Differential nested patterns of Anaplasma marginale and Coxiella-like endosymbiont across Rhipicephalus microplus ontogeny.

Understanding the intricate ecological interactions within the microbiome of arthropod vectors is crucial for elucidating disease transmission dynamics and developing effective control strategies. In this study, we investigated the ecological roles of Coxiella-like endosymbiont (CLE) and Anaplasma marginale across larval, nymphal, and adult stages of Rhipicephalus microplus. We hypothesized that CLE would show a stable, nested pattern reflecting co-evolution with the tick host, while A. marginale would exhibit a more dynamic, non-nested pattern influenced by environmental factors and host immune responses. Our findings revealed a stable, nested pattern characteristic of co-evolutionary mutualism for CLE, occurring in all developmental stages of the tick. Conversely, A. marginale exhibited variable occurrence but exerted significant influence on microbial community structure, challenging our initial hypotheses of its non-nested dynamics. Furthermore, in silico removal of both microbes from the co-occurrence networks altered network topology, underscoring their central roles in the R. microplus microbiome. Notably, competitive interactions between CLE and A. marginale were observed in nymphal network, potentially reflecting the impact of CLE on the pathogen transstadial-transmission. These findings shed light on the complex ecological dynamics within tick microbiomes and have implications for disease management strategies.

A new multimedia cryptosystem using chaos, quaternion theory and modular arithmetic.

Based on the combination of quaternion numbers, residual matrices, and chaotic attractors, a new cryptosystem is proposed for multimedia processing files such as images and audio. The key employed in this encryption schema consists of an image with a wide and sensitive range, obtained from the Julia Quaternion set rendered using a computational tool. Due to the use of quaternion matrices mixing the information between RGB layers and audio samples was possible, whereas using XOR operation and residual matrices modulus 257, added high sensitivity to small perturbations during encryption, key preparation and decryption processes, to such an extent that a minimal change in the image or in the audio leads to a totally different encryption result. The use of dynamic programming also reduced the processing time for matrix operations on the ℤ257 ring. To corroborate security of the algorithm, different tests were performed, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology test obtaining different indicators that were compared with other scientific references of similar works, finding behavioral patterns in accordance with those referenced works.

Improved screening of COVID-19 cases through a Bayesian network symptoms model and psychophysical olfactory test

The infectiousness and presymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 hinder pandemic control efforts worldwide. Therefore, the frequency of testing, accessibility, and immediate results are critical for reopening societies until an effective vaccine becomes available for a substantial proportion of the population. The loss of sense of smell is among the earliest, most discriminant, and prevalent symptoms of COVID-19, with 75-98% prevalence when clinical olfactory tests are used. Frequent screening for olfactory dysfunction could substantially reduce viral spread. However, olfactory dysfunction is generally self-reported, which is problematic as partial olfactory impairment is broadly unrecognized. To address this limitation, we developed a rapid psychophysical olfactory test (KOR) deployed on a web platform for automated reporting and traceability based on a low-cost (about USD 0.50/test), six-odor olfactory identification kit. Based on test results, we defined an anosmia score -a classifier for olfactory impairment-, and a Bayesian Network (BN) model that incorporates other symptoms for detecting COVID-19. We trained and validated the BN model on two samples: suspected COVID-19 cases in five healthcare centers (n = 926; 32% COVID-19 prevalence) and healthy (asymptomatic) mining workers (n = 1, 365; 1.1% COVID-19 prevalence). All participants had COVID-19 assessment by RT-PCR assay. Using the BN model, we predicted COVID-19 status with 76% accuracy (AUC=0.79 [0.75 - 0.82]) in the healthcare sample and 84% accuracy (AUC=0.71 [0.63 - 0.79]) among miners. The KOR test and BN model enabled the detection of COVID-19 cases that otherwise appeared asymptomatic. Our results confirmed that olfactory dysfunction is the most discriminant symptom to predict COVID-19 status when based on olfactory function measurements. Overall, this work highlights the potential for low-cost, frequent, accessible, routine testing for COVID-19 surveillance to aid societys reopening.

Aneurisma de arteria pulmonar: un hallazgo incidental / Pulmonary artery aneurysm: an incidental finding

Resumen Los aneurismas de la arteria pulmonar son entidades infrecuentes y su tratamiento es tema de discusión. Desde el punto de vista etiológico pueden ser congénitos o adquiridos. Los primeros, generalmente se asocian a malformaciones cardiacas que producen hipertensión pulmonar, siendo el ductus arterioso la más frecuente. Otras anomalías incluyen defectos auriculares o ventriculares. Las causas adquiridas pueden ser idiopáticas o estar asociadas a infecciones (tuberculosis, sífilis), traumatismos o colagenopatías. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 62 años, quien consultó por un cuadro clínico en el que se destacaba su sintomatología neurológica e infecciosa, con posterior progresión a un choque séptico y en quien los hallazgos de las imágenes mostraron un aneurisma gigante de la arteria pulmonar siendo este un hallazgo incidental y sin relación a la sintomatología de la paciente.

Abstract Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are rare entities and their treatment is a matter of discussion. From the etiological point of view, they can be congenital or acquired. Those in the first group are generally associated with cardiac malformations that generate pulmonary hypertension, with the ductus arteriosus being the most frequent. Other abnormalities include atrial or ventricular defects. The acquired causes may be idiopathic or associated with infections (tuberculosis, syphilis), trauma, or collagen disease. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman, which consulted for a clinical condition where neurological and infectious symptoms stood out, with subsequent progression to a state of septic shock, and in whom the imaging finding showed a giant pulmonary artery aneurysm. this being an incidental finding and unrelated to the patient's symptoms.

Percepción de control, afrontamiento y ajuste psicológico a la discapacidad visual / Perceived control, coping and psychological adjustment to visual disability

Un grupo de 35 personas con discapacidad visual participaron en un estudio transversal y correlacional, con el fin de evaluar el papel de las creencias de control sobre el afrontamiento, la calidad de vida percibida y el ajuste psicológico a la discapacidad. Los participantes contestaron una batería de pruebas psicométricas adaptada al formato de presentación oral en el contexto de una entrevista estructurada. Los resultados sugieren que el afrontamiento resiliente, la calidad de vida y el ajuste psicológico se relacionan con la competencia percibida, pero no con el tipo de discapacidad, su origen (congénito o sobrevenido) o el género. Asimismo, una mayor competencia percibida supone menor presencia de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva, menor afectividad negativa y mayor afectividad positiva. Se discuten las posibles aplicaciones de estos hallazgos en la práctica clínica psicológica orientada a mejorar el ajuste psicológico y la optimización del proceso de adaptación a la discapacidad visual

A group of 35 visually impaired people participated in a cross-sectional, correlational study in order to assess the role of control beliefs on coping, perceived quality of life and psychological adjustment to disability. Participants completed a battery of psychometric tests that were adapted to an oral presentation format in the context of a structured interview. Results suggest that resilient coping, quality of life and psychological adjustment are related to perceived competence, but not to disability severity, the cause of disability (congenital or supervening) or gender. Moreover, increased perceived competence leads to a decrease in anxiety and depression symptoms, a reduction of negative affectivity and greater positive affectivity. The possible applications of these findings in clinical psychology practice aimed at improving psychological adjustment and optimising the process of adaptation to visual impairment are discussed

A Randomized, Open-Label Assessment of Response to Various Doses of Atomoxetine in Korean Pediatric Outpatients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel trial aimed to provide a detailed dose-response profile for atomoxetine in Korean pediatric outpatients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Male and female outpatients aged 6-18 years with ADHD meeting symptom severity criteria of 1.5 standard deviations above age and gender norms on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV-Parent: Investigator-Administered and Scored (ADHDRS-IV-Parent: Inv), and a Clinical Global Impression-ADHD-Severity score > or =4 were randomized to atomoxetine (mg/kg/day) 0.2 fixed, 0.5 fixed or 0.5 (7 days), 0.8 (7 days) then 1.2 for 28 days. The primary efficacy measure was change in ADHDRS-IV-Parent: Inv total score after 6 weeks of atomoxetine treatment. RESULTS: Of 153 randomized patients, 83.7% were male and mean age was 9.8 (SD+/-2.4) years. The completion rate was 86.9%. A graded dose response was apparent with mean change in ADHDRS-IV-Parent: Inv total scores of -9.6, -12.3 and -14.5 with atomoxetine 0.2, 0.5 and 1.2 mg/kg/day, respectively (p=0.024 - F-test). Moreover, a greater reduction in ADHD symptoms, as assessed by mean change from baseline to endpoint CGI-S and mean CGI-ADHD-Improvement at endpoint, was also observed with increasing atomoxetine dose. More patients receiving atomoxetine 1.2 mg/kg/day reported > or =1 treatment-emergent adverse event/s (58.3%) compared with 0.5 (40.7%; p=0.11) or 0.2 mg/kg/day (29.4%; p=0.005). These were generally mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: Atomoxetine was found to be safe and well tolerated at all doses administered in Korean pediatric ADHD patients, and 1.2 mg/kg/day was an efficacious dose in this population.

Diverticulosis colónica: complicaciones frecuentes e infrecuentes valoradas con tomografía computada / Colónica diverticulosis: valued frequent and infrequent complications with computed tomography

La diverticulosis colónica constituye una afección común en los países occidentales, comprometiendo a entre el 5 por ciento-10 por ciento de la población mayor de 45 años y a aproximadamente el 80 por ciento de los mayores de 85 años. Los divertículos colónicos representan pequeñas protrusiones de la mucosa y submucosa colónica a través de las capas musculares de la pared intestinal, los cuales, en determinadas situaciones, pueden presentar complicaciones como sangrado, perforación, etc. La tomografía computada constituye un excelente método diagnóstico para la evaluación de pacientes con sospecha clínica de diverticulosis colónica complicada. Su utilidad no solo radica en la capacidad de determinar claramente el estado de la pared intestinal sino también la de permitir obtener información adicional acerca del estado del tejido adiposo pericolónico y órganos vecinos. De nuestra base de datos fueron seleccionados 726 pacientes estudiados con tomografía computada de abdomen y con diagnóstico clínico-tomográfico de diverticulosis colónica complicada. Esta se caracterizó de acuerdo con la presencia de complicaciones frecuentes ( hemorragia diverticular, diverticulitis aguda y perforación diverticular, abscesos peridiverticulares, fístulas) y complicaciones menos frecuentes ( pseudodivertículo gigante, trombosis venosas y pileflebitis portal). La detección de estos procesos y su asociación con el cuadro clínico del paciente permitieron, en la mayoría de los casos, establecer un diagnóstico definitivo.