EPIDEMIOLOGÍA DE LA ESPOROTRICOSIS EN POBLADORES MESTIZOS E INDÍGENAS DEL MUNICIPIO GRAN SABANA, ESTADO BOLÍVAR

Con antígeno celular de Sporothrix schenckii, elaborado en el Departamento de Parasitología y Microbiología de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Oriente (Núcleo Bolívar) y habiéndose evaluado su especificidad en conejos hiperinmunes para el agente, mediante intradermorreacción e inmunodifusión (Ouchterlony), se realizó encuesta inmunoalérgica en pobladores mestizos de Santa Elena de Uairén y comunidades indígenas de la etnia Pemón, cercanas a dicha población, con el objetivo de demostrar la endemicidad de la esporotricosis. La prueba intradérmica se aplicó a 463 residentes del Municipio Gran Sabana, de las comunidades de Maurak, Waramasén, Betania y Manak-krü, así como en consultantes en el Hospital de Santa Elena de Uairén, tomados al azar. La lectura se realizó a 440 individuos de los cuales 119 (27%) fueron reactores positivos, distribuidos de la siguiente manera: 18/82 (22,0%) en la comunidad de Manak-krü; 44/98 (45,0%) en Waramasén; 36/105 (34,0%) en Maurak; 13/55 (24,0%) en Betania y 8/100 (8,0%) en la población de Santa Elena de Uairén. La mayor frecuencia estuvo entre los pobladores con edades entre 10 y 29 años, así como los que se dedicaban fundamentalmente a labores agrícolas. En virtud de la existencia de casos autóctonos y de la alta frecuencia de la infección, se concluye que la zona es endémica de esporotricosis.   Palabras clave : Esporotricosis, Sporothrix schenckii, intradermorreacción.   ABSTRACT Using Sporothrix schenckii cellular antigen elaborated by the Department of Parasitology and Microbiology in Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Oriente (Núcleo Bolívar), and having evaluated its specificity in rabbits hyperimmune to the agent by means of intradermoreaction and immunodiffusion (Ouchterlony), an immunoallergic investigation was carried out among intermixed inhabitants of Santa Elena de Uairen as well as in other neighbouring indigenous settlements inhabited by the Pemon ethnic group,with the aim of proving the endemicity of sporotrichosis. 463 residents of the Municipio Gran Sabana belonging to the Maurak, Waramasen, Betania, and Manak-krü settlements were tested, as well as some random outpatients in the Santa Elena de Uairen Hospital. This amounted to 440 readings. Of the above, 119 (27.0%) showed a positive response. Their distribution was as follows: 18/82 (2.2.0%) in the Manak-krü settlement; 44/98 (45.0%) in Waramasen; 36/105 (34.0%) in Maurak; 13/55 (24.0%) in Betania and 8/100 (8.0%) in the town of Santa Elena de Uairen. The highest rate occurred between the ages of 10 and 29, as well as among those mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Considering the ipresence of native cases and the high rate of the infection, it can be stated that Sporotrichosis is endemic to the area.   Key words : Sporotrichosis, Sporothrix schenckii, intradermoreaction

Tactile Sensors Based on Conductive Polymers

This paper presents results from a selection of tactile sensors that have been designed and fabricated. These sensors are based on a common approach that consists in placing a sheet of piezoresistive material on the top of a set of electrodes. We use a thin film of conductive polymer as the piezoresistive mate¬rial. Specifically, a conductive water-based ink of this polymer is deposited by spin coating on a flexible plastic sheet, giving it a smooth, homogeneous and conducting thin film. The main interest in this procedure is that it is cheap and it allows the fabrication of flexible and low cost tactile sensors. In this work we present results from sensors made using two technologies. Firstly, we have used a flexible Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology to fabricate the set of electrodes and addressing tracks. The result is a simple, flexible tactile sensor. In addition to these sensors on PCB, we have proposed, designed and fabricated sensors with screen printing technology. In this case, the set of electrodes and addressing tracks are made by printing an ink based on silver nanoparticles. The intense characterization provides us insights into the design of these tactile sensors.This work has been partially funded by the spanish government under contract TEC2006-12376-C02

The db/db Mouse : a Useful Model for the Study of Diabetic Retinal Neurodegeneration

Background: To characterize the sequential events that are taking place in retinal neurodegeneration in a murine model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes (db/db mouse). Methods: C57BLKsJ-db/db mice were used as spontaneous type 2 diabetic animal model, and C57BLKsJ-db/+ mice served as the control group. To assess the chronological sequence of the abnormalities the analysis was performed at different ages (8, 16 and 24 weeks). The retinas were evaluated in terms of morphological and functional abnormalities [electroretinography (ERG)]. Histological markers of neurodegeneration (glial activation and apoptosis) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. In addition glutamate levels and glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) expression were assessed. Furthermore, to define gene expression changes associated with early diabetic retinopathy a transcriptome analyses was performed at 8 week. Furthermore, an additional interventional study to lower blood glucose levels was performed. Results: Glial activation was higher in diabetic than in non diabetic mice in all the stages (p<0.01). In addition, a progressive loss of ganglion cells and a significant reduction of neuroretinal thickness were also observed in diabetic mice. All these histological hallmarks of neurodegeneration were less pronounced at week 8 than at week 16 and 24. Significant ERG abnormalities were present in diabetic mice at weeks 16 and 24 but not at week 8. Moreover, we observed a progressive accumulation of glutamate in diabetic mice associated with an early downregulation of GLAST. Morphological and ERG abnormalities were abrogated by lowering blood glucose levels. Finally, a dysregulation of several genes related to neurotransmission and oxidative stress such as UCP2 were found at week 8. Conclusions: Our results suggest that db/db mouse reproduce the features of the neurodegenerative process that occurs in the human diabetic eye. Therefore, it seems an appropriate model for investigating the underlying mechanisms of diabetes-induced retinal neurodegeneration and for testing neuroprotective drugs

Three Realizations and Comparison of Hardware for Piezoresistive Tactile Sensors

Tactile sensors are basically arrays of force sensors that are intended to emulate the skin in applications such as assistive robotics. Local electronics are usually implemented to reduce errors and interference caused by long wires. Realizations based on standard microcontrollers, Programmable Systems on Chip (PSoCs) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have been proposed by the authors for the case of piezoresistive tactile sensors. The solution employing FPGAs is especially relevant since their performance is closer to that of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) than that of the other devices. This paper presents an implementation of such an idea for a specific sensor. For the purpose of comparison, the circuitry based on the other devices is also made for the same sensor. This paper discusses the implementation issues, provides details regarding the design of the hardware based on the three devices and compares them

t(10;12)(q24;q15): A new cytogenetic marker in hematological malignancies

Cytogenetic studies have played a crucial role in the discovery of genes involved in several diseases. In the field of oncohematology, cytogenetics is still necessary for the classification and prognosis of many diseases. Here we report a new recurrent chromosome translocation, t(10;12)(q24;q15), in two patients with different hematological malignancies: myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts (MDS-EB), and myelofibrosis (MF) secondary to essential thrombocythemia (ET). The chromosome alteration was observed as a sole karyotype change in the patient with MDS-EB, both at the initial diagnosis and following progression to MDS-EB2. A putative HMGA2-KLLN rearrangement by RNA-sequencing was detected in this patient. The patient with ET, had a normal karyotype at diagnosis and the t(10;12)(q24;q15) translocation emerged as a sole cytogenetic alteration after transformation, and when MF was evident. We reviewed the literature to determine whether this chromosome abnormality had previously been described in other hematological patients and found two cases: an aggressive T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and a case of transformed chronic myeloproliferative syndrome (CMS), in both of which t(10;12)(q24;q15) was also the only karyotype change. The clinical evolution of all four cases suggested that t(10;12)(q24;q15) is associated with a poor outcome in oncohematological patients

Importancia del peso de semilla en especies del género Quercus. Evidencias en condiciones controladas y experimentos de campo

Congreso celebrado del 21-25 de septiembre 2009, en Ávila, España.Peer reviewe

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Contribución al estudio de la bermejuela Rutilus arcasi, Steindachner, 1866 de la cuenca del Júcar (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae)II. Edad y crecimientoSobre la taxonomía de Barbus comiza Steindachner, 1865 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae)Fenología de una comunidad de anfibios asociada a cursos fluviales temporales.Nueva especie para la ciencia de Anolis (Lacertilia: Iguanidae) de Cuba pertenecient eal complejo argillaceusSegregación ecológica en una comunidad de ofidios.El Aguila Imperial (Aquila adalberti): dispersión de los jóvenes, estructura de edades y mortalidaSobre diferencias individuales en la alimentación de Tyto albaInfluencia de las condiciones ambientales sobre la organización de la comunidad de aves invernantes en un bosque subalpino mediterráneoVariaciones en la agregación y distribución de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica Schinz,1838) detectadas con un muestreo de excrementosAlimentación del conejo (Oryctolagus cuniculus L. 1758) en Doñana. SO, EspañaSobre la distribución de Barbus meridionales Risso, 1826 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en la Península IbéricaSobre la distribución de Barbus meridionales Risso, 1826 (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae) en la Península IbéricaNueva cita de Barbus microcephalus Almaça (Pisces, Cyprinidae) en España.Revisión taxonómica y distribución de Cobitis maroccana Pellegrin, 1929 (Osteichthyes, Cobitidae)Datos sobre una población de Lacerta viviparaSobre la presencia de Emys orbicularis en la provincia de León.Algunas observaciones sobre la captura de quirópteros por Falco subbuteo y Falco tinunculusNyctalus leisleri (Kuhk, 1818) (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Una nueva especie para las islas CanariaNuevos datos acerca de la distribución del topillo campesino Microtus arvalis, PALLAS 1778, en la Península IbéricaPeer reviewe

Generación de Mallas y Simulación Numérica en Medioambiente

[ES]En esta conferencia se introducen ideas básicas sobre la simulación numérica, mediante el método de los elementos finitos (MEF), de problemas medioambientales que han sido abordados por nuestro grupo en diversos proyectos de investigación sobre simulación de campos de viento, radiación solar, contaminación atmosférica y la modelización de yacimientos de petróleo

Machine Learning-Based Analysis in the Management of Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injury During Cholecystectomy: a Nationwide Multicenter Study

Background Iatrogenic bile duct injury (IBDI) is a challenging surgical complication. IBDI management can be guided by artificial intelligence models. Our study identified the factors associated with successful initial repair of IBDI and predicted the success of definitive repair based on patient risk levels. Methods This is a retrospective multi-institution cohort of patients with IBDI after cholecystectomy conducted between 1990 and 2020. We implemented a decision tree analysis to determine the factors that contribute to successful initial repair and developed a risk-scoring model based on the Comprehensive Complication Index. Results We analyzed 748 patients across 22 hospitals. Our decision tree model was 82.8% accurate in predicting the success of the initial repair. Non-type E (p < 0.01), treatment in specialized centers (p < 0.01), and surgical repair (p < 0.001) were associated with better prognosis. The risk-scoring model was 82.3% (79.0-85.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]) and 71.7% (63.8-78.7%, 95% CI) accurate in predicting success in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. Surgical repair, successful initial repair, and repair between 2 and 6 weeks were associated with better outcomes. Discussion Machine learning algorithms for IBDI are a novel tool may help to improve the decision-making process and guide management of these patients