Combining different points of view on plant descriptions: mapping agricultural plant roles and biological taxa.

This article describes our study on the alignment of two complementary knowledge graphs useful in agriculture: the thesaurus of cultivated plants in France named French Crop Usage (FCU) and the French national taxonomic repository TAXREF for fauna, flora, and fungi. FCU describes the usages of plants in agriculture: "tomatoes" are crops used for human food, and "grapevines" are crops used for human beverage. TAXREF describes biological taxa and associated scientific names: for example, a tomato species may be "Solanum lycopersicum" or a grapevine species may be "Vitis vinifera". Both knowledge graphs contain vernacular names of plants but those names are ambiguous. Thus, a group of agricultural experts produced some mappings from FCU crops to TAXREF taxa. Moreover, new RDF properties have been defined to declare those new types of mapping relations between plant descriptions. The metadata for the mappings and the mapping set are encoded with the Simple Standard for Sharing Ontological Mappings (SSSOM), a new model which, among other qualities, offers means to report on provenance of particular interest for this study. The produced mappings are available for download in Recherche Data Gouv, the federated national platform for research data in France.

Percepción futura del humedal "el culebrón", Coquimbo (Chile): una experiencia educativa interdisciplinaria / Future perception of "el culebrón" wetland, coquimbo (chile): an interdisciplinary educational experience

Los humedales representan una transición entre un ambiente terrestre y acuático, constituyéndose como uno de los sistemas naturales más importantes debido a sus múltiples funciones; no obstante, a pesar de su importancia, representan uno de los ecosistemas más vulnerables. Los humedales de la costa de la región de Coquimbo-Chile configuran un sistema dinámico con gran presencia de biodiversidad en un área con predominio semi-árido. En este contexto, resulta importante acercarse a un mayor conocimiento de estos sistemas con el fin de promover su conservación y/o restauración, siendo una fundamental herramienta las experiencias educativas. Objetivo. Determinar cómo es percibido el futuro del humedal "El Culebrón" por estudiantes de enseñanza media a través del desarrollo de escenarios cualitativos. Materiales y métodos. Se generó inicialmente un conjunto de escenarios a partir de una proyección de 10 años, los cuales fueron reinterpretados mediante el software NVIVO9. Resultados. El análisis permitió diferenciar cuatro escenarios: "responsabilidad social", "cambio climático", "crecimiento de lo natural" y "urbanización". Conclusiones. Se puede inferir un futuro amenazante de los humedales desde la perspectiva percibida por los estudiantes debido a la interacción de impulsores de cambio indirectos, entre los que se destacan elementos naturales (cambio climático y eventos extremos) cambios demográficos (urbanización) y culturales (conciencia ambiental precaria o insuficiente)

Wetlands represent a transition between a terrestrial and aquatic environment, becoming one of the most important natural systems due to their multiple functions. However, despite their importance, they represent one of the most vulnerable ecosystems. The wetlands of the coast of the Coquimbo Region, Chile, form a dynamic system with a large presence of biodiversity in an area with semi-arid predominance. In this context, it is important to approach a greater knowledge of these systems to promote their conservation and/or restoration, educational experiences being a fundamental tool. Objective: to determine how the future of "El Culebrón" wetland is perceived by middle school students, through the development of qualitative scenarios. Materials and methods: A set of scenarios was initially generated from a 10-year projection, which were reinterpreted using NVIVO9 software. Results: the analysis allowed to differentiate four scenarios: "social responsibility", "climate change", "natural growth" and "urbanization". Conclusions: a threatening future of wetlands can be inferred from the perspective perceived by students due to the interaction of indirect drivers of change, among which natural elements (climate change and extreme events), demographic elements (urbanization) and cultural changes (poor or insufficient environmental awareness) stand out.

Uso del test de rendimiento continuo de conners para diferenciar niños normales y con TDAH en Chile / Using the conners continous performance test for differentiation of normal and ADHD Chilean children

El trastorno de déficit atencional con hiperactividad (TDAH) constituye uno de los cuadros de mayor prevalencia durante la niñez. El presente trabajo se focalizó en evaluar si el Test de Rendimiento Continuo de Conners era capaz de discriminar entre niños con y sin TDAH diagnosticados por el docente. Se conformó una muestra no probabilística de 30 niños escolares (15 clínicos y 15 normales) a través de la aplicación del cuestionario de atención. Todos los niños completaron la aplicación del test computarizado de Conners. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre la muestra normal y clínica. Todos los niños seleccionados como normales no encajaron el perfil clínico. Solo el 50% de los casos considerados con TDAH encajaron el perfil clínico. Se analizan las implicancias del sobre/diagnóstico del trastorno.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorder during childhood. The present study aimed to evaluate if the Conners Continous Performance Test was able to discriminate among ADHD and normal children completed the Conners computarized test. Significant differences between normal and clinical sample were found. All children selected as normal did not fit the clinical profile. Only 50% of the children considered as having ADHD fit the clinical profile. Implications for the issue of overdiagnosis of the disorder are discussed.

Mortality among MDR-TB cases: comparison with drug-susceptible tuberculosis and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: An increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases is evident worldwide. Its management implies a complex treatment, high costs, more toxic anti-tuberculosis drug use, longer treatment time and increased treatment failure and mortality. The aims of this study were to compare mortality between MDR and drug-susceptible cases of tuberculosis, and to determine risk factors associated with mortality among MDR-TB cases. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from clinical records of the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Lima, Peru. In the first objective, MDR-TB, compared to drug-susceptible cases, was the main exposure variable and time to death, censored at 180 days, the outcome of interest. For the second objective, different variables obtained from clinical records were assessed as potential risk factors for death among MDR-TB cases. Cox regression analysis was used to determine hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). A total of 1,232 patients were analyzed: mean age 30.9 ±14.0 years, 60.0% were males. 61 patients (5.0%) died during treatment, whereas the MDR-TB prevalence was 19.2%. MDR-TB increased the risk of death during treatment (HR = 7.5; IC95%: 4.1-13.4) when compared to presumed drug-susceptible cases after controlling for potential confounders. Education level (p = 0.01), previous TB episodes (p<0.001), diabetes history (p<0.001) and HIV infection (p = 0.04) were factors associated with mortality among MDR-TB cases. CONCLUSIONS: MDR-TB is associated with an increased risk of death during treatment. Lower education, greater number of previous TB episodes, diabetes history, and HIV infection were independently associated with mortality among MDR-TB cases. New strategies for appropriate MDR-TB detection and management should be implemented, including drug sensitivity tests, diabetes and HIV screening, as well as guarantee for a complete adherence to therapy.

Weight variation over time and its relevance among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the variation in patient body weight over time according to the treatment outcome among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. The data of patients commencing MDR-TB therapy were analyzed. Data were collected from different public TB treatment facilities located in peri-urban areas to the south of Lima, Peru. The outcome was patient body weight (kilograms) from treatment commencement, measured monthly. A random effects model was fitted using robust standard errors to calculate 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of a total of 1242 TB cases, 243 (19.6%) were MDR-TB. Only 201 cases were included in the analysis; 127 (63.2%) were males and the mean patient age was 33.6 (standard deviation 16.2) years. Weight changes over time among the patients who were cured differed from changes in those who died during therapy (p<0.001). Weight curve divergence was important at the end of the third, fourth, and fifth treatment months: on average, the weight difference was 2.18kg (p<0.001), 3.27kg (p=0.007), and 3.58kg (p=0.03), respectively, when cured patients were compared to those who died. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that weight variation during treatment can be a useful surrogate for the treatment outcome, specifically death during therapy. MDR-TB patients with weight loss should be followed more closely, as they are at greater risk of death.

Refractory thrombocytopenia responds to octreotide treatment in a case of evans syndrome with gastric neuroendocrine tumor.

A 37-year-old woman with history of Evans Syndrome with poor response to high-dose corticoid treatment presented to the emergency department with gastrointestinal and vaginal bleeding. The patient was later diagnosed with severe thrombocytopenia and a stage G1, well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumor, confirmed by a biopsy. A total gastrectomy was performed to eradicate the tumor. After being treated with a total splenectomy for her Evans Syndrome with no clinical or laboratory improvement, she began regular treatment with octreotide on the basis of a possible hepatic metastasis. Days after the initiation of the octreotide, an increase in the platelet count was evidenced by laboratory findings, from 2,000 platelets/mm(3) to 109,000 platelets/mm(3). Weeks later, the hepatic metastasis is discarded by a negative octreotide-body scan, and the octreotide treatment was interrupted. Immediately after the drug interruption, a progressive and evident descent in the platelet count was evidenced (4000 platelets/mm(3)). The present case report highlights the possible association between octreotide treatment and a severe thrombocytopenia resistant to conventional treatment.

[Medical students at risk: prevalence and incidence of tuberculin skin test conversion]. / Estudiantes de medicina en riesgo: prevalencia e incidencia de conversión de PPD.

INTRODUCTION: One third of the world population is affected by latent tuberculosis, with 9.4 million new cases; medical students have 2 to 50 times the probability of acquiring the infection. OBJECTIVES: Establish the baseline prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) at the beginning of medical studies and determine the incidence and variables associated with TST conversion in medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary analysis of a historical cohort (2007-2010) of medical students in a private Peruvian university. The TST conversion was evaluated. A binomial regression analysis was applied for each associated variable. RESULTS: 707 medical students were included, of whom 219 (31%) were male. The basal prevalence of reactive TST was 14.4%. Significant associations were found with the year of university entry of 2007-08 (p = 0.007) and a history of tuberculosis (p = 0.02). With a total of 822 person-years, the incidence of conversion was 2.92 cases per 100 person-years (CI95%: 1.96-4.36). The TST conversion was associated with the year of university entry (RR = 2,55; IC95%: 1,06-6,30) and a body mass index > 25 kg/m² (RR = 0,16; IC95%: 0,01-0,97). No association was detected with gender, tobacco or alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of a high basal prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in medical students. The incidence rate is within expected values and high in comparison with the general population. People with BMI > 25 kg/m² have protection against a latent infection. In medical students, more attention should be paid to biosecurity.

Estudiantes de medicina en riesgo: prevalencia e incidencia de conversión de PPD / Medical students at risk: prevalence and incidence of tuberculin skin test conversion

Introduction: One third of the world population is affected by latent tuberculosis, with 9.4 million new cases; medical students have 2 to 50 times the probability of acquiring the infection. Objectives: Establish the baseline prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) at the beginning of medical studies and determine the incidence and variables associated with TST conversion in medical students. Materials and Methods: Secondary analysis of a historical cohort (2007-2010) of medical students in a private Peruvian university. The TST conversion was evaluated. A binomial regression analysis was applied for each associated variable. Results: 707 medical students were included, of whom 219 (31%) were male. The basal prevalence of reactive TST was 14.4%. Significant associations were found with the year of university entry of 2007-08 (p = 0.007) and a history of tuberculosis (p = 0.02). With a total of 822 person-years, the incidence of conversion was 2.92 cases per 100 person-years (CI95%: 1.96-4.36). The TST conversion was associated with the year of university entry (RR = 2,55; IC95%: 1,06-6,30) and a body mass index > 25 kg/m² (RR = 0,16; IC95%: 0,01-0,97). No association was detected with gender, tobacco or alcohol use. Conclusions: There is evidence of a high basal prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in medical students. The incidence rate is within expected values and high in comparison with the general population. People with BMI > 25 kg/m² have protection against a latent infection. In medical students, more attention should be paid to biosecurity.

Introducción: Un tercio de la población mundial presenta una infección tuberculosa latente, con 9,4 millones de casos nuevos reportados en el 2009; los estudiantes de medicina tienen de 2 a 50 veces más probabilidad de adquirir la infección. Objetivos: Establecer la prevalencia de PPD positivo basal al inicio de la carrera médica y determinar la incidencia y los factores asociados a la conversión de PPD en alumnos de medicina. Materiales y Métodos: Análisis secundario de datos de una cohorte histórica (2007-2010) involucrando alumnos de medicina de una universidad privada en Perú. Se evaluó la conversión de PPD. Se aplicó un análisis de regresión binomial para cada variable de interés. Resultados: 707 estudiantes fueron seguidos, de ellos 219 (31%) fueron hombres. La prevalencia basal de PPD positivo fue 14,4%. Se encontró asociación significativa con el año de ingreso 2007-08 (p = 0,007) y antecedente de tuberculosis anterior (p = 0,02). Con un total de 822 personas-año, la incidencia de conversión fue de 2,92 por 100 personas-año (IC95%: 1,96-4,36). En el modelo bivariado, el año de ingreso a la carrera y el IMC > 25 kg/m² estuvieron asociados con conversión de PPD. Sin embargo, en el modelo multivariado, sólo el año de ingreso mostró asociación estadísticamente significativa (RR = 2,53; IC95%: 1,11-5,76). Conclusiones: Existe una prevalencia basal elevada de infección latente en alumnos de medicina. La tasa de incidencia está dentro de los valores esperados y previamente reportados. Se recomienda prestar más atención a las medidas de bioseguridad y prevención en estudiantes de medicina.

Factors associated with anti-tuberculosis medication adverse effects: a case-control study in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to anti-tuberculosis medication increases risk of adverse drug reactions and toxicity. The objective of this investigation was to determine factors associated with anti-tuberculosis adverse drug reactions in Lima, Peru, with special emphasis on MDR-TB medication, HIV infection, diabetes, age and tobacco use. METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: A case-control study was performed using information from Peruvian TB Programme. A case was defined as having reported an anti-TB adverse drug reaction during 2005-2010 with appropriate notification on clinical records. Controls were defined as not having reported a side effect, receiving anti-TB therapy during the same time that the case had appeared. Crude, and age- and sex-adjusted models were calculated using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). A multivariable model was created to look for independent factors associated with side effect from anti-TB therapy. A total of 720 patients (144 cases and 576 controls) were analyzed. In our multivariable model, age, especially those over 40 years (OR = 3.93; 95%CI: 1.65-9.35), overweight/obesity (OR = 2.13; 95%CI: 1.17-3.89), anemia (OR = 2.10; IC95%: 1.13-3.92), MDR-TB medication (OR = 11.1; 95%CI: 6.29-19.6), and smoking (OR = 2.00; 95%CI: 1.03-3.87) were independently associated with adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Old age, anemia, MDR-TB medication, overweight/obesity status, and smoking history are independent risk factors associated with anti-tuberculosis adverse drug reactions. Patients with these risk factors should be monitored during the anti-TB therapy. A comprehensive clinical history and additional medical exams, including hematocrit and HIV-ELISA, might be useful to identify these patients.

Prevalencia y factores relacionados con la presencia de manifestaciones orales en pacientes con VIH/SIDA, Cali, Colombia / Prevalence and factors related with the presence of oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS patients who attended health institutions in Cali, Colombia

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia y factores relacionados con la presencia de manifestaciones orales en pacientes VIH/SIDA que asistieron a instituciones prestadoras de salud en Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal que incluyó 319 pacientes que asistían a 4 instituciones prestadoras de salud en Cali. Los criterios de inclusión fueron ser paciente VIH confirmado, mayor de 18 a±os, asistir a control médico y tener voluntad de participar. Se excluyeron mujeres embarazadas y reclusos. Resultados: La prevalencia general de manifestaciones orales fue 77.1% (IC 95%: 72.4-81.7). La mßs frecuente fue la xerostomía con 41.1% (IC 95%: 35.5-46.6), seguida por las manifestaciones de origen micótico [(35.7% (IC 95% 30.4-41)] bacteriano [34.2% (IC 95%: 28.9-39.4)] virales [16.6% (IC 95% 12.5.20.7)], úlceras orales [(7.5 (IC 95%: 4.6-10.4)] y neoplasicas [3.8 (IC 95% 1.6-5.8)]. No se presentó linfoma no Hodgkin. En el analisis multivariado, la presencia de lesiones orales se asoció con un tiempo diagnóstico de la enfermedad menor a 12 meses, carga viral detectable, presencia de prótesis dental removible y el auto-informe de boca reseca. Conclusión: La prevalencia de manifestaciones orales registrada en esta población es alta comparada con las informadas a nivel mundial. Teniendo en cuenta las asociaciones encontradas, se puede sugerir que las lesiones orales son características clínicas iniciales de la enfermedad y son predictores de progresión de VIH a SIDA y falla de tratamiento.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and factors related with the presence of oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS patients who attended health institutions in Cali-Colombia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was made in 319 patients who attended four health institutions in the city of Cali. The inclusion criteria were: being HIV positive patients, being over 18 years old, attending medical checkups and accepting participation. Pregnant women and inmates were excluded. Results: The general prevalence of oral manifestations was 77.1% (CI 95%: 72.4-81.7). The most frequent oral manifestation was xerostomia with 41.1% (CI 95%: 35.5-46.6), followed by the manifestations from mycotic origin [(35.7% (CI 95% 30.4-41)] bacterial [34.2% (CI 95%: 28.9-39.4)] virals [16.6 (CI 95% 12.5-20.7)], oral ulcers [7.5 (CI 95%: 4.6-10.4)] and neoplastics [3.8 (CI95% 1.6-5.8)]. The population studied did not show non-Hodgkins lymphoma. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of oral injuries was associated with time of HIV/AIDS diagnosis during the previous 12 months, detectable viral load, and presence of removable dental prosthesis and self-report of dry mouth. Conclusions: The prevalence of oral manifestations registered in this population is high compared with those reported world-wide. Considering the association found, our results suggest that oral injuries are initial clinic characteristics of the disease and may be useful to predict treatment failure and progression from HIV infection to AIDS.

Oxidative stress in pterygium: relationship between p53 and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine.

PURPOSE: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to cause oxidative DNA damage and is thought to be a major factor implicated in the pathogenesis of pterygium, a benign invasive lesion of the bulbar conjunctiva. Among all the photooxidative DNA products, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is regarded as a sensitive and stable biomarker for evaluating the degree of DNA damage. The protein p53 is a major cell stress regulator that acts to integrate signals from a wide range of cellular stresses. UV radiation can cause mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene that, when inactivated through mutation and loss of heterozygosity, can lead to cell proliferation and genomic instability. In many types of UV-radiation damaged cells, p53 is overexpressed and immunohistochemically detectable. Recent data on tissues exposed to factors inducing oxidative stress have provided evidence of the concomitant presence of increased levels of 8-OHdG and protein p53. To verify a possible significant association between p53 and 8-OHdG, we examined a series of 31 Ecuadorian pterygia for the expression of the two markers. Moreover, we evaluated if clinical variables such as patient's age, gender, geographic location, and disease stage, might play a role affecting the 8-OHdG and p53 immunohistochemical staining results. METHODS: Primary pterygium samples were treated for immunohistochemical evaluations of 8-OHdG and p53 protein. Mouse monoclonal antibodies to 8-OHdG and p53 were used. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 12 statistical software package. RESULTS: In our study, 21 (67.74%) pterygial samples were positive for 8-OHdG staining, 11 (35.48%) specimens were positive for p53 expression, and all negative control samples showed no staining. The staining for 8-OHdG was limited to the nuclei of the epithelial layer. No substantial staining was visible in the subepithelial fibrovascular layers. No differences in the pattern of staining between 8-OHdG and p53 were observed. All samples positive for p53 (11/31, 35.48%) were also positive for 8-OHdG immunostaining, and all specimens negative for 8-OHdG (10/31, 32.26%) were also negative for p53. When analyzed by Fisher's exact test, 8-OHdG expression was significantly associated with p53 positivity (p=0.0049). Student's t-test demonstrated statistically significant association between the expression of p53 and age (p=0.02). The correlation between the two markers and the other clinical variables revealed no statistically significant association. CONCLUSIONS: Although pterygium is a lesion with limited local invasion and an inability to metastasize, the concomitant presence of altered p53 in 8-OHdG-immunoreactive cells could provide evidence of apparent genetic instability, which is in contrast to its benign clinical course.

Prevalencia de sustancias psicoactivas asociadas con muertes violentas en Cali / Prevalence of psychoactive substances associated with violent deaths in Cali

Introducción: El consumo de sustancias psicoactivas se considera un problema mundial que repercute tanto en el sector social, económico y político como en el de salud. Según diferentes estudios, las muertes por violencia tales como accidentes de tránsito, suicidios y homicidios, se fundamentan en el hecho que existe una fuerte influencia del alcohol y otras sustancias psicoactivas. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de sustancias psicoactivas en las muestras biológicas obtenidas durante el procedimiento de necropsia, que fueron analizadas en el laboratorio de Toxicología del Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses Regional Suroccidente de Cali, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio transversal de los casos de muerte violenta ocurridos en Cali durante el período de enero de 1998 a junio de 2002 donde se efectuaron 17.434 necropsias, en las cuales se realizó un muestreo aleatorio sistemático y se analizaron 404 casos. Resultados: Del total de las muertes, 50/100 se presentaron en menores de 30 años y 84.8/100 eran hombres. La manera más frecuente de muerte fue por homicidio (53.7/100), seguida por muerte natural (17.8/100), accidente de tránsito (15.5/100), accidental (6.7/100) y suicidio (6.2/100). La prevalencia de sustancias psicoactivas (alcoholemia más drogas de abuso y tóxicas) fue 31.9/100, alcoholemia 23.7/100 y drogas de abuso y sustancias tóxicas 29.2/100. La cocaína (21.2/100) y la marihuana (14.1/100) fueron las drogas de abuso más prevalentes. En 47.4/100 de los suicidios se encontró evidencias de sustancias psicoactivas siendo muy variadas las drogas utilizadas. En homicidio, 35.2/100 tuvo hallazgo de psicotrópicos. Conclusión: La tercera parte de las muertes violentas ocurridas en Cali se asociaron con el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. Sin lugar a dudas es un llamado de atención para implementar medidas preventivas que enfrenten este problema de salud pública que interesa a todos los sectores