Risk of positive screening for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and night eating syndrome and associated risk factors in medical fellows in Northeastern Mexico: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders and food ingestion (EDs) are serious mental illnesses with a higher prevalence in young adults, with difficult diagnoses that cause serious morbidity and mortality problems. There is not much information about the risk of positive screening for EDs, specifically, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and night eating syndrome (NES) in undergraduate medical interns (UMI) and medical residents (MR) in Mexico. AIM: To determine the risk of AN, BN and NES and to determine the risk factors of such conditions such as age, body mass index (BMI) and gender of MR and UMI with AN/BN and NES at four private hospitals in northeastern Mexico. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, non-randomized survey in MR and UMI in four hospitals in Northeastern Mexico was conducted using an electronic questionnaire that included: informed consent signature, SCOFF questionnaire for AN and BN screening, NES questionnaire. Also, a survey on general sociodemographic data of each participant was included. Chi-square test and a logistic regression model were computed for analyses. RESULTS: The population included a total of 129 MR and UMI. It was observed that 48.8% were positive for AN or BN and 32.6% were positive for the NES. There was no difference between age, sex, BMI, or medical specialty (if they were MR); however, MR from the first year had a higher risk of AN or BN (OR 23.7, 95% CI 1.181-475.266). CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher risk of positive screening for AN or BN and NES in UMI and MR in our population. In the case of MR, those in first year have a higher risk of AN and BN. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population.

Eating disorders and food ingestion such as anorexia (AN) or bulimia (BN) nervosa and night eating syndrome (NES) are a group of mental illnesses that are frequently under diagnosed. Medical residents (MR) and undergraduate medical interns (UMI) are a high-risk population for such disorders due to their young age, stress environments, erratic eating patterns and long working hours. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of AN, BN and NES and to determine the risk factors of such conditions. One hundred twenty-nine UMI and MR were studied and showed that 48.8% were positive for AN or BN and 32.6% were positive for NES. MR in the first year of medical residency had a higher risk. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population.

Massively HIV-1-infected macrophages exhibit a severely hampered ability to differentiate into osteoclasts.

Introduction: Osteoclasts play a crucial role in bone resorption, and impairment of their differentiation can have significant implications for bone density, especially in individuals with HIV who may be at risk of altered bone health. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of HIV infection on osteoclast differentiation using primary human monocyte-derived macrophages as precursors. The study focused on assessing the impact of HIV infection on cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, resorptive activity, cytokine production, expression of co-receptors, and transcriptional regulation of key factors involved in osteoclastogenesis. Methods: Primary human monocyte-derived macrophages were utilized as precursors for osteoclast differentiation. These precursors were infected with HIV, and the effects of different inoculum sizes and kinetics of viral replication were analyzed. Subsequently, osteoclastogenesis was evaluated by measuring cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, and resorptive activity. Furthermore, cytokine production was assessed by monitoring the production of IL-1ß, RANK-L, and osteoclasts. The expression levels of co-receptors CCR5, CD9, and CD81 were measured before and after infection with HIV. The transcriptional levels of key factors for osteoclastogenesis (RANK, NFATc1, and DC-STAMP) were examined following HIV infection. Results: Rapid, massive, and productive HIV infection severely impaired osteoclast differentiation, leading to compromised cellular adhesion, cathepsin K expression, and resorptive activity. HIV infection resulted in an earlier production of IL-1ß concurrent with RANK-L, thereby suppressing osteoclast production. Infection with a high inoculum of HIV increased the expression of the co-receptor CCR5, as well as the tetraspanins CD9 and CD81, which correlated with deficient osteoclastogenesis. Massive HIV infection of osteoclast precursors affected the transcriptional levels of key factors involved in osteoclastogenesis, including RANK, NFATc1, and DC-STAMP. Conclusions: The effects of HIV infection on osteoclast precursors were found to be dependent on the size of the inoculum and the kinetics of viral replication. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms to develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of bone disorders in individuals with HIV.

Biostimulant Capacity of Chlorella and Chlamydopodium Species Produced Using Wastewater and Centrate.

The aim of the present study was to assess the potential of producing four microalgal strains using secondary-treated urban wastewater supplemented with centrate, and to evaluate the biostimulant effects of several microalgal extracts obtained using water and sonication. Four strains were studied: Chlorella vulgaris UAL-1, Chlorella sp. UAL-2, Chlorella vulgaris UAL-3, and Chlamydopodium fusiforme UAL-4. The highest biomass productivity was found for C. fusiforme, with a value of 0.38 ± 0.01 g·L-1·day-1. C. vulgaris UAL-1 achieved a biomass productivity of 0.31 ± 0.03 g·L-1·day-1 (the highest for the Chlorella genus), while the N-NH4+, N-NO3-, and P-PO43- removal capacities of this strain were 51.9 ± 2.4, 0.8 ± 0.1, and 5.7 ± 0.3 mg·L-1·day-1, respectively. C. vulgaris UAL-1 showed the greatest potential for use as a biostimulant-when used at a concentration of 0.1 g·L-1, it increased the germination index of watercress seeds by 3.5%. At concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 g·L-1, the biomass from this microalga promoted adventitious root formation in soybean seeds by 220% and 493%, respectively. The cucumber expansion test suggested a cytokinin-like effect from C. vulgaris UAL-1; it was also the only strain that promoted the formation of chlorophylls in wheat leaves. Overall, the results of the present study suggest the potential of producing C. vulgaris UAL-1 using centrate and wastewater as well as the potential utilisation of its biomass to develop high-value biostimulants.

Effect of the Application of Hydrolysate of Chlorella vulgaris Extracted by Different Techniques on the Growth of Pelargonium × hortorum.

The extraction method used to obtain biologically active compounds from microalgal biomass may affect the biostimulant capacity of the microalgae. The objective of this assay was to determine the most efficient extraction method to release the active components of the biomass of Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris). Plantlets of Pelargonium × hortorum were grown in a greenhouse and five treatments were applied: C-application with water; M-application with untreated C. vulgaris microalgae; M-US-application with C. vulgaris microalgae treated with ultrasound; M-USHY-application with C. vulgaris microalgae treated with ultrasound and enzymatic hydrolysis; and M-USHYAU-application with C. vulgaris microalgae treated with ultrasound, enzymatic hydrolysis, and autoclaving. All microalgae treatments increased shoot number and stem and plant diameter. The US-treated biomass increased the inflorescence of the plant significantly compared to the control. To extract bioactive compounds from eukaryotic microalgae for plant biostimulating purposes, the US-treatment (or any other method damaging the plasma membrane) of microalgae cell is, or seems to be, suitable.. Macronutrient content in leaves was not affected by the microalgae treatment, except for K.

Simulation and Techno-Economical Evaluation of a Microalgal Biofertilizer Production Process.

Due to population growth in the coming years, an increase in agricultural production will soon be mandatory, thus requiring fertilizers that are more environmentally sustainable than the currently most-consumed fertilizers since these are important contributors to climate change and water pollution. The objective of this work is the techno-economic evaluation of the production of biofertilizer concentrated in free amino acids from microalgal biomass produced in a wastewater treatment plant, to determine its economic viability. A process proposal has been made in six stages that have been modelled and simulated with the ASPEN Plus simulator. A profitability analysis has been carried out using a Box-Behnken-type response surface statistical design with three factors-the cost of the biomass sludge, the cost of the enzymes, and the sale price of the biofertilizer. It was found that the most influential factor in profitability is the sale price of the biofertilizer. According to a proposed representative base case, in which the cost of the biomass sludge is set to 0.5 EUR/kg, the cost of the enzymes to 20.0 EUR/kg, and the sale price of the biofertilizer to 3.5 EUR/kg, which are reasonable costs, it is concluded that the production of the biofertilizer would be economically viable.

Comparative Analysis of the Chloroplast Genomes of Quercus × morehus and the Presumptive Parents Q. wislizeni and Q. kelloggii (Fagaceae) from California.

Here, we present the complete chloroplast genomes of Quercus × morehus, Q. wislizeni, and Q. kelloggii from California. The genomes are 161,119 to 161,130 bp and encode 132 genes. Quercus × morehus and Q. wislizeni are identical in sequence but differ from Q. kelloggii by three indels and eight SNPs.

Microalgae based wastewater treatment coupled to the production of high value agricultural products: Current needs and challenges.

One of the main social and economic challenges of the 21st century will be to overcome the worlds' water deficit expected by the end of this decade. Microalgae based wastewater treatment has been suggested as a strategy to recover nutrients from wastewater while simultaneously producing clean water. Consortia of microalgae and bacteria are responsible for recovering nutrients from wastewater. A better understanding of how environmental and operational conditions affect the composition of the microalgae-bacteria consortia would allow to maximise nutrient recoveries and biomass productivities. Most of the studies reported to date showed promising results, although up-scaling of these processes to reactors larger than 100 m2 is needed to better predict their industrial relevance. The main advantage of microalgae based wastewater treatment is that valuable biomass with unlimited applications is produced as a co-product. The aim of the current paper was to review microalgae based wastewater treatment processes focusing on strategies that allow increasing both biomass productivities and nutrient recoveries. Moreover, the benefits of microalgae based agricultural products were also discussed.

Expression of Surfactant Protein D Distinguishes Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) from Coronavirus Disease 2019.

The differentiation between influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could constitute a diagnostic challenge during the ongoing winter owing to their clinical similitude. Thus, novel biomarkers are required to enable making this distinction. Here, we evaluated whether the surfactant protein D (SP-D), a collectin produced at the alveolar epithelium with known immune properties, was useful to differentiate pandemic influenza A(H1N1) from COVID-19 in critically ill patients. Our results revealed high serum SP-D levels in patients with severe pandemic influenza but not those with COVID-19. This finding was validated in a separate cohort of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 who also showed low plasma SP-D levels. However, plasma SP-D levels did not distinguish seasonal influenza from COVID-19 in mild-to-moderate disease. Finally, we found that high serum SP-D levels were associated with death and renal failure among severe pandemic influenza cases. Thus, our studies have identified SP-D as a unique biomarker expressed during severe pandemic influenza but not COVID-19.

Observación de un espectro de manifestaciones clínicas ante la exposición a información relacionada con eventos suicidas / Observation of a Spectrum of Clinical Manifestations when Exposed to Information Related to Suicidal Events

Resumen Hace muchos años se describió el ahora conocido efecto copycat. Se entiende como la reproducción del acto autolesivo, por parte de personas susceptibles, posterior a la exposición a la información en los medios de comunicación relacionada con un suicidio concretado (en noticias, redes sociales, etc.). A partir de la observación en la atención psicológica y psiquiátrica de los pacientes, nuestro grupo ha detectado que esta replicación en realidad forma parte de un espectro mucho más amplio, y que, consecuentemente, otras manifestaciones suelen pasar inadvertidas. Si se trazara un continuum de esas expresiones, en el extremo más severo, se encontraría el suicidio consumado luego de la exposición a dicho material, que es el componente más reconocido hasta la fecha (efecto copycat); no obstante, en otras zonas del espectro, también es posible que las personas experimenten distorsiones cognitivas, componentes obsesivos e intrusivos, ideación pasiva y activa de muerte e intentos no consumados de suicidios. El presente documento se propuso como objetivo describir este fenómeno y, a la vez, ejemplificarlo mediante la exposición de un caso. Resulta probable que el correcto reconocimiento y abordaje fenomenológico sean pasos básicos para establecer los tratamientos y las estrategias preventivas, que garanticen la seguridad de estas personas

Abstract: Long ago, the scientific literature informed about the now well-known copycat effect, understood as a reproduction of the self-injurious act by susceptible individuals after being exposed to suicide-related information in the media (news, social networks, etc.). From observations in psychological and psychiatric care of patients, our group has detected that these manifestations are actually part of a much broader clinical spectrum, where other manifestations can also be found. It would seem plausible that if a spectrum is defined, the most severe end would be consummated suicide, which is the well-recognized component to date (copycat effect); but it is also possible that there is a series of more diverse expressions in other patients after having been exposed to this information, which could include cognitive distortions, obsessive and intrusive phenomena, passive and active ideation of death and unsuccessful suicide attempts. Our purpose with this paper is to explain our observations and present a clinical vignette as an example. We believe that correct recognition and approach to these phenomena is fundamental to establish treatments and preventive strategies that guarantee the safety of this population.

Spirulina for the food and functional food industries.

Humans are no strangers to the consumption of microalgae as already in the sixteenth century Spirulina was harvested from Lake Texcoco and consumed in markets in Tenochtitlan (today Mexico City). Nowadays, microalgae are being incorporated into many food formulations. Most of these use microalgae as a marketing strategy or as a colouring agent. However, Spirulina (and compounds derived thereof) show potential for being used as ingredients in the development of novel functional foods, which are one of the top trends in the food industry. Several human intervention studies demonstrated the potential of Spirulina for being used in the prevention or treatment of disorders related to metabolic syndrome. The aim of the current paper was to review current and potential applications of this microalga in the food and functional food industries. Health benefits associated with consuming Spirulina and/or some of the most important compounds derived from Spirulina were also discussed.

The Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Mexico During the Last Decade: Results from the INVIFAR Group.

Background: Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires an international approach with national and local strategies. Our aim was to summarize a retrospective 10-year report of antibiotic resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in Mexico. Methods: A total of 46 centers from 22 states of Mexico participated. Databases of AMR from January 2009 to December 2018 were included for most species. The 10-year period was divided into five 2-year periods. Results: For Staphylococcus aureus, a decrease in resistance in all specimens was observed for erythromycin and oxacillin (p < 0.0001 for each). For Enterobacter spp., resistance to meropenem increased for urine specimens (p = 0.0042). For Klebsiella spp., increased drug resistance in specimens collected from blood was observed for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, tobramycin (p < 0.0001 for each), meropenem (p = 0.0014), and aztreonam (p = 0.0030). For Acinetobacter baumannii complex, high drug resistance was detected for almost all antibiotics, including carbapenems, except for tobramycin, which showed decreased resistance for urine, respiratory, and blood isolates (p < 0.0001 for each), and for amikacin, which showed a decrease in resistance in urine specimens (p = 0.0002). An increase in resistance to cefepime was found for urine, respiratory, and blood specimens (p < 0.0001 for each). For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, aztreonam resistance increased for isolates recovered from blood (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: This laboratory-based surveillance of antibiotic resistance shows that resistance is increasing for some antibiotics in different bacterial species in Mexico and highlights the need for continuous monitoring of antibiotic resistance.

Tratamiento de pacientes con placenta anormalmente adherida, con hemorragia. Revisión sistemática / Treatment of patients with abnormally attached placenta, with hemorrhage. Systematic review

Resumen OBJETIVO: Reportar la evidencia quirúrgica, disponible en la bibliografía actual, acerca de la conducta médica que debe seguirse en pacientes con placenta anormalmente adherida en embarazos mayores de 20 semanas, según la pérdida hemática que se correlaciona con la morbilidad y mortalidad materna. METODOLOGÍA: Revisión sistemática de la bibliografía asentada en PubMed, Google Scholar, Uptodate y SciELO de artículos publicados en inglés y español, entre 2002 y 2019, con las palabras clave Mesh (Medical Subject Headings): placenta acreta; placenta previa; uterine repair; caesarean hysterectomy; placenta percreta; uterine conservation; uterine compression suture; hemorragia obstétrica; placentación anómala; placenta anormalmente adherida. Criterios de inclusión: artículos de casos y controles, y series de casos que incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de placenta anormalmente adherida, con apartados de la técnica quirúrgica utilizada y descripción de su desenlace. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 40 artículos y se seleccionaron 34 que describían casos con diagnóstico de placenta anormalmente adherida y descripción de la técnica quirúrgica aplicada para disminuir la morbilidad y mortalidad materna. Se compararon las distintas técnicas quirúrgicas; se encontraron 9 artículos con técnicas quirúrgicas distintas para el control de la hemorragia obstétrica, en 2 de ellos no hubo reporte de la pérdida hemática, útil para esta revisión. CONCLUSIONES: Se demuestra que la técnica vascular integral avanzada (VIVA) y de Bautista son las que mejor se relacionan con disminución de la morbilidad y mortalidad materna. La búsqueda de técnicas quirúrgicas y estrategias para abatir la muerte materna, por placenta anormalmente adherida y la aplicación y comprensión de lo aquí expuesto, puede contribuir a disminuir la incidencia de desenlaces fatales.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Report the surgical evidence available in the current literature about the medical behavior to be followed in patients with abnormally attached placenta in pregnancies older than 20 weeks, according to blood loss that correlates with maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODOLOGY: Systematic review of the literature available on PubMed, Scholar.google.com, Uptodate, SciELO, of articles published in English and Spanish, from 2002 to the present (August 2019), with the following keywords Mesh (Medical Subject Headings ): placenta acreta; previous placenta; uterine repair; Caesarean Hysterectomy; placenta percreta; uterine conservation; uterine compression suture; obstetric hemorrhage; anomalous placentation; abnormally attached placenta. Inclusion criteria: articles of control cases and case series that included pregnant patients with abnormally adhered placental diagnosis and sections of the surgical technique used, the outcome of which is described in the manuscript. RESULTS: 40 articles were found but only 34 studies were described that described cases with abnormally adhered placental diagnosis and description of the surgical technique used to achieve a decrease in maternal morbidity and mortality, so the different surgical techniques were compared, 9 articles were found with techniques different surgical procedures for the control of obstetric hemorrhage, in 2 of them there was no report of blood loss, useful for this review. CONCLUSIONS: It is shown that the advanced integral vascular technique (VIVA) and that of Bautista are the ones that are best related to a decrease in maternal morbidity and mortality. The search for surgical techniques and strategies to reduce maternal death, due to an abnormally attached placenta and the application and understanding of what is stated here, can contribute to reducing the incidence of fatal outcomes.

A snapshot of antimicrobial resistance in Mexico. Results from 47 centers from 20 states during a six-month period.

AIM: We aimed to assess the resistance rates of antimicrobial-resistant, in bacterial pathogens of epidemiological importance in 47 Mexican centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included a stratified sample of 47 centers, covering 20 Mexican states. Selected isolates considered as potential causatives of disease collected over a 6-month period were included. Laboratories employed their usual methods to perform microbiological studies. The results were deposited into a database and analyzed with the WHONET 5.6 software. RESULTS: In this 6-month study, a total of 22,943 strains were included. Regarding Gram-negatives, carbapenem resistance was detected in ≤ 3% in Escherichia coli, 12.5% in Klebsiella sp. and Enterobacter sp., and up to 40% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; in the latter, the resistance rate for piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) was as high as 19.1%. In Acinetobacter sp., resistance rates for cefepime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, and TZP were higher than 50%. Regarding Gram-positives, methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was as high as 21.4%, and vancomycin (VAN) resistance reached up to 21% in Enterococcus faecium. Acinetobacter sp. presented the highest multidrug resistance (53%) followed by Klebsiella sp. (22.6%) and E. coli (19.4%). CONCLUSION: The multidrug resistance of Acinetobacter sp., Klebsiella sp. and E. coli and the carbapenem resistance in specific groups of enterobacteria deserve special attention in Mexico. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and MRSA are common in our hospitals. Our results present valuable information for the implementation of measures to control drug resistance.

NMR Metabolomics as an Effective Tool To Unravel the Effect of Light Intensity and Temperature on the Composition of the Marine Microalgae Isochrysis galbana.

NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis techniques was applied to obtain meaningful information about nontargeted metabolic changes on  Isochrysis galbana upon acclimation to different environmental conditions at indoor lab-scale. The effects of temperature (from 15 to 30 °C) and incident irradiance (from 250 to 1600 µmol m-2 s-1) at a constant dilution rate of 0.3 h-1 were evaluated. High irradiances stimulated a decrease of chlorophyll a, fucoxanthin and amino acids content, and the conversion of polar fatty acids (PLs, GLs, DGDGs, SGDGs) to neutral fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated). High temperatures together with high irradiances decreased PUFAs concentration, including omega-3 fatty acids. Under low irradiance and temperature organic osmolytes (homarine, DMSP, GBT, and glycerol), and sugars (glucose, trehalose, and galactose) were also reduced.

Preparative Recovery of Carotenoids from Microalgal Biomass.

Carotenoids are widespread substances with important physiological roles, and some of them, such as lutein, astaxanthin, or vaucherioxanthin, are high-value products that can be used as high-quality food color and antioxidants, and some have an alleged role in the prevention of disorders such as AMD. Carotenoid extracts are currently obtained from plant sources, but microalgae have been demonstrated to be a competitive source likely to become an alternative. The extraction of carotenoids from microalgae possesses specific problems that arise from the different structure and composition of the source biomass. Here is presented a method for the recovery of carotenoid extracts from microalgal biomass in the kilogram scale.

Association between Candida biofilm-forming bloodstream isolates and the clinical evolution in patients with candidemia: An observational nine-year single center study in Mexico / Asociación entre aislamientos sanguíneos de Candida formadores de biopelícula y la evolución clínica en pacientes con candidemia: un estudio observacional monocéntrico de nueve años en México

Background. Candidemia is one of the most common nosocomial infections globally and it is associated with considerable excess mortality and costs. Abreast, biofilm-forming strains are associated with even higher mortality rates and poor prognosis for the patient. Aims. To evaluate a possible association between the biofilm-forming capability of Candida bloodstream isolates and the clinical evolution in patients with candidemia. Methods. An observational, retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care university hospital during 9 years (2006-2015). The biofilm quantitation of the Candida bloodstream isolates was determined by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assay. Results. A total of 218 cases of candidemia had been diagnosed and 89 isolates were obtained. The mortality rate was 36% and the main risk factors were antibiotic exposure and the use of catheters. Candida tropicalis (52.8%) was the most frequent species, followed by Candida albicans (30.4%), Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto (10.1%), Candida orthopsilosis (3.4%), Candida krusei (2.2%) and Candida glabrata sensu stricto (1.1%). All the strains were biofilm producers, which is an important contribution to the patient's mortality. C. tropicalis showed the highest production of biomass biofilm, whereas C. glabrata exhibited the highest metabolic activity. Conclusions. This study contributes to expand the knowledge about the local epidemiology of candidemia and highlights the impact of Candida biofilm on patient's outcome (AU)

Antecedentes. La candidemia es una de las infecciones nosocomiales más frecuentes globalmente y se encuentra asociada con una elevada mortalidad y coste económico. Las cepas productoras de biopelícula se asocian con elevadas tasas de mortalidad y mal pronóstico para el paciente. Objetivos. Evaluar una posible asociación entre la capacidad de formación de biopelícula de aislamientos sanguíneos de Candida y la evolución clínica de pacientes con candidemia. Métodos. Durante 9 años (2006-2015) se ha llevado a cabo un estudio observacional y retrospectivo en un hospital universitario de tercer nivel de atención. La cuantificación de biopelícula de los aislamientos sanguíneos de Candida se determinó por tinción con cristal violeta y ensayo de reducción de XTT. Resultados. Se diagnosticó un total de 218 casos de candidemia y se obtuvieron 89 aislamientos. La tasa de mortalidad fue del 36% y los principales factores de riesgo fueron la exposición a antibióticos y el uso de catéteres. Candida tropicalis (52,8%) fue la especie más frecuente, seguida por Candida albicans (30,4%), Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto (10,1%), Candida orthopsilosis (3,4%), Candida krusei (2,2%) y Candida glabrata sensu stricto (1,1%). Todas las cepas produjeron biopelícula, una contribución importante a la mortalidad de los pacientes. C. tropicalis mostró la producción más alta de biomasa de biopelícula, mientras que C. glabrata exhibió la actividad metabólica más alta. onclusiones. Este estudio contribuye a expandir el conocimiento de la epidemiología local de la candidemia y resalta el impacto de las biopelículas de Candida en el pronóstico del paciente (AU)

Association between Candida biofilm-forming bloodstream isolates and the clinical evolution in patients with candidemia: An observational nine-year single center study in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is one of the most common nosocomial infections globally and it is associated with considerable excess mortality and costs. Abreast, biofilm-forming strains are associated with even higher mortality rates and poor prognosis for the patient. AIMS: To evaluate a possible association between the biofilm-forming capability of Candida bloodstream isolates and the clinical evolution in patients with candidemia. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care university hospital during 9 years (2006-2015). The biofilm quantitation of the Candida bloodstream isolates was determined by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assay. RESULTS: A total of 218 cases of candidemia had been diagnosed and 89 isolates were obtained. The mortality rate was 36% and the main risk factors were antibiotic exposure and the use of catheters. Candida tropicalis (52.8%) was the most frequent species, followed by Candida albicans (30.4%), Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto (10.1%), Candida orthopsilosis (3.4%), Candida krusei (2.2%) and Candida glabrata sensu stricto (1.1%). All the strains were biofilm producers, which is an important contribution to the patient's mortality. C. tropicalis showed the highest production of biomass biofilm, whereas C. glabrata exhibited the highest metabolic activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to expand the knowledge about the local epidemiology of candidemia and highlights the impact of Candida biofilm on patient's outcome.

Disociaciones entre prosodia emocional y lingüística en pacientes con lesiones cerebrales del hemisferio derecho / Dissociations between emotional and linguistic prosody in patients with right hemisphere lesions

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar patrones de disociación entre el procesamiento de prosodia lingüística y emocional con el fin de analizar la independencia funcional entre ambos. Se realizó un estudio con un diseño de múltiples casos únicos de 17 pacientes con lesiones del hemisferio derecho debidas a accidente cerebro vascular. Se analizaron los perfiles de alteración/ conservación de la capacidad para procesar ambos tipos de prosodia con cuatro pruebas de comprensión y repetición de prosodia emocional y lingüística, y se comparó el rendimiento de cada paciente con un grupo control sano. Los resultados mostraron rendimiento disociado entre prosodia emocional y lingüística en la habilidad de comprensión prosódica en 3/17 pacientes y no se hallaron disociaciones dobles. El hallazgo de distintos patrones de alteración/conservación entre prosodia lingüística y emocional, tanto en la habilidad para comprender como para repetir prosodia, es evidencia que apoya el supuesto de independencia funcional entre los procesamientos de ambos tipos de prosodia.

The goal of this study was to evaluate dissociation patterns between processing of linguistic prosody and emotional (or affective) prosody, in order to analyze the functional independence between them. We carried out a multiple single-cases study of 17 patients with right hemisphere lesions due to stroke. The alteration / conservation profiles of the ability to process both types of prosody were analyzed with four tasks of comprehension and repetition of emotional and linguistic prosody. The performance of each patient was compared with a healthy control group. The results showed a dissociated performance between emotional and linguistic prosody in prosodic comprehension in 3/17 patients, and no double dissociations were found. Finding different patterns of alteration / conservation between linguistic and emotional prosody, both in the ability to understand and to repeat prosody, supports the assumption of functional independence between processing of both types of prosody.

Boron's journey: advances in the study and application of pharmacokinetics.

INTRODUCTION: Boron-containing compounds (BCCs) are attractive chemical entities in drug development. Some of these compounds have been used in the treatment of human disease, and studies on their pharmacodynamics suggest that they employ multiple forms of activity. However, less is known about the pharmacokinetic profile of these molecules. Areas covered: The herein compiled reported data is presented in accordance with the classical 'ADME' system for identifying the scope of BCCs in the respective fields. Our analysis suggests that these compounds have several distinct ways to move within the human body, and that the specific structural features of each molecule account for its distinct pharmacokinetic profile. These insights should be useful for designing BCCs with a desired effect. Expert opinion: Increasing knowledge about the pharmacokinetics of BCCs is providing a broader understanding about the design of new release systems and potential drugs, as well as probable protein transporters that could be related to key roles in physiological processes. These transporters may be involved in sodium transport, hormone release and regulation of the cell cycle. The shared features among groups of BCCs are being identified in order to apply these insights to the design of advantageous compounds.