Relación de factores sociodemográficos con el estado nutricional de estudiantes de Enfermería. Universidad de Panamá, Veraguas, 2023

University students modify their lifestyles as a result of the demands of their careers; hence, their nutritional status experiences changes that are unfavorable to their health, predisposing them to the development of chronic pathologies. The study determined the relationship of sociodemographic factors with the nutritional status of Nursing students at the University of Panamá, Regional University Center of Veraguas. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research. Information was collected with a structured instrument with closed questions on sociodemographic variables plus measurement of weight, height, waist, and hips. The data were tabulated and analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 23. There were 339 students who participated, of which 80.8% were female. Regarding nutritional status, 44.9% were overweight, of these, 7.1% were female and 7.1% were underweight. Regarding the waist/hip ratio, 25.6% (87) presented high or very high cardiovascular risk. On the other hand, the sociodemographic factors that indicated significance with respect to the nutritional status variable are age and academic level; but it is important to note that the correlation coefficient indicates a weak correlation of 0.234 and 0.202 respectively. It was concluded that the behavior of the nutritional status of nursing students is similar to that of the rest of the Panamanian population, making it necessary to early identify inadequate lifestyles that could influence the prevention of future weight gain and associated diseases.Los estudiantes universitarios modifican sus estilos de vida como resultado de las exigencias propias de sus carreras, de ahí que el estado nutricional experimenta cambios desfavorecedores para su salud, pues los predisponen al desarrollo de patologías crónicas. El estudio determinó la relación de factores sociodemográficos con el estado nutricional de estudiantes de Enfermería de la Universidad de Panamá,  Centro Regional Universitario de Veraguas. Se trató de una investigación descriptiva, correlacional de corte transversal. Se recabó información mediante un instrumento estructurado con preguntas cerradas sobre variables sociodemográficas, además de la medición de peso, talla, cintura y cadera.  Los datos se tabularon y analizaron en el programa estadístico SPSS versión 23. Participaron 339 estudiantes; 80.8%, del sexo femenino. En cuanto al estado nutricional, el 44.9% presentó sobrecarga ponderal. De este grupo, 37.1% es del sexo femenino, y 7.1% mostró bajo peso. Con respecto al índice cintura/cadera, 25.6% (87) presentó riesgo cardiovascular alto o muy alto. Por otro lado, los factores sociodemográficos que señalaron significancia con respecto a la variable estado nutricional fueron la edad y el nivel académico; pero es importante anotar que el coeficiente de correlación indica una correlación débil de 0.234 y 0.202, respectivamente. Se concluyó que el comportamiento del estado nutricional de estudiantes de Enfermería es similar al del resto de la población panameña y se necesita la identificación temprana de inadecuados estilos de vida que pudieran influir, a fin de prevenir la ganancia de peso y enfermedades asociadas

Changes in symptomatology, reinfection, and transmissibility associated with the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7: an ecological study

Background The SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 was first identified in December, 2020, in England. We aimed to investigate whether increases in the proportion of infections with this variant are associated with differences in symptoms or disease course, reinfection rates, or transmissibility. Methods We did an ecological study to examine the association between the regional proportion of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and reported symptoms, disease course, rates of reinfection, and transmissibility. Data on types and duration of symptoms were obtained from longitudinal reports from users of the COVID Symptom Study app who reported a positive test for COVID-19 between Sept 28 and Dec 27, 2020 (during which the prevalence of B.1.1.7 increased most notably in parts of the UK). From this dataset, we also estimated the frequency of possible reinfection, defined as the presence of two reported positive tests separated by more than 90 days with a period of reporting no symptoms for more than 7 days before the second positive test. The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections with the B.1.1.7 variant across the UK was estimated with use of genomic data from the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium and data from Public Health England on spike-gene target failure (a non-specific indicator of the B.1.1.7 variant) in community cases in England. We used linear regression to examine the association between reported symptoms and proportion of B.1.1.7. We assessed the Spearman correlation between the proportion of B.1.1.7 cases and number of reinfections over time, and between the number of positive tests and reinfections. We estimated incidence for B.1.1.7 and previous variants, and compared the effective reproduction number, Rt, for the two incidence estimates. Findings From Sept 28 to Dec 27, 2020, positive COVID-19 tests were reported by 36 920 COVID Symptom Study app users whose region was known and who reported as healthy on app sign-up. We found no changes in reported symptoms or disease duration associated with B.1.1.7. For the same period, possible reinfections were identified in 249 (0·7% [95% CI 0·6–0·8]) of 36 509 app users who reported a positive swab test before Oct 1, 2020, but there was no evidence that the frequency of reinfections was higher for the B.1.1.7 variant than for pre-existing variants. Reinfection occurrences were more positively correlated with the overall regional rise in cases (Spearman correlation 0·56–0·69 for South East, London, and East of England) than with the regional increase in the proportion of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant (Spearman correlation 0·38–0·56 in the same regions), suggesting B.1.1.7 does not substantially alter the risk of reinfection. We found a multiplicative increase in the Rt of B.1.1.7 by a factor of 1·35 (95% CI 1·02–1·69) relative to pre-existing variants. However, Rt fell below 1 during regional and national lockdowns, even in regions with high proportions of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant. Interpretation The lack of change in symptoms identified in this study indicates that existing testing and surveillance infrastructure do not need to change specifically for the B.1.1.7 variant. In addition, given that there was no apparent increase in the reinfection rate, vaccines are likely to remain effective against the B.1.1.7 variant. Funding Zoe Global, Department of Health (UK), Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (UK), Medical Research Council (UK), Alzheimer's Society

Spectral remote sensing reflectance of the water surface collected at multiple stations on cruises DP03 and DP04, May-August 2016

Remote sensing reflectance, Rrs(λ), is used for validation of airborne and satellite ocean color measurements. Inverse models also employ Rrs measurements to estimate the bio-optical properties of near-surface waters or shallow benthic environments. It has been used to detect algal blooms, floating vegetation. The presence of oil also alters the water’s specular reflectance properties, and thus the measured Rrs. Rrs(λ) is measured from the ship using a handheld spectroradiometer. Multiple measurements of the light reflected from the water’s surface, a portion of the sky, and a calibrated, diffuse reflectance reference plaque are made using a spectroradiometer with a limited field of view. The Rrs measurement is most reliable during moderate solar elevations, using observational angles consistent with remote sensing protocols. Multiple radiance measurements are combined in the computation of Rrs(λ)

Integrative DNA, RNA, and protein evidence connects TREML4 to coronary artery calcification

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a heritable and definitive morphologic marker of atherosclerosis that strongly predicts risk for future cardiovascular events. To search for genes involved in CAC, we used an integrative transcriptomic, genomic, and protein expression strategy by using next-generation DNA sequencing in the discovery phase with follow-up studies using traditional molecular biology and histopathology techniques. RNA sequencing of peripheral blood from a discovery set of CAC cases and controls was used to identify dysregulated genes, which were validated by ClinSeq and Framingham Heart Study data. Only a single gene, TREML4, was upregulated in CAC cases in both studies. Further examination showed that rs2803496 was a TREML4 cis-eQTL and that the minor allele at this locus conferred up to a 6.5-fold increased relative risk of CAC. We characterized human TREML4 and demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques that it is localized in macrophages surrounding the necrotic core of coronary plaques complicated by calcification (but not in arteries with less advanced disease). Finally, we determined by von Kossa staining that TREML4 colocalizes with areas of microcalcification within coronary plaques. Overall, we present integrative RNA, DNA, and protein evidence implicating TREML4 in coronary artery calcificati

Kinetics of Leptospira interrogans Infection in Hamsters after Intradermal and Subcutaneous Challenge

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by highly motile, helically shaped bacteria that penetrate the skin and mucous membranes through lesions or abrasions, and rapidly disseminate throughout the body. Although the intraperitoneal route of infection is widely used to experimentally inoculate hamsters, this challenge route does not represent a natural route of infection.Here we describe the kinetics of disease and infection in hamster model of leptospirosis after subcutaneous and intradermal inoculation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni, strain Fiocruz L1-130. Histopathologic changes in and around the kidney, including glomerular and tubular damage and interstitial inflammatory changes, began on day 5, and preceded deterioration in renal function as measured by serum creatinine. Weight loss, hemoconcentration, increased absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) in the blood and hepatic dysfunction were first noted on day 6. Vascular endothelial growth factor, a serum marker of sepsis severity, became elevated during the later stages of infection. The burden of infection, as measured by quantitative PCR, was highest in the kidney and peaked on day 5 after intradermal challenge and on day 6 after subcutaneous challenge. Compared to subcutaneous challenge, intradermal challenge resulted in a lower burden of infection in both the kidney and liver on day 6, lower ANC and less weight loss on day 7.The intradermal and subcutaneous challenge routes result in significant differences in the kinetics of dissemination and disease after challenge with L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130 at an experimental dose of 2×106 leptospires. These results provide new information regarding infection kinetics in the hamster model of leptospirosis