Toxoplasma gondii en mujeres embarazadas en la provincia de El Oro, 2014 / Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in the province of El Oro, 2014

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue determinar los anticuerpos IgG- IgM de anti toxoplasma gondii en mujeres embarazadas, atendidas en una casa de salud privada, siendo el principal reservorio de esta infección el gato doméstico (Feliscatus), puede ocurrir en cualquier etapa  del embarazo, es muy  importante detectar en el primer trimestre  para evitar  trastornos del sistema nervioso central y retinocoroiditis.  El método clínico que se utilizó para el diagnóstico de los anticuerpos IgG-IgM fue electroquimiolumisencia de alta sensibilidad, los resultados obtenidos de anticuerpos IgG contra T. gondii en embarazadas, fue 16% IgG-IgM seropositivo para anti T. gondii, en relación con las mujeres embarazadas con serología positiva para T. gondii decreció linealmente con la edad de la paciente, siendo el grupo de 20-25años el más afectado 40(12%) para IgG positivo y IgM 25(10%), lo que referencia acerca de la prevalencia del Toxoplasma gondii. ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was the determination of IgM antibodies IgG anti toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women, attended in a private health place, being the main reservoir of this infection the domestic cat (Felis catus), can occur at any stage of pregnancy, it is important to detect the first trimester of pregnancy to prevent disorders of the central nervous system and retinochoroiditis. The clinical method used was electroquimiolumisencia high sensitivity for the diagnosis of IgG - IgM antibodies, the results of IgG antibodies against T. gondii in pregnant women was 16% IgG anti-IgM seropositive for T. gondii, in relation of pregnant women with positive serology for T. gondii decreased linearly with the age of the patient, being the group most affected 20-25años 40 (12%) for IgG and IgM positive 25 (10%) giving reference on prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii

Factores asociados a la evolución de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía colorrectal

Las enfermedades del área colorrectal cada vez son más frecuentespor múltiples razones. Las patologías más incidentesen dicha área son el cáncer de colon y recto, referente alas cuales diferentes estudios han reportado la importanciaque poseen los sistemas de puntuación para la valoracióndel paciente que será sometido a la cirugía. Estos sistemasde puntuación poseen diferentes factores que son capacesde interaccionar entre ellos mismos, con el fin de disminuirel riesgo de complicaciones durante y posterior a la cirugía.Dentro de los factores de riesgo asociados a una evolucióntórpida en la cirugía colorrectal se encuentran: la edad, elsexo, cirugía abdominal previa, valor de las puntuaciones deriesgo predictivo existentes, la obesidad, comorbilidades ylimpieza del intestino previa a la cirugía e incisión abdominal,los cuales se exponen en la siguiente revisión bibliográfica

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Measurement of the Radiation Energy in the Radio Signal of Extensive Air Showers as a Universal Estimator of Cosmic-Ray Energy

We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of 15.8 \pm 0.7 (stat) \pm 6.7 (sys) MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from state-of-the-art first-principle calculations shows agreement with our measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Supplemental material in the ancillary file

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide