Factors associated with the use of dental services in diabetic people

The use of dental services prevents oral diseases where its prevalence is associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) that also has increased risks with age. Therefore, this observational, analytical and crosssectional study was conducted among 3,882 people. Data used for analysis in this research was collected from the Demographic and Family Health Survey of Peru (ENDES) from 2019 to 2021. Results from poisson regression analysis showed female gender had 1.02 times the probability of going to the dental service; likewise, people who were 91 to 100 years old had 12% more, the probability, like those with secondary education, had 8% more and those with the highest average, richest and richest wealth index had 20% more, 29% more and 29% more, respectively, the probability of going to the dental health service, as opposed to those who were very poor. The study concluded that there are several sociodemographic factors (such as being female, age progressed, natural region, those with high school, wealth index, type of residence) and personal factors (history of hypertension (HTN), physical disability) associated with a lack of access to dental services in people over 60 years old

The BIOMEX experiment on-board the International Space Station: limits of life and detection of biomarkers after exposure to space- and to Mars-like conditions

To explore the limits of terrestrial life in space, we have to understand the effects of the space environment on unprotected biological and chemical material, and on the degradation of organic molecules or biomarkers. The exposure platform EXPOSE-R2 on the ISS offer a suitable facility for the exposure of samples of the astrobiological model lichen Circinaria gyrosa, included in the BIOMEX experiment (Biology and Mars Experiment, ESA). During 18 months (2014-2016), the lichens lived in a latent state at space and at simulated Mars-like conditions, to study Mars’ habitability and resistance to space conditions. After the return of the samples in June 2016, initial analysis showed rapid recovery of photosystem II (PSII) activity in the samples exposed exclusively to space vacuum and to Mars-like atmosphere. In contrast, the samples directly exposed to solar UV radiation showed a slow and a lower recovery, in reference to their observed original activity. This tendency was corroborated with the complementary morphological/ultrastructural and biomolecular analyses. Complementary, the biogeochemical variations have been examined with Raman spectroscopy to assess the possible degradation of cell surfaces and pigments which were in contact with terrestrial rocks, and Martian analogue regolith. Identification of the biomarker whewellite (calcium oxalate) and other organic compounds and mineral products of the biological activity of Circinaria gyrosa were detected by Raman Laser. These findings contribute to answer questions on the habitability of Mars, the likelihood of the Lithopanspermia Hypothesis, the capability to detect biomolecules exposed to an extraterrestrial environment by life-detection instruments and will be of relevance for planetary protection issues

2021 The SELA Agenda

The SELA Agenda is a collectively and inclusively drafted report that addresses the impact of COVID-19 in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) region by highlighting investment opportunities in eight policy areas: education, environmental justice, economic recovery, healthcare, housing, nonprofit safety net, civic engagement and regional advocacy. The goal is to lay out a COVID-19 recovery plan that prioritizes the SELA region and ensures the region's recovery and future prosperity by bringing SELA's needs to the attention of elected officials, philanthropy, business sector, and community stakeholders.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Anthropometric Markers of Obesity for Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Prediabetes is a significant public health concern due to its high risk of progressing to diabetes. Anthropometric measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been demonstrated as key risk factors in the development of prediabetes. However, there is a lack of clarity on the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off points of these measures. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of these anthropometric measures for their most effective use in identifying prediabetes. Methodology: A systematic review (SR) with metanalysis of observational studies was carried out. The search was conducted in four databases: Pubmed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE. For the meta-analysis, sensitivity and specificity, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%) were calculated. Results: Among all the manuscripts chosen for review, we had four cross-sectional studies, and three were classified as cohort studies. The forest plots showed the combined sensitivity and specificity for both cross-sectional and cohort studies. For cross-sectional studies, the values were as follows: BMI had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.56, WC had a sensitivity of 0.59 and specificity of 0.58, and WHtR had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.73. In the cohort studies, the combined sensitivity and specificity were: BMI at 0.70 and 0.45, WC at 0.68 and 0.56, and WHtR at 0.68 and 0.56, respectively. All values are provided with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of BMI, WC, and WHtR in identifying prediabetes. The results showed variations in sensitivity and specificity, with WHtR having the highest specificity in cross-sectional studies and BMI having improved sensitivity in cohort studies

Factors that favor cervical cancer screening in women aged 12 to 49: sub-analysis of the 2019 demographic and family health survey, Peru

Introducción: La prueba de Papanicolau ayuda a detectar de manera oportuna en la intervención de rutina el cáncer de cuello uterino. Objetivo: Analizar factores asociados al tamizaje para cáncer de cuello uterino en mujeres de 12 a 49 años en Perú durante el año 2019. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico-transversal de un análisis secundario de datos de la Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar del 2019. Muestreo bietápico, probabilístico, equilibrado y estratificado. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva y analítica (nivel de inferencia p<0,05). Para el análisis bivariado y multivariado se utilizaron razones de prevalencia con intervalo de confianza de 95 % y p<0,05. Resultados: La frecuencia de tamizaje de cáncer de cuello uterino en las regiones políticas con menores valores de prevalencia fueron Pasco (0,52 %) y Tumbes (0,55 %). Discusión: Los factores asociados al tamizaje de cáncer de cuello uterino son la edad, tener pareja, nivel educación superior, nivel socioeconómico pobre, residir en área rural, tener seguro de salud, edad de inicio de relaciones sexuales y haber escuchado del cáncer de cuello uterino.Introduction: The Papanicolaou test smear helps detect cervical cancer in a timely manner in routine intervention. Objective: To analyze factors associated with screening for cervical cancer in women aged 12 to 49 years in Peru in 2019. Methods: An observational, analytical-cross-sectional study of a secondary analysis of data from 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey was carried out. Two-stage, probabilistic, balanced, and stratified sampling. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used (level of inference p<0.05). For the bivariate and multivariate analysis, prevalence ratios were used with a 95% confidence interval and p<0.05. Results: The frequency of cervical cancer screening in the political regions with the lowest prevalence values were Pasco (0.52%) and Tumbes (0.55%). Discussion: The factors associated with cervical cancer screening are age, having a partner, higher education level, poor socioeconomic level, residing in a rural area, having health insurance, age at the start of sexual relations, and having heard of cervical cancer

The BIOMEX Experiment on-board the International Space Station: Biomolecular- and Bio-geochemical changes of lichens exposed to space- and to Mars-like conditions

Exploration of the solar system is a priority research area of the AstRoMap European Astrobiology Roadmap (Horneck et al., 2015) [1], focused on various research topics, one of them is “Life and Habitability” and an other one is “Biomarkers for easy the detection of life”. Therefore “space platforms and laboratories” are necessary, such as EXPOSE, to gain more knowledment of space- and extraterrestrial habitats, eventually for human interplanetary exploration (Space, Moon, Mars, Encedalus, Titan, Europa). At the exposure platform EXPOSE-R2 on ISS (2014-2016), samples of the astrobiological model system Circinaria gyrosa gyrosa [3,4,5,6], belonging to the BIOMEX experiment [2], (Biology and Mars Experiment, ESA), were exposed during 18 months to space and to a Mars simulated environment, to study Mars habitability and resistance to space conditions. The data obtained by the investigation on biomarkers after being exposed to Mars-like conditions will support the analysis of data obtained during future instrumental detection operations in future space missions on Mars (i.e. ExoMars). After the return of the samples in June 2016, the first preliminary analysis showed a quick and complete recovery of metabolic activity of the control samples exposed to space vacuum and Mars-like atmosphere. In contrast, the samples directly exposed to extraterrestrial UV solar radiation showed slow recovery, in reference to their observed original activity. Here we expose the last results that show the biomolecular changes of the DNA analized by PCR and complementary sequencing techniques, in correlation with the previous results supporting changes in metabolic activity, and changes in viability (Electron- and fluorescence microscopy techniques), as well as in morphology/ultrastructure due to space vacuum and Mars atmosphere. Additionaly, the biogeochemical variations have been examined with spectroscopic analyses (Raman) to look for possible degradation of cell surfaces and pigments which were in contact with terrestrial rocks, and Martian analogue regolith. Moreover, differences were observed between samples irradiated with extraterrestrial UV solar radiation and samples positioned below defined as dark-control samples. These experiments will contribute to answer questions on the habitability of Mars, on the likelihood of the Lithopanspermia Hypothesis and will be of relevance for planetary protection issues

Sci (Simple Cluster Interface): arquitectura para la gestión de tareas de usuario en un cluster a través de la web

La arquitectura presentada en esta patente, llamada Simple Cluster Interface (SCI), permite al usuario hacer uso de los recursos de computación a través de la web, eliminando la necesidad de introducir comandos por consola. La facilidad que da esta arquitectura, extiende el uso de recursos de computación, hasta ahora elitistas, a un mayor número de investigadores sin la condición de tener un perfil técnico avanzado, contando con un protocolo de seguridad en el intercambio de ficheros basado en la generación de un mapa XML.Españ

Circulating tumor cells criteria (CyCAR) versus standard RECIST criteria for treatment response assessment in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

The use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as indicators of treatment response in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) needs to be clarified. The objective of this study is to compare the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) with the Cytologic Criteria Assessing Response (CyCAR), based on the presence and phenotypic characterization of CTCs, as indicators of FOLFOX–bevacizumab treatment response. We observed a decrease of CTCs (42.8 vs. 18.2%) and VEGFR positivity (69.7% vs. 41.7%) after treatment. According to RECIST, 6.45% of the patients did not show any clinical benefit, whereas 93.55% patients showed a favorable response at 12 weeks. According to CyCAR, 29% had a non-favorable response and 71% patients did not. No significant differences were found between the response assessment by RECIST and CyCAR at 12 or 24 weeks. However, in the multivariate analysis, RECIST at 12 weeks and CyCAR at 24 weeks were independent prognostic factors for OS (HR: 0.1, 95% CI 0.02–0.58 and HR: 0.35, 95% CI 0.12–0.99 respectively). CyCAR results were comparable to RECIST in evaluating the response in mCRC and can be used as an alternative when the limitation of RECIST requires additional response analysis techniques.This work was supported by Roche Spain and a Ph.D. grant from the University of Granada

Maternal hyperleptinemia is associated with male offspring’s altered vascular function and structure in mice

Children of mothers with gestational diabetes have greater risk of developing hypertension but little is known about the mechanisms by which this occurs. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that high maternal concentrations of leptin during pregnancy, which are present in mothers with gestational diabetes and/or obesity, alter blood pressure, vascular structure and vascular function in offspring. Wildtype (WT) offspring of hyperleptinemic, normoglycemic, Lepr db/+ dams were compared to genotype matched offspring of WT-control dams. Vascular function was assessed in male offspring at 6, and at 31 weeks of age after half the offspring had been fed a high fat, high sucrose diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. Blood pressure was increased by HFD but not affected by maternal hyperleptinemia. On a standard diet, offspring of hyperleptinemic dams had outwardly remodeled mesenteric arteries and an enhanced vasodilatory response to insulin. In offspring of WT but not Leprdb/+ dams, HFD induced vessel hypertrophy and enhanced vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine, while HFD reduced insulin responsiveness in offspring of hyperleptinemic dams. Offspring of hyperleptinemic dams had stiffer arteries regardless of diet. Therefore, while maternal hyperleptinemia was largely beneficial to offspring vascular health under astandard diet, it had detrimental effects in offspring fed HFD. These results suggest that circulating maternal leptin concentrations may interact with other factors in the pre- and post-natal environments to contribute to altered vascular function in offspring of diabetic pregnancie

Search for new physics with same-sign isolated dilepton events with jets and missing transverse energy

A search for new physics is performed in events with two same-sign isolated leptons, hadronic jets, and missing transverse energy in the final state. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.98 inverse femtobarns produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. This constitutes a factor of 140 increase in integrated luminosity over previously published results. The observed yields agree with the standard model predictions and thus no evidence for new physics is found. The observations are used to set upper limits on possible new physics contributions and to constrain supersymmetric models. To facilitate the interpretation of the data in a broader range of new physics scenarios, information on the event selection, detector response, and efficiencies is provided.Comment: Published in Physical Review Letter