First inter-laboratory comparison of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato diagnosis in Latin America

To compare the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for diagnosing Echinococcus granulosus in dog feces among national reference laboratories in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Composition, structure and diversity of a mesquite in Pesquería (Northeastern Mexico)

Abstract Background Although the mesquite (mesquital or mezquital in Spanish) is one of the representative ecosystems of the landscapes in the north of Mexico, it is also one of the least studied. This study evaluated the structure (horizontal and vertical) and diversity of a plant community of mesquite in Northeastern Mexico. Three plots of 1,600 m2 each were established. All trees and shrubs with a basal diameter (d0.10) ≥ 0.5 cm were recorded, and total height (h) and crown diameter (dcrown) were measured. Results There were 8 families, 12 genera and 14 species. The genus presenting the most species was Acacia (three species). The most representative family was Fabaceae with seven species. The evaluated community presents a density of 375 N/ha and a crown area of 6,600 m2/ha. The species with the highest values on the Importance Value Index (IVI) were Prosopis glandulosa (15.95%), Acacia amentacea (14.50%), Havardia pallens (14.27%) and Acacia farnesiana (11.22%). These four species account for 55.94% of IVI. The value obtained from the Vertical Species Profile Index (A) was 3.03, with an Amax of 3.74 and an Arel of 81.15%, indicating high structural diversity in the high strata. The evaluated plant community had a Margalef Diversity Index value of D Mg  = 2.50 and a Shannon Index value of H′ = 2.28, values which are intermediate and considered to be common in the scrublands of Northeastern Mexico. Conclusions 1) The studied community presents intermediate values that are considered as common in comparison to other arid and semi-arid vegetation associations of Northeastern Mexico. 2) The abundance curve of the species was well adjusted to the geometric model, and the distribution is associated with adverse environments such as semi-arid. 3) The family with greater importance for its contribution to the community is Fabaceae, while the genus with more species was Acacia. The research generated quantitative information of the plant community of a mesquite which is in a phase of mature ecological succession

Genotypes, allele frequencies, and geographic locations of the Native American populations investigated.

1<p>Samples genotyped in present study  = 229;</p>2<p>Caution is needed regarding the classification of these modes of subsistence, since they are not stable over time and may not be unique. However, the two categories adopted here (agriculturalist and hunter-gatherer/forager) represent general pre-Columbian subsistence conditions of the investigated populations in accordance with what is known about them. AMOVA results: (a) Among the subdivisions (<i>F_CT</i>): 3.6% (<i>p</i> = 0.000); (b) Among populations within the Mesoamerican Agriculturalist subdivision (<i>F_ST):</i> 1.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.008); (c) Among populations within the South American hunter-gatherer/forager subdivision: 5.3% (<i>p</i> = 0.005); Among populations within the Andean Agriculturarist group: 0% (<i>p</i> = 0.36).</p

Plot of the joint <i>F_ST</i> and <i>He</i> distributions for the Mesoamerican agriculturalist <i>versus</i> South American (agriculturalists + hunter-gatherer/foraging) groups.

<p>Each dot indicates a SNP (listed in item c.2 in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038862#s2" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a> section). The lines represent confidence intervals. Only the <i>ABCA1</i> locus showed significance at the 5% level (filled blue circle). Five selected SNPs were not plotted in the figure because of monomorphic sites in all subdivisions, missing data, and/or dot superposition.</p

Zea pollen relics ages and 230Cys*ABCA1 populations frequencies used for the regression analysis.

1<p>Located near the archeological sites of <i>Zea</i> pollen relics; 2 Conversion according to <a href="http://www.radiocarbon.ldeo.columbia.edu/radcarbcal.htm" target="_blank">www.radiocarbon.ldeo.columbia.edu/radcarbcal.htm</a>.</p>2<p>Data relative to archeological information were obtained from Blake (2006).</p

<i>ABCA1*</i>230Cys frequencies versus radiocarbon ages of maize domestication (<i>Zea</i> pollen relics; Blake [<b>42</b>]).

<p>Spearman’s rho value  = 0.936975 and <i>p</i> = 0.0019.</p

Budesonide as first-line treatment in patients with autoimmune hepatitis seems inferior to standard predniso(lo)ne administration

In patients with non-severe acute or chronic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) without cirrhosis, clinical practice guidelines recommend indistinct use of prednisone or budesonide. However, budesonide is infrequently used in clinical practice. We aimed to describe its use and compare its efficacy and safety with prednisone as first-line options

Plant composition and structure of two post-livestock areas of Tamaulipan thornscrub, Mexico

Abstract Background The composition, structure and biological diversity of two regenerated areas after livestock activities in a Tamaulipan thornscrub vegetation from Northeast Mexico were evaluated. The regeneration of each area was evaluated with the establishment of 12 sampling sites of 50m2. From the data obtained ecological indexes such as: Importance Value Index and Diversity (alpha and beta) were evaluated. Results A total of 17 families, 40 genera and 42 species were registered, the most representative family was Fabaceae with 11 spp. The intensive livestock area had 36 species; a Margalef index of 4.44 and a 1.24 Shannon index, while the extensive livestock area had 32 species, a Margalef index of 4.24 and a 2.16 Shannon index. The communities evaluated have a (48%) mean similarity. Conclusions 1) Regenerated communities after livestock use showed higher richness of species and alpha diversity. 2) Evaluated communities have a mean similarity of (48%). 3) Even after 25 years of regeneration the most dominant species was Cenchrus ciliaris that is used for cattle forage