Direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus induce a rapid clinical and biochemical remission of porphyria cutanea tarda

Sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is strongly associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in our population. 1-4 Therapeutic options for PCT include phlebotomies and low-dose 4-aminoquinolines, which show high rates of disease remission. However, some patients with PCT may present frequent relapses attributable to resistance, intolerability or poor adherence to conventional treatments and/or persistence of risk factors. In 2014, we reported the first case of a patient with active PCT and HCV-HIV coinfection cured with direct antiviral agents (DAAs).5 Herein, we present a cohort of patients demonstrating rapid and persistent remission of PCT with DAA regimes administered for HCV infection

Comercialización de ovinos de pelo en los municipios de Tejupilco y Amatepec del Estado de México.

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar el mercado de los ovinos en el sur del Estado de México. Se analizó el proceso de comercialización de los ovinos de pelo en los Municipios de Tejupilco y Amatepec, durante el año 2011, en la cual se identificaron los canales de comercialización y se realizaron los cálculos de sus márgenes de comercialización, en términos absolutos y relativos mediante sus valores equivalentes de la carne de ovino. La información provino de un muestreo por intención, en donde se encuestaron a 22 productores de ovino, siete acopiadores y cuatro barbacoeros. Se recolectó información sobre los precios, costos y volúmenes de venta de cada agente participante, entre otras variables. La comercialización de los ovinos se efectúa a través de intermediarios (79%), mientras el 21% de la venta del rebaño es realizada directamente con el consumidor final. Con relación a los márgenes de comercialización, el productor obtuvo 17,75% del precio que pagó el consumidor final por kilogramo de barbacoa. Los intermediarios (barbacoero y acopiador de ovino en pie) alcanzaron el mayor margen de comercialización (82,24%). El barbacoero logró la mayor relación beneficio-costo. El canal más común fue el productor, acopiador de ovino en pie, barbacoero y consumidor final

Private sector profitability of maize production in the bajío region of guanajuato, mexico / rentabilidad privada de la producción de maíz en la región bajío de guanajuato, méxico

Abstract. Agriculture, generally speaking, is the basis of thefood system of any country. Mexico’s maize crop is particularly important, not only in terms of food security but also as in terms of culture and identity. The fact that, in recent decades, Mexico has positioned itself as the second largest importer of maize is worrying. For the purpose of measuring the private sector profitability of maize production in the Bajío region of Guanajuato, this study analyzed data from 2,996 producers who participate in the “High Yield Maize Assessment Program (PROEMAR)”, of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias- Bajío Experiment Camp (INIFAP-CEBAJ). We used the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) developed in 1989 by Monke andPearson. The results indicate that the benefit-cost ratios of the three technological systems analyzed (considering in their total income, the sale of grain and sub products), were 2.20 for rainfall (T); 1.50 for irrigation with livestock (RCA) and 1.01 for irrigation without livestock (RSA), excluding land costs; including land costs decreased the ratios to 2.13, 1.35 and 0.91. The private cost ratio (RCP), excluding the land, by production system was: T = 0.04, RCA = 0.13 and RSA = 0.85, which implies that the maize producers in the Bajío region of Guanajuato are competitive. When includingland rent in the production costs, the rainfall and irrigation with livestock systems remained competitive with a RCP of 0.07 and 0.32, respectively; not so for the production unit with the irrigation system without livestock (2.04). The most significant input was fertilizer costs, which represented 50% of the costs. / Resumen. La agricultura en general es la base del sistema alimentario de cualquier país. En México el cultivo de maíz es de especial importancia, no solo en términos de seguridad alimentaria sino también como parte de su cultura e identidad. El hecho de que durante las últimas décadas México se ha posicionado como el segundo importador de maíz a nivel mundial, resulta preocupante. Con el propósito de medir la rentabilidad privada de la producción de maíz en el Bajío de Guanajuato, se analizaron los datos de 2,996 productores que participan en el “Programa de Evaluación de Maíz de Alto Rendimiento (PROEMAR)”, del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias-Campo Experimental Bajío (INIFAP-CEBAJ). Se usó la Matriz de Análisis de Política (MAP) desarrollada en 1989 por Monke y Pearson. Los resultados indican, que las relaciones beneficio-costo de los tres sistemas tecnológicos analizados (considerando en su ingreso total tanto la venta del grano como desubproductos), fueron de 2,20 en temporal (T); 1,50 en riego con actividad pecuaria (RCA) y 1,01 en riego sin actividad pecuaria (RSA), esto excluyendo la tierra de los costos de producción, mientras que incluyendo la tierra la relación disminuye a 2,13, 1,35 y 0,91. La relación del costo privado (RCP) excluyendo la tierra por tecnología fue: T=0,04, RCA=0,13 y RSA=0,85, lo que implica que el productor de maíz en la región Bajío de Guanajuato es competitivo. Al incluir la renta de la tierra en los costos de producción, los sistemas de temporal y riego con actividad pecuaria siguen siendo competitivos con una RCP de 0,07 y 0,32, respectivamente; no así la unidad de producción bajo el sistema de riego sin actividad pecuaria (2,04). El insumo con mayor importancia en los costos fueron los fertilizantes representando un 50 % de los costos

El impacto de una intervención didáctica para la comprensión del concepto de fracción a través de representaciones semióticas en estudiantes de secundaria / The impact of a didactic intervention on the understanding of the concept of fraction through the semiotic representations on students of high school

Se muestran los resultados de una intervención didáctica basada en las transformaciones y conversiones de representaciones semióticas en alumnos de secundaria. Las actividades en las que se involucraron a los alumnos buscaron favorecer la construcción de algunos elementos del concepto de fracción. También se fomentó el uso de las fracciones en contextos familiares y variados y se indagó cuáles eran los errores más comunes en las diferentes representaciones utilizadas. Algunos resultados coinciden con lo ya reportado por otros autores. Por ejemplo, al utilizar y operar las fracciones los alumnos no lograron relacionar sus conocimientos previos con diferentes representaciones. También, el carácter multifacético del concepto originó dificultades de comprensión. En general, los resultados de la aplicación de la propuesta didáctica fueron favorables, se observaron diferentes índices de logros en las distintas transformaciones y conversiones manejadas

Protease inhibitor monotherapy is associated with a higher level of monocyte activation, bacterial translocation and inflammation

Introduction Monotherapy with protease-inhibitors (MPI) may be an alternative to cART for HIV treatment. We assessed the impact of this strategy on immune activation, bacterial translocation and inflammation. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study comparing patients on successful MPI (n=40) with patients on cART (n=20). Activation, senescence, exhaustion and differentiation stage in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets, markers of monocyte activation, microbial translocation, inflammation, coagulation and low-level viremia were assessed. Results CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocyte subset parameters were not significantly different between both groups. Conversely, as compared with triple cART, MPI patients showed a higher proportion of activated monocytes (CD14+ CD16−CD163+ cells, p=0.031), soluble markers of monocyte activation (sCD14 p=0.004, sCD163 p=0.002), microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein; LBP p=0.07), inflammation (IL-6 p=0.04) and low-level viremia (p=0.035). In a multivariate model, a higher level of CD14+ CD16−CD163+ cells and sCD14, and presence of very low-level viremia were independently associated with MPI. Monocyte activation was independently associated with markers of inflammation (IL-6, p=0.006), microbial translocation (LBP, p=0.01) and low-level viremia (p=0.01). Conclusions Patients on MPI showed a higher level of monocyte activation than patients on standard therapy. Microbial translocation and low-level viremia were associated with the high level of monocyte activation observed in patients on MPI. The long-term clinical consequences of these findings should be assessed

The effects of sildenafil citrate on the fetoplacental development and hemodynamics in a rabbit model of intrauterina growth restriction

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate (SC) to improve placental and fetal growth in a diet-induced rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Pregnant rabbits were fed either ad libitum (Group C) or restricted to 50% of dietary requirements (Group R) or restricted and treated with SC (Group SC). The treatment with SC improved placental development by increasing vascularity and vessel hypertrophy in the decidua. The assessment of feto–placental haemodynamics showed higher resistance and pulsatility indices at the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in fetuses treated with SC when compared with Group R, which had increased systolic peak and time-averaged mean velocities at the MCA. Furthermore, fetuses in the SC group had significantly higher biparietal and thoracic diameters and longer crown–rump lengths than fetuses in Group R. Hence, the SC group had a reduced IUGR rate and a higher kit size at birth compared with Group R. In conclusion, SC may provide potential benefits in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and IUGR, partially counteracting the negative effects of food restriction on placental development and fetal growth. However, the present study also found evidence of a possible blood overflow in the brain that warrants further investigation

Registro del enrollador de las hojas, Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), en zarzamora en Rancho Huatarillo, Peribán, Michoacán

The leafroller, Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is recorded for the first time in blackberry (Rubus sp. cultivar Tupi) in Rancho Huatarillo, Municipality of Peribán, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. It is important to assess the damage that this insect may cause to the plants, in order to avoid the possibility that it reach the pest status in the later crop

Do ART and chemsex drugs get along? Potential drug-drug Interactions in a cohort of people living with HIV who engaged in chemsex: a retrospective observational study.

Introduction: People living with HIV (PLWH) who engaged in chemsex are at risk of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) with recreational drugs. This study aimed to characterize pDDIs between antiretroviral treatment (ART) and chemsex drugs and evaluate their association with unscheduled relevant hospital consultations. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study in a series of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) living with HIV who engaged in chemsex and who attended a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from February 2018 through August 2019. Associations between all recorded pDDIs and relevant unscheduled consultations were estimated using the incidence rate (IR) per 100 person-years of those events compared between patients with no pDDI (green flag) or moderate severity pDDI (orange flag) with patients with high severity pDDI (red flag) using the incidence rate ratio (IRR). Results: Among 172 PLWH engaged in chemsex, 249 ART regimens were prescribed: 44% based on integrase inhibitors, 30% on boosted ART, and 26% based on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The substances and recreational drugs most frequently used were erectile dysfunction agents (83%), methamphetamine (79%), GHB (77%), and alkyl nitrites (71%). Polydrug use was reported in 52%. We observed 2048 pDDIs. Of these, 23% were orange flag pDDIs; 88% related to boosted ARTs. The IR of the 285 unscheduled relevant episodes in patients with orange flag pDDIs was 64.67 (95% CI 40.07-89.28). The IRR of green flag pDDIs was 1.05 (95% CI 0.60-1.8; p = 0.876). Conclusion: One in four pDDIs were of moderate severity but no significant increase in the incidence of unscheduled relevant consultations was observed. A high number of unscheduled consultations, predominantly for psychiatric events and intoxication, were observed. Beyond using non-boosted ART to minimize pDDIs, other factors related to the practice of chemsex must be addressed, in order to offer a better approach

Phylogenetic analysis of an epidemic outbreak of acute hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients by ultra-deep pyrosequencing

Background: The incidence of acute hepatitis C (AHC) among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased significantly in the last 10 years. Several studies point to a social and sexual network of HIV-positive MSM that extends internationally. Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics of HCV transmission in an outbreak of AHC in HIV-infected MSM in Barcelona by ultra-deep pyrosequencing. Study design: Between 2008 and 2013, 113 cases of AHC in HIV-infected MSM were diagnosed in the Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona. Massive sequencing was performed using the Roche 454 GS Junior platform. To define possible transmission networks, maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed, and levels of genetic diversity within and among patients were compared. Results: Among the 70 cases analyzed, we have identified 16 potential clusters of transmission: 8 for genotype 1a (23 cases involved), 1 for genotype 1b (3 cases) and 7 for genotype 4d (27 cases). Although the initial phylogenetic reconstruction suggested a local transmission cluster of HCV gt4d, our approach based on low genetic differentiation did not corroborate it. Indeed, gt4d strains formed 4 independent groups related to patients from other countries. Conclusions: Frequent clustering of HIV-positive MSM shows that HCV infection has spread through a local network in Barcelona. This outbreak is related to a large international HCV transmission network among MSM. Public health efforts are needed to reduce HCV transmission among this high-risk group