El baile de “Las marotas”: la fiesta patronal en Amecameca, Estado de México, como espacio de inserción de mujeres trans

This article aims to explore in two ways a bit of the “Las marotas” dance in the communities of Santa Isabel Chalma and Santiago Cuauhtenco (in the State of Mexico). First, the dynamics of the dance in which permitted transvestism occurs are described; and second, the participation of trans women in the mentioned dance and the violence that it entails (through physical, verbal, and sexual aggression) are display. We used direct participant observation in the community during the festivities from 2010 to 2012, as well as an interview that allowed us to describe and interpret what was obtained.Este artículo pretende explorar, a partir de dos vías, un poco de la dinámica del baile de “Las marotas” de las comunidades de Santa Isabel Chalma y Santiago Cuauhtenco (en el Estado de México). Primero, se describe el baile en el que ocurre un travestismo permitido; y segundo, se muestra la participación de mujeres trans en dicho baile y la violencia que conlleva (por medio de agresiones físicas, verbales, sexuales). Usamos la observación participante directa en la comunidad durante las fiestas de los años 2010 al 2012, así como una entrevista que nos permitió describir e interpretar lo obtenido

Model for Prediction of Progression in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an idiopathic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and the second most common cause of disability in young adults. Choosing an effective treatment is crucial to preventing disability. However, response to treatment varies greatly between patients. Because of this, accurate and timely detection of individual response to treatment is an essential requisite of efficient personalised multiple sclerosis therapy. Nowadays, there is a lack of comprehensive predictive models of response to individual treatment.This paper arises from the clinical need to improve this situation. To achieve it, all patient's information was used to evaluate the effectiveness of demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables of individual response to fourteen disease-modifying therapies in MSBase, an international cohort. A personalized prediction model to three stages of disease, as a support tool in clinical decision making for each MS patient, was developed applying machine learning and Big Data techniques. These techniques were also used to reduce the data set and define a minimum set of characteristics for each patient. Best predictors for the response to treatment were identified to refine the predictive model. Fourteen relevant variables were selected. A web application was implemented to be used to support the specialist neurologist in real time. This tool provides a prediction of progression in EDSS from the last relapse of an individual patient, and a report for the medical expert

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in rats and sand flies in the urban sewers of Barcelona, Spain

Background: Classically, dogs have been considered to be the only reservoir of leishmaniasis in urban areas. However, in a previous study, we found a 33.3% prevalence of Leishmania infantum in the spleens of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) sampled in the underground sewer system of the city of Barcelona (Spain). The aim of the present study was to verify, using molecular methods, the potential reservoir role of these rats in the same sewer system. Methods: A sensitive real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were carried out to identify and quantify the presence of L. infantum DNA in sand fly individuals captured in the same underground sewer system of Barcelona as in our previous study and in the spleens and ears of rats captured in the same sewer system. Results: Leishmania infantum DNA was found in 14 of the 27 (51.9%) sand flies identified as Phlebotomus perniciosus, and 10 of the 24 (41.7%) rats studied were infected. Leishmania infantum was found in the spleens (70%) and in the ears (40%) of the infected rats. Quantitative results revealed the presence of high loads of L. infantum in the rats studied (> 3 × 106 parasites/g ear tissue) and among the sand flies (> 34 × 106 parasites in 1 individual). Conclusions: The molecular methods used in this study demonstrated a high prevalence of L. infantum in the undergroundsewer populations of both R. norvegicus and P. perniciosus. These results suggest that sewer rats, in addition to dogs, are likely to act as reservoirs of leishmaniasis in cities, where sewer systems seem to offer the ideal scenario for the transmission of leishmaniasis. Therefore, to achieve the WHO 2030 target on the elimination of leishmaniasis as a public health problem successfully, an efficient control strategy against leishmaniasis in rats and sand flies should be implemented, particularly in the sewer systems of urban areas of endemic countries

Adherencia a tiopurinas en pacientes con Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) incluye principalmente dos trastornos crónicos que afectan al tracto gastrointestinal, la enfermedad de Crohn (EC) y la colitis ulcerosa (CU). Los agentes antimetabolitos azatioprina y mercaptopurina son análogos de purina que interfieren con el metabolismo de los ácidos nucleicos y la proliferación celular y tienen propiedades inmunosupresoras. Estos fármacos siguen utilizándose en el tratamiento de pacientes con EII porque, aunque no tienen un perfil de seguridad idóneo, en algunos pacientes son capaces de obtener una remisión duradera con un bajo coste económico. La falta de adherencia al tratamiento en la EII supone un problema muy importante que se produce en el 30-50% de los casos resultando en un incremento del número de hospitalizaciones y de mortalidad.HIPÓTESIS DE TRABAJO: identificar un número representativo de pacientes seguidos en las Unidades de EII de Zaragoza y Huesca; previamente diagnosticados de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal y en tratamiento activo con tiopurínicos en el periodo de inclusión del estudio (2014-2016) para analizar objetivamente la adherencia y poder responder a las preguntas: ¿Son necesarias las determinaciones de metabolitos para mejorar la evaluación de la adherencia en pacientes con EII tratados con tiopurinas?, ¿Influye la adherencia a las tiopurinas en el curso de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal? O más concretamente, ¿Una buena adherencia a las tiopurinas se asocia a una mejor evolución de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal?, ¿Existe alguna estrategia que pueda mejorar la adherencia a las tiopurinas?.OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL: Analizar el porcentaje (%) de adherencia al tratamiento con tiopurinas con métodos objetivos indirectos (cuestionarios específicos) y directos (metabolitos en sangre) en una muestra representativa de la población de Aragón en el periodo comprendido entre 2014 y 2016, y evaluar la posible relación de la adherencia con el curso de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, multicéntrico, analítico con recogida de información tanto de manera retrospectiva como prospectiva. Se ha medido la adherencia de manera objetiva mediante cuestionarios estructurados y validados (método indirecto): a) Escala de adherencia a la medicación de Morisky (MMAS-4) (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) -considerado como Gold estándar dentro de los métodos indirectos-, b) Escala Analógica Visual (EVA) (Escala Visual Analógica), c) Cuestionario BIPQ-8 (Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire), d) Cuestionario IBDQ-10 (Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), e) Cuestionario PHQ-2 (Patient Health Questionnaire-2), f) Cuestionario BMQ-18 (Beliefs Medication Questionnaire); y mediante la medición de metabolitos de tiopurinas en sangre (Gold estándar, método directo). Para la investigación se ha utilizado el programa R 4.0 R Core Team (2021). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL: https://www.R-project.org/.RESULTADOS: En nuestro estudio y de acuerdo con el cuestionario MMAS-4 (dicotómica) el 57.5% de los pacientes presentaron una buena adherencia mientras que el 42.5% tuvieron una mala adherencia. En relación con el tipo de tiopurina utilizada, la adherencia fue mejor entre los pacientes en tratamiento con MCP (73.53% frente a los 51.16% del grupo con AZA) (pDe acuerdo con la clasificación de Selinger, en nuestro estudio hubo 13 pacientes (12.15%) con adherencia completa y 94 (87.85%) parcialmente adherentes. No hubo ningún paciente con una no adherencia absoluta.CONCLUSIONES: 1. Observamos una tasa de mala adherencia entre el 17,5% (Método EVA) y el 42,5% (Método MMAS-4) y una adherencia subóptima en el 87,8% de los pacientes (metabolitos en sangre), por lo que podemos confirmar que la mala adherencia al tratamiento con tiopurinas en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal es un problema clínico relevante que los métodos basados en cuestionarios muy probablemente infraestiman. 2. Los cuestionarios MMAS-4 y EVA reflejan correctamente la presencia de mala adherencia al tratamiento, puesto que las determinaciones objetivas confirman sus estimaciones. Sin embargo, su sensibilidad es insuficiente. 3. La determinación de metabolitos en sangre complementa la información obtenida por los cuestionarios clínicos. 4. La adherencia es mejor en los pacientes que confían en los beneficios clínicos del fármaco en comparación a aquellos que expresan preocupaciones no resueltas con respecto al tratamiento, de acuerdo con cuestionarios estandarizados (BMQ-18). 5. La edad (a mayor edad mejor adherencia), el sexo femenino, la mayor gravedad de la EII y el uso de mercaptopurina se asocian débilmente a una mejor adherencia al tratamiento. 6. Los niveles más bajos de leucocitos polimorfonucleares se asocian débilmente con buena adherencia expresada tanto en los cuestionarios clínicos como en las determinaciones de metabolitos. 7. Un VCM elevado sugiere indirectamente una buena adherencia a las tiopurinas.<br /

Linear and circular UWB millimeter-wave and terahertz monostatic near-field synthetic aperture Iimaging

Millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies offer unique characteristics to simultaneously obtain good spatial resolution and penetrability. In this paper, a robust near-field monostatic ocusing technique is presented and successfully applied for the internal imaging of different penetrable geometries. These geometries and environments are related to the growing need to furnish new vehicles with radar-sensing devices that can visualize their surroundings in a clear and robust way. Sub-millimeter-wave radar sensing offers enhanced capabilities in providing information with a high level of accuracy and quality, even under adverse weather conditions. The aim of this paper was to research the capability of this radar system for imaging purposes from an analytical and experimental point of view. Two sets of measurements, using reference targets, were performed in the W band at 100 GHz (75 to 110 GHz) and terahertz band at 300 GHz (220 to 330 GHz). The results show spatial resolutions of millimeters in both the range (longitudinal) and the cross-range (transversal) dimensions for the two different imaging geometries in terms of the location of the transmitter and receiver (frontal or lateral views). The imaging quality in terms of spatial accuracy and target material parameter was investigated and optimized.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, Spain (TEC2016-78028-C3-1-P and TEC2016-78028-C3-2-P) and by the European FEDER funds

Changes in Principal Caregiver Mood Affects the Mood of the Parkinson’s Disease Patient: The Vicious Cycle of Illness

Caregiver; Parkinson’s disease; Quality of lifeCuidador; Malaltia de Parkinson; Qualitat de vida.Cuidador; Enfermedad de Parkinson; Calidad de vidaThe aim of this study was to analyze how the change in the caregiver’s status influences PD patients. PD patients and their caregivers who were recruited from January/2016 to November/2017 from 35 centersin Spain from the COPPADIS cohort were included in the study (V0). They were evaluated again at 2-year follow-up(V2). Caregivers completed the Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZCBI), Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8) at V0 and V2. Multivariate models were used to analyze the impact of the change from V0 to V2 (_) on the caregiver’s status over the change in the patient’s status. BDI-II and _EUROHIS-QOL8 in the caregiver predicted _BDI-II (_ = 0.32; p < 0.0001; R2 = 0.71) and _EUROHIS-QOL8 (_ = 0.39; p < 0.0001; R2 = 0.68) in the patient, respectively. Variables related to the caregiver were not associated with changes in the patient´s health-related QoL (_PDQ-39 [39-item Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire]) or autonomy for activities of daily-living (_ADLS [Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale]). The change in the caregiver’s mood and global QoL was associated with the change in the patient’s mood and global QoL, respectively, independently of other variables of the disease influencing both patient´s aspects. Based on this finding, it could be of great importance to detect depression in the principal caregiver of a patient and act on it as earlier as possible.COPPADIS and the present study were developed with the help of Fundación Española de Ayuda a la Investigación en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas y/o de Origen Genético (https://fundaciondegen.org/) and Alpha Bioresearch (www.alphabioresearch.com). Also, we received grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [PI16/01575] co-founded by ISCIII (Concesión de subvenciones de Proyectos de Investigación en Salud de la convocatoria 2020 de la Acción Estratégica en Salud 2017-2020 por el Proyecto “PROGRESIÓN NO MOTORA E IMPACTO EN LA CALIDAD DE VIDA EN LA ENFERMEDAD DE PARKINSON”) to develop a part of the COPPADIS project

Factors associated with smoking among tuberculosis patients in Spain

Altres ajuts: This work was made possible by a grant from the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, SEPAR 2011.To determine the prevalence of smoking and analyze associated factors in a cohort of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Spain between 2006 and 2013. Multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study using a national database of TB patients, using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). We analyzed 5,846 cases (62 % men, mean age 39 years, 33 % foreigners). 23.4 % were alcohol abuser, 1.3 % were injected drug users (IDU), 4.6 % were co-infected with HIV, and 7.5 % had a history of TB treatment. 6.6 % and 0.8 % showed resistance to one and multiple drugs, respectively. The predominant clinical presentation was pulmonary (71 %) with a cavitary radiological pattern in 32.8 % of cases. 82 % of cases were confirmed microbiologically, and 54 % were smear-positive microscopy. 2,300 (39.3 %) patients were smokers. The following factors were associated with smoking: male sex (OR = 2.26;CI:1.97;2.60), Spanish origin (OR = 2.79;CI:2.40-3.24), alcoholism (OR = 2.85;CI:2.46;3.31), IDU (OR = 2.78;CI:1.48;5.52), homelessness (OR = 1.99;CI:1.14-3.57), pulmonary TB (OR = 1.61;CI:1.16;2.24), cavitary radiological pattern (OR = 1.99;CI:1.43;2.79) and a smear-positive microscopy at the time of diagnosis (OR = 1.39;CI:1.14;1.17). The prevalence of smoking among TB patients is high. Smokers with TB have a distinct sociodemographic, clinical, radiological and microbiological profile to non-smokers

Terahertz frequency-scaled differential imaging for Sub-6 GHz vehicular antenna signature analysis

The next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles will be equipped with high numbers of antennas operating in a wide frequency range for communications and environment sensing. The study of 3D spatial angular responses and the radiation patterns modified by vehicular structure will allow for better integration of the associated communication and sensing antennas. The use of near-field monostatic focusing, applied with frequency-dimension scale translation and differential imaging, offers a novel imaging application. The objective of this paper is to theoretically and experimentally study the method of obtaining currents produced by an antenna radiating on top of a vehicular platform using differential imaging. The experimental part of the study focuses on measuring a scaled target using an imaging system operating in a terahertz band—from 220 to 330 GHz—that matches a 5G frequency band according to frequency-dimension scale translation. The results show that the induced currents are properly estimated using this methodology, and that the influence of the bandwidth is assessed.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, Spain (PID2019-107885GB-C33/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, TEC2016-78028-C3-1-P, TEC2016-78028-C3-2-P and TEC2016-78028-C3-3-P, MDM2016-O6OO), Catalan Research Group 2017 SGR 219, and the European FEDER funds

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in rats and sand flies in the urban sewers of Barcelona, Spain

Background: Classically, dogs have been considered to be the only reservoir of leishmaniasis in urban areas. However, in a previous study, we found a 33.3% prevalence of Leishmania infantum in the spleens of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) sampled in the underground sewer system of the city of Barcelona (Spain). The aim of the present study was to verify, using molecular methods, the potential reservoir role of these rats in the same sewer system. Methods: A sensitive real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were carried out to identify and quantify the presence of L. infantum DNA in sand fly individuals captured in the same underground sewer system of Barcelona as in our previous study and in the spleens and ears of rats captured in the same sewer system. Results: Leishmania infantum DNA was found in 14 of the 27 (51.9%) sand flies identified as Phlebotomus perniciosus, and 10 of the 24 (41.7%) rats studied were infected. Leishmania infantum was found in the spleens (70%) and in the ears (40%) of the infected rats. Quantitative results revealed the presence of high loads of L. infantum in the rats studied (> 3 × 10 parasites/g ear tissue) and among the sand flies (> 34 × 10 parasites in 1 individual). Conclusions: The molecular methods used in this study demonstrated a high prevalence of L. infantum in the underground sewer populations of both R. norvegicus and P. perniciosus. These results suggest that sewer rats, in addition to dogs, are likely to act as reservoirs of leishmaniasis in cities, where sewer systems seem to offer the ideal scenario for the transmission of leishmaniasis. Therefore, to achieve the WHO 2030 target on the elimination of leishmaniasis as a public health problem successfully, an efficient control strategy against leishmaniasis in rats and sand flies should be implemented, particularly in the sewer systems of urban areas of endemic countries. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

On differential imaging using electromagnetic simulation for vehicular antenna signature analysis

The current trend in vehicles is to integrate a wide number of antennae and sensors operating at a variety of frequencies for sensing and communications. The integration of these antennae and sensors in the vehicle platform is complex because of the way in which the antenna radiation patterns interact with the vehicle structure and other antennae/sensors. Consequently, there is a need to study the radiation pattern of each antenna or, alternatively, the currents induced on the surface of the vehicle to optimize the integration of multiple antennae. The novel concept of differential imaging represents one method by which it is possible to obtain the surface current distribution without introducing any perturbing probe. The aim of this study was to develop and confirm the assumptions that underpin differential imaging by means of full-wave electromagnetic simulation, thereby providing additional verification of the concept. The simulation environment and parameters were selected to replicate the conditions in which real measurements were taken in previous studies. The simulations were performed using Ansys HFSS simulation software. The results confirm that the approximations are valid, and the differential currents are representative of the induced surface currents generated by a monopole positioned on the top of a vehicle.This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, Spain (PID2019-107885GB-C33 / Agencia Estatal de Investigación AEI / 10.13039/501100011033), and the Catalan Research Group 2017 SGR 219