The impact of socioeconomic and phenotypic traits on self-perception of ethnicity in Latin America

Self-perception of ethnicity is a complex social trait shaped by both, biological and non-biological factors. We developed a comprehensive analysis of ethnic self-perception (ESP) on a large sample of Latin American mestizos from five countries, differing in age, socio-economic and education context, external phenotypic attributes and genetic background. We measured the correlation of ESP against genomic ancestry, and the influence of physical appearance, socio-economic context, and education on the distortion observed between both. Here we show that genomic ancestry is correlated to aspects of physical appearance, which in turn affect the individual ethnic self-perceived ancestry. Also, we observe that, besides the significant correlation among genomic ancestry and ESP, specific physical or socio-economic attributes have a strong impact on self-perception. In addition, the distortion among ESP and genomic ancestry differs across age ranks/countries, probably suggesting the underlying effect of past public policies regarding identity. Our results indicate that individuals’ own ideas about its origins should be taken with caution, especially in aspects of modern life, including access to work, social policies, and public health key decisions such as drug administration, therapy design, and clinical trials, among others

Disentangling signatures of selection before and after European colonization in latin Americans

Throughout human evolutionary history, large-scale migrations have led to intermixing (i.e., admixture) between previously separated human groups. Although classical and recent work have shown that studying admixture can yield novel historical insights, the extent to which this process contributed to adaptation remains underexplored. Here, we introduce a novel statistical model, specific to admixed populations, that identifies loci under selection while determining whether the selection likely occurred post-admixture or prior to admixture in one of the ancestral source populations. Through extensive simulations, we show that this method is able to detect selection, even in recently formed admixed populations, and to accurately differentiate between selection occurring in the ancestral or admixed population. We apply this method to genome-wide SNP data of ∼4,000 individuals in five admixed Latin American cohorts from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Our approach replicates previous reports of selection in the human leukocyte antigen region that are consistent with selection post-admixture. We also report novel signals of selection in genomic regions spanning 47 genes, reinforcing many of these signals with an alternative, commonly used local-ancestry-inference approach. These signals include several genes involved in immunity, which may reflect responses to endemic pathogens of the Americas and to the challenge of infectious disease brought by European contact. In addition, some of the strongest signals inferred to be under selection in the Native American ancestral groups of modern Latin Americans overlap with genes implicated in energy metabolism phenotypes, plausibly reflecting adaptations to novel dietary sources available in the Americas

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative sars-cov-2 infection: An international cohort study

Background The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (740%) had emergency surgery and 280 (248%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (261%) patients. 30-day mortality was 238% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (512%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 380% (219 of 577), accounting for 817% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 175 [95% CI 128-240], p<00001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (230 [165-322], p<00001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3-5 versus grades 1-2 (235 [157-353], p<00001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (155 [101-239], p=0046), emergency versus elective surgery (167 [106-263], p=0026), and major versus minor surgery (152 [101-231], p=0047). Interpretation Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Daptomycin for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: a European registry experience

A retrospective analysis of data from patients receiving daptomycin as outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) within the European Cubicin Outcomes Registry and Experience (EU-CORESM) was performed. Of 4592 enrolled patients in 15 countries, 550 (12%) received daptomycin OPAT. Of these, 149 (27%) received daptomycin without hospital admission, 84% had significant underlying diseases and 44% were ≥65 years of age. Most frequently treated infections were complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (28%), osteomyelitis (17%), foreign body/prosthetic infections (15%) and endocarditis (14%). In patients with culture results available, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly isolated primary pathogens [n = 218 (46%) and n = 102 (21%), respectively]. Daptomycin was typically used at doses of 6 mg/kg (n = 210; 38%) and 4 mg/kg (n = 160; 29%), with concomitant antibiotics used in 41%. The median treatment duration was 22 days (range 1–300 days), with a median of 13 OPAT days (range 1–290 days). Overall clinical success was observed in 89%, with high success rates across the wide range of infections, including those caused by meticillin-resistant and meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (88% and 90%, respectively). Daptomycin exhibited a favourable safety profile; 3.1% of patients discontinued treatment owing to an adverse event. These data demonstrate that daptomycin is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of a wide range of Gram-positive infections in the outpatient setting. Ease of administration of daptomycin, via a daily 2-min injection, and its efficacy and safety combine to make it an attractive treatment option for OPAT

Detection of soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in northwestern Argentina.

Asian soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is regarded as one of the most destructive diseases of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. In Argentina, it was first detected in the province of Misiones in northeastern Argentina near Paraguay and Brazil during the 2001-02 growing season.  The following season it also was found in the neighboring province of Corrientes.  However, it did not reach major soybean production areas in northern Argentina until the end of the 2003-04 season.  In April 2004, as soybean crops were nearing maturity, the disease was found throughout the region of northwestern Argentina, which includes the provinces of Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca, and Santiago del Estero, where approximately 6% of the soybean crop of Argentina is produced.  During February and March the area had a severe drought and above average temperatures, but in April rainfall was abundant, particularly during the first half of the month.  Soybean rust was first observed on 16 April in several locations of the departments (counties) of Moreno and Jimenez in the province of Santiago del Estero, and the following week in the departments of Alberdi, Burruyacu, Cruz Alta, Famaillá, La Cocha, and Leales in the province of Tucumán; in the department of Santa Rosa in the province of Catamarca; and in the departments of Anta, Metán, Rosario de la Frontera, and San Martín in the province of Salta.  In those fields where the disease was detected, nearly all plants showed symptoms.  Affected crops were mostly in growth stages R7 to R8, except for a few fields that had been planted late and were in a late R5 stage.  Yield losses of up to 28% and premature defoliation occurred in these fields only.  Disease severity, measured as percentage affected leaf area, ranged from 45 to 50% in untreated fields and from 0.9 to 39% in fungicide-treated fields. Leaf lesions were reddish-brown, irregularly shaped, and were more abundant on the abaxial surface.  Under the dissecting microscope, uredinia were observed as erumpent pustules with a conspicuous central pore.  Masses of urediniospores were expelled through the pore and covered the pustules. Urediniospores were hyaline to pale yellow-brown, sub globose to ovoid, with finely echinulate, hyaline walls and an average size of 27.8 x 18.5 ¦Ì.  Because there are two morphologically similar species of Phakopsora that infect soybean, P. pachyrhizi (the Asian species) and P. meibomiae (the New World species), a molecular differentiation was carried out using the PCR assay described by Frederick et al.  DNA extracted from 37 samples from different locations was amplified using specific primers for both species of Phakopsora and specific primers for P. pachyrhizi and for P. meibomiae.  Twenty-eight samples amplified with the two-species primers and with the P. pachyrhizi primer.  None of the samples amplified with the P. meibomiae primer.  Specimens have been deposited at Instituto Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina.  These results confirmed the presence of P. pachyrhizi in the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, and Santiago del Estero, ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Leonardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Galvez, M. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: de Ramallo, N. V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Zamorano, M. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, M. G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Castagnaro, Atilio Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentin

Efecto de las enfermedades de fin de ciclo en el crecimiento de distintos genotipos de soja relacionado a la fecha de siembra

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la influencia de las enfermedades de fin de ciclo (EFC) en distintos genotipos de soja en cuatro fechas de siembra (FS), considerando la duración del área foliar sana. Los parámetros evaluados fueron: severidad,área bajo la curva de progreso de las enfermedades de fin de ciclo (ACPE) y duración del área foliar sana (DAFS). Las curvas de progreso se iniciaron (35 dds) con valores de severidad, durante la 1 FS, del orden de 2,0 al 11,7%,y de 1,7 a 7,8% en las campañas 2000/01 y 2001/02, respectivamente, y alcanzaron valores máximos (75 dds) desde 25,0% a 42,3% en la primera campaña yde 16,3 % a 41,7% en la siguiente. El padrón de las curvas de progreso y la interacción entre FS y genotipo permitieron concluir que: 1- retrasando la fecha de siembra se disminuyó el riesgo de niveles altos de EFC; 2- la interacción para ACPE entre genotipo y FS indicó que es muy difícil separar el efecto del ambiente del genotipo; 3- el complejo de enfermedades de fin de ciclo de la soja afectó la duración del área foliar sana, lo que se reflejó en una disminución promedio de crecimiento de 27% en la campaña 2000/01 y de 31% en la siguiente

Infective Endocarditis in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valve or Mitral Valve Prolapse

[eng] Background: There is little information concerning infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Currently, IE antibiotic prophylaxis (IEAP) is not recommended for these conditions. Objectives: This study sought to describe the clinical and microbiological features of IE in patients with BAV and MVP and compare them with those of IE patients with and without IEAP indication, to determine the potential benefit of IEAP in these conditions. Methods: This analysis involved 3,208 consecutive IE patients prospectively included in the GAMES (Grupo de Apoyo al Manejo de la Endocarditis infecciosa en España) registry at 31 Spanish hospitals. Patients were classified as high-risk IE with IEAP indication (high-risk group; n = 1,226), low- and moderate-risk IE without IEAP indication (low/moderate-risk group; n = 1,839), and IE with BAV (n = 54) or MVP (n = 89). Results: BAV and MVP patients had a higher incidence of viridans group streptococci IE than did high-risk group and low/moderate-risk group patients (35.2% and 39.3% vs. 12.1% and 15.0%, respectively; all p < 0.01). A similar pattern was seen for IE from suspected odontologic origin (14.8% and 18.0% vs. 5.8% and 6.0%; all p < 0.01). BAV and MVP patients had more intracardiac complications than did low/moderate-risk group (50% and 47.2% vs. 30.6%, both p < 0.01) patients and were similar to high-risk group patients. Conclusions: IE in patients with BAV and MVP have higher rates of viridans group streptococci IE and IE from suspected odontologic origin than in other IE patients, with a clinical profile similar to that of high-risk IE patients. Our findings suggest that BAV and MVP should be classified as high-risk IE conditions and the case for IEAP should be reconsidered

A genome-wide association study identifies novel gene associations with facial skin wrinkling and mole count in Latin‐Americans

Background Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified genes influencing skin ageing and mole count in Europeans, but little is known about the relevance of these (or other genes) in non-Europeans. Objectives To conduct a GWAS for facial skin ageing and mole count in adults < 40 years old, of mixed European, Native American and African ancestry, recruited in Latin America. Methods Skin ageing and mole count scores were obtained from facial photographs of over 6000 individuals. After quality control checks, three wrinkling traits and mole count were retained for genetic analyses. DNA samples were genotyped with Illumina’s HumanOmniExpress chip. Association testing was performed on around 8 703 729 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the autosomal genome. Results Genome-wide significant association was observed at four genome regions: two were associated with wrinkling (in 1p13·3 and 21q21·2), one with mole count (in 1q32·3) and one with both wrinkling and mole count (in 5p13·2). Associated SNPs in 5p13·2 and in 1p13·3 are intronic within SLC45A2 and VAV3, respectively, while SNPs in 1q32·3 are near the SLC30A1 gene, and those in 21q21·2 occur in a gene desert. Analyses of SNPs in IRF4 and MC1R are consistent with a role of these genes in skin ageing. Conclusions We replicate the association of wrinkling with variants in SLC45A2, IRF4 and MC1R reported in Europeans. We identify VAV3 and SLC30A1 as two novel candidate genes impacting on wrinkling and mole count, respectively. We provide the first evidence that SLC45A2 influences mole count, in addition to variants in this gene affecting melanoma risk in Europeans

Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the admixture of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods here we infer the sub-populations involved in admixture for over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of sub-continental ancestry on the physical appearance of these individuals. We find that pre-Columbian Native genetic structure is mirrored in Latin Americans and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that Central Andean ancestry impacts on variation of facial features in Latin Americans, particularly nose morphology, possibly relating to environmental adaptation during the evolution of Native Americans