Genomic insights into the population history and adaptive traits of Latin American Criollo cattle.

Criollo cattle, the descendants of animals brought by Iberian colonists to the Americas, have been the subject of natural and human-mediated selection in novel tropical agroecological zones for centuries. Consequently, these breeds have evolved distinct characteristics such as resistance to diseases and exceptional heat tolerance. In addition to European taurine (Bos taurus) ancestry, it has been proposed that gene flow from African taurine and Asian indicine (Bos indicus) cattle has shaped the ancestry of Criollo cattle. In this study, we analysed Criollo breeds from Colombia and Venezuela using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data to examine population structure and admixture at high resolution. Analysis of genetic structure and ancestry components provided evidence for African taurine and Asian indicine admixture in Criollo cattle. In addition, using WGS data, we detected selection signatures associated with a myriad of adaptive traits, revealing genes linked to thermotolerance, reproduction, fertility, immunity and distinct coat and skin coloration traits. This study underscores the remarkable adaptability of Criollo cattle and highlights the genetic richness and potential of these breeds in the face of climate change, habitat flux and disease challenges. Further research is warranted to leverage these findings for more effective and sustainable cattle breeding programmes.

Evaluation of hopelessness in patients with endometriosis / Evaluación de desesperanza en pacientes con endometriosis

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of hopelessness in patients diagnosed with endometriosis and how it may influence their relationships. Material and methods: Prospective–descriptive study among patients with a clinical and/or anatomopathological diagnosis of endometriosis. Demographic data (age, religion, educational level, marital status, occupation, etc.) and pain data have been processed. Pain associated with endometriosis has been evaluated with an analogue scale of pain. The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) was used to determine the level of hopelessness. The results have been classified into 0–3 normal; 4–8 mild; 9–14 moderate and 15–20 severe. SPSS Statistics 26 has been used and the statistical significance has been stipulated at p<0.05. Results: One hundred and ten patients have been recruited with an average age of 39.8±7.09 years. The average on the Beck Hopelessness Scale is 5.08 with a SD 3.14. In our sample, we obtained that 38.2% of women experienced some level of hopelessness at the time the questionnaire was completed (mild=28.2%, moderate=9.1%, severe=0.9%). We found a significant relation between hopelessness and low income but not with regard to education, employment status or marital status. Regarding the pain experienced and its relation with hopelessness, we found that it was significantly connected to pain during urination and dyspareunia and not to chronic pelvic pain dysmenorrhea and dyschezia. Conclusion: Four out of ten patients with endometriosis experience hopelessness, mostly mildly. This hopelessness is influenced by demographic factors such as income level and also pain, specifically pain during intercourse and during urination.(AU)

Antecedentes: El objetivo es analizar la prevalencia de desesperanza en pacientes con endometriosis y cuáles pueden ser los factores relacionados con la misma. Material y método: Se ha desarrollado un estudio prospectivo descriptivo entre mujeres con diagnóstico clínico y/o anatomopatológico de endometriosis. Se recogieron datos demográficos junto al grado de dolor evaluado por la escala visual analógica. Para el estudio de la desesperanza se ha empleado la Escala de Desesperanza de Beck (BHS). Los resultados fueron clasificados en 0-3 normal; 4-8 leve; 9-14 moderado y de 15-20 como severa. El programa estadístico empleado fue Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA) y se estipuló la significancia estadística en p<0,05. Resultados: Un total de 110 pacientes fueron encuestadas con una edad media 39,8±7,09 años. La media obtenida en la escala es de 5,08 con una desviación estándar (DE) de 3,14. En nuestro estudio 38,2% de las participantes experimentaban desesperanza en algún grado (leve=28,2%, moderado=9,1%, severa=0,9%). Se ha encontrado una relación significativa entre la experimentación de desesperanza con usuarias con recursos económicos más bajos, pero no con la educación, situación laboral o estado civil. Con respecto al malestar experimentado, hemos observado una asociación con el provocado durante la micción o las relaciones sexuales, pero no con la disquecia, dismenorrea o el dolor pélvico crónico. Conclusión: Cuatro de cada 10 pacientes con endometriosis experimentan un grado de desesperanza, principalmente leve. Se relaciona con dispareunia y dolor en la micción, así como en mujeres con bajos recursos económicos.(AU)

Barriers to linkage and retention in HIV care still persist among adolescent girls and young women in western Kenya.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa experience delayed linkage to and poor retention in HIV care. Identifying and addressing specific barriers in HIV care programming is important to achieving the upgraded UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and epidemic control. We examined these challenges among 103 HIV-positive AGYW in and out of HIV care in communities around Lake Victoria in western Kenya as part of a larger qualitative study to identify drivers of HIV testing and HIV care utilisation in key populations. We used the social-ecological model to guide development of interview guides. Individual-level barriers included denial and forgetfulness and gendered household responsibilities, medication side effects, especially if taken without food, pills being too big and difficult to swallow and the burden of a daily medication-taking regimen. Interpersonal barriers included troubled family relationships and pervasive fears of stigma and discrimination by friends and family. Communitylevel barriers were stigmatising attitudes toward people living with HIV. Health-system barriers included negative provider attitudes and confidentiality breaches. At the structural level, participants noted high costs due to long travel times to facilities, long clinic waiting times, household food insecurity and school and work commitments. AGYW's limited decision-making autonomy due to age and gender norms, including their reliance on the authority of older adults, makes these barriers especially troubling. Innovative treatment approaches that take into account the unique vulnerabilities of AGYW are urgently needed.

Validación de la escala COVID-19-12O para predecir reingreso/revisita en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 dados de alta desde Urgencias / Validation of the COVID-19-12O score for predicting readmissions/revisits in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from the emergency department

Objective The COVID-19-12O-score has been validated to determine the risk of respiratory failure in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Our study aims to assess whether the score is effective in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from a hospital emergency department (HED) to predict readmission and revisit. Metho Retrospective cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged consecutively from an HUS of a tertiary hospital, from January 7 to February 17, 2021, where we applied the COVID-19-12O -score, with a cut-off point of 9 points to define the risk of admission or revisit. The primary outcome variable was revisit with or without hospital readmission after 30 days of discharge from HUS. Results We included 77 patients, with a median age of 59 years, 63.6% men and Charlson index of 2. 9.1% had an emergency room revisit and 15.3% had a deferred hospital admission. The relative risk (RR) for emergency journal was 0.46 (0.04–4.62, 95% CI, p=0.452), and the RR for hospital readmission was 6.88 (1.20–39.49, 95% CI, p<0.005). Conclusions The COVID-19-12O -score is effective in determining the risk of hospital readmission in patients discharged from HED with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, but is not useful for assessing the risk of revisit (AU)

Objetivo La escala COVID-19-12O se ha validado para determinar el riesgo de insuficiencia respiratoria en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19. Nuestro estudio pretende evaluar si la escala es efectiva en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 dados de alta desde un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) para predecir el reingreso y revisita. Método Cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 dados de alta de forma consecutiva desde un SUH de un hospital terciario, del 7 de enero al 17 de febrero de 2021, donde aplicamos la escala COVID-19-12O, con un punto de corte de 9 puntos para definir el riesgo de ingreso o revisita. La variable de resultado principal fue la revisita con o sin reingreso hospitalario tras los 30 días de su alta desde el SUH. Resultados Se incluyeron 77 pacientes, con una edad mediana de 59 años, 63,6 % hombres e índice Charlson de 2. El 9,1 % tuvieron revisita a urgencias y en el 15,3 % se produjo un ingreso hospitalario diferido. El riesgo relativo (RR) para revista de urgencias fue 0,46 (0,04−4,62, IC 95 %, p=0,452), y el RR para el reingreso hospitalario de 6,88 (1,20–39,49, IC 95 %, p<0,005). Conclusiones La escala COVID-19-12O es efectiva en determinar el riesgo de reingreso hospitalario en pacientes dados de alta desde el SUH con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2, pero no es útil para valorar el riesgo de revisita (AU)

Validation of the COVID-19-12O score for predicting readmissions/revisits in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19-12O-score has been validated to determine the risk of respiratory failure in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Our study aims to assess whether the score is effective in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from a hospital emergency department (HED) to predict readmission and revisit. METHOD: Retrospective cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged consecutively from an HUS of a tertiary hospital, from January 7 to February 17, 2021, where we applied the COVID-19-12O -score, with a cut-off point of 9 points to define the risk of admission or revisit. The primary outcome variable was revisit with or without hospital readmission after 30 days of discharge from HUS. RESULTS: We included 77 patients, with a median age of 59 years, 63.6% men and Charlson index of 2. 9.1% had an emergency room revisit and 15.3% had a deferred hospital admission. The relative risk (RR) for emergency journal was 0.46 (0.04-4.62, 95% CI, p=0.452), and the RR for hospital readmission was 6.88 (1.20-39.49, 95% CI, p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19-12O -score is effective in determining the risk of hospital readmission in patients discharged from HED with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, but is not useful for assessing the risk of revisit.

Laparoscopic and robotic intracorporeal resection and end-to-end anastomosis in left colectomy: a prospective cohort study - stage 2a IDEAL framework for evaluating surgical innovation.

PURPOSE: To analyze the safety and feasibility of intracorporeal resection and anastomosis in upper rectum, sigmoid, and left colon surgery, via both laparoscopic and robotic approaches. The secondary aim was to assess possible short-term differences between laparoscopic versus robotic surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study according to IDEAL framework exploration and assessment stage (Development, stage 2a), evaluating and comparing the laparoscopic approach and the robotic approach in left colon, sigmoid, and upper rectum surgery with intracorporeal resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Demographic, preoperative, surgical, and postoperative variables of patients undergoing laparoscopic and robotic surgery are described and compared according to the surgical technique used. RESULTS: Between May 2020 and March 2022, seventy-nine patients were consecutively included in the study, 41 operated via laparoscopy (laparoscopic left colectomy: LLC) and 38 by robotic surgery (robotic left colectomy: RLC). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. In surgical variables, the median surgical times differed significantly: 198 min (SD 48 min) for LLC vs. 246 min (SD 72 min) for RLC (p = 0.01, 95% CI: - 75.2 to - 20.5)). The only significant difference regarding postoperative complications was a higher degree of relevant morbidity in the LLC (Clavien-Dindo > II (14.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.03) and Comprehensive Complication Index (IQR 22 vs. IQR 0, p = 0.03). The pathological results were similar in both approaches. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic and robotic intracorporeal resection and anastomosis are feasible and safe, and obtain similar surgical, postoperative, and pathological results than described in literature. However, morbidity seems to be higher in LLC group with fewer relevant postoperative complications. The results of this study enable us to proceed to stage 2b of the IDEAL framework. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: The study is registered in Clinical trials with the registration code NCT0445693.

[Validation of the COVID-19-12O score for predicting readmissions/revisits in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from the emergency department]. / Validación de la escala COVID-19-12O para predecir reingreso/revisita en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 dados de alta desde Urgencias.

Objective: The COVID-19-12O score has been validated for determining the risk of respiratory failure in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. This study aims to assess whether the score is effective for predicting readmissions and revisits in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from a hospital emergency department (HED). Method: This work is a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia discharged from the HED of a tertiary hospital from January 7 to February 17, 2021. The COVID-19-12O score with a cut-off point of nine points was used to define the risk of admissions or revisits. The primary outcome variable was a revisit with or without hospital readmission after 30 days of discharge from the HED. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included. The median age was 59 years, 63.6% were men, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index was 2. A total of 9.1% had an emergency room revisit and 15.3% had a deferred hospital admission. The relative risk (RR) for an HED revisit was 0.46 (0.04-4.62, 95% CI p = 0.452) and the RR for hospital readmission was 6.88 (1.20-39.49, 95% CI, p < 0.005). Conclusions: The COVID-19-12O score is effective in determining the risk of hospital readmission in patients discharged from an HED with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, but is not useful for assessing the risk of revisit.

Registro español de marcapasos. XIX informe oficial de la Asociación del Ritmo Cardiaco de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (2021) / Spanish pacemaker registry. 19th official report of the Heart Rhythm Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (2021)

Introducción y objetivos En el presente documento se recoge la actividad de estimulación cardiaca realizada en España en 2021: cifras de dispositivos, factores demográficos y clínicos, características del material implantado y datos de monitorización a distancia. Métodos Los datos se obtienen a través de la Tarjeta Europea del Paciente Portador de Marcapasos, la plataforma online CardioDispositivos.es, las bases de datos propias de los centros y los datos facilitados por los fabricantes. Resultados Se registraron 17.360 procedimientos de 95 hospitales, lo que supone el 43% de la actividad realizada. Crecieron en un 40,5% los procedimientos incluidos en CardiodioDispositivos.es. La tasa de marcapasos convencionales y resincronizadores de baja energía fue de 822 y 31 unidades/millón respectivamente y se implantaron 652 marcapasos sin cables. La media de edad al implante es avanzada (78,9 años) y el bloqueo auriculoventricular, la alteración electrocardiográfica más frecuente. Predomina el modo de estimulación bicameral, aunque para el 18,5% de los pacientes en ritmo sinusal es monocameral, fundamentalmente pacientes de más edad. Se incluyeron en programa de monitorización a distancia el 28,5% de los marcapasos y el 56,2% de los resincronizadores de baja energía. Conclusiones En 2021 aumentó el número de marcapasos convencionales en un 8,3% y el de resincronizadores, un 8,9%, a pesar del descenso de la resincronización de baja energía, probablemente atribuible al desarrollo de la estimulación del sistema de conducción. Aumentaron los marcapasos sin cables en un 25%. Continúa la expansión de la monitorización a distancia como modo fundamental de seguimiento (AU)

Introduction and objectives This document includes cardiac pacing activity performed in Spain in 2021: figures for implanted devices, demographic and clinical factors, characteristics of the implanted material, and remote monitoring data. Methods The European Pacemaker Patient Card, the CardioDispositivos.es online platform, the centers’ own databases and the data provided by the supplier companies are used as sources of information. Results 17.360 procedures were registered from 95 hospitals, which represents 43% of the activity. The implantation rates of conventional and resynchronization pacemakers were 822 and 31 units per million population, respectively. 652 leadless pacemakers were implanted. The mean age of implantation is high (78.8 years), and atrioventricular block is the most frequent electrocardiographic abnormality. Dual-chamber pacing mode predominated, nonetheless single-chamber pacing was performed in 19% of patients in sinus rhythm, mainly in the elderly. 28.5% of implanted conventional pacemakers and 56,2% of low-energy resynchronization pacemakers were included in the remote monitoring program. Conclusions In 2021 the number of conventional pacemakers increased by 8.3% and resynchronizers by 18.9%, despite the decrease in low-energy resynchronization, probably attributable to the development of physiological pacing. Leadless pacemakers increased by 25%. The expansion of remote monitoring continued, consolidating as a fundamental follow-up method (AU)

Hepatitis C Virus positivity prediction from serum samples using NIRS and L1-penalized classification.

AIMS: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) has developed a strategy to coexist with its host resulting in varying degrees of tissue and cell damage, which generate different pathological phenotypes, such as varying degrees of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is no integrated information that can predict the evolutionary course of the infection. We propose to combine Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and machine learning techniques to provide a predictive model. In this work, we propose to discriminate HCV positivity in biobank patient serum samples. METHODS: 126 serum samples from 38 HCV patients in different stages of the disease were obtained from the Biobank of Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcon. NIRS spectrum was captured by a FT-NIRS Spectrum 100 (Perkin Elmer) device in reflectance mode. For each patient, the HCV positivity was identified (PCR) and labeled as detectable =1 and undetectable =0. We propose an L1-penalized logistic regression model to classify each spectrum as positive (1) or negative (0) for HCV presence (x). The regularization parameter is selected using 5- fold cross-validation. The penalized model will induce sparsity in the solution so that only a few relevant wavelengths will be different from zero. RESULTS: L1-penalized logistic regression model provided 167 wavelengths different from zero. The accuracy on an independent test set was 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: We present a straightforward promising approach to detect HCV positivity from patient serum samples combining NIRS and machine learning techniques. This result is encouraging to predict HCV progression, among other applications. Clinical relevance- We presented a simple while promising approach to use machine learning and NIRS to analyze viral presence on sample serums.

Differences in moral reasoning among medical graduates, graduates with other degrees, and nonprofessional adults.

BACKGROUND: Reasoning and moral action are necessary to resolve day-to-day moral conflicts, and there are certain professions where a greater moral character is expected, e.g., medicine. Thus, it is desirable that medical students develop skills in this field. Some studies have evaluated the level of moral reasoning among medical students; however, there are no comparative studies involving other types of populations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the moral reasoning among medical graduates with that of a group of young graduates with other degrees and of a group of nonprofessional adults. METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted. Pediatric residents and pediatric subspecialty residents at a pediatric hospital were invited to participate, forming the group of "medical graduates". A group of young people from a social program and students with a master's degree in a science from the same pediatric hospital were also invited to participate, comprising the group of "graduates with other degrees". Finally, a group of beneficiaries of a family clinic was invited to participate, which we categorized as "nonprofessionals". To evaluate the differences in moral reasoning between these 3 groups, we applied the Defining Issues Test (DIT), a moral reasoning questionnaire designed by James Rest using Kohlberg's theory of moral development. RESULTS: The moral reasoning of 237 subjects-88 from the "medical graduates" group, 82 from the "graduates with other degrees" group and 67 from the "nonprofessionals" group- was evaluated. We found differences in the profiles of moral development of the groups. The profile of the "nonprofessionals" showed a very high predominance of subjects at the preconventional level, 70%, but only 4.5% at the postconventional level. Among the "medical graduates", we observed 37.5% at the preconventional level and 34% at the postconventional level (X2 p < 0.001); this group had the highest percentage in this category. This large difference could be because the differences in the ages and socioeducational levels of nonprofessionals are much wider than those among medical graduates. However, significant differences were also found when the profiles of medical graduates were compared with those of graduates with other degrees, since the latter demonstrated 56% at the preconventional level and 18% at the postconventional level (X2 test, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found in moral reasoning among the groups that we evaluated. Among the group of medical graduates, there was a higher percentage of subjects at the postconventional level than among the group of graduates with other degrees and a much higher percentage than among the group of nonprofessionals. Our conclusions give the first evidence that studying medicine seems to influence the development of moral reasoning in its students. Therefore, we consider it relevant to develop educational strategies where the student is involved in simulated but realistic decision-making situations, where there are moral dilemmas to resolve from their early years of training.

Histopathological and virological features of lung, heart and liver percutaneous tissue core biopsy in patients with COVID-19: A clinicopathological case series.

INTRODUCTION: Data on pathological changes in COVID-19 are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the histopathological and virological findings of postmortem biopsies, and the existing clinical correlations, in people who died of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed postmortem needle core biopsies of the chest in 11 people who died of COVID-19 pneumonia. Tissue examination was done by light microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). RESULTS: The age of the patients were between 61 to 94 years. Of the 11 postmortem chest biopsies, lung tissue was obtained in 8, myocardium tissue in 7, and liver tissue in 5. Histologically of lung, the main findings pertaining to the lung were diffuse alveolar damage in proliferative phase (n = 4, 50%), diffuse alveolar damage in exudative and proliferative phase (n = 3, 37.5%), diffuse alveolar damage in exudative (n=1; 12.5%) and acute pneumonia (n = 2, 25%). Necrotising pneumonia, acute fibrinous and organising pneumonia, and neutrophils were detected in one sample each (12.5%). Another case presented myocarditis. RT-PCR showed RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in 7 of the 8 lung samples (87.5%), 2 of the 7 myocardial tissue samples (28.6%), and 1 of the 5 liver tissue samples (20%). CONCLUSION: The postmortem examinations show diffuse alveolar damage, as well as acute or necrotising pneumonia. RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2 was positive in most lung samples.

Lithium salts as a treatment for COVID-19: Pre-clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying effective drugs for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is urgently needed. An efficient approach is to evaluate whether existing approved drugs have anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. The antiviral properties of lithium salts have been studied for many years. Their anti-inflammatory and immune-potentiating effects result from the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3. AIMS: To obtain pre-clinical evidence on the safety and therapeutic effects of lithium salts in the treatment of COVID-19. RESULTS: Six different concentrations of lithium, ranging 2-12 mmol/L, were evaluated. Lithium inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2 virus in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 4 mmol/L. Lithium-treated wells showed a significantly higher percentage of monolayer conservation than viral control, particularly at concentrations higher than 6 mmol/L, verified through microscopic observation, the neutral red assay, and the determination of N protein in the supernatants of treated wells. Hamsters treated with lithium showed less intense disease with fewer signs. No lithium-related mortality or overt signs of toxicity were observed during the experiment. A trend of decreasing viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs and lungs was observed in treated hamsters compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide pre-clinical evidence of the antiviral and immunotherapeutic effects of lithium against SARS-CoV-2, which supports an advance to clinical trials on COVID-19's patients.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Trace Metals in Shallow Marine Sediments of the Yucatan Shelf, Gulf of Mexico.

We investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of V and Cd in surface sediments of the Yucatan Shelf to establish current average values for the area. V and Cd concentrations are similar to those reported internationally for limestone rocks and surface marine sediments. The observed variability of V concentrations between cruises may be the result of changes in ocean current direction in summer (SW-S) and strong prevailing winds in autumn (N-NE). In addition to the hydrodynamics described above, Cd variations may also be associated with inputs of particulate material by upwelling events and subsequent transport and distribution to the shelf by the Yucatan Channel current (autumn). Considering that both metals showed significant spatial and temporal differences, a range of values for V (0.4-1.5 µg g-1) and Cd (0.05-0.2 µg g-1) are proposed as baseline reference for sediments of the Yucatan Shelf.

Vanadium and Cadmium in Shallow Marine Sediments: Spatial and Temporal Behavior in the Tamaulipas Continental Platform, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico.

This study analyzed 27 surface sediment samples from the Tamaulipas Continental shelf to determine the spatial-temporal distribution of V and Cd (spring-summer 2016; summer 2017). Average V concentrations (99 ± 18 mg g-1) were similar to that previously reported values for the area, while average Cd concentrations reflect uncontaminated sediments at surface level of the shelf. Inputs of V and Cd may be related to hydrocarbon and anthropogenic contributions from South and North of the Gulf of Mexico. The variability shown by both elements results from the hydrodynamics and hydrology of the area produced by local currents, eddies of the Loop Current, resuspension of fine sediments and contribution of terrigenous material. Considering that both metals showed significant differences (Shapiro-Wilk, p = 0), baseline concentrations could not be established, instead a reference interval of 79-122 µg g-1 for V and 0.121-0.258 µg g-1 for Cd in sediments from the Tamaulipas platform is suggested.

Vanadium and Cadmium in Water from the Perdido Area, Northwest of the Gulf of Mexico: 2 years' Monitoring and Current Status.

Surface water samples from the Perdido study area presented Cd and V concentrations similar to those reported internationally for waters with: (1) fossil fuel extraction, processing and burning, and (2) sites polluted by anthropogenic wastewater. Results showed an order of magnitude increase in time for Cd, therefore, no general average value was established. For V, however, results of this study suggest a general average value of 1.4 µg L-1 for the area. The observed spatial variation of concentrations could be the result of: (1) temporal variation of external inputs to the area, and coincide with previously reported hydrodynamic patterns of dispersion related to significant river contributions and accumulation areas indicative of eddy circulation or fronts. The Perdido area showed Cd and V concentrations in surface water reflective of anthropogenic impacts, while its spatial and temporal variation could depend significantly on the hydrodynamics of the area.

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Vanadium and Cadmium in Surface Water from the Yucatan Shelf.

Surface water samples from the Yucatan shelf presented Cd concentrations similar to those reported internationally for non-polluted coastal and marine waters. V concentrations, on the other hand, fall within the range of anthropogenically polluted waters (25% of the sampling sites). In the study area, the probable sources of V could be: (1) carbonate sediments leaching V into the water column and co-transported with fine sediments resuspending as a result of the complex hydrodynamics in the area or, (2) accidental spills from cargo ships transporting oil between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Significant spatial and temporal differences were found for both metals; therefore, a regional interval concentration is suggested for V from 1.28 to 1.84 µg L-1 and Cd from 0.003 to 0.09 µg L-1. These differences could primarily be the result of the observed hydrology and hydrodynamics created by the Yucatan current, submarine groundwater discharges and upwelling.

Effectiveness of a SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention model in elective surgery patients - a prospective study: does universal screening make sense?

This observational study included patients who underwent pre-operative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening in order to preserve patient safety. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 was performed in 2292 of 8740 surgical procedures, and the incidence of a positive PCR result was 0.0022%. No healthcare-associated infections were detected. There was no difference in overall mortality or length of hospital stay compared with the same period from the previous year. A selective screening strategy to identify patients for PCR testing, based on isolation measures, presurgical clinical-epidemiological assessment and selected major surgeries susceptible to a poor COVID-19-related outcome, is effective and safe for patients and healthcare workers.

Determinants of anterior tooth loss in Chilean adults: data from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017.

OBJECTIVE: To describe prevalence of anterior tooth loss and its determinants among Chilean people aged over 15 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, using the sampling frame of the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017 (n=5473 participants). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to obtain the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) for anterior tooth loss using a complex sampling method. We described anterior tooth loss affecting each jaw according to sex, age, educational level, urban/rural residence and having health insurance. RESULTS: The odds of anterior tooth loss were 7.11 (95%CI: 4.57 - 10.78) and 4.84 (95%CI: 3.02 - 7.72) times higher for low-educated subjects compared to those with more educational, for the upper and lower jaw respectively. Also, the odds of anterior tooth loss for the upper jaw was 1.34 (CI 95%: 1.07 - 1.66) times higher in women, whereas for the lower jaw, no significant differences by sex were found (p-value 0.14). Adults having only the National Health Fund B insurance (FONASA B) had odds of losing one or more anterior teeth 2.43 (CI 95%: 1.34 - 4.39) times higher in the upper jaw and 2.08 (CI 95%: 1.03 - 4.20) in the lower jaw compared with those having Health Insurance Institutions (ISAPREs). CONCLUSION: Our study showed for the first time that anterior tooth loss is a widespread condition in Chile, with marked inequities by sex, age, educational level, and geographical area. People in the public health insurance system have a higher odds of anterior tooth loss.

Detection and quantification of bar breakage harmonics evolutions in inverter-fed motors through the dragon transform.

The problem of detecting and quantifying bar breakage harmonics in inverter-fed induction motors has not been solved by the time-frequency transforms present in the technical literature. The paper proposes a new transform, called dragon transform, to solve this problem. The dragon atoms are defined with shapes perfectly adapted to the harmonic trajectories in the time-frequency plane, no matter how complex they are, enabling the precise tracing of the harmonics to be detected. A quantification method is also proposed, which obtains for the first time in the technical literature, the time evolutions of the harmonic amplitudes during a complex transient such as the start-up and the steady state of an inverter-fed motor. The transform performance is validated testing the induction motor under different load levels.