Collateral Damage in the Placenta during Viral Infection in Pregnancy: A Possible Mechanism for Vertical Transmission and an Adverse Pregnancy Outcome.

In mammals, the placenta is a connection between a mother and a new developing organism. This tissue has a protective function against some microorganisms, transports nutrients, and exchanges gases and excretory substances between the mother and the fetus. Placental tissue is mainly composed of chorionic villi functional units called trophoblasts (cytotrophoblasts, the syncytiotrophoblast, and extravillous trophoblasts). However, some viruses have developed mechanisms that help them invade the placenta, causing various conditions such as necrosis, poor perfusion, and membrane rupture which, in turn, can impact the development of the fetus and put the mother's health at risk. In this study, we collected the most relevant information about viral infection during pregnancy which can affect both the mother and the fetus, leading to an increase in the probability of vertical transmission. Knowing these mechanisms could be relevant for new research in the maternal-fetal context and may provide options for new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in fetal prognosis.

Association Study between Antioxidant Nutrient Intake and Low Bone Mineral Density with Oxidative Stress-Single Nucleotide Variants: GPX1 (rs1050450 and rs17650792), SOD2 (rs4880) and CAT (rs769217) in Mexican Women.

Oxidative stress is essential in developing multiple bone metabolism diseases, including osteoporosis. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) have been associated with oxidative stress, promoting an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the ability to neutralize them, and it has been reported that antioxidant nutrient intake can influence bone mineral density (BMD). This work reports the association between oxidative stress-related SNVs (GPX1-rs1050450, rs17650792, SOD2-rs4880, and CAT-rs769217), BMD, and antioxidant nutrient intake. The study included 1269 Mexican women from the Health Workers Cohort Study. Genotyping was performed using predesigned TaqMan assays. Dietary data were collected using a 116-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) was used to estimate antioxidant-nutrient intake. Association analysis was estimated via linear, logistic, or quantile regression models. The results showed an association of the rs1050450-A and rs17650792-A alleles with femoral neck BMD (p = 0.038 and p = 0.017, respectively) and the SNV rs4880-A allele with total hip BMD (p = 0.026) in respondents aged 45 years or older. In addition, antioxidant-nutrient intake was associated with the rs4880-GG genotype, being significant for fiber (p = 0.007), riboflavin (p = 0.005), vitamin B6 (p = 0.034), and vitamin D (p = 0.002). The study showed an association between oxidative stress-related SNVs, BMD, and antioxidant-nutrient intake in Mexican women. Therefore, treatments for low BMD could be developed based on antioxidant supplementation.

Dynamics of the Microbiota and Its Relationship with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can be asymptomatic or present with multiple organ dysfunction. Many infected individuals have chronic alterations associated with neuropsychiatric, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal symptoms, even several months after disease onset, developing long-COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Microbiota dysbiosis contributes to the onset and progression of many viral diseases, including COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 manifestations, which could serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This review aimed to discuss the most recent findings on gut microbiota dysbiosis and its relationship with the sequelae of PACS. Elucidating these mechanisms could help develop personalized and non-invasive clinical strategies to identify individuals at a higher risk of experiencing severe disease progression or complications associated with PACS. Moreover, the review highlights the importance of targeting the gut microbiota composition to avoid dysbiosis and to develop possible prophylactic and therapeutic measures against COVID-19 and PACS in future studies.

A Review Study of the Participation of Late Domains in Sorting and Transport of Viral Factors to Exosomes.

Cellular communication depends heavily on the participation of vesicular systems generated by most cells of an organism. Exosomes play central roles in this process. Today, these vesicles have been characterized, and it has been determined that the cargo they transport is not within a random system. In fact, it depends on various molecular signals and the recruitment of proteins that participate in the biogenesis of exosomes. It has also been shown that multiple viruses can recruit these vesicles to transport viral factors such as genomes or proteins. It has been shown that the late domains present in viral proteins are critical for the exosomal selection and biogenesis systems to recognize these viral proteins and introduce them into the exosomes. In this review, the researchers discuss the evidence related to the characterization of these late domains and their role in exosome recruitment during viral infection.

Zika virus infection induces expression of NRF2 and antioxidant systems in trophoblast cells.

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the xenobiotic and stress responses. During viral infection, NRF2 can modulate the host metabolism and innate immunity; however, the most common activity of NRF2 in viral diseases is controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Zika virus (ZIKV) is involved in a vertical infection in pregnancy, with reported fetal health consequences. However, the possibility that ZIKV regulates NRF2 expression in placental trophoblasts has not been investigated. In this report, we evaluated the upregulation of NRF2 and antioxidant enzymes in a trophoblast-like cell. These findings could help us understand the antioxidant mechanism underlying the ZIKV infection in the placenta during pregnancy.

Oxidative-Stress-Related Genes in Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review.

Osteoporosis is characterized by a decline in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. Free radicals and antioxidant systems play a central role in bone remodeling. This study was conducted to illustrate the role of oxidative-stress-related genes in BMD and osteoporosis. A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was computed in PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, EBSCO, and BVS from inception to November 1st, 2022. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist tool. A total of 427 potentially eligible articles exploring this search question were detected. After removing duplicates (n = 112) and excluding irrelevant manuscripts based on screenings of their titles and abstracts (n = 317), 19 articles were selected for full-text review. Finally, 14 original articles were included in this systematic review after we applied the exclusion and inclusion criteria. Data analyzed in this systematic review indicated that oxidative-stress-related genetic polymorphisms are associated with BMD at different skeletal sites in diverse populations, influencing the risk of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fracture. However, it is necessary to look deep into their association with bone metabolism to determine if the findings can be translated into the clinical management of osteoporosis and its progression.

Interaction between SIDT2 and ABCA1 Variants with Nutrients on HDL-c Levels in Mexican Adults.

Previous studies have reported that the SIDT2 and ABCA1 genes are involved in lipid metabolism. We aimed to analyze the association-the gene x gene interaction between rs17120425 and rs1784042 on SIDT2 and rs9282541 on ABCA1 and their diet interaction on the HDL-c serum levels-in a cohort of 1982 Mexican adults from the Health Workers Cohort Study. Demographic and clinical data were collected through a structured questionnaire and standardized procedures. Genotyping was performed using a predesigned TaqMan assay. The associations and interactions of interest were estimated using linear and logistic regression. Carriers of the rs17120425-A and rs1784042-A alleles had slightly higher blood HDL-c levels compared to the non-carriers. In contrast, rs9282541-A was associated with low blood HDL-c levels (OR = 1.34, p = 0.013). The rs1784042 x rs9282541 interaction was associated with high blood HDL-c levels (p = 3.4 × 10-4). Premenopausal women who carried at least one rs17120425-A allele and consumed high dietary fat, protein, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids levels had higher HDL-c levels than the non-carriers. These results support the association between the genetic variants on SIDT2 and ABCA1 with HDL-c levels and suggest gene-gene and gene-diet interactions over HDL-c concentrations in Mexican adults. Our findings could be a platform for developing clinical and dietary strategies for improving the health of the Mexican population.

Variations in maximum urethral closure pressure in stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION: Urethral Pressure Profilometry (UPP) assesses the urethral closing function. The literature is scarce regarding the change in the Maximum Urethral Closure Pressure (MUCP) values during Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction (PFMC). The objective was to evaluate the change in the urethral closure pressure (UCP) at rest and during a PFMC in patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, comparative, and observational study. The study comprised female patients with either Pure Stress Urinary Incontinence (PSUI) or Complicated Stress Urinary Incontinence (CSUI). The urethral closure pressure was measured at rest and during PFMC using urethral profilometry. The effect of the pelvic musculature contraction was evaluated by comparing the changes in the indicated values. RESULTS: Patients with pure stress urinary incontinence had a mean age of 57.18 ± 10.74 years (p = 0.12), while those with complicated stress urinary incontinence had a mean age of 58.26 ± 14.39 years (p = 0.12). UCP in PSUI was 58.58 ± 26.96 cmH2O at rest compared to 61.26 ± 34.17 cmH2O in CSUI (p = 0.59), with MUCP increasing to 73.93 ± 31.51 and 79.71 ± 36.26 cmH2O during PFMC (p = 0.001). Between the two measurements, there was an average rise of 26.2% (range 26.2%-32.59%) (p = 0.001). MUCP during PFM contractions was found to be inversely associated to age (r = -0.28, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The urethral pressure profile is the same for all types of urinary stress incontinence, whether simple or complicated. When comparing UCP at rest to MUCP during PFMC, there is at least a functional 25% increase.

Effect of Hypoxia in the Transcriptomic Profile of Lung Fibroblasts from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aging-associated disease characterized by exacerbated extracellular matrix deposition that disrupts oxygen exchange. Hypoxia and its transcription factors (HIF-1α and 2α) influence numerous circuits that could perpetuate fibrosis by increasing myofibroblasts differentiation and by promoting extracellular matrix accumulation. Therefore, this work aimed to elucidate the signature of hypoxia in the transcriptomic circuitry of IPF-derived fibroblasts. To determine this transcriptomic signature, a gene expression analysis with six lines of lung fibroblasts under normoxia or hypoxia was performed: three cell lines were derived from patients with IPF, and three were from healthy donors, a total of 36 replicates. We used the Clariom D platform, which allows us to evaluate a huge number of transcripts, to analyze the response to hypoxia in both controls and IPF. The control's response is greater by the number of genes and complexity. In the search for specific genes responsible for the IPF fibroblast phenotype, nineteen dysregulated genes were found in lung fibroblasts from IPF patients in hypoxia (nine upregulated and ten downregulated). In this sense, the signaling pathways revealed to be affected in the pulmonary fibroblasts of patients with IPF may represent an adaptation to chronic hypoxia.

Association of MARC1, ADCY5, and BCO1 Variants with the Lipid Profile, Suggests an Additive Effect for Hypertriglyceridemia in Mexican Adult Men.

Epidemiological studies have reported that the Mexican population is highly susceptible to dyslipidemia. The MARC1, ADCY5, and BCO1 genes have recently been involved in lipidic abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2642438, rs56371916, and rs6564851 on MARC1, ADCY5, and BCO1 genes, respectively, with the lipid profile in a cohort of Mexican adults. We included 1900 Mexican adults from the Health Workers Cohort Study. Demographic and clinical data were collected through a structured questionnaire and standardized procedures. Genotyping was performed using a predesigned TaqMan assay. A genetic risk score (GRS) was created on the basis of the three genetic variants. Associations analysis was estimated using linear and logistic regression. Our results showed that rs2642438-A and rs6564851-A alleles had a risk association for hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.57, p = 0.013; and OR = 1.33, p = 0.031, respectively), and rs56371916-C allele a trend for low HDL-c (OR = 1.27, p = 0.060) only in men. The GRS revealed a significant association for hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.23, p = 0.022). These findings provide evidence of an aggregate effect of the MARC1, ADCY5, and BCO1 variants on the risk of hypertriglyceridemia in Mexican men. This knowledge could represent a tool for identifying at-risk males who might benefit from early interventions and avoid secondary metabolic traits.

Uric Acid Levels Are Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Mexican Populations: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: Inconsistent epidemiological evidence between uric acid (UA) and bone mineral density (BMD) has been observed. Therefore, we evaluated the association between UA and BMD in Mexican adults. Methods: This analysis was conducted on 1423 participants from the Health Workers Cohort Study. We explored cross-sectional associations using linear regression and longitudinal associations using fixed-effects linear regression by sex and age groups (<45 and ≥45 years). Results: In females <45 years old, the cross-sectional analysis showed that UA levels were positively associated with total hip BMD. However, in the longitudinal analysis, we observed a negative association with the femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD. In contrast, in males <45 years old, we found an increase in total hip and femoral neck BMD in the groups with high levels of UA in the longitudinal association. On the other hand, in females ≥45 years old, we observed a longitudinal association between UA and loss of BMD at different sites. We did not observe an association between UA levels and BMD in males ≥45 years old. Conclusions: Our results suggest higher serum UA levels are associated with low BMD at different skeletal sites in Mexican females. Further studies are needed to delineate the underlying mechanisms behind this observation.

Targeted Metabolomics Revealed a Sex-Dependent Signature for Metabolic Syndrome in the Mexican Population.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of several metabolic conditions predisposing to chronic diseases. Individuals diagnosed with MetS are physiologically heterogeneous, with significant sex-specific differences. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential sex-specific serum modifications of amino acids and acylcarnitines (ACs) and their relationship with MetS in the Mexican population. This study included 602 participants from the Health Workers Cohort Study. Forty serum metabolites were analyzed using a targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate regression models were used to test associations of clinical and biochemical parameters with metabolomic profiles. Our findings showed a serum amino acid signature (citrulline and glycine) and medium-chain ACs (AC14:1, AC10, and AC18:10H) associated with MetS. Glycine and AC10 were specific metabolites representative of discrimination according to sex-dependent MetS. In addition, we found that glycine and short-chain ACs (AC2, AC3, and AC8:1) are associated with age-dependent MetS. We also reported a significant correlation between body fat and metabolites associated with sex-age-dependent MetS. In conclusion, the metabolic profile varies by MetS status, and these differences are sex-age-dependent in the Mexican population.

Unravelling the Contribution of the rs7041 and rs4588 Polymorphisms of the GC Gene and Serum VDBP Levels for Developing Metabolic Syndrome in the Mexican Population.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disorder integrated by a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors. The genetic and environmental determinants of MetS are not fully elucidated. This study investigated the association of two common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on GC, rs7041 and rs4588, derived haplotypes, and serum vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) levels with the susceptibility to suffer MetS in Mexican adults. We included 1924 individuals; clinical and biochemical data were obtained through standard methods. Genotyping was performed through predesigned TaqMan assays. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of interest. Prevalence of MetS was 52.9% in the whole population, being more frequent in women. We observed that some association results differed between sexes. The GG genotype of the rs7041 was associated with increased odds of MetS in women. For the rs4588, the CA genotype had a protective effect against MetS in women. The haplotype GC2 was associated with reduced odds for MetS and some of its components in women. Our data suggest that VDBP serum levels were influenced by genotypes/haplotypes and this interplay seems to influence the risk of MetS. Our data provide reliable evidence regarding the association of GC polymorphisms with MetS risk in Mexican women.

Dietary inflammatory index and bone mineral density in Mexican population.

Dietary inflammatory index has been associated with bone loss. In this longitudinal study, we reported that changes in dietary inflammatory index were associated with a reduction in bone mineral density of the total hip and femoral neck in males and females ≥ 45 years, but not in individuals < 45 years. PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that an inflammatory environment can affect bone mineral density (BMD). However, most of the studies have been done in postmenopausal women. Thus, longitudinal studies in different age groups and sex are necessary to evaluate the longitudinal association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and BMD in Mexican adults. METHODS: A total of 1,486 participants of the Health Workers Cohort Study were included in this study. The DII was estimated with data retrieved through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression models for cross-sectional associations and fixed effects linear regression models for longitudinal association were estimated, and both models were stratified by sex and age groups (< 45 and ≥ 45 years). RESULTS: We did not observe cross-sectional associations between DII and the different BMD sites at baseline. In contrast, women and men ≥ 45 years in the 25th quartile of changes in DII were associated with a gain of 0.067 g/cm2 and 0.062 g/cm2 of total hip BMD, while those in the 75th quartile of DII was associated with a reduction of - 0.108 g/cm2 and - 0.100 g/cm2, respectively. These results were similar for femoral neck BMD in women. In contrast, we did not observe association with femoral neck BMD in men. We did not observe statistically significant changes for lumbar spine BMD. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that changes in the DII score are associated with changes in total hip and femoral neck BMD among Mexican population.

Common variant rs6564851 near the beta-carotene oxygenase 1 gene is associated with plasma triglycerides levels in middle-aged Mexican men adults.

Dyslipidemias have been linked to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. Recent reports have associated the beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1) gene with lipid metabolism, mainly reducing total cholesterol and increasing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. The hypothesis of this study was that the variant rs6564851 near the BCO1 gene is associated positively with the lipid profile in middle-aged Mexican adults. This study included 1441 Mexicans older than 40 years of age from the Health Workers Cohort Study (HWCS). Genotyping was conducted using a predesigned TaqMan assay. Lipid profile was measured with standardized procedures. Our results showed that the men carrying at least 1 T allele had higher serum triglyceride concentrations than GG homozygous (GG: 146.5 mg/dL; GT: 175 mg/dL; and TT: 184 mg/dL; P = .008). The variant rs6564851 showed a risk associated with the serum triglyceride concentrations(odds ratio [OR], 2.77; P = .002) only in the male group. However, we did not observe significant differences in the serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations in both sexes. Our study provides evidence that the variant rs6564851 is negatively associated with the triglyceride concentrations in middle-aged Mexican male adults in the HWCS. This knowledge can be the basis for developing effective nutritional strategies according to sex and the genetic variants present in an individual. Further studies in independent populations are required to validate these findings and determine the mechanism of the association sex dependent.

Infestación de Musca domestica L. (Díptera, Muscidae) en faenadoras avícolas / Infestation of Musca domestica L. (Diptera, Muscidae) in poultry slaughterhouses

Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae) es la mosca más común en todo el mundo. Más de 100 patógenos pueden causar enfermedades en humanos y animales por este tipo de insectos. Estos patógenos incluyen: diarrea infantil, ántrax, cólera, oftalmía, disentería bacilar, fiebre tifoidea y tuberculosis. Además, las moscas domésticas transmiten muchos de los huevos de helmintos como Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Toxocara canis, y especies de Dipylidium, Diphyllobothriam, Hymenolepis, Taenia y Trichomonas. También puede transmitir quistes de protozoos y trofozoítos como E. histolytica y Giardia lamblia. Se determinó el índice de infestación por Musca domestica L. (Díptera, Muscidae) en una faenadora avícola ubicada en el Perú. Para ello se evaluó no sólo el tratamiento aplicado: protocolo de cola entomológica (T1), monitoreo de insfectación de mosca (T2) o comincación de lámparas LED UV más tabla de pegamento adhesivo (T3), sino también las diferentes zonas de faenadora: zonas sucias de descarga y estabulación (ZDE), preparación (ZP), zonas adicionales de sacrificio sanitario (ZSS), preparación de residuos orgánicos (ZPRO), conservación de los residuos orgánicos (ZCRO) y de conservación de sangre (ZCS). Los resultados demoestraron que, independientemente de la zona de operación, el tratamiento más efectivo para determinar la infestación por la mosca doméstica fue el combinado de lámpara LED junto con tablas de pegamento (T3), seguido del tratamiento de protocolo de cola entomológica (T1) y el tratamiento por Monitoreo de infestación de moscas (T2) independientemente de los días de recolección. Es importante seguir las diferentes normativas a fin de controlar y eliminar la presencia de moscas (y de otros insectos voladores) para evitar la contaminación y, por ende, enfermedades(AU)

Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae) is the most common fly in the world. More than 100 pathogens can cause diseases in humans and animals by these types of insects. These pathogens include: infant diarrhea, anthrax, cholera, ophthalmia, bacillary dysentery, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis. In addition, houseflies transmit many of the eggs of helminths such as Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Toxocara canis, and Dipylidium, Diphyllobothriam, Hymenolepis, Taenia, and Trichomonas species. It can also transmit cysts of protozoa and trophozoites such as E. histolytica and Giardia lamblia. The infestation index by Musca domestica L. (Diptera, Muscidae) was determined in a poultry slaughterhouse located in Peru. For this, not only the applied treatment was evaluated: entomological glue protocol (T1), fly infestation monitoring (T2) or combination of UV LED lamps plus adhesive glue table (T3), but also the different slaughter areas: unloading and holding areas (ZDE), preparation (ZP), additional stamping-out areas (ZSS), preparation of organic waste (ZPRO), conservation of organic waste (ZCRO) and blood conservation (ZCS). The results showed that, regardless of the area of operation, the most effective treatment to determine housefly infestation was the LED lamp combined with glue boards (T3), followed by the entomological glue protocol treatment (T1 ) and the treatment by Monitoring of fly infestation (T2) regardless of the days of collection. It is important to follow the different regulations in order to control and eliminate the presence of flies (and other flying insects) to avoid contamination and, therefore, diseases(AU)

Evaluación microbiológica del caudal de impulsión y extracción mecánica en habitaciones hospitalarias de aislados infecciosos e inmunodeprimidos / Microbiological evaluation of the discharge flow and mechanical extraction in hospital rooms of infectious and immunosuppressed isolates

Por las particularidades de los hospitales, su entorno contiene un gran número de microorganismos proporcionando condiciones muy favorables para la reproducción y la propagación de microorganismos patógenos. Por otro lado, como un sitio importante del uso de antibióticos, las infecciones asociadas a hospitales y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos promueven mutuamente la formación de un círculo vicioso. Existen fuertes evidencias de que la transmisión por aire y aerosoles de los microorganismos patógenos están muy extendidos en los entornos hospitalarios. En ese sentido, las partículas transportadas por el aire se caracterizan por su baja densidad, invisibilidad y susceptibilidad a la turbulencia. El asentamiento de partículas infecciosas en el aire sobre la herida de un paciente puede causar infecciones en cirugía o en caso más graves, infectar a pacientes con sistemas inmunológicos comprometidos, o puede conducir, si las condiciones de ventilación no son apropiadas, a la diseminación de bacterias y hongos (bioaerosoles) desde pacientes infecciosos a toda la comunidad hospitalaria. Para mejorar el estado de estas infecciones asociadas a los hospitales, los sistemas tradicionales se han centrado en estrategias para eliminar patógenos presentes en pacientes, superficies clínicas y trabajadores de la salud, que ha impulsado la implementación de varios protocolos de control y desinfección de infecciones que también han tenido éxito en la reducción de la incidencia de este tipo de infecciones hospitalarias. Dentro de estos procedimientos, está el uso de sistema de ventilación con presión de aire positiva o negativa El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la capacidad de control microbiano de los sistemas de ventilación en dos centros de asistencia médica del Perú en habitaciones con pacientes inmunosuprimidos (VIH/Sida) aislados o en habitaciones de pacientes infecciosos(AU)

Due to the particularities of hospitals, their environment contains a large number of microorganisms, providing very favorable conditions for the reproduction and spread of pathogenic microorganisms. On the other hand, as an important site of antibiotic use, hospital-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance mutually promote the formation of a vicious circle. There is strong evidence that airborne and aerosol transmission of pathogenic microorganisms is widespread in hospital settings. In that sense, airborne particles are characterized by their low density, invisibility, and susceptibility to turbulence. The settling of airborne infectious particles on a patient's wound can cause infections in surgery or, in more serious cases, infect patients with compromised immune systems, or can lead, if ventilation conditions are not appropriate, to the spread of pathogens. bacteria and fungi (bioaerosols) from infectious patients to the entire hospital community. To improve the status of these hospital-associated infections, traditional systems have focused on strategies to eliminate pathogens present in patients, clinical surfaces, and healthcare workers, which has prompted the implementation of various infection control and disinfection protocols that they have also been successful in reducing the incidence of this type of hospital infection. Within these procedures, there is the use of a ventilation system with positive or negative air pressure. The objective of this work is to determine the microbial control capacity of the ventilation systems in two medical care centers in Peru in rooms with immunosuppressed patients (HIV/AIDS) isolated or in infectious patient rooms(AU)

Alto porcentaje de ausencia de reflejo bulbocavernoso en pacientes neurológicamente sanos con disfunción vesical / High Percentage of Absence of Bulbocavernosus Reflex in Neurologically-Healthy Patients with Bladder Dysfunction

Introducción y Objetivo El reflejo bulbocavernoso (RBCV) se ha observado ausente incluso en pacientes neurológicamente sanos. Los trastornos funcionales del piso pélvico deben incluir su evaluación. Nuestro objetivo primario fue evaluar la prevalencia de ausencia de RBCV en pacientes sanos. El objetivo secundario fue observar la afectación del RBCV en presencia de otras comorbilidades cómo enfermedad neurológica y diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Métodos Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo, en el que se revisaron mil expedientes clínicos de pacientes sometidos a estudio urodinámico a quienes se les realizó exploración mecánica del RBCV como parte de una exploración rutinaria. Se realizó estadística descriptiva para las variables cuantitativas y cualitativas utilizando la prueba tde Student y la de chi cuadrado, respectivamente. Se consideraron estadísticamente significativos valores de p < 0,05. Resultados La muestra tenía una media de edad de 59,84 años (desviación estándar [DE]: ± 14,13 años), y contenía 36,19% de mujeres y 21,13% de hombres sin enfermedad neurológica y RBCV ausente. Se observó mayor ausencia de RBCV en pacientes con presencia de enfermedad neurológica en comparación con pacientes neurológicamente sanos: 21,6% versus 10,6%, respectivamente (p < 0,0001); además, se observó una ausencia importante de RBCV en presencia de diabetes mellitus en comparación con pacientes no diabéticos: 30.8% versus 18.8%, respectivamente (p < 0,0001). No se observaron diferencias al comparar grupos con respecto a disfunción vesical. Conclusión La ausencia de RBCV no es exclusiva de una enfermedad neurológica con repercusión de síntomas del tracto urinario inferior, y la proporción de pacientes neurológicamente sanos con ausencia de RBCV no es despreciable. No se encontró una diferencia significativa en los grupos con ausencia de RBCV con respecto a disfunción vesical.

Introduction and Objective Absence of the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCVR) has been observed even in neurologically-healthy subjects. Functional disorders of the pelvic floor should include its assessment. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the absence of BCVR in healthy subjects. The secondary objective was to evaluate the BCVR with regards to the presence of other comorbidities, such as neurogenic bladder and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Methods A descriptive and retrospective study in which we reviewed the clinical files of one thousand subjects who underwent a urodynamic study and were submitted to a mechanical exploration of the BCVR as part of a routine evaluation. Descriptive statistics were performed for the quantitative and qualitative variables using the Student t and the Chi-squared tests accordingly. Values of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The sample had a mean age of 59.84 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 14.13 years), and it contained 36.19% of women and 21.13% of men without neurological disease and absent BCVR. A higher proportion of BCVR absence was observed in patients with neurological disease compared to their healthy counterparts: 21.6% and 10.6% respectively (p ≤ 0.0001); furthermore, an important absence of the BCVR was observed in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus compared to non-diabetic patients: 30.8% and 18.8% respectively (p ≤ 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were observed in the group comparison regarding bladder dysfunction. Conclusion The absence of the RBCV is not exclusive to a neurological disease with repercussions in terms of lower urinary tract symptoms, and the proportion of neurologically healthy subjects with absence of the BCVR is not negligible. No significant difference was found in groups with absence of the BCVR with regards to bladder dysfunction

Seguridad ocupacional contra Bacillus anthracis en la industria de curtiembre peruana / Occupational safety against Bacillus anthracis in the Peruvian tannery industry

El carbunco es una zoonosis que afecta a animales herbívoros, causada por el microorganismo Bacillus anthracis; que se encuentra en su forma vegetativa en el organismo infectado, y una vez en contacto con el aire forma esporas que infectan al huésped, liberando toxinas que inducen edema, septicemia y necrosis tisular. En humanos, la transmisión se produce por cortes, pinchazos o contacto directo de piel lesionada con esporas o tejidos de animales infectados. En Perú, para la década de 1980, se reportaron 400 casos anuales en áreas rurales agrícolas, adquiridos por manipulación del ganado vacuno, muerto por ántrax. Es por ello, que la piel y el cuero procedente de animales infectados representa un riesgo de infección para los trabajadores de industrias curtiembres. Se realizó un estudio transversal para evaluar el riesgo biológico ocupacional y las medidas de bioseguridad relacionadas con el Bacillus anthracis en pequeñas, medianas y grandes empresas curtiembres peruanas. Se aplicó un instrumento a los trabajadores para cuantificar las variables, componentes de riesgo biológico y conocer las medidas higiénicas adoptadas. Posteriormente se calculó e interpretó el nivel de riesgo biológico. Se encontró que el nivel de riesgo supera el límite de exposición biológica para el Bacillus anthracis en todas las empresas evaluadas y los trabajadores de las pequeñas empresas tienen poco conocimiento acerca del riesgo biológico al que están expuestos, siendo necesaria la capacitación de los trabajadores acerca del Bacillus anthracis y adopción de medidas de bioseguridad en empresas curtiembres, que garanticen la salud de los trabajadores(AU)

Anthrax is a zoonosis that affects herbivorous animals, caused by the microorganism Bacillus anthracis; which is found in its vegetative form in the infected organism, and once in contact with the air it forms spores that infect the host, releasing toxins that induce edema, septicemia and tissue necrosis. In humans, transmission occurs through cuts, punctures, or direct contact of broken skin with spores or tissues of infected animals. In Peru, for the 1980s, 400 annual cases were reported in rural agricultural areas, acquired by handling cattle, which died of anthrax. For this reason, the skin and leather from infected animals represent a risk of infection for workers in tanneries. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the occupational biological risk and biosafety measures related to Bacillus anthracis in small, medium and large Peruvian tanneries. An instrument was applied to the workers to quantify the variables, components of biological risk and to know the hygienic measures adopted. Subsequently, the level of biological risk was calculated and interpreted. It was found that the level of risk exceeds the biological exposure limit for Bacillus anthracis in all the companies evaluated and the workers of the small companies have little knowledge about the biological risk to which they are exposed, being necessary the training of the workers about the Bacillus anthracis and adoption of biosafety measures in tanneries, which guarantee the health of workers(AU)

Calidad del aire interior mediante indicadores ecológicos y sociales asociados a la inmisión de material particulado (PM10) en la zona este 2 / Indoor air quality through ecological and social indicators associated with the immission of particulate matter (PM10) in the eastern zone 2

El material particulado (PM) es uno de los contaminantes más importantes presentes en el aire, representando un riesgo medioambiental para la salud. Las partículas con un diámetro de 10 micrones o menos (PM10), al ser inhalables, pueden penetrar y alojarse profundamente en los pulmones, contribuyendo al riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares y respiratorias, así como cáncer de pulmón, enfermedades mentales, dermatitis, daño ocular e incluso al aumento en las tasas de mortalidad. Se estableció como objetivo determinar la calidad del aire interior asociada a la inmisión de material particulado (PM10) en la zona este 2, un sector industrial ubicado en los distritos san juan de Lurigancho y Lurigancho-Chosica, Perú. Para tal fin, se propone el uso de indicadores duales: ecológicos y sociales. De acuerdo a los indicadores ecológicos explorados, la concentración media de PM10 en el aire exterior (CME) superó el límite de 100 µg/m3 establecido por MINAM. Aunque la mediana de CME (93,7µg/m3; IC 95%=89,07-98,33) estuvo por debajo de este límite, el cuartil superior lo superó, entendido por elevaciones puntuales de hasta 131 µg/m3 (Figura 2), potencialmente dañinos para la salud humana. El coeficiente de correlación de Spearman de 0,921, obtenido del análisis bivariado entre los valores de concentración media diaria de PM10 exterior e interior, previo a la instalación de filtros en los sistemas de ventilación, es sugerente del efecto que puede tener la inmisión de aire ambiental con material particulado como vector de la contaminación del aire interior. al considerar los valores de la concentración media diaria, obtenidos en los 15 días posteriores a la instalación de los filtros (CMIFI), se observa que la concentración media de PM10 en el interior disminuyó en relación a la quincena anterior. El coeficiente de correlación de Spearman de 0,869 entre los indicadores CMIFI y CME, permite proponer que, en esta segunda fase, la calidad del aire interior fue influenciada en menor proporción por la contaminación de material particulado del aire ambiental, es decir que se presentó menos inmisión de PM10, gracias al proceso de filtrado, lo que disminuye el riesgo para la salud de los trabajadores(AU)

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most important pollutants present in the air, representing an environmental risk to health. Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10), being inhalable, can penetrate and lodge deep in the lungs, contributing to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer, mental illness, dermatitis, eye damage and even increased mortality rates. The objective was to determine the indoor air quality associated with the immission of particulate matter (PM10) in East Zone 2, an industrial sector located in the districts of San Juan de Lurigancho and Lurigancho-Chosica, Peru. To this end, the use of dual indicators is proposed: ecological and social. According to the ecological indicators explored, the average concentration of PM10 in outdoor air (CME) exceeded the limit of 100 µg/m3 established by MINAM. Although the CME median (93.7µg/m3; 95% CI=89.07-98.33) was below this limit, the upper quartile exceeded it, understood as point elevations of up to 131µg/m3 (Figure 2 ), potentially harmful to human health. Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.921, obtained from the bivariate analysis between the daily average concentration values of outdoor and indoor PM10, prior to the installation of filters in the ventilation systems, is suggestive of the effect that the immission of ambient air can have with particulate matter as a vector of indoor air pollution. When considering the values of the average daily concentration, obtained in the 15 days after the installation of the filters (CMIFI), it is observed that the average concentration of PM10 in the interior decreased in relation to the previous fortnight. Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.869 between the CMIFI and CME indicators allows us to propose that, in this second phase, indoor air quality was influenced to a lesser extent by particulate matter contamination in the ambient air, that is, there was less PM10 immission, thanks to the filtering process, which reduces the risk to the health of workers(AU)