Aptitud de la solarización para incrementar la temperatura del suelo en campo e invernadero en el Alto Valle de Río Negro y Neuquén: un ejemplo de aplicación agronómica

Durante 1998 y 1999, se estudió la evolución de las temperaturas del suelo durante el proceso de solarización en invernadero y en el campo en la región del Alto Valle de Río Negro y Neuquén. En todos los ensayos se incluyó un control sin tratar. En invernadero se incluyó un tratamiento con bromuro de metilo. Se registraron diariamente las temperaturas a los 10 cm y 30 cm de profundidad. En invernadero, a las 15 hs y 18 hs se presentaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos a los 10 cm y 30 cm de profundidad en ambos años. En el campo, a los 10 cm de profundidad la solarización incrementó la temperatura del suelo solarizado en 10 ºC a las 15 hs y en 11ºC a las 18 hs. A los 30 cm de profundidad el incremento fue de 9ºC a las 15 hs y 18 horas. En otros trabajos de los integrantes o colaboradores del grupo de investigación, estos incrementos de la temperatura del suelo posibilitaron reducir las poblaciones de hongos patógenos, Meloidogyne spp., malezas y microorganismos benéficos entre 25% y 60 %.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Maternal Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and Congenital Chagas Disease Induce a Trend to a Type 1 Polarization of Infant Immune Responses to Vaccines

Vaccines are of crucial importance to prevent morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases in childhood. A modulation of the fetal/neonatal immune system (considered immature) toward Th1 or Th2 dominance could modify responses to vaccines administered in early life. T. cruzi is the agent of Chagas' disease, in Latin America currently infecting about 2 million women at fertile ages who are susceptible to transmitting the parasite to their fetus. In previous studies we showed that T. cruzi-infected mothers can induce a pro-inflammatory environment in their uninfected neonates (M+B−), whereas congenitally infected newborns (M+B+) are able to develop a pro-Th1 parasite-specific T cell response. In the present study, we analysed the cellular and/or antibody responses to Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), hepatitis B birus (HBV), diphtheria and tetanus vaccines in 6- to 7-month-old infants living in Bolivia. M+B− infants produced more IFN-γ in response to BCG, whereas M+B+ infants developed a stronger IFN-γ response to hepatitis B, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and enhanced antibody production to HBs antigen. These results show that both maternal infection with T. cruzi and congenital Chagas disease do not interfere with responses to BCG, hepatitis B, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines in the neonatal period and that T. cruzi infection in early life tends to favour type 1 immune responses to vaccinal antigens

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Rol de anticuerpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii en la activación de la respuesta inmune en mujeres embarazadas.

Objectives: the study aimed to evaluate in vitro the role of anti T. gondiiin activating immune responses in pregnant women. Methods: the study was performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of pregnant women with chronic toxoplasmosis (n = 15) were stimulated in the presence and absence of autologous plasma (PA) (anti T. gondii antibody). Results: the data show that in PBMC stimulated in the absence of autologous plasma there is increased cell proliferation (P < 0.05) than cells in the presence of autologous plasma. Levels of IFN- ã produced in both conditions (PA and SBF) were similar. Comparing the production of IFN- ã vs IL - 10 shows increased production of Th1 cytokines. Conclusions: in general, our results suggest that the antibodies present in autologous plasma modulate the immune response in pregnant women with chronic toxoplasmosis, such that the immune system does not exacerbate or inhibit this specific response. The presence of antibodies to T. gondii not affecting IFN- ã production in pregnant women with chronic toxoplasmosis, but if cell proliferation.Objetivos: el estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar in vitro el rol de anticuerpos anti T. gondii en la activacion de la respuesta inmune en mujeres embarazadas. Metodos: el estudio se realizo con celulas mononucleares de sangre periferica (PBMC) de mujeres embarazadas con toxoplasmosis cronica (n=15) que fueron estimuladas en presencia y ausencia de plasma autologo (PA) (anticuerpos anti T. gondii). Resultados: los datos muestran que en PBMC estimuladas en ausencia de plasma autologo existe mayor proliferacion celular (P<0.05) que celulas en presencia de plasma autologo. Niveles de IFN-�Á producidos en ambas condiciones (PA y SBF) fueron similares. Comparando la produccion de IFN-�Á vs IL-10 muestra mayor produccion de citoquinas Th1. Conclusiones: en general nuestros resultados sugieren que los anticuerpos presentes en el plasma autologo modulan la respuesta inmune en mujeres embarazadas con toxoplasmosis cronica, de tal modo que el sistema inmune no exacerbe o inhiba esta respuesta especifica. La presencia de anticuerpos anti T. gondii no influyen en produccion de IFN-�Á en mujeres embarazadas con toxoplasmosis cronica, pero si en la proliferacion celular

Dosificación de anticuerpos IgM e IgA anti-trypanosoma cruzi en sangre de recién nacidos de madres con serología positiva para Chagas.

This study compares the levels of specific antibodies IgM and IgA for Chagas in samples of blood from newborns. Three groups of cord blood samples have been analysed: a group of 42 samples from newborns, displaying positive parasitemia, of seropositive mothers (M+B+), 68 samples from newborns with negative parasitemia whose mothers were seropositive (M+B-) and a group of 45 control newborns coming from mothers with negative serology for Chagas. From the 42 M+B+ samples with congenital Chagas disease, 81 and 82.9% displayed detectable levels of IgM and IgA antibodies, respectively In the M+B- group, 70.6 and 33.8% presented antibodies of IgM and IgA classes, respectively, whereas in the control group M-B-, we detected 6% and 11.1% of IgM and IgA antibodies, respectively. The calculated sensitivity of detection of congenital cases using IgM or IgA antibodies was of 82.9% and 80.9% respectively, whereas the specificity of detection was of 29.4% for IgM antibodies and of 66.1% for IgA antibodies.English AbstractJournal Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Levels of antibody IgG sub-classes against hepatitis B in vaccinated infants.

<p>Plasma levels of HbsAg-specific IgG sub-classes in 6 to 7 months old infants born to mothers infected (M+) or not (M−) with <i>T. cruzi</i>, and congenitally infected (B+) or not (B−), and vaccinated at 2, 4 and 6 months against hepatitis B. Results are displayed as box and whiskers (n = 6 M−B−, 13 M+B− and 9 M+B+). * : p<0.05 compared with infants from other groups (Man Withney <i>U</i> test).</p