A new PTGDR promoter polymorphism in a population of children with asthma.

[EN] Recently, functional genetic variants of the PTGDR gene have been associated with asthma. The objective of this work was to study polymorphisms of the promoter region of PTGDR and their haplotype and diplotype combinations in a Spanish population of children with asthma. In this study, 200 Caucasian individuals were included. Asthma was specialist-physician diagnosed according to the ATS criteria. The polymorphisms were analyzed by direct sequencing. In the study, the new polymorphism (-613C > T) in the promoter region of PTGDR was analyzed. The CT genotype was more common in controls (17%) than in patients with asthma (1%) (p-value = 0.0003; OR, 0.057; 95% CI, 0.007-0.441). The CCCT CCCC diplotype (promoter positions -613, -549, -441, and -197) was more frequent in the group of patients with asthma [Fisher's p-value = 0.012; OR, 10.24; 95% CI (1.25-83.68)]; this diplotype is unambiguous. To our knowledge, this is the first study of -613C > T PTGDR polymorphism in patients. This analysis provides more complete information on influence of diplotype combinations of PTGDR polymorphisms in asthma.Fundación para la Investigación de la Sociedad Española de Alergología e Inmunología Clínica

Schistosomiasis en la infancia. Una experiencia para el internacionalismo médico cubano / Schistosomiasis in childhood: an experience to the Cuban Medical Internationalist Missions

El Schistosoma es un parásito no endémico de Cuba, pero con una elevada frecuencia en los países de África, Asia y América Latina; de ellos, cinco especies infectan al hombre. No existen evidencias de dicho parasitismo en nuestro país. Con la presencia del internacionalismo médico cubano en las diversas tierras del mundo es que fue considerado útil transmitir la experiencia profesional en un país africano. Se presenta un caso clínico de un paciente de 7 años de edad, sexo masculino y estado nutricional adecuado, procedente de un área suburbana de la Cuidad de Nampula, Mozambique, África Subsahariana que al examen físico se constató que tenía lesiones de dermatitis en las manos y los pies, de varias semanas en evolución; acude por la aparición de edemas en miembros inferiores, dificultad para orinar y orinas oscuras. Se sospecha una posible Glomerulonefritis Difusa Aguda según la frecuencia de la entidad en nuestro medio. Después de una respuesta terapéutica escasa, un cambio en la visión epidemiológica y los resultados complementarios, se confirma una forma de presentación infantil de esquistosomiasis masiva, entidad frecuente en las regiones geográficas donde hoy en día está presente el internacionalismo médico cubano. Después de una revisión bibliográfica se consideró útil trasmitir la experiencia al médico internacionalista y se hacen algunas consideraciones al respecto. Palabras Clave: Esquistosomiasis, glomerulonefritis, diagnóstico. ABSTRACT Schistosome is a non-endemic parasite in Cuba, but with an elevated frequency in Africa, Asia and Latin-America; of them, five species infest man. No evidences of this parasite are found in Cuba. Considering the presence of Cuban Medical Internationalist Missions in other parts of the world, it is useful to transmit the professional experience in an African country. A 7-year-old-male patient, presenting an adequate nutritional status, coming from a sub-urban district of Mampula City. Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa, at physical examination showed dermatitis in hands and feet for several weeks in evolution. The patient attended to the clinic presenting edema in the lower limbs, difficulties to urinate and dark urines. Suspecting, a possible Acute Diffuse Glomerulonephritis according to the frequency of the disease in that environment. After a limited therapeutic response, and a change in the epidemiologic view and the laboratory results; a childhood presentation of a form of massive schistosomiasis was confirmed, a frequent entity in the geographic regions where Cuban medical missions work. Some suggestions to transmit the experience to the medical missions were made taking into consideration several aspects after a medical literature review. Key words: Schistosomiasis, glomerulonephritis, diagnosis

Desarrollo y validación de un patrón visual para la evaluación del color de la carne de bovino en México

El objetivo fue desarrollar una escala visual para la evaluación del color en carne de bovino. Se analizaron 1,165 lomos, a las 24 h post mortem, en cuatro rastros de la República Mexicana. En cada muestra se evaluó el color con ayuda de un patrón visual y con un espectrofotómetro (escala CIELAB), tomándose una fotografía de cada lomo. Por el método visual se identificaron siete categorías, (de rojo muy pálido a rojo muy oscuro) y las variables instrumentales del color (L*, a*, b*, C* y h*) se usaron para generar modelos de predicción de las categorías visuales. La escala se construyó utilizando L* como único predictor, pues este modelo explicó >90 % de la variación observada. El patrón se ilustró con fotos de las muestras con valor de L* dentro del intervalo de confianza al 95% de la media en cada categoría, desde rojo muy pálido (48.1<L*<48.8) hasta rojo muy oscuro (32.7<L*<33.4). La diferencia total de color entre categorías fluctuó entre 2.8 y 5.5, lo que sugiere que éstas son diferenciables a simple vista. La escala se validó mediante pruebas con un panel sensorial entrenado y otro de consumidores. Los jueces entrenados calificaron correctamente las muestras en el 92.6 % de las evaluaciones. En carne con apariencia de corte oscuro (CO), el panel entrenado tuvo 100 % de aciertos y el de consumidores 85.3 %. El patrón visual propuesto se sustenta en mediciones instrumentales y mostró ser técnicamente viable para la evaluación del color en carne de bovino por personal entrenado y por consumidores

Strategic and competitive advantages of the agricultural sector in Querétaro, Mexico

Objective: Characterize the agricultural production of the state of Querétaro during 2018 to facilitate business decision-making and propose public and private strategies for the development of high-value agrifood production projects. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis was carried out from bibliometric exploration and statistical data collection from different agrifood information platforms. Results: The municipalities of Pedro Escobedo, Colón, San Juan del Río, and El Marqués have established crops of grains, vegetables, forage grasses, and roses, through productive projects of private initiative with an agribusiness vision, due to the use of knowledge, technological innovations, and market intelligence. Limitations of the study/implications: Lack of information to establish the current agricultural vocation of the state of Querétaro. Findings/conclusions: Based on the perspectives of specialized markets at the national and international level, the state of Querétaro has several strategic and competitive advantages for the establishment of high-impact agricultural projects.Objective: To characterize agricultural production in the state of Querétaro, Mexico, during 2018 in order to provide information that can facilitate business decision-making and lay out public and private strategies for the development of high-value projects in agrifood production. Design/Methodology/Approach: The analysis was conducted through bibliometric exploration and collection of statistical data, available on different public-access agrifood statistics information platforms. Results: The municipalities of Pedro Escobedo, Colón, San Juan del Río, and El Marqués established grain, vegetable, foraging grass, and rose crops through private sector productive projects with an agribusiness perspective, using available knowledge, technological innovation, and market intelligence. Study Limitations/Implications: A lack of information to allow establishing the current agricultural vocation of the state of Queretaro. Findings/Conclusions: Based on the perspectives of specialized markets at the national and international level, Querétaro possesses diverse strategic and competitive advantages for the establishment of high-impact agricultural projects

Capacidad de autocuidado en adultos mayores que radican en Morelia, Michoacán

Objective: To determine the level of self-care in older adults who live in Morelia, Michoacán.&nbsp; Method: This research had a quantitative, descriptive approach, with a non-experimental design and a cross section. The sample was selected for convenience and was made up of 100 older adults. Main Results: The main findings indicate that 42% have a high self-care capacity, 27% high, 19% regular, 8% low and only 4% very low.&nbsp; General Conclusion:&nbsp;These days, despite the fact that there is a lot of information about the needs of the elderly, there are few interventions that do not remain a mere utopia. For this reason, it is essential to develop programs where this age group is attended from their spaces, emphasizing in the self-care requirements necessary to guarantee a quality of life. Also, giving a call to all the nurses is made to provide an adequate, optimal and personalized service.Objetivo:&nbsp;Determinar el nivel de autocuidado en personas adultas mayores que radican en la ciudad de Morelia, Michoacán. Método:&nbsp;La presente investigación contó con un enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo descriptivo, con un diseño no experimental y un corte transversal. La muestra fue seleccionada por conveniencia y estuvo conformada por 100 adultos mayores. Resultados principales:&nbsp;Los principales hallazgos señalan que el 42% presenta una capacidad de autocuidado alta, el 27% alta, el 19% regular, el 8% baja y únicamente el 4% muy baja. Conclusión general:&nbsp;En la actualidad pese a que se habla sobre las necesidades de los adultos mayores son escazas las intervenciones que no se quedan en una mera utopía, por ello, es fundamental el desarrollo de programas donde se atienda a este grupo etario desde sus espacios, haciendo énfasis en los requisitos de autocuidado necesarios para garantizar una calidad de vida. Además, desde la Enfermería se hace un llamado para brindar un servicio adecuado, óptimo y personalizado

Linfonodos y carne molida de res como reservorios de Salmonella spp. de importancia en salud pública

This study aimed to determine the frequency of contamination, serovar diversity, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of Salmonella enterica (SE) in lymph nodes and ground beef. A total of 1,545 samples from 400 beef carcasses were analyzed. Samples included peripheral (PLN) and deep lymph nodes (DLN), lean and fatty ground beef obtained in warm (April-July) and cold (September-December) seasons during 2017 and 2018. The pure isolates were subjected to complete genome sequencing. With these data, the in silico prediction of serovars and the MLST profile was performed. In total, 78 SE isolates were obtained (5 % of the total analyzed samples). The frequency of contamination was associated with the type of sample ( 2=23.7, P<0.0001) and the time of year ( 2=20.3, P<0.0001), being higher in PLN (9.7%) and during the warm season (7.0%). The predominant serovars were Anatum and Reading (each one with n= 23), Typhimurium (n= 11), and London (n= 9). The MLST profile of strains of the Typhimurium (ST 19 and 34) and Kentucky (ST 198) serovars has been previously reported in isolates involved in clinical cases. It was concluded that lymph nodes and ground beef are reservoirs of SE of public health importance, especially during the warm months of the year. Therefore, it is necessary to establish measures to prevent dissemination throughout the production chain of strains associated with apparently healthy animals.El objetivo fue estimar la frecuencia de contaminación, diversidad de serotipos y tipificación por multilocus (MLST) de Salmonella enterica (SE) en linfonodos y carne molida de bovino. Para ello, se analizaron 1545 muestras provenientes de 400 canales bovinas. El muestreo incluyó linfonodos superficiales (LNS) y profundos, carne molida magra y con grasa, obtenidas en estación cálida (abril-julio) y fría (septiembre-diciembre) durante 2017 y 2018. Los aislamientos puros se sometieron a secuenciación completa del genoma. Con estos datos, se realizó la predicción in silico de serotipos y del perfil de MLST. En total, se obtuvieron 78 aislamientos de SE (5% del total de muestras analizadas). La frecuencia de contaminación se asoció con el tipo de muestra (2=23.7, P<0.0001) y con la época del año (2=20.3, P<0.0001), siendo mayor en LNS (9.7%) y en estación cálida (7.0%). Los serotipos predominantes fueron Anatum y Reading (n=23 cada uno), Typhimurium (n=11) y London (n=9). El perfil de MLST de cepas de los serotipos Typhimurium (ST 19 y 34) y Kentucky (ST 198) se ha reportado previamente en aislamientos involucrados en casos clínicos. Se concluye que los linfonodos y la carne molida de res son reservorios de SE de importancia en salud pública, especialmente durante los meses cálidos del año. Por tanto, es necesario establecer medidas encaminadas a prevenir la diseminación, a lo largo de la cadena productiva, de las cepas asociadas con animales aparentemente sanos

Invasive Fusariosis in Nonneutropenic Patients, Spain, 2000-2015

Invasive fusariosis (IF) is associated with severe neutropenia in patients with concurrent hematologic conditions. We conducted a retrospective observational study to characterize the epidemiology of IF in 18 Spanish hospitals during 2000-2015. In that time, the frequency of IF in nonneutropenic patients increased from 0.08 cases per 100,000 admissions in 2000-2009 to 0.22 cases per 100,000 admissions in 2010-2015. Nonneutropenic IF patients often had nonhematologic conditions, such as chronic cardiac or lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, history of solid organ transplantation, or localized fusariosis. The 90-day death rate among nonneutropenic patients (28.6%) and patients with resolved neutropenia (38.1%) was similar. However, the death rate among patients with persistent neutropenia (91.3%) was significantly higher. We used a multivariate Cox regression analysis to characterize risk factors for death: persistent neutropenia was the only risk factor for death, regardless of antifungal therapy

Validation of UVEDAI: An Index for Evaluating the Level of Inflammatory Activity in Uveitis

Introduction Uveitis is the inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea, and is a major cause of blindness. None of the instruments used in clinical practice are, in themselves, sufficient to evaluate the course of uveitis. Therefore, it is necessary to develop instruments enabling standardized measurement of inflammatory activity. We developed a composite disease activity index for patients with uveitis known as UVEDAI, which considers the overall activity of the eye. The objective of this study was to validate the composite index of ocular inflammation, UVEDAI. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study involving eight Spanish tertiary hospitals. Sixty-two patients aged ≥ 18 years with acute uveitis were recruited. Participants gave informed consent before participating in the study. A full ophthalmological examination was performed by two ophthalmologists to determine inflammatory activity: one used the UVEDAI score and the other used clinical judgment. The ophthalmologists did not share their findings with each other to avoid introducing bias into the analysis. Construct validity was established by means of factor analysis. The criterion validity of the index was determined using an ordinal multivariate regression model, in which the dependent variable was the degree of uveal inflammation (mild, moderate, or high/severe). Cut-off points were determined for the UVEDAI and for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Sixty-two patients were included. Total variance with the three components accounted for 80.32% of the construct validity. Each of the three components identified one type of eye involvement. The discriminatory capacity of UVEDAI was 0.867 (95% CI 0.778; 0.955 p < 0.001) for mild versus moderate–high and 0.946 (95% CI 0.879; 1.000 p < 0.001) for high versus mild–moderate. Conclusions The variables included in UVEDAI enable ocular inflammatory activity to be described with a high degree of accuracy. The index may be used to evaluate and classify this activity with considerable discriminatory power.We would like to acknowledge the support of Abbvie: this study was conducted with an unrestricted grant from Abbvie. The Spanish Society of Rheumatology is the sponser and funder of this study and the journal's Rapid Service Fee, and has participated in the study design; in the analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The corresponding author had full access to all study data and had final responsibility for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Evolution of the Use of Corticosteroids for the Treatment of Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID National Registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236-996) mu g/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) mu g/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp0(2)/Fi0(2) (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Cruise Summary Report - MEDWAVES survey. MEDiterranean out flow WAter and Vulnerable EcosystemS (MEDWAVES)

The MEDWAVES (MEDiterranean out flow WAter and Vulnerable EcosystemS) cruise targeted areas under the potential influence of the MOW within the Mediterranean and Atlantic realms. These include seamounts where Cold-water corals (CWCs) have been reported but that are still poorly known, and which may act as essential “stepping stones” connecting fauna of seamounts in the Mediterranean with those of the continental shelf of Portugal, the Azores and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. During MEDWAVES sampling has been conducted in two of the case studies of ATLAS: Case study 7 (Gulf of Cádiz-Strait of Gibraltar-Alboran Sea) and Case study 8 (Azores). The initially targeted areas in the Atlantic were: the Gazul Mud volcano, in the Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) area, included in the case study 7, and the Atlantic seamounts Ormonde (Portuguese shelf) and Formigas (by Azores), both part of the case study 8. In the Mediterranean the targeted areas were The Guadiaro submarine canyon and the Seco de los Olivos (also known as Chella Bank) seamount. Unfortunately it was not possible to sample in Guadiaro due to time constraints originated by adverse meteorological conditions which obligate us to reduce the time at sea focusing only in 4 of the 5 initially planned areas. MEDWAVES was structured in two legs; the first leg took place from the 21st September (departure from Cádiz harbour in Spain) to the 13th October 2016 (arrival in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal took place the 8th of October due to the meteorological conditions that obligated to conclude the first leg earlier as planned). during the Leg 1 sampling was carried out in Gazul, Ormonde and Formigas. The second leg started the 14th October (departure from Ponta Delgada) and finished the 26th October (arrival in Málaga harbour, Spain). MEDWAVES had a total of 30 effective sampling days, being 6 days not operative due to the adverse meteorological conditions experienced during the first leg which forced us to stay in Ponta Delgada from the 08th to the 13th October. During MEDWAVES the daily routine followed a similar scheme, depending of course on the weather and sea conditions. The main activity during the day, starting early in the morning (around 08:00 AM, once the night activities were finished), was the ROV deployment. Generally a single ROV dive of around 8 hours was performed, however in several occasions two dives were carried out in the same day (see General station list, Appendix II). After the ROV (and sometimes between two dives) the Box Corer and/or Van Veen Grab and/or Multicore was deployed. After these activities, during the night CTD-Rosette deployments and MB was conducted. Accordingly to this schema the scientific personnel worked in the day or in the night watch. A total of 215 sampling stations have been covered in MEDWAVES, using the following sampling gears: Multibeam echosounder, CTD-Rosette, LADCP, Box Corer, Van Veen Grab, Multicorer and a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Table 1 sumamrised the number of sampling stations conducted with each gear in each sampling zone. Additionally MB surveys have been conducted during the transits between area