The microbiome and the gut-lung axis in tuberculosis: interplay in the course of disease and treatment.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) that remains a significant global health challenge. The extensive use of antibiotics in tuberculosis treatment, disrupts the delicate balance of the microbiota in various organs, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. This gut-lung axis involves dynamic interactions among immune cells, microbiota, and signaling molecules from both organs. The alterations of the microbiome resulting from anti-TB treatment can significantly influence the course of tuberculosis, impacting aspects such as complete healing, reinfection, and relapse. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gut-lung axis in the context of tuberculosis, with a specific focus on the impact of anti-TB treatment on the microbiome.

The Microbiome as Part of the Contemporary View of Tuberculosis Disease.

The study of the microbiome has changed our overall perspective on health and disease. Although studies of the lung microbiome have lagged behind those on the gastrointestinal microbiome, there is now evidence that the lung microbiome is a rich, dynamic ecosystem. Tuberculosis is one of the oldest human diseases, it is primarily a respiratory infectious disease caused by strains from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex. Even today, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tuberculosis disease manifests itself as a dynamic spectrum that ranges from asymptomatic latent infection to life-threatening active disease. The review aims to provide an overview of the microbiome in the tuberculosis setting, both in patients' and animal models. We discuss the relevance of the microbiome and its dysbiosis, and how, probably through its interaction with the immune system, it is a significant factor in tuberculosis's susceptibility, establishment, and severity.

Clinical and Immunological Factors That Distinguish COVID-19 From Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1).

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global health threat with the potential to cause severe disease manifestations in the lungs. Although COVID-19 has been extensively characterized clinically, the factors distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses are unknown. Here, we compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A(H1N1). We observed a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms, increased tissue injury markers, and a histological pattern of alveolar pneumonia in pandemic influenza A(H1N1) patients. Conversely, dry cough, gastrointestinal symptoms and interstitial lung pathology were observed in COVID-19 cases. Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) was characterized by higher levels of IL-1RA, TNF-α, CCL3, G-CSF, APRIL, sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, sCD30, and sCD163. Meanwhile, COVID-19 displayed an immune profile distinguished by increased Th1 (IL-12, IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) cytokine levels, along with IL-1ß, IL-6, CCL11, VEGF, TWEAK, TSLP, MMP-1, and MMP-3. Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 induces a dysbalanced polyfunctional inflammatory response that is different from the immune response against pandemic influenza A(H1N1). Furthermore, we demonstrated the diagnostic potential of some clinical and immune factors to differentiate both diseases. These findings might be relevant for the ongoing and future influenza seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, which are historically unique due to their convergence with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 34-Year-Old Woman with a Diamniotic Dichorionic Twin Pregnancy Presenting with an Erythematous and Papular Skin Rash Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND The damage caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been extensive. Pregnant women are a group requiring special attention in medicine given the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Skin rash is commonly associated with pregnancy, with the most common form of an erythematous maculopapular rash being pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Skin rash is also an increasingly reported initial presentation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to infection with SARS-CoV-2. CASE REPORT A 34-year-old woman with a diamniotic dichorionic twin pregnancy presented with clinical picture characterized by dermatological manifestations, namely an erythematous and papular skin rash associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (GeneFinder) test was positive for SARS-CoV-2 detection. CONCLUSIONS Ten months after the onset of this pandemic, there is no conclusive evidence indicating that pregnant women represent a sector more or less vulnerable to severe forms of COVID-19 than the general population. This report has highlighted the importance of performing a reliable diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients who present with a skin rash, particularly pregnant women.

Moebius syndrome: Craniofacial clinical manifestations and their association with prenatal exposure to misoprostol.

BACKGROUND: A growing link between prenatal exposure to misoprostol (PEM) and Moebius syndrome (MS) or sequence has been reported. Our objectives were to describe the craniofacial clinical manifestations associated with MS and to determine the frequency of PEM, comparing cases of exposure and nonexposure. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 140 patients with MS. Clinical evaluations, as well as 140 interviews with mothers residing in 39 cities or districts of Colombia, were carried out between April 2008 and May 2018. Additionally, previous clinical history of each case was reviewed. RESULTS: The average age of the patients with MS was 8.4 years (29 days to 48 years). All of them presented facial nerve involvement and abducens, 112 (80.8%) with bilateral facial paralysis. 98.5% presented craniofacial disorders, and there were no significant differences between those exposed and not exposed to misoprostol. Forty-seven percentage of patients (64 cases) presented PEM, in 98.4% of which abortion had been intended. CONCLUSION: PEM could have an influence in the appearance of new cases of MS by increasing the frequency of bleeding during gestation, without increasing the number of associated craniofacial malformations. We present the biggest series on MS and craniofacial findings in the literature, along with a meaningful reference for its understanding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b.

Volatile and sensory characterization of roast coffees - Effects of cherry maturity.

Immature coffee cherries produce roast coffees with lower hedonic scores than those produced from mature cherries, but variation in volatile and sensory characteristics over a range of maturities is not well studied. In this work, cherries from two coffee cultivars (Caturra, Catimor) were sorted into seven maturity stages from fully immature (Stage 1, green) to fully overripe (Stage 7, purple). Volatile profiles of Stage 1 roast coffee had lower concentrations of carbohydrate degradation products and higher concentrations of N-heterocycles and phenols. Differences in volatiles among Stage 2 (partially immature, yellow-green) and subsequent stages were insignificant (p > 0.05) or else minor. Principle component analysis of the volatile data set also distinguished Stage 1 from other stages. Similarly, a trained cupping panel reported significantly lower sensory scores for Stage 1 as compared to Stages 2-7, but few differences among Stages 2-7. Thus, partially mature and overripe cherries may be appropriate for specialty coffee.

Patrones de viaje y problemas de accesibilidad de personas en situación de discapacidad en Tunja / Commute patterns and accessibility problems for physically impaired people in Tunja / Padrões de viagem e problemas de acessibilidade de pessoas em situação de deficiência física em Tunja

Resumen Introducción. Los sistemas de transporte urbano imponen barreras a las personas en situación de discapacidad, que les impiden desarrollar con normalidad actividades cotidianas como visitar al médico, estudiar o trabajar. Esta situación puede exacerbar un círculo vicioso en el que las personas en situación de discapacidad muestran menores niveles de formación, menores niveles de ingreso y, en general, menor bienestar. Objetivo. Hacer una caracterización de las personas en situación de discapacidad de la ciudad de Tunja, para conocer sus patrones de transporte y los problemas de accesibilidad al transporte público. Materiales y métodos. La investigación, localizada espacialmente en Tunja, se basó en una encuesta domiciliaria de viajes aplicada en el año 2012, que permitió conocer tanto las actividades económicas de los hogares como los patrones de viaje de la ciudad de Tunja, y una encuesta específica dirigida a las personas en situación de discapacidad, aplicada en el año 2014, que permitió identificar los principales problemas que deben enfrentar estas personas cuando viajan. Resultados. Se hizo una caracterización socioeconómica de la población en situación de discapacidad. Se encontró que el 95% de esta población tiene dificultades para transportarse en la ciudad, aunque el 88% de ellos usa el servicio de transporte público, especialmente taxis, lo que incrementa sus costos de transporte. Conclusiones. Se considera una primera contribución al desarrollo de una investigación empírica relacionada con los patrones de viaje y problemas a los que se enfrentan las personas en situación de discapacidad en la ciudad de Tunja, en Colombia.

Abstract Introduction. Urban transport systems impose barriers to physically impaired people, which impedes them from normally carrying out daily activities such as visiting the doctor, studying or working. This situation can exacerbate a vicious circle in which these people evidence lower levels of education and income and, in general, lower welfare. Objective. Perform a characterization of the physically impaired people in Tunja to know their commute patterns and problems of accessibility to public transport. Materials and methods. The research, located in Tunja, was based on two surveys: a household survey of transport applied in 2012, which allowed to know the households' economic activities as well as the commute patterns of the city of Tunja; and a specific survey conducted with physically impaired people in 2014, which enabled us to identify the main problems they must face when commuting. Results. A socioeconomic characterization of the physically impaired population in Tunja was made. It was found that 95% of this population have difficulties to commute in the city, and 88% use the public transportation service, especially taxis, which increases their transport costs. Conclusions. This work can be considered as a first contribution to the development of empirical research related to the commute patterns and problems of the physically impaired people in the city of Tunja, Colombia.

Resumo Introdução. Os sistemas de transporte urbano impõem barreiras às pessoas em situação de deficiência física, que lhes impedem desenvolver com normalidade atividades cotidianas como visitar ao médico, estudar ou trabalhar. Esta situação pode exacerbar um ciclo vicioso no qual as pessoas em situação de deficiência física mostram menores níveis de formação, menores níveis de ingresso e, em geral, menor bem-estar. Objetivo. Fazer uma caracterização das pessoas em situação de deficiência física da cidade de Tunja, para conhecer seus padrões de transporte e os problemas de acessibilidade no transporte público. Materiais e métodos. A investigação, localizada espacialmente em Tunja, se baseou em uma enquete domiciliária de viagens aplicada no ano de 2012, que permitiu conhecer tanto as atividades económicas dos lares como os padrões de viagem da cidade de Tunja, e uma enquete específica dirigida às pessoas em situação de deficiência física, aplicada no ano de 2014, que permitiu identificar os principais problemas que devem enfrentar estas pessoas quando viajam. Resultados. Se fez uma caracterização socioeconómica da população em situação de deficiência física. Se encontrou que 95% desta população têm dificuldades para transportar-se na cidade, embora que 88% deles usa o serviço de transporte público, especialmente taxis, o que incrementa seus custos de transporte. Conclusões. Se considera uma primeira contribuição ao desenvolvimento de uma investigação empírica relacionada com os padrões de viagem e problemas aos que se enfrentam as pessoas em situação de deficiência física na cidade de Tunja, na Colômbia.

Perfectly matched layer stability in 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulation of electroacoustic wave propagation in piezoelectric crystals with different symmetry class.

Perfectly matched layer stability in 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulations is demonstrated for two piezoelectric crystals: barium sodium niobate and bismuth germanate. Stability is achieved by adapting the discretization grid to meet a central-difference scheme. Stability is demonstrated by showing that the total energy of the piezoelectric system remains constant in the steady state.

Projection-slice theorem: a compact notation.

The notation normally associated with the projection-slice theorem often presents difficulties for students of Fourier optics and digital image processing. Simple single-line forms of the theorem that are relatively easily interpreted can be obtained for n-dimensional functions by exploiting the convolution theorem and the rotation theorem of Fourier transform theory. The projection-slice theorem is presented in this form for two- and three-dimensional functions; generalization to higher dimensionality is briefly discussed.