected scores for Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest Spanish-speaking pediatric normative study in the world, and it will allow neuropsychologists from these countries to have a more accurate interpretation of the PPVT-III when used in pediatric populations

Newly developed Learning and Verbal Memory Test (TAMV-I): Normative data for Spanish-speaking pediatric population

OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data for the Learning and Verbal Memory Test (TAMV-I) in Spanish-speaking pediatric populations. METHOD: The sample consisted of 4,373 healthy children from nine countries in Latin America (Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico) and Spain. Each participant was administered the TAMV-I as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. Free recall, memory delay and recognition scores were normed using multiple linear regressions and standard deviations of residual values. Age, age2, sex, and mean level of parental education (MLPE) were included as predictors in the analyses. RESULTS: The final multiple linear regression models indicated main effects for age on all scores, such that scores increased linearly as a function of age. Age2 had a significant effect in all countries except Cuba, and Puerto Rico for free recall score; a significant effect for memory delay score in all countries except Cuba and Puerto Rico; and a significant effect for recognition score in in all countries except Guatemala, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. Models showed an effect for MLPE in Chile (free recall), Honduras (free recall), Mexico (free recall), Puerto Rico (free recall, memory delay, and recognition), and Spain (free recall and memory delay). Sex affected free recall score for Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Spain, memory delay score for all countries except Chile, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico, and recognition score for Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, with girls scoring higher than boys. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest Spanish-speaking pediatric normative study in the world, and it will allow neuropsychologists from these countries to have a more accurate way to interpret the TAMV-I with pediatric populations

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions-was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing-and in some countries reversal-of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories.Peer reviewe

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Summary Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence. Findings We pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls. Interpretation The height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation