The credibility of the Venezuela crawling-band system

This paper studies the credibility of the Venezuela crawling-band exchange rate regime during the period July, 1996-February, 2002. We show that, introducing some modifications, the credibility analysis widely applied to target zone regimes can also be used in studying the credibility of crawling- band regimes. In analyzing the credibility of the Venezuela crawling band, first we use the so-called simple credibility tests developed by Svensson (1991). Additionally, we estimate the expected rate of realignment using the drift- adjustment method. Both the credibility tests and the drift-adjustment method give similar results, showing that the crawling-band system was highly credible during the period.crawling band exchange rate system, credibility, realignments

Collagenase nanocapsules: An approach to fibrosis treatment

Fibrosis is a common lesion in different pathologic diseases and defined by the excessive accumulation ofcollagen. Different approaches have been used to treat different conditions characterized by fibrosis. TheFDA and EMA approved the use of collagenase to treat palmar fibromatosis (Dupuytren’s contracture).The EMA approved additionally its use in severe Peyronie’s disease, but it has been used off label in otherconditions [1,2]. The approved treatment includes up to three (in palmar fibromatosis) or up to eight (inpenile fibromatosis) injections followed by finger extension or penile modeling procedures, typicallycausing severe pain. Frequent single injections are adequate to treat palmar fibromatosis [3]. The needto repeatedly inject doses of this enzyme can be due to the labile nature of collagenase, which exhibitsa complete activity loss after a short period of time. This study presents a novel strategy to manage thisenzyme based on the synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules that contain collagenase encapsulated withintheir matrix. These nanocapsules have been engineered for achieving a gradual release of the encapsu-lated enzyme for a longer time, which can be up to ten days. The efficacy of these nanocapsules has beentested in a murine model of local dermal fibrosis, and the results demonstrate a reduction in fibrosisgreater than that with the injection of free enzyme; this type of treatment showed a significant improve-ment compared to conventional therapy of free collagenase

Conceptos Actuales de la Terapia Con Insulina.

Objetivo. Revisar las características de las diferentes insulinas disponibles para el tratamiento de la diabetes y crisis hiperglucémicas, sus indicaciones, uso clínico y seguridad. Método. Se realizó una búsqueda de artículos y revisiones disponibles en revistas científicas que incluían el tema de diabetes, hiperglucemia, complicaciones de la diabetes, terapia insulínica y guías de manejo de la diabetes de los últimos 20 años. Resultados. Se presenta las indicaciones de la insulina, su dosificación, vía de administración según la situación clínica del paciente y las formulaciones de insulina disponibles para Costa Rica. Se presentan las diferencias entre las insulinas humanas y los análogos de insulina, resaltando las diferencias farmacocinéticas y la seguridad de los análogos. En la actualidad existe varios análogos de insulina de acción prolongada y de corta acción que le permite al paciente alcanzar una mejor concentración de glucosa. Estos análogos de insulina son efectivos, seguros y asociados con menos hipoglucemia y menor ganancia de peso comparado con las insulinas humanas. Se hace énfasis en el riesgo de hipoglucemias asociado a la terapia insulínica y la importancia de la intervención no farmacológica. Conclusión. El descubrimiento de la insulina en Toronto, Canadá hace 100 años revolucionó el tratamiento de las personas con diabetes. El desarrollo de análogos de insulina semeja mejor la secreción endógena de insulina y permite mejorar las metas de control glucémico. Los programas educación en diabetes representan un beneficio en el manejo exitoso de la diabetes como parte de la intervención no farmacológica

The Absence of Caspase-8 in the Dopaminergic System Leads to Mild Autism-like Behavior

In the last decade, new non-apoptotic roles have been ascribed to apoptotic caspases. This family of proteins plays an important role in the sculpting of the brain in the early stages of development by eliminating excessive and nonfunctional synapses and extra cells. Consequently, impairments in this process can underlie many neurological and mental illnesses. This view is particularly relevant to dopamine because it plays a pleiotropic role in motor control, motivation, and reward processing. In this study, we analyze the effects of the elimination of caspase-8 (CASP8) on the development of catecholaminergic neurons using neurochemical, ultrastructural, and behavioral tests. To do this, we selectively delete the CASP8 gene in cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase with the help of recombination through the Cre-loxP system. Our results show that the number of dopaminergic neurons increases in the substantia nigra. In the striatum, the basal extracellular level of dopamine and potassium-evoked dopamine release decreased significantly in mice lacking CASP8, clearly showing the low dopamine functioning in tissues innervated by this neurotransmitter. This view is supported by electron microscopy analysis of striatal synapses. Interestingly, behavioral analysis demonstrates that mice lacking CASP8 show changes reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our research reactivates the possible role of dopamine transmission in the pathogenesis of ASD and provides a mild model of autism.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RTI2018-098645-B-I00, PID2019-109569GB-I00, RTI2018-099778-B-I00Junta de Andalucía P18-RT-1372, US-1264806, PI-0080-2017, PI-0009-2017, PI-0134-2018, PEMP-0008-2020, P20_00958, CTS-510Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI18/01691Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz-INiBICA LI19/06IN-CO22, IN-C09European Union 95568

Los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) en la planificación municipal

En el presente trabajo se revisan las experiencias con la tecnología de Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) que han tenido diferentes municipios y entidades estatales del Oriente Antioqueño y el Valle de Aburrá, identificando las condiciones que han favorecido y dificultado su apropiación como herramienta cotidiana. Se muestran las bondades de la tecnología desde una perspectiva sencilla, al alcance de casi cualquier municipio. Con base en las experiencias de los municipios que desde hace ya algunos años entraron en el proceso de apropiación de esta herramienta, se muestra cómo la información que se recopila a diario puede ser fácilmente organizada, analizada y visualizada para la toma de decisiones de planificación con ayuda de la herramienta, partiendo de lo simple para ir robusteciendo el sistema en la medida en que se adquiere experiencia y familiaridad con ella. Se presentan los programas y funciones de uso más frecuente en Colombia y se describe la problemática de la disponibilidad de datos confiables de entrada y el flujo de información entre la autoridad local, regional y nacional que intervienen en el ordenamiento territorial, condición que se considera clave para dar coherencia a los procesos de planificación.A review of the experiences with GIS technology that different municipalities and governmental institutions in the Oriente Antioqueño and Valle de Aburrá regions have had is presented here, identifying conditions that have made its appropriation in a daily basis easier or more difficult. The advantages of GIS technology are shown here from a simple perspective, achievable practically by any municipality or governmental institution. Based on the experiences of municipalities that for several years have been in the process of using this tool, it is shown how general data that are daily obtained can be easily organized, analyzed, and visualized for decision making in planning helped by GIS technology, starting from simple systems, and making them stronger as experience and familiarity with the technology is gained. The most used GIS software and functions in Colombia are presented, as well as a description of the problem of reliable data availability and interaction between governmental institutions, since this is considered a chief condition for consistent planning processes

Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in a series of elderly Mexican institutionalized patients

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common problem among the elderly. It is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality, but its prevalence in Mexico is unknown. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study of intern patients at several Mexican elderly assistance institutions. We carried out a history and took blood pressure readings in a seated position, immediately after standing up, and again after 3 min of standing up. Results: We evaluated 132 patients, mean age 82.3 ± 9.5 years, 74.1% of them female. Thirty-nine (29.3%) subjects had OH. They had a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, depression and alcoholism. Their Minimental result was 15.45 ± 7.2 vs 16.12 ± 7.9 (p = 0.6) among those without OH, and their quality of life (Minnesota scale) was 12.1 ± 7.3 vs 9.15 ± 7.05 (p = 0.03). They used more ACEI, digoxin and levothyroxin. Hypertension and alcoholism showed respectively a RR of 2.6 (95% CI 0.9–7.6, p = 0.06) and 3.18 (95% CI 0.96–10.48, p = 0.05) to develop OH. Conclusions: OH was present in 29.3% of the studied population. A third of them had hypertension. The use of different medications does not solely explain OH, so it is necessary to look for different associations. Among those, chronic alcoholism stands out. OH is associated with a poorer quality of life and cognitive performance. OH is asymptomatic in most cases. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 3: 282–288

Galaxy clusters and groups in the ALHAMBRA Survey

We present a catalogue of 348 galaxy clusters and groups with $0.2<z<1.2$ selected in the 2.78 $deg^2$ ALHAMBRA Survey. The high precision of our photometric redshifts, close to $1\%$, and the wide spread of the seven ALHAMBRA pointings ensure that this catalogue has better mass sensitivity and is less affected by cosmic variance than comparable samples. The detection has been carried out with the Bayesian Cluster Finder (BCF), whose performance has been checked in ALHAMBRA-like light-cone mock catalogues. Great care has been taken to ensure that the observable properties of the mocks photometry accurately correspond to those of real catalogues. From our simulations, we expect to detect galaxy clusters and groups with both $70\%$ completeness and purity down to dark matter halo masses of $M_h\sim3\times10^{13}\rm M_{\odot}$ for $z<0.85$. Cluster redshifts are expected to be recovered with $\sim0.6\%$ precision for $z<1$. We also expect to measure cluster masses with $\sigma_{M_h|M^*_{CL}}\sim0.25-0.35\, dex$ precision down to $\sim3\times10^{13}\rm M_{\odot}$, masses which are $50\%$ smaller than those reached by similar work. We have compared these detections with previous optical, spectroscopic and X-rays work, finding an excellent agreement with the rates reported from the simulations. We have also explored the overall properties of these detections such as the presence of a colour-magnitude relation, the evolution of the photometric blue fraction and the clustering of these sources in the different ALHAMBRA fields. Despite the small numbers, we observe tentative evidence that, for a fixed stellar mass, the environment is playing a crucial role at lower redshifts (z$<$0.5).Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Catalogues and figures available online and under the following link: http://bascaso.net46.net/ALHAMBRA_clusters.htm