Agave Wilt Susceptibility by Reduction of Free Hexoses in Root Tissue of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul Commercial Plants in the Fructan Accumulation Process.

Agave tequilana stems store fructan polymers, the main carbon source for tequila production. This crop takes six or more years for industrial maturity. In conducive conditions, agave wilt disease increases the incidence of dead plants after the fourth year. Plant susceptibility induced for limited photosynthates for defense is recognized in many crops and is known as "sink-induced loss of resistance". To establish whether A. tequilana is more prone to agave wilt as it ages, because the reduction of water-soluble carbohydrates in roots, as a consequence of greater assembly of highly polymerized fructans, were quantified roots sucrose, fructose, and glucose, as well as fructans in stems of agave plants of different ages. The damage induced by inoculation with Fusarium solani or F. oxysporum in the roots or xylem bundles, respectively, was recorded. As the agave plant accumulated fructans in the stem as the main sink, the amount of these hexoses diminished in the roots of older plants, and root rot severity increased when plants were inoculated with F. solani, as evidence of more susceptibility. This knowledge could help to structure disease management that reduces the dispersion of agave wilt, dead plants, and economic losses at the end of agave's long crop cycle.

Post-vaccination seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 in peruvian health workers vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of post-vaccination seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 and identify its predictors in Peruvian Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) personnel in 2021. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a representative simple stratified sample of EsSalud workers. We evaluated IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies response (seropositivity) by passive (previous infection) and active immunization (vaccination), and epidemiological and occupational variables obtained by direct interview and a data collection form. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used with correction of sample weights adjusted for non-response rate, and crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and geometric mean ratio (GMR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. RESULTS: We enrolled 1077 subjects. Seropositivity was 67.4% (95%CI: 63.4-71.1). Predictors of seropositivity were age (negative relation; p < 0.001), previous infection (aOR = 11.7; 95%CI: 7.81-17.5), working in COVID-19 area (aOR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.02-2.11) and time since the second dose. In relation to antibody levels measured by geometric means, there was an association between male sex (aGMR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.74-0.80), age (negative relation; p < 0.001), previous infection (aGMR = 13.1; 95%CI:4.99-34.40), non-face-to-face/licensed work modality (aGMR = 0.78; 95%CI: 0.73-0.84), being a nursing technician (aGMR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.20-1.41), working in administrative areas (aGMR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.10-1.25), diagnostic support (aGMR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01-1.15), critical care (aGMR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.79-0.93), and in a COVID-19 area (aGMR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.24-1.36) and time since receiving the second dose (negative relation; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Seropositivity and antibody levels decrease as the time since receiving the second dose increases. Older age and no history of previous infection were associated with lower seropositivity and antibody values. These findings may be useful for sentinel antibody surveillance and the design of booster dose strategies.

Narrativas del donante de plasma convaleciente en EsSalud: motivaciones, miedos, expectativas y experiencias

Objetivos: Explorar, desde las narrativas de la población de donantes de plasma convaleciente en un ensayo clínico, las experiencias en el proceso de donación de sangre. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cualitativo con diseño fenomenológico. La investigación se llevó a cabo en un hospital de la seguridad social del Perú aplicándose entrevistas semiestructuradas a profundidad. Resultados: Se entrevistó a once donantes de plasma convaleciente. Se identificó que las principales motivaciones de los donantes fueron tanto el poder contribuir a la investigación nacional como, apoyar a pacientes afectados por la COVID-19. Los principales miedos se centran en el posible riesgo de contagio dentro del hospital. Por otro lado, los donantes resaltaron la atención y acompañamiento del personal de salud en el proceso. Las principales expectativas y sugerencias apuntan hacia una mayor difusión de las campañas de donación de sangre en general, con especial énfasis en el tema de seguridad, la mejora en el tiempo del procedimiento de donación (en el caso de la donación de plasma convaleciente, desde el enrolamiento hasta la extracción de plasma convaleciente) y, la implementación de espacios amigables para incentivar las futuras campañas de donación de sangre en general. Conclusiones: Las experiencias de los donantes de plasma convaleciente fueron positivas. Sin embargo, aún hay mejoras que realizar a nivel de procesos e infraestructuras para asegurar campañas exitosas de donación de sangre futuras.

Objectives: To know and explore from convalescent plasma donators' voices the experience in the blood donation process at a social security hospital. Methods: Qualitative study with a phenomenological design. The investigation was carried out in 01 hospitals of the social security of Peru. Semi-structured interviews were carried out. Results: Eleven donors of convalescent plasma were interviewed. The main motivations for donating were being able to contribute to national research and supporting patients affected by COVID-19. Fears focus on the possible risk of contagion within the hospital. Donors emphasised the attention and support of health personnel alongside the donation procedure. The main expectations and suggestions point towards greater dissemination of donation campaigns with special emphasis on safety. Likewise, an improvement in the time of the donation procedure (from enrolment to the extraction of convalescent plasma), and the implementation of friendly spaces to encourage future blood donation campaigns were highlighted. Conclusions: The experience of the convalescent plasma donors was positive. However, improvements must be made in terms of processes and infrastructure to ensure future successful blood donation campaigns.

Prevalencia de variables anatómicas en el recorrido de los conductos mandibulares: estudio mediante tecnología Cone Beam / Prevalence of anatomical variables in mandibular canal anatomy: study using Cone Beam technology

Introducción: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la presencia de la variable canal mandibular bífido (VCMB), por sujeto y por lado. Se distribuyó por tipo, según la clasificación de Naitoh, Hiraiwa, Aimiya y Ariji, agregándose el tipo canal triple. Se asoció con el género y se comparó la observación de la VCMB entre la vista panorámica y los cortes sagitales y coronales del sistema Cone Beam. Métodos: se analizó una muestra aleatoria de 84 sujetos (52 mujeres, 32 hombres), entre doce y ochenta años, conducido entre los años 2008 y 2009 en el Centro Sistemas Radiológicos Máxilo Faciales de Santiago de Chile. Se efectuaron adquisiciones volumétricas por medio de TC, sistema Cone Beam, utilizando un equipo Siemens Sirona, modelo Galileos Comfort. Se clasificaron los pacientes por edad y sexo. Se realizó un análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo marcando recorrido de ambos conductos dentarios inferiores. Se clasifica la VCMB de acuerdo con la propuesta de los autores, Naitoh, Hiraiwa, Aimiya y Ariji y canal triple. Se observó y comparó la presencia de la VCMB entre vista panorámica y cortes sagitales y coronales. Resultados: el 69% de la muestra considerada en el estudio presentó al menos una variación en el trayecto del conducto dentario inferior. La variable del recorrido del conducto dentario que presentó mayor frecuencia fue la clasificada como prolongación anterior con confluencia (39,28%) y en segundo lugar la variable clasificada como canal retromolar (23,80%). Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar los cortes sagitales y coronales del estudio volumétrico mediante tomografía de alta resolución con relación a la reconstrucción panorámica, lo que sugiere que las imágenes panorámicas son insuficientes para la investigación de variables en el recorrido del conducto dentario inferior.

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of a bifid mandibular canal variable (BMCV), by subject and by side. It was distributed by type, as classified by Naitoh, Hiraiwa, Aimiya and Ariji, adding the triple canal type. It was also associated with gender and the BMCV observation was compared with the panoramic view and the sagittal and coronal Cone Beam System. Methods: a random sample of 84 subjects (52 women, 32 men) between 12 and 80 years of age was analyzed; it was conducted between 2008 and 2009 at the Maxillo Facial Radiology Systems Center of Santiago de Chile. Volumetric acquisitions were made by CT, Cone Beam System, using Siemens Sirona equipment, model Galileos Comfort. Patients were classified by age and gender. We performed a qualitative and quantitative analysis both marking the path of the mandibular canal; BMCV was classified according to the classification of Naitoh, Hiraiwa, Aimiya and Ariji. The presence of BMCV was observed and compared between panoramic, and the sagittal and coronal slices. Results: 69% of the sample of the study showed at least one variation in the trajectory of the inferior dental canal. The variable of the trajectory of the dental canal which showed the highest frequency was the one classified as anterior elongation with confluence (39.28%) and, in second place the variable known as retromolar canal (23.80%). There was a statistical significant difference when the sagittal slices were compared with the coronal slices of the volumetric study through high resolution tomography in relation with the panoramic reconstruction, which suggests that the panoramic images are not sufficient to look for variables in the trajectory of the inferior dental canal. As it relates to gender, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.02) for the variable classified as lingual canal.

Uso de progestágenos en el tratamiento de los trastornos del climaterio / The use of progestagen hormones in the treatment of climateric alterations

Artículo de revisión de los tratamientos usados por diferentes investigadores en grupos de 33, 20, 43 y 36 pacientes menopáusicas respectivamente, en quienes en algunos casos se prescribió un progestágeno de depósito intramuscular, acetato de medroxiprogesterona AMPD, cada 30 y 60 días. Otros investigadores han usado estrógenos conjugados solos y, otros más, los han prescrito combinados con el progestágeno. Todos los autores llegaron a la misma conclusión, que el AMPD es de utilidad en los trastornos del climaterio y evita la osteoporosis. Consideran que es una buena opción cuando existen contraindicaciones para la terapéutica estrogénica