Weed liberalization plans and perinatal wellness

Two groups of parasites (A and B) were identified as having significant differences in susceptibility to benznidazole (p less then 0.0001), and three groups (A, B, C) to nifurtimox and posaconazole (p less then 0.0001). Conclusions Overall, the isolates were more susceptible to nifurtimox than benznidazole and posaconazole. Such differences highlight the heterogeneity of T. cruzi populations circulating in Paraguay, an aspect to consider in the treatment and follow up of patients.Introduction Pneumonia is the leading cause of death due to infection in the world, mainly affecting the older adult population. Objective To determine the risk factors associated with lethality at 30 days in patients with pneumonia in an acute care for the elderly unit. Materials and methods We conducted an observational, analytical retrospective cohort study including 114 patients aged 60 years and older hospitalized in an acute care geriatric unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia. The primary outcome was lethality at 30 days. Bivariate and multivariable log-binomial regression analyzes were performed to explore the relationship between independent variables and the primary outcome. Results The 30-day lethality was 26.3% and the mean age was 84.45 ± 7.37 years; 54.4% of participants were men. In the multivariable analysis, age ≥90 years (Relative Risk, RR=1.62, 95% CI 1.05-2.68, p=0.04), multilobar commitment (RR=1.92, 95% CI1.12-3.32, p=0.02), elevated urea nitrogen (≥22.5 the median; RR=3.93, 95% CI1.67-9.25, p less then 0.01), and a score of zero in the Lawton index at admission (RR=3.20, 95% CI1.05-9.78, p=0.04) were independent predictors of 30-day lethality from pneumonia. Conclusion In older adults hospitalized for pneumonia in an acute care geriatric unit, advanced age, the presence of multilobar commitment, dependency in functional status, and elevated ureic nitrogen levels were the main predictors of short-term lethality risk.Introduction. The Salmonella Typhimurium monophasic variant (1,4,[5],12i-) is currently the most commonly detected variant in Salmonella surveillance programs worldwide. In Colombia, the Salmonella enterica monophasic variant is the fourth most common clinical isolate recovered through the laboratory surveillance of the Grupo de Microbiología from the Instituto Nacional de Salud; however, it is unknown whether these isolates are closely related to the monophasic Typhimurium variant, which circulates globally, and their genetic and phenotypic characteristics have not been reported. Objective. To characterize monophasic Salmonella enterica isolates identified in Colombia from 2015 to 2018 by the Instituto Nacional de Salud. Materials and methods. Two hundred eighty-six clinical isolates of the monophasic Salmonella enterica variant were analyzed by PCR or whole-genome sequencing to confirm whether they corresponded to the Salmonella Typhimurium monophasic variant while the genetic structure of the operon encoding the second flagellar phase was determined in 54 isolates. Motility, growth, and expression of the outer membrane proteins were evaluated in 23 isolates. Results. During the study period in Colombia, 61% (n=174) of Salmonella monophasic isolates belonged to Salmonella Typhimurium serovar monophasic (1,4,[5],12i-). Of these, 64.8% (n=35/54) were related to the European/Spanish clone and 13% (n=7/54) to the U.S. clone. Two isolates recovered from urine samples showed differences in motility, growth, and the absence of the OmpD porin in M9 minimal medium. Conclusions. Most of the monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium variants that have circulated in Colombia since 2015 lacked the second phase of operon fljAB, which is related to the European/Spanish clone. The results evidenced phenotypic changes in urine samples suggesting bacterial adaptation in the case of these invasive samples.Introduction As an initiative to improve the quality of health care, the trend in biomedical research focused on health disparities and sex has increased. Objective To carry out a characterization of the scientific evidence on health disparity defined as the gap between the distribution of health and the possible gender bias for access to medical services. Materials and methods We conducted a simultaneous search of two fundamental descriptors in the scientific literature in the Medline PubMed database healthcare disparities and sexism. Subsequently, a main semantic network was built and some structural subunits (communities) were identified for the analysis of information organization patterns. We used open-source software Cytoscape to analyze and visualize the semantic network, and MapEquation for community detection, as well as an ad hoc code available in a public access repository. Results The core network corpus showed that the terms on heart disease were the most common among the descriptors of medical conditions. Patterns of information related to public policies, health services, social determinants, and risk factors were identified from the structural subunits, but with a certain tendency to remain indirectly connected to the nodes of medical conditions. Conclusions Scientific evidence indicates that gender disparity does matter for the care quality in many diseases, especially those related to the circulatory system. However, there is still a gap between the medical and social factors that give rise to possible disparities by sex.Introduction Tea tree oil is an essential oil recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Objective To evaluate the composition, features, and antimicrobial effect at 2% v/v, and its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes). Materials and methods Three different batches of tea tree oil were evaluated. We characterized its chemotype by gas chromatography and its 2% v/v antimicrobial activity against C. acnes by agar diffusion assay (guide M11-A8 CLSI). Results The three batches of oil had the chemotypes required by the ISO 4730 standard, which indicates that it is a high-quality product. Additionally, they had 30% to 40% of terpinen-4-ol, a compound that favors its antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity against C. acnes for all batches had a concentration-dependent effect with microbial growth inhibitory activity in all assays at 2% v/v. The MIC obtained against C. acnes for all batches was 0.25% v/v. The antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil against this microorganism has been previously reported with a MIC between 0.05% and 1.25% v/v, a range that covers the one obtained in this study. Conclusion These results show the high quality of the oil and its capacity as an antibacterial agent against C. acnes. New studies should be conducted to confirm its activity and that of its components in isolates of the microorganism from patients with acne vulgaris.Introduction Snakebite envenoming is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease. Currently, Bothrops snake venoms are being studied intensively, but there is little knowledge about Bothrops roedingeri venom. Objectives To biochemically characterize B. roedingeri total venom and evaluate its myotoxic, edematogenic, and hemorrhagic activity. Materials and methods We characterized B. roedingeri venom enzymatic activity by determining the phospholipase A2 and the proteolytic and fibrinogenolytic action using SDSPAGE electrophoresis while we characterized its venom toxicity by determining the minimum hemorrhagic dose, the minimum edema dose, and the local and systemic myotoxic effects. Results Bothrops roedingeri venom showed a PLA2 activity of 3.45 ± 0.11 nmoles/min, proteolytic activity of 0.145 ± 0.009 nmoles/min, and a fibrinogen coagulation index of 6.67 ± 1.33 seconds. On the other hand, it produced an minimum hemorrhagic dose of 24.5 μg, an minimum edema dose of 15.6 μg, and a pronounced local myotoxic effect evidenced by the elevation of plasma creatine kinase levels after intramuscular inoculation. The venom showed no systemic myotoxicity. Conclusions Bothrops roedingeri venom has local hemorrhagic, edematogenic, and myotoxic activity. Enzymatically, it has high PLA2 activity, which would be responsible for the myotoxic and edematogenic effects. It also has proteolytic activity, which could affect coagulation given its ability to degrade fibrinogen, and it causes bleeding through the metalloproteases.Introduction Molecular biology diagnostic methods such as real-time PCR should be used in Nicaragua to improve the diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans and animals. Objective To evaluate three qPCR methods for pathogenic Leptospira detection in domestic animals. Materials and methods Real-time PCR primers were designed for the amplification of specific regions from the Lip 32 gene of Leptospira in SYBER Green (SYBER Green-A) and TaqMan, as well in SYBER Green-B as previously published. selleck chemical The sequences of 12 strains obtained from the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were aligned to select probes and primers. The analytical sensitivity was determined by calculating the detectable genomic equivalent while 18 pathogenic references strains and 28 negative controls were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of each one of the three sets in 129 urine samples of domestic animals. Results The detection limit of four genomic equivalents per reaction was obtained from SYBR Green-A. The specificities were 94.4% (95% CI 81.1-100.0) for TaqMan, 77.8% (95% CI 55.8-99.8) for SYBR Green-A, while for SYBR Green-B it was 61.1% (95% CI 35.8-86.4). In the three tests, we obtained a specificity of 100% (95% CI 98.2-100.0). In the field samples, 26.4% were positive with SYBR Green-A and 6.1% with SYBR Green-B. Conclusion SYBR Green-A presented the lowest detection limit while the three techniques under evaluation showed high specificity while TaqMan was the most sensitive.Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem causing high morbidity and mortality. Easy to apply, cost-effective, and available COPD severity measures are required in rural areas. Objective To assess the validity and reliability of the COPD Severity Score (COPDSS) in Colombian patients attended in primary care. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 100 patients diagnosed with COPD according to GOLD guidelines. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the COPDSS results with other important variables such as those assessed through the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Results The COPDSS showed a significant correlation with the FEV1 (r=-0.33), with the CRQ (r=-0.57) and its dimensions Dyspnea (r=0.51), fatigue (r=0.53), emotional function (r=0.43), and disease control (r=0.50). The factor analysis identified a single factor with a cumulative variance of 59.1%. The internal consistency analysis showed an adequate Cronbach’s alpha of 0.76. Conclusions The use of the COPDSS as an assessment test for COPD patients in Colombia showed adequate validity, reliability, and easy application in primary care.
Normotensive hydrocephalus is a differential diagnosis in the evaluation of the dementia syndrome. The diagnostic protocols would allow detecting this pathology that has more effective treatment than other dementias.
To describe a population with clinical suspicion of normal pressure hydrocephalus evaluated in a Colombian psychiatric hospital and discuss the possible reasons for its diagnostic and therapeutic delay.
We conducted a retrospective study of medical records to identify patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus during a 5-year period.
Thirty-five patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus underwent diagnostic lumbar puncture and five of them were considered candidates for a peritonealvenous shunt, but none underwent this surgical procedure. After three to six months of the lumbar puncture, the gait pattern improved in 22.8% of the patients, cognition in 22.8%, and sphincter control in 11.4%. Improvement was not sustained in the long term (1 year) in any of them.
This study suggests the poor implementation of the protocols for evaluating patients with cognitive deficits and delays in the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.