Asthma, Airway Hyperresponsiveness, and Lower Airway Obstruction in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

As a comorbid condition of sickle cell disease (SCD), asthma leads to increased complications and mortality. However, poor understanding of asthma phenotypes in SCD and the complex interaction with SCD-related airway inflammation, manifested by bronchial hyperresponsiveness or obstructive airway, pose a unique clinical challenge. The objective of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review and discussion of epidemiology, pathophysiology, interactions, and clinical implications of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), obstructive airway, and asthma in SCD. Discussion will cover new understanding and limitations of asthma diagnosis and management in SCD. AHR, lower obstructive airway, and asthma are highly prevalent in SCD. Despite overlapping features, these entities are nonetheless distinct as demonstrated by basic science and clinical data. Diagnosis of asthma should be based on a physician assessment. We provide new unpublished data of a prospective study on diagnosing asthma in a small preschool population. Administered validated asthma-screening questionnaire to SCD children reveals good sensitivity and specificity as an asthma detection tool. It is unclear at this time if detection of bronchial lability or asthma early in life would result in better outcome of patients, or if improved control of SCD attenuates lower airway pathology. Being able to distinguish asthma from bronchial lability in the preschool age children would allow for appropriate intervention early in life

Association between Lipid Profile and Apolipoproteins with Risk of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims. Biomarkers are necessary to stratify the risk of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between the lipid profile and apolipoproteins with the risk of DFU. Methods. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science among adult patients. Cohort and case-control studies were included. Random-effects models were used for meta-analyses, and the effects were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We evaluated publication bias through Egger's test and funnel plot. Results. A total of 12 cohort studies and 26 case-control studies were included, with 17076 patients. We found that the higher values of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) were associated with a higher risk of developing DFU (OR: 1.47, OR: 1.47, OR: 1.5, OR: 1.85, respectively). Otherwise, the lower values of HDL were associated with a higher risk of developing DFU (OR: 0.49). Publication bias was not found for associations between TC, HDL, LDL, or TG and the risk of DFU. Conclusions. The high values of LDL, TC, TG, and Lp(a) and low values of HDL are associated with a higher risk of developing DFU. Furthermore, we did not find a significant association for VLDL, ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio.Revisión por pare

Enfoque para o manejo de resíduos não perigosos aproveitáveis, empregando uma estação ecológica

Introduction: This article is the result of the research project “Ecological Station based on renewable energies” currently developed by the Research Group on Technology and environment (gita) of the Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca and funded by the Human Talent Education Network Project for Social and Productive Innovation in the department of Cauca (InnovAcción Cauca), for a period of one year (September 2015 to 2016, the same month). Methodology: A review of the literature regarding the management of usable non-hazardous waste RnPA) is made, and includes technological trends and Management strategies. Additionally, a comparison is made based on the objectives of environmental education and major gaps and voids present when handling RnPA. Results: the architecture of an eco-friendly station (eco-station) as a pedagogical strategy, which integrates different forms of learning into the management RnPA during the collection stage.  Conclusions: material detection systems, user interaction, selection of waste and renewable energy supply within the eco-station streamline the learning process in the management and collection of RnPA at the source.Introducción: este artículo es producto del proyecto de investigación “Estación ecológica con base en energías renovables”, desarrollado actualmente por el Grupo de Investigación en Tecnología y Ambiente (GITA) de la Corporación Universitaria Autónoma del Cauca y financiado por el Proyecto Red de Formación de Talento Humano para la Innovación Social y Productiva en el departamento del Cauca (InnovAcción Cauca), por un periodo de un año (de septiembre del 2015 al 2016, del mismo mes). Metodología: se realiza una revisión de la literatura en relación con el manejo de residuos no peligrosos aprovechables (RnPA), presentando las tendencias tecnológicas y estrategias de manejo. Adicionalmente, se realiza una comparativa con base en los objetivos de la educación ambiental y se presentan las principales brechas y vacíos en el proceso de manejo de los RnPA. Resultados: la arquitectura de una estación ecológica-amigable (eco-estación) como estrategia pedagógica, donde se integran distintas formas de aprendizaje en el manejo de RnPA para su etapa de recolección. Conclusiones: los sistemas de detección de materiales, de interacción de usuario, de selección de residuos y de alimentación energética renovable en el interior de la eco-estación dinamizan el proceso de aprendizaje en el manejo y recolección en la fuente de RnPA.Introdução: este artigo é o resultado do projeto de investigação “Estação ecológica com base em energias renováveis”, desenvolvido atualmente pelo Grupo de Investigação em Tecnologia e Ambiente (gita) da Corporação Universitária Autónoma do Cauca e financiado pelo Projeto Rede de Formação de Talento Humano para a Inovação Social e Produtiva no departamento do Cauca (Inovação Cauca), por um período de um ano (de setembro de 2015 a 2016, do mesmo mês). Metodologia: é feita uma revisão da literatura no que tange o manejo de resíduos não perigosos aproveitáveis (RnPA), apresentando as tendências tecnológicas e estratégias de manejo. Adicionalmente, realiza-se uma comparação baseada nos objetivos da educação ambiental e apresentam-se os principais gaps e vazios no processo de manejo dos RnPA. Resultados: a arquitetura de uma estação ecológica-amigável (eco-estação) como estratégia pedagógica, onde se integram diversas formas de aprendizagem no manejo de RnPA para sua fase de coleta. Conclusões: os sistemas de detecção de materiais, de interação de usuário, de seleção de resíduos e de alimentação energética renovável no interior da eco-estação dinamizam o processo de aprendizado no manejo e coleta na fonte de RnPA

Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio and Blood Urea Nitrogen-to-Albumin Ratio in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio (BAR) are inflammatory biomarkers that have been associated with clinical outcomes of multiple diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of these biomarkers with the severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients. A systematic search was performed in five databases. Observational studies that reported the association between FAR and BAR values with the severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients were included. Random-effects models were used for meta-analyses, and effects were expressed as Odds Ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias was assessed using the Begg test, while the quality assessment was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. A total of 21 studies (n = 7949) were included. High FAR values were associated with a higher risk of severity (OR: 2.41; 95% CI 1.41–4.12; p < 0.001) and mortality (OR: 2.05; 95% CI 1.66–2.54; p < 0.001). High BAR values were associated with higher risk of mortality (OR: 4.63; 95% CI 2.11–10.15; p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant association was found between BAR values and the risk of severity (OR: 1.16; 95% CI 0.83–1.63; p = 0.38). High FAR and BAR values were associated with poor clinical outcomes.Revisión por pare

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

Understanding the complexity of disease-climate interactions for rice bacterial panicle blight under tropical conditions

Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) caused by Burkholderia glumae is one of the main concerns for rice production in the Americas since bacterial infection can interfere with the grain-filling process and under severe conditions can result in high sterility. B. glumae has been detected in several rice-growing areas of Colombia and other countries of Central and Andean regions in Latin America, although evidence of its involvement in decreasing yield under these conditions is lacking. Analysis of different parameters in trials established in three rice-growing areas showed that, despite BPB presence, severity did not explain the sterility observed in fields. PCR tests for B. glumae confirmed low infection in all sites and genotypes, only 21.4% of the analyzed samples were positive for B. glumae. Climate parameters showed that Montería and Saldaña registered maximum temperature above 34°C, minimum temperature above 23°C, and Relative Humidity above 80%, conditions that favor the invasion model described for this pathogen in Asia. Our study found that in Colombia, minimum temperature above 23°C during 10 days after flowering is the condition that correlates with disease incidence. Therefore, this correlation, and the fact that Montería and Saldaña had a higher level of infected samples according to PCR tests, high minimum temperature, but not maximum temperature, seems to be determinant for B. glumae colonization under studied field conditions. This knowledge is a solid base line to design strategies for disease control, and is also a key element for breeders to develop strategies aimed to decrease the effect of B. glumae and high night-temperature on rice yield under tropical conditions

Identifying the current and future status of freshwater connectivity corridors in the Amazon Basin

The Amazon Basin features a vast network of healthy, free-flowing rivers, which provides habitat for the most biodiverse freshwater fauna of any basin globally. However, existing and future infrastructure developments, including dams, threaten its integrity by diminishing river connectivity, altering flows, or changing sediment regimes, which can impact freshwater species. In this study, we assess critical rivers that need to be maintained as freshwater connectivity corridors (FCCs) for selective freshwater species—long-distance migratory fishes and turtles (both with migrations >500 km) and river dolphins. We define FCCs as river stretches of uninterrupted river connectivity that provide important riverine and floodplain habitat for long-distance migratory and other species and that maintain associated ecosystem functions. We assessed more than 340,000 km of river, beginning with an assessment of the connectivity status of all rivers and then combining river status with models of occurrence of key species to map where FCCs occur and how they could be affected under a scenario of proposed dams. We identified that in 2019, 16 of 26 very long (>1000 km) rivers are free-flowing but only 9 would remain free-flowing if all proposed dams are built. Among long and very long rivers (>500 km), 93 are considered FCCs. Under the future scenario, one-fifth (18) of these long and very long FCCs—those that are of critical importance for long-distance migrants and dolphins—would lose their FCC status, including the Amazon, the Negro, Marañ on, Napo, Ucayali, Preto do Igap o Açu, Beni, and Uraricoera rivers. To avoid impacts of poorly sited infrastructure, we advocate for energy and water resources planning at the basin scale that evaluates alternative development options and limits development that will impact on FCCs. The results also highlight where corridors could be designated as protected from future fragmentation