Ocurrence of Toxocara canis in Students of Veterinary and Graphic Design in a Mexican University

Background: Human toxocariosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by larval forms of the genus Toxocara. The eggs hatch after being ingested, penetrate the intestinal wall and migrate via the blood stream through to the liver, hence spread to other organs. Erratic larval migration by the different soft tissues in humans, generates four syndromes, Visceral Larva Migrans, Ocular Larva Migrans, neurotoxocariosis and covert toxocariosis. A seroprevalence study of Toxocara canis among students from Veterinary Medicine and Graphic Design in Mexico City was conducted, as the Veterinary student has regular contact with animals was compared with students who have no contact with animals in their study program. Materials, Methods & Results: In both groups of students blood samples were collected and centrifuged to obtain the serum was evaluated by Toxocara serology ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). All participants completed a questionnaire supplying personal data and specifics regarding dog ownership and hygiene practices. Serology data and results from the questionnaire were analyzed using the Fisher´s exact test, Chi-square and odds ratio (OR) test. The frequency of Toxocara infection tended to be greater (P = 0.11) in veterinary students than in those from graphic design (13 % and 7.0 % respectively). Some of the risk factors that were considered were: do not wash your hands after eating, frequent contact with dogs, has dog at home, eating on the street and dewormed your dog, neither factor was associated nor were risk factors for Toxocara antibodies present. Discussion: The fact that almost twice as many veterinary students were seropositive indicates a higher risk of Toxocara canis infection in those individuals, which may be due to veterinary students having greater contact with sources of infection (animals, feces, soil, hair, and farms), regardless of the ownership of dogs. In a study in Canada researchers found no differences among veterinarians and other professionals in anti-Toxocara antibodies, finding similar values (8.8% and 9.6% respectively) in both, and also found no association between dog ownership and anti-Toxocara antibodies a study in Austria found that veterinarians were the second occupational groups that had more antibodies (27%) compared to the control group (2%) and the main source of infection was identified as cats and dogs. Many studies have shown that risk factors are very important in the epidemiology of toxocariosis, primarily the presence of dogs and cats living together with people. It has been reported higher infection in individuals who were in contact with dogs. In several cities of Mexico, highest percentages of dogs infested with Toxocara were reported, with a mean of 35.5% and a range from 19.0 to 63.36%. It has been reported up to 100% of stray puppies can be contaminated with Toxocara in samples collected from dorsal and perianal hair which constitutes a great potential of infection considered that 94% of the Toxocara eggs were embrionated. Other studies show less contamination of hair with eggs of T. canis (40.9%) but still shows the importance as a potential source of infection for humans. Eating in the street or poor hygiene before eating were not factors related to the disease. Although no association was found with the lack hand washing and Toxocara, other researchers have identified this problem as a risk factor associated with Toxocara. It can be assumed that depending on the degree of contamination by Toxocara exposed to each individual, the hygiene practices may have different impact on the presence of the parasite. The results indicate that veterinary students are more prone to infection with Toxocara

Geographic potential of the world’s largest hornet, Vespa mandarinia Smith (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), worldwide and particularly in North America

The Asian giant hornet (AGH, Vespa mandarinia) is the world’s largest hornet, occurring naturally in the Indomalayan region, where it is a voracious predator of pollinating insects including honey bees. In September 2019, a nest of Asian giant hornets was detected outside of Vancouver, British Columbia; multiple individuals were detected in British Columbia and Washington state in 2020; and another nest was found and eradicated in Washington state in November 2020, indicating that the AGH may have successfully wintered in North America. Because hornets tend to spread rapidly and become pests, reliable estimates of the potential invasive range of V. mandarinia in North America are needed to assess likely human and economic impacts, and to guide future eradication attempts. Here, we assess climatic suitability for AGH in North America, and suggest that, without control, this species could establish populations across the Pacific Northwest and much of eastern North America. Predicted suitable areas for AGH in North America overlap broadly with areas where honey production is highest, as well as with species-rich areas for native bumble bees and stingless bees of the genus Melipona in Mexico, highlighting the economic and environmental necessity of controlling this nascent invasion

Aplikasi Herbisida 2,4-d Dan Penoxsulam Pada Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Tanaman Padi Sawah (Oryza Sativa L.)

Salah satu teknik budidaya untuk meningkatkan produksi tanaman padi sawah yaitu dengan mengurangi persaingan antara tanaman dengan gulma. Pengendalian dengan kimiawi merupakan salah satu cara mengurangi pertumbuhan gulma di pertanaman padi. Cara kimiawi merupakan cara yang praktis, efektif dan efisien untuk mengendalikan gulma. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh dari aplikasi herbisida 2,4-D dan penoxsulam dalam meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan hasil padi sawah serta menentukan dosis aplikasi herbisida 2,4-D dan penoxsulam baik secara tunggal maupun campuran dalam mengendalikan gulma pada tanaman padi sawah. Penelitian telah dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret-Juli 2014 di Desa Campurasri, Ngawi. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok sederhana, dengan menempatkan 11 perlakuan yaitu H1 : kontrol herbisida 2,4-D; H2 : 2,4-D 11,25 kg ha-1; H3 : 2,4-D 22,5 kg ha-1; H4 : 2,4-D 33,75 kg ha-1; H5 : kontrol herbisida penoxsulam; H6 : penoxsulam 200 ml ha-1; H7 : penoxsulam 400 ml ha-1; H8 : penoxsulam 600 ml ha-1; H9 : 2,4-D 11,25 kg ha-1 dan penoxsulam 200 ml ha-1; H10 : 2,4-D 22,5 kg ha-1 dan penoxsulam 400 ml ha-1; H11 : 2,4-D 33,75 kg ha-1 dan penoxsulam 600 ml ha-1. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan herbisida 2,4-D 11,25 kg ha-1 dan penoxsulam 200 ml menghasilkan bobot kering total tanaman dengan peningkatan sebesar 34,62 % dibandingkan dengan kontrol. Pada produksi tanaman padi peningkatan terjadi sebesar 29,77 % pada perlakuan herbisida 2,4-D 33,75 kg ha-1 dan penoxsulam 600 ml dibandingkan dengan kontrol

Towards precision medicine: defining and characterizing adipose tissue dysfunction to identify early immunometabolic risk in symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study

Interactions between macrophages and adipocytes are early molecular factors influencing adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, resulting in high leptin, low adiponectin circulating levels and low-grade metaflammation, leading to insulin resistance (IR) with increased cardiovascular risk. We report the characterization of AT dysfunction through measurements of the adiponectin/leptin ratio (ALR), the adipo-insulin resistance index (Adipo-IRi), fasting/postprandial (F/P) immunometabolic phenotyping and direct F/P differential gene expression in AT biopsies obtained from symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study. AT dysfunction was evaluated through associations of the ALR with F/P insulin-glucose axis, lipid-lipoprotein metabolism, and inflammatory markers. A relevant pattern of negative associations between decreased ALR and markers of systemic low-grade metaflammation, HOMA, and postprandial cardiovascular risk hyperinsulinemic, triglyceride and GLP-1 curves was found. We also analysed their plasma non-coding microRNAs and shotgun lipidomics profiles finding trends that may reflect a pattern of adipose tissue dysfunction in the fed and fasted state. Direct gene differential expression data showed initial patterns of AT molecular signatures of key immunometabolic genes involved in AT expansion, angiogenic remodelling and immune cell migration. These data reinforce the central, early role of AT dysfunction at the molecular and systemic level in the pathogenesis of IR and immunometabolic disorders

Impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients: A nationwide study in Spain

Objective To assess the effect of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the outcome of neurosurgical patients in Spain. Settings The initial flood of COVID-19 patients overwhelmed an unprepared healthcare system. Different measures were taken to deal with this overburden. The effect of these measures on neurosurgical patients, as well as the effect of COVID-19 itself, has not been thoroughly studied. Participants This was a multicentre, nationwide, observational retrospective study of patients who underwent any neurosurgical operation from March to July 2020. Interventions An exploratory factorial analysis was performed to select the most relevant variables of the sample. Primary and secondary outcome measures Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of mortality and postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Sixteen hospitals registered 1677 operated patients. The overall mortality was 6.4%, and 2.9% (44 patients) suffered a perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of those infections, 24 were diagnosed postoperatively. Age (OR 1.05), perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 4.7), community COVID-19 incidence (cases/10 5 people/week) (OR 1.006), postoperative neurological worsening (OR 5.9), postoperative need for airway support (OR 5.38), ASA grade =3 (OR 2.5) and preoperative GCS 3-8 (OR 2.82) were independently associated with mortality. For SARS-CoV-2 postoperative infection, screening swab test <72 hours preoperatively (OR 0.76), community COVID-19 incidence (cases/10 5 people/week) (OR 1.011), preoperative cognitive impairment (OR 2.784), postoperative sepsis (OR 3.807) and an absence of postoperative complications (OR 0.188) were independently associated. Conclusions Perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in neurosurgical patients was associated with an increase in mortality by almost fivefold. Community COVID-19 incidence (cases/10 5 people/week) was a statistically independent predictor of mortality. Trial registration number CEIM 20/217

Predicting long-term disease control in transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma: impact of an MGUS-like signature

Disease control at 5 years would be a desirable endpoint for elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients, but biomarkers predicting this are not defined. Therefore, to gain further insights in this endpoint, a population of 498 newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients enrolled in two Spanish trials (GEM2005MAS65 and GEM2010MAS65), has been analyzed. Among the 435 patients included in this post-hoc study, 18.6% remained alive and progression free after 5 years of treatment initiation. In these patients, overall survival (OS) rate at 10 years was 60.8% as compared with 11.8% for those progressing within the first 5 years. Hemoglobin (Hb) >= 12 g/dl (OR 2.74, p = 0.001) and MGUS-like profile (OR 4.18, p = 0.005) were the two baseline variables associated with long-term disease-free survival. Upon including depth of response (and MRD), Hb >= 12 g/dl (OR 2.27) and MGUS-like signature (OR 7.48) retained their predictive value along with MRD negativity (OR 5.18). This study shows that despite the use of novel agents, the probability of disease control at 5 years is still restricted to a small fraction (18.6%) of elderly MM patients. Since this endpoint is associated with higher rates of OS, this study provides important information about diagnostic and post-treatment biomarkers helpful in predicting the likelihood of disease control at 5 years

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