FUNGEMIA POR TRICHOSPORON ASAHII SECUNDARIA A INFECCIÓN DE PIEDRA BLANCA EN PACIENTE INDÍGENA

The genus Trichosporon is responsible for the benign surface infection known as white stone. Species of this genus and specifically Trichosporon asahii have been described as agents of opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients. A case of T. asahii fungemia is described in an indigenous adolescent patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). T. asahii identification was performed using the Vitek automated system (Biomerieux ®), of the isolates obtained from both blood cultures and hair nodules. ALL constitutes a debilitating condition of the immune system that exposed our patient to the easy acquisition of an opportunistic infection that resulted in sepsis. El género Trichosporon es el responsable de la infección benigna superficial conocida como piedra blanca. Especies de este género y específicamente Trichosporon asahii se han descrito como agentes de infecciones oportunistas en pacientes inmunodeprimidos. Se describe un caso de fungemia por T. asahii en una paciente adolescente indígena con leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA). Se realizó identificación T. asahii mediante el sistema automatizado Vitek (Biomerieux ®), de los aislamientos obtenidos tanto de los hemocultivos como de los nódulos de la cabellera. LLA constituye una condición debilitante del sistema inmune que expuso a nuestra paciente a la fácil adquisición de una infección oportunista que dio lugar a una sepsis

Living in a cold tropical mountain: do the microhabitat use and activity pattern change with elevation in the high-Andean lizard Stenocercus trachycephalus (Squamata: Tropiduridae)?

The high mountain environment is a tough habitat that imposes many challenges to reptiles. As temperature decreases with altitude and has a dramatic variation throughout the day in the tropical mountains, ectotherms must cope with these harsh conditions. We studied the use of microhabitat and activity patterns of Stenocercus trachycephalus in the eastern Andes mountain range of Colombia. Three localities were sampled across the wide altitudinal distribution of this lizard species, in a range from 2,670 to 3,950 m a.s.l. The initial hypothesis was that these natural history traits would change with altitude but instead, we found that they remained roughly consistent, showing the great plasticity of this species. The results support that this lizard is a microhabitat-generalist using principally herb across the gradient, rarely shifting to specific plants or microhabitats such as rocks depending on availability. Regarding the activity pattern, this species was active throughout the day from 8:00 to 16:00 with a similar pattern along the gradient. Nevertheless, some differences were detected across localities. The activity pattern shifted from bimodal in the lower locality to unimodal in the higher ones. As expected, a correlation between temperature and activity patterns was found in one of the study sites. However, this was not the case for the lower and mid-elevation localities, where there was no correlation between these variables. The mid-elevation study site was the most interesting locality as the use of microhabitat relied virtually just on the herb stratum and the activity was constrained to the morning hours. These findings may be the result of the synergic effects of other ecological variables (weather variability, human impact, predation, population structure, or reproductive season). Our study gives the basis for a better understanding of how behavior (microhabitat choice and hours of activity) of ectotherms can help to counter thermal constraints in the neotropics when facing an altitudinal gradient. Further studies should focus on the thermal biology of this species, considering the influence of anthropic impact on these lizards’ populations

Análisis del comportamiento de las pymes colombianas en el mercado internacional

PublishedA través del tiempo la bien llamada internacionalización, ha logrado captar el interés de los empresarios colombianos. La tendencia del mercado genera la necesidad de conocer la dinámica del comercio exterior, por lo tanto se requiere tener unas bases sólidas que permitan a las compañías dirigirse a mercados externos diferentes a su lugar de origen. A pesar que en Colombia las Pymes representan un alto porcentaje de la actividad productiva, indus-trial y manufacturera del país, la gran mayoría no cuenta con las competencias requeridas para incursionar en el mercado internacional. Según ANIF (2016) en la gran encuesta pyme se identificó que en promedio, aproximadamente, el 80% de las pymes no realizaron exportaciones durante el 2016, ni muestran interés por hacerlo, esto en consecuencia a la desarticulación entre la acade-mia, la industria y el gobierno

Consenso colombiano para el manejo de pacientes con Hipofosfatasia

La hipofosfatasia (HPP) es una enfermedad metabólica, de tipo hereditario, causada por mutaciones en el gen ALPL. Teniendo en cuenta los retos del manejo adecuado de los pacientes con HPP, se realizó un consenso interdisciplinario de expertos (endocrocrinólogos pediatras, nefrólogos pediatras, ortopedistas infantiles y genetistas clínicos) con el fin de proponer recomendaciones de utilidad clínica para el diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes colombianos con HPP. Estas sugerencias se realizan en el contexto de los diferentes tipos de presentaciones y las edades de los pacientes.Q41-7Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a hereditary metabolic disease caused by mutations in the ALPL gene. Taking into account the challenges found in the adequate management of patients with HPP, an interdisciplinary consensus of experts (pediatric endocrinologists, pediatric nephrologists, pediatric orthopedists and clinical geneticists) was carried out, in order to propose recommendations of clinical utility for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of Colombian patients with HPP. These suggestions are made in the context of the different types of presentations and the ages of the patients

Evaluación en época seca de ecosistemas acuáticos y terrestres: componentes de vegetación y faunación. Sector Centro Administrativo PNN El Tuparro (Cumaribo, Vichada)

La asignatura Ecología Regional Continental tiene como objetivo el análisis de los procesos ecológicos a escala de paisaje y bioma. A lo largo de su existencia dentro del programa curricular de Biología de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia se han realizado distintos estudios ecológicos en distintas regiones del país, ampliando cada vez más el conocimiento de los estudiantes que toman la asignatura y aportando al conocimiento de zonas poco estudiadas. Durante los últimos periodos, la fase de campo se ha realizado en zonas pertenecientes al Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Es así como se realizó un estudio preliminar durante el segundo semestre de 2010 en el PNN Cueva de Los Guacharos en el departamento del Huila, cumpliendo con el objetivo de una evaluación ecológica rápida a nivel de vegetación y limnología de manera dirigida, además de proyectos de distintos temas sobre aspectos ecológicos de la región. Para este periodo, primer semestre de 2011, la fase de campo se desarrolló en el PNN El Tuparro, ubicado en el departamento del Vichada y se incluyó adicionalmente el componente de faunación. Esta zona del país es poco conocida dado su difícil acceso, por lo que la información obtenida es de gran valor

Buenas prácticas de manufactura y su contribución al sector panelero.

Este libro aborda la investigación en el contexto educativo y su contribución al desarrollo en procesos productivos paneleros a través de la implementación de buenas prácticas de manufactura, como estrategia de mejoramiento en aspectos ambientales, de seguridad y salud en el trabajo, dando respuesta a necesidades del contexto local y desarrollo de su región. A través de la investigación se lleva a cabo una revisión de procesos productivos del municipio de Guaduas y sus alrededores, especialmente en el sector agrícola, lo que permite evidenciar que el sector panelero es un renglón económico de relevancia en la región, que requiere cualificación del personal que realiza dicha actividad; mejora en el proceso productivo con el fin de obtener un producto de calidad y que contribuya a minimizar los impactos ambientales en el entorno; es por ello que, a través de la implementación de buenas prácticas de manufactura, se desea contribuir al mejoramiento del proceso productivo, incentivando el uso adecuado de recursos naturales, fomentando la cualificación del personal que labora en dicha actividad, y propiciando la búsqueda de la expansión a mercados locales y nacionales de un producto de buena calidad para el consumidor

Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study.

INTRODUCTION: There are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables. RESULTS: Probable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges