PI3Kγ controls IL-17A expression and attenuates alveolar bone loss in an experimental periodontitis model.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the modulatory effects of PI3Kγ on IL-17A expression and the progression of experimental periodontitis in vivo. METHODS: Ligature-induced periodontitis was developed around the first molar of mice. Animals were treated with anti-mouse IL-17A or IPI-549 (PI3Kγ inhibitor). In addition, PI3Kγ-deficient mice (PI3Kγ-/-) were used in the study. Alveolar bone loss was measured and real-time PCR of Il17a and Rankl genes was performed. A bioinformatics analysis was carried out using the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis computational tool. RESULTS: Nine days after ligature placement, alveolar bone loss scores were significantly increased, with upregulation of Il17a and Rankl genes in the gingival tissues. Treatment with anti-mouse IL-17A (100 µg/mice) significantly attenuated alveolar bone loss. Mice with ligature-induced periodontitis treated with IPI-549 (3 mg/kg) or PI3Kγ-/- mice showed reduced alveolar bone loss and downregulation of Il17a and Rankl gene expression in the gingival tissues. Consistent with this, the bioinformatics analysis showed upregulation of IL17F, IL17A, IL17D, and STAT3 genes, as well as greater activation of IL-17 and PI3KCI pathways (upregulation of PIK3CG gene) in the gingival tissue of patients with periodontitis. CONCLUSION: PI3Kγ plays an important role in modulating IL-17A expression and alveolar bone loss in vivo and can be considered a promising pathway for the management of periodontal disease and the development of new therapies.

Preliminary Effectiveness of a Strategy to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Schoolchildren.

PURPOSE: To measure the preliminary effectiveness of a strategy to promote healthy lifestyle habits in schoolchildren, aged 6 to 12 years, living in the Andean region of Colombia, 2018-2021. DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a Nursing Methodological Research, developed in phases: (1) Context and schoolchildren characterization; (2) Strategy design guided by the Whittemore and Grey criteria and the Bronfenbrenner ecological conceptual model; (3) Strategy validation with 11 experts; (4) Trial to evaluate preliminary effectiveness. We applied the strategy in seven different schools with the educational community including 955 schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age, 551 parents, 130 teachers and 7 members of the food staff. RESULTS: Our health promotion strategy "Prosalud" has five components: citizenship feeding and nutrition, physical activity, and rest; environment protection, and directing one's own life. It includes all the participants of the educational community. CONCLUSIONS: According to experts, the health promotion strategy "Prosalud" is valid to help promoting healthy lifestyle habits among schoolchildren. This strategy demonstrates its preliminary effectiveness in a group of school children from 6 to 12 years of age, their parents, teachers, and school food staff, in the Andean region of Colombia.

Machine Learning Techniques Based on Primary User Emulation Detection in Mobile Cognitive Radio Networks.

Mobile cognitive radio networks (MCRNs) have arisen as an alternative mobile communication because of the spectrum scarcity in actual mobile technologies such as 4G and 5G networks. MCRN uses the spectral holes of a primary user (PU) to transmit its signals. It is essential to detect the use of a radio spectrum frequency, which is where the spectrum sensing is used to detect the PU presence and avoid interferences. In this part of cognitive radio, a third user can affect the network by making an attack called primary user emulation (PUE), which can mimic the PU signal and obtain access to the frequency. In this paper, we applied machine learning techniques to the classification process. A support vector machine (SVM), random forest, and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) were used to detect the PUE in simulation and emulation experiments implemented on a software-defined radio (SDR) testbed, showing that the SVM technique detected the PUE and increased the probability of detection by 8% above the energy detector in low values of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), being 5% above the KNN and random forest techniques in the experiments.

Nitric oxide favours tumour-promoting inflammation through mitochondria-dependent and -independent actions on macrophages.

Production of nitric oxide (NO) has been demonstrated in several malignancies, however its role remains not fully understood, specifically in relation to the metabolic and functional implications that it may have on immune cells participating in tumorigenesis. Here, we show that inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is expressed in cancers of the colon and the prostate, mainly by tumour cells, and NO generation is evidenced by widespread nitrotyrosine (NT) staining in tumour tissue. Furthermore, presence of NT is observed in the majority of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), despite low iNOS expression by these cells, suggesting that NO from the tumour microenvironment affects TAMs. Indeed, using a co-culture model, we demonstrate that NO produced by colon and prostate cancer cells is sufficient to induce NT formation in neighbouring macrophages. Moreover, exposure to exogenous NO promotes mitochondria-dependent and -independent changes in macrophages, which orientate their polarity towards an enhanced pro-inflammatory phenotype, whilst decreasing antigen-presenting function and wound healing capacity. Abrogating endogenous NO generation in murine macrophages, on the other hand, decreases their pro-inflammatory phenotype. These results suggest that the presence of NO in cancer may regulate TAM metabolism and function, favouring the persistence of inflammation, impairing healing and subverting adaptive immunity responses.

Effects of a Healthy Habit Promotion Strategy on Colombian Schoolchildren / Efectos de una estrategia de promoción de hábitos de vida saludable en niños colombianos en edad escolar / Efeitos de uma estratégia de promoção de hábitos de vida saudável em crianças colombianas em idade escolar

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) show an increasing tendency, especially in low- and medium-income countries. It is necessary to develop and evaluate strategies to strengthen healthy habits at an early age in these countries. Objective: To determine the effect of the health promotion strategy "United for Healthier Kids" (U4HK) on health lifestyle habits of a group of Colombian schoolchildren for the 2018-2020 period. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study features treatment and control groups and pre- and post-intervention measurements. The study involved 1,011 schoolchildren between six and twelve years old from seven rural and urban schools of the Sabana Centro region of Colombia. We used the Healthy Habits Measurement Tool, previously validated in Colombia. Results: When comparing within and between groups, the UHK strategy showed statistically significant differences in healthy habits (p < 0.05) related to nutrition and physical activity in schoolchildren. Conclusions: The U4HK strategy had a positive effect and impact on the schoolchildren' healthy habits, especially in the 'chooses to drink water' and 'moves more' components. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups in four out of the five categories: drinks more water, chooses nutritios and varied options, eats and cooks as a family, and moves more. The U4HK strategy responds to current and future health problems in schoolchildren and helps prevent chronic diseases. It could be replicated in similar populations.

Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT) muestran una tendencia creciente, en especial en los países de ingresos bajos y medios. Es necesario desarrollar y evaluar estrategias para fortalecer hábitos de vida saludable en edades tempranas en estos países. Objetivo: determinar el efecto de la estrategia de promoción de la salud "Unidos por niños más sanos" (U4HK, por sus siglas en inglés) en un grupo de estudiantes colombianos para el período 2018-2020. Materiales y métodos: este estudio cuasiexperimental cuenta con grupos de tratamiento y control y con mediciones previas y posteriores a la intervención. En el estudio participaron 1011 estudiantes de entre seis y doce años de siete instituciones educativas de Colombia. Se utilizó la Herramienta de medición de hábitos de vida saludable, previamente validada en Colombia. Resultados: al comparar dentro de los grupos y entre ellos, la estrategia U4HK mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los hábitos saludables relacionados con la nutrición y la actividad física en niños en edad escolar. Conclusiones: la estrategia U4HK tuvo un efecto y un impacto positivo en los hábitos saludables de los estudiantes, en particular en los componentes "beber más agua" y "moverse más". Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p < 0.05) entre los grupos en cuatro de las cinco categorías: beber más agua, variedad y nutrición, comer y cocinar en familia y moverse más. La estrategia U4HK responde a los problemas de salud actuales y futuros de los estudiantes y ayuda a prevenir enfermedades crónicas. Además, podría replicarse en poblaciones similares.

As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis mostram uma tendência crescente, em especial nos países de rendas baixa e média. É necessário desenvolver e avaliar estratégias para fortalecer hábitos de vida saudável de forma precoce nesses países. Objetivo: determinar o efeito da estratégia de promoção de saúde "Unidos por crianças mais saudáveis" (U4HK, por sua sigla em inglês) num grupo de estudantes colombianos para o período 2018-2020. Materiais e métodos: este estudo quase experimental conta com grupos de tratamento e controle, e com avaliações prévias e posteriores à intervenção. Do estudo, participaram 1 011 estudantes de entre 6 e 12 anos de sete instituições educacionais da Colômbia. Foi utilizada a Ferramenta de avaliação de hábitos de vida saudável, previamente validada na Colômbia. Resultados: ao comparar dentro dos grupos e entre eles, a estratégia U4HK mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas nos hábitos saudáveis relacionados com a nutrição e a atividade física em crianças em idade escolar. Conclusões: a estratégia U4HK teve efeito e impacto positivos nos hábitos saudáveis dos estudantes, em particular nos componentes "beber mais água" e "se movimentar mais". Houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p < 0,05) entre os grupos em quatro das cinco categorias: beber mais água, variedade e nutrição, comer e cozinhar em família, e se movimentar mais. A estratégia U4HK responde aos problemas de saúde atuais e futuros dos estudantes e ajuda a prevenir doenças crônicas. Além disso, poderia ser reproduzida em populações semelhantes.

Rényi Entropy-Based Spectrum Sensing in Mobile Cognitive Radio Networks Using Software Defined Radio.

A very important task in Mobile Cognitive Radio Networks (MCRN) is to ensure that the system releases a given frequency when a Primary User (PU) is present, by maintaining the principle to not interfere with its activity within a cognitive radio system. Afterwards, a cognitive protocol must be set in order to change to another frequency channel that is available or shut down the service if there are no free channels to be found. The system must sense the frequency spectrum constantly through the energy detection method which is the most commonly used. However, this analysis takes place in the time domain and signals cannot be easily identified due to changes in modulation, power and distance from mobile users. The proposed system works with Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for systems from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) to 5G systems, the signals are analyzed in the frequency domain and the Rényi-Entropy method is used as a tool to distinguish the noise and the PU signal without prior knowledge of its features. The main contribution of this research is that uses a Software Defined Radio (SDR) system to implement a MCRN in order to measure the behavior of Primary and Secondary signals in both time and frequency using GNURadio and OpenBTS as software tools to allow a phone call service between two Secondary Users (SU). This allows to extract experimental results that are compared with simulations and theory using Rényi-entropy to detect signals from SU in GMSK and OFDM systems. It is concluded that the Rényi-Entropy detector has a higher performance than the conventional energy detector in the Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh channels. The system increases the detection probability (PD) to over 96% with a Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of 10dB and starting 5 dB below energy sensing levels.

Ni libre ni asalariado: una experiencia de investigación colaborativa para fomentar la antropología visual / Neither free nor wage earner. A collaborative research experience to promote visual anthropology

Resumen La antropología visual, como metodología de investigación, es válida en las ciencias sociales. Se destaca así, en este método, el proceso participativo y colaborativo devenido de la experiencia de trabajo etnográfico colectivo y audiovisual. Se desarrolla esta propuesta metodológica en el estudio de un caso concreto: los "pileros" afrodescendientes; obreros que trabajan en la construcción de pilas de cimentación, un oficio racia lizado, realizado por afrodescendientes de la ciudad de Medellín.

Abstract Visual anthropology, as a research methodology, is valid in the social sciences. In this method, which became the experience of the collective and audiovisual ethnographic work, the participatory and collaborative process is highlighted. This methodological proposal is developed in a concrete case study: the Afro-descendant "pileros;" who are workers who work in the construction of caissons. It is a racialized trade, carried out by people of African descent in the city of Medellín.

Pensar las infancias desde la fisioterapia en el contexto de las violencias en Colombia: una acción desde la reflexividad / Childhood perceived from physiotherapy in the context of violence in Colombia: Taking action based on reflection

Resumen La violencia en el mundo contemporáneo es un fenómeno ubicuo. Cada día los contextos sociales son permeados por la multiplicidad de expresiones de los actos violentos, llamando a los diferentes sectores de la sociedad, los agentes sociales y cada ciudadano a enfrentar las atrocidades que estos producen. Sin embargo, más que una tarea asistencialista para restituir los derechos de las víctimas y atender las secuelas y huellas que van dejando estas violencias, el desafío de los fisioterapeutas es pensar y actuar hacia la potencialización de las capacidades humanas y sociales, camino a una sociedad en paz. En ese sentido, este trabajo pretende despertar la sensibilidad social de los fisioterapeutas y considerar la deconstrucción de su objeto de estudio, como una posibilidad de resistencia que plantee cuestiones críticas y reinvente la fisioterapia de forma afirmativa y performativa. Para lograrlo, el escrito recorre algunas bases filosóficas que muestran elementos de análisis, a fin de estudiar la relación entre la profesión y las violencias que se ejercen sobre los niños y las niñas. Finalmente, se abren horizontes para la comprensión de la praxis profesional que pueden ampliar y complementar su perspectiva sobre el movimiento corporal humano, caracterizada por ser funcionalista, reduccionista, instrumental y objetivante.

Abstract Violence in the contemporary world is a ubiquitous phenomenon. Every day, social contexts are permeated by the multiplicity of expressions of violence, calling the different sectors of society, social partners and individual citizens to confront the atrocities they produce. However, rather than a welfare task to restore the rights of victims and deal with the aftermath of violence, the challenge of physiotherapists is to think and to act in favor of the empowerment of human and social capabilities towards a society in peace. Thus, this paper aims to raise social awareness in physiotherapists and to consider the deconstruction of their object of study as a possibility of resistance that raises critical issues and reinvents physiotherapy in an affirmative and performative manner. To achieve this, this paper covers some philosophical bases that show elements of analysis to study the relationship between the profession and the violence exerted on children. Finally, a landscape for understanding professional practice is provided for extending and complementing the perspective on human body movement, characterized by being functionalist, reductionist, instrumental and objectifying.

Analysis of genetic variation in clones of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) from Asian, South and Central American origin using RAPDs markers

El caucho natural (Hevea brasiliensis) representa a especies potenciales para reforestación y programas de explotación comercial en ciudades tropicales como Colombia. La variabilidad genética de una colección de caucho que se encuentra en la Estación experimental de Paraguaycito en Buenavista, departamento del Quindío en Colombia fue estudiada para aumentar el conocimiento en cuanto a las especies y realizar un mejor uso de los árboles disponibles. Un total de 25 clones, seis de Sur América, 17 de Asia y 2 de América Central fueron seleccionados y analizados usando RAPDs. Las muestras aisladas de ADN de los árboles fueron con 102 primers, 23 de los cuales mostraron polimorfismos. Aunque se encontró un alto grado de similaridad, los análisis grupales de datos llevaron a diferenciar los árboles de de caucho en términos de su origen geográfico. Por lo tanto, las relaciones genéticas que se encontraron entre los clones podrían ayudar a seleccionar parentales para uso en programas de reproducción y diseño de estrategias para la conservación de los clones que tengan características agronómicas deseables.