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

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

PREVALENCIA DE HUEVOS DE TOXOCARIDEOS Y ANQUILOSTOMIDEOS, EN EL SUELO DE VIVIENDAS, PARQUES Y COLEGIOS DE LA CIUDAD DE CUTERVO - CAJAMARCA.

Se  examinaron  295  muestras  de  suelo  provenientes  de  parques,  patios  de  colegios  y  viviendas    de  la  ciudad  de Cutervo -  Cajamarca  con  la  finalidad  de determinar  la  prevalencia  de  Toxocara  sp.  y  Ancylostoma  sp.; como  probables agentes  causales  de  Larva  Migrans,  principalmente  en  aquellos  niños  que  tienen  contacto  con  el  polvo de  dicho  suelos. El análisis  de  las  muestras  se  realizó  mediante   técnicas  de  concentración  para parásitos por  sedimentación  y  flotación. Se  obtuvo 03 (1.01%)  casos  positivos  para  Toxocara  sp.; y 01  caso  para  Ancylostoma  sp.  De  los  casos  positivos  para   Toxocara  sp. ; el 100% (03)  mediante  la  técnica  de  sedimentación  y  0.0% mediante  la  técnica  de  Flotación.  Referente a  Ancylostoma  sp.; se  encontró  mediante la  técnica  de  Flotación  el 100% (01) y  0.0% a través de la  técnica  de  Sedimentación. El  66.67%(02)  de  las  muestras  positivas  para  Toxocara  sp.; se  encontraron  en  parques y el  33.33 % (01)  en  viviendas.  Para el  caso de Ancylostoma  sp; el 100% (01) de  las  muestras  positivas   se  encontraron  en  viviendas. Se  demostró  que  las  condiciones  ambientales  de  la  ciudad  de  Cutervo influyen  en  el  ciclo  de Toxocaroideos  y  Ancylostomideos.

Intraspecific variation in body size and shape in an Andean highland anole species, Anolis ventrimaculatus (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

Variation in body characteristics related to lizard locomotion has been poorly studied at the intraspecific level in Anolis species. Local adaptation due to habitat heterogeneity has been reported in some island species. However, studies of mainland species are particularly scarce and suggest different patterns: high variability among highland lizards and poorly differentiated populations in one Amazonian species. We characterized inter population variation of body size and shape in the highland Andean Anolis ventrimaculatus, an endemic species from Western Colombia. A total of 15 morphometric variables were measured in specimens from the reptile collection of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional, Colombia. The study included individuals from seven different highland localities. We found size and shape sexual dimorphism, both of which varied among localities. Patterns of variation in body proportions among populations were different in both males and females, suggesting that either sexual or natural selective factors are different in each locality and between sexes. Since this species exhibits a fragmented distribution in highlands, genetic divergence may also be a causal factor of the observed variation. Ecological, behavioral, additional morphological as well as phylogenetic data, may help to understand the evolutionary processes behind the geographic patterns found in this species

Intraspecific variation in body size and shape in an Andean highland anole species, Anolis ventrimaculatus (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

La diversificación fenotípica al interior de una especie en características de dimensiones corporales relacionadas con la locomoción de los lagartos, se ha estudiado poco en especies de Anolis. Los datos de algunas especies de isla revelan patrones distintos de variación geográfica y sugieren que la adaptación local, debida a la heterogeneidad del hábitat, ocurre a este nivel. Los estudios de especies de continente son particularmente escasos y sugieren patrones distintos: un lagarto altoandino altamente variable y poblaciones poco diferenciadas en una especie amazónica. Caracterizamos la variación inter poblacional en el tamaño y forma del cuerpo del lagarto altoandino Anolis ventrimaculatus, especie endémica del Oeste de Colombia. Encontramos variación geográfica en el dimorfismo sexual en tamaño y forma. El patrón de variación en las proporciones corporales entre poblaciones fue distinto en machos y en hembras, sugiriendo que las presiones de selección sexual o natural son diferentes en cada localidad. Dado que la especie exhibe una distribución fragmentada en alta montaña, la divergencia genética entre poblaciones puede ser otro factor causal de la variación observada. Datos ecológicos, etológicos y morfológicos adicionales, así como información filogenética puede contribuir al entendimiento de los procesos evolutivos responsables del patrón de variación geográfica encontrado en esta especie.Variation in body characteristics related to lizard locomotion has been poorly studied at the intraspecific level in Anolis species. Local adaptation due to habitat heterogeneity has been reported in some island species. However, studies of mainland species are particularly scarce and suggest different patterns: high variability among highland lizards and poorly differentiated populations in one Amazonian species. We characterized inter population variation of body size and shape in the highland Andean Anolis ventrimaculatus, an endemic species from Western Colombia. A total of 15 morphometric variables were measured in specimens from the reptile collection of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional, Colombia. The study included individuals from seven different highland localities. We found size and shape sexual dimorphism, both of which varied among localities. Patterns of variation in body proportions among populations were different in both males and females, suggesting that either sexual or natural selective factors are different in each locality and between sexes. Since this species exhibits a fragmented distribution in highlands, genetic divergence may also be a causal factor of the observed variation. Ecological, behavioral, additional morphological as well as phylogenetic data, may help to understand the evolutionary processes behind the geographic patterns found in this species

Confiabilidad y validez del cuestionario de trastornos de sueño BEARS en niños y adolescentes escolares de Bogotá, D.C., Colombia: Estudio FUPRECOL

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being in school-age children. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and content validity of the BEARS questionnaire in children and adolescents from 9 to 17 years of age. The sample comprised 8,862 children and adolescents belonging to 24 official education institutions from Bogotá, Colombia. The BEARS questionnaire was applied through self-completion manner, with a structured form. A sub-sample of 246 participants was used for reliability analyses. Consistency of the instrument was analyzed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, construct validity through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and reliability through the weighted Kappa coefficient. Results showed adequate consistency (global Cronbach of 0.732; range 0.706 to 0.769) and moderate reliability (Kappa of 0.665; range 0.706 to 0.769). The EFA determined a single factor (item 1: problems when going to sleep), which explained 61.4% of the variance, grouping two interactions ÷2/gl = 2690.817; p = 0.001. The BEARS questionnaire showed adequate internal consistency, reliability, and validity. From these results, this instrument is recommended principally within the context of primary care for the study and screening of sleep alterations in school-aged populations from Bogotá, Colombia. © Copyright: Federación Española de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educación Física (FEADEF

Effect of the reaction medium on the characteristics of silanized titanium dioxide particles: Differences obtained in the Zeta potential data and infrared spectra

In this document we present the differences in the Zeta potential and in the Infrared spectra data obtained from the characterization of silanized titanium dioxide particles, using two different solvents as reaction media: ethanol and toluene. Also, we provide micrographs of transmission electron microscopy in order to show morphological differences between the analyzed samples

Possible involvement of orphan receptors GPR88 and GPR124 in the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rat

Hypertension (HBP) is a chronic disease characterized by increased blood pressure, which despite several treatments maintains a high morbi-mortality, which suggests that there are other mechanisms involved in this pathology, within which the orphan receptors could be candidates for the treatment of the HBP; these receptors are called orphan receptors because their ligand is unknown. These receptors have been suggested to participate in some pathologies because they are associated with various systems such as GPR88, which has been linked to the dopaminergic system, and GPR124 with angiogenesis, suggesting that these receptors could take part in HBP. Hence, the aim of this work was to study the expression of orphan receptors GPR88 and GPR124 in various tissues of normotensive and hypertensive rats. We used Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) of 6–8 and 10–12 weeks of age and we determined systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate, as well as mRNA of GPR88 and GPR124 receptors by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the aorta, heart, kidney, and brain. Our results showed that GPR88 and GPR124 were expressed in all analyzed tissues, but their expression is dependent on the age and development of HBP because their expression tends to be modified as HBP is established. Therefore, we conclude that GPR88 and GPR124 receptors may be involved in the development or maintenance of high blood pressure

2-Benzyl-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-morpholino-6-((1-phenyl-1<i>H</i>-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-6,7-dihydro-5<i>H</i>-pyrrolo[3,4-<i>b</i>]pyridin-5-one

The new polyheterocyclic compound, 2-benzyl-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-morpholino-6-((1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-one, was synthesized by a sequential combination of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, (1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methanamine, 2-isocyano-1-morpholino-3-phenylpropan-1-one, and maleic anhydride under a microwave-assisted one-pot process [Ugi-Zhu/aza Diels-Alder cycloaddition/N-acylation/decarboxylation/dehydration] with a 28% overall yield. The synthesized compound was fully characterized by 1D (1H, 13C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS