Validación de un método de determinación de Na, K, Cd, Pb y Hg por Espectrometría de Absorción Atómica en policosanol y extracto purificado de cera de caña

Se desarrolló y validó una metodología analítica para la determinación por espectrometría de absorción atómica de los contenidos de Na, K, Cd, Pb y Hg en policosanol y extracto purificado de cera de caña. Los criterios de validación fueron los siguientes: linealidad, proporcionalidad, exactitud, especificidad y precisión en condiciones de repetibilidad y reproducibilidad. Para el Cd, Pb y Hg, se calcularon los límites de detección (LD) y cuantificación (LC) en dos espectrómetros de absorción atómica. Los criterios de aceptación en todos los casos fueron tomados de la Sección Catalana de Normas de Buena Fabricación y Control de Calidad, excepto para los límites de detección y cuantificación, donde se exige que la suma de metales pesados debe ser menor de 10 ppm, especificación de calidad del producto que aparece en el registro sanitario del medicamento. En el estudio de linealidad se encontraron coeficientes de variación de los factores de respuesta inferiores al 5 % y valores aceptables para la varianza del error experimental total y la desviación estándar de la pendiente, lo que denota una buena linealidad. En cuanto a la proporcionalidad, se comprobó que el sistema no presenta sesgo. Para los dos productos y los cinco elementos analizados la recuperación se situó entre el 97 y 103 %, lo que indicó una adecuada recuperación-exactitud del método. En cuanto a la especificidad, se verificó que en ningún caso hay interferencia de la matriz en la determinación de Na y K

Changes in mango postharvest quality due to nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium dose and production season

This study analysed the impact of two production seasons (PS): off-season (OS) and main-season (MS); plus, three fertilization doses (FD): proposed (PR), regional (RE) and no fertilization (NF); and the PSxFD interaction, on the quality of ‘Ataulfo’ mango produced in a commercial orchard. A completely randomized factorial design with four replications was used. The experimental unit was a 12-year-old mango tree. The variables evaluated at physiological maturity and ripe stage were firmness, color, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/TA ratio, total sugars (TS), reducing sugars (RS), β-carotene, total phenols, vitamin C and weight loss (5, 10 and 15 days) only at the stage of maturity of consumption. PS and FD differentially affected (according to fruit maturity stage) the physicochemical and nutraceutical quality. A similar behavior was observed for the PSxFD interaction. The outstanding results were, at physiological maturity, the PR dose elevated TSS, phenols and TSS/TA ratio; in PS, OS increased Hue, TA, TSS and phenols. At maturity of consumption, the RE dose increased TSS, TSS/TA ratio, phenols, β-carotene and RS; at PS, OS increased TS, luminosity, TSS/TA ratio, β-carotene and vitamin C. The best fruit quality is achieved with the MS:PR combination at physiological maturity and OS:RE at ripening stage. Depending on the degree of maturity of the fruits, this study showed how the fertilization dose, the production seasons, and their interaction modify the physicochemical and nutraceutical quality of mango fruits

Comorbidity Index as a Predictor of Mortality in Pediatric Patients With Solid Tumors

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine whether a comorbidity index could be used to predict mortality in pediatric patients with chemotherapy-treated solid tumors.Methods: Pediatric patients who underwent chemotherapy treatment for solid tumors were included, and demographic, clinical, and comorbidity data were obtained from patient electronic records.Results: A total of 196 pediatric patients with embryonic solid tumors were included. Metastatic tumors were the most frequently observed (n = 103, 52.6%). The most common comorbidities encountered for the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were cellulitis (n = 24, 12.2%) and acute renal failure (n = 15, 7.7%). For the Pediatric Comorbidity Index (PCI), the most frequent comorbidities were pneumonia and sepsis, with n = 64 (32.7%) for each. We evaluated established the prognostic values for both indexes using Kaplan-Meier curves, finding that the CCI and PCI could predict mortality with p < 0.0001.Conclusion: Using the PCI, we observed 100% survival in patients without comorbidities, 70% survival in patients with a low degree of comorbidity, and 20% survival in patients with a high degree of comorbidity. Greater discrimination of probability of survival could be achieved using degrees of comorbidity on the PCI than using degrees of comorbidity on the CCI. The application of the PCI for assessing the hospitalized pediatric population may be of importance for improving clinical evaluation

Fetal and Postnatal Nicotine Exposure Modifies Maturation of Gonocytes to Spermatogonia in Mice

Studies in laboratory animals have shown that male offspring from dams, exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and postnatal periods, show alterations in fertility, although the origin of this is still uncertain. In this study, we examined in a mouse model if the process of gonocyte maturation to spermatogonia was affected in male offspring from dams with nicotine administration during pregnancy and postnatal periods. BALB/C mice, with and without nicotine administrations in pregnancy and postnatal periods, were studied. The animals were euthanized at 3, 7, 10, 16, and 35 days postpartum (dpp). Testicular tissue samples were processed for histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical studies; and testicular lipoperoxidation was determined. It was observed that in the nicotine-exposed animals, there was increased apoptosis and a reduction in the number of gonocytes that matured to spermatogonia. This gonocyte-spermatogonia maturation reduction was associated with a greater immunoreactivity to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the germ cells. Lipoperoxidation was similar in both groups until 16 dpp, with significant reduction at 35 dpp. Our findings suggest that nicotine intake during pregnancy and postnatal periods can affect the process of maturation of gonocytes to spermatogonia and the pool of available spermatogonia for spermatogenesis

Cumulative incidence, prevalence, seroconversion, and associated factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers of a University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia

Q2Q1This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence, prevalence, and seroconversion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. An ambispective cohort was established from March 2020 to February 2021. From November 2020 to February 2021, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured on two occasions 14–90 days apart to determine seroprevalence and seroconversion. We used multivariate log-binomial regression to evaluate factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 2,597 HCWs, the cumulative incidence of infection was 35.7%, and seroprevalence was 21.5%. A reduced risk of infection was observed among those aged 35–44 and ≥45 years (adjusted relative risks [aRRs], 0.84 and 0.83, respectively), physicians (aRR, 0.77), those wearing N95 respirators (aRR, 0.82) and working remotely (aRR, 0.74). Being overweight (aRR, 1.18) or obese (aRR, 1.24); being a nurse or nurse assistant (aRR, 1.20); working in the emergency room (aRR, 1.45), general wards (aRR, 1.45), intensive care unit (aRR, 1.34), or COVID-19 areas (aRR, 1.17); and close contact with COVID-19 cases (aRR, 1.47) increased the risk of infection. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection found in this study reflects the dynamics of the first year of the pandemic in Bogotá. A high burden of infection calls for strengthening prevention and screening measures for HCWs, focusing especially on those at high risk.https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1833-1599https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8888-9411https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6623-5337https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5363-5729https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4946-8774https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4745-5339https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4579-6033https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2536-4471https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9013-5384https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0265-0563Revista Internacional - IndexadaA1N

A New Method to Quantify Ifosfamide Blood Levels Using Dried Blood Spots and UPLC-MS/MS in Paediatric Patients with Embryonic Solid Tumours.

Ifosfamide blood concentrations are necessary to monitor its therapeutic response, avoiding any adverse effect. We developed and validated an analytical method by UPLC-MS/MS to quantify ifosfamide in dried blood spots (DBS). Blood samples were collected on Whatman 903® filter paper cards. Five 3 mm disks were punched out from each dried blood spot. Acetonitrile and ethyl acetate were used for drug extraction. Chromatographic separation was carried out in an Acquity UPLC equipment with a BEH-C18 column, 2.1 x 100 mm, 1.7 μm (Waters®). The mobile phase consisted in 5 mM ammonium formate and methanol:acetonitrile (40:48:12 v/v/v) at 0.2 mL/min. LC-MS/MS detection was done by ESI+ and multiple reaction mode monitoring, ionic transitions were m/z1+ 260.99 > 91.63 for ifosfamide and 261.00 > 139.90 for cyclophosphamide (internal standard). This method was linear within a 100-10000 ng/mL range and it was accurate, precise and selective. Ifosfamide samples in DBS were stable for up to 52 days at -80°C. The procedure was tested in 14 patients, ages 1 month to 17 years (9 males and 5 females), with embryonic tumours treated with ifosfamide, alone or combined, at a public tertiary referral hospital. Ifosfamide blood levels ranged from 11.1 to 39.7 μmol/L at 12 hours after the last infusion, while 24-hour levels ranged from 0.7-19.7 μmol/L. The median at 12 hours was 19.5 μmol/L (Q25 14.4-Q75 29.0) and 3.8 μmol/L (Q25 1.5-Q75 9.9) at 24 hours, p<0.001. This method is feasible to determine ifosfamide plasma levels in paediatric patients

A multi‑model approach to explore sustainable food and land use pathways for Argentina

In Argentina, current food and land-use systems are drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, nutrient outflows, chemical pollution and water stress, while they fail to produce sustainable livelihoods for farmers and herders. Argentina must transition toward more sustainable food and land-use systems to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Here, we present mid-century food and land-use system pathways to achieve biodiversity, freshwater use, food production and greenhouse gas emission targets, co-developed with the government, research and civil society stakeholders. We used a multi model approach, integrating outputs from a food system and land-use accounting tool (FABLE calculator), a land-use allocation model (Dinamica EGO) and a spatially explicit conservation prioritization approach (NatureMap) to construct a carbon neutral, actionable food system and land-use scenario that could also lead to the achievement of biodiversity, freshwater use, food production and carbon storage targets by 2050. Such integrated approaches are rare, despite their high value for helping cross-sectoral experts and policymakers cut through complexity to find pathways to achieve multiple sustainability objectives in tandem. This paper presents a nationally designed transferable methodology to: (1) construct a carbon neutral pathway toward 2050, (2) create spatially explicit land use projections, (3) detect and assess trade-offs between sustainability goals, (4) modify this pathway to foster co-benefits and (5) work toward concurrent attainment of multiple SDGs. Preliminary results suggest Argentina is well suited to meet multiple SDGs, provided businesses, civil society and government agree to several key commitments, including completely halting deforestation, promoting afforestation and reforestation, and increasing agricultural productivity to spare natural lands.EEA AnguilFil: Frank, Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Volante, Jose Norberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Calamari, Noelia Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Gonzalez Chaves, Baltazar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Gonzalez Chaves, Baltazar. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina.Fil: Garcia Martínez, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Garcia Martínez, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro; Argentina.Fil: Mosciaro, Maria Jesus. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta. Laboratorio de Teledetección y SIG; ArgentinaFil: Martín, Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Martín, Gabriel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina.Fil: Benito Amaro, Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Economía y Prospectiva (CIEP); ArgentinaFil: Pace Guerrero, Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Economía y Prospectiva (CIEP); ArgentinaFil: Casellas, Karina Susana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Economía y Prospectiva (CIEP); ArgentinaFil: Zuliani, Melina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Zuliani, Melina. Fundación Bariloche (FB); ArgentinaFil: Sirimarco, Ximena. Grupo de Estudio de Agroecosistemas y Paisajes Rurales (GEAP); ArgentinaFil: Gaitán, Juan José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Cristeche, Estela Raquel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Economía y Prospectiva (CIEP); ArgentinaFil: Barral, María Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina.Fil: Villarino, Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Villarino, Sebastián. Grupo de Estudio de Agroecosistemas y Paisajes Rurales (GEAP); ArgentinaFil: Zelarayan, Ana Liliana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Monjeau, Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Monjeau, Adrian .Fundación Bariloche; Argentin

Validation parameters of the analytical method for to quantify ifosfamide in DBS at 45% HTC.

<p>The intra-day variability with quality controls was performed in three consecutive days, data for days 1 to 3 are depicted as a, b and c, respectively. SD: Standard Deviation. CV: Coefficient Variation. N/R: Not required according to the guidelines. Amount claimed for QC1, QC2 and QC3 were 300, 4000 and 8000 ng/mL, respectively.</p><p>Validation parameters of the analytical method for to quantify ifosfamide in DBS at 45% HTC.</p

Chromatograms for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of individual channels.

<p>The figure shows Ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide on 24-h samples. Selectivity to other drugs administered with ifosfamide: vincristine, ondansetron, etoposide, carboplatin and methotrexate.</p

Validation parameters of the analytical method by UPLC-MS/MS, to quantify ifosfamide in DBS at 30% HTC.

<p>SD: Standard Deviation. CV: Coefficient of Variation. N/R: Not required according to the guidelines. Theoretical amounts for QC1, QC2 and QC3 were 300, 4000 and 8000 ng/mL, respectively.</p><p>Validation parameters of the analytical method by UPLC-MS/MS, to quantify ifosfamide in DBS at 30% HTC.</p