Botanical Composition and Nutritive Value of Grazing Lands from Organic and Conventional Agrosilvopastoral Production Systems of Tropical Southeastern Mexico

In the current situation of agriculture, organic livestock farming has been not only adapted to ameliorate undesirable impacts on environment but also it is challenged to hold or improve agricultural yields obtain-ed by conventional agriculture. In the Mesoamerican biological corridor, a region recognized with an abundant diversity, almost all animal husbandry is based on extensive grazing and traditional agrosilvopastoral systems (Nahed-Toral et al. 2009; Nahed et al. 2010). Furthermore, the conversion of natural jungle areas to new farmland through deforestation is a prevalent problem for biological conservation. Therefore, precise knowledge for suitable agriculture and livestock product-ion are needed to stop the ecological damage while the economic and social aspects are attended. The present study aims to investigate the relative frequency of botanical species for ruminant production in organic and conventional systems in south-eastern Mexico. The study would help to describe forage availabilities and nutritive potential of species that can be use as basis to plan more efficient agrosilvopastoral systems while preserving ecological and sustainable farming practices

Conocimiento del personal de enfermería sobre la técnica de aspiración de secreciones por tubo endotraqueal en unidades hospitalaria

The objective of this work was to conduct a systematic review on the knowledge and practice of endotracheal suctioning technique among nursing staff in hospital units. 10 review articles and 8 original articles from different databases such as Scopus, Scielo, and Latindex were selected. It was found that knowledge and practice of suctioning technique varied significantly among nursing staff in different hospital units and countries. Studies identified a lack of proper knowledge and skills in the suctioning technique, as well as the need for training and continuous education. Practical implications include the importance of improving nursing staff's training and education to enhance patient care and safety. Future challenges include the need for standardization and continuous updating of suctioning protocols and the need for further research to evaluate the effects of suctioning technique on critically ill patients. Possible limitations of this study include limited database selection and lack of access to all relevant articles. In conclusion, this work highlights the need to improve nursing staff's education and continuous training in the suctioning technique to ensure quality and safe patient care.El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar una revisión sistemática sobre el conocimiento y la práctica de la técnica de aspiración de secreciones por tubo endotraqueal en personal de enfermería en unidades hospitalarias. Se seleccionaron 10 artículos de revisión y 8 artículos originales de diferentes bases de datos como Scopus, Scielo y Latindex. Se encontró que el conocimiento y la práctica de la técnica de aspiración de secreciones varían significativamente entre el personal de enfermería en diferentes unidades hospitalarias y países. Los estudios identificaron una falta de conocimiento y habilidades adecuadas en la técnica de aspiración, así como la necesidad de capacitación y educación continua. Las implicancias prácticas incluyen la importancia de mejorar la capacitación y la formación del personal de enfermería para mejorar la atención y seguridad del paciente. Los desafíos futuros incluyen la necesidad de una estandarización y actualización continua de los protocolos de aspiración y la necesidad de investigaciones adicionales para evaluar los efectos de la técnica de aspiración en pacientes críticos. Las posibles limitaciones de este estudio incluyen la selección limitada de bases de datos y la falta de acceso a todos los artículos relevantes. En conclusión, este trabajo destaca la necesidad de mejorar la educación y la formación continua del personal de enfermería en la técnica de aspiración de secreciones para garantizar una atención de calidad y segura para los pacientes

Flavonoids: Important Biocompounds in Food

Flavonoids are secondary metabolites in plants that show some desirable characteristics. These compounds can be grouped in different classes on the basis of their basic structure. It has been reported that flavonoids are important for human health because of their antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti‐inflammatory activities and because they act as free radical scavengers as they are potential reducing agents that protect from oxidative damage, which are conferred by the content of hydroxyl groups. In recent years, flavonoids have been investigated based on their ability to reduce the incidence of many diseases, to inhibit cell damage, to repair DNA process and to reduce oxidative stress. Besides, flavonoids have been demonstrated to have cardioprotective effects, have potential to improve coronary vasodilatation and prevent LDLs from oxidizing and also showed potential neuroprotective effects. Moreover, flavonoids have been used in the food industry due to their ability to preserve foods, to provide colour and flavour and to make dietary supplements, among other important industrial applications

Synchronized activation of striatal direct and indirect pathways underlies the behavior in unilateral dopamine‐depleted mice

For more than three decades it has been known, that striatal neurons become hyperactive after the loss of dopamine input, but the involvement of dopamine (DA) D1‐ or D2‐receptor‐expressing neurons has only been demonstrated indirectly. By recording neuronal activity using fluorescent calcium indicators in D1 or D2 eGFP‐expressing mice, we showed that following dopamine depletion, both types of striatal output neurons are involved in the large increase in neuronal activity generating a characteristic cell assembly of particular neurons that dominate the pattern. When we expressed channelrhodopsin in all the output neurons, light activation in freely moving animals, caused turning like that following dopamine loss. However, if the light stimulation was patterned in pulses the animals circled in the other direction. To explore the neuronal participation during this stimulation we infected normal mice with channelrhodopsin and calcium indicator in striatal output neurons. In slices made from these animals, continuous light stimulation for 15 s induced many cells to be active together and a particular dominant group of neurons, whereas light in patterned pulses activated fewer cells in more variable groups. These results suggest that the simultaneous activity of a large dominant group of striatal output neurons is intimately associated with parkinsonian symptoms

Biomass Accumulation and Carbon Storage in Pinus maximinoi, Quercus robur, Quercus rugosa, and Pinus patula from Village- Forests of Chiapas, Mexico

The Frailesca region (Chiapas, Mexico) presents a lack of forest studies and its environmental contribution. This chapter displays a first case study with preliminary research information regarding the identification of main forest trees and rural villages with best potential for biomass production and carbon storage management. Twenty two plots of 500 m2 were selected in 11 villages of the region, in order to identify the main and dominant forest trees species and then to estimate the biomass production and carbon storage in pine (Pinus maximinoi), oak (Quercus robur), holm oak (Quercus rugosa) and Mexican weeping pine (Pinus patula) species. This study shows that the largest accumulation of both biomass and carbon occurred in the pine forests and the lowest in the oak forests. Pine trees showed carbon storage of 516.75 Mg ha−1, followed by holm oaks, with 297.21 Mg ha−1; the species with the lowest value was oak, with 75.02 Mg ha−1. The forests of the 24 de Febrero villages had the highest potential for carbon storage. Deep studies are being conducted in relation to the aboveground biomass, carbon contents in trees stem, branches and leaves, and the relation to biomass dynamics and carbon stocks and other ecological aspects of village-forests

Randomized crossover pharmacokinetic evaluation of subcutaneous versus intravenous granisetron in cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: 5-HT3-receptor antagonists are one of the mainstays of antiemetic treatment, and they are administered either i.v. or orally. Nevertheless, sometimes neither administration route is feasible, such as in patients unable to admit oral intake managed in an outpatient setting. Our objective was to evaluate the bioavailability of s.c. granisetron. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive 3 mg of granisetron either s.c. or i.v. in a crossover manner during two cycles. Blood and urine samples were collected after each cycle. Pharmacokinetic parameters observed with each administration route were compared by analysis of variance. RESULTS: From May to November 2005, 31 patients were included and 25 were evaluable. Subcutaneous granisetron resulted in a 27% higher area under the concentration-time curve for 0-12 hours (AUC(0-12h)) and higher levels at 12 hours, with similar values for AUC(0-24h). The maximum concentration was lower with the s.c. than with the i.v. route and was observed 30 minutes following s.c. administration. CONCLUSION: Granisetron administered s.c. achieves complete bioavailability. This is the first study that shows that s.c. granisetron might be a valid alternative to i.v. delivery. Further trials to confirm clinical equivalence are warranted. This new route of administration might be especially relevant for outpatient management of emesis in cancer patients

Aplicación del mantenimiento centrado en la confiabilidad en motores de combustión interna de las embarcaciones pesqueras de la serie intrépido de una empresa pesquera

El uso de la metodología del Mantenimiento Centrado en la Confiabilidad (MCC o RCM) contempla no solamente el estudio del equipo como tal sino de los subsistemas que lo conforman y la interacción con el entorno físico que lo rodea. En este proyecto primero se realizó una adecuada identificación de los problemas que dificultan la maximización de la función de los motores de combustión interna de las Embarcaciones Pesqueras (E/P) de la serie “Intrépido”, a través del análisis de modo, fallas, causas y efectos (AMEF). Al definirse los modos y las causas de las fallas fue posible establecer la criticidad de cada una ellas y el impacto en las metas de operación, mantenimiento, salud y medio ambiente así como su priorización. El objetivo del estudio es aplicar la metodología con la finalidad de incrementar la vida útil de los componentes de los equipos, así como la disponibilidad de los mismos al disminuir las fallas y sus consecuencias, incrementando así, las ventas de harina de pescado a un menor costo de mantenimiento

Valor pronóstico del descenso absoluto de la porción N-terminal del propéptido natriurético tipo B en insuficiencia cardiaca descompensada: análisis secundario del estudio CLUSTER-HF

Objective. The purpose of this study is to determine the prognostic value of the absolute decrease in the N-terminal portion of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to prevent fewer clinical events, in the population of CLUSTER-HF (efficacy of ultrasound lung to guide therapy and prevent readmissions in heart failure). Materials and methods. This study was conducted in a subgroup of ninety-four patients with available NT-proBNP information at hospital discharge and prior to randomization in the CLUSTER-HF study. The primary objective of the study was to determine the prognostic value of absolute NT-proBNP decline below which fewer events of all-cause death, emergency room visits, and rehospitalization for heart failure at 180 days. Results. The absolute decrease in NT-proBNP below 3,350 pg/mL has a moderate discriminative capacity with AUC= 0.602, with a prognostic value in the combined event at 180 days (log-rank test, p=0.01). Also, according to the multivariable analysis, it is an independent marker of clinical events at 180 days OR 0.319 (0.102-0.995, p=0.04) above other clinical variables. Conclusions. An absolute decrease to 3,350 pg/mL of NT-proBNP or less at discharge from the hospitalization due to heart failure, was associated with fewer clinical events at 180 days.Objetivo. Determinar el valor pronóstico del descenso absoluto de la porción N-terminal del propéptido natriurético tipo B (NT–proBNP) para prevenir menos eventos clínicos en la población del estudio CLUSTER-HF (eficacia del ultrasonido pulmonar para guiar la terapia y prevenir las rehospitalizaciones en insuficiencia cardiaca). Materiales y métodos. El presente estudio fue realizado en un subgrupo de 94 pacientes con información disponible de NT-proBNP al alta hospitalaria y previo a la aleatorización del estudio CLUSTER-HF. El objetivo primario del estudio fue determinar el valor pronóstico de descenso absoluto de NT - pro-BNP por debajo del cual se prediga menos eventos de muerte por todas las causas, visitas a urgencias y rehospitalización por insuficiencia cardiaca a 180 días. Resultados. El descenso absoluto de NT-proBNP por debajo de 3 350 pg/mL tiene una capacidad discriminativa moderada con un AUC= 0,602, con un valor pronóstico significativo en el evento combinado a 180 días (log rank test, p=0,01). Asimismo, de acuerdo al análisis multivariado es un marcador independiente de eventos clínicos a 180 días OR 0,319 (0,102-0,995, p=0,04) por encima de otras variables clínicas. Conclusiones. El tener un descenso absoluto menor a 3 350 pg/mL de NT - pro-BNP al alta de la hospitalización por insuficiencia cardiaca se asoció a menos eventos clínicos a 180 días

Identical Genotype B3 Sequences from Measles Patients in 4 Countries, 2005

Surveillance of measles virus detected an epidemiologic link between a refugee from Kenya and a Dutch tourist in New Jersey, USA. Identical genotype B3 sequences from patients with contemporaneous cases in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in November and December 2005 indicate that Kenya was likely to have been the common source of virus