Differences in Withdrawal Symptomatology during Short-Term Smoking Abstinence in Menthol versus Non-Menthol Female Smokers

Faculty adviser: Alicia M Allen, Ph.D., M.P.H.Menthol cigarettes are popular among smokers, but menthol smokers have been shown to have a harder time quitting smoking. More severe withdrawal symptoms in menthol cigarette smokers versus non-menthol cigarette smokers may contribute to less-successful smoking cessation outcomes among menthol smokers. The purpose of this project is to examine whether menthol cigarette smokers showed more severe withdrawal symptoms, as measured by the Minnesota Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) and the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges - Brief (QSU), than non-menthol smoking counterparts during short-term smoking abstinence.This research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Quantitative PCR-based diagnosis and follow-up of Chagas disease primary infection after solid organ transplant: A multicentre study

Chagas disease in solid organ transplant recipients may present as a primary infection (PI). Early detection is crucial for timely treatment. This is the largest observational multicentre study evaluating qPCR for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of PI in seronegative recipients of organs from seropositive donors. Of 34 patients admitted at 5 health centers, PI was detected by qPCR in 8 (23.5%) within a posttransplant period of 40 days (interquartile range [IQR], 31–50 days). No PI was detected by the Strout test or clinical symptoms/signs. All patients had favorable treatment outcome with negative qPCR 31 days (IQR, 18–35 days) after treatment, with no posttreatment relapse episodes.Fil: Barcan, Laura A.. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina.; ArgentinaFil: Smud, Astrid. Hospital Italiano. Departamento de Medicina.; ArgentinaFil: Besuschio, Susana Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Giorgio, Patricia L.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Temporiti, Elena. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigación Clínica "Norberto Quirno"; ArgentinaFil: Salgueira, Claudia. Sanatorio la Trinidad Mitre;Fil: Pinoni, Maria V.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Nagel, Claudia. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Traveler’s diarrhea caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis: a no endemic parasite in Argentina

Cyclospora cayetanensis es un patógeno emergente que representa un problema de salud pública. En los países industrializados, este coccidio se ha asociado con casos de diarrea del viajero. Se presenta el caso de una paciente inmunocompetente con diarrea persistente que asistió al hospital Dr. J. M. Cullen luego de realizar un viaje a México, en donde se le diagnosticó ciclosporosis mediante examen coproparasitológico directo confirmado con coloración de Ziehl-Neelsen y examen de autofluorescencia. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento indicado para ésta patología. Es importante tener en cuenta a C. cayetanensis como posible causa de diarrea crónica en personas que hayan realizado viajes a zonas endémicas, independientemente de su estado inmunológico.Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emerging pathogen that represents a public health problem. This coccidian has been associated with traveler’s diarrhea in industrialized countries. We report a case of an inmunocompetent patient who was admitted to the hospital with chronic diarrea. The patient was diagnosed with cyclosporosis by microscopic detection in a stool sample with autofluorescence and Ziehl Neelsen’s stain, and evolved favorably after the indicated treatment for this pathology. It is important to consider C. cayetanensis as a possible cause of chronic diarrhea in persons who reported trips to regions where this parasite is endemic, regardless their inmunological status.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

Traveler’s diarrhea caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis: a no endemic parasite in Argentina

Cyclospora cayetanensis es un patógeno emergente que representa un problema de salud pública. En los países industrializados, este coccidio se ha asociado con casos de diarrea del viajero. Se presenta el caso de una paciente inmunocompetente con diarrea persistente que asistió al hospital Dr. J. M. Cullen luego de realizar un viaje a México, en donde se le diagnosticó ciclosporosis mediante examen coproparasitológico directo confirmado con coloración de Ziehl-Neelsen y examen de autofluorescencia. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente con el tratamiento indicado para ésta patología. Es importante tener en cuenta a C. cayetanensis como posible causa de diarrea crónica en personas que hayan realizado viajes a zonas endémicas, independientemente de su estado inmunológico.Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emerging pathogen that represents a public health problem. This coccidian has been associated with traveler’s diarrhea in industrialized countries. We report a case of an inmunocompetent patient who was admitted to the hospital with chronic diarrea. The patient was diagnosed with cyclosporosis by microscopic detection in a stool sample with autofluorescence and Ziehl Neelsen’s stain, and evolved favorably after the indicated treatment for this pathology. It is important to consider C. cayetanensis as a possible cause of chronic diarrhea in persons who reported trips to regions where this parasite is endemic, regardless their inmunological status.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

TRIP6 functions in brain ciliogenesis

TRIP6, a member of the ZYXIN-family of LIM domain proteins, is a focal adhesion compo- nent. Trip6 deletion in the mouse, reported here, reveals a function in the brain: ependymal and choroid plexus epithelial cells are carrying, unexpectedly, fewer and shorter cilia, are poorly differentiated, and the mice develop hydrocephalus. TRIP6 carries numerous protein interaction domains and its functions require homodimerization. Indeed, TRIP6 disruption in vitro (in a choroid plexus epithelial cell line), via RNAi or inhibition of its homodimerization, confirms its function in ciliogenesis. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate TRIP6 localization at the pericentriolar material and along the ciliary axoneme. The requirement for homodimerization which doubles its interaction sites, its punctate localiza- tion along the axoneme, and its co-localization with other cilia components suggest a scaf- fold/co-transporter function for TRIP6 in cilia. Thus, this work uncovers an essential role of a LIM-domain protein assembly factor in mammalian ciliogenesis

The Value of Banks and Their Business Models to Society

Banks play a central role in the functioning of the economy. Not only do they allocate financial resources, they also collectively create money in the process of granting loans. In this way, they have a considerable impact on the type of activities that are financed in society. During the financial crisis, it became clear that the banking sector at large was not sufficiently stable and customer-focused. Since then, banks and regulators alike have been busy reviewing bank business models, and several committees have been installed to investigate the desired scale and scope of banking activities

Chagoma as brain mass lesion

La enfermedad de Chagas es una zoonosis parasitaria, endémica en América Latina, causada por el protozoo Trypanosoma cruzi. En el sistema nervioso central de humanos existen dos presentaciones de la enfermedad: meningoencefalitis difusa que suele coincidir con la observación de tripomastigotes en líquido cefalorraquídeo o chagoma que consiste en nidos de amastigotes asociados a encefalitis necrotizante multifocal con abscesos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente fumador y drogadicto que ingresa al hospital por cuadro convulsivo, hemianopsia homónima, paresia facial y anestesia en hemicuerpo izquierdo. Se realiza una resonancia magnética nuclear, donde se observa masa ocupante de espacio en la zona parietal derecha subcortical. En el examen directo de la biopsia, se detecta la presencia de tripomastigotes móviles y en la coloración de Giemsa, amastigotes intracelulares de T. cruzi. Luego de la anamnesis del paciente se solicitan estudios serológicos y detección de anticuepos para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida (VIH) por Elisa, resultando positiva. La enfermedad de Chagas es una de las patologías oportunistas que debe considerarse en los diagnósticos diferenciales de lesiones ocupantes de espacio en el sistema nervioso central dado que su rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno conllevan a una mejor sobrevida del paciente.Chagas disease is a parasitic zoonosis, endemic to Latin America, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. In the human central nervous system, there are two presentations of the disease: meningoencephalitis with trypomastigotes in cephalo raquidean fluid or chagoma, that consists of a nest of amastigotes associated with multifocal necrotizing encephalitis with abscesses. We present the case of a smoker patient and, a user of illicit drugs, who was admitted to the hospital due to convulsive condition, left homonymous hemianopsia, left facial paresis and, left lower body anesthesia. A nuclear magnetic resonance was performed, where space occupant mass was observed in the subcortical right parietal area. Mobile trypomastigots were detected by direct examination of the biopsy and intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi by Giemsa staining. After the patient’s anamnesis, serological studies and detection of anti-HIV antibodies by Elisa were requested, being positive. Chagas disease is one of the opportunistic pathologies to be considered in the differential diagnoses of occupant lesions of central nervous system space since its rapid diagnosis and timely treatment lead to better patient survival.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

Chagoma as brain mass lesion

La enfermedad de Chagas es una zoonosis parasitaria, endémica en América Latina, causada por el protozoo Trypanosoma cruzi. En el sistema nervioso central de humanos existen dos presentaciones de la enfermedad: meningoencefalitis difusa que suele coincidir con la observación de tripomastigotes en líquido cefalorraquídeo o chagoma que consiste en nidos de amastigotes asociados a encefalitis necrotizante multifocal con abscesos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente fumador y drogadicto que ingresa al hospital por cuadro convulsivo, hemianopsia homónima, paresia facial y anestesia en hemicuerpo izquierdo. Se realiza una resonancia magnética nuclear, donde se observa masa ocupante de espacio en la zona parietal derecha subcortical. En el examen directo de la biopsia, se detecta la presencia de tripomastigotes móviles y en la coloración de Giemsa, amastigotes intracelulares de T. cruzi. Luego de la anamnesis del paciente se solicitan estudios serológicos y detección de anticuepos para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida (VIH) por Elisa, resultando positiva. La enfermedad de Chagas es una de las patologías oportunistas que debe considerarse en los diagnósticos diferenciales de lesiones ocupantes de espacio en el sistema nervioso central dado que su rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno conllevan a una mejor sobrevida del paciente.Chagas disease is a parasitic zoonosis, endemic to Latin America, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. In the human central nervous system, there are two presentations of the disease: meningoencephalitis with trypomastigotes in cephalo raquidean fluid or chagoma, that consists of a nest of amastigotes associated with multifocal necrotizing encephalitis with abscesses. We present the case of a smoker patient and, a user of illicit drugs, who was admitted to the hospital due to convulsive condition, left homonymous hemianopsia, left facial paresis and, left lower body anesthesia. A nuclear magnetic resonance was performed, where space occupant mass was observed in the subcortical right parietal area. Mobile trypomastigots were detected by direct examination of the biopsy and intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi by Giemsa staining. After the patient’s anamnesis, serological studies and detection of anti-HIV antibodies by Elisa were requested, being positive. Chagas disease is one of the opportunistic pathologies to be considered in the differential diagnoses of occupant lesions of central nervous system space since its rapid diagnosis and timely treatment lead to better patient survival.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

The contribution of fenfluramine to the treatment of Dravet syndrome in Spain through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Introduction: Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a severe, developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) that begins in infancy and is characterized by pharmaco-resistant epilepsy and neurodevelopmental delay. Despite available antiseizure medications (ASMs), there is a need for new therapeutic options with greater efficacy in reducing seizure frequency and with adequate safety and tolerability profiles.Fenfluramine is a new ASM for the treatment of seizures associated with DS as add-on therapy to other ASMs for patients aged 2 years and older. Fenfluramine decreases seizure frequency, prolongs periods of seizure freedom potentially helping to reduce risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) and improves patient cognitive abilities positively impacting on patients' Quality of Life (QoL).Reflective Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology allows to determine what represents value in a given indication considering all relevant criteria for healthcare decision-making in a transparent and systematic manner from the perspective of relevant stakeholders. The aim of this study was to determine the relative value contribution of fenfluramine for the treatment of DS in Spain using MCDA.Method: A literature review was performed to populate an adapted a MCDA framework for orphan-drug evaluation in Spain. A panel of ten Spanish experts, including neurologists, hospital pharmacists, patient representatives and decision-makers, scored four comparative evidence matrices.Results were analyzed and discussed in a group meeting through reflective MCDA discussion methodology. Results: Dravet syndrome is considered a severe, rare disease with significant unmet needs. Fenfluramine is perceived to have a higher efficacy profile than all available alternatives, with a better safety profile than stiripentol and topiramate and to provide improved QoL versus studied alternatives. Fenfluramine results in lower other medical costs in comparison with stiripentol and clobazam. Participants perceived that fenfluramine could lead to indirect costs savings compared to available alternatives due to its efficacy in controlling seizures. Overall, fenfluramine's therapeutic impact on patients with DS is considered high and supported by high-quality evidence.Conclusions: Based on reflective MCDA, fenfluramine is considered to add greater benefit in terms of effi-cacy, safety and QoL when compared with available ASMs.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc

Development of Protocols for Regeneration and Transformation of Apomitic and Sexual Forms of Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.)

Paspalum dilatatum (common name dallisgrass), a productive C4 grass native to South America, is an important pasture grass found throughout the temperate warm regions of the world. It is characterized by its tolerance to frost and water stress and a higher forage quality than other C4 forage grasses. P. dilatatum includes tetraploid (2n = 40), sexual, and pentaploid (2n = 50) apomictic forms, but is predominantly cultivated in an apomictic monoculture, which implies a high risk that biotic and abiotic stresses could seriously affect the grass productivity. The obtention of reproducible and efficient protocols of regeneration and transformation are valuable tools to obtain genetic modified grasses with improved agronomics traits. In this review, we present the current regeneration and transformation methods of both apomictic and sexual cultivars of P. dilatatum, discuss their strengths and limitations, and focus on the perspectives of genetic modification for producing new generation of forages. The advances in this area of research lead us to consider Paspalum dilatatum as a model species for the molecular improvement of C4 perennial forage species.Fil: Schrauf, Gustavo Enrique. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Voda, Lisandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Zelada, Alicia Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; ArgentinaFil: García, Ana María. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Giordano, Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Peralta Roa, Pablo Leonel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Guitian, Juan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Rebori, Juan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Ghio, Sergio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Couso, Luciana Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Lautaro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Musacchio, Eduardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Rush, Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Nagel, Jutta. No especifíca;Fil: Wang, Zeng Yu. No especifíca;Fil: Cogan, Noel. La Trobe University; AustraliaFil: Spangenberg, Germán. La Trobe University; Australi