Cambio de uso de suelo, vegetación y tenencia de la tierra en la Sierra de Sonora en el contexto de la minería de litio

Las actividades mineras extractivas son de gran importancia económica para México pues desde hace algunos siglos nuestro país ha sido un importante lugar de extracción de recursos naturales, aunque en muchas ocasiones esa relevancia económica no se ve reflejada en todos los actores involucrados, sino que se concentran en unos cuantos que acaparan la actividad y el mercado en torno a ella. El estado de Sonora es la entidad más importante del país para este tipo de actividad, la minería, sin embargo, muchas comunidades que se encuentran inmersas en los centros mineros no gozan de los beneficios que ésta deja, por el contrario, son las que comúnmente sufren las repercusiones negativas en términos socioambientales. En este contexto y a partir del conocimiento de una serie de yacimientos de litio en la Sierra de Sonora, es importante conocer las características socioambientales de la región para tener un panorama más amplio de cómo se encuentra y cuáles son las condiciones de las comunidades y del ecosistema y así poder establecer cuáles serán las posibles implicaciones una vez que inicien los trabajos de explotación del mineral. Los seis municipios que comprenden este trabajo: Bacadéhuachi, Divisaderos, Granados, Huásabas, Nácori Chico y Sahuaripa, cuentan con concesiones de litio, ya sea vigentes o en trámite, lo que implica que en el futuro cercano y debido a la demanda mundial del mineral, serán zonas de gran importancia. Ante ello, cabe preguntarse si los supuestos beneficios derivados de la extracción podrán mejorar la vida de las comunidades y de qué manera impactarán en la región. El objetivo de este trabajo es, por un lado, abordar las generalidades y los impactos potenciales de la minería de litio en nuestro país; analizar el cambio en el uso de suelo, la cobertura vegetal y la tenencia de la tierra; así como la presencia de dos Regiones Terrestres Prioritarias en la Sierra de Sonora y las concesiones mineras en ellas, sobre todo de litio, en el área de estudio. En el mismo sentido, se analizan ciertos aspectos del marco legal vigente, algunas de las modificaciones en la última reforma a la Ley Minera y la relación de estos cambios con las transformaciones en el uso de suelo en los últimos años

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Protective efficacy of different strategies employing Mycobacterium leprae heat-shock protein 65 against tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis is a major threat to human health. The high disease burden remains unaffected and the appearance of extremely drug-resistant strains in different parts of the world argues in favor of the urgent need for a new effective vaccine. One of the promising candidates is heat-shock protein 65 when used as a genetic vaccine (DNAhsp65). Nonetheless, there are substantial data indicating that BCG, the only available anti-TB vaccine for clinical use, provides other important beneficial effects in immunized infants. Methods: We compared the protective efficacy of BCG and Hsp65 antigens in mice using different strategies: i) BCG, single dose subcutaneously; ii) naked DNAhsp65, four doses, intramuscularly; iii) liposomes containing DNAhsp65, single dose, intranasally; iv) microspheres containing DNAhsp65 or rHsp65, single dose, intramuscularly; and v) prime-boost with subcutaneous BCG and intramuscular DNAhsp65. Results: All the immunization protocols were able to protect mice against infection, with special benefits provided by DNAhsp65 in liposomes and prime-boost strategies. Conclusion: Among the immunization protocols tested, liposomes containing DNAhsp65 represent the most promising strategy for the development of a new anti-TB vaccine