Preparing Exercise I-3: Optimization of cross-section tables using sensitivity coefficients in COBAYA3

Preparing Exercise I-3: Optimization of cross-section tables using sensitivity coefficients in COBAYA

Dinámica del pastoreo en la asociación cultivos y ovinos de agroecosistemas de clima templado en México

The study analyzed the dynamics of grazing in sheep production associated with agricultural crops based on the social, productive, market, income, and environmental dimensions in the temperate region of Puebla and Tlaxcala, Mexico. The use of grazing, topography, climate, crops and type of vegetation in the production systems and data on the family, means of production, market and income were recorded with interviews applied to 256 sheep producers. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and response surface linear regression models and multilevel models, with the SAS statistical package. Five crop and sheep associations were defined as results. The response surface linear regression models, fitted for grazing percentage, had differences in the slopes estimated (P<0.05) for producer experience, schooling, days of work spent on sheep, value of facilities and flock size. The multilevel analysis showed that 19 % of the variance in grazing time (hours) was explained by the variables of crop and sheep associations (level 2) and the rest by production units (level 1). Multilevel models associated grazing time with income (P<0.01), percentage of lamb sales (P<0.01), schooling (P<0.05), days of work spent on sheep (P<0.05), flock size P<0.05) and grazing percentage (P<0.001). The study allowed the classification of agroecosystems and the identification of the most appropriate profile of producer for sheep production in the socioecological and economic context in the temperate region of Puebla and Tlaxcala, Mexico.En el presente estudio se analizó la dinámica del pastoreo en la producción de ovinos asociada a los cultivos agrícolas a partir de la dimensión social, productiva, mercado, ingresos y ambiental en la región templada de Puebla y Tlaxcala, México. Se registró el uso del pastoreo, relieve, clima, cultivos y tipo de vegetación en los sistemas de producción y datos de la familia, medios de producción, mercado e ingresos con entrevista a 256 productores de ovinos. Los datos se analizaron con estadística descriptiva y modelos de regresión lineal de superficie de respuesta y modelos multinivel, con el paquete estadístico SAS. Como resultados se definieron cinco asociaciones cultivos y ovinos. Los modelos de regresión lineal de superficie de respuesta, ajustada por porcentaje de pastoreo, tuvieron diferencias en las pendientes estimadas (P<0.05) para experiencia del productor, escolaridad, jornales dedicados a ovinos, valor de instalaciones y tamaño de rebaño. El análisis multinivel mostró que 19 % de la varianza en el tiempo de pastoreo (horas) fue explicada por las variables de las asociaciones cultivos y ovinos (nivel 2) y el resto por las unidades de producción (nivel 1). Los modelos multinivel asociaron el tiempo de pastoreo con los ingresos (P<0.01), porcentaje de venta de corderos (P<0.01), escolaridad (P<0.05), jornales dedicados a ovinos (P<0.05), tamaño de rebaño P<0.05) y porcentaje de pastoreo (P<0.001). El estudio permitió clasificar a los agroecosistemas e identificar el perfil del productor más apropiado para la producción de ovinos en el contexto socioecológico y económico en la región templada de Puebla y Tlaxcala, México

EFECTO DE LA RAZA DEL TORO DE CARNE SOBRE LA CALIDAD ESPERMÁTICA DE SEMEN DESCONGELADO

Objetive: The objective of this work was to assess the effect of bull breed on sperm quality after thawing semen. Design/methodology/approach: 10 plastic straws of 0.5 ml of frozen semen from three different breeds of bull were used, which were purchased from a commercial company. The bull breeds used were Charolais, Brahman and Simbrah. The straws were thawed at 37 ° C for 40 seconds. Immediately afterwards motility, viability and acrosmosomal integrity (NAR) were assessed. Results: The results were for motility 75.0, 87.5 and 85.0%; for viability 74.5, 74.5 and 72.5%; and for NAR 97.1, 96.9 and 96.9% for the Charolais, Brahaman and Simbrah races, respectively. Limitations/implications: The straws used were obtained from a commercial company dedicated to the sale of frozen bovine semen. Findings/conclusions: The three bull breeds showed good sperm quality after thawing, which can be recommended to be used in artificial insemination without any problem.Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo fue valorar el efecto de la raza del toro sobre la calidad espermática del semen descongelado. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Se utilizaron 10 pajillas plásticas de 0.5 ml de semen congelado de tres diferentes razas de toro, las cuales se adquirieron en una empresa comercial. Las razas de toro utilizadas fueron Charolais, Brahman y Simbrah. Las pajillas fueron descongeladas a 37°C durante 40 segundos. Inmediatamente después se valoró motilidad, viabilidad e integridad acrorosomal (NAR). Resultados: Los resultados fueron para motilidad 75.0, 87.5 y 85.0 %; para viabilidad 74.5, 74.5 y 72.5 %; y para NAR 97.1, 96.9 y 96.9% para las razas Charolais, Brahaman y Simbrah, respectivamente. Limitaciones/implicaciones: Las pajillas utilizadas se obtuvieron de una empresa comercial dedicada a la venta de semen congelado de bovino. Hallazgos/conclusiones: Las tres razas de toros mostraron buena calidad espermática después de la descongelación, las cuales pueden ser recomendadas para ser utilizadas en la inseminación artificial sin ningún problema

Prognostic Value of D-dimer to Lymphocyte Ratio (DLR) in Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients: A Validation Study in a National Cohort

Background: This study aimed to validate the role of the D-dimer to lymphocyte ratio (DLR) for mortality prediction in a large national cohort of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, observational study that included hospitalized patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain was conducted from March 2020 to March 2022. All biomarkers and laboratory indices analyzed were measured once at admission. Results: A total of 10,575 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 66.9 (+/- 16) years, and 58.6% (6202 patients) of them were male. The overall mortality rate was 16.3% (n = 1726 patients). Intensive care unit admission was needed in 10.5% (n = 1106 patients), non-invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 8.8% (n = 923 patients), and orotracheal intubation was required in 7.5% (789 patients). DLR presented a c-statistic of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.68-0.71) for in-hospital mortality with an optimal cut-off above 1. Multivariate analysis showed an independent association for in-hospital mortality for DLR > 1 (adjusted OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.09-4.04; p = 0.03); in the same way, survival analysis showed a higher mortality risk for DLR > 1 (HR 2.24; 95% CI 2.03-2.47; p < 0.01). Further, no other laboratory indices showed an independent association for mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This study confirmed the usefulness of DLR as a prognostic biomarker for mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, being an accessible, cost-effective, and easy-to-use biomarker in daily clinical practice

Nitrogen-carbon graphite-like semiconductor synthesized from uric acid

A new carbon-nitrogen organic semiconductor has been synthesized by pyrolysis of uric acid. This layered carbon-nitrogen material contains imidazole-, pyridine (naphthyridine)- and graphitic-like nitrogen, as evinced by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Quantum chemistry calculations support that it would consist of a 2D polymeric material held together by hydrogen bonds. Layers are stacked with an interplanar distance between 3.30 and 3.36 Å, as in graphite and coke. Terahertz spectroscopy shows a behavior similar to that of amorphous carbons, such as coke, with non-interacting layers. This material features substantial differences from polymeric carbon nitride, with some characteristics closer to those of nitrogen-doped graphene, in spite of its higher nitrogen content. The direct optical band gap, dependent on the polycondensation temperature, ranges from 2.10 to 2.32 eV. Although in general the degree of crystallinity is low, in the material synthesized at 600 °C some spots with a certain degree of crystallinity can be found

Efficacy of naloxegol on symptoms and quality of life related to opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer: a 3-month follow-up analysis

Objectives: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) can affect up to 63% of all patients with cancer. The objectives of this study were to assess quality of life as well as efficacy and safety of naloxegol, in patients with cancer with OIC. Methods: An observational study was made of a cohort of patients with cancer and with OIC exhibiting an inadequate response to laxatives and treated with naloxegol. The sample consisted of adult outpatients with a Karnofsky performance status score ≥50. The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) were applied for 3 months. Results: A total of 126 patients (58.2% males) with a mean age of 61.3 years (range 34-89) were included. Clinically relevant improvements (>0.5 points) were recorded in the PAC-QOL and PAC-SYM questionnaires (p<0.0001) from 15 days of treatment. The number of days a week with complete spontaneous bowel movements increased significantly (p<0.0001) from 2.4 to 4.6 on day 15, 4.7 after 1 month and 5 after 3 months. Pain control significantly improved (p<0.0001) during follow-up. A total of 13.5% of the patients (17/126) presented some gastrointestinal adverse reaction, mostly of mild (62.5%) or moderate intensity (25%). Conclusions: Clinically relevant improvements in OIC-related quality of life, number of bowel movements and constipation-related symptoms were recorded as early as after 15 days of treatment with naloxegol in patients with cancer and OIC, with a good safety profile

Effectiveness and safety of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in patients over 65 years: a real-life multicentre analysis of 162 patients

Background Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies have shown notable effectiveness and tolerability in migraine patients; however, data on their use in elderly patients is still lacking, as clinical trials have implicit age restrictions and real-world evidence is scarce. In this study, we aimed to describe the safety and effectiveness of erenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab in migraine patients over 65 years old in real-life. Methods In this observational real-life study, a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 18 different headache units in Spain was performed. Migraine patients who started treatment with any anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody after the age of 65 years were included. Primary endpoints were reduction in monthly migraine days after 6 months of treatment and the presence of adverse effects. Secondary endpoints were reductions in headache and medication intake frequencies by months 3 and 6, response rates, changes in patient-reported outcomes and reasons for discontinuation. As a subanalysis, reduction in monthly migraine days and proportion of adverse effects were also compared among the three monoclonal antibodies. Results A total of 162 patients were included, median age 68 years (range 65-87), 74.1% women. 42% had dyslipidaemia, 40.3% hypertension, 8% diabetes, and 6.2% previous cardiovascular ischaemic disease. The reduction in monthly migraine days at month 6 was 10.17.3 days. A total of 25.3% of patients presented adverse effects, all of them mild, with only two cases of blood pressure increase. Headache and medication intake frequencies were significantly reduced, and patient-reported outcomes were improved. The proportions of responders were 68%, 57%, 33% and 9% for reductions in monthly migraine days >= 30%,>= 50%,>= 75% and 100%, respectively. A total of 72.8% of patients continued with the treatment after 6 months. The reduction in migraine days was similar for the different anti-CGRP treatments, but fewer adverse effects were detected with fremanezumab (7.7%). Conclusions Anti-CGRP mAbs are safe and effective treatments in migraine patients over 65 years old in real-life clinical practice