Post-traumatic stress in older, community-dwelling adults with hypertension during the COVID-19 pandemic: An investigation of pre-pandemic sociodemographic, health, and vascular and inflammatory biomarker predictors.

COVID-19 pandemic-related traumatic stress (PRTS) symptoms are reported in various populations, but risk factors in older adults with chronic medical conditions, remain understudied. We therefore examined correlates and pre-pandemic predictors of PRTS in older adults with hypertension during COVID-19. Participants in California, aged 61-92 years (n = 95), participated in a pre-pandemic healthy aging trial and later completed a COVID-19 assessment (May to September 2020). Those experiencing ⩾1 PRTS symptom (n = 40), and those without PRTS symptoms (n = 55), were compared. The PRTS+ group had poorer mental and general health and greater impairment in instrumental activities of daily living. Pre-pandemic biomarkers of vascular inflammation did not predict increased odds of PRTS; however, greater pre-pandemic anxiety and female gender did predict PRTS during COVID-19. Our findings highlight PRTS as a threat to healthy aging in older adults with hypertension; targeted approaches are needed to mitigate this burden, particularly for females and those with pre-existing anxiety.

Viability of erythrocytes in canine packed red blood cells stored in CPDA-1 is related to the presence of Mycoplasma haemocanis.

Hemotropic mycoplasmas are associated with subclinical disease in dogs and should be identified in blood donors. The objective was to investigate the presence and effect of M. haemocanis in units of packed red blood cells (pRBC) during storage. Canine donors (n = 10) were screened for M. haemocanis by quantitative real-time PCR. pRBCs were obtained from 5 hemoplasma negative dogs and 5 hemoplasma positive dogs. Each pRBC was aliquoted into two 100 mL transfer bags and stored at 4 °C. M. haemocanis loads and biochemical variables (pH, bicarbonate, potassium, sodium, chlorite, glucose, lactate, ammonia, PCV, and % hemolysis) were evaluated on days 1, 7, 18, and 29. M. haemocanis loads increased in pRBC from day 1-29 of storage. Glucose decreased and lactate increase faster in pRBC with M. haemocanis. This study contributes to understand hemoplasma metabolism and reinforces that dog donors should be tested for hemoplasmas.

Energy and Macronutrients Intake in Indoor Sport Team Athletes: Systematic Review.

Indoor team sports are characterized by matches that are shorter in duration and with frequent substitution (high-intensity intermittent). The main goal of teams is to best cover athletes' physiological demands, while meeting their dietary intake needs is critical. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the dietary intake of indoor team sports athletes and to analyze whether they comply with nutritional recommendations. A search of PubMed-MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 2008 to July 2022 was conducted and 2727 documents were identified. The studies focused on adult professional or semi-professional volleyball, basketball, handball, or futsal athletes. Two independent researchers screened and extracted the data, with 20 documents included after they met the inclusion criteria. Most of the athletes, both men and women, did not meet the official recommendations based on under-consumption (energy and carbohydrates) or over-consumption (fats). In relation to protein, 28.6% of studies met the recommendations, with 50% of those who did not meet it being due to under-consumption. Although there are references on athletes' dietary intakes, there are no references considering sexes or types of sport. More adapted recommendations are needed in order to more precisely evaluate athletes' intake to know if they meet their real nutritional requirements.

Analysis of prevalence and sociodemographic conditions among women in labor with and without COVID-19 in public hospitals in Chile.

OBJECTIVES: The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues wreaking worldwide havoc on health and between March and August 2020, the first outbreak of COVID-19 hit Chile. The pregnant population is especially vulnerable to infection. Studies have been published that associate socioeconomic status, overcrowding, and poverty with a higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are few studies about the development of this pandemic in Latin American countries so far. This study seeks to show the prevalence and sociodemographic and perinatal characteristics in pregnant women at the time of delivery, comparing both groups with positive and negative COVID-19 PCR results. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study of pregnant women who delivered at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Santiago between April 15, 2020 and June 15, 2020. Analysis of epidemiological, sociodemographic, obstetric, perinatal and sociodemographic data of patients with positive and negative COVID-19 PCR results. RESULTS: There were 701 patients included in the study. The prevalence of those with a positive COVID-19 PCR was 9.7% and 67.7% being asymptomatic. Pre-term delivery was significantly higher in the group of positive patients (23.5%) vs. negative patients (8.7%), which was not the same rate as with cesarean sections (C-sections). A 13.2% of patients required management of the pathology in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and there were no cases of maternal or fetal deaths. We found no significant difference between both groups when analyzing socioeconomic variables, though we noted a trend of greater overcrowding among the group of patients with infection. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of pregnant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are asymptomatic. COVID-19 increases the rate of premature births, but this rate is not same with C-sections. Sociodemographic conditions and overcrowding do not show a higher infection rate in a homogeneous population in relation to the economic, social and demographic level.

Social Inclusion and Physical Activity in Ciclovía Recreativa Programs in Latin America.

Ciclovía Recreativa is a program in which streets are closed off to automobiles so that people have a safe and inclusive space for recreation and for being physically active. The study aims were: (1) to compare participant's spatial trajectories in four Ciclovía Recreativa programs in Latin America (Bogotá, Mexico City, Santiago de Cali, and Santiago de Chile) according to socioeconomic characteristics and urban segregation of these cities; and (2) to assess the relationship between participants' physical activity (PA) levels and sociodemographic characteristics. We harmonized data of cross-sectional studies including 3282 adults collected between 2015 and 2019. We found the highest mobility for recreation in Bogotá, followed closely by Santiago de Cali. In these two cities, the maximum SES (socioeconomic status) percentile differences between the neighborhood of origin and the neighborhoods visited as part of the Ciclovía use were 33.58 (p-value < 0.001) and 30.38 (p-value < 0.001), respectively, indicating that in these two cities, participants were more likely to visit higher or lower SES neighborhoods than their average SES-of-neighborhood origin. By contrast, participants from Mexico City and Santiago de Chile were more likely to stay in geographic units similar to their average SES-of-origin, having lower overall mobility during leisure time: maximum SES percentile difference 1.55 (p-value < 0.001) and -0.91 (p-value 0.001), respectively. PA levels of participants did not differ by sex or SES. Our results suggest that Ciclovía can be a socially inclusive program in highly unequal and segregated urban environments, which provides a space for PA whilefacilitat physical proximity, exposure to new communities and environments, and interactions between different socioeconomic groups.

Antifungal Activity of Peruvian Banana Peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) on Candida albicans: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the antifungal activity of three concentrations of a hydroethanolic extract of the Musa × paradisiaca peel against Candida albicans strain ATCC 10231. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The agar diffusion method was used, and the culture medium used was Sabouraud agar. Petri dishes were prepared with concentrations of 10, 30, and 50% of hydroethanolic extract of the M. × paradisiaca peel; nystatin was used as a positive control, and 96% ethanol was used as a negative control. After 24 hours of incubation, each plate was examined, and the diameters (mm) of the growth inhibition halos were measured around each well using a digital vernier caliper. RESULTS: The results showed that the antifungal activity of the extract varied, depending on the concentration, as shown using analysis of variance (ANOVA; p < 0.05). When comparing the different concentrations, it was found by Duncan test that the greatest activity was obtained at 50%. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the hydroethanolic extract of M. × paradisiaca at 50% exerted a greater antifungal effect on the strain of C. albicans than did the extract at lower concentrations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: By knowing the antimicrobial effect of M. × paradisiaca, this substance can be effectively used in products aimed to cure candidiasis infection.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in bipolar depression: A potential biomarker for diagnosis and treatment outcome prediction.

BACKGROUND: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) has been implicated in the neurotrophic model of depression. We explored the potential role of VEGF in the pathophysiology of bipolar depression and potential utility as a diagnostic or outcome predictive biomarker. METHODS: In a double-blind study, treatment-resistant bipolar depressed patients received Escitalopram and were randomized to receive add-on Celecoxib (26 participants) or Placebo (21 participants). There were 32 healthy controls. Plasma levels of VEGF were determined at three timepoints over eight weeks. RESULTS: Bipolar patients had significantly higher VEGF levels at baseline compared to healthy controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the AUC is 0.67 and the VEGF cut point is 8.21. At all timepoints, patients receiving Celecoxib had comparable VEGF levels to those receiving Placebo. VEGF levels did not change significantly over time. Baseline VEGF was a poor predictor of treatment response with an AUC of 0.53. CONCLUSIONS: The increased VEGF in bipolar depression agrees with similar findings in major depressive disorder. A high VEGF level tended to accurately predict bipolar disorder, with apparent differential VEGF expression. Baseline VEGF did not predict treatment response, and levels did not change with treatment. Plasma VEGF may have diagnostic utility and guide personalized treatment.

Tooth Fairy Study- The South Texas Oral Health Network Collaboration.

PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to examine the processes and the potential for dental practitioners to address environmental health exposure risks to their patients through dental practice-based research participation. To explore this, the South Texas Oral Health Network (STOHN) initiated a collaboration with The Tooth Fairy National Study investigating toxicants stored in deciduous teeth as a potential neurodevelopmental risk factor. BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (ND), like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), affect 1 in 68 live births. Evidence suggests that environmental chemicals may play a role in ASD risk and/or etiology by acting independently or through interactions with genetic vulnerabilities. Provider awareness of environmental exposure risk during pregnancy and early childhood in South Texas is low. Therefore, it is important to increase provider knowledge and awareness to enable greater communication with patients. STOHN serves as a conduit reaching large numbers of patients. This study also engaged practitioners in an ongoing national study with minimal impact on their practice. METHODS: The goal was to enroll twenty parents with children via ten dental practitioners. STOHN pediatric and general practitioners were recruited for the study. Practitioners were contacted by phone and in person. Upon completion of Human Subject Protection training, each practitioner participated in a study training taught by a public health educator in the department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Training topics included NDs, environmental health exposures, patient engagement, survey administration, and how to collect donated teeth. This collaboration allowed STOHN to gather control teeth as well as demographic and health information for the Tooth Fairy Study repository for future analyses. Participants received a thank you card from the Tooth Fairy and participating providers were highlighted in the monthly STOHN newsletter. EVALUATION RESULTS: Evaluation was threefold: Practitioner enrollment and retention; practitioner confidence in educating their patients about potential environmental risk exposures and completed surveys with donated teeth. CONCLUSION: The interdisciplinary collaboration between dental practitioners and medical researchers through STOHN provided an opportunity to increase practitioner knowledge and awareness of a novel health concern, while also raising their confidence and willingness to educate their patients about potential environmental exposure risks. UTHSCSA IRB Protocol # HSC20170132E.

Identification of mycotoxins by UHPLC-QTOF MS in airborne fungi and fungi isolated from industrial paper and antique documents from the Archive of Bogotá.

Mold deterioration of historical documents in archives and libraries is a frequent and complex phenomenon that may have important economic and cultural consequences. In addition, exposure to toxic fungal metabolites might produce health problems. In this work, samples of broths of fungal species isolated from the documentary material and from indoor environmental samples of the Archive of Bogotá have been analyzed to investigate the presence of mycotoxins. High resolution mass spectrometry made possible to search for a large number of mycotoxins, even without reference standards available at the laboratory. For this purpose, a screening strategy based on ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS) under MS(E) mode was applied. A customized home-made database containing elemental composition for around 600 mycotoxins was compiled. The presence of the (de)protonated molecule measured at its accurate mass was evaluated in the samples. When a peak was detected, collision induced dissociation fragments and characteristic isotopic ions were also evaluated and used for tentative identification, based on structure compatibility and comparison with literature data (if existing). Up to 44 mycotoxins were tentatively identified by UHPLC-QTOF MS. 34 of these tentative compounds were confirmed by subsequent analysis using a targeted LC-MS/MS method, supporting the strong potential of QTOF MS for identification/elucidation purposes. The presence of mycotoxins in these samples might help to reinforce safety measures for researchers and staff who work on reception, restoration and conservation of archival material, not only at the Archive of Bogotá but worldwide.

Validez clínica de las variables cuantitativas de la marcha en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple. Comparativa entre el test de los 25 pies y el sistema electrónico de marcha GAITRite (R) / Clinical validity of the quantitative gait variables in patients with multiple sclerosis. A comparison of the Timed 25-foot Walk Test and the GAITRite (R) Electronic Walkway system

Introducción. La esclerosis múltiple es una enfermedad inflamatoria y degenerativa en la que la alteración de la marcha aparece como uno de los primeros síntomas. Su evaluación cuantitativa se realiza con frecuencia con el test de los 25 pies -Timed 25-foot Walk Test (T25FW)-, aunque se limita a conocer la distancia, el tiempo empleado y el número de pasos. El sistema GAITRite (R) Electronic Walkway (GEW) establece también estos parámetros espaciotemporales, entre otros. Objetivo. Comparar el T25FW con el resultado del sistema GEW para establecer si hay variabilidad entre ambos. Pacientes y métodos. La muestra constaba de 85 sujetos con esclerosis múltiple y capaces de deambular, con o sin ayuda (EDSS: 1,0-6,5). Se realizaron cuatro pases por el tapiz electrónico de 8 m de longitud, del sistema GEW, que calcula distintos parámetros espaciotemporales, a la vez que otro evaluador hacía una medición con cronómetro del tiempo empleado y el número de pasos dados en una distancia de 25 pies marcada lateralmente en el mismo tapiz. La velocidad se calculó en función del tiempo empleado en recorrer los 25 pies. Se hizo una media de los cuatro pases de ambas mediciones y se correlacionó con el programa SPSS v. 18, considerando estadísticamente significativa una p < 0,001. Resultados. Ni el tiempo empleado (p = 1,000), ni la velocidad (p = 0,9995), ni la cadencia (p = 0,3296) ni el número de pasos (p = 1,000) mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Conclusiones. El sistema GEW tiene la misma validez clínica en la evaluación de la marcha en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple que el T25FW

Introduction. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory and degenerative disease in which gait alteration is one of the first symptoms. Its quantitative evaluation is often made by the Timed 25-foot Walk Test (T25FW), although it’s limited to know only the distance, the time employed and number of steps. Aim. To compare the T25FW with the results from the GAITRit(R) Electronic Walkway system (GEW), to know if there is some variability between them. Patients and methods. The sample consisted in 85 subjects with multiple sclerosis and able to walking, with or without aids (EDSS: 1.0-6.5). Four walkings were made along the 8 m-length carpet from GEW system, while a different evaluator measured the time employed with a chronometer, and the number of steps in a 25 feet distance marked side by side in the carpet. Velocity was calculated in function of distance and time employed. A mean from the four walkings was made and both of the measures were correlated with SPSS v. 18, considering a results of p < 0.001, statistically significant. Results. Time employed (p = 1.000), velocity (p = 0.9995), cadence (p = 0.3296) and number of steps (p = 1.000) were not statistically different. Conclusions. GEW system has the same clinical validity in gait evaluation in multiple sclerosis patients than the T25FW

La sobrecarga de los cuidadores informales / Informal caregivers’ burden

OBJETIVO: analizar la presencia de sobrecarga en los cuidadores informales e identificar algunas variables asociadas que puedan influir en ella. MÉTODO: abordamos el tema a través de un estudio transversal descriptivo y analítico de una muestra de 50 cuidadores informales y sus correspondientes cuidados residentes en un municipio de la provincia de Almería. La recogida de datos se realizó usando una encuesta diseñada al efecto para este trabajo, la "escala de sobrecarga del cuidadorde Zarit", y el índice de Barthel de actividades básicas de la vida diaria", versión Granger. RESULTADOS: la edad media de los cuidadores fue 60,5 años, el 88%eran mujeres, el mismo porcentaje no tenía trabajo remunerado y el86% convivía con la persona cuidada. Más de la mitad de la muestra de cuidadores se encuentran sobrecargados, un 30% presenta sobrecarga leve y un 28% sobrecarga intensa. El tener trabajo remunerado fuera del domicilio y que la persona cuidada tenga demencia son factores relacionados, significativamente, con la sobrecarga del cuidador. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados sugieren que cuidar a una persona con demencia supone mayor sobrecarga, mientras que trabajar fuera de casa podría tener un efecto beneficioso. En la misma línea, disminuir el número de horas dedicadas al cuidado repartiéndolas con otras personas podría reducir el nivel de sobrecarga. Conocer el perfil de los cuidadores y de las personas cuidadas es de utilidad para prevenir problemas del rol de cuidador

PURPOSE: to assess informal caregivers' burden and to identify potentially influencing associated factors. METHODS: the issue was addressed using a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study in a sample of 50 informal caregivers and corresponding cared individuals living in a town at Almería province in Spain. Data were collected with a questionnaire specifically designed for the study, Zarit Burden Interview, and Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living-Granger version. RESULTS: mean age of caregivers was 60.5 years, 88% were women,88% had no paid employment, and 86% lived with the cared patient. Burden was present in more than half the caregivers sample (mild burdenin 30%; severe burden in 28%). Having an out of home paid employment and a cared patient having dementia are both factors significantly related to caregiver burden. CONCLUSIONS: our findings suggest that taking care of patients with dementia results in a higher burden, whereas having an out of home employment could have a favorable effect. Furthermore, a decreased number of hours spent in care giving and sharing the time out among several people could reduce burden level. Knowledge of caregivers and cared patients profiles is useful to prevent caregiver role problems

Radiological study of gastrointestinal motor activity after acute cisplatin in the rat. Temporal relationship with pica.

Nausea and vomiting are amongst the most severe dose-limiting side effects of chemotherapy. Emetogenic activity in rats can only be evaluated by indirect markers, such as pica (kaolin intake), or delay in gastric emptying. The aim of this work was to study, by radiological methods, the alterations in gastrointestinal motility induced by acute cisplatin in the rat, and to compare them with the development of pica. Rats received cisplatin (0-6 mg kg(-1)) at day 0. In the pica study, individual food ingestion and kaolin intake were measured each day (from day -3 to day 3). In the radiological study, conscious rats received an intragastric dose of medium contrast 0, 24 or 48 h after cisplatin injection, and serial X-rays were taken 0-24 h after contrast. Cisplatin dose-dependently induced both gastric stasis and stomach distension, showing a strict temporal relationship with the induction of both acute and delayed pica. Radiological methods, which are non-invasive and preserve animals' welfare, are useful to study the effect of emetogenic drugs in the different gastrointestinal regions and might speed up the search for new anti-emetics.

Competencia vectorial de las especies de Lutzomyia del grupo verrucarum (Diptera, Psychodidae) en un foco endémico de Leishmania braziliensis en Reventones, Cundinamarca / Vectorial compentence of Lutzomyia species from the verrucarum (Diptera, Psychodidae) group found in a Leishmania braziliensis endemic focus in Reventones, Cundinamarca

Cinco grupos de hembras silvestres de Lutzomyia del grupo verrucarum (Lutzomyia torvida, Lutzomyia ovallesi y Lutzomyia nuñeztovari) presentes en la zona cafetera de Reventones, Cundinamarca, donde Leishmania braziliensis es endémica, se infectaron experimentalmente con el fin de determinar la susceptibilidad a infectarse y la capacidad para transmitir el parásito por picadura a un hospedero. Las hembras de las tres especies, reunidas en la misma jaula, se alimentaron a través de membrana de piel de pollo con una mezcla de promastigotes de cultivo de L. braziliensis y eritrocitos humanos lavados. El porcentaje de infección se determinó por observación directa al microscopio de formas flageladas en los intestinos de las hembras disecadas, entre 4 y 7 días después de la comida infectiva. En los dos primeros grupos, se registró únicamente la susceptibilidad de estas especies a infectarse con L. braziliensis. En los tres grupos restantes, además de observar la susceptibilidad, las hembras alimentadas que sobrevivieron a la oviposición se alimentaron por segunda vez en hámster sano con el fin de intentar la transmisión del parásito por picadura. Las tasas de infección generales obtenidas en los cinco grupos estuvieron entre 23,9 y 70,2 por ciento. Las tres especies se infectaron experimentalmente con L. braziliensis, siendo Lu. torvida la más abundante en los ensayos, seguida de Lu. ovallesi. Lu. nuñeztovari se encontró presente en la mayoría de los grupos en una densidad muy baja. No se detectó la presencia de la forma amastigota en ninguno de los hámsteres analizados. Estos resultados indican que las tres especies son susceptibles a infectarse con L. braziliensis, que pueden estar involucradas en el ciclo de transmisión del parásito en el foco de Reventones, Cundinamarca, y por ahora se consideran como vectores potenciales

Consumo de cigarrillo y alcohol en escolares de Cayambe / Consumo of cigarette and alcohol in escolares of Cayambe

Trata de un análisis de la prevalencia de consumo de cigarrillo y alcohol, en 478 alumnos del sexto grado de 6 escuelas de la ciudad de Cayambe, mediante una encuesta realizada en febrero de 1998. Los resultados indican niños de 10 a 15 años de edad, de los cuales 259 (54.18 por ciento) son niñas, y 219 (45.82 por ciento) son niños. 5 (1.07 por ciento) niños y ninguna niña declaran fumar cigarrillo, 1 (0.22 por ciento) niña y 13 (2.81 por ciento) niños declaran tomar alcohol. Estos valores demuestran que existe consumo temprano de sustancias nocivas para la salud, afectará en mayor grado a la población adulta y que es necesario utilizar de mejor forma las políticas de salud y educación existentes para evitar estos hábitos en los niños...

Angioplastía coronaria en el shock cardiogénico / Primary coronary angioplasty in cardiogenic shock

El shock cardiogénico en el curso del infarto agudo del miocardio (IAM) tiene una alta mortalidad, a pesar del uso de inótropos y balón de contrapulsación. Varios estudios no randomizados han mostrado que la angioplastia coronaria puede ser efectiva en mejorar la sobrevida de estos pacientes. En nuestro medio, la experiencia es más limitada. Desde 1992 a la fecha hemos practicado angioplastia coronaria a 11 pacientes que presentaron shock secundario a un IAM, 7 hombres, 4 mujeres, edad promedio de 65 años. La angioplastia fue exitosa en 10 de los 11 pacientes, 6 de ellos fallecieron, incluyendo el paciente en que la angioplastia fracasó. En los 5 sobrevivientes, la angioplastia se efectuó hasta 12 horas después de iniciado el shock, a diferencia de los 6 fallecidos, de los cuales en 4 el procedimiento se realizó después de este tiempo. En un seguimiento promedio de 19 meses, los 5 pacientes están vivos, 2 de ellos fueron sometidos en forma electiva a cirugía de revascularización sin incidentes. De estos 5 pacientes, uno está en CF I,3 en CF II y uno en CF III. En conclusión, la angioplastía fue existosa en la mayoría de los pacientes con shock cardiogénico secundario a un IAM y contribuyó a la sobrevida en la mitad de los pacientes, siendo efectiva cuando se realizó dentro de las primeras 12 horas del shock

Consumo de cigarrillo y alcohol en escolares de Cayambe

Se trata de un análisis de la prevalencia de consumo de sustancias nocivas para la salud, cigarrillo y alcohol, realizado por el personal de salud escolar del Hospital Cantonal Raúl Maldonado Mejía de Cayambe, en 478 alumnos del sexto grado de 6 escuelas de la ciudad, mediante una encuesta realizada en 1998. Los resultados indican niños de 10 a 15 años de edad, de los cuales 259 (54.18 por ciento) son niñas, y 219 (45.82 por ciento) son niños. 5(1.07 por ciento) niños y ninguna niña declara fumar cigarrillo, 1(0.22 por ciento) niña y 13(2.81 por ciento) niños declaran tomar alcohol. Estos valores demuestran que el consumo temprano de sustancias nocivas afectará en el futuro en mayor grado a la población adulta...