Temporal Dynamics, Discovery, and Emergence of Human-Transmissible RNA Viruses.

Transmissibility, the ability to spread within host populations, is a prerequisite for a pathogen to have epidemic or pandemic potential. Here, we estimate the phylogenies of human infectivity and transmissibility using 1,408 genome sequences from 743 distinct RNA virus species/types in 59 genera. By repeating this analysis using data sets censored by virus discovery date, we explore how temporal changes in the known diversity of RNA viruses-especially recent increases in recognized nonhuman viruses-have altered these phylogenies. Over time, we find significant increases in the proportion of RNA virus genera estimated to have a nonhuman-infective ancestral state, in the fraction of distinct human virus lineages that are purely human-transmissible or strictly zoonotic (compared to mixed lineages), and in the number of human viruses with nearest relatives known not to infect humans. Our results are consistent with viruses that are capable of spreading in human populations commonly emerging from a nonhuman reservoir. This is more likely in lineages that already contain human-transmissible viruses but is rare in lineages that contain only strictly zoonotic viruses.

Evaluation of a mosquito home system for controlling Aedes aegypti.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a significant public health issue that is caused by Aedes spp. mosquitoes. The current vector control methods are unable to effectively reduce Aedes populations and thus fail to decrease dengue transmission. Hence, there is an urgent need for new tools and strategies to reduce dengue transmission in a wide range of settings. In this study, the Mosquito Home System (MHS) and Mosquito Home Aqua (MHAQ) formulations were assessed as commercial autodissemination traps in laboratory and small-scale field trials. METHOD: Multiple series of laboratory and small-scale field trials were performed to assess the efficacy of MHS and MHAQ exposed to Ae. aegypti. In the laboratory trials, various parameters such as fecundity, fertility, wing size, oviposition preferences, residual effects, and MHAQ transference to other containers through controlled experiments were tested. For small-scale field trials, the efficacy of the MHS and MHAQ approaches was determined to ascertain whether wild mosquitoes could transfer the MHAQ formulation from MHS stations to ovitraps. RESULTS: The data revealed that Ae. aegypti was highly susceptible to low concentrations of MHAQ formulations and had a residual effect of up to 3 months, with MHAQ exposure affecting fecundity, fertility, and mosquito wing size. In the oviposition studies, gravid females strongly preferred the hay infusion compared to tap water and MHAQ during egg-laying in the laboratory. Nevertheless, the use of commercial MHAQ by MHS was highly attractive in field settings compared to conventional ovitraps among local Aedes spp. mosquitoes. In addition, MHAQ horizontal transfer activities in the laboratory and small-scale field trials were demonstrated through larval bioassays. These findings demonstrated the potential of MHAQ to be transferred to new containers in each study site. CONCLUSION: This study provided proof of principle for the autodissemination of MHAQ. Through further refinement, this technique and device could become an effective oviposition trap and offer an alternative preventive tool for vector control management.

Geographical and Historical Patterns in the Emergences of Novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 and H7 Viruses in Poultry.

Over the years, the emergence of novel H5 and H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) has been taking place through two main mechanisms: first, the conversion of a low pathogenic into a highly pathogenic virus, and second, the reassortment between different genetic segments of low and highly pathogenic viruses already in circulation. We investigated and summarized the literature on emerging HPAI H5 and H7 viruses with the aim of building a spatio-temporal database of all these recorded conversions and reassortments events. We subsequently mapped the spatio-temporal distribution of known emergence events, as well as the species and production systems that they were associated with, the aim being to establish their main characteristics. From 1959 onwards, we identified a total of 39 independent H7 and H5 LPAI to HPAI conversion events. All but two of these events were reported in commercial poultry production systems, and a majority of these events took place in high-income countries. In contrast, a total of 127 reassortments have been reported from 1983 to 2015, which predominantly took place in countries with poultry production systems transitioning from backyard to intensive production systems. Those systems are characterized by several co-circulating viruses, multiple host species, regular contact points in live bird markets, limited biosecurity within value chains, and frequent vaccination campaigns that impose selection pressures for emergence of novel reassortants. We conclude that novel HPAI emergences by these two mechanisms occur in different ecological niches, with different viral, environmental and host associated factors, which has implications in early detection and management and mitigation of the risk of emergence of novel HPAI viruses.

Caracterización epidemiológica, diagnóstica y terapéutica de pacientes con priapismo / Epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutical characterization of patients with priapism

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 32 pacientes con priapismo, atendidos en el Servicio de Urología del Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico "Saturnino Lora Torres" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 2008 hasta diciembre de 2014, a fin de caracterizarles desde los puntos de vista epidemiológico, diagnóstico y terapéutico. En la serie predominaron el grupo etario de 20-29 años, el color de piel negra y la etiología idiopática como la más frecuente. En 53,1 % de los pacientes no se determinó el tipo de priapismo y 46,9 % de ellos tenían más de 24 horas de evolución antes de recibir asistencia médica. De los que presentaron entre 12-24 horas solo 7,1 % recibió tratamiento quirúrgico. El tratamiento médico fue inefectivo en 76,5 % de los pacientes y 54,9 % de ellos presentó disfunción eréctil.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 32 patients with priapism, assisted at the Urology Service of the "Saturnino Lora Torres" Provincial Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, was carried out from January, 2008 to December, 2014, in order to characterize them from the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutical points of view. The 20-29 age group and the black skin color predominated in the series, as well as and the idiopathic etiology as the most frequent one. In the 53.1% of the patients priapism type was not determined and 46.9% of them had more than 24 hours of clinical course before receiving medical assistance. Of those who arrived between 12-24 hours only 7.1% received surgical treatment. The medical treatment was not effective in 76.5% of the patients and 54.9% of them presented erectile dysfunction.

Ontogênese foliar em Lavoisiera mucorifera Mart. & Schrank ex DC. (Melastomataceae) / Leaf ontogenesis in Lavoisiera mucorifera Mart. & Schrank ex DC. (Melastomataceae)

A ontogênese foliar associada a análises histométricas podem fornecer respostas conclusivas sobre a obtenção da forma da folha, assim como detalhes estruturais que podem ser usados como subsídio taxonômico para Melastomataceae. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a ontogenia foliar de Lavoisiera mucorifera, elucidando os processos de origem e desenvolvimento dos tecidos e formato das folhas. Folhas de diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento foram coletadas e processadas conforme técnicas usuais em anatomia vegetal. No primeiro nó nota-se a origem da lâmina a partir dos meristemas marginais e submarginais, bem como diferenças nos processos de divisão e expansão celular nas regiões mediana e apical, que proporcionam o formato lanceolado da folha. A partir do segundo nó observa-se que o sistema fundamental origina-se a partir das camadas adaxial, mediana e abaxial do mesofilo. Nos terceiro e quarto nós observa-se principalmente a formação de nervuras de terceira e quarta ordens. A partir do quinto nó, os tecidos estão completamente diferenciados sendo observados os caracteres: folhas isolaterais, cutícula espessa, epiderme unisseriada, estômatos anomocíticos, além de drusas e células esclerênquimáticas no mesofilo. Nossos resultados complementam os poucos estudos anatômicos na família, especialmente ao descrever a morfologia e desenvolvimento das emergências e tricomas.

The leaf ontogenesis associated to histometric analyzes can provide conclusive answers about the leaf shape formation, as well structural details that could be used as taxonomic subsidy in Melastomataceae. Our purpose was to describe the leaf ontogenesis of Lavoisiera mucorifera, and the processes cell elongation in leaf shape formation. Leaves of different developmental stages were collected and processed according to usual techniques in plant anatomy. At first nodethe origin of the leaf lamina from the sub-marginal and marginal meristems as well as differences in the processes of cell division and expansion in the middle and apical providing the format lanceolate leaf shape. At second node is observed that the ground system develops from adaxial, abaxial and median layers. At third and fourth nodes is observed mainly the vein ramification. From the fifth node the tissues are completely differentiated being observed characters like isobilateral leaves, thick cuticle, uniseriate epidermis, anomocytic stomata and druse e sclerenchymatic cells in the mesophyll. Our results also complement the few anatomical studies the family to describe the morphology and development of trichomes and emergences.

Analgesia multimodal postoperatoria en cirugía ginecológica y obstétrica urgente / Postoperative multimodal analgesia in urgent gynecological and obstetric surgery

Introducción: El dolor luego de una cirugía es frecuente, y en procesos ginecológicos y obstétricos urgentes aparece de manera constante. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la analgesia multimodal postoperatoria con opioides y anti inflamatorios no esteroideos en cirugía ginecológica y obstétrica urgente. Diseño metodológico: Se realizó un estudio observacional analítico de cohorte prospectivo en 50 pacientes intervenidas de urgencia por ginecología y obstetricia, las cuales se dividieron en un grupo estudio de 25 que recibieron tramadol/diclofenaco y otro de 25 que recibió petidina/duralgina que fueron el control, en el Hospital Militar Central Dr. Luis Díaz Soto entre enero de 2008 y enero de 2010 para evaluar el grado de dolor postoperatorio, la evolución posterior a la cirugía y los efectos adversos asociados. Resultados: La edad promedio fue de 23 años, y el diagnóstico más frecuente fue el embarazo ectópico (21 casos). Aunque tuvieron una analgesia similar en el postoperatorio inmediato (p = 0,061), al transcurrir el tiempo la misma fue mejor combinando Tramadol y Diclofenaco (p = 0,00) que con Petidina y Dipirona. La evolución posterior a la cirugía fue mejor en igual grupo, con movilización más precoz, y mejor cooperación con el equipo de salud, todo ello con escasos efectos adversos. Conclusiones: La mezcla de Tramadol y Diclofenaco sódico ofreció una mejor analgesia posterior al procedimiento quirúrgico en las pacientes estudiadas, constituyendo una alternativa terapéutica a considerar.

Introduction: The pain after surgery is frequent and in urgent gynecological and obstetrics processes it appears in a persistent way. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of postoperative multimodal analgesia using opioids and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs in gynecological and obstetric surgery. Methodological design: An analytical and observational of prospective cohort study was conducted in 50 patients operated on due to gynecological and obstetric emergency, which were divided in a study group of 25 tramadol/diclofenac patients and another including 25 pethidine/dipyrone patients as control at the "Luis Díaz Soto" Military Central Hospital between January, 2008 and January, 2010 to assess the postoperative pain level, the course after surgery and the associated adverse effects. Results: The mean age was of 23 years and the more frequent diagnosis was the ectopic pregnancy (21 cases). Although they had a similar analgesia in immediate postoperative period (p= 0,061), in time it was better combined with tramadol/diclofenac (p = 0,00) than with pethydine and dipyrone. The course after surgery was better in a similar group with earlier mobilization and a better cooperation with health staff all this with scarce adverse effects. Conclusions: The combination of tramadol and sodium diclofenac offered a better analgesia after surgical procedure in study patients being a therapeutic alternative to take into account.

Seguridad del agua en situaciones de emergencia y desastres. Peligros microbiológicos y su evaluación / Water safety in emergence and disasters situations: Microbiological dangers and their assessment

Diferentes situaciones de emergencias y desastres pueden afectar la calidad del agua y causar posibles riesgos microbiológicos para la salud. Los desastres naturales tales como inundaciones, tornados, huracanes y otras emergencias pueden dañar el suministro de agua potable y sus reservorios. En países tropicales, y en especial en las islas del Caribe como Cuba, en los últimos años, los huracanes, las tormentas tropicales, las inundaciones y las sequías, han producido afectaciones considerables. Un importante factor que incrementa la morbilidad por enfermedades diarreicas agudas está relacionado con el agua insegura principalmente en estos eventos. El objetivo de este trabajo es destacar algunos elementos necesarios a considerar en la evaluación de la calidad microbiológica del agua, los indicadores de contaminación fecal recomendados y factibles de ejecutar, así como los métodos de detección rápida y equipos portátiles de terreno para brindar una respuesta rápida de la calidad microbiológica del agua en situaciones de emergencia y desastres, especialmente en Cuba.

Different emergence and disasters situations may to affect the water quality and to cause potential microbiological risks for health. Natural disasters such floods, tornados, hurricanes and other emergences may to damage the drinking water and its reservoirs. In tropical countries and specially in the Caribbean islands like Cuba, in past years, hurricanes, tropical storms, floods and droughts have produced significant affectations. An important factor increasing the morbidity from acute diarrheic diseases is related to the water lacking mainly in these events. The aim of present paper is to emphasize some elements to be considered in assessment of water microbiological quality, indicators of fecal contamination recommended and of feasible execution, as well as the fast detection methods and the field portable equipments to offer a fast response of water microbiological quality in emergence and disasters situations, especially in Cuba.