Omicron Waves in Argentina: Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages BA.1, BA.2 and the Emerging BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5.

The COVID-19 pandemic has lately been driven by Omicron. This work aimed to study the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages during the third and fourth waves of COVID-19 in Argentina. Molecular surveillance was performed on 3431 samples from Argentina, between EW44/2021 and EW31/2022. Sequencing, phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses were performed. A differential dynamic between the Omicron waves was found. The third wave was associated with lineage BA.1, characterized by a high number of cases, very fast displacement of Delta, doubling times of 3.3 days and a low level of lineage diversity and clustering. In contrast, the fourth wave was longer but associated with a lower number of cases, initially caused by BA.2, and later by BA.4/BA.5, with doubling times of about 10 days. Several BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 sublineages and introductions were detected, although very few clusters with a constrained geographical distribution were observed, suggesting limited transmission chains. The differential dynamic could be due to waning immunity and an increase in population gatherings in the BA.1 wave, and a boosted population (for vaccination or recent prior immunity for BA.1 infection) in the wave caused by BA2/BA.4/BA.5, which may have limited the establishment of the new lineages.

Identification of reference genes and their validation for gene expression analysis in phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina.

Macrophomina phaseolina is a soil-borne pathogenic fungus that infects a wide range of crop species and causes severe yield losses. Although the genome of the fungus has been sequenced, the molecular basis of its virulence has not been determined. Identification of up-regulated genes during fungal infection is important to understand the mechanism involved in its virulence. To ensure reliable quantification, expression of target genes needs to be normalized on the basis of certain reference genes. However, in the case of M. phaseolina, reference genes or their expression analysis have not been reported in the literature. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate 12 candidate reference genes for the expression analysis of M. phaseolina genes by applying three different fungal growth conditions: a) during root and stem infection of soybean, b) in culture media with and without soybean leaf infusion and c) by inoculating a cut-stem. Based on BestKeeper, geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, CYP1 was identified as the best recommended reference gene followed by EF1ß for expression analysis of fungal gene during soybean root infection. Besides Mp08158, CYP1 gene was found suitable when M. phaseolina was grown in potato-dextrose broth with leaf infusion. In the case of cut-stem inoculation, Mp08158 and Mp11185 genes were found to be most stable. To validate the selected reference genes, expression analysis of two cutinase genes was performed. In general, the expression patterns were similar when the target genes were normalized against most or least stable gene. However, in some cases different expression pattern can be obtained when least stable gene is used for normalization. We believe that the reference genes identified and validated in this study will be useful for gene expression analysis during host infection with M. phaseolina.

Does COVID-19 Affect the Exercise Capacity of Non-hospitalized Patients?

Objective To determine whether non-hospitalized adults post COVID-19 have impaired exercise capacity. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Cardiovascular outpatients unit in Instituto Cardiovascular de Rosario, Argentina. Patients Eighty non-hospitalized patients post-infection by COVID-19. Interventions Participants completed an ergometry pre and post COVID-19 infection. Main outcome measures The study's main variables were the metabolic equivalents of task (METs) and the indirect peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak). Results The median of METs was 11.7 (9.4-14.8) and 11.7 (11-11.7) in pre and post ergometry, respectively, (p = 0.022). The median VO2 (mL/Kg/min) was 21857 (16938-32761) and 21699 (17004-26467) in pre and post ergometry, respectively, without significant differences. Conclusions We found slight differences in maximal physical capacity evaluated through exercise testing in non-hospitalized patients by COVID-19.

Dynamic phase imaging of microscopic measurements using parallel interferograms generated from a cyclic shear interferometer.

We present a technique which allows us to generate two parallel interferograms with phase shifts of π/2 using a Cyclic Shear Interferometer (CSI) and a polarizing splitter. Because of the use of a CSI, we obtain the derivative phase data map directly, due to its configuration, it is immune to vibrations because the reference wavefront and the object wavefront have a common path; the shearing interferometer is insensitive to temperature and vibration. To obtain the optical phase data map, two interferograms are generated by collocating a polarizing device at the output of the CSI. The optical phase was processed using a Vargas-Quiroga algorithm. Related experimental results obtained for dynamic microscopic transparent samples are presented.

Prevalencia de déficit de vitamina B 12 en pacientes con anemia ferropénica remitidos para estudio a Medicina Interna / Prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency in patients with iron-deficiency anemia referred for evaluation in Internal Medicine

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Abuso sexual en la infancia: consecuencias psicopatológicas a largo plazo / Sexual abuse in childhood: Long term psychopathological consequences

Sufrir abusos sexuales en la infancia (ASI) implica consecuencias psicopatológicas a largo plazo, alteraciones a nivel emocional y relacional, sentimientos de culpa y vergüenza, dificultades en interpretar las claves interpersonales y en mantener vínculos sanos. Este artículo es en un estudio observacional transversal y representa una aproximación a esta realidad en la población atendida en un servicio público de salud mental (N = 23). La recogida de información se hizo a través de un protocolo formado por variables sociodemográficas, otras relativas al ASI y la aplicación del MCMI-II (2004). Sería conveniente explorar este acontecimiento y realizar intervenciones Preventivas (AU)

Suffering from childhood sexual abuse (CSA) leads to later mental disorders, emotional and interpersonal disturbances, feelings of guilt and shame, difficulties in understanding interpersonal cues and in keeping coherent bonds. This paper consists of an observational cross sectional study and represents an approximation to this reality in the population attended in a public mental health service (N=23). The recollection of data was made following a protocol including sociodemographic and CSA variables, as well as the application of MCMI-II, 2004. It would be convenient to explore this event and to undertake preventive treatments (AU)