Instability Due to Drug-Induced Vestibulotoxicity

OBJECTIVE: The therapeutic use of ototoxic drugs is relatively common, particularly in patients with severe diseases. It is likely that disturbances of balance in these patients are underestimated by clinicians. MATERIALS and METHODS: The purpose of this study was to identify drugs involved in the vestibulotoxic origin of instability in a group of 18 patients. RESULTS: Six patients showed both cochlear and vestibular damage, while 12 were affected only by posterior labyrinthine damage. Four groups of drugs were identified: antibiotics (nine patients), cytostatics (four), anti-tuberculosis medicinal products (three), and other drugs (two). Cytostatics were involved in many cases studied, a fact scarcely reported before. CONCLUSION: It is important to ensure an early diagnosis to prevent ototoxic effects induced by drugs. We propose that patients receiving potential ototoxic drugs undergo cochlear and vestibular assessments. Further, we recommend that patients with instability undergo vestibular rehabilitation.S

Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para la detección de Salmonella sp. en leche en polvo: Optimización del método en 12 horas

Resumen Los métodos tradicionales para identificar Salmonella sp. se basan en el empleo demedios de cultivo que permiten la recuperación del microorganismo, el aislamiento en medios selectivos, la identificación bioquímica y caracterización serológica. Estos métodos son dispendiosos, tienen baja especificidad, baja sensibilidad y consumen mucho tiempo. El principal objetivo de este trabajo fue estandarizar y optimizar la técnica de PCR para detectar Salmonella sp. en 12 horas, a partir de ADN de cultivos puros y en muestras de leche en polvo, inoculadas intencionalmente con 200, 20 y 2 UFC/mL. Para la extracción del ADN se estudió la conveniencia de fenol:cloroformo:alcohol isoamílico y Chelex® 100. La temperatura de hibridización y las concentraciones de cloruro de magnesio, empleando un diseño factorial incompleto 6x7, permitieron establecer un límite de detección de hasta 10 pg de ADN en cultivos puros de Salmonella typhi. La PCR se basó en la exclusividad de los oligonucleótidos 139-141, los cuales amplificaron una banda de 284 pb para la identificación de género. Los resultados muestran que: (I) la adición de Novobiacina (45 mg/L) o de verde brillante (10 mg/L) como inhibidores de flora acompañante, después de las primeras tres horas del pre-enriquecimiento no selectivo de 6 horas, no influye significativamente en la recuperación de las células bacterianas; (II) obtener biomasa de la primera dilución en base 10 y emplear la técnica de fenol:cloroformo:alcohol isoamílico para la obtención de ADN, se pueden detectar 2 UFC/mL de Salmonella sp. en leche en polvo y que el tiempo de detección se reduce considerablemente. Palabras claves: Salmonella sp., leche en polvo, PCR, diagnóstico molecular, diagnóstico microbiológico, optimización. Abstract The traditional methods to identify Salmonella sp. are based on the culture medium use that allows the recovery of the micro organism, isolation in selective media, biochemical and serologic characterization. These methods are tedious, have a low specificity and sensitivity and they generally consume a long time. The main objective of this study was to standardize and to optimize the PCR technique to detect Salmonella sp. in 12 hours, from DNA of pure cultures and from powdered milk samples, intentionally inoculated with 200, 20 and 2 CFU/mL. For the extraction of DNA, two methods were used: phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol and chelex® 100. The optimization of the temperature of hibridización and the concentrations of Magnesium Chloride, using an incomplete factorial desing 6x7 allowed to establish a detection limit of up to 10 pg of DNA from pure cultures of Salmonella typhi. The PCR was based on the specificity of oligonucleotidos the 139-141, that amplified a band of 284 pb for the gender identification. The results show that: (I) the inhibitor addition of accompanying flora like Novobiocin (45 mg/L) or brilliant green (10 mg/L) as inhibitors of accompanying flora, after the first three hours in the nonselective pre-enrichment of 6 hours, does not significantly influence in the recovery of the bacterial cells, (II) when obtaining biomass of the first dilution in base 10 and using the phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol technique for the extraction of DNA; can be detected 2 CFU/mL Salmonella s.p. from powdered milk and that the PCR technique reduces the time of test considerably. Key words: Salmonella sp., powdered milk, PCR, molecular diagnosis, microbiologist diagnosis, optimization

Motivations and resources for the consumtion of psychoactive substancces by university students

Objetivo: describir el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas –SPA– (alcohol, tabaco y drogas ilegales) de  jóvenes universitarios colombianos y analizar su relación con las motivaciones y la disponibilidad de recursos para el consumo. Método: participaron 1811 estudiantes de seis universidades colombianas, con edades  entre los 15 y 24 años (M=19,6; DT=2,0) seleccionados intencionalmente, quienes contestaron la subescala de  consumo de sustancias psicoactivas del “Cuestionario de estilos de vida en jóvenes universitarios (CEVJU)”.  Resultados: el 20% de los jóvenes informa consumir alcohol por lo menos una vez a la semana, el 13% fuma  por lo menos una vez al día y el 4% consume drogas ilegales (marihuana, cocaína, éxtasis, heroína, popper,  otros alucinógenos) por lo menos una vez a la semana. Entre los motivos del consumo se encuentran:  sentirse mejor, disminuir la tensión, la ansiedad o el estrés y experimentar nuevas sensaciones. Quienes  tienen mayores prácticas de consumo de SPA consideran que podrían cambiarlas pero no saben si lo harán.  El consumo es mayor en los jóvenes que cuentan con dinero para comprarlas, que conocen sitios donde las  venden dentro de la universidad y cerca de ella, y que frecuentan sitios en los cuales pueden adquirirlas.  Conclusiones: a partir de los resultados se discute sobre la importancia de reorientar las acciones de  prevención del consumo de SPA en los centros universitarios considerando los principales motivos y recursos que se relacionaron con éste.Purpose: to describe the use of psychoactive substances –PS– (alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs) in  Colombian young university students and to analyze its relation with motivations and the availability of  resources for consumption. Method: 1,811 students from six Colombian universities between 15 and 24  years old (M=19.6; SD=2.0) participated. Participants were selected intentionally and they answered the  subscale of psychoactive substances consumption from the “College Youth Lifestyle Questionnaire”. Result:  20% of the students report using alcohol at least once a week; 13% smoke at least once daily, and 4%  consume illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroine, popper, other hallucinogens) at least once a  week. Feeling better, reducing stress or anxiety and feeling new sensations were motives to use PS. Those  who have a higher use of PS think that they could change their practices but are not sure of doing so.  Substance use is higher in students who have money to buy them, in those who know where to buy them in  the university and close to it, and in those who go to places where they can get them. Conclusions: From the  results, the importance of redirecting drug consumption prevention strategies used in universities is  discussed, considering the main motives and resources related to it.&nbsp

Comportamiento y salud de los jóvenes universitarios: satisfacción con el estilo de vida

The purpose of this study was to describe behaviors that form part of the life-style of young college students in 10 dimensions: exercise and physical activity, leisure time, self-care and medical care, diet, alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug consumption, sleep, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, coping and perceived emotional state, and their satisfaction with each. 598 students participated (44.7% men and 55.3% women) from a private university in the southwest of Colombia, who answered the College Youth Lifestyle Questionnaire (Cevju). The results show a high prevalence of healthy practices in all dimensions, except for exercise and physical activity, and satisfaction with lifestyle and general health  status. There was coherence between the level of satisfaction and practices (healthy or unhealthy), and this relationship was analyzed following the guidelines of the stages of change model. Finally, some ideas are presented for consideration, with the idea of creating intervention programs aimed at promoting positive health behaviors and preventing those that adversely affect health.El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir los comportamientos que hacen parte de los estilos de vida de los jóvenes universitarios, en diez dimensiones: ejercicio y actividad física, tiempo de ocio, autocuidado y cuidado médico, alimentación, consumo de alcohol, tabaco y drogas ilegales, sueño, sexualidad, relaciones interpersonales, afrontamiento y estado emocional percibido, y su correspondiente grado de satisfacción con dichas prácticas. Participaron 598 estudiantes (44,7% hombres y 55,3% mujeres) de una universidad privada de Colombia, quienes diligenciaron el “Cuestionario de estilos de vida en jóvenes universitarios” (Cevju). Los resultados obtenidos muestran un predominio de prácticas saludables en todas las dimensiones, con excepción de ejercicio y actividad física y alta satisfacción con el estilo de vida y el estado general de salud. Hubo coherencia entre el nivel de satisfacción con el tipo de prácticas realizadas, y esta relación fue analizada siguiendo los lineamientos del modelo de etapas de cambio. Finalmente, se propusieron algunos aspectos relevantes para la creación de programas de intervención que se orienten a la promoción de un mayor número de conductas positivas para la salud y a la disminución de aquellas que puedan deteriorarla.O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever os comportamentos que fazem parte dos estilos de vida dos jovens universitários, em dez dimensões: Exercício e atividade física, Tempo de ócio, Cuidado e cuidado médico, Alimentação, Consumo de álcool, Tabaco e drogas ilegais, Sonho, Sexualidade, Relações interpessoais Enfrentamento e Estado emocional percebido, e seu correspondente grau de satisfação com ditas práticas. Participaram 598 estudantes (44,7% homens e 55,3% mulheres) de uma universidade privada do sudoeste colombiano, que diligenciaram o “Cuestionario de estilos de vida en jóvenes universitarios” (Cevju). Os resultados obtidos mostram um predomínio de práticas saudáveis em todas as dimensões com exceção de Exercício e atividade física, e alta satisfação com o estilo de vida e o estado geral de saúde. Houve coerência entre o nível de satisfação com o tipo de práticas realizadas (saudáveis ou não saudáveis) e esta relação foi analisada seguindo os lineamientos do modelo de períodos de mudança. Finalmente, foram propostos alguns aspectos relevantes de análise para a criação de programas de intervenção que se orientem para a promoção de um maior número de condutas positivas para a saúde e para a diminuição daquelas que possam deteriorá-l

Clinical and Cytokine Profile in Patients with Early and Late Onset Meniere Disease

Background: Meniere disease (MD) is an inner ear disorder associated with comorbidities such as autoimmune diseases or migraine. This study describes clinical and cytokine profiles in MD according to the age of onset of the condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 83 MD patients: 44 with early-onset MD (EOMD, <35 years old), and 39 with late-onset MD (LOMD, >50 years old), 64 patients with migraine and 55 controls was carried out. Clinical variables and cytokines levels of CCL3, CCL4, CCL18, CCL22, CXCL,1 and IL-1β were compared among the different groups. Results: CCL18 levels were higher in patients with migraine or MD than in controls. Elevated levels of IL-1β were observed in 11.4% EOMD and in 10.3% LOMD patients and these levels were not dependent on the age of individuals. EOMD had a longer duration of the disease (p = 0.004) and a higher prevalence of migraine than LOMD (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Patients with EOMD have a higher prevalence of migraine than LOMD, but migraine is not associated with any cytokine profile in patients with MD. The levels of CCL18, CCL3, and CXCL4 were different between patients with MD or migraine and controls.ISCIII and European Regional Funds (Grants PI17/01644 and PI20/01126)Andalusian Health Government (Grant PE-0356-2018).Andalusian Health Government (Grant PI-0027-2020)

Curso modelado de nicho ecológico, version 1.0

The suite of ideas, protocols, and software tools that has come to be known as “Ecological Niche Modeling” (ENM) — as well as those for the related “Species Distribution Modeling” (SDM)—has seen intensive exploration and research attention in recent decades. In spite of at least four syntheses, the field has grown so much in complexity that it is rather difficult to access for newcomers. Until now, accessibility to this field was achieved by in-person courses organized by universities or research centers, in some of which we have participated as instructors. However, the access to these specialized courses is limited, on one hand because they are not offered in all universities, and on the other because normally they are taught in English. To expand the access to a wider community of Spanish-speaking researchers, here we offer an entirely digital and free-of-charge course in Spanish, which was presented over 23 weeks via Internet in 2018. Although intrinsic Internet-related barriers may limit access to course materials, we have made them available in diverse formats (video, audio, pdf) in order to eliminate most of these problems.El conjunto de ideas, métodos y programas informáticos que se conoce como “Modelado de Nicho Ecológico” (MNE)—y el relacionado “Modelado de Distribución de Especies” (MDS)—han sido objeto de intensa exploración e investigación en las últimas décadas. A pesar de existir al menos cuatro síntesis publicadas, este campo ha crecido tanto en complejidad, que la formación de nuevos investigadores es difícil. Hasta ahora, dicha formación se ha hecho de manera presencial en cursos organizados por universidades o centros de investigación, de los que hemos formado parte como instructores. Sin embargo, el acceso a este tipo de cursos especializados es restringido, por un lado, porque los cursos no se ofrecen en todas las universidades, y por otro, porque normalmente se imparten en inglés. Para facilitar el acceso a una mayor comunidad de científicos de habla hispana, presentamos un curso en español, completamente digital y de acceso gratuito, que se realizó vía Internet durante 23 semanas consecutivas en 2018. Aunque las barreras intrínsecas al uso de Internet pueden dificultar la accesibilidad a los materiales del curso, hemos usado diversos formatos para la divulgación de los contenidos académicos (video, audio, pdf) con el objetivo de eliminar la mayor parte de estos problemas

Prion Protein Misfolding Affects Calcium Homeostasis and Sensitizes Cells to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Prion-related disorders (PrDs) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive neuronal impairment as well as the accumulation of an abnormally folded and protease resistant form of the cellular prion protein, termed PrPRES. Altered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is associated with the occurrence of neurodegeneration in sporadic, infectious and familial forms of PrDs. The ER operates as a major intracellular calcium store, playing a crucial role in pathological events related to neuronal dysfunction and death. Here we investigated the possible impact of PrP misfolding on ER calcium homeostasis in infectious and familial models of PrDs. Neuro2A cells chronically infected with scrapie prions showed decreased ER-calcium content that correlated with a stronger upregulation of UPR-inducible chaperones, and a higher sensitivity to ER stress-induced cell death. Overexpression of the calcium pump SERCA stimulated calcium release and increased the neurotoxicity observed after exposure of cells to brain-derived infectious PrPRES. Furthermore, expression of PrP mutants that cause hereditary Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or fatal familial insomnia led to accumulation of PrPRES and their partial retention at the ER, associated with a drastic decrease of ER calcium content and higher susceptibility to ER stress. Finally, similar results were observed when a transmembrane form of PrP was expressed, which is proposed as a neurotoxic intermediate. Our results suggest that alterations in calcium homeostasis and increased susceptibility to ER stress are common pathological features of both infectious and familial PrD models

Polymorphisms of CD16A and CD32 Fcγ receptors and circulating immune complexes in Ménière's disease: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Autoimmune diseases with elevated circulating autoantibodies drive tissue damage and the onset of disease. The Fcγ receptors bind IgG subtypes modulating the clearance of circulating immune complexes (CIC). The inner ear damage in Ménière's disease (MD) could be mediated by an immune response driven by CIC. We examined single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the CD16A and CD32 genes in patients with MD which may determine a Fcγ receptor with lower binding to CIC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The functional CD16A (FcγRIIIa*559A > C, rs396991) and CD32A (FcγRIIa*519A > G, rs1801274) SNPs were analyzed using PCR-based TaqMan Genotyping Assay in two cohorts of 156 mediterranean and 112 Galicia patients in a case-control study. Data were analyzed by χ²with Fisher's exact test and Cochran-Armitage trend test (CATT). CIC were measured by ELISA for C1q-binding CIC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Elevated CIC were found in 7% of patients with MD during the intercrisis period. No differences were found in the allelic frequency for rs396991 or rs1801274 in controls subjects when they were compared with patients with MD from the same geographic area. However, the frequency of AA and AC genotypes of CD16A (rs396991) differed among mediterranean and Galicia controls (Fisher's test, corrected p = 6.9 × 10^-4for AA; corrected p = 0.02 for AC). Although genotype AC of the CD16A receptor was significantly more frequent in mediterranean controls than in patients, [Fisher's test corrected p = 0.02; OR = 0.63 (0.44-0.91)], a genetic additive effect for the allele C was not observed (CATT, p = 0.23). Moreover, no differences were found in genotype frequencies for rs396991 between patients with MD and controls from Galicia (CATT, p = 0.14). The allelic frequency of CD32 (rs1801274) was not different between patients and controls either in mediterranean (p = 0.51) or Galicia population (p = 0.11).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Elevated CIC are not found in most of patients with MD. Functional polymorphisms of CD16A and CD32 genes are not associated with onset of MD.</p

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe

Probing effective field theory operators in the associated production of top quarks with a Z boson in multilepton final states at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe