Association between different clinical entities, leukograms and the presence of neutrophil bands in hospitalized patients at the León XIII Clinic, Medellin, Colombia

ABSTRACT: The presence of neutrophil bands in peripheral blood is widely used in clinical settings to support the diagnosis of patients with a suspected bacterial infection. However, the diagnostic accuracy of these cells’ relative counts, which is necessary for the diagnosis of bacterial infection, is limited due to low sensitivity. Methods: a total of 242 hemograms of hospitalized patients in the León XIII Clinic were included. These patients presented left-sided alarms in the ADVIA® 2120/2120i hematology equipment and increased neutrophil bands greater than 5% in the peripheral blood smear. Data about age, sex, microbiological results and levels of C-reactive protein of the patients was also gathered. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software, together with a Spearman correlation analysis and a Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: a high variability was observed in the relative count of the neutrophil bands in the different clinical entities. Nonetheless, a significant increase of these cells was found in other non-infectious diseases such as renal and pulmonary diseases with a median of 25 and 22.5 respectively, above bacterial infections with a median of 19 cells. Conclusions: the increase of the neutrophil bands was not related to any particular pathology, which is why its diagnostic value has little use to be correlated with a bacterial infection exclusively.RESUMEN: la presencia de bandas neutrófilas en sangre periférica es a menudo utilizada en el ámbito clínico para apoyar el diagnóstico de pacientes en los cuales se sospecha una infección bacteriana. Sin embargo, la precisión diagnóstica del recuento relativo de estas células para el diagnóstico de infección bacteriana es limitada dado que tiene una baja sensibilidad. MÉTODOS: se incluyeron 242 hemogramas de pacientes hospitalizados en la Clínica León XIII (Medellín, Colombia) que presentaron alarma de desviación a la izquierda en el equipo de hematología ADVIA® 2120/2120i y aumento de bandas neutrófilas mayor al 5 % en el extendido de sangre periférica, de quienes se obtuvo: edad, sexo, resultados microbiológicos y niveles de proteína C reactiva. El análisis estadístico se ejecutó en el software SPSS, se realizó análisis de correlaciones de Spearman y la prueba H de Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTADOS: se observó una alta variabilidad en el recuento relativo de las bandas neutrófilas en las diferentes entidades clínicas, en donde se encontró aumento significativo de estas células en otras patologías no infecciosas como enfermedad renal y enfermedad pulmonar con una mediana de 25 y 22,5 respectivamente, por encima de las infecciones bacterianas con una mediana de 19. CONCLUSIONES: el aumento de las bandas neutrófilas no se relaciona con ninguna patología en especial, por lo que su valor diagnóstico es poco útil para correlacionarlo con infección bacteriana exclusivamente

Conversion to Islam as a Strategy of Change and Differentiation in Modernity

ABSTRACT: This article seeks to contribute to the knowledge of Islam in the Colombian context, through ethnographic observations and narratives of individuals who have converted to said religion in Bogota. In addition to analyzing the motives for their conversion, it studies the way these people have constructed a new religious identity altering their perception of themselves, their system of beliefs and values, their behavior and their relation to the socio-cultural environment around them. It also examines the link between the private and the public spheres, between the symbolic and the political, that becomes visible when, by openly adhering to a religion that is usually stigmatized, a person resists the hegemonic forms of socialization in Colombian society.RESUMEN: Este artículo busca aportar al conocimiento del islam en el contexto colombiano a partir de observaciones etnográficas y narrativas de sujetos que se han convertido a esta religión en Bogotá. Además de analizar las motivaciones de sus conversiones, estudiamos la forma en que las personas han construido una nueva identidad religiosa alterando su percepción de sí mismas, su sistema de creencias y valores, su comportamiento y su relación con el medio sociocultural que las rodea. Se examina también el enlace entre lo privado y lo público, entre lo simbólico y lo político, que se hace visible cuando, al adherir abiertamente a una religión usualmente estigmatizada, la persona resiste frente a formas de socialización hegemónicas de la sociedad colombiana

Edificio Administración Zonal Quitumbe

El crecimiento desigual y acelerado de la ciudad, genera situaciones de extrema pobreza que conspira contra la equidad y paz ciudadanas y que escapan al control, ordenamiento y planificación del desarrollo urbano. La proliferación de los asentamientos ilegales, la ocupación de terrenos aptos para edificación, los acentuados déficit en la dotación de servicios básicos para la población urbano-popular, la especulación sobre el suelo, etc., constituyen realidades que la Municipalidad enfrenta cotidianamente y que por tanto, requieren de respuestas sostenidas y eficaces que den salidas concretas a las expectativas y demandas de la población..

Ex situ potential conservation of ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes.), a critically endangered medicinal plant species

Psychotria ipecacuanha is a medicinal plant endangered in Colombia, due to the indiscriminate exploitation suffered several decades ago for its therapeutic importance. Its great medicinal value is due to emetine production and its derivatives, mainly in the roots. Given these concerns, the aim of this research was to evaluate different parameters for in vitro conservation of P. ipecacuanha by a limited plant growth, using as in vitro explants plant nodes. Plant growth response to 18, 23 and 25°C with and without addition to MS basal culture medium 15 and 30 gL-1 of mannitol osmotic regulator was evaluated. Registration of plant survival data (%), plant height (cm), plant development of axillary shoots, number of leaves, callus formation and vigour of developed buds and was initially performed at 3 months and then every two months until 12 months. The explants conserved for 9 months in culture medium without mannitol osmotic regulator and temperature of 18°C, showed response after transferring and reculturing in recovery culture medium for 6-8 weeks, this process had not achieved any effect on plant growth and vigour in the recovery phase. In addition, the critical parameters in the acclimatization process were determined

The Lewis Structure explorer: Accessible by Design

Successfully learning principles from drawing Lewis Structures sets the foundation for understanding more complex representations of chemical concepts. As these visual-based concepts are core competencies in chemical pedagogies, it is incumbent and required for educational institutions and faculty to provide usable accommodations for all students, including those with blindness and low-vision (BLV). The shift to visually based interactive digital media increases the technical challenge for addressing accessibility for BLV students and makes creating these accommodations by faculty even more difficult. This technology report presents research and development for providing a digital learning system for Lewis Structures designed to be directly accessible by BLV students and other screen reader users. This Lewis Structure explorer can be used by all students and includes a form-driven keyboard accessible control panel. The alternative (alt) text for the structural representations is generated dynamically with user input. The results from two usability studies, one with over 300 sighted college students and the other with four BLV adults who depend on alt text for non-text information, are presented

Efecto del genotipo sobre la regeneración in vitro de Stevia rebaudiana a través de embriogénesis somática

Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), es una planta de gran importancia económica debido a sus propiedades medicinales y a la presencia de compuestos endulzantes en sus hojas, los cuales pueden sustituir la sacarosa en gran variedad de productos utilizados por personas con problemas de diabetes y obesidad. Con el propósito de estandarizar un método de propagación eficiente y efectivo para diferentes genotipos de Stevia cultivados en Colombia, en la presente investigación se evaluó el efecto sobre la inducción y desarrollo de embriones somáticos de diferentes combinaciones de los reguladores de crecimiento vegetal 2,4-D, IAA, IBA, 2iP y Zeatina, además de los suplementos adenina y agua de coco en el medio de cultivo basal Murashige y Skoog (1962), adicionado con glutamina. Con la combinación 2,4-D (18.09 µM) y 2iP (7.38 µM) se obtuvo el mayor número embriones somáticos por explante con características bien definidas. El genotipo tuvo un efecto significativo en la repuesta embriogénica, en el genotipo "SRQ-93" se logró la formación y el desarrollo de embriones somáticos, mientras que en los genotipos "Bertoni" y "Morita II", solo se obtuvo callo embriogénico y no embriogénico respectivamente. La conversión a plántulas se alcanzó en el medio de regeneración conteniendo GA3 (0.29 µM) y carbón activado.Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae) is a plant of economic importance because of its medicinal properties and the presence of sweetener compounds on its leaves. These compounds can be a substitute for sucrose in a wide variety of products used by persons with diabetes and obesity problems. To standardize an efficient and effective propagation method for the different Stevia genotypes grown in Colombia, this study evaluated the effect of different combinations of the plant growth regulators 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 6-(gamma, gamma-dimethylallylamino) purine (2iP) and Zeatin on the induction and development of somatic embryos. Adenine and coconut water were also evaluated as supplements in the basal culture medium Murashige and Skoog Basal Salt Mixture (MS) with glutamine. The combination of 2,4-D (18.09 µM) and 2iP (7.38 µM) produced the highest number of somatic embryos per explant, which had well-defined characteristics. The genotype showed a significant effect on the embryogenic response. In the "SRQ-93" genotype, the formation and development of somatic embryos was achieved, whereas the genotypes "Bertoni" and "Morita II" only yielded embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli, respectively. The conversion to seedlings was achieved on the regeneration medium containing gibberellic acid (GA3) (0.29 µM) and activated charcoal

Efecto del genotipo sobre la regeneración in vitro de Stevia rebaudiana a través de embriogénesis somática

Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), es una planta de gran importancia económica debido a sus propiedades medicinales y a la presencia de compuestos endulzantes en sus hojas, los cuales pueden sustituir la sacarosa en gran variedad de productos utilizados por personas con problemas de diabetes y obesidad. Con el propósito de estandarizar un método de propagación eficiente y efectivo para diferentes genotipos de Stevia cultivados en Colombia, en la presente investigación se evaluó el efecto sobre la inducción y desarrollo de embriones somáticos de diferentes combinaciones de los reguladores de crecimiento vegetal 2,4-D, IAA, IBA, 2iP y Zeatina, además de los suplementos adenina y agua de coco en el medio de cultivo basal Murashige y Skoog (1962), adicionado con glutamina. Con la combinación 2,4-D (18.09 µM) y 2iP (7.38 µM) se obtuvo el mayor número embriones somáticos por explante con características bien definidas. El genotipo tuvo un efecto significativo en la repuesta embriogénica, en el genotipo "SRQ-93" se logró la formación y el desarrollo de embriones somáticos, mientras que en los genotipos "Bertoni" y "Morita II", solo se obtuvo callo embriogénico y no embriogénico respectivamente. La conversión a plántulas se alcanzó en el medio de regeneración conteniendo GA3 (0.29 µM) y carbón activado

Uptake and effects of manufactured silver nanoparticles in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill cells

Nanoparticles are already widely used in technology, medicine and consumer products, but there are limited data on their effects on the aquatic environment. In this study the uptake and effect of citrate (AgNP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (AgNP) coated manufactured silver nanoparticles, as well as AgNO (Ag) were tested using primary gill cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Prior to use, the nanoparticles were characterized for size, surface charge and aggregation behavior. Gill cells were cultured either as monolayers on solid support, or as multilayers on a permeable support cell culturing system, enabling transport studies. The uptake of silver nanoparticles and Ag after exposure to 10mgL was determined with microscopical methods and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Cytotoxicity, in terms of membrane integrity, as well as oxidative stress (depletion of reduced glutathione) was tested at silver concentrations ranging from 0.1mgL to 10mgL. Results show that AgNP nanoparticles are readily taken up into gill cell monolayers while uptake was less for AgNP. In contrast, it appears that the slightly smaller AgNP were transported through cultured multilayers to a higher extent, with transport rates generally being in the ngcm range for 48h exposures. Transport rates for all exposures were dependent on the epithelial tightness. Moderate cytotoxic effects were seen for all silver treatments. Levels of reduced glutathione were elevated in contrast to control groups, pointing on a possible overcompensation reaction. Taken together silver nanoparticles were taken up into cells and did cause silver transport over cultured epithelial layers with uptake and transport rates being different for the two nanoparticle species. All silver treatments had measurable effects on cell viability

Effects of silver and gold nanoparticles on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

The use of nanomaterials is rapidly increasing, while little is known about their possible ecotoxicological effects. This work investigates the toxic effects of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles on rainbow trout hepatocytes. In addition to toxicity assessment the particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Hepatocyte primary cultures were exposed to Au and Ag nanoparticles, with and without dissolved organic carbon (DOC), as well as HAuCl and AgNO as ionic solutions at concentrations up to 17.4 mg/L and 19 mg/L, respectively. Ag and Au particles were within the small nanometer size range when dispersed in pure water. In media with higher ionic strength and DOC, particles tended to agglomerate. Cytotoxicity assessments showed that Ag nanoparticles caused a significant reduction in membrane integrity and cellular metabolic activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Au nanoparticles caused a threefold elevation of ROS levels, but no cytotoxicity occurred at concentrations tested. The addition of DOC did not alter the particles potency of cytotoxicity or ROS induction capacity. The current study shows that Ag and Au nanoparticles have adverse effects on rainbow trout hepatocytes at low mg/L concentrations

Characterization of the effluent from a nanosilver producing washing machine

The increasing number of nanomaterial based consumer products raises concerns about their possible impact on the environment. This study provides an assessment of the effluent from a commercially available silver nanowashing machine. The washing machine released silver in its effluent at an average concentration of 11μgL, as determined by inductive coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was confirmed by single particle ICP-MS as well as ion selective electrode measurements and filtration techniques. Size measurements showed particles to be in the defined nanosize range, with an average size of 10nm measured with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 60-100nm determined with nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The effluent was shown to have negative effects on a natural bacterial community as its abundance was clearly reduced when exposed to the nanowash water. If washing machines capable of producing AgNPs become a common feature of households in the future, wastewater will contain significant loadings of AgNPs which might be released into the environment