Artificial intelligence in glaucoma: posterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the recent literature on deep learning (DL) model applications in glaucoma detection and surveillance using posterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. RECENT FINDINGS: DL models use OCT derived parameters including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) scans, macular scans, and optic nerve head (ONH) scans, as well as a combination of these parameters, to achieve high diagnostic accuracy in detecting glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON). Although RNFL segmentation is the most widely used OCT parameter for glaucoma detection by ophthalmologists, newer DL models most commonly use a combination of parameters, which provide a more comprehensive approach. Compared to DL models for diagnosing glaucoma, DL models predicting glaucoma progression are less commonly studied but have also been developed. SUMMARY: DL models offer time-efficient, objective, and potential options in the management of glaucoma. Although artificial intelligence models have already been commercially accepted as diagnostic tools for other ophthalmic diseases, there is no commercially approved DL tool for the diagnosis of glaucoma, most likely in part due to the lack of a universal definition of glaucoma defined by OCT derived parameters alone (see Supplemental Digital Content 1 for video abstract, http://links.lww.com/COOP/A54 ).

A Methodological Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Solid Biofuels Systems.

This paper introduces a methodological framework for assessing the sustainability of solid biofuels in Mexico. The designed framework comprises 13 normalized indicators and two diagnostic studies, covering the economic, social, environmental, and institutional sustainability dimensions, and their intersections. Indicators are normalized using the concept of load capacity of a system, similarly to the planetary boundaries. Thus, the graphical representation of results facilitates their multidimensional analysis. The framework was applied to three case studies: traditional fuelwood in rural households, charcoal for restaurant grilling, and electricity cogeneration from sugarcane bagasse. This was part of an iterative process of testing and refining the framework and simultaneously demonstrating its application in the Mexican bioenergy context. This led to the conclusion that the resulting framework (a) provides a useful, quantitative, and comprehensive overview of both broad and specific sustainability aspects of the assessed system; (b) requires a balance of accessible but also scattered or sensitive data, similarly to most existing frameworks; (c) is highly flexible and applicable to both modern and traditional solid biofuels; and (d) is simple to communicate and interpret for a wide audience. Key directions for improvement of the framework are also discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12155-021-10365-2.

La tuberculosis en Camagüey: acercamiento a las desigualdades municipales, 2014-2018 / Tuberculosis in Camaguey: municipalities inequalities approach, 2014-2018

RESUMEN Fundamento: en el contexto de las poblaciones municipales de la provincia Camagüey, el monitoreo de las desigualdades en la ocurrencia de la tuberculosis es importante para alcanzar su eliminación. Objetivo: valorar las desigualdades de la tuberculosis en la población camagüeyana. Métodos: se realizó un estudio ecológico de la tuberculosis en los 13 municipios de la provincia Camagüey. La fuente de información fue la base de datos de la Vigilancia Nacional. Las variables fueron: número de casos, tasas de notificación y años. Se calculó la media geométrica de las tasas, se tomó la menor como referencia para estimar las diferencias absolutas, las diferencias relativas y el riesgo atribuible poblacional porcentual. Se estimaron las proporciones de casos de tuberculosis y sus tendencias en las personas privadas de libertad y en las personas viviendo con VIH en la provincia. Se propusieron dos escenarios futuros 2019-2020, según perspectivas del Programa cubano de tuberculosis: con reducción del 20 % para todos los municipios por igual y con reducción discriminada del 40 % para aquellos municipios con tasas ≥ 10 por 100 000 habitantes y del 10 % en los que tienen sus tasas < 10, para estimar los índices Pearcy-Keppel y varianza entre grupos. Se estratificaron los municipios según las metas hacia la eliminación. Resultados: el municipio Minas fue la referencia con la media geométrica (0,4 por 100 000), la desigualdad relativa fue 11,5 veces mayor en Camagüey. El riesgo atribuible poblacional estuvo entre 11-95 %, la tendencia fue ascendente en los privados de libertad. El segundo escenario mostró una desigualdad moderada, el índice de Pearcy-Keppel fue 46,1 % y la varianza entre grupos (1,0). Sierra de Cubitas y Najasa están en eliminación. Conclusiones: las poblaciones municipales de Camagüey, Guáimaro, Nuevitas muestran las mayores desigualdades con respecto a Minas. Las intervenciones diferenciadas aportarían mejores resultados en estos territorios.

ABSTRACT Background: the monitoring of tuberculosis inequalities occurrence in Camaguey municipalities is important to achieve their elimination. Objective: to assess the TB inequalities in Camagüey´s population. Methods: tuberculosis ecological study was carried out in the 13 municipalities of Camagüey. The National surveillance database was the source of information. The variables used were: number of cases, notification rates and years. The geometric average of the rates was calculated, taking the lowest as a reference to estimate the absolute and relative differences and the population attributable risk. It was calculated the proportions of cases according to municipalities and the trends in people deprived of liberty and people living with HIV in the province. Two future scenarios 2019-2020 were proposed, according the perspectives of the Cuban Tuberculosis Program: with a 20% reduction for all municipalities and a discriminated reduction of 40% for those municipalities with rates ≥ 10 per 100 000 populations and 10% in those with rates < 10, to estimate the Pearcy-Keppel index and variance between groups. It was stratified the municipalities according to the goals towards elimination. Results: Minas municipality was the reference, with the geometric average (0.4 per 100,000), the relative inequality was 11.5 highest in Camagüey. The population attributable risk was between 11-95%. The trend in people deprived of liberty was ascending. The second scenario showed moderate inequality, Pearcy Keppel index was 46.1% and variance between groups (1.0). The municipalities of Sierra de Cubitas and Najasa were in elimination phase. Conclusions: the municipal populations of Camagüey, Guaimaro, Nuevitas showed the greatest inequalities according to Minas. Differences interventions would bring better results to these territories.

Shikimic acid protects skin cells from UV-induced senescence through activation of the NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1.

UV radiation is one of the main contributors to skin photoaging by promoting the accumulation of cellular senescence, which in turn induces a proinflammatory and tissue-degrading state that favors skin aging. The members of the sirtuin family of NAD+-dependent enzymes play an anti-senescence role and their activation suggests a promising approach for preventing UV-induced senescence in the treatment of skin aging. A two-step screening designed to identify compounds able to protect cells from UV-induced senescence through sirtuin activation identified shikimic acid (SA), a metabolic intermediate in many organisms, as a bona-fide candidate. The protective effects of SA against senescence were dependent on specific activation of SIRT1 as the effect was abrogated by the SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527. Upon UV irradiation SA induced S-phase accumulation and a decrease in p16INK4A expression but did not protect against DNA damage or increased polyploidies. In contrast, SA reverted misfolded protein accumulation upon senescence, an effect that was abrogated by EX-527. Consistently, SA induced an increase in the levels of the chaperone BiP, resulting in a downregulation of unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling and UPR-dependent autophagy, avoiding their abnormal hyperactivation during senescence. SA did not directly activate SIRT1 in vitro, suggesting that SIRT1 is a downstream effector of SA signaling specifically in the response to cellular senescence. Our study not only uncovers a shikimic acid/SIRT1 signaling pathway that prevents cellular senescence, but also reinforces the role of sirtuins as key regulators of cell proteostasis.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibition in X-linked retinoschisis: An eye on the photoreceptors.

The retinoschisin protein is encoded on the short arm of the X-chromosome by RS1, is expressed abundantly in photoreceptor inner segments and in bipolar cells, and is secreted as an octamer that maintains the structural integrity of the retina. Mutations in RS1 lead to X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), a disease characterized by the formation of cystic spaces between boys' retinal layers that frequently present in ophthalmoscopy as a "spoke-wheel" pattern on their maculae and by progressively worsening visual acuity (VA). There is no proven therapy for XLRS, but there is mixed evidence that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) produce multiple beneficial effects, including improved VA and decreased volume of cystic spaces. Consequently, linear mixed-effects (LME) models were used to evaluate the effects of CAI therapy on VA and central retinal thickness (CRT, a proxy for cystic cavity volume) in a review of 19 patients' records. The mechanism of action of action of CAIs is unclear but, given that misplaced retinoschisin might accumulate in the photoreceptors, it is possible-perhaps even likely-that CAIs act to benefit the function of photoreceptors and the neighboring retinal pigment epithelium by acidification of the extracellular milieu; patients on CAIs have among the most robust photoreceptor responses. Therefore, a small subset of five subjects were recruited for imaging on a custom multimodal adaptive optics retinal imager for inspection of their parafoveal cone photoreceptors. Those cones that were visible, which numbered far fewer than in controls, were enlarged, consistent with the retinoschisin accumulation hypothesis. Results of the LME modeling found that there is an initial benefit to both VA and CRT in CAI therapy, but these wane, in both cases, after roughly two years. That said, even a short beneficial effect of CAIs on the volume of the cystic spaces may give CAI therapy an important role as pretreatment before (or immediately following) administration of gene therapy.

N-Heterocycles Scaffolds as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors. Design, Synthesis, Biological and Docking Studies.

Quorum sensing is a communication system among bacteria to sense the proper time to express their virulence factors. Quorum sensing inhibition is a therapeutic strategy to block bacterial mechanisms of virulence. The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate new bioisosteres of N-acyl homoserine lactones as Quorum sensing inhibitors in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 by quantifying the specific production of violacein. Five series of compounds with different heterocyclic scaffolds were synthesized in good yields: thiazoles, 16a-c, thiazolines 17a-c, benzimidazoles 18a-c, pyridines 19a-c and imidazolines 32a-c. All 15 compounds showed activity as Quorum sensing inhibitors except 16a. Compounds 16b, 17a-c, 18a, 18c, 19c and 32b exhibited activity at concentrations of 10 µM and 100 µM, highlighting the activity of benzimidazole 18a (IC50 = 36.67 µM) and 32b (IC50 = 85.03 µM). Pyridine 19c displayed the best quorum sensing inhibition activity (IC50 = 9.66 µM). Molecular docking simulations were conducted for all test compounds on the Chromobacterium violaceum CviR protein to gain insight into the process of quorum sensing inhibition. The in-silico data reveal that all 15 the compounds have higher affinity for the protein than the native AHL ligand (1). A strong correlation was found between the theoretical and experimental results.

Effects of Environmental Enrichment in Maternally Separated Rats: Age and Sex-Specific Outcomes.

Maternal separation (MS) early in life is related to an increase in anxiety and depressive-like behaviors and neurobiological alterations mostly related to alterations in hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity. Environmental enrichment (EE) has been used to ameliorate the effects of MS. However, the outcomes of this intervention at different developmental periods after MS have not been studied. We subjected male and female Sprague-Dawley pups to MS and subsequently compared the effects of EE started either in the pre-pubertal period [postnatal day (PND) 22] or adulthood (PND 78). Anxiety and depressive-like behaviors as well as in hippocampal synaptic density and basal corticosterone, oxytocin, and vasopressin levels were measured. Our results support the beneficial effects of adulthood EE in decreasing anxiety in males as well as promoting synaptic density in ventral hippocampal CA3. Males displayed higher levels of vasopressin while females displayed higher oxytocin, with no changes in basal corticosterone for any group after EE.

Vendedores ambulantes y COVID 19: estudio sobre la situación psicosocial antes y en la pandemia dentro el trabajo informal en la ciudad de La Paz

La presente investigación busca exponer las características psicosociales de vendedores ambulantes que trabajan dentro el sector informal en la ciudad de La Paz, describiendo características psicosociales antes de la pandemia y durante la misma. Durante el desarrollo de la misma participaron vendedores ambulantes que son beneficiarios de la fundación Arco Iris a través de un proyecto denominado trabajadores. Se logró adquirir información desde los mismos vendedores ambulantes logrando sistematizar la misma en el presente documento.

This research seeks to expose the psychosocial characteristics of street vendors who work within the informal sector in the city of La Paz, describing psychosocial characteristics before and during the pandemic. During its development, street vendors who are beneficiaries of the Arco Iris foundation participated through a project called workers. Information was acquired from the street vendors themselves, systematizing it in this document.

Esta pesquisa busca expor as características psicossociais dos camelôs que atuam no setor informal na cidade de La Paz, descrevendo as características psicossociais antes e durante a pandemia. Durante o seu desenvolvimento, os camelôs beneficiários da Fundação Arco Iris participaram de um projeto denominado trabalhadores. As informações foram obtidas junto aos próprios camelôs, sistematizando-as neste documento.

Alcohol and drug use among adolescents: an educational overview.

Alcohol and drug use continues to be a significant global problem with many health and economic consequences. Multiple studies have shown that the majority of adults who end up with an alcohol/drug use disorder have their first contact with these substances as adolescents. This article aims to briefly summarize current prevalence and impact on society, as well as its etiology, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and treatment and prevention of adolescent drug and alcohol use. Alcohol and substance use impacts both the user and society at large, from health risks to the user to increased early pregnancies, car accidents, financial cost, and productivity cost. Substance use and abuse results from intricate interactions between genetic and environmental influences. Also, substance abuse along with a comorbid psychiatric disorder is more common than a solitary substance use disorder in adolescents. Current options for the treatment of substance abuse disorders range from various therapy-based strategies, including behavioral and family-based therapies, to the use of medications. More attention must be placed on the importance of prevention of use, as well as progression of use to dependence. Successful prevention requires a comprehensive plan that needs to include, but should not be limited to, increasing education of all gatekeepers and limiting access of substances and alcohol through policy and reinforcement of those policies. Education of parents, pediatricians, school nurses, teachers, and mental health workers is essential to ensure that children at risk are identified in time to provide appropriate interventions.

Effect of the combination of different depigmenting agents in vitro.

Melanin plays a key role in our skin, protecting us against ultraviolet radiation, but there are situations in which its anomalous accumulation can lead to either aesthetic problems or diseases like melasma. For this reason, it is important to find agents that are able to decrease the skin pigmentation. It has been demonstrated that the melanin synthesis pathway can be inhibited at different levels by different mechanisms of action. The aim of this project is to combine some of these agents with different mechanisms of action on this pathway in order to find synergistic effects in the inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. Kojic acid + α-lipoic acid combination are the only ones that have shown a synergistic effect over mushroom tyrosinase. However, this effect is not seen in melanin synthesis inhibition, although this combination is the most effective one. A potentiation effect is seen in arbutin + α-lipoic acid and kojic acid + azelaic acid combination. Kojic acid and α-lipoic acid combination might prove a good approach as treatment for hyperpigmentation disorders.

Detección por inmunohistoquímica de Leishmania infantum en hámster infectado experimentalmente / Detection of Leishmania infantum in an experimentally-infected hamster using immunohistochemistry

Introducción: la leishmaniasis visceral se considera la forma más severa de las leishmaniasis y puede llegar a ser fatal en ausencia de tratamiento oportuno. En América Latina la infección es causada por Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). El diagnóstico inequívoco y la selección de un adecuado modelo experimental son una necesidad para emprender estudios con este agente biológico. Objetivo: determinar la utilidad de la técnica de inmunohistoquímica en la identificación de Leishmania. Métodos: los animales se inocularon con promastigotes de Leishmania infantum. Se monitoreó el peso corporal de cada animal y se determinó el peso relativo de bazos e hígados. Para la identificación de amastigotes se prepararon improntas coloreadas con Giemsa y se desarrolló un protocolo de inmunohistoquímica en tejido incluido en parafina. Resultados: se reprodujo la infección en el modelo experimental. La técnica de inmunohistoquímica fue positiva en los cortes de los animales infectados y no reactiva para el grupo control. Al comparar con la tinción mediante Giemsa, esta metodología facilitó la identificación, particularmente en órganos con escasos parásitos. Conclusiones: la inmunohistoquímica es una herramienta específica para la detección de Leishmania, facilita la observación y evita confusiones en la identificación del parásito, lo que mejora la calidad del diagnóstico.

Introduction: visceral leishmaniasis is considered the most severe form of this disease and can be fatal if not properly treated. In Latin America, the infection is caused by Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). The unequivocal diagnosis and the selection of a suitable experimental model are required to undertake studies on this biologic agent. Objective: to determine the advantages of immunohistochemistry in identifying Leishmania. Methods: hamsters were inoculated with Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The body weights of every animal were monitored, and the relative weights of their spleens and livers were estimated. For identification of amastigotes, Giemsa-stained imprints and an immunohistochemistry protocol in paraffin-embedded tissues were developed. Results: the infection was reproduced in the experimental model. The immunohistochemistry was positive in infected animal sections and non-reactive for the control group. When compared with the Giemsa staining, this methodology facilitated the identification, particularly in organs infected with few parasites. Conclusions: immunohistochemistry is a specific tool for detection of Leishmania since it facilitates observation and eliminates any confusion in the identification of the parasite, thus improving the quality of diagnosis.

Detección por inmunohistoquímica de Leishmania infantum en hámster infectado experimentalmente / Detection of Leishmania infantum in an experimentally-infected hamster using immunohistochemistry

Introducción: la leishmaniasis visceral se considera la forma más severa de las leishmaniasis y puede llegar a ser fatal en ausencia de tratamiento oportuno. En América Latina la infección es causada por Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). El diagnóstico inequívoco y la selección de un adecuado modelo experimental son una necesidad para emprender estudios con este agente biológico. Objetivo: determinar la utilidad de la técnica de inmunohistoquímica en la identificación de Leishmania. Métodos: los animales se inocularon con promastigotes de Leishmania infantum. Se monitoreó el peso corporal de cada animal y se determinó el peso relativo de bazos e hígados. Para la identificación de amastigotes se prepararon improntas coloreadas con Giemsa y se desarrolló un protocolo de inmunohistoquímica en tejido incluido en parafina. Resultados: se reprodujo la infección en el modelo experimental. La técnica de inmunohistoquímica fue positiva en los cortes de los animales infectados y no reactiva para el grupo control. Al comparar con la tinción mediante Giemsa, esta metodología facilitó la identificación, particularmente en órganos con escasos parásitos. Conclusiones: la inmunohistoquímica es una herramienta específica para la detección de Leishmania, facilita la observación y evita confusiones en la identificación del parásito, lo que mejora la calidad del diagnóstico(AU)

Introduction: visceral leishmaniasis is considered the most severe form of this disease and can be fatal if not properly treated. In Latin America, the infection is caused by Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). The unequivocal diagnosis and the selection of a suitable experimental model are required to undertake studies on this biologic agent. Objective: to determine the advantages of immunohistochemistry in identifying Leishmania. Methods: hamsters were inoculated with Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The body weights of every animal were monitored, and the relative weights of their spleens and livers were estimated. For identification of amastigotes, Giemsa-stained imprints and an immunohistochemistry protocol in paraffin-embedded tissues were developed. Results: the infection was reproduced in the experimental model. The immunohistochemistry was positive in infected animal sections and non-reactive for the control group. When compared with the Giemsa staining, this methodology facilitated the identification, particularly in organs infected with few parasites. Conclusions: immunohistochemistry is a specific tool for detection of Leishmania since it facilitates observation and eliminates any confusion in the identification of the parasite, thus improving the quality of diagnosis.AU)

[Detection of Leishmania infantum in an experimentally-infected hamster using immunohistochemistry]. / Detección por inmunohistoquímica de Leishmania infantum en hámster infectado experimentalmente.

INTRODUCTION: visceral leishmaniasis is considered the most severe form of this disease and can be fatal if not properly treated. In Latin America, the infection is caused by Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi). The unequivocal diagnosis and the selection of a suitable experimental model are required to undertake studies on this biologic agent. OBJECTIVE: to determine the advantages of immunohistochemistry in identifying Leishmania. METHODS: hamsters were inoculated with Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The body weights of every animal were monitored, and the relative weights of their spleens and livers were estimated. For identification of amastigotes, Giemsa-stained imprints and an immunohistochemistry protocol in paraffin-embedded tissues were developed. RESULTS: the infection was reproduced in the experimental model. The immunohistochemistry was positive in infected animal sections and non-reactive for the control group. When compared with the Giemsa staining, this methodology facilitated the identification, particularly in organs infected with few parasites. CONCLUSIONS: immunohistochemistry is a specific tool for detection of Leishmania since it facilitates observation and eliminates any confusion in the identification of the parasite, thus improving the quality of diagnosis.

Efecto de la colofonia sobre la actividad cardiaca y eclosión de los huevos de Biomphalaria havanensis / Effect of colophony on the heart activity and hatching of Biomphalaria havanensis eggs

INTRODUCCIÓN: estudios recientes en Cuba con colofonia, resina extraída a partir de Pinus caribeae y Pinus tropicalis, han demostrado su actividad molusquicida sobre Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de esquistosomosis. OBJETIVO: determinar la influencia de la colofonia sobre la actividad cardiaca y sobre la eclosión de los huevos de B. havanensis en condiciones de laboratorio. MÉTODOS: se trabajó con las dosis letales (DL50 y DL90) de colofonia, para determinar su influencia en la actividad cardiaca y su carácter ovicida en huevos de B. havanensis. RESULTADOS: como resultado se obtuvo que este producto afecta el desarrollo embrionario de los huevos de 1 y 5 d de puestos, y estos últimos son los menos afectados. Además, se observó una marcada disminución en el número de latidos del corazón por minuto. CONCLUSIÓN: la colofonia puede considerarse como un posible candidato para el control de B. havanensis, por causa de su evidente carácter molusquicida.

INTRODUCTION: in Cuba, recent studies with colophony - a resin from Pinus caribaea and P. tropicalis - have shown its molluscicidal activity on Biomphalaria havanensis, intermediate host of schistosomosis. OBJECTIVE: to determine the impact of colophony on the heart activity and the hatching of B. havanensis eggs in lab. METHODS: lethal doses of colophony (LD50 y LD90) were used to determine their effect on heart activity and their ovicidal capacity on B. havanensis eggs. Heartbeats were counted using stethoscope. The ovicidal effect was observed in one day and 5-day laid eggs. RESULTS: as a result, this product had an impact on the embrionary development of one-day and five-day eggs; the latter were the least affected. In addition, a marked reduction in the number of heartbeats per minute was observed. CONCLUSION: colophony may be considered as possible option for control of B. havanensis because of their molluscicidal properties.

Efecto de la colofonia sobre la actividad cardiaca y eclosión de los huevos de Biomphalaria havanensis / Effect of colophony on the heart activity and hatching of Biomphalaria havanensis eggs

INTRODUCCIÓN: estudios recientes en Cuba con colofonia, resina extraída a partir de Pinus caribeae y Pinus tropicalis, han demostrado su actividad molusquicida sobre Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de esquistosomosis. OBJETIVO: determinar la influencia de la colofonia sobre la actividad cardiaca y sobre la eclosión de los huevos de B. havanensis en condiciones de laboratorio. MÉTODOS: se trabajó con las dosis letales (DL50 y DL90) de colofonia, para determinar su influencia en la actividad cardiaca y su carácter ovicida en huevos de B. havanensis. RESULTADOS: como resultado se obtuvo que este producto afecta el desarrollo embrionario de los huevos de 1 y 5 d de puestos, y estos últimos son los menos afectados. Además, se observó una marcada disminución en el número de latidos del corazón por minuto. CONCLUSIÓN: la colofonia puede considerarse como un posible candidato para el control de B. havanensis, por causa de su evidente carácter molusquicida(AU)

INTRODUCTION: in Cuba, recent studies with colophony-a resin from Pinus caribaea and P. tropicalis - have shown its molluscicidal activity on Biomphalaria havanensis, intermediate host of schistosomosis. OBJECTIVE: to determine the impact of colophony on the heart activity and the hatching of B. havanensis eggs in lab. METHODS: lethal doses of colophony (LD50 y LD90) were used to determine their effect on heart activity and their ovicidal capacity on B. havanensis eggs. Heartbeats were counted using stethoscope. The ovicidal effect was observed in one day and 5-day laid eggs. RESULTS: as a result, this product had an impact on the embrionary development of one-day and five-day eggs; the latter were the least affected. In addition, a marked reduction in the number of heartbeats per minute was observed. CONCLUSION: colophony may be considered as possible option for control of B. havanensis because of their molluscicidal properties(AU)

Estudios de laboratorio sobre la acción molusquicida de la resina de pino, colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis / Lab studies on the mollusk action of pine tree resin, collophonia, on Biomphalaria havanensis

Introducción: la ausencia de poblaciones de moluscos en el entorno ecológico y natural de las pináceas, observada en estudios de campo, conllevó a estudiar la resina de pino, colofonia, como control del molusco Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de Schistosoma mansoni. Objetivo: determinar la acción molusquicida de la colofonia para su posible utilización en el control de Biomphalaria havanensis. Métodos: se utilizaron 7 concentraciones diferentes para determinar las dosis letales y los datos fueron analizados por un probit-log. Resultados: las dosis letales encontradas fueron: DL50= 44,33 mg/L y DL90= 141,76 mg/L. Conclusiones: con estos resultados se demostró el poder molusquicida de 2 de las pináceas cubanas, a través de la resina de colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis.

Background: Field studies have previously demonstrated that freshwater mollusk populations did not exist in the ecological and natural environment of pine trees, which led to study pine resin, colophony, as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis mollusk, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Objective: to determine the molluscicidical action of colophony as possible use as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis. Methods: Seven different concentrations were used to determinate the lethal doses. Data were analyzed by probit-log program. Results: The lethal doses found were as follows: LD50 = 443.3 mg/L and LD90 = 1417.6 mg/L. Conclusions: These experiments showed the molluscicidical activity of the two Cuban pinaceas, through the colophony resin, on Biomphalaria havanensis.

Estudios de laboratorio sobre la acción molusquicida de la resina de pino, colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis / Lab studies on the mollusk action of pine tree resin, collophonia, on Biomphalaria havanensis

Introducción: la ausencia de poblaciones de moluscos en el entorno ecológico y natural de las pináceas, observada en estudios de campo, conllevó a estudiar la resina de pino, colofonia, como control del molusco Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de Schistosoma mansoni. Objetivo: determinar la acción molusquicida de la colofonia para su posible utilización en el control de Biomphalaria havanensis. Métodos: se utilizaron 7 concentraciones diferentes para determinar las dosis letales y los datos fueron analizados por un probit-log. Resultados: las dosis letales encontradas fueron: DL50= 44,33 mg/L y DL90= 141,76 mg/L. Conclusiones: con estos resultados se demostró el poder molusquicida de 2 de las pináceas cubanas, a través de la resina de colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis(AU)

Background: Field studies have previously demonstrated that freshwater mollusk populations did not exist in the ecological and natural environment of pine trees, which led to study pine resin, colophony, as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis mollusk, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Objective: to determine the molluscicidical action of colophony as possible use as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis. Methods: Seven different concentrations were used to determinate the lethal doses. Data were analyzed by probit-log program. Results: The lethal doses found were as follows: LD50 = 443.3 mg/L and LD90 = 1417.6 mg/L. Conclusions: These experiments showed the molluscicidical activity of the two Cuban pinaceas, through the colophony resin, on Biomphalaria havanensis(AU)

Variation of snail's abundance in two water bodies harboring strains of Pseudosuccinea columella resistant and susceptible to Fasciola hepatica miracidial infection, in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba

The abundance of freshwater snails in two rural sites of Pinar del Río, Cuba, which harbor Pseudosuccinea columella susceptible and resistant to miracidia of Fasciola hepatica was followed for one year. Susceptible snails were found in the most anthropic site (IPA) whereas the resistant population inhabited the most preserved one (El Azufre). Only two snail species coexisted with P. columella at IPA site (Physa cubensis and Tarebia granifera) while five species were found at El Azufre, including an endemic from that province (Hemisinus cubanianus). Populations of both resistant and susceptible snails showed stable densities throughout the year, although the susceptible strain attained higher abundance. The highest densities were observed in April-May 2004 for the susceptible population whereas the resistant strain attained its highest abundance in January 2004. No record of Fossaria cubensis was made and the thiarid T. granifera occurred only at low densities. One of the sampled sites (IPA) meets all the conditions for the first report of P. columella naturally infected with larvae of F. hepatica.

Variation of snail's abundance in two water bodies harboring strains of Pseudosuccinea columella resistant and susceptible to Fasciola hepatica miracidial infection, in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba / s. t

The abundance of freshwater snails in two rural sites of Pinar del Río, Cuba, which harbor Pseudosuccinea columella susceptible and resistant to miracidia of Fasciola hepatica was followed for one year. Susceptible snails were found in the most anthropic site (IPA) whereas the resistant population inhabited the most preserved one (El Azufre). Only two snail species coexisted with P columella at IPA site (Physa cubensis and Tarebia granifera) while five species were found at El Azufre, including an endemic from that province (Hemisinus cubanianus). Populations of both resistant and susceptible snails showed stable densities throughout the year, although the susceptible strain attained higher abundance. The highest densities were observed in April-May 2004 for the susceptible population whereas the resistant strain attained its highest abundance in January 2004. No record of Fossaria cubensis was made and the thiarid T granifera occurred only at low densities. One of the sampled sites (IPA) meets all the conditions for the first report of P. columella naturally infected with larvae of F hepatica(AU)

Variation of snail's abundance in two water bodies harboring strains of Pseudosuccinea columella resistant and susceptible to Fasciola hepatica miracidial infection, in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba.

The abundance of freshwater snails in two rural sites of Pinar del Río, Cuba, which harbor Pseudosuccinea columella susceptible and resistant to miracidia of Fasciola hepatica was followed for one year. Susceptible snails were found in the most anthropic site (IPA) whereas the resistant population inhabited the most preserved one (El Azufre). Only two snail species coexisted with P. columella at IPA site (Physa cubensis and Tarebia granifera) while five species were found at El Azufre, including an endemic from that province (Hemisinus cubanianus). Populations of both resistant and susceptible snails showed stable densities throughout the year, although the susceptible strain attained higher abundance. The highest densities were observed in April-May 2004 for the susceptible population whereas the resistant strain attained its highest abundance in January 2004. No record of Fossaria cubensis was made and the thiarid T. granifera occurred only at low densities. One of the sampled sites (IPA) meets all the conditions for the first report of P. columella naturally infected with larvae of F. hepatica.