The column density towards LMC X-1

We measure the neutral absorption towards the black hole X-ray binary system LMC X-1 from six archival soft X-ray spectra obtained with the gratings and/or CCD detectors on Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Swift. Four spectral models for the soft continuum have been investigated. While the powerlaw model may overestimate NH considerably, the others give consistent results. Taking the lower metalicity of the Large Magellanic Cloud into account, we find equivalent hydrogen column densities of N_H = (1.0-1.3)*10^22 cm^-2, with a systematic dependence on the orbital phase. This variation of the neutral absorption can nearly explain the orbital modulation of the soft X-ray flux recently detected with the All Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE).Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication as a Letter in Astronomy and Astrophysic

RISalud-ANDALUCIA, the institutional repository of the public health system of Andalusia

Introduction: The Andalusian Public Health System is made up of a public care network that has 63 hospitals, 1,500 primary care centers, 5 health research institutes, and other non-care public entities, mainly management and training institutions. RISalud-ANDALUCIA, the Institutional Repository of the Andalusian Public Health System is a unique and open space where the intellectual and scientific production generated by the professionals of the Andalusian Public Health System is gathered, as a result of their assistance, research and management activity. Objective: Development of a new version of RISalud-ANDALUCIA which implies a new software upgrade and functional improvement. Methodology RISalud-ANDALUCIA, was launched in February 2013. In 2022, the Andalusian Public Health Library, BV-SSPA (its administrator), started a project to develop it and migrate to a new version of DSpace. This project meant a big challenge due to the wide network of centers and institutions, and the large number of activities that needed to be carried out: 4. Identification of research, institutional output from 2016 to 2022 5. Bulk upload 6. Migration to DSpace 7.3 7. Functionalities for Datasets 8. New organization in three big communities 9. Connection with other structures and platforms 10. Incorporation of new COAR vocabulary and terms 11. New corporate image Results: Once all these functionalities are implemented, RISalud-ANDALUCIA will be the platform where the research and institutional open access output of more than 100,000 health professionals will be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. We estimate that would be possible by the end of October 2023

IGR J16318-4848: 7 Years of INTEGRAL Observations

Since the discovery of IGR 116318-4848 in 2003 January, INTEGRAL has accumulated more than 5.8 Ms in IBIS/ISGRI. We present the first extensive analysis of the archival INTEGRAL data (IBIS/ISGRI, and JEM-X when available) for this source, together with the observations carried out by XMM-Newton (twice in 2003, and twice in 2004) and Suzaku (2006). The source is very variable in the long-term, with periods of low activity, where the source is almost not detected, and flares with a luminosity approximately 10 times greater than its average value (5.4 cts/s). IGR 116318-4848 is a HMXB containing a sgB[e] star and a compact object (most probably a neutron star) deeply embedded in the stellar wind of the mass donor. The variability of the source (also in the short-term) can be ascribed to the wind of the optical star being very clumpy. We study the variation of the spectral parameters in time scales of INTEGRAL revolutions. The photoelectric absorption is, with NH around 10(exp 24)/ square cm, unusually high. During brighter phases the strong K-alpha iron line known from XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations is also detectable with the JEM-X instrument

Multimodal treatment of myophasal chronic pelvic pain in women: institutional experience

Background: Chronic pelvic pain of myofascial origin is an underdiagnosed condition and with partial responses to the different treatment modalities. The objective of this study was to report the results of the multimodal management of Myofascial Chronic Pelvic Pain.Methods: Retrospective cohort of 33 patients with myofascial chronic pelvic pain, during the period 01 January 2016 to August 31, 2018, who were treated based on trigger point infiltration and analgesic vaginal electrostimulation. The analogous visual pain scale (VAS) was used at the beginning, sixth, twelfth and six months after the last electrostimulation session, in order to measure the effect of the treatment.Results: During the study period, 32 patients with chronic myofascial pelvic pain were found who received the multimodal scheme that is offered in our clinic. The average score of the EVA before starting the treatment was 8.5 points, at the sixth session of the treatment the average EVA was 3.6 points, at the twelfth session of 1.3 points and the average score of the EVA at six months after the last session of the multimodal treatment was 2.9 points. A significant difference was demonstrated in the average EVA score in the first with respect to the sixth, twelfth and six months (p = <0.000). There were no complications or adverse effects secondary to the multimodal treatment.Conclusions: Multimodal treatment was associated with progressive improvement in 80% of patients with miofascial chronic pelvic pain

Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgos asociados a Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis en bovinos de Villavicencio, Colombia

The study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Villavicencio, Colombia. Blood samples were taken from 1000 dual-purpose cattle in 24 farms. The diagnosis was done by indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies. Risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariate tests. The overall seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was 52.4% and that of the herd was 100%. Female sex, animals older than 4 years, and sale of animals were identified as risk factors. The zebu breed was considered as a protection factor.El estudio tuvo como objetivo estimar la seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo para Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis en Villavicencio, Colombia. Se tomaron muestras de sangre a 1000 bovinos de doble propósito en 24 fincas. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante ELISA indirecta para la detección de anticuerpos. Los factores de riesgo fueron determinados mediante pruebas univariadas y multivariadas. La seroprevalencia general de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis fue 52.4% y la del hato de 100%. Se identificaron como factores de riesgo el sexo hembra, animales mayores de 4 años, y venta de animales. La raza cebú fue considerado como factor de protección

Suzaku observations of the HMXB 1A 1118-61

We present broad band analysis of the Be/X-ray transient 1A 1118-61 by Suzaku at the peak of its 3rd observed outburst in January 2009 and 2 weeks later when the source flux had decayed by an order of magnitude. The continuum was modeled with a \texttt{cutoffpl} model as well as a compTT model, with both cases requiring an additional black body component at lower energies. We confirm the detection of a cyclotron line at ~5 keV and discuss the possibility of a first harmonic at ~110 keV. Pulse profile comparisons show a change in the profile structure at lower energies, an indication for possible changes in the accretion geometry. Phase resolved spectroscopy in the outburst data show a change in the continuum throughout the pulse period. The decrease in the CRSF centroid energy also indicates that the viewing angle on the accretion column is changing throughout the pulse period.Comment: accepted by Ap

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes With Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents Five-Year Results of the RAVEL Trial

ObjectivesThis study examined the clinical outcomes at 5 years in RAVEL (A Randomized Comparison of a Sirolimus-Eluting Stent With a Standard Stent for Coronary Revascularization), the first controlled trial of drug-eluting stents.BackgroundThe 6-month rate of angiographic coronary restenosis has been markedly lowered by sirolimus-eluting stents (SES). The long-term performance of drug-eluting stents, however, is under close scrutiny.MethodsThe trial included 238 patients (mean age 60.7 ± 10.4 years, 76% men) with a single, de novo native coronary artery lesion, randomly assigned to treatment with SES versus bare-metal stents (BMS). Rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and percutaneous or surgical revascularization up to 5 years of follow-up, and rates of stent thrombosis were compared between the 2 treatment groups.ResultsComplete datasets were available in 92.5% of patients treated with SES and 89.1% of patients assigned to BMS. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year rates of survival free from target lesion revascularization (TLR) were, respectively, 99.2%, 93.8%, and 89.7% in the SES group versus 75.9%, 75.0%, and 74.0% in the control group (p < 0.001; log-rank). Rates of all MACE at 5 years were 25.8% in patients treated with SES versus 35.2% in patients assigned to BMS (p = 0.03; log-rank). Rates of stent thrombosis, per protocol or by the Academic Research Consortium definitions, were similar in both groups.ConclusionsThe 5-year rate of TLR associated with SES was significantly lower than that with BMS. There was no apparent adverse effect associated with the use of SES, although the trial was not powered to examine uncommon complications

Prescription practices and medical knowledge on direct oral anticoagulants in a reference hospital

ABSTRACT: Introduction and objective: The experience and knowledge concerning the use of direct oral anticoagulants among specialists in Medellin, Colombia, are not known. Our goal was to describe the use of these drugs in patients treated at Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe and to assess the level of knowledge regarding this issue in professionals from this institution. Materials and methods: Cross sectional study conducted between January 2012 and January 2013. Two strategies to collect information were used, namely: Analysis of relevant medical records and evaluation of knowledge about the appropriate use and prescription of direct oral anticoagulants in the group of medical specialists. Results: 114 records were included in the analysis; rivaroxaban was the most frequently prescribed drug (87%) followed by dabigatran (13%). The main indication was prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery (69%). Average of correct answers among the different specialists evaluated was 67% with no apparent difference between them. Conclusion: rivaroxaban was prescribed more often than dabigatran; however, this fact does not appear to be associated with a clear and sufficient medical knowledge about these drugs. No reports of adverse events associated with this therapy were found.RESUMEN: Se desconocen la experiencia y el conocimiento con los que cuenta el personal médico del medio en el manejo de los anticoagulantes orales directos. Se pretende describir el uso de estos medicamentos en los pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe y evaluar el nivel de conocimientos al respecto en los profesionales de la misma institución. Materiales y métodos: estudio de corte transversal en el período comprendido entre enero del 2012 y enero del 2013. Para recolectar la información se utilizaron dos estrategias: el análisis de las historias clínicas pertinentes y la evaluación de conocimientos sobre la prescripción y el uso de anticoagulantes orales directos en el grupo de especialistas facultados. Resultados: en el análisis se incluyeron 114 historias; el rivaroxaban fue el medicamento prescrito con mayor frecuencia (87%) seguido del dabigatrán (13%). La principal indicación fue la profilaxis en cirugía ortopédica (69%). Entre los especialistas evaluados, el promedio de respuestas acertadas fue del 67% sin diferencias aparentes entre los mismos. Conclusión: el rivaroxaban se prescribió con mayor frecuencia que el dabigatrán; sin embargo, este hallazgo no parece asociarse con un conocimiento médico claro y suficiente acerca de estos medicamentos. No se encontraron reportes de eventos adversos asociados al uso de los mismos

DRB1*03:01 Haplotypes: Differential Contribution to Multiple Sclerosis Risk and Specific Association with the Presence of Intrathecal IgM Bands

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial disease with a genetic basis. The strongest associations with the disease lie in the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) region. However, except for the DRB1*15:01 allele, the main risk factor associated to MS so far, no consistent effect has been described for any other variant. One example is HLA-DRB1*03:01, with a heterogeneous effect across populations and studies. We postulate that those discrepancies could be due to differences in the diverse haplotypes bearing that allele. Thus, we aimed at studying the association of DRB1*03:01 with MS susceptibility considering this allele globally and stratified by haplotypes. We also evaluated the association with the presence of oligoclonal IgM bands against myelin lipids (OCMB) in cerebrospinal fluid. METHODS: Genotyping of HLA-B, -DRB1 and -DQA1 was performed in 1068 MS patients and 624 ethnically matched healthy controls. One hundred and thirty-nine MS patients were classified according to the presence (M+, 58 patients)/absence (M-, 81 patients) of OCMB. Comparisons between groups (MS patients vs. controls and M+ vs. M-) were performed with the chi-square test or the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Association of DRB1*03:01 with MS susceptibility was observed but with different haplotypic contribution, being the ancestral haplotype (AH) 18.2 the one causing the highest risk. Comparisons between M+, M- and controls showed that the AH 18.2 was affecting only M+ individuals, conferring a risk similar to that caused by DRB1*15:01. CONCLUSIONS: The diverse DRB1*03:01-containing haplotypes contribute with different risk to MS susceptibility. The AH 18.2 causes the highest risk and affects only to individuals showing OCMB

Inhibitory effects of Buddleja scordioides (salvilla) leaves on digestive enzymes and carbohydrate absorption in vivo

The effects of Buddleja scordioides (BsLI) leaf infusions on digestive enzymes and carbohydrate absorption were evaluated. The BsLI yield was 21.64 %. In addition, a chemical characterization was carried out identifying hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, flavanones and flavones. In vitro studies were performed to determine the inhibitory action of BsLI on lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Then, in rats, oral starch tolerance tests (OSTT) were carried out using BsLI at a dose of 9.5 mg/kg body weight. Results showed moderate inhibition of lipase and α-glucosidase, but greater inhibition of α-amylase compared to positive controls. During the OSTT trial, the group receiving BsLI showed a significant reduction in glucose levels compared to the negative control group. Bioactive compounds, such as naringenin, luteolin, quercetin, and coumaric acid, were identified after BsLI administration. Furthermore, the consumption of BsLI was safe and showed antioxidant activity like Trolox. In conclusion, BsLI may have an enhanced effect on glucose metabolism by inhibiting carbohydrate absorption. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v17i2.122