Dietary preferences and feeding strategies of Colombian highland woolly monkeys.

Primates are very selective in the foods they include in their diets with foraging strategies that respond to spatial and temporal changes in resource availability, distribution and quality. Colombian woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha lugens), one of the largest primate species in the Americas, feed mainly on fruits, but they also eat a high percentage of arthropods. This differs from closely related Atelid species that supplement their diet with leaves. In an 11 month study, we investigated the foraging strategies of this endemic monkey and assessed how resource availability affects dietary selection. Using behavioural, phenological, arthropod sampling and metabarcoding methods, we recorded respectively foraging time, forest productivity, arthropod availability in the forest and arthropod consumption. Scat samples and capturing canopy substrates (i.e. moss, bromeliads, aerial insects) were used for assigning arthropod taxonomy. The most important resource in the diet was fruits (54%), followed by arthropods (28%). Resource availability predicted feeding time for arthropods but not for fruits. Further, there was a positive relationship between feeding time on fruits and arthropods, suggesting that eating both resources during the same periods might work as an optimal strategy to maximize nutrient intake. Woolly monkeys preferred and avoided some fruit and arthropod items available in their home range, choosing a wide variety of arthropods. Geometrid moths (Lepidoptera) were the most important and consistent insects eaten over time. We found no differences in the type of arthropods adults and juveniles ate, but adults invested more time foraging for this resource, especially in moss. Although woolly monkeys are generalist foragers, they do not select their food items randomly or opportunistically.

Regression of liver fibrosis after curing chronic hepatitis C with oral antivirals in patients with and without HIV coinfection.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) eradicates hepatitis C virus (HCV) from most chronic carriers. Information on regression of liver fibrosis and the influence of HIV is scarce in cured patients. METHODS: All consecutive HCV-infected individuals treated with DAA at our institution were examined. Hepatic elastography was performed at baseline and at the time of SVR12. Liver fibrosis regression was defined as a shift from advanced fibrosis (Metavir F3-F4) to null-mild fibrosis (F0-F2) and/or a reduction greater than 30% kPa. AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) scores were calculated in parallel. RESULTS: A total of 260 patients were treated with DAA. All but 14 achieved SVR12 and represented the study population. HIV confection was present in 42%. At baseline, 57.2% had advanced liver fibrosis with a median of 11 kPa, FIB-4 of 2.4, and APRI of 0.95. At the time of SVR12, a median reduction of 2.1 kPa (P < 0.001) was recognized using elastography. A significant fibrosis regression was seen in 40%, being more frequent in patients with baseline advanced fibrosis than in those with null-mild fibrosis (52.3 vs. 22.5%; P < 0.001). Even so, 41.2% of patients with baseline F3-F4 kept within cirrhotic scores. In multivariable analysis, only baseline stiffness was significantly associated with the extent of liver fibrosis regression. CONCLUSION: HCV cure with DAA is associated with regression of liver fibrosis in most patients treated with DAA, as measured using elastography, FIB-4 and APRI. This benefit is more pronounced in patients with baseline advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The dynamics of liver fibrosis regression are not influenced by HIV coinfection.

Production of Cow's Milk Free from Beta-Casein A1 and Its Application in the Manufacturing of Specialized Foods for Early Infant Nutrition.

Beta-casein (BC) is frequently expressed as BC A2 and BC A1 in cow's milk. Gastrointestinal digestion of BC A1 results in the release of the opioid peptide beta-casomorphin 7 (BCM7) which is less likely to occur from BC A2. This work was aimed to produce milk containing BC A2 with no BC A1 (BC A2 milk) using genetically selected CSN2 A2A2 Jersey cows. Additionally, we aimed to develop an infant formula (IF) suitable for healthy full-term infants during the first six months of life based on BC A2 milk. The concentration of BCM7 released from BC A2 IF, from commercially available IFs as well as from human milk and raw cow's milk was evaluated after simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID). BC A2 IF presented the lowest mean relative abundance of BC A1 (IF 1 = 0.136 ± 0.010), compared with three commercially available IFs (IF 2 = 0.597 ± 0.020; IF 3 = 0.441 ± 0.014; IF 4 = 0.503 ± 0.011). Accordingly, SGID of whole casein fraction from BC A2 IF resulted in a significantly lower release of BCM7 (IF 1 = 0.860 ± 0.014 µg/100 mL) compared to commercially available IFs (IF 2 = 2.625 ± 0.042 µg/100 mL; IF 3 = 1.693 ± 0.012 µg/100 mL; IF 4 = 1.962 ± 0.067 µg/100 mL). Nevertheless, BCM7 levels from BC A2 IF were significantly higher than those found in SGID hydrolysates of BC A2 raw milk (0.742 ± 0.008 µg/100 mL). Interestingly, results showed that BCM7 was also present in human milk in significantly lower amounts (0.697 ± 0.007 µg/100 mL) than those observed in IF 1 and BC A2 milk. This work demonstrates that using BC A2 milk in IF formulation significantly reduces BCM7 formation during SGID. Clinical implications of BC A2 IF on early infant health and development need further investigations.

De lo convencional a lo alternativo en el manejo de las úlceras venosas / From conventional to alternative ways in the management of venous ulcers / A partir do convencional para a alternativa no tratamento de úlceras venosas

Objetivo: Analizar información bibliográfica sobre el uso de medidas alternativas y convencionales para el manejo de las ulceras venosas. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión de tipo documental, durante los meses de Junio y Julio de 2015, en varias fuentes bibliográficas, bases de datos y revistas indexadas nacionales e internacionales como: ScieLO, Proquest, Bireme, Elsevier, Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, Enfermería Global, Aquichan, Pubmed, Revista Mexicana, Guías de Práctica Clínica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Revista Cubana de Medicina General Integral, Instituto Nacional de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular. Se buscaron artículos originales de diferentes profesionales del área de la salud, publicados entre los años 2009 y 2015. Resultados: Se encontró que los métodos convencionales son: manejo con escleroterapia, presión negativa, plasma rico en plaquetas, larva terapia, bota de Unna, pasta de óxido de zinc, protocolos de cuidado de pie diabético, sellantes de fibrina, ácido ascórbico, vendajes compresivos, película de barrera no irritante, apósito de espuma polimérica y laser de baja potencia; los alternativos son: acupuntura, miel, aceite ozonizado, miel de Ulmo. Conclusiones: Pese a que cada institución tiene un protocolo diferente para el manejo de las úlceras venosas, la revisión bibliográfica demostró la similitud en muchas de las técnicas empleadas para el mismo fin: llegar rápidamente a la cicatrización de las heridas. En muchas instituciones consideran el uso de terapias alternativas como un método para reducir costos, pero queda claro que aunque pueden tener un valor económico inferior, el tiempo para la curación de las heridas es más prolongado, lo que implica la utilización de una mayor cantidad de materiales

Objective: Analyze bibliographic information on the use of alternative and conventional for the management of venous ulcers measures Methodology: A review of documentary by different professionals was conducted during the months of June and July 2015, the search was conducted in various literature sources, databases and national and international indexed journals as ScieLO, Proquest, Bireme, Elsevier, BVS, Global Nursing, Aquichan, Pubmed, Mexican journal, Clinical Practice Guidelines, National University of Colombia, Cuban Journal of General Medicine, National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery. Results: It was found that conventional methods are: sclerotherapy, negative pressure, platelet rich plasma, larvae therapy, Unna boot, zinc oxide paste, fibrin sealants, ascorbic acid, bandage, non-irritating barrier film, polymeric foam dressing and Laser low power; alternative forms are: acupuncture, honey, ozonated oil, honey Ulmo. Conclusions: Although each institution has a different protocol for the management of venous ulcers, the literature review showed the similarity in many of the techniques used for the same purpose: to quickly get wound healing. In many institutions consider the use of alternative therapies as a method to reduce costs, but it is clear that although they may have a lowwer economic value, the time for wound healing is longer, involving the use of a greater amount of materials

Objetivo: analisar informação bibliográfica sobre o uso de medidas alternativas e convencionais para o manejo das úlceras venosas. Metodologia: foi realizada revisão documental nos meses de junho e julho de 2015, em várias fontes bibliográficas, bases de dados e revistas indexadas nacionais e internacionais como: ScieLO, Proquest, Bireme, Elsevier, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, Enfermería Global, Aquichan, Pubmed, Revista Mexicana, Guías de Práctica Clínica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Revista Cubana de Medicina General Integral, Instituto Nacional de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular. Foram pesquisados artigos originais de diversos profissionais da área de saúde, publicados entre 2009 e 2015. Resultados: encontrou que os métodos convencionais são: manejo com escleroterapia, pressão negativa, plasma rico em plaquetas, terapia larval, bota de Unna, pasta de óxido de zinco, protocolos de cuidado do pé diabético, selantes de fibrina, ácido ascórbico, curativos compressivos com gaze, filme de barreira não irritante, curativo de espuma de poliuretano e laser de baixa potência; os alternativos são: acupuntura, mel, óleo ozonizado, mel de Ulmo. Conclusões: apesar de que cada instituição tem um protocolo diferente para o manejo das úlceras venosas, a revisão bibliográfica demonstrou a semelhança de muitas das técnicas empregadas para o mesmo fim: chegar rapidamente à cicatrização das feridas. Em muitas instituições consideram o uso de terapias alternativas como um método para reduzir custos, mas é evidente que, embora tenham um valor econômico inferior, o tempo para a ferida se curar é mais longo, e implica em utilização de maior quantidade de materiais