Clinical outcomes in a Colombian cohort of patients with vaginal discharge syndrome treated with antifungals and antibiotics

OBJETIVO: Reportar el desempeño clínico de dos medicamentos indicados para tratamiento del síndrome de flujo vaginal (fluconazol, secnidazol y terconazol, clindamicina) y comparar el efecto clínico. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, comparativo y analítico de cohortes al que se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de síndrome de flujo vaginal susceptibles de ser tratadas con fluconazol-secnidazol o terconazol-clindamicina en 12 ciudades de Colombia, con seguimiento de 8 días (± 3 días). Este proyecto fue aprobado por un comité de ética en investigación con seres humanos. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 176 pacientes, pero solo 153 (87%) completaron el seguimiento. Los límites de edad fueron 18 y 67 años; 134 (76%) iniciaron con fluconazol-secnidazol y 42 (24%) con terconazol-clindamicina. Por lo que se refiere a la comparación en disminución de los síntomas, fluconazol-secnidazol y terconazolclindamicina: flujo (p = 0.0000), prurito (p = 0.002), irritación (p = 0.0000), mal olor (p = 0.001) y dispareunia (p = 0.4). CONCLUSIÓN: La prescripción de la combinación fluconazol-secnidazol fue más frecuente. El apego al tratamiento fue de 86%. La proporción de disminución de los síntomas tuvo límites de 15 y 40%; para el flujo vaginal fue superior a 70% (fluconazolsecnidazol: 115 de 121 y terconazol-clindamicina: 29 de 41).OBJECTIVE: To know the real life clinical performance of the prescription of two drugs for the treatment of vaginal discharge syndrome (Fluconazole-Secnidazole and Terconazole-Clindamycin) and to compare the clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analytical cohort study was conducted. We included women older than 18 years with a diagnosis of vaginal discharge syndrome who were candidates to be treated with Fluconazole-Secnidazole or Terconazole-Clindamycin with 8 days (±3) of follow-up, in 12 cities of Colombia. This project was approved by a research with human being’s ethics committee. RESULTS: 176 patients were included, 153 (86.9%) completed the follow-up, their age ranged between 18 and 67 years. 134 (76.1%) started treatment with FluconazoleSecnidazole and 42 (23.8%) Terconazole-Clindamycin. Symptoms improvement was compared (Enrollment vs. Control), finding for Fluconazole-Secnidazole and Terconazole-Clindamycin: discharge (p=0.0000), pruritus (p=0.002), irritation (p=0.0000), bad smell (p=0.001) and dyspareunia (p=0.4). CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of the combination Fluconazole-Secnidazole was more frequent. The adherence to treatment was 86%. The proportion of improvement in symptoms ranged between 15% and 40%, however, for the case of vaginal discharge it was greater than 70% (Fluconazole-Secnidazole: 115/121 and TerconazoleClindamycin: 29/41)

Gender differences in cooperation: experimental evidence on high school students

The emergence of cooperation among unrelated human subjects is a long-standing conundrum that has been amply studied both theoretically and experimentally. Within the question, a less explored issue relates to the gender dependence of cooperation, which can be traced back to Darwin, who stated that "women are less selfish but men are more competitive". Indeed, gender has been shown to be relevant in several game theoretical paradigms of social cooperativeness, including prisoner's dilemma, snowdrift and ultimatum/dictator games, but there is no consensus as to which gender is more cooperative. We here contribute to this literature by analyzing the role of gender in a repeated Prisoners' Dilemma played by Spanish high-school students in both a square lattice and a heterogeneous network. While the experiment was conducted to shed light on the influence of networks on the emergence of cooperation, we benefit from the availability of a large dataset of more 1200 participants. We applied different standard econometric techniques to this dataset, including Ordinary Least Squares and Linear Probability models including random effects. All our analyses indicate that being male is negatively associated with the level of cooperation, this association being statistically significant at standard levels. We also obtain a gender difference in the level of cooperation when we control for the unobserved heterogeneity of individuals, which indicates that the gender gap in cooperation favoring female students is present after netting out this effect from other socio-demographics factors not controlled for in the experiment, and from gender differences in risk, social and competitive preferences.This paper has benefited from the funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Projects ECO2012-34828, RESINEE and PRODIEVO). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Alpha lipoic acid efficacy in burning mouth syndrome: a controlled clinical trial

Background: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and determine the statistical significance of the outcome variables. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as an oral burning sensation in the absence of clinical signs which could justify the syndrome. Recent studies suggest the existence of neurological factors as a possible cause of the disease. Material and Methods: 60 patients with BMS, in two groups: case group with 600 mg/day and placebo as control group; with follow up of 2 months. Results: 64% of ALA patients reported some level of improvement, with a level of maintenance of 68.75% one month after treatment. 27.6% of the placebo group also demonstrated some reduction in BMS symptoms. Conclusions: Long-term evolution and the intensity of symptoms are variables that reduce the probability of improvement with ALA treatmen

Organizações sociais afrodescendentes no município de Florencia (Colômbia): conquistas, dificuldades e desafios

Introduction: Afro-descendant organization in the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá (Colombia), evidences the need to unify in order to achieve recognition and overcome the struggle for their rights. Although the interviewed subjects declare that there is little racial discrimination in the department, the necessity to attain visibility and recognition has lead to the formation of three Afro-descendant organizations, as well as to their continued consolidation over time. The interest of this manuscript is precisely to systematize these three organizational experiences based on their history, achievements, difficulties and the main challenges they face as a group. Methodology: The work is eminently qualitative. Data were obtained using instruments such as interviews and documentary review. Results: Within the main findings, it is evident that the existing organizations result from internal fragmentation of the organization that appeared fist. Nevertheless, all of them have similar objectives. The biggest difficulties they face relate to the scarce income available for their sustenance and for offering more supporting to their partners. Conclusions: The Afro-descendant organizations’ achievements include having been recognized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, positioning themselves in the Caquetá society and having been taken in account for regional decision making. The difficulties faced continue to be related to the limited economic resources available and tough access to rural and urban socio-economic inclusion projects. The lack of internal articulation must also be mentioned, since the interviewed subjects believe particular interests in some occasions prevail over group objectives and benefits. The three organizations under study agreed in these points.Introducción. La organización de los Afros en el municipio de Florencia, representa la necesidad de la unión para lograr un reconocimiento y la lucha por sus derechos; si bien a juicio de los entrevistados la discriminación racial en el departamento, es poca; la necesidad de lograr una visibilización y un reconocimiento, ha hecho que tres organizaciones de Afros se hayan conformado y se sigan consolidando a través del tiempo. El interés del presente manuscrito, es precisamente poder sistematizar estas tres experiencias organizativas a partir de su historia, logros, dificultades y principales retos que enfrentan como colectivo. Metodología. El trabajo es eminentemente cualitativo, la producción de los datos se hizo a partir de instrumentos como las entrevistas y la técnica de arqueo de archivos. Resultados. Dentro de los principales hallazgos se tiene que las organizaciones existentes, son resultado de fragmentaciones internas de la primera, pero que tienen objetivos similares, las mayores dificultades que afrontan están relacionadas con los pocos ingresos para su sostenimiento y poder ayudar más a sus socios. Conclusiones. Los logros de las organizaciones afros han sido el reconocimiento por parte del Ministerio del Interior, el posicionamiento en la sociedad caqueteña y que los hayan hecho partícipes de la toma de decisiones de tipo regional. Las dificultades continúan relacionadas con los pocos recursos económicos disponibles y acceso a proyectos de inclusión socioeconómica rural y urbana, además la falta de articulación interna donde en algunas ocasiones a su juicio prima el bien particular sobre el del grupo. Las tres organizaciones objeto del estudio coincidieronIntrodução: a organização dos afrodescendentes no município de Florencia, Caquetá (Colômbia), representa a necessidade da união para atingir um reconhecimento e da luta por seus direitos. Embora, na opinião dos entrevistados, o preconceito racial no estado seja pouco, a necessidade de atingir uma visibilização e um reconhecimento fez com que três organizações de afrodescendentes tenham se conformado e continuem se consolidando. O interesse deste texto é precisamente sistematizar essas três experiências organizacionais a partir de sua história, conquistas, dificuldades e principais desafios que enfrentam como coletivo.   Metodologia: o trabalho é eminentemente qualitativo; a produção dos dados se deu a partir de instrumentos como as entrevistas e a técnica de análise de arquivos.   Resultados: um dos principais achados se refere a que as organizações existentes são resultado de fragmentações internas da primeira, mas que têm objetivos semelhantes; as maiores dificuldades que enfrentam estão relacionadas com os poucos ingressos para sua conservação e com poder ajudar mais seus sócios.   Conclusões: as conquistas das organizações afrodescendentes são o reconhecimento por parte do Ministério do Interior, o posicionamento na sociedade de Caquetá e a participação na tomada de decisões de tipo regional. As dificuldades continuam relacionadas com os poucos recursos econômicos disponíveis e o acesso a projetos de inclusão socioeconômica rural e urbana. Além disso, a falta de articulação interna, já que, em algumas ocasiões, no seu julgamento, prima o bem particular sobre o do grupo. As três organizações objeto do estudo coincidiram

Melomics: A Case-Study of AI in Spain

Traditionally focused on good old-fashioned AI and robotics, the Spanish AI community holds a vigorous computational intelligence substrate. Neuromorphic, evolutionary, or fuzzylike systems have been developed by many research groups in the Spanish computer sciences. It is no surprise, then, that these naturegrounded efforts start to emerge, enriching the AI catalogue of research projects and publications and, eventually, leading to new directions of basic or applied research. In this article, we review the contribution of Melomics in computational creativity.The work on Iamus was partially supported by grants IPT-300000-2010-010 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and TSI-090302-2011-8 from the Spanish Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio. The first and fourth authors were supported by grant P09-TIC-5123 from the Consejería de Innovación y Ciencia, Junta de Andalucía

Utilidad del método de Carrea para estimar la estatura real en individuos peruanos

Objective. To determine the usefulness of Carrea’s method for estimating the stature. Methods. This is a quantitative observational and cross-sectional design study. The used sample was of 188 students (84 women, 104 men) 21.07 year old average and their respective plaster models. The actual stature and estimated stature for each student was determined by means of the height rod and the Carrea’s method respectively to establish the absolute difference between them and to determine - by means of the Student's t test for independent samples - if this difference was significant. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determine the concordance strength between the actual and estimated stature. Results. The difference between actual stature average and estimated one was 4.4 centimeters. The absolute average difference between them was 6.9 centimeters. These differences were significant to Student's t test for independent samples. The concordance strength between the real and estimated stature was 0.791 (ICC=0.791), which allowed us to categorize this concordance as good. Conclusions. Carrea's method is useful in stature estimation. Its limitations in terms of accuracy must be taken into consideration before reaching a conclusion, especially if the individuals analyzed are related to forensic contexts in which identification plays a relevant role in the legal and humanitarian field.Objetivo. Determinar la utilidad del método de Carrea para la estimación de la talla o estatura. Métodos. Enfoque cuantitativo de diseño observacional y trasversal. La muestra ascendió a 188 estudiantes (84 mujeres, 104 varones) con sus respectivos modelos de estudio cuya edad promedio fue 21,07 años. Se determinó la estatura real y estimada por medio del tallímetro y el método Carrea respectivamente para establecer la diferencia absoluta entre la talla real y estimada con el fin de determinar – por medio del estadístico t de Student para muestras independientes – si esta diferencia resultaba significativa. El coeficiente de correlación intraclase fue utilizado para determinar la fuerza de concordancia entre la talla real y estimada. Resultados. La diferencia entre el promedio de la estatura real y el promedio de la estatura estimada fue de 4,4 centímetros. La diferencia absoluta promedio entre la estatura real y la estatura estimada fue de 6,9 centímetros. El estadístico t de Student para muestras independientes encontró que la estatura estimada difiere significativamente de la estatura real. La fuerza de concordancia entre la estatura real y la estatura estimada fue de 0,791 (ICC = 0,791) ello permitió categorizar a dicha concordancia como buena. Conclusiones. El método de Carrea resulta útil en la estimación de la estatura. Sus limitaciones en términos de exactitud deben tomarse en consideración antes de emitir una conclusión, especialmente si los individuos analizados guardan relación con contextos forenses en los que la identificación juega un papel relevante en el ámbito jurídico y humanitario

Performance and emissions of a diesel engine fueled with biodiesel doped with a renewable antioxidant additive

1. INTRODUCTION Biodiesel is a mixture of alkyl esters obtained by transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats with a short chain alcohol (mainly methanol or ethanol) and catalyzed by acids or bases (usually NaOH or KOH) [1]. Final properties of the biodiesel are similar to those of petroleum derived-diesel. Therefore, biodiesel can be used in diesel conventional engines without significant modifications or mixed in any proportion with fossil diesel. Some of the main drawbacks of biodiesel to be used as fuel are the low oxidation stability and poor cold flow properties (freezing point and flowability of the fuel at low temperatures), both highly dependent on the raw material composition. Saturated compounds are responsible for the poor cold flow properties of biodiesel, whereas unsaturated esters are mainly responsible for its oxidation [2]. Different synthetic and costly additives [3-6] have been used by manufacturers to improve biodiesel characteristics in order to fulfill the requirements defined in different standards, such as EN 14214 in Europe. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Tuning the Cytotoxicity of Bis-Phosphino-Amines Ruthenium(II) Para-Cymene Complexes for Clinical Development in Breast Cancer

Despite some limitations such as long-term side effects or the potential presence of intrinsic or acquired resistance, platinum compounds are key therapeutic components for the treatment of several solid tumors. To overcome these limitations, maintaining the same efficacy, organometallic ruthenium(II) compounds have been proposed as a viable alternative to platinum agents as they have a more favorable toxicity profile and represent an ideal template for both, high-throughput and rational drug design. To support the preclinical development of bis-phoshino-amine ruthenium compounds in the treatment of breast cancer, we carried out chemical modifications in the structure of these derivatives with the aim of designing less toxic and more efficient therapeutic agents. We report new bis-phoshino-amine ligands and the synthesis of their ruthenium counterparts. The novel ligands and compounds were fully characterized, water stability analyzed, and their in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of tumor cell lines representative of different breast cancer subtypes was evaluated. The mechanism of action of the lead compound of the series was explored. In vivo toxicity was also assessed. The results obtained in this article might pave the way for the clinical development of these compounds in breast cancer therapyMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación y Agencia Estatal de la Investigación, Spain (Grant Nos. PID2020-117788RB-I00, PID2020- 113661GB-I00, CTQ2017-84131-R and RED2018-102387-T Programa Redes Consolider), and Instituto de Salud Carlos III grant number PI16/01121. Alberto Ocaña’s lab is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, PI19/00808); CRIS Cancer Foundation, ACEPAIN, and Diputación de Albacete

Conectividad del paisaje para tipos de hábitat zonales de interés comunitario en España

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