Effectivity of a Program for the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 Healthcare-Associated Infections in a Spanish Academic Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Although recommendations to prevent COVID-19 healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have been proposed, data on their effectivity are currently limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effectivity of a program of control and prevention of COVID-19 in an academic general hospital in Spain. METHODS: We captured the number of COVID-19 cases and the type of contact that occurred in hospitalized patients and healthcare personnel (HCP). To evaluate the impact of the continuous use of a surgical mask among HCP, the number of patients with COVID-19 HAIs and accumulated incidence of HCP with COVID-19 was compared between the preintervention and intervention periods. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-two patients with COVID-19 have been admitted to the hospital. Seven of them had an HAI origin (6 in the preintervention period and 1 in the intervention period). One hundred forty-two HCP were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Of them, 22 (15.5%) were attributed to healthcare (2 in the emergency department and none in the critical care departments), and 120 (84.5%) were attributed to social relations in the workplace or during their non-work-related personal interactions. The accumulated incidence during the preintervention period was 22.3 for every 1000 HCP and 8.2 for every 1000 HCP during the intervention period. The relative risk was 0.37 (95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.55) and the attributable risk was -0.014 (95% confidence interval, -0.020 to -0.009). CONCLUSIONS: A program of control and prevention of HAIs complemented with the recommendation for the continuous use of a surgical mask in the workplace and social environments of HCP effectively decreased the risk of COVID-19 HAIs in admitted patients and HCP.

Frequency, Associated Risk Factors, and Characteristics of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Personnel in a Spanish Health Department.

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the frequency, associated factors, and characteristics of healthcare personnel coronavirus disease 2019 cases in a healthcare department that comprises a tertiary hospital and its associated 12 primary healthcare centers. METHODS: This study included healthcare personnel that showed symptoms or were in contact with a coronavirus disease 2019 case patient from March 2, 2020 to April 19, 2020. Their evolution and characteristics (age, sex, professional category, type of contact) were recorded. Correlations between the different characteristics and risk of developing coronavirus disease 2019 and severe coronavirus disease 2019 were analyzed using chi-square tests. Their magnitudes were quantified with ORs, AORs, and their 95% CIs using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 3,900 healthcare professionals in the department, 1,791 (45.9%) showed symptoms or were part of a contact tracing study. The prevalence of those with symptoms was 20.1% (784/3,900; 95% CI=18.8, 21.4), with coronavirus disease 2019 was 4.0% (156/3,900; 95% CI=3.4, 4.6), and with severe coronavirus disease 2019 was 0.5% (18/3,900; 95% CI=0.2, 0.7). The frequency of coronavirus disease 2019 in symptomatic healthcare personnel with a nonprotected exposure was 22.8% (112/491) and 13.7% (40/293) in those with a protected exposure (AOR=2.2, 95% CI=1.2, 3.9). The service in which the healthcare personnel performed their activity was not significantly associated with being diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019. A total of 26.3% (10/38) of male healthcare personnel with coronavirus disease 2019 required hospitalization, compared with 6.8% (8/118) among female healthcare personnel (OR=4.9, 95% CI=1.8, 13.6). CONCLUSIONS: A surveillance and monitoring program centred on healthcare personnel enables an understanding of the risk factors that lead to coronavirus disease 2019 among this population. This knowledge allows the refinement of the strategies for disease control and prevention in healthcare personnel during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Prevalencia del virus de la leucemia felina (ViLeF) en el sur del Valle de Aburrá, Colombia / Prevalence of the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in Southern Valle de Aburrá, Colombia

Resumen El virus de la leucemia felina (ViLeF) es una de las principales enfermedades retrovirales de la familia Felidae que causan la muerte de sus individuos; de ahí interés diagnóstico y preventivo para la salud animal. El propósito de este artículo es determinar la prevalencia de infección por el ViLeF por serodiagnóstico del antígeno p27, en cuatro municipios del sur del valle de Aburrá, Colombia, usando los registros de los centros de diagnóstico del área. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo, entre los años 2013-2015, que incluyó la revisión de 1718 pruebas diagnósticas de felinos domésticos del área urbana de Medellín, Envigado, Sabaneta y Caldas, procedentes de los centros de diagnóstico clínico del valle de Aburrá. El diagnóstico de ViLeF se realizó en muestras de suero por el inmunoensayo comercial Elisa (Idexx Laboratories©, Snap Combo Plus®, Maine, EUA). Los datos se procesaron en Statgraphics Centurión XVy se realizaron las pruebas estadísticas de Ji2 y Tukey. Del total de muestras, 376 (21,89 %) fueron positivas a la presencia del antígeno p27 de ViLeF. La edad de infectados osciló entre los 2 a 36 meses, hubo una mayor prevalencia en raza doméstica de pelo corto (DPC) y en machos. El porcentaje la prevalencia de ViLeF en el estudio fue de 21,88 %, siendo de importancia epidemiológica en el sur del Valle de Aburrá, Antioquia, Colombia.

Abstract Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is one of the main retrovirus diseases of the Felidae family causing the death to the subjects. Therefore, there is a diagnostic and preventive interest regarding the animal health. This article aims to determine the infection prevalence due to FeLV after a p27 antigen serodiagnostic test applied in four towns in the southern Valle del Aburrá, Colombia, using the records of the diagnostic centers in each area. A descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted for the period 2013-2015, in which 1718 diagnostic tests from home felines were reviewed. These cases were from the urban area of Medellín, Envigado, Sabaneta and Caldas making part in the clinical diagnostic centers of the Valle de Aburrá. The FeLV diagnosis was conducted in serum samples with commercial immunoessay ELISA (IDEXX Laboratories©, Snap Combo Plus®, Maine, EUA). Data were processed in Statgraphics Centurión XV and statistical tests Ji2 and Tukey were conducted. Out of the total samples, 376 (21.89 %) were positive to p27 antigen for FeLV. The infected animals were from 2 to 36 months old. There was a higher prevalence among home races with short hair (SHR) and males. The FeLV prevalence percentage in the study was 21.88%, a figure with epidemiological significance in the southern Valle de Aburrá, Antioquia Province, Colombia.

Climate change and forest plagues: assessing current and future impacts of diprionid sawflies on the pine forests of north-western Mexico.

The imminent threat of climate change lies in its potential to disrupt the balance of ecosystems, particularly vulnerable areas such as mountain-top remnant forests. An example of such a fragile ecosystem is the Sierra San Pedro Mártir (SSPM) National Park of Mexico's Baja California state, where high levels of endemism can be found, and which is home to one of the country's few populations of the emblematic Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi). Recent outbreaks of pine-feeding sawfly larvae in SSPM increase the vulnerability of this forest ecosystem, calling for immediate assessments of the severity of this threat. Here, we present a thorough study of the sawfly's biology and distribution, carrying out molecular and morphology-based identification of the species and creating model-based predictions of the species distribution in the area. The sawfly was found to belong to an undescribed species of the genus Zadiprion (family Diprionidae) with a one-year life-cycle. The distribution of this species appears to be restricted to the SSPM national park and it will probably persist for at least another 50 years, even considering the effects of climate change.

Antioxidant Therapeutic Strategies for Cardiovascular Conditions Associated with Oxidative Stress.

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability to scavenge these ROS by endogenous antioxidant systems, where ROS overwhelms the antioxidant capacity. Excessive presence of ROS results in irreversible damage to cell membranes, DNA, and other cellular structures by oxidizing lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases related to hypoxia, cardiotoxicity and ischemia-reperfusion. Here, we describe the participation of OS in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial infarction, anthracycline cardiotoxicity and congenital heart disease. This review focuses on the different clinical events where redox factors and OS are related to cardiovascular pathophysiology, giving to support for novel pharmacological therapies such as omega 3 fatty acids, non-selective betablockers and microRNAs.

Feline aortic thromboembolism: first case reported in Colombia / Tromboembolismo aórtico felino: primer caso reportado en Colombia / Tromboembolismo aórtico felino: relato do primeiro caso na Colômbia

Anamnesis and treatment approach: a cross-breed tomcat, 5 years old, with bilateral pelvic limb paresis was treated with saline solution hydration (20 drops/in), tramadol (2 mg/kg IV every 8 h), methylprednisolone succinate (18 mg, every 6 h), dimethyl sulphoxyde (0.36 mg diluted in sodium chloride, twice a day, IV) and ketoprofen (2 mg/kg, every 24 h) with no response to this treatment schedule. Clinical and laboratory findings: according to results of thorax and abdomen radiological tests, coldness in pelvic limbs and lack of bleeding after a deep nail cutting, clinical diagnosis of feline aortic thromboembolism was established and the cat was subjected to euthanasia after informed consent. A hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and thrombus in the lumbar abdominal aorta were found at necropsy. Conclusion: the first case of feline aortic thromboembolism in Colombia is reported and the most relevant findings and treatment schedule are discussed.

Anamnesis y aproximación terapéutica: un felino mestizo de 5 años de edad, con cuadro neurológico fue tratado con solución salina (20 gotas/min), tramadol (2 mg/kg i.v. cada 8 horas), succinato de metilprednisolona (18 mg totales cada 6 horas), dimetilsulfoxido (0.36 mg diluidos en cloruro de sodio cada 12 horas e.v.) y ketoprofeno (2 mg/kg cada 24 horas), sin responder al tratamiento. Hallazgos clinicos y de laboratorio: ante los resultados de las radiografìas de tórax y el abdomen, las extremidades pelvianas frías y el no sangrado ante corte profundo de uña, se estableció el diagnóstico de tromboembolismo aórtico felino. El gato fue sometido a eutanasia previo consentimiento informado. A la necropsia fue hallada una cardiomiopatía hipertrófica y un coágulo en la porción lumbar de la aorta abdominal. Conclusiones: este es el primer reporte de un caso de tromboembolismo felino en Colombia, se discuten los hallazgos clínicos y el esquema de tratamiento más relevante.

Anamnese e abordagem de tratamento: um felino mestiço de 5 anos de idade com quadro neurológico foi tratado com solução salina (20 gotas / min), tramadol (2 mg / kg iv c / 8 horas), succinato de metilprednisolona (18 mg c total / 6 h), sulfóxido de dimetilo (0.36 mg de cloreto de sódio diluído em q12h ev) e cetoprofeno (2 mg / kg C/24 h), não respondendo ao tratamento. Achados clínicos e laboratoriais: com os resultados do exame radiológico de tórax e abdôme, membros pelvianas frios e falta de sangramento ao corte profundo da unha, foi diagnosticado com tromboembolismo aórtico felino. O gato foi eutanasiado prévio consentimento informado. Na necropsia foi encontrada cardiomiopatia hipertrófica e um coágulo na porção lombar da aorta abdominal. Conclusões: Este é o primeiro reporte de tromboembolismo felino na Colômbia, neste artigo se discutem os achados clínicos e o cronograma de tratamento mais relevante.

Spike timing and reliability in cortical pyramidal neurons: effects of EPSC kinetics, input synchronization and background noise on spike timing.

In vivo studies have shown that neurons in the neocortex can generate action potentials at high temporal precision. The mechanisms controlling timing and reliability of action potential generation in neocortical neurons, however, are still poorly understood. Here we investigated the temporal precision and reliability of spike firing in cortical layer V pyramidal cells at near-threshold membrane potentials. Timing and reliability of spike responses were a function of EPSC kinetics, temporal jitter of population excitatory inputs, and of background synaptic noise. We used somatic current injection to mimic population synaptic input events and measured spike probability and spike time precision (STP), the latter defined as the time window (Deltat) holding 80% of response spikes. EPSC rise and decay times were varied over the known physiological spectrum. At spike threshold level, EPSC decay time had a stronger influence on STP than rise time. Generally, STP was highest (6 ms) triggered spikes at lower temporal precision (>or=6.58 ms). We found an overall linear relationship between STP and spike delay. The difference in STP between fast and slow compound EPSCs could be reduced by incrementing the amplitude of slow compound EPSCs. The introduction of a temporal jitter to compound EPSCs had a comparatively small effect on STP, with a tenfold increase in jitter resulting in only a five fold decrease in STP. In the presence of simulated synaptic background activity, precisely timed spikes could still be induced by fast EPSCs, but not by slow EPSCs.