Chronic ecologically relevant stress effects on reverse-translated touchscreen assays of reward responsivity and attentional processes in male rats: Implications for depression.

Stagnation in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant depression has encouraged continued interest in improving preclinical methods. One tactic prioritizes the reverse translation of behavioral tasks developed to objectively quantify depressive phenotypes in patient populations for their use in laboratory animals via touchscreen technology. After cross-species concordance in task outcomes under healthy conditions is confirmed, construct validity can be further enhanced by identifying environmental stressors that reliably produce deficits in task performance that resemble those in depressive participants. The present studies characterized in male rats the ability of two chronic ecologically relevant stressors, inescapable ice water or isolated restraint, to produce depressive-like behavioral phenotypes in the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) and Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT). These tasks previously have been reverse-translated using touchscreen technology for rodents and nonhuman primates to objectively quantify, respectively, reward responsivity (anhedonia) and attentional processes (impaired cognitive function), each of which are core features of major depressive disorder. In the PRT, both inescapable ice water and isolated restraint produced persistent anhedonic phenotypes compared to non-stressed control performance (i.e., significantly blunted response bias for the richly rewarded stimulus). In the PVT, both chronic stressors impaired attentional processing, revealed by increases in titrated reaction times; however, these deficits largely subsided by the end of the chronic condition. Taken together, these findings confirm the ability of reverse-translated touchscreen tasks to effectively generate behavioral phenotypes that exhibit expected deficits in performance outcomes following exposure to chronic ecologically relevant stress. In turn, this approach is well positioned to appraise the ability of candidate therapeutics to attenuate or reverse such behavioral deficits and, thereby, contribute to preclinical medications development for treatment-resistant depression.

Preschool- and childcare center-based interventions to increase fruit and vegetable intake in preschool children in the United States: a systematic review of effectiveness and behavior change techniques.

BACKGROUND: Fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in children in the United States (US) is very low. Adequate FV consumption is required for proper development during childhood, and dietary habits are established during preschool-age and tend to persist into adulthood. As most U.S. preschool-aged children attend childcare or preschool, this may be an opportune time and setting to conduct interventions to improve FV intake. These interventions should be based in theory and use behavior change techniques (BCTs) to explain mechanisms for expected change. To date, no published reviews have examined the effectiveness of childcare- or preschool-based FV interventions in preschoolers and their use of theoretical frameworks and BCTs. METHODS: This systematic review was completed adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2012 and 2022 of interventions to improve diet or FV intake in preschoolers (aged 2-5 years) in childcare or preschool-settings. A search of four databases was conducted between in September 2022 using search terms pertaining to the study's primary aim (FV consumption), age group (preschool-aged), settings (US childcare or preschool settings), and study design (RCT). Additional criteria were objective measures of FV consumption or skin carotenoids, as a proxy for FV intake. Included studies were narratively synthesized based on intervention type, measured effect, and use of theory and BCTs. RESULTS: The search resulted in six studies that reported on nine interventions. Overall, six interventions increased FV intake, of which five used nutrition education and one manipulated the feeding environment. Among the three interventions with no measured effect, two manipulated the feeding environment and one used peer modeling. Effective studies used at least three BCTs, though no pattern was observed between use of theory or BCTs and intervention effect. CONCLUSIONS: While several studies have shown promising results, the limited number of studies identified in this review highlights key gaps in this field: there is a need for studies to test FV interventions in US childcare settings that use objective measures of FV intake, directly compare intervention components and BCTs, are theory-based, and assess long-term behavior change.

Characterization and evaluation of potential halotolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria from Salicornia fruticosa rhizosphere.

Soil salinization is a significant abiotic factor threatening agricultural production, while the low availability of phosphorus (P) in plants is another worldwide limitation. Approximately 95-99% of the P in soil is unavailable to plants. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) transform insoluble phosphates into soluble forms that plants can utilize. The application of PSB can replace or partially reduce the use of P fertilizers. Therefore, selecting bacteria with high solubilization capacity from extreme environments, such as saline soils, becomes crucial. This study aimed to identify twenty-nine bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of Salicornia fruticosa by sequencing the 16S rDNA gene, evaluate their development in increasing concentrations of NaCl, classify them according to their salinity response, and determine their P solubilization capability. The bacteria were cultivated in nutrient agar medium with NaCl concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 30%. The phosphate solubilization capacity of the bacteria was evaluated in angar and broth National Botanical Research Institute (NBRIP) media supplemented with calcium phosphate (CaHPO4) and aluminum phosphate (AlPO4), and increased with 3% NaCl. All bacterial strains were classified as halotolerant and identified to the genera Bacillus, Enterobacter, Halomonas, Kushneria, Oceanobacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus, with only one isolate was not identified. The isolates with the highest ability to solubilize phosphorus from CaHPO4 in the liquid medium were Kushneria sp. (SS102) and Enterobacter sp. (SS186), with 989.53 and 956.37 mg·Kg-1 P content and final pH of 4.1 and 3.9, respectively. For the solubilization of AlPO4, the most effective isolates were Bacillus sp. (SS89) and Oceanobacillus sp. (SS94), which raised soluble P by 61.10 and 45.82 mg·Kg-1 and final pH of 2.9 and 3.6, respectively. These bacteria demonstrated promising results in in vitro P solubilization and can present potential for the development of bioinput. Further analyses, involving different phosphate sources and the composition of produced organic acids, will be conducted to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of their applications in sustainable agriculture.

Hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients at a tertiary care center. / Mortalidad hospitalaria en pacientes cirróticos en un hospital de tercer nivel.

INTRODUCTION: Cirrhosis of the liver is known for its high risk of mortality associated with episodes of acute decompensation. There is an even greater risk in patients that present with acute-on-chronic liver failure. The identification of patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes can aid in making the clinical decisions that will improve the prognosis for these patients. AIMS: To determine in-hospital mortality and evaluate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients with cirrhosis of the liver seen at a tertiary referral hospital. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive, observational, cohort study was conducted on adult patients with cirrhosis of the liver, admitted to a tertiary care center in Bucaramanga, Colombia, within the time frame of March 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients with a mean age of 62 years were included in the study. The main etiology of the cirrhosis was alcoholic (59.3%). In-hospital mortality was 23.5% and the most frequent cause of death was septic shock (68.4%), followed by hypovolemic shock (10.5%). A MELD score≥18, a leukocyte count>12,000/ul, and albumin levels below<2.5g/dl were independent factors related to hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients is high. Sepsis and bleeding are the 2 events leading to acute-on-chronic liver failure and death. A high MELD score, elevated leukocyte count, and low level of albumin are related to poor outcome during hospitalization. Adjusted prevention-centered public health measures and early and opportune diagnosis of this disease are needed to prevent the development of complications and to improve outcome in cirrhotic patients.

[Cardiovascular variables in construction workers in Santander, Colombia. Comparative profile years 2011 and 2012]. / Variables cardiovasculares en trabajadores de la construcción en Santander (Colombia). Perfil comparativo años 2011 y 2012.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The construction sector has an important workforce for the country; however it is believed that this group of workers have inadequate healthy lifestyles. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and para-clinical cardiovascular characteristics of these workers in 2 time periods. METHODS: A retrospective study and analysis was performed using the medical records of 291 construction workers. The data collected included, sociodemographic variables, work, clinical and para-clinical details related to the cardiovascular status for the years 2011 and 2012. RESULTS: The mean age was 40.1 years, and mean body mass index was 26. In addition, 46% of workers were overweight and 15% obese. The annual increase in mean systolic blood pressure increased from 114.4 to 121.7mmHg (P=.000), and in diastolic pressure it increased from 72.8 to 79.5mmHg (P=.000), with the BMI increasing from 26 to 26.24 (P=.0000). The cholesterol levels ranged from 204.4 to 200.3mg/dl (P=.03) and triglycerides ranged from 175.6 to 208.2mg/dl (P=.0001). CONCLUSIONS: An annual increase was observed in several cardiovascular risk factors in construction workers in Colombia. An intervention is required for primary prevention focused on regular and quality education in these workers in order to mitigate cardiovascular risk and the presence of subsequent disease.

Safety and efficacy of active Leptospermum honey in neonatal and paediatric wound debridement.

OBJECTIVE: Safety is a critically important factor in the selection of products used in neonatal and paediatric wound care. Given the lack of standardisation of neonatal and paediatric wound care protocols, the goal of this study was to present data on the safety and efficacy of active Leptospermum honey (ALH) in this patient population. METHOD: A multicentre, retrospective chart review was conducted at eight inpatient facilities and one outpatient clinic between October 2011 and March 2014. The number of applications of ALH, adverse events, and the success of debridement and wound healing were recorded. RESULTS: Data were collected on 115 neonatal and paediatric patients, with 121 wounds requiring debridement, treated with ALH. Patients were treated for an average of 18.7 days. ALH was well tolerated, with two (1.7%) patients reporting adverse events involving a transient stinging sensation on application, which did not prohibit additional applications of ALH. Successful debridement was achieved in 86.0% (104 wounds), and 77.7% (94 wounds) were successfully closed using nonsurgical intervention. Outcomes in neonates were similar to the overall paediatric population, with 86.1% (31/36) wounds successfully debrided with no adverse events. In a subset of six patients with available pre- and post-treatment data, no clinically meaningful changes in white blood cell counts or glucose levels were associated with the initiation of treatment with ALH. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support ALH as a safe and effective treatment option in this group of patients. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: This study was supported by a grant from Derma Sciences (Princeton, NJ USA). Dr Amaya is a paid speaker for Derma Sciences.

DBS-relevant electric fields increase hydraulic conductivity of in vitro endothelial monolayers.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) achieves therapeutic outcome through generation of electric fields (EF) in the vicinity of energized electrodes. Targeted brain regions are highly vascularized, and it remains unknown if DBS electric fields modulate blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, either through electroporation of individual endothelial cells or electro-permeation of barrier tight junctions. In our study, we calculated the intensities of EF generated around energized Medtronic 3387 and 3389 DBS leads by using a finite element model. Then we designed a novel stimulation system to study the effects of such fields with DBS-relevant waveforms and intensities on bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) monolayers, which were used as a basic analog for the blood-brain barrier endothelium. Following 5 min of stimulation, we observed a transient increase in endothelial hydraulic conductivity (Lp) that could be related to the disruption of the tight junctions (TJ) between cells, as suggested by zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) protein staining. This 'electro-permeation' occurred in the absence of cell death or single cell electroporation, as indicated by propidium iodide staining and cytosolic calcein uptake. Our in vitro results, using uniform fields and BAEC monolayers, thus suggest that electro-permeation of the BBB may occur at electric field intensities below those inducing electroporation and within intensities generated near DBS electrodes. Further studies are necessary to address potential BBB disruption during clinical studies, with safety and efficacy implications.

Evaluación toxicológica en ratas Sprague-Dawley de Interleuquina-2 y del candidato vacunal FPCR3, terapia combinada en pacientes con SIDA / Toxicological evaluation of Interleukin-2 and FPCR3 vaccine candidate in Sprague-Dawley rats, combined therapy in AIDS-patients

En busca de nuevas fórmulas terapéuticas para combatir la infección por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana se han desarrollado diferentes tipos de vacunas, entre las que se encuentran las que estimulan la respuesta de linfocitos T citotóxicos contra antígenos del VIH. A partir de la obtención en el Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (La Habana, Cuba) de un candidato vacunal que utiliza como vector el virus de la viruela aviar modificado con genes que expresan proteínas anti-VIH, se ha diseñado un estudio clinico que combina la aplicación de este producto (FPCR3) con la terapia antirretroviral de alta eficiencia y dosis bajas de Interleuquina-2 humana recombinante (IL-2hr). Antes de ensayar estos productos biotecnológicos en pacientes con el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida se hizo necesario realizar pruebas toxicológicas para evaluar su seguridad, para lo cual se diseñaron 2 estudios de toxicidad aguda en los que se evaluó la respuesta sistémica y local de ratas Sprague-Dawley a dosis superiores a la que se administrará en los pacientes incluidos en el estudio clínico piloto. Se utilizaron 50 ratas de la sublínea Cenp: SPRD (Sprague-Dawley) en el estudio de toxicidad aguda de Interleuquina-2hr y 70 animales de esta misma especie y sublínea para el realizado al candidato vacunal FPCR3. Los productos Se administraron por vía subcutánea e intramuscular respectivamente a niveles de 30, 60 y 90 veces la dosis terapéutica. En el estudio realizado al candidato vacunal FPCR3 se incluyeron 3 grupos en los que se realizaron administraciones repetidas, a fin de evaluar de forma preliminar la tolerancia local de este producto. En ambos estudios se incluyó un grupo control inoculado con el placebo de las formulaciones. Se realizó Observación clínica diaria y se llevó a cabo el estudio histopatológico de los órganos diana y del sitio de administración. No se evidenciaron signos de toxicidad ni efectos adversos en los animales inoculados con el candidato vacunal FPCR3 é IL-2. No se reportaron muertes durante los estudios y los animales manifestaron adecuada respuesta ante estímulos, así como incremento progresivo de peso. El estudio histopatológico mostró ligera reacción local caracterizada por secuestro del inóculo y presencia de tejido de granulación en animales administrados con Interleuquina-2 hr. En los que recibieron diferentes dosis del candidato vacunal FPCR3 se reportaron granulomas macrofágicos de diversa intensidad en el sitio de administración. No se reportó en ningún caso signos de toxicidad en los órganos estudiados. Aún cuando se precisan otros estudios toxicológicos, estos resultados sugieren que la aplicación del candidato vacunal FPCR3 contra el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana -y de Interleuquina-2hr es segura y bien tolerada en el espectro de dosis estudiadas, garantizando un marco de segur¡dad adecuado para su aplicación en los pacientes infectados con el síndrome de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida incluidos en el estudio clínico piloto (AU)

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Gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea por tracción. Descripción de una nueva técnica para optimización de costos

La Gastrostomía Endoscópica Percutánea es un procedimiento que ha reemplazado al tradicional quirúrgico. Sinembargo, el alto costo de los kits comerciales han impedido su uso en pacientes de bajos recursos. El objetivo fue el de establecer una nueva técnica que la hiciera alcanzable para esta población. En la primera etapa se realizó en 5 perros adultos sanos bajo anestesia general mediante la técnica tradicional por tracción pero con el uso de la sonda de Foley modificada y un dilatador en acero inoxidable. Luego de aprobado por la Dirección del Hospital, se realizó el procedimiento a ocho (8) pacientes, con una complicación grave al parecer asociada a su condición de base, enterocolitis necrotizante. Se concluye que la técnica descrita es factible, segura y de fácil ejecución. Además permite su uso en forma crónica con aparente baja frecuencia de complicaciones y un costo equivalente al 5 por ciento del Kit comercial

Hartmann I tiempo en vólvulo de sigmoides con asas viable 1988-1992 / Hartmann I in sigmoid volvulus with normal looking loops

El presente estudio fue realizado en el Hospital Clínico Viedma durante un periódo comprendido de 1988 Agosto de 1992, referente a los pacientes que presentaron OBSTRUCCION INTESTINSAL BAJA por VOLVULO de SIGMOIDES, en un número de 727 pacientes de los cuales 360 pacientes (49,5 por ciento) fueron solucionados mediante Rectosigmoidoscopía en el sector de Emergencia, estos pacientes fueron hospitalizados, dados de alta a solicitud de ellos; 367 pacientes (50,5 por ciento) fueron hospitalizados de los cuales 112 fueron intervenidos luego de la devolvulación restosigmoidoscópica solicitaron alta, correspondiente el 69,5. De los 112 paciente, 78 fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente mediante ala técnica de Hartmann I tiempo; y 34 pacientes fueron operados por técnica diferente. La edad mas frecuente de presentación esta comprendida entre la 3ª y 5ª década de la vida, con predominio del sexo masculino, provenientes del área rural, los cuales tienen como antecedente 1 a 3 obstrucciones previas y alimentación en base a hidratos de carbono y con el hábito de masticación de coca. El propósito del presente trabajo es el de proponer una alternativa quirúrgica en el Vólvulo de Sigmoides con asa viable, reduciendo: en forma significativa de tiempo de internación, como las erogaciones económicas del paciente e institución ademas de una morbilidad mínima.

[Renal failure and rickets]. / Insuficiencia renal y raquitismo.

Acute renal failure secondary to interstitial nephritis caused by therapeutic ingestion of sodium diphenylhydantoins has been reported recently. The interference of sodium diphenylhydantoins on Vitamin D metabolism causing or aggravating ricketts has also been reported. This communication deals with an infant girl who was admitted to the hospital due to seizures. Four months before, she had convulsions and she was treated with diphenylhydantoins until admission. She was found to have renal failure and ricketts. Histological diagnosis of interstitial nephritis was established by means of percutaneous renal biopsy. Clinical and radiological improvement of ricketts was observed after dehydrotachysterol treatment. Clinical and biochemical alterations of renal failure slowly subsided. She had a clear-cut history of vitamin D defficiency ricketts. Seizures were due to hypocalcemia tetany but was erroneusly treated as "grand mal" epilepsy, with diphenylhydantoins. Interstitial nephritis complicated with acute renal failure was probably caused by diphenylhydantoins administration.